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TOS alien planet surface sound effect questions

You're right, I think it is actual locust swarms. Seems likely with a bit of modulation to give it the pulsing effect.
 
Well, the basic sound was used at various different pitches in ST and other productions (it was used at a lower pitch as the "hover" sound of the War of the Worlds Martian war machines), but the stridulation of insects kinda has a pulsing quality built into it.
 
Dabbling around this morning with various sound files, including some locust swarms, I have been successful recreating it. Here it is should anyone wish to download and try: http://www.hotshare.net/en/file/210995-52562270cc.html Note: This is my own recreation and has no relation to the actual Star Trek phaser sound. In other words, I did not use the original Trek sound for this recreation. Thanks for understanding.
 
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A perfect example of sticking with organics. Chris, please forgive this next question, but was the swarm locusts or cicadas? Where I grew up, the terms are used interchangeably. Thanks.

In Australia, a swarm of locusts is equivalent to a swam of grasshoppers.

We do have cicadas, but they are very different insects, and I've never heard of them "swarming". They seem quite solitary insects, after several years as pupae under the ground - although a mass of them singing together can be extremely loud.
 
The phaser sound is actually the chirping of a swarm of locusts.

Really?! I thought it was made by quivering/vibrating your lower lip really fast while humming in a constant high-pitched tone?

That's how I made it back in grade school anyway. Or maybe I was actually imitating a swarm of locusts all along. :lol:

Mark
 
Re: TOS alien planet surface sound effect questions now warp drive

Another of my dabbling creations today. Accelerate to warp 9 here: http://www.hotshare.net/en/audio/211850-97267549c7.html Remember, for copyright and other purposes, this is my own creation without any aid whatsoever from anything Trek related (other than listening to determine notes, etc) Enjoy!


NOTE: Both of the effects I posted will be disappearing soon, within the next day or two, so get them while you can. Thanks.
 
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