Sound recording onto Super 8 film using a Bauer T600 Projector

[Brotloser Kim]

Hello,

 

I’m trying to record sound onto Super 8 film using a Bauer T600.

I’ve been looking through the German manual to understand how to record sound, but I’m having trouble figuring it out.

 

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this.

 

My questions are:

 

1. When playing back the footage to record sound, doesn’t the projector lamp affect the sound in any way? (Like exposure can ruin an image during filming)

2. For example, is it possible to record sound onto already-developed color film?

3. What kind of film do I need to record sound with this projector? I’ve seen an expired roll of Kodak Ektachrome 160 Type A, but I’m not sure if it’s suitable.

 

Or, does anyone know of a detailed video explanation on this process?

 

Thank you so much, as always. 🙂

[Mark Dunn]

Before you can record, the film has to have a magnetic stripe applied to the rebate (the area outside the frame opposite the perfs). This used to be a standard procedure but it's now much more difficult as the stripe has to meet environmental regulations.

I'm sure you can research where to get it done- maybe Wittner?- but it is quite expensive now. Or Movie Magnetic in Italy.

https://www.filmkorn.org/magnet-striping-in-perfection/?lang=en

But the sound quality from stripe was always pretty bad- worse than a cheap cassette recorder. It dropped out at splices, for example. The stripe has detached from most of my films from the late 70s, but they're not lip-sync, so I've replaced them with CD sound to be played alongside the projection.

The lamp doesn't affect stripe sound. Any Super-8 camera film now available can be striped. Forget 160A, it will be decades out of date and processing has been unavailable for years.

 

Edited October 23 by Mark Dunn

[Brotloser Kim]

Hi Mark,

 

Thank you very much for your reply.

Yes, I think I’ve read about the method you mentioned somewhere before(probably from ChatGPT) actually.

So, what you’re saying is that I should buy a magnetic stripe, cut it precisely to match the sound area of the Super 8 film, attach it there, and then record sound using the projector. Is that correct?

I find this method quite fascinating, but my concern has always been about its practical feasibility. I’m not confident that I can attach the magnetic stripe to a long piece of film with precise alignment.

The sound quality or possible breaks in the connection don’t really matter much to me, what’s most important is that when I project the Super 8 film, the intended sound plays along with it (sync doesn’t need to be perfect).

Could you perhaps give me more advice on this method?

For example, what kind of adhesive I could use, or how to cut and attach the magnetic stripe properly?

 

Thank you so much 🙂

 

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Hi!

You need special, pre-cut mag tape, special glue and a special device (sound striper). And this only works for acetate based filmstocks.

…probably the only source left for tape and glue:

http://ffr-film.de/band?lang=en

 

A list of sound stripers for home use: 

https://www.filmkorn.org/super8data/database/sound_list/soundstripers_list.htm

 

The last twenty years or longer, mag tape is only available for the main track. There’s no more tape left for the balance track. (Last production of the balance track was in the early 90s, all remaining stock became brittle - the wider main track was produced longer, but the end is near.)

Mr. Vangelisti Is using liquid sound striping and hence can still do both tracks on all types of filmstock (acetate based and PET based). But this is not available for home use (dimensions of the device, hazardous chemicals, …). https://www.super8.tv/en/new-magnetic-sound-striping/

Edited October 26 by Joerg Polzfusz

[Mark Dunn]

15 hours ago, Brotloser Kim said:

The sound quality or possible breaks in the connection don’t really matter much to me, what’s most important is that when I project the Super 8 film, the intended sound plays along with it (sync doesn’t need to be perfect).

Then you don't really need stripe- you can assemble your soundtrack on a computer in something like Audacity and transfer it to a USB stick (or even a CD) for replay alongside projection. You can work out a method to start picture and sound at the same time.

[Mark Dunn]

I wasn't suggesting you did the striping yourself, but had it done by Movie Magnetic.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

The T600 has a remote start feature that was designed for tape- and reel-to-reel-recorders. Unfortunately, the only known way to use it with a computer is long gone: the needed software got bought up by Adobe (without integrating this feature into its own products), the current PCs don’t have an analog joystick port anymore.

The best solution these days is to use „sepdig“ sound like the „synkino“:  https://www.filmkorn.org/produkte/filmkorn-praesentiert-synkino/

[Joerg Polzfusz]

The old solution from 2000: https://web.archive.org/web/20240227080851/http://www.super8cine.it/interfaccia.html

Edited October 27 by Joerg Polzfusz

[Mark Dunn]

I don' think it would be very difficult to devise an interface for the DIN output, but IIRC I used a mark on the film and a corresponding length of silence on the cassette (later CD, later still mp3 file). With one's normal reaction time you can get it to within a few frames.

Edited October 27 by Mark Dunn

[Brotloser Kim]

Thanks Joerg, Mark,

 

but I don't want play music separetly, I wanted to play sound within Projector, because I am planning a performance 🙂

Yes,, I think it would be better, that I will get a professional service from Alberto. Because there are too many opinions..

The Laboratory they can development sound film materials like Ektachorme 160, but some peoples said(like Alberto), old expired sound film has many problems and maybe it just doesn't work to play sound..

I really don't need best quality sound but it have to be played.

I considered about also that recording with Projector but Idk.. seems hard..