Abstract:
A system, apparatus, device, and method for recording sounds and music with the character and sonic benefits of a genuine analog tape recording is disclosed. More specifically, an electro-mechanical-software controlled closed loop analog signal processor (“CLASP”) system, which is comprised of a digital audio workstation (“DAW”) resident on a host computer and is in operable communication with a CLASP unit or device is disclosed. The CLASP unit, which contains firmware, is also in operable communication with a tape recorder transport which is comprised of a tape mechanism transport and a control unit. In one embodiment, an analog audio signal is recorded on an analog tape and then immediately played back and routed to the DAW via an analog to digital converter, thus providing for digitally recorded analog audio. Typically, after the analog recorded signal is played back, it is erased from the tape which generally continues to cycle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Application 60/711,576 filed Aug. 26, 2005, entitled CLOSED LOOP ANALOG SIGNAL PROCESSOR “CLASP”, now pending, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sound recording devices in general and, more particularly, to analog tape audio recording devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Today many, if not most, professional or semi-professional sound, music, or like audio recordings are recorded and produced digitally. In that process, recording engineers typically use an audio digital audio workstation (“DAW”). However, despite the now nearly ubiquitous presence of digital recordings, music, and audio files, many artists, musicians, recording engineers, music producers, and audiophiles still prefer the sound of analog tape recordings over digital recordings because of the warmth and character of the analog tape recordings. 
     Although there is a desire for the sound of analog recordings, there are a number of limitations that typically discourage any attempt to use a traditional multi track analog tape recording system in combination with a DAW. First, many engineers and producers find that attempting to synchronize a traditional analog tape machine to a DAW to be problematic. For example, some of the problems engineers may encounter when trying to use analog tape machines in conjunction with a DAW include: 
     (1) Using the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) time code to synchronize the DAW with the tape machine. This sacrifices one of the tape tracks and wastes time waiting for the two devices to synchronize. 
     (2) Constant rewinding and fast forwarding of the analog tape machine. This takes time away from a session and hurts creative work flow. 
     (3) Having to transfer the analog tape recorded tracks into the DAW for editing. This is time consuming and breaks the creative work flow. 
     (4) Big bulky and expensive analog recording machines. Many studios are in people&#39;s homes now where space is limited and large format analog recorders are still very expensive. 
     In short, because of the difficulties of using a standard multi track analog tape recording system with a DAW, many engineers typically resort to using only a DAW to do all of their recording. In other words, engineers and producers sacrifice the warmth and pleasing sound of classic analog tape for the convenient but characterless and thin sound of digital recording. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to allow engineers, music producers, and like personnel to record sounds and music with the character of a genuine analog tape recording. It is also an object of the invention to record music and sounds with the quality of an analog tape recording without the existing hassles and limitations currently involved in using a DAW. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system and/or components therefore that will allow engineers, music producers, as well as hobbyist, home users, audio enthusiasts, or amateurs to achieve the coveted sound of analog recordings while utilizing at least some of their present studio or recording and processing equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system, apparatus, device, and method for recording sounds and music with the character and sonic benefits of a genuine analog tape recording is disclosed. More specifically, an electro-mechanical-software controlled closed loop analog signal processor (“CLASP”) system, which is comprised of a digital audio workstation (“DAW”) resident on a host computer and is in operable communication with a CLASP unit or device and software is disclosed. The CLASP unit, which contains firmware, is also in operable communication with a tape recorder transport which is comprised of a tape mechanism transport and a control unit. In one embodiment, an analog audio signal is recorded on an analog tape, which may be in the form of an endless loop or a reel-to-reel configuration, and then immediately played back and routed to the DAW via an analog to digital converter, thus providing for digitally recorded analog audio. Typically, after the analog recorded signal is played back, it is erased from the tape which generally continues to cycle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of part of the system shown in  FIG. 1  which may be used in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a closed loop analog signal processor (“CLASP”) system  10  of the present invention. As illustrated, the system  10  utilizes a digital audio workstation (“DAW”)  12  resident on a host computer  14 . Examples of DAWs that might be utilized include, but are not limited to, the Pro Tools|HD® systems by Digidesign®, a division of Avid Technology, Inc., located at 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, Daly City, Calif. 94014-3886, or Nuendo by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Other DAWs known to those skilled in the art may also be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The host computer  14  may be a standard personal computer (“PC”) or a specially made or adapted computer, processor, or workstation. Also, the components and functions of the host computer  14  could in alternative embodiments be spread out, dispersed, or located on multiple machines, and those machines could be located in multiple geographically dispersed locations. 
     The host computer  14  also contains a machine control  16  which is in operable communication with the DAW  12  and provides control to the host computer  14 . The machine control  16  also allows for a user to interface with the host computer  14  and the DAW  12  software. For example, a user will typically interact with the DAW  12  via the host computers  14  keyboard, mouse, and/or monitor. 
     As illustrated, the host computer  14  will also typically contains a CLASP driver and software  18 . The CLASP driver software  18  provides a graphic user interface (“GUI”) on the display monitor of the DAW host computer  14 . This GUI typically will show the user both peak and volume unit (“VU”) style level meters for a tape  20  record and playback levels. There will also typically be indicators showing tape  20  usage and calibration settings. Tape  20  speed is also controlled via the software  18 . Other features such as tape  20  noise reduction and variable speed control may also be included. The CLASP driver software  18  will also typically control the monitoring options for the CLASP system  10 . For example, the CLASP driver software  18  will typically allow users to monitor pre-recorded sounds and post-recorded sounds while recording or tracking those sounds. The user will be able to select these, and other features, from a GUI menu. Additionally, the CLASP driver software  18  will allow an artist, musician, or the like recorder to monitor the pre-recorded sounds while the post-recorded analog sounds, which have been converted to a digital signal, are being digitally recorded in the DAW. The CLASP software  18  allows this monitoring to be done with no delay, feedback, or other tape artifacts. 
     The host computer  14  has an interface  22  to allow it to operably communicate with a corresponding interface  24  in a CLASP unit or device  26 . As illustrated, these interfaces  22 ,  24  are firewire ports, but other interfaces, connections, or ports may also be utilized. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) port could also be used to operably connect the host computer  14  with the CLASP unit  26 . 
     While a single CLASP unit  26  is illustrated, in practice, multiple CLASP units  26  may be used together. For example, additional CLASP devices  26  may be added to the system  10  to provide additional tracks per unit. Typically, each CLASP unit  26  will provide eight discrete audio tracks for analog tape signal processing. Accordingly, if a user wanted up to 16 tracks, two CLASP units  26  would be used in unison. Likewise if 24 tracks were desired, three CLASP units  26  would be used. Each CLASP device  26  would be configured to automatically daisy chain together and are thereby in operable communication with the DAW host computer  14 . The CLASP driver software  18  recognizes each unit individually, displays information for each unit  26 , and simultaneously synchronizes all the CLASP devices  26 . 
     Typically the CLASP unit  26  will be a rack unit or a rack mounted unit, however, it may equally be configured so as to be a stand alone unit, capable of resting on a table, the floor, or other support structure. When rack mounted, each CLASP device  26  is typically housed in a standard nineteen inch rack that utilizes very little space and provides for silent operation. Also, while the DAW host computer  14  and the CLASP unit  24  will generally be located in the same vicinity, like in the same recording studio or room, these components could also be physically separated, either in different parts of a room, different rooms of building, or even in different geographical locations. 
     The CLASP unit  26  typically includes a CLASP firmware and tape transport control interface  28 . The firmware or microprogram  28  is typically stored in the read only memory (“ROM”) of the CLASP unit  26 . The CLASP unit  24  also typically contains an analog to digital (“A/D”) converter, a digital to analog (“D/A”) converter, various amplifiers  34 ,  36 ,  38 , a monitoring control  40 , and other components or circuitry known to those skilled in the art. The CLASP unit  26  may also contain a replace tape indicator  42 , however this indicator  42  could also reside in another part of the system  10 , for example in the GUI of the CLASP software  18  on the host computer  14 . 
     As illustrated, the CLASP unit  26  is in operable communication with a tape recorder transport unit  44 . As illustrated, the tape recorder transport unit  44  is further comprised of a tape mechanism transport  46  and a control unit  48 . The tape recorder transport unit  44 , the tape mechanism transport  46 , and the control unit  48  may be configured as separate components, or may be integrated together. For example the tape recorder transport unit  44  or the tape mechanism transport  46  may be internal or part of the CLASP unit  26 , or may exist as external components, separate and apart from the CLASP unit  26 . In a configurations where the tape recorder transport  44  is an external component, a reel-to-reel multi track tape recorder such as is known to those skilled in the art (e.g., Otari Model No. MTR-90 MKII 2, available at Otari, 4-33-3 Kokuryo-cho Chofu-shi Tokyo 182-0022 Japan, Studer Model No. A-827, available at Studer, Althardstrasse 30 CH-8105 Regensdorf Switzerland, or the like) could be configured to be operably controlled by a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (“MIDI”) machine control protocol, a Sony  9  pin control protocol, or a like control protocol to interface with the CLASP unit  26 . 
     The tape mechanism transport  46  may be a standard transport mechanism known to those skilled in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the transport mechanism used with a Video Home System (“VHS”) tape might be utilized. In other words, the analog audio tape  20  may be fashioned in a video cassette type of tape cartridge, but the tape will be adapted or formulated for analog or optimal analog audio recording. The tape  20  is typically housed in a removable cartridge for easy tape exchange. Typically, the tape will be a half inch in width, but other sizes may also be used. For example, if a cassette tape format was used, the tape would have a width of about an eighth of an inch. The tape may be in the form of an endless loop  50  cartridge that loops around two reels  52 ,  54 , or a standard reel-to-reel  52   a ,  54   a  cartridge, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In embodiments where the tape mechanism transport  46   a  uses a non-endless loop tape, an endless tape loop effect may also be achieved by using two or more sets of tapes or tape cartridges. In other words, while one tape was recording or standing by to record, the other tape would be rewinding to allow for it to begin recording when the first tape was full. Multiple tape mechanism transports  46   a  would be unitized and synchronized to allow for a seamless recording experience. If a recorded tape was desired to be kept for archival or other purposes, a user may be prompted to replace that tape with a fresh one, while another tape was recording. 
     The tape mechanism transport  46  has a capstan motor  55  which pulls the tape  20  over the tape heads  56 ,  58  and is controlled by the CLASP driver software  18  via standard a MIDI machine control protocol, a Sony  9  pin control protocol, or a like control protocol. Such a protocol is found standard in most all DAW recording systems  12 . 
     The tape recorder transport unit  44  also has stationary or rotary heads  60 ,  62 ,  64  which are operationally in contact with the tape  20 . As illustrated, there is a separate record head  60 , playback or reproduction (“repro”) head  62 , and erase head  64 , however, one or more of these heads  60 ,  62 ,  64  could be configured into a single head. The tape recorder transport unit  44  will also have other components and circuitry known to those skilled in the art. 
     The control unit  48 , as illustrated, is comprised of a tape transport control and interface  66  and a tape revolution counter  68 . The control unit  48 , and more specifically, the tape transport and interface  66  is in operable communication with the tape mechanism transport  46 . The tape transport control and interface  66  is also in operable communication with the CLASP firmware  28  and provides an interface to and control of the tape mechanism transport  46 . Also, while the control unit  48  is illustrated as a separate component of the tape recorder transport unit  44 , it, or some of its components thereof, could also be located in other places of the system  10 . For example, it or some of its components could also be located in the CLASP unit  26 . 
     While the drawing illustrates the inclusion of a tape revolution counter  68  is in the control unit  48 , in alternative embodiments, particularly those that do not utilize a closed or endless loop tape configuration, the tape revolution counter  68  may be omitted. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the tape revolution counter  68 , or like counter, may be still be utilized in non-endless tape configurations to monitor when a tape is nearing its end and/or may need to be replaced. In embodiments that use a closed or endless loop tape  20 , as illustrated, the tape revolution counter  68  monitors the revolutions or rotations of the tape  20 . The tape revolution counter  68  is in operable communication with the CLASP firmware  28  and also with the replace tape indicator  42 . Thus, the input from the tape revolution counter  68  to the CLASP firmware  28  is used to determine when to activate the replace tape indicator  42 . While the drawings illustrate and it is herein described that the tape revolution counter  68  provides this input to the CLASP firmware  28  by counting the number of rotations or revolutions of the tape  20 , other means of determining when the tape  20  should be replaced may also be utilized. For example, a counter could measure the distance the tape  20  has traveled, the amount of time the tape  20  has been in use, the performance of the tape  20 , the time since the tape  20  was last changed, or other like methods of monitoring the potential wear on the tape  20 . Also the CLASP unit  26  may contain a logic circuit that measures how many times the tape  20  passes over the playback and record heads  60 ,  62  and tells the user when it is time to replace the tape  20  or clean the tape heads  60 ,  62 ,  64  and mechanism  46 . 
     In operation, an incoming analog audio input  70  originates from a microphone or other input source which is adapted to receive, capture, or pickup the sounds desired to be recorded. The analog audio input  70  is then typically routed through the record head amplifier  38  which amplifies the incoming audio signal and passes the signal on to either the stationary or rotary record head  60  which is in operational contact with the tape  20 . After the record head  60  records the analog signal onto the tape  20 , the playback head  62 , located in the illustrated embodiment adjacent to the record head  60 , picks up and reads the recorded signal. The playback head signal is then amplified by the playback or reproduction (“repro”) head amplifier  36  and passes through an analog to the A/D converter  30 . The digital signal is then routed to the DAW  12  located on the host computer  14 . A digitally recorded analog music or sound  72  then results from the DAW  12 . 
     During operations, the monitoring control  40  also monitors the analog audio input  70 . The monitoring control  40  is in operable communication with the A/D converter  30  and allows a user to thus monitor both the pre-recorded as well as the post-recorded sounds during tracking. 
     The time delay from the record head  38  to the playback head  40  is calculated and compensated for by computer software communicating with a CLASP software driver  48  running on the DAW host computer  12 . This ensures that CLASP over dubbed tracks are time and phase aligned for playback synchronization. This results in an invisible and seamless analog recording experience because the signals just seem to pass through the CLASP device  26  and onto the DAW  12  hard disk recorder. 
     In a closed or endless tape embodiment, after the tape  20  passes over the playback head  62 , it then passes over an erase head  64  that erases the audio that was just recorded on that section of the endless tape  20 . The endless loop tape  20  is thus able to be recycled and loop to start the process all over again. Similarly, a non-endless loop tape  20  may also pass over the erase head  64  after the recorded analog audio sound is picked up by the playback head  62 . This may be particularly desirable in embodiments where multiple tapes  20  and multiple tape mechanism transports  46   a  are used in conjunction with one another to simulate an endless loop tape effect. Alternatively, the erase head  64  may be positioned to erase the analog audio tape  20  just prior the tape  20  is being re-recorded. In either case, the erase head  64  allows for one tape  20  to be used to record or be standing by to record while another tape  20  is being prepared to record again. 
     The system  10  uses industry standard MIDI machine control, Sony  9  pin control, or like control, via the CLASP driver software  18  so that the tape  20  is not in motion unless the DAW  12  is operating with record enabled on any given DAW tracks. This helps to prevent unnecessary tape  20  motion when the user is editing or doing any kind of playback that does not involve recording new audio onto DAW tracks. Hence, this helps to extend the life of the tape  20 . 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspect is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative system, apparatus, and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.