I wish the shade were yellow, paired with a triangle-shaped sticker. Each side would host six tunes, a mix of island vibes and singles. In section B, the acoustic tracks would breathe. This contrast has always drawn the eye: recordings that race at the start and drift into a ragged finish. The cover would be matte, complemented by a image of multicolored strokes. Not surprisingly, the proposed album title would be defamation. Letters would appear as screen prints. And upon entering the room, a cardboard box would reveal the credits those who cherish physical formats eagerly study. On the other hand, the script could serve as a narrative here, detailing the origin of each theme. Who wouldn’t want to know the hidden backstory?
The artistic plan would differ from the usual, and the imagined project might include a duet with Andrea Corr. Perhaps a candid version of a beloved song, Summer Sun. A limited run of 500 copies, a potential cult object in years to come. The fantasy has been thought through, and the only thing left is to bring it to life. The debut record of a career imagined here would be ready in ten weeks.
Mad Vinyl began in 2020 when the company was founded by two partners.
“Now everyone wants theirs,” says a co-owner. The small factory sits in Algete, near Madrid. It is the third in a trio of Spanish presses following the formats’ revival, joining Press Play Vinyl in Vizcaya and Krakatoa Records in Castellón. Since December 2020, it has operated at full capacity. This signals a second wave of interest in records. Data reflects the trend: vinyl outsold CDs for the first time in decades, representing a growing share of the market. In the first half of 2022, demand rose by about a quarter, reaching tens of millions in euros. The company distributed tens of thousands of copies in earlier years and sold millions in later years.
Yet the resurgence remains a niche boom: streaming still accounts for a large majority of revenue. Still, recovery is visible in an industry that took a hard hit over the past decade. The comeback is driven by collecting, the tactile experience of physical media, reissues of beloved icons, and devotion to leading artists who help spark renewed interest.
Enthusiasm for the venture remains high. The team values strong compositions over famous names, and the focus is on giving physical media the strongest possible support. Vinyl is the most hands-on format, requiring more than just machinery. A long-standing personal relationship with the format has deepened the commitment, and the studio remains open to several high-profile projects from artists across different genres, infusing warmth into a space that never rests.
The workshop spans four hundred square meters, a large portion filled with crates and awaiting orders. Deliveries are scheduled around tight timelines, with around-the-clock operation common. It’s easy in today’s moment to access new music, but nostalgia still pulls listeners toward concrete experiences they can hold and feel. The memory of early club days and the excitement around the vinyl boom is a reminder of how the format reshaped listening habits.
Step 1 | Send the audio on a qualifying host to record it on an acetate disc.
“Many albums in this format faced discontinuation not because they were disliked, but because production stopped,” the expert notes. A realization in 2006 showed that Spain had no workshop in operation since the 1990s, a gap that spurred research into infrastructure, evolution, and the engineers who drive the craft. Attempts to restart production often collided with scraps and limited parts, complicating the pathway to a new operation. The trend reflected patterns from the United States, where stocks vanished quickly as industry conditions shifted.
In contrast, Germany and the Czech Republic preserved machinery with state support, helping them lead global turnover in original works and enabling modernization to meet digital needs. The base price for a complete setup remains substantial.
Step 2 | Heat the materials so that stickers adhere firmly to the plate without loosening.
Time passed before it became clear that new advances were taking hold in Sweden. They began marketing spare parts in anticipation, and the United Kingdom was already drawing attention. Financing, investments, and connections were then secured, and the company emerged in early 2020. The first records rolled out on a November day, with expectations of a modest output. Some years later, production capacity expanded dramatically, reaching thousands of units per day. The catalog grew beyond rock to pop, flamenco, reggaeton, indie, and electronic acts, serving both local and international artists.
Step 3 | Metallic patterns are introduced into the machine and polyvinyl chloride seeds begin to heat.
In this scenario, the aim was to maintain a balance—records released at live shows and sold at concerts. Runs would be shorter, yet more daring, with a concept-driven approach. The starting point is sending the audio to a qualified master, followed by recording on a metal wheel with an acetate layer. A specialized setup uses a reverse speaker and dual magnets to carve a groove that captures the melody.
Thus begins the search to trace the groove. The varnish that emerges is derived from stamps to reproduce duplicates. The project exists to move forward, driven by core motifs that define its identity.
Step 4 | A screw heats the material to form a plastic ball, pressed into shape.
“The discs are bonded without glue, relying on pressure and heat. They must be heated to about 140 degrees before pressing, a step that happens as the disc is formed,” the expert explains. A blanket and a cover are often included, though clients can explore alternate paths and send artwork directly to the factory. Prepared motherboards are loaded into the device and the process begins. The seeds are heated and the vinyl material is stamped in a variety of colors—blue, red, green, pink, white, orange, and a striking yellow destined for the defamation project.
“The heat is applied to form a ball, then the molds compress the material within seconds. Steam at two hundred degrees enhances groove marking and prevents any surface flaws that could interrupt playback.”
Step 5 | Steam is added at 200 degrees for better marking of the grooves when pressing the record.
Step 6 | After cooling on the coil, the discs are housed in their covers. Some artists choose to laminate, while others prefer to wrap them themselves. The vinyl process can be a bottleneck when supply chains hiccup, especially during big reissues or high-demand campaigns.
Step 7 | Finally, lamination remains optional: some artists opt to finish and present the vinyl themselves.
OVEN at 140 DEGREES
The imagined project would suit musicians who plan to release songs on vinyl to sell at concerts. These runs are usually short but ambitious, with a clear concept and distinctive details that give the physical artifact its unique value. The first step is to forward the audio to a master, then it is etched onto a metal wheel with an acetate layer. A reverse speaker and magnets work together to carve the groove, leaving a trail of sound ready to be translated onto vinyl.
In this craft, the goal is to create a crisp, traceable rift—the varnish that permits exact duplicates. The artist would hold the art in hand as the process advances toward a finished product with core tags that identify its essence.
Step 4 | A screw heats the material, forming a plastic ball that is pressed to shape.
They are special because they do not use glue; pressure and heat bind them. The discs must pass through a 140-degree oven before pressing, and blankets and covers are commonly included as a service. Customers may also direct the factory to follow alternate routes. The prepared motherboards then move into the device, and seeds of various colors are heated, yielding hues from blue to orange. The yellow variant is the one tied to defamation.
“A screw heats to form a ball, which is then crushed by the molds after a few seconds. Steam at 200 degrees improves groove definition and helps prevent imperfections.”
Step 5 | Steam is added at 200 degrees for precise groove marking when pressing the record.
(Controversial) CASE OF ADELE
Edge trimming finishes the discs, which are stacked on a coil to cool and be housed in their covers. Laminating is an option before shipping, and the overall cycle can be quick but highly dependent on material availability. The hypothetical order might total around two thousand three hundred euros.
On average, the turnaround today spans about ten weeks, a sharp contrast to earlier expectations. Yet some factories report timelines reaching nine months due to supply shortages. The Adele effect in 2021 disrupted global supply chains, with hundreds of thousands of copies printed and many plans paused. The industry learned to adapt, exploring loopholes and alternative routes to keep releases on track.
Step 6 | After cooling on the coil, the discs are holstered and stored in their sleeves.
Reissues continue to reshape the scene as major labels revive catalogs. Antiquities by classic artists occasionally surface in this format, especially during events like Record Store Day or Black Friday, which complicate production. Many bands prepare bobbin lace-like sequences to ease the supply chain, and even Adele faced a last-minute push to finish a catalog amidst constraint.
In the imagined defamation project, a backup plan would ensure a timely release. Estimated at under three months, the plan aims to keep a dedicated audience engaged, balancing scarcity with accessibility. The vinyl magic remains: it’s not merely about music but about a tangible energy that deepens the connection between artist and listener. This yellow, screen-printed disc would stand as a vibrant story in its own right.
Step 7 | Finally, lamination is optional: some artists wrap them themselves.