Check out these handmade “soundtracks” from 1936 – I’d like to know if there are any still around and what they sound like… “”Sketches” Sound; Files It For “Talkies” – SYNTHETIC musical notes that can be filed away in a card index have been developed by a group of Soviet musicians and scientists. The hand-sketched notes, resembling combs, are used to produce musical accompaniment for motion picture films. N. Voinov of Moscow sketched and cut out cardboard combs of the 80 semi-tones of the piano. By selecting the proper combs and photographing one after another in correct order on the sound track of a movie film, Voinov was able to produce any favorite piano melody.” – Link.
2 thoughts on “Hand-Drawn Soundtracks”
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Pioneering Scottish Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914-1987) directly painted on film soundtracks among other direct to soundtrack techniques. His films with soundtrack were ubiquitous in Canada, and were, in my opinion, playful and profound. He was a Maker, I think, because he always described his techniques, encouraged others to try them, and taught young animators around the world for the UN. Until I saw your post, I did not realize the Russians were also experimenting with similar techniques.
http://www.nfb.ca/webextension/65ans/mclaren_bio.php
“McLaren’s film interests went beyond the visuals to the sound. During the forties and fifties, he developed his own system of electronic music, which he called animated sound. He had three techniques: drawing directly with pen and ink onto the soundtrack, scratching the sound into the soundtrack area of black film and photographing patterns onto the soundtrack area.”