Your tracks on wax: How to press your own record

So you've chosen your pressing service, made sure the tracks are the right length and even gotten the all-ok on your perfect mastering techniques. Almost all services will send you a test pressing to listen to before you go full steam.

These are absolutely key to your process. Made of PVC, they go through the same processes as your main batch, meaning any issues in your mix will show up and you can adjust. It's also a good stage to make sure all the tracks are in the right order and on the right side of the record!

When listening back, Gotta Groove Records suggest you listen back to the pressing all the way through on a variety of different turntables. "You can't control what your end consumers will be listening on, but you can at least gain some perspective on how the cartridge/stylus in particular can make the record sound different."