DIY vinyl: Luxembourg acts press records across Europe
- Mar 16
- 8 min read
In the previous article: "Thinking of ordering vinyl? Advice from Luxembourg’s Discpartner" we looked at sourcing vinyl from a distributor within the Grand Duchy. This time in part 2, we are going Europe-wide for those artists who want to go DIY and hunt for the best deals!
In Luxembourg’s music scene, vinyl has firmly established itself as more than just a way to listen to music. For many artists, it has become a collectible object, a piece of artwork and an important source of income at gigs. While streaming platforms remain the main way listeners discover music, vinyl offers something digital platforms cannot: a physical connection between artists and fans.
For local musicians considering a vinyl release, the process can seem complex, from choosing a pressing plant to deciding how many records to order. Fortunately, several Luxembourg artists have already navigated the process and offered their insights.
Luxembourg artists share their vinyl experience
To better understand how the process works in practice, I spoke to four artists from Luxembourg who have released their music on vinyl: Chantal Kirsch, vocalist of MAYA, Daniel Balthasar, Josh Island, and Sacha Heck from the band Go By Brooks.
Coming from quite different corners of the Luxembourg music scene, from indie, alternative and soul to singer-songwriter and jazz, each has gone through the process of producing vinyl records and shared practical advice, lessons learned and a few surprises along the way.
Why vinyl still matters
For many bands, vinyl is as much merchandise as it is a music format. The larger artwork, collectible aspect and higher price point mean that a single record sale can generate far more revenue than streaming.
But producing vinyl requires planning, patience and budget. Manufacturing can take several months and costs vary depending on quantities, packaging and special editions.
How many records should you press?
Choosing the right quantity is one of the first decisions artists need to make.
Luxembourg singer-songwriter Daniel Balthasar typically presses between 300 and 500 copies, but emphasises that artists should remain realistic about demand.
“Even if a lot of people have rediscovered vinyl, a lot of people really haven't. For a regular consumer the world of vinyl sounds fascinating but compared to the convenience of streaming it's really unimaginable for a lot of people.”
For their first album, MAYA chose a smaller run. “200 felt like a good compromise. 100 would have been financially too costly [per unit], while 300 might have been too much, especially since the music is still quite niche,” explained Chantal.
Meanwhile, Josh Island pressed 250 copies. “250 was the minimum quantity you could press. I didn’t really compare prices and I trusted the distributor I was working with.”
For Go By Brooks, the band opted for 200 copies for their most recent release, but with several added extras: “200 vinyls with gatefold with insert in black vinyl, and also 50 in blue transparent splatter design vinyl, all for €2,111 excluding VAT,” Sacha stated, "but for a previous order for 200 with no gatefold and an insert in 2021, we paid €1,810 in total excluding VAT".
Together, their experiences show that 200–300 records is often the most realistic starting point for independent artists.
Where Luxembourg artists press their vinyl
Because Luxembourg does not have large-scale pressing plants - actually any tbh - most artists work with manufacturers elsewhere in Europe, although of course we now know Discpartner Luxembourg a distributor we met in the previous article.
Several Luxembourg musicians have used and explored the following pressing companies across Europe:
Used:
Deepgrooves Vinyl Pressing (Netherlands) – MAYA & Go By Brooks (in 2021)
Mediadub (Netherlands) – Daniel Balthasar
Four Manufacturing (Germany) – Josh Island
HOFA Studios (Germany) – Go By Brooks
Matter of Fact (Germany) – Go By Brooks (recent order)
Explored:
GZ Media (Czech Republic)
Semikols (Latvia)
Optimal Media (Germany)
MPO International (France)
Dunk! Pressing (Belgium)
Daniel Balthasar says he worked with companies in both Germany and the Netherlands after receiving “recommendations from people within the industry.” Recommendations are everything in this business as it was the same story for MAYA who headed to the Netherlands as Deepgrooves was “a recommendation from a friend”.
Josh Island also relied on industry connections rather than doing a large comparison of plants. “I chose them [Four Manufacturing] because my distributor had some kind of partnership with the manufacturer, so I trusted them.”
Meanwhile Sacha explains that Go By Brooks compared quotes between several companies before deciding. “We did some research and collected quotes before choosing the pressing plant,” and for each of their albums, went to three different places.
Plan your timeline carefully
Vinyl production is rarely fast. Most pressing plants require several months from initial contact to delivery. Sacha explains that his band has learned to plan well in advance. “Their turnaround time is approximately 20 weeks. I always count five to six months in advance for vinyl production, the earlier you are the better.”
Josh Island also emphasises the need to build time into the process. “Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for making vinyl. You need time to start the conversation, send the files, receive the test pressing and check the quality.”
Even when everything runs smoothly, the process can take months before final records arrive. Daniel Balthasar notes that although most of his orders arrived on time, delays can still happen. “They were sometimes delivered last minute, but still in time.”
Vinyl requires technical preparation
Unlike digital releases, vinyl comes with technical limitations that affect mastering and track order. Daniel Balthasar explains that he always prepares a separate master specifically for vinyl. “I have always made a separate master for the vinyl, different from the CD or streaming master.” He also highlights the importance of planning the album structure carefully. “You have to think about things like whether the fifth song should go on side A or side B.” These decisions matter because each side of a record has limited playing time.
Test pressings: don’t skip this step
Before full production begins, pressing plants send test pressings so artists can check for manufacturing or sound issues. Josh Island recommends evaluating them carefully and even involving professionals. “I got five test presses and sent three to the mastering studio I used in Portugal.” A smart move, by why three? “This is because if they hear a problem on one vinyl, then the others can be checked to make sure it isn’t on them as well.”
Chantal also suggests getting outside perspectives. “I’d really recommend taking the time to listen carefully to the test pressing on different vinyl players, and to share it with musician friends who have some distance from the whole process. I did have to recontact the vinyl pressing company a few times during production, but overall everything went quite smoothly.”
Even experienced artists occasionally encounter production problems. Daniel Balthasar recalls one situation where a batch had a manufacturing fault. “The first 30 records had the same production noise about 30 seconds into the first song, but they were all replaced by the manufacturer.”
Think about the visual experience
Vinyl is not just about sound, the visual design is a big part of the appeal. Josh Island decided to press clear vinyl for his release. “The designer thought it would be a fantastic idea, and the manufacturer provided templates showing different transparent vinyl options.” He also included a lyric poster insert. “The insert cost around €3 per piece, which is quite expensive, but we thought it would be a really nice thing to have.”
Chantal also emphasises the importance of artwork. “A vinyl record is an art object in its own right. The artwork should reflect your musical identity and can even function as a decorative piece.”
Vinyl can sell well
Even in the streaming era, vinyl can still perform surprisingly well. Josh Island noticed strong demand as soon as he brought records to concerts. “At my first gig with them, I sold far more vinyls than CDs.”
Sacha recalls another unexpected boost in sales. “A record shop owner in Germany presented our vinyl on his YouTube channel and made us more than €1,000 in one weekend.”
But Chantal also reminds artists to keep their audience in mind. “Make sure your audience actually has a vinyl player, vinyl is trendy, but not everyone owns one.” She also made an important point about selling online. “Be careful with international shipping outside the EU on Bandcamp for example, and make sure the online shipping prices are set correctly. We had an order from Singapore and the shipping costs were quite ridiculous!”
Conclusion from Luxembourg acts
From the experience of these four musicians, a few key lessons emerge:
Start planning at least five to six months ahead
Consider 200–300 copies for a first pressing
Prepare a separate vinyl master
Carefully review test pressings
Invest in strong artwork and packaging
Streaming may dominate the music industry today, but vinyl continues to offer something unique: a tangible connection between artist and fan.
And in a small but passionate music scene like Luxembourg, that connection is vital.
Get your hands on the vinyls of the 4 musicians in this article at the links below! Daniel Balthasar ¦ Go By Brooks
The scene.lu pick of top 10 European vinyl manufacturers for 2026 Here are 10 of the best value vinyl pressing plants in Europe right now with realistic pricing so Luxembourg bands can budget properly, but please note, this is just "surface" website pricing, you may be able to negociate better details elsewhere, as the artists above have shown!
I’ve focused on good quality plus affordable for indie bands, not luxury audiophile plants.
Important: prices vary by colour, packaging, mastering and shipping.
Below = typical indie band orders (100–500 units, 12")
1. Deepgrooves Vinyl Pressing (Netherlands)
One of Europe’s best indie-friendly plants.
Minimum: 200 copies
Typical cost:
300 vinyl: ~€1,300–€2,000
≈ €4–€7 per unit
Eco vinyl + coloured options
Very popular with indie/electronic labels
Deepgrooves has pressed millions of records and focuses on high-quality and environmentally friendly production.
Best for: quality + sustainability + fast EU shipping
2. Semikols (Latvia)
Minimum: 100–150
100 vinyl with covers: ~€1,100
300 vinyl with covers: ~€1,800
≈ €6–€10 per record
Example: 200 black vinyl with sleeves ≈ €1,600 total (~€8 each).
Best for: small indie runs, tight budgets
3. Objects Manufacturing (Germany)
Transparent pricing and eco vinyl options.
100 vinyl package: ~€1,266
300 vinyl package: ~€1,350–€1,571
500 vinyl: ~€2,025
≈ €4–€8 per unit
Packages include cutting, test pressings and sleeves.
Best for: all-in-one packages
4. GZ Media (Czech Republic)
Europe’s biggest pressing plant
Large capacity = competitive pricing
Typical indie quote: 300 vinyl: €1,400–€2,000
≈ €5–€8 each
Often used by global labels and EU indie bands.
Best for: reliable large-scale pressing
5. Record Industry (Netherlands)
Premium but still reasonable for EU bands.
200–300 vinyl typical: ~€1,200+
≈ €8–€12 per unit
Very high pressing quality
Often used for major label reissues.
Best for: audiophile quality
6. Dublin Vinyl (Ireland)
Growing reputation and good EU shipping.
300 vinyl: ~€1,500–€2,200
≈ €6–€10 each
Best for: rock/indie bands wanting quality without huge cost
7. Press On Vinyl (UK)
Still popular post-Brexit but watch import fees.
100–300 vinyl: ~€1,200–€2,000
≈ €7–€12 per unit
Best for: UK scene or special editions
8. Dunk! Pressing (Belgium)
Boutique plant tied to indie/post-rock scene.
200–300 vinyl: ~€1,500–€2,500
≈ €8–€12 each
Best for: premium indie releases
9. Green Lakes Pressing (Lithuania)
Newer plant with competitive prices.
Fast turnaround (~7 weeks reported)
Known for cost-effective pressing
Estimated: €5–€9 per unit
Positioned as affordable EU option with modern machines.
Best for: quick and affordable pressing
10. MPO International (France)
Historic plant pressing since the 1950s.
300 vinyl: ~€1,800–€3,000
≈ €8–€12 each
Very respected quality
Best for: serious album releases
Realistic vinyl pressing budget (2026) for Luxembourg bands:
Quantity | Budget needed |
100 vinyl | €1,000–€1,500 |
200 vinyl | €1,400–€2,000 |
300 vinyl | €1,600–€2,500 |
500 vinyl | €2,000–€3,500 |
Typical cost per vinyl: €5–€10 each for standard black vinyl.
Coloured vinyl, gatefolds, splatter etc increase cost fast.
Pro tip for Luxembourg artists
Best value: Latvia, Czech Republic, Lithuania
Best balance: Netherlands, Germany
Premium: France, Belgium, UK
Shipping inside EU is cheap and fast, so don’t limit yourself to one country.
And finally some great sources!
Vinyl Pressing Plants - A list of pressing plant around the world by country
Les labels indépendants - Catalogue of pressing plants across Europe
Discogs.com - Another list of vinyl plants in Europe
Happy pressing!
If you haven't already, have a read of article Part 1: Thinking of ordering vinyl? Advice from Luxembourg’s Discpartner
Luxembourg acts press records across Europe
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