Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DCI Content Creation

This is topic DCI Content Creation in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-17-2009, 07:24 AM:

Does anybody have any experience with content creation for dcinema? I'm trying to create a set of ratings tags to run on our 2K system but not having much luck. I've tried to modify the existing XML files for a trailer (Madagascar 2) with the data of my ratings tag but it doesn't work. The problem is twofold:
1. The Dolby Show Store still identifies my tag as Madagascar 2, and;
2. It refuse to load anyway.

I think the problem with #2 is that my tag is in MPG format whereas I need to (somehow) convert it to MXF but I can't figure out the reason for #1. I presume the problem resides in either the UUID or Hash tags??

I've had a look at the DCI Spec v1.2 but it's just a policy document whereas what I need is a practical description of the CPL and PKL files.

Anybody know anything about this stuff or know of any online references they can point me to?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-17-2009, 11:40 AM:

If you8 just want to run your on screen pre-show then take a look at Qube Master Express software. Its about 800 bucks. It'll convert almost any type of file to the requisite JPEG 2000 D-Cinema File.
Linky Dink

Mark

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-17-2009, 04:56 PM:

Thanks for the link(y dink) for that, Mark. [Smile]

Unfortunately, I'll have trouble convincing my employer to shell out the dough for that so I'll need to do it the hard way. That's okay, I'll learn a lot more by doing it manually anyway.

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-17-2009, 07:40 PM:

I've been thinking about this a little more and perhaps the Show Store identifies my tag as the Madagascar 2 trailer because it recognises the UUID identifiers (which I neglected to change) as those used in the already installed M2 trailer. I will try changing those and see if that works.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-17-2009, 11:00 PM:

This looks pretty slick to have .. something for anyone to keep an eye on it in the future if needed.

thx-Monte

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-18-2009, 06:13 AM:

UPDATE: Ok, so I've replaced all the UUID identifiers with new unique ones (which can be gotten from here ), noting the duplication of each UUID throughout the ASSETMAP, CPL and PKL files, and now the Show Store is correctly identifying my ratings tag. However, it still won't load as it fails the "verification" check. I suspect this is because I am not feeding it an MXF file or the hash codes in the CPL and PKL files are incorrect (likely) or perhaps both.

It's also possible that my mpeg file will need to be converted to a JPEG2000, as indicated by Mark, but my understanding was that the MXF wrapper should take care of this anyway??

[ 01-18-2009, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: Stu Jamieson ]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-18-2009, 10:09 AM:

Frankly...$800 to be able to make your own preshow, snipes or whatever...that is an absolute bargain.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-18-2009, 01:05 PM:

I agree. It frees you from paying someone else big bucks on a regular basis. The quality is also very good as long as the original is clean and sharp. Lets see... this software costs about the same as two pre-show projector lamps..... [thumbsup]

.

Mark

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 543) on 01-19-2009, 12:40 PM:

Qube Master Express, Information on file support is a little vague on their site. Anyone know if it supports HD ts files or backed up dvds.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-19-2009, 04:19 PM:

Stu

That software could come in very handy and pay for itself in a short while. I'd try and convince them of the possibilties it would open up. In the meantime, if you need some censor tags, just drop me a line and I'll send you copies of the lot.

John

Posted by Kevin Fairchild (Member # 4985) on 01-19-2009, 04:35 PM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
If you8 just want to run your on screen pre-show then take a look at Qube Master Express software. Its about 800 bucks. It'll convert almost any type of file to the requisite JPEG 2000 D-Cinema File.

This software isn't $800. I got a price quote for it back in November. Here is a copy of the letter I recieved.

quote:
Hello Kevin,
Qube Master Xpress does support 1080 HD resolution footage and yes I do have an evaluation version that can send to you immediately. The retail pricing for the software is $5,000 per license.

Please call me if you have any further questions.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Hannah Cash - Manager of Sales and Marketing
Qube Cinema, Inc.

Stu, If you find a way to do it manually, please be sure to let me know how! I am very interested.

Kevin Fairchild

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-19-2009, 04:53 PM:

quote:
The retail pricing for the software is $5,000 per license.

Hmmmmm...

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 01-19-2009, 10:56 PM:

Hannah Cash - Manager of Sales and Marketing
Now that's an appropriate name!

Posted by Julio Roberto (Member # 4976) on 01-20-2009, 06:38 AM:

You can probably find all (or at least most) of the information you need plus very useful packing/unpacking utilities on cinecert's asdcplib.

http://www.cinecert.com/asdcplib/

Read their as_dcp.h file in the source.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Alternatively, you can order the SMPTE standards from SMPTE site. They charge around $30 per document. Most relevants would be:

SMPTE 428-1-2006 D-Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM) – Image Characteristics
SMPTE 428-2-2006 D-Cinema Distribution Master – Audio Characteristics
SMPTE 428-3-2006 D-Cinema Distribution Master Audio Channel Mapping and Channel Labeling
SMPTE 428-7-2007 D-Cinema Distribution Master - Subtitle
SMPTE 428-9-2008 D-Cinema Distribution Master - Image Pixel Structure Level 3 - Serial Digital Interface Signal Formatting
SMPTE 428-10-2008 D-Cinema Distribution Master - Closed Caption and Closed Subtitle
SMPTE 429-3-2006 D-Cinema Packaging – Sound and Picture Track File
SMPTE 429-4-2006 D-Cinema Packaging – MXF JPEG 2000 Application
SMPTE 429-6-2006 D-Cinema Packaging – MXF Track File Essence Encryption
SMPTE 429-7-2006 D-Cinema Packaging – Composition Playlist
SMPTE 429-8-2007 D-Cinema Packaging - Packing List
SMPTE 429-9-2007 D-Cinema Packaging - Asset Mapping and File Segmentation
SMPTE 429-10-2008 D-Cinema Packaging - Stereoscopic Picture Track File
SMPTE 429-12-2008 D-Cinema Packaging - Caption and Closed Subtitlt
SMPTE 430-1-2006 D-Cinema Operations – Key Delivery Message
SMPTE 430-2-2006 D-Cinema Operations – Digital Certificate
SMPTE 430-3-2008 D-Cinema Operations – Generic Extra-Theater Message Format
SMPTE 430-4-2008 D-Cinema Operations - Log Record Format Specification
SMPTE 430-5-2008 D-Cinema Packaging - Security Log Event Class and Constraints
SMPTE 430-6-2008 D-Cinema Operations - Auditorium Security Messages for Intra-Theater Communications
SMPTE 430-7-2008 D-Cinema Security - Facility List Message
SMPTE 430-9-2008 D-Cinema Operations - Key Delivery Bundle
SMPTE 431-1-2006 D-Cinema Quality – Screen Luminance Level, Chromaticity and Uniformity
SMPTE 433-2008 D-Cinema - XML Data Types

[ 01-20-2009, 10:11 AM: Message edited by: Julio Roberto ]

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-30-2009, 01:35 AM:

Thanks for the link, Julio. I'll check that out.

@ John: Thanks for the offer, mate. I'll think I'll take you up on that as it will get me up and running very quickly. Sorry it's taken me so long to accept your offer, ironically I've been holidaying in Sydney for the last week and a half - heh, I could have just hooked up with you while I was down there and collected your tags then! Oh well, I'll PM you my contact details.

I'll continue with this little project regardless as there are some invaluable lessons to be learnt from the exercise. I'll post my progress here as it happens. Thanks for all the responses, guys. [Wink]

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 01-30-2009, 03:54 AM:

Hi Stu,

I have a full set of 2k ratings tags I can send to you , but they are in mpeg2 format , if you are able to convert them let me know and I can send you them.

Phil

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-31-2009, 03:28 AM:

Thanks Phil but I already have mpegs which is what I'm trying to convert to DCI. But thanks for the offer, much appreciated. [Wink]

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 01-31-2009, 06:55 AM:

UPDATE: I haven't been able to figure out how the hash codes are generated which are present in the CPL and PKL files but given that they are only part of the digital signature I figured they were probably unnecessary. (It's not like I care about security for my ratings tags.) So I deleted all the hash codes from the CPL and PKL files and my tag now loads without error. It still won't play, however, so I think the next step is to convert my MPEG to an MXF. I have a feeling that Sony Vegas can do it so I'll give that a shot.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 02-01-2009, 09:18 PM:

Hey Stu

You've got mail.

John

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 02-01-2009, 09:31 PM:

Cheers, thanks mate. [thumbsup]

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 04-30-2010, 02:25 PM:

It has been 452 days since the last post.

Posted by Cristian Bote (Member # 5724) on 04-30-2010, 02:25 PM:

Hello Stu,
so I'm wondering if you did succeed in creating your ratings. I ask because I wish to create some policy.

Hope to an answer,
Cheers

Posted by Stu Jamieson (Member # 4626) on 04-30-2010, 11:52 PM:

Sorry. Through circumstances beyond my control I had to abandon this project. It was unfortunate as I felt I was nearing success.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 05-01-2010, 06:40 AM:

See the thread: 'DCP creation software for windows' All is there.

- Carsten