Ordering a Test Record on elasticStage
Ordering a test record allows you to review your vinyl or CD exactly as your fans will receive it — before making your release available to the public.
What Is a Test Record?
A test record is a complete version of your release, produced exactly like a public order.
It includes:
Full audio
Your selected artwork
Cellophane wrapping
12-page booklet (if selected)
The product itself is identical to the version your fans will buy. The only difference is that a test record is available only to you (the creator) before the release goes live.
Why Order a Test Record?
Ordering a test record is optional — but strongly recommended, especially if you’re new to vinyl or CD production.
It allows you to check:
Audio playback
Artwork layout
Colour reproduction
Spine alignment
Overall product finish
This gives you confidence that everything looks and sounds exactly as you intended before your fans start purchasing.
How to Order a Test Record
Once you lock your release, you’ll see the option to order a test copy directly from inside your release build page.
Click the Order Test Vinyl or Order Test CD button to add it to your shopping basket.
You can then proceed to checkout as normal.
You can watch our step-by-step tutorial on how to order a test record on elasticStage here:
How Much Does a Test Record Cost?
Test records are priced in the Low price category, which is the cheapest available category.
You do not earn royalties on test records.
What If I Want to Make Changes After Receiving My Test?
If you find any issues and need to make adjustments, you’ll need to:
Retire the current release
Clone it into a new version
Make the necessary updates
Once updated, you can lock the new version and order another test copy if needed.
You can watch our step-by-step tutorial on how to make changes to your release after your test record arrives here:
Is a Test Record Required?
No — ordering a test record is optional.
However, we strongly recommend it for new creators to ensure your release meets your expectations before going live.
Ready to Go Live?
Once you're happy with your test record and confident everything looks and sounds exactly as intended, you can make your release available to the public.
If you don’t need to make any changes, there’s nothing more to do — your release can go live and fans can begin ordering.
If you do want to adjust something, retire the current version, clone it, and upload your updated files before locking it again.