Kinematograph year book (1944)

Film Exhibition and Kinema Technique. 215 SOUND AND SOUND REPRODUCERS WHENEVER the shape of post-war kinema. design and equipment is discussed emphasis is always laid upon the need of more attention being given to the acoustic characteristics of the auditorium and for a more scientific diffusion and control of sound. The initial requirement is being attended to by the architect specialist, while the second is engaging world-wide research of experts. Before America entered the war, considerable progress had been made in the use of methods by which spread and volume range could be controlled. Their efforts to develop characteristics of direction and distance have resulted in the production of recording and reproduction systems in which the functioning of multiple sound tracks is automatically controlled by a sound control track on the film. The original equipment necessary to impart " sound perspective " as used in the RCA " Fantasound " system was, however, too cumbersome, although some excellent results were obtained in experimental presentations, and this company and others have been working on simpler methods based on the same principles. It cannot be expected, however, that any of the systems upon which work is proceeding will be widely installed for many years in the commercial kinemas, although an authoritative view is that when, and if, used in conjunction with stereoscopy, it might prove as revitalising an agency for the kinema as were the talkies. Meanwhile, the practical projectionist continues his duties upon equipment which, in most cases, has given excellent service for a number of years, and on the whole a very efficient job he has made of the sound department. Much of the credit of the few mechanical and electrical breakdowns that have occurred is due to the design and high quality workmanship which went to the making of those sets in general use, but more important than this, in these difficult war days, has been the great efficiency with which maintenance has been effected, which has made possible the relatively satisfactory standard of war-time sound reproduction. Few developments in equipment have been noted during the year, either here or in the States, but research and experimental work continue so far as is possible with the major part of manufacturing facilities being employed on the national effort. Sound apparatus, apart from extensive use for training purposes, is playing an important part in war operation, but plans for post-war apparatus are well advanced. Much of the fruit of these activities cannot be made available to the Trade or even mentioned until after the cessation of hostilities, although many current models embody refinements which have greatly improved reproduction. The considerable amount of business which continues to be done by manufacturers, principally in camp kinemas and elsewhere, has benefited a few of those exhibitors who have received Board of Trade permits for re-equipment in that in some cases they have obtained a certain number of the very latest sound-reproducer equipments. "Wide range systems under their various trade names nowadays generally are predominant. Their efficiency in handling a much greater volume range without distortion, considerably reduced back-stage resonance and greatly improved distribution, are now appreciated as an earnest of future improvements. A feature of modern installations is the steady increase in the power, in relation to the seating capacity of the kinema. This, according to R. H. Cricks, is largely due to improvements in film recording and processing, whereby a wider volume range is obtained on the sound track ; consequently, a greater power is needed to produce the loud passages in the same proportion as the quieter passages. Mr. Cricks says that the limit has probably been reached in the RCA equipment in Leicester Square, which has a speech output of no less than 150 watts. Recommendations of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences call for the following power requirements : up to 400 seats, 10 watts ; 750 seats, 15 watts ; 1,000 seats, 20 watts ; 1,500 seats, 32 watts ; 2,000 seats, 43 watts ; 2,500 seats, 53 watts, and 3,000