Simply being THX certified doesn't ensure a great performance any more than not being THX certifies ensures a poor performance. If you've got a built-to-spec auditorium, not being THX certified won't change that. It seems to me that dropping certification, in your example, is reflective in an overall drop in attention to quality, attention to detail, etc. on behalf of the management.

Joe: i would agree that most exhibitors seem to get off on cutting corners. From what I've heard, THX certification costs upwards of $1000 per screen per year. That could be better spent on added absorption panels, solid-core sound proof doors, and HVAC dampers etc. Doesn't Kodak have a TAP certification? perhaps its time to better exploit and market it as the THX replacement.(if it does, i'm not sure)... All we would need is a cool trailer and the public would DEMAND digital sound in a TAP certified auditorium!

(edit) in the other THX thread in yak somoeone mentioned a $10,000 price per screen per year for THX cert. YIKES! (edit)

THX was just about the only organization which, at one point, was able to help improve exhibition (sound) quality through standardization and certification and was able to sell the general public on the idea that not all theatres sound alike and that audiences are better served by choosing a THX-certified house over a non-THX house (not always true in practice, of course, but there are very few THX houses which sound genuinely bad).

I'm a beliver in the concepts behind THX certification, if not the current implementation, but the THX brand has been over-used lately (THX-approved VHS tapes and computer speakers!?!?) and emphasis seems to have drifted away from the theatrical end of things.

The Kodak ScreenCheck Evaluation checks for obvious problems in sound, but does not do a full alignment. But it is more comprehensive than THX in looking at operational aspects of presentation, such as booth cleanliness and film handling procedures, and evidence of a good training and maintenance program. A full "report card" is shared with the theatre after each inspection, which is done every few months for theatres contracting for the service. I helped develop the ScreenCheck specifications, which are based on SMPTE standards and recommended practices.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Does this mean that people like Mark G are now Soundblaster Certified?

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

quote:

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Unfortunately, theatres find it hard to pay someone to tell them what is wrong with their operation.

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I am not surprised at all. It is really sad. It's not like Kodak is just going in and saying "You suck! Fail!" and then running away with gobs of cash. They want to help improve what is wrong. But unfortunately most theaters think they are doing nothing wrong, and resent any suggestions on how anything could be improved. Why is that? Where do attitudes like that come from? Are the basic standards of the average human being too low? I hope I don't sound elitist but I am genuinely curious how mediocrity is allowed to shine.

PS - This is getting off topic, I am going to start a new thread about this. Please don't reply about my comments above in this thread. Instead reply in the thread titled "Mediocrity is King".

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I totally agree with Joe that THX was so inconsistent that it was really more of a laugh than aything else. Those high grossing theatres would gross just as high without the name as they would with the name, no doubt the locations are far more important in the grosses than THX is.

Good heavens! Send my beloved R-2 to a creatve labs technician for calibration!!$%*^*#&? I don't think so.....
Joe, I could have alot of fun adding the Creative THX certification after my name . Certified by THX Blaster, Creative THX Recertification, etc. Actually, all of these have some real meaning anyway.
Mark @ GTS

And when can we expect confirmation of this THX sale news other than what's being "confirmed" on Internet forums like this one?

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