How Vinyl Records are Made
Vinyl records are iconic objects that have been around for a century and represented a revolution in the sound industry when they first came out.
From start to finish, the process of how records are made is a complex one that involves many specialized components and operators.
First, the sound studio must be set up with the needed equipment, including microphones, sound filters, and technical instruments. Then the music is recorded, either with a live band or a digital recording, and mastered. This is the starting point of turning a sound or music into a vinyl record.
The master is sent to the pressing plant where the vinyl is made. The plant has a lathe that takes the master and cut its grooves into thin, lacquered metal discs. These discs are then refurbished multiple times to increase the quality of the vinyl records. After the grooves are embedded, the lacquer is etched with acid to create the negative image of the record. The vinyl master is then coated with nickel which acts as a sonic guide and is used to test the sound when the record is played.
Finally, the vinyl is cut into 45 rpm, 78 rpm, or 33 rpm records and sealed with a label cover. The entire process of manufacturing vinyl records is time consuming and needs precision and care from start to finish.