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Recently, a customer asked about soundscriber (SoundScriber) discs. These were developed in the mid 1940s as a means of dictation and have a distinctive square hole in the center. They were in use up until around 1960. The thin green discs (0.01 inch thick) were "embossed" by a diamond stylus during the recording process and played back via a separate saphire stylus. The blanks came in three lengths which were:
6 inch - 15 minutes
5 inch - 10 minutes
4 inch - 8 minutes
The groove pitch was 200 per inch.
The modulation technique was vertical cut.
Two questions remained unanswered. Were they vertically or laterally modulated. Also, what size stylus is needed to play them back.
A few things are known - they operated at 33 rpm and the modulation technique was vertical cut. .Can anyone help with the stylus size and type questions?
I will offer a guess as to their angle of modulation - - - since they were "embossed" that leaves me with the impression that they would be vertically modulated. So, if I am correct, you would need to use a stereo stylus to transfer them and then apply the File Conversion Filter (From Stereo to Mono (L-R).
Craig
ps - it occurs to me that a light-weight disc might need some extra weight to hold it securely to the turntable platter. Perhaps a small glass placed upside-down over the center of the record might provide the needed friction to prevent slippage.
6 inch - 15 minutes
5 inch - 10 minutes
4 inch - 8 minutes
The groove pitch was 200 per inch.
The modulation technique was vertical cut.
Two questions remained unanswered. Were they vertically or laterally modulated. Also, what size stylus is needed to play them back.
A few things are known - they operated at 33 rpm and the modulation technique was vertical cut. .Can anyone help with the stylus size and type questions?
I will offer a guess as to their angle of modulation - - - since they were "embossed" that leaves me with the impression that they would be vertically modulated. So, if I am correct, you would need to use a stereo stylus to transfer them and then apply the File Conversion Filter (From Stereo to Mono (L-R).
Craig
ps - it occurs to me that a light-weight disc might need some extra weight to hold it securely to the turntable platter. Perhaps a small glass placed upside-down over the center of the record might provide the needed friction to prevent slippage.
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