Here’s hoping the trend for new record plants continues, as consumers will soon vote with their feet if the quality continues to miss the mark.Where I live, there is no record store around to which I could go to for RSD. Supporting the growth of record plant numbers and addressing broader supply chain issues will go a long way towards improving quality, as competition always raises quality standards. The more the industry groups together under a shared mission, the greater our ability to address quality control problems. That doesn’t mean that suddenly the quality is disastrous, but that they work within a tolerance.” AdvertisementsĪdditionally, the recent formation of the Vinyl Alliance-a members-based organization working to “strengthen the position of vinyl records in a digital world”-is a positive development. “However, the manufacture of records is a very organic process, and all factories cycle through peaks and troughs of quality. “The RIAA have a working group looking to put together a standards document covering all aspects of record manufacture in terms of quality of pressing, printing, and becoming more environmentally friendly,” he explains. In a recent interview with mastering engineer Barry Grint, he revealed a promising development supporting quality control. There is a strong determination across the industry to improve and uphold standards to secure a bright future for vinyl records as demand continues to grow. For example, many YouTubers have expressed concerns and frustrations, including Frank Landry from Channel 33RMP, who claims there are “Still MAJOR quality control issues with new vinyl records” after receiving a heavily scratched copy of Ozzy Osbourne’s Ordinary Man. ![]() I’m not the only person to raise concerns over quality control, of course. Thankfully, most retailers are understanding and will always accept a return or replacement for faulty records, but the process and time involved certainly takes the edge off the whole experience of buying a desirable product. And while there was nothing wrong with the actual pressing, color defects on a limited edition pressing simply isn’t good enough. For example, I paid upwards of $40 for my recent copy of Unicorn (described above). Consumers will quickly lose patience if they feel they’re paying a premium for subpar quality. My fear is, if the subject of quality control isn’t addressed, it could threaten the resurgence in vinyl. ![]() Sales figures for new vinyl continue to rise, putting the limited amount of pressing plants under increased pressure. I appreciate there will always be the odd problem that slips through the net, and I also understand the huge strain placed on record plants to keep up with demand. My suspicion here is the mastering wasn’t explicitly handled for vinyl, and the original digital master doesn’t translate well to wax. There is significant sibilance on this record, particularly on Norah’s vocal. Better to have the bubble in the silence rather than disturbing the music. After buying a few copies, I ended up settling for one of them where the bubble was located between two tracks. Again, there is a tiny bubble on the record surface that causes a pop as the stylus runs through. ![]() Pressed off-center…Ĭounting Crows – August and Everything After.
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