Before the process of pressing vinyl records begins, the material that will go onto these records needs to be prepared. The creator handles this on their own, but they must remember that files intended for vinyl pressing should meet specific parameters. What exactly does that mean?
How to prepare material for pressing?
Material for the pressing plant can be provided in the form of a source disc or an image of the disc. Source discs on formats like CD-R and DVD+/-R/R DL are acceptable, and material can also be supplied on a pressed CD or DVD. XDiSC accepts recordable discs in formats such as Red Book, Yellow Book, and DVD-Forum, and the files should be in the ISO9660, ISO/UDF, or UDF file system.
The second method of providing source material is an image of the disc, which must be in ISO, NGR, or DDP ver. 2.00 format. The disc image is transferred to an FTP server, and it’s crucial to include an MD5 checksum file to verify the correctness of the recorded material. XDiSC also offers the option of providing disc images on Flash memories or portable HDDs.
Before sending the material, it’s worthwhile to ensure that everything plays correctly and meets the quality expected by the client. Source discs can be sent in two copies just in case, and it’s essential to thoroughly check the medium for potential scratches, cracks, fingerprints, or other damages. The disc can only be labeled using markers specifically designed for CDs and DVDs.
Authoring Services
In cases where the material doesn’t match the specifications, it undergoes an authoring process. This service involves adapting the provided material to the production requirements, covering audio files, images, and graphics. The scope of these services is customized to prepare material that aligns with the client’s expectations and is suitable for the specific type of pressed disc.
Graphic Files
The specifications also apply to graphic files. Closed PDF files compatible with Press Quality are recommended. JPG and TIFF files can also be sent for printing, though they may result in slightly lower print quality. Colors must be from the CMYK palette, and additional effects should be prepared as separate colors in the project.
