The "twang" from Star Trek and Star Wars compared

[peterp21]

I'm not sure what the furor is over (if there is indeed any furor). It's a blaster beam sound effect. Several Trek film used blaster beams, usually as part of the score. Star Wars used it here as a sound effect for the sonic charges. It's like complaining that both films used violins in their soundtrack.

[gui577b]

The Star Trek "blaster beam" is just several really long piano wires on an Aluminum beam. It's not that technical. All sound depts have piano wire and metal beams as standard equipment.

[griss2984]

As has been mentioned, the sound on star trek is actually part of the musical score. I don't think you should compare the two sounds. One is musical and the other used as a sound effect

[NPZwar]

@griss2984

Exactly. The "sound" in Star Trek is not a "sound effect", it is actually part of Jerry Goldsmith's music score, it's created by a musical instrument called "The Blaster Beam" and used as part of the orchestral palette. It's not just "one note" either (even if only one note can be heard here), in fact, the instrument is used prominently in the Star Trek score, performing quite a few notes.

[LeaveMeAlone99a]

If memory serves me right, admiral.

The Twang for Star Trek - The Motion Picture was an electric guitar mounted on what could be best described as an automotive spring/strut.

The vibrations had made a distinct sound when going through the amp.

[Vitorro]

same tone, different pitch, it is done in many movies

[GodzillaXAbudAwwal]

star trek sounds more badass. star wars raped the sound effect.

[joeylodes]

amazing how BOTH movies completely sucked ass

[Potrimpo]

And the irony is that they said that Star Trek 11 ripped off of the Star Wars franchise, yet lookie here.

[xylaphonemaster]

Sounds like it's being run through a tremolo set very fast.

[routhoula]

what causes this sound???

[whitemanstand72]

wHATS YOUR POINT

the sound of the bird of prey decloakng in the ST movies is the same sound used on Tie fighters, Its been slowed down by 2x Try it

[jmm1233]

same kind of sound but different in pitch

[DDT1968]

Somebody's definitely got too much time on their hands.

[freedailyspam]

This took me 15 minutes to make. It is of interest to those of us who are into sound design and editing. What have YOU contributed to youtube?

[peggymount]

@freedailyspam So glad to hear someone into sound. I hate having to make a blank video just to post some sounds.

[racybr]

This is part of a study of audio editing and sound design.

[djwavmaster]

That is a vocoded sound. I believe a Moog Vocoder was used to process that sound. I know my vocoders well. If anyone is unsure of what a vocoder is, wiki it. Specifically, the Moog Vocoder. The Moog Vocoder was used only for the Star Trek movie. The one in the Star Wars movie POSSIBLY may either be a coincidental-type sound or an emulation of the Star Trek one.

[fierylungs]

To my ears it sounds like a really short (in the 10-20ms range) delay with enough feedback to create a pitched ringing sound.

[IntermittentSprocket]

Actually it was Skywalker Sound not ILM that's the visual effects department at Skywalker Ranch.

[Grimbot2]

Should be noted that "twang" sound from Trek movie is part of the music score by Jerry Goldsmith, not a standalone sound effect.

[Rigelian]

ILM did the SFX for both movies so it stands to reason that they have the same sound library. That twanging sound can be generated by striking a metal coiled spring, something like a large guitar string, within a narrow tube IIRC.

[pepe6666]

Well when used slowly it can give a really gloomy synthetic sound. When used quickly and high pitched, it sounds like my the elastic in my undies.

[alpiazza]

The V'ger "twang" was a special instrument created in time for the production of TMP called the "Blaster Beam"... it was meant as a musical interlude, while the sound effect in AOTC is just that, a sound effect, not a piece of the musical score.

The blaster beam showed up again, albeit much more subdued, during the nebula battle in The Wrath of Khan, and as part of the Borg theme in First Contact.

[dafmurray]

alpiazza, the Blaster Beam was also used in 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1985).

[IntermittentSprocket]

LOL hmm it does sound close a little different in the EQ maybe a little pitch bending in the sound. I prefer Star Trek the motion picture original Dolby stereo mix 1979because it wins over that nasty re-mix versrion that if you where really to pay, high attention! You'll notice a lot of the Foley sound effects are missing, originals sound better!

[TrueDavebucket]

I'm biased but it sounds like SW took the effect and pitched it higher. It was isolated. Jeez makes me wonder which was a more crap film, thats a really tough one

[freedailyspam]

Actually that sound is the vger theme. Heh shortest theme ever. Even Jaws has two notes... It's used at different pitches in the Star Trek movie; I just used the one that was closest to the AOTC one.

[tk420bro]

ok... and the point of this is.....????

[freedailyspam]

What's the point of anything duuuuuude?

[dhollseed]

@freedailyspam is the right answer

[Velikan121]

Sound is a big part of such movies. In these cases, it added a lot for such a short span.

[hopendtrick]

@tk420bro

the only point that i can figure is that jango fett is using SONIC bombs in SPACE.....for God's sake U.U'''