Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-11-04
advertisement
HERALDS NEW
ERA OF SOUND
Local Critics Amazed at
GrOenier Demonstration
Friday Night.

pFOuuCLlOn OF SOUND was heraIdod
Friday night with the demonstration
here of the newly invented Ortho-
phonic Talking Machine, whose an
nouncement has created sensation in
musical circles. This instrument
which is declared to represent a 1000
increase in efficiency over the old
type, was exhibited to a group of mu-
sicians, critics, and prominent citi-
zens at a special advance hearing in
Grantland club rooms, arranged by
Lambert Groenier, Victor dealer, as
preliminary to the general public
hearing beginning next Monday
The rmarkable advance represented
by the new instrument, which was de-
veloped jointly by the Victor Talking
Machine Company and the Bell lab
oratories of the Western Electric
Company, was illustrated by playing
it in direct comparison with the old
type. The audience applauded as Sc
lection after selection bore witness
to the greatly increased range, vol
ume, and purity of tone achieved by
the new method.
The Orthophonic Talking Machine
is based upon newly adapted prin-
ciple known as matched impedance,"
which has necessitated the complete
re-designing of the entire instrument.
This electrical principle, which made
possible the performance of long-dis-
lance telephone communication, was
translated into mechanical terms by
the Bell laboratories of the Western
Electric Company and placed at the
disposal of the Victor Company. 1t has
in, iI0o Of
sides doubling the potential volume
of the reproduction and the clearness
with which the various instruments
and voices may be distinguished.
While the exterior of the instru-
ment has undergone no fundamental
change, being enclosed in handsome
walnut cabinet of period design, the
interior is altogether different. One
of the striking features of the new
equipment is a great horn six feet in
length, which is ingeniously folded
and out of sight within the body of
the cabinet. Above it is the usual re-
cord turntable and tone-arm, the lat
ter of new and improved construction.
The sound box is completely changed,
a unique diaphram of duralumin be-
ing substituted for the old mica disc.
''The entire instrument, from needle
to horn opening, has been carefully
designed according to a mathematical
formula based upon the principle of
matched impedance," said Lambert
Groenier who conducted the demon
stration. THUS, by perfect co-ordi-
nation of the various working parts,
one to another, it has been made pos
sible to take the sound impulses from
the needle and to conduct them
smoothly and without distortion into
the air. The result is music undiluted
and undefiled."
Mr.. Groenier explained that hereto
fore there have been three chief de-
fects in the talking machine-limited
range, limited volume, and failure to
bring out clearly the tone color of
the sounds recorded, that indefnable
quality by which it is possible to dis
tinguish between the various instru-
ments or voices even when playing
notes of the same pitch.
''These difficulties" he continued,
"have now been removed. The Ortiz
ophonic Talking Machine is capable of
reproducing sounds as high as the
highest note of the piccolo, or as low
ct0 GlIG uCGpG0I lO1lS VI l11C bcIoo WILL
1t can reproduce these tones as soft
as a whisper, or as loud as shout.
And it can reproduce them in such a
way tht you can readily identify the
notes of the violin, the cornet, the
flute and every other variety of in
strument or voice!
"One Of the greatest achievements
of the new method he said, sis the
successful reproduction of instru-
ments, which before could not be
properly recorded.
"The drum for the first time sounds
like a drum he said. "The harp
sounds like a harp, and the piano, one
of the most difficult of all instruments
to record, comes into its own at last
with an absolutely faithful and meri-
trious reproduction. 1t is obvious
what this will mean to the world of
music"
A varied and comprehensive pro-
gram has been arranged to demon
strate the capacities of the new in
strument in every field. The selections
ranged from vocal solos to full band
and orchestral ensembles, with plen-
tifuI admixture of dance and speciality
selections.
First on the program was the "Sol
diers' Chorus" from Faust, sung by
full male chorus of forty, as against
the maximum number of twenty-five
possible under the old method. This
selection is notable in that it carries
the tenors TO B fiat, and has very
deep and strong bass. After it had
been played first upon the new in
strument and then upon the old,
burst of laughter testified to the strik-
ing contrast in range, volume and
richness of tone. In this case. as in
the following selections, the perform
ance of the Orthophonic Talking Ma
chine was greeted with applause from
the listeners.
The next selection was Paul
Whiteman number-"Pal of My Cradle
Days." a waltz whose deep and melo-
dious tonal gradations contrasted with
the brisk and sparkling vocal duet
which followed. This novelty, Il Miss
Ny SWISS" was sung by the Happiness
Boys, affording a fine example of what
is now possible in the way of cap
turing rapid dialogue and fine nu-
ances of tonal expression The very
difficult reproduction of the IS
was unusually clear