In the heart of Copenhagen in the vibrant “Nordhavn” (Northern Harbour) area, we had the pleasure of visiting Nordsø Records—one of Denmark’s only two vinyl pressing plants. Nestled in the industrial part of Nordhavn Nordsø Records occupies an area that still feels raw and untouched, unlike the more developed parts of the inner harbour (See for example). Here, amid warehouses and industrial facilities, the atmosphere is gritty and authentic, echoing the spirit of the vinyl-making process itself. This setting gives Nordsø a distinct, almost underground vibe, making it a fitting home for a vinyl factory that celebrates analog craftsmanship in a digital age. The location not only adds to the charm of the visit but also emphasises the dedication behind creating each record in a truly hands-on environment.
It was our first time stepping into a vinyl factory, and the experience was filled with captivating insights into a surprisingly intricate process.
But Nordsø Records is more than just a vinyl factory; it’s a world of its own. Beyond production, it also houses a stage and a store. The store offers everything from Nordsø Records’s own vinyl releases to turntables, hifi equipment, and various accessories. The shop is situated right next to the production area, so a visit to the store automatically includes a glimpse into the vinyl-making process — and we highly recommend it!
From Festival Beginnings to Full-Scale Factory
Nordsø Records was founded in 2016 by Henrik Damm Krogh and Michael Hjort, who first met at the Roskilde Festival in 2010. At the time, Michael was cutting dub plates—vinyl records made directly from live performances with a lathe—for the festival’s bands.
With a shared passion for music and vinyl, Michael and Henrik began brainstorming how they could create something special within this space. Their early ideas included a record store with a curated whiskey selection and other smaller-scale projects, all with a focus on contributing to the music community. However, they soon realised that Denmark lacked a dedicated vinyl pressing plant especially for unknown bands and small labels to get their records made. Driven by this need, they decided to go all-in and establish a full-scale vinyl pressing plant—a choice that ultimately shaped Nordsø Records into the unique and vibrant space it is today.
Now, Nordsø Records operates with two Newbilt record presses and has become a cultural hub where music production and community converge.
The Vinyl Pressing Process: From PVC Granules to Perfect Sound
Our tour of Nordsø Records began with a detailed explanation of the vinyl production process, taking us from raw PVC granulate to the final product.
The journey starts with feeding PVC granules into an extruder machine. This machine heats the granules and molds them into a precisely measured “PVC cake”—the foundational material that will eventually become the vinyl record. The PVC cakes are precisely measured in varying weights and sizes, tailored for typically 180g or 140g 12” records and 7” singles.
Each step in the pressing process is done with care. The operator manually places the PVC cake in the press, along with the A and B-side labels. The record pressing machine then press the cake into a record. One fun fact, we never thought of before, is that the labels are not glued to the record but simply simply baked together with the vinyl.
Once pressed, the vinyl is visually inspected for quality, and the edges are trimmed. Nordsø Record only uses virgin vinyl for pressing, which ensures top-quality sound.
To eliminate static electricity each record is placed on a spindle with spacers between them. The entire table is grounded to minimise static buildup.
A Collaborative Effort with External Partners
Creating a record requires a master. In Nordsø's case a metal master known as DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) which is crafted by an external provider using the ready-to-cut master material provided by the artist or label. This audio master must adhere to key vinyl mastering guidelines: all frequencies below 150Hz should be in mono, phase alignment must be precise, and de-essing should be applied if necessary to achieve the best possible sound quality on vinyl. From this metal master, “stampers” are created, which Nordsø Record’s press machines then use to produce the vinyl records. The metal master and stampers are often referred to as the “mother” and “father” since their grooves face in opposite directions. Each stamper can produce many records but will eventually wear down. Additionally, if a stamper is damaged during production, a new one must be made from the metal master to maintain quality.
Heating and Cooling for Quality
If you want to make a perfect press you must administer heating and cooling perfectly. The heating is applied in the form of steam infused simultaneously and 100% evenly over the entire surface of the record while the stampers are applied with perfectly even pressure until the correct thickness is achieved. As soon as the target thickness is reached the infusion of steam is replaced with one of cold water that is similarly applied simultaneously and evenly all over the surface.
After pressing, the vinyl must adequately cool before it is removed from the press; otherwise, it risks warping or getting the shape of a bowl. The cooling process is so essential that nearly as much time is spent cooling as heating each record. Outside the main building, Nordsø Record houses large equipment in containers, including a steam generator and cooling tower each with a power capacity of 560kW. This setup ensures the precision temperature control needed to produce high-quality vinyl.
Though starting a vinyl pressing plant might seem simple at first, the expertise required to manage steam, cooling, and precise timing is formidable. Any error in these steps can lead to flawed records, so meticulous attention to detail is essential.
Even with expertise in every aspect of the production process, issues can still arise during vinyl pressing. To minimize this risk, Nordsø Records conducts a meticulous visual quality control on every single record and audible check on every 75th record. This involves a full test listen to ensure sound quality remains consistent throughout the production run. This unwavering dedication to quality aims to produce records free from pressing artifacts while preserving the rich, immersive sound that vinyl enthusiasts treasure.
The Store: Discovering New Music
Nordsø Records presses vinyl for both emerging and established artists, with a recommended minimum production run of 100 records. Some projects are as small as this, while others are for some of Denmark's most popular bands — and, of course, everything in between. To date, Nordsø has produced almost 800 releases for Danish as well as international customers. After touring the factory, we headed to the store to browse through a rich selection of these.
We came prepared, having explored some of the releases on streaming services beforehand to familiarize ourselves with the artistry behind the records and to identify which would be ideal for assessing the virtues of Nordsø Record’s vinyl pressing. We picked up a few records to take home to experience the output of the very factory we had just seen in action. One standout was 'Still Stan' by the Danish group Stan Gets in Your Eyes, a bossa nova-inspired album featuring a saxophone-guitar duo that expands with additional musicians as needed. With a combination of instrumentals and one Danish vocal track that perfectly captures the mood of a Danish summer day, the album was a joy to listen to. Holding the album cover, reading the liner notes, and seeing who played on each track brought an added depth to the experience that digital streaming simply can’t offer.
Another album we picked up was 'In My Garden' by Emma Pilgaard, which we recognized from a Danish jazz radio station. Listening to it on Nordsø Record’s 180g vinyl was a revelation—there was low background noise, rich sound, and an overall warmth that made it a pleasure to listen to.
Finally, we picked up the album 'Road to Fame' by the Danish electro-acoustic band Laid Back, which came highly recommended by Michael. It is a double album that blends synth-pop, jazz, reggae, and funk in the eclectic style that is typical for the duo. There are tracks with and without vocals, only a single of the latter not in English, that are all worthwhile listens and particularly excell in creating a vibe. It is quite a groovy and really well produced album that we like a lot.
A Place for Music Lovers
Although we didn’t get the chance to attend a concert at Nordsø Record’s in-house stage we did get a taste of the venue’s impressive sound system. Listening to both Emma Pilgaard’s music and even a record produced by one of the Nordsø employees (Shatterhands) on their robust JBL setup was a real treat. How cool is it to create your own music and then press it yourself afterward? The tracks we heard sounded fantastic, and it made us all the more eager to return for a live performance in the future. This vinyl pressing plant, café, stage, and store is more than just a business; it’s a community hub for music lovers and audiophiles alike. Nordsø Records captures the spirit of the vinyl revival while offering a premium experience, from production to the final listen. Next time you find yourself in Copenhagen be sure to stop by Nordsø Records.
Further Reading
Nordsø Records' websiteNordsø Records Shop Facebook Page
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