Evening star., 1935-10-06

cats whisker receiving set of the earl
console receivers of today. Just pic
ture a billiard ball-that black eight
ball-mounted on a long, slender
stand. There you have the new "di-
rectional mike"
Great claims are made for the
broadcasting innovation in so far as
fidelity of studio reproduction is con-
cerned. But quite aside from that
it is apparent that many habits and
practices of radio artists will have to
the new instrument.
The microphone has no front or
back and consequently kills the tradi-
tional phrase standing before the
mike" The directional microphone
actually stands before the performer,
no matter what side of it he happens
to be. 1t has a fiat top, which is
actually the diaphram. 1t can pick
up sound from any direction in the
studio horizontally or vertically. Tests
have shown that only one of the new
mikes is needed to broadcast a large
orchestral or dramatic show in place
of several of the old type.
BECAUSE of this full circular pick
up" it has been found that dra-
matte groups, quartets and vocal en-
sembles need not crouch over this
new type instrument And it isn't
safe for performers to get on the
opposite side of the microphone to
give instructions or talk. The new
mike will pick up their voices no mat
ter where they are.
Some of the earlier stories from
studios in which the new mike has
been placed in use involve artists who
have been much shocked by the ap-
pearance of the device. One per-
former asked a technician how to
sing into that billiard ball" His
answer was sit, stand or lie down if
you want to, it will pick you up all
the same"
Another humorous touch is that the
microphone also resembles . a futur-
istic ash receiver. Engineers in some
of the studios are constantly warn
ing artists not to flick ashes on the
top screen or lay cigarettes on it.
In any event, it seems highly
probable that the new mike-the first
innovation in that line since intro
duction of the velocity or wedge
shaped mike by r. C. A. nearly two
years ago-will revolutionize studio
technique and habits. The micro
phone was first introduced to New
York studios about two weeks ago
by Station WOR, New York.
MILITARY and State Department
officials in Washington are
studying with extreme care what
steps in the preservation of American
neutrality should be taken in the reg
ulation of the highly advanced and
far-hung international network of
radiotelephone and radiotelegraph
communications in the war between
Italy and Ethiopia-or the more seri-
Gus spectre of such conflict embroil-
ing the major powers of Europe.
The exact provisions of the COM
munications regulation would be laid
down only if and when President
Roosevelt should proclaim the neutral
ity of the United States. But under
the communications act of 1884 the
Nations Chief Executive is empow-
cred to impose the most stringent nee
essary regulations or to have the
Government take over and operate
all radio communications stations, in
Guiding broadcaSting, in the event Of
a national emergency-either Amer
ica's own entrance into war or the
preservation of this Nations neu-
trality. This power over the radio
stations under the provisions of the
communications act could be vested
by the President in the Federal Com
munications Commission or in the
Army or Navy or any other Govern
ment agency which he might desig-
nate.
A MOTHER question being surveyed
by the military authorities is the
possibility Of violation of any neutral
ity through high frequency broadcast
ing that could be heard in other parts
Of the world. The Washington Off
ctals are said to have in mind speech