Earlier today, while doing research for a story on surround sound mixing, I came across an old article that appeared in the Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. It was written in August of 1941, shortly after Disney debuted the groundbreaking Fantasia, the first commercial picture ever to be released featuring surround sound. In it, the authors write:
“The art of sound-picture reproduction is about 15 years old. While an engineer familiar with the complications of sound reproduction may be amazed at the tens of thousands of trouble-free performances given daily, the public takes our efforts for granted and sees nothing remarkable about it.
Therefore, we must take large steps forward, rather than small ones, if we are to inveigle the public away from softball games, bowling alleys, nightspots, or rapidly improving radio reproduction.
The public has to hear the difference and then be thrilled by it, if our efforts toward the improvement of sound-picture quality are to be reflected at the box-office. Improvements perceptible only through direct A–B comparisons have little box-office value.”
Wise words then, wise words now. (And yet today, so many of us have become obsessed with differences not even perceptible in direct A-B comparison. Where are our heads?)
As the authors demand, “we must take large steps forward, rather than small ones.” They are right. And, as they say: “The public has to hear the difference and then be thrilled by it.” You have your challenge.