V 0011-7145 THE SOUND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE AUGUST 1975 51 00 A View of Electronic Music Operations of Moog Synthesizer Modules and Components In the CD -4 Groove www.americanradiohistory.com E THIN* Studios by design... not by accident Circle 10 on Reader Service Card Accept our invitation to contact us and discuss your studio needs. 14045 Sherman Way. Van Nuys. California 91405 / (213) 873-44 www.americanradiohistory.com =ling month Ingenuity in the use of micro- 0 phones is the theme of two workshop -ED articles coming in September. THE SOUND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE AUGUST 1975, VOLUME 9. NUMBER 8 Michael Rettinger tells us how to Calibrate Microphones by Reciproc- ity. The secret is in using rapid alter- nation of loudspeaker transducers. A Simple and Superior Microphone Preamplifier is described by R. S. Mintz. The device uses an integrated 12 IN THE CD -4 GROOVE circuit and a minimal number of ex- Edward Horn ternal passive components. 15 THE NEW YORK EXPERIENCE The first of a three -part series on Martin Dickstein Feedback by Norman H. Crowhurst deals with its effect on gain, distortion. 25 OPERATIONS OF MODE SYNTHESIZER and impedance as well as negative and positive feedback. and phase. MODULES AND COMPONENTS Robert C. Ehle 30 A REALISTIC VIEW OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC David Cope 2 LETTERS 4 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 6 CALENDAR 7 FREE LITERATURE 8 THEORY AND PRACTICE Norman H. Crowhurst 11 SOUND WITH IMAGES Martin Dickstein 20 NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 33 CLASSIFIED 36 PEOPLE, PLACES. HAPPENINGS db is listed in Current Contents: Engineering and 'technology Robert Bach Larry Zide PUBLISHER EDITOR Bob Laurie John Woram ART DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Eloise Beach Hazel Krantz CIRCULATION MANAGER COPY EDITOR Crescent Art Service Ann Russell gout GRAPHICS PRODUCTION db. Sound Engineering Magazine is published monthly by Sagamorc Publishing Company. Inc. Entire the V.Y. That's Roger Powell at the Moog contents copyright © 1975 by Sagamorc Publishing Co., Inc., 1120 Old Country Road, Plainview. L.1.. 1114113. Telephone (5161 433 6530. db is published for those individuals and firms in professional audio- Synthesizer. Photo copyright 1974 by recording. broadcast, audio- visual, sound reinforcement. consultants. video recording. film sound. etc. Appli- cation should be made on the subscription form in the rear of each issue. Subscriptions are $7.00 per year Alan F. Blumenthal and used with (512.00 per sear outside U. S. Possessions, Canada. and Mexico) in U. S. funds. Single copies are $1.00 each. Controlled Circulation postage paid at Harrisburg. Pa. 17105. Editorial, Publishing. and Sales Offices: permission. 1120 Old Country Road. Plainview, New York 11803. Postmaster: Form 3579 should be sent to above address. www.americanradiohistory.com THE EDITOR: The O O letters With reference to your listing of suppliers of audio gear in the San Francisco area in your June issue. please accept an indignant "You left CROWN me out" complaint. The Langevin THE EDITOR: Company. Inc. is the oldest firm in Towards the end of May, we wrote this area, supplying and installing pro- VFX -2 to you asking for possible manufac- fessional audio systems and equip- turers of RC -10 caplugs. As per your ment since 1927. We represent many electronic crossover suggestion, we have written to both of the top quality professional audio Commercial sound contractors Atlas and Beyer, only to receive "No" equipment manufacturers as well as across America have been asking answers. Perhaps one of your readers custom -building systems for specific for an electronic crossover for use might have this information? requirements. on sophisticated sound installa- BILL BEATTY Thanks for the opportunity to cor- tions. There's no more waiting. And DAVE BEATTY STUDIOS rect this oversight. the Crown VFX -2 embodies all you 1414 S. 5th H. A. WOLLENBERG. President expect in high quality and perform- Springfield. Ill. 62703 THE LANGEVIN COMPANY. INC. ance capabilities from the people at 1050 Howard St. Crown. San Francisco, Ca. 94103 Only the Crown VFX -2 electronic crossover will give every installa- THE EDITOR: THE EDITOR: tion maximum versatility. Such In the June issue, a letter from Just read Bob White's flexibility for so little cost. And George W. Hamilton on page 2 caught article. "A Simple High -Quality never before has an electronic my eye. I have Mr. Hamilton beat by High -Speed Tape Duplicator," in the May issue and I crossover been offered that can be a long time! want to inform you that I have a easily and readily adjusted with I was the first chief engineer of the front panel controls. Syracuse Radio Workshop, the pre- model 970 Ampex if anyone is inter- ested in buying it. Tunable from 20- to 20,000 Hz, decessor of WAER during the years this solid state component is com- 1937-1938. The installation was built D. M. Wesenbcrg Rd. patible with 600 ohms loads and up, in the basement of the library build- 1904 Harlan Toledo, and features both balanced and un- ing and consisted of two studios and a Ohio 43615 balanced inputs and outputs. control room. The equipment was Overall noise and distortion are Western Electric, vintage of the early extremely low. IM distortion is less 30's, donated by WFBL when that than 0.010/0 rated at output, and station replaced it with more modern you write it noise is more than 97dB below gear. The amplifiers used the old rated output with open inputs. round bulb tubes, whose type num- Many readers do not realize that Providing either crossover or bers I cannot recall. The microphones they can also be writers for db. bandpass functions, the VFX -2 uti- were the Western Electric condenser We are always seeking meaning- lizes two continuously variable fil- microphones with the small vacuum ful articles of any length. The ters per channel, and filter roll -off tube amplifiers built into them. They is a fixed 18 subject matter can cover almost at dB /octave. were built into cylindrical cans which Applications include stereo bi- anything of interest and value to weighed a ton (so it seemed). amping, mono tri- amping, and com- audio professionals. There was no f.m. in those days. bining the bandpass with You filter the Programs were produced for both don't have to be an expe- normal two -way crossover on a WFBL and WSYR. When we went on rienced writer to be published. mono signal. And all connections WSYR, the call sign. WSYU, was But you do need the ability to are quarter -inch phone jacks for used (same transmitter, different call express your idea fully, with ade- positive electrical contact. sign). Their transmitter was located quate detail information. The VFX -2 is designed for stand- and Our on the university campus in those ard 19" rack mounting and meas- editors will polish the story for days, and was 250 watts to a single ures in at 3'/2" high by 53/a" deep you. We suggest you first submit vertical radiator. The transmitter had and includes a clear plastic cover an outline so that we can work formerly been one which was built by for protecting control settings. with you in the development of Clive B. Meredith of Cazenovia, N.Y., the article. who started WSYR as WMAC in his home. You also don't have to be an Professor Kenneth Bartlett, later to artist, we'll re -do all drawings. become Dean and then Vice -Chan- This means we do need sufficient cellor, was the director of the Radio detail in your rough drawing or Write for complete Workshop. Operating that setup, an- schematic so that our artists will specif ícations. tiquated as it was, was good fun, and m understand what you want. we it very The took seriously. Work- It can be prestigious to be pub- shop produced some very famous lished and it can be profitable z in too m people broadcasting, numerous u to mention here. too. All articles accepted for pub- Just a bit of nostalgia from those lication are purchased. You won't old days. retire on our scale, but it can PAUL H. LEE, President make a nice extra sum for that P. H. LEE ASSOCIATES. INC. special occasion. crownBOX 1000 ELKHART. IN 46514. 219 294 -5571 (V Thousand Oaks, Ca. Circle 12 on Reader Service Card www.americanradiohistory.com Our new E series audio equipment will improve your sound and cut your ) costs ... or your money back! .. TURNTABLE MIC & LINE PREAMPS AMPLIFIERS AUDIO DISTRIBUTION AMPLIFIERS AUDIO CONSOLES & CONTROLLERS AUTOMATIC TAPE CARTRIDGE & CASSETTE LOADERS REMOTE POWER STUDIO MONITOR CONTROLLERS AMPLIFIERS TEN DAY FREE EVALUATION AND 2 YEAR GUARANTEE INSURE YOUR UNCOMPROMISED SATISFACTION TURNTABLE PREAMPS power supply, metering & headphone Winders also come in higher speed models (ACE- Preamps costing almost 3 times more will not com- monitor. Will accept up to 10 slide in 60 series). Same operation as above but winds at pare with these units. RIAA /NAB equalized ±1db, modules. Each module has 2 inputs 60 IPS. Accepts 14" pancakes. 0.5MV sensitivity at 1KHz for +4dbm out, balanced & 8 outputs. Individual output level ACL -60T /E (tone stop only) $266 controls & selectable meter switch. Up outputs, -75db s/n at 10mv in, 0.05% distortion, ACL -60B/E (Blank tape loader) 5331 +21dbm max. out. Internal power supply. to 20 in /80 out. ACL- 608T/E (for both prerecorded and MP -8E $86 DA-2080/E Main Frame $150 Mono SP -8E Stereo $137 blank tape) $375 DA- 2080 /E Modules 2 in /8 out $135 ea. MIC & LINE AMPLIFIERS STUDIO AMPLIFIERS AUDIO CONSOLES & CONTROLLERS MONITOR Dual function and superb performance.