German label, pressing plant and vinyl, cassette, laserdisc, CD, SACD and DVD manufacturer, operating under this name from 1958 until 2004, and again since January 2016.
Label Code: LC 4241 / LC 04241.
Sonopress is a division of Bertelsmann, Inc.
Note: not to be confused with the unrelated French company Sonopresse.
For releases Made in Mexico please use Sonopress Mexico.
For releases Made in U.S.A. please use Sonopress USA.
Additional services: printing, warehousing, distribution.
(See end of Notes for company history.)
== VINYL ==
Sonopress vinyl pressings can usually be identified by the following alpha-numerical patterns in the runout areas (note: A-n/B-n: n describes the number of the master/cut):
1957–1963: ##### X-1 / Y-1 (e.g. 45450 X-1 // 45450 Y-1).
1963–1964: 1 B (/) #### A-1 // B-1 (e.g. 1 B 1016 A-1 // 1 B 1016 B-1). The four digits are sequential but their meaning remains unclear (and should not be added as Sonopress numbers).
1964–1973: N ##### A-1 // B-1. N is a letter (mostly B, C, G, K) - but could also be two or more letters (e.g. B C, G L/C, G C, G FU or PU), and ##### is the cat# of the release. Examples: B 19174 A-1 // B 19174 B-1 (7") or G C 75562/63 A-1 // G C 75562/63 A-1 (LP). Usually 'G' indicates 'Mono' while 'C' indicates 'Stereo'.
1973–1975: S ##### A-1 // B-1 or M ##### A-1 // B-1. The S stands for Stereo, the M for Mono, regardless the format; ##### is the cat#.
1975–1978: S ##### A-1 / B-1 75 or ##### A-1 // B-1 / 76 S (the last 2 numbers stand for the cutting year). As usual, ##### is the cat#.
1978–1983: The catalogue numbers were adjusted to 6 digits, e.g. ###### A-1/79 S. In autumn 1981 injection molding was introduced.
For 7" records, additional codes - predominantly 'D'/'DS', but also 'F' - were introduced in 1982 and etched in leading position into the runouts at galvanization.
1983–1988: Use of leading DM or DMM (e.g. DM ###### A - 9/87 S), often in addition to DS. These letters indicate the mastering/processing method: DM stands for Direct mastering, DMM for Direct Metal Mastering. DM became standard after 1984, matrix information is now predominantly cut with the lathe. The 'Made in Germany' stamp was abandoned in 1984 as well.
1988–1992: Use of a 3-digit number preceding the DM and the cat# (e.g. 005 DM ###### A-2 or 105 DM ###### A-1); the date appears irregularly but the stereo indicator S disappeared. Apparently, the 3 digits indicate the respective lathe.
A "bass clef" symbol (𝄢), usually embossed on the B-side center label, started to appear on pressings from 1981 onwards.
This can be added to the BaOI section as a 'Pressing Plant ID' Example
Note: Do not enter the actual symbol.
Pressings from this plant often have the text "Made in Germany" stamped (irregularly placed) in the runouts, indicating a mastering in Gütersloh (as opposed to Made in Austria or Made in Switzerland). Example: G 19080 A-3 Made in Germany // G 19080 B-3 Made in Germany (7"). Note: A "Made in Germany" runout stamp is by itself not an indicator of a Sonopress vinyl pressing, because other plants (e.g. Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Pressing Plant) used it as well, at least until the mid-1960s. "Manufactured in Germany" indicates a contract pressing by Teldec-Press GmbH (until 1980). The "Made in Germany" stamp was discontinued in 1984. Eventually, the matrix numbers and/ or roman numerals were no longer stamped but cut into the copper plate with the DMM lathe.
Please note: The numbers are not work numbers specific to Sonopress. Generally, for all Ariola and BMG related pressings, ###### stands for the cat#, provided by the record company, and is used throughout the labels they distributed (e.g. Jupiter, Pye, Ariola, Hansa, A&M, Virgin etc.). If the runout number matches the cat#, don't add it to the Sonopress credit in LCCN!
Between 1973 and ~1982, 2- or 3-digit numbers were etched during galvanization for metals destined to be used at other pressing plants (usually found in front of the main matrix):
01: Unknown
02/002: Teldec-Press GmbH
05/005: Taunus Ton Technik (until March 1976), Interpress (005 only)
09/009: Phonodisc GmbH (until February 1978), PRS Hannover
10/010: Turicaphon AG
11/011: CBS, Haarlem
12/012: Phonodisc GesmbH
014: Dureco
033: Teldec-Press GmbH
045: Turicaphon AG
047: Unknown
058: Schallplattenfabrik Pallas GmbH
062: Unknown (likely a Scandinavian plant)
063: CBS, Haarlem for the Scandinavian market
092: Unknown
095: Carlton Productions
104: Unknown
109: Unknown
111: Unknown
203: Unknown
810: used in the late 1950s and early 1960s to indicate contract pressings.
020: indicates that the lacquers had been cut or the metals have been manufactured somewhere else for a pressing by Sonopress.
030 was used between 1989 and 1991 to indicate that DMM masterings were made by other mastering studios (e.g. Sterling Sound, Townhouse, Masterdisk).
Contractual manufacturings:
The Sonopress specific pattern for contractual vinyl masterings and pressings for outside labels begins in the 1950s.
Early contractual manufacturings can be identified by the following format codes preceding or following the sequence ####:
1 B / #### (7" Mono)
C 1 B / #### or S 1 B / #### (7" Stereo)
2 A (10" Mono)
S 2 A (10" Stereo)
(cuts/galvanization only; 10" records were generally not pressed by Sonopress but externally, even though stated on some covers).
3 A (12" Mono)
C 3 A or S 3 A (12" Stereo)
Until the late 1970s these format codes can still be found frequently on contractual pressings for BASF, Intercord/Spiegelei and United Artists GmbH.
With some exceptions in the 1950s and 1960s, where Sonopress was only responsible for cutting and galvanization, 12"s and 7"s were in most of the cases also pressed at Sonopress. Please inspect records thoroughly for other identifiers before making a 'Pressed By' entry. 'Manufactured By' can be considered as a less specific alternative if both, number and format code appear (e.g. on releases stating "A Sonopress controlled quality").
The stamped sequence pattern until 1970 is ####, succeeded by A-####, B-####, etc., embedded between the typical side identifiers, format and mastering codes as described above, e.g. A-0240 B1/ C3A or A-#### A-3/83 S I or DM B-#### A-1/9-86 or B-#### A-1/83S I or 209 DMG-3990 A-2 (please note that often the DM and the following letter are combined to DMB-1234 or DMG-5678, etc., but only B-1234 would be the LCCN number). 'P-####' was exclusively used for PolyGram contractual pressings.
The pattern was also used on CD releases, and continued until Z-9999 was reached in 1999. Then it changed to A-#####.
Note: Only these specific Sonopress patterns like B-1234, G-3990 or A-12345 can be entered as Sonopress company numbers into the LCCN field.
== CD ==
Older CDs carry the same job number pattern (X-####[#]) as vinyl records (see previous paragraph).
Sonopress numbers on more recent CDs occur in an 8-digit format of 5#######. This number is usually followed by the release catalog number, often separated by a slash. The start of the numbering sequence is not exactly known, but it is unlikely to predate the year 2000. This numbering scheme was continued by Sonopress Arvato, Arvato Digital Services, and Arvato, and again by the Sonopress brand since 2020.
Furthermore, the Sonopress logo in the matrix was introduced around 1998 / 1999. Previous to that, "Sonopress" was typed in the matrix.
Known SID Codes are:
Mould SID:
IFPI 07xx
IFPI 07xxx
Mastering SID:
IFPI LB 30
IFPI LB45 or IFPI LB 45
IFPI LB 46
IFPI LB47 or IFPI LB 47
IFPI LB 50
IFPI LP73 or IFPI LP 73
IFPI L0 21
IFPI L022
IFPI L023
IFPI L024
IFPI L030 or IFPI L0 30
IFPI L045
(spaces as shown on known releases)
Please credit Sonopress as follows:
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – X-####[#], or
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – 5#######
Bertelsmann rarely outsourced their production chain (cutting, pressing, printing, distribution). So, a "Printed by Mohndruck Graphische Betriebe GmbH", "Printed by TOPAC", "Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH" München or Gütersloh (found on the outer centre label ring), all Bertelsmann companies, would surely appear on releases pressed by Sonopress. However, occasional exceptions exist (e.g. for Switzerland or TELDEC represses).
History:
1957: Reinhard Mohn decided to produce vinyl records for the Bertelsmann Schallplattenring and establishes Sonopress Schallplatten GmbH (April). Just a few years later, Sonopress was servicing customers outside the Bertelsmann group as well.
1962: Ariola-Sonopress GmbH is established in August and Sonopress Schallplatten GmbH is dissolved (November).
1966: Sonopress GmbH is established in June.
1969: Start with the production of compact cassettes.
1978: Acquisition of a production facility in Mexico City. Start of the internationalization. Sonopress Gesellschaft für Tonträgerherstellung mbH is established (October).
1981: Start of the production of video cassettes.
1981: Injection molding is introduced in autumn.
1982: Start of the production of LaserDiscs.
1985: Start of the production of Compact Discs.
1986: After the takeover of RCA by BMG, Sonopress takes over the RCA pressing plants in the US, Italy, Mexico and Brazil.
1991: A plant in Hong Kong is opened as joint-venture with Pan Asia Music Group. Sonopress Gesellschaft für Tonträgerherstellung mbH is renamed to Sonopress Produktionsgesellschaft für Ton- und Informationsträger mbH (February).
1992: Sonopress stops mass manufacturing vinyl records (last record pressed on 02 December 1992: Sanne* - Where Blue Begins).
1993: Sonopress Ibermemory, S.A. is created after a joint venture with Iberofon, S.A..
1997: Start with the production of DVDs.
2002: Two plants are opened in France and Singapore.
2004: Acquisition of Audio Services Ltd. (ASL), the largest UK vinyl pressing plant (April).
2004: Renamed to Sonopress Arvato.
2008: Renamed to Arvato Digital Services.
2012: Merged into Arvato Entertainment Europe (as Arvato).
2016: Renamed to Sonopress GmbH again.
Label Code: LC 4241 / LC 04241.
Sonopress is a division of Bertelsmann, Inc.
Note: not to be confused with the unrelated French company Sonopresse.
For releases Made in Mexico please use Sonopress Mexico.
For releases Made in U.S.A. please use Sonopress USA.
Additional services: printing, warehousing, distribution.
(See end of Notes for company history.)
== VINYL ==
Sonopress vinyl pressings can usually be identified by the following alpha-numerical patterns in the runout areas (note: A-n/B-n: n describes the number of the master/cut):
1957–1963: ##### X-1 / Y-1 (e.g. 45450 X-1 // 45450 Y-1).
1963–1964: 1 B (/) #### A-1 // B-1 (e.g. 1 B 1016 A-1 // 1 B 1016 B-1). The four digits are sequential but their meaning remains unclear (and should not be added as Sonopress numbers).
1964–1973: N ##### A-1 // B-1. N is a letter (mostly B, C, G, K) - but could also be two or more letters (e.g. B C, G L/C, G C, G FU or PU), and ##### is the cat# of the release. Examples: B 19174 A-1 // B 19174 B-1 (7") or G C 75562/63 A-1 // G C 75562/63 A-1 (LP). Usually 'G' indicates 'Mono' while 'C' indicates 'Stereo'.
1973–1975: S ##### A-1 // B-1 or M ##### A-1 // B-1. The S stands for Stereo, the M for Mono, regardless the format; ##### is the cat#.
1975–1978: S ##### A-1 / B-1 75 or ##### A-1 // B-1 / 76 S (the last 2 numbers stand for the cutting year). As usual, ##### is the cat#.
1978–1983: The catalogue numbers were adjusted to 6 digits, e.g. ###### A-1/79 S. In autumn 1981 injection molding was introduced.
For 7" records, additional codes - predominantly 'D'/'DS', but also 'F' - were introduced in 1982 and etched in leading position into the runouts at galvanization.
1983–1988: Use of leading DM or DMM (e.g. DM ###### A - 9/87 S), often in addition to DS. These letters indicate the mastering/processing method: DM stands for Direct mastering, DMM for Direct Metal Mastering. DM became standard after 1984, matrix information is now predominantly cut with the lathe. The 'Made in Germany' stamp was abandoned in 1984 as well.
1988–1992: Use of a 3-digit number preceding the DM and the cat# (e.g. 005 DM ###### A-2 or 105 DM ###### A-1); the date appears irregularly but the stereo indicator S disappeared. Apparently, the 3 digits indicate the respective lathe.
A "bass clef" symbol (𝄢), usually embossed on the B-side center label, started to appear on pressings from 1981 onwards.
This can be added to the BaOI section as a 'Pressing Plant ID' Example
Note: Do not enter the actual symbol.
Pressings from this plant often have the text "Made in Germany" stamped (irregularly placed) in the runouts, indicating a mastering in Gütersloh (as opposed to Made in Austria or Made in Switzerland). Example: G 19080 A-3 Made in Germany // G 19080 B-3 Made in Germany (7"). Note: A "Made in Germany" runout stamp is by itself not an indicator of a Sonopress vinyl pressing, because other plants (e.g. Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft Pressing Plant) used it as well, at least until the mid-1960s. "Manufactured in Germany" indicates a contract pressing by Teldec-Press GmbH (until 1980). The "Made in Germany" stamp was discontinued in 1984. Eventually, the matrix numbers and/ or roman numerals were no longer stamped but cut into the copper plate with the DMM lathe.
Please note: The numbers are not work numbers specific to Sonopress. Generally, for all Ariola and BMG related pressings, ###### stands for the cat#, provided by the record company, and is used throughout the labels they distributed (e.g. Jupiter, Pye, Ariola, Hansa, A&M, Virgin etc.). If the runout number matches the cat#, don't add it to the Sonopress credit in LCCN!
Between 1973 and ~1982, 2- or 3-digit numbers were etched during galvanization for metals destined to be used at other pressing plants (usually found in front of the main matrix):
01: Unknown
02/002: Teldec-Press GmbH
05/005: Taunus Ton Technik (until March 1976), Interpress (005 only)
09/009: Phonodisc GmbH (until February 1978), PRS Hannover
10/010: Turicaphon AG
11/011: CBS, Haarlem
12/012: Phonodisc GesmbH
014: Dureco
033: Teldec-Press GmbH
045: Turicaphon AG
047: Unknown
058: Schallplattenfabrik Pallas GmbH
062: Unknown (likely a Scandinavian plant)
063: CBS, Haarlem for the Scandinavian market
092: Unknown
095: Carlton Productions
104: Unknown
109: Unknown
111: Unknown
203: Unknown
810: used in the late 1950s and early 1960s to indicate contract pressings.
020: indicates that the lacquers had been cut or the metals have been manufactured somewhere else for a pressing by Sonopress.
030 was used between 1989 and 1991 to indicate that DMM masterings were made by other mastering studios (e.g. Sterling Sound, Townhouse, Masterdisk).
Contractual manufacturings:
The Sonopress specific pattern for contractual vinyl masterings and pressings for outside labels begins in the 1950s.
Early contractual manufacturings can be identified by the following format codes preceding or following the sequence ####:
1 B / #### (7" Mono)
C 1 B / #### or S 1 B / #### (7" Stereo)
2 A (10" Mono)
S 2 A (10" Stereo)
(cuts/galvanization only; 10" records were generally not pressed by Sonopress but externally, even though stated on some covers).
3 A (12" Mono)
C 3 A or S 3 A (12" Stereo)
Until the late 1970s these format codes can still be found frequently on contractual pressings for BASF, Intercord/Spiegelei and United Artists GmbH.
With some exceptions in the 1950s and 1960s, where Sonopress was only responsible for cutting and galvanization, 12"s and 7"s were in most of the cases also pressed at Sonopress. Please inspect records thoroughly for other identifiers before making a 'Pressed By' entry. 'Manufactured By' can be considered as a less specific alternative if both, number and format code appear (e.g. on releases stating "A Sonopress controlled quality").
The stamped sequence pattern until 1970 is ####, succeeded by A-####, B-####, etc., embedded between the typical side identifiers, format and mastering codes as described above, e.g. A-0240 B1/ C3A or A-#### A-3/83 S I or DM B-#### A-1/9-86 or B-#### A-1/83S I or 209 DMG-3990 A-2 (please note that often the DM and the following letter are combined to DMB-1234 or DMG-5678, etc., but only B-1234 would be the LCCN number). 'P-####' was exclusively used for PolyGram contractual pressings.
The pattern was also used on CD releases, and continued until Z-9999 was reached in 1999. Then it changed to A-#####.
Note: Only these specific Sonopress patterns like B-1234, G-3990 or A-12345 can be entered as Sonopress company numbers into the LCCN field.
== CD ==
Older CDs carry the same job number pattern (X-####[#]) as vinyl records (see previous paragraph).
Sonopress numbers on more recent CDs occur in an 8-digit format of 5#######. This number is usually followed by the release catalog number, often separated by a slash. The start of the numbering sequence is not exactly known, but it is unlikely to predate the year 2000. This numbering scheme was continued by Sonopress Arvato, Arvato Digital Services, and Arvato, and again by the Sonopress brand since 2020.
Furthermore, the Sonopress logo in the matrix was introduced around 1998 / 1999. Previous to that, "Sonopress" was typed in the matrix.
Known SID Codes are:
Mould SID:
IFPI 07xx
IFPI 07xxx
Mastering SID:
IFPI LB 30
IFPI LB45 or IFPI LB 45
IFPI LB 46
IFPI LB47 or IFPI LB 47
IFPI LB 50
IFPI LP73 or IFPI LP 73
IFPI L0 21
IFPI L022
IFPI L023
IFPI L024
IFPI L030 or IFPI L0 30
IFPI L045
(spaces as shown on known releases)
Please credit Sonopress as follows:
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – X-####[#], or
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – 5#######
Bertelsmann rarely outsourced their production chain (cutting, pressing, printing, distribution). So, a "Printed by Mohndruck Graphische Betriebe GmbH", "Printed by TOPAC", "Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH" München or Gütersloh (found on the outer centre label ring), all Bertelsmann companies, would surely appear on releases pressed by Sonopress. However, occasional exceptions exist (e.g. for Switzerland or TELDEC represses).
History:
1957: Reinhard Mohn decided to produce vinyl records for the Bertelsmann Schallplattenring and establishes Sonopress Schallplatten GmbH (April). Just a few years later, Sonopress was servicing customers outside the Bertelsmann group as well.
1962: Ariola-Sonopress GmbH is established in August and Sonopress Schallplatten GmbH is dissolved (November).
1966: Sonopress GmbH is established in June.
1969: Start with the production of compact cassettes.
1978: Acquisition of a production facility in Mexico City. Start of the internationalization. Sonopress Gesellschaft für Tonträgerherstellung mbH is established (October).
1981: Start of the production of video cassettes.
1981: Injection molding is introduced in autumn.
1982: Start of the production of LaserDiscs.
1985: Start of the production of Compact Discs.
1986: After the takeover of RCA by BMG, Sonopress takes over the RCA pressing plants in the US, Italy, Mexico and Brazil.
1991: A plant in Hong Kong is opened as joint-venture with Pan Asia Music Group. Sonopress Gesellschaft für Tonträgerherstellung mbH is renamed to Sonopress Produktionsgesellschaft für Ton- und Informationsträger mbH (February).
1992: Sonopress stops mass manufacturing vinyl records (last record pressed on 02 December 1992: Sanne* - Where Blue Begins).
1993: Sonopress Ibermemory, S.A. is created after a joint venture with Iberofon, S.A..
1997: Start with the production of DVDs.
2002: Two plants are opened in France and Singapore.
2004: Acquisition of Audio Services Ltd. (ASL), the largest UK vinyl pressing plant (April).
2004: Renamed to Sonopress Arvato.
2008: Renamed to Arvato Digital Services.
2012: Merged into Arvato Entertainment Europe (as Arvato).
2016: Renamed to Sonopress GmbH again.
