Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Different error rates... howcum?

This is topic Different error rates... howcum? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-23-2003, 09:20 PM:

Why is it that I'll have trailers with 0,1 and 2 rates, going into an entire feature that sits at 5 and 6 (mainly 6)? The rate doesn't change much at all through the entire feature.

(Cat-701, DA20, CP-65)

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 11-23-2003, 11:22 PM:

Jack,

Funny that you mention this. I'm having issues with my print of 'Gothika'. Caused my CP500 to lock up this Saturday. By 'lock up' I mean that it reverted into a blank screen with only the formats showing, but not in any one particular format. I had nothing on any channel on either the processor or amplifier side. Didn't even have intermission, which was clearly playing in other houses. Wound up rebooting and all was fine. Happened 5 minutes prior to credits, so everyone was issued refund tickets and explanations given that it was a techincal malfunction that unfortuantely happens without any reasonable explanation. Sorta like when your car won't crank the first time you turn the key -- but it fires right up the second turn.... [Confused]

So to further what Jack said.. "so, howcum?" [Confused]

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 11-24-2003, 08:03 AM:

Jack --

Some questions for you:

1. What error rate does the attached trailer give you? Is it the same as R-1 of the feature or is it all groovy like the other trailers?

2. Do the error rates (on the various bits of film) stay consistent from one showing to the next?

Just so you know, I've seen this a lot. I don't know why but trailers tend to get really good SRD rates. Maybe they print them slower or something?

I actually carry around a "golden trailer" for making DRAS test loops.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-24-2003, 02:35 PM:

Manny:
Good question on the attached trailer. I'll check on it. The error rate on the feature (all of the show, for that matter) does stay fairly consistent... 5 & 6 throughout the feature, and less on the trailer pack.

I haven't experienced any dropout (yet) from this, but it does bother me that the error rate sits up that high.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 11-24-2003, 07:01 PM:

Take a look at the Dolby Digital tracks with a magnifing lens, to see if you see anything like the brown marks following the sproket holes like in the picture shown in this thread: click here
I have noticed this sort of thing on a number of prints over the past few months. It may be an example of printing done wrong. If the trailers do not have the marks, but the feature does, this may be the problem. I believe the "foging" will cause problems with reading the data in the "foged" area.
A little quality control would be nice.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 11-24-2003, 07:16 PM:

Take a close look at the digital track and compare it to other tracks you know run good numbers. Is the track lighter than the others. I have a DA20 installed here and my numbers range from 3's and 4's to 5's and 6's. Only time I saw it falt out was on a Cat in the Hat trailer. I have had this unit running for little over a month now using a Cat 700 reader. This set up came from another theater in our chain.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 11-24-2003, 08:01 PM:

Bruce: Thanks for that. I saw it when it posted, but didn't think it applied. I'll check, though.

Darryl: I'll look into that. I hadn't noticed anything visually unusual... maybe (probably) I need a bigger magnifying glass!