I've engaged someone to do some custom animatronics on a new figure of mine (alas, not Steve Axtell). In the videos of some of my guy's creations, I can hear the servo motor sounds as the characters' mouths are moving. I'm curious if those of you with animatronic figures (Axtell or otherwise) have audible servo sounds when the characters move or talk. If so, does the character's speech cover the motor sounds? Can you audience hear the animatronics?

Thanks.

Bob

I'm not sure if I'm just more aware of my puppets servo sounds then my audience, or what, but what I've started to do is have some sort of background music playing while I do my hands free puppet routine. That along with my puppets speech through my PA I no longer notice those motor sounds.

Chris

I can't speak with any experience in animatronics, but I do know that servos in RC aircraft always have a background sound. Its just the nature of the beast. It is usually not heard on model aircraft only because you have a rather loud engine to block it out. On the ground doing preflight testing before starting the engine they can be heard. Two years ago, I was looking at the Axtel (tucan I believe) and I could hear the same type of sounds coming from the animated puppet. Wizardpa had a great suggestion of diverting the audience attention from the sounds by using background music.

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

Mine also has the same sound... I'm guessing all servos do.

So far, nobody has complained about that sound... I don't think anyone noticed the sound due to my loud sound system.

All servos will make some noise.I have not heard one servo that doesn't make a sound.Background music will definitely help.When the puppet is speaking or the act is on.unless you have dead silence,the audience will not notice it too much.
Or if the audience is very near you like as in a birthday show type setting,maybe it can be heard.

Thank you all for your responses. You have eased my mind. In a few months I'll be able to show you the animatronic figure and what he does.

Bob

Sounds cool Bob! Can't wait to see it.
Tom

Bob,

Any chance of getting your guy to take some interim photos so we can all have a better idea of the process?


Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

Sure, Steve. I hope to have him in a couple of months. He is currently being sculpted.

B

So I'm thinking he could make an appearance at VentHaven?

Tom

Next year, I hope. I want to have a well lived-in routine before I do it for my peers.

B

Bob, can you give us some photos during the process? I thought it would be interesting to see how this is done.

Mark
markwade@kidshowvent.com

Bob - to heck with the routine. I want to see the cool new toy!

Tom

OK. You guys brow beat me into it. I'll post some pictures of the construction process, but not the final figure. He is, I think, a new concept in vent, and I want to surprise everyone with the act. Don't mean to be coy, but doesn't everybody love a surprise? No? Too bad.

:)

Bob

Here's the sculpting by Bill Nelson. This is as far as the work has progressed.

B

Wow! He is cool looking. Is his skin made of some kind of latex?

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

This is just the clay sculpture. Next, Dan Lavender will cast him, make the actual head, and add the mechanics. Then the animatronics, and then Bill's final painting and costuming.

Bob

He looks like Jean Luc Picard, from the Star Trek Next Generation Series.

So cool...

Marc Ruben's new Swami is also RC and it was made by Selberg Studios

Unfortunately, Steve Axtell was too busy to take on my project.