Kinematograph Year Book 1942 (1942)

292 The Kinematograph Year Book. installations include those for ordnance factories and a mobile recording unit for E.N.S.A., which includes two recording machines and its own power supply. The latter equipment is now playing an important part in National Service entertainment for the Forces overseas. Among the notable contributions in 1941 by R.C.A. to the technique of sound recording has been the introduction of " Electronic " mixing, which has already proved a noteworthy addition to High Fidelity sound, equally, but not more important, than the changeover from white light to " ultra-violet " light recording. Experience has shown that there are certain kinds of original material that have to be recorded, which contain a volume range unsuitable for release in the theatres. When a faithful recording of this type of material is played in the average theatre the loud level passages are either too loud or the low level passages too low. If the gain of the reproducing system is set for the low level sounds, the high level ones seem to be exaggerated in loudness, giving a false " blattiness " or " bouncy " quality, while, if the gain is set for the loud passages, the low levels drop below the point of intelligibility. Not only can the intelligibility of the wide volume range material be increased due to the smoothing out action of compression, as shown above, but the average level of the reproduced sound will be raised closer to the peak level, and higher, above film and reproducing system noises. Finally, the overall effect of " compression " (varionic mixing), properly used, is to increase the " smoothness " of recorded dialogue. A new long-shot microphone designed in RCA laboratories is 10 ft. long, and is termed " sound-perspective." It is remarkably sensitive and directional, and is claimed as producing effects as they would be heard by an audience. It is being field-tested on Hollywood lots. RCA Photophone, Ltd. — While " panoramic " sound — -owing to prevailing conditions— cannot yet be made available either to British recorder licensees or theatres equipped by RCA Photophone, Ltd. (first utilised by Walt Disney in "Fantasia"), RCA Recorder licensees have not been backward in taking advantage of advances brought about by the RCA Manufacturing Co. Inc., in America, notably, the new RCA Uni-Directional microphone and the introduction of electronic mixing in recording and re-recording. As to the new RCA Uni-Directional microphone — a welcome addition to existing RCA sound pick-up unit range — both in America and this country, it is recognised as standard. It may be operated at a distance from its amplifier and is arranged for line impedances of 50 ohms and 250 ohms. The even frequency response characteristic gives an added smoothness to dialogue recording, whilst its directive qualities allow greater freedom of movement on " sets," and also a reduction of reverberation when compared with any other conventional microphone. " Electronic mixing " has proved a valuable addition to all equipments now in operation, namely, recorder and re-recorder channels of Warner Bros. Teddington Studios ; H.M. Minister of Information, Crown Film Unit, Denham ; Sound City Studios, Sheppertonon-Thames ; Ealing Studios, W.5 ; N.B.H., Ltd., Rock Studios, Boreham Wood, Elstree ; and Associated British Picture Corporation, Ltd., Studios, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. During the past year, A.B.P.C., Ltd., Welwyn Studios, have installed the latest type RCA theatre reproducer and review equipment, including two super " Simplex " rear shutter projectors, two " Strong " arc lamps, synchronous projector driving motors and pre-view attachments with upper film magazines. " March of Time," as also Spectator Short Films, Ltd., both operate RCA light portable recorders. The newest Recorder licensee of RCA is Jack Buchanan, at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, W.6, where the new RCA installation provides highly efficient facilities for recording, re-recording, scoring and review by most modern RCA ultra-violet recorders, incorporating electronic mixing. Two RCA recorder channels are available with considerable flexibility, inasmuch as either may be switched at a moment's notice to either of the