Our story is rooted in a deep passion for analog music and artistic innovation. Our journey began in 2014 with a fascination for vintage recording technologies. Inspired by the heritage of vinyl culture, we set out to create a modern marvel that combines the charm of classic record production with state-of-the-art technology.
Artists Natascha Muhic and Christoph Freidhöfer founded Vinylograph in 2014 in Vienna.
The Team behind Vinylograph
Vinylograph is a project by Natascha Muhic and Christoph Freidhöfer, two artists based in Vienna, who blur the lines between art, technology, and sound in innovative ways. Working together, they not only brought the record-cutting machine to life but also founded the Vinylograph label, cut numerous limited single editions in recording sessions, designed several series of audio postcards, and continue to share their knowledge in regular workshops.
The Vinylograph was created based on the American “Voice-o-Graphs” or “record booths” from the 1950s and 1960s
From Voice-O-Graph to Vinylograph
The collaboration between Muhic and Freidhöfer began in 2014 with the acquisition of the record Schnitzelbeat Volume 1, a compilation of Austrian pop music from the 1950s and 1960s (Digatone, 2013). The booklet mentioned that the title track of the record was recorded in a “Voice-O-Graph” – a public recording booth where messages and music could be cut onto records. “Voice-O-Graphs” or “record booths” were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the USA, but there was also one in Vienna, at Burggasse 6. By the end of the 1960s, however, production was discontinued worldwide, and the machines disappeared from the urban landscape… until 2024, that is. The public Vinylograph continues the idea of spontaneous real-time record cutting, finding its first temporary location at Vienna’s Karlsplatz this summer.
There are now three Vinylograph machines: the prototype VOG1, the record booth VOG2, and the upgraded VOG3
Technical Development of the Machines
Muhic and Freidhöfer began developing the first record-cutting machine in 2014. Since then, the project has steadily evolved, resulting in currently three Vinylograph machines:
This range of machines enables the Vinylograph team to cater to different needs and requirements while preserving the uniqueness and fascination of analog direct cutting.
INTERESTED IN A VINYLOGRAPH RECORDING SESSION?
Calling all musicians and record labels! Are you interested in creating a unique vinyl masterpiece? Contact us to learn more about our recording sessions and possibilities for collaboration, and let’s bring your music to life on vinyl.
