8mm Forum: Sync Sound with Super 8

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Posted by Pedro Munyoz (Member # 985) on December 24, 2007, 03:07 AM:

Greetings!
This is my first post, so hi everyone from Spain! I'd like to get some information about sync sound equipment. I've visited two sites wich offer it, but they differ in many aspects. The first is:

http://www.super8sync.com/index.html

It's advantage is their system requires no camera modification. The problem for me is that I don't have a compatible projector and so I'd have to buy it from a second hand seller.

The second is:

http://users.aol.com/fmgp/sync8.htm

They need to make camera modifications. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think that's because they make your camera motor work at a constant speed through a crystal controller while the first site's system just registers the real frame rate with impulses recorded in one of the sound tracks of a stereo system. I'm I wrong?

Anyway, my real question is for people who have tried any of the two. Are they easy to work with? I've got no experience with that kind of systems but I'm curious about them. The first site appeals me because there are no camera modifications (not because I'm not confident in them, but because I think it's dangerous to send my camera by mail), it sounds simple, and they gave me lots of kind and patient explanations by mail. The problem, as I told you, is that I need to get a new projector.

What do you think about them?

Sorry to bother you with such a long first post!
Best regards!
Pedro Muñoz

Posted by Jim Carlile (Member # 812) on December 29, 2007, 03:01 AM:

The first link is Pedro, the second is The Film Group.

You are correct about the crystal control-- that's how it works. Your camera is set to a fixed speed, and this same clock signal is also sent out to a compatible recorder, like the Nagra. The Film Group has been doing these modifications for years.

They also have a Pilotone/Digital converter. This does not require any modification-- the camera only needs to have a flash plug (many do.) The signal obtained from it is converted to standard Pilotone, which is read by a number of audio-visual recorders like the Nagra and Uher.

I've heard good things about Pedro's magic boxes. He hand-builds each one. His methods will probably allow more flexibility-- you're not confined to a fixed camera speed and you can use your projectors for transfering the sound to striped film if you want to. His is the old-fashioned hobbyist method of sync recording that works with a variety of equipment.

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