groundhogpdx

Hi there - I know this is a few-year old topic, but I just discovered it earlier today, and went and checked out your article as well. That was a pretty inspiring read, I think, for anyone who isn't really trying to be a big star or something, but simply wants to make some records. In particular, I really enjoyed the insight you demonstrated throughout your own project, because yes, it can be easy to take little details for granted - like the time and effort it takes to create a piece of music, and then finesse it, and then figure out how to record it so it sounds decent, and the mastering process, etc, all the way to the end, when you finally have something tangible you can hold in your hand and share with others. Few people might realize just what it took to make that happen, but I think you get it. It reminded me of one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned while attending art school in the '80s, which was simply: go make a drawing. The caveat was: write down every thought that occurs to you, as you decide what you are going to draw, using what tools, and so on. It ends up being a fairly long list, and the whole point was to illustrate that conciously or not, you really can't take any part of the process for granted. I think your post really conveyed that, and I hope that you might have gotten that across to others who might want to try something along the lines of what you did. Cheers!

BillyA was correct, in that it can be a tedious process, but if you're in it, you don't mind. The first record I made on my presto K-8 took about seven or more hours of testing and tweaking, then about 4am, I suddenly hit the sweet spot, and had to go with it. It's just what one has to do if they are going to do this. Lathetrolls is an invaluable resource (and yes, it *can* be overwhelming at times), and there are some really helpful people on that board who are more than willing to walk you through it if you're serious about it. Despite all the negative talk about the quality of lathe cut records (not here, neccesarily, but it's out there), there is a vast range of talent, dedication, and skills that all factor into whether your results sound decent or not. By the time I purchased my second unit - a Presto 6N - I had pushed my K8 way beyond the limits of what I was told I might be able to do with it, and I knew that it was far beyond the point of being an expensive hobby. A few custom-made lead screws (to determine the number of grooves per inch) and various embossing needles insured that I wouldn't be getting out of this rabbit hole for a while. As for cutting on laser discs, yes you can (and they sound amazing) - but at that point you're cutting with diamonds, which means burning more of your hard-earned dollars. But hey - what good is money if you can't do something really cool with it?

Hi there - I know this is an old post I'm replying to, but apparently I completely forgot about discovering this board some years back, as that would have been right about the time we bought a new house, and social media stuff all went straight to the back of the room for a while. Have you gone forward with your interest in lathe cutting? Since 2016, I've trained a bit with Mike from PIAPTK, and have a couple of decent cutters of my own, so I'd like to think at this point that I'm able to hold a half-decent conversation about the whole crazy realm of lathe cutting records.

Appreciated the gesture, but NO RESPONSE to PM or posts for TWO DAYS and not updating the list seems kind of lame, then to finally contact the store and get a reply that everyone was replied to and the LP is gone makes no sense at all. Whatever.

PM sent earlier RE: GBV tribute LP - it seems the one or two copies that landed in PDX shops were bought by eBay flippers.