History of sound reproduction in movies?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hello,

I'm trying to find factual information about the history of sound
reproduction innovations in movies, and about their effect on "sonical
storytelling" they had in their time; for example, when did movie theaters
adapt stereo systems as a standard, what were the first movies to make good
use of a subwoofer, stereo, or surround sound, what effect surround sound
had on the soundfield created in movies, etc.

Tried googling, but with sparse results. Does anyone know any good websites
which discusses these things? Many, many thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Tommi M." wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm trying to find factual information about the history of sound
> reproduction innovations in movies, and about their effect on "sonical
> storytelling" they had in their time; for example, when did movie theaters
> adapt stereo systems as a standard, what were the first movies to make good
> use of a subwoofer, stereo, or surround sound, what effect surround sound
> had on the soundfield created in movies, etc.
>
> Tried googling, but with sparse results. Does anyone know any good websites
> which discusses these things? Many, many thanks in advance.

I can't answer all your questions but I'll mention one thing that *really* has
helped improve modern film sound.

Way back - there was a thing called the 'Academy Curve'. It was a filter that
rolled off much of the LF and HF content of the film sound track. The idea
being to help signal to noise ratio in ancient times IIRC.

An old friend of mine who 'cut' a few film sound tracks had an 'anti-Academy
Curve' filter that restored some degree of 'flat' frequency response to the
amplification chain in the cinema / theatre. At least one of his sound tracks
got an award. No surprise perhaps ?

Of course all such 'Academy' nonsence disappeared when Dolby turned their
interest to film sound.

In fact try googling dolby and film sound - likely you'll find much there.


Graham

 

[Dave]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Here's a couple for you:
http/www.filmsound.org/film-sound-history/
http/www.equipmentemporium.com/soundtra.htm

dave


"Tommi M." <tomppaaREMOVE@kolumbus.fi> wrote in message
news:cm1j2v$39h$2@phys-news1.kolumbus.fi...
> Hello,
>
> I'm trying to find factual information about the history of sound
> reproduction innovations in movies, and about their effect on "sonical
> storytelling" they had in their time; for example, when did movie theaters
> adapt stereo systems as a standard, what were the first movies to make
> good
> use of a subwoofer, stereo, or surround sound, what effect surround sound
> had on the soundfield created in movies, etc.
>
> Tried googling, but with sparse results. Does anyone know any good
> websites
> which discusses these things? Many, many thanks in advance.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Tommi M." wrote ...
> I'm trying to find factual information about the history of sound
> reproduction innovations in movies,

Note that there is a newsgroup specifically for motion picture sound...
news:rec.arts.movies.production.sound No research would be
complete without asking your questions there.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Not a website, but if you haven't already, get a copy of the American
Film Archives "More Treasures 1894-1931" DVDs, one (disk 1) of which
includes the "Dickson Experimental Sound Film" from 1894, a
restoration of the earliest surviving synchronized sound film. William
K.L. Dickson plays a violin into a Thomas Edison phonograph funnel as
two guys dance in the foreground. The restoration notes are themselves
fascinating (restoration work done by Walter Murch and Lucas) and the
DVD set recommends Richard Abel and Rick Altman, The Sounds of Early
Cinema (Indiana U. Press 2001) for further reading.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

good start here
http/www.widescreenmuseum.com/sound/sound01.htm