How does music travel from recording in a studio to the grooves of a finished vinyl record?

Behind the Record follows that journey from beginning to end, offering a close-up look at the craft, technology and human expertise involved in creating a vinyl record through an entirely analog production chain.

The film takes viewers inside each stage of the process. Music is recorded to magnetic tape before being mixed and mastered in the analog domain. A lacquer is cut, transformed through electroplating into the stampers needed for production, and taken to the pressing floor. From there, the film follows the record through pressing, quality control, printing, finishing and packaging.

Along the way, the musicians, engineers and production experts responsible for each stage explain the equipment, expertise and decisions involved, revealing just how many specialized skills come together in the making of a single record.

Behind the Record was filmed during Wax Works Berlin, an event produced by the Vinyl Alliance together with Audio-Technica and optimal media. Over two intensive days, a group of musicians, engineers and vinyl professionals set out to take newly recorded music through the complete analog production process — from a studio performance at Brewery Studios in Berlin to finished records pressed at optimal media the following day.

Part documentary, part behind-the-scenes guide to vinyl production, Behind the Record reveals the physical processes, human knowledge and attention to detail contained in every groove.

Watch Behind the Record