Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Dolby DSP100 Show Player stops suddenly whilst playing trailer

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Posted by Peter Foyster (Member # 9599) on 01-19-2018, 11:04 PM:

I am still using the DSS/DSP 100, for the most part, successfully.

There has been one occasion in the 3 seasons I have been running the cinema, when, last year, a trailer, provided by the Distributor as a download, caused the player to stop. This was verified by the fact that it happened three times at the same spot on the trailer. Removing the trailer sorted it. I have had no more problems until two nights ago.

Being unable to obtain a trailer for STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI from the local Deluxe film exchange, I downloaded a HD trailer from “Dave’s Trailer Page”, converted it to a DCP and successfully screened it for the past couple of weeks to promote the movie which I will be screening next weekend.

On Thursday I was able to obtain the theatrical trailer, ingested it and commenced testing. About halfway through, the Show Player stopped and a connection error came up. A reboot and a manual stop on the player resumed the connection and I was able to successfully test the rest of the weekend’s shows.

Not wanting to take any chances, and with a screening looming the next night, I substituted the trailer that I had made.

During the show, the player stopped towards the end of the trailer that had successfully worked for the past couple of weeks. Again, after a reboot and a manual start, the Show continued without further problems. A test of that part of the show after the screening confirmed that it was, indeed, the trailer that caused the issue.

Without getting into a discussion as to the obsolete Show Player/ Show Store’s suitability as a doorstop/sea anchor, I am curious as to why, after all this time, two trailers simultaneously caused a problem, and even more curious as to why it involves somewhat related trailers (although not the same versions).

Whilst I can accept coincidences, I have the distinct feeling that there is a connection here somewhere. Is it possible that files from one or both trailers somehow interacted with each other or is there a simpler explanation?

My next test would be to play each trailer separately, confirming that they both cause the player to stop, delete the trailers from the server and re-ingest the official one, to see if the problem is still there.

It would be a relief, however, if a logical explanation could be provided to put my mind at ease.(well not really at ease; just one less thing to worry about!)