International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1937)

April 1937 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 23 E. F. = 8 or X, or Unknown Image = 0.906(1192) 1/10 + 1/40 5/40 1/8 E. To determine the size of screen image when the projection distance, width of film gate aperture, and focal length of lens are known, use, with all -values in inches, the formula: Size of image Width of aperture Dist. from screen to lens — focal length Focal length of lens Given: Width of aperture as .906 inches, distance from screen to lens as 1,200 inches, and focal length of lens 8 inches, we substitute: Unknown screen image (1,200-8) or, 8X = .906 X 1192 = 1080 or, Image — 135 inches = 11'3" F. To determine the focal length necessary for a given picture when the projection distance, width of aperture, and image size are known, use the formula: Width of aperture X projection dist. Width of aperture + size of image = f 0.906 Given: Width of aperture as .906, projection distance as 1,200 inches, and size of image as 135 inches, we substitute: 0.906 X 1200 1087 f = = = 8 in. 0.906 + 135 136 ACADEMY RESEARCH GROUP ADOPTS STANDARD FOR 2-WAY THEATRE REPRODUCING SYSTEMS THE Research Council of the Acad prepared a test reel, containing a 250emy of M. P. Arts and Sciences foot section of release print from each has issued a Technical Bulletin outlin studio, so chosen that the assembled test ing the changes in adjustment of reel contained representative examples theatre reproducing equipment neces of both dialogue and music recordings sary in order to adopt the new Standard made under average as well as extreme Electrical Characteristic for two-way conditions by each studio sound dereproducing systems in theatres. This partment. The Carthay Circle, Grauis one of the most important and far man's Chinese, The Filmarte, Oriental, leaching technical standardizations since Pantages and Warner Brothers theatres, the adoption of the standard aperture in in Hollywood, were chosen as a test 1931, and will permit the theatre to group having divergent characteristics obtain the advantage of the latest studio representative of the entire theatre field, sound recording practice and will result the Committee operating upon a premise in a more uniform sound quality from that a standard which would fit these all producing companies in all theatres, theatres would in general fit at least a This Standard evolved as a result of majority of the theatres throughout the a great variety of sound tests made in country. a large number of theatres. Permanent Improvement Realized As a preliminary stop in their in In the opinion of the Research Coun vestigation leading to the adoption of ^ tWs Standard will give the best re_ this standard, the Academy committee production of the film product from all _,. ~ j j o i studios today, but as improvements are rirst standard Releases made and the reCording characteristics The following current releases are are changed in the studios, similar com typical recordings made to fit the new pensation can easily be made in all Standard Electrical Characteristic for modern theatre equipment at little or two way reproducing systems, and no cost should if the theatre system has been In su'bmitti the t the Research adjusted to the new standard, give opti „ ., u , mum sound in the theatre: Co™01} sta,ted: . , T ^ TT . „ , It has been customary in the past Lost Horizon Col. , . , , . Maytime M-G-M t0 adJust theatre reproducing equipment Swing High, Swing Low .... .Par. t0 satisfy the ears of individual groups. Michael Strogoff RKO To obtain these results, test sound tracks Midnight Taxi 20th-Fox of various characteristics made by the History is Made at Night U. A. separate and many organizations were Top of the Town Univ. used. Since the adjustments made with Green Light War. a sound track from one organization did Releases of all companies following not always meet wjth the approval of those listed above will be recorded to oth th in turn modified their char. lit the standard Characteristic, and the . . . . ■,. adoption of the Standard will result in ftenstic to obtain maximum results a more uniform sound quality from all fl0m thls theatre adjustment, which as companies in all theatres. a consequence, was ever changing. "This practice created a vicious cycle of theatre adjustment and studio compensation adjustment. The studio sound recording departments, in an effort to maintain a desirable overall output in the theatres, have departed from linearity by reducing the modulation at lowfrequencies to offset the rising lowfrequency characteristic which has been present in most reproducing equipments. This Very, Very Efficient Picture Business Lifted from M, P. Daily is appended item, evidently intended to be humorous: When is bicycling legal? Harry H. Buxbaum, sales head of the N. Y. 20th Century-Fox, has the answer. With only 50 prints of "On the Avenue" on hand and 80 bookings this week from practically every important independent circuit, Buxbaum solved the problem by giving official sanction to the circuits to switch prints around from one house to another. Such switching would involve some perfect timing to make all the programs ; but even if it isn't accurate, it's still a good story. Questions: (1) what did the prints look like when they finished these runs? and (2) what kind of inspection did they get when they were returned to the exchange, before reaching the subsequent-runs— immediately following ? This deviation has been found in some cases to be as great as 20 db. "It was finally realized by those familiar with, and responsible for, the successful projection of studio sound recording that this situation was becoming more and more impractical. It is recognized that, in order to obtain the optimum result from studio sound recording, each reproducing system should be made to possess a linear characteristic in its own right, and that the recognition and application of this policy by both branches of the industry will result in a uniform optimum reproduction of recorded sound from all companies and in all theatres." Speedy Change Recommended In concluding the report, the Council recommends that all theatres equipped with two way reproducers adjust their equipment to meet the new Standard Electrical Characteristic as soon as possible, in order to obtain optimum sound in the theatre. The circulation by the Academy of 19,000 copies of this bulletin direct to all theatres in the United States renders unnecessary the inclusion herein of detailed specifications relative to this new standard. In most cases, if not in all, the adjustment will be made by ihe sound service engineer.