The "Blaster Beam"

[Mr Silver]

As a Musician, I'm always looking for new ways to express sound, When I was younger, I was fascinated with the "Blaster Beam" effects used during TMP, there was something about it that made Space so much more real (and indeed dangerous)

It makes an appearance again in TWOK, which again supplements the classical influenced soundtrack

But the really awesome thing about the instrument, is its use in relation to the Borg, I love the little motif that plays when Voyager encountered a Borg Cube, or the short melody on the Spacewalk To The Deflector scene in FC

Overall, Theres something really cool about it

Thoughts?

 

[Basill]

Totally love it. It defined a movie era mood that we don't hear much these days.

 

[Dac]

If this is what was used for the spacey "echo" in "Leaving Drydock", yes, I love it.

 

[RyanKCR]

For those who want to know specifically what it is check this out:



ETA I've always wondered what instument made the water glass like sound here at :40-:45
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wEEd6DI7Fc[/yt]

and at :42-:45, 1:39-1:45, 2:12-2:16
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58wJRrvVgZI[/yt]

It sounds like a water/glass based or stringed instrument. There are others I wish to know but I'll leave that for another time.

 

[doubleohfive]

The blaster beam can be heard at points throughout the score to Star Trek III as well.

 

[tharpdevenport]

It also appeared at least twice in one cue (that I can recall) from TSFS. "Bird of Prey Declocks"; don't know if that was the alternate version, or the film version.

 

[Maurice]

Voila!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=4672638

 

[RyanKCR]

For those who want to know specifically what it is check this out:



ETA I've always wondered what instument made the water glass like sound here at :40-:45

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/4wEEd6DI7Fc&hl=en[/yt]and at :42-:45, 1:39-1:45, 2:12-2:16

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/58wJRrvVgZI&hl=en[/yt]
It sounds like a water/glass based or stringed instrument. There are others I wish to know but I'll leave that for another time.

What happened? I had this video in there first before the other two:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPimk6y1-JI[/yt]
And now I cannot edit it to put it back.

Oh well.....

ETA Someone posted the same video from another site.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Now, there is an instrument Jerry used, I think in one of the Trek scores, that you hit and dipped into water and it made this odd sound.

A story goes that someone at a session got some fish and put them in the water, and when they dipped the heavy, vibratting object in there, they all froze still.



EDIT:

No access to headphone, so here is the "Bird of Prey Declockes" cue; no idea if this is the right version:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpw1h6nxnLQ[/yt]

I'll check it's running time against mine later today, then get back to you guys tomorrow on if it is, and where the blaster beam occurs.

 

[FormerLurker]

Mickey Hart, one of the Grateful Dead drummers, invented an instrument very similar to the Blaster Beam, and has used it to great effect in concert.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Okay, I had the wrong cue, here is the cue from TSFS:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdUOyXWUmqM&feature=related[/yt]

It appears a number of times throughout (before the cue stops, then another cue picks up), the first time I recall hearing it was at 1:12.

 

[cubdukat]

I think, strangely enough, the instrument in question may be a waterphone. James Horner also used it a lot in his early work.

 

[alica]

Blaster beam is based on electronic musical instrument and its a good option for me. The instrument is played by striking or plucking the strings with fingers, sticks and pipes . it was brought to fame in the soundtrack for Star Trek..

 

[alica]

As per its name its really a blaster instrument that is used in music with electronic concept. it was brought to fame in the soundtrack for star trek.. composer Jerry goldsmith used this instrument to create v'ger sound.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Both the blaster beam and waterphone are being used, cubdukat.

In fact, he's not hte only Trek composer to make use of the waterphone.