Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: GDC server and JSD60. Want to play a pre-recorded announcement as credit roll

This is topic GDC server and JSD60. Want to play a pre-recorded announcement as credit roll in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-05-2019, 04:38 PM:

At our drive-in, we would like to automate some announcements. In most cases I realize it's easy to just insert the clip into the playlist. However, when we make an announcement at intermission, we want to be able to do so just as it goes to credits, rather than waiting until the credits are over. I'm wondering if there is a way to either pause the movie and play an alternate clip, or mute the audio and cue an audio clip to play.

I realize switching to the non-sync format is as simple as adding an automation cue, but I want to be able to start a clip at the beginning rather than come in at some random point of a looped audio.

Any thoughts on how to accomplish this?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 05-05-2019, 05:23 PM:

If you want to play audio while a DCP is still playing, you can only do that using a separate audio player and switching sources on the audio processor. You could use a server cue to start playing the audio (similar to lights or curtain cues).

Some servers offer an intermission function that is able to play a CPL or SPL during intermission, but it is strictly consecutive only - first CPL stop, intermission play, CPL play.

There are a number of audio players available that can be controlled by external control switches or RS232 in a jukebox style.

- Carsten

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 05-05-2019, 06:08 PM:

a bit irrelevant to the technical thread but... As a customer, I wouldn't like the soundtrack of the credits being cut for an announcement to be honest.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-05-2019, 08:18 PM:

Marco, while I can certainly appreciate that, in a drive-in environment we have people getting in cars and starting to pull out as soon as credits hit the screen, so we really do need to make some announcements right away. It's as much of a safety issue as trying tell people how late the snack bar is open. Typically we do wait until the credit role starts and we are mindful of 'credit cookies'.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 05-05-2019, 10:56 PM:

The drive-ins I work on all have basically zero automation. Yes, they will have a playlist, with assorted trailers and concession clips (dancing drinks?) but no automation of devices other than the projector.
Generally they have a downmix from 5.1 to stereo: some use the Odyssey box, some have other solutions. That goes to a mixer that also gets nonsync (CD player usually) and a microphone, feeding the transmitter. Someone manually starts the show: fades out the music, maybe makes an announcement, and starts the playlist.
You could put together something that uses the server GPO to start a sound clip playing. Never having done that I can't tell you exactly how but there are digital sound players (like the nanoplayer) that can easily be remote controlled: museums use them to play sound effects or other audio clips on some trigger... ie you enter a store, break a light beam, and a recording welcomes you.
This could be done easily with a Raspberry Pi. Easily for someone who knows how that is, not me.
Server GPO events can be put anywhere in a CPL.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 05-06-2019, 04:52 AM:

Ahh, I missed the "drive-in" variable from the equation!!