Encoding MOD Files Optically On Paper, Because Amiga’s Legacy Will Outlast M-Disks

A creator known as RobDevBuilds has developed a way to store music files on physical paper for optical playback. As Hackaday tells it, the project uses a modified font to print the patterns of MOD files—a music format originally created for the Commodore Amiga—on the front of the page, while the back uses a custom barcode system to store sound samples and metadata. To play the music, a specialized device uses two cameras and stepper motors to scan the paper like a linear turntable. The creator is currently refining the player to improve how quickly it can jump between different musical patterns.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton