Dominique De Bast

In cases like this, the projection speed makes in theory a difference as the film spends less time in front of the bulb at 24fps than at 18fps.

It seems that many here see super 8 only to be digitalized and then viewed on a tv , mobile phone or computer screen. Personnaly I only use projectors...

I don't know the technical details, they say they made tests. The Kodak policy was said they improved often filmstocks without notice it as this could have suggested that their previous version was not good. Maybe it is linked with that. I don't think anyone is expecting to make an huge profit in the home movie small market today, most of those who provide anything related with it are enthousiasts who try to keep the hobby alive. I just think we should take the positive side of the fact that someone is offering sound cartridges.

A British company provides super 8 black and white sound cartridges. This is extracts from their website : Q) Is this some new sound film stock? A) No, this is Kodak’s Sound Kodachrome 40 with a process before date no older than 1998. Q) Why a cut-off of 1998? A) We have tested Kodachrome 40 sound film from right back with a process before date of 1978 right up to when Kodak ceased making it in 1998 and we found that prior to a 1998 process before date was just too unstable. Q) Can you go more in-depth regarding, ‘tested'? A) We use a our own special 14 stage processing technique using various chemicals we’ve experimented with until we feel we have got the various mixtures, temperature and timings to a level which is giving us regular good results. Our processing lab has looked more like a Victorian Alchemist lab when doing these experiments! As your aware there’s a lot more to just a process before date that Kodak put on their film stocks, another big factor is how this film stock has been stored over the years. If it has just been sitting in someone’s loft or cupboard and subjected to fluctuating temperature and dampness etc. this greatly reduces the chance of any images being recovered, and as when we purchase this sound film stock we can’t guarantee how it’s been stored and we have to presume it hasn’t been stored in a fridge or freezer, so we look at it from a worst case scenario. And the results we have been getting is most stock prior to 1998 has given variable results whereas 1998 stock is giving consistant results. Q) Why bother with the hassle of trying to keep out of date sound Kodachrome 40 alive when there are so many new silent Super 8mm film stocks to choose from and portable sound recorders which can be synced together? A) Because I prefer to project film whenever possible, using silent film and a audio device is absolutely fine for telecine purposes and syncing together when editing on a computer is great fun and is easier to be honest as you haven’t got to worry about background noise or picking up the clicking of the cine camera, fluctuating sound etc. Just telecine the silent footage onto your computer then add sound effects, music using your favourite video manipulation software to make a great little movie for digital. I find it amazing how you can shoot say something as simple as say trees and just syncing sound effects and music you can drastically change the feel of what your viewing, from say a happy beautiful scene shot of trees to making it into a creepy horror flick. Anyway I’m going off topic here, there has been times and I’m sure I’m not alone here when I’ve thought to myself, "If only I had a cartridge of sound film for this next scene" because I need perfect lip sync and can’t be doing with the hassle of trying to add a magnetic sound strip to the film so I can try and match the sound up afterwards ready for projection. I can’t speak for others but my attempt of trying to bond a magnetic sound strip to film using one of these stripping machines has caused a few colourful words! Q) When you go live with this stock what is the turnaround time for processing and why 50 quid? A) Turnaround time will be approx 1 - 2 weeks and the reason we will be charging £49.99 for a process paid cartridge is because there is a awful lot of work involved, (this price also includes the original cartridge don’t forget) we’re looking at nearly a full day to process just one cartridge from mixing the raw chemicals right through to the end processed product. Also we do not re-use are chemicals, fresh chemicals for each and every cartridge. We’re not making any money with this project but we just can’t bear to throw out in most cases perfectly good sound film stock. http://theoldfilmcompany.com/Page4_7.htm