American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1949)

Kinevox Is Newest Of Magnetic Film Recorders Designed expressly for recording sound for professional motion pictures, the Kinevox has many exclusive features. TWO VIEWS of the new Kinevox synchronous magnetic film recorder ready for use, with all con¬ trols centralized on front panel (left), and the single-case unit closed (right). Designed especially for recording sound for motion pictures, the Kinevox is ideal for either sound stage or location work. NEED A LARGER SCREEN for your movies? Mount a bed sheet, ironed smooth, on a curtain stretcher. Sheet can be drawn taut and made wrinkle-proof by carefully fastening it to pin points on stretcher frame. • DOBULE-EXPOSED SHOTS are simple to execute if made at beginning of roll of film. Mark start mark directly on film, by removing camera lens and making pencil mark on film. First be sure to allow film to run beyond the serial per¬ forations or leader length. Shoot first exposure, wind back film to beginning with lens capped, then remove lens again and run film until pencil mark appears. At this point, start your second exposure. • TITLE LETTERS of unique design for main titles can be cut out of thin sheets of balsa wood with a razor blade. • A SIMPLE TRANSITION consists of having a person walk right up to camera lens while camera is running, to black out the scene, then walk away from lens to open the following scene. The camera is stopped, of course, after initial “blackout. DRILL HOLES about 3" apart through side of a discarded wooden dress hanger, in¬ sert 12" lengths of wire in holes to pro¬ vide a handy, space-saving rack for short lengths of movie film that has been processed or developed. TO PROJECT LARGER pictures with your present projection lens, fit an extension tube, three to five inches in length, in front of lens and attach an 8 diopter spectacle lens over front of the tube, using cement or scotch tape. • MOST EXPOSURE METERS can be made to read f/ stops directly by placing a piece of adhesive tape over the dial glass and marking the corresponding f/ stops with pen and ink. • AN EFFECTIVE, PORTABLE floodlight unit for shooting movies indoors can be made from an inexpensive suitcase. Line inte¬ rior of case (except lid) with aluminum foil, obtainable in rolls at dime stores. Mount three or four lamp sockets within case to take photoflood lamps. Extend wires from each socket to a single cable extended outside case. DESIGNED and manufactured by motion picture men especially for the motion picture industry, the Kinevox is the newest of synchronous magnetic film recorders for recording sound for 35mm. and 1 6mm. films. It may be operated in synchronization with any 35mm. or 1 6mm. synchro-motor driven cameras. The Kinevox Corporation, makers of the recorder, is headed by Len Roos, A.S.C., builder of sound recording equip¬ ment since 1929; William T. Crespinel, former head of the Cinecolor Corpora¬ tion, and Ben Levin. The Kinevox is virtually the end re¬ sult of research and development by nine engineers, according to Roos. “A detailed survey was made among the leading sound engineers and technicians of Holly¬ wood studios,” said Roos, “to determine what features they most desired in a magnetic recorder. This aided materially in the ultimate design of the Kinevox.” Now that magnetic recording has been developed to the point where it is con¬ sidered every bit as good, or even better than, optical recording, it is being used increasingly by major studios as a time, film and money saver. Ultimately, it is expected that magnetic recorders such as the Kinevox will supplant optical re¬ cording apparatus for motion pictures altogether. Current cost of magnetic film used in the Kinevox is $20.00 to $30.00 per thousand feet cheaper than the cost of IOOO feet of processed sound track nega¬ tive, plus icoo feet of print therefrom. Actually, according to Roos, the savings the Kinevox makes possible on a single major film production will more than pay for the recorder. The Kinevox is a compact single case unit with an overall measurement of 18" by 17" by 1 1 ", making it ideal for use in remote or difficult locations. Net weight is approximately 50 lbs. Because of its compact size, it is easily accommodated in the trunk compartment of an auto¬ mobile. Among salient features of the Kinevox are: It records on 17^2111111. (slit 35mm.) oxide coated film, perforated for stand¬ ard 35mm. film sprockets. Film speed is 90 feet per minute. It has convenient forward and reverse switch that affords immediate erase of NG takes and permits minor editing. Frequency response is said to exceed the Academy motion picture standards. Non-magnetic stainless steel parts insure highest quality performance, according to Roos, who emphasizes that recorder was especially designed for motion picture film recording and is not a re-designed tape recorder. (Continued on Page 294) 292 American Cinematographer August, 1949