American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1949)

BOASTINC a recording range from 40 to 10,500 cycles, plus or minus 2 db., this precision-made recorder has built-in monitoring facilities, uses slit 35mm. oxide coated film perforated for the recorder’s sprocket drive. PORTABILITY and light weight are salient features. Recorder and amplifier are housed in two handsome leather-covered carry¬ ing cases. Net weight of both is ninety pounds. Magnetic Recorder A Synchronous The new Hallen recorder may be synchronized with any 35mm. or 16mm. synchro-motor driven camera; records sound on perforated, oxide coated 17V2mm. film. By RALPH LAWTON THE SWIFT development of magnetic recording during the past few years has opened up vast new possibilities in the field of sound recording for motion pictures. Today it is possible for the ex¬ plorer, the lecture film producer and mak¬ e's of industrial, newsreel and television films — even Hollywood studios — to re¬ cord sound for films never before feas¬ ible with cumbersome optical sound equipment. Magnetic recorders, being compact and in most cases portable, can be easily transported along with camera equipment to the most remote and here¬ tofore virtually inaccessible spots. For western location filming they are ideal. The Hallen Corporation, of Burbank, California, headed by Len Roos, A.S.C., has pioneered in the development of magnetic sound recorders for use in the production of motion pictures, and now has a portable magnetic recorder in pro¬ duction which records sound on oxide coated film 1714mm. wide with standard 14 ® American Cinematographer perforations. One of the first recorders to use perforated film, it affords fully synchronized sound, may be operated in synchronization with any 35mm. or 16mm. synchro-motor driven cameras. Roos, in addition to being an ace cine¬ matographer of many years’ experience, is also a pioneer in the field of sound recording. In 1929 he designed and be¬ gan manufacturing and distribution of the Tanar single system optical film re¬ corders which were sold the world over. Having travelled far and wide during his career as a photographer, during which time he produced motion pictures with all kinds and types of sound equipment, Roos knows from actual experience the location photographer’s problems and how well portable magnetic recording fits his needs. In addition to many years of research on magnetic recording. Roos spent more than a year in engineering the Hal¬ len recorder to its present state of per • January, 1949 fection. The recorder is now in produc¬ tion and despite the meager rumors of its existence emanating out of Hollywood — Roos preferred not to announce it un¬ til all was in readiness for uninterrupted production — the Hallen Corporation al¬ ready has orders on hand from cinema¬ tographers and film producers in South America, Philippines, Alaska, Israel, Italy and China. James Wong Howe, A.S.C., will use one when he resumes produc¬ tion of Rickshaw Boy" in China next year. The complete recording unit, which is pictured on this page, comprises the re¬ corder and amplifier, each in its own durable, leather-covered carrying case. Total weight of the two pieces is ninety pounds. The recorder is ruggedly con¬ structed and designed to operate with high precision in any clime and under any conditions. Roos has concentrated on the perforated oxide coated film as the medium for recording because it affords the only means of assuring absolute syn¬ chronism. Unperforated tape recorders present problems of slippage in the film transporting mechanism, which cannot oc¬ cur where perforated film and sprockets are used. The precision machining of parts is also an important factor contributing to the quality of magnetic recording, and ( Continued on Page 32)