Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: SDDS soundtrack

This is topic SDDS soundtrack in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 03-09-2008, 04:08 PM:

I was just wondering since SDDS no longer supports the processors, how long will they continue to put the SDDS track on the film.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-09-2008, 05:49 PM:

Two things...it isn't that Sony does not support their processors...it is the level at which they support their processors...you can buy all the LEDs you want and from what I can tell, you can also obtain FRB (their equivalent to an RXO system) on the boards...it is very impersonal though. Mark reported not getting sprockets ordered for many months...but they DID eventually make them.

As for the SDDS track...anyone's statement on that is just speculation. Though I don't see any 8-channel mixes yet this year...the number of 8-channel films seems to have exceeded Dolby's Surround-EX releases. At least Sony still publishes their films and 8-channel status. How does one know when a film is being released in Surround-EX?

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-10-2008, 12:05 AM:

quote: Steve Guttag
Mark reported not getting sprockets ordered for many months...but they DID eventually make them.

I'm also finding that they seem to be stocking less and less RXO boards. We did wait for sprockets for almost 11 months and we finally had them made by LaVezzi. The Sony sprockets we had on order for those 11 months showed up about two weeks after our LaVezzi order arrived. We sent the Sony sprockets back for credit... The LaVezzi's have VKF teeth and are hardened stainless steel.... they work great and they'll never wear out. Cost was actually much less per unit than the Sony's even with new bearings.

Mark

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-10-2008, 12:56 AM:

Hey Mark,

Were those LaVezzi sprokets special order or are they in-stock items? If so, what is the item#? I'm looking to replace my existing DFR-2000 sprokets.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-10-2008, 06:05 AM:

Mark's sprockets were for the 3000. The 2000 series sprockets were ALWAYS LaVezzi. In fact, a key difference between the stock Sony sprocket for the 2000 and what you can get from LaVezzi is the hardcoat version (it will be black in color rather than silver). The hardcoat version lasts longer and doesn't have that annoying buzz to it when it runs. I'll have to look up its part number.

The LaVezzi number is 432C37M

Steve

[edited to add LaVezzi part number]

[ 03-10-2008, 08:39 AM: Message edited by: Steve Guttag ]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-10-2008, 09:19 AM:

We stock both sprockets... The 3000 is indeed custom be we have extras that are for sale. The 2000 sprockert we stock is not just the "off the shelf" LaVezzi version...its also hard coated. They will hard coat them on special order but its not an off the shelf option from them. We see no wear on those DFPR 20000 sprockets teeth even after 4 years of use. We also stock those... both are priced way less than the stock sprockets from Sony.

Mark

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-10-2008, 11:59 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
The hardcoat version lasts longer and doesn't have that annoying buzz to it when it runs.

Its the "buzz" that I'm trying to get rid of. Having to listen to that "buzz" for several hours is enough to drive one insane. And not to mention you can also notice it in the auditorium. The current sprockets look good with no under cutting of the teeth. So what is causing it?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-11-2008, 05:01 AM:

Check the sprockets with a razor blande...you definately have some hooking going on...the stock sprockets are soft aluminum.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-11-2008, 08:59 AM:

Steve,
We have the sprockets hard coated with a very similar coating that the 35/70 LaVezzi sprockets get... if there were hooking it would be plainly visible as a thin silver line at the base of ewach tooth and you'd hear it. We expect far better life than a hard coated intermittent sprocket would see because there is not as much force against the base of the teeth.

Mark

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 03-11-2008, 03:18 PM:

quote: Jeremy Weigel
Its the "buzz" that I'm trying to get rid of. Having to listen to that "buzz" for several hours is enough to drive one insane. And not to mention you can also notice it in the auditorium. The current sprockets look good with no under cutting of the teeth. So what is causing it?

Probably sprocket.....try reverse sprocket and try then, several times this solved buzz problem.

Also, concidering SDDS on film is studio wish who produce movie, not sony.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-11-2008, 03:32 PM:

My experience is the same as Steve G's: parts are available, but you order them from a Sony 'central' supply facility in New Jersey that is staffed by gals who only look up part numbers. I don't know what happened to Steve L, who was quite helpful there.

On the production side, I heard or read somewhere that Sony will license their SDDS track for $1. You just pay whatever you would normally for the audio production mix.

Question: After you have produced the soundtrack, how much work is there to provide just the SDDS audio?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-11-2008, 03:49 PM:

Most of the nu-optic westrex recording cameras record the bi-lateral stereo optical DTS time code SRD and SDDS in a single pass
I believe that the MWA green laser only does SDDS and SRD with the optical in a single pass
I don't know about the older RCA Gaumount Kalee and WRE cameras if they can even be retrofitted for SVA

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-11-2008, 08:37 PM:

Steve Levy currently works for N.T. Audio Visual in Los Angeles. Louis

Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 03-12-2008, 08:39 PM:

Have noticed lately here in OZ that a few prints have been released without the SDDS tracks. Is this a sign that Distributors are starting to phase out the format here in Oz as there are not that many SDDS systems here, even though the SDDS logo appears in the end credits.Are prints in the U.S starting to have no SDDS tracks?
Cheers

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 03-12-2008, 09:36 PM:

Fox and Paramount are 2 of the major studios that I can think of that don't always encode SDDS. This almost always is the case with independent studios.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-13-2008, 01:38 PM:

SDDS is phasing out; time for it to die. Louis