3.45RPM LATHE CUTTING SERVICE - EXPLAINED
3.45RPM is a quality record lathe cutting service, specialising in editions of 1 to 100 x 7", or 1 to 50 x 12" (or 5". Or 8". Or 10 "...or other sizes) with each and every disc individually and expertly hand cut. It's functional art, highbrow entertainment, and impressive looking on your musical CV all in one go. Once you have it, it's yours for life, and no amount of digital upgrading by Microsoft or whoever will stop it being playable on your record player. It's a futureproofed format.
So send in your sounds, and see them magically transferred to the wondrous format of a plastic disc. Ideally, 3.45RPM cuts direct from WAV files though it's totally possible work from other digital file types, DAT, or even direct from good old cassette tape should you be after a pure analogue transfer.
So send in your sounds, and see them magically transferred to the wondrous format of a plastic disc. Ideally, 3.45RPM cuts direct from WAV files though it's totally possible work from other digital file types, DAT, or even direct from good old cassette tape should you be after a pure analogue transfer.
The Basic Idea
3.45RPM aims to provide a small run service for small bands and small labels, though one-offs and personal/private orders are very welcome. Larger orders (over 100 copies, for example) just aren't feasible, neither in terms of time taken to manufacture or price charged. If you require 100+ of anything it is cheaper to have them manufactured at a pressing plant and probably faster too, despite the ever growing waiting times involved with vinyl pressing ! The quality of product offered here is of a high grade standard, in relative lathe cutting terms. Hard wearing and durable plastic is used that equals "normal" vinyl in terms of longevity and general playability, be you a DJ, at a friends house, or just wanting a cool listening experience in the comfort of your own home. The sound from a 3.45RPM lathe cut will never match an Abbey Road mastered Hayes Middlesex pressed disc, but should easily meet the requirements of all but the most picky and perfectionist audiophile. If you are one of these people, then please consider looking elsewhere for your product !! This is not a genre specific site, and I am willing and able to cut any form of sound required, from spoken word to the harshest noises to classical and back, just don't ask for any racist, homophobic or nasty nonsense, as it won't happen. |
The "Pros & Cons" Section
Each disc is hand cut in real time so it's a time consuming business, and because of this we do not offer runs of more than 100 copies of 7"s, or 50 copies of full length LP's. 3.45RPM will endeavour to process and complete each order as fast as possible, though please do check first what the expected waiting time will be. Be aware that an order of 50 LP's may take a month from the first available starting date to complete, where as an order of, say, 5 x 7" singles could well be done and dusted in 24hrs. Again though, this depends on available spare dates. 3.45RPM has recently expanded the variety of sizes it can offer (see "Pricing" for more details) though if you're after a certain format not mentioned then please do give me a shout and I'll see what's possible. IMPORTANT : Before ordering, do consider the pros and cons of having your sounds converted to record. If you're happy with your digital audio, do bear in mind that having it cut to record will not specifically "improve" the sound, but will certainly alter it. Vinyl has it's limitations, as does the set up I use, and the service that 3.45RPM offers is not one of exact replication of digital to analogue. This is a cheerful and comparatively cheap way of acquiring something that fits nicely into your record rack and can be played and enjoyed time and again... BUT 3.45RPM in no way claims to be able to match the levels of the major manufacturing plants around the world. That's big business, and they've got the topmost gear, and I'm gonna need another quarter of a million pounds (GBP) in the bank to even start thinking about that. And then it's going to cost you eight times as much. |