Ben Burtt Interview: The Sound of Darth Vader

In this featurette from the Lucasfilm video archives, sound designer Ben Burtt discusses the evolution of Darth Vader's iconic, ominous breathing.

In the original script, Darth Vader was described as a "strange dark being, in some kind of a life-support system." As a result, Burtt originally created many sounds for Vader: his heart audibly beating, gears turning as he moved, and more. This turned out to be too much, however, and was scaled back to just his mechanical lungs -- which became a classic movie sound effect, and remains a defining feature of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

[StarWars]

Ben Burtt on creating one of the most iconic (and imitated) voices in film history.

[rhoadnaroahs]

I would love to hear some of those early tests!

[LamanKnight]

He was more machine, then, than man - twisted and evil.

[jdniscool]

I wish we could hear the gears moving and heart pumping too. If not in the movie, then in a future video like this one.

[slickster]

I had to hold my ipad up to my ear to see if he was actually talking.

[garfstao]

For a video about a sound engineer the soumd is terrible on this video.

[ocelotecpatl]

I would like to hear this noisy Darth vader sample.

[timerdudestephens]

Wow you did amazing job doing voice of Darth Vader for Star Wars film

[AtariDad]

So basically, Lucas reused Burtt's original idea of Darth Vadsr for General Grievous.

[brianoconnell]

The funny thing is, Weird Al approximated it fairly well using his accordion, in Mr Frump And His Iron Lung.

[AreaEightySix]

First. Fuck Vader, make Maul a recurring character in Rebels.

[Clayton_Graul]

would be nice if they included examples of what they talk about. don't try too hard guys!

[weirdosheep]

He didn't really discuss the breathing so much as... everything else besides the breathing, which was scrapped anyway.

[Matthewmcg]

how did this man do this and be wall e aswell

[darthowen]

Star Wars channel, I have been watching star wars since age 3, and star wars has always been a big inspiration to me to make videos. I was wondering if you could please watch one of my films and tell me how I could improve them.

[Timesmanify]

Speaking of robots...

His face looks crooked

[garfstao]

For a video about a sound engineer the soumd is terrible on this video.