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Synchromy

This animated short by Norman McLaren features synchronization of image and sound in the truest sense of the word. To make this film, McLaren employed novel optical techniques to compose the piano rhythms of the sound track, which he then moved, in multicolor, onto the picture area of the screen so that, in effect, you see what you hear.
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This animated short by Norman McLaren features synchronization of image and sound in the truest sense of the word. To make this film, McLaren employed novel optical techniques to compose the piano rhythms of the sound track, which he then moved, in multicolor, onto the picture area of the screen so that, in effect, you see what you hear.

Music All subjects
Keep It Weird All channels
  • director
    Norman McLaren
  • producer
    Norman McLaren
  • visuals
    Norman McLaren
  • music
    Norman McLaren
  • optical effects
    Ron Moore
  • re-recording
    Roger Lamoureux

Education

Ages 11 to 17
School subjects
Arts Education - Music History and Citizenship Education - Culture and Currents of Thought (1500-present) Media Education - Film Animation Technology Education - Communications and Technology
Have film, media, and arts students examine the synchronization of colour, line, movement, and sound. Initiate a variety of projects: in a lesson on synchronicity and rhythm, view film without sound, imagine the sound track, and then after viewing, practise creating rhythmic sound for a series of images; create simple digital flip animations to music; digitally duplicate McLaren's technique; respond through brush and paint while listening only.

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Synchromy
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