Star Wars score was Re: [ot: tape music]

[KA4HJH]

>As I'm on the subject, I've always wanted to know how they've made those
>briliant sound effects. Anyone info about that? I believe (very
>vaguely), they've used a custom SAMSON sound computer for some of the
>effects. Well, R2D2 is easy but the other stuff I don't know some of it
>sounds to sophisticated for analogue synthesis.

Ben Burtt has been George's sound guru for a long time. For the original
film he borrowed Frank Coppola's ARP 2600 and did everything the old
fashioned way. Analog synthesis and processing (lots of ring mod), and tape
manipulation (R2D2 is mostly 2600 snippets spliced together). The laser
bolt sound is, of course, the guy wire to a high-tension tower contact
mic'ed and given a sharp tap. The TIE fighter sound is a tape manipulated
roar. Chewbacca's "voice" must have taken ages to splice together from
animal sounds. The light saber hum is from a film projector motor.

IMO, Ben is a master of the classic techniques of electronic music. The
Wendy Carlos of film? I'm sure he has all kinds of neat toys now.

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"