News

GZ Media Claims It Pressed Seven Million Records Last Year!

Michael Fremer  |  Sep 26, 2013

GZ Media, the Czech Republic digital and vinyl pressing plant that did such a great job pressing the Decca era Rolling Stones box set claims it pressed seven million records last year! Watch the AP video

COMMENTS
Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on Thu, 2013-09-26 19:10

Reassuring indeed.

 I wonder how they guarantee quality or how their track record is in regards to lp quality assurance.  

Those cheapy turntables in the video don't inspire confidence, but I guess I'm just leary about getting burned again with a crappy pressing/disreputable company.

Michael, is there a way to create a fast and quick label/plant database (on your website as a tab) in the menu section?  

Might be a nice addition, and create some consumer intelligence, at the possible (negative) expense of marking bad labels/plants.  I'll understand if it is ill-advised in this day and age where the vinyl economy requires every bit of help it can get.  

GeorgeZ's picture
Submitted by GeorgeZ on Tue, 2013-10-08 00:43

For Glotz:

Sony PS 212 turntables used for listening tests in GZ's QC department are fair entry level DD turntables from late 70's. They simulate an average turntable with normal playback conditions. Their main purpose is to reveal manufacturing faults (cutting, plating, pressing), not to give the best possible sound. The automatic Teldec-Revox QC system uses modified tangential Revox B790 turntables and can be seen on some youtube GZ videos.

Further improvements are planned for next year - it will include new analysing software and hardware solutions and more QC operators. The predicted 10 million records pressed in GZ this year really needs additional investments in QC.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on Fri, 2013-09-27 20:09

Thanks guys;  I think that's half the fight in buying new records. 

l5chambre's picture
Submitted by l5chambre on Mon, 2013-09-30 08:33

That is an interesting vid. 80% of their production is from independent. The so-called vinyl trend is keeping them in business but audiophiles will always listen to vinyl; since 1890.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Mon, 2013-09-30 09:28

Vinyl only appeared commercially in the late 1940s-early 1950s!

Paul Boudreau's picture
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Mon, 2013-09-30 16:13

Actually I have no idea - I've got two cylinders but have never heard them.  Also a few of those wacky Edison Diamond Discs, which are "hill & dale," if I understand properly.  They do play and make sound on my Cecilian floor-standing player (from Chicago, sold by "Monkey Ward's," apparently).

Isn't it amazing that you still hear the words "wax a track" and "needle," all of which are at least sixty years out of date in the context of recorded-music reproduction?

Then there are the V-Discs from WWII, which seem to be the first appearance of some form of vinyl, as applied to music discs.

LogicAudio's picture
Submitted by LogicAudio on Sun, 2013-10-06 23:15

you can read Persian version of this article here.

می توانید نسخه فارسی این مطلب را در این لینک مطالعه نمایید

oscelm's picture
Submitted by oscelm on Thu, 2013-10-10 12:10

It's interesting to listen to the history of the recorded groove.  I own two Edison cylinder players and about 65 cylinders.  The true first 'linear trackers'.  Fascinating to watch as well as listen.  The oldest of these machines has a 'witches hat' external horn and dates from around 1905.  It still works VERY well.  Edison's first discs were tracked via 'hill and dale'.  I have a handful of them.  They're thicker than a dinner plate and weigh about a pound.  Sound is not so good.  Edison invented a lot of the technology, but was almost deaf, and really didn't have much taste in music or skill in the recording of it.  God bless him for the invention though!  By the time you get to the 1920s and the Victor 78s, the artists, music repertoire, and recording quality got a lot better.  Now listen on a VPI/Dynavector setup, and NEVER thought I would be buying new vinyl in the 2000s! I'm 52 years young by the way.  I just have always been enthralled by any gadget that makes music. 

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