For several years now, Madison has offered an Independence Day event called “Rythmn and Booms”, the highlight of which is fireworks “synchronized by computer” to music played over a local radio station. People are encouraged to bring their portable radios to the park so they can experience the full effect.
But IMO it’s not well synchronized at all. There is no discernable connection between the beat of the music and the explosions of the rockets. About the most you can say is that when the pace of the music speeds up or slows down, so does the pace of the explosions, vaguely. If this is something that costs a lot more than “unsynchronized” fireworks, it’s a complete waste of money. Just about everyone I’ve spoken to about it agrees, it’s just not very well done. And it hasn’t gotten any better over the years. The pitiful thing is that it’s a very good fireworks show in it’s own right, and IMO mentally striving to make a link between the music and the fireworks makes it considerably less enjoyable than it would otherwise be.
Are there other fireworks shows that do a better job?
If the light of the explosions is synchronised, then the sound is not. And vice versa. If you were close enough for the delay due to the speed of sound to not be a factor, you’d be a little too close. And yes, they could set the fireworks off 3/4 of a second in advance, so the sound is correct for you - but people 200 yards further back will still have a delay.
That shouldn’t be a factor. I’m not hearing a PA system a quarter mile away, but a radio speaker two feet from my ear. the difference between when the radio signal gets to my radio vs the fireworks receiver can’t possibly avvount for the large timing discrepancy.
And I’m sorry that I wasn’t more clear in the OP, the visuals of the exploding fireworks aren’t any more in sync than the audibles.
Disney does it right. The “Illuminations” show at Epcot is not only the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Granted, it’s a more controlled environment, but I’m stunned at how they can have everything so perfectly in sync. Sometimes, the launch of the fireworks matches the beat of the music, others it’s the explosions. It’s a cool presentation all around – the show begins with a narrator talking about telling the story of time or something, and ends with the sound of blowing out a candle. At that moment, all of the lights and torches around the lagoon go out.
They’ve got a new show called “Believe” at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. It’s also synched with the music well, but it’s more just balls-out shameless Disney music. Still a spectacular show, but you have to wade through all the “believe in the imagination of the magic of a child’s dreams!” schmaltz to see it.
I have seen it done on TV. Excellent. One thing, though, is each firework requires a chip to do it just right so it costs a LOT. Maybe they just do the best they can without chips?
There’s an international fireworks competition in Montreal every summer, and the displays are judged on quality, synchronization, design, and overall presentation of the piece.
This year is the 20th anniversary, and the shows have been quite excellent so far. Italy’s show is tomorrow night and it should be amazing. Last week was Japan, and they made fish in the sky. Fish!
If you keep a radio with you, there’s a station that plays the show’s music. The fireworks are usually perfectly timed with the music, even if the booms are delayed because it’s far away.
Thunder Over Louisville does it very well. My personal fave was one section a few years ago when they had thousands of balls of light swirling off the bridge to the theme to X Files. Truly awesome.
This is, believe it or not, a very sensitive topic for me.
You see, Toronto used to host a spectacular event called the “Symphony of Fire”. Much like Antigen’s link, it was an international fireworks competition. Various different countries put on their nightly shows all throughout June and July. It was all synchronized to music, and we’re talking millions of dollars of fireworks per display. I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to see this show on several occasions from the spectacular vantage point of a boat - the fireworks are launched from a barge located just off of Ontario Place/Harbourfront (I forget exactly). Boats of all sorts were free to gather around. Anyway, the music…the fireworks…it was always an incredible sight to see. And indeed, it was “properly” synchronized.
So why did I say this is a sensitive topic? Well, the Symphony of Fire was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, a tobacco company. A few years ago Ontario enacted a law prohibiting any kind of tobacco advertisement or sponsorship. No more B&S = no more SofF. I don’t know if hearbroken is the word to use for such a situation, but heartbroken is deffinitely how I feel about never beeing able to experience this show again
Its “Wishes” at the MK…and yes, Disney does it right. Fantasmic is pretty darn awesome as well.
My only complaint about Disney fireworks, if you are staying at a nearby resort, they can be quite loud when you are trying to get a four year old to sleep (but quite nice when you can see them from your balcony).
Ours used to be sponsored by Benson & Hedges too, and when the tobacco advertising was outlawed, we were sure Montreal would lose the opportunity to host the competition. This also temporarily made a mess of the Grand Prix, the Jazz Festival, the Comedy Festival, and the Tennis chamionships, which were all in some part tobacco-sponsored. The fireworks competition was immediately picked up by the SAQ (Société des Alcools de Québec), and so we still have our show every summer. The other festivals and things have also found new sponsorship since then… mostly beer companies.
Instead of smokes, we have six-packs. Whatever. :rolleyes:
I’m just glad we got to keep the fireworks. I’ve been going every year for as long as I can remember. Come on up for one of the shows, Trigonal Planar! I’ll save you a spot!
Speak of the devil. As we speak (or I type) Red White and Boom is making my neighborhood a bit noisy. They do the same radio thing with the local top 40 station, and they seem to do a decent job of it. Columbus Ohio in case you’re wondering.
I just detest our local attempt at this. The music is always crap. Of course there’s the Star Spangled Banner, which is nice. But then they play a lot of smarmy pseudo-patriotic crap* that turns my stomach and all but ruins the show.
*Such as God Bless the USA which has to be the most stomach-churning piece of crap ever.
A third vote for Disney. The schmalzy music is a tad much (even during the wintertime/Christmas variant), but the synchronization between the music and the effects is as good as it can be.
I don’t think Fantasmic! counts, as it’s more of a live “stage” show that just happens to use fireworks in its production. Not that I’d turn down a chance to see it, however – it’s easily one of the Top Three attractions at Disneyland.
Or a light show that happens to use live actors. Its definately hard to describe, but its definately worth a peek (if you don’t have small children scared at the intensity, or a problem with the amount of propane used for the effects).
You said it brother. Illuminations is the most impressive show (not involving actors) I’ve ever seen. Everything from the score to the fireworks to the narration and the lighting of every nation…it’s a sight to behold.
And as also mentioned, Fantasmic and Believe are also excellent shows. I’m amazed at the quality Disney’s capable of; those shows must cost a fortune.
About midway through August every year (probably the 15th this year), there’s a big fireworks competition in Fukuroi, near Shizuoka, Japan. About a dozen or so of the big fireworks families come to put on a show, with the whole thing lasting about 2-3 hours. The last time I was there (about 6 years ago) they had just introducing synchronized displays as an experimental exhibit, but they did a very impressive job of it (they used The Nutcracker, IIRC). From what I’ve heard, it’s been gaining in popularity since then.
