Re: UFO Sound Effects

Considering I've seen ZERO replies to my question as how the UFO sound
effects are produced, I can only conclude that no one knows. I was hoping
someone would have some insight. I remember when Star Wars first came out,
there used to be these fan magazines for sci-fi shows that told you about
the various photographic and sound effect techniques. They told you what
sounds were combined to make the wookie voice of Chewbacca, and how other
sounds were time altered or reversed or otherwise processed to make the
sound of the Tie fighters or R2-D2's chirps/beeps/whistles. I thought
perhaps somewhere in the past there might have been such a publication that
told how UFO's sound effects were produced.

>Considering I've seen ZERO replies to my question as how the UFO sound
>effects are produced, I can only conclude that no one knows.

I don't think anyone knows. I believe that the sound was created by
Barry Gray, as he did a lot of the electronic sound effects. It
seems to be several sounds layered on top of each other, perhaps
running at an unnatural speed. There are sounds similar to the UFO
sound in THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET, I believe.

Marc

There are a lot of sound effects in films and TV that are made by
layering sounds to produce the one the production company wants. I recall
reading that the Tarzan yell is actual made up of a camel bleat, a hyena's
yowl played backward, the pluck of a violin string, a soprano's high C and
Johnny Weissmuller's bellowing yodel at the top of his lungs.
The sound used for Dirty Harry's Magnum in the first film is that of
part of a shotgun, highpowered rifle and a pistol.
So it is very possible as Marc said that the sound of the UFO is that
of different sounds layered together to get the unique sound that we hear.
What those are only the sound techs or the late Barry Grey knew.

James K.


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