Fluance Audio's video: What is a Matrix number on the dead wax runout groove of a vinyl record

The set of numbers and letters etched in your record's dead wax can tell you all sorts of information about that record, like whether that person selling you a first pressing is trying to pull the wool over your eyes and sell you a 2019 reissue. Alongside this number, you can also find things like the signature of the engineer and other secret messages. In this video, we'll tell you more. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:12 What is a record matrix number? 00:40 Porky 00:50 When is a matrix number useful? 01:06 How to find out what pressing of a record you have 01:30 Notable inscriptions in the dead wax 01:50 Thanks for watching ► More videos about turntables and vinyl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4RzkklhX0U&list=PLkZMb6_83Jczg5E7iTgt2ehMsRo2xlbnq Follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FluanceAudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluanceaudio Twitter: https://twitter.com/fluance TRANSCRIPT: See this inner portion of the record where no sound resides? It's called the runout groove. Or, it's also referred to as dead wax. And like the rings of the tree, it can tell you a lot about your record. Sketched into the dead wax is something called the matrix number. This combination of letters and numbers is either stamped, or handwritten, in the lacquer, and is used to identify the stamper. The number may look something like this. Sometimes there is additional information. You may see RE after the number, for example. This would mean that the album is a repress. Sometimes, symbols are used to indicate information, like where the record was pressed, or who the engineer was. Engineer George Peckham famously signed his name Porky to the runout groove. Or, he would sign it, "A Porky prime cut." So when is this useful? Well, let's say that you're buying a used record and the seller says that it's a first pressing, for example. Now you can use that matrix number to find out if it's that original 1977 copy of "Rumors", or if it was a repress that was done in 2019. If you want to find the exact pressing you have, you can enter the code into the search bar at Discogs.com. It should bring up an entry for the album which would include all of the different versions of that pressing. Also, some serious collectors have favourite engineers and favourite pressing plants. If they are looking for an album, and it was pressed at two different plants, they may seek out a specific copy of that album pressed at their favorite plant. Some bands choose to include a message in the runout groove, like Led Zeppelin, who, on their Immigrant Song 7", includes the inscription "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." Weird Al's also known to include comments on the dead wax area. Such as "More songs about television and food" and "An accordion is a terrible thing to waste." These messages, to me, they're just part of the fun of collecting vinyl. Do you have a record that has a particularly notable or funny message in the runout groove? Leave a comment down below and let me know, I'd love to check it out. As always, thank you very kindly for watching. We appreciate it. If you want to see more videos, click one of these, and be sure to hit subscribe so you get notified when new stuff hits our YouTube channel.