The artwork Longplayer was commissioned by The Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art in Sunderland for the Show 'Use Nor Ornament' in Nov/Dec 2000. It comprised of, a record making machine, pre recorded and blank disks, amplification system, CD player and workbench/ trestle table. The work was entirely built by the artist.One of its unique technical qualities is that it can record onto unusually large PVC disks, up to 53cm in diameter.

A recording of anecdotal stories from retired ship builders from the Sunderland area was cut for the show. To preserve the master disk a CD of the disk recording was also available.

This is the second reincarnation of Longplayer. The first prototype player and disk were shown at art.tm, Inverness and then at The Changing Rooms Gallery in Stirling in solo shows at those venues.

The origins of Longplayer derive from the artists interest in the process of sound reproduction prior to the digital age and his continuing interest in both analogue and digital sound technology and so called 'redundant' media.

Longplayer is at present the largest audio disk recording media ever built and can produce recordings on disks from 4 to 53cm in Diameter on a variety of materials and at different speeds.


REAL MEDIA FILE: web stream only
LONGPLAYER VIDEO



.IMAGES

lplayer 1
photo 1
lplayer 2
.photo 2
lplayer 3
.photo 3

..TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Recordings are made by setting an appropriate speed of the platter and the lathe. The lathe travels from the outside of the disk to the centre and creates a single groove of varying density dependent on the speed of both the platter and lathe.Therefor allowing both short and long durational recordings. A blank disk is placed on the platter and secured down to avoid slippage and the cutter head lowered onto the disk ready for recording.

Once suitable playback levels are set for the cutter, both the lathe and platter motor are started simultaneously and the recording process begins. By placing the stylus arm on the recording in progress monitoring and adjustments to the recordings can be made.

Longplayer uses the mono 'hill and dale' process of cutting the groove and playback. The cutting head in this process creates a vertical groove.
The groove channel on this recorder is carved onto the disk and does not use a heated head as is used on professional dub mastering Equipment.

Useful links:

Kingston dub plate cutter
vinylium
Primative cutting machine
vinyl record manufacturing tutorial
Phonograph makers
Dead media
aardvark mastering
soundsaver
further technical information
avaliable soon

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