[78-L] Willie the Whale (was Changing Speeds) how did they do that?!

[Michael Biel]

  On 9/18/2010 5:20 PM, Rodger Holtin wrote:
> Right - and it's the "speed they've calculated the new track needs to be recorded" at that is the big question for me.

In the film world they measure in feet per minute.  Standard 24 frame 
35mm film runs at 90 feet per minute (18 inches per second).  The verbal 
slates on the WOOz recordings announce the feet per minute the film is 
running at.  To stay on key they sing in whatever key the orchestral or 
piano track come at them in the headphones.  If they had infinitely 
variable equipment they could match that playback to piano notes by the 
arranger.   Modern Harmonizers like the Eventide actually have their 
readouts calculated in key pitches, and there are charts for calculating 
from percentages to keys.  Half and double speed are easy because that 
is exactly one octave.

Mike Biel mbiel at mbiel.com
>   
> Admittedly I have no idea why a dummy like me would be asking a math question when I won't be able to comprehend the answer, but still it's a fascinating subject.
>   
> It's also true that they had to do this with non-standard speeds, that is there was no such thing as simply doubling or halving or 78 to 45 etc etc.  It had to be infinitely variable, and surely that is covered in the Wizard of Oz documentary.
>
> Rodger
>
> For Best Results use Victor Needles.
>
> .
>
> --- On Sat, 9/18/10, Michael Biel<mbiel at mbiel.com>  wrote:
>
>
> From: Michael Biel<mbiel at mbiel.com>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Willie the Whale (was Changing Speeds) how did they do that?!
> To: "78-L Mail List"<78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010, 3:13 PM
>
>
>    On 9/18/2010 3:56 PM, Rodger Holtin wrote:
>> In a similar subject germane to altering pitches by altering playback speeds for film or disc, I've often wondered how Disney manipulated Nelson Eddy to keep the tempo on tick
> HEADPHONES!!  The orchestra track is played back at the speed they've
> calculated the new track needs to be recorded at.  As I mentioned
> earlier, there are recording session tracks in the audio sections of The
> Wizard of Oz which demonstrate how it is done.
>
> Mike Biel   mbiel at mbiel.com
>
>> and still alter the voice quality from alley cat to basso profundo.  Amazing trickery for the  time, but any kid today can do it with a few mouse clicks.
>>
>> Rodger