VINYL INFO

Please refer to the following suggested vinyl side lengths to maximize volume and fidelity and to reduce the risk of poor pressing outcomes:

12″ @33 1/3 RPM:

• OPTIMAL – 16 to 20 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 25 minutes per side

12″ @45 RPM:

• OPTIMAL – 6 to 12 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 15 minutes per side

10″ @33 1/3 RPM:

• OPTIMAL – 9 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 14 minutes per side

10″ @45 RPM:

• OPTIMAL – 8 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 10 minutes per side

7″ @33 1/3 RPM (not recommended):

• OPTIMAL – 5 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 7 minutes per side

7″ @45 RPM:

• OPTIMAL – 3 minutes per side

• MAXIMUM – 5 minutes per side

​

Understand how important time and sequencing of songs is when compiling a record for vinyl pressing... 

All vinyl records will sound quieter, thinner, and more distorted as they approach the center label. The reason is that the length of the groove at the outer edge of an LP is 37.7", whereas the length of the groove at the inner edge is 12.7". That is 1/3 the length to transmit the same sonic information.

For a 7" EP the length of the grooves to transmit this information is even shorter, which is why shorter side lengths and 45rpm are strongly recommended. The faster rpm rate means that the information etched into the record's grooves will be less compressed into the short circumference length, although the trade-off is that it shortens the amount of time possible. If you wrap a piece of string around the outside of a record you will have a longer length than if you wrap a piece around the center label. You can equate longer length with "high resolution", and shorter length with "low resolution".

To keep the calculus very simple - the longer your side times are, the quieter, thinner, and more distorted your record will sound.

The proper way to sequence a record is to place louder, more dense songs as the first songs, and quieter, more dynamic songs as the last songs on each side. This is why most rock records end with a ballad.