Record grooves under an electron microscope

Chris Supranowitz is a researcher at The Insitute of Optics at the University of Rochester. Along with a number of other spectacular studies such as quantum optics, trapping of atoms, dark states and entanglement, Chris has decided to look at the relatively boring grooves of a vinyl record using the institute’s electron microscope. Well, not boring for me.From what I read, it’s not just a simple matter of sticking a record under a fancy microscope, as there is a lot of preparation such as gold-sputtering the surface and post-processing to be done. Having said that, the results are very cool:

via Record grooves under an electron microscope.

Model Spaces by Driessens & Verstappen

m o d e l s p a c e s

Review photographs, taken from different art magazines, served as a starting point for this project. Omitting the exhibited art works, the depicted gallery rooms have been reconstructed in the form of 3D architectural maquettes. The models present only half of the project. The other half consists of two pages in an art magazine with images of empty exhibition rooms. For this purpose each maquette has been photographed from one particular point of view, similar to the original photographs in the magazines.Models Spaces 1990 has been realised in co-operation with Museum Fodor and Rijksakademie Amsterdam.

via m o d e l s p a c e s.

MakerBot » MakerBot Introduces 3D Printable Vinyl Records

http://youtu.be/KePsn29myeM

After months of intensive research and development, MakerBot Industries is proud to announce a newly realized capacity of the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic 3D Printer- the ability to print listenable vinyl records from the desktop.

“The process of transcribing an audio file into a vinyl record is so simple, anyone can do it.” Said Chief Audio Engineer Isaac Dietz. “Right now, I’m using the Automated Build Platform to rip my entire MP3 collection to individual records!”

“It’s an exciting innovation for MakerBot, as we all grew up listening to vinyl. We all wish that more records were available with the latest hits,” said Audio R&D Associate Marisol Murphy. “I can never get enough Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black until I listened to them on my turntable.”

via MakerBot » MakerBot Introduces 3D Printable Vinyl Records.

Digital Needle – A Virtual Gramophone

Digital Needle - A Virtual Gramophone

Remember those flat round things you may have found lying around the house? Those that never really worked well as flying saucers. Well, the other day I happenned to have a good look at one through a magnifying glass. I was able to discern something waveform’esqe in the shape of the groove. I then recalled an old legend I once heard concerning these objects. This legend, being of technological nature, entaled a diamond needle that would vibrate when placed atop the revolving flat things. These vibrations, when amplified, would produce music. I thus decided to try and extract something sensible off of this object.

via Digital Needle – A Virtual Gramophone.

Laser Cut Record « Ponoko – Blog

Every year iPods and other mp3 players push CDs further into obscurity, so it’s getting harder to remember when vinyl records were standard. Of course, vinyl records are still considered the true standard by many musical purists. But even if you don’t recognize the superiority of vinyl records, they still have a certain nostalgia. Even the manufacturing process remains still basically the same. Two clever makers from Germany think they have a better way–a laser of course.

via Laser Cut Record « Ponoko – Blog.