The first-ever vinyl recorder for home use

When technology meets opportunity

Since the invention of vinyl records in 1889, mankind has been dreaming of an affordable machine to produce small editions of high quality records right from an office desk, or even the living room table.

For the intervening 130 years, record production has been confined to large-scale pressing plants. Even as the format itself flourished and started to wither away, it has always required industrial-scale machines and technical know-how to make a vinyl record.

But technological development has finally caught up to this challenge, and vinyl records are in the midst of a major revival. This is why a small team has committed to delivering the first-ever vinyl home recorder, the PHONOCUT.

Creating the PHONOCUT

The vision for this project set a high bar: create a functional and attractive product with an easy-to-use interface; embed top-quality technology; and develop a simple replacement process for the diamond that cuts the discs.

To meet this challenge, we went through several phases:

Idea phase: Creating alternatives and concepts to put everything into one small box.
Technical demonstrator: Proof that it'll work - the motors, the electronics, the sensors and the design.
Extended design study: Understand and shape the requirements, especially for the user interaction.
Prototype creation: Put everything together and build the first prototype with a unique replaceable cartridge system.
Recording history: Record a karaoke session with 60 Creaholicers at 8AM 😊

Spotlight: Cartridge system

The cartridge is a very important part of the device, so we spent many iterations getting it right. The engraving stylus is subject to abrasion and therefore needs to be replaced from time to time, so we wanted to find a good solution that makes this very easy for the user, without any loss of quality.

The cartridge system we developed also allows re-use of the expensive parts of the cutting head. Different styluses can be used for different types of record blanks. And finally, different qualities of cutting heads can be produced, which are to be sold at corresponding prices.

Because of all these innovations, we were able to file a patent for the PHONOCUT device and technology.

The dream team behind PHONOCUT

The core team behind the PHONOCUT project is very diverse. Impossible Project founder and Supersense visionary Florian “Doc” Kaps, known for rescuing Polaroid film from oblivion in 2008, launched this post-digital project.

Also partnering were lathe master Flo Kaufmann, Internet Entrepreneur David Bohnett, Arts Technologist KamranV, and us.

Together, we produced the first prototype, which was used to promote a successful Kickstarter campaign that grew the dream team by almost 400 supporters.

PHONOCUT ready for everyone

After the initial events for promoting the Kickstarter campaign, the project went into the next phase. More prototypes were built, which are now in use all over the world. We continue to support the detailed development in cooperation with our industrialisation partners. If you want to preorder the vinyl home recorder, please check availability on the PHONOCUT's website.

It was and still is an interesting and inspiring journey and we do believe that the time is right to re-think and re-invent vinyl record production.

And we strongly believe that PHONOCUT is a great example of how anticipating past and future trends can lead to promising innovation opportunities.