SOUND MOTION PICTURE SYSTEM HAVING CONCENTRATED AUDIO SYSTEM

An audio system having an audio tape drive system and transducer intercoupled in a single unit of concentrated mass with tape contact confined to a short length of one side of the magnetic tape. A magnetic transducer head is mounted within a drive capstan so that both head and capstan contact essentially the same short length of the magnetic tape and a vacuum system is employed to draw the tape against both to thereby concentrate the mass and eliminate spaced tape engaging components so as to reduce tape flutter. Preferably, a capstan drive motor, a capstan, and a vacuum pump are mounted together and operate on an axis passing through the center of the capstan so as to concentrate the mass of the system at this point. The capstan includes peripheral openings designed to overlie one or both of the longitudinal film margins for delivering the vacuum which attracts the tape against both the capstan and the transducer which is located within a slotted portion of the capstan so as to ride on the central portion of the tape during advancement of the latter.