Laser etched phono record

This is a very interesting experiment in creating record grooves by laser etching acrylic.

Niklas Roy and Jari Suominen write:

So how did we do it exactly? – First, we used a vector program to draw the record. With different line colours we could modulate the laser’s intensity. Because the hole in the middle of the record had to be burnt through the plexi, while for the grooves, just the surface had to be burnt. As you can see on the pictures above, we also experimented with different depths of the groove within one loop (track 6).
Track 2 was something like a random noise experiment where the needle would jump in a different way over the grooves, each time the track is played. So every track has a different idea. It was an experiment.

It may not have quite the same fidelity as a traditionally cut vinyl record, but it is interesting to think about how new fabrication techniques open the door to alternative sound reproduction methods. Warning: as Jarse says, “More or less guaranteed to destroy your needle.”

Laser Cut Phono Record