Home built mechanical sound recorder

Here is my version of a mechanical sound recorder based on a turntable. It's possible to record up to 4 minutes on a blank CD. The quality of my camera's mic captured sound is lower than that of the real playback, videos with original sound will follow.
By now, the system records sound files played on computer, in real time. The files are "anti-RIAA" equalized. For further bass attenuation, 2u2 bipolar capacitor is connected in series with the cutting head. I hope to build some analog anti-riaa filter and to use it as regular voice or music recorder.
The cutting head includes a powerful all-range speaker. The speaker drives the lightweight aluminum arm to which the "indenting" stylus is attached.
The mechanism which moves the cutting head is just a CD player's tracking device:)

[@holtzman72]

For all who have questions: please look my second video with closeups and explanations, this video is just what I have, no plans in any form exist for this device. I built it from scratch improvizing and using existing parts!kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ-QnHd5mtGmeK8

[@orospakr]

Hi! This is such an amazing project. I would love to hear a direct capture of the reproduced audio. :)

[@vamdam6730]

что использовали в качестве резца?

[@holtzman72]

Sasha Podorvanov kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ-QnHd5mtGmeK8 Там показан процесс заточки, можно использовать даже канцелярскую кнопку, а лучше - обломок сверла.

[@vamdam6730]

Спасибо.

[@drrobotnikmeanbeanma]

Is it a way to record music on a blank cd with a record player cause i got a lot of blanks ??

[@martinda7446]

I just adore this. The irony of using a CD for the medium. Magnificent.

[@wii1245]

Martin D A how do you vacuum the swarfs?

[@chapeteglian]

EXCELENT! You should use a laser disc to make an LP!

[@flamencoprof]

Amazing how the application of intelligence can reduce what was once unattainable technology to something as basic as this. Millions of people have enough education to figure out how to do this, but have not. I am impressed and congratulate you on your ingenuity and practicality.

[@holtzman72]

Thanks for your comment! I actually have used many ready-made components here, so it is not as basic as it seems. The arrangement is simple, but the components are not: computer for equalisation, amplifier, CD drive, gearbox, speaker, decent turntable...

[@flamencoprof]

By "basic" I meant that you have understood the basic principles involved. Using ready-made components is thus a demonstration that you have understood how each component works, and repurposed them in an intelligent way. I actually avoided using the words "simple" or "easy" because this is neither.

[@user-mf1qc2it8b]

Хорошо получилось! Звук на уровне электрофонов 2-3 класса, но я думаю, что нет предела совершенству! К тому же нарезано в домашних условиях, это достойно уважения!

[@user-jp4xy6jx3f]

ндэээ звук нисавсем качиственный !!!сильно теряет качество из вонтаво длинного штока и видать иза иглы и зависит от температуры нарезаемого пластика!!!

[@1959Berre]

Finally the proof that CD sounds better dan vinyl ;)

[@CoopyKat]

Uh....NO, that's not what this "proves". CD does not sound better, because digital sound cuts out a lot of the analog sound when it's transferred to CD. The reason people THINK CD sounds better is that it's scratch and noise-proof. Vinyl records/analog recording is way better. You are confusing the physical material of the CD with the concept of ANALOG SOUND.

[@SilverShr0ud]

CoopyKat You missed that joke, hard.

[@ksteiger]

CoopyKat horse shit. why do people insist on saying thus bullshit?

[@arifakyuz7673]

Dude, it was a joke. He even put a damn WINK emoticon! I respect your opinion, but wrong comment to talk about this.

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

@@CoopyKat Even then, you can put any data on cd. If you want, it's 2 minutes of data in a 700 meg file that has everything from 2Hz to 100kHz at a high sample rate. Then it would be objectively better than vinyl in that it has literally the same audio down to billionth decimal accuracy but it removes the mechanical issues coming from needle springs and dust. And if you want proof that this works, well yeah most modern records are burnt out from a digital copy with a high sample rate

[@holtzman72]

Actually, you are right. All the deep bass was digitally removed before recording. It causes greater amplitudes on recording and playback, which add great distortions. Only professional cutting equipment is capable of good frequency response both for bass and for treble.

[@holtzman72]

Спасибо, Сергей! Ничего конкретного этот эксперимент не преследовал. Просто интересно было малыми средствами воссоздать ушедшую технологию. Меня как дизайнера вообще интересуют "тупиковые" ветви развития техники. Существовало много интересных аудио и видео форматов и способов записи и воспроизведения. Всё это забывается, а ведь были и гениальные решения, борьба за улучшение характеристик...

[@user-oh1mc3tb2r]

In the Soviet Union, this method was used to make plates on postcards with a thin coating. The plates had drawings on them. My mother was given one with a voice greeting and three songs

[@lizichell2]

its very good for a home made cutter. The bass is not distorted and its very balanced

[@rich3371]

I love it man, this is the kind of stuff that I spend all my free time on - really cool intricate things of no real consequence. Figuring out how to make something is what makes life fun. Good job from a fellow "inventor".

[@holtzman72]

I do not burn CDs any more. All my CD players stopped working while turntables still survive. Many burned and even regular CDs became unplayable while LPs still play back good quality. This project was just fun for me, kind of technological humor.

[@Sirrom0206]

I love this project! I never would have thought of doing this.

[@RobertoGinsburg]

AMAZING!! The principle of Thomas Young and Thomas Edison and E.C. Wente applied to a CD. Youre a genius really.

[@pcallas66]

That looks like a belt driven turntable. I'm amazed that it's strong enough to pull the platter with the high pressure drag from the cutting head. This is a great video. The audio is clean on the cut, also. Thank you for sharing. I love innovation!!!

[@fearsomerabbit]

That is freaking awsome! Great idea using CD's

[@pulezanpulezan4918]

Congratulations on making this great machine. The recorded sound quality is actually pretty good. Would be very cool to own one of these record cutters.

[@SivaKumar-jo8km]

மிகவும் அருமை. வெகு நாட்களாக தேடிய செய்தி. நன்றி . வாழ்த்துக்கள்...

[@sbanner428]

Impressed by how good it sounds, nice work :D

[@derpinbird1180]

Thats really stunning quality especially for a homemade device like that

[@holtzman72]

Thank you for your kind feedback! The speaker is not so large but heavy. It's about 8 cm and weights about 200 gram. I removed the protective cap from its magnets to save weight, because CD tracking drive feels hard moving cutting head, counterweight and the rigid frame. The weight load on the stylus is just below 100g. Funny enough but i don't know what wattage the speaker is rated, I bought it second hand with no specks on it. It's about 5 Ohm and feels to be above 20W, at least.

[@antonnym214]

Well done! The playback quality is way better than i expected.

[@GrotePVVfan]

This is great! I really enjoy experiments like this!

[@antonnym214]

This is the best use i've seen for a CD. Well done! Sounds good to me. All good wishes.

[@chuffpup]

Love this guys projects. One very clever and resourceful person. Cheers.

[@A3Kr0n]

There's something oddly satisfying about putting an analog recording on a CD.

[@MrsOliva]

В производство бы такую чудесную вещицу запустить. Для всех любителей делать не только перезаписи, но и записывать голоса близких людей. Бизнесмены, намёк понятен ? Надежда на вас, так как не все с золотыми руками рождены.

[@patricksudbury]

Make a tutorial on how to build one!

[@turntabuler78]

Great results!! Many congratulations.

[@107wb]

This actually sounds really good

[@quantumleap359]

Very nice work, excellent sound quality. You are quite the craftsman. Bravo!

[@ferolcat2009]

For something home made and that really looks like it as well the results are impressive, I like it..

[@KeritechElectronics]

Sounds good on playback, the frequency response is quite nice, if not for YT's compression and mike quality. Nice project.

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Esta maneira de gravação analógica é fantástica. Parabéns! Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil

[@suvamay2011]

Fantastic idea. I like your project.

[@MikeGervasi]

Brother, you get an A+ for inventiveness and effort.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Oh sure, with all those hisses, and all those snaps, crackles, and pops! I'm sure that's why PhilSony was so successful with their digital disc invention!

[@williamdrake6711]

that would be cool to have the digital song on one side so you could play it in CD player, but then have the cut song on other side to playback on record player. so you then have a single in both mediums....

[@GoemonLovesFujiko]

Quick Call Jack WHite!!!!

[@benmmaddog]

@@merylodrama search techman Vinyl-Disc - Vinyl & CD combined

[@edgrmno]

Very good!!! Sensacional!!! Ensine como montar essa mesa gravadora. Muito interessante!!! Parabéns!!!

[@holtzman72]

Thank you, good notice! As soon as time allows, I'll come back to this project and check it.

[@holtzman72]

The small aluminum cone is made of foil from disposable baking dish. There is a balancing arm connected to this cone, on the other end of this arm engraving needle is attached.

[@LanceCampeau]

this is absolutely awesome stuff. Well done.

[@thecrazy8888]

man the more i lisent the more im impressed this is incredible, I wish you gave some explanations

[@Zarkovision]

That is a highly impressive result. Compared with my Gakken phonograph from Japan which works basically by the same system it is really great.

[@pnmadhu1962]

Sir you did an excellent job.

[@mannye]

Super cool. Thanks for posting it!

[@holtzman72]

Just to clear things: what you see is an experiment, this particular machine is not for sale. You can not record "real" vinyl by it because it is not reliable enough to make multiple copies, and the groove depth and record level are smaller than normal. And you can not play back on every turntable - the record diameter is smaller than standard. A good turntable is needed, but the needle wear may be greater than normal.

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

Well done! it would be cool if the CD still works in a CD player, this could be a good gimmick for a present.

[@dave631bnetzero]

Hi I see your transducer (Speaker) has a second magnet. This is called a "bucking" magnet and helps to remove unwanted magnetic field from the back of the speaker that will effect a CTR tube. It is reverse phased, meaning it drops the magnetic strength of this transducer. Removing it will make the magnetic strength higher on this cutter. (Louder recording). Nice job!

[@skillful_DIY_fan]

I like very much such projects. It looks great, like real McGyver work.

[@holtzman72]

Thank you! And believe me or not, I did not hear about McGyver until your comment, there is really cool stuff in it.

[@tarstarkusz]

The sound quality is rather surprising. Not exactly hi-fi, but doesn't sound 1/2 bad either.

[@gonchujam]

So good! Low frequencies are great! And I listened to this song today haha. Great job!

[@BurkenProductions]

Nice! So now you can have both digital and analog data on the same disk! Awesome!! :D

[@JoeSmith-cy9wj]

About time somebody got an infinite sampling rate into one of those

[@sumitgenzyme]

Maksim.. Fabulous job done

[@cronos1.2_sqrt5.2]

Revenge of the vinyl :) Absolutely brilliant, BRAVO !!!

[@chrischris02]

Nice and simple design! :)

[@smeh3929]

Качественно нарезало однако! Супер!

[@holtzman72]

Это устройство собиралось из "мусорных" компонентов, никаких чертежей не было. Если Вас интересует что-то конкретное, то я, конечно, поделюсь информацией. Например, игла-резец заточена на конус с углом около 80 градусов. Работает она под углом 30 градусов к поверхности диска. Давление - 100-150г. И так далее, можете спрашивать, что Вам интересно.

[@gnored]

Amazing accomplishment!

[@holtzman72]

Thanks! I tried office pins, then switched to drill bits. I sharpened both to form a cone, slightly less than 90 degrees. See my another video for sharpening methods.

[@sunilrajjjjc]

clearly demonstrated.....very good effort...

[@toniturnwald9890]

Awesome, pretty good work. Thank you

[@holtzman72]

Thanks indeed everybody for your reactions, they are much appreciated!

[@WAQWBrentwood]

I wish I had a rig like this back when half my attempts at burning CDs generated "coasters" as I would have loved to have been able "recycle" those disks! Instead the became airgun targets!

[@nicolamastrorilli4454]

Di molti visti su FB... sicuramente il migliore.. congratulazioni..

[@captaintrips2980]

Great idea, using a compact disc as a recording medium. But it will wear quickly.

[@zark212]

Excellent Work my friend. Love to see something like this and I also mod hi-fi. Look forward to your videos :)

[@peternolan814]

Hello Maksim, I wouldn't even have thought of using a bank CD on which to make the recording. It would never crossed my mind that it might be possible to do what you have done. You are a mechanical genius. :). Peter Nolan.(Ph.D., experimental physics). Dublin. Ireland.

[@derekscorner5287]

Amazing work.

[@ArsenyKa]

Great! Simple and efficient!!!

[@holtzman72]

Thanks! Yes the idea is to compensate RIAA equalisation of phono preamp. In fact, it is not enough for correct recording and for this reason i put a capacitor in series with the cutter.

[@Helderhugo]

And it sounds great!

[@MrVinylObsessive]

Fascinating stuff! Which material the cutting stylus is made? Is it heated?

[@emmanuelwin1949]

That’s really impressive

[@chadergeist]

Great job! I wish I had you build one for me.

[@MattSiegel]

awesome! you've invented the 45 :D

[@rubixcube6]

Nice setup!

[@LHUPA]

Simply genial! I'm building one with an old HP inkjet printer and portable phonograph turntable with an hard disk drive as cutter head (knowing that an HDD can make a speaker with the coil and arm that can transfer signal from the input to mechanical energy driving a stylus that make a groove on the CD/DVD.)! Actually, I merged the project to another low priced all-plastic HP inkjet printer so called "APOLLO" that's stunningly brought all the solutions to the cutter head motor installation!

[@BarnacleButtock]

It sounds pretty good!!!

[@holtzman72]

Costs of production and equipment also played their role. CD is very cheap to produce, and a CD player is a relatively easy-to-produce device. So the profits were very high when first CDs and players were sold, they were expensive. Any tape comparable to CD quality is way more expensive. Pre-recording tapes is also expensive and often the quality was awful.

[@danielrperez5778]

Amazing! Long live DIY! By the way, it doesn't have to be a blank CD: of course any CD, written or blank CD-R or DVDR will do.

[@the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda]

Even the blank, clear piece of plastic that they sometimes include on a spindle of discs! :)

[@miroslavswigon5144]

Genius Inventor!

[@antizero100]

Omg that is amazing!!

[@gyrofrank]

I would love to make and share "Vinyl CDs" like these 😍

[@MarkDaGardna]

Not sure if there is a market for this technology but I think this is really cool...

[@peternolan814]

Hello Maksim, Well done. Your device is very impressive. Peter Nolan.(Ph.D., experimental physics). Dublin. Ireland.

[@holtzman72]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@hernanvassallo9902]

amazing, I need to build this machine too!!! congratulation!!!

[@williamschmidt-hansen6311]

The song is Frank Sinatra - The world we knew. Very nice!

[@meagain2222]

Technological humour my ass,this is brilliant engineering. Very well done.I can't believe the sound quality. What stylus are you using to cut the groove.?

[@trekforphotos]

it sounds good nice job :)

[@bbjib]

Великолепная идея, хорошее воплощение, красивая песня.

[@holtzman72]

Спасибо!

[@Sirrom0206]

Everyone need to see this!

[@holtzman72]

I don't have any jack in my camera for audio connection. Just filmed and captured by microphone. I had no enough time to make a transition to my PC, and since the quality is still not Hi-Fi, it is not so important to use direct connection. If time allows, I'll publish some digitalized versions of my records.

[@GuitarAudiologist]

That is sooo cool!

[@holtzman72]

Thank you! The quality is not as on actual vinyls, and not stereo. What you hear captured by camera mic is more or less its frequency range. See my channel for update - it is not a tutorial but hope this helps.

[@foureyedchick]

Not bad for a home-brew DIY record cutter !

[@davejames5074]

Totally brilliant - well done. What to do on a wet afternoon - lol

[@TQRROCKS]

Very cool video and great job! I would like to have something like built so I could cut my own records. I have a good Technics turntable, but, I don't have the skill to make the lathe. If there was a way to install a sliding track on the board for the cutter, you could probably cut full length records. :)

[@rick92rr]

This is amazing