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Who doesn’t love a great boutique vinyl shop that doesn’t break your cratedigging wallet’s heart? This is a story about Diggers Factory, an online record store that offers so much more than “standard” LPs — things like exclusives, color vinyl, merch, accessories, and, yes, even good old-fashioned cassettes. Diggers Factory was started in 2015 in beautiful Paris, France by two friends, Alexis Castiel and Victor Perin. Fast-forward 9 years since that launch, and DF now employs a crew of about 30 to 40 music-loving folks, utilizes ten pressing plants around the world, and ships their wares out of Europe, Canada, the U.K., and the United States.

Diggers Factory’s founders went into the business without formal experience in the music industry. Does this give them an advantage of not being limited by convention? The answer is a very enthusiastic yes! Their innovative modern approach supports independent artists and partners with a wide range of production options, including their own in-house mastering engineers and manufacturers worldwide.

Via email, DF’s Community Manager, Fanny Dubroeucq kindly answered some Qs of ours — and we’ll get to most of them closer to the end of this story — plus, she arranged to have three fabulous reggae albums sent my way that I’ll be reviewing later in this piece. (I shared a brief preview videoclip about them here on AP back on July 29, 2024.)

Since pressing their first vinyl offering — 50 copies of Verseau’s 140g Verseau EP in June 2016 (long sold out) — over 10,000 artists have entrusted DF’s process. Incidentally, Dubroeucq told me this trippy electronica instrumental album was the first release for this young French artist. Working with a small label like DF gives artists like Verseau a running start in getting their music out to their audience, without a doubt.

From classic jazz, hip-hop, and reggae to philharmonic masterpieces, new electronica, and really cool soundtracks, Diggers Factory have got just a little bit of everything. You can find DF through their well-maintained and easy-to-follow site, as well as via their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Soundcloud. (You can find links to all of these DF access points on their aforementioned official site.)

As anyone who loves cratedigging like we do here at AP would, I signed up with DF’s FB and IG pages, and I also created an account on their site. The sign-up process there is straightforward. Put in your email, choose a password, and boom—you have an account. You can then customize your Sign Up details with things like a picture/avatar, and links to your own social media. In the Sign Up drop-down menu’s “Who Are You?” box, you’ll see identifier options such as Digger, Label, Artist, Record Shop, Distributor, Mastering Studio, and Vinyl Factory. In that box, I chose Digger, as it seemed the most appropriate.

Most of the DF online videos are in French, and since my French is rudimentary at best, the English subtitles are super-helpful. The site is clean and modern without being overwhelming. There are several easy-to-follow search links that connect you with Diggers Factory’s inventory, social media platforms, newsletter, and blog. A transparent layout of services are offered, as well as how it all works. Behind the scenes at DF are people passionate about vinyl, and it shows.

Digging Into the DF Process
So, let’s say you are an indie band that has built a great fanbase, and have enough material to put together your first album. Awesome! The dilemma is, it takes a lot to get your work produced, pressed, and distributed. That is where DF steps in with a crowdfunding type of approach. Diggers Factory utilizes a genius solution for artists who have created an album and have the desire to put their music on vinyl. Their Make on Demand service requires no upfront costs, and it has a short turnaround time of about 6 weeks. Pre-selling the project allows artists to press a minimum of 100 units because they know they can sell them. After all, no artist wants boxes upon boxes full of albums in their basement a year or more after they worked so hard to get their art into a physical format.

DF can press LP batches as small as 50 units, so the term “exclusive” really means something! I asked Dubroeucq about this process specifically — as in, “When an album is sold out, is it ever re-pressed?” She responded that “it depends on what the artist wants — we’re always open to a re-pressing.” I really appreciate this artist-driven approach in an industry that could otherwise prove prohibitive.

Every aspect of the creation-to-marketplace process is covered. For that no-upfront cost, DF provides production, marketing, graphic design, worldwide delivery, customer service, and an online shop. DF also remasters and presses albums that may not have been touched or updated since their original release by using the best possible source available, including master tapes. With DP’s Direct Pressing option, artists have the choice to place a direct order. For additional cost, the company also offers physical and digital remastering, as well as distribution both in digital and IRL stores.

For musical production/mastering, Dubroeucq indicated that it’s offered “as an option, as we work with big mastering studios.” DF have the freedom to be choosy about which labels they work with, another indication the company builds great business relationships. For artists and vinyl enthusiasts alike, this is a win-win. The result of a partnership directly between the artist and the presser is the goal of creating terrific-sounding vinyl that doesn’t break the bank for the consumer. Most albums on the DF site have an SRP range from $20-$50 (U.S.), including Japanese pressings with obi strips, one-of-a-kind color vinyl, and some fun finds that, truly, you’re likely to be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

There are hundreds of items for sale on DF’s easy-to-navigate site. The only downside I could see, however, could be the shipping fees, as those can vary depending upon which depot the album originates from, and where it’s going. Before selecting the product, you can see a thumbnail of the album, including the wax itself, and a description of what’s inside. Clicking the link brings up a much better picture of the product, the tracklist, a concise backstory, estimated shipping time, an option to purchase the digital download, and the ability to follow the artist.

DF also bring albums that have never been available on vinyl into the hands of appreciative listeners and onto their turntables. There are some incredible LP compilations from big-name artists such as Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, and Sarah Vaughan available as what’s called a Vinyl Story that includes some of the artist’s biggest hits, and a detailed booklet insert.

Need the soundtrack from your favorite video game? Diggers Factory’s answer is London Music Works’ 2011 compilation The Essential Games Music Collection Vol. 1, now on vinyl! Want fun hip-hop like Snoop Dogg and Doggyland’s 2022 offering Kids Hits Vol. 1 on transparent splatter vinyl for the kids — and/or for yourself! — to enjoy? Yup, they’ve got that too, and you and your fellow/budding music lovers can spend time crafting, learning, and singing along with the coloring page, stickers, and lyrics booklet included (though act fast, as this is the kind of release that sells out fairly quickly). Jonesing to listen to Canadian producer Kaytranada’s fantastic 2024 RCA release, Timeless? You guessed right — and you can find it here on DF in the Exclusive section.

What really intrigues me is the Get or Give subscription option for their monthly Vinyl Box offering at $29 a month for one album, or $56 for two. This price does vary, depending upon the length of the subscription — the longer the term, the lower the cost. For example, a 12-month one-album subscription takes you down to $25 per LP, and you get both 2 months free and a tote bag gratis! I also noticed that, in the social media announcements about what could be in the Vinyl Box, they feature five albums that vary in multiple genres.

Additionally, DF offer special promotions, such as loads of discounted choices in their Diggers Good Deals section, social media giveaways, and, most recently, promotions specifically related to the recently completed 2024 Summer Olympics in their homebase of Paris! I also really like DF’s Accessories section. Vinyl care, platter mats, sleeves, hanging frames, rack dividers, an album stand, and even a hard-sided travel case are available for reasonable prices. Under the Merch tab, you can find items such as stickers, hats, tees, pins, cup coolies, and tote bags linked to artists and their music. I also noticed a few albums that were listed as pre-orders, seeing how they are still in production.

On the company’s bilingual site, they offer transactions in Euros, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, UK pounds, Japanese yen, South Korean won, and Australian dollars. I really like how simply choosing the currency icon immediately swaps out the prices to reflect your denomination choice.

Three DF LPs Monte
I am also appreciative for the LP selections I received from the kind folks at Diggers Factory — and, for the purposes of this review section, I decided to use headphones exclusively. I received the trio of DF 2024 remastered albums in a timely fashion, with both Israel Vibration’s Why You So Craven (originally released in 1982; Arrival AR-0001), and Black Uhuru’s Brutal (originally released in 1986; Real Authentic Sound RAS 3015) arriving from DF’s distribution center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, while Sizzla’s Kalonji (originally released in 1998 on XTerminator; sans ID code) made its journey from France. The first two LPs from Michigan got a little roughed up during their quick trip to my doorstep in Ontario, Canada, despite being clearly marked by the shipper as FRAGILE. Even with the standard sturdy protective cardboard record shipper, one of those albums sadly sustained a little bit of damage. Thankfully, this did not impact the vinyl itself in any way, as the smudged jacket edge was a minor aesthetic flaw only. The third LP from France arrived a little over a week later, and it was in perfect condition.

The jackets were all smoothly shrink-wrapped, with one brightly colored sticker on both the Israel Vibration and Black Uhuru LPs’ outer sleeves, declaring the respective 2024 remasters honor each album’s original release. The jackets themselves are of a sturdy construction, and were printed evenly with a glossy finish.

Of course, I ran each DF LP through my vacuum record cleaning machine. For these listening sessions, an Acoustic Solid Vintage Exclusive turntable fitted with Hana Umami Red cartridge, Gold Note PH10 phono preamp, and Gold Note PSU10 power supply took center stage. I ran my tried-and-true Focal Elear and Focal Stellia headphones through the headphone jack on my McIntosh MA252 integrated amp. After getting properly prepared for some fine Jamaican listening, I settled in for some fun. Here’s what I heard.

“See the morning light /
Shining over the top of the mountains”
I started things off with Israel Vibration’s Why You So Craven (Real Authentic Sound DIGLP007), which was originally recorded in 1982 at Tuff Gong Studios and had only ever been reissued once on vinyl in 1991 by Real Authentic Sound. Remastered from the original tapes, the Diggers Factory Craven LP brought the magic out of the stellar Hi-Times Band with a smooth balance between the laid-back bass and passionate lyrics.

But first, upon opening the jacket, I found, almost to my dismay, what I thought was an ordinary black paper liner. It wasn’t until sliding the 180g vinyl out of it that I realized it was actually thoughtfully lined with anti-static polyethylene. Whew! No static was noticeable when I pulled the vinyl out of the liner, and the LP was remarkably clean.

There weren’t any sections in which the instruments became overpowering or faded — instead, Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ experience in producing reggae allowed this listener, especially with headphones, to become immersed in this music. There’s an urge to put your feet up, sit back, and close your eyes while you transport to a steamy music hall in Kingston. Fine background details such as the singers in “Smack Right Jam” (Side B, Track 4), tambourine and vibraslap in “Why You So Craven” (Side A, Track 2), and the delicate block taps in “Morning Light” (Side B, Track 5) give a bit of island flavor without getting lost in the forward-sounding hand drums. In “Universal Father” (Side A, Track 1), the subtle tick of the tip of the stick on the hi-hat and fabulous bass line don’t get muddled behind the clear and brilliant horns. Furthermore, there is dead silence between the tracks, and I detected no background surface noise. Music: 9 / Sound: 8.5

“Go and wake the town / Here comes the sound /
To give the people freedom and put away you frown”
Needing a bit more variation in the vocal range, I move onto Sizzla’s RSD 2024 offering, Kalonji (XTerminator DIGLP013). This should almost be labeled as a greatest hits release for Sizzla, as it is jammed with some of his best work. DF chose to give the music room to breathe, as the original pressing released in 1998 was comprised of a lone LP with almost 30 minutes per side. Instead, the 15-track album is evenly spread across two pieces of 180g wax.

Again, the DF vinyl is protected with those black liners, and my copy was “put it right on the platter” clean. The instrumentation is a bit more subtle with Sizzla’s passionate vocals dominating the proceedings, but the emotional connection that was slightly lacking when comparing it with digital counterparts is more pronounced. The listener tends to sit up and take notice of the sincerity behind the lyrics and uplifting messages.

The tambourine and casabas in “Freedom City” (Side C, Track 1) and delicate flute in “Made Of” (Side D, Track 2) popped through the headphones clearly. Instruments were crisply separated in such a way that this listener wasn’t hearing as much of the traditional hand-drum island sound but a more modern approach to reggae. “Rain Showers” (Side A, Track 3) and “Long Journey Bad Storm” (Side B, Track 4) highlight the keyboard and electronic effects without taking away from the crystal-clear vocals. As the rolling bass in “Mother Nature” (Side B, Track 1) and “Real” (Side B, Track 3) filled the headphones with deep resonance, I wondered if the album’s late producer Philip “Fatis” Burrell would have been entirely happy with the 1LP version if he had been able to hear this remaster.

After listening to the digital version of the original release, one can appreciate how Kalonji fully stretches out and takes advantage of the original production in a great way. Since Sizzla’s expressive sound ranges from a higher full voice to deep growling chants, it’s just a little bit awesome to distinctly hear his transitional deep inhales. Music: 9 / Sound: 9

“While the birds in the tree top singing /
Daughters in the garden cultivating”
Last, but certainly not least on the table, it was time to give Black Uhuru’s Brutal (Real Authentic Sound DIGLP008) a spin. Since the original 1986 release on Real Authentic Sound, this album has never been reissued on vinyl until now. The DF version, engineered by Jim Fox of Lion and Fox Recording Studios, is the one that received a bit of damage to the outer jacket spine. (Ugh!) That said, the pristine vinyl slid out of the exact same black liner without a lick of static.

I do admit to playing Brutal straight out of the package once before giving it a clean scrub — and I’m not really convinced that it needed it. The surface noise between the out-of-the-box and freshly cleaned LP was barely discernable. Utilizing the original soundtrack, there is a crisp feel to its multilayered sound. The rapid-fire lyrics in “Fit You Haffe Fit” (Side A, Track 5) and “Conviction or a Fine” (Side B, Track 5) have clear consonants, and the smooth bass punches through the forward lyrics.

This LP has the most cohesive balance between detailed instruments and vocals. It also varies between very late-’80s-flavored tracks such as “Great Train Robbery” (Side B, Track 1) and “City Vibes” (Side A, Track 4) to more traditional reggae-sounding percussive pieces like “Dread in the Mountain” (Side A, Track 2) and “Uptown Girl” (Side B, Track 2). The emotional connection to the music was subtle in the digital comparison version, but unmistakable in this remaster. Music: 8.5 / Sound: 9

Conclusions
As I noted at the outset, I had a few Qs for the Diggers Factory team. During an email exchange with DF Community Manager Dubroeucq, she replied to one of my Qs with a response that stuck out. I asked, “What marketing strategy helps DF recruit new artists the most?” Dubroeucq answered by confirming that “most of our projects come from the fidelization [i.e., the establishment of loyalty] of artists we already worked with, who want to work with us again for their other/new projects.” When perusing DF’s online record store, you do indeed see artists with more than one project listed. My feeling is, if an artist wasn’t happy with their final product or the people behind the scenes, there would be no motivation for them to collaborate with Diggers Factory again. Similarly, if record collectors aren’t happy with the service they receive from a label and/or online store — not to mention the sound and/or quality of the pressings — they don’t go back for more. And, I must admit, there are now quite a few more items currently waiting in my DF shopping cart.

I was also curious about the biggest hurdles for a small company like DF in a competitive music industry, and Dubroeucq observed that “the main struggle for any small company is the cash to grow and invest to be bigger in the future.” She went on to say that DF “succeeded in doing some fundraisings that helped us during the last nine years,” and I am incredibly pleased to have seen Dubroeucq ended her response by confirming, “We now reached profitability, so it’s way easier to work in good conditions.”

From the team behind the scenes and across the world, to the artists who trust the process, to those of us who enjoy the moment when the stylus brings the music to life, Diggers Factory connects people. It’s the kind of story that brings joy to my vinyl loving heart — and it should do the same with yours.

For more about Diggers Factory and to find out how to order their LPs as described in this story, go here.

Author Bio: Shanon McKellar began collecting records when she was just a little kid. Music matters in every part of her life. A Canadian-born-and-bred vinyl enthusiast through and through, Shanon has been reviewing analog gear, albums, and reporting on trade shows since 2018. She also has a column reviewing gear and albums on ToneAudio.