Your Sound. Pressed Forever.
We turn live sets, studio albums, and podcast episodes into ultra-limited, hand-cut vinyl. Whether you’re a touring band, a stand-up comic, or a creator with a story to tell, we bridge the gap between digital noise and a physical legacy.
This isn’t merch.
It’s a moment.
In a world of infinite streaming, a physical record is a statement.
I WAS THERE! Records specializes in "Micro-Runs"—batches as small as 20 units—giving every creator a way to offer high-value, high-margin physical media without the risk of massive inventory.
We turn your art into a tangible keepsake your fans can go back to forever.
Three Paths (Services)
The Live Experience (Premium)
We capture the lightning. For qualifying acts, we record your live performance on-site and cut it to vinyl. No polished overdubs—just the raw energy of the room as it happened.
Best for: Touring Bands, Comics, and Live Podcasts.
The Artist Short-Run (Studio)
Stop waiting 6 months for a pressing plant. Send us your digital masters—be it an EP, a comedy set, or a viral podcast episode—and we’ll have a 20+ unit run of hand-cut vinyl ready in weeks.
Best for: Indie Artists, Anniversary Drops, and "VIP" editions.
The Managed Drop (Partnership)
Don’t want to manage shipping? We can handle the production, hosting, and fulfillment of your record release for a percentage of the sales. You promote it; we ship it.
Best for: Creators who want a "hands-off" physical release.
The 20-Unit "Sweet Spot":
Most plants won't talk to you for less than 200 copies. We start at 20. Zero "dead stock," zero wasted money.
* Speed of Sound: Traditional vinyl takes half a year. Our lathe-cut process takes 21 days or less.
* Artisan Quality: Every record is hand-cut in real-time in our Midwest studio. These aren't mass-produced; they are functional pieces of art.
* Cross-Industry Mastery: From a heavy metal riff to a podcast punchline, we optimize your audio specifically for the warmth of analog.
Why Us?
THE PROCESS (Simple Steps)
* Select Your Service: Tell us if you have a live show coming up or a finished recording ready for the lathe.
* Prep & Master: Our engineers optimize your audio for vinyl playback to ensure a deep, skip-free sound.
* The Cut: We hand-cut your run on a professional lathe, numbered and ready for fans.
* The Delivery: We ship to your merch table, or we manage the online "Drop" for you.
Wanna hear your stuff on vinyl?!?!
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!