Sensurround

Sensurround is a Mehrkanalmagnettonverfahren to play low notes, particularly in films as a sound effect ( 4.1).

It was developed in 1974 ( Earthquake ) Earthquake for the Universal production, reaching lows down to 15 Hz, to accommodate the sound on the film strip, there were different standards: 6 -track magnetic sound on 70mm film, 4 -track Magnetic sound at 35 - mm film and an optical optical sound track for older 35mm projection systems.

The Sensurround system needed in the cinema a special Dekodierbox, several amplifiers with 1000 watts of power and ten large, specially adapted bass speaker (subwoofer, which were set up in equal parts front and back of the hall ), the sound pressure of about 100 to 120 dB (A) produced.

The effect in the film earthquake was very realistic ( but especially loud). In some areas, viewers should have thought it actually find an earthquake instead. In older theaters trickled by the strong sound pressure of the dust from the ceiling and gave the film earthquake a special touch. In a movie theater in the U.S. city of Hackensack during the screening of the film roller coaster fell down even a part of the ceiling and damaged ten seats on which nobody sat.

Because of the low-frequency tones in Movies Sensurround in Germany should be listed only in solitary cinemas since adjacent cinemas were affected by the low tones.

Films in Sensurround

• Earthquake ( Earthquake, 1974) contains the DVD release, according to a cover, the original Sensurround tone.
• Battle of Midway ( Midway, 1976)
• Roller coaster (Roller Coaster, 1977)
• Battlestar Galactica ( Battlestar Galactica, 1978)
• Mission Galactica ( Mission Galactica - The Cylon Attack, 1979)