Our on-air computers that are running both KAPS and KBRC in the DOS 6.22 enviroment. Our on-air computers use a special program written by Pristine Systems out of California. Although Windows 3.11 is in those computers, we never use it.

Our Program Scheduling computers are also running under 6.22. We do use windows 3.11 in them if we have to do wav file editing through the SAW program. Then the files are converted to a SPC file (which is nothing more than a MPEG with wierd compression so nothing else will run it.

Very seldom do we have any problems with the DOS computers, unless the "DJ" gives the computer a wrong command and deletes a bunch of files. This happened once. One of our "DJ"s thought he was deleting files on "A" drive. Turns out he was in a program directory on "C" drive when he typed in, del *.*

It took about 4 hours to undelete *.* with hopes of guessing the correct first character of the file being undeleted.

Architecture, accoustics, and sound gear is part of the program. Projectors, lamphouses and film transport systems are not.

I have seen THX theaters where keystoning was very noticable due to the positions of the screen, audience and projection equipment due to stadium seating. But apparently the alignment was within THX specs. Nonetheless, on some of these screens, the projection alignment was so bad that even screen lighting at 16fl was impossible! Also, the aperture plates were horrendous and resulted in severe overshoots!

I have also seen THX screens were auditoriums are back to back or 90 degrees to each other, and there were problems with screen images reflecting onto an opposing screen from within the booth.

The re-cert issue has been brought up before, and although this is not my department, I will say that logistically, we can do the initial certification and design work, no problem... But the re-certs, well, we need more Don Sneeds out there. Internationally, it's the same story, with a few different languages.

I really doubt we would certify a theatre with a keystoning problem or with stray light issues (I forget who said that, sorry).

And Brad, at least we know we can't buy your silence (have you been getting my checks?), because you still give us trouble no matter how much cash we send your way... You'd think the life-sized Jar Jar would suffice. I'm kidding. We never tried to pay off Brad... yet.

Maybe we should consider it? (ha, ha)

Yours, Ted

Some of you guys sure like to wine alot!!!!! I have great brie to go with that!!!!
Doesn't the overall responsibility of quality presentation fall directly to the operating/ management staff & the ownership? I believe it is written somewhere on paper once a THX contract is approved!!! Indeed THX has the certifying responsibility but once a technician leaves the site whos at falut if it looks or sounds like crap??! Come on guys!
Ill be honest....are there THX theaters that should NOT have been certified originally <bad acoustics poor picture quality> probably!! ITS called politics people and it happens all the time and the cinema industry is not an exception. Surely Cinema corporate beaurucracy has taught you this lesson at least.....ever have problems ordering parts for your maintenance of the equipment?

In essence a THX theater means this:
1. decent equipment
2. smpte standard sound (acoustics, setup & calibration)
3. smpte standard picture (16ft/L, 5% distortion, etc etc)
Thats it!!!!!!
By the way......how many THX technicians are there in order cover the 3000 + worldwide theaters/ mixing rooms / pm3 facilities? Last I checked there were four. 4!!! 3+1!!! 9-5!!! So, in order to cover the new locations I'd say they are understaffed let alone the recertifications. For those of you who works in THX environment...how many times has you facility been recertified? hmmm thats what I thought. That my friends is called politics and THX is not the only victim to fall under this type beauracracy.

For those realists like Gordon and other capable engineers/technicians the only logical next alternative is to perform in house THX certification. The key to this is INTERGRITY which must exist to begin with. What does this mean to the client? Asolutely nothing!!! However, any technician that would turn off AC compressors in order to pass a THX certification doesn't have any business in the booth nor serving popcorn in my book. Keeping it honest is the name of the game.
All this negativity towards THX is just an excuse to "pass the buck," THX like all other Cinema industry companies is trying to keep itself surviving. If we have forgotten we are in a Cinema Industry crisis and no one is immune, especially a company which provides a special service like THX.
Im sure we can all agree that in theory, THX is a great idea and much like communism was to the old Soviet republic....the practice of it, well has met obstacles, dificulties...and of course corruption. Again, who does the responsibility of good picture/sounds fall to?
answer: That technician in charge of maintaining proper a-chain, b-chain, picture alignment, and other preventative maintanance measures.
I have had the pleasure in my line of work of witnessing a countless number of THX certifications <200+> throughout the world and I must say that I have seen poor contruction/ installations from two layers of sheet rock missing at the baffle walls, over enlarged speaker openings, plastic inside high frequency horns, speaker cabinets that came out of phase from the manufaturer, wrong gauge speaker wire used, non sound treated theater entry doorways, exit signs visible through the picture screen, acoustic anomalies such as slap echo and reverberation in excess of one second in more than on frequency band, poor lens calculations, NC readings in excess of NC30, non-THX wiring of speaker to amplifiers, not enough surround speakers placed in the auditorium etc etc etc......all of which were sites that DID NOT PASS THX CERTIFICATION!!!!
So I dont get it honestly. As a previous technician/engineer at an all THX auditorium company, and having performed my own recertifications and such using my own R2 analyzer I would expect that a THX certification of course would be "on par," however, I would accompany him/her <yes there have been female certifiers> and ensure that they performed there duties appropriately. Those guys work surprisingly long hours and can use all the help thay can get when it comes to cerifying. I dont know how many of my collegues dont pre aim the speakers set levels along with a-chain and b-chain prior to cerification. In case most of you dont know that is NOT THX's job.....they simply must verify that the theater is set up properly. Sadly, in most cases THX technicians are stuck doing some of the install including speaker aiming and all electical calibration of the theater equipment. I know that there are many techs and engineers out there that drop the ball or are clueless as to what THX is really supposed to during the cerification phase and performing a complete a-chain is not it. Perhaps that is part of the problem that you folks seem to be complaining about. If there is any doubt e-mail me as I will be glad to provide documentation supportin this.
THX does its best to ensure quality....it has met obstacles along with everyone else in the industry and thus its name is the first one to logically point the finger at. Things must be looked at in perspective and the responsibilit must be evenly distributed. As for a bad THX screen out there....lets pay the projectionists a little more, thank them for their hard work, provide sounds preventative maintenace procedures and fix equipment properly and quickly and I bet that these THX complaints will diminish. Whilst there are faluty THX theaters that probably should not have been certified to begin with Id say they are far better that your typical shoe box AMC garden variety "Hits" <the true joke of cinema experience> auditorium.

I don't think anyone here is saying that THX is crap. What people (including me) are saying is that there are problems with the way the auditoriums are being re-certified by lazy, deaf and ass kissing circuit techs who will fake anything to pass the test so their bosses won't have to spend any money. Don't take the complaints as mean spirited or to mean that the THX system is a joke. Instead, please take them as helpful hints on where problems lie and put an end to this nonsense. Sure Lucasfilm is bound to lose some business from people upset by being "outed" as a THX certified tech who falsifies information on the re-certs, but the way it is going THX is dying because of the lack of strict standards. If something isn't done, THX will be completely dead in a few years. It's already getting to the point where customers no longer look for the THX name and that is a real shame.

Also needed is a truly fantastic knock-your-socks-off THX trailer. Not that mega rushed Cavalcade (please don't even consider releasing another logo if it feels rushed at all), not that Cimarron with the bland track on it (remember the GOOD track when the Cimarron first came out?), and certainly no more "funny" logos, which grow tiresome after the first few viewings. We need something that shows off all 5 stage channels of an SDDS-8 system and makes excellent use of EX. Something to crack the foundation without causing people's ears to bleed. High-tech graphics really aren't needed to impress. The thing here is SOUND. This is why I am still running the classic Broadway logos. Sure they are very much overplayed, but out of everything on the list, it's still the most impressive (despite the fact that the sound no longer travels around the room and the surrounds are MONO). And don't be afraid to use the low frequencies below 40hz either. If someone's system suffers after playing it, well that'll just force them to upgrade things to where they should have been in the first place, now won't it? Episode II is coming soon. Feel free to send me mix samples of your new logo for approval.

I for one am proud to run the THX logo on a screen that has been properly calibrated wherever I am running a show and I hold the entire Lucasfilm TAP and THX programs in very high regards, when executed properly. However, when I go to a THX auditorium and the sound is bad, it is an embarassment and it is death to the THX name. If anything, I vote for much stricter THX standards and even a new label if necessary. Call it Super THX or something and charge more and be super strict on quality standards and control, but let's please see to it that nothing gets overlooked (including the quality of projection which is getting worse every week) that would destroy the THX name that people once looked for to experience the ultimate in their moviegoing experience.

I completely agree with you.
Perhaps in an first moment be more strict would be negative for THX because many theater will lost their certification. But the remaining ones will be "Super THX" and people will associate a good experience with the "THX" logo.
Then customers will start searching for THX theater. And THX will start to make business.
Follow this actual way of business, Brad is right, take to die.

Bye
Antonio

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Re: Having different levels of THX standards. I hate the idea. THX has already done that with consumer audio. "THX Select" and 1 or 2 other levels that I can't recall right now. These are tied to retail price points for the manufacturers of audio gear. If we apply the same principle to movie theatres, can I expect to pay less at the box office for "THX Standard" than I would for "THX Premium"? ACK!

THX Premium gave to theaters that follow a real certification program.

I don't know if it could work...

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As if THX theaters are being designed with substandard criteria.... I dont think so.....In case you dont know THX follows SMPTE guidelines as far as theater acoustical and electrical design and set up of any auditorium.....This can not be improved short of rewriting SMPTE guidlines.....THX standards are not privy to THX! They are not a secret and can be found anywhere SMMPTE is involved. I think all this talk about creating new standards is counterproductive and wont improve quality as it is today. Once a THX theater is certified and quality diminishes am I understanding that it is THX's fault? No responsibility must be assumed by operating/ managing/ maintenance/ and ownership staff? Please lets be realistic!!! Thats like saying that THX should have known about the brain wrap in theater #5 or that the intermittent was shot in projector #9. come on!! A THX tech leaves most<hence not to make a blanket statement> auditoriums in SMPTE STANDARD conditions and it is up to the theater company to maintain these SMPTE standards.....how is it THX's fault if a bulb is flickering or if great focus can't be achieved be cause someone moved the lens. please lets be realistic.

Rory

For example, why doesn't THX employ a technician or two to travel around to the various certified theatres to do spot checks, say once a year? You could even sub-contract this out to known reputable service companies. You don't need instruments to tell if something is not right, so if a particular aspect is determined to be suspect, then the tech could order a full re-test. That way you are not tying up a tech and test equipment in long-winded re-testing that in many cases would not be necessary.

------------------
Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935

So maybe THX could, as a part of their certification or re-certification contracts, require that the theatres send their projection staff to THX-run seminars to learn better maintenance practices and how to recognise problems to ensure the rooms remain up to standard. Dolby has been running training seminars very successfully for decades to ensure that techs around the world install their equipment correctly. If Dolby, who make just a fraction of the profit per screen compared with a THX certification, can afford to do it, maybe THX could do a similar thing for projectionists. After all, what is the use of a THX certified room if the projectionists aren't up to the same standard? Just a thought.

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