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Topic: Curious about DA-20 error readings

Sam D. Chavez
Film God

Posts: 2153
From: Martinez, CA USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 04-10-2006 06:58 PM

I don't think it has to do with the software, it's probably just a clearer image as the test films were created very early on for obvious reasons. The negative has never been updated as it works fine for the intended purpose.

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Eric Robinson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 538
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 04-12-2006 11:56 PM

As a newbie on the block I mistakenly used Dolby Digital test film along with DRAS to set my azimuth and lateral values to "0".

I then learned at a later point in time that each piece of Dolby Digital test film has a handwritten calibration error value. The test film I am using now requires that I set azimuth to "-2" and lateral position to "+1.6" due to the printing error on the test film.

I always use a couple of brand new trailers from different vendors to run through after I have performed a digital alignment so I can view the results of my efforts. Then when the film in use gets run my numbers go in the tiolet.

When ever a theatre employee complains to me, though, that they are having digital error rate issues I always ask them to run a brand new trailer through during a break to see if there really is a problem with the alignment.

ERIC

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 04-13-2006 04:25 AM

Unfortunately, as has been pointed out many times, the digital dots are in one of the most vulnerable areas on the print. They will work without dropouts for a long time if the print is run by careful operators.

If perfect colour filters could be invented, the dots could be printed magenta where the cyan analog track is – but that is probably too hard.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 04-13-2006 05:43 AM

Remember that the computer hookup occurs after error correction and is mostly useless for full set up on Dolby Digital. There really is no substitute for the proper scope. Louis

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-13-2006 07:06 AM

quote: Ron Curran
If perfect colour filters could be invented, the dots could be printed magenta where the cyan analog track is – but that is probably too hard.

The Kodak/ORC Cinema Digital Sound (CDS) digital sound system printed a dye track in the current analog track area. Cyan dye is used for red LED readers, magenta dye would work best with green LEDs:

http://members.aol.com/cds3570/

quote:
The first commercially available digital sound-on-film system for theatrical motion pictures, CDS is gone now. Today we have DTS-Digital, Dolby Digital, and Sony Dynamic Digital Sound. In fact SDDS was designed by some of those who pioneered CDS.

What went wrong? Well opinions here vary. Some would say that the choice to use minimal data reduction and the resulting very small bit (pixel) size made the system much more susceptible to every type of problem including print wear, film lab errors etc. Others will point out the fact that the lack of a backup analog track (In 35mm CDS sound was printed in the same area were the analog optical track would normally go) would forever make CDS a premium process, requiring dual print inventories, not to mention making the occasional breakdown catastrophic and reputation destroying. Some have said the electronics simply wasn't reliable enough for hot projection booths. But everyone agreed on this: When it worked and it really DID work quite well the vast majority of the time, IT SOUNDED GREAT!

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 04-13-2006 07:25 AM

Thanks John. The Colortech system didn't get a hearing either, though it sounded promising. I was pipe-dreaming about the analog and digital tracks sharing the same area if they could be discretely colour-seperated.

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 04-24-2006 01:38 AM

This week, Silent hill played with a 2-rate. Benchwarmers is running at 5. What? Set it so they both run at 4?

This sucks.

(Joe's "pointy-finger" picture goes here!)

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 04-24-2006 02:28 AM

It doesn't really matter if it runs stably around 5. Remember, that doesn't make it sound any different, unless it goes above 8 and drops out.

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 04-24-2006 03:22 AM

Yeah, I know, Michael.
It just doesn't seem like that's the way it should be... that's all. Otherwise, it does work OK, and nobody knows about it but me. You just get the feeling that some quality control issue is falling through the cracks, and it doesn't seem right that TRAILERS should come up with better readings.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 04-24-2006 01:13 PM

My guess is that trailers are printed relatively slowly compared to the actual feature. Louis

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