07/09/2025
A test pressing (often called a “TP”) is the very first small batch of records made from your freshly cut and plated stampers. Usually, only 3-5 copies are pressed.
Its purpose is to check everything before full production starts:
• Audio quality – making sure the cut translates well onto vinyl.
• Pressing quality – verifying groove depth, stereo balance, center holes, and general consistency.
• Compatibility – ensuring the record plays correctly on turntables.
• Final approval – giving the artist, label, and pressing plant confidence before running hundreds or thousands of copies.
It’s critical because once the full pressing round starts, any error (whether in the cut, plating, or pressing) would be multiplied across the entire run.
Approving the test pressing means you’re satisfied with both the sound and the pressing quality, locking in the green light for final production.
