Ever wanted to start your own label, but you don’t know how? In a band, but have no records to sell? I’ve got you covered! In my new Be Your Own Label series, I’ve got some friendly and affordable DIY starter packs for you. You send me the music and artwork, and I’ll create a record package for you, from cutting the music to disc to creating the record sleeves and labels.

These records will be lo-fi: they’re embossed in mono, two at a time, using our 1937 Presto 6D and our 1947 Rek-O-Kut Challenger record lathes. If you’ve heard the records we’ve put out, you’ll love these. They’re going to have a noise floor, some whooshes, crackles, and pops - they’ll sound a bit like old records because they’re being made on old machines. The general fidelity of the records is 80-90% of a professionally pressed record.

Below, you can hear the song Heart Full of Love by The Blind Seekers ripped from a record I cut.

Album art & labels will be printed on my Epson 16600 workhorse inkjet printer - if the printed sleeves are not up to snuff, I’ll refund you $20 from the price and you should hit up Fireball Printing, they’re my printers of choice here in Philly and their work is exemplary.

Here are your options:

$120 ($6 per disc):

• 3 minutes of audio per side (maximum)

• 20 double-sided records cut onto clear 6” discs or squares (your choice)

• Full color labels

• Full color 7” paper sleeves

• Each record comes in a plastic sleeve

$140 ($7 per disc):

• 5 minutes of audio per side (maximum)

• 20 double-sided records cut onto clear 7” discs or squares (your choice)

• Full color labels

• Full color 7” paper sleeves

• Each record comes in a plastic sleeve

Here’s how the process will work:

1. Purchase one of these options

2. Email your music as .wav files to joseph@displacedsnail.com. Email your art work as .pdf files to the same email address, using these specs:

   • Two full-color 7” square images for the front and back of the sleeve

   • Two black & white 7” square images for the inner sleeves. I recommend putting any text you want to include (lyrics, manifestos, etc.) on the inner sleeves since text won’t bleed through the paper, but dense images might.

3. I’ll make a test cut and send you a video + lathe rip of the audio

4. If you approve, I’ll make a test print and send a photo of the finished disc

5. If you approve, I’ll put your records in the mail to you when they’re done, usually within 2 weeks

HMU if you have any more questions, can’t wait to see what you’re making!