Page 12 - Microsoft Word - RDcover11_03.doc
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Pathè 9.5mm sound films are well known to collectors
and when in good condition can command a high price.
What is equally well known is that the “quality control”
officer at Pathè was frequently absent from the job. With
these films now quite rare, it is frustrating to find big
variations in both image quality and sound quality.
The image at left, an enlargement from one of my Betty
Boop sound films is a typical example. Note the lack of
dark bars in the variable density sound track. The
lightness of the sound track results in poor sound level,
and a higher degree of noise. (Poor signal to noise
ratio). Note also the almost square image.
Pathè released their sound
films with both density and
variable area tracks.
Unfortunately, many of the
VA tracks were often
produced with the dark area
gray instead of black which
would have made for better
sound levels.
Although the Pathè VOX
went into production in 1937
in France, World War 2
intervened and production of
these machines ceased in
1940. They were not
manufactured after the war.
References:
The Home Cinema by
Gerald McKee
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