American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

Photophone Develops New Panoramic Sound MUCH of the thrilling realism of RCA Fantasound, developed especially for Walt Disney's "Fantasia" may soon be available to neighborhood dime-admission houses as well as metropolitan film palaces through the medium of RCA Panoramic Sound, according to Edward C. Cahill, Photophone Division Manager. Actually a simplified version of RCA Fantasound, RCA Panoramic Sound utilizes auxiliary amplifiers, and loudspeakers to the right and left of the screen, or at other locations in the theatre, and simplified automatic control units installed in standard film sound-heads. The auxiliary equipment is controlled by a special "cue" sound-track on one side of the film. It was developed in the RCA Research Laboratories. Speech is reproduced in the conventional way from a standard sound-track over the regular system. For music, sound-effects and other selected sequences the auxiliary loudspeakers are called upon to reproduce the same program-material supplied to the regular channel. Thus, an orchestra portrayed on the screen sounds as though it were actually on the stage, since the sound comes from as wide a source on the stage as the orchestra itself would occupy. RCA Panoramic Sound principles have been applied experimentally by Warner Bros, in "Santa Fe Trail," now being released. Establishment of film standards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must precede its general release to the industry, Mr. Cahill explained. "Panoramic Sound supplements modern standard sound systems at a small fraction of the cost of the elaborate Fantasound system," Mr. Cahill said. "It does not render obsolete nor unnecessary any component parts of the standard sound system. In fact, in the case of RCA Photophone soundheads, the single attachment required fits into mounting screwholes already provided. Panoramic Sound vitalizes screen entertainment by a practical and not too expensive method." Heart of the system is the control track. (Because of its location along the sprocket holes, this track does not interfere with running the Panoramic film on standard sound-head systems, with the same reproduction as is provided by ordinary sound film.) The degree to which this track is blacked determines when the auxiliary channel feeding the additional amplifiers and loudspeakers comes into play, and how loudly it is made to reproduce. It also controls the amplification of the regular system, thus increasing the dynamic range of the sound reproduction from that part of the system as well. The only alteration to the regular system, other than the simple sound-head attachment, is the insertion of an auxiliary variable-gain amplifier in the link circuit between voltage and power amplifier. Flying Laboratory (Continued from Page 113) veloping, stopping, fixing and rinsing. It took a total of two minutes, 35 seconds to process the film, 30 seconds more to squeegee it, and from 5 to 10 seconds for printing. Now it takes 20 seconds to develop the print, 20 seconds for stop bath, 15 seconds for fixing, and 5 seconds for rinse. Drying the print is eliminated because the paper used is wax-treated so that it sheds surplus moisture. The print is thus immediately ready to be placed in a light metal tube container with sponge rubber shock absorbers, and dropped over the side to the ground. The time totals 4 minutes and 15 seconds. Wright Field officials have clocked the complete process in under five minutes, including the time required for transferring the negative and print through the various stages of the processing. Quick photography, Air Corps style, has been a subject of research ever since days of the old McCook Field laboratories in Dayton in the early 1920's. The first quick photograph of unusual significance was made by Major George W. Goddard, head of the laboratory, and cameraman Ben Thomas, also of the. laboratory. It was a picture for President Coolidge, made at Dayton, from an airplane. The plane followed the presidential train to nearby Xenia, where the finished print was dropped to the station and handed to the president. In 1929 Air Corps photographers made night pictures over Washington, processed them in the air and dropped them to be telephotoed to eight cities in this country. Yet another display of quick photography, was in 1930 when the city of Sacramento, California, was photographed from the air, a negative was developed within 12 minutes in the plane and was dropped to waiting newsmen. The photograph was reproduced in a newspaper which was on the streets within an hour! Then in April, 1940, at Wright Field, a demonstration of quick photography, using the direct positive method, was broadcast over the radio network as part of the celebration of Army Day. While the idea is not new, the presentday speed of the process clearly indicates improved methods and equipment. And the end is not yet; the photographic laboratory has more tricks in its bag. A new type photographic paperholder is being experimentally produced, which will eliminate the need for the hood over the printer. The new holder will have the sensitized paper pasted in place, so that it can be laid on the contact surface, the top can be brought down, and then the slide pulled from the holder to make the exposure. As soon I as the exposure is completed, and the ! paper is processed in the four tanks, I holder and all can be dropped to the 1 ground, with a streamer attached, thus i making unnecessary the use of the container. The new holder will be of plastic, or some similar material that ; may be discarded without great loss, after a single use. The laboratory men are continuing to ! work, too, on papers, films and chemicals to obtain still higher speeds. Eventually it is possible that the direct positive method will again be used, assum i ing that the limited emulsions, now the best obtainable, can be superseded by new emulsions which will give a wider range of daylight hours and a wider range of exposure. Decidedly, when the Army's flying photographers go out to make a shot, they not only bring it back — but bring it back in a hurry! Showcase (Continued from Page 125) 10 watts, and operates only on alternating current, 50 to 60 cycle, 100 to 125 volts. Projector and speaker are built into one compact case divided into two sections, one of which houses the 10-inch permanent-magnet speaker, the other serving as a platform for the projector. Space for the 1600-foot reel and the usual accessory equipment is provided in the case. Other features of this projector include an oil-floated flywheel to assure uniform movement of the film past the sound gate, even, it is stated, when there are minor fluctuations of line current; fidelity control for accurate focusing of the sound-scanning beam when either original or reversal-duplicate films are used; a high-low switch for various line voltages, and similar modern refinement?. The other models include these basic features, plus various other mechanical and operating refinements. Model F, for example, operates on either A.C. or D.C. over the same range of frequency and voltage as the Model FS-10 but includes a built-in motor-generator to create the right type of current for each of the various electrical units. It also has an electro-dynamic speaker, and a jack for microphone or phonograph pickup. Furnished in two cases, the speaker-case has brackets to hold a projection-screen. Model FB is similar in construction to the Model F, but is mounted in a soundproofed blimp. Top of case conceals 4-inch supporting legs and lifts projector to proper level for clearance of 1600foot reels. Model FB-25 is similar to Model FB, but is available with either a single 12-inch permanent-magnet speaker or with two of tnese units, allowing the full rated amplifier-capacity of 25 watts to be used. It also has a jack for microphone or phonograph pick-up. Model FB-40 is almost identical in appearance with FB-25, but has rat d capacity of 40 watts, operates only on 144 March, 1941 American Cinematographer