ALREADY

PROVED

IN
1001 NEW SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF VOLUME EXPANDER AND COMPRESSOR
f ,

APPLICATIONS i

9
THE SYLVANIA 1N 34
-1=1=I
Nil
C,

GERMANIUM CRYSTAL DIODE

Introduced only a short time ago, the 1N34
Crystal Diode has already established its value
in a long list of applications calling for a circuit
element with non-linear characteristics.
Advantages of the 1N34 which have led to . «,. CONnNESt

its widespread acceptance are : small size ;

-- CONNOL
pigtail construction, permitting soldering into
G C

Cv NN., CCM

place ; low forward resistance value ; low shunt

capacitance ; increased frequency range.
A typical application of the 1N34 in the field 04 S

of audio engineering is in the design of auto-

matic volume expansion and compression
equipment for use in phonograph recording
and playback, circuit for which is shown at !!0 v. 550 V.

R,, Re- 750,000 ohm, V w. res. CI, C5 -.1 Add., 400 v. cond.
6 the right. Note particularly the use of four R RR,
R., -1000 ohm, 'h w. res. C2, C7 -25 pfd., 25 v. elec. cond.
1N34 units in the bridge rectifier. Here use of R3,124,R7- 10,000 ohm, 1/2 w. res. C3, C1.,, C1:3- -.1 µfd., 600 v. cond.
the 1N34 results in much lower conducting R11
-2000 ohm,' w. res. C, -8
pfd., 250 v. elec. cond.
resistance, reducing the charging time of the R10 -620 ohm,
'ií w. res. CG -10 µfd., 25 v. elec. cond.

filter condenser following the bridge, and R11, R15 -Dual 250,000 ohm pot. C . -8 Add., 350 v. elec. cond.

giving more rapid action of the circuit. R1_- 250,000 ohm,'/: w. res. -.02 Add., 400 v. cond.
R13- 51,000 ohm, 1/2 w. res. C l
o-.01 pfd., 600 v. cond.
R14, R15, R16- 100,000 ohm, 1, w. res. C 11 -1 µfd., 200 v. cond.
Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Electronics R17- 75,000 ohm, '/! w. res. T1 -Audio trans. 1/3.5 ratio
X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 -1 N 34 crystal diodes
Division, 500 Fifth Avenue, New York 18, N. Y. R1,- 500,000 ohm carbon pot.
(polarities as indicated)

SYLVANIAVí ELECTRIC
MAKERS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES; RADIO TUBES, CATHODE RAY TUBES; FLUORESCENT LAMPS,
FIXTURES, WIRING DEVICES; ELECTRIC LIGHT BULBS
 John H. Potts, Editor Sanford R. Cowan, Publisher
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulation
C. G. McProud, Managing Editor O. P. Ferrell, Asst. Ed.
S. L. Cahn, Adv. Director H. N. Reizes, Adv. Mgr.
L. B. Dresser, Edit. Prod. Mgr. J. M. Wheeler, Circl. Mgr.

AUDI Editorial Advisory Board

Howard A. Chinn
Representatives
James C. Galloway
NG John D. Colvin
816 W. 5th St., Los Angeles 13,
Calif., MUtual 8335
C. J. LeBel

J. P. Maxfield Harris & Floyd

Successor to RADIO 297 Swanston St., Melbourne,
George M. Nixon
C. 1, Victoria, Australia

Established 1917 CONTENTS MAY, 1947 Vol. 31, No. 3

Transients 4

Magnetic Tape Reorders in Broadcasting-/Howard .4. Chinn 7

Audio Systems for FM Broadcasting -I. D. Colvin 11

A Comparative Vacuum -Tube Decibel Meter -I. N. Grievcson and .1.11. Wiggins 15

Ringing a Bell at its Fundamental Mode -.S. 17

FM Calibrator for Disc Recording Heads -Ralph .4. Schlegel 18

Simplified Intermodulation Measurement -C. G. AleProud 21

Embossed high- Fidelity Recording -Robert 1Vagner 24

Square Wave Analysis in the A -F Spectrum -I. P. l'an T)uv,,e und .11. E. (lark 27

Multiple Speaker Matching-John IIlinslove 30

Too Much Audio-S. Young While 31

Record Revue 32
High Fidelity loudspeaker of Unique Design -John R. Hilliard 33
Audio Design Notes (Negative Feedback Circuits i 35

TECHNICANA
-
Reducing Distortion-I.iveness in Broadcasting Feedback Amplifiers -Magnetic Sound Track- Ultra-
sonic Hi -Z Preamplifier-Acoustic Constant and "Liveness" -Rapid Dubbing -Differential Attenuator 38

Graphical Characteristics of Cathode- Coupled Triode Amplifiers -C. I. Leliel 40

New Products 42

This Month 54

COVER ILLUSTRATION
Norman Pi:kering testing his new pickup and (lower photo) Western Electric control consoles in
operation at \VOR.

AUDIO ENGINEERING (title registered U. S. Pat. Off.) is published monthly at Boston Post Road, Orange, Connecticut, by Radio Magazines,
Inc. J. H. Potts, President; S. R. Cowan, Sec'y- Treas. Executive and Editorial Offices at 342 Madison Avenue. New York 17, N. Y. Subscription
rates -United States, U. S. Possessions & Canada, $3.00 for 1 year, $5.00 for 2 years; elsewhere $4.00 per year. Single copies 35c. Printed in U.S.A.
All rights reserved, entire contents Copyright 1947 by Radio Magazine... Inc. Application pending for entry as Second Class Matter at the Post
Office at Orange, Conn., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 - :::::.
V...'-'IC
::;.,:; -.;.
:n..:latx.t'.:'
tu,
simplified
e,44óó.1.6í
dub b r4}p_}be*

0 o e eeeo
eee, ce etc
tette
000
O O
e eOee e
it4444 40.44 Nr4@*dr
Fw5B1Crl11

3 OUTGOING CHANNELS Type BCS -1A

AM FM UTILITY
MAIN CONTROL ROO
r- Master Switching System
This system consists of one Master Switching Con-
4
S

ST
TU D

U D
I

I
O
O
4 ¡I? b
~. i sole (above, right -shown with an RCA 76 -B4
ANN. Consolette) and one or more sub -control units
I
(below). It contains all the relays needed for any
L
combination of switching functions.
CONTROL ROOM Up to five sub -control rooms can be used with
"ti the master console, each of which can handle from
one to three studios.
Eali ' fa 1 Status lights give accurate picture of "On Air,"
"In Use," "Ready," and "On -Off" conditions in all
CONTROL ROUM control rooms for each outgoing line. Unique de-
sign features prevent feeding more than one program
to any one line, although supporting program mate-
rial can be handled as remotes from the originating
studio. Sub -control units act as relay control stations

t!
between studios and master control unit.

da ...°"..
........
-
` I

ONTROL

....-
ROOT
 switching for
AM -FM Programming
Type BCS-2A
Switching System
Two studio inputs may be switched
independently to either of two out
going lines. Mechanical interlock,
ing prevents feeding two inputs to
same line. Handles up to four stu,
dios and two announce booths.
Two examples of the layouts pos-
sible are shown at left.

These new RCA consolette switching systems

co- ordinate all studio -station functions

Here's another example of RCA's pro- the more elaborate station ... switching
gram of providing "packaged" broadcast the outputs of as many as five control
tern. Used with two RCA 76 -B4 Conso-
equipments having the flexibility and per- consolettes to three outgoing lines. Many lettes, program material from up to four
formance of custom -built jobs. combinations are practicable. Inputs from studios and two announce booths is routed
The two Switching Consoles shown, in studios, network, recording rooms or to desired outgoing lines (AM and FM,
connection with standard RCA Conso- frequent remotes can be monitored and
or either transmitter and a network line).
lettes of identical styling, give you suffi- switched to transmitters or network lines.
Electrically interlocking controls have re- Both types of RCA Switching Systems
cient latitude to perform intricate AM, are designed for long -range station plan-
FM and network programming operations duced the possibility of switching error
to the vanishing point. ning. They have sufficient flexibility to
-easily, precisely and quickly. Choice of take care of future expansion. Complete
model depends upon the complexity of Managers of stations requiring only details may be obtained from Engineering
your station's operating requirements. two consolettes will find the RCA Type Products Dept., Section 115 -E, Radio
The BCS -1A Console is designed for BCS -2A Console the ideal switching sys- Corporation of America, Camden, N. J.
OftBROADCAST EQUIPMENT
RADIO CORPORATION
ENGINEERING PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT, CAMDEN, N.J.
of AMERICA
ViMfr
In Canada; RCA VICTOR Company Limited, Montreal)
Transients
INTRODUCING "AUDIO ENGINEERING" his presentations here. Because so many of our readers
are record fans after hours, and because those who are
* As announced in the February -March issue of Radio, professionally engaged in broadcasting may find the
we have decided to devote the editorial content of recommendations helpful, we feel that this special
this magazine to the sadly neglected audio engineering monthly feature will be of considerable interest.
field, and we want to take this opportunity to welcome
the thousands of new readers who have joined our HIGH FIDELITY
group. This is your magazine, and we invite your com-
ments and recommendations. Our editorial advisory * No discussion of audio engineering gets very far
board is composed of top -flight experts in the sound before the matter of fidelity is brought up. Because
engineering field. If you have problems which they this point is so highly controversial, a number of
can help you solve, they shall be glad to be of service. articles on this subject are scheduled for early publica-
AUDIO ENGINEERING will present articles, tion. These will include results of listener preference
charts, and news concerning developments in sound tests conducted in England, as well as in this country.
engineering as it relates to commercial broadcasting, Perhaps we may be jumping the gun, and perhaps some
transmitter and receiver manufacturing, sound -on -film members of our editorial board will not agree with
equipment, recording (disc, wire, and tape), public the writer, but we do believe that some of the tests
address, industrial sound, and acoustics. We are con- which indicate that listeners prefer a medium band to a
centrating on thoroughly practical articles, avoiding wide frequency range merely show that there is some-
highly mathematical presentations unless they are of thing wrong with the reproducing equipment or meas-
vital importance and indispensable to the discussion. uring technique.
Because so little attention has been devoted to record- It seems inconceivable that those who listen to and
ing, we are placing particular editorial emphasis on enjoy "live" orchestral presentations should prefer to
this subject. No comprehensive engineering treatise hear reproduced music in which some of the fre-
on this subject has been published in the past thirty quencies present in the original are suppressed. It is
years, and very little text has appeared in any engineer- claimed that the binaural effect present in live music
ing journal. This branch of the industry is in sad may be one reason ; this may be so. But there is no
need of standardization ; different makes of records adequate proof. On the contrary, at one recent demon-
do not have the same cross -over frequencies, the degree stration of binaural reproduction, we understand that
of pre- emphasis at the higher frequencies varies, groove the presentation went on for eleven minutes before
depth is not always the same, and there are still other it was discovered that one of the two sound tracks was
factors which affect reproduction upon which no not operating, due to a defective exciter lamp.
standards have been selected. Therefore, even the best One interesting listener preference test conducted in
reproducing equipment cannot give equally satisfactory England showed initially that the majority preferred a
results with all makes of records. By offering this medium frequency range rather than the full range.
magazine as a forum for the interchange of ideas, we But when these comparison tests were repeated many
hope to be able to contribute in some measure to even- times with the same group of listeners, eventually they
tual standardization of these varying techniques. grew to prefer the wider frequency range.
Another feature, unique in a technical magazine, is In any event, it is apparent that this is no subject on
the page on which records are reviewed. The author, which snap judgments can be made. And, further. that
Mr. Canby, also reviews records for the Saturday there is a very great need for a thorough and impartial
Review of Literature, but as you will note, he ap- investigation of the entire question.
p-oaches his topic from a more technical viewpoint in -I.H.P.

4 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 Rated high in dielectric value, and with as improved
power factor, Amphenol low -loss Microphone Connectors
and Cables insure maximum efficiency in sound equip-
ment. Dependable and easy to install, they are widely
used by leading manufacturers of sound equipment
apparatus, photo electric devices, home recorders and
a complete range of similar items.
The Amphenol line is precision-built, compact, light-
weight and complete. Microphone plugs, mating con-
nectors and receptacles have unbreakable, chromium -
plated brass shells and low -loss bakelite inserts. Cord
protectors or cable clamps relieve strain on contacts.
Threaded coupling rings screw onto mating coupling
t :Areads to provide "yank- proof" connections that are
free from noise, leaks or shorts. Accidental disconnects Amphenol Connectors are
are impossible. Multi- contact connectors are polarized. 1 available in straight and
right angle styles in three
elm min no ow am types:

P.MPHENOL MICROPHONE CABLES are unusually

SERIES 91: Three and four contact micro-
low in capacitance for their small diameters. Light in
phone style, used on all types of portcble
weight, their durable plastic jackets remain flexible
apparatus. Since 1934, the standard of the
down to -40° F. May be used with standard connectors
sound industry.
and cord protectors.
Cables are available in either of two plastic jackets: SERIES 80: For standard single and two
VinyL for heavy auditorium and outdoor use where wire shielded cables such as: coaxial and
cables are long and the trampling of crowds is a factor; microphone cables, twisted pairs, concen-
pclyechylene for home and cocktail lounge applications. tric lines. photo cell leads, etc
Wte today for new booklet describing Amphenol Microphone Connectors
and Cables.
SERIES 75: For standard single conductor
'Capocílance per foot ranges from 20 mml. for Amphenol No. 21 -120
(.242" diam.) to 35 mml. for 21 -156 (355" diam.).
shielded cable. Widely used in amplifiers,
transmitters, photo electric de ices, home
recorders and similar equipment.
AMERICAN PHENOLIC
CORPORATION
1830 South 54th Avenue
Chicago 50, Illinois 111 =I MI IV
COAXIAL CABLE! AND CONNECTORS INDUSTRIAL CONNECTORS. FITTINGS AND CONDUIT ANTENNAS RADIO COMPONENTS PLASTICS roi ELECTRONICS

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY. 1947 5

BIGGEST NEWS IN AM!
It's Federal's New Triodes for 50 KW Transmitters -
with THORIATED TUNGSTEN FILAMENTS!

-;111r2i

,C31
fasaad Ai Goole/

LOWER FILAMENT POWER

LOWER HUM LEVEL

LONGER LIFE

HERE'S THE BIG ADVANCE in tubes for 50KW

stations! Even for that output, you now get
thoriated tungsten filaments in Federal's new 9C28 and
9C30 -- to give greater electron emission with less
filament power, longer service life, stable and improved
performance.
9C28 Walar Cooled
Rated conservatively, these Federal tubes have the
electrical and structural design to withstand overloads.
Months of actual field tests demonstrate their excep-
tional durability. Both the 9C28 and 9C30 are water PARTIAL TECHNICAL DATA
cooled for maximum output. Alternate types (9C29 9C30
and 9C31), with air cooling, are also available. In a pair Filament voltage.... 15 v. 15 v.
of either type you'll find new operating economy and Filament current ....135 amp. 135 amp.
low tube costs.
Maximum Ratings
Federal's 38 years of tube engineering and manu-
Plate Voltage 12,000 v. 15,000 v.
facture show up once more in this latest "first ". No amp. 8 amp.
Plate Current 10
wonder Federal tubes have consistently set the stand- Plate Input 100 kw. 120 kw.
ards for performance in AM broadcast service. We'll be Plate Dissipation 40 kw. 40 kw.
glad to send you more data on these tubes. Write
department K 480.

Federal Telephone and Radio Corporal/on

InCanada:- Federal Electric Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Montreal. 100 Kingsland Road,
Export Distributors:- International Standard Electric Corp. 67 Broad St., N. Y. Clifton, New Jersey

6 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 Magnetic Tape Recorders
in Broadcasting
HOWARD A. CHINN

URING THE WAR, many of the mem- of this order are quite likely to be
bers of the broadcasting industry difficult, if not impossible, to achieve
Who were with the Armed Services, with the usual types of wire driving
had an opportunity to familiarize them- The value of magnetic recorders mechanisms.
selves with the potentialities and the in broadcasting is not generally Magnetic wire recording, from a
limitations of magnetic wire recorders. appreciated. In this article, the home application viewpoint at least,
Since the war, wire recorders have author describes many of the more has another serious limitation. The
become (or are about to become) gen- useful applications of this equip- cost of the raw material itself -the
erally available for various applications. ment in this type of service. magnetic wire -ismuch too high to
These include combination radio -re- encourage very many persons to keep
corders for the home, office dictation on hand a large supply of reels con-
machines, recorded music for reproduc- taining favorite recordings. Present -
tion in trains, and both fixed and port- day prices are in the vicinity of $10.00
able equipment intended for broadcast applications, it is generally considered for sufficient wire for an hour's record-
applications. desirable to be able to achieve an ing (at a speed that provides a medium
Although magnetic wire recorders absolute speed that does not deviate tonal range), and the most optimistic
are very satisfactory for many uses, from correct timing by more than have not forecast a decrease in this
they have limitations when it comes 0.25 %. That is, a recording exactly price of more than 50 %.
to meticulous, professional applications. one -half hour in length should play Finally (and perhaps most important
For example, unless the wire is con- hack within 5 seconds of the time of from a professional application view-
tained in plug -in type magazines, an- the original performance. Accuracies point) when it comes to editing record-
noying (and sometimes disastrous) wire
snarls are likely to be encountered, as
anyone who has ever handled a wire
recorded is well aware. Even if one
has the patience -and good luck -to
be able to disentangle one of these
"bird nests." it will be found that the
wire has been weakened where bent
too sharply and before long a break
occurs, together with another wire
(and personal) snarl.
The problem of flutter, caused by
spurious speed variations of the driv-
ing mechanism, can be readily over-
come in wire recorders. On the other
hand, absolute speed accuracy is not
simple to achieve. For broadcasting

*Chief .-ladin Engineer, Columbia Broad-

casting Systcm.
The Rangertone tape recorder, currently in
the development stage, is intended for pro-
fessional recording applications. It is planned
to use 14 -inch diameter reels accommodating
enough magnetic tape for one -half hour of
recording at a tape speed of 30 inches per
second. The erase, record and playback
heads are contained in a plug -in assembly
that facilitates maintenance and replacement.
Push button control provides for record, re-
wind, playback and stop functions. The white
dial in the center of the top panel is a run-
ning time indicator (footage counter) that is
of considerable value in "cueing" recordings.
Magnetic tape, haying a paper cr a plastic piece of clear scotch tape on the back (un- splice made in this manner will not add any
base, can be readily edited by taking coated side) of the magnetic tape (Fig. 1B). spurious noise to the reproduction. For
out or adding lengths of tape as desired. A The excess Scotch tape is then trimmed professional applications a modified 8mm
butt -joint splice is made by joining the two with a scissors (Fig. 1C, right) so that it is no film splicer makes it possible to undertake
ends (Fig. 1A, le:t) and placing a small wider than the original magnetic tape. A the operation more expeditiously.

ed material, the draw -backs of magnetic steel tape recorders were used rather Advantages
wire are just about as serious as for extensively both in Great Britain and As contrasted to other forms of
disc recordings. There just isn't any on the Continent. Although some ma- magnetic recording material, a paper
simple way to do it. chines employing steel tape were manu- or plastic -base tape has many advan-
factured in this country, they were tages. From a broadcasting viewpoint,
Magnetic Tape never used to any extent except pos-
Recorders staking use of a paper
or plastic -base magnetic material., are
- sibly for voice- training purposes. The
drawbacks of the steel tape are similar
perhaps the most important of these
is the ability to cut and splice the tape.
This provides an unexcelled opportunity
inherently capable of overcoming prac- to those of magnetic wire except there to broadcast material otherwise unac-
tically all of the shortcomings of wire is no twisting of the tape, of course, ceptable. For example during the 1946
recorders. Magnetic tape recorders, and high- quality recording is practical. New York State political conventions,
employing a steel tape at firs_ and Although a paper -base magnetic tape CBS recorded the entire day- and
later both paper and plastic tapes was available in Germany during the night -long proceedings. Upon the com-
coated with magnetic material, were war, an independent development pro- pletion of a day's recording. the ma-
first placed in regular broadcasting gram was undertaken in this country terial was reviewed and the highlights
service in Europe. Prior to the war, under an NDRC (National Defense of the meeting spliced together into
Research Committee) one interesting fast- moving program.
contract. The objective, This material, with just enough of the
and the final result, was atmosphere (but without the intermin-
the development of a able delays, roll -calls and other extra-
paper -base magnetic ma- neous proceedings of any large meeting)
terial, having magnetic was then broadcast locally. Within
properties equal to or the space of single program periods, the
better than the best avail- radio audience was thus enabled to
able steel tape. This de- hear all the important speeches and
velopment was success- transactions of the day. The recording.
fully completed just about the editing, and the broadcasting were
the time the war ended. on the scene with portable equipment.
This seems to be the most feasible
method of bringing this interesting pro-
gram material to the broadcast listener.
A number of potential similar applica-
tions will immediately suggest them-
selves to every broadcaster.
In the simplest form, slicing of mag-
netic tape can be accomplished with a
pair of scissors and a roll of scotch
tape, Fig. 1. For more speedy splices.
a modified 8 -mm film splicer is a great
assistance. Of no small importance,
in connection with splicing magnetic
tape, is the fact that it is practically
free of handling difficulties. A reel
can he dropped to the floor or other-
wise mishandled without fear of hope-
less tangles of tape.
The ease with which tape may be
handled also lends itself to rapid re-
wind. For example, in a relatively
simple type of recorder intended for
home use, a rewind speed of approxi-
mately 60 to 1 has been achieved. That
is, a one -half hour recording can be
rewound in about 30 seconds.

Fig. 2. T1-e Brush Eó:401 Sonndnirror is a magnetic tape recorder having the
general sise and appearance of a conventional table -model phonograph. It is a
complete recorder and reprod.rcer and is capable of one -half hour of continuous
operation. Record_ngs c.zn be made from the microphone provided with the unit,
from a radio rece.ver or any other source of audio signals. Convenient controls
are provided to perfxm the various operations. The reels, which are 7 inches in
diameter accomm da:a 1250 feet of 14 inch wide, paper -base magnetic tape.
 Ä^^

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AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 9

electronic and mechanical possibilities Magnetic "Echoes" background noise of the adjacent layers.
immediately suggest themselves for tape One type of plastic tape was develop- The second layer away from the original
recording machines. For example, with ed in Germany that, at first glance. recording contained no evidence. what-
plastic -base tape, consideration may be seems to have many advantages. It soever of an echo.
given to the use of perforations, as used consists of a plastic in which the mag- Magnetic Tape Recorder
for 8 mm movies. A sprocket drive em- netic material is impregnated-that is, At the present time is only one mag-
ploying conventional arrangements can uniformly distributed throughout the netic tape recorder being manufactured
provide exact synchronism, of course. material. With a tape of this type, in this country although plans are be-
These and other systems not requiring the magnetic material is held with a ing made by several companies to enter
perforations lend themselves to accurate better bond then when simply coated the field. The unit that is available,
absolute speed operation. upon the surface of a carrier or base. Fig. 2, was designed in its entirely after
Just as with magnetic wire, tape It has been found, however, that tape V -J day and, in spite of material pro-
may be used over and over again. As of this type is subject to magnetic curement problems, is already in pro-
a matter of fact, it is for applications "leakage" from layer to layer. This duction. Although this recorder was
where a permanent record is not re- phenomenon is most readily detectable primarily intended for the home-recor-
quired that magnetic recording is at when a fully modulated signal is record- der market, it is of considerable interest
its best from the economic viewpoint.
ed on this type of tape, with un- recorded to the broadcasting industry as a
On the other hand, the cost of paper - tape immediately before and immediately demonstration of the features of mag-
base tape promises to be sufficiently
after the recording. Upon spooling the netic tape recording. Its performance
low so that it can be given considera-
tape in the usual manner, the recorded capabilities are such that it may be
tion for those applications where a signal impresses a magnetic image of used to advantage for many broadcast
recording is to be retained for a con- itself upon the layers of tape imme- applications until professional - model
siderable length of time. Even though
diately above and immediately below recorders become available.
machines have not yet become avail- The unit contains all the mechanical
the layer containing the signal. Meas-
able on a widespread basis for utilizing
urements have indicated that in the and electrical components necessary to
paper tape, the cost for the material is
already down to about one -fifth of mag-
netic wire costs -the comparison being )u i r
made on the basis of a tape and a wire xTw1
°.YYC

)..° su,
at"
speed that results in comparable qual- )GmY )YT
ity. There is every reason to believe .O.uK

that even lower costs can be expected 411.

b.,.) 6Y110. v. ioGO.
Y)G°
moro
for the paper tape. Se ... COM

Cost considerations (together with 26

n SWIM. MT) 'At;
others) will determine whether a paper 0":«7M. ° 3
IiO:S[DÑ
M".0. CO..
--
7
_
o
or a plastic base should be used for a "ma.oC DECK L YTCO)OCO INC.(
J
given application. One of the great
advantages of a magnetic material is
the ability to erase the recording, after OII CT,IGO
. O<IOSK)
[GTIR)
)I *UV s141:"e.

it has served its purpose, and to re -use Ii

the recording medium. Temporary roYiTOO

recordings of this type (particularly L.OWS.I..[...5(l
.SO..-r C1455.5
if they are likely to be subject to con-
siderable editing by splicing) can per- Fig. 4. This simplified functional diagram shows the general alignment of the circuits
haps be made most economically on a during recording (Fig. 4A) and during reproducing (Fig. 4B, right). In recording both low-
paper -base tape. As a matter of fact, and high frequency pre emphasis is introduced in the VT -2(A) and the VT -3 stages. Also.
even recordings that are to be kept the reproducing channel acts as a monitoring loudspeaker channel and is provided with
its own volume control. During playback. the plate voltage is removed from the super-
for several years may well he made sonic bias generator and amplifiers and from the VT -3 amplifier stage. In addition. the
on a paper tape in order to keep the recording coil is reconnected to serve as the pickup coil. The reproducing tone control
investment in tape at a minimum. provides an adjustable high -frequency roll-off. while low frequency post -emphasis is
On the other hand, for applications introduced in the VT -2(B) stage.
where the recordings are of a documen- layer immediately above and the one make and reproduce recordings. These
tary nature and are to be preserved for immediately below the original record- include amplifiers, drive, take -up and
an exceedingly long time, it may be ing the "echo" is down only about 20 rewind motors, supersonic bias and
advantageous to make use of a plastic - db in intensity as compared with the erase generator, erase and combination
base tape. The cost of such tape will original signal. Four layers away, in record -playback head, operating con-
be greater than for a paper -base tape both directions, the signal is just dis- trols and a playback and monitoring
and the needs of the application in cernible in the noise background, but loudspeaker. The size and external
hand must justify the additional ex- is too low in intensity to be measured appearance of the unit is similar to a
pense. by ordinary means.' A similar test convential table -model phonograph.
Among the other factors that must made with a coated paper -base tape The various operations of recording,
be considered in selecting the type of of American manufacture slid not re- rewinding and playback are controlled
tape is the matter of tape elongation sult in any measurable echo, even on by push- buttons. In order to guard
or stretch. If no special means (timing the immediately adjacent layer although against accidental erasing of recorded
marks, sprocket holes. etc.) are em- a weak signal was discernible in the material, two particular push- buttons
ployer for obtaining high absolute -speed must be depressed simultaneously be-
accuracy, then the tape whose length 'The author is indebted to Colonel Richard fore a new recording can be made (the
is most stable with changes in tempera- H. Ranger, of Rangertone, Inc., for call- erasing head immediately proceeds the
ture, humidity and time, will provide ing this phenomenon to his attention and recording head and is energized only
the best absolute -speed accuracy, all to Mr. George Graham, of the National
Broadcasting Company, for the measure- when the controls are in the position).
other factors being equal. ments on the German tape.

10 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 AUDIO SYSTEMS FOR
FM BROADCASTING
J. D. COLVIN

WITII TILE co.l1IKC of hundreds of functional requirements of the individual

new FM broadcasting stations will station.
be the construction of an almost \\'hilc the actual audio equipment em-
While the design of audio systems ployed in an FM system must receive
equal number of new studio layouts. A for FM broadcasting is an individual
number of these installations will be careful atten' ion, it in itself is not the
problem for each station, the author most important part of the system and
made by individual owners or organiza- describes many basic circuit ar- it is not the part of the design which
tions that have had long experience in rangements which are applicable to is hardest to solve. Reliable manufac-
the broadcast business, while a great most cases. These may usually be
many will be made by those to whom turers of broadcast equipment now have
adapted to the situation at hand time -proven equipment and components
broadcasting is a new venture. It is for with little modification.
the possible assistance to the newcomers that will meet FM requirements with
in the field that this article is being
regard to performance when properly
prepared. assembled. however. the most care -
Designing an audio system for FM fully laid out system of the best com-
broadcasting is an individual problem icrences found in programming, in pol- ponents, meeting all functional require-
with each broadcast station that can be icy, in local conditions, size and number ments of operation, having the flattest
solved in its entirety only by the man- of studios, and the past experience of frequency response, the lowest possible
agement and the engineering staff of the the chief engineer. It is impossible to distortion and the least amount of hunt
individual stations. Although many lay out in a single article a design of and noise will fall absolutely flat on
items of the system design are common an audio system that will fit all the FM performance if the acoustical de-
to all stations, an almost equal number conditions of all the new layouts. How- sign of the studio is not correct. Al-
are found to be different from station ever, the basic consideration and cir- though it is not the intent of this article
to station. This variance is due to dif- cuits of audio systems found to be ap- to go into studio design, it is felt that
plicable to the most cases will be a mention of its importance should be
presented. These can be applied with made before going into audio circuits.
*Audio Facilities Engineer, American
Broadcasting Co. the necessary modifications to fit the Studios must be quiet, must have a cer-

All audio and transmitter controls are centralized on the center controk console of the CBS-KN X plant shown.
tain reverberation time and frequency be discussed. It is also quite safe to as- tom -built equipment that would do the
response, must have certain dimensional sume that the bulk of the new FM sta- same job.
ratios, and must have minimum volume tions will decide on three studios as be- A word of caution should be injected
per performer, and there are other im- ing sufficient for their operation ; about concerning the use of these consoles.
portant factors. three -fourths of the remainder will have As built, they will give satisfactory per-
five studios and the balance will run be- formance in all functions for which
Studio Design
tween eight and ten studios. they were designed. As is often the
For the actual design of the studios A distinct difference exists between case, a broadcaster comes across an un-
one should enlist the services of an the equipment required for a single usual condition of operation that can-
acoustical consulting engineer who has control room-three studio layout, the not be met with the circuits available,
had experience in the design of FM five, and the eight -to-ten studio plant. but observes from the wiring diagram
studios. Ideas on the arrangement of For the three studio-single control that if a certain change is made, the
studio control rooms can be obtained room it would be well for economic desired result can be obtained. Making
from several of the manufacturers of reasons for the new station to consider changes in the console circuit may
broadcast equipment and by visiting the purchase of completely assembled lead to trouble, such as an oscillation
other broadcasters who have up -to -date consoles that are available from several condition or a rise in hum level. Great
studios. The architect employed to manufacturers. These consoles have care was exerted and much rearranging
make up the plans for the studios should been thoughtfully designed and im- of cables was necessary in the design
work closely with the acoustical engi- proved over the past five years and are models to obtain stable operating condi-
neer. Too much stress cannot be laid capable of handling practically all of tions in consoles. Disturbing these cables
upon the importance of arriving at the the requirements of the small three should be avoided, if possible.
right design before construction work studio station. Four to six microphone
is started and the importance of atten- inputs are usually available on these Three -Studio Layout
tion to every detail during the building consoles, and an additional mike circuit In most cases, the small three -studio
of the studios. Every dollar spent in for the announce booth is obtainable layout will not require any output
properly designing the studios will be by a switching arrangement. Facilities switching nor additional line amplifier
a good investment. for turntables, remote programs, audi- other than that supplied in the console.
Starting at the assumed condition tions, cueing, signal lights and talk -back However, a bridging type of amplifier
that the new station has decided rather are available. Arrangements for emer- capable of delivering about a plus 24
completely upon the number and size gency operation in case of main ampli- dbm output and having approximately
of studios that will be required for its fier and power supply failures are pro- 40 to 50 db gain will find many uses
programming, that the studio site has vided in most cases. The fact that such around the station ; such as, feeding
been selected and that adequate design units are built in quantities on produc- programs to a network, bridging the
for the studios is being prepared, an tion lines makes their cost run about program line for a feed to a recording
cutline of circuits and equipment will one-half to one -third the cost of a cus- amplifier, or as a booster for a long re-

Fig. 1. Diagram of three -studio layout employing two factory-built consoles for control equipment_

IPREAMP
ERS
,$ 0--
CONSOLE41
IUD ION BUS
MASTER
----- - - - -_ 6 08
LINE PAD
LINE COIL
TO FM
OUTPUT SWITCH TRANSMITTER
PREAMP

ROGRAM BUS 600.. t50..

PREAMP

PREAMP ' V rU '

ONI TOR CONTROL

AMP ROOM
MON VOL SPKR
SPEAKER
RELAY
r
t----
I

J TALK BACK
MICROPHONE

CONSOLE tt2
AUDITION BUS
l
PREAMP
MASTER
OUTPUT SWITCH
PREAMP PROC AM
! I

PREAMP PROGRAM BUS

Lg p MONITOR CONTROL

MON. VOL.
AMP
SPKR
A ROOM
SPEAKER
RELAY
VARIABLE

EQUALIZER

BRIDGING

AMPLIEI ER

12 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

mote line that has required considerable would have more than necessary of submaster gain control. The purpose
equalization. Another useful external some features and not enough of others. of this agreement is to permit the in-
addition to such equipment is a strip of Reference is being made here to the dividual settings of the three micro-
jacks through which are normalled all remote line and remote cueing facili- phones to be made to suit the conditions
of the inputs to the console. This will ties found in these consoles, which are of pickup of an orchestra which, dur-
allow a greater flexibility in setups. A unnecessary to the extent provided for ing the course of the program, must
variable line equalizer should be em- a single studio control that operates be faded in and out rapidly to accom-
ployed for compensation of remote lines. into a master control. Also, these con- modate sketches or announcements.
This equalizer as well as the bridging soles are usually limited to five micro- This fade out and in can be accom-
amplifier should also appear on the jack phone inputs, while twice this number plished by the use of one control knob
strip. Care should be taken when con- is often required for a large studio. and with the assurance that, when
necting the input and output of thii faded in, that proper balance still exists.
Console Sizes The remaining five inputs are straight-
amplifier to the jack strip so as to al-
low as much separation as possible In general, three sizes of consoles forward. In addition to the eight mi-
from the microphone circuits. will be required for either the larger crophone inputs, one input without a
Figure 1 shows in block diagram form size group of studios -one to care for preamplifier is used to handle a remote
a three- studio layout employing two the auditorium type of studio, one for input. The source of this remote in-
factory -built consoles for control equip- the small and medium -size studio, and put might be that portion of a divider
ment. This diagram shows the basic one for the announcers' and turntable program in which a speaker talks fron
circuits of these units that are common studio. As a rule, a five- studio layout a distant point, or it might be a
to the several manufacturers and in- will have one auditorium studio, two sound effect patched through from tilt
clude several of the added features men- medium studios, one small studio, and transcription studio. A conventional
tioned. one announcers' and turntable studio. talkback and monitoring system is
Going on to the five -studio and the A ten- studio layout will have two audi- shown. Equipment necessary for one
eight -to -ten studio layouts, the basic torium studios, four medium studios, echo chamber is shown separate from
difference in these two size groups lies two small studios, and two of the an- the circuit of the console with the ex-
in the output switching and added re- nouncer type studios. One of the lat- ception of the echo chamber volume
finements as the number of studios is ter of these might be permanently as. control which would be part of the
increased. The control consoles for each signed to news while the other is used console. Thus the same echo cham-
group are comparable, the only varia- for announcements and transcriptions. ber equipment could be used with any
tion being in the number of microphone Figure 2 shows in block forni a sug- studio equipped with an echo control
inputs. The usual trend is toward cus- gested layout for the auditorium type fader by patching in through trunk
tome -built consoles that have only the of studio. Eight microphone inputs are circuits. The input and output of the
required operational functions rather provided. It will be noted that three of echo chamber circuit is connected by
than the factory -built consoles that the microphone faders feed through a patch cords to the desired microphone

Fis. 2. Diagram of suggested layout for the auditorium typo of studio.

THIS PART Of CIRCUIT

PREAMP
ELIMINATED IN THE MEDIUM
AND SMALL SIZE STUDIO CONSOLES

PREAMP
MIXER .

PREAMP SUR-MASTER
NIXI R

TO MASTER
PREAMP
MIXER =TA CORI ROL

00 CVE
0 CIRCUITS
o
PREAMP
MIXER

ROOSTER TALS RACY

AMP UIC

PRE AMP
MIXER CON TRO,_
MONITO ROOM
AMP SPKR
RELAY SPEAKER

PRE AMP ECHO CHAMBER rLS 1 PATCHED TO

MIXER CIRCUIT IN I

ECHO (ADER
© I
PRE AMP

90 05 GAIN J
SPEAKER AMP.
ECHO CHAMBER ECHO CHAMBER OUT

o PREAMP
MIXER

REMOTE LINE ISOLATION

INPUT MIXER AMP

D
STUDIO LOUDSPEAKER

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 13

 MIMER
The circuit for the medium and
small type of studio would be exactly
* ST!R
ANNC MIC
.1
the same as that shown in Fig. 2, with
PRE AMP
the elimination of the three microphone
circuits feeding into the submaster
MIXER
control. This leaves a total of five
CUE SWITCH
microphone inputs and a remote line
TuRURTABLE ATTACHED TO
ATTENUATOR
input. All other features would be
PROD the same.
L_f PRE AMP
AMP

Transcribed Programs
MIMER

TURNTABLE
Figure 3 shows an arrangement for
TO
MASTER
an announcer and transcription studio
PRE AMP
O *
CONTROL and is intended primarily for the
handling of transcribed programs. The
transcriptions can be announced by the
RECORD CUEING
AMPLIFIER cIfin, sane person who operates the-turntable
or can be announced by another
6-7
-3 3- SPAR.
individual in an adjoining studio con-
P' `V
HEADPHONE SPAR VOL RELAY nected with a viewing window. Two
]AVA turntable inputs and one microphone
input are shown. The usual method
LOUDSPEAMCR of operation of the turntable faders
is wide open when playing and closed
when off. This makes for easier
operation when a quick shift is to be
made from one machine to another in
Fig. 3. Suggested arrangement for handling transcribed programs. that the operator need not be conscious
of the necessity to open the fader on
circuit at the jacks following the pre- jacks following the booster amplifier the coming -in machine to a definite
amplifier for that microphone. For preceding the master gain control. The part -way setting, but instead simply to
echo on the over -all program, the input amount of echo is determined by the turn the knob until the fader hits the
and output of the echo chamber would setting of the echo fader mounted on stop. Proper level is obtained with
be picked up by patch cords at the the console. the master gain control. Provisions
are made for headphone or loudspeaker
Fig. 4. Diagram of master switching circuits for manual or preset relay operated systems. cueing of a transcription. When an-
nouncing is done in the same room
IRAN CHAN 2 CHAN CHAN N with the transcription machine, an inter-
lock between the announce microphone
key and the loudspeaker should be
LINE COILS -N. provided. Turntable starting keys should
be located on the console so as to con-
e DB LINE PADS -OH fine the operator's motions to as limited
space as possible during time of rapid
operations.

CHAN CHAN CHAN CHAN

Balanced Circuits
AMP AMP AMP AMP
Concerning the actual type of cir-
cuits used in the consoles, it has been
the writer's experience that the least
amount of trouble will be had from
CHANNEL GAIN CONTROL any tendency toward oscillation, cross-
talk between circuits, and failure of
BRIDGING COILS -HA faders to completely cut off at all audio
' aelr
4 frequencies if balanced circuts are used
throughout. Such a statement is sub-
ject to much argument pro and con;
but of the twenty or more studio lay-
LINES FROM STUDIO OUTPUTS outs designed by the writer during the
2 past five years, the only ones that gave
any trouble and required "fussing with"
were three that used unbalanced cir-
3 cuits.
Another feature in console design
that is subject to some discussion pro
SWITCHES MECHANICALLY
IN THIS and con is whether all amplifiers and
DIRECTION
o components associated with the console
N should be contained in the console
turret and desk, or if only the operating
controls should be contained in the
[Continued on page 49]

14 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 A Comparative Vacuum -Tube
Decibel Meter
J. H. GRIEVESON and A. M. WIGGINS *

MANY METHODS are used to obtain consuming activity of subtracting curves

the free fieldt response curves of has been developed which has proven
microphones and electro- acoustical very useful in both laboratory and pro-
devices. If extreme accuracy is desired The unique instrument which the duction control work, and is without the
the reciprocity method has proven to be authors have developed is essen- inaccuracies associated with other meth-
of considerable value, especially when tially a linear scale, direct- reading, ods. This method employs an instrument
no calibrated microphone or speaker is decibel meter, which may be ad- that gives a direct reading (in decibels)
available. A commonly used method. justed to indicate the difference in of the differePPre between the output of
when extreme accuracy is not demand- db level between a standard and reference microphone and the micro-
ed, is by first calibrating a speaker with any other similar device under test. phone under test. Thus a comparative
a calibrated microphone, then by taking It has been found particularly suit- response curve may be made in one
the response curve with the unknown able for testing microphones, audio operation. eliminating the need of taking
microphone and calibrated speaker, the transformers and amplifiers, loud- two measurements, and then calculating
response of the microphone may be speakers, and phonograph pick -ups. the results. Although loudspeakers gen-
obtained. This necessitates subtracting erally available cannot be used as a
the response curve of the speaker from standard sound snurce, clue to the irreg-
the response curve of the microphone ularities in their response, there are
and speaker combination. The response microphones xvbiclt have very flat re-
curves of even the most expensive
speakers are none too smooth, which Testing microphones with the comparative deci'el meter (Elect,.oVoice Corp.)
contributes to the inaccuracy of the
measurements.
Attempts have been made to control I
the amplifier output to compensate for
the irregularity of the speaker response
curve. If the variation in response of
the speaker is not too great, electrical
filters may be used with some measure
of success. If the response varies widely
over small increments of frequency more
drastic measures must be taken, such
as the use of cams operated from the
frequency control shaft of the oscillator
and shaped to give the required com-
pensation in the amplifier output.
A Method of Obtaining
Response Curves
A method of obtaining the response
curves of microphones without the time-

*Product Engineer. ElectroVoice Corp.

* *Chief Engineer, ElectroVoice Corp.
tMeasurements of electro-acoustical de-
ices, such as microphones and loudspeak-
ers, are usually undertaken in an environ-
ment that simulates free -space conditions;
that is, away from any surfaces or ob-
jects from which sound waves would be
reflected. In practice, this is achieved (a)
by making measurements out -of- doors, (b)
by using an acoustical test chamber whose
walls absorb sound waves as completely
as possible or (c) by employing a pulse
technique -Ed.

MAY, 1947 15
AUDIO ENGINEERING
sponse curves. The Western Electric The logarithm of the ratio of the two The Comparative Decibel Meter
640A is an example of a microphone output voltages may be obtained by
whose response is very flat if the axis A schematic diagram of the amplifiers
subtracting the logarithms of the output
of the microphone is oriented at 90 voltages front the two microphones. If and comparative decibel meter is shown
degrees to the sound source. The ratio E, is the rectified output of one micro- in Fig. 1. The two microphones are fed
of the output voltage of an unknown phone and E, the rectified output of the into the conventional amplifiers A and
microphone to that of a standard micro- B, whose outputs are rectified. The rec-
other then:
phone having a uniform response is the tifiers are connected through high re-
E,
response of the unknown microphone.
By taking the logarithm of this ratio
Log -=E,
log E1 - log E,
sistances (5 megohms) to the diodes
in the 6H6 of the instrument. Voltages
and multiplying by 20 the response in If E_ is the output of a flat microphone which are proportional to the logarithm
decibels is obtained. Since the two mi- and E, the output of the microphone of the input voltages are developed
crophones in the sound field must neces- tinder test, then E_ becomes the refer- across the diodes. This is amplified by
sarily be separated by a small distance, ence level and the meter reads log E,, the 6F8 d -c amplifier. The two triodes
the output voltages must be rectified and may therefore be calibrated to in- in the 6F8 are connected in opposition
before mixing as there will be a differ- dicate the output in decibels of the as shown. The bias resistor R, is of a
ence in phase between their outputs. microphone under test. value to compensate approximately for
the contact potential in the tubes. The
coauthor Wteehte at work in an :,nusual acoustically treated room an the Electro- meter for measuring the logarithm of
Voice lab. the two voltage ratios has a 200 micro-
ampere range and is connected from
plate to plate of the 6F8. The instru-
ment is calibrated first by setting the
microammeter to the midpoint of the
scale by means of the potentiometer P,
whose midpoint is connected to B +.
The full scale deflection is set by ap-
plying a difference in voltage between
points C and D of the desired range.
If a range of 20 db from midpoint to
full scale is desired a voltage difference
of ten to one is applied. Then, by ad-
justing potentiometer P, the meter may
be set to read full scale. The setting may
bt- checked by applying the ten to one
voltage ratio to the opposite tubes caus-
ing the meter to read 20 db in the op-
posite direction which would be the zero
reading. The gain of the two amplifiers
may be set to the same amount by
feeding the output of one microphone
into both amplifiers and adjusting the
output of each amplifier to the same
value. The instrument may also be used
as a straight logarithmic voltmeter by
putting a d -c voltage into one side of
the 6H6 instead of the rectified output
of a standard microphone making this
d -c voltage the reference level.

Applications
The instrument has been used at con-
siderable advantage in the laboratory
for design work on microphones. By
being able to read the absolute response
of the microphone on a meter much
time is saved, as it is not necessary to
take a complete curve of the microphone
and compare this curve with the speaker
curve. An automatic curve tracer can be
used in connection with the instrument
which gives the absolute response curve
of the microphone without further work.
Valuable use of the instrument can
also be obtained in a production control
department. A large box treated with
fiberglas wedges is used for rapid pro-
duction checking of microphones as they
come off the assembly line. A micro-
phone of the particular model to be
checked is first laboratory checked and

16 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 TE ST AMP RECT. - I

^u -
A
NPcT ,CÌ

4- 0 W

RI
o o<J -
') O
.n
N
2
_
S--
IEf
aa
.nz -
STANDARD
AMP - B RECT. ó8 _
INPUT
J
h -
-
O
v. o
COMPARATIVE
10v = DECIBEL METER I NI
25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25
REGULATED
POWER METER READING IN DECIBELS
SUPPLY

Fig. 2. Graph showing linear db scale of

Fig. t. Schematic diagram of the comparative decibel meter. the comparative decibel meter.

used as a standard microphone. By Other Uses Comparing colors with photocells

placing the standard microphone in the The instrument has many more uses eliminating variation due to light fluc-
sound box alongside a microphone to besides that of comparing microphone tuations.
be checked, the deviation from the response. Some other applications to Testing loud speakers.
standard is noted over the complete which the instrument may be applied Testing audio transformers and am-
audio spectrum. A photograph of the are listed below. plifiers.
instrument as used in production con- Comparing amounts of noise gener- Testing sensitivity and response of
trol is shown in Fig. 2. An oscillator ated by industrial machinery. radio receivers.
is fitted into the lower part of the case Testing photocells by the use of a Production checking of phonograph
below the comparative decibel meter. standard photocell. pickups.

Ringing a Bell at its

Fundamental Mode
S. Y. WHITE, Consulting Engineer

IT IS NOT GENERALLY REALIZED that critical. The switch Sw, had better be at least a fifteen -pound bell, with a very
there is no way to ring a bell at its a mercury switch, otherwise it will weld deep, pure tone.
fundamental mode of oscillation. This together. If you want, you can just The surge of current through the coil
can be better realized when we look at touch two wires together to close the induces a tremendous current in the
Fig. 1. The view of the bell from the discharge path. side of the bell facing us, as shown by
bottom, which is always a perfect circle, Now we take a telephone bell, or a the arrows. There is an equal current
is shown in Fig. 1A. If we could squeeze dime store bell of any kind, and place with a similar path on the opposite side
the bell into the perfect oval of Fig. 1B it in the field of the coil as shown in of the bell. These two current loops
and instantly release it, it would oscil- Fig. 3. On closing the circuit the bell mechanically repel each other, and the
late between the oval of Fig. 1C and will ring, and by careful attention you hell is forced into the oval form of Fig.
back to Fig. 1B, and so on until the will probably think you are listening to IC. The current then disappears, and
energy died out. Since this is very diffi- the bell oscillates at its fundamental.
cult to do, we actually hit the bell with If you want to make a set of chimes
a hammer and form a local dimple, as this way, you must use thyratrons or
in Fig. 1D, and from there on anything at least mercury switches to control the
B-1 e
can happen in the way of extremely HAMMER high current, as any ordinary switch
complex coupled oscillations. contacts will simply weld together.
Since many of us have some con- If the bell sounds weak, try about 5
densers around that are capable of high FIG. I
or 10 ohms in series with the discharge
discharge rates we can set up the cir- path, as the circuit might be oscillating.
THREAD
cuit of Fig. 2, where the big filter con- The series resistance insures that the
denser Ci is 20 to 100 microfarads, LI
circuit is at least critically damped so
charged from a source of 400 volts or you can get a single surge instead of
more through a limiting resistor R, of TELE-
RYE BELL
oscillations.
10,000 ohms or so. The inductance L, All sorts of metal shapes will "ring"
FIG 2 FIG.3
is 50 or 100 turns of number 24 wire when placed in the coil, but the real fun
on a three -inch form, or just wound in is to take a very tinkly telephone bell
a bunch and taped together. Nothing is Figuren 1, 2, and 3. and have it sound like a monster.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 17

FM
CALIBRATOR
FOR DISC
RECORDING
HEADS
PART RALPH A. SCHLEGEL Fig. S. The FM calibrato_ ready for operahon
with a Scully Recorder
WOR Recording Studios

This is the first of two articles de- at various frequencies. It was assumed The aforementioned methods of meas-
scribing the design and construc- that the load presented to the recording urement are laborious and time- consun'-
tion of a successful FM calibrator. stylus by the recording material during ing. and du not provide a. means of
the engraving was low relative to the measuring the distortion of the record-
mechanical impedance of the cutter. ing head nor do they permit the making
ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS have However, it is difficult to obtain accu- of measurements while cutting a record.
passed since the Frenchman, Leon rate results with this method, especially FM Reproducer
Scott, made the first mechanical re- when the amplitude of vibration is ex- Several years ago Messrs. Beers and
cording of sound upon a moving paper tremely small. Some workers have sub- Sinnett' developed a record reproducer
tape coated with lampblack, the sound stituted a photocell for the human eye, wherein the reproducing stylus varied
track being engraved by a pig's bristle thus greatly improving the accuracy. the capacitance of an FM oscillator -
attached to a thin, stretched sheepskin Another method of evaluating the discriminator tube. The radio-frequency
diaphragm. Forty years later Thomas A. recording head was to record various output of the tube was rectified and
Edison recorded sound upon a sheet of frequencies upon a disc and, by means filtered, and the remaining audio com-
tinfoil wrapped around a revolving cyl- of a calibrated microscope, to measure ponent of the signal was used for re-
inder. Some ten years later, Emile Ber- the groove amplitude. The most com- production purposes. Since recording
liner devised a method of recording monly used method of calibration makes and reproducing are inversely related,
sound upon a revolving disc. use of the reflected light pattern'' ' it was nat long before Badmaieff and
Since the beginning of recording, the This is accomplished by recording dif- Roy?'" made use of the FM reproducer
engineer has been faced with the neces- ferent frequencies on a disc and, with system, adapting it to the measurement
sity of adjusting, measuring, and cali- the aid of a light source, measuring the of vibrating systems.
brating the vibrating system of the re- width of a reflected light pattern. This Frequency-modulation circuits in
cording head. For many years this was is fairly accurate under the proper con - which the oscillator and the discrimina-
accomplished by mounting the recording ditions' and may be taken as a true tor are combined in one tube can be
head under a microscope and measuring indication of frequency response of the used to convert mechanical vibrations
the amplitude of stylus vibration in air recording head. to electrical voita,ge variations am] can

18 AUDIO E NGINEERING MAY, 1947

 05C IL l TOR DISCRIMINATOR

OSC LLATOR FREQUENCY

5,UF T

Fig. 1 (left). Graph of combined oscillator disc iminator modulations in push -pull FM system. Fig. 2 (center). Linearity of push-pull FM
system. (Courtesy Journal of the SMPE). Fig. 3 (right). Arrangement of FM capacitor plates.

be applied to measuring devices, repro- grounded plate is moved in either direc- under actual operating conditions. Here
ducers, etc. Early work was confined to tion, the frequency changes of the oscil- is a device that can be attached to the
single -ended FM circuits where a very lator and discriminator circuits will be recorder without interfering in any way
small capacitor plate acted as the fre- in opposite directions, resulting in push - with the action of the recording stylus.
quency- controlling element. However, a pull action. This push-pull action is ap- Asshown in Fig. 3, two small plates on
non -linear relation existed between ca- plicable only to the capacitor. Distortion either side of the stylus shank and in-
pacitor plate spacing and the frequency is not cancelled due to the non -linearity sulated from each other and from the
controlled by the capacitor, resulting In of the discriminator curve. To achieve cutter are spaced several thousandths of
even- harmonic distortion. This distor- the full benefits of push -pull action to an inch from the stylus. Nothing has
tion can be cancelled, although it is not reduce distortion, it is necessary that been added to the vibrating system so
easy to attain and can only he satisfied both parts of the system be closely bal- that no change in its action can occur.
when the charge in capacitor plate spac- anced with each other. The inductances Flexible leads from the plates and cutter
ing is kept small in comparison with the must be identical, the construction of are connected to the oscillator-discrimi-
average spacing. To accomplish this, both sides of the push -pull capacitor nator unit mounted on the cutter car-
and to produce the frequency shift nec- must be able to provide equal capaci- riage. Variation of capacitance caused
essary to obtain reasonable output volt- tance, equally varied in opposite direc- by the vibration of the stylus between
age, relatively large plates must be tions. The linearity of the push -pull I'M the plates shifts the oscillator frequency
used. In a single -ended FM circuit only system was measured by Badmaieff' and in one direction and the discriminator
one side of the movable plate is active is given in Fig. 2. It is seen that tuning in the opposite direction as de-
since only one fixed plate is used, while throughout most of its length the curve scribed earlier. The audio output from
in a push -pull arrangement both sides is practically linear. 'l'he total harmonic the diode section of the oscillator-
of the movable plate arc active as each content represented by the curvature discriminator unit is fed to an audio
side forms one plate of two capacitors. amounts to less than one per cent. The amplifier through a short length of co-
because two fixed plates are used. This discriminator will contribute negligible axial cable. The output of the audio
reduces the required size of the movable distortion if the modulation is restricted amplifier may be measured with a suit-
plate to one -half that needed in a single - to 80 kc on a 40 me carrier frequency. able vacuum tube voltmeter or may he
ended circuit. Further reduction in size The range actually used in the FM cali- further amplified for monitoring pur-
is obtained by movement in a small brator covers 30 kc in each push -pull poses provided suitable equalization is
space, thus producing sufficient frequen- section, thus covering 60 kc. of the dis-
cy shift to obtain a reasonable output criminator curve. See Fig. 2.
voltage. Circuit Design
In single -ended FM circuits, either
the oscillator or discriminator circuit The development of the push -pull FM
may be modulated, the output voltage circuit provides a solution to the prob-
being identical in either case. In the lem of measuring a recording head
push -pull circuit, both oscillator and
discriminator are modulated 180 degrees
out of phase so that the oscillator fre-
quency shifts in the opposite direction
to the discriminator resonant frequency,
resulting in a doubling of output voltage
for the same amount of capacitance
change. This is graphically illustrated in
Fig. 1.
Frequency modulation of the oscil-
lator and discriminator coils is achieved
through the use of a small capacitor
which can be considered as a balanced
split- stator unit with rotor plates' so
arranged that the capacitance of one
section is increased while a correspond-
ing decrease in capacitance is obtained
in the other section. One section of the
capacitor is connected across the oscil-
lator coil and the other across the dis-
criminator coil. The center plate is at Fig. 7. FM calibrator components.
ground potential. If the rotor or Left to right are the oscillator -
discriminator unit, audio ampli-
fier, and power supply. In the
foreground Is the push -pull FM
condenser, which is shown in an
enlarged view in Fig. 5 (right).
 6537 I
30 STEP
0.1 }IF
6SJ7
.25p1

1138

CUTTER
PER STEP a 500
DAVEN,
.1 MEG
a _ OHMS

200K 50jF
---1 R1 1 MEc
150NF
150K
2
-------1 CABLE
25K

o
1
100 ppF 2.5 K 2.5K
10K

20 20 yF

6SF7 56K T""VV1""

VV
0 -200 pA METER 10 K 10
2
27piF

3K 3K

5 Z4
47K 115 v.
A.C. 20NF 40 pF 40 pF
OM. i
POWDERED IRON CORES -J .

OSCLLATOR - DISCRIMINATOR UNIT 80 K

TO HEATER

Fig. 4. Complete schematic of FM calibrator unit.

.L
T .005 pF TO HEATER
1

used. The complete schematic is shown which are mounted two 0 -80 machine designed primarily as a maintenance
in Fig. 4. screws which serve as the capacitor tool for making periodic frequency and
In the circuit of Fig. 4, L,, one-half plates. The micrometer knobs with distortion checks on the recording heads
(Cr) of the push-pull capacitor, the which the plate spacing may be adjusted in the studios. The FM calibrator also
6SF7 grid, cathode and screen combine are shown at each end of the Bakelite lends itself admirably to the making of
to form the oscillator portion. L,, the bracket and are insulated from the test frequency records.
other half (C,) of the push -pull capaci- capacitor plate screws by small poly- Construction details of the push -pull
tor and the 6SF7 plate form the dis- styrene rods. Contact is made from the FM capacitor assembly, the oscillator -
criminator circuit. The two circuits are capacitor-plate bushing to pin jacks discriminator unit, and the associated
electron-coupled' and shielded from each mounted in the side of the bracket, mounting brackets as well as applica-
other in the tube by the 6SF7 suppressor flexible leads of 4 -mil steel wires, cov- tions of the FM calibrator will follow
grid, which is at ground potential. The ered with vinyl tubing and mounted on in subsequent issues.
output is rectified and filtered by the lucite spacers from the pin jacks to the The writer wishes to acknowledge the
diode section of the 6SF7. A 0 -200 oscillator- discriminator section which is helpful suggestions and technical in-
microammeter is placed in the diode supported above the cutter by a bracket formation supplied by H. E. Roys of
circuit so that the oscillator may be clamped to the recorder carriage. RCA, and for the mechanical construc-
tuned to the same frequency in relation tion assistance of Vincent Broyles of
to the optimum operating point of the Oscillator- Discriminator the Vibromaster Co.
discriminator. This is accomplished by The oscillator -discriminator unit must
tuning the oscillator circuit for maxi- be built as rigidly as possible to provide References
mum diode current and then backing stability of operation. The chassis is 'G. Buchman and E. Meyer, "A New Op-
down on the oscillator tuning to 70 milled out of a block of dural, while tical Method of Measurement for Phono-
per cent of the maximum current. If graph Records," E.N.T. 7, 147 (1930). A
the coil shields are in. wall brass translation of this article appeared in J.
the oscillator is tuned to the wrong side tubing. The iron -core adjusting screws Acous. Soc. Am., 12, 303 (1940).
of the discriminator peak, unstable op- are accessible from the top of the coil 'B. B. Bauer, "Measurement of Recording
eration will result. To determine the shields. Connection is made to the Characteristics by Means of Light Pat-
terns," J. Acous. Soc. Am., Vol. 18, No.
correct side of the discriminator curve, audio amplifier through a short flexible 2, 387 (1946).
introduce some body capacitance by length of cambric tubing which carries 3D. G. Fink, "Electronics Engineering
touching one of the leads from the FM the co -axial line and the necessary Manual," McGraw-Hill (New York), p.
capacitor plates and note the action of plate and filament voltages. The power 240.
`G. L. Beers and C. M. Sinnett: "Some
the diode meter. If the correct side of supply has been built on a separate Recent Developments in Record Repro-
the slope has been chosen, the current chassis to avoid hum pickup in the ducing Systems," J. Soc. Mot. Pia. Eng.,
will dip slightly. Should the diode cur- audio system. Figure 6 shows the com- XL, 4 (Apr. 1943), p. 222.
rent dip sharply to zero and possibly plete unit set up for operation. It might °H. E. Roys. "Experience with an FM
Calibrator for Disk Recording Heads,"
stay at zero although the body capacity be mentioned at this point that a fre- J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng., 44, 6 (June, 1945),
has been removed indicates the oscil- quency run and distortion check can be p. 461.
lator is tuned to the wrong side of made almost as quickly as the operator °A. Badmaieff.: "Push -Pull Frequency
the discriminator peak. can change the audio oscillator and read Modulated Circuit and its Application to
Vibratory Systems." J. Soc. Mot. Pict.
The push -pull FM plates are mounted the calibrator output. Eno., 46, 1 (Jan. 1946) P. 37.
on the cutter so that the stylus is cen- The FM calibrator was designed orig- 'F. E. Terman, "Radio Engineering," Mc-
tered between them. Figure 5 shows the inally as a laboratory instrument for Graw -Hill (New York), 1937, p. 360; J.
push -pull FM capacitor unit consisting B. Dow, "A Recent Development in Vac-
the calibration and adjustment of re- uum Tube Oscillator Circuits," Proc.t.R.E.,
of a A" thick Bakelite bracket in cording heads. The model illustrated was 19 (Dec. 1931) , p. 2095.

20 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 Simplified Intermodulation
Measurement
C. G. McPROUD

The author shows how to use the oscilloscope as a means for

portraying intermodulation distortion, with a method
especially suitable for amplifier development work.

It HAS BEEN FAIRLY WELL ESTABLISHED lower of the two frequencies, and the ear range of the system, resulting in
that intermodulation distortion is a amount of modulation of the higher fre- the "clipping" of the high -frequency
serious deterrent to high quality re- quency by the lower is measured as a fringe of the test signal at the peak
production of speech or music. The function of the amplitude of the higher swings of the lower frequency, as shown
measurement of this type of distortion frequency. In commercial instruments in Fig. 2 in which the dotted lines repre-
has been discussed frequently in the for the measurement of intermodulation sent the maximum signal level that can
literature over the past few years, but distortion, the low frequency usually be passed through the amplifier without
the principal drawback to its use is the employed is 60 or 100 cps, while the distortion by the non -linearity of the
relatively high cost of the equipment higher frequency may be 1000, 2000, tube characteristics above that level.
necessary for determining the percent- 4000, 6000, or any other high frequency Figure 2 represents the output of an
age of distortion. which is within the pass band of the amplifier stage which is operated at the
amplifier. Both of these frequencies are optimum grid -bias point, with both posi-
Test Method fed into the input of the amplifier, often tive and negative grid swings becoming
To review, momentarily, the princi- being combined so that the lower fre- overloaded at the same signal amplitude.
ples underlying the measurement of in- quency has an amplitude of four times If the output signal is then passed
termodulation, it may be stated simply (12 db above) that of the higher. Thus through a high -pass filter to remove
that two frequencies, widely spaced and the test signal may be considered to the low- frequency component of the
not harmonically related, are passed have an appearance similar to that of combined signal, the notches placed in
through an amplifier. The output signal Fig. 1. the high- frequency carrier still remain
is passed through a filter to remove the Increasing the signal amplitude will as a modulation of that carrier, as
cause the grid swings to exceed the lin- shown at (A) in Fig. 3. This signal
*:Managing Editor, AUDIO ENGINEERING.

Measurement of intermodula-
tion distortion is of consider-
able importance in evaluating
amplifier performance. While
this method does not give quan-
titative results, it does provide
a tool whereby the presence of

intermodulation can be detected

and minimized.

Sound engineering labora-

tories which are now using this
set -up have found it reliable
Fig. 1. Oscilloscope pattern of a test signal and a great time- saver. Ed.
composed of a low frequency upon which is Fig. 2. Test signal after passing through am-
superimposed a high frequency 12 db lower plifier. with fringe of high frequency signal
in amplitude. clipped an peaks of low- frequency wave.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 21

 the oscilloscope may be viewed continu-
ously while making changes in the com-
ponent values to give improved per-
formance.
Basically, the proposed method con-
sists of the application of a standard
intermodulation test signal to the input
of an amplifier. The output is terminated
with its normal impedance, across which
is bridged a high -pass filter and an
oscilloscope. The method of obtaining
the test signal and of filtering the output
will be described later in this article. Fig. 4. Screen of C -R oscilloscope tube
Fig. 3. (A) Output signal after low frequency To aid in making the observations, the
is filtered out, leaving higher frequency marked to indicate limits of high- frequency
modulated by the lower frequency. (B), screen of the oscilloscope is marked with signal and depth of 25 per cent notches.
below, A -C component of rectified h -f signal. two limit lines, which are the calibrat-
ing points for the carrier, and two the tube can handle. Therefore, the
may now be rectified, and the a -c com- additional lines which are one-fourth of fringe is clipped on both peaks of the
ponent, shown at (B), measured as a the distance from the limit lines to the low -frequency wave, with a resulting
percentage of the amplitude of the car- axis, as shown in Fig. 4. The use of four-notch pattern.
rier. This is a brief statement of the these latter lines is explained below. When making tests of push -pull
method employed in intermodulation To analyze the results obtained from stages, the patterns obtained from in-
analyzers. this method refer to Figs. 5 and 6. In sufficient grid bias conditions are shown
Fig. 5(A) is shown the test signal ap- in Fig. 6(A) which shows the effect of
Proposed Method plied to the grid of a single -tube ampli- the test signal applied to two push -pull
Since the commercial intermodulation fier stage operating at an insufficient
tubes. The positive peak of the wave is
analyzer may not be available to the grid bias. As the amplitude of the test clipped by one tube, while the negative
engineer who desires to make occa- signal is increased, the positive swings peak (which is the positive peak to the
sional measurements of this type, it is of the plate current are flattened out opposite tube) is also clipped. The plate -
quite possible to substitute an oscillo- ahead of the negative swings, and the current curves of the two tubes are
scope and a high -pass filter for it, and high -frequency fringe of the test signal shown, both having the tops clipped.
obtain results which will give an in- is clipped at certain poinfs. When the However, due to the push-pull cgn-
dication of the amount of intermodula- filtered carrier is viewed on the oscillo- nection, one of these curves is inverted,
tion, although not an accurate quanti- scope, the effect of the clipping is shown so that four notches appear in the pat-
tative measurement. The method pro- by notches in one side of the pattern. tern, resembling that of Fig. 5(B).
posed here is capable of providing cer- Thus the presence of two notches on When a push -pull stage is operated be-
tain information, and it requires no one side of the pattern is an indication yond its maximum permissible grid
equipment which is not generally avail- of an incorrect bias condition in a swing, the pattern will exhibit eight
able. Furthermore, the method goes fur- single -tube stage. Note that the sweep notches, four on each side as in Fig.
ther than the measurement method in circuit of the oscilloscope is adjusted so 6(B).
that it indicates to some extent the that it shows two complete cycles of the
cause of the intermodulation, thus giving low- frequency signal. Pattern Analysis
the engineer a clue as to where to look In (B) of Fig. 5, the test signal is Analyzing the patterns, them will
for the trouble. As an advantage over shown applied to a tube which is operat- give a clue to the trouble, as well as
the customary harmonic measurement ing at the correct grid bias, but the to the preferred manner of using the
method which consists of a number of amplitude of the signal is greater than oscilloscope method. Each individual
separate observations, the pattern on the linear portion of the E,I, curve of stage should be checked independently,
feeding the signal to the grid and ob-
serving the output at the plate. By
connecting an a-f voltmeter across the
output, the operating level of the am-
plifier is known at all times. As the
input is increased gradually, the pattern
on the oscilloscope should be main-
tained at the reference limits, and ad-
justments of both signal level and oscil-
loscope gain made simultaneously to
maintain the notches at a given percent-
age (e.g. 25 %) of the signal amplitude.
The optimum operating point is reached
when the output voltage is at its maxi-
mum value for the desired type of
notching.
While no quantitative measurement is
offered by this method, it may be stated
that for a signal composed of 60 and
5,000 cps, with a 12-db difference be-
tween the two, many laboratory meas-
urements of various amplifier types have
shown that the recommended notch of
Fig. 5. IpEg curves, and type of indications resulting from single -tube amplifier stage
with (A) insufficient bias, and (B), right, excessive input signal. 25% of the carrier amplitude corre-

22 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 sponds roughly to the point at which
1% harmonic distortion is obtained.
This would seem to indicate a relation-
ship between harmonic distortion and
intermodulation distortion, but since
many other quantitative measurements
have shown that no such relationship
necessarily exists, it should not be in-
ferred that this is so. The 25- per -cent
point is selected as a purely arbitrary
reference which is sufficiently observable
even on a 2-inch oscilloscope tube to
be readily usable.
Test Signal Generator
For most rapid and convenient op-
eration, it is suggested that a small
oscillator unit be provided with sufficient
flexibility to permit the mixing of the
two frequencies. For preliminary test-
ing of the method, however, it should
be sufficient to place a series resistor in Fig. 6. IpEg curves, and type of indications resulting from push -pull amplifier stage with
(A) insufficient bias, and (B), right, excessive input signal.
the output circuit of an oscillator, ap-
plying a 60 -cps voltage across this re-
sistor. Any method used for mixing the
GANGED
test frequencies should be checked care- USE
% 600n
CAL HIGH
fully to ensure that no intermodulation U
D
ó
ti
CAL LOW 3 / 12 DB MULTIPLIER
takes place in the generator circuits. /
Figure 7 shows a suitable method for ó°a FZo
/
/ 120on OUTPUT

)
RI /
combining the two frequencies, with the ó
OU
Zo al f;0 L-F ADJ
ATTENUATOR

meter switching being arranged for in- t.Du

dication of relative levels. When th.

switch is set at "cm, it wn," t1
output of the oscillator is adjusted t.
a reference indication on the meter. 115V60 -.
The switch is then thrown to the "cur.
Low" position which also introduces
a resistor in series with the meter so Fig. 7. Diagram of connections in mixer unit to supply intermodulation test signal for
that 0 db on the scale indicates a +12 amplifier testing. Adjustment of high- frequency output is made with oscillator output
db level, and the low -frequency level is control.
then adjusted to the same setting. The
instrument is ready to use when the the generator would include a dual po- In the development of amplifiers and
switch is thrown to the "USE" position. tentiometer so arranged that the output other equipment, this system has proven
The block schematic for this method of the amplifier being measured is to be a convenient aid in determining

high -pass filter may be any standard being applied to the oscilloscope -
of measurement is shown in Fig. 8. The passed through the second unit before the exact values of components for op-
tht s timum performance. For example, if a
filter capable of removing the low fre- as the input to the amplifier is increased, number of variable resistors are placed
quency, or, since the input of the 'scope the output fed to the 'scope is decreased in a circuit, adjustments can be made to
is high, a parallel -T null circuit may by the same amount, making it unnec- the values while observing the pattern
be employed with excellent results, since essary to vary the vertical amplitude on the screen, and after obtaining the
the frequency to be measured is well control when making a series of meas- desired results, the variable elements
removed from the low- frequency car- urements. If a dual potentiometer is so can be replaced by fixed values. In this
rier. With a 60-cps low -frequency sig- used, care must be taken to ensure that manner, a complete amplifier may be
nal, the oscilloscope may be synchro- the two circuits are sufficiently isolated assembled with the assurance that each
nized easily at a sweep frequency of 30 to avoid feedback. However, this entire stage is working under the best possible
per second, giving the desired pattern method is submitted because it is simple conditions, yet without the necessity of
which will include two full cycles of to use with existing equipment, and making a large number of laborious
the carrier frequency. A refinement in such refinements are not necessary. harmonic distortion measurements.

ale Meg 018

u
Mee

AMPLIFIER
UNDER
TEST
o SR=Zo
01511

.03ufi
O15 uf

9ON
o
OSCILLO-
GENERATOR
HIGH PASS
o
OSCILLO
AMPLIFIER
SCOPE 1111111 FILTER SCOPE

Fig. 8. Block diagram of connections of intermodulation test signal Fig. 9. Parallel -T network suitable for filtering out low -frequency
generator, amplifier, high -pass filter, and oscilloscope for testing (60 -cps) signal before applying output of amplifier to vertical input
by proposed method. of oscilloscope.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 23

EMBOSSED
HIGH-
FIDELITY
RECORDING

ROBERT WAGNER
Wagner Recorder Mfg. Co

Fig. 1. The complete recorder unit is shown

at the right. A 15- minute recording can be
made on the small plastic discs shown. The
arm and spring pressing on disc assure good
contact between disc and tracking point
following groove cut on back of blank.

This article describes a new type of home recorder with many extraordinary features.

FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS the search these uses is on-the -spot recording for discs requires the use of accurately
has continued for some means of delayed broadcasting, and very compact ground styli, which have a compara-
recording which would be readily and equipment is of considerable advantage, tively short life. Constant replacement
successfully usable by the novice, but provided the quality can be acceptable. or resharpening is expensive, besides
which would be free from the limitations The Wagner -Nichols Recorder is the being a bother to the home recording
generally inherent in non -professional result of these years of development, fan, and after the novelty wears off,

- -
equipment. These limitations involve the with the actual recording unit shown he is likely to consider it too much
following : cost both initial and op- in Fig. 1. This unit comprises the heart trouble to keep on using the device.
erating which must be kept to a of the equipment, with only a driving
Embossed Recordings
minimum for such a device to have a motor, amplifier, microphone, and speak-
wide popular appeal ; the quality of er being necessary to provide a complete On the other hand, embossing does
reproduction, which should be at least system. The recording unit is 7 inches not wear the recording stylus appre-
reasonably comparable to commercial long and 5Y2 inches high, with an over- ciably, so with a suitable record base,
records; the playing time, which should all depth of 2% inches, exclusive of the the life of the stylus may be considered
be upward of five minutes per disc, with motor. Recordings produced on this ma- indefinite. The main disadvantage of
a desired maximum of fifteen minutes; chine were considered extraordinary by previous embossing processes was the
and the ease of operation, to ensure those who heard the demonstrations at necessity for providing a sound groove
that satisfactory results can be obtained the recent IRE Convention in New of sufficient depth to permit adequate
by the non-professional user. York; a vinylite disc 3g inches in stylus tracking for playback. The depth
In addition to serving its principal diameter and .01 -inch thick records for required precluded the possibility of ob-
function as a home recorder, there is an 15 minutes with fidelity comparable to taining high fidelity, and limited the
enormous field for an extremely portable that of commercial equipment. number of lines per inch to a maximum
instrument for the "borderline" uses, The principal objectives of the re- of about 200.
where the degree of perfection required corder- compactness, fidelity, simplicity, To record a full fifteen-minute pro-
in professional equipment is not an ab- and low cost -dictate the trend which gram on a disc of small diameter re-
solute necessity. The most important of the design must follow. Cutting acetate quires a very large number of lines per

24 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

inch. On a 3'Y -inch disc, the maximum sions at four times 160, or 640 lines per
usable diameter is about 354 inches: inch. Add to this advantage the fact
recording to a minimum diameter of 1/ that the same stylus is used for re-
inches leaves a recording area only cording and reproduction, so that the
1 -1/16 inches wide. At a recording playback stylus follows the groove much
speed of 33 -1/3 rpm, this requires that more closely than a conventional repro-
the grooves be spaced to a minimum of ducing stylus follows a cut groove.
470 lines per inch. To allow a little Therefore, in spite of the seeming im-
leeway over the fifteen minutes for possibility of such close spacing, satis-
starting and finishing off, the recording factory results are obtained at 515 lines
is actually done at 515 lines per inch. per inch.
This figure may sound fantastic, espe- The embossing process has one other
cially so when it is remembered that advantage over the cutting process in
this is a lateral cut, but a brief consid- that it produces no shavings which must
eration of the relative dimensions may be removed. This eliminates the need
clear up an apparent discrepancy. To for brushing up the shavings as they
begin with, 515 lines per inch means are made, or for the more elaborate
Fig. 2. Relative dimensions of embossed
that the line spacing is just under 2 groove (A) and conventional acetate groove vacuum system which would be pro-
mils, and if a normal groove -land ratio (B), together with recording styli used for hibitive for home use. The remaining
of 60-40 is maintained, the groove itself both types. problem is that of eliminating the ex-
is just under 1.2 mils. dicated in (A). This has the advantage pense and precision required for the
Stylus Characteristics of aiding in the tracking, since the stylus conventional lead screw for moving the
has no inclination to climb up over the carriage across the disc as recording
This small dimension necessitates the banks of the adjacent groove as the progresses.
use of a much sharper stylus point than disc rotates. Also, since no material is This has been solved by pre -grooving
is used for acetate recording. A conical
sapphire having a tip radius of 0.5 mil
is used, with" an inclined angle of 70
removed, the original surface of the
disc is not disturbed appreciably
that is, the bottom of the groove retains
- the opposite side of the disc; thus the
disc itself becomes its own lead screw.
A small, chisel- shaped, carbide point
deg., resulting in a groove depth of the high polish which is inherent to engages the pre-grooved bottom of the
0.82 mils. The relative dimensions are the normal surface of the disc before disc at a point opposite the recording
shown in Fig. 2, where (A) represents recording. stylus. A small spring, mounted on an
the stylus of this recorder and the re- When one considers that standard arm which is an integral part of the
sulting groove, and (B) represents the recording is feasible at 160 lines per carriage, presses down on top of the
conventional stylus used for acetate re- inch using a stylus with a 2.0-mil radius, disc and ensures sufficient pressure for
cording. Since no material is removed, a reduction in radius to one- fourth of good tracking. Thus, each record is
the embossing process deforms the sur- this value should permit the embossing equipped with its own feed screw, and
face of the disc to some extent, as in- of a groove having equivalent dimen- any groove spacing can be accommo-
Fig. 3. Top view and (right) underside of recorder unit shown in F ig. 1. Carriage rides on rollers and mounts tracking point, combina-
tion recording and playback head, tracking pressure spring, and indicator.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 25

 be somewhat improved by the addition
of the inverse feedback. However, the
LOW-LIMIT OSCILLOSCOPE- >. response of the amplifier to a 5 kc
AMPLIFIER
square wave (Fig. 5) shows that the
transient oscillation noted before now
has a longer decay time. The frequency
SQUARE-WAVE AMPLIFIER
of the damped wave train is approxi-
COMMUTATOR
GENERATOR UNDER TEST mately 40 kc which indicates that at
that frequency the product of the no-
feedback gain and the fraction of the
Motor driven or output voltage fed back is less than
HIGH-LIMIT electronic ring unity, since the oscillation is damped.
AMPLIFIER circuit
Also, the fact that the addition of feed-
back lessens the damping indicates that
at the frequency of the oscillation, the
Fig. 2. Method of using square -wave test in amplifier production testing. Response of overall phase shift has exceeded 180 °.
amplifier under test is compared with those representing upper and lower limits Thus it is seen that the square wave
approach to audio amplifier testing is
of great value whenever direct infor-
1B, relative frequency response informa- generator and an oscilloscope. Admit- mation of the transient response is de-
tion may be readily gained.* tedly, the square wave output of an sired.
If many amplifiers of the same type amplifier is a very sensitive indication Now to apply the second major design
are to be tested for frequency response of departure from linearity of the phase consideration, that of output level and
characteristics carrying broad tolerances, vs. frequency characteristic. For ex- impedance, to audio-frequency amplifiers
the square-wave method becomes even ample,** a phase error of 2° at the fun- which ultimately supply sound power to
more attractive. Limits may be estab- damental frequency of the square wave human ears. Here also, the output power
lished on the oscilloscope screen in produces a 10 per cent slope in the must be measured in terms of sinusoidal
several ways. One approach is to pro- waveform (see Fig. 3). This type of power to be readily compared with the
vide a transparent screen for the cath- information is of incalculable value in findings of other workers. A rough idea
ode -ray tube on which lines are scribed the testing of a video- frequency ampli- of output power may be obtained by
to represent the responses of two am- fier, but is of doubtful worth in connec- discarding the output due to all but one
plifiers tested by steady -state methods tion with audio -frequency amplifiers. of the frequency components in the
and known to be within the desired However, this phase vs. frequency square wave. This is hardly a practical
tolerance by the possible error in ob- characteristic is important in an indirect approach, and is mentioned for any
servation of the display. way. It is well known that the transient possible academic value. If it desired to
An extension of this method is illus- response of an amplifier may be com- measure the peak power output capa-
trated in Fig. 2. Here the square wave pletely specified by the gain vs. fre- bilities of an amplifier, a short duration,
is applied simultaneously to the input quency and the phase vs. frequency rectangular pulse may be used to drive
terminals of three amplifiers. Two of characteristics. The calculation of this the amplifier. The repetition frequency
these have characteristics representing transient response is laborious if per- of this pulse is chosen low enough so
the upper and lower acceptance limits formed analytically, and inaccurate if that the average power capabilities of
and the third is the device being tested. performed graphically. In general, sharp the system are not exceeded. The ampli-
The outputs of these amplifiers are ap- discontinuities in the frequency response tude of the output pulse may be meas-
plied in sequence to the oscilloscope curve of an amplifier foster the produc- ured with a calibrated oscilloscope or
"Y" axis. Both this commutation rate tion of transient oscillations which blur an adequate peak reading voltmeter.
and the "X" axis deflection are in syn- or mask what should have been discrete, The third major design consideration,
chronism with the square -wave gen- staccato sounds. that of input impedance and level, may
erator output. In Fig. 4 are shown the steady -state be disposed of insofar as the square
frequency and phase response curves of wave approach is concerned by men-
Phase Distortion a typical amplifier. The response of this tioning that a rough idea of the input -
Phase distortion, or the departure amplifier to a 5 kc square wave is level-handling capabilities of the unit
fiom linearity of the phase- frequency shown in Fig. 5. Note the tendency may be obtained by observing the
characteristic of an amplifier or cou- for a slight transient oscillation to occur changes in output waveform as the
pling network, is fortunately of little at the leading edge of the pulse. In Fig. input level is increased from zero. Any
importance in audio -frequency work. 4, are shown the response curves of useful information, in a quantitative
However, in the design of feedback the same amplifier with approximately sense, concerning input level maxima
amplifiers, the frequencies 'at which the 17% of inverse voltage feedback. The for given distortion percentages must
amplifier output voltage has shifted in steady state characteristics are seen to be acquired with steady state techniques.
phase by 180° from that at the point at The fourth and last design considera-
* *Radio Engineer's Handbook, F. E. Ter - tion, that of signal -to -noise power ra-
which it is fed back are very important. man.
From a knowledge of these frequencies tios, is important since the ear recog-
and of the amplifier gain (without feed- nizes and objects to these disturbances
back) at these frequencies, the maximum long before it notices the effects of
amount of negative feedback that can non-linear and frequency distortion.
be used with reasonable stability can be Again, the square wave analysis pro-
determined.* However, this phase in- duces no useful information on this
formation is much more readily obtained subject.
by using a sine wave audio frequency The foregoing discussion has been
confined to amplifiers in the audio spec-
*Swift, "Amplifier Testing by Means of Fig. 3. A phase error of 2° at the funda-
Square Waves" Communications, Vol. 19, mental frequency produces a 10 per cent trum which will drive an electro-
Feb. 1939. slope in the square wave form. acoustic transducer and thence drive

28 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

AmericanRadioHistory.Com
the human ears. We have pointed out

v.ií-'.
that non -linear distortion is the most
severe problem in this case and that
OVERALL GAIN W THOUT FEEDBACK' A
PERCENT FEEDBACK = 0=16.7 T=21.5 too°
the square wave is not a suitable test -
1.0 -e0°
waveform for obtaining information on
the behavior of the amplifier in this AMPLITUDE- MINIM
11
Without feedback
60° g

ei1 -J
.

regard. In checking the frequency re- 0.8

With feedback
sponse within broad limits, the square

_
PHASE-
wave provides quick results. As for de-
termining the behavior under shock
w
o
F 0.6 .
/f Without feedback
With feedback
1 Nm..1111
_1,_S 20°
Ñ

from a steep wave front signal, the

square wave method gives a direct and
ñ
á
a.,,,11'®®1111111i lllltvllllllt:21111ftt!!1111
0

+20°
a

quantitative answer. w 0.4 1111-a--l.11a e, e. e«

+40° ó
It is also possible to estimate the H IMPEDANCE
RATIO
overall bandwidth of an amplifier from 500:1 +60°
the transition time. The transition time cc
0.2
is defined as the time required for the
output pulse to increase from 0.1 to 0.9
of full amplitude. This measurement o sto 6L6
RINEI
must be made with a square wave gen
erator and oscilloscope which together
have a transition time small compared
to that of the amplifier under test. The 1000
FREOUENCY- CYCLES PER SECOND
10, .. 60 000
following equation relates bandwidth
from the 65 per cent point to zero fre- Fig. 4. Steady state frequency and phase response curves of a typical amplifier, with
quency, to transition time. and without feedback.
r= -
1

2f. regeneration, and parasitic oscillations phase characteristics which were re-
transition time in seconds = r may be undertaken simultaneously with sponsible for the shape of the observed
frequency for 65% response = f. the suggested phase data. output of the square- wave -driven am-
However, it is to be noted that the The third general type of amplifier plifier. This method requires a method
above definitions do not hold if the mentioned was that variety used in con- of accurately measuring distances along
transition is oscillatory.* trol service. Often, the non -linear dis- the oscilloscope time axis and also the
tortion requirements are very lax. Mere corresponding ordinates. Then follows
Testing Requirements capability of handling the range of input a lengthy graphical integration which
"l lie testing requirements for ampli- voltages .to be encountered with 10 to becomes more laborious the more varied
fiers used in measuring instruments are 20 per cent departure from linearity is the outline of the output pulse. This all
more stringent than those to be used for often adequate. The frequency-response seems a very laborious method of ob-
listening purposes. Oscilloscope ampli- characteristic may have great impor- taining steady -state data which can be
fiers must possess amplitude vs. fre-
. tance, and inflections and maxima or obtained by direct measurement.
quency and phase vs. frequency charac- minima must be located accurately in The trend in present -day engineering
teristics which depart from linearity by frequency. The square wave may be is to confine the use of transient tech-
a very small amount. It is desirable to employed to check the approximate lo- niques to devices such as video amplifiers
check these amplifiers for frequency re- cation of these critical points before and pulse amplifiers, the ultimate aim of
sponse with the usual steady state tech- final adjustments are made. See Fig. 5. which is to amplify or shape a transient
niques. The square wave can then be phenomenon properly. In the case of the
Fourier Analysis audio -frequency amplifier, steady -state
applied and the output waveforms con-.
sidered in the light of the known fre- Through application of the Fourier amplification is of foremost interest and
quency characteristic, thus yielding series method of analysis, it is possible hence steady state techniques give, in
information on the linearity of the phase to deduce the steady state amplitude and general, the most informative results
vs. frequency characteristic. Thus, be- with a given effort. Mention has been
fore the steady state phase data are made of several well -known examples
taken, adjustments are made for a tran- of correlation between steady-state and
sient output with the fastest transition transient response data because much
time consistent with negligible over- attention has been drawn to them re-
shoot. This is done at a repetition rate cently by the television problem. In
of approximately 0.1 of the maximum every case, confining the frequency
frequency that it is desired to transmit range under discussion to the audio re-
with negligible distortion. Then, ad- gion so simplifies the taking of direct
justments are made with a slow repeti- steady -state or transient response data
tion rate of square wave for maximum that it seems foolish to resort to labori-
parallelism of the wave tops. Following ous calculations to deduce one set of
these adjustments, a steady state phase information from the other.
vs. frequency characteristic may be The greatest simplification provided
taken and should show little departure by limiting the response requirements of
from linearity within the passband. an amplifier to the usual audio -frequency
Again, examination of the amplifier signals is that perfectly satisfactory
for poorly damped transient oscillations, transmission is obtained if the frequency
components that go to make up a com-
*Eaglesfield, "Transition Time and Pass Fig. 5. Square wave response of amplifier plex waveform are not shifted in phase
Band" Proc. I.R.E. Feb. 1947. shown in Fig. 4, with and without feedback. [Continued on page 57]

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 29

 Multiple Speaker Matching
JOHN WINSLOW

IN PUBLIC ADDRESS systems using a For most systems, the usual connec- for calculating the required primary
number of loudspeakers, it is consid- tion of the output lines puts the various impedances. In these formulas, P, rep-
ered good practice to regulate the loads in parallel across the output trans- resents the total available power, with
amount of power delivered to each former. This simplifies the wiring, since P,, P,, P,... P representing the power
speaker in the system in accordance with
its requirements. There are a number of
all distribution lines branch out from
the amplifier, and one pair of wires
;

resents the source impedance -

delivered to each speaker and Z, rep-
which
ways in which this can be accomplished,
but the simplest is by proper choice of
impedance for the transformers match-
feeds each speaker or each line of
speakers. When the speakers are ar-
ranged in a long loop, however, it may
amplifier is to feed
...Z
-
is the output impedance into which the
with Z,, Z,, Z,
representing the reflected primary
ing the speaker to the line. With this sometimes be more economical to feed impedance of the individual speaker
method, no power is lost in resistance them from a series circuit, so that a transformers.
attenuators, and at high power levels single lead can be used for the wiring.
every watt of power must be utilized These two methods are shown in Fig. 1 Slide Rule Method
most efficiently. and Fig. 2, together with the formulas Although the calculations for either
type of connection are quite simple once
they are reduced to these formulas, a
recent attempt to simplify the problem
Pt=P,tP2+P3+...Pn even more by means of a chart indicatei
a slide -rule method for determining the
-
'+'+'-
1
Z,
P2 P3
correct impedances.
Z, 22 23 For the case where the parallel con-
Z
Zn
Pt Zs '0000 nection is to be used, let us consider the
Pn following example: The system in a
r small auditorium is capable of putting
out a maximum of 15 watts at an im-

IIó
I ~ Zs pedance of 600 ohms ; the stage speaker
line requires 12 watts, a speaker in the
L -P"- -AMPLIFIER lounge requires 2 watts, and a speaker
in the manager's office requires 1 watt.
What is the required primary impedance
Fig. 1. Typical distribution system for number of speakers fed in parallel from the of each of the speaker matching trans-
output of an amplifier. By adjusting the primary impedance of the transformers, the
percentage of the total power fed to any individual speaker can be regulated. formers ?
For the solution, each circuit is han-
dled separately, using a slide rule for
Fig. 2. Alternate method of feeding speakers by means of a series circuit. The use of a each computation. Opposite 15 on the
single line proves economical where the speakers are distributed in a loop, such as "D" scale, representing the total avail-
around a race track.
able power, set 12 on the "C" scale,
representing the power required for the
stage speaker. Under 500 on the "C"
scale, representing the output impedance
(If the amplifier, appears 625 on the "D"
AMPLIFIER cale, which is the impedance of the
r 7 1111 1111
primary of the speaker matching trans-
Pt
Z, 22
former, the secondary value being
matched to the speaker itself. Similarly,
III
Single -wire line
I

~ Z3d
II I Zs

Z5 24
for the lounge speaker, an impedance of
3,750 ohms is indicated; and for the
L J manager's office, an impedance of 7,500
1111 1111
ohms is indicated. All three of these
Pt = P,+P2+P3 +Pn PS primary impedances are connected in
Zs = is + Z2 +
... + Z
parallel across the output circuit of the
Zn-
Pn ZS amplifier, and the resulting impedance
Pt
[Continued on page 52]

30 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 l FOR MANY YEARS the writer has at-
TOO MUCH AUDIO

A
S. YOUNG WHITE

description of hitherto unknown effects of ex-

tremely high audio power on the human system.

ounces. The percentage of modulation The eye can be used as an indicator,

tempted to generate real amounts of of the airstream is about 93%, so the however, as it begins to apparently
ultrasonic power. Being a radio en-
gineer, he has tried the usual sources
crystals, magnetostriction, and Hart-
- efficiency is quite high. The unit is
shown without the impedance -matching
nozzle, so the construction can be better
change shape and go out of focus at a
mere 3 kw.
Between 5 and 8 kw there is a com-
mann whistles. Maximum obtainable seen. plete loss of muscular control and mem-
power is a hundred watts or so. which Before describing the theory, we ory. When operating the device at full
is too low for many applications, and Wright mention the effect produced when power it is necessary to have someone
attempts to raise it to a few kw seemed this amount of power is released in an with car plugs some distance away to
hopeless. ordinary -sized laboratory at about 800 shut off the power on the air com-
Some effects noted in airplane turbo- cycles. We might remind -the reader pressor, as the operator does not have
jet units showed that improper design that a high- fidelity speaker fed with 20 enough mental control left to shut it
allowed "turbulence" to develop, and watts deliver about 1 watt to the air. off or vary the speed. (Incidentally, you
sometimes this seemed to take the form When some power is fed to the head need a 40 shaft h -p compressor to run
of resonant oscillations. A study of the and then the driving motor is varied in the generator at full rating.)
theory led to the design of the generator rpm from zero up, the writer always The only other effect noted was that
shown in the photographs. This was gets "stuck" at about 800 cycles. The several people thought their scalps had
designed for maximum efficiency at sound intensity is too much for the ear, lifted up about a half inch. All expres-
24,000 cycles, but by slowing it down so the ear effect is not at all unpleasant. sion is gone from the face, and the jaw
it took on some similarity to a siren. The ear seems to say -"There cannot drops down and hangs on its muscles.
The power drawls by this relatively be a sound that loud, so overlook it ". The suggestion was made that this
tiny unit is a maximum of 19.6 kw of Evidently bone slippage is rather com- value of sound energy might prove use-
compressed air. The unit itself weighs plete, so the ear is protecting itself ful in shock therapy.
two pounds, and the rotor only seven
, rather well. [Continued on page 52]

Fig. 1 (left). Over -all view of the turbo generator. Fig. 2. View Iooking at the shaft of the generator with rotors used for different frequencies.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 31

 critic, will review
In this department the author, who is a very well -known record
monthly record releases of outstanding technical, as well as musical, quality.

EDWARD TATNALL CANBY

TFIE RECORDS LISTED BELOW are not is far less objectionable than an irregu- Excerpts from Ham-
necessarily the finest recordings, lar, fluttering one. Moreover, though it let, Maurice Evans CM 651
is true that on the better pickups, "wide
Britten- Serenade for
technically speaking, of recent tenor, horn, and
months; nor for that matter do they all open " -especially those with narrow strings -Peter Pears,
have the same sort of technical virtues. (2 -mil) points, and with a vertical com- Dennis Brain, Boyd
ponent sensitivity -shellac records are Neel String Orch.,
Some are best because of superior mi- Britten, cond. Decca London
crophoning and /or acoustical conditions unpleasantly noisy unless filtered. On Delibes -Sylvia Bal- EDA7
at the time and place of recording; the other hand, some new pickups with let -BBC Theatre
wider- radius points, and without the Orch., Robinson,
in the later stages -
others are good because of fine work
a suitable record-
ing characteristic, good clean highs,
sensitiveness to the vertical, can give a
remarkably noiseless performance from
coral.

certo -
Dvorak- 'Cello Con-
Piatigorsky;
Decca London
EDA 2
relatively low distortion, good bass, and shellac, with at least some reproduction Phila. Orch., Orman-
-a
-perhaps most important quiet sur- of highs up to 10,000 cps. This is, of dy, cond.
Schubert-Die Schoe-
CM 658
face that reproduces high tones well. course, far better than most cheap ma- ne Muellerin Lottee
Though there is not space to describe chines with ordinary pickups can do, Lehman CM 615
each one of these records -and there and in fact is near enough to a repro- Copland -Appalachian
are plenty of others -the list at least duction of "all" the music to satisfy Spring-Boston Sym-
offers the engineer in search of good most listeners who are fidelity conscious. phony Orch., Kous-
sevitsky, cond. VM 1046
material for his audio layout a group The listed shellacs will give greatly su- In plastic records, the following are
of better -than -average records, all post - perior results to even the best shellac exceptional for their respective types
war, all featuring clearly extended audio records issued before the war. of subject matter:
range as compared to pre -war standards. Good recent albums-both musically Prokofieff- String
It is quite possible that for really and techhnically -in shellac include: Quartet No. 2 Gor-
high -fidelity equipment, the plastic rec-
ord is the only answer. But the fact
Khachaturian -Gayne
ballet suite, New
York Philharmonic,
Bach
106
-
don String Quartet..
Cantata No.
. Concert Hall
Society Album
remains that very great improvements Kurz, cond. CM 664 Harvard Glee Club,
in reproduction from shellac -type rec- Violin Recital, Zino Radcliffe Choral Soc.
ords have been made since the war. Francescatti CM 660 Chamber Orch. (Bos-
Many record buyers, with inferior play- Sabicas, Flamenco re- ton Symphony play-
cital (guitar) Keynote K 134 ers) G. Wallace
ing equipment, are not yet aware of Mozart- Operatic Woodworth, cond. Technichord T-6
this. The best new shellacs have a great Arias, EzioPinza, Purcell -Eight Harp-
deal more on them than most home Met. OperaOrch., sichord Suites Sylvia
phonographs can handle, and they give Bruno Walter, cond CM 643 Marlowe Gramophone
Copland -A Lincoln Haydn-"Toy" Sym- Shop GSC 2
plenty in the way of highs for the
high -fidelity enthusiast.
Scratch on shellac is a difficult prob-
Portrait, Boston
Symphony Orch.,
Melvin Douglas VM 1088
phony
-
Prokofieff Overture
on Hebrew Themes..
Young People's
Record Club

lem. But it has been simplified greatly Franck -Symphony in Historical Record - Disc 4020
Minor, Philadel-
D ings-FDR, Church- Historical
by the more uniform surfaces now phia Orch., Ormandy, ill, Eisenhower, Mont- Recordings,
available, because a smooth, even scratch cond. CM 608 gomery, Truman, etc.. .. HR 100

32 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 HIGH FIDELITY

LOUDSPEAKER

OF

UNIQUE
DESIGN
JOHN K. HILLIARD
Chief Engineer, Altec- Lansing Corp.

Describing in detail the characteristics of a new

type of loudspeaker, shown in Fig. 1 at the right.

MAJOR HANDICAP to true high- The name Dia -cone is derived from has been employed. At frequencies
quality sound reproduction has been "diaphragm" and "cone" and applies to above 2,000 cps, the mass of the out-

end of the reproducing system

loudspeaker
-
the electro- acoustic converter at the

- the
which has all the limita-
a loudspeaker having both a high -fre-
quency diaphragm and a low -frequency
cone driven through a mechanical net -
side cone is large, and, as a consequence,
its ability to radiate uniform energy
above 2,000 cps decreases rapidly as
tions that go with mechanical systems. work by a single large voice coil. The the frequency range is increased. At-
The advent of better records and the combination thus gives many of the tached directly to the voice coil ring
promise that full range FM broadcast- advantages of a true two -way loud- is a domed metal diaphragm of the
ing will shortly become a country -wide speaker without the accompanying high sane diameter as the voice coil. This
reality has accelerated the demand for costs of double magnets, double voice diaphragm has a high stiffness -mass
loudspeakers having both a wider fre- coils, crossover networks, and the addi- ratio and so is able to operate as a
quency response and freedom from in- tional costs necessitated by a compli- piston even though the large cone on
termodulation distortion. Several such cated mechanical construction. the outside of the voice coil fails to pro-
loudspeakers are available which meet The Model 603 (Altec Lansing) Mul- vide the proper excursion. The voice
these requirements, but unfortunately ticell Dia -cone speaker has an over-all coil and the metal diaphragm vibrate
their high manufacturing cost has re- diameter of 15 -3/16 in. and a depth of independently of the outer diaphragm
sulted in their being priced beyond the 6% in., being sufficiently compact, as at high frequencies because of the corn -
reach of most users. shown in Fig. 1, to enable its use in pliance in the area immediately out-
Dia -cone Principle
standard cabinets when desired. No side and adjacent to the voice coil. The
additional equipment is required for its vibrating area of the metal dome is
In an attempt to provide a lower - connection to the output of any good small in comparison with the wave
priced unit which retains most of the standard amplifier having output im- lengths of the frequencies being radi-
good features of the finest loudspeakers, pedances designed to match its rated ated, and for this reason the distribu-
the design now known as the Dia -cone voice -coil impedance of 10 ohms. tion is efficient tip to 8,000 cps. The
was developed. The principles involved Acoustic energy is radiated from two amplitude of diaphragm excursion for
are relatively new to the loudspeaker diaphragms which are attached to a uniform radiation of acoustic power de-
field, and the results obtained have made single 3 -inch voice coil. Since it is creases with an increase in frequency,
this particular design one which should recognized that a single large diameter se that considerable acoustic power can
be considered for applications in which cone -type diaphragm is not capable of be radiated from a 3 -inch diaphragm
high quality is desired, yet where the providing the necessary uniformity of with a comparatively small amount of
cost of the more elaborate models pro- response over the entire frequency excursion. At low frequencies, the metal
hibits their use. range, the dia -cone type of construction diaphragm moves as a unit with the

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 33

large cone, thus providing the maxi- output impedances much lower than the
mum possible vibrating area. The ef- rated load impedance of the amplifier.
ficiency of this speaker is such that it An output impedance several times lower
will deliver a level of 89 db (reference than the speaker impedance should b-
level = 0.0002 dynes per sq. cm.) on used only in connection with loudspeaker
its axis at a distance of five feet with cabinets which are of improper design
an input of only 0.1 watt (500 -1.000 and tend to give boomy reproduction.
cps). The electrical power rating is 25 Cabinets of the tuned -port type are
watts. recommended where the maximum bass
In order to enhance the distribution response is required in a limited space.
pattern over the high- frequency range. Enclosures having a volume of four
a molded bakelite six -cell multicellular cubic feet will give efficient response
horn is mounted directly in front of down to 90 cps, where cutoff begins.
the metal dome, as shown in Fig. 2. Low- frequency response is improved
Sufficient clearance is provided so there with increase in size, with efficient
is no possibility of the metal diaphragm response down to 55 cps being obtainable
Fig. 2. Front view of the Dia -cone speaker from a seven cubic-foot cabinet. In any
striking the throat of the high -fre- described in this article.
quency horn even at rated maximum such type of cabinet, the speaker should
power. The horn is held in position by be mounted as high in the cabinet as
means of two studs which are thread- possible so the direct radiation will not
ed into the top plate surrounding the be obstructed by furniture, and to mini-
voice coil structure and pole piece, and cone acts more nearly as a piston at low mize floor reflection. Port tuning may be
clearance holes are provided in the out- frequencies. The spider is of the ac- resorted to for adjustment of optimum
side cone for the studs. In addition to cordion type so as to permit large low - performance. -

improving the angular distribution, the frequency excursions, and is attached to Cabinet Types
multicellular horn also reduces irregu- the magnet structure outside the voice
larities in response. coil. The resonance frequency of the Figures 3 and 4 show two different
cone and voice -coil assembly is approx- types of cabinets used with the Dia -cone
Cone Design speaker as available units. The furni-
imately 45 cps in free air.
The cone itself, of seamless mold- Field excitation is provided by an ture cabinet, Fig. 3, has a volume of
ed construction, has an effective radi- Alnico V permanent magnet, with the seven cubic feet, with the port resonated
ating area of 123 square inches, and magnetic circuit being so designed that for maximum response down to 55 cps.
is treated to resist moisture. The domed there is very little stray field. This is The utility cabinet, Fig. 4, has a volume
diaphragm is cemented directly onto the an advantage when the speaker may be of approximately six cubic feet, with the
voice coil structure, which is edgewise- used in proximity to cathode -ray tubes, port tuned to 60 cps. Both of these
wound with aluminum ribbon. This per- as in television-radio cabinets. cabinets are lined with fiberglass panels.
mits an increase in the space factor by When using this speaker with ampli- 2 inches thick.
27 per cent over round wire, and since fiers having negative feedback embracing The Dia-cone speaker was designed to
more conductor material can be placed the output stage, the maximum true bass supply a superior quality of reproduc-

and the operating temperature

higher power is reduced. The large
-
in the air gap, the efficiency is raised

- with
response can be obtained when the in-
ternal output impedance of the amplifier
is approximately 10 ohms. It is not suffi-
tion for those applications where the
added high- frequency response of a du-
plex speaker may not be necessary, and
voice coil permits a decreased cone cient alone that the amplifier be rated where the extra cost is not warranted
depth with an increase in effective stiff- for a 10-ohm load, since the use of a by the use to which the speaker is to
ness to the driving force, so that the large amount of feedback may produce he put.

Fig. 3 (right).
The loudspeak-
er is shown
installed in the
;urniture type
cabinet.

Fig. 4 (left).
Speaker in-
stalled in util-
ity cabinet.

34 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

AUDIO DESIGN NOTES
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK CIRCUITS taken from the plate, as the hum level causes the tube to assume an apparent
will rise rather than diminish. Instead, plate resistance
Non- linear distortion is reduced by the feedback connection should be made R,1 = R,+R5(1+14)
,application of negative feedback, and on the output side. When using pen- where R5 is the value of the unby -passed
other circuit disturbances may be mini - todes or tetrodes, additional filtering of cathode resistance.
mized in many cases. In any event, sig- the screen supply will be found highly The cathode follower is a special case
nal output is reduced by the amount desirable to minimize hum. of current feedback in which B = 1.
indicated in Fig. 1. As a result, a suffi- III a typical case, it was found that Another special case includes half the
cient margin of gain must be provided when feeding back from the voice coil load resistance in the cathode circuit
to realize the desired output level when without auxiliary screen filtering, the and half in the plate circuit, forming the
the feedback mesh is connected into the hum was 16 per cent of the source hum useful phase -splitter inverter.
circuit. This margin of gain is likewise voltage, but was reduced to 1 per cent When feeding back over more than
indicated in the chart. with auxiliary screen filtering. Without one stage, there is the possibility that
The amount by which non- linear dis- feedback, these values were found to be phase shifts in the coupling networks
tortion is reduced for a given amount 180 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. and other circuit reactances will cause
of feedback may be stated as A conventional pentode with transform- positive feedback to occur at some fre-
Dt = D/(1- AB) er output was used. quency, with resulting oscillation. This
where oscillation frequency may be outside the
DI is the distortion remaining with use Properties of negative feedback am-
of feedback plifiers are dependent upon whether frequency range of immediate interest,
D is the distortion present without feed- current or voltage circuits are used. and hence the complete response char-
back Voltage feedback causes a tube to op- acteristic of the amplifier should be
A is the gain of the amplifier

\--b a_rílli0I
erate as if it had a lower plate re- taken into consideration when analyzing
B is fraction of output voltage fed back oscillation conditions.
Because of the many desirable fea- sistance
R,1 = R,/(11-Bµ) Nyquist' has established the analyti-
tuI es of negative feedback, it has come cal requirement for non-oscillation. The
where
to be regarded in some circles as a term AB is separated into real and
R,1 is the apparent plate resistance
panacea for all amplifier shortcomings. R, is the plate resistance of the tube quadrature components, and plotted
This, of course, is not quite true and B is the fraction of output voltage fed upon Cartesian coordinates over a com-
may be particularly untrue in the case back
is the amplification factor of the tube
plete range of frequency. The curve
of hum.* With a transformer -coupled Is
[Continued on page 52]
load, feedback voltage should not be Thus voltage feedback frequently aids
in obtaining desired speaker damping. 'Bell System Tech. Journal, Jan., 1932,
*RADIO, June 1946, p. 22 Current feedback, on the other hand, p. 126

Fig. 1. Gain required to restore original output when negative feedback is used.

_-,
EN
VOLTAGE DECIBELS
10,000 80
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8000

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-- ---- _----
-------- r--_
19
6
5
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1
2

.1% .2
M
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.3
-Bi>!
MM
\".\
fafafaaL14
.4 .5
,.._
MffE .8 10% 2 3 4 5 8
'
10%
PERCENTAGE OF OUTPUT VOLTAGE FED BACK TO INPUT
.
,
'' \Z`
20 30 40 50 80 100

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 35

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Used in police, aicraft, marine and high High impact phenolic case. Press -to -talk casting, close -talking p.o., and high noise
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36 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 Modern, Low -Cost High Fidelity
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Model 910 Crystal Model 630 Dynamic High Fidelity

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Adds smartness to economical public ad- Exceptionally smooth response from 40-
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response 50 -8000 c.p.s. Fine reproduction -53 db. Compact, rugged. Has Acous- music reproduction, for indoor public
of speech and music. 15° fixed tilt. Satin talloy diaphragm. Withstands severe ser- address, broadcasting, recording. Equal
chromium finish. Built -in cable connector. vice indoors and outdoors. Head tilts front and back pick -up. Zero pick -up at
Dynamic has Acouslalloy diaphragm. Out- through 90 for aiming at sound source. sides, top and bottom. Reflection -free
put -53 db. High and low impedances. "On -Off" switch. Built -in cable connec- housing. Internal shock -absorber. Lock-
Crystal model has high capacity moisture tor. Satin chromium finish. Available in ing cradle mounting. "On -Off" switch.
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Durable, efficient, low -cost models for Response substantially flat 35- 10,000 c.p.s. Perfectly balanced in one unit -at low
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ing, recording, and amateur radio. Excel- reproduction of voice and music. Has ex- as hand mike or on desk. Smooth re
lent response from 50 -7500 c.p.s. Satin clusive E -V Acouslalloy diaphragm. Very sponse 70 -7000 c.p.s., for home record
Chromium finish. 22 fixed tilt. Built -in rugged for outdoor and indoor use. ing, p.a., paging, and amateur corn
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AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 37

 from the characteristics of the T -a
transformation circuit theorem, where
the impedances between a T type net-
work and a a type network become in-
distinguishable. It is possible, therefore,
to apply this to a negative feedback
circuit in such a fashion that the bridge
characteristic is dependent upon fre-
quency having only one balance point
of peak amplification. This is apparent
since from the two types of networks
we have
REDUCING DISTORTION lation. Any of the various systems of
In audio amplification the input im- negative feedback may be employed, al- Z.
Z,
pedance of a conventional triode is al- though voltage feedback is to be pre-
most infinite with the exception of when ferred. Z,Z,-I-Z,Z,-I-Z,Z,
Zs
the input voltage peaks exceed the nor- Z,
LIVENESS IN BROADCASTING
mal grid bias. With the intermittent Z,-hZ,Z,
flow of grid current the distortion due Most outstanding article on the sub- Zo = Z,Z,4-Z,
Z,
to the varying input impedances results ject of microphone placement published
in audio oscillations or ringing in the within several years is entitled "Live - Combining and summarizing, we have
driver stages which is often very diffi- ness in Broadcasting," by J. P. Max- from the arrangement in Fig. 3A and
cult to cure. A possible method of re- field, of Bell Telephone Laboratories,
ducing this distortion, particularly in in January issue of Western Electric
audio amplifiers of large outputs, is de- Oscillator.
scribed in Wireless Engineer for Jan., Locating microphones so as to pro-
1947. vide the studio engineer with a means i

It is suggested, that in class B am- of supplying the necessary accentuation

plifiers the output stage may be a lost by the failure of the listener's bin-
grounded -grid amplifier. With this form
of cathode coupling the input imped-
ance may be made very low and the
aural sense, and with means for making
full use of the distinction between
nearby and distant sounds, and to elimi
nate the undesired accentuation of the
.T T
apparent liveness. One important ad-
vantage is a gain of as much as 6 db z2
in average program level with the same
facilities.
Liveness is a characteristic which cre-
1
z,
ates an effect of adding the studio
space behind the loudspeaker plane
without any intervening wall, thus
eliminating the unpleasant effect of the
T
sound coming from a "hole in a box."
The technique consists of the use of a
Fig. 1, above, Fig. 2. b4ilow. Fig. 3A 3B, above, Fig. 4A -4B, below.
microphone situated some distance from
the performers to pick up the general
blend of sound, and one or more accen-
tuation microphones for accenting solo- ZRC,,.,u)
--2cZg2
ists or desired portions of the orchestra.

i
Positioning of microphones is definite-
ly related to size and reverberation time
of the studio, and to the desired liveness z
R

constant for the type of program, all

of which is thorou,hly covered in the
article. (Another article by the sanie
author, covering this subject in greater
,T R

detail, will appear in AUDIO Engineer-

additional parallel load from the grid ing. ED.)
current flow is then made comparatively
small. The basic circuit illustrating the FEEDBACK AMPLIFIERS
cathode coupled stage and its driver is An excellent discussion by A. B.
shown in Fig. 1. Generally, the prob- llillan on the design and performance
lem of matching the impedance of V1 of amplifiers employing negative feed-
and the final load impedance RL can back through a parallel -T bridge has
only be solved with a matching trans- appeared in the Journal of the Institu-
former whose primary reactance at the tion of Electrical Engineers, Part III,
lowest audio frequency is at least ten January, 1947. The parallel -T bridge 1.ig. 3B an equivalent circuit shown in
times the a-c plate resistance of V,. makes it possible to construct a fre- Fig. 4A or the schematic in Fig. 4B.
A practical class B amplifier circuit quency selective amplifier without the For a zero transmission characteristic
is shown in Fig. 2. It is necessary to use of inductive reactance circuits. through this bridge we have at balance
maintain excellent plate voltage reeu- The parallel -T bridge is derived [Continued on page 46]

38 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 AUDIO ENGINEERING SUPREMACY
is built into every RACON Sound Reproducer

ACOUSTIC & STORMPROOF MATERIAL

1)111. Ii.1CO\ makes speakers with Racon Acoustic Cloth

which is processed by a patented method which gives a non -
vibratory wall, thereby increasing the output of the horn
without loss due to wall vibration. Supplied for indoor use
11)eLuxe type) and for outdoor use (Stormproof type) -
guaranteed for life in all kinds of weather and temperature,
regardless of climatic conditions.

Re- entrant Trumpet

ADVANCED ENCINLLRINC & DESIGN

Radial Horn
BACON'S leadership in sound reproducer engineering has
been recognized for almost three decades. RACON driver

fur in excess of anv other brands -

units have a rated output for peak and continuous performance
continuous operating
capacity 30 watts. peak capacity 60 watts. RACON speakers
and driving units require less energy input yet they deliver
more efficient sound reproduction output.

N Radial Re- entrant

P -M Unit COMPLUE LINE TO CHOOSE HUM

conceivable sound application -

There is a RACON driving unit. tr pet or speaker for every
also the accessories (brackets
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line that is complete. Yes -

'oundmen know that it pays to choose and use a speaker
RACON makes every kind of
-ound reproducer from the giant 7 foot length auditorium
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frour
the super giant P.M. driving unit to the tiny driver for paging
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Trumpet

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AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 39

Graphical Characteristics of
Cathode -Coupled Triode Amplifiers
The author shows how the charac-
teristics of cathode -coupled ampli-
fiers may be rapidly determined
20

_MAI
MIMI
s 20

from equivalent triode analysis,

using two simple charts to replace
the usual laborious computations.
1e

%/A
I//%I
AI IVA
18

4 ' 4 16

-M
6

,:
wo,/
AMMO,

-
%/I rr/
C. J. LeBEL 14 14

Consulting Audio Engineer

///// 5

ram.
THE CATHODE-COUPLED AMPLIFIER

but its use has been hampered by

the computations necessary to judge its
has
received increased attention lately,
G
12

10
3

v liI/ A/
I
// ///%
Ii--
3 12

10
G

//AI i;i
5
characteristics. It is the purpose of this
article to discuss graphs which make
it almost as easy to use as a single 8 2
I//////// 2 8

triode.
Although a combination of two old
«/.W
elements -acathode output (cathode

_A/'
6 6
follower) stage feeding a cathode input
stage (grounded grid) by way of the //I/
/A
common cathode impedance

in the last few years.''

Uses
-it
has been
regarded with increasing interest only

The chief attention has been in con-

4

2
,

///7 /-P
A/
\
N
1 4

2
nection with wide -band amplifiers,
where the alternative would be a heavily
compensated, high - transconductance -
o o o o
pentode stage. However, the cathode - 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
coupled triode has better signal to noise 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 000
10 12000 14000
ratio, less intermodulation, and requires
less compensation (often none) than a 9m
pentode. A suitable twin triode tube
costs less than a high transconductance
pentode.
Since the input section is a cathode
follower, we have the expected many -
fold increase in tube input impedance,
which combines well with useful gain,
and low enough output -impedance to
minimize the effect of stray capacity
in the load circuit.
Finally, it does not cause phase re-
versal, i.e., input and output are in

Fig. 1(top). This chart is used to find the

value. G. which in turn is employed with
Fig. 2 (bottom) to find the factors necessary
to determine the equivalent triode character-
istics.

40 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 phase. There are occasions when this is
very useful.
Derivation
The graphs are based on a recent
study' which shows how a cathode -
coupled amplifier may be directly re-
placed by an equivalent triode. Mutual
cenductance, plate impedance and am-
plification factor are simply related to
the constants of the amplifier tubes. The
two individual amplifier triodes are as-
:gulled identical, as is usually the case.

PARA-FLUX
IÌEPROD U(2E itS
for realistic reproduction of transcriptions
PARA -FLUX REPRODUCERS set a new standard
of performance for true color tone from record
transcriptions. Sound Engineers who demand
Fig. 3. Schematic of cathode- coupled ampli- quality of reproduction, dependable service and
fier, as analyzed in this article.
more flexibility are specifying and using PARA-
Use FLUX REPRODUCERS, more and more Evidence
Universal of this broad recognition is their use by an ever -
Use Fig. 1, which is a graphic solu-
Reproducer increasing number of leading Transcription Console
tion of the equation
where manufacturers. And more than 1,000 PARA -FLUX
REPRODUCERS are now on the air over FM -AM
= Zk 9. (1 -1- -)
1

G
µ stations.
Zk = cathode coupling impedance
g. = mutual conductance of indiviZual
triodes
µ = amplification factor of individual r'
triodes Lateral For FM operation, where quality production is es-
Take this value of G to Fig. 2 and Only sential, PARA -FLUX Vertical Only and Lateral
read off K,, K, and K' directly. Reproducer
Now the equivalent triode constants Only Magnetic Reproducers assure absolute pick -up
g.', r', and p. are found from the indi- accuracy. And on AM, PARA -FLUX Universal Pro-
vidual triode constants g,,, r and p. by ducers give superior performance where both
mere multiplication Lateral and Vertical reproduction is required from
g'
= gK,
r' =rK. the same unit, and likewise for quick cuing opera-
µ= tions. FM quality can be assured through the use
Vertical of any Reproducer illustrated opposite. All three
Take a popular triode with the fol- Only types are interchangeable with our Model A -16 Arm
lowing constants: Reproducer and Model EL -1 Equalizer.
g.. = 2500 mhos r = 8000 ohms
µ =20 Z. =1000 ohms
From Fig. 1, G = 2.62. From Fig.
2, then :
Bulletin PR4 describes and illustrates the
K, =1.73 complete assembly, lists engineering data,
K, = .73
K,= .42 shows graphs illustrating the effect of
and hence the equivalent triode will be: the Equalizer in its various positions, and
g: = -2500X X .42 = -1050 ;mhos other pertinent information . . . yours
'0=8000 1.73 = 13800 ohms for the asking.
µ =- 20X.73__ -14.6
Available through authorized Jobbers
References
1. Cathode -Coupled Wide -Band Amplifiers,
G. C. Sziklar & A. C. Schroeder, Proc.
I.R.E., Vol. 33, No. 10, pp. 701 -709. Oct.
1945.
RADIO -MUSIC COR P.
2. Cathode -Coupled Triode Amplifiers, N.
I. Korman, Proc. I.R.E., Vol. 35, No. 1, EAST PORT CHESTER CONNECTICUT 5
p. 48, Jan. 1947.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 41

New Products
LOW -COST MIKE response is rated flat within 1 db from 50 tion use as communication between execu-
to 10,000 cycles. tive and secretary, theatre box -office and
A tit % Model 90$ Crystal Microphone The 25 -watt amplifier provides three manager's office, or doctor and reception-
is announced by Electro-Voice, Inc., input circuits, all of which may be elec- ist, the system consists of two speaker
Buchanan, Michigan. It offers a combina- tronically mixed to feed the output cir- stations, separate amplifier, and 100 feet
tion of durability, attractive appearance cuit. Individual treble and bass tone of interconnecting wire. It is easily in-
and smooth reproduction of voice and controls make possible the elimination of stalled and plugs into any 110 -volt AC
music. Frequency response is rated sub- unwanted highs in recordings or lows or RC outlet. If desired, additional sta-
stantially flat from 50 -7500 c.p.s. Output which would tend to interfere with crisp tions up to five can be connected to the
speech output. With tone controls in the amplifier.
normal positions characteristic "Tru- The new intercom, which is imme-
Fidelity" output, with frequency response diately available, will be distributed
flat within 1 db from 30 to 15,000 cycles through R AC Sound Equipment distri-
is obtainable. The hum level is 65 db butors.
below rated output. An all -steel stream-
lined cabinet provides fully enclosed con- VOLTAGE REGULATORS
struction with the three input circuit con- A new catalog, describing the principles
trols as well as the base and treble tone of operation and technical specifications
control knobs protected by a conveniently of electronically-controlled voltage regula-
recessed, sloping front panel. tors and Nohatrons, has just been issued
The 50 -watt model is designed for by Sorensen & Co., Inc., 375 Fairfield
large stadia and roller skating rinks. This Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut.
rating is conservative since the unit is
capable of 65 watts peak output. The
five input channels (three microphone and
two phono) are equipped with individual
controls. The Thordarson dual tone con-
trols permit nine extreme response curves.

level is -50 db. Makes a quality micro-

INTERCOM SYSTEM
phone available at low cost for general RCA's first postwar intercommunication
sound work, recording and communica- system, newly designed and engineered,
tions. Recommended for schools, churches, with compact speaker stations as small as
hotels, theaters, auditoriums, amateur ra- an ordinary desk clock, has been an-
dio communications, call and dispatching nounced by the RCA Sound Equipment
systems, business and industrial paging Section. -

systems, home recording and semi- profes- A "two- station" intercom, the system is
sional recording service. Polar pattern is designed with amplifier and speaker sta-
non -directional at low frequencies becom- tion in separate units, permitting off -the- Containing complete information on the
ing directional at higher frequencies. Em- desk location of the amplifier at any out- entire Sorensen line of electronic appara-
ploys high capacity, moisture -sealed of -the way point and reducing speaker tus, the catalog is illustrated with perfor-
crystal. High impedance. Case design is station size to a minimum. Speaker sta- mance curves and pictures of the various
similar to the popular E -V Model 605 tions are newly styled and housed in models available. The catalog is letter
Dynamic. Made of the highest purity (99.- streamlined black plastic cabinets with size for easy filing and reference. Copies
99%) pressure -cast metal, finished in satin satin -chrome speaker grills. can be had by writing tof the manufacturer.
chromium. Head at fixed tilt of 20 °. Built - Conversation may be carried on over
the new intercom at normal voice level NEW ILLUMINATED METERS
in cable connector. Standard 5/8" -27 thread
for stand mounting. Equipped with 8 ft. or The important but troublesome problem
zo ft. well- shielded cable. of how to illuminate the dials of panel
E -V Catalog No. 101 gives detailed in- meters and similar instruments has finally
formation. Simply write to Electro- Voice, been solved to the complete satisfaction of
Inc., Buchanan, Michigan. the Simpson Electric Company, Chicago,
Ill., manufacturers of electrical measuring
NEW P. A. AMPLIFIERS instruments.
The Thordarson Electric Manufacturing "We believe that this Simpson patented
Division of Maguire Industries, Inc., has method of illumination is the answer the
recently announced a new line of audio industry has long looked for." says Ray
amplifiers for public address systems. In- Simpson, President of the company. "It
cluded are 8, 25, 50 watt amplifiers, a pre- does away with translucent dials and that,
amplifier and a booster. we consider, is an outstanding advance-
The 8 watt amplifier, whose dimensions ment."
are only 10 "x6 "x7'/z" and which weighs Simpson claims that the new illuminated
only 143/4 pounds, provides two input cir- meter floods every fraction of the dial face
cuits ; one a high impedence microphone with an even radiance, doing away com-
channel giving 115 db gain and the other pletely with shadow spots.
a high impedance phono- channel with 72 An ingeniously shaped Lucite cone car-
db gain (both values based on 100,000 -ohm with a flick of the two -position switch. ries the light from a recessed bulb in the
input impedance). The tone control of Releasing the switch returns it to "listen" back of the instrument through the front
the high- frequency attenuator type, will position. A three -inch speaker is used in edge of the cone which entirely surrounds
satisfactorily eliminate needle scratch or the speaker station, which feature design the dial face. This makes possible the use
abjectional highs -at maximum position and circuit refinements to eliminate hiss of the standard Simpson metal dial. Thus.
it will give 22 db attenuation at 10,000 and hum. the tendency of translucent dials to fade
cycles. In normal operation the frequency Especially designed for such two -sta- discolor or buckle from age and heat is

42 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 Join
An Outstanding Group!
Subscribe NOW to
.1kI'DiO ENGINEERING-
the ONLY Journal for
Sound Engineers
Each issue covers 5 or
more of these subjects

1- Broadcasting
2- Transmitter and receiver
Our editorial policy has aroused tremend-
ous interest and acclaim among engineers
manufacturing prominent in the industry. We are proud
3- Sound -on -film equipment to announce that co- operating with the
editors of AUDIO ENGINEERING are
4- Recording (disc, wire and tape) such outstanding au:horities as:
5-Public address HOWARD A. CHINN J. P. MAXFIELD
6- Industrial sound equipment
Chief audio engineer for the
Columbia Broadcasting System
Authority on sound engineering,
Bell Telephone labs.

and applications GEORGE M. NIXON

JOHN P. COLVIN Asst Director of Technical
Audio Facilities Engineer, Development
7- Acoustic treatment of studios, American Broadcasting Company National Broadcasting Company

rooms, auditoriums, etc. who are members of the editorial

advisory board.

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AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 43

done away with, according to Simpson. MAGNETIC CUTTERHEAD
Pointers cannot stick or readings be dis- Fairchild Camera and Instrument Cor-
torted. poration has announced an improved mag-
The new Simpson Illuminated Meters netic cutterhead, the Unit 541A, with
are available in 2" and 3" sizes, in both standard mounting plate for any current
rectangular and round cases. model sound recorder. It is designed to
meet the highest quality standards of
NEW DYNAMIC MICROPHONE both AM and FM broadcasting and pro-
Througr the use of the new Acoustalloy fessional recording.
diaphragm developed by E -V engineers, The new magnetic cutterhead guaran-
the Electric -Voice Model 630 dynamic tees a frequency response of plus or
microphone now provides high fidelity minus 2 db over the 30- to 8,000 -cycle
pick-up and reproduction of voice and range, at a high recording level, with
music. Suitable for a great variety of low distortion content (less than one per
applications. Frequency response is sub- cent at 400 cycles). This guaranteed fre-
stantially flat, 40.9000 c.p.s. Output level quency response is being exceeded in
is 53 db below 1 volt /dyne /cm2, open cir- present production models, which have a
cuit. Voltage developed by normal speech flat response within plus or minus 2 db
operating public address and recording to 9,000 cycles or better. Before being
(10 dynes /cm2) is .0224 volt. The new systems.
Acoustalloy diaphragm withstands high shipped, all cutterheads are checked by
Mechanical features of the Model B the so- called light method, and a photo-
humidity, extremes of temperature, cor- wire recorder include: a capstan drive
rosive effects of salt air, and severe me- graph of the light pattern is supplied
which keeps wire speed constant, prevent- each user.
chanical shocks. This makes the Model ing flutter and changes in pitch; magnetic Exclusive features of the Fairchild cut -
clutches which keep wire tension constant terhead include a damping device, with
(luring recording; a cam -operated record- unusually long cushion blocks and a posi-
ing head which winds the wire in even tive means of adjusting and maintain-
layers on the take -up spool ; and safety ing the armature in correct alignment
switches which stop the motor when a
spool is almost entirely unwound, thereby
eliminating re-threading.
HIGH FREQUENCY TWEETER
This loudspeaker, with integral dividing
network, is made specifically for efficient
high frequency reproduction and wide
angle distribution. Any good quality cone
speaker in a suitable baffle may be used as
a companion "woofer" by connecting it to
cross -over terminals provided.
The dividing network is designed to
eliminate phase distortion in the cross-
over region and a volume control is in- without disassembling the cutterhead; and
corporated to adjust the level of the a viewing window which permits instant
"tweeter" to balance that of the particu- check of the armature alignment.
lar "woofer" chosen. A transfer switch is When installed on any past or present
also provided to cut out the "tweeter" and model Fairchild portable recorder, an
network for relatively narrow band AM adapter provides a swivel -mounted sap-
630 Microphone especially rugged for in- radio reception, reproduction from scratchy phire ball for ready adjustment of in -out
door and outdoor use. Alnico. V and records, or other average quality signals or out -in cutting, and a micrometer -
Armco magnetic iron ore are also utilized having excessive noise or noticeable dis- threaded control for depth of cut and
in a non -welded magnetic circuit. tortion. provisions for adjusting the angle of the
Built in cable connector permits vertical An entirely new principle has been cutting stylus. Both can be adjusted
tilting of microphone head in a 90° arc utilized to give wide angle, uniform dis- while recording is in progress.
-for directional or non -directional pick- Being exceptionally free from harmonic
up-without moving cable. Built in "On- distortion, clean -cut recordings may be
Off" switch gives instant control- easily made at a level to give high signal -to-
accessible for reconnecting as a relay con- noise ratio.
trol. Standard $/s "-27 thread for stand Response Data of Fairchild Unit 541A
mounting. Compact, convenient to use. Magnetic Cutterhead:
Finished in satin chromium. Equipped
with 20 ft. shielded cable. (The distortion measurements given
here are based on the averaged per-
For complete information, Catalog No. formance of 10 cutterheads selected at
101 write to Electro- Voice, Inc., Bucha- random. A recording of a 400 - cycle
nan, Michigan. note made at a recording level of plus
20 decibels- reference .006 watt-to pro-
WIRE RECORDER PRODUCTION duce a stylus velocity of 2.5 inches per
The transition of wire recorder pro- second. Playback was made with a
duction from model shop production to Fairchild dynamic pickup. The overall
precision mass production is announced
distortion, including cutterhead, ampli-
fiers, pickup and acetate record, was 1.7
by Ralph C. Powell, president of R. C. per cent.)
Powell & Co., Inc., New York, sales repre- Frequency response . plus or minus
sentatives for The WiRecorder Corpora- 2 decibels, 30 to 8,000 cycles
tion of Detroit, Mich. Distortion less than 1 per cent,
First of five models employing the Wi- 400 cycles
Recorder unit which will go into produc- tribution of the full range of frequencies Impedance 500 ohms
tion will be the Model B Recorder illus- produced by this "tweeter" starting at Audio power required 0.6 watt
trated. This recorder is designed for approximately 1200 cycles. (plus 20 db)
general commercial use by recording For further information write the Atlas Size stylus accommodated .... W long,.
studios, radio stations, schools, theatres, Sound Corp. 1450 39th St., Brooklyn 18, .062" diameter
industrial plants, and other companies N. Y. [Continued on page 55]

44 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 This car is running with an 411IDTY gas tank !
Even after the gas gauge says "empty" a modern serve is buying U. S. Savings Bonds on the Payroll Savings
C`A° ear can keep going for a good many miles. Here's Plan!
why.
Millions of Americans have discovered that automatic
Automobile manufacturers know Duman nature. They Bond buying is t he surest way of piling up an
figure that. sooner or later. we'll get careless, or misjudge emergency fund. And of saving money for other things, too
Mt how far we have to go. So the gas gauge is set to show
"empty." while there are still a couple of gallons left in the
- important things like college for the kids. or a home in
the country, or a cash income for later in life.
tank.
Mat's more, the money you save in Bonds buckles right
This reserve supply is a swell idea that has kept many a dorm and starts making nave money -in just 10 years you
family from getting stuck. get back $100 for every $73 you put in today.
Its an CVCII better idea for a family's budget!
So keep on buying Bonds on the Payroll flan. Buy all
A reserve supply of dollars is a lifesaver in case of financial the extra Bonds you can, at any bank or post office. And
emergency. It will keep your family going if sudden illness remember, you're helping your country as well as yourself
strikes, or unexpected expenses show up. -for every Bond you buy plays a part in keeping the U.S.
And one of the easiest ways to build just such a cash re- strong and economically sound!

Save The easy way.. buy your bonds through payroll savings

Contributed by this magazine

in co- operation with the Magazine Publishers of America as a public service.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 45

 Technicana M1111111111111111
1i1111!il
iiii:11111111MINS 2 ,4

(from page 38)

1'II1111\
10 +
the relationship IIMMILI:ii/i51a:ia.111 e

2R(1+jvwCR)
1 - cue'C'R' = co _1111111C
11111dll
e
DB
imM1021/1111111Mool
where w, is taken as the value of w AENEd1111111MONI
at balance. However, since w, is also
equal to 24. the equation becomes at
I1111111\\
C/1111111
TRIPLETT balance

f, =
00
illE111111111MMI
iiIIMM1111111111111
200 700 500 KO e03 00
CYCLES PER SECOND
1
2000 7000

ciizere,7,A 2,rCR
Figu:e 3
:\ test amplifier especially constructed
BAS1C to demonstrate the effectiveness and the all cases, it appears necessary to pay
MEN tS selectivity of the paralllel -T feedback attention to the stability of the part
ov E NEED
circuit was designed using the circuit values and circuit components.
FoR VERY MAGNETIC SOUND TRACK
1N S11 The advantages and disadvantages
of magnetic sound recording for mo-
tion picture films are discussed by
Marvin Camras of the Armour Research
Foundation in the Journal of the
Society of Motion Picture Engineers
for January 1947. The author concludes
that the technique is both economical
as well as convenient. Without the
picture frames it is possible to accom-
modate four sound channels on one
strip of 35 -mm sound film as shown
in Fig. 7.
Advantages of magnetic recording
are enumerated as: simplicity, low cost,
possibility of immediate monitoring, no
METER HIGHLIGHTS processing requirements, ease of erasure
with the possibility of dubbing in new
FIVE BASIC MOVEMENTS Elec- sounds, and no serious distortion ott
trodynamometer, moving overmodulation peaks. The disadvant-
iron, moving coil, thermo- Figure 5 ages listed are: possibility of wear
couple and rectifier types. from the contact of the reproducing
in Fig. 5. The gain was measured to be
RANGES All standard 25.5 db. The switch in the plate load
ranges for every major in- resistance is an effective means of vary-
strument need. ing the feedback component and hence
the selectivity. For the part values
SIZES- 2 ",3 ",4 ",5 ",6 "andr. shown, the balance frequency should be
equal to
-
STYLES AND FINISHES 1 1
2 3 4
Round, rectangular, f.=
square and fan; wide 2rCR (2,r) (10 -e) (250) (10')
or 637 cycles per second.
0 C
flange, narrow flange,
flush, projection or port- The measured variation in selectivity
able. Available in molded with the corresponding switch positions
or metal case. shown in schematic Fig. 5 are illus-
trated in the graph Fig. 6. Hillan points
SPECIAL FEATURES TO ORDER - out that with the basic circuit the maxi-
Rear illumination, special mum selectivity depends upon the maxi-
dials and other features mum amplifier gain possible. Although Figure 7
available on most models. a two stage amplifier increases the gaits
it is then necessary to place the bridge head and somewhat lower fidelity than
circuit in the cathode circuit of the the best optical tracks, although the
first stage to obtain the correct phase magnetic recording should give a
relationship. With three stages of am- greater dynamic range without re-
plification it is particularly necessary to sorting to artificial noise reduction
consider the effects of the highest and schemes.
ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO. the lowest frequencies the amplifier will Since four simultaneous tracks are
BLUFFTON, OHIO pass in relation to the phase shift. In possible, it is practical to use four

46 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

different microphone setups and select fades and increases take place in the
the best one afterward. Also, a track most natural manner, avoiding unwanted 6AG5 DOD
may be reversed, thus eliminating the quiet spots or quick changes in back-
necessity of rewindings. Similarly, a ground level. The method of filet as- 01 yF
pair of sound tracks may be used for sembling and a block diagram of the
binaural recording with another track entire system are shown in Fig. 1. u.s
MIKE
TO COAX

utilized for control purposes.

The base material used for the mag- ULTRASONIC HI -Z
netic film recording was cellulose aceate PRE -AMPLIFIER
with a coating of magnetic alloy. A fre- That small capacitor -microphones
quency range of 50 to 12,000 cycles may find as successful application in
within ±3 db was obtained. The maxi- ultrasonic applications as crystal micro-
mum signal -to-noise ratio is about 45 phones is pointed out by Theodore H. Figure 2

db. Bonn, in the final 1946 quarterly issue of pre -amplifier is

ode -follower type
of the Journal of tite American Acous- recommended to energize the coaxial
RAPID DUBBING ttcal Society. In his article, "An Ultra- cable to the utilization circuits.
To facilitate the rapid dubbing of sonic Condenser Microphone," a cath- [Continued on page 48]
Elms of the training type in which a
narrator carries the main theme of the
story but with a music or sound effects
background, a unique method is em-
ployed by Walt Disney Productions as
outlined in the S.M.P.E. Journal for
December 1946 by C. O. Slyfield, Sound
Director. Ingenious New
The main problem is to bring up the
background during pauses in the narra-
tion, and to drop the background down Technical Methods
when the narrator resumes. When the To Help You
intervals are short and come in rapid
succession, proper dubbing necessitates Simplify Production
the constant and tiresome watching of a
footage counter to ensure realistic re-

5-- DiALOGUE-Z

4- II6 FRAMES
/1A/l/Y Il1AAI
1000 CYCL TONE
A.

DIALOGUE PRE-
AM P
SOUND HEAD

TONE
Precision Adapterfor Drill Presses
SOUND HEAD
m Rf;.T r EP

Perfects Alignment- Prevents Drift!

MUSIC AND VARIABLE
The new Aetna Adapter, of aluminum alloy, fits the col-
PRE umns of most small drill presses- assures accurate milling
ErrECTS
and accurate deep hole drilling- without a drill jig. It
GAIN
AMP
SOUND HEAD AM PLIE LER
firmly and accurately holds interchangeable drill bushings
close to work.
Precision alignment is accomplished through an eccentric
Figure 1
aligning bushing, which once set needs no further adjust-
ment. Filler bushings cover the entire bushing range up
sults. By assembling a 1000 -cps tone to W. Stops to locate the piece to be drilled, are attached
to the press table or directly to the adapter. Milling chatter
track in synchronism with the dialog is avoided. Chip interference is eliminated. Overlapping
and then while running the two tracks holes can be drilled without punch marks, or indication Example of piece
of run -out, with drills as small as 1/32" diameter. Ye" drilled with Aetna Adapter
simultaneously with the music and ef-
holes can be drilled more than 6" deep with as little as
fects track, the output from the tone .006' drift.
track can be fed to a rectifier, with the
Accuracy in work is achieved best by alert workers.That's
d -c output fed to the grid returns of a why many plant owners make chewing gum available to
variable gain amplifier stage using two all. The chewing action helps relieve monotony -helps
6K7 tubes. Time constants are arranged keep workers alert, aiding them to do a better job with
so that the fades take place in fifteen more ease and safety. And they can chew Wrigley's Spear-
mint Gum right on the job -even when hands are busy.
frames, with the increase in background
level requiring thirty frames. You can get complete information from
. The tone track is advanced six frames Aetna Mfg. Co., 250 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, Ill.
AB-59
ahead of the dialog track so that the

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 47

 The cathode -follower pre -amp offers phase shift measurements, and checking with one -side grounded and is intend-
a very low effective input capacitance network designs. In general testing, it can ed to work from the crystal microphone
and high input resistance, factors of be used to locate paper rattles and peaks
in loudspeakers and other vibratory sys-
which is provided with the recorder.
considerable importance when using This input may also be bridged across
tems. When used to modulate an r-f signal
small capacitor -microphones. The cir- generator, the response of r -f and i -f am- any other source of program material
cuit, shown in Fig. 2, obtains plate - plifiers to a square -wave modulated signal if the level is within the range that
supply voltage from a regulated power can be checked. can be handled and provided the one -
supply. The Sterling Square Wave Generator side grounded circuit is not detrimental
Frequency response of the pre-amp has a frequency range of 20- 20.000 cycles, to the circuit being bridged.
was found satisfactory from 1000 -32.000 in 3 steps. The rise time is 1.5 micro-
seconds and the output is 2.5 volts across
For broadcast applications, however,
cps. it is often desirable to be able to bridge
3111111 ohms.

NEW SQUARE WAVE GENERATOR For further information, please write the the recorder :(cross the standard 150
:\ new signal y li rator manufacturer. o: 600 -ohm circuit carrying program
has just been announced by the Sterling material at a level in the neighborhood
of +10 I!. 'hhis Can be readily accom-
plished by the addition of a suitable
l ridging coil (20,000 ohms to grid).
Tape Recorders The output of the playback and moni-
f lrnui page 101 toring amplifier normally feeds the
self -contained loudspeaker. Again, in
A playback tone control is provided, broadcast service it is generally de-
together with separate volume controls sirable to be able to feed a 150- or
for recording ami for playback. A
(0 -ohm line at a level around +10 vu.
"Inning" eye- indicator tube is centrally Provisions for doing this can be made
located on the control panel and func- by installing a suitable impedance
tions as a volume -level indicator when watching coil (8 to 600 /150 ohms)
recordings are being made. :Aid the usual line pad.
.1 detailed circuit of the recorder is The motor features of the recorder
shown in Fig. 3 and a simplified func- are well planned. There are three
tional diagram in Fig. 4. The circuit separate motors, one for the capstan -
elements employed during recording type tape drive, another for the take -
are shown in Fig. 4.4 and those for up reel and a third for rewinding. The
Electronic Laboratories, 151 E. 70t Street.
drive and the take -up motors are em-
1

New York City. This generator is designed playback in Fig. 4R. The input cir-
for testing high quality audio apparatus, cuit is seen to be of high impedance ployed in the same manner both when
recording and when reproducing. The
drive motor operates through a rubber,
rim -drive pulley to turn, at constant
speed, a fly -wheel stabilized, cork -sur-
faced drive capstan. The take -up mo-
tor operates to maintain tape tension
ahead of the capstan and runs at what-
ever speed the diameter of the tape
on the take -up reel permits. Back ten-
sion is supplied by the drag in the
magnetic heads and by light mechanical
braking on the "rewind" motors which
suffices to provide a smooth tape flow.
For rewinding, only one motor is used
and it rewinds the tape at the highest
speed it is capable of reaching with the
load placed upon it. As the end of
the tape leaves the reel from which
it is being rewound, braking voltage
RADIO PARTS RADIO SETS is automatically and immediately ap-
RECORD CHANGERS PLAYERS plied to the motor that is doing the
HAM GEAR AMPLIFIERS TESTERS rewinding. If, on the other hand, tht
It's here- the new 1947 Concord Catalog -a vast. "stop" button is operated during rewind
complete selection of everything in Radio and
Electronics. See these value- packed pages show- (before all the tape is rewound), the
ing thousands of Items available for IMMEDIATE. braking voltage is applied to the take -
SHIPMENT -- hundreds of them now available for
the first time- featuring new, latest 1947 prices. up motor from which reel the tape is
See new LOWER prices on finest -quality RADIO
SETS. PHONO- RADIOS. RECORD CHANGERS, being rewound.
RECORD PLAYERS. PORTABLES, AMPLIFIERS. This machine makes use of reels that
(:OMPI.ETF. SOUND SYSTEMS, TESTERS. Sec
latest listings of well- known. standard, depend- are the same size as standard 400 -foot,
able lines of radio parts and equipment- tubes.
condensers. transformers, relays- available for 8 mm motion -picture reels -in fact, such
IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT from huge stocka in reels can be used on the machine with-
CHICAGO and ATLANTA. Mail coupon NOW! Concord Radio Corporation, Dept. F -57
I 901 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago 7, III. out alteration (although they are not

R A D I O C
I
O R P O R A T I O N
I

I
I
I
Ses, nth FltI l
Concord Radio l'aialog.
Name
Address
t I i'\ .1 thr , 11,1le new as convenient to use as the standard
ones designed by the manufacturer of
the recorder). The reels are 7 inches
LAFAYETTE RADIO CORPORATION ill diameter and hold sufficient tape for
CHICAGO 7. ILL. ATLANTA 3. GA. City State one -half hour of recording. The tape
01 W. Jackson Blvd. 255 Peachtree St.

48 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 speed is approximately 71/2 inches per separate cabinet rack for mounting of
second, so that a total of 1250 feet is
Audio Systems the amplifiers and jack strips. Installa-
required for a full half-hour's recording (Íi-ou, /Page 14) tion is a first cost, but maintenance
t plus a few minutes extra for possible must go on for the life of the equip-
run -overs). console turret and the balance of the ment.
The performance of the magnetic amplifying equipment and other com- While on the subject of consoles, it
tape recorder that has been described. ponents he mounted in a separate cab- is suggested that utmost simplicity in
insofar as response -frequency character- inet rack. An argument in favor of circuits be uppermost in the mind of
istic, harmonic distortion and signal - the completely self -contained unit is the designer. The less involved the
to -noise are concerned, is not limited that installation costs are lower. Against system is of lights, switches, tricky
by the magnetic tape but rather by the self -contained unit is the argument interlocks, and devices that do not
economic considerations. In order to that it is harder to maintain and add to the functional operation of the
reach the home market many of the service. Arguments for and against equipment, the simpler and more straight
refinements that are desirable in a pro- mounting the amplifiers and non -oper- forward becomes the cabling in the
fessional recorder have had to be ated components in a separate cabinet console. This will reduce possibilities
omitted. In spite of this, the overall rack are the exact opposite. From of key clicks, noise and cross -talk, the
performance is remarkably good. It experience, the writer prefers the absence of which is essential for good
can be most concisely summarized by
stating that it is just about equivalent
to the performance obtained on long
Class A network circuits.
Conclusion
Magnetic tape recording and repn).
(hieing systems seem to be inherently
capable of the highest fidelity required
for any audio application. Consequent-
ly, when professional -model portable
and fixed machines become available.
they will undoubtedly find widespread
application in the broadcasting field.
However, considerable design and de-
velopment work will be required to
achieve all the objectives desirable in
the "utimate" magnetic tape recorder.
Meanwhile, the machine that has been
described represents a very good start
and, until such time as a better unit
becomes available, it will be of con-
siderable usefulness to the broadcaster.
The scope of this article does not
permit a discussion of the relative
merits of magnetic tape and of disc
recording. Suffice it to say, however,
that each has its fundamental advant-
ages. Consequently, it seems logical
to conclude that each medium will find

r
its own field and neither one is likely
to predominate to the exclusion of the See You in CHICAGO!
other.
We have our sights on the Big Show engineering forces with know -how,
because, in Chicago, we will give you background and outstandingly success-
High -Fidelity Recording a preview of our 1947 plans -show
you products were proud to offer
ful experience. From here in -watch
EASTERN for new and unusual sound
,) -,,,,, finh,' 36) ...
under the Eastern Amplifier banner!
equipment! . . . Eastern Amplifier Cor-
To complete the new units in our line,
terial can be recorded on one pound of in which you'll be vitally interested, poration, 794 East 140th Street, New
these discs to play over 80 hours con- we have established and expanded York.
tinuously. If used for no other purpose
than to record desired musical selections
from radio broadcasts, for example, a
SEE YOU IN CHICAGO - BOOTH 34

library corresponding to slightly over Stevens Hotel

five hundred 12 -inch records could be
carried in a 4x4 inch box only two Leon Alpert
inches deep. William Lorenz Gerson Lewis
Thus another step in the continually W. E. Macdonald S. K. Lackoff
advancing art of recording has been
made which bids fair to become a popu-
lar instrument for home use, and as a
valuable adjunct to commercial equip-
ment where extreme compactness is an
important consideration.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 49

FM operation. Microphone circuits of three studios involving air time ac- being that relays would replace the
can be closed by turning faders to curacy in switching and feeding a pos- switches shown in the latter case. In
the "off'. position; a key is not neces- sible maximum of three outgoing cir- addition to the relays there would
sary. It is easier for an operator to cuits, an operator who is familiar with be an equal number of keys or an
know that all that is necessary to open the equipment will not find it difficult equivalent number of rotary switches
a microphone circuit is to bring up to perform the operation with manual to perform the presetting operation.
the fader. He need not concern him- switching. Normally, fewer combina- Lights should also he employed to
self as to whether or not a key is tions of studios and outgoing circuits leave a pattern of the switching com-
thrown. An output key on the con- would be in use. binations set up in order that the oper-
sole is another hazard and is definitely However, when eight to ten studios ator may have a means of checking
not required when switching of studios become involved and the number of his work before the actual electrical
is done by a master control. The studio outgoing circuits increases, it becomes switching is done.
operator is concerned with the start- imperative that an electrical interlock- Some of the features that become
ing of the program and with his hands ed preset relay system be employed. necessary with larger installations and
full of mixer controls might very The increase in possible switching com- that require thought are the number
easily forget to throw the output key. binations that must be performed simul- of outgoing channels that should he
Master, on the other hand, is con- taneously become great enough that the incorporated in the original design,
cerned only with the pickup of studios operator could not accurately handle and the method employed to handle
and the distribution of the program. the operation in the time permitted. program monitoring throughout the
Functional design should consider the Using a preset relay system, the switch- studio plant.
placement of operational responsibilities ing combinations can he set up prior In the three -studio layout the
in the proper places. to switch time and the entire setup opinion was expressed that one avail-
As was mentioned previously, the combination put instantaneously into able bridging amplifier would suffice
basic differences between the five and effect by the operation of one switch. to handle an occasional outgoing feed
eight -to -ten studio layouts lie in the Such a preset system could be used in in addition to the normal line to the
type of master control switching em- the five studio layout, but would result transmitter. The five -and- larger studio
ployed and added features that become in higher costs and more wiring com- layouts will undoubtedly be called upon
necessary with the increase in the plication for a feature that is not func- regularly to make extra feeds. Many
number of studios and increase in the tionally required. such stations probably will still have
volume of programs to he handled. For Figure 4 shows in block form the an AM transmitter to feed in addition
five studios it is felt that a manually circuit arrangement of master switch- to their FM transmitter. There are
operated type of mechanically inter- ing that will serve for either the also local and national networks to
locked push keys will suffice for master manual operated or the preset relay consider and those special occasions in
switching. With a possible maximum operated systems the only difference
; which stations feed regional interest
programs back and forth. It is im-
perative that regularily assigned and
installed equipment be available through
the master switching to handle such
New ...Improved work.
The five -studio station should have

ATTENUATORS at least three outgoing channels with

the fourth not representing an exces-
sive investment. Channel I would
by TECH LABS normally be assigned to the FM trans-
mitter line; channel 2 would be used
to feed network channel 3 is very
;

convenient for feeding programs to the

t ecording room ; channel 4 would be
held as a spare in case of failure of
any of the other three, and as a re-
serve to take care of the unpredictable
situations that arise. At least one
spare input to the master switching
system should be provided in addition
to the five studio inputs.
The eight-to -ten studio plant will
require a minimum of five outgoing
channels and would not be over -
equipped with six. Of the five, one
"New Times-New Modes ", says old proverb. These new would be assigned to the FM trans-
attenuators were born to meet new war -created demands. mitter, two for network feeds (local
They represent a new medium frame size: Type 800 (2 1/4"
dia.) and a larger size: Type 900 13" dia.). The Type 800 and national), two for recording, and
is supplied as potentiometer, rheostat, ladder and T -pad up the sixth as a spare. Two or three
to 20 steps. The larger size Type 900 is similarly furnished spare inputs should be provided to
with up to 45 steps. Write for new bulletin. the master switching system.
Monitoring
Regarding monitoring, it has gener-
Manufacturers of Precision Electrical Resistance Instruments
V
`peLABORATORIES, INC.a
337 CENTRAL AVE. JERSEY CITY 7, N.J.
ally been found that the multiple cable
to all monitoring points is the most
a
economical and completely satisfactory

50 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

When our air valve is just cracked it miles per second per second, or 8,800,- Many factors affecting the wave shape.
allows a kw or so through. 000 G (times its own weight). For daily experimental work, a stator
The effect was very unexpected and For any specific load the vanes of the with a single jet should be used, as the
pleasant. At full power our ears that rotor can be cut at an angle to give a per density and acceleration are the
had been calibrated at low intensity reaction turbine effect and it will run same, and only about a half h -p com-
to "hear" 14 kc, could only hear up to itself, so the head alone can be used. pressor is needed. \\rhen higher powers
12 kc. We checked all the way to 24 kc, This unit can be built in almost any are required, a stator with any number
and there were no odd phenomena at all. size, and further development should of holes can be used up to the full
When we came down again we again allow operation on steam. amount.
picked up at 12 kc. There was no nausea, In any such device, however, a motor Some darn fool (the writer) put his
or other pressure phenomena. While we should be provided to bring it to speed left hand in the full field at 24 kc for a
did not check, it was obvious that if above sonic range as, while it is starting few seconds. The effect was that of
we were far enough removed or had up, in about 3 /5th of a second you will having little scintillating hot and cold
enough sound isolation so the db level be quite unpopular for some blocks spots, rapidly alternating, over the area
was a watt or two we would note the around. of skin in the field. The hand has not
"4 -watt nausea ". The power density is about 40 kw to dropped off yet. The calculated percent-
the square inch, and the rotor shows age of reflection of sound energy from
Generator Design no erosion in about 50 hours test even the flesh is about 99.98 %, so apparently
Figure 1 shows the side view of the though the air filter was removed to we do not have a death ray. Also, 24 kc
generator. The black cylinder on top allow dust to enter. is attenuated through air 6 db in 180
is an eccentric vane air motor rated 0.7 For low -frequency operation a crude feet. so it does not travel too far.
hp and 18,000 rpm-(300 rps) . By the impedance-matching horn was used, and This little head puts out over half
valve and gauge we can control the no actual data taken on the sound level the audio power of the big siren installed
speed and thus the frequency. The fre- in the room. The wave shape at 800 on top of the RCA building in New
quency is checked against an audio - cycles was between sine and triangular. York City for air -raid warning, which
frequency standard, using a crystal for At 12 kc it was pretty good sine, and delivered about 36 kw. The effect is
a microphone. A Strobotac is good for at 24 kc was very complex, as there are rather pronounced in a small room.
approximate frequency determination.
On the right hand end of the motor
is the head unit. This is a "turbulent
turbine", and is fed through the valve
and gauged in a manner similar to the MuarcaL ak:KCli041
motor, so we have independent power WITH
and frequency control over the output. ABSOLUTE FIDELITY
Figure 2 shows a view looking at the AMPLIFICATION
shaft of the generator proper. The rotor DESIGNED BY .4 C SNANFY
is removed and several rotors are shown.
There are 80 jets on the stator, each A new amplifier development now enables you
about one- sixteenth inch square. They clearly identify all the instruments in a full orchestra
are equivalent to a single perfect orifice
After 20 years of audio research and development. we
just under syfi inch diameter which at
can now place in your hands a new means to make the
90 pounds of air takes about 58 hp.
The rotor is very nice fitting, clearing most fascinating uplifting and enjoyable journey into
the realm of perfect sound reproduction-through the
the housing by one mil all around, and
medium of the most satisfying musical amplifier the
also having about 1T/2 mil clearance
world has ever known
from the stator. This clearance is leak-
age, so we minimize it. If you are one of those discriminating persons for
When the vanes on the rotor are whom anything Icss than the hest is a dissappoint-
lined up with the jets, we lose about ment you are one for whom the ACA -100DC Amplifier
7% in leakage. When they clear the was designed Send for literature
jets, we emit 80 slugs of air simulta-
neously. In one revolution of the rotor
we release 3600 slugs, and at rated
AMPLIFIER CORP. of AMERICA
396 -1 Broadway, New York 13, N. Y.
300 rps we release 1,920,000 slugs per Send 3d stamp for A. C. Shaney's new booklet "20 steps to Perfect Amplification"
A. C. Shaney's FM -AM AMPLIFIER MANUAL is still available at 254
second, the frequency being 24,000.
Each slug weighs about two- tenths
micro -pound.
At low frequencies it is a simple f SQUARE WAVE
siren taking up to 200 cfm at 60 lb.
pressure. At 24 kc, however, it is much
EW a GENERATOR
more complex, so we must accelerate 20 CYCLES TO 20,000 CYCLES
FUR CHECKING RESPONSE OF YOUR
the slugs to sonic velocity in about 5
micro- seconds, and that cannot be done
AUDIO PRODUCTS. RESONANT PEAKS IN
SPEAKERS, PHASE SHIFT IN AUDIO AM- i
with pressure alone. As we increase PLIFIERS AND NETWORKS. SQUARE WAVE:
pressure the gas density increases also, MODULATION OF YOUR R.F. SIGNAL GEN-
we rapidly reach a limit in acceleration. ERATOR TO CHECK SQUARE WAVE RE-
So we use resonant chambers in the SPONSE OF MODERN R.F. CIRCUITS. IN
SOLID Il'.ILNGT C.(RI.VET 5" .r 5" x 9"
stator to build up a starting pressure SATIN FINISH ALUMINUM PANEL
about 3 times the static gas pressure.
At full power the gas in the resonant Sold exclusively by
STERLING ELECTRONIC
$75
i.ABORATORIEs
chambers is accelerated over 25,000 151 EAST 70th ST.. NEW YORK 21. N. Y.

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 53

 HOPP pie t,(e
E. N.
THIS MONTH
WENDELL HONORED
minutes by being heated internally with an
alternating current according to a war -time
research report now on sale by the Office
of Technical Services, Department of Com-
merce.
RADIO DIALS of
E. N. Wendell, vice
president in charge
Federal Telephone and Radio Corp.,
The report was prepared by John P.
Schrodt, D. Norman Craig and George W.
DIAL WINDOWS, NAME PLATES, GAUGES, manufacturing associate of the Internation- Vinal of the National Bureau of Standards.
al Telephone and Telegraph Corp., and
CALCULATORS, SCALES, CHARTS, ETC. During the war the report was classified
newly ele :tcd Fellow of the Institute of
as "confidential" and distributed by the Na-
Radio Engineers who was formally pre-
tional Defense Research Committee to mili-
tary agencies only.
To restore a battery, alternating current
is applied directly to the terminals. A pa-
per condenser connected in series with the
battery prevents the battery from discharg-
ing its current. The report suggests the
substitution of a counter electromotive force
supplied by an auxiliary dry cell, should
the condenser required be inconveniently
large.
The alternating current heats the elec-
trodes of the battery and thereby raises its
PLASTIC RADIO DIALS hove endless possibilities
internal temperature. As a result, the in-
in design, size, shape and color combination. Attrac-
ternal resistance drops enabling the battery
tive and durable, our rodio dials, windows and scales
to furnish an adequate flow of direct cur-
ore preferred by many leading Radio manufacturers.
rent for practical use. The time required
Not only for dials, but for numerous other elec- to restore the battery to usefulness depends
tronic and electrical applications, Laminated Plastics on the initial temperature of the battery
are preferable. and the characteristics of the alternating
Consult with our artists and engineers regard-
current available.
seined with his citation at the Institute's The report also describes a method for
ing applications for your particular purpose. Or ... . annual convention held March 3 -6. Mr.
send us your blue prints or samples for quotation.
keeping small batteries in active condition
Wendell's honor was bestowed for his when the temperature falls as low as 78
"contribution to the development and pro- degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). A com-
THE HOPP PRESS, INC. duction of radio systems for navigating paratively small alternating current is fed
460 W. 34th STREET, NEW YORK 1, N. Y. and landing airplanes by instrument." continuously to the terminals of a battery.
ISTASIISHID 1643 A condenser or a counter -electromotive
E.A.C. APPOINTMENTS force stops the battery current from en-
tering the alternating current circuit.
Eastern Amplifier Corporation announces The alternating current does not inter-
that, effective immediately, S. K. Lackoff fere with the chemical action within the
BOOKS has joined its organization as Chief Engi-
neer and Gerson I.ewis as Executive Assis-
battery. Consequently, the battery can gen-
erate direct current, even though its elec-
tant to Leon .Alpert, who is Vice President trodes continuously receive alternating cur-
awl General Manager. rent.
ENGINEER This is in line with the announced policy
of Mr. Alpert to expand the scope of the
Orders for the report (PB-50853 ; The
Performance of Small Dry Batteries; photo-
company as to its products and sales market. stat, $2; microfilm, $1; 28 pages including
K. Streuher, who was recently placed in graphs and tables) should be addressed to
UNDERSTANDING charge of export sales for Eastern Ampli- the Office of Technical Services, Depart-
fier. announces that Walter B. LaChicotte ment of Commerce, Washington 25, D. C.,
MICROWAVES is now asscciated with him in Eastern Am-
(Chapter Heads)
and should be accompanied by check or
plifier export activities. money order, payable to the Treasurer of
Th. Ultra High Frequency Concept the United States.
Stationery Charge and its field Mag- JOHNSON BUYS GOTHARD
netostarics Alternating Current and
Lumped Constants Transmission Lines The E. F. Johnson Co., Waseca, Minn. CONNECTOR BOOKLET
Poynting's Vector and Maxwell's has announced purchase from the Gothard
Equations Waveguides Resonant A 76 -page ilimnatcd book on "Cannon
Cavities Antennas Microwave Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Ill. of the Plugs for the Electric Circuits of Indus-
Oscillators Radar and Communica- Gothard line of indicator lights.
tion Section Two is devoted to de-
Current Gothard catalogs remain in ef- try" has been issued by the Cannon Elec-
scriptions of Microwave Terms, Ideas tric Development Company. Subtitled the
and Theorems. Index. fect and users are assured that present
quality standards will be maintained and "Quick Disconnect," the book is a digest
400 PAGES PRICE $6.00 of ideas for assembly, servicing, mainten-
improved. All dies, tools, inventories and
rights have been transferred to the new ance and portability of electric equipment
A -C CALCULATION owner. through the use of connectors.
The Gothard line is now being manu- Industries covered include communica-
CHARTS factured at the Johnson plant in Waseca. tions, power, railroads, medicine, aviation,
Student engineerswill find this book Johnson will provide a complete engineer- textiles, television, welding, mining, motion
invaluable. Simplifies and speeds ing service for those seeking special indi- pictures, sound, public utilities, automotive,
work. Covers all AC calculations cator light assemblies for industrial ma- commercial radio, process industries, ma-
from IO cycles to 1000 megacycles. chinery, panel boards, instruments, and rine, petroleum, and electric motive power.
160 PAGES PRICE $7.50
electrical appliances. Copies will be sent free and without ob-
ligation to those using this magazine re-
RESTORING DRY CELLS ply card, or on company stationery only.
JOHN F. RIDER, Publisher, Inc.
404 FOURTH AVENUE. NEW YORK 16, N Y Small dry -cell batteries that have been Address Catalog Director, Cannon Electric
EXPORT OIV ROCKEINTERMATIONAL EIEC CORP exposed to excessively low temperatures Development Co., 3209 Humboldt Street,
I) E 40TH STREET. MEW YORK CITY CARIE ARIAS
may be restored to service within a few Los Angeles 13, California.

54 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

 and a standard penlight dry cell. Test elec- utilizes a capstan drive system to drive
New Products trodes include a stainless steel prod built this wire across the heads at four feet
into the meter case and one secured to the per second. This design assists greatly
[frotis rage 44]
tip of a 17 inch test cord. in the elimination of wow and flutter and
NEW MINIATURE TERMINAL LUG produces constant wire speed.
Designed to meet the special requirements NEEDLE -POINT IRON
of manufacturers of small radios, hearing l/rakc I:Icctric \\ arks, Inc., Chicago.
aids, microphones, meters and test equip- announces a new needle -point malel #350
ment, a new terminal lug has just been midget iron.
placed on the market. Said to be the small- A high quality mica -wound continuous -
est machined terminal lug in existence, the duty 35 watt iron has recently been devel-
"Mini -Lug" has a 3/3.?" hase diameter, and oped after analysis of the meter and hear-
projects 3/32" above the mounting board. ing aid industries, etc. The need for a
small continuous -duty industrial iron has
now been filled. The iron will work from
110 volt AC or DC. It is provided with
two tips -one standard }x" straight tip, and
one special 45 angle tip. The iron measures
7" lung and is so constructed that no stand
i,.required.
l'rochuction is planned for late May or Using standard size spools. the Magne -
June. corder is capable of recording and play-
ing back continuously for a half hour.
HIGH FIDELITY RECORDER The unit performs a wide variety of
A high- fidelity wire recorder which in-
services in the average radio station, is
corporates the prinicples developed in re- capable of synchronization for motion
The mounting shank is .025" long for fast- picture production use, and is suitable
sent years by the Armour Research Foun-
ening to a 1/64" board. A shank of .045" dation of the Illinois Institute of Techno- for laboratory use.
is available for a 1/32" mounting board. logy was announced recently by Magne-
The material is silverplated brass. Chief AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE
cord, Inc.
uses are for wiring miniature carbon re- Designed for professional users, the Arnold B. Ilartley, Program Director of
sistors and ceramic capacitors in extremely Magnecorder Model SD -1 has a frequency WOV, and Hillis W. Holt, WOV Mana-
small units. Manufacturer : Cambridge response rated flat within 2 db from 50 ger of Technical Operations, have received
Thermionic Corporation, Dept. 12, 415 Con - to 12,000 cps with a signal -to -noise ratio U. S. Patent No. 2416583, issued to them
cord Ave., Cambridge, :Ilan-. of well over 45 db. on their mutual invention, the Hartley -Holt
The recording media for this custom - Automatic Turntable. The purpose of the
POCKET -SIZED OHMMETER produced unit is stainless steel wire .004 device, invented during the recent war, is
An attractive, compact, inexpensive inch in diameter. Ilowever, the unit to permit the playing of either 78 rpm or
pocket -sized ohmmeter for spot checking
radio and electronic circuit components, au-
tomobile horns, relays, generators, starters,
electric clocks and other electrical equip- HIGH QUALITY AUDIO AND ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT
ment has been announced by the Radio
Tube Division of Sylvania Electric Prod-
ucts Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York 18,
N. Y.
The instrument has been designed parti-
JACKS STANDARD 218A type broc -'cast jacks
with tip, normal, and sleeve connections.
cularly for use by servicemen as a pocket Self- cleaning contacts. Special discounts
for quantities over 500.
indicator for preliminary isolation of elec- C.
trical faults for prompt estimates of ser- Our type 10113 each
vicecharges, time required for repairs and
other information essential to efficient cus-
tomer service. JACK STRIPS
rat rìrrtatilita, nrtir

SINGLE and double row jack strips for rack mounting,

complete with designation strips. Supplied mounted with 24
jacks per row.
Single Row Strips - Type 1148
19.50
Double Row Strips - Type 1246
32.50

AUDIO DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Shielded patch cords with heavy overall braid.
PATCH (' O It DS
Six inch reinforcement on both ends.
eida.4
In radio set servicing the miniature olmi-
meter will indicate transient or other faults
1 ft. 6.90 4 ft. -- 7.50

in difficult replacements including i -f trans-

formers, tuning units and audio sections;
2
3
ft.
ft.
7.02
7.20
5
lO
ft.
ft. - 7.80
8.88 1111--rw-
Send for AC catalog listing new line of quality transformers.
approximate values of individual resistors;
and open or shorted conditions in other cir-
cuit components.
Direct readings between 0 and 10.000 AUDIO EQUIPMENT SALES
ohms are given on a 1.5 milliampere full 923 EIGHTH AVENUE NEW YORK 19, N. Y.
scale sensitivity Weston meter in series TELEPHONE CIRCLE S -7798
with a 1000 ohm molded carbon resistor

AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947 55

 ..a.sa.
.xr7A-.UMW= -.a.

33 /3 rpm records without the necessity of

1
WIRE RECORDER DATA
changing turntable speed. An 18 -page Tech Manual describing
The Hartley -Holt table consists of a 12- the P.E. magnetic wire recorder model
inch inner table rotating at 78 rpm, sur- 20B -2 is available from the Office of
rounded by a 2 -inch outer ring, slightly Technical Services, Department of Com-
raised above the inner table and rotating at merce for $2.00. This publication is
331/3 rpm. 16-inch discs therefore auto- known as PB 48394. The G.E. portable
matically are turned at the slow speed, and recorder is designed for 28 volt d -c oper-
discs 12- inches or less in diameter turn at ation from a bank of twenty -four type
the fast speed. More than 95% of all ex- BA35 dry cells. Although designed prim-
isting discs can thus be played without arily as a recorder, the speech amplifier
manipulation of any kind to set or change may also be utilized as a two -station in-
speed. terphone. The unit consists of the record-
Production, to date, has been on a custom ing mechanism, an audio amplifier using
a 28D7 tube, a 30 -kc erasing oscillator
basis, with the first models turned out go-
using another 28D7, a driving motor and
ing to Station WOV, New York, and Sta- accessories, which include two micro-
tion KDKA, Pittsburgh. The patentees are G -E LIMITING AMPLIFIER phones, recording wire and spools. Photo-
now asembling production equipment neces- General Electric is building this new graphs and a schematic are included.
sary to manufacture the tables. limiting amplifier (Type BA -5 -A) at its
electronics plant in Syracuse, N. Y. Photos
show D. E. Maxwell of the CBS General
Engineering Repartment with the unit, and ADVERTISING INDEX
(left to right) E. E. Schroeder of CBS
2000 WATT MODULATION XFMR Station WBBM, Chicago, and Mr. Max-
NEW -SURPLUS. Chicago well. Mr. Schroeder developed the basic
Trans. Co. Pri. 12000 ohms, American Phenolic Corp. .. 5
Sec.
Collins
4000 ohms.
( #667S610).
Made for
$68
~u }u(
circuit.
According to G. E., tests have been made Amplifier Corp. of America 53
which show that effectively instantaneous
NEW
2500 WATT MODULATION XFMR
-
SURPLUS KEN-
VON #10765. Pri. 12000
- control action is obtained with very low
transient waveform distortion, and with Audio Equipment Sales .... 55
ohms. Sec. 5000 and 7500
ohms. Response 5000 cycles
plus or minus 1db.
$75 complete freedom from audible thumps in
the program. Use of the amplifier permits Concord Rodio Corp. 48
AC XFMR
higher average modulation without danger
10.4 -KVA, 17,600
of overniodulation on program peaks. Com- Eastern Amplifier Corp. 49
NEW-SURPLUS. Pri. 115
AC. 25 -Kv test. Same as in pany officials explain that adjacent chan-
Electro- Voice, Inc. ... 36, 37
RA -38 Rectifier Unit.
$78 nel interference, and transmitter outages
caused by overmoduiation, are prevented
Federal Tel. BC-447 XMTR. $475.
by use of this unit. Federal Sapphire Products
N ENV- SURPLUS-2.13.4 mc. Dual
Channel. 110 -220 v single phase. Remote Both amplifier and power supply sec- Co. 56
keying. tions have hinged front panels, a construc-
. Write For List Of Other Surplus . . . tion feature of G. E.'s line of broadcast Federal Telephone & Radio
OFFENBACH At REINL'S CO. audio equipment. Corp. 6
372 Ellis St., Francisco 2,
San Calif.
'Phone: ORdway 8551 CALLMASTER INTERCOM Hopp Press, Inc. 54
The new '47 (allmatcr Interconlnluni-
cator features attractive new high luster Maguire Industries, Inc. Cover 3
mahogany plastic cabinets, improved sen-
HERE'S A TIP ... sitivity, and power output. The model CM- Miles Reproducer Co., Inc 56
Sapphire Tip, That Is! 10 shown is a master and sub combination
and fills a great need for an economical, Northwest Procurement &
The FEDERAL EUPHONIC SAPPHIRE TIPI
PHONO NEEDLE permits more faithful re- dependable, and instantaneous means for Sales 56
production of your records with less record two people, remotely located, to talk back
wear because.
and forth. Offenbach & Reimus Co. 56
IT IS
Diamond Lapped Racon Electric Co., Inc. .. 39
Micro Polished
Virtually Friction Free
Manufactured to precision Radio Corporation of America
Distributors
FEDERAL
-
SAPPHIRE
tolerances
Wanted for some territories
PRODUCTS CO.
2, 3, Cover 4

Elmhurst, N. Y. Radio Music Corporation 41

STATIC
ATTENTION
SUPPRESSORS
-- SERVICE MEN.
AUTOMOTIVE TYPE
Reeves Soundcraft Corp. 52

10 -Ohms -Angle types -1 C A 3x349 8 -.08 ea. Rider, John F. Publisher Inc. 54
Min. order $5.00
Mail orders filled postpaid anywhere in the
U.S.A. -
while they last. Send money order
for prompt shipment. Regular billing vs. P.O.
Sterling Electronic Labora-
to rated accounts.
tories 53
NORTHWEST PROCUREMENT & SALES
107 N. W. Couch St. Portland 9, Oregon Sylvania Electric Products
Inc. Cover 2

f I LMGRAP"Recorders
" erenee
PA
These intercommunicators are sold as
a packaged unit and are easily installed
by the user.
Tech Laboratories

Triplett Electrical Instrument

50

Conf UNINTERRUPTED
ECONOMICAL
PERMANENT
Callmasters are priced to produce at-
tractive results for both dealers and whole- Co. 46
Longtime (up to I2 hours) Conference INSTANTANEOUS
salers. Write the Lyman Electronic Corp.,
8 Telephone Recordings onSafety Him
Models for Dictation 'TALKIES-
PLAY-SACK
12 Cass St., Springfield, Mass., for full
Wrigley, William Jr. Co. 47
MILES REPRODUCER CO.,erc. 112 SROADWAY,N.Y.3 Dept. AE details.

56 AUDIO ENGINEERING MAY, 1947

THORDARSON 10 WATT PHONO -AMPLIFIER
Unique in design and for ahead of its field, this new Hi- Fidelity
Phono -Amplifier incorporates both microphone and phono input
into an amplifier specially adapted for use with the Meissner High
Fidelity AM -FM Tuner . or with tuners of comparable per-
. . r MODEL T2 1 W 1 OA
formance. As the speech amplifier in an amateur transmitter, or V{
as the amplifier section in recording units, this new Phono -Amplifier 1011011
leaves nothing to be desired in naturalness or brilliance of tone.
Separate bass and treble controls with both accentuation and
attenuation action assures complete adoption of the output to all
acoustical conditions ...
plus the pleasure of listening to music the
way it should be heard. Production costs have been materially
lowered by mounting this unit on a simple chassis (inasmuch as
amplifier is usually installed in cabinet, no cover is required). Com-
plete specifications on request.

THORDARSON 20 WATT MOBILE AMPLIFIER

A new, conservatively -rated universal mobile amplifier designed to
furnish sufficient undistorted power for sound trucks, picnics, car-
nivals and similar installations, wherever the versatility of 6 volts
DC or 115 volts AC operation is required. A truly versatile ampli-
fier, shock -mounted for smooth operation over rough terrain. Elec-
.
M Ó D E L T 3 1 W 2 0A
tric turntable and pick -up mounted on top of amplifier operates in
any position. Treble attenuation tone compensation allows cor-
rection to acoustical conditions and provides for record scratch
reduction. Mixing procedure controlled with the coupled phono and
microphone input channels- All connections on back of chassis
vastly simplifies hook-up procedure and leaves front panel tri
and unhampered. Complete specifications on request.
' THORDARSON n
A D I V S N O F

E L E C T R O N I C DISTRIBUTOR AND MAGUIRE INDUSTRIES, INC.

INDUSTRIAL SALES DEPARTMENT 9 36 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE
C H I C A G O 11, I L L I N O I S

E X P O R T A D D R E S S

SCHEEL INTERNATIONAL
1 2;'7 N L I N CO
C A B L E
L N
- A V
H A
E . ,

R
CHICAGO
S C H E E L
t 8 ILL
 41/4/O0NC/NG.. RCA blue- sensitive Gas Phototubes

r
RCA 5581

RCA 5584

TABLE OF COMPARABLE TYPES

NEW TYPES OLDER TYPES
S -4 RESPONSE INTERCHANGEABILITY -I RESPONSE
S

5581 930
Feature high sensitivity to blue 5582 . . . The new RCA types are inter- . . . 921
5583 changeable with these earlier 927
radiation, no response to infrared, 5584
.

.
.

.
.

. types. In some cases, minor

.

.
.

.
.

920
.

and high signal -to -noise ratio 1P37 . . . circuit changes are necessary . 868,918

These five new phototubes represent another impor- Each of the five new types has comparable luminous
tant tube development initiated by RCA with the sensitivity, anode characteristics, and structure to the
introduction of the 1P37. They have the advantage older type having S -1 response. They may therefore
of combining the S -4 response with gas amplification. be used interchangeably with the earlier types with
Thus, the tubes offer exceptional sensitivity to blue minor circuit changes.
radiation, no response to infrared, and a high signal - RCA Tube Application Engineers will be pleased to
to -noise ratio. offer their services toward the use of these or other
The five types illustrated are especially valuable in RCA tube types in your equipment. Meanwhile, send
sound reproduction from a dye -image sound track for the new Bulletin CRPS -102 covering the technical
because of the total absence of masking of the modula- data on the complete line of RCA Cathode Ray, Photo -
tion by infrared transmission. They are equally attrac- tube, and Special Types. Address all inquiries to Com-
tive for industrial applications involving measurement mercial Engineering, Section R -65E, Harrison, N. J.
and color control where infrared radiation might
mask the desired signal.
RCA 1P37, 5581, 5582, 5583, and 5584 Gas Photo-
tubes have a maximum response at a wavelength of
4000 Angstroms and a maximum gas amplification
factor of 5.5. RCA Laboratories,
Princeton, N. J.
..^
THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF MODERN TUBE DEVELOPMENT IS RCA

TUBE DEPARTMENT
RADIO CORPORATION of AMERICA