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Forecast Bright for Jack White's Dead Weather (mentions URP)
- Billboard

Vinyl Records Provide Listeners With Music The Way It Was Meant To Be Listened To
- Flyer News

Blind Record Collector Sees Music Clearly
- The Gleaner

Vinyl Makes a Comeback in 2008 Record Sales
- EG Radio

Just for the record
- Sydney Morning Herald

Audiophiles Delight: Vinyl LPs Still Sell - Business Week

Making Vinyl Records the old-fashioned way (about URP)
- CNET

Vinyl Returns in the Age of MP3
- Rolling Stone

FORMAT WARS: CD sales are down, vinyl and download sales are up, and record labels are doing the math
- Chicago Reader

Vinyl Gets It's Groove Back
- Time Magazine

Vinyl Definitions

In order to help some of our first-time customers, below is a list of common terms that we use to describe the various manufacturing steps required to take your creative work and turn it into a vinyl record that we hope you will be happy with and we will be proud of.

PRE-PRESSING ACTIVITIES

Mastering (Customer's responsibility): Mixing, EQ-ing, etc., should be done prior to sending your DAT or CDR source to us to press your records. The source you send to United should sound like you want the music to sound on vinyl, sequenced in order with the correct spacing between each song and a longer space between sides.

Lacquer Mastering (United's responsibility): Lacquer mastering refers to taking the music from your DAT or CDR source and transferring it onto a lacquer. A lacquer is like a soft, waxy version of a record that is used to create the metal stampers that are used to make your records in the vinyl presses. United will master your lacquers to RIAA standards.

A 12" record can hold up to 18 minutes of music per side at 33 1/3 rpm, and up to 12 minutes per side at 45 rpm. 10" records can hold around 12 minutes when cut at 33 and about 9 minutes when cut at 45RPMs. A 7" record at 33 1/3 rpm can hold up to 6 minutes per side. However, if your music is fairly bass-heavy, you may want to shoot for a maximum of 4:30 per side in order to insure optimal sound quality. At 45 rpm, a 7" record can hold up to 4:30 per side, or 3:30 per side for heavy bass.

* When United transfers the music to a lacquer, we transfer the music just like it is sent to us - we do not make ANY changes.

Locked groove: This is a continuous loop around which the stylus on a record player can travel. Locked grooves can be silent or may contain a sound of a small duration.

Editing charges: Editing charges are applicable if our mastering department has to re-sequence the tracks from your source material or if they have to compile the tracks for one side of the record from several different sources or add spacing, etc. The best way to avoid extra editing charges is to send us a DAT or CDR with the tracks mixed sequenced and spaced in the order that you would like them to appear on your record.

Reference Laquer: This is a sample disc that is done before lacquer mastering or plating. The only time this is necessary is if a customer is not sure if their music will sound right on vinyl, or if a DJ wants to use a song on vinyl to record another song.

Matrix #: These are the numbers and/or letters etched into the vinyl in the space between the last track of the record and the center label. This is a number that is chosen by the customer (i.e. AA-001) also "A" and "B" needs to correspond with "A" and "B" on the label.

Record #: This is the number assigned by the customer and is used to identify his records (same as a matrix #).

L#, U# or T#: These are the numbers assigned by United in order to identify the records we press. L# are assigned to 12" jobs and U# are assigned to 7" jobs. T# are assigned to 10" jobs. Everything to do with a particular label is filed under the L# , U# or T# so it is important to keep track of your #'s.

PRESSING ACTIVITIES

2-Step Plating: In the plating process, the metal stampers are created from the lacquers. Lacquers are coated with silver and electroplated to make the hard nickel metal plates. These plates are a "negative image" of the record in that the grooves in the plates are raised where the grooves in the records will be etched.

In the second step of plating, we take the stampers and create "mothers." "Mothers" are a metal version of your record. The mothers are used to create replacement stampers in case they get damaged or worn out from use.

Blank or extra stamper: A blank stamper is a pressing plate that contains grooves without music. These are used if you want a blank b-side on your record. An extra stamper is a copy of stamper that would be made if you wanted your record to be a double a-side. If you need a single-sided or double a-side record, you would be charged for lacquer mastering and plating for only one side and for the blank or extra stamper.

Labels: These are the circles on the center of your records, with your information printed on them. Labels are not stickers, but are a special 80 lb. paper and heat resistant ink. They are printed in sets of 1,000 and are embedded into the vinyl, during the first step of pressing. We cannot press a record without a label. If the labels are not marked "A" and "B" to correspond with the stampers, United is not responsible for the labels being placed on the wrong side of the record.

Test Pressing: This is an actual record, with a blank or test pressing label. Once the test pressing is approved by the customer and final payment is made, we proceed with the regular order of records. If a customer does not request a test pressing and there is a problem with the record after it has been pressed and shipped, we will not be financially responsible any required re-pressings.

Sleeves: These are the die-cut white paper protective covers for 7", 10" or 12" records. Sleeves are included with the price of the records in order to protect the records.

Jackets: These are the cardboard covers for 12" records. The customer has the option of purchasing these for added protection of the records. United stocks white jackets and black jackets with or without a die-cut center hole. We also stock clear vinyl jackets that are often used for color records.

Shrinkwrap: For any 12" records in cardboard jackets, the customer has the option of getting the records shrinkwrapped in clear cellophane. This is perfect for records that will be going to retail outlets.

OTHER

Payment terms: With your order, an initial deposit is required. The minimum amount of this deposit depends on whether you are ordering 12", 10" or 7" records, and the type of material you are sending us to work with. You can send us DAT or CDR source material, lacquers, or metal stampers. United accepts only certified funds (certified checks and money orders) as payment. Certified checks can be obtained at your bank, a savings and loan office, or a credit union. Money orders can be purchased from several types of businesses such as U.S. Post Offices and many convenience stores and service stations. After your initial deposit, any remaining balance will be due (in certified funds) when you approve your test pressings. If a regular check (business or personal) is sent, United will hold the order for 14 working days while the check clears the bank.

Drop Shipments: For orders that are not shipped to a single address, there will be additional handling charges. This will be by quote depending on each order.

Warranty: United strives to put out a quality product. We realize that errors can occur and will stand behind any product that is a result of our error. However, no product can be replaced or credit given more than 30 days after client's receipt of the product.