New Spin on Old Audio Technology

Craft & Design Music Science

Andrew Terranova is an electrical engineer, writer and author of How Things Are Made: From Automobiles to Zippers. Andrew is also an electronics and robotics enthusiast and has created and curated robotics exhibits for the Children's Museum of Somerset County, NJ and taught robotics classes for the Kaleidoscope Enrichment in Blairstown, NJ and for a public primary school. Andrew is always looking for ways to engage makers and educators.

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September 30th, 2013 2

Michael Flynn's Cooperative Phonograph — Michael Flynn’s Cooperative Phonograph

Michael Flynn creates hands-on interactive installations that are fun and eye-opening. He displayed his Cooperative Phonograph at World Maker Faire in New York this past weekend.

Stepping inside a giant air pressurized Mylar dome, you are faced with an intriguing disk that you approach on a red carpet. The large disk is mounted slantwise on a stand, its central mirror reflecting the silvered inner surface of the Mylar dome.

The disk looks like a giant vinyl record, and that gives a hint to its purpose. Watch the video below and see what it does.

[wpvideo B3a4Ngpn]

2 thoughts on “New Spin on Old Audio Technology”

Briefcase Mitch says:

September 30th, 2013 at 11:59 am

HOW DID THEY DO THAT

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Andrew Terranova says:

September 30th, 2013 at 12:28 pm

Michael explained to me that he used a water jet CNC (computer numeric control) to cut an audio signal into the edges of the metal disk, much like sound is recorded on a phonograph or record.

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