Dubplates Dubplates are acetates; plastic coated metal discs. They are used as the basis for pressing a vinyl record. For example: You record your song onto a DAT or CD. You then have it mastered and when it sounds correct they cut an acetate (dubplate) using a lathe (see picture). This dubplate is then sent to be plated. The plater electoplates the dubplate to make molds of each side. then the molds and dubplate are sent to the presser who then stamps the vinyl records out of the molds. Many DJ's (especially electronic music oriented ones) use dubplates because it is the best way to test new songs. The clubs are the best way to get get a reaction to a new track. It would cost too much to cut just a few copies of vinyl records because you'd have to pay for the mastering, plating and pressing. So you just take your new track and have it just cut to dubplate and play that. there are a couple limitations to using dubplates, though. Such as, you cannot "scratch" with them (which is probably why i've seen no Hip-Hop DJ's everuse them), you cannot get fingerprints on them, and they will eventually wear out (though i've had some that have stayed good for years even with frequent use (i just take care of them). The reason for this is that the dubplates are just acetate (plastic) on a metal disc and it will wear away and scratch easily and unrepairably. This also came from the Jamacian sound system culture. Because back in the 40's and 50's (and even now with independent producers with limited funds) the producers would cut a dubplate and have the sound system play them to see if the crowd liked the riddim well enough to make it worth pressing. Nowadays they still do it for that reason, but also to have specials that no one else has. This is also what most sound systems do, it is what keeps them ahead of other sound systems. If there is a hot new track the sound will pay the performer of that track to do a special version of it for that particular sound system, which usually involves changing lyrics to big-up that sound system, give shout outs to the sounds selectors and soundbwoy lyrics for soundclashes.