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Movies & Thunder

Subject: Movies & Thunder
From: Wild Sanctuary <>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 08:28:03 -0700
Try the converse, Bill. Screen an action movie with the sound turned off!

BK

>Bernie,
>
>Your comments regarding "craft and art" are well stated and received
>here. I have spent enough time mixing to know the difference subtle
>changes in a mix can mean to the final product.
>
>I am learning a great deal from you and your books, along with the
>discussions in this forum regarding microphone techniques and
>seeking the proper time and location to get the the right recording
>of nature's sounds.
>
>I had no idea that anyone would screen a movie--sound only. 
>Obviously a great deal of the editing is performed dry, without the
>final foley, sound effects, and musical tracks. But reversing the
>experience; what a concept!  I have several DVDs that I will want to
>go listen too.  I won't be able to cut the voice track, but I am
>sure that listening to the audio-only will be most entertaining (and
>educational).
>
>-Bill-
>http://www.experimotion.com
>http://www.wcmsolutions.com
>512 336-0842
>
>
>--- In  Wild Sanctuary <>
>wrote:
>>  Sound recording and sound design (incl. any transformation of the
>>  media from one environment to another) is both the craft and art
>of
>>  illusion. Transforming a cannon or rifle shot or thunder or a
>>  biophony or single bird or frog sound from a live environment to
>>  either analog or DAT or MD media, while, at the same time,
>retaining
>>  the "mind's ear" impact, is the craft. Taking it a step further so
>>  that there is no doubt, no question, no distraction and where the
>>  impact and impression is totally engaging and captivating to the
>>  listener's mind, is the art.
>>
>>  There's often a lot of one. But not often a lot of the other.
>Before
>>  LucasFilm released the recent Star Wars episode, they screened it
>>  with no picture shown. Sound only. They figured if the sound
>design
>>  captured the illusion of action and story, it was worthy of
>release.
>>  Otherwise...
>>
>>  Bernie
>>
>>  >Dan,
>>  >
>>  >I built my first "stereo" system in the mid 50's from HeathKit
>>  >components.  I do recall an early 1812 album that I purchased to
>>  >exploit my new sound system. I am not sure whether it was the mono
>>  >or later stereo version that I enjoyed playing just to listen to
>the
>>  >cannon shots.
>>  >
>>  >Your comments regarding the recording of gunshots are very
>>  >interesting.  It is similar to what (as I understand it) Bernie
>and
>>  >others have stated, that the recording of 'difficult' sounds
>>  >requires a number of techniques that will result in the effect of
>>  >realism in the final recreation, as opposed to the accurate and
>>  >undistorted recording of the original sound.
>>  >
>>  >For those who that have not seen (and heard) "Open Range", I feel
>>  >that it may be worth your while to visit a big screen and listen
>to
>>  >the sound track of this movie.  I am not sure whether it is the
>>  >newly acquired sensitivity to sounds that I have gained from those
>>  >on this forum, or just my new interest in sound recording that
>>  >caused me to focus on listening to this sound track.  I went
>online
>>  >and read a number of reviews of the movie, and others were
>obviously
>>  >moved by the thunder and gunshot sounds.
>>  >
>>  >-Bill-
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >--- In  Dan Dugan <>
>wrote:
>>  >>  Bill Mueller wrote,
>>  >>
>>  >>  >I suspect that gunshots are as difficult
>>  >>  >  >to record and recreate as thunder and surf.
>>  >>
>>  >>  My understanding from the film recordists I work with is that
>the
>>  >>  successful way to record gunshots and door slams is to let the
>>  >>  impulse saturate the hell out of the tape, so that the early
>>  >>  reflections and reverberation are really what's faithfully
>>  >recorded.
>>  >>  This only works with analog tape.
>>  >>
>>  >>  <codger mode> I was doing theatrical sound design in the 60s.
>>  >Mercury
>>  >>  Records came out with a great mono 1812 Overture, which had a
>>  >>  documentary of recording the cannon and bells on the B side.
>That
>>  >>  cannon was a godsend for sound design, much better than the
>  > >available
>>  >>  sound effects LPs. It was heard in a lot of shows!
>>  >>
>>  >>  At some point, Mercury re-recorded the piece in stereo, and
>>  >published
>>  >>  it in the same format. I ran right out to get it, but I was
>very
>>  >>  disappointed in the sound of the new cannon recording. It was a
>>  >puny
>>  >>  crack. I suspect the engineers didn't know the old saturation
>>  >trick,
>>  >>  and recorded the cannon "properly" so the impluse didn't
>distort.
>>  >>  That put the reflections and reverb probably 20 dB down...
>>  ></codger
>>  >>  mode>
>>  >>
>>  >>  -Dan Dugan
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
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>>  >
>>  >
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>>
>>
>>  --
>>  Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
>>  P. O. Box 536
>>  Glen Ellen, CA 95442
>>  707-996-6677 tel
>>  707-996-0280 fax
>>  http://www.wildsanctuary.com
>
>
>
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-- 
Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677 tel
707-996-0280 fax
http://www.wildsanctuary.com


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