How is a record made? What materials go into its creation? Who’s behind the work? Join WYEP’s Brian Siewiorek as we take a tour of Hellbender Vinyl, Pittsburgh’s vinyl record pressing plant in Lawrenceville! We’ll look at the specific functions of the vinyl pressing machine, see how the labels are “baked” and watch how quality control is done at Hellbender.
Introducing Hellbender Vinyl! Owner and operator Jeff Betten talks about how an increased need for records led him to talk to the city about opening the manufacturing facility.
As part of our series about how records are made, we talk with Hellbender Vinyl’s lead press operator Nick Landstrom about “the extruder.” How does it work? How are the colors determined?
In this vdeo, we learn about “the stamper,” from Hellbender Vinyl’s Jeff Betten. The stamper is the mold that physically stamps the plastic onto the record. Check out the full explanation!
Next, we head over to the presser at Hellbender Vinyl. We learn about the “donuts” that become records, and the process of cutting them into the perfect record shape!
We check out the label creation process at Hellbender Vinyl. Did you know they’re baked onto the records and spend some time in an oven?
Let's meet Orlando “Buscrates” Marshall, the head of quality control at Hellbender Vinyl. He’s known as “some of the best ears in the city of Pittsburgh.”
We head over to the packaging station at Hellbender Vinyl. Project managers Derek Krystek and Pam Pilipovich show us the process of hand-packaging the records, including some welcome/thank you gifts they send along to the bands!
We wrap up our series about how records are made with Hellbender Vinyl owner and operator Jeff Betten. The company is based in Lawrenceville, and you can find more information about them at hellbendervinyl.com!
Plus, some ASMR for you:
