The Matrix Numbers Thread (Vinyl, CD,...)

hi @ all,

i would find it very helpful where a vinyl record was pressed. also including other formats, cd's or whatever. maybe someone find's it helpful.

with the help of many people i have discovered at this time only 2 pressing plants for vinyl.

the matrix numbers which are refer to GZ Vinyl in Czechoslovakia are like this

83568H1/A
83568H2/A

as above H1 stands for side A and H2 for side B. it repeats at different pressings, like here

8051301/A
8051302/A

there are a little different style, look below. but mostly it look the same as the above.

A0 25337/A
A0 25338/A

also i've found out which is the matrix number which refers to Rainbo Records in the US. they look like that

S-71143
S-71144
S-71145
S-71146

i'm pretty sure they have always the S before there index number. same as this release

S-77191
S-77192
S-77193
S-77194

okay, that are my little research which i have done.

but know i stuck on these matrix numbers for example

BA23246-01 A1 HL
BA23246-01 B1 HL

this indicates that the release was mastered at Optimal Media Production GmbH in . HL stands for the mastering engineer. but where was it pressed?

same as here only other mastering engineer MK. mastered also at Optimal Media Production GmbH

B651507-01 A1 MK
B651507-01 B1 MK

that are my researches.

maybe there are more experts out there that would complete the thread.

since then

have you seen this thread yet?

http://discogs.versitio.com/help/forums/topic/221240
it may have the information you seek, or at least, others who can help you :)

Kerry's thread is fantastic but I don' think it's going to answer his question about finding out through strings and matrix syntax who pressed what. Kerry might be able to help you regardless though.

GZ Vinyl is in the Czech Republic.
Previously known as Czechoslovakia, formerly known as Bohemia...

Regarding GZ Vinyl:

splintered8080
83568H1/A
83568H2/A
as above H1 stands for side A and H2 for side B. it repeats at different pressings, like here

Only "1" and "2" stand for the sides. "H" is still a part of the "project number".
As far as I know, "/A" denotes the generation of matrix copies: A is the 1st copy, B the 2nd, and so on.

splintered8080
8051301/A
8051302/A

Possibly it should actually read "80513O1" and "80513O2"
In the stamped font as used by GZ in the past 60 years, a "0" looks the same as an "O" and vice versa.

splintered8080
A0 25337/A
A0 25338/A

That's an older GZ matrix scheme as used approximately in late 1990s and early 2000s.

Dec
GZ Vinyl is in the Czech Republic.

You might be also interested in this:
http://discogs.versitio.com/groups/topic/270696
I've also included a summary of the interview with GZ senior mastering engineer Ladislav Kuss.

When I have some time, I will likely set up a GZ Vinyl page on http://wiki.discogs.versitio.com with all the schemes, etc. (But please don't hold your breath that it will happen anytime soon - you may choke… ;)

As loukash says, the wiki http://wiki.discogs.versitio.com/index.php/Main_Page could be a good place to collect this info. You'll need to me to get to edit there now though, I had to lock it down due to spammers.

nik
As loukash says, the wiki http://wiki.discogs.versitio.com/index.php/Main_Page could be a good place to collect this info.

I like the idea of having a thread to discuss this type of information first like djindio's http://discogs.versitio.com/help/forums/topic/231930 thread. Once confirmed we could add it to the wiki?

yeah, a GZ vinyl page would be great. i can provide +-50 records with their matrix numbers

loukash, thanks for your help

splintered8080
i can provide +-50 records with their matrix numbers

I can provide ±2000… ;)
We already have quite a few of them in the database. See Globus International, and quite a few other labels.

The one Big Problem™ with the matrices is:
The Matrix Number field is not searchable yet!

A bug, nik?
(Certainly not a "feature", I hope…)

loukash

i have also these matrix numbers

MZH 3331/A
MZH 3332/A

are these two pressed at GZ Vinyl? this is a record from 1995, austrian release.

splintered8080
MZH 3331/A
MZH 3332/A

Yes, this was the standard scheme used essentially from the late 1950s until ca. mid 1990s.

The alphanumeric code stands for the label and format, the numerals usually denote the matrices "chronologically". The "/A" still denotes the matrix copy generation, not the sides.

This scheme was initially invented only for Supraphon being the monopolist, so it used to look like:
A #### = 12" mono LP
B #### = 10" mono LP
C #### = 7" mono EP
D #### = 7" mono SP
E #### = 12" stereo LP
F #### = 10" stereo LP
G #### = 7" stereo EP
H #### = 7" stereo SP
etc.

In late 1960s came Panton as label, so for them GZ has used corresponding schemes with "P" as prefix: "PA ####", "PD ####", "PH ####", etc.

Same for Opus since the early 1970s: "OA ####", "OE ####", "OH ####", etc.

After 1990, they have extended the scheme to the new independent labels as well, that's why e.g. a Globus International LP has a matrix scheme "GE ####".
etc.

But probably it became unmanageable at some point, that's likely why they have switched the scheme to their current one.

loukash
The one Big Problem™ with the matrices is:
The Matrix Number field is not searchable yet!

A bug, nik?
(Certainly not a "feature", I hope…)

Seems to be searchable:

BCSB / Change Of Ways - Splitsingle
http://discogs.versitio.com/search?q=MZH+3331%2FA&btn=&type=all

Do you have specific examples that are causing issues?

nik
Do you have specific examples that are causing issues?

Hm… few days ago I was trying to search for certain GZ matrix numbers which should be in the database already, but I didn't get any results.
But now it seems to work.
Alright, I take everything back… :)

loukash
You might be also interested in this:
Videos about Czech vinyl production

Very interesting! I knew that GZ were in existence before the country code became .cz but I didn't think they went back as far as it being in Bohemia :-)
I mentioned that because some people can get offended if their homeland is referred to by its previous name.

Ireland only ever had only one vinyl pressing plant (Carlton) aswell, but it closed down years ago.

nik
Seems to be searchable:

BCSB / Change Of Ways - Splitsingle
http://discogs.versitio.com/search?q=MZH+3331%2FA&btn=&type=all

Do you have specific examples that are causing issues?

i having issues with 9double2, about a month ago, when he was entering matrices as cat#s. his reasoning being that cat# fields are searchable and BAOI fields weren't. which at the time was true. did you guys just implement this function?

hi @ all

i have seen this style of matrix number elsewhere. but i can't where. the codes are machine pressed.

CL 768 A-1-1-
CL 768 B-1-1-

this is from the Foo Fighters - Big Me 7"

has anyone an idea which pressing plant uses this matrix codes. release made in the UK

Dec
they went back as far as it being in Bohemia

Hm… not really. :)
Gramofonové závody in Loděnice (near Beroun) were founded in 1951, while the country was officially called Czechoslovak Republic (ČSR).
Whereas Bohemia always was the geographic English name (Böhmen in German, Čechy in Czech) for the west part of the current Czech Republic. So strictly geographically speaking, GZ still is in "Bohemia".

PabloPlato
i having issues with 9double2, about a month ago, when he was entering matrices as cat#s. his reasoning being that cat# fields are searchable and BAOI fields weren't. which at the time was true. did you guys just implement this function?

Not that I know of, but it may have slipped in with some other update. Glad it is working now anyway!