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REVIEW
THE
VOL. 85. No. 20
Published Weekly. Federated Business Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y., Nov. 12,1927
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New Recording Machine
For Ampico Rolls
Scientific American Devotes T w o Pages to
Description of Instrument Developed in
'American Piano Co. Research Laboratories
eighth of an inch be- tests of an uncompromising measuring machine,
fore it strikes the a grossly faulty rhythm in the accompaniment.
string, and from this This shortcoming was not discernible in listen-
measurement the ex- ing to the playing because the accompaniment
act loudness of the was too soft to define the positions of the vari-
tone produced can be ous notes. The records measure technical abil-
easily calculated, 416 ity with uncanny accuracy. The marks of the
h u n d r e d-t h o u - pencil points of this soul-searching machine
sandths of a second show exactly the control the pianist has over
being required to pro- his fingers; whether his dynamics are nicely
duce the softest note balanced or ragged; if his tone is good or bad;
The Recording Instrument
and 51 hundred-thou- and even whether his playing has feeling or is
H E scientific and technical importance of
sandths for the loudest. About sixty times cold. The performance is figuratively put under
the methods adopted for recording and more energy therefore is expended in striking a microscope."
The whole course of record making is most
reproducing piano music on a basis that
the loudest note than when producing a whis-
permits the re-enacting piano to present the pered pianissimo. Some interesting sidelights interesting, not alone to the public but to the
playing of the living artist with a faithfulness
are shown in the playing of great pianists by members of the trade itself, many of whom are
that is little short of startling, has been em- t h i s
super-accurate
phasized by the publication of an extended method of recording.
illustrated article in the Scientific American on One artist who pro-
the improved recording instrument recently per- duced an exceptional-
fected in the research laboratory of the Ampico ly beautiful quality
Corp., and the manner in which Ampico records of singing tone was
are recorded and manufactured.
found to co-ordinate
In presenting the details of the new instru- his hands and pedal-
ment the magazine said: "A recording instru- ing to the almost in-
ment, lately perfected by the Ampico Research credible accuracy of
Laboratory, accurately reveals the physical basis one-fiftieth of a sec-
of those finer emotional qualities which mark ond. We sometimes
the inspired performances of the great masters. hear a performance
A record taken on this instrument of the play-
which sounds perfect.
ing of an every-day pianist clearly shows the
Apparently there is
mediocrity of his performance as compared
with that of one of the foremost great artists. not a flaw existing in
That lovely liquid singing quality of tone— the playing. Records
which is so rarely heard even in the great of such performances
recital halls; that bel canto which subdues an when analyzed some-
audience to the point of making them regard times reveal unbeliev-
the dropping of a pin as a misdemeanor; and able faults. One ex-
a cough as a state's prison offence; and other ample, which to the
effects, heretofore regarded almost as manifes- ear showed the most
tations of the soul of the artist, are being remarkable control of
dynamics, beautifully
First Hearing of Completed Roll
analyzed for mechanical reproduction through
the record music roll. This delicate recording graduated melody, and an accompaniment unfamiliar with the details connected with the
instrument measures accurately the length of
played with almost inaudible softness and production of the completed roll and the vari-
time it takes the hammer to travel the last
(Continued on page 4)
smoothness, revealed when submitted to the
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