Frequently asked questions.

A lathe cut is a record made by cutting grooves directly into a plastic blank in real time, one copy at a time. It's different from pressed vinyl, which is stamped in bulk from a metal stamper. Lathe cuts are individually made — each copy is a unique cut from the same audio. More on what lathe cut vinyl is →

No — they are different things. Vinyl preparation (£35 per order) is technical preparation of an already finished master to help it translate safely and cleanly to the physical groove. It covers things like bass management, de-essing, level adjustment and stereo corrections that affect how the file cuts.

Professional vinyl mastering is a creative and technical process performed by a mastering engineer, working from your mix to produce a dedicated vinyl master. That should happen before files arrive at Diz. If you supply a properly prepared vinyl-specific master, preparation may not be required — subject to assessment. What vinyl preparation covers →

7″, 10″ and 12″ records, single or double-sided. No 8″ format. Full pricing by format →

Yes. Any standard turntable with a magnetic cartridge plays a lathe cut. PETG cuts are optimised for standard stylus tracking — they work on DJ setups, audiophile setups and everything between. Some surface noise above a pressed record is normal and inherent to the format.

The minimum cutting order is £50. A single record at the single-copy price may or may not reach that — if it doesn't, the cutting charge is adjusted up to £50. Add-ons (labels, sleeves, preparation) and shipping are additional to the minimum.

It depends on what you need. Lathe cutting is the right tool for short runs of 1–100 copies, DJ dubplates, promo runs, limited editions and test cuts before a press run. It's not the right tool for retail distribution, runs over 150 copies, or anything where pressing plant economics work in your favour. Full honest breakdown →

Not as standard. Every order includes whatever internal test cutting and playback checking is necessary to establish a clean and reliable cut — but these are workshop production checks, not something supplied to you.

For larger or particularly important runs, an optional physical pre-production approval copy is available. This is a separate paid stage (£50 minimum cutting charge + vinyl preparation if required + shipping) that produces one finished record for you to audition before the full run proceeds. Approval copy terms →

WAV or AIFF, 24-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz. One file per side. Files should be completely final before you submit them — changes after production starts cause delays and may incur additional charges. No MP3s. Full audio submission guide →

Usually yes, unless you've had a dedicated vinyl master made by a mastering engineer who specifically prepared it for cutting. Standard streaming masters, digital release masters and mix exports typically need preparation before they can be cut correctly. Vinyl preparation is £35 per order regardless of format or quantity. What vinyl preparation covers →

Yes — if you declare that the audio has been specifically prepared for vinyl cutting, preparation is not automatically applied. The audio is still assessed before cutting proceeds. If issues are found that would affect the cut quality, you'll be contacted before anything happens.

You'll be contacted. Production doesn't proceed on audio that won't produce a good result. If the file needs work — bass management, de-essing, level adjustment — that's discussed and either addressed through preparation or returned for revision. What happens when a master won't cut →

All genres. The technical requirements vary — bass-heavy electronic music, heavily limited masters and material with extreme sibilance all present specific challenges, but nothing is ruled out on the basis of genre alone. Genre cutting guide →

Use the order form. It requires you to confirm a set of things before the form activates. Once submitted, you'll receive a quote confirmation and any questions about the audio. Payment locks in your production slot. Order form →

No. A production slot is only confirmed once payment has been received. Submitting a form or receiving a quote does not reserve a date.

Approximately 2–3 weeks from payment and receipt of all final, approved audio and artwork. The workshop runs Tuesday to Friday. Shipping is additional to this window and depends on destination.

Sometimes. Rush production is charged at +40% of the cutting charge, subject to a £30 minimum rush fee. It's not always available — confirm before relying on it. It's never automatically applied.

Yes. An optional physical pre-production approval copy is available for larger or particularly important runs. This is a separate paid stage (£50 cutting and setup charge + vinyl preparation if required + shipping) that produces one finished record for you to audition before the full run proceeds.

If you approve the record and proceed with the production run using the same masters, the £50 cutting charge already paid is credited against the cutting cost of the subsequent run. Vinyl preparation already completed is also not charged again. The approval stage effectively becomes the first stage of the full production order rather than an additional charge. If you decide not to proceed, the approval-stage charges are not refunded. Full approval copy terms →

Yes. A physical approval copy can be produced before a larger run where required. This is a separate paid production stage covering audio preparation, cutting setup and one finished record. Once you approve it, the same masters are used for the full run and vinyl preparation is not charged again. Production capacity is not held while awaiting approval — the run enters the queue once approval and payment are received. Full approval copy terms →

If you supply revised audio, a changed mix or different programme material after an approval copy has been produced, the revised material requires new technical assessment. Additional vinyl preparation may be chargeable and a further approval copy may be needed, also charged separately. The original approval does not transfer to revised source material. Full approval copy terms →