<P> Sensurround is the brand name for a process developed by Cerwin - Vega in conjunction with Universal Studios to enhance the audio experience during film screenings, specifically for the 1974 film Earthquake . The process was intended for subsequent use and was adopted for four more films, Midway (1976), Rollercoaster (1977), the theatrical version of Saga of a Star World (1978), the Battlestar Galactica pilot, as well as the compilation film Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979). Sensurround worked by adding extended - range bass for sound effects . The low - frequency sounds were more felt than heard, providing a vivid complement to onscreen depictions of earth tremors, bomber formations, and amusement park rides . The overall trend toward "multiplex" cinema structures presented challenges that made Sensurround impractical as a permanent feature of cinema . </P> <P> Sensurround helped bring wider recognition to established loudspeaker manufacturer Cerwin - Vega, and aided in establishing a strong reputation for new audio amplifier company BGW Systems . The increased awareness of extended low - frequency sound reproduction that Sensurround brought to film audiences was a factor in the increase in subwoofer sales and in the rise in the number of subwoofer designs in the late 1970s and 1980s . </P>

What was the first movie release to use sensurround