2. analog
  3. 180407-166623

how were copies of vinyl made in "third-party" countries

I have some LPs from the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Hungary, Russia (bought them way back when in bulk) and now I wonder what the process was and how close they are to the original? 

I assume they weren't digitized, they were released in the 70s and early 80s. Anyone knows what they would receive from the recording studio/company/warehouse? Tapes, the "negatives"? Are there copies considered better than others?

 

grislybutter
grislybutter OP
3,286 posts
 

@russ69

if it's not that tricky why are there so many versions rated so differently? And people paying 100s for a specific copy? I am just curious. 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 

The pressing plants probably received a 1/4" dub off the mixed master.  In the 80s, that's also what studios received to edit music videos.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,523 posts
 

...if it's not that tricky why are there so many versions rated so differently?

If you run the Stampers or Mothers too long, don't watch your vinyl temps carefully, or run substandard vinyl, quality can suffer. Cutting the Masters is done early in the process and unless it's a bootleg, it's as good as it gets. 

grislybutter OP
3,286 posts
 

thank you all. I guess now that I know more, I feel way more ignorant than this morning. 

solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 

The process may not be 'high tech' but it very much is tricky

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