American Cinematographer - September 1990 - 74

weird skids and a boat banging and
groaning against a dock were all com¬

pump,

YOU'LL FIND THERE'S
NOTHING TO CHANGE
ABOUT OUR BL CRYSTAL.

bined in the final mix to create

alarm¬

ing and realistic malfunction. Concerned
that the subtle effect might go unnoticed,
McTiernan requested that an anvil sound
be inserted in order to create the rhyth¬
mic pounding of metal that audiences
would associate with a damaged engine.
With permission to tape in
Disneyland, I recorded rides which sup¬
plied an abundance of metallic elements.

Finally there's a crystal that fits directly
into your camera without making special
adaptations, featuring crystal speeds of
24,25, and 30 fps. And variable speeds
of 5 50 fps. Including a digital readout.
Available exclusively at Roessel CPT:
Call (718) 424-1600 in New York or
(404) 936-9736 in Atlanta.
-

The steel structures of rides such

OVERNIGHT PROCESSING FOR SUPER 8
Super 8 Sound-Burbank is now offering overnight processing of Kodachrome 40 and Ektachrome
160 type A. Film delivered to our Burbank office by 1 O'clock is usually available for pick-up by 1
O'clock the next business day.
Super 8 Sound-Cambridge is now offering same day service on Black and White Super 8 on
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Film delivered to Cambridge by 10 O'Clock is usually available
for pick-up by 4 O'clock that day.

50' and $25.00 per 200'. Return shipping is $5.00 UPS ground and
$10.00 UPS 2nd day and $20.00 for overnight UPS.
Processing is $7.50

per

information contact:

Ifssssass^

Super 8 Sound
W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 (818) 848*5522
95 Harvey St., Cambridge, MA 02140 (617) 876-5876

»■■■■£=*"■■

For

2805

"Space Mountain" experience thousands
of pounds of stress from the centrifugal
force of the cars as they pass sharp turns.
Rides such as this yielded a number of
metal "squeals" and "groans" for shipstress sounds. The hydraulic "clanks" and
various machine sound-loops I made from
the "Star Tours" and "Mission to Mars"

recordings were
which called for

well-suited for scenes
an engine room ambi¬

ence.

One of the goals of the Catal¬
ina Island session was to get underwater

atmosphere. At 150 feet, the mikes picked
up a tanker about five miles in the dis¬
tance. That sound was used for underwa¬

system

ter mood and as a

background submarine

presence. A closer range recording of a
tanker sitting idle was used as a subma¬

rine

atmosphere for exterior shots. About

ten elements went into the underwater

Specialists
in

Production
Sound Equipment
Nagras
Wireless

*
*

Mies
Mixers

ambience,

some

of which

came

from

slowed down bubbles and water entering
the pool.

Through feedback from Patton,
able to come up with ship stresssounds that communicated the shudder-

we were

ings and hull-pops that a nuclear subma¬
actually goes through when diving or
undergoing strong changes in momen¬

rine

Sync Playback

tum. He listened to a number of metal hits

Radio Communications...

and knocks and scrapes, a variety of
which came from the studio construction
site and Disneyland recordings. He then

...and Everything else!

picked out what he thought was closest
Sales

Rental

Service

to sounds heard on actual nuclear subma¬

rines.
over

Having heard ship stress-sounds
of experience he had specific

years

characteristics in mind and, in the end, we
used only about 10 hits out of 100.
▲
The author is
AUDIO SERVICES CORPORATION

Norffi

10639 Riverside Drive
Hollywood, California 91602

(8l8) 98O-989I
Toll-free outside Calif, t -800228-4429
FAX
72

(818)980-9911

owner

of Sera-

fine, Inc., a new sound studio facility in
Venice, California.

American Cinematographer - September 1990

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - September 1990