PRICING QUESTIONS: Download our Price Card or contact Matt Earley at (800) 295-0171 or matt@gottagrooverecords.com
WHAT VINYL FORMATS DO YOU PRESS? Currently, we are pressing 7" and 12" vinyl, in color and black. Our standard 12" weight averages between 140 and 150 grams, so it is heavy and aesthetically pleasing. We also press 180 gram LPs, which actually average closer to 190 grams (not that this affects sound to a measurable degree).
WHAT IS GOTTA GROOVE'S TURN TIME? Please allow extra time in your plans, just to give everyone involved some "cushion time". You can definitely help us in the process by submitting all of your art and audio masters at the time that you place your order. Also, if you know of a set deadline, but have everything ready far in advance, it always helps us all to receive your order at the earliest possible date rather than waiting until the last minute. Please always call or email us before setting your release date, as turn times can (and do) fluctuate throughout the year. Remember - vinyl is an early/mid 20th-century technology that we are manufacturing in a fast-paced "overnight" world. 
WHAT KIND OF AUDIO DO I NEED TO PROVIDE? For the very best sound result, we highly recommend that you have your audio mastered specifically for vinyl by an engineer who is familiar with the vinyl format.
If you are providing your audio master in a digital form, we prefer either 24 bit wav files (if uploaded via our website) or a data disc containing either wav files or (at the least) redbook format (16 bit) audio. A great rule of thumb is to put your loudest, heaviest tracks at the beginning of each side, and put your less dynamic and less high-frequency driven tracks at the end of each side (so, unlike with CDs, the order of your songs on the record is very important).
OTHER GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:
1) Keep your bass centered (Kick, Bass) if you have toms, be extremely careful of hard panning (can cause skipping/skating issues).
2) Keep your cymbals under control don't mix them too loud or too bright.
3) Make sure all of your vocals are De-essed properly
These three guidlines alone will help you through about 95 percent of the process.
With acoustic oriented projects, we have found that the less limiting you use on the master, the better. Our biggest suggestion with this kind of music is to mix and masters at levels that allow the music to sound natural and dynamic.
The lacquer cutter can turn the overall level up or down going to the cutting lathe, so overall volume is not really a major consideration when prepping masters for us; and heavy limiting really causes some distortion issues.
In terms of rolling off Bass and treble frequencies, don't go too crazy on that end. Our lacquer cutter's setup contains the needed EQ to do that job. Just mix according to the guidelines of proper mixing in general and you will be fine.
Finally, we HIGHLY recommend that you purchase test lacquer cut samples with every order. They are only $20 extra, and we send them to you via email as mp3's. They serve as an excellent preview of what your test pressings will sound like; and therefore can catch any mastering issues before making it all the way to test pressings (saving you a huge portion of time and expense).
An even better option (albeit more expensive) is to have each side cut into a "dub plate" to reference the entire master cut prior to even cutting the master lacquer. Please contact us for pricing on this option.
For more specific questions, or if you need more info on any of the suggestions listed above, please contact our lacquer engineer, Clint Holley, at clint@gottagrooverecords.com.
Also, please visit our friends at Chicago Mastering and Electric Western for a lot of great insight on best practices for vinyl mastering.
Ideal time limits for sides:
7” @ 33 1/3 RPM: 6 minutes per side. (we can cut longer depending upon the music, however, please consult with us before placing your order). [NOTE: 45rpm is always the best choice for a 7", if side length permits. 33rpm is more of a "compromise", and can be more prone to distortion. Please call for more information.]
7” @ 45 RPM: 4.5 minutes per side. (we can cut longer depending upon the music, however, please consult with us before placing your order).
12” @ 33 1/3 RPM: 18 minutes per side is ideal, 20 minutes per side is still good, 22 minutes per side may cause issues depending upon the music, anything over 22 minutes - please call us before placing your order.
12” @ 45 RPM: 12 minutes per side is ideal, 14 minutes is ok, anything over 15 minutes - please call us before placing your order.
Please Remember: The lacquer cutter's job is to cut as flat as possible, in an effort to make the cut sound as close as possible to the provided master. Therefore, adjustments to the master to make it appropriate for the vinyl format need to be made at the mastering session -- not at the point of the lacquer cut. If a master is provided that is pushing some element to the outer limits; such as vocals for example-- chances are those pushed vocals are going to stick out much more on the vinyl record than on the digital master. For these reasons, it is very important that you provide a master that has been prepared specifically for the vinyl format. Sorry for the redundancy -- but, we cannot stress enough the importance of providing us with a master that is suitable for the lacquer cut.
WHAT KIND OF ART FILES DO I NEED TO PROVIDE? If we are printing your labels, sleeves, jackets, download cards, inserts, posters, flats, or any other printed products, we need your art to be submitted to us on our provided templates. Please make sure that all art submitted to us is of a resolution of 300 dpi or greater and CMYK.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR ART FILE GUIDELINES
WHAT DO I NEED TO PAY UP FRONT? A deposit of 50% of your order's total (before freight) is required in order to begin processing your order. The remaining 50% is due upon your approval of test pressings and/or art proofs. Freight is due upon shipment. We accept cash, check, and credit cards (MC, VISA, Discover, AMEX).
WHAT IS YOUR MINIMUM ORDER?For 7" and 12" records, we prefer to press minimum runs of 250. However, we try to accommodate all of our customers-- if you have any needs to press less than 250 records, please contact Matt Earley at (800) 295-0171 or matt@gottagrooverecords.com to discuss. Printed products typically have a minimum order of either 500 (for single pocket LP jackets) or 1,000 (for most other print products). Minimum run on standard download inserts is 250.
WHAT OTHER PRODUCTS DO YOU SELL? Gotta Groove Records is a "one stop shop". You can get your custom printed jackets & sleeves produced and assembled by us when you get your records pressed. We also handle record labels, insert printing, digital download code hosting and insert printing, poster & flat printing, mastering services, custom packaging solutions, and pretty much anything that goes along with vinyl records! We do offer graphic design services too.
DISTRIBUTION & FULFILLMENT SERVICES? YES, Gotta Groove now offers distribution and fulfillment services for your records pressed with us! This includes total pick-pack-ship-payment processing services so you can sell online to your customers AND listing of your product in a national database from which independent retailers in every state order product at wholesale. Please inquire with Matt for more detail: (800) 295-0171 or matt@gottagrooverecords.com.
HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER? You can obtain order forms, pricing, templates, and upload audio and art files here. You can order online here. You can also call us at (800) 295-0171 or email Matt Earley at matt@gottagrooverecords.com.
CAN I TALK TO A REAL PERSON REGARDING MY ORDER?YES! Please feel free to call or email Matt Earley at (800) 295-0171 or matt@gottagrooverecords.com if you have any questions about ordering, technical questions, or just to converse in general.
ARE YOU HIRING?While we do not currently have open positions, if you are interested in sending your resume, we will keep it on file for six months for the case where a position does become available. Interested applicants should send their resume to Gotta Groove Records, Inc., Attn: Vince Slusarz, 3615 Superior Ave #4201A, Cleveland, OH 44114. GGR is an equal opportunity employer.
Have other questions? Get in touch with us on your social network of choice (Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace), or just send an email and we'll be happy to answer your question. We'll post them here as we get them.
