ebs@mcnc.UUCP (07/12/83)
Although I'm sure that this is not the use for which it was intended,
here's another interesting application of "16 speed". In western music,
the standard which has been used for the last 400 years or so is called
the "tempered scale". In short, this means that the "notes" are adjusted
so that the frequency doubles every 12 notes (aside: if computers had been
around 400 years ago, the number would probably be 16, and the course of
music would have been drastically different). The standard note is generally
considered to be an "A" (440 hertz). This means that 12 notes up is another
"A" at 880 hertz, and 12 notes down is another "A" at 220 hertz.
If one plays a 33 rpm record at 16 rpm, the frequency is halved (actually
multiplied by 16/33). That is, each note on the record will be approximately
one octave (12 notes) lower, and the music will be half as fast. For string
instruments, a slight adjustment in tuning enables one to play along with
a fast/complex song at half speed (I don't know if a similar tuning adjustment
could be made for wind instruments --- why 33 --- why not 32 rpm ? --- then
no adjustment would be necessary). At any rate, for guitar players who want
exact transcriptions of Django Reinhardt's lead solos, or banjo players
for Earl Scruggs, etc, etc...16 rpm is an accidental life saver.
eddie (uncc)jhowe@ihldt.UUCP (07/13/83)
'16' rpm is half of '33' rpm. The true values used are 16 2/3 and 33 1/3. Jeff