Dubplate

The Dubplate is a special record, which is among other things used by DJs and is manufactured as a single piece or in very small numbers.

Originally there was only paint dubplates. Dubplate this consists of a thin aluminum plate which is coated with acetate, in which the audio material is being cut. A paint - Dubplate has a limited life, depending on use / wear. Meanwhile, there are also vinyl dubplates. This is a genuine durable vinyl record, which does not differ in a professional manufacture of pressed vinyl. Unlike lacquer dubplates, the drive uses by multiple uses from much less.

Term

The name is composed of the words dub (see Dub) and plate ( German: plate, disc, sheet metal ). In Germany the forms are the " Dubplate " and " Dubplate " also common. Less frequently used synonyms are: Plate, One-Off ( German: one-time) and Softwax ( German: soft wax). The separate written versions Dub Plate and dub plate also be used.

Application

With a Dubplate can provide a DJ new, previously unreleased songs available at short notice a music producer. As DJs work in certain music genres (eg techno, rap, reggae, drum and bass and to a lesser frame also punk rock ) a lot with records, the producer can use for this purpose either a CD-R or DAT. Plays of the Dubplate DJ in a club, the producer of the Dubplate can test the sound quality under live conditions and assess the success with the public, which, especially in the tech- sector increased by digital vinyl systems will be replaced. The production of dubplates costs depending on the manufacturer and size 27-60 euros and is cheaper than the very expensive presses of regular records in such a small quantity. Thus, the producer can minimize the financial risk.

The downside of lacquer dubplates is that these are only restricted for scratching. For one, they are heavier than vinyl records and thus can not be easily moved on the slipmat of the record player. On the other hand, the coating for scratch is very quickly destroyed. But even in the normal play suffers the very soft material so that a paint - Dubplate depending on the quality of the stylus used sounds much worse after several click operations. Vinyl dubplates (see production ), are suitable for scratching and have the same durability and properly prepared also the same quality as commercial, pressed records.

Production

The production of a bootleg is called cutting (English: to cut a dubplate ), the unit for cutting is called cutter. The process is basically reversed to play a record. The Dubplate located on a rotating platform, similar to a record player. There are also Dubplate Cutter, which are simply placed on a standard record player. Audio signals move an engraving needle made ​​of sapphire. The vinyl Dubplate the groove is cut into the vinyl blank in the horizontal and vertical direction by means of a cutting diamond. The result is a high quality, extremely durable and unique stereo vinyl record. The operation of cutting carried out in real time corresponding to the length of the piece of music. Mostly lacquer dubplates are manufactured with a diameter of 10 inches. Also be used 12 inch ( LP format) and 7 inches (single format). They can be played either on one side or both sides. Vinyl dubplates can also be cut in all standard sizes / formats.

The cutting of vinyl dubplates is offered as an alternative to the azetatbeschichteten or lacquer dubplates for some time or dubplate cutter can now cut both materials (see also: vinyl recorder ). Since these cut vinyl records ( vinyl dubplates ) are not pressed like regular records, they are also referred to as Dubplate.

The capacity of a Dubplate page depends on the speed of rotation (rpm), the diameter and the volume. With 10 -inch dubplates can be recorded on average 6-9 minutes (at 45 rpm ) or 9-12 minutes ( at 33 rpm ) music per side. For 12- inch dubplates the times are approximately 10 to 12 minutes (at 45 rpm) and 13 to 15 minutes ( at 33 rpm ) per page.

Importance in the music scene

Dubplates are in the scene as a status symbol because they contain mostly exclusive tracks, which only plays a DJ in his sets. The more unusual are the dubplates of DJs, the higher is its reputation because of its relationships with key producers that make him the material available.

Are extremely common dubplates with the reggae sound system, which can be one of ingen -known performer in a modified form known pieces. The text of these revised versions the particular sound system is extensively mentioned and praised by the artist. Insofar here have dubplates still has a higher status symbol character and play a crucial role especially in so-called sound clashes. Jamaican reggae artists now earn a substantial portion of their income with the Einsingen of dubplates

Comments

The Dubplate is not to be confused with

• The negative mold ( mold or master) which is used for pressing of vinyl records,
• A white label, which is produced only after a Dubplate.
• One of the many pseudonyms of the Hamburg rapper Denyo is Dennis Dubplate