German full-service media manufacturer, operating under this name since October 1, 2011. Formerly operating as Optimal Media Production.
Matrix scheme:
XY#####-ZZ
Single letter format identifier, followed by single character year identifier, followed by a five-digit numeral code, followed by an appended two-digit disc numbering.
Appears mostly without spaces. If the format and character identifier XY is followed by a space, enter accordingly into Matrix/Runout field, but keep without space in LCCN.
X is the format identifier:
"A" = CDs
"B" = Vinyl records
"D" = DVDs or Blu-ray Discs
"E" = Blu-ray Discs
Y is the master year identifier, which since 2010 is a single letter (A to Z):
A = 2010 – see 'Notes on CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays' below
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
I = 2018
J = 2019
K = 2020
L = 2021
M = 2022
N = 2023
O = 2024
After the 5-digit numeral code, the 2-digit disc numbering (ZZ) can be found, which starts at "01".
On multi-disc releases, the last digit usually incrementally rises by 1 for each disc. (Example: Disc 1 = 01, Disc 2 = 02, etc.)
Examples:
CD: AB57815-01 manufactured by optimal media GmbH
DVD: DC83784-01 manufactured by optimal media GmbH
Blu-ray: EL60280-01 manufactured by optimal media GmbH
Vinyl: BJ78101-01 A1
Matrix/Runout entry: The complete information of the matrix/mirror band area should be entered as it appears on the CD. Do not literally take over the order from the examples in the profile. For instance: "manufactured by optimal media GmbH" may appear before or after the XY#####-ZZ.
Notes on CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays:
• CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases additionally carry a "manufactured by optimal media GmbH" string next to the matrix number.
• If the production was done for a manufacturing broker (e.g., Handle With Care), the string often is replaced with the name of the broker.
• The plant's mastering SID codes are: ifpi/IFPI L571, L572, L573, L574, L575, L576, L577, L578, L579, L622, LZ08, LZ09.
• In 2010 the company was still called Optimal Media Production. A release with the year code A and "manufactured by optimal media GmbH" in the matrix is a repress from October 2011 or later.
Notes on vinyl records:
• The matrix number can be either machine-stamped or hand-etched.
• DMM and lacquer cutting are offered in the in-house studio Sector 5 Studios. If there are no mastering engineer initials present (see the list below), the mastering/lacquer cutting was done externally.
• Due to the nature of the hand-etching, the B (format identifier) might be mistaken for a 3, an 8 or a D. Also, G as the second letter, year identifier, can often be confused with the number 9. The numeral 1 can be mistaken for a 7 and the 5 can be mistaken for a √.
• In case the matrix may appear to have spaces enter accordingly into Matrix/Runout field, but keep without space in LCCN (= BG12345).
• Vinyl releases additionally carry the side positions along with an additional digit, next to the matrix number (see the example below).
• There are sometimes additional, faintly inscribed "geometric" marks. These are added during plating, and are therefore mirrored. They consist of a digit (usually 1) and a symmetrical symbol such as |, +, =, △, ⋀ (for example, I↾). The numeral 1 is etched in the continental style with a long riser, and can be read as V or Λ. Enter these marks with the runout string in their non-mirrored form (e.g., "1|"), and note their form in the Release Notes (e.g., "In the runouts, "1|" is mirrored.").
• Marks that appear to read "VI" or similar are not the signature of an engineer. They are plating marks, which are inscribed into the mother plates and therefore appear mirrored. "VI" is actually "1|".
• In 2020, the job number reached BK99999, then started again with BK00000 (not with BK100000).
• Since fall 2023, the plant is offering in-house Bio Vinyl pressings.
Notes on the manufacturing date:
• The year of manufacture in some cases may not be equal to the release year.
• The actual release date can be the same year of manufacture or one year later (e.g., manufactured in December and released in January).
• It (normally) cannot be earlier than the year it was manufactured (though there can be certain exceptions).
• Do not derive a release year from the manufacturing date code alone.
Instructions for entering in the LCCN field:
• For optical discs, please use "Manufactured By" (as on release). For vinyl records, "Pressed By" can be used.
• The job number "XY#####" can be added to the LCCN field. Please do not add the appended disc numbering, this is the internal "article number".
• If a release shows two or more of these numbers (e.g., multi-format releases), please enter each matrix number in a separate field.
Additional notes:
• Even records that come without the characteristic Optimal code can indeed be pressed there. Orders going through certain brokers and/or manufacturers won't get assigned a code for the plating process. With Optimal being one of the biggest pressing plants in Europe, there may be many records that were unknowingly pressed there.
Vinyl mastering engineers working at Optimal Media GmbH/Sector 5 Studios after 2011:
Andre Muchow (AM)
Björn Wolfram (BW)
Heino Leja (HL)
Jörg Peters (JP)
Martin Krafft (2) (KR)
Marko Kluge (2) (MK)
Steffan Jeschek (SJ)
Stefan Tenner (2) (ST)
Thorsten Wyk (TW)
Please credit with "Lacquer Cut By" and the appropriate ANV (when the full name is known).
