Project To Date:

Installation Description:
For the wall I am planning to have a serious of microphones places through out the piece. These microphones in turn would pick up the sounds or “voices” of each students contribution. Attached to each of the microphones would be a speaker that would allow each sound to be projected directly into the horn of the phonograph. In order to prevent confusion the microphones and speakers would have a relay allowing only one objects “voice” to be recorded at a time. Once the sound passes through the horn of the phonograph the vibrations would cause the needle at the end to move accordingly causing it to “draw” or inscribe the “voice” onto a piece of aluminum foil. The aluminum foil would be a continuous feed allowing for sound to be recorded through out the duration of the installation. The idea being that once the installation is complete one could essentially rewind the aluminum foil and play back the recording.




This Week:
My work has currently focused on the construction of my phonograph. After rethinking the cylinder and replacing it with some plumbing tube I was on my way to try recording. Over the last couple of days I have tried numerous times to record the human voice however much to my dismay I have been unable to do so ☹. Thomas Edison was one smart dude. However I plan to continue troubleshooting and hopefully I will have some success.




Problems:
- There is too much noise being produced when the needle inscribes into the aluminum foil.
- Is the cylinder moving evenly?
- Is the needle to big/sharp? Cause it tends to rip the aluminum foil.
- Am I moving the cylinder fast enough during recording and playback? Or at the same rate?

Resolution:
Troubleshoot all problems noted above. However if I am still unable to get my phonograph to work I might be forced to purchase the kit off the Internet or try Plan B.

Plan B:
I would keep the serious of microphones and speakers with the relays as previously noted but instead of projecting the sounds into the horn of the phonograph I would place a piece of Plexiglas over the speakers. Attached to this Plexiglas would be a thin vertical piece of steel, which in turn would have a second horizontal piece of steel, attached to it and from that would be a pen. Once the sound passes from the speakers the vibrations would cause the piece of Plexiglas to vibrate. The vibrations would travel up the vertical piece of steel continue to the second piece of steel and then on to the pen. When the pen vibrates it would cause it to “draw” or inscribe the “voice” onto a piece of paper. The paper would be a continuous feed allowing for sound to be recorded through out the duration of the installation. In essence I would be taking the essential components of the phonograph idea and I would still be able to record the vibrations of the sounds through creating a simple version of a seismograph.




Main Questions:
- Should I go ahead and continue to troubleshoot?
- When do I stop troubleshooting?
- What if by Monday I can’t get it to play back?
- Should I order the kit off the Internet as a backup?
- Should I just adapt it and go with Plan B?.............I don’t want to run out of time