A Few Reasons Why You Should Press With Us
Okay everyone, we know, pressing records is expensive. It’s so expensive. We completely understand that, and, hi hello I’m an artist writing this blog, we know cost is the barrier to entry and if you don’t have a high paying job, or someone else paying for your records it’s pretty hard to justify the cost. I’ve been playing music out for a decade and have four albums, an ep, so many singles, and only was just able to get records pressed because, well, I work at Hellbender. I just want you to know I’m on your side, I get it. Hellbender gets it.
We do our best to keep our prices low, but it’s still pricey. If you are in the position to get records, I’m gonna make the case why going with Hellbender is the best financial decision, even if you can get records cheaper elsewhere. Here are a few reasons why:
During every order, our quality control team pulls and plays one record for every five pressed. We're listening for surface noise, skips, pressing defects - anything that would make you (or your fans) wince. A lot of plants will ship and hope for the best. We like to be able to guarantee your records are the best they can be before we ship them to you. So, you’re truly getting the best bang for your buck in terms of quality.
Vinyl production has a lot of moving parts, and timelines can shift. We get that - and we make sure you stay in the loop. From the moment your order comes in to the day it ships, we're here to give you real updates. When materials arrive, if there's a delay, when your records are rolling off the press - you'll hear from us. No chasing, no silence, no surprises.
This is where we really set ourselves apart.
On the audio side: Before we press a single record, our in-house mastering artist reviews your audio. If something sounds off - levels, dynamics, anything that could compromise the listening experience - we'll flag it. We won't press a record we're not proud of, and we won't let you put something out that doesn't sound its best.
On the art side: Artwork sizing, bleed lines, resolution - these details can torpedo a beautiful design if they're wrong. Our in-house graphic designer reviews your files before they go to print. If something's not right, we'll tell you so you can fix it, not after it's already been printed. Our in house graphic designer can also help you along the way.
Vinyl is supposed to be forever. We hold ourselves to that standard. Every decision we make - from materials to QC to how we handle your files - is aimed at producing something that will still sound great years from now, on someone's turntable they haven't bought yet.
If you just need a record, there are cheaper options out there. But if you want your record done right, with people who'll treat it like it matters - that's us at Hellbender.
