A buddy of mine just acquired one of these machines (actually a beta version of a new product that will hopefully enter the market soon), and I've been helping him along the way as we try to get some good records out of it.
It's not easy! It's not like plugging in a printer. There are so many variables to consider (materials, temperatures, pressures, angles, sharpnesses, volumes, phase), magical anti-static solution formulas, airflow, isolation, line control. The margin of error can be as low as 100 microns, and if you screw up, you might break a $200 diamond shank which have to be specially manufactured and imported.
And that's before you even get to the actual audio quality!
Still, it's fun to use and great to have 1-of-a-kind dubplates.
It's not easy! It's not like plugging in a printer. There are so many variables to consider (materials, temperatures, pressures, angles, sharpnesses, volumes, phase), magical anti-static solution formulas, airflow, isolation, line control. The margin of error can be as low as 100 microns, and if you screw up, you might break a $200 diamond shank which have to be specially manufactured and imported.
And that's before you even get to the actual audio quality!
Still, it's fun to use and great to have 1-of-a-kind dubplates.