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Author Topic: 70mm Mag Stereo Speaker Placement Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 03-25-2015 09:47 PM                       The Castro is equipped for 3 channels backstage, and the surrounds are 7.1 capable and split into several zones upstairs and down. Each of the zones was set recently and for the correct sound pressure level as were the LCR channels. The Castro main channels are not the latest nor are the acoustics the best. The building is old as you say and plays classic films not IMAX. Stephan or I will check the sound out again during the next call. Now, just because the surrounds are more to your liking at some other cinema does not mean they are set correctly there. A lot of cinemas run them way too loud. This is not correct nor is it practical at the Castro due to its large size. Your posts do tend to sound like whining though. Telling the theatre to buy Meyer speakers is certainly not a bad idea. Let's see you whip out your checkbook, call the Nasser Bros. or STFU.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Hauerslev Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Copenhagen, Denmark Registered: Aug 2000 posted 03-26-2015 05:15 AM                        "I never heard of any 70mm prints of that title" "FIRST MEN IN THE MOON" We played it in Karlsruhe a few years ago: http://in70mm.com/schauburg/2012/index.htm ...and Wolfram Hannemann's superb intro for this title in blazing 70mm: Because actor William Rushton was unable to make the filming, actor Peter Finch stepped in to play the uncredited part of the writ server. Everyone remembers the skeletons in THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS but few remember the one skeleton (borrowed from JASON) of Martha Hyer in the x-ray chamber of FIRST MEN. This was the last film for which Fred Harryhausen, Ray’s father, made the armatures. He died soon after sending them off to Ray. It also was the last film of Paul Carpenter, who can be seen as the reporter from the 'Express'. Frank Wells, son of famous H.G. Wells, visited the filming of FIRST MEN IN THE MOON. The original H.G. Wells book has an atmosphere on the moon, so the characters required no space suit of any type, making the diving suits worn by the characters in the movie an addition of the filmmakers. Sounds very promising, doesn’t it? Speaking of sound: I am happy to tell you that our German dubbed 70mm print in fact has a 6-track stereo mix which was made by veteran re-recording engineer Gordon McCallum. I hope you all will enjoy this very rare screening. Intro page: http://in70mm.com/schauburg/2012/intro/index.htm  |  IP: Logged Terry Monohan Master Film Handler Posts: 379 From: San Francisco CA USA Registered: May 2014 posted 03-26-2015 11:49 AM                     Sam**Next time you attend a film at the old Castro Theatre or before you do any so called service call sit in the middle of the big theatre and watch and listen for about ten minutes of a print or DCP that is in stereo/Dolby and you will hear almost nothing from the surround channels on the side walls. Forget about any split surrounds It just does not happen at the Castro. The other night at the 70mm show so many people complained about the bad dialogue coming from the center speaker, very flat and not crisp. I do complain when I see great potential when I visit the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and see and hear things that are not being done. I know It's a big barn and there will be some sound problems with any type of speakers put in. Please next time you work in the booth please try to add some volume to the surrounds. I think some of the old surround speakers they got for the Castro from the Alhambra Theatre have broken cone problems, that is why they don't want them turned up? The lights bother me also. Many years ago I met with Don Nasser and we talked about adding some color bulbs to the main ceiling light (Blue) and the side organ chamber white curtain area so when a movie is on you will see a dim Blue, Green or Red light. I spoke to him 3 times never got a call back. He did like the idea . Now they shut everything off when a movie is on. I even offered to pay for the bulbs. Sam you must have seen the Blue/Red lights that stay on very dim at the Alameda Theatre or Stanford Theatre? How nice this will look with new color bulbs or LED lights at the Castro. Also along the bottom of the stage curtain to shine up on the drape when closed. It all boils down to mtc and $$$$$$. I think It's time the Castro owners start adding a small service fee at the box office like many other struggling theatres do for new upgrades like rugs, lights, new waterfall curtains, bathroom remodel ect. I do play the lotto and I can tell you If I win big much of the money will go to help the Castro Theatre look and sound better in the future. The New Mission Theatre will soon open on Mission St in SF (long closed) this will give the Castro Theatre some competition in the area. I can tell you the new sound system going in the large downstairs cinema at the Mission will be top notch. They also will run retro 35mm, first run DCP and 70mm. The New Mission Theatre will be open 7 days a week, as the Castro is closed many Mondays and Tuesday's now. Thanks Sam for your feed back on the Castro 70mm sound. Buy some lotto tickets and share your fortune with the Castro!  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 03-26-2015 03:48 PM                       quote: Terry Monohan Please next time you work in the booth please try to add some volume to the surrounds. This is not how it is done. You set B chain levels of all channels to the specified requirement, i.e., 85DBC. You can also verify levels with an internal loop in the server, also from the DTS unit in the case of 70mm, and/or from the cinema processor. All seem to check out. I would personally take your complaints more seriously if they focused on one issue and not a litany of complaints about house lighting etc., that have nothing to do with me. We do sound and projector service, that's it. Since you've already spoken to Don Nasser I would address your issues directly to the cinema and leave me and other film tech people out of it.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-26-2015 04:36 PM                     Terry, I'm guessing you don't know of Sam's extensive background. It's a bit absurd that you are insinuating that he doesn't know how to calibrate a sound system.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-26-2015 05:26 PM                     I get it all of the time when people want the surrounds turned up or remember the movie having louder surrounds or they have louder surrounds at home...etc. The levels are set by an impartial device (microphone) that isn't trying to make them quiet or loud...just balanced. They have the capability to play every bit as loud as the stages speakers...if they don't then they weren't recorded that way...it is that simple. I swear, there are a couple of folks around hear that base their entire movie experience and definitely the quality of the entire soundtrack on how loud or "effective", in their opinion, the surround track is. I've never heard the Castro but I have heard some of the theatres were I've read comments (here and on places like Cinema Treasures) and it is a bit annoying to hear people who, don't know what they are talking about, try to blame a system because it isn't good for them. I do save the levels from our D2 (or R2) analyzer each time and some of these rooms are checked at least annually and run studio screenings where the guy that either mixed the movie or definitely the guy that has had to hear the sound track a bazillion times has been in the audience...if there was a deficiency, I'd hear about it VERY quick.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 03-26-2015 07:44 PM                       I've reached the stage in life I have people vouching for me. LOL. On the other hand that phrase "he's forgotten more than you'll even know" has a double edge. Thing is sometimes I have forgotten it. Every city has its gadflies. SF has at least 6 I can think of immediately.  |  IP: Logged Phil Ranucci Expert Film Handler Posts: 236 From: Carpinteria,CA, United States Registered: May 2006 posted 03-26-2015 08:35 PM                     Decades ago I attended a Dolby class run by Mr. Chavez. After the classroom sessions we all went to a multiplex to see how it's done in the real world. I don't recall the theater chain, but I do remember that the CP50 rack had a volume pot for surround level. Sam looked at it and said,"you know, we really hate to see things like this." Just because you like tons of surround at home doesn't mean theaters will sound that way.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-27-2015 10:29 AM                     Oh...it isn't so much as "vouching" as a shared pain! Not that you aren't worth vouching for. I have one site where I did put in a surround trim control as per request. It is in a non-traditional cinema where one VP had a thing for surrounds. Since I was handling the surrounds via DSP anyway, I added a control that give a little bit of adjustment to the surrounds. There was also a switch that allowed one to always go to the calibrated setting.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-27-2015 02:50 PM                        In the early Dolby era, surrounds were not too well regulated. I installed a surround level control as follows: a step fader that allowed 6db of boost in 3 steps, a NORMAL position, and a lot of cut. At least NORMAL could be located quickly and with precision.  |  IP: Logged

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