optical sound for Super8

[Pedro]

(analouge) optical sound worked very well, I even have a optical sound print (Der Blaue Engel - The Blue Angle) that sounds not so bad. But the frequency range and noise ratio is very limited, can be compared with AM radio. Perhaps, digital encoding would give better results and could be coupeled directly to optical sound projectors (several Elmo models).

But why so complicated, when we have magnetic sound? When handeled correct, there must not be too much tape hiss etc and a really good quality is achievable, at least at 24 fps.

Live sound can be recorded separatly with digital cable or radio remote synchronisation, even better that single system sound, because editing is more flexible.

Complex sound editing can be done with a multi-chanel tape deck and perforated tape (up to 8 tracks in parallel possible!), or you can substitue the tape deck with a computer and a NLE or sound editor software.

Film/audio playback or transfer to sound stripe can be achieved when running the projector crystal synced or ditital synced (from perfo tape).

I think, there is no reason to complicate the editing process more than it is or to dream of nearly inaffordable equipment modifications.

Pedro

[David M. Leugers]

I agree Pedro. I often think about 16mm mag stripe. It was very convenient and saved alot of money to have a print made on pre-striped filmstock and then record your track onto the mag stripe with your own projector. Better yet, the sound track produced on the mag stripe was so superior to what you could achieve with an optical track it was not funny. 16mm mag stripe is wide enough and at 24fps it traveled fast enough to give you real high fidelty sound. Since most of my films soundtracks were just music, this was the way to go. Sad day when Kodak quit manufacturing mag-stripe film...

David M. Leugers

[Pedro]

Nowadays, magnetic stripe is available by ORWO, besides some rest stock of Agfa F5. At least for S8, there is absolutly no problem to get all what is neccessary for magnetic striping of the final film. (cement, 0,8 mm stripe and 0,45 mm stripe).
Striping after the film editing is normally better, as the risk of drop-outs at splices is far smaller.
Pedro