The optical recording equipment had only four audio tracks, and of those, one was used for the principal dialogue, one for background chatter, ambient noise, and the sounds of tanks and planes and one for Godzilla’s roar and footsteps.
Unbelievable as it sounds today, the musical score and the foley (mechanical) sound effects of Godzilla’s final, wanton rampage through Tokyo were recorded live, at the same time. At the recording session, Ifukube conducted the NHK Philharmonic orchestra while a foley artist watched Godzilla’s attack projected on a movie screen, using pieces of tin, concrete debris, wood, and other materials to simulate the sounds of the monster walking through buildings.
From the first paragraph, to me, it sounds like Toho had a 4 track recording machine. Even if it was maybe 2, 2 track ones, why wouldn't they have recorded the music or something other than a single mic? It makes no sense to me.
Moreover, I could see not having access to a multi-track recorder in the 50s, but still to this day, I don't understand how NOTHING from Godzilla was in stereo until The Return Of Godzilla in 1984.
The notable and curious exception is of course Godzilla Vs King Kong in 1962, which boasted a beautiful stereo soundtrack. Even more strange is why it was the only film to do so, unless it was due to the partnership with the owners of King Kong, thus allowing for a more expensive film budget.
Motown had an 8 track system in 1964, you can't tell me Toho couldn't at least have gotten a 4 track machine one by then?
Does anyone have any information of this, or do some digging? I'd love if some of the folks who have done commentary on the DVD releases would chime in, as they I'm sure learned a lot while working on those features.
