How can I use synchrome sound in my films?

[David17]

I have gotten my hands on 12 Kodachrome Super 8 cartridges with sound, with an expiration date of early 1999. They have been stored in a fridge all the time, so they should still be good. This will be my first experience with filming in sound on Super 8. I also use a 4000 Report IC Uher reel to reel recorder for recording the sound of my films. In this way, it is easier to edit the sound on the films, afterwards. But I have noticed one problem already: it is quite difficult to record the sound synchrome from the Uher 4000 IC to the sound stripe of my films via my Bauer 502 S projector. It looks like I cannot get the sound synchrome to one frame. I tried this out with an old cartoon on Super 8. You saw the lips moving, and a fraction later, the sound followed. This is ofcourse not what I want. I want to see the lips starting moving at the same time when the sound starts. Of course I want the same for all other occasions when sound goes together with a movement of someting. How can I fix this problem?

David

[#Pedro]

David:
If the problem is, that you can?t record a sound (f.e. a beating door) exactly to the corresponding frame, you can fix it with your equipment. I also worked with a T502 (now I have a T610 which does the whole stuff perfect automatically) and Uher Report. Connect the Uher report to the remote socket of the Bauer, it will start when moving the sound-on-sound control.
Position the tape slightly BEFORE the typical sound, you can hear it, turning the reel by hand, Uher in start position, projector in record-standby position with sound-on-sound in zero position. The film must be positioned about 10 seconds backwards, before the szene. The real start of recording you mark with the frame counter of the Bauer, resetting it exactly at the frame, moving the projector by hand.
Both devices in position, you start the projector, hit again the record button and watch the frame counter. A few frames before it changes from 9999 to 0000 (lets say at 9998), you move the sound-on-sound control quickly to the desired superimposing level, the Uher will start at once and the sound will be recorded exactly. To stop the recording, you move the sound-on-sound control backwards to zero. The T610 or T525 control the whole process automatically, once programmed.

If you problem is to hold sync sound during the transfer over a longer time, you would have to use a synchronizer, slaving the projector (easy with Bauer) or the Uher (not so easy), look my other postings and what I am going to publish at Indie Films.
Meanwhile, you can get a better sync adjusting the speed of the Bauer to the speed of your camera. Shoot a sync szene with you camera, using a clapboard at the beginning and the end of the shoot and record the sound with the Uher. After developing the film, measure the time it?s running through the Bauer, from clapboard to clapboard and compare it with the running time of the sound tape. Then you open the back cover of the Bauer (3 screws) and will find a pcb board, located near to the motor. On this board, there is a potentiometer to adjust the speed. By try-and-error you can adjust the speed until the running time of the szene fits to the running time of the tape. A better sync than this way you won?t get without synchronizer.
Any questions or diagrams of projector, mail me.
Pedro

[David17]

Thanks a lot! I have to say that you know a lot about all stuff that's related to Super 8. I will use the method you menthioned. And yes, the Uher recorders are very nice. Can you recommend the Uher microfones, that I see on eBay quite often? They are normally used in combination with the recorder, but I have another microfone with my recorder. The microfone is quite cheap actually. It gives good sound. Can I get better sound with an Uher microfone? I ask this because the Uher microfones I have seen look quite simple. But since they are Uher, I think I could expect great quality. Is this true?

Vielen Dank,
David

[David17]

Thanks a lot! I have to say that you know a lot about all stuff that's related to Super 8. I will use the method you menthioned. And yes, the Uher recorders are very nice. Can you recommend the Uher microfones, that I see on eBay quite often? They are normally used in combination with the recorder, but I have another microfone with my recorder. The microfone is quite cheap actually. It gives good sound. Can I get better sound with an Uher microfone? I ask this because the Uher microfones I have seen look quite simple. But since they are Uher, I think I could expect great quality. Is this true?

Vielen Dank,
David

[#Pedro]

Actualy I don?t have any expieriences with Uher mics, but I believe their quality must be as good as the recorders. I use a Sony mic, that records in a very good quality.
Pedro