April 24, 2023

ESB 24: Reverse-Engineering Artoo (Minutes 116-120 with Justin Leo Kennedy)

2 hours 55 minutes

Justin Leo Kennedy is back for another sound design deep-dive! 🎉 Today, it's all about R2-D2. Using a virtual ARP 2600 synth emulator and a recording of his baby crying, Justin attempts to reverse-engineer Ben Burtt's iconic Artoo beepspeak, teaching us a lot about sound synthesis along the way.

We also discuss minutes 116-120 of The Empire Strikes Back, which feature two of Justin's other favorite sounds –the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive failure and Artoo's scream.

Check out the YouTube version of this episode to follow along with the live demonstration! https://youtu.be/4crbLjDl5zg

Timestamps:

0:00 - Hello there!

10:48 - You may recognize this music from when we were on Hoth.

18:19 - Added Vader scene that cuts into a cue.

39:37 - Little motifs and punctuation sprinkled throughout the orchestra.

44:37 - Cloud City visual comparisons. (This is the timestamp I promised, audio listeners!)

46:43 - Hyperdrive malfunction sound design.

53:47 - Semiotics.

1:03:23 - Band Batch shoutout.

1:14:50 - R2D2 sound design deep dive begins.

1:19:42 - Introduction to the ARP 2600 and ARP 2600 plugin/emulator (It wasn't showing up on screen yet).

1:29:25 - It's showing up now!

1:30:00 - Tour of the virtual ARP 2600.

1:39:43 - Recording of Justin's baby crying.

1:49:03 - Closer examination of the modular synth, patch cable routing, oscillators. Justin's 3 attempts at making the R2 sound.

1:58:41 - Justin's third and best attempt at making the Artoo sound.

2:00:38 - Modulating the speed of the sample and hold with a low frequency oscillator (LFO).

2:09:30 - Shoutout to anyone who is still listening.

2:19:46 - Yearning Vader and heartbroken Luke.

2:33:17 - Artoo's scream.

2:43:44 - SWMM Questionnaire.

2:53:05 - Shoutout to Justin Scheid.

Things Mentioned:

Cherry Audio Arp 2600 plugin: https://cherryaudio.com/products/ca2600

ESB 22: An Editor's Film (Minutes 106-110 with Dan Golding) - https://youtu.be/cdNMS0dVI54

ESB 4: Snowspeeder Macroharmony (Minutes 16-20 with Jennifer Harding) - https://youtu.be/nnflnU9iecM

ESB 16: Attack of the Envelope (Minutes 76-80 with Jeremy Sawruk) - https://youtu.be/b0tIuc_2fkc

Artful Design: Technology in Search of the Sublime (Ge Wang): https://artful.design/

ESB 1: The First Five Minutes of Empire (Minutes 1-5) - https://youtu.be/c58MO8zcneY

Solo 24: Better Call Maul (Minutes 116-120 with Band Batch) - https://youtu.be/4C2IUmCxr4I

Video of Ben Burtt demonstrating Artoo's sound, but it's not zoomed in: "How sound designer Ben Burtt made Star Wars’ iconic sound effects" (Roadtrip Nation) https://youtu.be/WBKKXjNf1sE

Blast Points Podcast episode about the ESB mono mix: https://blastpointspodcast.com/2019/07/10/episode-178-the-mono-mix-strikes-back/

Daft Punk breakup video "Epilogue" - https://youtu.be/DuDX6wNfjqc

Complete Catalogue of the Musical Themes of Star Wars (by Frank Lehman): https://franklehman.com/starwars/.

Cues:

12M1 "Losing A Hand"

Musical Themes:

Pseudo Bald Mountain motif

Dark Side (Melody)

Dark Side (Ostinato)

Leia

Droids

Imperial March (Theme)

Main Theme (A Section)

Where are we in the soundtrack?:

"Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace"

"Yoda And The Force"

---------------

STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

New answer: mrrrm mrrrm mrawww. R2D2 beeping sounds.

Previous answer: pwsh vrrrrum shhpt

2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

New answer: More about the recording sessions. What kind of relationship did John Williams have with the engineers? What was it like in that studio? What kinds of conversations took place?

Previous answer: "Duel of the Fates" orchestration.

3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

New answer: TRON (composed by Wendy Carlos)

Previous answer: I, Robot (composed by Marco Beltrami), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) (composed by John Du Prez), Spirited Away (composed by Joe Hisaishi)

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Justin Leo Kennedy

Website: https://justinleokennedy.net

EyeHarp Project: https://eyeharp.org/

EyeHarp demonstration: https://youtu.be/ZLKnNu4fNf8

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JLK_Beret

ANH 7: Laser Sword Sound Design (minutes 31-35 with Justin Leo Kennedy) - https://youtu.be/R-isLAAL1Q4

TLJ 10: Colors of the Wind (minutes 46-50 with Justin Leo Kennedy) - https://youtu.be/joH88DBjFFY

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By Chrysanthe Tan

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