Kris\Slyka

ohh heck, I've just been informed that I've been on @hackaday once again!

https://hackaday.com/2025/10/14/a-record-lathe-for-analog-audio-perfection/

A Record Lathe For Analog Audio Perfection

It’s no secret that here at Hackaday we’ve at times been tempted to poke fun at the world of audiophiles, a place where engineering sometimes takes second place to outright silliness. B…

Hackaday
Oct 16 at 3:55pmWeb
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@hackaday also… I really need to get some audio samples up somewhere. I guess people actually want to hear what this thing *sounds* like…
Show threadhackadayOct 20
@slyka We'd love to hear it!
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
it's kinda funny they talk about it like an "audiophile" thing when in reality the whole idea is to make records for my friend's weird noise and drone bands and art projects so they can sell some records at their gigs
Show threadF4GRX SébastienOct 16
@slyka um wat? Hackaday hackadaying lol
Show threadmorganOct 16
@f4grx @slyka gotta get those SEO buzzwords in
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@f4grx hah, I mean, it's fine. it's just funny to see the association between "vinyl records" and "audiophile" when like… all the people I know who put out vinyl do like weird noise and punk stuff. And this is most definitely not an audiophile project, nor has it any aspiration to be. I just want it to sound good, not be perfect.
Show threadkeirFoxOct 16
@slyka Always well deserved!
Show threadchar (#4|2Oct 16
@slyka @hackaday
Brilliant and lovely hack!
Finally a fair re-use for these CDs waste!
<3
Show threadconcretedogOct 16
@slyka @hackaday everyone wants to blog about you! Amazing project.
Show threadatsukoOct 16

@slyka motor noises are iconic! :3

did you try the CD in a CD-player afterwards? wonder if laser can focus past the grooves?

Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@yottatsa I don't actually own a working CD player right now, but I don't think it would work. The grooves are very deep and wide compared to the size of the laser, around 35µm or so. So it's less like a scratch and more like shining the laser into a 45° prism.
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@yottatsa that being said, since CDs record from the inside out and vinyl records from the outside in you could still put other stuff onto the CD as long as it doesn't overlap with the record part.
Show threadManawyrm | SarahOct 16

@slyka oh niiice, congrats :3

... hmm.. I've inherited an old cabinet-style grammophone recently which now works again. Do you think it would be feasible to cut a 78rpm record with your setup?

Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@manawyrm well, I can definitely spin it at 78rpm, but I think the groove geometry on a 78rpm record is somewhat different, requiring a different cutting stylus. I'd have to look up the spec for it but it should work in theory.
Show threadManawyrm | SarahOct 16
@slyka probably pretty different, on the other hand, i don‘t think the grammophone is very linear to begin with 🤭
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@manawyrm well frequency response is one thing, getting it to track in the first place is another. The grooves are probably quite a bit wider and deeper on a 78, so I'd probably have to increase cutting force by quite a bit
Show threadManawyrm | SarahOct 16
@slyka ah! that sounds like it‘s probably less of a fire and forget one-shot operation 🫣
Show threadKris\SlykaOct 16
@manawyrm I mean, I'd still totally be up for giving it a try sometimes!