|
Author
|
Topic: Sound effects for SPR and Star Wars...
|
Jack
|
posted 04-08-1999 10:03 PM
I'd like to find out how the sound fx in Saving Private Ryan and all the Star Wars films where made. Does anyone know of a web page that has that info on it? Thank ya.  ------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS |
Jack
|
posted 04-11-1999 09:02 PM
there's going to be an atomic explosion if i can't get some info soon. Quick! give me any info you know about the above post! no time for doddling!! (doddling? what the hell?------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
|
Jay
|
posted 04-12-1999 01:41 AM
I'm actually writing a paper on the sound FX for Star Wars, in comparison to Kubrick's 2001 for my Sound For Film class. Is there any specific effect that you had in mind? There are litteraly thousands in just the first one alone. But I could try to find out, if you new which ones you wanted. Most of all however, sci-fi sound effects are just a bunch of foley artist being very imaginative, and since you said you wanted info, I'll feel free to ramble on right here.The sound of the liquid alien guy in Termiator 2 melting and walking through stuff was made by wraping a $3,000 condenser mic in a condom and dropping it into a bucket of jello. If that doesn't demonstrate the weird crap thats done to get sound FX, than I don't know what does. Another example is that the dino growls in Jurrasic Park were made by layering the sounds of 14 different wild animals growling in a computer and dropping the pitch about a half an octave. I'm re-making the sound for Peter Jackson's Bad Taste as a project for school now and I have found that most of the fx I want can be found on a keyboard or off fx CDs. Except in one case, an alien's head is being slowly ripped off. For this, I put a mic next to two strips of velcro, pulled slowly and dropped the pitch in a computer sound program to make the ripping sound. I'm actually thinking about building a studio in my house for doing nothing but sound FX (in case you didn't know, this is called a foley studio). Anyway, if you have any specific question about Star Wars FX, or sound FX, or sound in general, feel free to e-mail. I know a little bit about this stuff. Jay |
Cadaber
|
posted 04-12-1999 11:54 AM
Jay:
How did they do the lightsaber sounds?
|
Jay
|
posted 04-13-1999 05:36 AM
I read that somewhere the other day, but I can't remember. I'll check a few places and post it in the next week or so if I can find it. |
Dale Jenner
|
posted 04-13-1999 06:53 AM
Can you give me some info on setting up a foley studio and stuff?Thanks Dale Jenner |
NormG
|
posted 04-13-1999 12:27 PM
I believe that one of the lightsabers sound (or part of the sound)fx was created by an old electric hair-razer inside of an aluminum bowl. Just the sound of the razor alone makes a great hummmmmming sound. Also, I've read an article, inside a boat magazine of all places, that the sound fx that was used in the Titannic "engine room" was the same sound that Lucas' Skywalker Ranch used for the thundering T-Rex thumping on the ground in Jurassic Park. |
Jack
|
posted 04-13-1999 03:55 PM
I saw 60 Minutes on tv a couple weeks ago on Sunday, they had a special on Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and Ben Burtt, the sound designer for Episode 1, had this one thing where he had created a sound for some kind of engine in Episode 1, by using an electric razor, and putting it in a metal or aluminum salad bowl. That may be what you're thinking about, NormG. Thanks, Jay! I'd really like to know everything I can about the sound design for all 4 Star Wars and Saving Private Ryan movies. One reason is, I'm a huge fan. And two, I'm hoping to record my own sounds for my movies as soon as I can get a computer. And I'd like to have a wider range of ideas of how to create those certain sounds, so when I'm wondering how to create that sound of that guy's arm pulling out, I can have lots more options to think about...you know what I'm talking about? By the way, how do you get all your info? ------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
[This message has been edited by Jack (edited 04-13-99).] |
Gnewbee
|
posted 04-13-1999 04:15 PM
What would you recommend for doing sound fx on my first movie what do i need, how can i improvise.With a normal camcorder if i got good sound and stuff on the original but want to put music in the background after or better sounds, ie. gun shots, punches. Could i place these on without destroying the original sound?
what if i set it up so their was a juntion of some sort to the VCR where the camcorder plugged into one and a mic(to get all the other sounds) into the other? I want to know if anyone tried this and what the effects where before i go chopping crap up. Thanx
------------------
Well, if you can't do it right, improvise! If you will please check out my webpage @ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/7160/index.html Good luck and have fun, Gnewbee |
EricM
|
posted 04-13-1999 07:46 PM
A long time ago I saw a show on the making of Star Wars. There was a clip that showed a foley guy making the sound effects for the light sabers. I don't know how it works, but he had a short wand with a cable coming out of the end. All he did was move it around and the sound changed.
This is just a guess on my part, but it could have something to do with a rotating motor inside. Have you ever turned a cheap gyroscope and heard the bearings make noise? The rotating shaft tries to stay straight when you turn it, making it rub against the bearings. If you put this sound through some kind of modulation, it could sound like a lightsaber. Just a thought. |
Jack
|
posted 04-13-1999 07:51 PM
Of course you can add sound w/out erasing the original! The simplest way is to use a sound mixer...Radio Shack sells them...I don't know if they have 'em where you live. But you won't get as much accuracy as with a non-linear setup. Sound mixers are best for adding music, cuz you can usually have music start a second or two later than planned, but with gunshots or punches, no way jose! If you put a sound fx in at the wrong time with a mixer, ya gotta problamo. Ok, I'm done.------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
|
Jack
|
posted 04-13-1999 08:37 PM
That's wierd. So, you mean, that's the sound they used for when the light sabres are being moved around?------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
|
Jack
|
posted 04-13-1999 08:48 PM
That's wierd. So, you mean, that's the sound they used for when the light sabres are being moved around?------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
|
Jack
|
posted 04-13-1999 08:51 PM
uh, that wasn't supposed to happen. |
Dale Jenner
|
posted 04-14-1999 03:18 AM
I think the pipe thing with string was for the woosh noise as the swing the light sabres around. Have you ever had fake sword fights with bits of wood? that kind a noise. |
Jay
|
posted 04-14-1999 11:45 PM
Dale: About the foley studio, what exactly do you want to know? There's a lot of information. I've pretty much figured out the approximate setup I'm going to put together, but for now I'm working in the studio at my school. Ask away. If you want a whole bunch of stuff, it will probably be better to e-mail as to not hog the board, but I'll be glad to share.Jack: I just started the Star Wars paper, so I will be researching for the next few weeks. It has to be done by the end of the semester, so I can send you my references and let you know if I run across anything cool. Jay |
Cadaber
|
posted 04-15-1999 01:45 AM
About the lightsaber sound. They did use a metal wand (as EricM said before) but they also had like speakers and when they moved the wand(it contained a microphone) closer to it they got -what do they call it- distortion like when swinging the lightsaber?
The sounds where made in Post by a guy simulating the sounds in real time, much like an actor making the voice for a cartoon. |
Jack
|
posted 04-16-1999 09:11 PM
That would be great, Jay! Thank you so much. Thanks, everyone for your replys...it's more than I expected!------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the SPECIAL EFFECTS!
|
Wingnut
|
posted 04-17-1999 02:07 AM
The echoeing laser blast sounds coming from the ATAT things were made by banging a screwdriver against those yellow covers on the parts of the power lines that come down from the poles and into the ground and having a good mike taped to the cable to pick up the vibe. I remember seeing it on movie magic i believe. i really miss that show. damn discovery channel! |
John O
|
posted 04-17-1999 03:13 AM
Ya, the lightsaber sound is a metal rod or something infront of the speaker.. It is a distortion effect... maybe it's even a mic or something?And since someone brought up AT-AT's, the foot stomp is mainly the sound of a metal cutting machine., ya know, like the ones used in a mechanic shop.. And BTW, the video that was reffered to earlier in this thread is, and contains footage all of this stuff is called "Special Effects: The Empire Strikes Back" it's part of a series basd on all three movies. It is avaiable at some video shops (if ya look hard enough) and it comes with another hour long video simply called "The Making of Star Wars" The third film in the series is called "Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi" and is avaiable on video by it self. |
Jack
|
posted 04-17-1999 09:53 PM
excuse my ignorance, but, what's an AT AT? And what is a foley studio?
Oh, you know what? I had barrowed that behind the scenes movie of Empire Strikes Back from the library last year...and never watched it. STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! (i'm referring to myself) Well, I going to the library right now!------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the special effects! |
therock
|
posted 04-17-1999 10:40 PM
Dont be fooled. No an AT-AT is not another telephone company. haven't you ever seen Empire Strikes Back? An AT-AT are the huge animal looking machines that destroy the rebel base in the Hoth system.
And a foley studio is a studio where they add SFX to liven-up the movie. They add in footsteps, door knoks, crash sounds, etc.... |
Jack
|
posted 04-23-1999 09:14 PM
Of course i've seen it! Is that what they're called? I thought they are called imperial walkers. oh well.------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the special effects! |
