Audio Quality & File Prep Guide

Audio Quality & File Prep Guide for Custom Vinyl

Creating a custom vinyl record is a unique way to celebrate music, preserve memories, or craft a personalized gift that will be treasured for years. Because custom vinyl blends digital media with a physical format, good preparation of both audio files and artwork is essential to achieving the best possible result. This guide explains what you need to know before submitting your files for production so your custom vinyl both sounds great and looks beautiful.

Understanding Vinyl Sound: What to Expect

Vinyl is an analog playback format, fundamentally different from digital files. The grooves on a record physically represent sound waves, so certain characteristics of vinyl playback — such as surface noise, warm tonality, and subtle imperfections — are normal, especially with lathe-cut records. Custom vinyl records are often created using a real-time lathe-cutting process that inscribes audio directly onto a blank disc, which means the end product sounds true to the source but may not mirror the sonic precision of a high-end pressed vinyl album.

To maximize fidelity:

• Use high-quality source files.
  WAV files or high-bitrate MP3s (320 kbps or higher) give the lathe the best raw data to work with.
• Mind your dynamics.
  Tracks with excessive clipping, extreme loudness, or harsh high-end content can translate poorly to vinyl. Freestyle Vinyl’s tools apply basic leveling adjustments, but well-prepared audio always cuts better.
• Respect duration limits.
  A 12″ record optimized for quality holds up to about 22 minutes per side, with shorter sides generally sounding louder and clearer. A 10″ can hold ~12 minutes, and a 7″ holds about 6 minutes per side.
• Sequence with intent.
  Place louder or more dynamic songs earlier in each side to help grooves track more reliably during playback.

Remember that lathe-cut records carry their own character, with some surface noise and analog warmth being part of the experience rather than defects. Preparing your audio with these guidelines helps ensure your record’s sound is as enjoyable as possible.

Audio File Preparation: Step by Step

Before you upload:

1. Collect your audio in the right formats.
   Freestyle Vinyl accepts common file types such as WAV, MP3, MP4, and M4A. Among these, WAV or high-bitrate files yield the best results.
2. Check the bitrate and clarity.
   Files should be at least 200 kbps, but 320 kbps or higher is recommended. Lower-quality audio may result in muddied or brittle sound once cut to vinyl.
3. Edit & normalize tracks (if you can).
   Specifically mastering for vinyl is not necessary. However, doing so can help enhance playback quality. Use audio software to fix clipping, apply gentle mastering, and even out volumes across tracks. Keep extreme frequencies in check to help the lathe interpret your audio.
4. Organize your playlist.
   Consider the overall length per side and how each track transitions to the next.

After upload, the audio is leveled to ensure an even listening experience by the Freestyle Vinyl team. The audio is auto-mastered for vinyl to enable cutting and playback, but there are no additional mixing / mastering services provided.

Artwork Preparation: Jackets and Labels

Vinyl isn’t just about sound — presentation matters. Custom artwork on your jacket and labels gives your record personality and visual impact. To ensure your design prints clearly and accurately, prepare your artwork with these technical considerations in mind.

Accepted File Types and Sizes

For custom jackets:

• Freestyle Vinyl’s uploader accepts JPG, JPEG, and PNG formats.
• Jackets must be at least 1,000 pixels wide/tall to be accepted, but 3,000+ pixels is recommended for crisp printing.

For custom center labels:

• Custom label files can be submitted for any record that is not a picture disc. Freestyle Vinyl’s center labels are 3 ½” in diameter, and we recommend keeping any important text at least ¼” off the edge to account for printing ‘bleed’
• If you do not provide custom center labels, your record will come with Freestyle Vinyl’s standard label, which includes our logo and your playlist (track names only).

Composition Tips for Clear Printing

• Avoid placing text or critical graphics too close to the edge.
  A safety margin (about ½″ from edges on jackets) ensures bleed won’t affect readability.
• Boost contrast and brightness.
  Dark areas of digital files can lose detail when printed to a physical piece of paper; brightness helps preserve nuance.
• Ensure file size is under upload limits and that it contains no layers or unsupported formats like PDF or .AI when used in upload tools.

Your custom jackets and labels will be printed exactly as submitted, so good preparation ensures the final product matches your vision.

Playback Compatibility and Quality Expectations

Once your audio and artwork are prepared and uploaded, your lathe-cut vinyl record will be created and shipped. Custom vinyl is designed to play on standard turntables at common speeds (33⅓ RPM or 45 RPM depending on size). Playback should work reliably on most home systems, though some automated turntables may require manual cueing due to how custom grooves start and stop.

Because lathe-cut vinyl operates differently from mass-pressed records, expect a sound that embraces the classic elements of vinyl playback — with its analog warmth, subtle surface noise, and unique character — while reflecting the quality of your prepared source files.

Also in Vinyl 101