Vinyl Companies A-Z

Recording and mastering studios, originally established by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. in 1931, located in London, England, UK. Operating as EMI Recording Studios until 1984, when it legally changed its name to Abbey Road Studios. For pre-1985 recordings that include "EMI" in the studio name, in whatever variation, please use EMI Studios.

Also appears as:

• Abbey Road

• Abbey Road, London

• Abbey Road Studio, St. John's Wood, London

• Abbey Road Studios, London

• Abbey Road (Studio 2)

• Abbey Road Studio 2

• No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

• No.2 Studio, Abbey Road, London

• Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios

The studio complex consists of three main studios (Studios One, Two, Three) plus The Penthouse (since 1980) and the Gatehouse and Frontroom studios (since 2017) with respective control rooms. There also are four vinyl mastering, half-speed mastering and lacquer cutting rooms ("Room 5", "Room 6", "Room 7" and "Room 30"), each equipped with modified Neumann VMS 80 lathes. Additionally, there are two mastering / remastering rooms, a.o. for Dolby Atmos Music ("Room 35") and for enhancement/restoration ("Room 13"), plus many more rooms for production, mixing, and post-production.

Until the early 1990s, the studio also had high-speed cassette duplication facilities.

In June 1984, Abbey Road was the first UK studio to offer DMM technology by installing a Neumann VMS 82 lathe in "Room 5" (at that time lacquers were also cut on a VMS 70 with SX-74 cutter head). Copper cuts are marked with a stamped D.

All lathes were later replaced by VMS 80.

US recording/mastering & vinyl-cutting studios of record company Capitol Records, Inc.; closed January 2021. For credits specifically stating "Capitol Studios", "Capitol Recording Studios" or "Capitol Records Studios", please use Capitol Studios.

Also credited as:

• Capitol Disk Mastering - Capitol Facility L.A., California

• Capitol Mastering Hollywood, CA

• Capitol Mastering Studios - LA, CA

• Capitol Records, Hollywood

• Capitol Records Mastering

• Capitol Records Mastering Lab

• Capitol Studios Mastering

• Capitol Tower Mastering

Recognizable with "MASTERED BY CAPITOL" stamped on the runout.

Capitol Mastering had Scully and Neumann lathes. The used lathes are indicated in the matrix by the letter following the catalog number (followed by a number indicating the cut number), e.g. A3, F-9, G-22, J17, P-4, R1, W5, X5.

• A / B: Scully stereo lathe in Hollywood, 1967-1974.

• F / G: Scully mono lathe in Hollywood, 1967-1969.

• H / J: Scully lathe in Hollywood, 1969-1983.

• P / T: Scully lathe in New York, 1967-1971.

• W / X: Scully stereo lathe in New York, 1967-1974.

F: Neumann VMS-66 lathe used by Tower Mastering in Hollywood, California (1969-1982).

G: Neumann lathe in Hollywood (1975-1989).

R: Neumann lathe in New York (1972-1974).

Engineers known to have worked here:

• Dave McEowen as "DAVE" or "DCM" etched in the runout

• David Cole (4) as "DCole" in the runout

• Ed Sanders (2) as "Ed" etched cursively in runout

• Eddy Schreyer as "E" or "ES" etched in the runout, or a scribble similar to "Ɛ____" or "C____" (see image on his profile)

• Gene Thompson as "Gene" or "ƐRT" etched in the runout (from 1975 onward)

• Ian Sefchick - what looks like H with an S inside etched (エ∽) in the runout but must be IS

• Jay Maynard usually credited "Jay Luck" around 1976, later on simply "Jay" etched

• John Stachowiak - "Jc" or "Jc S" etch; the "Jc" is a distinctive conjoined styling

• John Lemay as "J. LEMAY" or "JPL" etched in the runout

• Ken Perry as "KP" etched in the runout

• Kevin Bartley as "KB" etched in the runout

• Kevin Reeves as "KEV" etched in the runout

• Maurice Long (2) as "ML" etched in the runout

• Ron McMaster as "McM" or "RM" etched in the runout

• Wally Traugott as "Wally" or "Wly" etched in the runout

• Wayne Dailey as "Wayne", "Wayne.", "Wayne D" or "WD" etched cursively in the runout

• William Tennis as "WT" etched in the runout

• Andrew Sandoval

• Robert Vosgien

For releases with "VINYL MADE IN MEXICO" released before April 1, 2025, see Vantiva, Mexico.

Optical disc and vinyl manufacturing plant located in Guadalajara, Mexico, active under this name since 1 April 2025. The plant was previously active as Vantiva, Guadalajara, Mexico, and was renamed after Vantiva SA sold its Supply Chain Solutions division (which ran its media manufacturing business) to Los Angeles-based Variant Equity.

Vinyl Identification:

• The same (AAAAAAA) 7-digit matrix scheme is used, with sequential numbering across vinyl sides (e.g. 1234567 on Side A and 1234568 on Side B).

• Often, releases with have "VINYL MADE IN MEXICO" ink-stamped on the shrinkwrap.

Operated under this name between 17 January 2000 and 31 December 2013. Established as “Gramofonové Závody a.s.” (“Gramophone Record Factory”) in 1951, GZ is a leading manufacturer of records, cassettes and optical discs. This Czech based company is probably the largest record manufacturer in the world today and has expanded its record manufacturing activities to include investments in Canada, France and the USA.

• Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 1999–2003 - machine stamped in runouts:

• AX #####/Z

  • “A” = verbatim, no particular meaning

  • “X” = format

  • “Z” = galvanoplasty

• Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 2003–2013 - machine stamped or etched in runouts:

• #####X~/Z or #####X~~/Z

  • “X” = format

  • “~” = side number

  • “Z” = galvanoplasty

• Main vinyl formats:

  • E = stereo, 12", 33⅓ RPM

  • F = stereo, 10", 33⅓ RPM

  • H = stereo, 7", 45 RPM

  • M = stereo, 12", 45 RPM

  • N = stereo, 10", 45 RPM

  • O = stereo, 7", 33⅓ RPM

    • "O" can sometimes be mistaken with a "0" (zero)

  • X = stereo, 78 RPM (very rare)

Czech based company, operating under this name since 1 January 2014, is the largest record manufacturer in the world with expanded manufacturing activities to include investments in Canada (Precision Record Pressing), France (SNA) and the USA (Memphis Record Pressing and Nashville Record Pressing).

Operations include vinyl, CD and DVD manufacturing. Owned by Zdenek Pelc. Successor to Gramofonové Závody (Gramophone Record Factory, the name used until 1999) and GZ Digital Media (2000–2013).

Vinyl Identification:

######X~/Z or ######X~~/Z

• “X” = format

• “~” = side number

• “Z” = galvanoplasty

Main vinyl formats:

• E = stereo, 12", 33⅓ RPM

• F = stereo, 10", 33⅓ RPM

• H = stereo, 7", 45 RPM

• M = stereo, 12", 45 RPM

• N = stereo, 10", 45 RPM

• O = stereo, 7", 33⅓ RPM - "O" can sometimes be mistaken with a "0" (zero)

• T = stereo, 4", 33⅓ RPM

• X = stereo, 78 RPM (very rare)

Galvanoplasty:

• The most commonly used system identified metal mothers or DMM copper plates, such as /A or /B indexes. Every copper plate cut (or a mother plate produced from a lacquer) receives a unique number consisting of a "premaster" number (e.g. 97460E1) and an index of cutting (mother producing), e.g.:

  • /B means a second DMM or lacquer cut and 

  • /C means a third DMM or lacquer cut

  • For lacquer technology or for externally supplied copper plates (e.g. from Abbey Road studios) where the 3-step technology has to be used it is more complicated as there may be additional indexes:

    • /B would still be the first mother produced from a second lacquer (father/master). 

    • /B1 would be a second mother produced from the second lacquer/father, 

    • /C3 would be a fourth mother produced from a third lacquer/father etc."

• In 2020, a new system of runout marking for new nickel mother plates was introduced:

  • No /A, /B, /C3 etc. galvanoplasty indexes for any externally supplied parts - they were omitted as redundant so then only ######X~ or ######X~~ premaster numbers are present in runout.

  • New 6-7 digits long serial numbers (IDs) of nickel mothers are engraved, e.g.:

    • 1041885 or 1101873

    • But do not confuse with "10-#####" from PRP

• In 2025, a new system of stamper numbering was introduced

  • An additional set of 8 digit, laser etched, stamper numbers 02###### started to appear. These sometimes appeared alongside 7-digit serial numbers for nickel mothers as well as some hand-etched plating marks (specifically plating marks from Memphis Record Pressing).

Known mastering engineers:

• Eric Conn

  • Affiliated artists

    • Conan Gray

    • Taylor Swift

Known mastering engineers:

• Alex DeTurk

  • Affiliated artists:

    • Taylor Swift

• Scott Hull

  • Affiliated artists:

    • Taylor Swift

Memphis Record Pressing (MRP) is a vinyl record manufacturing plant founded in 2014 with equipment purchased from Will Socolov's EKS Manufacturing. The company is a partnership between Matthew Johnson (4) and Bruce Watson (2), of North Mississippi record label Fat Possum Records, and Mark Yoshida and Brandon Seavers, of Memphis-based media manufacturers AudioGraphic Masterworks (and previous owners and founders of Rockingchair Records, Rockingchair Studios and Rockingchair Productions). 

The company was acquired by GZ Media on December 31, 2015, although it is not obvious from either of the companies' websites. This might be an indication they are allowing MRP to continue to operate as an independent entity.

Vinyl Identification:

• Identified by matrix scheme: MRP####

• Many releases contain the Memphis Record Pressing catalog number and the GZ Media catalog number in the runout. 

  • MRP uses some additional internal stamper IDs for their pressings, e.g. hand-etched A4, B1, C2 - more recently stamper codes have been just numeric: #3, #12, etc. 

    • Records with such hand-etched IDs were pressed at Memphis Record Pressing and "Pressed By" will be the correct tag here if these additional etched stampers IDs are present in runout. These hand-etched plating marks were phased out by 2025 and replaced with 8-digit stamper IDs that are used across multiple pressing plants, making MRP pressing identification harder.

  • If there are no hand-etched MRP stamper ID codes in runout, use "Plated At" for GZ Media and "Manufactured By" for Memphis Record Pressing.

• If there are no GZ Media indicators, use "Pressed By" for Memphis Record Pressing.

Not to be confused with Nashville Record Productions.

Opened in 2022 as a subsidiary of GZ Media in the Czech Republic, little is known about the operations of this plant other than its use of metalwork from the Czech parent plant. As a result the runouts for releases from NRP look identical to other GZ subsidiaries, especially as galvanoplasty was standardized in 2025.

Vinyl Identification:

######X~/Z or ######X~~/Z

• “X” = format

• “~” = side number

• “Z” = galvanoplasty

Main vinyl formats:

• E = stereo, 12", 33⅓ RPM

• F = stereo, 10", 33⅓ RPM

• H = stereo, 7", 45 RPM

• M = stereo, 12", 45 RPM

• N = stereo, 10", 45 RPM

• O = stereo, 7", 33⅓ RPM - "O" can sometimes be mistaken with a "0" (zero)

• T = stereo, 4", 33⅓ RPM

• X = stereo, 78 RPM (very rare)

Galvanoplasty:

• The most commonly used system identified metal mothers or DMM copper plates, such as /A or /B indexes. Every copper plate cut (or a mother plate produced from a lacquer) receives a unique number consisting of a "premaster" number (e.g. 97460E1) and an index of cutting (mother producing), e.g.:

  • /B means a second DMM or lacquer cut and 

  • /C means a third DMM or lacquer cut

  • For lacquer technology or for externally supplied copper plates (e.g. from Abbey Road studios) where the 3-step technology has to be used it is more complicated as there may be additional indexes:

    • /B would still be the first mother produced from a second lacquer (father/master). 

    • /B1 would be a second mother produced from the second lacquer/father, 

    • /C3 would be a fourth mother produced from a third lacquer/father etc."

• In 2020, a new system of runout marking for new nickel mother plates was introduced:

  • No /A, /B, /C3 etc. galvanoplasty indexes for any externally supplied parts - they were omitted as redundant so then only ######X~ or ######X~~ premaster numbers are present in runout.

  • New 6-7 digits long serial numbers (IDs) of nickel mothers are engraved, e.g.:

    • 1041885 or 1101873

    • But do not confuse with "10-#####" from PRP

• In 2025, a new system of stamper numbering was introduced

  • An additional set of 8 digit, laser etched, stamper numbers 02###### started to appear. These sometimes appeared alongside 7-digit serial numbers for nickel mothers as well as some hand-etched plating marks (specifically plating marks from Memphis Record Pressing).

Not to be confused with Nashville Record Pressing.

Nashville Record Productions Inc. is a mastering services company. Also credited as:

• N.R.P.

• NRP

• NRP, Inc.

• NRP Mastering

• Nashville Record Producers

• Nashville Record Productions, Inc.

Founded by Lima, Ohio, native Kenneth R. Place in 1964, it was incorporated in 1966. In their early days, they were a full-service production company, handling entire record projects. NRP never had record pressing in house. Instead a number of pressing plants were used: United, Dixie, Precision, Atwell. Their client base included many famous labels, which can be identified by a numerical code in runouts: SSS (113), Monument (125), Paula (127), Dover (86), PRP (161) and small independent Detroit labels often had 77.

They used "Matrix of Nashville" stampers, so the "Nashville Matrix" stamp may also be found in the deadwax. See Nashville Matrix for these stamper and/or metal parts credits.

Records mastered at NRP often have a unique four- or five-digit "NR" number in the runout area and/or on the labels (usually the same number on both sides). The change from four to five digits occurred in 1978. Much earlier releases may have three or fewer digits, but none are yet documented here.

Known mastering engineers:

• Wes Garland

  • Affiliated artists

    • Taylor Swift

German full-service media manufacturer, operating under this name since October 1, 2011. Formerly operating as Optimal Media Production.

Vinyl Identication:

• XY#####-ZZ

  • Single letter format identifier, followed by single character year identifier, followed by a five-digit numeral code, followed by an appended two-digit disc numbering.

  • Appears mostly without spaces. If the format and character identifier XY is followed by a space, enter accordingly into Matrix/Runout field, but keep without space in LCCN.

    • Examples: BJ78101-01 A1

• X is the format identifier:

  • "A" = CDs

  • "B" = Vinyl records

  • "D" = DVDs or Blu-ray Discs

  • "E" = Blu-ray Discs

• Y is the master year identifier, which since 2010 is a single letter (A to Z):

  • A = 2010

  • B = 2011

  • C = 2012

  • D = 2013

  • E = 2014

  • F = 2015

  • G = 2016

  • H = 2017

  • I = 2018

  • J = 2019

  • K = 2020

  • L = 2021

  • M = 2022

  • N = 2023

  • O = 2024

  • P = 2025

    • After the 5-digit numeral code, the 2-digit disc numbering (ZZ) can be found, which starts at "01".

    • On multi-disc releases, the last digit usually incrementally rises by 1 for each disc. (Example: Disc 1 = 01, Disc 2 = 02, etc.)

• Notes on vinyl records:

  • The matrix number can be either machine-stamped or hand-etched.

  • DMM and lacquer cutting are offered in the in-house studio Sector 5 Studios. If there are no mastering engineer initials present (see the list below), the mastering/lacquer cutting was done externally.

  • Due to the nature of the hand-etching, the B (format identifier) might be mistaken for a 3, an 8 or a D. Also, G as the second letter, year identifier, can often be confused with the number 9. The numeral 1 can be mistaken for a 7 and the 5 can be mistaken for a √.

  • In case the matrix may appear to have spaces enter accordingly into Matrix/Runout field, but keep without space in LCCN (= BG12345).

  • Vinyl releases additionally carry the side positions along with an additional digit, next to the matrix number (see the example below).

  • There are sometimes additional, faintly inscribed "geometric" marks. These are added during plating, and are therefore mirrored. They consist of a digit (usually 1) and a symmetrical symbol such as |, +, =, △, ⋀ (for example, I↾). The numeral 1 is etched in the continental style with a long riser, and can be read as V or Λ. Enter these marks with the runout string in their non-mirrored form (e.g., "1|"), and note their form in the Release Notes (e.g., "In the runouts, "1|" is mirrored.").

  • Marks that appear to read "VI" or similar are not the signature of an engineer. They are plating marks, which are inscribed into the mother plates and therefore appear mirrored. "VI" is actually "1|".

  • In 2020, the job number reached BK99999, then started again with BK00000 (not with BK100000).

  • Since fall 2023, the plant is offering in-house Bio Vinyl pressings.

• Notes on the manufacturing date:

  •  The year of manufacture in some cases may not be equal to the release year.

  • The actual release date can be the same year of manufacture or one year later (e.g., manufactured in December and released in January). It (normally) cannot be earlier than the year it was manufactured (though there can be certain exceptions).

  • Do not derive a release year from the manufacturing date code alone.

Vinyl record manufacturer, with print, finishing and assembly facilities. Pallas USA is a strategic partnership between Pallas, Germany and Furnace MFG / Furnace Record Pressing, USA formed to cater to markets in North America since 2008. The vinyl is still pressed by Pallas in Diepholz, Germany on Pallas USA's dedicated presses (Toolex Alpha.)

Vinyl Identification:

• Vinyl that were manufactured through the Pallas USA partnership are stamped with a 'P. USA' in the vinyl runout area (however, an etched "P. U" has been observed, too).

• When adding LCCNs for vinyl records with 'P. USA' in the runouts, please add:

• Manufactured By: Pallas USA

• Pressed By: Schallplattenfabrik Pallas GmbH [plus the ##### catalogue number].

Record pressing plant (20,000 square foot) located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, that officially opened May 11, 2017. It is a joint venture (50-50 ownership) between Canadian company Isotope Music Inc, founded by Gerald McGhee, and Czech company GZ Media. In March 2016, Canadian vinyl broker Samo Media merged with Precision Record Pressing, becoming their sales and service branch located in Toronto.

Most of cutting and all plating and test pressings production is done at GZ Media and runout etchings will look very similar to records pressed at GZ Media.

Pressings done at Precision will often have "MADE IN CANADA" stamped on shrinkwrap, stickered (both white and transparent stickers exist), or printed on the releases's labels or jacket.

Vinyl Identification:

• 10-XXXXX job number with accompanying GZ Media job number (i.e. 247293E)

• The presence of Precision Record Pressing ordering identifiers, i.e. a number that begins with 10- followed by five or six digits (example 10-83451), is not enough to determine pressing. For vinyl records with both GZ Media and Precision Record Pressing indicators present in runouts, credit Precision Record Pressing with "Manufactured By" and credit GZ Media with "Plated At".

• This is true independent of the presence or absence of any "Made in Canada" and/or "Made in Czech Republic" stickers or printing on releases. (Stickers can be listed in the notes section; actually different printing on jackets merits separate releases, but should not be used to derive pressing).

US vinyl record, optical disc and cassette manufacturer and pressing plant located in Southern California, established by Jack Brown. The plant was active from 1939 until 2019.

In April 2002, Rainbo acquired DOCdata California, Inc., a CD and DVD manufacturer located in Canoga Park which was formerly run by DOCdata.

In December 2019, Rainbo sold their entire enterprise to United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee. This included all their manufacturing equipment (including 17 Lened vinyl presses), the rights to the Rainbo trademark name, client list, and a choice selection of company memorabilia. The plant officially closed on January 31, 2020.

The pressing plant had an-house electroplating department for the production of metal masters. After the plant closed down, these masters were still used for (re)pressing elsewhere, so for post-2019 releases please credit with Plated At.

Vinyl Identification:

• Pressings from Rainbo almost always have a sequential job number etched into the runouts:

  • S-1234, S-12345, or L-12345, indicating an LP, 12", or 10" format, but "S" is the most common prefix for LP's. In some cases the "S" may be etched backwards "Ƨ". The switch from four-digit number to five-digit number started in the early '70s.

  • R-1234, or R-12345. R is the prefix used for all 7" pressings (except on Liberty releases & select tower, independent labels, etc.)

• Notes to avoid confusion with other plants:

  •  "L-xxxxx" was apparantly used by Rainbo Records between 1984 and 1989, with sequential numbers on sides A and B, etc.

  • Greg Lee Processing etched "L-xxxxx" into the runouts of their metal works from 1979 until 2000, but used the same number on both sides, usually appended with "-X" following the last digit on at least one side.

  • United Record Pressing used a similar L-number starting from around the year 2000 onwards. However, that number is more similar to Greg Lee (same number on both sides, ending with "m-A/B").

  • Allied Record Company used "R-###(##)" etchings on their 7" pressings between 1976 and 1989, but they only pressed styrene.

• Pressing rings:

• 31.7 mm, between 1976 and 2006, often with an 11 mm inner ring on one or both sides.

• 31.7 mm and 70 mm (muffin), between 1979 and 2019, often with an 11 mm inner ring on one or both sides.

• Note: these ring configurations were also used by Record Technology (RTI), but, generally, Rainbo’s 31.7 mm ring is less clean and RTI has no 11 mm inner ring.

Dutch vinyl pressing plant established in June 1998 after operations of Sony/CBS, Haarlem were taken over by Ton Vermeulen and Marcel Nothdurft of Moxmusic (the latter later replaced as shareholder by Vermeulen's spouse Mieke).

With 33 presses, Record Industry became one of the largest vinyl pressing plants in the world (capacity: 40,000 to 50,000 records per day). It is a full-service provider with in-house cutting, galvanoplasty and printing departments. In April 2022 the company merged with distributor Bertus forming a new Bertus Holding. At the same time 30 brand new vinyl presses were acquired with the aim of doubling the capacity, up to 25 million records per year.

When the plant was taken over from Sony Music Entertainment it was agreed Record Industry would remain manufacturer of Sony product on vinyl. When the EMI Records plant closed in 2000, a similar deal was struck. Furthermore there are exclusive deals in Europe with Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. Record Industry also presses all Music On Vinyl releases, a label it operates together with Bertus.

Vinyl Identification:

• Matrix scheme through March 2004

  • Job numbers 08-40000-20 through 08-54249-20.

  • Runout notation: 08 ##### AA BCD E, where

    • 08 ##### is a RI specific sequential identifier

      • AA is the two digit format identifier. Known formats:

      • 20 = 12" and LP

      • 10 = 10"

      • 04 = 7"

      • B is the cut number. Often simply a 1, sometimes a 2. In rare cases the cut number may be even higher.

      • C is the side identifier, e.g. A, B. On double A side releases, the side identifier will still use "B" for the AA side.

      • D is the stamper number. Usually 1.

      • E is the catalogue number assigned by the record label.

      • The whole string is stamped in the runout area.

      • Examples:

        • 08 45171 20 1A1 ASP 011

        • 08 45171 20 1B1 ASP 011

        • 08 53606 20 2A1 SIG 005

        • 08 52222 10 1A1 MM 1040

        • 08 53586 04 1A1 NHS 7004

• After March 2004, the plant dropped the 08- and format identifier and continued with a simple 5 digit code, starting with number 54250.

  • When 99999 was reached in 2014, the sequence was reset to 10000. The sequential numbers continue up until approx. mid July 2023 when the numbering changed from 399## to 4000##.

  • Between the late 1990s and the early 2000s, the plant used a matrix scheme composed of ten digits (########## BCD E): this scheme mostly appeared on Sony Music (and subsidiaries) related releases (see Bad Religion - The New America as example): these numbers were added by the pressing plant upon customer request and should not be used as LCCN numbers: in these cases the role Pressed By can still be used, minding not to add the ten digits string.

  • March 2004 - Current matrix scheme: ##### XY Z

    • ##### is the sequential RI specific job number.

    • X is the cut number. Often simply a 1, sometimes a 2. In rare cases the cut number may be even higher.

    • Y is the side identifier, e.g. A, B. On double A side releases, the side identifier will still use "B" for the AA side.

    • Z is the catalogue number assigned by the label.

American record plating and pressing plant established in 1974. From 1995 to 2010 RTI operated the joint venture disc cutting studio AcousTech Mastering at the same location. It is sometimes listed as "RTI Record Technology Inc." on older test pressings and just "RTI" or "Record Technology Inc" in the regular print of some releases.

Matrix number scheme used for the processing:

• Side A: xxxxx (2) or (3)

• Side B: xxxxx (2) or (3)

Later adjusted to include the side identifiers (but not always):

• Side A: xxxxx.1 (1) or (2) or (3)

• Side B: xxxxx.2 (1) or (2) or (3)

Only the sequential numbers should be added for the role Plated At. Note: a new sequential number counting started in September 1995.

• (1), (2) and (3) indicate the matrix process used:

  • The 3-step process means that the master lacquer disc is used to make negative fathers, positive mothers, and finally stampers.

  • The 2-step means that the master lacquer disc is used to make a negative father, a mother and then convert the father into a stamper. This is used for small runs and in the case that extra stampers a required, the mother is used to produce those stampers.

  • The newer 1-step process (often found on MOFI UltraDisc One-Step records) means that the master lacquer disc is used to make a negative convert which is used to produce directly the vinyl (w/o using father, mother and stamper). The removal of two steps in plating process improves the sound quality.

A record plated by RTI doesn't necessarily mean the plant also pressed it. Until 1983, RTI marked their stampers using a tally-mark system, featuring an etched "+" (plus or cross sign) with each quadrant sequentially filled in with a dot or scribble, beginning at the top left: the plus sign by itself (+) is the first stamper; the second stamper has the first top left quadrant filled; all four quadrants filled (⁜) is for the 5th stamper; a second, empty (⁜+) plus/cross stands for the 6th stamper; two filled crosses (⁜⁜) stand for the 10th stamper, etc. 

• In the cases of additional plus/cross signs, the records were also pressed by RTI.

RTI does not press 7" or 10" records, only 12."

German vinyl pressing plant, established 1948. Member of the Pallas Group.

Vinyl Identification:

• A 4- or 5-digit number in the stamped runout area, according to the following pattern:

  • -XXXX- (up to -9999- until 2004).

  • -XXXXX- (starting from -10000- since 2004).

• The pressing plant can also be derived from the typical rings unique to Pallas.

  • Their 12"s singles pressing rings and labels have the following characteristics:

  • paper label diameter = 100 mm,

  • a depression starts at 20 mm from the outer label edge,

  • the "slope" is 5 mm broad,

  • distance from the edge to the stamper ring = 35 mm,

  • diameter of the stamper ring = 32 mm,

  • small indentation around the spindle hole.

Disc mastering / lacquer cutting studio and company, established 16 November 2016 as 'Schallplatten Schneid Technik GmbH', after renaming SST Brüggemann GmbH, in Frankfurt, Germany. Owned and operated by Daniel Krieger.

The cuts done by the company can be identified in the runouts by an etched SST, usually preceded or followed by 1 or 2 letters indicating the cutting engineer (e.g. K SST or SST AL).

It has two cutting rooms, both equipped with Neumann VMS80 lathes. Cutting engineers indications:

• SST K or Kr (may also appear as K+) for Daniel Krieger

• SST MW for Martin Wegner, until February 2017

• SST AL for Alex Nimmermann

• SST TK (combined - may appear as R) for Theo Krieger (Daniel's brother), since July 2017

• SST ▽Z (combined / stylized D and Z) for Davi Rodrigues De Lima, between January 2018 and 31 October 2019

When submitting information for releases from 2017 and onwards, please add:

• Lacquer Cut At - SST GmbH to the LCCN field (for earlier releases, use SST Brüggemann GmbH)

  • A rare ‘Schallplattenschneidtechnik’ was credited only once on ‘Lonely Planet ’.

Known mastering engineers:

• Joe Nino-Hernes (credited as JN-H)

  • Affiliated artists:

    • Ariana Grande

    • Benson Boone

    • Chappell Roan

    • Conan Gray

    • Harry Styles

    • Lana Del Rey

    • Olivia Rodrigo

    • Selena Gomez

    • Taylor Swift

• Ryan K. Smith (credited as RKS)

  • Affiliated artists:

    • Adele

    • Beyoncé

    • Harry Styles

    • Taylor Swift

Mastering firm based in Edgewater, New Jersey, USA. Sterling Sound was originally based in New York. however, in 2018, the company decided to split up into two different locations: one in Nashville, Tennessee, and the other in Edgewater, New Jersey.

United Record Pressing, Inc. was established in 1970 in Nashville, Tennessee, by Joe Dunn, Ozell Simpkins, and Joe Talbot. In an effort to consolidate record manufacturing in Nashville, the company united several local pressing operations, including Southern Plastics, Precision Record Pressing, Inc. and MFP Incorporated. The first products displaying proprietary United pressing matrices appeared in 1972, with some client rosters and matrix chronologies upheld and continued under their former partnerships.

Over the years, URP stockpiled record presses acquired from the closure of other US manufacturers, including Dixie Record Pressing Inc. in 2000. On June 1, 2016, United acquired Bill Smith Custom Records. In February 2020 URP acquired sixteen additional presses from the closure of Rainbo Records making URP the largest record manufacturer in the USA with a capacity of 60,000 records per day.

Vinyl Identification:

• Their internal numbers used for the projects (often followed by m or M):

  • L-##### - 12" records (starting in 2000, probably beginning with L-11001)

  • T-##### - 10" records (starting in 2002, probably beginning with T-40001)

  • UR #### - 7" records (from 1972-1984, highest numbered one is in the 4000s)

  • U-##### - 7" records (starting in 1984, probably beginning with U-10001)

  • Records pressed by United Record Pressing often contain an etched "ⓤ" or "Ⓤ" (U in a circle) in the runout groove area.

  • During the 1970s, United was a contract presser for RCA. Pressings may be identified by the two-step label pressing rings, and a stamped "U" in the runouts adjacent to the struck-through RCA plant's identifier. 

For releases with "VINYL MADE IN MEXICO" released after April 1, 2025, see Conectiv, Mexico.

Successor to Technicolor, Guadalajara, Mexico. After filing for bankruptcy in 2020 and restructuring its activities, Technicolor rebranded to Vantiva in September 2022, which operated its media manufacturing business under the Supply Chain Solutions division. Originally only a CD and DVD duplication plant, at the time of the name change vinyl pressing was added to the repertory.

The plant is a full-service manufacturer offering electroplating (both 2- and 3-step plating) and packaging (both in Guadalajara and in a Mexicali, Mexico campus facility). At the start of production, Vantiva partnered with Sterling Sound Nashville for lacquer disc mastering, but started in-house cutting in 2023. The company also handles shipping and distribution from its facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, USA and builds custom displays for retailers. As of 2023, Vantiva in Mexico operated 30 machines with a capacity of 23 million records a year.

It was announced on 1 April 2025 that Vantiva SA had finalised the sale of its Supply Chain Solutions division to Los Angeles based Variant Equity, which would rename the business Conectiv. 

Identifying pressings

• Vinyl records: the (AAAAAAA) job number on Side B is usually one digit higher than on Side A. 

  • Some releases will have gaps between job numbers between Side B and C and/or Side D and Side E, etc.

• Please credit with "Pressed By" and add the job numbers in LCCN.

• Records will often have "VINYL MADE IN MEXICO" inkstamped on the shrinkwrap.