Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: SWELLTONE.

This is topic SWELLTONE. in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 04-15-2003, 11:35 AM:

Dear colleagues.
Recently we screened a film and noted the words "recorded in a Swelltone theatre" during the closing credits.
Could you advise me what constitutes a Swelltone set-up. Also is Swelltone similar to THX.
John S.

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-15-2003, 11:57 AM:

Was it a Steven Soderbergh film that you screened? Swelltone Labs are located in New Orleans. Its a mixing theatre also like
THX.
But Swelltone uses Digidesign ProTools/ ProControl/
TDM environment. It is done without the use of large re-recording consoles and conventional outboard mixing gear.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-15-2003, 02:06 PM:

I have one complaint with there mixing on Solaris they sent instructions to turn off the sub if played in optical as it would muddy the dialogue.
They really should have done the optical mix to spec as it is unrealistic to expect a theatre to alter there sound setup for one print

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 04-15-2003, 04:31 PM:

There is some good information on the Swelltone Encrustation method, with the motto "In one ear and out the other", at this site:

Video Essentials

Look about 1/2-way down the page.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 04-15-2003, 06:22 PM:

AFAIK Swelltone is just a joke.

Posted by Matt Hale (Member # 1518) on 04-15-2003, 07:10 PM:

Cool. I had heard of SwellTone (I had the video essentials dvd) but never really figured out what it was. Now I am going to suggest to my boss that our new mixing theatre be Swelltone certified. [Big Grin]

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 04-15-2003, 09:44 PM:

Swelltone is a gag, but the licensing fees they charge for their logo or snipe are donated to AIDS-related charities. Here's a frame grab from the credits for Video Essentials:

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-16-2003, 01:28 AM:

Swelltone is Larry Blake's creation. The first theatre we certified as "Swelltone Approved" was the AFI theatre located at the Kennedy Center (placed the sticker on the rack myself).

You will see the Swelltone name on films/videos that Larry Blake has mixed the audio on. Larry is actually a good guy that really does care about the quality of his work. People that have their film Swelltone certified have their "license fee" sent to some charity.

So support Swelltone films!

Steve

Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 04-16-2003, 12:37 PM:

Dear Bill and Gordon.
Yes, the film was "Solaris", we ran it as a support as we show double features.
Thank you to all who replied.
John S.