METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECORDINGS OF MUSICAL SCORES

• US 3,781,452 A
• Filed: 01/06/1972
• Issued: 12/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andre C. Vauclain
• Original Assignee: Andre C. Vauclain
• Inventors: Vauclain, Andre C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkinson, Richard B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US05/215,875
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01-1.03,1.18,1.28,DIG.29,461,462 179/1.2S,1.2MD
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/09 using tapes or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/29 Tape

Abstract

A complete musical score is recorded from stored pitches and notes by first recording basic timing signals for the entire score on a first track of a multi-channel tape, and then recording separately the part of each instrument involved in the score, note by note, on a separate track, and referenced in time to the basic timing signals. The different instrument recordings are combined, through a sequence of mixing operations, to provide a single track compilation of the entire score.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a recording of an instrument part of a musical score from stored recordings of individual pitches corresponding to notes of said instrument, comprising:

a. recording in a first storage location timing signals which represent the timing and tempo of said score;

b. recording, in a second storage location, respective individual pitches from said stored recordings of individual pitches, said recorded pitches in said second storage location representing successive notes of said instrument part;

c. controlling the timing and duration of each said successive recorded note by said timing signals.

2. A method for assembling a recording of an instrument part of a musical score, comprising:

a. recording timing signals which represent the timing and tempo of said score;

b. deriving, from said recorded timing signals, control signals for controlling the time of recording of a first note of said instrument part, and recording said note under control of said derived signals;

c. successively deriving from said timing signals control signals corresponding to successive notes and rests of said part, and successively recording said notes and rests under control of said successively derived control signals, so as to record the entire part with each note and rest contained therein recorded in timed relationship according to the timing and tempo of said score.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein said score contains a plurality of instrument parts, and comprising the additional steps of separately recording each of said parts according to the method of claime 2, said separate recordings being maintained in time synchronization, mixing said recorded parts, and recording said mixed parts to obtain an assembled recording of said score.

4. The method as described in claim 2, comprising recording said timing signals on a first track of a tape, and recording said instrument part on a separate track of said tape.

5. The method as described in claim 3, comprising recording said timing signals on a first track of a tape, and recording each of said instrument parts on another track of the same tape.

6. The method as described in claim 5, wherein a first group of recorded parts is mixed and recorded, successive groups of parts are mixed and recorded, and the recorded mixed groups are mixed and recorded to obtain an assembled recording of all the parts of said score.

7. The method as described in claim 2 wherein each said note is separately stored on a Storage medium, and said part notes are recorded on a recording medium, and wherein the step of recording a given note comprises synchronously moving said storage medium and said recording medium to a steady state speed and, while said speed is maintained, picking up said note from said storage medium and recording it on said recording medium.

8. The method as described in claim 7 wherein the steps of recording a given rest comprises synchronously moving said storage medium and said recording medium to a steady state speed and, while said speed is maintained, recording nothing on said recording medium, and each such recorded note and rest is controlled to commence at the end of the prior recorded note or rest.

9. A method for assembling a recording of a musical score having a plurality of instrumental parts, comprising:

a. recording, on a first track of a recording medium, a continuous series of timing signals representing the timing of said score, said signals varying in frequency corresponding to tempo variations of said score;

b. for a first instrument part of said score, deriving electrical signals representing the first note of said first part, and recording same on a second track of said recording medium, commencing with a first of said timing signals and terminating after a first count of said timing signals, said count corresponding to the time duration of said first note;

c. deriving electrical signals representing the second note of said first part, and recording same on said second track, commencing with the termination point of said first note and terminating after a second count of said timing signals corresponding to the time duration of said second note;

d. successively deriving and recording separate electrical representations of all notes and rests of said part on said second track, each such note and rest being recorded in the like manner as said second note to obtain a recording of said first part;

e. successively recording, on separate tracks, electrical representations of each of said plurality of parts, each part being recorded in a like manner as said first part and in time synchronization therewith; and

f. mixing said part recordings to obtain the assembled recording of the score.

10. The method as described in claim 9 wherein for the recording of each note, said recording medium is brought up to steady state forward speed prior to commencement of recording, is maintained at steady state speed during recording, and after such recording is terminated is stopped and reversed to a point behind the termination point, at which point it is in position to be brought up to steady state forward speed for recording of the next note.

11. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said electrical representations of said notes and rests are derived from a signal source, and wherein said signal source is maintained at steady state speed synchronously with said recording medium during said recording.

12. A method of assembling a recording of an instrument part of a musical score, wherein each note and rest is separately recorded in proper time position as set forth in said score, the steps for recording said each note and rest comprising:

a. positioning a recording medium on which said recording is made to a position reverse of the starting point for recording the note;

b. positioning a storage medium carrying a stored signal representation of said note to a position reverse of the starting point for picking up said stored signal;

c. synchronously advancing said recording medium and said storage medium to a steady state speed;

d. generating a start signal at the moment said recording medium is passing the point where the recording of said note is to start;

e. picking up said stored note signal and, in response to said start signal, starting recording of said note signal on said recording medium at said start point;

f. recording said note signal on said recording medium while maintaining said synchronous steady state speed;

g. generating a stop signal at the moment said recording medium is passing the point where the recording of said note is to stop;

h. stopping recording of said note at said stop point in response to said stop signal; and

i. after said recording is stopped, returning said storage medium and recording medium to positions reverse of their respective starting points for the recording of the next note.

13. Apparatus for assembling a recording of an instrument part of a musical score, comprising:

a. first storage means for storing recordings of individual pitches corresponding to notes of said instrument;

b. second storage means for storing timing signals which represent the timing and tempo of said score;

c. recording means for recording successive notes as set forth in said instrument part, said successive recorded notes being derived from said individual pitches stored in said first storage means; and

d. control means for controlling the timing and duration of each said successive recorded note by said timing signals.

14. Apparatus for assembling a recording of a musical score which has a plurality of instrument parts, which apparatus is adapted to be operated so that each note and rest of each instrument part of said score may be recorded separately and corresponding to the timing and tempo of said score, and so that said instrument parts may be recorded note by note and said recorded parts mixed to obtain the assembled recording, comprising:

a. storage means for storing recordings of individual pitches corresponding to notes of each instrument found in said score;

b. pick up means adapted to be positioned to pick up signals from said storage means representing pitches of respective notes;

c. recording means, including a recording medium, and having a plurality of recording heads for recording said signals, said heads being adapted to record different instrument parts on respective different tracks of said recording medium;

d. a transmission path for transmitting said pitch signals from said pick up means to said recording means;

e. drive means for driving said storage means and said recording means together;

f. timing signal generator means, for generating timing signals representing the timing of each note and rest as set forth in said score;

g. control means responsive to said timing signals, for controlling transmission of said pitch signals from said pick up means to said recording means so that each note and rest is recorded for the precise duration and in the precise time relationship to the other notes as set forth in the score; and

h. mixer means, connected to said recording means, for mixing recordings of said different parts.

15. In a system for assembling a recording of a musical score, apparatus for recording successive notes of an instrument part of said score, adapted to record each note in the time relation to prior and subsequent notes of such part as called for in said score, comprising:

a. recording means for recording signals constituting said part;

b. drive means engagable with said recording means, for driving same;

c. source means, for providing a source of signals representing the pitches of said notes;

d. coupling means, operative to couple said source means and said driving means so as to drive said recording means and said source means synchronously;

e. signal transmission means, for controllably transmitting said pitch signals from said source means to said recording means;

f. timing signal means for generating timing signals which represent the timing and tempo of said score; and

g. logic means, to receive said timing signals and to control said transmission means such that transmission of said pitch signals is limited to predetermined time periods when said recording means and said source means are being driven synchronously, and such that said pitch signals which are recorded by said recording meaNs for said predetermined time periods constitute said notes, said notes being recorded in said time relation as called for in said score.

16. The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein:

a. said recording means comprises a magnetic tape;

b. said source means is a magnetic disc having recorded separately thereon different pitches corresponding to the notes of said part, and has a moveable source head for picking up a selected pitch corresponding to the note to be recorded;

c. said tape contains recordings of timing signals, and said timing signal means comprises a timing head for picking up said signals when said tape is being driven;

d. said logic means comprises a counter adapted to receive said timing signals from said timing head and to count same, which counter is adapted to be pre-set to a count of said timing signals corresponding to the length of a note to be recorded, said counter being further adapted to provide a control signal for stopping said transmission when said count is reached.

17. The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein said magnetic tape has a plurality of tracks and said recording means comprises a plurality of record heads so that a plurality of instrument parts can be recorded on said tape, each on a different track, and comprising a mixer operatively connected to said recording means for combining said plurality of recorded parts and recording said combined parts on a track of said tape.

18. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein is added means for reversing said tape behind the end point of the last recorded note and for reversing said disc behind the point where said pick up head picks up the desired signal corresponding to the start of the next note to be recorded, so that when said tape and disc are driven forward synchronously they are both advancing at a steady state speed when said next note is recorded on said tape.