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The technology featured in “Star Trek” is as legendary as its characters. From the mesmerizing transporters that whisked crew members away from danger to communicators that predicted the wireless future, the series was full of imaginative innovations. Among these, the phaser stands out, introducing a tech-centric weapon that often saved Starfleet personnel in perilous situations. The distinct sound of a phaser firing became synonymous with action, but this sound effect actually made its debut in a classic sci-fi horror film before finding its way to the U.S.S. Enterprise.
NBC
Although the phaser is a “Star Trek” original, its signature sound was borrowed from the 1953 film “War of the Worlds,” recognized as a pioneer in alien invasion cinema. Ben Burtt, the sound designer behind the 2009 “Star Trek” movie, revealed to TMPEG (as reported by TrekMovie.com) that this audio effect originated from the film’s Martian war machines. Surprisingly, its creation involved a simple yet creative technique using tape feedback from an electric guitar and harp. For the series, this sound was replicated using a Moog synthesizer and pink noise, which features frequencies diminishing by three decibels per octave.
Even as phasers evolved over the course of the series, Burtt managed to honor the sound that played a pivotal role in shaping the sci-fi genre.
J.J. Abrams’s 2009 “Star Trek” film reimagined the original series with a more polished and intense aesthetic. This updated vision meant that the quirky, cartoonish sounds of the past wouldn’t fit. Nonetheless, Burtt ingeniously incorporated the iconic phaser sound from “The War of the Worlds” into the film’s auditory landscape.
Burtt explained to TMPEG, “The constant sound wasn’t suitable because the visuals are so different, so I created something reminiscent of it, featuring a shorter, sharper Doppler effect.” He aimed for it to resemble the sound of a fly bolt or tracer bullet. This adaptation heightened the drama in the movie’s combat scenes, emphasizing the lethal stakes when a phaser fires. This homage not only nods to the life-or-death scenarios faced by the Enterprise crew but also celebrates the 1960s series that laid the foundation for it all.
How 2009’s Star Trek film honors the phaser sound effect and The War of the Worlds
Paramount Distribution
J.J. Abrams’s 2009 “Star Trek” movie is a sleeker and more dramatic version of “Star Trek: The Original Series.” This means that tinny, cartoon-like sounds wouldn’t sound right in this updated take, but Burtt still found a way to include that special phaser sound that was copied from “The War of the Worlds.”
Burtt told TMPEG, “The steady sound just wasn’t the right way to go because the visuals are so different, so I made something that recalls it, but features a Doppler effect that’s shorter and sharper.” He added that he wanted it to sound more like a fly bolt or tracer bullet. His interpretation adds plenty of drama to the film’s battle scenes, as these sharp tones remind us that the firing of a phaser could result in death for either villains or heroes, and that’s important when the crew of the Enterprise is trying to save Federation space from total destruction. At the same time it provides a fitting homage to the ’60s television series that started it all.
The dangerous nature of phasers is why it makes sense that “Star Trek: The Original Series” took its phaser sound from “The War of the Worlds.” The Martian war machines shoot deadly lasers that take out humans across the globe, proving that phasers are not that much different from these weapons. The big difference is that phasers are mostly used by “Star Trek” heroes. This allows characters from the franchise, as well as its fans, to embrace futuristic technology rather than fear it — an idea not explored in “The War of the Worlds.”