Ordering a lathe-cut vinyl from us couldn’t be easier. This page walks you through the whole process step-by-step so you know exactly what to do. We’ve kept things detailed but straightforward – the idea is to make it as easy as possible to get your tunes cut to vinyl. And if anything’s unclear or you just want to double-check something, drop us a message – we’re always happy to help.
Step 1 – Place your order
Head over to the order page and pick what you want:
Once you’re there, you’ll see dropdown menus for all the different options. Choose the setup you need and add it to your cart. Some of the dropdowns include links to extra information if you’d like to learn more about a specific part of the process.
If you’re ordering a few different plates with different setups, just build each one the way you want and add them separately to your cart. If you want ten plates with different tracks on each side, make your selection once, then just change the quantity to ten before checkout. For bigger batch runs or multiple copies of the same record, get in touch with us first – we’ll sort out a quote and invoice once everything’s agreed.
Step 2 – Getting your files ready
This bit’s important – the quality of your audio makes a huge difference to how your plate sounds. The number-one thing we need is headroom. Make sure your tracks have at least -2 dB of headroom before sending them over. That means your peaks should sit at least two decibels below zero dB.
Please don’t send anything that’s clipped, brick-walled or smashed with a limiter. If the file’s pushed too hard or distorted, we can’t cut it until we get a clean version, and that’ll hold up your order. Simply turning a clipped file down doesn’t fix it – the distortion is still there.
Cutting vinyl isn’t the same as mastering for digital release. Tracks that are pushed for loud digital files usually sound harsh and distorted once they are transferred to vinyl. A clean, dynamic master with good headroom will always sound better on vinyl, so take a quick moment to check your files before you send them. It’s the difference between a plate that sounds decent and one that truly comes alive.
Step 3 – Preparing your files
WAV is the only format we can accept for cutting. Files must be stereo, and our recommended format is 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo WAV. Please do not send any other formats such as AIFF or MP3 — they will be refused.
Tracks that are clipped, brick-walled, or heavily limited will not be cut. Not only do these files sound poor on vinyl, but they can also damage our cutting head, which is expensive to repair and causes downtime. We are very busy with vinyl cutting, so we reserve the right to refuse unsuitable files and will refund orders if corrected files cannot be provided.
Quieter, correctly prepared files will cut louder and cleaner, while clipped or over-limited files will be rejected without exception.
Step 4 – Labeling your files
Proper labeling is essential. Each file should be clearly marked as A or B (or A1, A2, B1, B2 if multiple tracks per side). This ensures we know exactly which track goes where on the dubplate. Even if you’re only ordering one dubplate with two tracks, please label them correctly. You can include artist or track titles in the file names, but the side designation must be clear.
If you prefer us to cut your tracks in any order, simply include a note in your submission stating this. If you don’t specify, and we receive an unlabelled batch, we’ll need to contact you to clarify — which will delay your order.
Step 5 – Final checks
This is the most important part. Cutting vinyl is permanent, so it’s crucial to double-check your files. Listen to your tracks from start to finish, and make sure you are 100% happy with the files you are sending. Once they are cut, there is no going back — any mistakes will need to be recut at your cost.
Take the time to listen again. This is your last chance to catch any errors. Wrong files or mixes must be paid for to be recut.
Step 6 – Organising your folders
Create a main folder named with your order number. Inside this, create a separate folder for each dubplate, numbered sequentially (001, 002, 003, etc.). Place the WAV files for each dubplate directly in these folders – no subfolders.
For example, if you order one dubplate with four tracks, you’ll have a folder named 001 containing four WAV files labeled A1, A2, B1, and B2. If you order multiple dubplates, create a folder for each one following the same structure.
Step 7 – Extra information
After placing your order, you’ll find a file called “36 Hertz – Vinyl Cutting Extra Information Form” in the My Account section of the website. Simply click on the download section on the left-hand side to get it. You’ll need to fill in this form for each lathe cut vinyl you order.
For example, if you’ve ordered four dubplates, you’ll need four completed forms — one for each folder containing your tracks. Each folder with audio files should include a single completed form to ensure we have all the details we need for cutting.
Step 8 – Sending your tracks
Once your folders are ready, ZIP up the main folder (which should be named with your order number) before sending. Our preferred method is Smash for file transfers — fast, reliable, and free.
You can also send files via WeTransfer, but keep in mind that links expire after three days. This is especially important if you’re sending on a Friday, as the link may expire over the weekend. Dropbox is another option if that works better for you.
Our contact email is available in the My Account download section in the PDF file called “Where to send your tracks.”
Step 9 – What happens next?
Now the easy part – sit back and relax while we receive your tracks. If you want to know more, we have an FAQ page that covers additional information to help you along the way.