Vinyl records are a timeless medium for music lovers, but have you ever wondered how they are made? Here's a breakdown of the process from start to finish:
Mastering
The first step in creating a vinyl record is mastering, which involves transferring the audio from a digital recording to a physical medium. This is done by cutting a lacquer disc with a lathe, which is a machine that carves the audio onto the disc. The lacquer disc is then coated with a thin layer of metal, creating a negative version of the original recording.
Pressing
The next step is pressing, which involves creating a positive version of the recording. This is done by pressing the metal negative into a mold made of heated PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. As the mold cools, it hardens into the shape of a vinyl record.
Printing
After the record has been pressed, it is sent to the printing stage, where the artwork for the record's cover and labels is added. The cover art is printed on paper and then glued to the cover, while the labels are printed directly onto the record itself.
Finishing
Finally, the records are inspected for quality control and then packaged for shipping. The finished product is a vinyl record that is ready to be enjoyed by music fans all over the world.
The next time you put on your favorite record, you'll have a newfound appreciation for the work that went into its creation.