Videos of How Vinyl Records Are Pressed

[Bernie]

Here are some excellent videos of how are beloved vinyl records are pressed. Simple process yet amazing. Despite the digital revolution and all the nay-sayers, vinyl records are still with us! What do you think?




In case the embedded videos do not play properly here are the direct URLs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUGRRUecBik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IReDh9ec_rk

[KoolChris]

Pretty interesting videos. As a short-lived producer, I'd snooped around a lot when going to the record factory, but had never actually seen the making of the masters. It seems there was more human intervention in the vinyl-pressing process where we ordered our records made. Certainly not as much as in Jamaica (some small labels actually hand-press the records, pulling down on a shaft that presses the vinyl cakes flat), but still a little more...

I've never really appreciated CDs. And I probably appreciate vinyl even more now that the digital media is around. Not only can vinyl take more abuse (ever scratched a cd, making ANY part of the CD illegible?..), but I've always preferred cueing with my hands on the medium, rather than through a digital device than can freeze, or delay...

Vinyl is also more personable. Different labels give my records different personalities, whether they're Casablanca, Prelude, Salsoul, Def Jam, Strictly Rhythm...you know the deal. Holding the record in my hands is already enjoying the music to come.
CDs tend to look alike, even with different artwork, and have a sort of cold "distance" I'm not fond of. That's why most of the CDs I own are compilations I made of favorite tracks, which enables me to bring my music around wherever I go, ...and keep the originals safe at home.

Although I'm not a fan of CDs for music, the opposite must be said for video. The DVD is a blessing, and maintains good restitution quality, as long as you don't use yours as coasters. VideoTapes being eaten by the VCR are a thing of the past, as are faded tapes that are dead after 10 years...

[Mixmachine]

this is a great film, Bernie, I had a pretty good idea but never this detailed.

I didn't know they setup the label before pressing