Lathe cut vinyl and dubplates in Canada: 1 to 50 copies

Below 100 copies, pressing stops making sense. Lathe cutting fills the gap: every record is cut one at a time, with no minimum order and no stampers to pay for. Here is how the option works, and where it fits best.

What a lathe cut record is

A lathe cut record is made by cutting the grooves of your music directly into a blank disc, in real time, one copy at a time. A dubplate is the DJ version of the same idea: a small number of cuts of unreleased music, made to be played out. Neither is a pressing. There is no lacquer master, no metal stamper, and no press run.

The model is simple: you pay per record instead of carrying the fixed costs of a full pressing project. Each copy is cut individually, which keeps one-off and very small runs practical for DJ play, test editions, gifts and limited distribution.

How ordering works

Send the quote form with your format, total runtime and copy count, from 1 to about 50. Dubplate and lathe cut requests come back with a firm per project price and a delivery estimate before anything is cut, with no commitment. If your project fits pressing better, the reply says so and quotes the pressing route instead: the Canadian plant comparison covers that side.

When lathe cutting beats pressing, and when it does not

Choose lathe cutting for DJ play of unreleased tracks, a test edition, a launch handout, or a gift. Choose pressing from 100 copies up, when the records are a product to sell repeatedly. The cost guide and the price index show where the per record math flips. The small quantities guide covers the pressing side of those in-between runs.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dubplate? A dubplate is a record cut directly, in very small numbers, usually so a DJ can play unreleased music. It is cut one at a time, with no pressing involved.

How many copies can I get as lathe cuts? From 1 to about 50 copies. Past that, the per record cost of cutting overtakes a short pressing run, and pressing takes over from 100 copies up.

Do lathe cut records last as long as pressed vinyl? They are made for real use, including repeated DJ play. Lifespan depends on handling, stylus condition and storage, like any record.

How much does a dubplate cost in Canada? Pricing is per record, plus a setup fee. It depends on the format, the total runtime and the copy count. Every request gets a firm price before production, through the quote form.

Get a quote

Six fields, one request. Pressing details are sorted out by email afterwards.