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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes, but with a major caveat. Amanda Ghassaei documented a 3D-printed record spinning at 33 rpm on an ordinary turntable, and the music on it was recognizable. The audio was low fidelity, and the disc was made on a specialized UV-cured resin printer. That project is proof that the playback principle works. It is not proof that a typical home printer will reliably produce a usable record.
What the documented experiment proved
Ghassaei’s project, labelled 2012 on its project page, took an audio file and turned it into a 12-inch spiral-groove disc that a standard phono cartridge could read. The point of the experiment was to show that a printed groove can carry a waveform that a turntable converts back into sound. It was a demonstration of method, not a product launch.
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How the method turns audio into a groove
The workflow is a chain of software steps followed by a print. In the order the project describes it:
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- Import the raw audio. The software takes the recording as input.
- Process the signal. A low-pass filter removes content above what the experiment could represent. The filter is needed because the experiment’s sampling rate sits below the usual digital recording rate.
- Apply RIAA equalization. This compensates for the frequency response of the phono preamp that the turntable signal normally passes through, so the playback chain restores a balanced sound.
- Generate the record geometry. The software builds the spiral of a 12-inch disc.
- Modulate groove depth. The depth of the spiral is varied according to the processed waveform.
- Export a mesh. The model is saved as an STL file.
- Print and clean. The UV-cured printer builds the disc layer by layer. After the print is cleaned, it plays on an ordinary turntable.
Why the groove moves vertically
Commercial stereo vinyl encodes two channels in a single groove by moving the stylus both up-and-down and side-to-side. Ghassaei’s version moves the stylus only vertically. She chose this because the printer was more precise on its vertical axis. The result is a single-channel demonstration, so it should not be described as stereo vinyl reproduction.
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- Convert your vinyl records to digital audio files by downloading and using the free Mac- and PC-compatible Audacity recording software (or software of your choice)
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Equipment and reported figures
The figures below come from the project and from a secondary account. Each one belongs to this specific experiment and should not be read as a general limit for every printing method.
| Item | Reported value | Who reported it and under what conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Printer | Objet Connex 500, a high-end UV-cured resin printer | Ghassaei’s project page |
| Resolution | 600 dpi in X/Y; 16 microns in Z | Stated on Ghassaei’s project page |
| Sampling rate | 11 kHz | Reported by Ghassaei after experimentation and parameter tuning |
| Bit depth | 5 to 6 bits per sample | Reported by Ghassaei after experimentation and parameter tuning |
| Groove size compared with pressed vinyl | About ten times deeper and about ten times wider | Raspberry Pi Official Magazine’s account of the printed record |
| Playback | Plays on an ordinary turntable | Ghassaei’s project page |
The groove size is the reason capacity is so limited. A wider and deeper groove leaves less room on the disc for audio, so a printed record holds far less music than a pressed one.
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How good does it sound?
Ghassaei’s own assessment is that the audio quality is low, but the songs on the records are still easily recognizable. That is a description by the person who made the experiment, not an independent listening test. No named standards body or independent measurement of the disc’s fidelity appears in the sources reviewed, so the sound quality should be understood only in those terms.
The Prusa April Fools post
A widely shared post from Prusa Research, dated April 1, 2024 and titled “Introducing Printables BANDS: Vinyl Records Made Better with 3D Printing,” described a vinyl-on-demand service and a WAV-to-groove feature in PrusaSlicer. The post’s date and the reader replies mark it as an April Fools joke. Do not treat it as evidence that the service or feature exists.
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- Fully automatic belt-drive turntable operation with two speeds: 33-1/3, 45 RPM
- Anti-resonance, die-cast aluminum platter
- Redesigned tonearm base and headshell for improved tracking and reduced resonance
- Integral Dual Magnet phono cartridge with replaceable diamond stylus (ATN3600LC)
Can a home printer make a playable record?
The sources reviewed do not document a current consumer printer producing a playable record with this method. The only documented case uses a specialized UV-cured resin printer, and the sources do not test or validate consumer models. Whether a particular desktop machine has enough vertical precision and print reliability for the same job is an open question, not an established result.
If you want to attempt it
- Use a resin printer rather than assuming a filament machine will work. The only documented method used resin.
- Expect a single-channel, low-fidelity result based on the reported 11 kHz sampling rate and 5 to 6 bits per sample.
- Plan for a short recording, because the wider and deeper grooves limit how much audio a disc can hold.
- Test a small section of the groove before printing a full disc, so you can check that the depth variations survive the print and cleaning steps.
Where a resin printer fits
For a hobbyist, a resin printer is best understood as equipment that makes this kind of experiment possible, not as a guarantee of sound quality. The cited machine was industrial in class, and no consumer model has been shown to match its demonstrated resolution in this application.
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Verdict
A 3D-printed record can play on an ordinary turntable, as Ghassaei’s experiment showed. The result depends on a specialized resin printer, a single-channel vertical groove, and a sampling and bit-depth budget that gives low fidelity and short capacity. The sources do not establish that the method is repeatable on everyday hardware.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSources: Amanda Ghassaei’s “3D Printed Record” project page (labelled 2012); Raspberry Pi Official Magazine’s “3D Printed Record” article; Prusa Research’s “Introducing Printables BANDS” post dated April 1, 2024, which is an April Fools post.
Quick Recap
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- EASY OPERATION: Effortlessly enjoy your favorite records with one-step auto start, stop and return.
- WIRELESS CONNECTION: Connect to wireless speakers, headphones, soundbars, or other Bluetooth enabled devices.
- WIRED CONNECTION: Enjoy a simple wired connection to receivers, powered speakers, and other components with built-in audio cable.
- HIGH QUALITY AUDIO: Built-in switchable phono EQ allows the turntable to connect to a home stereo, powered speakers, or another component, with or without a dedicated phono input.
- TRANSPARENT DUST COVER: Showcase your vinyl collection with a clear dust cover that protects your turntable without hiding your favorite records.
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