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Author Topic: Digital sound fixes Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-07-2006 10:55 PM                        When we had a DTS XD-10, it failed when it was one month out of warranty. (Locked up when booting.) DTS still replaced the unit with a new one free of charge....I didn't even have to pay freight, except to send the bad unit back. When we had a software problem with our Dolby CP650, a couple of phone calls and a quick download had that problem fixed within hours of diagnosis. So they are both good companies in my admittedly limited experience. If only some stupid film handlers would send the DTS disks back with their prints...  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 08-07-2006 10:56 PM                     That might be a tall order for DTS to do straight exchanges, providing new XD-10 units in trade for old DTS-6 and 6D models. The XD-10 has a lot more going on inside of it than the old 6 and 6D models. But then again, given the fact DTS is making a decent amount of money from consumer electronics AND the number of their install base in commercial theaters is about to take a noticeable plunge, they're going to need to do something pretty aggressive. If not, it could cost them in the consumer electronics area. Carmike Cinemas alone has hundreds of DTS-equipped screens, and nearly all of those players will be removed as the circuit-wide D-Cinema conversion happens. Only a small percentage of Carmike's largest screens will keep film projectors (and some of those have Dolby Digital instead of DTS). Other movie theater chains are considering the D-Cinema plunge. And that will equate to lots more 35mm digital sound processors being removed. In the end, this could mean fewer DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movie discs carrying DTS tracks. It could even translate into less hardware support for various DTS formats and less licensing revenue. I can even see this situation making the company a takeover target from a competitor such as Dolby. I think that's absolutely plausible, especially after witnessing surprising acquisitions in other areas (Adobe buys Macromedia, Autodesk buys Alias, AMD buys ATI, etc.). In today's climate I think Coke could buy Pespi and our government would let it happen. I'm not rooting for the demise or takeover of DTS. But the company is defintely looking at some challenging times ahead. quote: Mike Blakesley So they are both good companies in my admittedly limited experience. If only some stupid film handlers would send the DTS disks back with their prints... All the more reason for DTS to provide means for theaters to download the CD images. There's probably going to be a lot of 2nd run theaters being able to buy and install used DTS systems for not too much money at all. There may be a glut of used Dolby Digital systems in the market as well.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-08-2006 01:12 AM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser I still don't understand how this many people have SRD problems. They are non-existant here on over 100 screens. You and me both Louis. The format is rock solid with the only exception being in theaters with truly incompetent projectionists. Even theaters with sort-of-but-not-really-very-good projectionists, Dolby is trouble free. As far as the original question on this thread regarding getting 2nd run prints with a totally destroyed SRD track, reject the print flat out!  |  IP: Logged Nick Scott Expert Film Handler Posts: 133 From: nsw austrailia Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-08-2006 01:52 AM                        I handle alot of 2nd run prints from all over the place some are in good condition some are not so good but i usually dont have a problem with it running in srd.My highest error rate in the last 5 years has been 6 so i dont get whats happening with everyone else's prints and i have had some real shockers.  |  IP: Logged Ron Curran Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 504 From: Springwood NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2006 posted 08-08-2006 01:57 AM                        Brad, your solution on damaged prints is ok for mainstream titles. What choice do you have with a limited release? You've been waiting on a date for 12 weeks. You collect the print from another situation 200 miles away and make it up with an hour to spare before your first screening. Do you tell your customers to go home because there are no discs and the Dolby Digital track is hunting or do you switch to SR and let them enjoy the film. Another alternative is to get the title on a hard drive but (IMHO) that is only acceptable if the title did not originate on film. Some people seem to be blaming the victim. We have a classic case at the moment. A well-used print showing error rates of 2-3. It will stay that way with FilmGuard. And a trailer we have been running analog because it warbles in digi. FilmGuard hasn't helped, nor could it if the info is damaged. If we get a good print, the error rate never deteriorates, no matter how many screenings. Dolby does seem to be a little more robust than it used to be, so there might have been some work done behind the scenes. Downloading DTS is a good concept. Should we make a concerted effort to contact DTS every time discs are not supplied and ask if they can send the data via internet? About 90% of features are fine but we can't risk false advertising and that can't be helping Dolby or DTS.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-08-2006 03:58 AM                     You want MY answer? Simple. "Sorry everyone, but the print of the film we received has a defective digital track and the studio has not made the dts audio discs available to us. As a result, we would like to wholeheartedly apologize and would like to extend free admissions to the movie during this time that we are awaiting a replacement print due to the substandard presentation that we will be performing today. Again, our apologies." Give it a shot and watch how fast you get a replacment print. If they don't like your solution, tell them to bill the theater who damaged the print for their losses.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 08-08-2006 05:48 AM                     Ron, perhaps our problem with dolby digital is sydney or australian based, I too have a have had a similar problem but I think it may be location specific ( that place seems to run the gate tension too high), perhaps its the cheap prints now being imported from asia. or perhaps both? Its nice to know that it isn't a world wide problem Brads idea would probably boost your candy bar takings  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-08-2006 08:40 AM                     quote: Mark J. Marshall Do you have any CP650s with penthouse readers? If so, do they warble when you run a digital dolby tone through them? Every one that I have seen does. Mark, Not a single problem with any 650's we've installed... thats one reason we are switching back to selling them again. You might consider trying the latest software version and see if that helps. I have only had one issue with one unit and that was a software related random re-boot issue. One issue running SRD that I have had is on older projectors. If there are any worn parts in the film path that might scuff the SRD track than it will be a problem playing back. Of course this is true of any projector... but seems to be more prone on old Motiographs and Cinemecanicca Vic 5's with the stupid curved gate design.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 08-08-2006 08:48 AM                    Thanks, Mark. I think I went through this before, but I'll check it again. What's the latest version? [ 08-08-2006, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Mark J. Marshall ]  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 08-09-2006 04:35 AM                     Thanks Mark. The complex that sends me prints with F Dig tracks features vic 5's Cam  |  IP: Logged Nick Scott Expert Film Handler Posts: 133 From: nsw austrailia Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-09-2006 07:12 PM                        I run a vic 5 and i dont have a problem with the srd track at all. Its a conspiracy i tells ya.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 08-09-2006 08:27 PM                     yes Nick, but you know how to maintain projectors properly. Not every cinema gets a quality 2nd generation projectionist! P.S your dads fantastic short 8mm films on the old Sydney single screens and the building of the Original Hoyts Centre would be ideal on the film-tech website  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 08-10-2006 03:40 PM                        On the Vic 5, it's especially important to keep the emulsion-side gate rails clean of hardened deposits that can abrade the film. Be sure the gate is running cool, and not too hot to touch (check position of heat shield behind the gate, and be sure your lamp focus is not overfilling it and heating the gate so hot that you cannot touch it). As with any projector, use the lowest gate tension that maintains a steady image. Proper film lubrication (SMPTE Recommended Practice RP151) greatly reduces projector abrasion of the perforation and edge areas of the print. Keep humidity in the projection room near 50%RH --- really damp conditions can make the gelatin emulsion get sticky and soft.  |  IP: Logged Charles Greenlee Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 801 From: Savannah, Ga, U.S. Registered: Jun 2006 posted 08-10-2006 10:29 PM                        Ok, here's a semi-related question. Its only semi related, but I don't think it deserves it's own topic. I'm trying to get DTS trailers, trailer CDs, posters, plaques, etc. I called DTS, and talked to a real person, told them what I needed. They forwarded me to an answering system that told me to give my theatre name, adress, etc, and it'd be added to "the list". I haven't heard back from them, nor received anything in the mail. What is this list? When will I hear/receive something? And will this list get me all of the above, or information or what? Also, I've been trying to get a Dolby stereo trailer for our 2 Analog houses, and in the even we have an analog only movie (Night Listener). I've called Dobly, the operator forwarded me to a lady's voicemail, I've left a message with my name, theatre name, and number and my cell number. Should I call again, or do they typically call back, and how long?  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 08-10-2006 10:53 PM                     Try this form for Dolby trailers: Dolby Trailer Order Form Remember that technically you can only use a "Dolby" trailer if your processor is a Dolby processor.  |  IP: Logged

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