Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
18, 1918
49
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
"These overtones or partials are what deter-
mine the character of each distinctive tone, their
number and relative amplitude being the decid-
the waves entering the large end of the horn,
and being brought down and intensified as they
approach the smaller end. Here they strike
the process employed makes possible, are re-
productions of the sound waves that have been
recorded. The fidelity of this correspondence
is the exact measure of the similarity between
the original instrument and the phonograph's
reproduction of it.
The Vocalion Method of Recording
"The problems presented in record-making are
exceedingly difficult. Sound waves are usually
delicate and complex. To reproduce the nat-
ural timbre of the violin, or any other instru-
ment, every minute variation of its wave must
not only have its exact counterpart in the line
cut in the wax, but the needle, or reproducing
point of the phonograph, must be of a nature
to 'feel' and respond to these almost impercep-
tible variations. Herein lies the superiority of
the Vocalion method of recording and repro-
ducing. By this method the resistance of the
cutting tool to the wax is reduced to a mini-
mum, and the minute vibrations in the sound
waves, caused by partials or overtones, are ca-
pable of being accurately recorded. The new
method catches these delicate tone elements and
faithfully records them.
"The Vocalion method of reproduction with
the fine-pointed needle in turn seeks out and
reproduces what has been recorded, with the
result that recorded tones, whether of voice or
One of the Recording Rooms in the Aeolian-Vocalion Laboratories
ing factor. When sounded, a musical note cre- upon the diaphragm, which vibrates in response
ates a number of distinctive waves, one for to their impulse.
each of its partials. These vary in what may
"Connected with the center of this diaphragm
be called strength, as the partials themselves by a delicate lever bar
vary with the voice or instrument.
is a fine cutting tool.
"No sooner are these waves formed than they This tool, moving in
all merge into one wave which carries in the response to the motion
irregularities of its outline all the waves of all of the diaphragm, cuts
its partials. It is essential to a comprehension a line in a revolving
disc of soft wax, which
line corresponds in con-
figuration with the out-
line of the sound waves
entering the horn.
"The wax is then al-
lowed to set or become
hard. After receiving
a bath in an electro-
chemical s o l u t i o n ,
which coats it with cop-
No. 1. Tuning Fork.—The tone of a scientifically mounted
tuning fork is absolutely devoid of partial tones, hence the per, the disc with the
tone wave it creates is entirely free from the irregularities
line of sound imprinted
found in other tone waves, which are caused by their par-
tial waves.
upon it is c a r r i e d
Reception Salon in the Vocalion Studios
of this subject to understand that in recording through various depths before the phonograph instrument, reappear in almost their exact orig-
and reproducing musical sounds the realism of record is finally completed.
inal character, far clearer than has ever been
effect is entirely dependent on maintaining the
"The reproduction of the sounds recorded is possible before. This gives a sense of satis-
shape of these waves. (The accompanying illus- practically a reversal of the process of record- faction in listening to Vocalion records not ex-
No. 2. The Flute.—The tone of the flute contains but few
partial tones. The tone wave it creates is consequently far
less regular than those caused by other instruments. This
simplicity in the flute's tone, while possessing distinctive
beauty, especially by Contrast, makes it comparatively un-
interesting as a solo instrument.
trations show the differently shaped waves pe-
culiar to various instruments.)
Making a Record
"The process of record making is to-day prac-
tically standard with all the older companies, and
rt'in.ii k;il>le results have been.achieved in view
No. 3.—French Horn.—Here is another instrument with a
smooth, more or !ess fluent tone, though quite different in
quality from that of the violin. From the appearance of
its tone waves, one might almost anticipate the rounded
mellow beauty of this instrument.
of the difficulties offered by the systems em-
ployed.
"Briefly, this method involves a specially de-
vised horn, into which the sound is projected,
Nil.
4.
' ',
•
I i
.
•' •
:••._
A
U'llL
il.HL
Ullldl
ShOWS
unmistakably a tune of very distinct individuality. The
pronounced irregularities of the oboe's tone wave are caused
by
by the dominance of certain of its partial tones.
ing. A needle or some other point is inserted
in the sound groove, and as the record revolves,
is moved either back or forth or up and down,
in obedience to the variations in the line.
"Through another lever, to which the needle
is attached, its movements are transmitted to a
reproducing diaphragm contained in the phono-
Xu. 5.
v i o n n . — i tie t o n e ot t h e violin
has m a n y
partial
tones. None of these is aggressively dominant, however;
hence the fluent smooth quality of the instrument. This
is shown in the photograph of its tone wave. There are
many irregularities in the wave, but they are all too small
to influence its general symmetry.
graph sound box. This diaphragm, vibrating in
consonance with the movements of the needle,
creates new sound waves. These, as nearly as
No. 6. Trombone.— The tone wave of this instrument de-
notes unmistakably the quality of its tone. Kich in partial
tones and hence interesting and expressive, it is very char-
acteristic and dominated by full, pealing notes.
perienced in others. They sound richer, fuller,
deeper, more beaut.'ful and more natural.
"Moreover, due to the difference in method,
Vocalion records contain practically one-third
more music than others; ten-inch records play-
ing as long as the ordinary twelve-inch, and
No. 7. Human Voice.—This tone wave was created by
pronouncing the vowel sound "ah." The voice is particu-
larly rich in partial tones, some voices indeed containing as
many as forty very appreciable.
twelve-inch records playing correspondingly
longer"
When the Aeolian Co. had perfected its new
{Continued on page 50)