Cutting Records on Polycarbonate featuring Cambodian Music

My friend Sam supplied me with 2 sheets of Polycarbonate plus a cassette recording of him singing! In this video, we take the sound from the cassette and cut a record onto the polycarbonate.
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The databits channel is pleased to provide you with the best in new tech, vintage and oddity gadgets, media formats, repair projects, electronic experiments and restorations of thrift store finds. There are also many "how to" and instructional titles. The goal is to search through garage sales, antique malls and resale shops for gadgets you didn't know existed, electronic toys you had as a kid, stereo or turntables your parents used or a film projector your school used to teach you valuable lessons. Typically we produce one video a week with several trips to a thrift store per month. Sometimes, through research, an item is searched for on ebay and purchased for review. A list of some of the most popular items watched here on the channel are: record cutting on various materials, DLP television repairs, VCR's, Camcorders, turntables, record players, records, car reviews and dictation equipment.

[@DvdXploitr]

That polycarbonate disk looked awesome when it was finished. If it could be cut into a round record, it would look like a "limited edition" type record that a record company would sell

[@8bits59]

Record cutting has been a hobby I've always wanted to get into.

[@elen5871]

Soviet hipsters ("Stilyagi") used to cut bootleg records of American rock music onto x-rays, could you maybe do that? That would rule.

[@creeperlamoureux]

x-ray records

[@elen5871]

Yeah, they called them "ribs," which is frickin. Very cool. images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/fc/3032206-slide-x-ray2.jpg

[@MisterTalkingMachine]

Finally, I was missing these record cutting videos.

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

I love it! Thank you Mr databits

[@databits]

Thank you for sharing your heritage and great singing!

[@wrctube]

I may not be a Cambodian (Luso-Brazilian here), but I know how good their musics are. You must try to listen some tunes from Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea, worth it. I enjoyed to listen the songs that your friend has sung and also this new experiment. I was missing seeing it here.

[@databits]

Obrigado por assistir!

[@jamesleethebond]

Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea are legends they cannot be impersonate

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

The music is all in Apple Music. Check out modern ones by Jay Chan

[@mikefitzpatrick1213]

That's amazing, on plexiglass!

[@Capturing-Memories]

Everything sounds like the very beginning of sound recording.

[@creeperlamoureux]

very staticky :3

[@warmsound3013]

Try cutting in Half Speed, you can get very very clean sound and frequency up to 16 kHz

[@smly1685]

I have a similar lathe as yours and you can get much better sound out of these polycarbonate discs First you polish the disc with turtle car wax then heat the disc to 80+degrees F with a lamp then you use an embossing needle There shouldn't be any swarf since your embossing and you'll get a recording with minimal noise

[@databits]

This is a great idea! Where could I find an embossing needle? Would love to try your idea.

[@smly1685]

databits I have been using a tungsten cone tipped needle that I got with my lathe. It wasn't in any packaging so I don't know who made it or where to get them. Sapphire needles will also work and I've bought those of eBay. They are shaped so if you put them in one way you emboss and the other you cut. Tungsten works better but if you can only get a Sapphire needle I would heat the disc longer because I've had records be unplayable because the groove wasn't deep enough. If you try it out let me know if you have any problems and I could probably help.

[@staticmunk7777]

those songs are beautiful btw and catchy too thank you also sam you have an awesome singing voice

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

staticmunk7777 thank you very much

[@raekane]

What I want to is why hadn't record recording become more common? I can't imagine a blank record costing more than a blank cassette.

[@freezetile8588]

Well, you needed a special machine for record cutting, unlike cassettes where almost all tape recorders could record (hence the name "tape recorder"). Also, recorded tapes are re-usable, unlike records where once you record something on it, you can't re-use it. And of course, cassettes can be played in the car or on pocket-sized Walkmans. :-)

[@nylonnerves8422]

Could that noise be reduced if the plastic was lubricaged in some way before recording?

[@Lilithe]

Play it again, Sam.

[@esinsonlinares7747]

Hola me gusta tu maquina yo estoy haciendo algo parecido oero me grava con bastante ruido yo quisiera saber de que material es la aguja que utilizas para gravar esoero tu grandiosa respuesta por que Nececito que me hicieras el favor de guiarme por que tu proyecto me gusta esoero respuestas

[@staticmunk7777]

please do more even am radio on this thing oh i loooove watching these your the awesomest

[@nailujyarrum5032]

Hi, I really like your videos and the Cambodian musician is really good. Nice you two got to have a project together. I was wandering if you ever tried cutting a groove in an excisting groove like in an pressed vinyl for example? and would love to see a playlist of your cutting machine videos.All best, -J

[@jamesleethebond]

Antique Goods channel featured here!!!!

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

James Lee you got it my friend

[@jamesleethebond]

Yeah and nice singing !

[@mattetch12]

I would try delrin, or nylon Both would be excellent materials

[@SilverFan8]

What machine do you have there and where can I get one?

[@marktubeie07]

OK I have no logical reason for wanting one of these, but I do big time! What fun!

[@kieferbradley2860]

The grooves are music, the swarf if cardi b

[@ulysmusic]

Is it monoreal Cutting machine ? Thk you

[@taranagnew436]

what's the consent sketching sound, is it from the machine or the record?

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

Hey I’m half Cambodian!

[@deadchannel.6038]

Is that Khmer?

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

Yes

[@fredbissnette3104]

That sounds loud great job

[@databits]

Thanks Fred

[@MrGeoffHilton]

Great vid as usual, would wetting the surface not give a better quality of sound?

[@Goatedxtronix95TheBeatMaster]

new upload yes. i love vinyl!

[@johneygd]

Hahaha this is really nice and the best part is ,, now you can sing his song under the shower, lol.

[@KiaDave]

that's awesome

[@johnny-becker]

Actually sounds really good. I'm going to see if I can find a record cutter for my home as, while some modern day albums can be bought on Vinyl, not all. Wonder where I would go locally to purchase one. I am even willing to buy it brand new if that is what it takes

[@databits]

The issue is that the majority of "home" disc cutters were made in the 1940's and 50's and the quality in most cases is AM radio quality (like mine). The other issue is that they typically are useless when found these days...in need of total electronics restoration. Sources are antique shops and ebay. Search for Recordio, Wilcox-Gay and even RCA Victor.

[@johnny-becker]

Thanks for the info Mr. Bits

[@povpanha8823]

i interesting with khmer Song How can get this

[@user-em7om6lv3r]

What's the name of the machine?

[@CassetteMaster]

Very neat recording on the plexiglass! Speaking of record cutters, I have an interesting machine coming in the mail, having just bought it recently. It is not a record cutter, but it is not a magnetic recorder either... Nor is it optical. Only hint is it is similar to a record cutter. I hope to restore it and make videos of it.

[@databits]

Thanks! Dude, I watched your videos long before I ever made a KZbin channel. Good stuff. Is it a dictation machine?

[@CassetteMaster]

It is a large vacuum-tube machine from the 1940s!

[@databits]

Are you going to make a video?

[@CassetteMaster]

Yes, once it comes in the mail. I thought it was mis-shipped to Ohio! But when contacting USPS, it turns out the package that went to Ohio was 7 pounds, so clearly not the machine (which is very heavy). I was just provided the wrong tracking number, but it should come perhaps tomorrow or next week I hope. Once it comes in the mail, I will make a series of videos, starting with a "first impressions" showing it in as-is condition.

[@CassetteMaster]

Spoiler: It is a Recordgraph machine, it records embossed audio onto clear 35mm film. I spoil because USPS still has not updated the tracking info since the 20th, and it was supposed to come on the 24th, and still it has not freakin' come. Heck, it might not never come. If so, Murphy wins I guess.

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Using polycarbonate material, you would get better results using an embossing needle instead of a cutting needle. Less hiss, no swarf either. I have experimented with all sorts of materials. Fun stuff.

[@databits]

Thank you for your comment!

[@databits]

Also, where can I find an embossing needle?

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

databits Well, to make a long story short, I got them from a guy on KZbin, he made them himself and worked great, I still have 3 left if your interested. Make me an offer I can’t refuse. I no longer have a phonograph that cuts records. You need just a little more weight when using an embossing needle. You might try doing a search on EBay for embossing needles, I think there is a guy that sells them, but never tried them because I didn’t like his cutting needles which I’ve tried.

[@wiiu7640]

Can you record cut metal with a standard lathe? I’d imagine that the lathe would have to have a different tip. What would it sound like? Would you have to heat the metal?

[@jerkman3944]

If you had a harder metal needle, and a soft metal like brass it might work.

[@davidandy9221]

Hey man I need some help, How did you replace the coils in the recording head? i have mine taken apart, and they are so tiny im scared to touch them. (im also gonna post this comment on your newest vid)

[@databits]

I didn’t replace them. I paid a guy (now retired) to do it for me.

[@davidandy9221]

@@databits dang it. Thanks anyway. Let me know if you find anyone

[@nevilleandann]

I NEED ONE PLEASE PLEASE I AM PRAYING

[@Blacklight8001]

I have a suggestion. You should try and record a picture onto a record using a computer program, and decoding it again.

[@databits]

Great suggestion, there would need to be some serious error correction in that computer program! And LOW baud rate.

[@Blacklight8001]

databits My understanding is the audio is analog, and the picture is to be viewed on a spectrum graph, which there is software for.

[@chearomchan213]

Song Cambodia 🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@renatoulrich5578]

Muito bom. Um alô do Brasil!

[@databits]

Obrigado por assistir!

[@boofeyballer3924]

I want cut my own records for my band and I want to make a homemade record cutter. But I dont know how.

[@matthewrichards88]

Hey databits. Just a quick question :) is the cutting stylus on your recorder completely straight down (vertical) Or is it at an angle like a phonograph pickup with steel needle? Season's greetings to you

[@databits]

Hey Matthew. It is vertical.

[@gio048]

Interesting video,but why is the recording so noisy? Nice video 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@garyandleslied]

where did you get the cutting needle? would a steel needle work from the wind up players?

[@databits]

Found it on ebay, new old stock. And no it wouldn't. :(

[@garyandleslied]

Thank you for the info. Nice videos.

[@CPorter]

you could make a business off of cutting people's recordings onto 78s

[@codykamminga9667]

well it doesn't sound that bad

[@tak_hoyaki]

Can I find the name of the record cutter?

[@databits]

It's a Montgomery Ward brand cutter.

[@mundodamaysa1943]

.

[@freesaxon6835]

Don't let him give up his day job