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.

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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