Pop Synchs
Strict Synchs
ManiSynchs
Other Synchs
Synch Links
Synch Facts
Ideas
Synching is mysterious stuff. The best Synchs seem to occur on their own. Usually, it feels like two independent arts are being pushed together by something "else." I don't desire to get into too much philosophy on this page, but needless to say, Synching is underground and will probably stay there for a while.
These are the nitty gritty facts that you need in order to start Synching:
Synchronizers need DVD players, CD players, and MP3 players and need to have them hooked up correctly. MP3s are in fact the most reliable medium for audio delivery because the speed of a spinning CD can vary even to a slight degree, throwing a Synch off.
There are several kinds of Synchs, and none of them are invalid. Preference is a key factor, and also persistence. Each type of Synchronization has its own facets: Strict Synchs are easier to set up and enjoy, ManiSynchs are easier to create, and Pop Synchs just exist. Here's a breakdown of the technical and philosophical rivets of each type.
1. Pop Synchs are the handful of Synchs that will live forever. These are all Strict, and have no known author. The most famous is The Dark Side of the Rainbow, which some discussion will reveal to be more than just a mood enhancement to the film. It feels intentional, track by track, and frankly, it's creepy. There are only one or two other Synchs that match up so well they can't be attributed to any one person. Usually these involve Kubrick movies or Pink Floyd songs (or in the best cases, both). The theories go that a) Synchronicity is so strong that randomly these two pieces of art found each other in the cosmic Universe, b) Roger Waters planned it, with or without telling the band, c) that pieces of art that are respected by their Creators can be combined to create new art.
Personally, I believe C is true of all Synchronicities that work really well, but when it comes to Dark Side of the Rainbow and Echoes and Beyond the Infinite, there is serious doubt that they could have been created by accident. Most believe Roger Waters is responsible, though his bandmates have denied it. It remains one of the mysteries of the Universe, but luckily we can enjoy the show without knowing why it exists.
Pop Synchs are named because the only emotional attachment you bring to it is your own affinity for the film or music itself. They are the pinnacle of Pop, or detached art. Also, most of the music in Pop Synchs will correspond with each individual cut or movement onscreen. It's very unsubtle, and generally an eerie ride to take with friends, like a summer popcorn flick. Despite the lack of substance, Pop Synchs remain the best of the bunch, and if all my site does is pass on the Pop Synchs to another generation, I'll be happy.
Do not think I disguise the other Synchs as non-Pop. Synchronization is a Pop Art because, really, the emotions are removed from the viewing and only the visceral remains. However, Strict and ManiSynchs, having been crafted by people, can have a little bit of thought or content, and therefore more meaning.
2. Strict Synchs are the lifeblood of Synchronization. Without being able to create new Strict Synchs, Synchronization would die or remain pure Pop. Most Strict Synchs are simple: the movie and album start at the same time. Sometimes the album will start later in the movie, like at its midpoint or before a special sequence, but the album is almost always played from start to finish. Echoes from Beyond the Infinite is considered a strict because "Echoes" is such a seperate entity from the rest of "Meddle" that the album is not considered manipulated. That's a close call, and if "Echoes" were not a Pop Synch, it would probably be filed (incorrectly) in Manipulated.
3. ManiSynch is a term I coined for its ugliness. It is neither clever to the mind nor enjoyable to the ear, but it is entirely efficient and therefore useful. It stands for Manipulated Synchs, which are exactly that: efficient, useful, ugly, and lacking in wit. Manipulated Synchs take all of the Synchronicity out of Synchronicity, because they are created by taking any number of random songs, piecing them together, and playing them next to a movie. A blunt method, but surprisingly effective. Within ManiSynchs you will find a Strict sensibility because each selected song is placed, hopefully, with care, and they can still appear ordained. Most ManiSynchs were created by accident, or by randomly placing a series of songs in a specific part of a movie. Some ManiSynchs are coordinated by the Creator so that specific actions happen at specific times within the music, and the Synchronizers will go so far as to count backwards from specific actions in the movie so their song will fit in a "mystical" way. This is all fine and dandy, but it's not nearly as true to the Synchronization Universe. Reducing Synchs to a mathematical proposition is a dangerous position to be in, but I regard these as Synchs also, and I too have tried to fit certain songs into specific time codes. It's a tough temptation, but just starting a movie and song at the same time is a much better way to Synchronize.