Make masters optimised for vinyl
that will sound fantastic everywhere
You don't have to chase rules for vinyl – just understand how and why it works, and what to do about it
Unlock the grooves
Would you love your music to sound exactly as you intended on vinyl – but you're nervous to take the leap, or you've been burned by bad advice before? You're not alone.
The internet is full of vinyl "rules": mono your bass below 150Hz; kill everything above 15kHz; never go louder than X LUFS – and most of them contradict each other. Follow the wrong advice and you end up with a record that skips, distorts, or just sounds smaller and duller than it should.
And without a dedicated cutting engineer to guide you through the process, you're on your own.
Until now
The guidelines that make a record cut well and play properly are the same guidelines that will make any master sound better. More open, more impactful, more musical. Vinyl doesn't have to mean compromise.
Over three focused live sessions, I'm going to walk you step-by-step through how vinyl actually works, what really matters versus what's internet myth, and how to prepare a master that translates beautifully – whether it's pressed in the thousands or cut once on a lathe.
Do you feel:
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You're nervous about sending off a master with no cutting engineer to catch your mistakes
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You've had a cut come back distorted, skipping, or disappointingly flat – and don't know why
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You're second-guessing every decision because "it might not work on vinyl"
After the workshop, you'll find:
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You'll understand why vinyl behaves the way it does – so you can make informed decisions instead of guessing
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You'll know which "rules" are genuine physical constraints, and which are outdated myths worth ignoring
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You'll have a simple, repeatable process for preparing masters that cut cleanly and play reliably
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You'll discover that good vinyl guidelines make your master sound better everywhere – not just on your turntable
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You'll be able to brief a cutting service or pressing plant with confidence, even without an engineer in the room
Your 3-Step Framework
In only 3 sessions, you'll learn:
Day 1: How Vinyl Really Works
- Understand the physical groove – and why it shapes everything else
- Discover the real limitations of the format – and which ones genuinely matter
- Learn why fixed groove pitch changes what's possible, and why it matters
- Understand inner-groove distortion, and what you can do about it
- Start separating physics from folklore – you might be surprised how much received wisdom doesn't survive contact with facts
Day 2: Musical Mastering Methods for Vinyl That Really Work
- A practical, musical approach to loudness for vinyl – including real numbers, not guesswork
- How to balance EQ, sibilance and dynamics so the cutting head – and the needle – can do their job
- The must-have plugin that lets you understand how your music will sound on vinyl in your DAW
- Why stereo correlation matters more than blanket "mono your bass" advice
- Track and side sequencing that protects your sound where it's most vulnerable
Day 3: Tools, Technicalities and Myth-Busting
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Free and affordable tools to check your master before you commit it to a lathe or a lacquer
- The vinyl myths worth retiring - stereo and phase, EQ balance and loudness
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How to choose a replicator or cutting service and brief them properly – before you finish your master, not after
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Leave with a clear roadmap – so you can submit your masters with confidence
The Result
By the end of this 3-day live workshop, you’ll have:
- A clear, physics-based understanding of what vinyl actually needs
- The confidence to prepare a vinyl master without a dedicated cutting engineer
- A short list of myths you can safely ignore – and the real constraints you can't
- Masters that sound better everywhere – not just on wax
SPECIAL OFFER
Join a Bonus 1-Hour Q&A Session Before Each Day of the Workshop with a VIP Pass!
Before each session, VIP Pass ticket holders will get access to a special Q&A feedback session with Ian Shepherd. Bring your own tracks, your own vinyl horror stories, or just your questions.
Plus you'll get access to all workshop recordings for the duration of the workshop. This allows you to re-watch specific sessions to get the most out of the material before it ends.
Only 20 VIP Passes available!
To make sure everyone gets a chance to interact with me and ask their questions, VIP Passes are limited to the first 20 people.
Don't miss out on this opportunity. Act now!
How It Works
👉 WHEN: Friday, July 24th - Sunday, July 26th, 2026
VIP Pass: 11 am - 1 pm ET (2 hours)
(8 am LA, 4 pm London)
Standard Admission: 12 pm - 1 pm ET (1 hour)
(9 am LA, 5 pm London)
👉 WHERE: Online
👉 WHO IT'S FOR: Musicians, producers and engineers preparing music for vinyl – whether that's a full pressing run or a one-off dub plate or lathe cut
