HOW TO PREPARE YOUR MUSIC or DJ MIX FOR VINYL

This page contains basic information and tips on how to prepare your CD master for producing great sounding vinyl phonograph records. It's aimed at persons creating an LP album with multiple tracks and DJ artists producing their own mix. If you don't have the means or knowledge to process your music as recommended DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT as we can take care of most matters on our end.

Tips to remember (starting with most important) when making your CD master is:

• Do not over compress, over EQ or over process your program. Make your mixes sound satisfying to you.
• Normalize levels to 0 db so all tracks have same peak volume.
• For best sound place your loudest brightest most important music on the outer tracks and quieter material on the inner tracks.
• Do not include loud level out-of-phase signals in your master. If using a phase meter keep it in the positive range.
• Watch out for ultra high frequency signals. WARN US of any abnormal content.
• Keep sibilance ("sss" and "shh" sounds) to a minimum by de-essing where necessary.
• Blend or mono-ize the bass frequencies (500 hz and below). Do not pan low bass left or right.
• Give us times to each track. WARN US of any abnormal content such as loud low bass, longer than normal silent passages, etc.

Why is it so important for mixes to be mostly in phase and the bass being in mono?

Phase is more or less irrelevant to CD but when mastering to vinyl it's very important.

If the mix is in phase (mono), the cutter stylus will move from left to right - if the mix is out of phase (stereo) it causes the stylus to move up and down. Too much up and down movement (out-of-phase) will produce a groove that's too shallow or interrupted. This will cause the playback needle to jump, especially the bottom end is very critical. If the bass is in stereo, the cutter stylus will leave the surface of the record the plate will be unusable.

How do I know if my mix is too much out of phase?

Most software has a built in phase meter, it should be in the positive range.

Try listening to your tracks in mono, ideally there shouldn't be a big difference when listening to your tracks in stereo vs mono, if there is especially at the bottom end you might have a problem. If you switch between stereo and mono, kick/bass should stay in the center.

Is there anything I should take care of on an album or LP?

Place the brightest loudest most important tracks first as every record sounds best at the beginning (outer grooves). The quieter more subdued tracks should be at the end of the record. Please note a 12" will always sound better than a smaller plate due to the higher groove speed at the outer grooves. Try listening to any 12" record and compare the beginning of the plate with the end, there will be much more hi-end at the beginning.

For loud dance music with lots of drum & bass or loud hi-hats we definitely recommend a 12" DJ dubplate vinyl record. Particularly for drum & bass and hip hop, where loudness and lots of bass are most important.

If you'd like to read more about record cutting and the best way to prepare your music for commercial vinyl pressings please visit
Producing Great Sounding Phonograph Records