The Film Daily (1929)

THE ■awak DAILY Sunday, September 8, 1929 NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FAST GROWING FIELD OF SYNCHRONIZATION SOUND TIPS ON EQUIPMENT AND VARIOUS DEVICES ARE NOW AVAILABLE By CHARLES F. HYNES Rules on Proper Care of Sound Prints Cited by McCullough West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles— With proper care, sound-on-film prints last just as long as silent prints, declares R. H. McCullough, sound expert of Fox West Coast Theaters in an article on the handling of sound film, which appeared in "Now," house organ of the circuit. , "We have advised and instructed every projectionist in our theaters tc handle sound film with great care,' he says, and upon checking into this matter we find that the sound prints last just as long as silent prints. There have been several discussions about the life of sound prints. "The projectors must be kept ir good condition at all times, and proper tension must be applied against the film at the aperture, keeping in mind that excessive tension is one of the many things which, ruins film, as the sprocket perforations will not stand excessive tension. Many theaters have been criticised severely, while projecting not only sound film but silent film as well, about buckling, which causes an in-and-out-offocus effect on the screen. "The practice of handling sound film has been used in the same manner in which silent film has been handled by laboratories, studios and exchanges. Several laboratories have realized responsibility, which rests upon them in handling sound film. It has been pointed out to laboratory executives .hat sound film must receive care and attention. "When speech, music or sound is synchronized on film, great care must lie exercised in developing this film. Sound prints must not be over-developed or under-developed. The microscopic lines, which represent the sound, are developed along with the photog raphy, and if the microscopic lines are over developed it reduces the efficiency of the photo-electric cell to collect these rays and deliver the sound to the amplifier with the same volume as that which film has been developed properly. Many productions havt been run lately with sound synchronized on the film, and many difficulties have been encountered because the volume increased and decreased throughout the production so rap idly that it was almost impossible for the observer to control the volume properly. It is realized that a male voice is much stronger than a female voice, but when the scenes change rapidly from one to another and if when a female voice is heard and the volume is so increased that the voice is "UNEXCELLED SOUND RECORDING" That is the rock-bound guarantee made by the Chromotone Film Studios, Inc. which is completely equipped with the most efficient facilities for EXPERT TALKING PICTURE PRODUCTION Recording on both film and disc, with disc recording at 33 1-3 and 80. We offer producers, independent or otherwise, 1929-1930 methods of recording, not 1928. Our staff is equipped to handle every production detail — everything from script to finished product. Original scores and theme songs. And pictures in natural colors if you want them. WASTING YOUR MONEY THROUGH EXPERT MENTS IS "OUT" -~»-&®M04-l— Chromotone Film Studios, Inc. (Where Good Sound Pictures Are Made) 122 Fifth Ave., New York City Watkins 8536-7 It is just a year since General Talking Pictures was organized to manufacture and distribute De Forest Phonofilm. Only sound-on-film then was made by the company, but Phonodisc soon made its appearance and now is in operation in 500 theaters, as a complement to Phonofilm installations. Here are $50 worth of the disc equipments ready for shipments. very loud and harsh it does not give credit to the actress, and produces a lot of comedy along with the continuity of the story. A step should l>e taken between, the laboratories and cameramen to try and eliminate this difficulty. We do realize that the theaters are entirely responsible for the amount of volume in the Auditorium, and that they are also responsible for the condition and the operation of the sound equipment. The recording in most productions has been very good on film, but the laboratories are held responsible for the density of the film. "We have visited several laboratories and have watched them cutting prints and have found that they handle sound films in the same manner in which silent prints are handled. It was the practice of laboratories when cutting scenes out of silent prints to allow film to be thrown on the floor until they would come to the next scene where they would make the cut. Silent film was not given much attention, as to dirt and dust which collected on the emulsion, and many scratches would appear because of the way this film was handled. Many laboratories have handled sound film in the same manner. It is very apparent that when dirt and dust collect on the sound track, and also when scratches appear on the sound track, all of these things register as the sound track passes over the sound aperture. "We have noticed lately that sound prints, which are synchronized with discs, have been coming through with very poor photography, and upon looking into the matter find that incandescent lighting is being used on sound features in preference to arc lighting. We do know that arc lighting is far superior to the incandescent lighting for producing light. Many theaters have suffered because of the poor photography, and patrons do criticise a production severely when they cannot clearly see the objects on the screen. Most theaters are equipped with the best means of illumination to illuminate the screen properly. It is impossible to shoot through film which is very dark and obtain good results. One of the things which, we believe, should be watched by the laboratories, is that film should not be stretched tightly when placed upon a drying drum to be dried, as when film dries it has a tendency to stretch, and if placed upon the rack after it comes out of the developing process the film will tighten up gradually, and we do believe this has caused considerable buckling. The greatest care should be exercised in handling sound film." New Principle Claimed for Monarch Installation Minneapolis — Declared to be the first installation of its kind in the United States, Monarch sound reproducing equipment has been installed at the Princess. A new principle of speaker engineering is claimed for the installation. New Horn Installed in 175 Houses, Macy Claims New chip board exponential horn placed on the market about nine months ago by the Macy Manufacturing Corp., Brooklyn, has been installed in more than 175 theaters, states J. J. Auerhaan, president of the company. Kennedy Gets Photophone Post Atlanta — R. H. Kennedy has been selected to head RCA-Photophone's Charlotte, N. C, branch, his appointment having been made by H. I. Rosefield, Southern district manager. Kennedy's territory will include the states of North and South Carolina.