Sound clips while trooping

[viewoptic[TK]]

I wanted to check and see what everyone is using to play sounds clips via hand remotes ect. while trooping.... I know some people use TRamp, just wanted to explore some other options and see what all is out there. Thanks 

Edited October 23, 2023 by viewoptic

[TikiTechie[TK]]

Glad you asked. I've been working on this subject for awhile. It's still a WIP but maybe you can get some ideas from the research I've done.

I've been interested in creating a very flexible audio system that can play a very large number of audio clips via a glove controller (only 1 button) and a position sensor.  This is what they use at Galaxy's Edge and is pretty cool and gives you a lot more choices for sounds, but also adds a lot more complexity. 

Do you want recorded sound clips, or to use your own voice? 
Recorded sounds have limitations, such as how many you can easily trigger to play by buttons.  This works well for characters like Wookiees or Jawas who really only make a few unique sounds. If you don't want to be limited to a few canned phrases, you may want to go with mic headset and a simple audio amp. You can probably do that for pretty cheap < $50 on Amazon.

 

Microphone + Amplifier

I've been using the iComm & Aker amp setup that I see alot of people using.  For me it hasn't worked well.  Mounting in the chest has a very muffled sound (maybe it's my voice) but no one can understand me unless I repeat myself at least once.  I get a lot of blank stares which is not super-impressive.  
 

I switched to JUST using the amplifier + mic system. It's a little better sound, but I mostly have the same problem. Namely, being able to turn it up to be understandable but also not cause feedback from your helmet.  Chest mount amps seem to suffer from this. 

 

Another thing I've witnessed for folks who have an external amplifier located in a pouch (those Scouts!): you can understand them pretty well, but the audio in the helmet gives some sort of cross-talk that makes it sound non-stormtrooper like (to my ears). I just want to hear the audio from the speaker.

 

Buy:

So, long story even longer, if you want a simple sound board with 4 or 8 clips, visit Etsy and search for "sound glove" and you should get the standard ones I've seen. You can find them on Youtube for DIY. 

 

My Plans:
I just put out an order on Fiverr for someone to professionally record sound clips. My voice just isn't stormtrooper-y. They do 100 words for $20 which was a decent starter to try this out with.  

 

Gotchas:

 

I created what I thought was a easy to use button controller, but after I put it on with the glove it became clear I wouldn't have the dexterity due to the bulk of the gloves. This is even with a much larger button surface like below. Spacing the buttons farther might help but it makes the controller very wide, which it's already sticking out from the palm to be visible, which isn't what I want. 
 

 

Sorry for the length of this, but it's a WIP and probably going to become a separate thread.

Edited October 23, 2023 by TikiTechie

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Search and they will be found  

 

TK chatter Google Drive link

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14vAaXe7vzNsBYuzQy8Ro2yc0sjnb5k7S?usp=sharing

 

For my TK I use and Icomm and an Aker amp.

 

For some of my other costumes I use a small mp3 player and an Aker amp gutted so it fits in pouches, I also use 2 relay remotes to activate start/stop and select, once the remote is stripped they are only a little larger than a CR2032 battery they fit nicely into gloves, with a loop of elastic glued to them so they stay on the fingers.

 

 

Soundboard links: 

https://www.101soundboards.com/boards/10584-stormtrooper-sounds-star-wars

https://www.soundboard.com/sb/stormtrooper_sounds

https://www.voicy.network/official-soundboards/movies/stormtrooper

 

[Hesikaya[TK]]

I am a huge fan of the TKTalkie.  You can use it as a voice changer or add buttons for pre assigned phrases / sounds etc.  I've used it on my TK, a Gonk, and my kids Jawa costumes.  It will also play background chatter on a loop based on your character. 

 

I wear it on a chest rig that is behind my chest plate with an Aker speaker and a USB power pack.  I wear a mic and run the cord under my neck seal and out my the top of my shirt which isn't visible and down to the chest rig.

Edited October 25, 2023 by Hesikaya

[viewoptic[TK]]

On 10/23/2023 at 4:04 PM, TikiTechie said:

Glad you asked. I've been working on this subject for awhile. It's still a WIP but maybe you can get some ideas from the research I've done.

I've been interested in creating a very flexible audio system that can play a very large number of audio clips via a glove controller (only 1 button) and a position sensor.  This is what they use at Galaxy's Edge and is pretty cool and gives you a lot more choices for sounds, but also adds a lot more complexity. 

Do you want recorded sound clips, or to use your own voice? 
Recorded sounds have limitations, such as how many you can easily trigger to play by buttons.  This works well for characters like Wookiees or Jawas who really only make a few unique sounds. If you don't want to be limited to a few canned phrases, you may want to go with mic headset and a simple audio amp. You can probably do that for pretty cheap < $50 on Amazon.

 

Microphone + Amplifier

I've been using the iComm & Aker amp setup that I see alot of people using.  For me it hasn't worked well.  Mounting in the chest has a very muffled sound (maybe it's my voice) but no one can understand me unless I repeat myself at least once.  I get a lot of blank stares which is not super-impressive.  
 

I switched to JUST using the amplifier + mic system. It's a little better sound, but I mostly have the same problem. Namely, being able to turn it up to be understandable but also not cause feedback from your helmet.  Chest mount amps seem to suffer from this. 

 

Another thing I've witnessed for folks who have an external amplifier located in a pouch (those Scouts!): you can understand them pretty well, but the audio in the helmet gives some sort of cross-talk that makes it sound non-stormtrooper like (to my ears). I just want to hear the audio from the speaker.

 

Buy:

So, long story even longer, if you want a simple sound board with 4 or 8 clips, visit Etsy and search for "sound glove" and you should get the standard ones I've seen. You can find them on Youtube for DIY. 

 

My Plans:
I just put out an order on Fiverr for someone to professionally record sound clips. My voice just isn't stormtrooper-y. They do 100 words for $20 which was a decent starter to try this out with.  

 

Gotchas:

 

I created what I thought was a easy to use button controller, but after I put it on with the glove it became clear I wouldn't have the dexterity due to the bulk of the gloves. This is even with a much larger button surface like below. Spacing the buttons farther might help but it makes the controller very wide, which it's already sticking out from the palm to be visible, which isn't what I want. 
 

 

Sorry for the length of this, but it's a WIP and probably going to become a separate thread.

Awesome thanks for the info! What exactly are the stormtroopers using at galaxies edge? does anyone know the exact set up and brand of everything?

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

1 hour ago, viewoptic said:

Awesome thanks for the info! What exactly are the stormtroopers using at galaxies edge? does anyone know the exact set up and brand of everything?

 

 

 

[viewoptic[TK]]

Very interesting for sure how they trigger the sound clips with hand motions. I just wonder where something like that can be purchased? it has to be available somewhere...

[TikiTechie[TK]]

On 10/26/2023 at 1:24 PM, viewoptic said:

Awesome thanks for the info! What exactly are the stormtroopers using at galaxies edge? does anyone know the exact set up and brand of everything?

Well, this is a patent for something that looks an awful lot like a stormtrooper audio system. The setup is kind of outlined there. The details are generic, so I don't know there is a "brand" since it's likely not off the shelf.  Maybe Disney Imagineering brand? If you find out though, please let me know. I'd love to get those details. For now I am reverse engineering what I see there and in videos.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I am working on producing for my own use a similarly triggered sound glove.  This is for fun and not necessarily ever going to see the light of day, but I do have the components, and some of the skills, to produce it.  

Why not use a mic & amp, you ask? Good question. There are a few specific answers, mostly just that my voice _does not project_. It's a me thing. Trying to get it loud enough for me to be heard, and understood, has not worked: feedback, picking up breathing, etc.  Until I actually build the sound system, I am just using the mic/amp though, since it's easy and I have all the parts. 

I always hope someone on the forums is a GE FOTK and will reach out to provide more info.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

10 minutes ago, TikiTechie said:

Well, this is a patent for something that looks an awful lot like a stormtrooper audio system. The setup is kind of outlined there. The details are generic, so I don't know there is a "brand" since it's likely not off the shelf.  Maybe Disney Imagineering brand? If you find out though, please let me know. I'd love to get those details. For now I am reverse engineering what I see there and in videos.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I am working on producing for my own use a similarly triggered sound glove.  This is for fun and not necessarily ever going to see the light of day, but I do have the components, and some of the skills, to produce it.  

Why not use a mic & amp, you ask? Good question. There are a few specific answers, mostly just that my voice _does not project_. It's a me thing. Trying to get it loud enough for me to be heard, and understood, has not worked: feedback, picking up breathing, etc.  Until I actually build the sound system, I am just using the mic/amp though, since it's easy and I have all the parts. 

I always hope someone on the forums is a GE FOTK and will reach out to provide more info.

I was looking at this patent just a few hours ago and noticed Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises

 

Some pics for those interested, uses an array of triggers

 

 

 

PDF download link 

[viewoptic[TK]]

Thanks for the info!