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Concerning the Millennium Falcon’s Targeting Computer

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I’ve watched the Despecialized Edition of Star Wars, which many fans will remember as Episode IV: A New Hope. One of the things that caught my attention was the lack of the sound of the targeting computer during the TIE Fighter attack scene after Luke and company escape the Death Star. In most releases, you hear the sound of the targeting computer’s beeping just after Han tells Luke “You in, kid? Okay, stay sharp!”

My question is this: Was the sound present in the original cut whatsoever or was it only added in a re-release?

“The Force will be with you. Always…”

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 (Edited)

That’s a difference between theatrical audio mixes (Star Wars showed theatrically with three distinct audio mixes, depending on the theatre’s capabilities). The targeting computer sounds were in the mono mix, but not in the stereo or surround mixes. So if you’re listening to the 1977 surround track (a typical default because it sounds great on a modern home theatre setup), you’re not going to hear them.

When the Star Wars audio mix was revised for home video starting in 85, they brought some of the mono mix effects into the stereo/surround tracks. I’m not sure when they incorporated the targeting computer noises, but it was in one of those later revisions.

The mono mix is worth a listen if you haven’t heard it before. Yes, it’s mono and the quality isn’t as good, but it’s very different from the other mixes at times, and it’s just as “original”. In fact, most theatres at the time were equipped for mono, so it’s likely what most audiences heard in 77.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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CatBus said:

When the Star Wars audio mix was revised for home video starting in 85, they brought some of the mono mix effects into the stereo/surround tracks. I’m not sure when they incorporated the targeting computer noises, but it was in one of those later revisions.

Would this stereo mix have been attached to the 1980 A New Hope release, or did it not appear until home video?
It’s another reason I’d love to have A New Hope Depecialized.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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ray_afraid said:

CatBus said:

When the Star Wars audio mix was revised for home video starting in 85, they brought some of the mono mix effects into the stereo/surround tracks. I’m not sure when they incorporated the targeting computer noises, but it was in one of those later revisions.

Would this stereo mix have been attached to the 1980 A New Hope release, or did it not appear until home video?
It’s another reason I’d love to have A New Hope Depecialized.

As he mentioned the remix was done in ‘85.

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The 1981 release with the redone crawl and flyover (the year after Empire came out, for a double-feature second run) did not introduce any new audio changes, although it’s possible the mono mix was LESS likely to have been used because of theatrical equipment upgrades during the intervening four years. The first new audio mix was in 85, only for home video. 93 was the same story. I’m not sure which one brought in the targeting computer noises.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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Those beeping sounds are in the mono mix, but were never used in any of the others until the special edition came along.

It’s also worth noting that the beeps are mixed at a relatively low volume in the mono version, but are much louder in the SE, which is completely typical of all the audio changes made to the soundtracks from 1997 on (everything is loud and in your face rather than leaving any room for subtlety).

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hairy_hen said:

Those beeping sounds are in the mono mix, but were never used in any of the others until the special edition came along.

It’s also worth noting that the beeps are mixed at a relatively low volume in the mono version, but are much louder in the SE, which is completely typical of all the audio changes made to the soundtracks from 1997 on (everything is loud and in your face rather than leaving any room for subtlety).

Really? Were they not even present in any pre-Special Edition VHS releases?

“The Force will be with you. Always…”

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Benjjedi said:

hairy_hen said:

Those beeping sounds are in the mono mix, but were never used in any of the others until the special edition came along.

It’s also worth noting that the beeps are mixed at a relatively low volume in the mono version, but are much louder in the SE, which is completely typical of all the audio changes made to the soundtracks from 1997 on (everything is loud and in your face rather than leaving any room for subtlety).

Really? Were they not even present in any pre-Special Edition VHS releases?

None of the pre-1997 video releases used the mono mix.

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crissrudd4554 said:

Benjjedi said:

hairy_hen said:

Those beeping sounds are in the mono mix, but were never used in any of the others until the special edition came along.

It’s also worth noting that the beeps are mixed at a relatively low volume in the mono version, but are much louder in the SE, which is completely typical of all the audio changes made to the soundtracks from 1997 on (everything is loud and in your face rather than leaving any room for subtlety).

Really? Were they not even present in any pre-Special Edition VHS releases?

None of the pre-1997 video releases used the mono mix.

Some content from the mono mix was mixed into the 85 and 93 audio. For example, Threepio’s tractor beam lines and such. But apparently they didn’t do the targeting computer noises until 97.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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 (Edited)

CatBus said:

crissrudd4554 said:

Benjjedi said:

hairy_hen said:

Those beeping sounds are in the mono mix, but were never used in any of the others until the special edition came along.

It’s also worth noting that the beeps are mixed at a relatively low volume in the mono version, but are much louder in the SE, which is completely typical of all the audio changes made to the soundtracks from 1997 on (everything is loud and in your face rather than leaving any room for subtlety).

Really? Were they not even present in any pre-Special Edition VHS releases?

None of the pre-1997 video releases used the mono mix.

Some content from the mono mix was mixed into the 85 and 93 audio. For example, Threepio’s tractor beam lines and such. But apparently they didn’t do the targeting computer noises until 97.

Yes I know that. I just meant the unaltered mono. I think some sounds from the mono may have been integrated in the 1993 mix as well but I don’t think that included the targeting computer sounds.