I'm looking to get a specific type of cut for a record I'm working on. it's a performance tool for DJ's and Turntablists rather than a record to sit and listen to.
the cut involves multiple lock grooves, and requires a lathe that has automated head-drop and scrolling functions.
all the audio on the record is sequenced at 133.333333 bpm, so 1.8 second loops throughout. The DAW playing out to the cutting system will probably need to be set up at this BPM too.
Side A is one continuous groove, and the only trickery on this side will be to scroll at certain times to provide track markers. Pretty much a normal cut, just more track markers, and at the end there are two lock-groove tones.
Side B requires a specific technique, which I can perform manually on my Presto 14B, and I have helped develop with someone on a home-made system, so the proof of concept is there, it's just neither of us can do lacquers yet....
The tricky part is: I need the head to drop, cut a 20-30 second program of audio, finishing on a lock groove, then the head lifts, scrolls in, drops and does the same thing agian.
This is all performed in one long "take", and after each lock groove, some automation that will be drawn in on a midi channel in the DAW will raise the head, scroll it in a little, and drop it again, all without the platter or the DAW stopping.
The end result i'm aiming for is a series of beats which play for 30 sec, then end in lock grooves to loop infinitely, but they are all aligned with each other so someone needle-dropping between tracks will hear the beats all being in sync with each other.
I understand this will involve extra studio time to configure, and I anticipate paying more than for a regular cut.
I also understand this probably sounds crazy
but I know it works because I've done it, and I know it's been done manually on a Neumann system here in the UK - I think the automated method I'm describing will take a lot of the manual/risky elements out of the equation - I just need someone willing to try it and who I can communicate with.Finally the metalwork/pressing would be done in the UK so I'd need to arrange courier delivery to the factory when the time comes.
Hope someone's into the idea!
Cheers
Si
PS I've tried a few places already and they've turned me down for various reasons - as I said I do get this is asking more than a regular cut!
My regular guy says he can't do it because he says he needs to stop the platter each time he does another lock groove. He's done multiple lock grooves on the same side for me before, perfectly, but the audio was tones rather than drum patterns, so the geometric alignment was not important there.
Another engineer I tried can only cut lock grooves if they are a single groove, not a track that ends in a lock groove.
I think there are ways round both these problems, but it depends on exactly how the cutting system is configured and, understandably, I think both guys were too busy to worry about some experimental cut to sit and listen to me try and tell them how to do their job...
I'm also totally open to the idea that I'm missing something, so feel free to chime in with questions about the procedure!
