Frequently Asked Questions

GAMMAUT is an independent record label dedicated to carefully reissuing hidden gems and long-forgotten albums, carefully curated for both music lovers with a curious mind and those who appreciate high-fidelity sound. Our mission is to uncover music that's slipped under the radar and present it in the highest possible sound quality. Each GAMMAUT release is carefully curated and comes enriched with extensive liner notes, insightful essays, exclusive interviews, rare photos, music transcripts, and more, creating an immersive, deeper listening experience for music lovers everywhere.

As a small record label, GAMMAUT's curation process is deeply personal and rooted in passion. The idea of a label started with the realization that most established high-fidelity record labels weren't willing to take risks on lesser-known historic albums—even ones we truly adored. Because of this, the first releases of our label reflect our personal taste, dedication, and genuine excitement for music that's often overlooked but undeniably special.

At GAMMAUT, "hi-fi" means we obsess over every step of the production process to ensure we get the best possible listening experience. We start by hunting down the best available source for every album, often tracking down original master analog tapes and spending hours carefully preparing them. If those original tapes are unavailable or in a state that doesn't permit them to be utilized for a hi-fi release, we look for alternatives, such as safety copies.

This process becomes even more important given most of our releases are reissues from smaller record labels that have been defunct for decades, meaning the tapes were for the most part not stored adequately. Nonetheless, irrespective of the scenario, our promise is to be always transparent about the sources being utilized.

Also, our production process is intense: we experiment by cutting different lacquers, allowing us to thoroughly compare test pressings and select the one that sounds the best. Sometimes that can mean cutting at different speeds, at other times cutting from different sources, or even pressing using different methods. To ensure each record meets our high standards, we collaborate with renowned mastering engineers and partner exclusively with the world’s best pressing plants, always keeping a close eye on quality control.

Finally, it is important to mention GAMMAUT is not an audiophile label in the sense that an audiophile label selects its releases based primarily on their sound quality. We make our decisions based on the music, and then we do everything we can so it sounds as best as it can given how it was recorded and the sources available.

Right now, our records are available exclusively through our website. As a small, independent record label, selling exclusively online helps us keep overhead low and makes sure we can offer you our releases at fair, competitive prices. This direct approach means more value for our customers, and allows us to keep doing what we love most—bringing incredible music and exquisite recordings to the market.

We always do our best to get your records shipped out quickly, but since GAMMAUT is currently an operation running out of a family living room, it can sometimes take a bit longer. Typically, your order will be packaged and sent within a couple of days, but please allow up to 5 business days for it to be fulfilled. Thanks for your patience and for supporting our small, homegrown label!

The name GAMMAUT pays tribute to Guido di Arezzo, a Benedictine monk who spent his life passionately studying and teaching music. Guido essentially created the musical notes we still use today, initially naming the first note "ut," which later evolved into the "do" we're familiar with. "Gamma" was the letter he used to represent this starting point, symbolizing the origin and essence of music itself. To us, this connection perfectly captures our label’s philosophy: a deep commitment to exquisite music, education, and thoughtful contemplation.

We chose a lemur playing the lyre as our logo because some lemurs are the only mammals besides humans known to naturally possess rhythm. They can keep a beat and synchronize movements, making them nature’s own little musicians! So, the lemur symbolizes rhythm, groove, and the spontaneous, improvisational side of music. The lyre, on the other hand, is a classical instrument that traditionally represents melody, harmony, and the formal elegance of music. By combining these two contrasting elements, our logo captures both ends of the musical spectrum our releases target: structured beauty alongside rhythmic freedom and improvisation.