REPRODUCING SOUND

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1929, Page 4

REPRODUCING SOUND

REMARKABLE NEW SYSTEM. \ demonstration of a remarkable system of German origin for recording and reproducing sound and speech was given recently, writes a correspondent in the “Daily Telegraph. Though intended primarily for the production of talking pictures, the Stille method, as it is called, from the name of its inventor, appears to be capable of many other adaptations. A duo of violin and piano played in the studio in front of a microphone was reproduced perfectly within a minute or so aftei’ the violinist put down his bow. The tone of the reproduction, moreover, seemed to some of those present almost sweeter than the original. /Then Henry Ainley, the well-known actor, seated himself near the microphone? and recited one of Shakespeare’s sonnets. He had barely finished before the words were repeated with startling clarity. Compared with some of the other systems the Stille seems astonishingly simple. Sound is recorded, not on the film, but on steel wire of very small calibre, or on narrow steel “tape.” The former is employed when it is required to reproduce sound or speech only. When a picture is required, in addition, it is necessaiy to use the “tape” in order to secure perfect synchrony between, for instance, the lip movements of the speaker and the words. . The method by which the sound is registered is a triumph of ingenuity. Acoustic vibrations are converted by the microphone on which they impinge into electric vibrations, and these, in turn, are conducted into the cells of small electro-magnets, past'the cores of which the “tape” moves at a uniform speed. As it moves, the electric vibrations are recorded and fixed upon it, though quite invisible, of course, to tlio eye. If the wire or tape thus magnetised be now passed through the core of other electro-magnets, the /invisible records give rise to currents of varying intensity, which are conveyed to the loud speaker or telephone diaphragms, and reconverted into sound. By this means a whole volume may be recorded on a reel of wire costing a few shillings and reproduced at will by means of suitable apparatus. Mr Ainley announced .that, he has arranged to make at once an audible record of the Bible, and to follow this up by other books. Sir Beaclicroft Towse, V.C., the blind vice-president of the British Legion and chairman of the National Institute for the Blind, who went down to Elstree, accompanied by an expert member of his council, was very much impressed by the demonstration.