How to add sound to amateur films (1954)

on as the marked part of the tape approaches the capstan. If your synchronising system does not control the projector speed automatically, get an assistant to do the job for you when recording. You will then be able to watch the screen for the cue from which to time commentary and music. Timing There are several ways in which you can ensure that the recording synchronises with the film. 1. By recording while the film is projected. 2. By preparing a timed cue sheet and subsequently recording without using the projector. 3. By recording a pilot commentary and replacing this piecemeal. These three systems give different results. Although it may appear the simplest method, recording during projection is the most difficult to operate successfully. It is very difficult to avoid recording the noise of the projector. If you go to the trouble of putting the projector in another room, you cannot so readily signal between projectionist, recordist and commentator. Furthermore, it is not easy to record, in a continuous run , the sound for a quarter of an hour of film, or more. Unless you have rehearsed things carefully, you may miss a cue or find yourself with the wrong disc on the turntable. It is also nerve-racking work trying to read a commentary for long periods with correct inflection and timing. Working from Cue Sheets The above criticisms are removed if you time the recording from a cue sheet instead of projecting the film as a guide. A cue sheet for this purpose is generally similar to that on p. 28. However, instead of listing the shots at which the sound must be changed, you indicate the times of the changes. 75