make a recordWAV to STL: Make a 3D-Printed Record
Make a Record turns a WAV into an STL disc with a spiral groove designed for turntable playback. Choose resin for depth modulation or FDM for lateral modulation. Expect an experimental, lo-fi result, with quality determined by your printer, material, and stylus.
Choose resin or FDM
The resin120 preset creates a 120 mm disc at 45 RPM. Its 90-degree V groove changes depth with the audio. A resin printer's fine vertical resolution is useful for this approach.
The bambu04 and bambu02 presets create 250 mm discs at 45 RPM. Their grooves stay at a constant nominal depth and move sideways with the audio. Wider grooves and spacing account for the coarser extrusion process. These are starting geometries, not measured printer tolerances.
Convert a WAV to STL
- Open the converter with a resin or FDM preset.
- Choose a WAV and set the length to 5–10 seconds for an initial test. Stereo input is mixed to mono.
- Leave output format on Use preset · STL. Inspect fine-tuning values only when you have a reason to change the geometry.
- Make the record and read the geometry report. Listen to the generated preview to check the audio selection.
- Download the ZIP, extract record.stl, and open it in your slicer. Confirm the diameter in millimetres.
- Inspect the groove in the sliced layers before printing. A mesh that imports successfully can still contain details your slicer or machine will not reproduce.
Prepare a physical playback test
Orient the disc with its flat back on the build plate and its grooves facing upward. The resin preset assumes a flat print without supports; evaluate adhesion and your resin workflow before using it. For FDM, see the nozzle and slicer guide.
Use a low-value test stylus and an appropriate tracking force for its cartridge. Check that the cured or cooled disc is clean and flat before playback. Abrasive printed surfaces may wear a stylus more quickly than a conventional record.
Why does the preview sound cleaner than the print?
The WAV preview is the conditioned signal used to shape the groove. It does not simulate layer steps, extrusion width, resin cure, warping, or stylus tracking. A recording made from the turntable is the evidence for physical playback quality.
Why is the STL so large?
The mesh represents many small changes along the groove. Longer clips and smaller segment lengths create more points and triangles. Shorten the clip first if conversion, downloading, or slicing becomes impractical. Increasing segment length reduces detail as well as file size.
Current preset geometry
Values below come from the converter's presets. Capacity is a geometric maximum, before the web app's point limit or a shorter uploaded clip is applied.
| Preset | Diameter | RPM | Pitch | Capacity | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| resin120 | 120 mm | 45.00 | 0.5 mm | 73.3 s | STL |
| bambu04 | 250 mm | 45.00 | 1.2 mm | 67.1 s | STL |
| bambu02 | 250 mm | 45.00 | 0.8 mm | 102.7 s | STL |
Method and further reading
This guide describes Make a Record's source code and presets. The broader technique follows earlier digital fabrication experiments, including Amanda Ghassaei's laser-cut records. Suggested fabrication settings need validation on your machine; they are not manufacturer-certified profiles.