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Cutting dubs

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:44 pm
by curly123
I've just bought a few wav's off beatport that havn't been released on wax, would it be "acceptable" to cut a few dubs? Or could someone just outline the general "rules" to this subject?

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:49 pm
by Shum
Yes.

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:52 pm
by Be-1ne
mastering a finished mix down is different for both formats. Once something is mastered you wouldnt master it again. and chances are if you could find some one who would do it for you it would come out sounding shit. From my understanding of discussing this with a couple of mastering engineers who have cut dubs for me.

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:02 pm
by UKdubKingdom
a mate of mine does this quite often all though i dont know the process. I dont see why it would be unacceptable

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:51 am
by rob sparx
When a tune is mastered the vinyl master and digital master are done seperately vinyl master will be peaking around the 0db mark (maybe get a few db more on the transfer to vinyl) digi masters could be boosted say +6db from that so much louder. If you were to press from a digi master instead of a vinyl master would have to reduce overall volume so that record can be cut the result of which is less dynamic range on the dubplate/laquer. Also more importantly, for vinyl certain frequencies have to be cut out etc or eq'd/processed differently to digi and is probably better to do these to a quiet (-6db peak or less) high quality (32bit) recording rather than an already boosted/processed digi recording. I think thats the case anyway not an expert or anything

That said a vinyl cut from such a digi recording could still sound ok and plenty of records released have the same problem - they have basically been digi mastered (as producer leaves volume well in the red/limited/processed) b4 they are actually mastered properly - engineer has no headroom to work with at that point so can't do much for the sound other than cut to laquer. I know from experience of doing things the right and the wrong way that (provided your engineer is worth their salt) cutting from a quiet high quality premaster makes a warmer/smoother and louder master with less chance of distortion occusing - if you are cutting your own or friends tunes best to use this kind of premaster however if u dont have this option then digi thats already been premastered can still sound ok plenty of djs have cut plenty of records this way.

BTW if u cut a dubplate DONT rewind it!

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:59 am
by ashley
If I was an artist and you cut my tunes to Dubplate, I'd be more than honored.

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:34 pm
by __________
rob sparx wrote:BTW if u cut a dubplate DONT rewind it!
Why? That's what they're made for!

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:03 pm
by dj seizure
What I don't get is why anyone would buy an acetate Dubplate when you can get vinyls dubs.

Acetates fall apart vinyl dubplates don't!

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:22 pm
by apmje
Isn't it something to do with only being able to get vinyl in larger quantities but with acetate they are one off?

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:51 pm
by rob sparx
£10 Bag wrote:
rob sparx wrote:BTW if u cut a dubplate DONT rewind it!
Why? That's what they're made for!
A slow rewind is ok but full power spinbacks which are fine on normal vinyl aint too clever on dubplates

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:41 pm
by dj seizure
apmje wrote:Isn't it something to do with only being able to get vinyl in larger quantities but with acetate they are one off?
No. You can get vinyl dubplates, one off things. When I saw it, I don't understand why anyone would buy an acetate when they know it'll become crap!

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:43 pm
by Be-1ne
dj seizure wrote:
apmje wrote:Isn't it something to do with only being able to get vinyl in larger quantities but with acetate they are one off?
No. You can get vinyl dubplates, one off things. When I saw it, I don't understand why anyone would buy an acetate when they know it'll become crap!
because there is a difference in the sound between the acetate and the vinyl dubplate. The acetate has in my opinion a much fuller sound more associated with a finished record. The vinyl dub has a slight boxed in feel, but is much punchier on a system. but ech to their own, thats just my opinion.

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:35 pm
by curly123
rob sparx wrote:When a tune is mastered the vinyl master and digital master are done seperately vinyl master will be peaking around the 0db mark (maybe get a few db more on the transfer to vinyl) digi masters could be boosted say +6db from that so much louder. If you were to press from a digi master instead of a vinyl master would have to reduce overall volume so that record can be cut the result of which is less dynamic range on the dubplate/laquer. Also more importantly, for vinyl certain frequencies have to be cut out etc or eq'd/processed differently to digi and is probably better to do these to a quiet (-6db peak or less) high quality (32bit) recording rather than an already boosted/processed digi recording. I think thats the case anyway not an expert or anything

That said a vinyl cut from such a digi recording could still sound ok and plenty of records released have the same problem - they have basically been digi mastered (as producer leaves volume well in the red/limited/processed) b4 they are actually mastered properly - engineer has no headroom to work with at that point so can't do much for the sound other than cut to laquer. I know from experience of doing things the right and the wrong way that (provided your engineer is worth their salt) cutting from a quiet high quality premaster makes a warmer/smoother and louder master with less chance of distortion occusing - if you are cutting your own or friends tunes best to use this kind of premaster however if u dont have this option then digi thats already been premastered can still sound ok plenty of djs have cut plenty of records this way.

BTW if u cut a dubplate DONT rewind it!
Cheers Rob! I just havn't ever cut before so I thought it was worth a little inquest before I started

Re: Cutting dubs

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:31 pm
by rob sparx
dj seizure wrote:
apmje wrote:Isn't it something to do with only being able to get vinyl in larger quantities but with acetate they are one off?
No. You can get vinyl dubplates, one off things. When I saw it, I don't understand why anyone would buy an acetate when they know it'll become crap!
Record it with a top quality needle onto a sadie for the 1st play (haven't actually done this yet but will be doing it very soon) to capture that sound at its best