Custom Record Player Inquiry - Speed Change

[rickychadwick]

Hey guys, my name is Eric and I'm an installation artist based in New York.

I've been researching a bunch on how to customize a record player and I came across this great forum. I was wondering if anyone would know how to customize the motor speed of a record player. Basically I would like to be able to program a record player to run at different speeds at different times. For instance run at 1/5 speed for 5 minutes, then 3/5 speed for 10 minutes then 3X speed for 10 minutes.

I haven't bought anything yet but I'm guessing the project will entail modifying the voltage of a DC motor through an Arduino or something similar.

I'm looking to hire someone who could advise me on this project or ideally build the parts/pieces for me.

Thanks for anyones input!
Eric Lawton

[JoeE SP9]

I know that others are wondering as am I. Why in the world do you want to do this?

[Coffee Phil]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the forum.

I, as Joe am wondering what you would do with such a thing. It certainly is doable and I might be able to help.

I am a pretty good analog guy, but not so much with writing code or programming an Arduino. The easiest approach which I can think of is to secure a turntable with a servo controlled DC motor which is RC timed with speed potentiometers (no quartz lock). The existing pot(s) would be replaced with trim pots and fixed resistors switched by transmission gates switched by logic levels from the Arduino.

I am in the middle of repairing a turntable for someone on this forum and I must finish that before I take on another project.

Phil

Hey guys, my name is Eric and I'm an installation artist based in New York.

I've been researching a bunch on how to customize a record player and I came across this great forum. I was wondering if anyone would know how to customize the motor speed of a record player. Basically I would like to be able to program a record player to run at different speeds at different times. For instance run at 1/5 speed for 5 minutes, then 3/5 speed for 10 minutes then 3X speed for 10 minutes.

I haven't bought anything yet but I'm guessing the project will entail modifying the voltage of a DC motor through an Arduino or something similar.

I'm looking to hire someone who could advise me on this project or ideally build the parts/pieces for me.

Thanks for anyones input!
Eric Lawton

[rickychadwick]

I know that others are wondering as am I. Why in the world do you want to do this?

:D a lot of my work revolves around the way time changes our perception of the world and specifically our own reference of time. The project I'm working on is about how a cultural item, such as music, can be drastically altered by changing the tempo and speed of its operation.

All of that is to say, changing the speed of a record can make what once was a happy and joyful song into something much darker and macabre, and vice versa which is what I'm exploring.

[rickychadwick]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the forum.

I, as Joe am wondering what you would do with such a thing. It certainly is doable and I might be able to help.

I am a pretty good analog guy, but not so much with writing code or programming an Arduino. The easiest approach which I can think of is to secure a turntable with a servo controlled DC motor which is RC timed with speed potentiometers (no quartz lock). The existing pot(s) would be replaced with trim pots and fixed resistors switched by transmission gates switched by logic levels from the Arduino.

I am in the middle of repairing a turntable for someone on this forum and I must finish that before I take on another project.

Phil

Hey guys, my name is Eric and I'm an installation artist based in New York.

I've been researching a bunch on how to customize a record player and I came across this great forum. I was wondering if anyone would know how to customize the motor speed of a record player. Basically I would like to be able to program a record player to run at different speeds at different times. For instance run at 1/5 speed for 5 minutes, then 3/5 speed for 10 minutes then 3X speed for 10 minutes.

I haven't bought anything yet but I'm guessing the project will entail modifying the voltage of a DC motor through an Arduino or something similar.

I'm looking to hire someone who could advise me on this project or ideally build the parts/pieces for me.

Thanks for anyones input!
Eric Lawton

Thanks Phil,

That sounds like a great start. Please reach back out when you're finished with your current project. I can explain more in detail what/why I'm interested in.

Best,
Eric

[JoeE SP9]

I know that others are wondering as am I. Why in the world do you want to do this?

:D a lot of my work revolves around the way time changes our perception of the world and specifically our own reference of time. The project I'm working on is about how a cultural item, such as music, can be drastically altered by changing the tempo and speed of its operation.

All of that is to say, changing the speed of a record can make what once was a happy and joyful song into something much darker and macabre, and vice versa which is what I'm exploring.

Cool! Just be careful about playing stuff backwards. Those pesky devil worship messages may show up. :mrgreen: