American Cinematographer - October 1968 - 45

(LEFT) FIGURE 3-Motor-driven synchronizer is actually an ordinary standard synchronizer with motor and soundheads attached. (CENTER) FIGURE
4-The differential rewinds are mounted on small plywood boards "module" style, which makes it easy to quickly interchange them with standard
single shaft, single reel rewinds, mounted on identical boards. (RIGHT) FIGURE 5-Mylar splicing can be done easily on the spot without unthreading.

many,

in the film (not always an easy job!).

can

ma¬

have the capacity to run in reverse;

The other is to move the film ahead

chine (the sprocket of the viewer me¬

this would make it easier to pace those

exactly

chanism

scenes whose cut-off point is

frames,

using

the

syn¬

many

be in

times

rapidly

the standard

easily

editing

bypassed).

track. The synchronizer motor should

notcher and locate the notch it makes

While

prede¬

chronizer's frame numbers as guides,

standard editing machines are some¬

termined, but whose beginning is open

and make a mark beneath an arrow

times accused of "chewing up" film,

to subjective perception.

on the synchronizer.

this system is very gentle with it (after

System Has Modular Components
The

system

has

interesting

handle original film!). A single frame

advantages.

track

"module" feature: The differential re¬

can

back

winds are mounted on small plywood

and forth turning of the synchronizer

boards. This makes it easy to quickly

knob-no

them

with

standard

located

with

electrical

simple

switching

requir¬

sin¬

ed. Fades and dissolves of any length

gle shaft, single reel rewinds, mount¬

can be accurately marked, using the

ed on identical boards (See FIGURE 4).

synchronizer as a guide, without hav¬

The rewinds are interchanged

ing

simply

unthread

the device.

Splicing

by removing two wingnuts. Single re¬

(mylar, of course) can be done easily,

winds

on the spot, again without unthread¬

are

preferred

when

editing

single track. They can be turned more

ing. And the system is perfect for con¬

easily and quickly. Also, with a tite-

forming originals.

wind

attachment,

they

can

would also be beneficial to have a set
of

two-gang

differential

rewinds

hand: Usually only two tracks are edit¬
ed

simultaneously,

such

narration

and picture, or dialogue and picture.
The two-gang rewinds would, like the
singles, offer ease and speed advan¬
tages over the four-gangs (they also
handle larger reels).

Special Advantages
I mentioned that this system offers
certain

unique

advantages.

This

Promises Wide Appeal
The inexpensive system should ap¬
peal

to those

many small

producers

throughout the country who feel they
cannot afford moviolas, who struggle
instead

with

long-shaft

rewinds,

try¬

ing-but never succeeding-to attain
reasonable sound fidelity and get an
idea

of the

picture's

pacing without

benefit of a constant speed motor, hav¬
ing every so often to untangle loose
film slack which has slipped off one

used

for titewinding. I should think that it

disadvantages of

the system are far outweighed by its

or specific point on the sound

interchange

Nonetheless, the

all, its components were designed to

One appealing advantage involves
economics: The system costs about one

of the reels. The system should

also

appeal to those many film-makers who

fourth as much as a moviola with two

extra

who let their moviolas sit in a corner

soundheads

attached;

about

have

moviolas,

especially

those

one-half as much as the standard mo¬

while they do

viola.

track editing with simple rewinds and

Further economies

are

had

terms of time saved in threading and
in

winding

through

long

sections

film.

much

of their single-

a viewer.
The

system

use

allows

the film¬

maker to devote more energy to the

The system is not without fault, how¬

aesthetics of film, and less to the me¬

ever, although its "bugs" could easily

chanics. It is, I think, the best of all

be worked out: For one thing, the im¬

possible editing worlds; that is, "pos¬

age

sible" in terms of what is available.

the

viewer

does

"flutter,"

which at times can be distracting. For

the Magnasync / Moviola Corporation

be obtained, I presume they are quite

occasionally difficult to turn, especial¬

for seeming to slight their finely engi¬

cumbersome. But whether one or four

ly over a prolonged period, or when

neered moviola, but perhaps they will

tracks are used, the system I employ

they

be comforted with the reminder that

they are lubricated, oil tends to leak

nearly all of the components used in

thread and easy to operate. The film

onto the exteriors of the rewinds and

the new system are manufactured by

can

often

them.

remarkably

quick

and

simple

be wound forward or backward

AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, OCTOBER 1968

another,

the

need

gets

differential

onto

rewinds

As a footnote, I must apologize to

are

true. Although four-gang moviolas can

lubricated.

the

film

When

sound

■

761

American Cinematographer - October 1968

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