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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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17th Jun 2015, 11:02 am | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
I've put this in 'General Vintage Technology Discussion' as the Scanning Electron Microscope in question is a 1980s model that has been restored by a hobbyist, and he's using it to view the movement of a stylus in the groove of a period vinyl record.
Very interesting to see the needle following the groove, but he's also got a lot of nice information on his homebuilt scanning electron microscope as well as the restoration of this one, and lots of other interesting things. http://benkrasnow.blogspot.co.uk/ |
17th Jun 2015, 12:28 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Fascinating stuff!
Thanks for that. |
17th Jun 2015, 6:35 pm | #3 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
It's amazing the whole thing works at all even after 100 years or so.
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18th Jun 2015, 5:12 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wimbledon, London, UK.
Posts: 1,464
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Now that is interesting! I recall being around when a SEM was being used for a project I was working on years ago. I do hope, though, that the vinyl LP of Walter (now Wendy) Carlos' "Switched on Bach" was trash before he sawed it into pieces. As I recall, it was a really good album.
Colin. |
18th Jun 2015, 6:23 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 1,275
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
That is amazing to watch, shows just how much thought has to go into making a stylus track a record...........wonderful thanks
Gary |
19th Jun 2015, 1:16 am | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,517
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
As said above, we all know how it works but to see it is another thing. And seeing it how on earth does such wonderful sound eminate from such a 'shaky' looking mechanical process?
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19th Jun 2015, 12:49 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,515
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Very interesting!
It's like a modern day equivalent of the microscope groove pictures that Cecil Watts used to take. Regards, Paul |
19th Jun 2015, 2:41 pm | #8 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wigston, Leicester, UK.
Posts: 348
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Wow what a guy! wonder what he does with his spare time...?
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19th Jun 2015, 3:54 pm | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 870
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Yes, it's amazing what an everyday miracle of precision engineering the LP is. I always find it depressing that nowadays when an image of a phono cartridge playing a record on a turntable appears on television it is always accompanied by hefty amounts of crackling noises as though that were an inherent part of the reproduction of the LP's sound when it isn't if the records have been properly looked after and properly cleaned. I can virtually eliminate surface noise by using an ultrasonic bath to clean the records.
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23rd Jun 2015, 4:10 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 1,764
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
Indeed. When I tell people I love the sound of records, they often refer to how great it is to hear pops and crackles....um, not really?!
I tolerate them on poorer quality records, but as you say, you get a clean piece of vinyl that doesn't statically attract dust and it shouldn't be apparent. |
24th Jun 2015, 10:36 pm | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK
Posts: 1,993
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
I have gotto the stage of wondering whether i should look out for a proper LP cleaning device. I get a lot of noise and I think maybe the used LPs I buy arent as clean as they look on the surface.
A |
25th Jun 2015, 9:56 am | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: LP stylus under scanning electron microscope
There's a huge variation in the quality of pressings too. Some are very soft and prone to damage, some are much more resilient.
I've got some albums that were regularly used in a nightclub which play better than some that have barely been played since new. I guess Iron Maiden's record company invested more in their production facilities than The Sisters Of Mercy's |