Disc Jockeys' Acetate Records

If the artist have opted to use a different take of the song as the exercise cause the acetate becomes much more precious in value. The wear on acetate is much higher than that of a vinyl pressing. A chipped stylus will rip up acetate with only one play in some cases they never quite played out to the end. This was due to the lower sound levels, and mostly due to the stylus pressure of one ounce, or about 30 grams! Radio stations used acetates for commercials and for other "spots!"

These kind of acetate records lasts about 50 plays due to the fact that they tracked them at about 5 grams but with today's playback technology and modernized stylus causing less damage to the acetate records.  I can safely tell you that I have had quite a lot of reports from Disc Jockeys who are users  acetate records at their weekly gigs and has stated; 'acetate records can last for up to 100 plays sometimes slightly more! When mastering to CD, the recordable CD or CDR is used in a similar way to acetates, with the sound being checked from a CDR!

 The Compact  Acetate Disc

In the early days of the CD some dealers sold these CDRs for very high prices and referred to them as Compact "Acetates" Disc. The CDs used genuinely in studio or pressing plant are just as rare as acetates, however the growing availability CD Recorders has made them very easy to duplicate or forge. CDRs have also become so cheap that they are often used instead of promos!