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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Community   » Film-Yak   » CinemaCon sound: Why does it have to be so FREAKING loud? (Page 2)

 
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Author Topic: CinemaCon sound: Why does it have to be so FREAKING loud?
Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 04-28-2012 08:35 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Joe Redifer
If the trailers were loud but the rest wasn't so bad, then they simply adjusted the volume for the feature. They were too stupid to realize that trailers are much, much, much louder. Please complain to them. Only complaining to us won't let them know how shitty they are.
There was only one screening, and it was a dialogue-driven film ("What to Expect When You're Expecting") and I don't remember it being particularly loud, so you're probably right that they used the same setting for everything.

I do intend to write a note to the convention with this and a few other comments and suggestions, but I don't expect any action on the sound issue...I can't be the only one who ever thought it was too loud, but I remember the same problem existed the first time I went to ShoWest, which was in 1995. At the time, I blamed the problem on the fact that it was in a convention room, rather than a real theater.

But this particular venue should be the best motion picture setup ever deployed, so the nonsensical volume levels were a severe disappointment this year AND last year. (I didn't go to ShoWest after '95.)

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

- posted 04-28-2012 09:46 PM      Profile for Adam Martin   Author's Homepage   Email Adam Martin       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Mike Blakesley
I can't be the only one who ever thought it was too loud
I attended a screening of 21 in 2008 which was so painfully loud that someone shouted out "turn it down!" between previews, to agreement from the rest of the audience. They did not turn it down.

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Larry Zuverink
Film Handler

Posts: 98
From: Caledonia, MI, USA
Registered: Nov 2002

- posted 04-28-2012 10:57 PM      Profile for Larry Zuverink   Email Larry Zuverink   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Mike,
I totally agree. It was ridiculously loud. My ears rang for a couple hours after it. You would think they would want better sound.

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Marco Giustini
Film God

Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007

- posted 05-04-2012 02:31 PM      Profile for Marco Giustini   Email Marco Giustini   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Brad is right, it was easy to find a reel of film to be used for testing.
That's why I made my own test DCPs from Blu Rays - not the entire film, just clips.
I know, Blu Rays are often remixed/modified for Home Theatres, but I think it's much better to use a BD (extracting the uncompressed audio of course) rather than trailers, which are often very misleading.
My reference reel is useless now, and this is - for now - the only viable solution I found.
And again: if your tech leaves without trying the sound system thoroughly, he's not a good tech.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

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From: Denver, Colorado
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- posted 05-04-2012 04:37 PM      Profile for Joe Redifer   Author's Homepage   Email Joe Redifer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The only people I've seen actually give a critical listen after tuning a sound system are myself and, of course, Brad. Most of the rest I've seen just tune it and then "bye!" At most they'll pop in, listen to about 5 to 10 seconds of a movie with an audience in it, come back up to the booth, adjust the volume knob downward and then leave.

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Marco Giustini
Film God

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From: Reading, UK
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- posted 05-04-2012 04:50 PM      Profile for Marco Giustini   Email Marco Giustini   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I don't doubt it. Let me guess, most of the time the "tech" had stuck his single mike in the "dolby" position, equalised the curve like a ruler - pretending the rest of the auditorium has the same response! - and then walked away? [Smile]

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Victor Liorentas
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: london ontario canada
Registered: May 2009

- posted 05-04-2012 05:20 PM      Profile for Victor Liorentas   Email Victor Liorentas   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have been to 2 Imax theaters recently.One was a Liemax.In both cases the sound was good except for the dialogue.When anyone raised their voice or God forbid SHOUTED! It displayed an unpleasant ringing in the upper mid or lower treble.
It's like both theaters had the same issue,one was a bit loud but not the other.Is this caused by the eq?
What frequency knob on a cat64b for example would cure this?
The Imax at the Henry Ford Museum did not have this issue and it was plenty loud and awesome!

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 04-23-2013 10:01 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Update:

We did not go to CinemaCon this year but our booker did. He said they had installed Dolby Atmos into the Colosseum, and had a total of 490,000 watts of amplifier power. (I don't know where he got that figure.)

He said from his position near the back of the room, the trailers were so ridiculously loud that it was painful at times. His business partner sat in the 12th row from the front at one product reel and said he had to cover his ears the whole time due to the deafening sound level.

After hearing that, if we go next year I will be packing a supply of earplugs. I did send in a list of suggestions after last year's convention, one of which was to lower the sound volume but of course got no response.

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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 04-24-2013 01:11 PM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Tony Bandiera Jr
I also have random other test film reels
Jiffy?

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

- posted 04-24-2013 01:22 PM      Profile for Tony Bandiera Jr   Email Tony Bandiera Jr   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Sean: Yes I have two copies of the Jiffy test reel...one where the SR track is a bit scratchy and one essentially brand-new copy. The other reels are of prints and like I said I will not disclose publicly what they are.

quote: Bill Gabel
Tony, Compudigital Industries is selling the Dolby cat. 451 "Mancini" Dolby fanfare SRD (Flat) logo for $28.00 . They have a listing over on ebay.
Bill, a very belated thank you as I have ordered and now have the new Mancini Trailer.
quote: Aaron Garman
Is that trailer still available from Dolby?

AJG

Aaron: Order it from eBay, it will be cheaper than Dolby. [Smile]

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

- posted 04-24-2013 06:34 PM      Profile for Marcel Birgelen   Email Marcel Birgelen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Mike Blakesley
490,000 watts
That would be close to 0.5 MWatts, if that's really true, I don't even want to get close to that theater, what's its purpose? Instant eardrum incineration? MegaWatts are usually something you use when describing the output of a power plant, the power usage during a Superbowl Half-Time show or decently sized data center...

What's up with this over-compressed, super-loud stuff anyway? Sure, I do love it when you can feel an explosion in your bones, but I don't like the fact that PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING AT ME the whole *** movie. All current digital formats offer a tremendous dynamic range, use it wisely...

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
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- posted 04-24-2013 08:27 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It's because they play trailers, which are mixed balls-to-the-wall despite the (failed) NATO trailer volume initiative.

I've tried playing trailers at 7 here and it's just way too obnoxiously loud. We play the trailer reel at 3.8 generally.

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Mitchell Dvoskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1869
From: West Milford, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

- posted 04-25-2013 08:35 AM      Profile for Mitchell Dvoskin   Email Mitchell Dvoskin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've been hunting for a "Jiffy" test reel for ages...

I've also been hunting for the Dolby A THX Demo reel that Lucusfilm produced in the 1980's, with clips from all their films up though Willow.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

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From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

- posted 04-25-2013 04:53 PM      Profile for Marcel Birgelen   Email Marcel Birgelen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Mike Blakesley
I've tried playing trailers at 7 here and it's just way too obnoxiously loud. We play the trailer reel at 3.8 generally.
Yeah, trailers are just like radio and TV ads. Seemingly you need to be loud, or else you will not get noticed...

But it's not just trailers, it is also many of those new so-called *special* experiences like Digital IMAX and the venues that are using Dolby Atmos that push it way to far.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

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

- posted 04-26-2013 08:20 AM      Profile for Louis Bornwasser   Author's Homepage   Email Louis Bornwasser   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This is the dreaded "worst case scenario."

Live room (they all are in convention facilities)

Over eq'ed like Brad said. (I have NEVER seen an automated eq that is right, not even Dolby's)

Audio brain trust at dolby retired.

20 db desensitation due to cocaine.

Screechy, dialog not articulate, and harsh; they got it all. louis

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