The "twang" from Star Trek and Star Wars compared

A comparison of the "twang" sound from Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the "twang" sound from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

For the origin of the sound, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4VGkmhSYQc&feature=related (thanks to youtuber dafmurray)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• star
• trek
• wars
• sound
• effects
• sfx
• creation
• editing
• design
• ben
• burtt
• dirk
• dalton
• joel
• goldsmith
• slave
• vger

[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?

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[dhollseed]

@freedailyspam is the right answer

[GodzillaXAbudAwwal]

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

[joeylodes]

amazing how BOTH movies completely sucked ass

[peggymount]

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