Audio Assistant

RECRA CONSULTING; Leicester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

RECRA CONSULTING is seeking a highly motivated Full-Time Audio Assistant for our Leicester-based audio laboratory. You will handle end-to-end processing of optical media formats, including master creation, high-speed CD duplication, disc printing, inlay production, and precise assembly of packaging.

You will work in an on-site lab environment, collaborating with sound engineers and warehouse staff to ensure defect-free, studio-grade outputs and timely boxing of finished products.

Qualifications

• Meticulous manual dexterity and obsession with perfection.
• Experience handling optical media manufacturing or related lab work is desirable.
• Commitment to high-quality physical media production.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and verify audio disc masters and metadata.
• Operate CD duplication systems and ensure bit-level parity with masters.
• Set up and calibrate disc face printers and ensure print quality.
• Assemble packaging (jewel cases, digipaks) and manage stock in the lab.
• Maintain inventory and cleanliness of the lab environment.

Skills

Manual dexterity

Attention to detail

Quality-focused

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, meticulous, and passionate individual to fill our Full-Time Audio Assistant role within our specialised audio laboratory. This position is the bedrock of our physical media manufacturing pipeline, bridging digital audio assets with premium, tactile finished products.

As an Audio Assistant, you will spend your day inside our state-of-the-art audio lab handling the end-to-end processing of optical media formats. This includes master disc authoring, high-speed and precision CD duplication, direct-to-disc thermal and inkjet printing, full-color inlay and booklet printing, intricate mechanical assembly of jewel and digipak cases, and rigorous stock management. If you possess exceptional manual dexterity, an obsession with perfection, and a deep appreciation for physical media manufacturing, you will thrive in this role.

Core Mission: To ensure that every audio CD leaving our facility meets studio-grade acoustic and visual tolerances, crafted with care, and boxed on schedule with zero tolerance for defects.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

The Audio Assistant handles hands-on laboratory responsibilities across pre-production, active disc manufacturing, paper print finishing, and warehouse shelf stock management. Responsibilities include:

Master Creation & Audio Ingestion

• Prepare, verify, and author Red Book audio CD production masters from supplied client files (DDP images, WAV/AIFF suites, and ISOs).
• Conduct acoustic quality assurance, checking for clipping, dropout, metadata accuracy (CD-Text, ISRC codes, and barcode tags), and track indexing.
• Archive and organize digital and physical disc masters in accordance with internal audio lab cataloging standards.

CD Duplication Operations

• Operate manual and automated standalone and networked CD duplication towers and robotic duplication systems.
• Perform sector-by-sector verification on duplicated discs to guarantee identical bit-level parity with the production master.
• Monitor duplication drive health, perform routine firmware updates, clean optical pickup units, and replace failing drives as needed.

Disc On-Body Printing & Template Creation

• Utilize graphic design templates to verify, adjust, and align disc face artwork using software packages such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and dedicated disc label suites.
• Set up, operate, and calibrate industrial thermal transfer, silkscreen, and UV inkjet disc face printers.
• Perform color-matching checks, monitor print head alignment, manage ink levels, and ensure that every disc face prints crisp text and rich imagery without banding, bleeding, or smudging.

Inlay, J-Card, and Booklet Print Production

• Set up and operate professional wide-format and digital press paper printers to output tray inlays, spine cards, booklets, and slipcases.
• Calibrate print drivers for varied paper weights, gloss finishes, and matte stocks.
• Operate high-precision paper cutters, creasers, and perforators to ensure printed inlays drop seamlessly into jewel cases and digipaks with micron-level alignment.

Physical Assembly & Finishing

• Hand-assemble and machine-assemble multi-part packaging, including standard jewel cases, slimlines, digipaks, poly-sleeves, and multi-disc boxsets.
• Insert printed tray cards, back covers, front booklets, and snap duplicated discs onto central hubs without fingerprinting, scratching, or cracking spindles.
• Operate heat sealers, shrink wrappers, and over-wrapping equipment to apply retail-grade packaging finishes and hype stickers.

Inventory, Shelf Stocking & Lab Maintenance

• Unload incoming raw material shipments (blank media spindles, jewel cases, trays, paper stock, ink ribbons).
• Keep a clean, systematic inventory: count, verify, and upload new raw and finished stock into our inventory management system.
• Shelve and organize raw consumables and stage finished product lots into distribution racks ready for pick-and-pack logistics.
• Maintain an immaculate, dust-controlled environment within the audio lab by wiping down surfaces, servicing print rollers, and practicing static-control protocols.

Working Environment

This position operates on-site inside our climate-controlled audio facility. The lab is an active, structured space combining professional audio listening stations, computing hardware, printing machinery, and assembly bays. You will work alongside sound engineers, label liaisons, and warehouse coordinators who value dedication, reliability, and precision craftsmanship.