A new experience for record collectors. Meet DeadWax
A buddy, myself, and our teens built something special we are excited to share. (about us)
I've bought the same record three times, not on purpose. The first copy was a deal that didn't sound right. Second came from a trusted dealer, right sleeve, runout I couldn't quite read in the bin. Wrong one again. Third copy, I'd done the homework: forum threads from here, matrix comparisons, shootouts, Discogs variants, and paid more than I wanted to. Needle dropped. Finally understood what all the fuss was about.
The pressing makes the record.
Most people here already know that. We also know what it costs in time: a dozen tabs open in your browser, half-remembered SHF threads from 2011, Discogs pages with 47 variants, and YouTube shootouts you can never find again when you actually need them.
So a few of us vinyl record lovers built Deadwax.Get started at: deadwax.io
Deadwax is a free app that adds pressing-level intelligence to your Discogs collection. It is built specifically for collectors who care about mastering engineers, cuts, plants, country variations, first pressing country of origin, stampers, and the difference between a good copy, a bad copy, and a great copy.
One important note up front: Steve Hoffman Forums is one of the sources Pressing Intelligence reads from. A huge amount of the best pressing knowledge on the internet lives here, and ignoring SHF would have made the app worse. We cite threads directly and link back to the original discussions. All from within the app, we read the threads and do the research for you. What Deadwax does:
Pressing Intelligence (PI)
Breakdowns for releases in your collection: mastering engineers, label provenance, country context, notable cuts, and the pressings collectors consistently recommend.
SHF citations, clearly labeled as opinion
Forum consensus is surfaced as a collective consensus, not an objective fact. Every citation links back to the original thread.
Audiophile and audiophile-adjacent badges
Not just MoFi, AP, ERC, and Music Matters -- also early stampers, AAA reissues, standout JP/DE pressings, and well-regarded cuts collectors chase. Give us feedback on what you think audiophile is and is not.
Shootout video links
When there's a worthwhile comparison or review video tied to a pressing, we link directly to it.
Look up Nirvana Nevermind and you will see Mike from The In Groove shootout video winner top of your list.
Cleaner Discogs collection view (we think)
Vinyl-focused by default. PI and audiophile badges surfaced directly in your collection grid. Note we only show vinyl records.
Deadwax is not Discogs, and it is not finished -- Pressing Intelligence is evolving. Please give your feedback. We triage daily!
Built by actual collectors who obsess over this stuff. This forum taught us how to think about records beyond just "first pressing = best pressing." Deadwax exists largely because of the knowledge shared here over the years, and we wanted to properly cite that work and send people back to the original discussions.
The Deadwax Team