Sid Hartha wrote:Any new developments/insights on the vinyl frontier? I'm planning on spending my economic stimulus package (thanks, Mr. President) on having an album pressed.

The main focus would be on something that is cheap.

Bare bones. I'll write on the labels myself. I'll make album jackets from beer cartons.

Fuck quality.

If you know about some place that makes shitty pressings, but is really cheap - I'm all ears.

couldn't be much worse than RTI anyway

but seriously... any leads?

anyone used http://www.archerrecordpressing.com/ yet?

they do have good prices.

While I don't doubt that it costs an arm and a leg, Sterling Sound still does all-analog vinyl mastering ... you can watch their gang in action cutting the masters for the Mission of Burma reissues in these clips posted by Matador:

Part One

Part Two

just got some 7"s back from bill smith. they sound ok, but dealing with those people was ridiculous. they refused to let us send any artwork files or emails, instead having us print out our label sticker and mail it down. everything was weeks behind, to the point we had to change the ship to address. this had to be done via fax, not email, and certainly not right now while we're already talking on the fucking phone. even with the faxed address boxes went to old address (COD) and were almost shipped back to bill smith as a result. if you are operating with any kind of time constraint, look elsewhere.

just casting my vote for rti. i just did 3 records with them and the quality and customer service was outstanding. everything about working with them was an absolute pleasure, i can't give a stronger recommendation. and the vinyl sounds stunning - i mean, standing on a cliff, getting blasted by the wind kind of stunning.
a lot of that has to do w/ the mastering - and i had it done by dubplates and mastering in berlin. those guys cut all the basic channel/chain reaction/rhythm and sound stuff. i don't know if any of ya'll are down w/ the experimental electronic scene - but those records sound incredible...and the mastering d&m did was top notch.


just my two cents.




-joshua...