FR2657162A1 - Non-automatic electronic device for aiding the synchronizing of the rhythms of several musical recordings - Google Patents

Abstract

It can consist of an oscillator (o) whose function is to clock the operation of a playback apparatus (x), and whose frequency of oscillation is determined by the adjusting of a speed governor (a) and by a (momentary) action on a "line-up" control (b). Especially adapted for compact disc players.

Description

The present invention relates to a non-automatic electronic device for synchronizing the rhythms of several musical recordings.
Synchronization is a sine qua non of mixed musical mixing.

Synchronization of records can be broken down into two stages:
1) equalize the musical rhythms of the recordings (number of beats per minute) by increasing or decreasing the speed of the recordings with a command called "speed variator." Variable speed drives exist on almost all types of apparatus for reading musical recordings, such as, for example, record player, analog or digital recorder, laser player for audio and video compact discs.

The operation of these devices is clocked by oscillation generated by an oscillator and routed to the clock input of the apparatus.

The speed controller control acts on the oscillator to determine the frequency of the oscillation, thereby accomplishing the operation 1>.

 At this stage of the synchronization, the respective numbers of beats per minute of the recordings to be enchafner are equal but the beats do not coincide necessarily.

 2> to make coincide in time ("stall") the beats of the rhythms of the recordings.

This "calibration" is traditionally performed exclusively on recordings vinyl record microsillon. Indeed, only this support allows the called manipulator disc jockey) to perform during the duration of the mixing a manual fugitive readjustment operation, without losing the setting established in 1). The technique used consists in braking or accelerating by mechanical action of the fingers, the rotation of the platter of the platinum discs.

It should be noted that the speed setting obtained by the variable speed drive seldom achieves the desired accuracy and that, in addition, the musical rhythms of the recordings may vary slightly during mixing. It follows almost irreparably a progressive shift of musical rhythms.

The manipulator must therefore use, during mixing, the resetting operation defined at the beginning of this paragraph.

 The present invention consists of an electronic wedging means whose action replaces the precarious mechanical manual setting operation described in 2). The device according to the invention has the advantage of being electronic and its application is therefore no longer limited to microstrip record players, but extends to all types of music record playback apparatus, such as, for example , analog or digital tape recorder, laser player for audio and video compact discs.

The calibration control can be studied in such a way that its action is imperceptible to the ear (that is to say that it engenders only a small cry).

The present invention consists of an oscillator whose frequency is determined by: - adjustment of the speed controller and, - action (fugitive} on the control of "calibration".

This oscillator is connected to the clock input of the reading device.

It can be connected for example by replacing the traditional quarter or any other traditional oscillator of said reading device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the stall control is a special speed variator whose action on the oscillator of the reading device is accumulated or subtracted from that of the traditional variable speed drive. According to this preferred embodiment, the stall control achieves a small variation in speed, and its entry into action is imperceptible to the ear (low pleurage).

The technological solution adopted for this embodiment of the calibration control is characterized in that: the frequency of the oscillator is determined by the switching on or off of resistors connected in series with the variable resistance of the variable speed drive .

- The calibration control consists of two push buttons.

According to another embodiment, the stall control can be constituted by a variable resistor.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure I shows the diagram according to the invention.

 Figure 2 shows the detail of a preferred embodiment of the stall control.

 The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a reading device (x), whose clock input (h) receives the oscillation generated by the oscillator (o). The frequency of this oscillator is set by means of two commands: the speed controller control (a) and the calibration control (b).

 In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the frequency of the oscillator (o) is regulated by means of a variable resistor constituting the speed controller control (a), connected in series with the calibration control (b). itself consists of two fixed resistors switched on or off with two push buttons.

Claims (5)

 1) Non-automatic device for aligning the beats of the rhythm of a musical recording with those of the rhythm of another recording in time, characterized in that there is provided a means of action on the rhythms, which is a special stall control (b) whose action is combined with that of a possible speed variator (a) of a reading device.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the special setting control <b) acts on the oscillation frequency of the oscillator setting the operation of the reading apparatus.  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the frequency of the oscillator is determined by the switching on or off of resistors connected in series with the variable resistor of the drive controller.  4) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the control (b) is constituted by two push buttons.  5) Device according to claims i and 2 characterized in that the control (b) is contituted by a variable resistor.