Funny In Retrospect

[beaucoup ammo]

The old TV series "Route 66" was responsible for my buying 2 'Vettes. I was a wee lad and it also introduced me to "action" shows with shoot outs, etc. Other than westerns.

I just got the entire 116 episodes on DVD and have stopped only to eat and use the head.

What's funny (and gun related, mods!) is the sound of the rounds being fired! Inside, they're like cap pistols and outside just kind of a "snap" or a "crack!"

It's a hoot to compare fire fights and gun shots in general with today's audio venues.. Dolby 5.1, surround sound, etc... to the FX of 46 years ago!

 

[Tommygunn]

While modern technology may have changed the whole nature of sound effects, back in the day of Route 66, The Untouchables, Naked City, and other tv shows, it was almost impossible to record gunshots. They are a very loud, sudden noise which usually peak very quickly. To most microphones of that era, a gunshot was the electronic equivalant of "What the---!" That's why when you play these back on today's equipment, gunshots all too often sound real phoney.
There were ways of taping them back then and making them sound OK but a lot of soundmen didn't know how and the schedules were so tight, if the guy they had on staff didn't know the tricks, that was that.