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cover of episode How do records work?

How do records work?

2024/12/20
logo of podcast Moment of Um

Moment of Um

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J
Josh Bonatti
J
Joy Dolo
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Josh Bonatti: 黑胶唱片的制作过程分为三个步骤:首先是母盘刻录,使用刻录机将声音信息刻录到空白唱片上,形成凹槽。这就像用一个带有刻录针的小三角形工具,在空白唱片上从头到尾刻录出凹槽。 接下来是制作金属模具,这就像制作一个金属版的唱片。 最后是唱片压制,将金属模具放到类似华夫饼铁的机器中,压制出塑料唱片。这就像制作华夫饼一样,一个模具刻录A面,另一个模具刻录B面,最后组合成双面唱片。 播放唱片时,唱针在唱片旋转时沿着凹槽移动,凹槽的震动会转化为微小的电信号。这些电信号会被放大,最终转化为我们听到的声音。凹槽的震动,也就是我们所说的调制,是将机械运动转化为电信号的关键。 Joy Dolo: 黑胶唱片上有许多微小的圆形线条,我们称之为凹槽。这些凹槽看起来有点像树桩上的年轮。要播放唱片,需要将它放在唱机上,唱机是一个可以使唱片以恒定速度旋转的机器。唱机上有一个带小针的臂。当将针尖接触到旋转的唱片时,它会沿着唱片上的凹槽移动并振动。 这些振动会转化为电信号,然后由唱机将这些电信号转化为我们能够听到的声音波。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What are vinyl records made of?

Vinyl records are made of plastic, produced through a three-step process involving a master cut, a metal mold, and a pressing plant.

How does a record player turn vibrations into music?

The needle in the record player traces the grooves on the vinyl, creating vibrations that are converted into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified by the stereo to produce sound.

What is the role of the cutting lathe in making records?

The cutting lathe is used to create the initial groove on a blank disc, which serves as the master cut for the record.

Why do records have grooves?

The grooves on records are tiny circular lines that contain the audio information. When the needle traces these grooves, it translates the wiggling motion into music.

What is the process of making a double-sided record?

A double-sided record is made by cutting side A and side B on separate blank discs, then using metal molds to press both sides together at the record pressing plant.

What is the purpose of the turntable in playing records?

The turntable holds the record and spins it at a constant speed, allowing the needle to trace the grooves and play the music.

How does the needle in a record player work?

The needle rides in the grooves of the spinning record, translating the mechanical movement of the grooves into an electrical signal that is amplified to produce sound.

Shownotes Transcript

Records are big flat discs with circular lines on them that you can use to play music. But how does a record work, anyway? We asked audio engineer Josh Bonati to help us find the answer.

Got a question that’s *spinning around *in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact), and we’ll help find an answer that’s music to your ears!