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[Barry Hufker]

I don't mean tape recorder.  I'm  curious to know, if one were to take modern technology in whatever form it comes -- or could be adapted -- what would make the best analog recorder?  Is it disc/disk based?  Is it laser and XX based (whatever XX might be)? Would it be laser etching on a cylinder? Etc.

Tell me what you think!

Thanks,

Barry

[compasspnt]

Every recorder has to change the so-called "analogue waveform" into SOMETHING to "hold" it.

A good start would be to define what the term "analogue" actually encompasses.


IOW, what "new technology" would satisfy someone that the recording was indeed analogue?  Tape seems to have met that criterion.

[Barry Hufker]

All kinds of things meet that criteria -- the audio disc before CD, the written word, photographic film.  And yes, there were even analog computers.

One definition for analog from the web is:
"Anything whose behavior corresponds with the behavior of something else, especially if the correspondence varies continuously rather than in steps. For example, the height of the liquid in a thermometer is an analog of the temperature. ..."

So what would be a modern day analog recorder for sound?  Or more importantly, what could be transformed into a great analog recorder?  What technology since the 1930s could we employ?

While I'd like realistic answers, at this moment I don't care completely about practicality and certainly not about return on investment.

[Bill_Urick]

It's an interesting question. I can't think of anything besides tape that would meet your criterion. Or that would be a workable analog storage medium.

At the advent of digital recording tape would have been at it's peak of development. (I think?)

Since then it seems any R&D would have been directed at improving digital recording technologies rather than developing any analog alternative.

I would be pleased to be wrong, though.

[dcollins]

Barry Hufker wrote on Sun, 27 June 2010 15:30

While I'd like realistic answers, at this moment I don't care completely about practicality and certainly not about return on investment.

ATR-124 heads and electronics on an 827 transport.


DC

[Barry Hufker]

Why this combination?

And why tape?

[dcollins]

Barry Hufker wrote on Sun, 27 June 2010 21:23

Why this combination?

It's the best of both worlds.

Quote:

And why tape?

Because I like tape.


DC

[Barry Hufker]

But tape is "known."  It isn't anything new.  We know its advantages and faults.  It doesn't use anything we've learned in the last half-century.

How about an analog recorder that can knock your socks off?  Why not laser-etched glass sheets with an optical digital control track?  Why not etchings on the facets of a diamond?  Why not waveforms on photographic film?  Why not...

When new discoveries are being made every day in so many areas why do we want to cling to the sound and limitations of tape?  "Because I like it" isn't a good enough reason (at least for me) in this case.  I want something with lower distortion, greater recording time, greater dynamic ranger, no measurable wow and flutter, no worn heads.

I want something worthy of Man's inventiveness in the 21st century.

Barry

[Ted Olausson]

Barry Hufker wrote on Sun, 27 June 2010 17:30

And yes, there were even analog computers.

It still exists...
-Then on the other hand, not every human uses their analog computer placed on their shoulder

However, the term analog computer usually means a clumsy calculator or a controlcircuit and dont have the same functionality as digital computers.
But i read somewhere that someone have managed to build a robot with quite an amazing amount of intelligence, containing only 17 transistors, so who knows what the future holds...

[Ted Olausson]

Barry Hufker wrote on Mon, 28 June 2010 00:53

But tape is "known."  It isn't anything new.  We know its advantages and faults.  It doesn't use anything we've learned in the last half-century. How about an analog recorder that can knock your socks off?  Why not laser-etched glass sheets with an optical digital control track?  Why not etchings on the facets of a diamond?  Why not waveforms on photographic film?  Why not... I want something worthy of Man's inventiveness in the 21st century.

Holographic recorders maybe??

[Bill_Urick]

OK, how's this?

A super-string recorder.
It could be rewritable, random access and portable.
You'd just have to keep the studio around 72 degrees.





















Kelvin.

[johnR]

Bill_Urick wrote on Mon, 28 June 2010 12:20

OK, how's this? A super-string recorder. It could be rewritable, random access and portable. You'd just have to keep the studio around 72 degrees. Kelvin.

Cool!

[Ted Olausson]

Or DNA? More convenient: Instant recorder, just add water...

Quote:

the DNA molecule found in the nucleus of all cells can hold more information in a cubic centimeter than a trillion music CDs

 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0224_030224_ DNAcomputer_2.html

Quote:

around 72 degrees.

72-Kelvin? Thats a nice and warm atmosphere, drumskins and guitarstrings may be a bit fragile  

[bruno putzeys]

I've always wondered if it would be possible to use electret as a recording medium.

Medium aside I think any "new" analogue recording format would use modulation of some sorts, probably FM.

[Barry Hufker]

I love DNA and Electret as bold new directions.

Bruno, when you say FM, are you thinking of a system such as used in video recording?