In article , Andrew
Walkingshaw wrote:
In article , RobH wrote:

"Andrew Walkingshaw" wrote in message
...
In article , RobH wrote:

I'm not sure that last sentence makes sense. Are you saying that
the theoretical limit of vinyl recording is at an atomic level?

It probably is if you use an AFM[1] as your stylus. (Pressing the
discs would be a right pain, though. :-) )

Well, if IBM can construct their logo using individual atoms I don't
see why they can't adopt this technology for making records. ;-)

True, it's entirely *possible*. Cost a bob or three, though - I wonder
if the vinylphiles here would want to pay a seven-figure sum per
record...

Given that it would probably also tend to increase the effective noise
level and produce noticable undithered quantisation distortion as well, I
doubt most people would prefer it. :-) Bear in mind a conventional LP
system makes good use of the 'averaging and dithering' effects of using a
large number of molecule positions affecting the stylus at any moment to
reduce these effect as the sacrifice of bandwidth and a larger groove/LP
for a given duration.

But then you get into the realms of Quantum Mechanical effects, the
Uncertainty Principle et al

The poor are always with us... ;- Fortunately, the above are very useful
for averaging purposes.

Agree with your point btw that the forces are electromagnetic, hence it is
the electron clouds, etc, that do the work. However these are shaped by the
molecules in 'PVC' (sic).

Slainte,

Jim

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