D66 Sound recording system without moving parts

UMMOAELEWE

Number of copies 1

Language SPANISH

 

DIONISIO GARRIDO BUENDÍA

SPAIN

 

Sir

 

Our men of Earth with whom we get in touch often, and invariably, ask the same question:

 

If you are so advanced technically:

Why do you not offer us a fraction of your "Science"...?

 

I believe that in earlier reports supplied to Fernando Sesma Manzano we gave ample arguments which, on the other hand, are obvious to any balanced mind.

 

Here, nevertheless, are some of them:

 

If we sent you technical reports on our present equipment, you would be incapable of interpreting them at the physical-Mathematical level at which you find yourselves Today.

 

If we attempt to send reports whose mathematical development borders on present scientific knowledge, (the terrestrial experts) Do not believe in the suitability of their source and do not even deign to analyse them when we vouch for them with our (to them) surprising testimony.

 

If we send those same reports to unprepared men, they are logically incapable of assessing them even though the algorithmic symbolism is the usual one among terrestrial mathematicians.

 

As if the question were not complex enough, we must carefully filter our reports to avoid communicating to you anything that might directly or indirectly harm the rhythm of your progress.

 

Sometimes, however, we resort to an inter­mediate solution. In a "semi-technical" language, accessible to persons of a certain intellectual or technical level, we offer ideas which you can develop USING THE PRESENT MEANS OF TERRESTRIAL SCIENCE.

 

It would be of no use to you, for example, to have the description of a re­ceiver of GRAVITATIONAL WAVES if you do not know, for example, the technique of CIIUULOO (MODULATION) of such frequencies, nor have the accessories for its development.

 

Today we have wished to offer you one of these ideas: In our exploration of this Planet we were powerfully struck by the fact that all the apparatus used for recording and registering sound (Tape recorders, Record players, cinematographic optical systems, thermoplastics etc.) need MOVING mechanical parts and motors to drive them.

 

While dictating one of the latest Reports to Mr. Sesma Manzano, we remembered that we used some ancient apparatus whose technique, with small unimportant variations, might perhaps be usable by Terrestrials.

 

Although we are not overly optimistic that you will take advantage of the system (We have sent dozens of similar Reports with interesting suggestions which, as soon as it was known that their source claimed to be: a group of men coming from another Planet, ended up in the wastepaper basket) we offer it to you once more.

 

But first you must make sure that similar equipment is not already in operation. We do not know of any, so we advise you to take good advice.

 

We offer you the essence of the Idea. We have taken good care that the accessories employed are already on the Terrestrial Market or else, like the special Cathode Tube, can be built using Techniques already known on this Planet. Otherwise our description would be sterile.

 

We have tried to synthesize the Idea as much as possible. Had we offered it to some Electronics Laboratories we would have been more thorough in the technical description, but we are not in the habit of dealing with the Financial Groups of the Earth, which are maintaining on this Planet unjust and criminal economic-social structures for their own benefit. If anyone is to benefit should this idea be accepted, let it be simple men like you. Seek advice, and if such an idea were not viable, we will offer you others.

 

Mr. DIONISIO GARRIDO BUENDÍA

CONFIDENTIAL.

 

Sir:

 

It would be advisable for you to make the attached semi-technical Report known to your interested brothers, reading it in full even at the risk that their lack of training in Electronics should make it unintelligible and arid.

 

You would thus avoid false interpretations of personal selfishness, suspicions that you wish to profit exclusively from the idea.

 

It is advisable, however, that on reaching the paragraph where the question is asked about the possibility that Equipment capable of reproducing sounds without moving Parts exists on this Planet, The brothers give their opinion on the matter before continuing the reading.

 

If any brother of yours should answer in the affirmative he must give testimony about the system used, so as to compare it afterwards with the one we propose to you.

 

We earnestly advise you to INVITE TO THE READING any brother of yours who is an ELECTRONICS ENGINEER or at least a TECHNICIAN IN THE FIELD so that he may objectively express his point of view.

 

We repeat that in our report we have not wished to develop fully the circuit and the other characteristics of the EQUIPMENT but only the idea. So the circuits shown in the graphics are only approximate and indicative, since their real development would be easily solved by terrestrial Experts. It would be ridiculous for us to help you in techniques perfectly well known to Terrestrials.

 

Hence we cannot call the report TECHNICAL. We insist that you can manufacture the components of the Equipment.

 

The most special thing: is the cathode-ray Tube which, as You see, is designed solely for this purpose, so that there is none on the Terrestrial Market that satisfies these characteristics. You will have to design it carefully on the basis of the idea we have offered you.

 

Dictated to the typist

DA 3 son of EYEA 502

CONFIDENTIAL.

 

We have wished to present you and your brothers with a Technical Idea which, it seems to us, has not been registered on Earth (At least we do not know of such apparatus) To make sure, see to it that an Engineer or any Technician in electronics attends your Brotherhood talk. And invite him to express his opinion. Mr. Garrido Buendía will receive further instructions on the matter: Get in touch with him.

 

In the small study we are sending we outline what may turn out to be for you a new system, different from Tape recorders, Disc Players, Optical systems and thermoplastic sound recording.

 

But first you must make quite sure of its originality, since we have only tried to offer you a technique that is very old for us and which you will surely be able to develop with the technical means within your reach.

 

ACCESSORY REPORT.

 

Throughout our History we have used various methods for the recording and reproduction of IXINAA (AUDIBLE FREQUENCIES or SOUND) Before the modern equipment came into use which memorizes voices, music, the various sounds and coded information in small crystals of DIIO (TITANIUM).

 

One of those devices was called IBOTZOOIXINAA. A light beam travelled along a track in AUAIIAUDOO (SPIRAL) on which the sound had been optically inscribed.

 

It has occurred to us to take inspiration from that old apparatus in order to send you an idea of what could be a sound reproduction device which may perhaps be quite new to you.

 

Since you, Mr. Sesma Manzano, are not specialized in Technology, we are sending them to Mr. Dionisio Garrido Buendía, to whom you are bound by friendship. Get in touch with your brother.

 

TECHNIQUES USED ON EARTH TODAY.

 

The recording systems for sound used on EARTH are of very diverse kinds. Recording is carried out following several different criteria and techniques; in synthesis, you pick up acoustic frequencies by means of a transducer that converts the weak pressures exerted on a membrane into variations of electrical voltage. Thus there arises an extraordinary variety of microphones, (magnetic, dynamic; capacitor; dielectric polarization, Carbon, etc.). These weak electrical frequencies, more or less distorted, are ampli­fied by means of electronic circuits (with valves or transistors) until they reach the true RECORDING or REGISTERING equipment: A valve or TRANSISTOR (or else a pair for push - pull circuits) supplies sufficient power for the new transducer.

 

What transducers or recording equipment are used on earth today? Let us make a summary:

 

DYNAMIC RECORDING Recording is carried out on VINYLITE discs ON DISC, or other plastic substances, by means of a sinuous groove that extends over its surface in a spiral trajectory. (MICROGROOVE DISCS).

 

OPTICAL RECORDING. It is carried out on cinematographic films, on a marginal band adapted for this purpose. Sounds are thus translated into a range of opacities which can later be reproduced with the aid of a photoelectric cell.

 

MAGNETIC RECORDING. Registration is carried out on a plastic tape on which a suspension of ferric compounds has been deposited. The magnetization of these small dipoles reflects the acoustic frequencies with a certain exactness. Standard tapes for tape recorders, bands on cinematographic film, tapes for video recorders, discs and drums for computers are used, apart from the old ferric wires now out of use.

 

OTHER TYPES OF Apart from these systems, there have been used

RECORDING. perforated tapes; printed tapes or bands; optical ones by reflection (unlike the normal optical ones in "cinema") and the modern thermoplastic recordings. We should not include the cylinders and discs provided with pins or protuberances used in music boxes (now anachronistic).

 

But what astonishes us is precisely the common characteristic of ALL these systems for recording the voice and Music.

 

ALL without exception NEED moving mechanical parts.

 

ALL require the provision of a motor (electric or clockwork) for their operation.

 

In some cases: such as the recording of DISCS; rotation at constant speed is required. The drive of magnetic tape, thermoplastic tape or cinematographic film demands various complex mechanisms and the corresponding motor.

 

But you know the serious drawbacks of every mechanical system as against the purely ELECTRONIC one.

 

- Losses through RUBBING

- Wear due to FRICTION

- EXCESSIVE INERTIA because of the MASSES brought into play.

 

Before going on, we would like to ask you whether there exists any system on EARTH capable of recording and reproducing sounds (VOICE, CODES) by means of a TOTALLY ELECTRONIC device, TOTALLY free of mechanical parts and motors. Perhaps, not knowing of it, we are guiding you aberrantly, in which case the system we set out to you is perhaps superfluous. A system that has the great advantage of being achievable with the PRESENT TECHNOLOGY KNOWN ON EARTH. (ASK the BROTHERS).

 

The idea we are going to offer you is inspired by our very ancient IBOTZOOININA: In them, an essential element distantly resembles the present cathode-ray tubes used here. We do not wish to lengthen the report by describing them, since the difference of TECHNIQUES would make them unachievable by you. Nevertheless we have thought that: by replacing their components with others from EARTH, the result and its functionality would be similar.

 

We must describe two projects: We shall try to summarize for you the essential idea of both devices, since any engineer or specialized technician could easily solve some accessory parts of them (photoelectric cell, electronic amplifiers, format of the cathode tube, etc. etc.).

 

PROJECT FOR THE SOUND REGISTERING EQUIPMENT (Recording)

 

The design of a cathode tube meeting the conditions demanded by the project is required. The modulation of the electron beam would be carried out either by means of the grid (Wehnelt) or of the anodes. An indispensable condition (as you may suppose) is that the (IBOZOO) (Spot) on the fluorescent screen be of minimum calibre, cancelling every secondary radiation effect: For example the equipment would be unachievable if you could not neutralize by means of "Phonic traps" what you call the ION SPOT. (But according to our information: you have already achieved this).

 

The IBOZOO (Spot or POINT) must be of constant diameter. Only its intensity may vary between zero and the limit value.

 

You can carry out the deflection of the beam by means of electrostatic deflector plates and for convenience of description we shall do so. In practice it will be necessary to replace this deflection by electromagnetic deflection, using yokes similar to those of picture tubes for Television. The fineness of the spot will naturally require you to make a prior study of what you call the "phosphor" of the screen, or suitable fluo­rescent substance, whose grain calibre must be adapted to these requirements. The focusing of the cathode beam must be more exact than that a­chieved in picture tubes or in the analysis oscilloscopes used here, but these secondary problems, which technicians can feasibly solve, must not divert us from the primary objective.

 

OPTICAL REGISTER.

 

If you analyse the system you will observe that it uses three basic ideas brought together in the equipment

 

(1st). An optical register: by means of an image recorded on a normal photographic plate (plastic base and silver-salt emulsion) which needs to be developed for its later repro­duction, using reversible emulsions (if desired direct) or negative: to obtain copies.

 

(2nd) An image scan which we judge must be spiral.

 

(3rd) The photographic plate is motionless, unlike in the optical recording of cinematographic films. It is the cathode beam (of almost zero inertia) and not a mechanical part, which carries out the recording.

 

IMAGE 1

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUIPMENT.

 

You can perfectly distinguish three parts in the equipment: An amplifier circuit: The characteristics of this electronic circuit need not differ to any greater degree from the VIDEO AMPLIFIER CIRCUITS you have already studied. In the graphic we include (IMAGE 1) we have shown one of them without specifying values. It is needless to point out that transistors or valves can be used indiscriminately. We also accept that an amplifier whose fidelity of response extends to such a wide range of frequencies (from 10 cycles to 4 megacycles) is not indispensable, since in practice this range would be restricted only to the audible frequencies, whose highest harmonics do not exceed 25,000 cycles per second).

 

Not even a total absence of phase distortion is required, since the ear of the OEMII (human body) is not very sensitive to such an anomaly. ( ) It is a microphone preamplifier whose characteristics will of course depend on the phono-electric Transducer (MICROPHONE) used by the apparatus.

 

SCANNING CIRCUIT.

 

Just as in Television you use, for the deflection of the cathode beam, wave-generating circuits in the form of a "saw tooth" as you call them, it would be advisable that you did not carry out the scanning of the screen with the double trace of that system but with an AUAIIAUOO trajectory (Called on EARTH: Archimedean Spiral).

 

You have already designed various oscillator circuits which, driving both pairs of deflector coils or deflector plates, obtain a spiral scanning trace.

 

We suggest to you the following procedure: which would simplify obtaining the spiral scan.

 

The deflector plates (on the left) (image 2) marked with the letter A are acted upon by generators D and Z, capable of supplying a frequency of the form.

 

Generator D V_y = V₀ sin (α)

 

Generator Z V_x = V₀ sin (α + p / 2)

 

Under these conditions the IBOZOO (spot) would describe a perfectly circular trace image 3. If Generator F is capable of oscillating, supplying a "saw tooth" frequency image 4 (and assuming the action of D and E to be zero, the trace would be straight (radial) image 5. (Observe that the deflection is obtained by means of an axial electrode and a deflector plate of truncated-cone shape).

 

 

Combining the three frequencies, and graduating this last one mentioned according to the Spiral pitch desired (This must be very small if a long-duration recording is desired): (Of the order of 0.081 mm.).

 

We shall obtain a spiral trace (image 6) (In reality the drawn image exaggerates the real pitch) (which should be some dozens of terrestrial microns).

 

You now have this equipment described: Its operation is simple to understand and it is easier still if you imagine a microgroove disc in which you replace THE NEEDLE of great mass or inertia by another "electron needle" (cathode beam) which needs no motor to glide at great speed.

 

The microphone picks up the sounds, which are amplified to "drive" the WEHNELT grid of the cathode tube. The variations of sound intensity are thus translated into variations of electronic intensity of the beam. The luminous spot glides along its spiral, while the rhythm of its brightness varies.

 

 

Thus on the plate (UULIIINAA) (Photographic Plate for registering sound) a spiral trace is obtained which, after the normal developing process (It is necessary to use fine-grain photographic emulsion with suitable sensitometry) would present an appearance that we draw in image 7. A trace which will no doubt look to you like the soundtrack of a commercial cinematographic film.

 

It is needless to suggest that to avoid distortions in recording and reproduction, the photographic support must be rigid or at least pro­vided with a protective frame that prevents any aberrant effect resulting from warping of the film.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCTION (LISTENING TO THE SOUND).

 

The same Equipment can be used for reproduction. We sketch the apparatus in (Image 8).

 

The Wehenelt or control grid will not be subjected to voltage variations as in the registering process. This means that the IBO­ZOO (SPOT OR POINT) will keep a rigorously constant regime, its brightness, also gliding along a spiral trajectory of the same characteristics described in the preceding paragraphs, since the regime of the signals generated by the DEFLECTION oscillators will not have varied. (CONSTANCY OF SCANNING FREQUENCY AND MAX. VOLTAGE.) If we now insert the UULIXINAA (OPTICAL-PHONIC PLATE) between the Screen of the Cathode Tube and the disc of equal diameter shown in Image 8, made up of A PHOTOELECTRIC CELL or PHOTORESISTOR, this will pick up the luminous Spot through the recorded optical track, translating its range of opa­cities into electrical signals which will be AMPLIFIED by a transistorized circuit and broadcast by the LOUDSPEAKER.

 

 

To understand it better, Imagine the reproduction process by means of a cinematographic Film (IMAGE 9).

 

 

Here, the exciter lamp has been replaced (IMAGE 10) by the cathode beam, and the photovoltaic detector valve by a photoelectric Cell.