PSLC - The Macroplex Cinema

Polymers in Film Production
slate
FILM
LIGHTS
SOUND
CAMERA
EDIT
SOUND
Director: SOUND!
Sound Man: Rolling...
The sound for films is recorded seperately on quarter inch audio tape that is made with a polyester base that is very strong and thin and coated with oxidized metal to record the sound impulses made with an electromagnetic head. Nagra reel to reel recording deck We usually run tape at 7.5 inches per second which gives good sound quality but uses a lot of tape. However, becasue the tape is so thin we can fit about 10 minutes of record time on one of these cute little 5 inch reels. That clear plastic tape reel is made of polystyrene and gives the sound man a good view of how much tape he has left. The tape deck also has a clear cover made of poly(methyl methacrylate), better known as Plexiglass, so that it can be closed up and carried around while it is running. And we can't forget that the leather carry case has a nylon strap as well as some vinyl components, which make it water resistant.

A shotgun microphone with a foam windscreen and foam-lined case Microphones also have polymers in the form of polyurethane foam used for windscreens. Wind in a micrphone can really ruin the sound quality, so these things are pretty useful.




BACK TO LIGHTS | ON TO CAMERA

FILM | LIGHTS | SOUND | CAMERA | EDIT | MACROPLEX LOBBY

Polymer Science Learning Center
Special thanks to the University of Southern Mississippi Department of Radio, Television, and Film for the opportunity to get all the pictures on these pages and to Gregory Brust for aiding in the idetification of all these polymers.