Computer Simulation of Photographic Sound Recording

A computer program has been written to simulate photographic soundtracks. The objective of the simulation was to gain a further understanding of the effects of photographic characteristics on soundtrack quality. The program itself is quite general. The parameters of the various mathematical models are variable, and in some cases, alternative models have been programmed for a single stage. The program can be used to simulate 8, 16, and 35mm variable-area or variable-density, dye or silver tracks. A wide variety of photographic sound systems can be simulated by assigning appropriate values to the parameters of the model. In order to verify that the simulation adequately models actual sound systems, we simulated soundtracks on Eastman fine grain release positive film 7302 and Eastman Ektachrome R print film 7389 made from sound negatives on Eastman fine grain sound recording film 7375. The results of the simulations are in good agreement with experimental tests. This paper describes the simulation program and how photographic characteristics affect the quality of 16mm variable-area photographic sound. Soundtracks were simulated on a statistically selected series of hypothetical 16mm negative and print film combinations. The dependence of several soundtrack quality factors on the photographic characteristics was determined. These simulations help clarify the behavior of more complex film systems, such as multilayer color films, and of the effects of different recorders, printers, and projectors.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1978-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J10518