Anyone press vinyl?

[mayfly]

Gentlepeople,

We're getting close to having our third album mixed and off to the mastering house.  Now's the time to line up duplication!

CDs are easy - there are several vendors and after reviewing pricing we decided to use the folks we've used before.  Done.

Vinyl - this is a new one for us.  We think it's cool and want to do it, but don't know much about it.  We've investigated several pressing plants including:  Gotta Groove, Furnace, Palace, United Records.  From what we can tell, Palace / Furnace seem to be top end, Gotta Groove in the middle, and United near the bottom.  Our mastering house (Magic Garden) will master to vinyl, so I think we have that end covered.

Anyone have any experience with any of these firms to back up our assessment?  Anyone have any experience pressing vinyl in general?  Heck - anyone prefer vinyl at home to CDs?  Would you pay a premium for transparent blue?

Yours in vinyl,

Trevor

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

I can't answer any of your questions, but I will add a comment.  I like to buy music directly from bands or performers.  Most of the music I see live is indie or alternative, including alternative country.  I like to think that the performer makes a little more money if I buy it directly from them.  My favorite format is vinyl with an included download card.  That way I can keep the vinyl pristine and download the album to my computer.  I don't mind paying a few bucks more for this format because it gives me a sort of "collectible" that I can keep, while also enjoying the music on my iPod.

 

[zebra]

+1 to everything Nightclub Dwight said.  I was expecting to have to add something, but with each sentence, I checked another thing off of my list. 

 

[Kostas]

... anyone prefer vinyl at home to CDs?  Would you pay a premium for transparent blue?

I prefer vinyl over everything else (so far). Color disks are nice but I don't remember if their quality is the same as black vinyl. I remember that picture disks are of lower quality.

A download link is always welcome although I never leave any disk unplayed. When I'm in the listening room the turntable is always on use.

 

[Alogusz]

Here's another vinyl plant:

http://www.archerrecordpressing.com/