I am looking to find a projector which has the capability to record magnetic sound on striped film, particularly by connecting a tape player to the projector to add a sound track that way.
I have come across a couple of projector manuals which mention this possibility i.e. Bolex 221 and Elf Rm-3.
Can you recommend me a projector which can do this?
I am aware that the Bell & Howell 644 can record mag sound, but I have not seen the manual, is it possible to connect a tape player to this projector?
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted August 08, 2013 02:44 PM
Hello Francis,
You can find the manuel of this projector on the site cine information. I cannot copy and paste the address as I am connected with my mobile phone, sorry.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted August 08, 2013 08:49 PM
The site as mentioned by Dominique only contains the service instructions and not the user manual. http://www.cineinformation.org/download/bell-howell-projector-filmosound-641-642-643-644-652-service-manual/ I have looked at my 644 and it has two input sockets, one MIC and the other GRAM. This would be the standard inputs of the day for most 16mm projectors. The input of a tape recorder might not match the "GRAM". Recording is not auto, it is manually controlled using the record monitor light. It is probable that any 16mm projector which has recording capabilities has the same inputs. The 644 was introduced in 1962 and projectors will have had a long previous life.
posted August 09, 2013 04:20 AM
Thanks for the help so far.
I was also assuming that the recording capability would be the same across most projectors from the same time.
In the manuals I have seen for the Bolex s221 and the elf, the input is called 'PHONO' and apparently takes both a record player and a tape player. This seems to suggest that the GRAM input would accept a tape player since it appears that the there is one kind of connector for both tape and record players.
Unfortunately my knowledge of this kind of thing is lacking but do you think this is a reasonable thought?
Also I recently found that a particular variant of the Rank Aldis/Bauer P7 records mag sound.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted August 09, 2013 05:24 AM
Francis I agree with your thoughts. The Bolex is far too old to contemplate. Yes. There are variants of the Bauer/Rank Aldis which do record. I have two Rank Aldis and a Bauer P8, all great projectors, but as mine are only for optical playback I cannot make any comments as to their recording capabilities.
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
posted August 10, 2013 06:20 PM
I think it would be correct to say that any Elf/Eiki portable projector model that ends with 3 has magnetic recording capability. (1 is optical, 2 is optical/magnetic playback.)
They are not easy to find but the best would be a late model such as SNT-3. I think David Guest had one for sale a couple of years ago but I expect it was sold then.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted August 10, 2013 11:19 PM
I agree with Adrian's comments. A magnetic recording 16mm projector from any maker is difficult to find on the second-hand market, and we must presume that any person buying such a projector from new would no doubt be using it in a professional capacity, so these models may have had a lot of previous use.