Chef Napalm
Lost in the Supermarket
Reading this in Woebot’s Grime ‘04 CD thread has gotten me thinking.WOEBOT said:That's quite a lot of action since August all told. Huge respect to all the people bringing out records. I reckon putting out a record in itself is a cogent artistic statement, it's a lot more difficult than cobbling together a mix CD, a genuine real-world production hurdle. If you're releasing out records you've definitely got something to say.
Let's say, just for argument's sake, that one of our number *ahem* has decided he has a choon worth releasing (my mum likes it, anyway). Rather than chase some record-deal/pipe-dream, the Dissensian in question wants to press up a minimal amount of his/her/its own white labels. Unfortunately, the lack of local vinyl pressing equipment has forced him onto the internet. Knowing that both the music industry and internet businesses are essentially corrupt, our (cynical) hero is very concerned about the possibility of getting hosed by some fly-by-night operator with a dial-up connection and a nose for suckers. Cost is also an issue. Cheap is good, but it’s been my experience that you get what you pay for, if you’re lucky.
So, what’s the score? With whom do the grime crews/mash-up artists press their W/Ls? What should I be looking for in terms of services provided, quality control and final product (Keeping in mind, of course, financial constraints)?
The other possibility (and the one that really appeals to my engineering spirit) is a true DIY operation. Ever since I saw this and this, I’ve been thinking about building my own lacquer lathe. I mean, we’re talking about 80 year-old technology here; how hard could it be. Mechanically, it’s some motors and a ball-screw. Electrically, it’s wiring and some kind of rudimentary amplifier set-up. The tricky parts are the cutting head and lacquer blanks.
The web is surprisingly lacking in specific technical information on either subject. Lots of nice pictures of heads, but nothing explicit on materials, construction, or even precisely how they function. Same with the blanks; lots of places that use them, but no specs on materials, manufacturing processes, or even bulk suppliers. Not only that, but when you contact sites that ostensibly feature this kind of equipment, they NEVER return your email. All in all it’s been a frustrating and largely fruitless search for answers.
I have this grand vision (speaking of pipe-dreams) of an open-source web-site, complete with project diary, design schematics, downloadable blue prints, and equipment supplier links. Make your own music, build your own gear. True Do-It-Yourself and all of the freedom that comes with it.
Having said all that, would anybody here be interested in such a project? Any help (technical or otherwise) would be greatly appreciated. Just try not to burst my bubble.