manufacturing & distribution

[rhythmtech]

Well.
Publishing, mcprs registration and copyright etc are very handy.
For techno on vinyl it`s not so much of a point.
Not many people buy it, let alone rip it off, especially from vinyl.
Most good digital distribution contracts handle all this nicely now anyway.

So, after bouncing down your WAV, and then mastering it correctly for vinyl, you will need to sort out a distributer.
A hit and miss stage (I`ll talk about self financing rather than P&D (which is a titanic rip off for the artist anyway)), where you send your prospective (and possibly 2 other releases to follow, so they have an idea where you are heading) release to the distributer.
Let`s say they decide to distribute your label, you`ll next need to sign a distribution contract (very similar to signing your soul away to the devil).
You`ll also need some actual designs for the label to go on the vinyl.

After that you can book a cut at a vinyl cutting room.
You`ll probably (if you are serious about things) want to attend the cut.
At this stage the Dub plate will be cut which will then be sent to the manufacturing plant to be made into a master stamp. These stamps will be duplicated to be fitted into a vinyl press.
Next you`ll book your pressing (or get an all in one cut and press deal) (and supply the art for the labels)
you`ll recieve some test pressings to try out, and if you are happy with the cut you can give the go ahead to mass produce.

You`ll probably want to send your TP`s out to some DJ`s who will play it (preferably some DJ`s who get about a bit).
And maybe send some to magazines for review (which although good for your ego, has little effect on sales these days, as magazine sales are so low, and most people can form their own opinions by listening to the music via E-vendors such as Juno).
You`ll then receive the final pressings.
You`ll salivate over them and feel all warm inside.
you`ll want to do a mass mail out to your promo list, to get more people to play the record.
After a good amount of time to let the promo`s take hold in the clubs etc, you`ll set your release date and the record will go on sale.

Around 3-6 months later hopefully you`ll get back the money from sales (minus the distributers fee, of course).

If your really lucky at some point the record will sell out and a repress might be in order.

you forgot the part where you pull all your hair out, your girlfriend pulls all hers out and your bank manager threatens you with violence

[dirty_bass]

you forgot the part where you pull all your hair out, your girlfriend pulls all hers out and your bank manager threatens you with violence

I thought I`d ommit that part, as it`s stressful enough going through it without having to write it down.