As usual, Synthgear does the extra legwork to find interesting extra details. Building on that record groove post, the picture above shows the pits on the surface of a CD. More on the synthgear post at the via link below.

(via Synthgear)

This is a great idea. By turning the CD case into an instrument (a photo-sensitive “theremin”), Moldover makes the clunky physicality of the object an asset. CDs are completely outdated as a way to pass around bits, but this has an edge on plain mp3s. (Although, as you can see by the fact that he made another version of the circuit board that is pocket sized, the CD form factor can still be a pain in the ass.)

Reminds me of Tristan Perich’s 1-Bit Music, another project that makes novel use of the jewel case form, but could be made much smaller/convenient. (Or who am I kidding—stick one in an orchestrion.)

(via Create Digital Music)

update: looks like CDM picked up on the 1-Bit comparison too.

Listening to Systemisch. The used CD came in the mail today, and I decided to listen without ripping it to mp3s first, so I wouldn’t be able to tell if the skips were recorded or not.

I’m streaming it from my computer to the stereo, which added a nice bonus: I can’t tell if sudden pauses are in the music or buffer errors!