NEW TALKIE EQUIPMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 16

NEW TALKIE EQUIPMENT.

MANUFACTURE IN AUCKLAND

SUCCESSFUL .» DEMONSTRATION.

That "talkio" equipment of a high standard can bo manufactured in Now Zealand was demonstrated at tho Central Theatre, Papatoctoe, yesterday afternoon, when a programme of talking pictures was reproduced on tho now Synchrotone equipment. Tho results were excellent.

No theatres in Auckland have yot been equipped with the new apparatus, which is manufactured by a local firm, firm, Synchrotone, Limited. It is made to reproduce films recorded by either the vitaphone or movietone process, and can bo installed for a sum far lower than that charged for any American equipment. Tho present machines may not bo suitable for very largo theatres, but tho makers claim that they would givo good results in theatres built to seat 1500 people. Tho demonstration was most successful. Tho programme consisted of three short films and a full length "talkie,"

"The Terror." The installation of the apparatus was completed only a short while before tho start of tho programme but, once perfect synchronisation had been established, the reproduction in the small theatre was comparable with that by more pretentious machines in larger theatres. "The Terror" was made under the vitaphono, or sound on disc process, and its screoning was not marred by any breaks in the dialogue which occasionally occur when the discs aro being changed. There was ample volume of sound, and except in a few cases—so isolatod as to suggest that the fault lay with tho players and not with tho reproduction —evory word was distinct. Synchrotone, Limited, will shortly instal equipment in several suburban theatres. Some of tho apparatus has of necessity to bo imported, but tho machines are mado from New Zealand designs, with as much Now Zealand material as possible, and by a New Zoaland firm.