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Before the cutting process begins, the audio content is carefully prepared in a studio environment by mastering engineers. They work to optimize the sound for vinyl, taking into account factors such as dynamic range, EQ adjustments, and overall tonal balance. The goal is to achieve the best possible audio quality and ensure that the music translates well to the vinyl medium.
To initiate the cutting process, a lacquer disc, also known as an “acetate,” is mounted onto a cutting lathe. The lathe consists of a turntable that rotates the lacquer disc at a precise speed and a cutting head equipped with a stylus.
The cutting head contains a tiny, diamond-tipped stylus that vibrates as it traces the audio waveform. The vibrations of the stylus correspond to the audio signal, and these vibrations are precisely etched onto the surface of the lacquer disc. The stylus is controlled by the audio signal from the mastering studio, and it moves radially across the disc, cutting the grooves that represent the soundwaves.
As the stylus moves, it creates two types of grooves on the lacquer disc. The lateral grooves carry the left and right stereo channels, while the vertical grooves contain the audio’s amplitude and frequency information.
During the cutting process, the depth and pitch of the grooves are adjusted to accommodate the music’s dynamic range and frequency content. Low-frequency sounds require wider and deeper grooves, while high-frequency sounds necessitate narrower and shallower grooves. The mastering engineer continuously monitors and adjusts these parameters to maintain optimal audio fidelity.
In addition to the audio content, the lacquer disc can also include metadata and indices inscribed into the lead-in section. This information may consist of track numbers, track durations, artist and album names, or any other relevant details. These inscriptions help during subsequent manufacturing processes and aid in the proper identification and organization of the vinyl records.
Once the cutting process is complete, the lacquer disc is carefully removed from the cutting lathe. To safeguard the delicate grooves, the lacquer is coated with a protective solution, typically made of silver or another metal. This step, known as electroplating, prepares the lacquer disc for subsequent stages of the vinyl record manufacturing process.
It’s important to note that the cutting process requires great expertise, as any imperfections or inaccuracies during this stage can affect the sound quality and playability of the final record. Skilled mastering engineers and experienced cutting engineers work together to ensure that the music is faithfully translated onto the lacquer disc, creating a high-quality master from which the vinyl records will be pressed.
From this point onward, the lacquer disc undergoes electroplating, stamper creation, vinyl pressing, and other manufacturing steps to produce the finished vinyl records.
