Video Turntable

Video Turntable, by miyakodub, is a machine that appears to be very similar to a regular turntable. You put a disc on it, the disc rotates, and then the system picks up sound that's encoded on the disc. But Video Turntable uses a webcam instead of a phonograph needle, transparent discs with color patterns instead of traditional black discs with grooves, and a digital computer vision system instead of analog circuits to decode and produce sound.

[video turntable in action.]

Multiple transparent discs can be stacked, creating different combinations of colors and thereby sound. The system can recognize five colors: black, red, yellow, blue, and green. Depending on which area colors appear in a webcam's view, the system controls pitch, pan, volume, delay, etc. You can also draw color patterns on a disk by yourself and use it to play unique sound patterns.

This looks like a machine everyone can play with. Everyone should have a chance to experience the joy of interacting with turntables -- I think that's one of the messages the creator of this device intended to convey through this work. It's amazing that many still love turntables.

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