Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October I . 1 OJ 0 M clion P i cti<re N e; 109 M-Q'M Device Adjusts Sound Hollywood — Automatic leveling and adjusting of sound through a "squeeze track" developed hy the company is claimed by M-G-M. This eliminates the danger of marring the projected sound through mistaken handling of the fader, it is asserted. In effect, the idea parallels that of the device used in player piano rolls. The artist plays the roll putting in all his own inflections, volumes, and technique. This is recorded on the roll, so that the next operator has only to follow his guiding line to reproduce absolutely the original work of the great artist. In film presentation, volume of sound has up to now depended on the operator, who is furnished a "cue sheet" which he may or may not follow. Hence in many cases the most careful recording in the tudio is lost in the theatre through the operator's mistakes. It was to aid this situation that the studios recently sent men to every key city to aid the exhibitor in proper sound presentation. The new "squeeze track" control of volume in the theatre is automatic, and eliminates all projection booth mistakes, it is said. It rests on the principle that the volume of photographed sound on film may be reduced by narrowing the strip of graduations that produce the sound. Normally sound is photographed on a strip at the edge of the film eight one-hundredths of an inch wide. In the M-G-M discovery the film strip of this width is used as before the record the sound as it comes from the microphone, this sound being carefully "monitored." Then, when the prints for the exhibitor are made, this sound track is narrowed, to as little as two one-hundredths of an inch, where necessary to keep the proper balance of sound. Narrowing this film strip eliminates or reduces surface and other noises together with the sound volume, M-G-M asserts. When the film is shown in the theatre, the operator need only bring any part of it to the effective volume, and the remainder of the picture automatically stays in proportion. He need never touch his "fader" or sound control apparatus, again for that picture. Under the old system a "cue sheet" came with the picture, instructing the operator to place the sound at this or that level on certain lines or situations. Obviously many mistakes were possible. The new "automatically controlled" sound film is already in use and, engineers at the studios expect, will eventually be used on all M-G-M output. Sues Celotex Firm Chicago — Suit for receivership against Celotex Co. has been filed in Superior Court here by William L. McFetridge, a stockholder. He charges that the president and a "hand-picked board of directors" have betrayed the stockholders' interest and profited secretly to the extent of $10,000,000. "We Mean to Give Exhibitors a Break!" Said Our Sales Manager to the Electrical Research Products, Inc. "We're with You" -said e. r. p. i. That's how the campaign to sell Raytone Flameproof Sound Screens direct to theatre owners started! The exhibitor can now buy direct, at a price free of agents' commissions and middleman's profits, the Raytone Flameproof Sound Screen which the Electrical Research Products, Inc., selected from all other makes as standard equipment for installation of the Western Electric Sound System. Write for sample booklet and see for yourself why the Raytone Flameproof is still the best washable sound screen with a tensile strength greater than any other on the market. FLAMEPROOF SOUND SCREENS SAFEGUARD LIFE AND PROPERTY SCHOONMAKER EQUIPMENT COMPANY Patentees and Sole Mtrs. 611-627 West 43rd Street, New York City When you specify "TRANSVERTER" be sure to include HERTNER GENERATOR CONTROL PANELS AND RHEOSTATS They make the complete and correct combination for your Projection Room. Hertner Control Panels permit you to easily regulate the generator voltage, and will enable you to properly adjust the arc control. ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT and is obtainable at all times as the volt meter used in Hertner Panels is exceedingly reliable. Carefully watched, it will insure economy in current used, as well as satisfactory performance at the arc. "// you show Pictures you need the complete Transverter group of equipment." Canadian Distributors, Perkins Electric. Ltd. THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY Exclusive Manufacturers of the Transverter 12694 ELMWOOD AVENUE CLEVELAND, OHIO, U. S. A.