dumb question for producers: why are some records 33, others 45, some both?

[D J 1 3 8]

Dumb question, I know, but it has always bugged me.
Is it up to the pressing plant?
Do producers have a preferance for 33 or 45?
Why are some records 33 one side and 45 on the other? Just cuz it's cool or something?
Please enlighten me.

[drilla]

i think it is the quality of the sound...not sure though...

i dislike hiphop recs at 45...its a mutha pulling em back when you are rocking doubles.

[D J 1 3 8]

Originally posted by matthew j:
i think it is the quality of the sound...not sure though...

i dislike hiphop recs at 45...its a mutha pulling em back when you are rocking doubles. indeed.

[SHEIK YERBOUTI]

I've read sound quality might be the issue. When you cut a 12" at 45rpm, you get wider grooves which helps the sound, particularly the bass. You can also get a much hotter pressing at 45.

When you cut a 12" at 33, you can get more material on a side.

That's usually why you'll see the main mix on side 1 at 45, then at least 2 mixes on the other side cut at 33.

I could be wrong.

[erd]

I think you are pretty right.
But I'm not an expert.

Peace.

Gerd

[dennis f]

We cut at 45 for quality reasons....

At 45 the actual program is stretched along the vinyl at a higher rate of consumption. The theory or I mean the actuality of it is that the more of the medium you use the better the quality....The quality of a record would even be better at 78!

The reason behind doing the other mixes at 33 is because at this speed the maximum allowable content of program material is about 13 minutes. This is called the "spec". Anything longer than that and your affecting the quality. That's why you'll see 2 6:30 mixes on the b side of a 33 but never on the 45 side. On the 45 side the "spec" time is considerably shorter because once again your using more of the medium to transfer the program material.

hope this helps

peace
dee!

[jpsf]

it does effect quality, but for the most part, i think people (labels) usually chose based on how long the songs are.