Standard 8 Mm Film - Sound

Sound

Although few cameras were made that could record the sound directly onto the film (Fairchild Cinephonic Eight cameras, Fairchild Professional 900 cameras, and Pictorial cameras), there were many projectors that could record and replay sound on a magnetic stripe. For cameras, this stripe had to be added to the film before it had been exposed. For projectors, the stripe had to be added to the film after it had been processed. The stripe was added between the perforations and the edge of the film (see illustration at head of article). Sometimes a balance stripe was added on the opposite edge. This had no purpose other than to allow the film to be completely flat in front the projection window. For synchronised sound, the sound was specified as 56 frames in advance of the picture On the Cinephonic Eight cameras, the picture/sound separation was 52 frames. Fifty six frames was the same physical distance as magnetic sound was specified for the 16mm film format (or 28 frames in that format). Optical sound for 8mm format had been used only on commercial films and some projectors. Fujica made a camera with optical sound recording (Fuji ZS400 cameras), but it was in Single 8 format.