The Alliance for Community Media Logo - Test Version 1

I was casually asked this morning to produce and pitch a new network logo for ACM, who are forming to compete with PBS. This is my initial idea.

I have to say that this ident, with its simple primary colors, simple shapes and retro Waldorf synth soundtrack, gives me THE ODDEST FEELING watching it. For those of you born between '65 and '75, I think nuff said, right?

All I can say is, this logo gives me chills... and there aren't many logos produced in 2007 that do that. So my hat comes off to The ACM Network Logo pitch of September 2007!

Created, animated and produced by a Gen X'er... but... I'm sure you knew that watching it. ;)

Get me my corduroy and Cheerios.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• logo
• logos
• retro
• classic
• vintage
• analog
• analogue
• old-school

[Chasmodon]

Yeah.

I get the authentic 1976-logo time feel off of this one, Raposofan. What progs and synths did you use?

My only complaint: The graphics and sound are a tad TOO clean. If you could find a way to transfer this onto Betamax tape (I saw the stuff at Radio Shack in the past year!)then re-transfer it onto computer, perhaps? I dunno how you'd get the classic NTSC-video scratch and hiss. That would make it THAT much better!

[raposofan]

See moogyboy6 below! I can't redo this one and keep all the great comments and view numbers, but I am using his and your advice on new stuff now :D

[raposofan]

Yeah I did a shoutout to you down below Chas! :D

[Chasmodon]

Aaaaaand Moogyboy, with his wealth of experience and eyesight, has said exactly what I could only hazily aspire to.

Thanx for clearing that up!

[raposofan]

Definitely will do. I've finished the audio on the cel segment but can't post it because it's part of a DVD series we're doing, and we have to keep it under wraps until release in spring. PM me and I'll send you a sneak peek of it though, you and Chas and anyone else you wants to take a listen.

[moogyboy6]

Absolutely, have fun with it. I'm a fiend for little subtle details like that, and I like to help with those where I can. Let me know how it turns out.

Oh, one other thing I thought of: if your synth has the capability, you should try using a Moog-style 4-pole (ie 24db/oct) filter model for a more period-accurate synth sound. Your Waldorf reminds me of an '80s polysynth like a Roland Juno or a Korg Poly 61--think more Minimoog or ARP Odyssey type sounds.

[raposofan]

This is awesome advice. With your permission, I'm going to try those things on a 1969-style cel animation segment we just had finished in Canada and see how authentic it comes out.

[moogyboy6]

3) Try a different font (Avant Garde, Futura, ITC Serif Gothic, Cooper Black) for the right period feel.

4) I agree about "aging" the video somehow

5) Sound: roll off the highs, add pink noise and 60 hz hum, and compress the shit out of it.

[raposofan]

I agree, but then folks say "It's too fast to read", lol

[moogyboy6]

You're on the right track there, you've definitely got the right general feel of a '70s scanimate logo. If you'll entertain some input from a graphic designer and vintage logo lover, however:

1) Everything should move faster. The whole thing should over in maybe 0:10 or 0:15.

2) The slow zoom out on the logo (waaay too long imo) and the slow fades on the typography seem more '90s/'00s than '70s. I'd suggest a swift crossfade on the type. --cont--

[ebf1957]

Reminds me of the opening that WGBH uses to introduce their shows and to identify the station.