@wcbdata @Downwithdan this comment has set me off into such a youtube hole. i thought: wait what do you mean ive no idea what a vinyl blank looks like

so i found this video and then chased down the links in the description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCuC3fV_fHc

and both the how it’s made video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f344wxy-2pU

and the mastering engineers at abbey road https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rc2LA9kC-4U

were extremely soothing to watch; i had no idea you have to trade off loudness and bass and something else with *play time* cos they’ll cut wider grooves and you’ll have less room on the disk!