This guide is written by Mind The Wax
What is a Test Press?
Test pressings are the first copies of a record that are pressed from the metal stampers. Their purpose is to assess the quality of the pressed records and verify that the audio sounds as close as possible to the original master file before the mass production takes place.
It’s the first time to experience your digitally recorded project in an analog format. Typically, these test pressings are pressed on black vinyl and come with plain white labels. While not an exact replication of the final records, in theory, test pressings should sound identical to the final records when manufactured correctly.
The purpose of the Test pressings is to ensure the absence of human errors during the mastercut process or any imperfections on the stampers. If your hear surface noise, clicks, or pops, there is generally no cause for concern as long as they are not occur on the same exact spots across all copies of the record.
Before you listen to the test pressings
1. Inspect the vinyl
Before playing your test pressing, give it a thorough visual inspection. Look for any scratches, warps, or other imperfections. If you see something that doesn’t looks right, reach out to us for assistance.
2. Set up your sound system
Calibrate the tonearm and the anti-skating of your turntable properly according to your cartridge, needle and slipmat. An improperly calibrated turntable may cause additional clicks and pops or skipping.
Ensure your stylus and record are cleaned.
3. Make sure your speakers or headphones are in good working condition. The quality of vinyl record can be strongly influenced by the overall sound system, so this stage is critical.
How to listen to the test pressings
1. Listen to each side of the test pressing in full.
2. Ensure that all tracks are in the correct order and any additional etchings requested (like a locked groove for example) are present and accurate on the vinyl.
3. Focus on the overall sound quality. Assess whether the sound is clear and balanced and if there are any noticeable distortions. It’s important to remember that the test pressing will not sound identical to your digital master file as the vinyl format has limitations by its nature.
Common issues to look for
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Clicks and pops:
While surface noise like crackles and pops is inherent in vinyl records and embraced as part of the format’s charm, excessive clicks and pops are not normal. If you detect an abundance of such noises, it could indicate an issue with your stylus or a pressing problem.
Skips:
If the record skips at any point, there might be an issue with the tonearm or it is caused by a defect in the vinyl, such as a scratch or a warped record.
Distortion:
If you notice a bit of a drop in sound quality as the vinyl record plays closer to its center, it’s normal. Especially on the sides that exceeds the 20 minutes. This could be due to what is called inner groove distortion, where the audio on the vinyl is more compressed and the stylus doesn’t have much time to trace the grooves. Practically, it means the same amount of music, in less space. In any way, if you’re hearing weird sounds in other parts of the record, try playing it on a different turntable first. If the issue persists, let us know.
Poor sound quality:
Poor sound quality can be caused by a variety of factors, such as problems with the recording, the cutting process, or the pressing process. If the record sounds muddy or muffled, it may be a sign of a problem.
Troubleshooting
1. For in-depth troubleshooting, the first thing to check is whether your turntable is causing the issue. We recommend you to listen to your test pressings on multiple turntables and in different listening environments. This will help you to identify any problems that may be specific to your own turntable or listening room.
2. In case of skipping issues, check for and apply the recommended tracking force settings for your tonearm. Adjust the weight and balance of the tonearm appropriately and try again. If the issue appears in an identical spot across all test pressing copies, and persists after following the above mentioned steps, please let us know right away.
3. If you detect any issues on the test pressing, then cross-reference it at the exact same spot on all the other copies. If all copies experience the issue in the exact same place then notify us as it’s an issue probably with the mastercut or the stamper.
If not, then you can be confident that it won’t recur during the production run and it is most likely an issue with your turntable.
Assess your observations
Once you have listened to the entire test pressing, it is time to assess your observations. If you are satisfied with the overall sound quality and there are no significant issues, then you can give the green light for the mass production.
However, if you hear any other concerns or you feel that you’re hearing something out of the ordinary (for example loud pops, excessive static or consistent skip) and it occurs in the same place on multiple copies then notify us.
If you have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to discuss them. You are spending a lot of money on these records and our aim is to ensure that they have an exceptional quality!
Conclusion
Inspecting and reviewing your vinyl test pressings is an important step in ensuring the optimal sound quality for your records. By following the tips in this guide, you can pinpoint and address any potential concerns before the mass production of the records.
Our aim is to eliminate all defects and try to minimize every imperfection of the vinyl medium at the test pressing stage. At any case, we can not change your master file. If the tracks are sequenced incorrectly or if the mix or mastering are not of a sufficient quality, it will cause to go again through the mastercut, galvanization and the test pressing processes with obviously an additional cost to the final production.
That is why we on Mind The Wax consider mastering as one of the most important aspects to achieve good results. We strongly recommend that the audio should be mastered by an experienced vinyl mastering engineer. If you are not sure about the quality of your own mastering, contact us for a pre-mastering check or for a full mastering service to get the best out of your music.
Mind The Wax
Site: https://vinylpressing.mindthewax.com
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