Synthetic Reverberation An Electroöptical System for Controlling the Reverberation of Sound Signals

An electroöptical method of producing reverberation synthetically is described. The method employed consists in recording the original program on the rim of a phosphor-coated disk by means of a modulated light-source and then picking up the continuously decaying sound images after a predetermined time interval by means of photocells. — The exponential decay curve of the phosphorescent substance produces an infinite number of secondary sound impulses to which any desired decay characteristic can be applied. This reverberation signal is then mixed with the original program in the proportion required. — This new reverberation device has been employed in radio broadcasting and can be used in phonograph as well as in motion picture sound recording, where the scenic effect or script requires a type of sound which, due to the deadness of the sound stage, might not readily be available. — This device would replace the use of so-called echo chambers, at the same time introducing an appreciable amount of flexibility without degrading the quality of the original sound.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1939-12

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J01259