Students Experience Vinyl Manufacturing at Blue Sprocket Pressing

On Wednesday, April 19, students from Shenandoah Conservatory’s Studio Systems, Maintenance and Networking class visited Blue Sprocket Pressing, a vinyl pressing plant in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Led by Associate Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Graham Spice, M.S., the students had the opportunity to learn about the process of vinyl manufacturing and the challenges of running a manufacturing plant in the digital age.

During the visit, students were given a plant tour and learned about the various steps involved in vinyl manufacturing, including mastering, lacquer cutting and pressing. They also had the chance to ask questions and discuss the challenges and opportunities of vinyl manufacturing in today’s music industry.

“Blue Sprocket’s push for quality over quantity and their refined notion of vinyl pressing being a process of physical mastering shows how they truly understand the importance that serving the music will, in turn, serve the listener,” said Ethan Hemmings ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology).

“The visit to Blue Sprocket Pressing was an invaluable learning experience for our students,” said Spice. “Not only did they gain a deeper understanding of the vinyl manufacturing process but they also learned about the important role of vinyl records in the current music industry. We are grateful to Chris Jackson and the team at Blue Sprocket for sharing their expertise and insights with us.”

Blue Sprocket Pressing is a leading vinyl pressing plant known for its commitment to quality and customer service. The plant offers various services, including mastering, lacquer cutting and graphic design, and has worked with various independent musicians and labels.