The Iconic Sounds of Star Wars
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- čas přidán 19. 12. 2023
- While in the original THX theater -- where Return of the Jedi was mixed! -- Adam Savage sits down with Academy Award-winning sound designer, film director, editor, screenwriter and voice actor Ben Burtt, the man behind the iconic sounds you know and love from the Star Wars franchise, from R2D2's beeps and boops to Chewbacca's rrrruuurrr to Darth Vader's heavy breathing. What's YOUR favorite Star Wars sound?
NOTE: This video was filmed before 32TEN Studios was closed permanently, and its contents auctioned off. More interviews conducted by Adam in this iconic building are forthcoming; more on the closure here: www.northbaybusinessjournal.c...
The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: amzn.to/3RtI9Bu
More about Ben Burtt: www.skysound.com/people/ben-b...
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching! - Věda a technologie
NOTE: This video was filmed before 32TEN Studios was closed permanently, and its contents auctioned off. More interviews conducted by Adam in this iconic building are forthcoming; more on the closure here: www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/article/its-a-fade-to-black-for-historic-marin-county-movie-studios-known-for-sta/
The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: amzn.to/3RtI9Bu
More about Ben Burtt: www.skysound.com/people/ben-burtt/
Disclaimer: Tested may earn a commission from purchases made via the links above.
This is awesome. I'm so blessed, I was one of the Stormtroopers at the VES BBQ that was held there before they closed it down. We got pics of us in our armor all over the studio including in the theater.
Adam, I met you briefly when I introduced myself after we suited out of our armor at the BBQ. So sad it's all gone. Great interview here with Ben Bert.
Why are buildings like this not protected by the government as historic cultural sites? There are places that have had major international impact on human culture. And this building is literally that important. This place fully changed how human beings experience storytelling.
Man this was great. I watched both so far and they've both been 😘👌
it's pretty much the Abbey Road Studios of the Movie industry, it should have been saved by either private investors or the US gov.
Came here to say the same. This should have been saved and turned into a tourist spot to show where the movie magic happened. I'm kind of shaking my head as to why that didn't happen. Truly frustrating and sad to see that not happen in that way. Unless it was full of asbestos or something like that I don't see any reason why this historic building wasn't fully preserved.
My god Ben Burt is the literal legend of the filmmaking post process. Really an impressive guy with his creative audio world building.
*Burtt
Burttt*
35:09 The THX Standards were an integral change in the cinema landscape that I think cannot be overstated. The quality of a true THX certified theater was amazing! To this day, I have NEVER heard a better audio presentation in a theater than when Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace debuted at the Galaxy 9 theater in Dallas TX. The THX theater I saw it in had the best audio presentation I have heard in my life, before or since!! Every swing of a light saber, every ship engine, Sebulba's pod racer, everything was PERFECT. The bass extension and control was astonishing, and I still remember how incredible it felt back in 1999.
My favorite Star Wars sound effect is the blaster. I remember as a kid tapping on a high tension wire and hearing that noise thinking "Oh, that's a blaster from Star Wars". It wasn't until years later that I saw that was exactly how they made that sound. It amazed me how creative Foley artists are in finding sound effects.
That was my exact experience as well!
Foley artists are amazing! Like how the bridge door sound from Star Trek TOS was a bb gun reversed and slowed down!
I still find myself when going into a theatre or concert looking for the "Sweet spot" where the sound is perfect, usually right behind the sound engineer... Had a couple over the years turn around and ask why I was sitting there. I'd say: "Same reason YOU are!" 😁
Exactly how I found out about the sound too! 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Usually sound engineers, and sound designers create the sound fx. Foley is more like footsteps and picking up keys, maybe rain and fire, people getting punched or other standard sounds like that. Anything else like a robot or a blaster or animal sounds, explosions and gunshots are going to be left up to the sound design team.
@@PhilG999Yeah the sound fx aren't usually done by Foley artists. Anything that needs to be slowed down and pitch shifted, or reversed or anything like that is going to be on the sound design team. The guy in the video isn't a Foley artist. What they do is stuff like footsteps and people picking up keys, or a sword fight. Anything that has a standard kind of sound you can make with basic objects. Anything that requires a combination of sounds and manipulation or pulling something up from a library is going to be on the sound design team.
I had no idea 32TEN had been shut down. I grew up seeing that space in all the behind the scenes documentaries I watched as a kid, it’s a shame to see it go. But on the other hand, an hour long interview with Ben Burtt is a pretty great consolation! He’s such an interesting person and a jack of all trades.
yeah killed by the strikes sadly.
@@purefoldnz3070: According to the article, “Partridge, as CEO, has decided to close up shop amid a production slowdown that started around the pandemic and hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
Partridge did offer an opinion that, “the strikes didn’t help.” Some of us can’t get four people to agree on a restaurant to go eat at, so I think over a 97% vote to strike across both unions is a significant number, and a better indicator than one person’s opinion.
0:49 and even with that legendary pedigree, Adam can’t spell his name correctly. That’s a damn shame. Plus, it’s just Star Wars. “A New Hope” is for revisionists (and that’s where the problems starts).
@@purefoldnz3070so killed by the big studios?
@@purefoldnz3070killed by George closing it down, selling the buildings and the remaining talent trying to keep it going until the new landlord kicked them out.
Wow... I could have watched hours of this.. Ben is such a hero of mine and a constant source of inspiration... Adam is also probably the best person I could think of to interview him..
Such a shame 32TEN has closed.. It really should have been preserved as a museum
Ben Burtt is by far the most under rated of the Star Wars Trinity of him, Lucas and Williams. George brought the amazing story, Williams brought the heart pounding soundtrack, and Burtt brought the icing on the cake. His creations of the snap hiss of a lightsaber and Vader's breathing are known the world over.
Agreed, but I kinda want to take it one more step to upgrade it to quadrinity. As a concept artist, I can't help but mention the mastermind, genius level concept art of Ralph McQuarrie. Would have loved a Savage episode with Ralph to go over his creations but sadly he has not been with us since 2012.
Sooooo much went LUCKY for George after all that we now know that went wrong in the process of making of A New Hope. From the decision of going symphonic instead of synth, the decision of using James Earl Jones voice over David Prowse...so much that could have went horribly wrong came together in the end and still blows my ever loving mind to this day. These guys were the best of the best and from that group came Pixar, etc and so many game changers that forever changed the movie industry.
Ben Burtt is one of THE nicest guys you can ever meet at a Star Wars Celebration. I had a wonderful, detailed conversation about the ARP 2600 used for R2 (of my hobbies is synthesizers) and also the place where he discovered of the sound used for the Stormtrooper blasters. He is like his father - a professor. :)
He really is one of the NICEST guys ... actually, that you can ever meet ANYWHERE. We agree!
...and I would have loved to work with him too! @@tested
I was HOPING they'ed get into Details about the 2600 and whatever else they used(!)
...Personally I would've asked what happened to their Synclavier.
The earlier version ARP 2500 was the synth that was used in "Close Encounter of the Third Kind".
I love it that Ben (largely Retired now), still gives his time to Recollect & Recall his SW & LFL work & history. He's always in good humor & seems happy to share his time, to document this all important Cinema History he contributed so much to. For us Original Gen. SW fans, this is like Manna from Heaven.
Wow, this is one of the best videos from the whole year. Thank you so much for this interview and the awesome quality.
It is such a shame that 32TEN Studios was auctioned off. I bet many people would have paid good money to see the place and even watch a movie there. It should have been kept as a museum to movie making.
I agree 100,000%. I would visit it more than once! Especially to see that theatre and imagine what it was like for Lucas and I imagine Spielberg for Indy.
@@Aaronides me too. I have seen behind the scenes videos of them watching dailies there and pre-Release cuts. It would have been a real treat to see a movie there.
Chewie hits his head when being taken to Jabba’s dungeon. It’s also used in The Phantom menace in a couple places- one of which is when Sebulba breaks a piece of Anakin’s pod before the race.
I love Ben Burtt! He's iconic. I got to visit Skywalker Ranch and Skywalker Sound for my birthday when I was 34. Wonderful experience!!!
!!!!!
I met Ben Burt with a group of friends back in May when I was in San Rafael with my Indy hat on. He was hanging out with one of the Matt Painters from Return of the Jedi. I wish I could remember his name. He walked over and talked to us for about a half hour giving us tells from the set of Indiana Jones. He is still really excited about film and loves to talk about it. Great guy!
Thank you for this! I can't tell you how many telephone pole cables I banged on as a kid once I learned how Ben got the laser sounds for Star Wars. It really was a magical time in movies!
Seeing Adam enthusatically talk about my craft with one of the greats makes me a little emotional. I'm a Maker and a Sound Designer and the two frequently overlap. Thanks for sitting down with Ben and taking the time to learn more about sound. Makers Make Noise!
It's almost as if I wrote this. Maker & Sound Designer here too, loved every second of the video.
This is so bittersweet. Thank you, Adam for showing us this amazing piece of history. I just have one question... How much did you buy at the auction. :)
Adam didn’t buy anything, but he did inherit some special artifacts … stay tuned.
@@testedAMAZING!!!
Sweet! That makes me happy.
These interviews should be preserved in the Library of Congress.
This was such a treat to watch i wished this could be turned a full blown special documentary or something with actual footage and photos that Adam and Benm talked about! So special to see 2 legends chat about their love of sound in such a magical building!
Agreed, I'd love to see an expanded version of this interview with other content edited in. My guess is copyright issues made that impractical in this case.
I saw SW4 on opening day in SF. I'll never forget seeing the Tantive4 flying overhead shooting behind itself, then the Star Destroyer ship filling the 50' x 30' screen & wondering when it would end, it's rumbling filling my entire body & feeling the sound of the shots from the ships! Thrilling!!!!🎉
I'm 70y.o. now & can still feel those moments of film history. !
I feel sorry for all who didn't get to experience that. A first of many for 32TEN Studios, but not the last.
Thrilling! Thanks, Ben & Adam !
Unless you grew up with standard movie sound of the 60's, 70's and then THX changes in the 80's, you can't fully appreciate the change. People not old enough take it all for granted today I feel. The first time I heard the loading THX intro sound in speakers and even headphones, blew me away.
Man *THIS* is the kind of _"Behind The Scenes"_ bonus content that movies SHOULD have...
When Adam said at the end that Ben makes this process sound so magic and thrilling, was spot on!!
🤞This might not happen but... Was wondering if one of the Tested personnel could ask Adam on the ground of Star Wars, whether he's a die hard Original Cut guy, or a Special Edition? 😅🥴
Only reason I'm torn is due to him being at ILM _just after_ they came out, so I'm not sure whether he's partial to one of the other for that reason.
Thanks, if so... If not, no problem! _(my suspicion is Original)_
I love that the last line of dialogue in A New Hope is Chewie's "Arrrrgh!"
I had a chance to meet Ben a few months back (in May) when I worked on his house (didn’t know who he was at the time). Such a great guy. Sad to see the studio close.
I really wish Marin would step up and do something to keep these pieces of film history from going the way of the dodo.
Thank you Adam for getting video of this
And Ben, if you get to see this, let me know if you guys need anything else -
James
As a child we have the LP record the story of Star Wars. VCRs had not been invented yet my way of reliving the movie was mostly through that record. Ben Burt, thank you.
Ben Burtt is one of my storytelling heroes. Absolute legend, and his contribution to The Movies cannot be overstated.
I could watch 1000 more hours of this. Just incredible! Ben Burtt is a genius
I love Ben Burtt. This man created a majority of the sounds of my childhood. Thanks Adam for doing this interview.
I was very lucky to work here several times and even had a few of my short films played in that theater.
The sounds of Star Wars are just as iconic as the visuals and music of Star Wars. Ben Burt is a fre--n legend!
That's an incredible interview! The story how Ben came up with those ingenious special effects as a teenager just blew me away. That guy's absolutely amazing!
Reminds me of when I saw an interview with presumably the BBC Radiophonic Workshop where they were talking about how the TARDIS sound started out. Apparently it was a spliced and speed-changed recording of a key being rubbed on piano strings.
I can't believe this iconic building is now closed. A damn shame - I blame Disney.
This is a such great interview w/ the legendary Ben Burtt. All the sounds that make up the Star Wars & Indiana Jones universe are unique & special sounds that are part of the soul of those films & Ben Burtt was, & will be forever, an integral part of those universes. My favorite story Ben told years ago was for the rolling boulder sound for Raiders Of The Lost Ark. It was a sound that he was having trouble getting because the sound had to sound heavy, fast, & of course rock like. He eventually got the sound from unlikely source - a 1980 Honda Civic rolling down a gravel driveway in neutral with the engine off. Slowing the sound down, adding some bass & then synching it to the film, & you have a classic sound effect that has Indiana Jones running for his life. Without Ben Burtt we wouldn't have: Chewbacca's roar, Artoo Detoo's beeps & boops, Darth Vader's breathing & the hum of his lightsaber, & on & on & on. I just don't want it to end.
End of an Era Adam I grew up with watching these movies and that was always a dream job growing up that I should had followed after college .my home theater is THX and DTS
Wow what a special moment. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this and as certain moments would come up in the interview I would audibly hear these sounds in my subconscious. It's a DAMN SHAME this studio / building was not considered for a public museum or at least a historic site for conservation. Just blows my mind.
You are right. Considering how huge of an impact the technology developed at this place has had on movie making.
Of all the ILM people who have been interviewed over the years, Ben Burtt is one of the most fascinating and engaging. He created the sounds that have permeated our lives. And he is so musical about it. Rare. Amazing.
What a fascinating human being. I was spellbound for the entire interview. Thank you Adam and Tested, for sharing this with the world. Though I'm sad such a historic place was sold off, its wonderful to get to hear the stories from its history from the person who lived it .
Fascinating. As a theatrical sound designer I'm struck by the similarities. Wonderful celebration of Ben Burtts work❤
That was the best interview from Tested. Well done to everyone for making this happen. Love hearing stories from these filmmaking legends. I hope Ben remembered to record the squeaky door 😊
That was amazing! I couldn't stop listening and was completely engrossed. Thanks so much for recording these experiences with these pioneers for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for this upload! ❤️
That was an interview I never knew I needed to hear. As a kid in the 1970s, I didn't know to appreciate the sounds of a movie, until one day we were playing outside and I banged a stick on a guywire. I immediately knew where I had heard that sound before. I hit many more guywires in my life after that. Thank you for sharing this video.
For me as a kid in the 70s, banging on a guy wire was a Star Trek photon torpedo launch... 😁
The fact the dude tooka wrech to a power tower cable to make the blaster sounds just blows my mind!
Man it’s pretty insane that most people probably won’t ever know the studio responsible for a good chunk of their childhood closed down. Hopefully all involved are able to continue their career in the industry, and keep inspiring future generations!
This video is a Christmas gift on its own
They bleeped every word R2D2 said in every film
Ha!
Wow, what a cool interview. Can't get enough of Ben's knowledge. He inspired me to so much better results as a sound freak. I'm glad this is available for the next generations to come.
It was great to hear about Ben Burtt shooting a student film at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. I acted in one that was also shot there in the early 2000's. Cole Palen had long since passed away, but the aerodome staff let us use the planes in a similar fashion over a weekend. We too built a cockpit mockup, and because it had to play a Spad, a Fokker DVII and a Fokker Triplane, we repainted it in 3 color schemes, and changed the machine guns and cylinder heads to suit, all in one day. It was magical, and hearing Ben talk about a similar project is awesome.
Thank you team @Tested for letting everyone peek into the things we never will or can not just casualy plan, to go and see! (Besides going out of business)
All the best wishes from the Netherlands!
Thanks to you and Ben for this interview...he's a legend and those tales of creating the sounds of my youth are just magical.
fantastic interview, also really glad this shows off the theater to the outside world. its really a loss for the bay area that the theater and stage couldnt be saved. watching Marty's videos and posts closing up the place were heartbreaking.
9:07 this is just so brilliant, a lot of ingenuity there, I really wanna see this film now lol
This is the kind of content that I live for. Thank you Adam and the crew of Tested for delivering this I could listen to his stories for hours. Do you have an uncut version? :D
Agreed. I could listen to these guys talk all day. Ben Burtt is endlessly fascinating and a real creative inspiration.
We really didn't cut a lot of it out -- it was about an hour long. But we have another video with Ben coming up, so stay tuned!
@@robertjosephkeil RIGHT?!
@@tested awesome! I could watch this stuff all day. Fascinating.
@@testedAwesome! Thank you for the reply. I really appreciate it! Keep up the great content and I wish the team a merry christmas and a happy new year!
I had no idea the studio had closed its doors so this makes a slightly bittersweet watch...but an interesting one nevertheless. Talking of happy accidents, I seem to recall hearing that during the filming of "It's a Wonderful Life" there's a scene featuring the characters of George & Uncle Billy where Billy is supposed to be drunk and he exits the shot, the actor caught either a trashcan or a stack of film cans and ad-libbed an in character off screen comment which they kept in the finished film.
Thank you Adam, for sharing this historical treat!
Wow. This interview was amazing.
So glad you brought us this! Ben Burtt has always been one of my heroes since I saw the first ILM behind the scenes specials and started paying attention to everything going on with sound effects in Star Wars.
What a Legend. Ben Burtt changed the soundscape forever. Great interview.
This was great to watch. I hope Adam can do more like this.
Absolutely amazing interview/storytelling event.
Thank you, one of the most thrilling and fascinating interviews ever. It was also heartwarming for him to share his breakdown story as I went through a very similar situation in my profession working in TV. Often you feel your the only one that it happens to and reassuring that he came out the other side. Mental Health stories need to be shared to encourage people to know there can be light at the end of that very long dark tunnel!
Adam, Thank you for this. The making of... The behind the sceens... This part of the process - the we are human part is and always has been very special and enjoyable and you added another chapter to that.
Legendary. Absolutely wonderful interview. Thank you.
Simply amazing interview! Thanks!
Great Interview! Thank you Adam for your enthusiasm for quality productions!
What a great interview! I am a great of both of you! It shines out, that movies back than were done more manually and analog with more personal and improvised performance involved. They were done by individual talent with room for improvisation. Every creator should watch once this interview. So much to learn from. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Adam (and Ben of course) for another wonderful insight into the history of filmmaking and how LFL helped drag sound design out of the 'silent ara' and into the 'Dolby' age. I had the casual privalege to meet Ben at SW Celebration Europe in Essen (as a volunteer at the signing tables) and he was so gracious that inbetween fan signings he would entertain my questions with a few stories - many of them unique. For example he said that one of the few ambitions he personally had while working on SW - ANH is that perhaps it might be successful enough so that he could have a prime table at a Star Trek convention! The irony was not lost on either of us that here we were at a huge SW convention decades later, much bigger than Trek ever was - and is....
Thank you so much for this time with Ben Burt...a real treat. Merry Christmas!
Fascinating talk and the frankness at the end about self expectations and admitting it’s still there despite his legendary status to us. Superb interview with Ben’s passion and fun unabated. Thank you Ben and the Tested team
Thank you thank you thank you for this Adam, Ben Burtt is an absolute Legend to so many of us, and in many peoples opinion deserves more than equal credit for his part in making the movies we love come alive in a way that astounds and lives on for generations.
That was such a great interview. Thank you so much.
Wow! What a powerful and genuine interview! Fly on the Wall as two great friends reminisce. Priceless!
This is the best! I LOVE this longer format deep dive interviews! I could watch this stuff all day. Keep'm coming!
incredible interview. outstanding.
Thank You. Awesome interview.
Legend. Simple. Thank you Ben Burtt, and thank you Adam for doing this interview. 🎬📽🎞🔊
A wonderful interview. Thank you!
Hands down the best video on this channel, and the best interview I have ever seen
Thank you Adam for posting this!
The sound effect when Chewie hits his head on a pipe while being taken to Jabba's dungeon is also used when Jango hits his head on his ship's door while escaping Kamino. Pretty sure it's used in other places too. For example, when Sebulba sabotages Anakin's podracer, the sound of the part he breaks off seems to be the same sound at a lower pitch.
An amazing interview. Thank you!
Amazing experience to listning in guys. Thank you both alot 🙂
What a fantastic video and interesting conversation. Thanks for sharing, Burtt, we love you!
What a fantastic interview with a sound design legend! Thanks for that
Brilliant, beautiful, and legendary conversation and stories! Thanks Adam, Ben, and Tested for bringing this to us all. ❤
Incredible. Thanks for sharing, Adam, et al.
Loved this interview! Thanks to everyone!!!
Man Adam this is really great. I wasn't sure I was going to appreciate this one but I really did. I love hearing from these people who've made things that impacted my own life and so many others' reflecting so candidly on their life's work in all its up and downs. (And it feels **so incredibly validating** of my own struggles with background noise on my video projects to learn that Ben was first recording R2-D2 under similarly challenging circumstances.)
this was one amazing video the history an the inside view of the way things were done an how they went about making the movie effects make watching the movies all that much more enjoyable thank you sir Adam an the tested team for making the videos before sadly 32ten was closed down an a part of so many peoples child hood is lost but not forgotten thanks to videos like this are made an able to pass along to others on sights like facebook an other sights .
How wonderful was this? Thank you thank you thank you. I could watch stuff like this all day long. Wonderful and wonderfully gifted people speaking about their craft. And Adam, your knowledge and enthusiasm pulls out the same from those you interact with. Please continue to do more, you lovely man!
This was a great interview Adam, Ben is a legend to so many movie fans. 🎉
Thank you Adam, this conversation with Ben Burtt was really incredible. I am so sad that 32TEN has closed, but videos like this help to document the history for all times. Thank you Ben for the stories and for your body of work that has touched so many of us. The images are wonderful, but the sound gives them weight, depth and dimension! I have worked professionally as a recording engineer, and the sounds of movies like Star Wars and Indiana Jones are what got me interested in sound at an early age. Well done gentlemen!
Just incredible. Thank you for making such a wonderful video
Great stuff, Adam! Thank you
What great info from one of the most talented and influential yet humble icons in film history. Bravo Adam for a superb interview with Mr. Burtt.
What a fascinating deep dive into the history and evolution of cinematic sound design! Ben Burtt is a national treasure, and provides a master class in the theory of sound design - a good portion of which he is the originator! What Burtt developed is what is now the basis of the film industry's sound design standards. This interview is a time capsule that needs to be preserved for academia and future film makers. Thank you for recording, and for sharing!
Love hearing about the process of making iconic movies and so sad that this place has closed. But so awesome that you saved some pieces of it in your shop Adam! 😁👌
I think its fantastic how you find new and more effective ways of giving insights in ex. movie history using your contacts, knowledge and enthusiasm never seen before. Keep doing this because your access to gems in the industry feeds thousands of nerds and giving us the weekly nutrition we long for and sometimes crave. Transitioning from traditional TV to streaming own content is the last piece of the puzzle to be able to do what you want, and the way you use that empowerment in combination with the result of a lifelong line of work is just spot on so thank you!
Incredible conversation. Thank you for this Adam.
This interview is a treasure trove documenting an era gone by. Awesome.
Gosh, what a quick hour that was listening to this! Thank you Adam!!!
The god of our childhood sound effects. If you ever got your "pew pew", "wonk wonk" (lightsaber), or "Yub Nub" on, this guy had a hand in it. Absolute legend.
and (added in retrospect) the "clunk" of the stormtrooper hitting his head on the door.