Soundbox: Difference between revisions

From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Importing text file
Deceptitran (talk | contribs)
Line 83: Line 83:
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]]
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]]
* [[Treadbolt|Treadbolt]]
* [[Treadbolt]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus with Space Mini-Con Team]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus with Space Mini-Con Team]]


Line 112: Line 112:
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]]
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]]
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Supreme Starscream]]
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Supreme Starscream]]
* [[Vector Prime|Vector Prime]]
* [[Vector Prime]]
* [[Primus|Primus]]
* [[Primus]]


2007
2007
Line 125: Line 125:
* [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]
* [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]
* [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]]
* [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]]
* [[Nemesis Breaker|Nemesis Breaker]]
* [[Nemesis Breaker]]
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Sky Shadow]]
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Sky Shadow]]
* [[Wing Saber|Wing Saber]]
* [[Wing Saber]]
* [[Brawl (Movie)|Leader Class Brawl]]
* [[Brawl (Movie)|Leader Class Brawl]]
* [[Brawl (Movie)|Desert Attack Brawl]]
* [[Brawl (Movie)|Desert Attack Brawl]]
Line 140: Line 140:
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Premium Optimus Prime]]
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Premium Optimus Prime]]
* [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]]
* [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]]
* [[Wingblade|Wingblade]]
* [[Wingblade]]
* [[Inferno (Movie)|Inferno]]
* [[Inferno (Movie)|Inferno]]
* [[Onslaught|Onslaught]]
* [[Onslaught]]
* [[Powerglide|Powerglide]]
* [[Powerglide]]
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Utra Class Silverbolt]]
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Utra Class Silverbolt]]
* [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]]
* [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]]

Revision as of 19:56, 24 March 2009

A soundbox is an electronic gadget containing a memory device that records one or more sound clips and plays them back on demand, allowing for audible explosions, beep-wheedles, and "I am Optimus Prime".

A soundbox is a self-contained unit containing batteries, electronics, and speaker, which makes it simple to install in a toy -- all the designer needs is to allow space and a grille for the speaker. On the other hand, a soundbox is relatively large as gimmicks go, and requires a fair amount of dedicated space.

As with all electronics, soundbox technology has improved notably in the last twenty plus years. Toys featuring soundboxes during the 1980s usually also had to make space for a relatively large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PP3_battery" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:PP3_battery">nine-volt battery</a> and the snap connectors that went with it. Modern soundboxes are now powered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/button_cell" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:button_cell">button cell</a> batteries, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_battery" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:AAA_battery">AAA batteries</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:AA_battery">AA batteries</a>.

Soundboxes have also become somewhat cheaper to manufacture, given their very sparse use in lines previous to 2002. During Armada and after, the boxes became a common feature on larger figures.

Because of all these electronic whiz-bang doohickeys involved in their function, it is not uncommon to see one or more light-emitting diodes wired into the board.


Toys Utilizing Soundboxes

1985


1986


1993


2000


2001


2002


2003


2004


2005


2006


2007


2008


Trivia

File:Speaker.jpg
Starscream feels empty inside.
  • Generation 1 Shockwave was the first Transformers toy to feature electronic sounds.
  • Reissue Galvatron's soundbox was upgraded to use AA batteries instead of the original's nine-volt.
  • Tidal Wave's Armada box noted that he had electronic sounds. He did not. Bummer.
  • Cybertron Voyager Starscream was designed with a soundbox in mind (even including the requisite speaker and battery brackets when you crack one open), but the final Hasbro and Takara versions have no electronics. Again, bummer.