A dubplate, or lathe-cut vinyl record, is made one at a time in real time. Each groove is physically cut into a durable PETG disc using a diamond stylus, with mono and stereo formats available.
Export two continuous audio files — one per side — and upload them at checkout.
Place your tracks in order and build two continuous sides. Keep each side under the runtime limit for your format.
Stronger or brighter tracks should usually go earlier in the side.
Export Side A.wav and Side B.wav as WAV.
44.1 kHz or 48 kHz is preferred. 24-bit preferred. Leave a clean fade-out at the end of each side.
No MP3. Do not upsample or convert compressed files to higher sample rates or bit depth.
Upload both audio files at checkout and name them clearly:
Artist_SideA.wav
Artist_SideB.wav
If files are too large, send via WeTransfer to info@lathecutvinylrecords.com and include your order number.
Don’t have a DAW or don’t know how to build your sides? If you only have individual songs, we can help sequence your tracks and prepare your sides through our disc mastering service.
Better source material produces louder, cleaner, and more stable lathe-cut records. Reviewing these recommendations before submission will help improve groove stability, playback tracking, and overall vinyl translation.
WAV or AIFF files are preferred. 24-bit is ideal, 16-bit is accepted. Please do not submit MP3 files.
Dynamic mixes generally translate better to vinyl than heavily brickwall-limited masters.
For stereo cuts, bass below approximately 150 Hz should generally remain mono-compatible.
Excessive stereo width can create groove instability. Always check stereo mixes in mono before submission.
Harsh high frequencies and excessive sibilance are among the most difficult things to reproduce cleanly on vinyl.
Crest factor is the difference between peak level and RMS. Higher crest factor generally preserves more transients, punch, and dynamic range.
Longer sides reduce available cutting level and require tighter groove spacing. Bass-heavy music makes this even more important.
Louder and brighter material generally performs best earlier in the side before inner groove distortion increases.
Please submit Side A and Side B as separate WAV or AIFF files with matching sample rates.
Unlike streaming platforms, we do not prepare records using LUFS targets. LUFS is a psychoacoustic measurement designed to estimate how loud humans perceive audio. RMS is an electrical measurement of average signal energy. A record cutting lathe responds to the electrical signal driving the cutter head, not perceived loudness.
We generally recommend delivering audio around -14 LUFS as a modern reference point for musicians. We do not cut records using LUFS. We evaluate the audio using RMS, crest factor, true peak, dynamics, and the overall electrical signal driving the cutter head.
Masters pushed to -10 LUFS, -8 LUFS, or -6 LUFS are often excessively loud for vinyl and can reduce crest factor, increase distortion, limit groove headroom, and make the record more difficult to cut cleanly. While every project is different, preserving dynamics almost always provides a better starting point for vinyl mastering.
Crest factor is the relationship between the loudest peak and the average RMS level. For example, if a file peaks at -1 dBFS and has an RMS level of -11 dBFS, the crest factor is 10 dB. This relationship tells us how much transient space and dynamic movement remain in the music.
Every mix is different. Some songs contain more sub-bass, others have stronger vocal sibilance, wider stereo information, more digital clipping, or more aggressive limiting. These characteristics determine how a record should be prepared more than genre alone.
If you're producing a longer album with multiple songs per side, the relationship between bass energy, crest factor, groove spacing, and playing time becomes increasingly important. In many cases, turning off a limiter and returning to the original mix produces a better vinyl record than trying to repair an over-limited master.
Stereo files are cut in stereo. Mono files are cut in mono. Do not upsample or convert MP3 files to higher sample rates or bit depth. Export audio at the project’s original resolution whenever possible.
System calibrated to DIN 45 541 reference standards. Vinyl premastering, vinyl mastering, and cutting optimization are handled in-house.
Send the highest-resolution artwork you have. We review files before production and help ensure artwork translates correctly to your selected format.
Upload artwork during checkout using the Hot Pink uploader.
If files exceed upload limits, send them through WeTransfer to info@lathecutvinylrecords.com and include your order number.
Our standard center label format is 3.5 inches.
Submit artwork with a transparent background as a full 3.5-inch circle. Do not add the spindle hole to the design.
Jacket artwork should generally be submitted as a 12×12-inch image at 300 DPI.
PNG and PDF formats are preferred. Bleed lines and trim marks are not required for most projects.
We stock both black and white jackets and select the option that best complements your artwork.
Picture disc artwork and CNC engraving are prepared differently than standard printed products.
Clear records generally produce the strongest engraving visibility and light-through effects.
Exact sizing and fabrication details are listed within each product page and artwork add-on section.
You do not need perfect print-ready files.
If you are unsure whether artwork is usable, send it anyway — we are happy to review files before production.
All records are cut and assembled in-house. Production begins once audio and order details are confirmed.
All records are cut and assembled in-house. Production begins once audio and order details are confirmed.
Records ship in protective sleeves inside premium vinyl mailers. We currently ship within the United States only.
USPS Media Mail — $10 per 10 records.
Orders ship via USPS Media Mail, a cost-effective service for records and printed media.
Delivery typically takes 3–8 business days depending on location.
Once a package is accepted by USPS, delivery becomes the responsibility of the carrier.
We are not responsible for postal delays, lost packages, or items marked as delivered.
Packages that are unclaimed, refused, or returned to sender may be re-shipped once the customer pays the required postage.
Because each record is custom made to order, we do not accept returns.
If your order arrives damaged or shows a verified production defect, contact info@lathecutvinylrecords.com within 7 days with photo documentation so we can review the issue.
Shipping time begins after production is complete. Larger orders may sometimes ship in multiple mailers and may include multiple tracking numbers. Some specialty products or custom orders may offer optional upgrades to USPS Priority Mail or USPS Priority Mail Express.
Upload three files at checkout. We turn your audio and artwork into a real playable lathe-cut vinyl record with printed jacket, center labels, and a finished presentation.
