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Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] O/T- TV synth sound effect question

From: MAinPsych@...
Date: 2007-03-25

In a message dated 3/24/2007 11:23:56 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, jkorb@... writes:

Greetings Colin and Gang,    One of most interesting SFX was the
"death-ray" used by the Martians in 1953 sci-fi classic "War Of  The Worlds."
So good the sound was, that Paramount used the effect 13 years later for
Star-Trek's photon torpedoes.

I believe that sound was created by hitting a steel guy-wire for a huge
vertical antenna. ....somewhere. .... Was then post-processed thru some type of
early reverb or delay .    The Harry Chamberlin era......

Cheers, -- Jerry Korb (can only do the classic beer-belch,  Bwwwaaaa! )

 
According to SFX guru Ben Burtt, the guy wire sound was used for the Star Wars blasters, and the Martian heat ray SFX was a processed electric guitar (the ray itself was a fan-directed acetelyne torch).  This information is on the DVD versions of those respective (and respectable) movies.
 
Frank 1



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