From the life of a record

A record is a round, flat vinyl disk used to play music and other audio signals. My story begins in a recording studio where artists record their music and save it on analog tape.

As soon as the recording is finished, it is sent to a pressing plant where my peers and I are pressed from liquid vinyl. To do this, the music is cut into grooves in a metal matrix, which then serves as a negative mold for the vinyl disc.

As soon as I come out of the press, I am placed on a cover that protects me from dust and scratches. Then it goes on to distribution, where I am offered for sale in a record store or online.

When I finally end up in the hands of a music lover, the record is placed on a record player and the cartridge is carefully inserted into my grooves with a needle. As the platter begins to rotate, the stylus releases vibrations in the grooves, which are converted into electrical signals by the cartridge. These signals are then passed through an amplifier and finally played back through speakers.

Every time I play on a record player, a small part of my surface is worn away. Over time, scratches and dust accumulation can affect the quality of my playback. But if I am treated with care and cleaned properly, I can provide years of joy and musical enjoyment.

In a way, I am also a witness to contemporary history. There have been many changes in the music industry and technology during my life, but despite all the new formats and streaming services, many people still viewed me as a special form of musical enjoyment.