Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: soundtracks, regular, cyan, and high magneta

This is topic soundtracks, regular, cyan, and high magneta in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dave Ganoe (Member # 53) on 06-26-2000, 07:18 AM:

I know this has been hashed before but if someone could explain them abit again. I ask this because the theater I work at opened Me Myself and Irene and it has a high magenta track. The theater is running mono with incandescent exciter. The sound was lower than usual and required upping the volume considerably. Is magneta soundtracks the inbetween of the old and the new cyan dye? Whats the point in going half way? Thanks in advance for teaching me something new.

Posted by Michael Cunningham (Member # 210) on 06-26-2000, 11:40 PM:

They did that in-between step because it can be read somewhat well by both the old incandescent exciter lamps and the new red LED setups. True Cyan will not work with the incandescents. At least, that is what I've been lead to believe, if anyone cares to correct me.

-Mike

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-27-2000, 10:29 AM:

Information about cyan dye tracks and the current "high magenta" tracks is available on the Kodak web site:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/sound/index.shtml

Traditional color soundtracks printed the sound in the cyan and magneta layers (looks dark blue), and applicated the soundtrack with a viscous soundtrack developer to form dark gray silver. Traditional soundtracks had a different cross-modulation optimization density between tungsten and red LED readers, and could have additional cross-mod distortion if played on a reader they were not optimized for.

The "high magenta" track prints the sound in the magenta layer, and also applicates the soundtrack to form dark gray silver. The "high magenta" tracks can be optimized to play equally well on both tungsten (white light) or red LED readers. There should be no difference in level.

"Cyan-dye only" tracks print the sound in the cyan layer, and will NOT applicate the soundtrack to form silver. They will be compatible ONLY with red LED readers. Conversion to cyan-dye only tracks will begin early in 2001, with a few hundred prints on selected features being sent only to theatres equipped to play them. Complete conversion will follow this "trade test", requiring all theatres to have red LED readers for analog sound.

"High magenta" tracks have been in widespread use for over a year, starting with the US release of "You've Got Mail". Tens of thousands of prints have had "high magenta" tracks. There should be no discernable difference in signal level compared to conventional soundtracks.

Is there a chance that your particular print of "Me, Myself and Irene" was accidently not applicated? That is, is the soundtrack magneta colored with a dark gray silver strip down the center, or is is magenta dye only? If the "high magenta" print was accidently not applicated, it would have very low signal level in any reader.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com