VINYL MASTERING FAQ
Straight answers for metal, punk, hardcore, doom, death metal, black metal and grind bands taking a record to vinyl. Enormous Door Mastering is led by Jack Control, with 5000+ mastering credits since 2008, and prepares masters for vinyl, streaming, CD, cassette and digital release formats.
How long can each side of a vinyl record be?
Side length is the biggest physical limit on vinyl. Longer sides need tighter groove spacing, which costs level, low end, high-frequency clarity and playback stability. These are the planning numbers per side, optimal first and maximum second:
- 12-inch at 33⅓ RPM: 16–20 minutes, up to 25 minutes
- 12-inch at 45 RPM: 6–12 minutes, up to 15 minutes
- 10-inch at 33⅓ RPM: 9 minutes, up to 14 minutes
- 10-inch at 45 RPM: 8 minutes, up to 10 minutes
- 7-inch at 33⅓ RPM: 5 minutes, up to 7 minutes
- 7-inch at 45 RPM: 3 minutes, up to 5 minutes
Heavy records with dense guitars, aggressive cymbals, loud vocals and deep low end benefit most from shorter sides. Longer sides are possible, but they usually force compromises in level, bass weight, top end and distortion control. The cutting engineer or pressing plant may make final recommendations based on the actual audio. The full guide is on the vinyl side length page.
Should a heavy record be cut at 33⅓ or 45 RPM?
It depends on running time. A 12-inch at 45 RPM holds far less music per side than one at 33⅓, so it suits shorter releases: EPs, singles and many punk and hardcore records. A full-length album usually needs 33⅓, or a double LP if the sides would run long. Include your intended size, RPM and side splits with the project details, and timing problems get flagged before any masters are made.
How loud can a vinyl record be?
There is no fixed loudness number for vinyl. How hard a record can be cut depends on side length, how much low end and high-frequency energy the songs carry, and where each track sits on the side. Vinyl playback is not loudness-normalized the way streaming is, so the decisions are about what the groove can hold cleanly, not about hitting a platform target.
The goal is not to make the record smaller, safer or weaker. It is to keep punch, clarity, low-end authority and musical intent while respecting what a cutting engineer and pressing plant can realistically put on the format.
Do I need a separate vinyl master?
Sometimes, not always. Many projects need separate masters for vinyl and digital platforms, because each format responds differently to level, limiting, low end, brightness and sequencing. Whether your release needs one is confirmed before scheduling, so you do not over-order, under-prepare or send the wrong files into production.
If the record is coming out on vinyl plus streaming, CD, cassette or digital download, the Full Release Package is usually the right path: it covers the standard masters needed for every confirmed format.
How does track order affect a vinyl record?
The outside of a record has more room and handles louder, heavier, wider and brighter material better. The inner grooves are more limited and more sensitive to distortion, sibilance, harsh cymbals and dense guitars. When possible:
- Put the loudest, bass-heaviest or most aggressive tracks earlier on each side.
- Avoid ending a long side with the harshest, loudest or brightest song.
- Keep side lengths balanced.
- Confirm side splits before final mastering.
What files should I send for vinyl mastering?
Send stereo WAV or AIFF files exported directly from the mix session, at the session's native sample rate and bit depth. No MP3s or other lossy files as the source, no normalizing, and usually no limiter or clipper on the mix bus unless it is part of the approved sound. Leave clean headroom; peaks around -6 dBFS are a practical target.
For vinyl, also include the intended Side A and Side B splits, the RPM, the final track order, any timing concerns and your pressing plant's requirements if you have them. The complete checklist is in the mix prep and delivery specs.
What does vinyl mastering cost?
Heavy Mastering is priced by project length and delivery need. For an LP up to 45 minutes, a Single-Format Master is $500 and the Full Release Package is $600.
Beyond Heavy for an LP up to 45 minutes is $850, with all required release formats included. Every length, from singles to double LPs, is on the pricing page.
What is Beyond Heavy, and is it right for a vinyl release?
Beyond Heavy is the flagship collaboration between Jack Control and Maor Appelbaum. Jack shapes the mastering direction, genre feel, sequencing, impact and format decisions; Maor brings an elite mastering chain and a second high-level perspective. It is built for release-ready records that need vinyl optimization or high-impact translation across every format, and selected credits include Darkthrone, Aura Noir, Mork and Victor Griffin. Read more about Beyond Heavy.
Can Enormous Door help with vinyl pressing too?
Masters are prepared for the pressing plant you choose, and most records mastered here are pressed at plants the band or label already works with. If you still need a plant, Enormous Door partners with Helios Pressing; start on the vinyl pressing page. Enormous Door is also the mastering partner for Helios clients who need mastering at the pressing stage.
How do I start a vinyl mastering project?
Send the project details first: band name, release title, running time, record size and RPM, formats and mix status. You do not need every detail finalized. The right path, price range, file readiness and side lengths are confirmed before anything is scheduled.