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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Author
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Topic: IMAX Digital semi-rant
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Manny Montes
Master Film Handler
Posts: 270
From: United States
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 08-27-2017 10:46 PM
quote: Jim Cassedy
I was sent out-of-state to run DUNKIRK 70mm at a large theater
in the mid-western part of the US.
They also were playing it in IMAX digital down the hall in another
auditorium. I was given a two-way radio on the theatres' "tech
channel" in case I had a any problems or needed something in my
booth.
On more than one occasion I overheard one of the assistant managers
or someone on the floor staff relaying a customer complaint that the
sound in the IMAX auditorium was too loud, and asking for it to be
turned down a bit. And so their projectionguy would lower the volume
a little, and within a few minutes IMAX was on the phone with him
wanting to know why the volume was changed. On two occasions I
was standing right next to the guy when he got the IMAX call, and
a couple of other times I heard him being paged on the radio to
"come to the phone and talk to IMAX"
So, I assume IMAX must have a NOC that monitors stuff like this.
I asked 'the kid' about it and he said that when he was learning the
system there, he was told that the volume level was 'set in the IMAX
contract". I don't know if that's actually true; I'm only repeating what
I was told, and what I observed- - which is that every time they made
a volume adjustment, or one day when a show started a couple of
minutes late- - IMAX called to find out what was going on.
That's strange, having worked at one of the largest IMAX houses in the US we never got a call regarding volume, in fact there is an IMAX tech bulletin that specifically discusses how to lower volume if you receive customer complaints. The IMAX SMS also has built in volume cues that you can have lower the volume automatically as well (tech bulletin about using this too which specifically says it can be used for the feature OR trailers depending on complaints). This is why all IMAX users are set up as showmanagers because their "limited" usergroup doesn't allow for them to change volume.
I'm not doubting what happened but IMAX even puts the volume control on their PJT so that you can only adjust it + or - 3 (or 5) db and not any further than that. It's strange that they would call asking why you lowered the volume considering they tell you to lower it if you get complaints. Especially because if anyone emails the QC IMAX email that they show at the end of the movie, you'll get a call directly asking what happened with the presentation (and you may even get a visit from a tech because of it).
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William Kucharski
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 244
From: Louisville, Colorado, United States of America
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 08-29-2017 05:04 AM
quote: Aron Toplitsky
So William would you say most theaters play a film at reference level opening night? I agree and would rather hear a film very loud than turned down. I'm actually getting pretty fed up with theaters playing films too low. Unfortunately I don't like going opening night and dealing with inconsiderate idiots who talk, text or walk in 20 minutes after the movie starts.
There's no good answer for this.
For many houses, they do start the run at the proper level and then turn it down in response to viewer complaints.
On the other hand, at AMC (yes, them again) I've had to complain the movie was barely audible, and have been told it was because a kids' film had been playing in the theater before the premiere of the new feature, and they had it turned "way down" because parents had been complaining they were "damaging children's ears."
My best rule of thumb to try and see films presented at proper volume (and heck, who am I kidding, presented properly period) these days is to just avoid AMC as much as possible. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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Martin Brooks
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 900
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: May 2002
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posted 09-03-2017 07:54 PM
quote: William Kucharski
On the other hand, at AMC (yes, them again) I've had to complain the movie was barely audible, and have been told it was because a kids' film had been playing in the theater before the premiere of the new feature, and they had it turned "way down" because parents had been complaining they were "damaging children's ears."
Just about every AMC I've been to in NYC plays the films far too LOUD, IMO. I've got to start remembering to bring an SPL meter with me to see what it really is.
Depending upon the situation, the parents were right to be concerned, except they should have been concerned about their own hearing as well. According to a 2002 article in EQ magazine, OSHA considers levels (DB, A-weighted) in excess of the following to be hazardous:
85db 8 hours (street traffic)
95 db 47m+ (loud classical music)
100 db 15m
110 db 89 seconds (thunder)
115 db 28 seconds (loud rock on stage)
Another document, I think from OSHA itself, permits exposure to the following maximums, but remember these are workplace maximums and I don't think leisure activities should permit this same level of exposure:
95db 4 hours
97db 3 hours
100 db 2 hours
102 db 2.5 hours
105 db 1 hour
110 db 30 minutes
115 db 15 minutes
But anytime you walk out of a situation with ringing, damage has been already done. Every musician I know has hearing loss or tinnitus. IMO, sound levels have become completely ridiculous in clubs, music venues, many movie theaters and even some Broadway shows.
I went to see some act at a club and the opening act was a solo flute player. The genius at the sound board threw the levels up as if this guy was Metallica. Completely absurd.
I'm surprised that there's never been a class action lawsuit by employees in bars or music clubs who have experienced hearing loss. Guess it's too hard to prove that it came from any one venue.
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Marcel Birgelen
Film God
Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 09-04-2017 03:01 AM
My experience with AMC is obviously somewhat limited, but most times I visited, the sound was way too loud, just a few times it was notably lacking and a few times it actually sounded spot on.
Around here, the situation is largely hit and miss in most multiplexes. In Belgium, the biggest chain has actively reduced sound levels in all their complexes, after complains about unhealthy sound levels kept streaming in.
And you know what? They were, unfortunately, entirely right. I don't like their solution though: Globally turning down the fader.
You should think you could assume that if you've got a correctly calibrated room and you play everything at 7.0, you should be fine. But unfortunately, you're not.
In Europe, you'll find all kinds of regulatory bodies in each and every country that will first issue a warning and if you don't take action, will simply shut you down, if they detect you're playing movies at levels considered unhealthy by their definitions. In the U.S., you might find yourself in the midst of an class action suit first.
Once we made the transition from analog to digital soundtracks, we gave those filmmakers a very powerful tool. We gave them 20 dB of extra headroom, they could use to do amazing things.
Instead of doing amazing things with this enormous dynamic range, many filmmakers decided to use it as a weapon against us moviegoers. Because, imagine your movie might not sound as loud as that of your competitor. People want to have it LOUD, don't they? If I scream the loudest, people will remember me!
Just like the radio loudness wars first killed dynamic range in the ether and later even on the very records you buy, it also made many movies unnecessarily loud, so loud in fact, that playing them "at reference", in quite some cases, is just plain bad for your health.
So, that's why any good and responsible showman should act as a layer of protection between the filmmakers vision and the ears of our audience.
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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 09-07-2017 10:00 AM
I haven't noticed the issue in movie theaters that I've been to, but music venues are a different story. Live acts are one thing, but even DJ's at weddings, etc. are guilty of cranking up the volume so high that it's downright painful, and it makes it impossible to talk to someone.
I was a church festival this summer, and there was a live band playing in one of the tents (no side panels). Standing outside the tent, on the opposite side from the speakers that the band was using (probably 300 feet), the sound on my sound level app registered at over 90dBA. It was too loud to my ears, and I don't mind cranking up the music when I'm in the car or alone at home.
My impression of the issue of theater sound is that, unless the theater is just playing it too loud, it's either the mix that is too hot (compressed) or there is an issue with the sound calibration and/or equipment in the theater. Given that I've rarely had issues with mixes on home video releases (admittedly these are often "remixed for home environments"), my guess would be the latter.
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