New article at M.P.E.G featuring the sound crew of "Super 8", including sound designer/co-supervising sound editor Ben Burtt, co-supervising sound editor Matthew Wood and Re-recording Mixers Anna Behlmer and Andy Nelson. For the pivotal train crash during Reel 2, Burtt faced a major challenge – how to sustain the tension without overwhelming the soundtrack. “My thought process … [Read more...]
Performance
"Mixing is a performance. You sit down at the console. You're alert, and you're playing parts in the picture: You're a robot, you're a door, you're a laser gun. And you get into it. You should be breathing hard and sweating when it's over with." -Ben Burtt … [Read more...]
"The Sounds of Star Wars" – Interview with Ben Burtt and J.W Rinzler
NPR has published an interview with Ben Burtt and J.W Rinzler, discussing several things about "The Sounds of Star Wars" book. It takes only a few seconds of sound — a spaceship launching, the familiar clash of lightsabers — to know that you are positively not in Kansas anymore. These are the sounds of Star Wars — from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, … [Read more...]
"The Sound Behind The Image" Lecture by Ben Burtt at AES 2010
Ben Burtt will give a lecture called "The Sound Behind The Image" at the 129th AES Convention. Much has been documented about the technical history of motion picture sound. We know a lot about the story of microphones, loudspeakers, and optical, magnetic, or digital recording processes. Very little has been said about the aesthetic history: Why do sound people do what we do? … [Read more...]
Wired Magazine: Ben Burtt Talks "The Sounds of Star Wars" Book
Wired has published an exclusive video featuring Ben Burtt, Randy Thom and the guys behind the sound of "Star Wars: Clone Wars" (Matthew Wood and David Acord) talking about the recently announced "The Sounds of Star Wars" book from J.W Rinzler and the legacy of the Star Wars sounds. There are also several video footage of the original recording sessions that Ben and Randy had … [Read more...]
"The Sounds of Star Wars", New Book Written by Ben Burtt and J. W. Rinzler
Sound designers, editors, mixers, geeks and Star Wars fans. Our day has come! Ben Burt has presented "The Sounds of Star Wars", a new book written with J. W. Rinzler. Inside it you'll find all the secrets behind the making of the sound effects of Star Wars, and also the book includes a sound module with speaker and external output for playback of 250 different sounds (pretty … [Read more...]
Ben Burtt Showing His Source Material for Star Wars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksTbSNhjaBk (Warning! High level of nostalgic content) In the 6:05 mark of this video, you can see three great minutes of sound designer master Ben Burtt showcasing some of the source material he used for the layering of a sound for Star Wars. The video is a part of a rare documentary about John Williams and the music of Star Wars published … [Read more...]