THX: Difference between revisions

'''Trailer:''' We start with a black screen before the following white text fades in: "'''For the past 35 years, motion picture loudspeaker systems have not changed...'''" Later it fades out, and another white text appears reading "'''Lucasfilm Ltd. and this theatre are pleased to introduce a new motion picture sound system.'''" That text fades out, and after a few seconds, the letters "THX", underlined and which have the slightly taller "T" stem extend over the other two letters, appear in a glassy {{color|lightskyblue|sky blue}} color. The color fades in majestically with "LUCASFILM LTD." above it and "SOUND SYSTEM" below it, both in small text. It stays on screen for about 10 seconds, then slowly fades out with the text above and below the logo.

'''Variant:''' In a ''Movie Television'' report on THX's 10th anniversary, the trailer was in black and white.

'''Technique:''' Fading effects.

'''Trailer:''' On a black background, we see a {{color|blue}} outline of a rectangle. The {{color|gray}} text "'''The Audience is Listening'''" (in the Archive Modern II Open font) fades inside the outline, then fades out. A few seconds later, the THX logo in {{color|silver}} appears, The blue rectangle outline fades out, and

LUCASFILM LTD.  

 

appear (in the Futura font) above and below, respectively. The THX logo shines.

* 1995 A: The audio was remixed digitally in [[Dolby|Dolby Digital]], [[DTS]] and [[Sony Dynamic Digital Sound|SDDS]] with new technology (with the latter system even having a special end variant). The DTS variant also has text at the beginning saying "'''dts''' {{Font|Times New Roman|Digital Sound In A THX Theatre}}" (with "'''dts'''" in its respective font). The rectangle then fades in, but the "The Audience is Listening" text has been moved up to the center and in Times New Roman. After the THX logo fades out, a similar end card to the SDDS variant (with the respective branding for DTS) appears.

* 1995 B: Probably the most recognizable THX trailer variant. It was exclusive to home video releases and revised a bit more. The gray text reading "The Audience is Listening" is replaced with "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Video and Audio Performance" in a rounded Arial Light font in white and arranged in the center of the outline. That text appears longer than the regular version, and "DIGITALLY" appears above the THX logo and "MASTERED" appears below that logo. Those texts fade in with the THX logo instead of appearing after the blue outline disappears, and they sparkle while the THX logo shines.

* 1995 C: Both the audio and the trailer is shorter than the standard 1984-1997 theatrical version. The audio (in this, and both 1995 A & B variants) is also in +2 higher (on VHS & LD; +3 on PAL releases), or -1.5 lower on DVDs.

* On LaserDisc releases from THX, the blue rectangle appears as usual, but with a difference: the message reads "Mastered and Duplicated for Optimal Video and Audio Performance" in Arial Narrow font. When the THX logo appears, [LASER I/ DISC] appears under THX. The logo shines after the blue rectangle fades out. The pitch is +2 pitches higher (an E note) on analog tracks, like the VHS variant; though on AC-3 tracks, various pitches are used (see below).

* From 1997-2003, an alternate version appeared where the original text above (and above only) the THX logo was "LUCASFILM LTD." This appeared only on Buena Vista releases until it was officially replaced with the "DIGITALLY MASTERED" (as described above) text when Lucasfilm Ltd. spun off THX into its present-day company.

* For the Dell PC's THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc, "The Audience is Listening" tagline is replaced with "Your Dell PC is THX Certified". "Dell" being its corporate logo. "SOUND SYSTEM" is replaced with "BEST PICTURE. BEST SOUND." Afterward, the URL "www.thx.com" is seen with the trademark and a disclaimer at the bottom.

* 2010: The trailer is remastered, or recreated, in high definition. The blue rectangle is wider and glows, "The Audience Is Listening" text is in a white Imprint Shadow font and the THX logo glows and shines slowly. Below is a THX Ltd. copyright notice.

* 2010 A: "The Audience is Listening" text is replaced with "Digitally mastered for superior sound and picture quality," in the same Arial font (à la 1995 B). Debuted on home entertainment releases starting with ''Star Wars: The Original Trilogy'' Blu-ray.

* On the 1994 LaserDisc of ''Night of the Living Dead'', the [[Elite Entertainment]] logo fades to the THX LaserDisc logo (perhaps fitting since the former logo was also surrounded by a blue box).

* On the 1997 Mexican VHS releases of the ''Star Wars'' films ''A New Hope'', ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', the 1995 B "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Video and Audio Performance" variant is translated in Spanish, reading "Masterizada digitalmente para una óptima reproducción de audio y video". The latter two films have slight differences, with ''The Empire Strikes Back'' having the words "óptima" and "reproducción" switched, and  ''Return of the Jedi'' having a period at the end of the sentence.

 

* The theatrical version uses a louder version of the Deep Note which excludes the looped portion of the beginning.

* The DVD/VHS/LaserDisc version has a shorter and quicker version of the Deep Note that starts at the rapid pitch change. The VHS versions have a +2/higher-pitched (E note) Deep Note. The DVD version has a -1.5/lower-pitched (C♯ note) version that is often re-used in some of the future logos listed below.

* LaserDisc releases sometimes contain multiple pitches on discs, depending on the audio channel and equipment used:

* PAL THX-certified releases normally have the +2 pitch Deep Note; however, a couple of PAL releases (mentioned below) have it at a higher pitch (+3, at an F note).

* The HD version, or "Broadway Classic (Restored)," has the remastered Deep Note used in the "Science of Sensation" trailer.

* On international prints of the 2000 DVD of ''Alien'', there are some unique sound variants: