Can You Sell Vinyl on CD Baby?

A while back, I sent a query out to CDBaby asking about the possibility of selling a vinyl album or in addition to digital downloads and compact discs. Vinyl junkies take note, the official word from CD Baby is good news–vinyl is most welcome. From the CD Baby rep, Deena:

“Sure, we can list vinyl at CDBaby. We prefer if it matches an album on CD that is already for sale or will be for sale here, but isn’t required. Just makes things easier for the set up, as you’ll see.”

According to CD Baby, if you already have an album for sale on CD Baby and want to start selling vinyl copies, all you have to do is send five copies (contact CD Baby directly for details about sending more for in-store distro, etc.).

Vinyl submitted as a “stand alone submission” (as in, there are no other formats to be sold) must be signed up in the same way as a new CD or digital download. You’ll need a UPC code or you can purchase one from CDBaby. Again from the rep:

“Then, we’ll need an audio cd that matches the audio on the record so that we can post your clips and/or digitally distribute the album. You can send that with the first five records you send us. Please keep in mind, we might have to take a different cut than $4 per physical copy sold, shipping costs are sometimes more than it is for CDs.  We’ll have our receiving manager check it out once it arrives.”

Don’t forget about the cover art!  Just like with CD Baby CDs, you’ll need to send  a 1000 x 1000 pixel tiff file at 300dpi (with no compression) to CD Baby. This is great news for anyone who wants to get more ears on their vinyl release but doesn’t know where to start with distribution, etc. This CD Baby page has plenty of information on signing up and getting started. And, yes, Turntabling Records does have some material distributed via CD Baby, including all the titles found in the upper right corner of our site under “Download Turntabling Records albums”

Making Great Vinyl Records–United Record Pressing on Mastering For Vinyl

United Record Pressing has an interesting section on mastering for vinyl. There is plenty of advice there about the physical limitations of vinyl as a medium and what bands can do to make sure they get good fidelity from the finished product.

My only question about this section–having been written in 1997, is what has changed and updated since that time? Surely not the laws of physics with regard to how hot your master tracks can be before they overload and distort, or when too much treble becomes, er, troublesome. (Treblesome is not a word. But I almost used it here. Heh.)

Fortunately there are more recent discussions on the mastering to vinyl issue. Gearslutz.com has a thread from 2008 and another one here. CustomRecords.com throws its two cents worth in here, so you’ll have plenty to chew on. … Continue Reading

Want to Release an Album on Vinyl?

If you’re an indie musician looking to release that first-ever title on vinyl, there’s a whole new world of learning you’ll need to explore before you can get your masterpiece on that lovely spinning platter.

Turntabling Records has been plotting its own vinyl album–my previous releases were all on CD–and I can tell you there is much to take in. How do you get an album mastered for vinyl as opposed to compact disc? What are the audio tolerances? How long should each side be for good, middle of the road audio fidelity?

If you’re a newcomer to this (like me) you should definitely have a look at this primer on vinyl record manufacturing. If you don’t know what plating is, or how much lead time to give your record at the pressing plant, consider this a Vinyl 101 lesson that can help you start your journey.

Oh, and once you get your album pressed, be sure to get in touch with me here at Turntabling–I’d love to hear it.

–Joe Wallace

Secret Stash Records–A New Vinyl Goldmine

A few weeks ago, Secret Stash Records dropped some sweet vinyl releases in the Turntabling mailbox. Things got crazy round here but now that the dust has settled and there’s been a spare second to listen to the releases from this Minnesota-based label, I can report that this is a label to watch for vinyl lovers–especially if you’re into funk, soul, and related sounds.

Secret Stash’s most important releases so far, for my money, are the Porno Groove collection (on pink vinyl!) and the Mad Dog’s Hustle original soundtrack record. I loved these two titles and strongly recommend them. Look for reviews of both coming later this week along with another Secret Stash LP.

The image above is for the latest release on Secret Stash, Soviet Funk Volume One. I am very excited about this album, and you should be too. Stay tuned, vinyl lovers. And be sure to check out Secret Stash for the latest news and info. This label is doing great things in 2010!

–Joe Wallace

Turntabling Wants Your Vinyl

It’s true. Since Turntabling has started making the rounds at horror conventions and smaller shows, the demand for tasty, tasty vinyl soundtracks and related goodness seems to have gone way up–at least round here. So I’m happy to announce that I’m in the market for vinyl collections large and small.

What we’re looking for: horror and cult movie soundtracks (just like you see selling here), Morricone, 60s and 70s softcore and euro sleaze soundtracks, French pop, disco cheese from all countries, new wave/post punk from all countries, and anything on WaxTtrax! or Mute records.

Also, anything bizarre or unusual is especially sought after. If you aren’t sure where your records fit into our want list, drop a line (see below) and we can work something out.

What we’re NOT looking for: Country, show tunes, butt rock (Journey, Scorpions, Autograph, Survivor, you get the idea) metal, classic rock, etc.

You can get in touch directly by dropping me a line at jwallace242 (at) gmail dot com. Please include a list of your titles, where you’re located, prices, etc. I’m buying large and small collections so don’t be shy.

Unrezt and Recordings of Thin Consolation

I stumbled across Thin Consolation by accident today after checking out a new Twitter.com/turntabling follower who is part of this Belgium-based record label.

I spent AGES on this site listening to glitchy, electronic wonderfulness including a FABULOUS electronic 12 inch by Odaka called Warm Geometry. I’ve played this six times in a row now. Part of what Unrezt calls the “Pastorale Electronics series”, Warm Geometry is an analog synth dreamy-fest that kicks into some nice percussion-n-bass analog synth action.

I am dying to hear Warm Geometry on vinyl as the gods of stereo intended but the track at Unrezt is a nice experience regardless.

There are other wonderful discoveries to be made at Unrezt including the glitch-happy Cupp Cave (which features a nice sample about zombies on the intro to the track linked here). And I love the description of Cupp Cave’s world, which is inhabited by “improbable vegetarian Texan zombies on Mexican mushrooms, all thumbs and two left feet.”

Unrezt is my new favorite record label (at least for this week)–great stuff from Belgium and more to come.

P.S. The label is Thin Consolation, the website is Unrezt. I am new so I don’t get the distinction between one end and the other…so Unrezt folks, forgive a dumb Yank.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

–Joe Wallace … Continue Reading

A Fistful of Soundtracks

Jimmy J. Aquino is a busy guy. He programs an internet radio station full of soundtrack music, does graphic novel work and runs A Fistful of Soundtracks which is heavy on the graphic novel stuff (Aquino’s Death to Skinny Jeans) but also full of soundtrack, television and cinema talk.

We’re new to this blog, but digging it very much. Highlights include a great discussion of the Superfly soundtrack (plus the awesome image below–we did NOT take this, the image is courtesy A Fistful of Soundtracks. Kudos to Jimmy Aquino–this is a worthy fellow soundtrack blog and the latest addition to the Turntabling blog roll. RECOMMENDED!

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Five Horror Sites to Watch in 2010

I’ve been making all sorts of new discoveries in 2009, and since a good number of the soundtracks and related material sold here at Turntabling are horror-related (as in, most of them) it’s about time I ran down a list of my favorites so you can join me in my current addictions.

HorrorSociety.com is the host of most of the Chicago horror events I run the Turntabling booth at; Mitch and Jessica Wells are the brains behind this along with several other Chicago horror fanatics and the job they do putting on the horror film festivals is fantastic. Great fun every single time and the website is quite good as well. I am a huge fan of Horror Society stuff. If you’re in Chicago and love horror, this is not just a meet-and-greet group that hangs out once every month or so, it’s a bona fide subculture in Chicago now–at least from where I sit.

Kitley’s Krypt is one of the fixtures on the horror front–running for ten years plus! The honest reviews, dedication to the movies and an utter refusal to “go commercial” make the Krypt an outstanding example of what a horror blog can be. Don’t delay, have a nice long read over at Kitley’s Krypt and be sure to drop by his booth at Flashback, HorrorHound Weekend and Cinema Wasteland (just to name a few) in 2010. Kitley is a fellow soundtrack lover and it’s good to see his reviews of the latest releases. Me, I’m more of an old-school soundtrack collector, going after the vinyl and etc. but Kitley does an excellent job with the reviews on the new material and yes, some old classics too.

Fatally-Yours.com is my latest discovery. I enjoy well-written and thoughtful reviews of genre movies, especially new horror. So many of the big name sites now seem a bit breathless for every horror movie that comes out regardless of whether it’s a tired old revamp of a once-profitable horror series or an indie splatterfest. The reviews at Fatally-Yours are just as critical and thought provoking as you want ‘em to be. Very good reading.

Horror 101 With Dr. AC is an excellent read, but I must direct horror newcomers to the amazing reviews section first, as it’s jam packed with more information that you can possibly digest in a hundred sittings. In short, the horror fanatic’s dream. Absolutely fabulous stuff from a serious lover of all things horror and dedicated to sharing. And yes, this site is in connection with the book Horror 101, which is a great read.

Chateau GRRR is a site I’ve only just become acquainted with, but I like them for the same reason I like HorrorSociety.com–it encourages community building and there are plenty of interviews and reviews, lots to chew on. Very good stuff so far–I’m still exploring the site, but after meeting the person behind GRRR at the last Horror Society event, I’m happy to encourage people to join this horror community. … Continue Reading

The Instant DJ Toolbox

Thanks to Chicago DJs for this. We are excessively amused.

Join Turntabling at HorrorHound Weekend November 20-22

The Crazy Babysitter Twins from Grindhouse, Elvira, Kane “Jason” Hodder and many other well-loved horror movie names will be at HorrorHound Weekend this Friday through Sunday, November 20-22. And so will Turntabling–we’ll have a booth at the show featuring a great staggering pile of vinyl, CDs and yet another special, limited edition CD compilation of Turntabling Records singles from various releases including the as-of-yet not quite finished new Paisley Babylon album due out in Spring of 2010.
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