Sound system for Wookies

Okay, I'm finally posting here after ages of lurking. To be perfectly honest I've been reluctant to post because of the fear of being shot down for my views

Later this year, when I'm more financially stable, I will be buying the Supreme edition Chewbacca costume that I've been wanting for the past couple of years. I was lucky enough to try one on when the company I contacted about them asked me to model one for a photoshoot

I love the outfit and look forward to coming out of the closet as a Wookie

Couple of things I want to change about it though....

Firstly the "belt" (anyone have a better word for it?) that is draped across him. The one included looks terrible and I'll be making my own before I even order the costume.

The second thing I want to do is add a system that can produce a good, loud Wookie roar at the touch of a button. I've searched the Stormtrooper threads, and there's information about voice changers and voice amplifiers. But can't find information on something that can replay a specific sound at volume.

Any idea how I can wire up my suit simply so that I can give a good wookie roar?

 

Check the Index thread. There are two very good an informative threads on Wookiee costuming

 

MP3 Player?

It is spelled W-O-O-K-I-E-E, not wookie.

 

I asked about this a while back and got shot down, too. But I did find a good site... unfortunately I can't remember what it was.

 

Here is a link to my Chewie bandolier auctions. I try to stay away from shameless plugs, but what the hay PM for additional info if you would like. I am working on a few Warrior bandoliers as well.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=260073730826&rd=1&rd=1

Having link issues, I guess you will need to cut and paste.

 

We have a Chewbacca in our group and he has that very same costume that you want to buy. He custom-made his own bandolier because, as you pointed out, the one that comes with the costume is complete crap. I think what Rick did was get some leather blanks and fashion them together just as the original blank looks like and made the "greeblies" out of silver painted blocks of wood.

I would go to a major leather store and buy belt blanks or something to the equivalent and then go to a hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe's or something like that, to get your wood and paint. While at the leather store I'd possibly look into getting some leather rivelts, too.

As for the sound system, you could go with one of those stormtrooper setups, but I would think that you may run into an unrealistic amplified sound. It would sound too... metallic? It is hard to explain, but stormtroopers are supposed to sound like they are using voice mics and whatnot. A Wookiee is supposed to be naturally loud and feral. Often times when the crowds go nuts and they are screaming Chewie's name, Rick will have me rattle off the Wookiee roar, since I seem to have the ability to pull it off. That works for us, and I can appreciate that it might not work for you. I would think that the next viable alternative would be the aforementioned MP3 player in the previous post. I can't see where that would be an issue - save that you would have to have the Wookiee roar dedicated to a loop feed so that every time you hit your button it accesses that sound byte. I met a Vader once who ran an MP3 player for his Vader sound effects. Not so difficult for the Vader costume since it is a breathing sound that is continously playing on a loop. I suspect you don't to have your Chewie roaring non-stop throughout your event. I would put some sort of trigger button that would be in th palm of your hand so that when you want to roar, you would bump the button with your finger or something and the MP3 player would play that soundbyte. Of course you would want that trigger device on the inside of your gloves/CHewie hands so that the general population doesn't see that you are doing that...

Good luck!

 

called a bandolier!

 

All the nitpicking over spelling and nomenclature aside, I wish you luck over finding a good solution to your problem. I can tell you that cyodarun does make some excellent leather products (seen them in person), if you want to avoid the hassle of the leather work.

Also, there is a guy in our group, Jim who has Hyperdyne labs. (possible misspelling). I'd recommend googling him, as he has made some amazing electronics and might be able to find a solution.


Good luck!!!

 

good idea, he might be able to make a sound chip for the hyperdyne unit for chewbacca sounds.

 

That's some nice work you do, Melanie. I'm glad to see other female leather workers out there. I began teaching myself a few years ago.

I'm still doing relatively simple things, like belts and holsters for local people. I haven't sold anything on ebay.