Patent GB-477378-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for preparing a guide to the rhythm and tempo of a particular person's acoustic interpretation of a written text and a process for using same
IPC: G03B31/00
Filed: 1936-03-23
Abstract: 477,378. Recording sound in association with kinematography. BLUM, C. R., and BLUM & CO., GES. March 23, 1936, No. 2030. [Class 40 (ii)] Relates to the production of a kinematograph film with synchronized sound and consists in a method of reproducing in synchronism with a picture sequence showing one person's movements, sound sequences in a language foreign to that used and recorded by the said person. According to the invention, this method consists in first forming a metrical band by incribing on a transparent strip the syllables of the text in the original language spaced at equal distances apart. An initial rhythm band is then formed by passing this transparent strip, together with a blank photo-sensitive strip, through an apparatus for projecting the inscribed syllables on to the blank strip which is thereby printed with the syllables, the relative speeds at which the two strips are passed through the apparatus being controlled to indicate by the resulting varied spacing between the syllables on the strip being printed, an arbitrary but natural rhythm and tempo of the text. This control is effected manually or electrically by rhythmic pulses varying in duration as determined by the rhythm and tempo of the arbitrary but natural rendition of the text. Corresponding texts in the foreign language are then inscribed on the same or other bands with syllables spaced as on the initial rhythm band. A basic rhythm band is then prepared by passing the initial rhythm band or bands past a guide mark at a uniform speed while each text is simultaneously being read by a person in the language in which the text is written, the facial movements of the persons reading the texts being compared for synchronism and coincidence and the bands suitably marked where lack of synchronism occurs. The texts and initial rhythm band or bands are then corrected at such marked parts and the steps of comparison and correction repeated until the aforesaid facial movements coincide and synchronize. A master rhythm band is then prepared by recording the rhythm and tempo of the said person's own interpretation of the corrected text in the original language simultaneously with the taking of the picture sequence and the words of the foreign text are inscribed on a band with syllables variably spaced as determined by the last said rhythm and tempo. The master rhythm band with the foreign text are finally passed by a guide mark at a constant speed while the picture sequence is being projected, whereby the speech of a person reading the foreign text will coincide with the movements of the person in the picture sequence. Fig. 1 shows a metrical band formed from a strip 1 of transparent material marked with equally spaced vertical lines. The words of the original text to be inscribed on the strip are divided into equal syllables of equal length and inscribed on the strip, together, if necessary, with musical notes in such a manner that the vowels and notes on which tonic accents fall are located on the vertical lines. Fig. 4 shows apparatus by which the initial rhythm band 3 shown in Fig. 2 is prepared from this metrical band. The strip 1 and a blank strip 3 of photo-sensitive material are passed in opposite directions through guides 6 and 11, the strip 3 being moved at a constant speed whilst the strip 1 is moved intermittently either manually by a technician operating the key 24 on lever 25 or under the control of electric impulses generated by direct sound and a microphone or by means of a rhythmogram which may be prepared by using one of a number of suitable electric circuits, Figs. 9-15 (not shown). For each intermittent actuation of the strip 1 in either of these manners, a shutter 17, slotted as shown at 28 in Fig. 5, is rotated through a quarter of a revolution so as to allow a momentary passage of light from the lamp 21 through the strip 1, aperture 15, objective 14 and aperture 16 on to the strip 3. The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 may also be employed in the preparation of the master rhythm band. Fig. 7 shows a modification of this apparatus which is employed when it is desired to mark on the band 3 the position where undesired or disturbing noises occur. In this construction, the lever 25 is adapted to operate on a removable extension 34 of one end of a lever 31 pivoted at 32 and carrying at its other end a star 33, which, on actuation of the lever 25, is moved into the path of the rays from lamp 21 and is photographed on the band 3 to indicate the place of correction.