We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
Ten
AMERICAN C I NE M A TO GR AP H E R
September, 1926
Ho uo First Uitaphone Film IDas Photographed
1 ^/. S. C. Member Has
Soundproof Booth Built to Prevent Recording Studio Noises.
IF Du Par adapts Camera for Vocal Reproduction Work; Storage Batteries Used for Lights.
An interesting insight into the cinematographic diffi culties which had to be conquered before the new celebrated Vitaphone process, used by Warner Bros., in conjunction with "Don Juan," was reduced to the plane of commercial acceptability is shown in an account of the invention by E. B. Du Par. the A. S. C. member who surmounted its photographic barriers and thus made possible the actual application of the device.
Xoise Cut Out
"First of all," Du Par reports, "the noise incident to the taking of a motion picture made it necessary to shut the camera in a special soundproof booth. With the camera, I was locked in the booth. I shot through a small aperture, and looked out through a small peek hole. However, the construction of the booth does not permit of the booth's occupant to hear anything from without. It is necessary to depend entirely on light signals for starts and fades.
Synchronized
"The camera is run bv a motor which is synchronized with the recording machine
E. B. Du Par, A. S. C, at camera in sound-proof chamber, especially constructed to overcome studio noises in the filming of the first "Vitaphone" presentation , to be shown in conjunction with Warner Brothers' "Don Juan," starring John Barrymore.
motor. Instead of running at the regular speed of 16 pictures per second, we exposed at the rate of 24 per second! The recording machine is so located that it is in another part of the building, far enough away so that no sound can get to the actual place of photographing. The apparatus in the recording room is in charge of a recording expert. Another expert is stationed at the 'mixing panel,' as we call it, his duties being to listen to what is being recorded and also to watch a very sensitive dial
that indicates every little variation of sound. When the dial starts to jump up to a certain mark, he has to vary the amplification on the microphone so as not to cut over certain high notes; high frequencies are apt to make the cutting point on the recorder break through the delicate walls of wax and spoil the record.
Far Removed
"The master recorder," Du Par continues, "was stationed on the sixth floor above us.
(Continued on Page 16)