Chemical Processing of Digital Soundtracks—Future Challenges for the Laboratories

Sound is an integral part of any Motion Picture Film. With the advent of new technologies in Sound recording and reproduction, and as a tool of special effect, Sound has become an important factor of the motion picture film, in today's Digital era. Chemical processing of sound negative film, as well as processing of soundtrack on a positive film, has to be done with utmost care now-a-days. — Most Motion Picture laboratories use conventional processing machines for processing positive films. Although these machines are good enough for processing the conventional (regular mono) soundtracks, Digital sound requires a special treatment and more stringent quality control. — This paper discusses the present soundtrack redevelopment system used in laboratories, their advantages, disadvantages, and modifications required to adapt to new Digital sound processing standards. — This paper also discusses following points in detail with respect to processing of Digital soundtracks on the positive film. (1) Positive Film Processing Chemistry. (2) Soundtrack Redeveloper Applicator Design. (3) Viscosity Of Soundtrack Redeveloper. (4) Speed Of Positive Processing Machines. (5) Surface Characteristics Of Various Films. — An idea about replacing the separate Sound and Color negative system, by a Common Duplicate Negative using new Digital Sound formats, is also expressed here. — In the coming millenium, all countries will need to exchange informations, films, sounds and languages in various options available, which can be used by the entire world. This will need a common uniform Digital sound format. A new concept of Information Track which can store information about soundtrack and subtitles in various languages is also discussed here.

Published

1999-11

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M00345

ISBN

978-1-61482-931-7