7”

A vinyl record that is 7 inches in diameter, the standard for a 45 rpm single or EP.

8-track

A recording playback format popular in Australia in the early 1970s.

12”

A vinyl record that is 12 inches in diameter (either 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm).

33

A vinyl record that plays at 33 1/3 rpm, usually a 12” LP.

45

A vinyl record that plays at 45 rpm, usually a 7” single or EP.

acetate

An aluminium disc covered with nitrocellulose lacquer. Manufactured in small quantities for quality testing prior to test pressings. Used to demonstrate how the finished vinyl record would sound. Very easily damaged, can be played only a few times. Plated with silver or nickel to become the metal master.

album

A term for a record that contains a collection of songs.

cassette

A plastic shell casing containing 1/8” analogue audio tape.

catalogue number

The unique identification number a record label assigns to a release. It is used for tracking purposes by both the label and the distributor.

coated cardboard

Cardboard used for outer sleeves that has been primed on the outside with plastic, or more traditionally a clay-based white primer. Cheaper and less durable than laminated cardboard.

coloured vinyl

Vinyl is clear in colour but a black dye is mixed in at the manufacturing process. Coloured vinyl signifies any colour in the spectrum other than black. Can be a single colour, or a mixture of colours or styles such as splattered or marbled.

contract pressing

Records pressed for a record label by another record label, either domestic or abroad.

cover

The face of the outer record sleeve, usually distinguished as front cover or back cover.

custom pressing

Records pressed in small quantities, usually for marketing or promotional purposes.

deadwax

The area on the vinyl after the last track. Usually contains the matrix and lacquer numbers, hand etched or machine stamped.

deleted

An item is termed deleted when it is no longer available direct from the record label.

die-cut sleeve

A sleeve with a custom cut area or hole, usually intended to reveal a picture disc, coloured vinyl disc or the label, without having to remove it from the sleeve.

EP

Extended Play record. Usually a 45 rpm 7” record with four to six tracks.

first pressing

Also referred to as original pressing, this is the first batch of records produced for a release. With few exceptions, the first pressing will also be the most desirable, and hence valuable.

flipback

A one-piece cardboard sleeve folded in half with the flaps used to join the front to the back exposed on the outside of the back cover.

gatefold sleeve

A sleeve that either opens like a book or folds out into three sections. When folded it is the same size as a standard LP or EP sleeve. The gatefold sleeve provided a means of including artwork, liner notes, and/or song lyrics that would otherwise not have fit on a standard sleeve. Gatefold sleeves were also used when an album contained more than one record (for example, a double-album would include one record in each half of the sleeve).

inner sleeve

The inner protective paper or plastic sleeve that houses the record and slides within the outer sleeve.

insert

Extra inserts in the record sleeve, such as posters, pictures or promotional information.

label

Circular paper in the centre of a record containing details about the record. Labels are not glued to the vinyl, but embedded into the vinyl during pressing. They are made out of a special paper that will withstand the heat of the pressing process. See also record label.

lacquer

See acetate.

lacquer number

A sequential number given to each lacquer cut from a master recording. Usually inscribed after the matrix number in the run-out groove of the record.

limited edition

A limited pressing or issue where a set number of units has been manufactured and distributed, usually with no likelihood of a repressing once sold out. Differs from a regular issue which is intended to be available for a longer period and may be repressed to meet demand. May sometimes be individually numbered.

LP

An abbreviation for 12” Long Playing record. A record album.

master

See acetate.

master tape/recording

The primary two channel audio tape that is the source in the manufacture of vinyl records.

matrix number

A unique alphanumeric index allocated by the record label to each master tape/recording. Usually inscribed with the lacquer number in the run-out groove of the record.

mechanical royalties

The royalties paid to composers and their publishers every time music is reproduced on cassette, vinyl, or any other format.

metal master

Created from the lacquer, the metal master, also known as the father, is used to create a mother.

mix

A process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two channel stereo. Multiple mixes of a recorded work can exist.

mother

A metal record with grooves that can be played for testing purposes. Usually plated to create the stampers that press records. Mothers, unlike the fragile lacquer, can be re-plated many times over, producing many stampers. Multiple mothers can be made from the one lacquer so multiple identical mothers can be sent to other pressing plants or countries for their production requirements, and thus huge quantities of records can be produced in a very short time if need be, all with the same quality level of the release pressings in the originating country or plant.

music publisher

Responsible for ensuring composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a composer assigns the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses compositions, helps monitor where compositions are used, collects royalties and distributes them to the composer.

outer sleeve

The outer cardboard covering of a record.

picture disc

Clear, transparent vinyl record that has a picture of the same size welded inside the vinyl. Often with lower sound quality.

promo record

Advance release for radio stations, broadcasters and reviewers for promotion prior to a record’s full release.

record

Refers to sound recordings usually on grooved vinyl discs.

record label

The brand and trademark associated with the marketing of sound recordings. Coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing/promotion and enforcement of copyright protection of sound recordings. The term derives from the circular label in the centre of a vinyl record that prominently displays the manufacturer s name, along with other information.

reissue

Re-releases of previously released product. May have new tracks, new liner notes or packaging. Not the original release or pressing.

ringwear

Wear on the outer sleeve from the centre ring around the label or from the outer edge of the record.

royalty stamps

Issued to show the pre-payment of mechanical royalties due under various Copyright Acts and Regulations. They were intended to be affixed to the record to show that the royalty had been paid.

rpm

Revolutions per minute. A measure of the (rotational) speed of a vinyl record.

run-out groove

See deadwax.

shrink wrap

The heat-shrunk or sealed plastic cover around a record’s outer sleeve. Uncommon on Australian pressings.

single

A record that usually contains one track per side. Can be 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm, in either 7” or 12” format.

sleeve

May refer to either the outer cardboard covering of a record or the inner protective paper or plastic sleeve that houses the record, usually distinguished as inner sleeve or outer sleeve.

SP

An abbreviation for 7” single.

stampers

Stampers are used to press the grooves containing the sound onto vinyl. Each pair of stampers is capable of pressing around 1,000 records.

stock copy/pressing

A copy of a record intended for retail sale.

test/advance pressing

After manufacturing an acetate, a small number of vinyl test pressings are produced to check sound quality. They usually bear plain white labels with the title, matrix, factory and side numbers typed or handwritten.

withdrawn

When a record label decides not to issue a certain record and orders all copies to be withdrawn and destroyed. Some copies always survive and are very collectable.