Digital audio files converted into 3D-printable records
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To convert the digital audio files into records, calculations were performed on raw audio data to generate the 3D groove patterns on the disc and this information was saved as an STL file and sent to the 3D printer
Close-up of the 3D groove patterns converted from raw digital audio files using a custom algorithm
Close-up of the 3D groove patterns
Close-up of the 3D groove patterns
The high resolution Objet Connex500 UV-cured resin printer used to print the records
The Objet Connex500 printing a record
Early test prints, to get an idea of what's possible with the printer and optimize the dimensions of the grooves
The digital source files are sampled at 11 kHz and have a 5-6 bit resolution so the output quality is quite low, but still recognizable
The system is said to have the potential to produce about six minutes of audio per disc
Amanda Ghassaei has developed a technique for converting digital audio files of virtually any format into 3D-printed records that can be played on any ordinary turntable
Article Summary
Like many music lovers today, I have a huge digital library and even though I've now converted much of my vinyl collection to MP3, I still return to my racks often. I've not really considered the possibility of converting my MP3/OGG/FLAC files into 12-inch records ... until now. While exploring the limits of today's 3D-printing technology, digital music tinkerer Amanda Ghassaei has come up with a technique for converting digital audio files of virtually any format into 3D-printed, 33.3 RPM records that can be played on any ordinary turntable.
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