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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.
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REAL MEDIA FILE: web stream only
LONGPLAYER
VIDEO
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.IMAGES
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photo
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..TECHNICAL
INFORMATION
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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:
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further technical information
avaliable soon
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