All Vinyl
Vinyl Record Sound Quality Grows on U.S. Plant
Our music is sounding better than ever, because we can again be heard on vinyl. Millions of music lovers around the world discover and rediscover why vinyl is the best sound format. Along with the growth of this historic audio medium is a renewed interest in record companies and manufacturers that the vinyl records that the music community is buying. Let a company dedicated to the quality of their vinyl products and most importantly, the sound of music.
I talked to Eric Astor, CEO and Manish Naik, COO Furnace MFG (www.furnacecd.com), and although the company offers a variety of audio and promotional services, we will focus on the record aspects of the business. The company has secured exclusive North American partnership with two of the best audiophile-quality printing plants in Europe and as we shall learning, it's all about producing the best sounding vinyl that can be manufactured. Let us learn more about them:
Who are you and what does your company do?
"Furnace MFG is located in the Washington, DC metro area and we are a one-stop source for CD, DVD and vinyl production. Furnace MFG has been hard at work on CDs and DVDs for independent music community since 1996. We have exclusive arrangements with two of the best pressing plant in the world for the best sounding records on the planet, "commented Eric.
"Many people ask why our prices are more expensive than pressing factories in the U.S.. The answer is simple: we offer the best quality sound and physical product on the planet and it costs a bit more to produce that kind of quality. Vinyl pressing is a delicate art – unlike a modern CD factory. It takes decades of experience to produce a consistent quality of records and working with our partners we have over 120 years expertise in urgent cases. We also work with our partners overseas to press and package vinyl sleeves, which are then shipped to Furnace MFG in Fairfax, Virginia. The meticulous staff Furnace MFG inspect each record for quality and consistency. It is then assembled, packaged, boxed and shipped from our state of the art packaging facility at your site. We are your one-stop source for vinyl, jackets, inserts, posters, drop cards, mastering, vinyl cutting, or anything else related. "
Why is the record making a revival?
"We think there are two main reasons that vinyl is making a resurgence. The first is for consumers to rediscover (or discover for the first time) that listening to a vinyl record is completely different than listening to a CD or a downloaded song. The sound quality is noticeably better with a richer hues since a vinyl record playing the song exactly how an artist without losing the translation to a digital format. There is a whole experience of listening to an album that is missing from CDs and MP3s. Selecting the album, which the sleeve, making it on the turntable, looking over the jacket and liner notes, these actions are combined into a real 'experience' of listening to. Listening to a record in and of itself, the activity. Listening to an MP3 is usually done while doing something else and is more often than not, a background activity, "said Manish.
"The second reason for the resurgence in vinyl is that artists and labels are once again embracing the format. Artists love the sound of vinyl and feel it is a truer representation their music. Labels are realizing that while the raw sales of vinyl are low compared with CDs, the margins are much higher, and pay attention to this new source of revenues in the face of falling CD sales and increasing digital downloads. "
"The combination of consumer interest and interest from the labels was what fuels this growth. One could not exist without the other and we feel that this trend will continue for years. Vinyl will never overtake CD sales, but there remains a core group of consumers are interested in this format, "said Manish.
"One thing the music industry should take account of all that vinyl will only grow and expand as the quality is there. If a buyer is a first negative experience with vinyl, they will not come back to the format. There are a lot of bad pressed plates that no enrichment of the listening experience. If this is what buyers come to expect, they will stop buying vinyl and go back to buying CDs or file sharing. This is where we think furnace provides the most help in the market – to ensure that every record we produce is one of the best printed in the world and something that a band or label behind it and proud. "
PVC is made in America and shipped to the pressing plant?
"Every plant Furnace A has formed an exclusive partnership with the source of their own PVC. They are the experts in understanding the best products to work with their impressions of machines and which products produce the best sounds, "said Manish. "Both Pallas (Germany) and Record Industry (Netherlands) have their own PVC formula that was created especially for their factory."
"All vinyl is pressed in Europe and then shipped on pallets by plane to our facility in northern Virginia (just outside Washington DC) where we assemble the final product and the finish for retail. Vinyl is usually from the factory to our dock in less than 24 hours that preserves the quality of the product and allows us to offer industry-leading turnaround times. "
What are the costs associated with the release of a vinyl record?
"There are different costs associated with vinyl records. Some of these are mastering / cutting, test pressings, the actual production of vinyl jacket and insert printing, assembly costs, and final finishing costs, "said Eric." The costs vary widely depending on the weight of the record (120 g, 140g, or 180g), the lead time required (either 4 weeks or 8 weeks), and the complexity of assembly and finish. For someone just in vinyl production, here's a handy overview of the steps in the production (post-recording), all of Furnace to our customers:
EQ / Leveling / Audio Mastering
Lacquer-Cutting or DMM
-Galvanic / Metalworking (father, mother and Stamper creation)
Test Pressings for customer approval
Label design and print
-Jacket, insert and label design and print marketing
Vinyl-print
Assembly, packaging / bags, boxing and shipping
You tell me the vinyl was pressed in different countries, you can work, why ship the work overseas?
"When we entered the business of vinyl production, we knew that there is only one U.S. plant that has the quality that the audiophile market craves, "said Eric." There are other domestic options, but the quality produced in these plants was less than we were willing to put our name. We signed two exclusive relationships best vinyl European plants (Pallas Group, and Record Industry). These plants have a long tradition in the vinyl industry and the professionalism of their staff is great. To give you an example, the mother board worked as an apprentice inspector Pallas for 10 years before taking over that job. For Record Industry, they share some of the world's best selling releases on vinyl including "Dark Side of the Moon" and various Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam and The Beatles titles. Record Industry leading cutting engineer has cut all of the above records during his 33 year career in a variety labels and plants. We believe that each record produced by our partners will be of very high quality and consistency – because that's what our customers demand and record buyers ".
What is the difference between 'normal' vinyl and "audiophile" releases that are becoming more popular these days?
"It's all about the sound quality. If you give them plants and two lakes carved from the finest cutting studio in the world and ask them to push up a number of records – you will often times get two totally different products. The PVC material used, the galvanic process and pressing two formulas at our facility are the secret weapon to some of the best records in the material world. If a plant does not care and the costs of creating superior metal parts, you hear it in the vinyl. If a plant treats each record and the same holds not include the cut and the other 9000 things you should consider when pressing vinyl records, you may have problems there too. You will not fill, poor tracking, etc with inexperienced people have the equipment running. Both of our plants have decades of experience and on the floor is not something you can buy or learn overnight, "says Manish.
"Most of the records that are marketed as Audiophile releases are printed on heavy vinyl. 180g records, for example, are less susceptible to warping or satellite. When pressed correctly, you will have a superior and durable products to get a heavyweight record. "
What pull records?
"We Consumer records are just like any other consumers. For us, records allow us to connect with the music in a way that CDs and digital music just will not allow. We all have MP3 players and love the storage capacity and flexibility, but there are times that attracting a record is an unparalleled experience. A number of records I've owned for 25 years plus and I remember the money I saved to buy them, the smell of the record when I opened it and the shop where I bought it from. Every time I had one of those plates me back to a place and time of my life – most of the time it is a positive reminder. "
Tell us about some of your customers:
"We have a wide range of clients from major music labels like Warner Music and Universal to independent labels too. We also work with licensed reissue labels that focus on high quality vinyl such as Mobile Fidelity, acoustic sounds and Original Recordings Group. These guys produce ultra high quality records and packaging are among the leaders in the field – Go as far as flying the original tapes of the cut-studio or going through 3 and 4 sets of paint until the perfect cut. "
"We also work with a wealth of independent labels and bands. This is where we put to the test. Everyone is looking for something different and unique and everyone is on a budget. We have enough experience to work with people to collect their demands, the budget talk and then fit them with a package that best meets their needs. Since most of our customers are new to vinyl or new vinyl gets back to, we act as advisors sometimes as much as we do a press shop. "
Where you see the record in 5 years, this is just a fad or vinyl will continue to be in demand?
"We expect the record to continue its growth for years to come eventually leveling off in about five years," said Erik. "We do not think the resurgence in vinyl is a fad, but a new / old format that more and more people will continue to explore. As long as labels are willing to record for high quality bands and their fans have to buy them. Vinyl never died. The customer never rejected the format. The labels, seeing higher profit margins, inflated MSRPs for the Compact Disc and pushed aside and said vinyl record stores to make room for CDs and liquidate their vinyl. Indie shops and mail order / internet always sold vinyl and they always will. Let us hope that the labels and bands keep running with it and keep the customers happy. "
It is amazing to learn that a company is actually about key element of the vinyl care, quality of sound. It is why many mainstream artists and indie bands are returning to this delightful recording format and why music consumers clamoring for more vinyl releases. It's all about the sound, that's why we love the music in the first place and why so many musical acts are looking for services Furnace MFG.
About the Author
Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates
http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com
, where you can pick up a copy of his FREE ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.”
does all years 1970 lino or vinyl flooring contains asbestos or only a part of it?
Only a small amount. Usually for heavy, commercial-type noise floor had asbestos. Not a care in residential applications of the time. Good Luck!
Alexi Murdoch “All My Days” Vinyl Fever-Tampa, FL (Best)
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