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From: galetti@uservx.afwl.af.mil
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: Perfect Pitch
Message-ID: <1991Mar28.145332.21384@uservx.afwl.af.mil>
Date: 28 Mar 91 14:53:31 GMT
References: <1991Mar19.082948.10987@athena.mit.edu> <3722@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP>  <32083@mimsy.umd.edu>
Organization: Phillips Laboratory - Kirtland AFB
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In article <32083@mimsy.umd.edu>, ogata@leviathan.cs.umd.edu (Jefferson Ogata) writes:
> In article <1991Mar24.122605.8262@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca> curt@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca (Curt J. Sampson) writes:
> |> In article <27ec3160.9d3@petunia.CalPoly.EDU>
> |> jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck) writes:
> |> 
> |> > From the technical standpoint, it is VERY difficult to maintain the correct
> |> > pitch of recordings that are made using tape, and especially cassettes.
> |> > I doubt that any of these alleged pitch changes were intentional.  Now if
> |> > the music was recorded all-digitally using Digital Audio Tape and CD's,
> |> > then one could complain, since there is sufficient control.  But tape
> |> > recorders just aren't that precise, unless every machine along the line
> |> > from the original recording through the radio station has been carefully
> |> > calibrated.
> |> 
> |> Sorry, but professional tape decks of any recent vintage *are* that
> |> precise.  It would be completely unacceptable for a multitrack to
> |> change speed: it would make overdubs impossible since nothing could
> |> be kept in tune.  I have yet to see a reel-to-reel tape deck that
> |> doesn't use a microcontroller-driven PLL or FM capstan (thus making
> |> the speed absolutely constant) in a studio.  Digital tape machines, of
> |> course, cannot have speed problems.
> 
> The problem is not always the consistency of each individual tape deck.
> If the deck always plays at the same speed, it doesn't matter when you
> record and play back on that deck, since the playback speed is the
> same as the recording speed. If you move over to another deck, though,
> the playback speed may now be slightly different. As far as I know,
> quality reel decks are well calibrated so this should never be a
> problem. Many (most?) decks also have a pitch control that can be used
> to adjust for inaccuracies in other decks' recording speeds. I use a
> Tascam 1/4" 8-track reel deck all the time, and the tape speed is
> extremely consistent. I've never heard any drift in the pitch on this
> deck.

I think we're missing the point here.  For the most part, tape players are
pretty good as far as speed goes.  It's the TAPE that gets stretched and 
consequently plays slower.

> --
> Jefferson Ogata        	        ogata@cs.umd.edu
> University Of Maryland          Department of Computer Science
  ___________________________________________________________________________
 /   Ralph Galetti                  Internet:   galetti@uservx.afwl.af.mil   \
|    PL/LITT                        Interests:  computers, music, computers   |
|    Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-6008                and music, golf, sleep.       |
 \______________"I hate cliches--I avoid them like the plague"_______________/