Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "Everybody Has a Plan" DCP

This is topic "Everybody Has a Plan" DCP - super quiet or just us? in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 06-15-2013, 02:14 PM:

I came in to a note today from my co worker who was in yesterday. He said he had lots of complaints from customers about this film being very, very quiet.

Sure enough, on a test run today, the metrodome logo is normal, and as soon as it switches to the fox international logo, and onwards to the film its like someone turned it down from 6 (our usual volume) to 3.

Im running this DCP at fader 8 just to get a reasonable sound level.

This inconsistency is very annoying. Or, is it just our copy for whatever reason?

EDIT:

its playing right now. just went in for a listen, and fader 8 is not enough. even 9 still seems quiet.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 06-17-2013, 03:45 PM:

The DCP isn't 2 channel pro-logic encoded is it? Try running a channel check clip to makes sure everything is working OK.

You're using DSS200 & CP750 are you not? You could try inserting a cue 'CP750 Decode Mode ProLogic' (or however it's worded) at the the start of the feature. Remember to send it back to 'CP750 Decode Mode Discrete' at the end [Wink]

Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 06-17-2013, 04:08 PM:

Ill try that Pete.

The dcp has normal 5.1 labelling in the file name and looking at the cp750 panel all 6 chanells do seem to be active and at differing levels so it appears normal.

Everything else is fine its just this feature. I run a sound check sweep and channel test every week. Everything is working g properly.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 06-18-2013, 02:54 PM:

If you're seeing channel activity on all 6 with it set to discrete, then there's no need to try my suggestion.

If you do ever receive a 2 channel Pro Logic encoded DCP the giveaway is only seeing channels 1&2 doing anything (L+R).

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 06-20-2013, 10:50 AM:

Why would a DCP ever be encoded with matrixed Lt, Rt audio when the encoded channels could (should) have been, if all that was available was a matrixed master, decoded and then authored to DCP with all the decoded channels descrete? That at least would ensure that a center channel would be present and avoid relying on the theatre to know to select a decodeing format, which I assume is rarely used and more likely to be overlooked?

Another related question, do most servers allow sound LEVEL cues to be inserted anywhere at will, or at least between different items in the playlist? For example, if indeed a trailer mix sounds louder than the feature, can a level change cue be inserted between the two? Seems like a simple thing that the software could easily do in the program build that would solve some very common sound issues....or does the DCI specs forbid it?

Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 06-20-2013, 11:10 AM:

Frank

On my Dolby DSS200 I can insert volume level cues absolutely anywhere. At the beginning, or at any offset from the start or end of a clip. This is what I have done with this film. 9 seconds into the feature it boosts volume from 6 (for the metrodome logo at the very beginning of the feature clip which has a "normal" volume) to 9 when it gets queiter at the fox logo.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 06-21-2013, 07:08 AM:

Frank,

It does happen, not often, and probably never on major studio releases.

Where I've seen it it in the indie/art house/festival/TV Documentary sector. Where the original source may well have been 2 channel encoded.

You can insert fader cues with most combinations of server/processor, assuming the processor is ethernet or RS232 controllable.