VINYL RECORD TERMINOLOGY

Acetate: Lacquer acetate this is a one-off disc that is cut by hand in a mastering studio acetate disc is created by using a recording lathe to cut an audio-signal-modulated groove into the surface of a special lacquer-coated blank disc.
Alternate Take: A recording session with more than one take or recorded version of a song.
Art Sleeve: Record or CD sleeve with a pictorial drawing on it as opposed to a photograph.
Audiophile Pressing: A high-quality pressing preferred by Hi-Fi aficionados.
Budget Issue: A record pressing that was originally sold below the full price.
Catalog Number: The catalog number can be found on record labels and sleeves. It is the manufacturer’s reference number.
Colored Vinyl: A vinyl record that comes in a color other than the standard black vinyl release.
Company Sleeve: A standard non-picture single sleeve with the record label logo printed on it.
Dead Wax: Is the area at the end of the record playing surface between the end of the recording and label.
Deleted: A music industry term referring to the removal of a record or records from a label’s official catalog, so that it is out of print, but usually at a record artist’s request.
Demo: Or Promo or White Label refers to releases such as this demonstration record not commercially available.
Die-cut Sleeve: Sleeve with a hole in the center.
DJ-only: Record issued for the purposes of radio play only.
Double Groove: A record that has two grooves concentrically on the same side.
EP: An extended play disc that has extra tracks EP’s usually come in a picture sleeve.
Envelope Picture Sleeve: Picture sleeve that has an envelope fold-over flap.
Etched Disc: A one-sided vinyl record with laser-etched graphics on the other side.
Factory Custom Pressing: An unofficial record that has been custom pressed at an official pressing plant.
First Pressing: The very first time a record has been pressed.
Flexidisc: These are normally given away with magazines. They are thin and flexible discs.

Flipback Sleeve: A record cover held together with card flaps that fold from the front to the back of the cover.
Foldout Sleeve: A sleeve which folds out that normally open out to reveal a poster.
Freebie: A record was given away free of charge as a promotion.
Inner Sleeve: Protective sleeve held inside the main cover that houses and protects the record.
Insert: An item that appears as part of a record or CD’s packaging such as a lyric insert, poster or postcard.
Interview Disc: A spoken word disc these are normally promotional and sometimes contain a press conference.
Jukebox Center: A record that has a large center hole for playback in jukeboxes.
Jukebox Issue: A record that has been specifically pressed for jukebox use.
Laminated Sleeve: A high-gloss plastic sleeve used for protecting your record covers.
Lead-in Groove: The quiet area at the very beginning edge of a record.
Limited Edition: A record or CD produced in a limited run they are sometimes numbered.
LP: Long Playing Vinyl Record.
Matrix Number: This is an alphanumeric code scratched or stamped into the run-out groove area of a gramophone record. It can provide a source of useful information about the edition of a record.
Maxi-Single: Term used in the ’70s for an EP.
Megamix: Normally associated with dance records, this is a medley of different tracks.
Mid-Price Release: A discount priced record.
Mispressing: A record or CD containing incorrect music or tracks.
Mono: One-channeled playback system.
Numbered: Limited edition with an individual number.
Obi: Paper strip wrapped around the sleeve originating in Japan. It normally has details of the record or CD and its tracks.
One-sided Disc: A record that has playback on one side only.
Picture Disc: A disc that has a picture sealed within clear vinyl.
Picture Sleeve: The picture sleeve is used to house the vinyl record and it’s an inner sleeve.
Plain Sleeve: A sleeve with no artwork.
Poster Sleeve: A sleeve that folds out to reveal a poster.
Press Kit: Information pack used for the purposes of promoting a new release.
Private Pressing: A record distributed by a private individual.
Promo: A promotional record used for publicity purposes.
Push-out center: The connection in the center of a vinyl single so that it can be pushed out for use in jukeboxes. Usually, records have either a 3-pronged or 4-pronged center.
Quadraphonic: Four-channeled playback system from the 1970s.
Re-recording: A song that was previously recorded by another artist.
Reissue: In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, or repackage, or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Re-pressing: A later run of a record or CD that has not been deleted.
Run-out Groove: The groove at the end of the playing surface of a vinyl record.
Sampler: A compilation of tracks that are used to showcase an artist or record label.
Sealed: A record that has never been opened in its original shrink wrap. Many “sealed” albums on the marketplace have been re-sealed over the years and are passed off as never opened.
Shaped Disc: Shaped vinyl is the perfect media for limited edition and special collector’s items as well as promotional records. Shaped vinyl is when a standard round record is shaped into various geometric shapes using a cutting tool.
Shellac: Breakable material that was used for 78 rpm records. At first, the discs were commonly made from shellac; starting in the 1950s polyvinyl chloride became common.
Solid Center: Records that have a solid un-removable center.
Stickered Sleeve: A sleeve that has a sticker on it.
Stereo: A Two-channeled playback system stereo records went into production in the summer of 1958, the labels selected their most popular mono titles for most of their inaugural stereo releases.
Test Pressing: Pressed for quality control, this is a manufacturer’s test record.
Tri-center: A triangular push-out center used in the 1950s.
Tri-fold: A triple fold-out sleeve.
Uncut Picture Disc: A shaped picture disc that has not been cut to the correct shape.
Unissued: Also known as unreleased, this is a disc that has not been made commercially available.
Warp: A twist in the vinyl as a result of the effects of heat or damp.
White Label: A blank record label. It is usually found on promos, demos, and test pressings.
Withdrawn: A record that has been removed from sale by the manufacturer.