Theoretically(!) is it possible to write analog signal (sound) to HDD, like on magnet tape?

Question

I mean, with hardware modifications of HDD, for example, by connecting directly to heads to record signal, and then play it back.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 20 '12 at 10:51

With sufficient hardware modifications: Why not.

As an alternative to sufficient modification you could also buy your own device starting from just electronics without ever touching a HDD. It is just how you define sufficient modifications

Consider that modern drive spins at speeds like 5400 or 7200 RPM; that is 90 or 120 rounds per second. So you could only record 1/90 ^th or 1/120 ^th second per track. And then you need to stop recording to reposition the head.

So yes, it is possible. But not practical.

hintss · Answer 2 · 2017-06-10T06:45:27.973

2

This is actually how freeze-frame in live sports broadcasts was first done in the 60s, they had a specialized hard drive that would record the analog video frames to the platter, one frame per rovolution, and they'd change which frame was being played back by moving the heads in/out.

edited Jun 10 '17 at 06:45

answered Jul 06 '16 at 08:58

hintss

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Theoretically(!) is it possible to write analog signal (sound) to HDD, like on magnet tape?

2 Answers2