Minutes to Midnight [One Step Vinyl]

The "One Step" vinyl process is a specialized manufacturing technique renowned for its superior sound quality. Traditional vinyl pressing involves multiple steps with the potential for quality loss at each stage. The "One Step" process eliminates these steps with the lacquer master being used to create a stamper which is then used to press the records.

This results in a vinyl record that faithfully preserves the original sound with exceptional clarity and depth, capturing the recordings nuances and subtleties. The "One Step" process is highly regarded among audiophiles and collectors for its unparalleled sound fidelity and represents the pinnacle of vinyl manufacturing craftsmanship.

Because Sound Matters' meticulous One-Step process creates the definitive sounding audiophile version of an album - and the third release from Because Sound Matters One-Step is Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight.

Linkin Park's third album, Minutes to Midnight marked a shift in musical direction for the band. The album was originally released May 14, 2007 debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and was produced by Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin.

The release has sold more than 5 million copies in the US. Five of the album's twelve songs received substantial Alternative and Rock radio airplay including "What I've Done," "Shadow of the Day," "Bleed It Out," "Leave Out All the Rest" and "No More Sorrow."

Because Sound Matters One-Step of Minutes to Midnight is strictly limited to 3,000 copies. The album is housed inside a top quality, foil-stamped, uniquely designed slipcase. The enclosed gatefold single LP will feature an "Old Style" tip-on jacket with original artwork and have printed details regarding the entire One-Step process.

Minutes to Midnight was recorded and mixed in the digital domain at 96/24. Those flat master files are the audio source for the One-Step pressing. It was recorded at The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, produced by Rick Rubin and Mike Shinoda and mixed by Neal Avron — all legends at their craft. But the secret sauce of why this One-Step sounds so incredible were the engineers capturing the music. Andrew Scheps, Ethan Mates, Dana Nielsen and Protools engineer Erich Talaba showed up at work every day delivering career defining results.

BSM used Neotech VR900-D2 180g vinyl compound which is the same as what is known as Super Vinyl or Clarity Vinyl — the best in the world.

Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering (Metallica, Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, etc.) cut the multiple sets of lacquers required — crucially all from the same lot of lacquers. Being a massive Linkin Park fan himself — Levi already knew every little sound on this iconic album!

Dorin Sauerbier at Record Technology, Inc (R.T.I.) has been plating records for decades and is considered the best in the world — he also has done more One-Step processing than anybody. This is a vital step in the process to ultimately delivering the absolute best sounding version of Minutes to Midnight ever.

Record Technology, Inc. did the pressing — using the exact pressing machine used for so many Mobile Fidelity One-Step releases.

The slipcases, "Old Style" tip on original art jackets, and inserts were printed by world renowned Stoughton Printing Company.

The vinyl A-team was used for every aspect of this definitive version of Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight!

Side One:
Wake
Given Up
Leave Out All the Rest
Bleed It Out
Shadow of the Day
What I've Done
Side Two:
Hands Held High
No More Sorrow
Valentine's Day
In Between
in Pieces
The Little Things Give You Away