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Topic: Stereo Sound on films. You can keep it i dont need it !
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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted December 14, 2017 02:12 PM
I am baffled by this. With all the hype of super 8 stereo sound - it doesn't seem that good in pro logic surround.
When these machines were built, Pro Logic (PL) did not exist for the consumers. You had to go to a theater to experience it, some time in the mid 70's.
So these stereo sound machines we have, are better suited for standard 2 channel stereo. Loose the center and surround.
Once you get that sorted, then you have the quality of the actual recordings that for the most part, aren't that great to begin with.
Sometimes the stereo is decent coming off the film tracks and my GS machines. Other times it is sub-par.
But in experimenting with my setup - I find loosing surround and center and going with 2 channel seems much better.
Having said this, I also have lots of sound power. Coming out of PL system it goes to a pair of Pyramid brand power amplifiers rated at 250 watts per channel. In these two amplifier are left, center, right, and twin sub woofers behind the screen.
At the screen, the speakers are left and right tower (T-120 by Radio Shack); a Yamaha center speaker, and twin Pioneer standard book shelf speakers for bass only with the tweeter and mid ranges turned down. What is important here is that all five speakers have the same size woofers across the width of the screen.
When the bombs go off in Die Hard - the sound is quite good down here.
Chip G
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Mark Mander
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1236
From: Dunstable ,Bedfordshire.
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted December 14, 2017 02:31 PM
As I've said before i had a print of the Fog 600ft and played it with it's original mono sound through Elmo speakers and although the audience enjoyed it the reactions of them they could have been watching a cartoon,I rerecorded it off the DVD,same film,same speakers and same projector but a totally different reaction from the audience,they jumped at the appropriate places,totally different experience from the same film,non amplified only from the GS1200,I have since ran it through an amp and sounds superb,the quality is so much better. If you have a great recording projector and follow a few rules to get the best out of it then the results do speak for themselves,Mark
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Elmo GS1200 1.0 lens
Elmo ST1200HD 1.1 lens
Sankyo 800 1.0 lens
Elmo 16CL
Elf NT1
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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015
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posted December 14, 2017 05:57 PM
Some reasons I don't like stereo soundtracks.
1... Stereo is nothing more than a gimmick of sound reproduction be it from film soundtracks or cds , records or tapes.
2 ... I cant stand all that sound panning be it from left to right , center , rears , or sides. It always reminds me of the early days of vinyl and tapes when they were demonstrating stereos with the sounds of trains , racing cars , ping pong balls , and sax players on the right , trumpets on the left , singer or whatever in the middle.
3 : Since film is a visual medium I don't need to hear an actor's dialogue coming from wherever he/she is standing.
I can clearly see that on the screen image. My brain is more than capable of comprehending that without any sound artifices.
The same applies for sound effects.
4 : Orchestral music sounds totally diffuse and unnatural on stereo film soundtracks and is usually close miked and poorly recorded in an unnatural manner. Besides music should always be only used as a secondary support and supplemental to the on screen narrative. Sadly this is not usually the case. Most times there is far to much music in a film to fill in gaps of a poor or cheesy movie. Its a lot worse these days.
5 : Stereo sound perspectives are way overblown on film soundtracks due to badly mixed or overblown sounds.
If the overall mix is badly done for the sake of effect we end up with 40foot violins , 8 feet sets of door keys , motor cars that seem to have the sound pressure levels of jet aircraft , small on screen explosions that sound like an atomic bomb going off and much much more.
6 : Stereo in movies like all reproduced sources be it music or the spoken word is not natural but artificial.
7 : There is a common misconception that the addition of stereophonic sound reproduction was the necessary correct step in perfecting monophonic recording. This was a big mistake they should have put more time and research in to perfecting mono sound even more. Its more natural.
8 : Stereophony does not exist as a natural scientific phenomenon. It is believed that because we hear with two ears sound should be recorded with two microphones or more if it is to sound natural. This is false and a myth.
We actually hear in Mono not Stereo.
The impression of stereophonic dimension and direction takes place within the listener and not in the sound sources.
The stereophonic signal does not in itself include the spatial stereophonic effect. It includes only two Mono signals.
9 : Therefore electronically reproduced Stereo sounds are nothing more than unnatural gimmicks. Mono sound sources are much closer to natural sounds even though they too may be electronically reproduced.
10 : Live is neither Mono or Stereo. Its REAL not REPRODUCED.
Hence one reason I attend live Classical and Opera concerts.
Amplified music rock/pop concerts can never be heard "live" for that very reason ... they are amplified reproductions of the sources.
Just some reasons why stereo sound reproductions does not do it for me in movies.
If it rocks your boat though that's fine by me.
I will stick to Mono though be it reproduced one channel or two I am just fine with it. I don't need any gimmicky sound system enhancements to add to my enjoyment of a movie. For me the movie is either good or bad or just about okay.
That's one reason I really like Silent Movies a lot they are pure cinema for me.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted December 15, 2017 01:00 PM
Oh no! And only today I finished wiring up my 5.1 surround system in our new cinema. And I'm upset that I've had to loose my 6.1 configuration...
Seriously though, David, each to their own of course and nothing better than a movie with clear dialogue and nicely balanced music and effects.
As I'm sure you know, the term stereo doesn't only apply to 2 channel sound, but any multitude of channels.
We humans have two ears so that, when both working correctly, when facing a particular direction, we can locate the source of a sound in both horizontal and vertical plane.
This largely due to delay (and frequency) from one ear to the other, and yes, it does generally locate singular sources of sound from different directions.
However, we are complex creatures and can, as David points out, locate many mono sound sources at the same time.
Stereo sound reproduction is designed to replicate PLACEMENT of sound sources over horizontal and vertical planes (step forward Dolby Atmos), just like in real life.
Good "stereo" replicates real life and adds to the impact of a movie.
If everyday life came from a singular mono sound source, you'd quickly be run over by a car coming from your left or right instead of in front of you!
I know for a fact that the emergency services in the UK now trial white noise blast as well as sirens to give an indication of approaching direction.
The best "stereo" sound mixes replicate (or maybe enhance for effect) real life.
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