(picture from www.transport.polymtl.ca/.../RIVERA-TAMA/)For this week I chose my analysis of sound design to be on the sound of the lightsabers in the Star Wars movies. Everyones heard the sound but for reference, I have a clip on youtube of DarthVader and Luke Skywalker battling it out.(*1) Here: >> STARWARS LIGHTSABERS <<
You only need to watch the first 30 seconds or so to get the basic gist.
I consider it sound design because the producers and sound engineers had to come up with a sound for something that doesn't exist. So they had to DESIGN a sound that fit a certain criteria and general imagined idea. It's purpose would be to make a distinctive and memorable sound that fits and compliments the action and idea of a lightsaber. More simply, they needed a sound that a) was easy to remember and b) easy to associate with a giant, deathly, futuristic laser.
It's clearly quite an electrical sound, and generated on a computer. I found that "the original sound effect was created using a mix of an old projector’s hum and the warm feedback from a microphone passing an old television set.(*2)" It isn't a pretty or beautiful sound, but personally I think it has certain elements that make it pleasant to the ear. Like the harmonics and the tones of it. It definitely seems to fit the idea of a giant laser beam, and has become the standard sound for other movies and productions with the same idea.
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(*1) Youtube video of Star Wars Episode VI, by roboperson, accessed 29th July, 2007
(*2) The Lightsaber Sound Effect, Blue Distortion http://www.bluedistortion.com/2005/09/17/lightsaber-sound-effect/ last updated September 17, 2005
