Making Vinyl Europe 2024

When the Making Vinyl Conference starts the second edition of the Haarlem Vinyl Festival will be history and we have no doubts it will have been as fantastic and humbling as the first one in 2023. In celebrating the resurgence of vinyl records and their cultural significance the festival is set to provide a platform for fans and professionals to come together and share their passion. It doesn’t need to be said that the approach resonates perfectly with us here. So let’s have a moment together to recap what we might have been part of or missed, depending if you made it in time to the beautiful city of Haarlem or not. Anouk Rijnders, CCO of Record Industry will share insights and a review with us. Anouk plays a key role not only in the worldwide manufacturing family but also in creating, organizing, and conducting the Haarlem Vinyl Festival. Let’s dig into insights about the past present and most importantly the future of the festival.

The enduring popularity of vinyl is about to enter its 17th year of growth with headlines making the news of it outselling other formats and becoming the leading physical format of music conservation (again).  Disruptions in the supply chain and raw materials during the pandemic while demand grew significantly seem to have been overcome. The shortage of manufacturing capacity that has hindered seamless and streamlined growth in the past years has ended. New technologies, new machinery, and the demand for more eco-friendly solutions are driving vinyl in 2024 and adding complexity to sustaining this remarkable revival. Let’s listen to key figures in the industry giving insight into several aspects of the current state and setting the pace for discussions in the two following days of the Making Vinyl conference.

The surge in demand during the pandemic years has not only brought the vinyl format back into the limelight but has also sparked a global and culturally rich conversation on the preservation of our cultural heritage. Vinyl has emerged as the favored format among music enthusiasts and artists, leading to a diversification in demand. Consequently, new players have entered the market, promising a deeper understanding of individual preferences, while existing players are reevaluating demands more closely, and some are rooted directly in diverse cultural backgrounds. This panel discussion will delve into the current state of the industry and the emerging trends in the music sector. Key industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, partners, and up-and-coming players, will address how they are responding to these changes. The conversation will explore innovative approaches to connecting artists with their audiences outside of traditional distribution channels, emphasizing a fresh perspective on DIY culture. Additionally, insights will be shared on how established entities are maintaining stability by catering to the diverse needs of all players in the value chain.

Drawing from the valuable experiences of a similar session at the Haarlem Vinyl Festival, we aim to present a unique showcase demonstrating the intricate steps of record manufacturing at the Making Vinyl Conference. A custom four-step playback setup will demo a digital master recording, the cut lacquer and DMM, the mother stamper, and finally the finished pressed record, giving visitors an audible experience of the individual steps of the vinyl production process. Be prepared to hear the differences (or not) along the manufacturing chain and get a glimpse of the magic of how a pressing stamper is made and how it forms a record. Our focus is on providing an enlightening and collaborative experience for all participants. Alongside the listening setup, students of the Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam will be present to engage with experts from our industry. We warmly encourage attendees to actively participate and share their expertise with aspiring enthusiasts. Let's approach this gathering with an open and inclusive mindset, offering insights into our respective crafts to those eager to learn. In turn, let's engage with each other to gain valuable perspectives on how the new generation engages with and appreciates vinyl, as well as their innovative approaches and artistic processes. Together, let's commit to further exploration and understanding by delving into each other's worlds, fostering mutual respect and collaboration.

The comparative listening setup will remain active during the lunch break until 01:30 pm.

With increased transport costs, shipping uncertainties and the social demand for local businesses to surge, vinyl is emerging into new territories. And by doing so it creates new markets and helps keeping local communities to survive, socially, economically and cultural. This discussion will represent such markets, some of them being created by the obstacles to engage or parttake in bigger markets, some of them coming from markets which are big and striving in other industries and you might have asked yourself when they will become part of a vinyl record supply chain as it seems logical for them

This panel is where we uncover how the consumer market shapes decisions at the sales front. Planning a vinyl release for years was a smart move, providing an opportunity for labels and artists to generate additional revenue from a niche community through sales at events and underground channels. With vinyl sales surpassing CDs, it has transformed into a significant revenue generator, influencing A&R choices, artwork, and packaging decisions. We are expected to hear insights from label representatives and their partners on how they assess demand, strategize, and adapt marketing and point-of-sale activities. Production and distribution managers, label owners and sales reps will share their vision for the future amid the dwindling number of record stores and the challenge of obtaining accurate market data.

Performance: Mathijn den Duijf
Introduction: Matt Drayton, RTM Industries & Anouk Rijnders, Arton Studio
In this lecture-performance, Mathijn den Duijf will highlight the benefits of using magnetic tape in studio and listening environments. He will share his passion for tape, which he believes can be highly valuable for music professionals, students, and listeners. Using listening examples from well-known recordings and live performances (interludes) by myself, the demonstration will show that tape and analogue recording have a unique standing and a promising future. For instance, during the lecture-performance, Mathijn will explain that tape offers unique possibilities leading to distinctive musical results. If you, as a musician or producer, seek originality, you might consider using tape as a compositional tool. Instead of relying on a screen, you use your musical ears to create new material. This approach alone can lead to new discoveries within your creative mind.
Furthermore, Mathijn emphasises the importance of familiarizing new generations, such as music students, with tape and analogue studio recording. As a music producer and teacher, Mathijn consistently manages to impress and shock listeners with the unparalleled audio and musical quality of a well-produced analogue recording on tape.

This panel appears to address similar topics as the preceding one, albeit with a contrasting approach. Positioned at the center are label representatives and management, striving to harmonize the demands of consumers and artists. This results in disparate structures and strategies for navigating challenges on both ends of the spectrum. For manufacturers, comprehending the complexities within which their clients operate can prove to be a daunting task, particularly when artists insist on infusing their creative visions into the production process. While many of these requisites are rooted in artwork and sound quality, emerging factors such as sustainability, uniqueness, equity, and diverse content are beginning to wield significant influence. Throughout this session, we will gain insights from artists, their label representatives, and manufacturing managers who are actively engaged in these dialogues, which, though collaborative, often necessitate sophisticated mediation and communication abilities, underpinned by an extensive understanding of the production capabilities and limitations.

How to deliver audio-files to the alchemists of the magical art of Disc Mastering in 2024? Digital tools for analog disc mastering by Tokyo Dawn Records.

"SimuLathe has changed the game completely. It’s the best addition to my lathe since upgrading my pitch computer." Greg Reierson (Owner rareformmastering.com)  "absolutely sublime, I honestly cannot see myself cutting master discs without it going fwd" Tim Xavier (Owner manmademastering.com)  "a gamechanger for cutting room and peripheral departments." Kamil Kaczmarek (Head of Cutting Department opticaldiscmastering.eu)  "better cuts in less time with less mistakes." Josh Bonati (Owner bonatimastering.com)  "nice to see something so difficult executed so well." Paul Gold (Owner saltmastering.com)

Presenting the next Beta-Version in the "SimuLathe" family.

"Simulathe Cut Prepare" - check and prepare digital audio for a vinyl release - easy and fast. The small standalone App gives a clear "pass or fail" indication for each project, helping to identify and communicate potential issues with the client and the cutting room early in production. It avoids costly delays and rejected test-pressings, and utilises the capabilities of a virtual disc mastering room to prevent pitfalls early in production. It helps Disc Mastering Studios do their magic job faster and better by delivering perfectly prepared audio-files.

"We realized the potential for such a virtual lathe, with Helmut helping us understand a disc-mastering engineer's true challenges and motivations. This is how SL developed, a sort of 'flight simulator' combined with new audio processors developed exactly for the disc-mastering context." (Vladislav Goncharov and Fabien Schivre, TokyoDawnRecords audio plugin development.)

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In 2022 we proudly presented a Beta-Version of the Software "SimuLathe" at Making Vinyl Offenbach.

It has gained high respect amongst professionals in the following. SimuLathe Workflows were installed and trainings on Model Assisted Disk Mastering were attended by large players in the industry and the finest boutique mastering rooms - Vantiva, Sonopress, Optical Disc Mastering Warsaw, Schnittstelle Berlin, Man Made Mastering Berlin, Josh Bonati Mastering NYC, Bob Weston Chicagomastering, Greg Reierson Rareform, Dietrich Schoenemann Complete, Paul Gold Saltmastering, Clint Holley Wellmademusic, Flo Kaufmann FloKaSon, just to name a few.

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In 2024 we present the next Beta-Version from the Labs: "SimuLathe Cut Prepare".

Ensuring that a wave file is properly prepared for vinyl production is a crucial step before cutting a record. "SimuLathe Cut Prepare" is an easy standalone tool, seamlessly integrating into any workflow. It gives a clear "pass or fail" indication for each project, helping to identify and communicate potential issues with the client and the cutting room early in production. It avoids costly delays and rejected test-pressings.

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Is this good for a cut?
Ensuring that a wave file is properly prepared for vinyl production is a crucial step before cutting a record.
During analog disc mastering, which involves carving a physical groove into a blank record, some audio files perform better than others. Not every "wave file" has the potential to create a high-quality, well trackable record groove.
Some files may need adjustments to the original sound to achieve durability, clarity, and overall audio quality in the groove.
Each cutting room and pressing plant has its own profile and specific set of guidelines to explain these requirements, typically outlined in complex technical documents. Understanding and fulfilling these can be quite a challenge.
SimuLathe Cut Prepare is an easy tool that gives a clear "pass or fail" indication for each project, helping to identify and communicate potential issues with the client and the cutting room early in production. It avoids costly delays and rejected test-pressings.
You do not need any special engineering expertise to use it, and it seamlessly integrates into any workflow.
Simulathe Cut Prepare allows for the creation of instant digital test pressings by specifying the key parameters:Record size, rpm, cutting level, and Cutting studio profile.
Simulathe Cut Prepare generates a virtual groove and detailed measurements for groove width, velocity and disc usage, ultimately delivering a “pass or fail” result.

A "pass" indicating that the audio-file meets the requirements for a successful vinyl production and can be cut according to the client's preferences.
A "fail" indicating that problems are detected, the record doesn't have sufficient space, the grooves are too wide or even the cutter head is at risk of damage.
By adjusting the target parameters and running another virtual cut potential solutions can be explored and discussed with the client and the cutting room. Custom profiles can be created to suit specific requirements. It saves time and resources that would otherwise be spent on physical test pressings.
And this is how it works.
Once you've added and organised the audio-files, you will need to adjust the target parameters for level, cutting room profile and rpm before initiating the cut on the virtual lathe. In the background, Simulathe Cut Prepare takes care of setting the gain, filters and lathe set up as well as making precise measurements of the groove. It compares the results with the requirements for a successful vinyl production, and indicates whether it is a "pass" or "fail".
You can modify the target parameters until you achieve "pass" and proceed to export the files for the client and the cutting room.
Simulathe Cut Prepare utilises the capabilities of a virtual disc mastering room to provide improved options. It prevents pitfalls early in production. It helps cutting rooms do their magic job better by getting better prepared productions that meet their requirements. However, it is not an AI monkey replacement for cutting engineers.
The ultimate responsibility for decision making lies with individuals by combining the tool's capabilities with human expertise.

This insight session will delve into the different sides of the vinyl industry. First off, an update will be presented on the interim survey results from the collaboration with Making Vinyl and the VRMA to look at trends within Global manufacturing volumes, understanding where around the world LPs are being pressed, defining size of plants, what does export levels look like and lots more. The second half of the presentation will focus on consumer trends taken from the latest (July-24) Audio Tech Lifestyle survey, looking at who the vinyl buyer is, value collectors bring to the category and also what other audio media are they engaged with.

The delicate craft of cutting is like a symphony of artistry, a dance of precision that sets the tone for the entire journey of record manufacturing. It is the first brushstroke on a blank canvas shaping the first step of the final masterpiece. This panel is where the alchemists of this magical art can talk their secrets, where the curtain is lifted to reveal the demands, obstacles, and triumphs of their daily craft. From nurturing ancient lathes to conjuring up new ones, from cutter heads to the finesse of styli and the challenges of quality control - every note matters in this grand overture. Will we have news to share about a well-needed second raw lacquer manufacturer? Join us, and open your ears to the whispers of the cutting room.

In the dynamic manufacturing industry, along with its peripheral businesses, labels, and media, it is crucial to recognize the ever-evolving landscape we operate in. Our industry is not only well-established but also adaptable and ready to embrace challenges head-on. It is an undeniable fact that societal changes demand us as pop-cultural workers to continuously reassess our practices to remain at the forefront of innovation. Rather than being constrained by tradition, we should thrive on exploring new avenues and approaches that shape the future of our industry. Let's engage in a proactive discussion to examine how our industry responds to these challenges and embraces progressive practices. By prioritizing topics such as B-Corp certificates, fair wages, and fostering exceptional working environments, we should position ourselves as pioneers in modern business practices. Let's harness the transformative power of music to drive positive change, spark vital conversations, and champion social responsibility within our industry. As leaders in our field, we are poised to leverage our influence for the greater good, setting new standards and inspiring others to follow suit.

With more capacities becoming available and clients gaining more freedom to pick a supplier, quality approaches will become more important. The panel should shed some light on how these issues are being sorted out in the different operations, tackling hard facts and in-depth aspects that used to be quite common in the past and are about to fade, like polishing/dehorning of stampers, mother ticking/repair, playing mother stampers from start to finish to identify issues. How do we preserve expertise and knowledge?

After almost two full days of talking about manufacturing and approaches to vinyl culture, let's gather for an evening of celebrating the content we all try to convey: MUSIC. Presenting two DJs (tba.), one live performance, and a Whisky tasting to relax our minds and souls, we have booked the PHIL cafe for a casual evening of music and being together.

What to expect?
The MAKING VINYL DJ team consisting of:
Andreas Kohl aka DJ Andyknownothing (Making Vinyl)
Luka Ingelse (Sounds Haarlem Record Store)
Jens Prüter aka DJ 67rpm (Nuclear Blast)
will spin some soulful tunes and you are invited to swing your hips. The three henchmen to creating the best mood are listed as speakers, although we don't expect much toasting :)

The highlight of the evening will be an exclusive live performance by the singer/songwriter Conny Ochs.

And you will be able to take part in an exclusive Whisky Tasting by the British Whisky manufacturer TURNTABLE SPIRITS.

Admission is free. Sign up for the event by ticking the 'attend' button. Space will be limited.

Special thanks to TURNTABLE SPIRITS, our Whisky Tasting Sponsor.

With his 8th album "Troubadour" to be released in late October 2024 we are thrilled to present Conny Ochs in a very intimate atmosphere as an early pre-release showcase. Check out true singer/songwriter craftsmanship by an artist who not only is bound to vinyl by all his releases but also interwoven in all aspects of our culture as a visual and fine artist as well, who has designed numerous record covers for himself and other artists.