Peak Lo-Fi With A 1930s Celluloid Recorder

Join me as I explore the 1930's German Kosmograph, a very early dictaphone that recorded acoustically to celluloid discs. Is this still LO-fi or is it NO-fi? Will it music? I try to make some beats with it and it surprised me, both negatively and positively.
SOUNDPACKS, MUSIC and LOVE: / hainbach
MY SIGNATURE SOFTWARE:
THE HAINPACK IS HERE: www.audiothing.net/bundle/hai...
GRANULAR SYNTH: apps.apple.com/de/app/fluss-g...
MELLOTRON www.gforcesoftware.com/produc...
MY MUSIC: hainbach.bandcamp.com
FASHION: teespring.com/de/stores/hainbach
CONNECT: / hainbach
BUY THE GEAR I USE (EU):
redir.love/thocf/n2lm9oo2ym
BUY THE GEAR I USE (US):
bit.ly/3nsnE9Q
(affiliate links, I get a few % if you buy through them)
BUY THE GEAR I USE (UK)
www.gear4music.com/blog/what-...

[@Hainbach]

Samplepack and music: patreon.com/hainbach

[@AMPProf]

YES TOO FAR for lo-fi But.. 190Os HOME BREW SD sure

[@AlexanderTzalumen]

If you're looking for very old audio equipment, take a look at the Techmoan channel kzbin.info/door/5I2hjZYiW9gZPVkvzM8_Cw

[@pd1jdw630]

Maybe you can ask Techmoan. He might have an answer for you. Are at least point you in the right direction.

[@AlexanderTzalumen]

@@pd1jdw630 I like the way you think

[@AMPProf]

I'm thinking 1800s hifi.. but... That one opera HAUSE and That one lady

[@papepcool]

You are the German Bob Ross of experimental electronic music. Keep it up

[@ToDAZEtheDAY]

So accurate 😂

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

🤯

[@alanv9700]

I wish people could learn to describe things besides making references towards other things. The English language is so vast and descriptive... But yes, he is quite entertaining and informative. Soothing voice too.

[@handledis]

hahahha insta subscribe after this message. bob is like a monk that has completed his lifetime of monking and instead is following his true passion

[@benfoley6472]

@@alanv9700 Thats such a bizarre opinion I'm genuinely curious why don't you like comparisons?

[@PeetHobby]

2:26 A machine that makes everyone sound like 1930s German. 😁

[@innnlove]

the hitlerizer

[@Ambocom]

Don't let kanye find it

[@crying2emoji5]

Bruh

[@bbqgiraffe3766]

I think that's called the internet

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

That’s what German sounds like to non German speakers 😂

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

Just sounds like a distress signal on an empty spaceship telling people to stay away.

[@Swaginatorr44]

Why would you say this, new nightmare unlocked

[@Justcallme_B]

Event Horizon throwback! "Liberate tuteme ex inferis"

[@FukaiKokoro]

Kinda like that conspiracy that Russia Had people in space before the official launch. There's audio of people panicking. I am not sure if it's real. I'd prefer to think it was fake.

[@Koronus_]

And then they send a rescue team to save those trapped in the ship, only to realise the only survivor is the alien that infiltrated.

[@bluelightbullshit5792]

those that are wery of the unknown won't explore outside there comfort so we looked to the stars for a new home and a new beginning

[@skaneverdies]

Wow, I've always wondered why early voice recordings have that weird, distinct "mousey" quality and this makes it make so much more sense.

[@KommentarSpaltenKrieger]

Or take the weirdly clear, theatrical pronounciation. Probably also highly influenced by the limits of back-then recording techniques and machines.

[@batacumba]

Right? I was like *mind blown*

[@matthiasklein9608]

There is a Japanese kit, the “Otona no Kagaku” Edison Phonograph Kit. It records on candles. A former colleague had one on his desk, but I never saw it in action. Costs around 60€, if I remember right.

[@Hainbach]

Thank you Matthias! Just ordered one

[@whitelion7976]

Try teenage engineering record factory or the toy record maker from Yuri Suzuki

[@owenswabi]

@@Hainbach subbed for that

[@ukuleletyke]

Techmoan did a video on one. If I recall, it didn’t work..

[@sonicspecter]

This is the highest lofi quality possible…

[@sytiravajous]

The hifiest lofi

[@MadDog7k]

We have witnessed a fascinating transition in the music world, moving from high-fidelity to low-fidelity, and now even entering the realm of no-fidelity.

[@brandontylerburt]

I loved watching this. I thought it was worth mentioning that celluloid has some surprising features. Not only is it, as you mentioned, what old film was made from, but also mass-produced mid-century accordions (which were likewise ubiquitous at the time). Like a 1940s Hollywood actress, celluloid is unstable, dramatic and spiteful, and will burst into flame whenever it sees a cigarette lighter (also ubiquitous at the time), or whenever somebody nearby thinks about a cigarette lighter, or even just in the middle of a polka which members of the band agree is particularly "hot." It was actually difficult to tell sometimes why any particular accordion or film canister burst into flames, but within a decade or so, people began to find excuses to leave cellulose objects (along with 1940s Hollywood actresses) sitting at home alone, or warehoused in archives, safely isolated in a cool, dark, quiet area. Unfortunately, this was just the wrong thing to do, because under such conditions, celluloid is likely to grow despondent and sulk, passive-aggressively dissolving into a vinegar-smelling goo at a moment it judges to be highly random, tragic and inopportune.

[@tyburvandeezo8218]

The song is fantastic, especially 4:30 and onward! A whole album or EP of stuff like that would be lovely and spooky!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! I was thinking of make an EP from these tracks I have made for vids that would not fit on my regular releases.

[@tyburvandeezo8218]

@@Hainbach YESS!!!

[@bricelory9534]

​@@Hainbach I think that'd be very cool! You make a lot of excellent music that can get a bit lost in the context of KZbin where it is featured and then left alone for the next video. Understandable, but it can be nice to go back and hear the music again easily!

[@MassMultiplayer]

viceral, space empire evil dark fume from sewer in futuristic city lol

[@notuxnobux]

Sounds kinda like Shin Megami Tensei V Da'at: Taito theme, from 0:40 onward

[@checktheneck]

I think it's time to create the "lo-fi diagram" analogous to the uncanny valley diagram. At first, the more lo-fi the more interesting the result, but after the peak there is a decline and the result becomes uninteresting again.

[@Hainbach]

Or rather, completely unintelligeble. I think with service I could up the quality - cleaning helped a lot, but the needle is rather worn. Replacement is probably impossible to find.

[@zackcolbourne6921]

More lofi = more betterer. There. Diagram finished.

[@RCAvhstape]

@@Hainbach Does it use the same type of stylus as old Victrola record players do? If so there are several sources for them. They come in batches of hundreds, since you are supposed to discard each needle after one play.

[@checktheneck]

@@zackcolbourne6921 then the "best" result would be a complete loss of the original signal, turning it into noise. If this is an artistic idea - great, if not, then the procedure loses its meaning because you can just use the noise as the original signal :)

[@gutterg0d]

​@@RCAvhstape playing the medium is one thing, cutting it is a whole different beast.

[@modeswitching]

Slowly working our way toward the great Hainbach - Techmoan convergence.

[@Hainbach]

D r e a m

[@space__idklmao]

The fact that someone could record a theremin on one of these when released is kind of mind blowing

[@ducdashot1239]

cant believe you found a machine like that in such good condition, tech from the 1910's to 1940's (for obvious reasons) are so insanely rare. amazing to see such an awesome piece of tech still be utilised

[@AlexBallMusic]

96 years old. Haha. Like the Boosh taking retro to its logical conclusion. That omnichord strum through it was so lush. 😍 Btw - there was a guy doing wax cylinder recording in the North of England, I read an article on him a while back. I'll have to see if he's still around.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Found it - the Vulcan cylinder company in Sheffield.

[@nickshillito1170]

Cyborg sea dog tell me what you dream of

[@DonChups]

This video was already beautiful and then you opened the case and I saw the mechanics running inside. It's heartwarming to watch it run.

[@geoffrey6000]

5:45 I literally went 😲 when that arpeggio hit. One of the most beautiful things i've heard.

[@charlottemulryne]

I've always wanted to witness a wax cylinder from 1800s in real life - they're so eerie, aren't they?

[@lina4469]

i wouldn't call this lofi, this is something else, but i want more

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

Olafur Arnalds uses a wax cylinder recorder and he says he knows a guy in the UK who still makes them on request. I doubt that helps, but it's reassuring to know there are people doing it for those who want it.

[@Hainbach]

Alex Ball send me the address - very cool shop Sheffield

[@frankrizzo9761]

Greetings from England! I am glad Germany still has musicians like you that inspired David Bowie when he came to Berlin in 1976.

[@WockToPoland]

Love your videos Hainbach. Your calm voice is soothing to the soul.

[@BandrewScott]

It sounds insane. Thank you for making such a fun video and sharing with all of us. Great work Hainbach!

[@thebkstank2095]

Lofi beats to experience existential despair to

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Your videos are always a treat for the ears. Please do keep digging back as far as you can, I'm super curious to see and hear what you can come up with! Cheers!

[@YaBoiDoi]

This is much better than the basic piano chords with crackling vhs noise behind it

[@shigarumo2263]

I don't know why, but the moment I hear the whole song, my mind just goes blank.. Like in a good way. I constantly have thousands of thoughts in my head and my brain rarely shuts down - maybe due to ADHD, but I'm not sure yet - but it just felt extra relaxing for me.

[@wolfrobots118]

Another amazing video! How you make music from these things is fascinatingly cool. I watch your videos as soon as they come out.

[@MeMe-mr8op]

This just came up in my feed. I was enjoying plenty then his music played and I was very impressed. Love the sound.

[@MrRom92DAW]

I am guessing that after 90 years, the diaphragm may be “stiff” - if you can clean and rebuild it you may be able to get better, however still very lo-fi results out of the machine. This is a completely acoustic-mechanical form of recording and playback which hasn’t been used by commercial recordings since the 1920’s. So definitely unique!

[@Elluvis72]

You are a great artist, even tough i don't like everything you create. You are original, independent en unique! Keep going with this!

[@lemonberries]

You are a musician, mad scientist and archeologist

[@MixedGoku]

Thank you very much for bringing me this gym and the music is an amazing touch you're so talented continue what you do and I'm going to be a subscriber for life so keep them coming

[@redadamearth]

FANTASTIC. I've been looking for one of these forever.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

You are such a rare breed, dear Hainbach - Thanx for being you , the way you are you !

[@bobbishmax62]

I like that it looks like a sound hoover, like you can just stick it to objects and suck up their noise

[@SebastianHasch]

"It comes with this 'Schlauch'" is the most german thing I heard in a while, nice video!

[@lasselasse5215]

Wonderful! Past bedtime here in Sweden, and this is what will feed my dreams.

[@PocketOperatorGuy]

That's so surreal. I think you made excellent use of that vintage recorder. Well done.

[@ramblingrootscamp]

I love this channel so much

[@synth-eticfantasies5683]

Great stuff as always! Your videos are a great for inspiration!

[@420Megaskunk]

Rob Scallon has a whole video on his channel where he recorded metal music on a wax cylinder, it's really entertaining and fascinating to watch.

[@teacherofteachers1239]

I can't believe that was only seven and a half minutes. So much information and art packed in, leading to many thoughts. I especially appreciated the close-up shots of how the needle is carving away at the disc, creating that ever-growing mass of thread next to the needle; seeing this really makes it clear what is happening and is enjoyable to witness.

[@tyndalos]

caught ya from my recommendations page, I immediately got hit with beautifully rich audio, love hearin it!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you and welcome!

[@simonkormendy849]

I love all the Lo-Fi textures you're getting with the Kosmograph.

[@GodsBadAssBlade]

holy moly, you mad emy britches fly off with your recordings!

[@OttoMilde]

Absolutely wonderful! It reminds me of a recording I heard of Mayakovskij reading a poem. It might have been recorded on a similar machine.

[@panorama_mastering]

You have won me over! Than you to the youtube algorithm gods for allowing this to pop up into my news feed! GREAT WORK!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you and welcome

[@brotherbraindamagechu1535]

Woooow! I love this sounds.

[@Kiernimbus]

I'm so glad you were recommended to me! Instant subscribe.

[@ferrifet7267]

Oh I do love your explorations of strange and obsolete audio formats 🎃 keep em comin'

[@baraahamida2655]

Very nice video! Please keep up with videos of such obscure and not-widely-known formats. 👍

[@hotwateronwool]

WOW so glad this got recommended to me. Beautiful results

[@NicStage]

It reminds me of the earliest cameras that needed a lot of light to get the faintest recording. Really cool!

[@AepoK-]

Woah ! MERCI d'avoir partagé, c'est une chance de pouvoir entendre ça.

[@leteethgirl8778]

one of my favorite of your demonstrative tracks

[@Sadsoft]

Smile from ear lobe to lobe. Thank you mister. You made my day

[@shawnlennon1947]

you get to see the coolest shit. you are blessed hainbach!

[@frankrizzo9761]

Very impressive track! I loved the finished result.

[@235_10]

This brings me joy

[@matteogazzolo1]

These sounds are sooooo beautiful!! They would be worth creating instruments for us happy users of your wonderful sound design products. (I just cross fingers... I'm so glad...)

[@stelp7617]

Rob Scallon did a recording on wax cylinder with a band. check it out, the equipment is pretty cool, and they used the big cones to get the instruments.

[@RISCGames]

that is fantastically fascinating, thanks for sharing!

[@daemon1849]

I absolutely love it

[@klankenkabaal]

Awesome exploration!

[@c3ps463]

Ich glaube damit hast du den youtube Algorithmus geknackt. Mir wurde das Video angezeigt und dein Kanal ist eine richtige Goldgrube ❤️

[@Hainbach]

Danke! Hatte ehrlich gesagt das Video schon abgeschrieben, weil trotz meines guten Bauchgefühles dazu hängenblieb nach fünf Tagen. Dann wach ich Sonntag morgen auf und Trau meinen Augen nicht!

[@youknowho4439]

Beautiful.

[@anthony_leckie]

Truly beuatiful sound.

[@somewhereinbetween]

i wish more people had access to this device! we need more music that sounds like this!

[@Taldoz]

It sounds like if found a dingy VHS of an old Cyberpunk Anime, where only a few of the scenes still show up on the TV. I love it. Like this is the sound of a dystopia that's been forgotten

[@loafgaming17]

What a haunting tune

[@ironleeFPS]

I think when you speak into that thing your messages pass through another dimension into a parallel universe and played through a record player on 1930’s earth to some baffled guy that just bought it.

[@Hackanhacker]

Fascinating!

[@gradyholaday8585]

Sweet videos!!

[@DanHomeAtLast]

Wow thanks for sharing this! Would never have known it existed

[@MaxOakland]

This is so wild, cool, and unique

[@hydro4696]

He deadass gave us a few experimental sounds to play with and then sucker punched us with this absolute transcendent track. Good god that was nuts.

[@christhesmith]

I think it's exactly what we need right now. Excellent.

[@LeiCal69]

Is this what liminal space would sounds like? Ghostly, haunting but nostalgic and beautiful.

[@FoxoticTV]

Really interesting result! What you made sounds like something I would hear in the High on Life game

[@edgeeffect]

I remember seeing one of these in a historical TV drama and wanting to know more and if it has "possibilities"... I never dreamed that, one day, an electronic music enthusiast would demonstrate one for me. :) Some of those samples were like a Vaco Orchestron... but even more "Vaco Orchestron" than the Vaco Orchestron was.

[@AndyMakes]

Love the track you produced with this video! Please update the description once you've titled and released it!

[@baltimoreluke]

love it. it's like you're vacuuming ("hoovering" for UK friends) up the sound

[@mjrippe]

I have owned a few disc dictation machines, but they were all electronically amplified. The oldest was a Gray Audograph from the late 1930s - all octal vacuum tubes and Art Deco styling. The latest was a Telefunken from the '60s - all transistor.

[@RocketinExile]

Amazing... There's needs to be a documentary mad about you!!!!

[@PopeRecords]

It kind of gives me a Boards of Canada vibe with a weird extra retro-step in it, nice.

[@ape2831]

great one!! very interesting

[@xa1a]

Brilliant music. Has a very cool BOC vibe to it!!! Sehr Toll!!!

[@NicholasBryantBonzaiSequoias]

The S-612 is my favourite sampler (and I have an Ensoniq Mirage and Yamaha Vss-30 too!). It has some hidden gems (play MIDI while overdubbing..) and buttery smooth filters.

[@MySynthDungeon]

This is so good ,,keeping it real!! lov it ! Cheers!;-)!

[@zedtea]

Excellent! 🎉

[@treetopjones737]

The modern toy version reminded me a little of when I was a child, at an arcade novelty booth you could cut a 45 record ( it had a mic with it ) into a plastic disc of standard 45 size design. Kosmograph reminds of those floppy discs that were put into some magazines that you played on a record player.

[@klinkske]

I really think you should take the train and visit the radio museum @ Olen, Belgium. They have wax players, wire players and some tesla stuff. It s nearby the station. So next stop will be studio 2 at NL :)

[@Hainbach]

Oh nice, on the list!

[@chocomalk]

It's awesome!

[@Lantertronics]

I'm picturing a Kosmograph AudioThing plugin now.

[@JamesMadisonsSpiritAnimal]

Oh bro that was dope beat you made

[@hattree]

It is probably only designed to respond to a small bandwidth, probably about what a telephone can transmit about 300 Hz (hertz) to about 3400 Hz.

[@gooneybird808]

Super sick track!

[@Melly_The1]

2:51 the new weezer album is gonna be sick

[@42exabyte17]

Not certain if you could make a wax cylinder recording there, but down here in Sankt Georgen we have the Deutsches Phonographen-Museum. They do have a vast collection of phonographs (and other record players, mostly from Dual and Perpetuum Ebner as they were manufactured there). Maybe you could get in contact with them regarding your recording? But anyhow, it´s definetly worth a visit (and it´s also relatively easy to access by train, from Berlin you´d only have to change once in Karlsruhe).

[@Hainbach]

That is near my old home town of Denzlingen! I see a visit coming