Test Pressing

Official vs. bootleg test pressings

A test pressing is intended to check sound quality and detect any errors before actual production begins. Usually, only one to three copies of these test pressings are made. They are typically pressed on black vinyl and often feature white labels with handwritten production information.

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The situation is different for bootlegs.

So-called bootleg test pressings are often produced in batches of 5, 10, or even more copies. These are usually not intended for testing sound quality or production errors but are often created as collector's items or for commercial purposes. Consequently, in many cases, they are not genuine test pressings.

Most bootleg test pressings appear on black vinyl with white labels. However, copies on colored vinyl—such as white or clear—do exist. Colored labels are also frequently encountered.

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Key difference

>The purpose of an official test pressing is to evaluate the quality of a release prior to mass production. 

>A bootleg test pressing generally does not serve this technical purpose and is therefore often more of a marketing or collector's item than a genuine test pressing.