Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1949)

102 SINGLE TURNTABLE SOUND With a simple record changer, amplifier and speaker, you can add disc sound for less than eighty dollars OSCAR KELLER, ACL Photographs by Osrar Keller, ACL 1. SCREEN END of author's cellar theatre shows draw curtains controlled from booth, with loudspeaker at the upper right. iMpflBH, 2. PROJECTION booth, or office, is cut off from theatre by plywood partition. Pictures shield projection and sight ports. MANY magic properties have been attributed to music by the poets — including, I believe, taming the furious beast. As to this latter quality I cannot testify, never having undertaken the operation. It can, however, be stated confidently that appropriate music adds immeasurably to the pleasure derived from viewing good home movies. I find, for example, that eight of the Ten Best films of 1948 — including the Maxim Award winner — had musical or sound accompaniment. DOUBLE OR SINGLE TABLES By far the most popular way of providing music for home movies is via the double turntable. And it is probably the best way if you can afford it. However, the cost of such an outfit generally runs from $130 upwards. Furthermore, it usually requires for its manipulation the full attention of one person. In contrast, my combination, consisting of an automatic record changer, amplifier, speaker and microphone, costs less than $80. It has, I believe, the following advantages: It is relatively inexpensive. It is easy to manipulate. It is versatile. With it. the projectionist can handle with ease the musical accompaniment, the projector and also can deliver his narrative by means of the microphone. When not used for music with movies, the outfit can be used to provide music for dances, parties and the like; it can be used also as a simple public address system. Finally, should the movie maker possess a sound projector, only the record changer is necessary, thus cutting the cost to about 3. MICROPHONE, amplifier, projector and opened portholes are seen above. Still enlarger, editing shelves are in background. THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED Following is a list of the exact units comprising my combination: 1. Webster Model 70 record changer $42.34 2. Metal base for the record changer 3.45 3. Lafayette single speaker permanent sound system consisting of 8 watt amplifier, 8 inch P.M. speaker, table top microphone and cables 33.90 These units, or ones similar to them, are available from electrical or radio supply houses. Specifically, my purchases were made at Lafayette Radio Corporation, 100 Sixth Avenue, New York City. THE RECORD CHANGER The arrangement of the units is indicated in the accompanying diagram. The record changer plays 10 and 12 inch records intermixed, provides up to 45 minutes of uninterrupted music and stops automatically after the last record. It also possesses a reject button by means of which records can be changed to fit the mood of the film. It takes three to four seconds for the completion of the changing cycle, or the length of the average title. By arranging the records in proper sequence in two stacks, it is possible to show a 1600 foot 16mm. picture I about one hour long) with only one change of the stacks. Changing the stacks takes about ten to fifteen seconds. I have built a box (picture 7 J for the record changer out of half inch plywood. This can be lined with felt, further to deaden the sound of the falling records when the changer goes through the cycle. The reject button can be operated by means of a plunger ( one aluminum leg of a table top tripod) through a hole drilled in the cover of the box and supported by a spring (pictures 4 and 7) . The changer is connected to the amplifier by means of shielded microphone wire. The amplifier then can be connected to the speaker by two-conductor electric wire. In case of the sound-andsilent projector, the changer can be connected directly to the microphone input of the projector.