This is topic The Andy Summers Private THX Cinema in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-15-2005, 12:00 PM:
 
OK, I'll be the first to say it: I love it! Andy, that's quite a setup you have there! You should invite all Film-Tech members over for the premiere of George's crazy space movie when the DVD hits the street.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 12:43 PM:
 
David’

It’s a same you’re thousand of miles over there in the U.S.A., although there are few members hear in the U.K., and with just 15 days left now before it fills the shaves up with such Force, I believe this one will sale like hotcakes….

So if someone would like to see and hear it though the screen is small the sound is gib in terms of SPL db, and still I need a stepladder to fix the height surrounds up, I’ll ask my dad for a stepladder next week, that will do it plus some cable ducting….sorted.

So you have looked at the link I sent and now that it’s plastered all over the Film-Tech forums in “Technicolor” cheers, it looks grand, but like I said it’s still incomplete and all it needs is a video projector, and a THX baffle wall with all the JBL control 5 and JBL 4645 installed into it to finalize it.


 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-15-2005, 12:46 PM:
 
Andy,

Just use the bathroom wall as the baffle and build em in!

Mark
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 01:04 PM:
 
Mark’

LOL man that was very funny, LOL hehehehe, sorry I can’t get over that one, I’ll build it just like the real thing with plasterboard etc… the bathroom isn’t big enough to swing a cat in, and though the tonal characteristics maybe of some advantage the living room will have to suffice…

 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-15-2005, 03:47 PM:
 
What is the box underneath the Trinitron? Some sort of cable/satellite decoder?

Is that a calibrated microphone?

Do home decoders have pink-noise generators in them, or do you have some sort of external pink noise source? (I assume that the calibration procedure is essentially the same as the B-chain alignment described in the Dolby manuals...is this correct?)

You definitely should get a video projector and perf screen...it must be odd to have such a small picture with that sound system.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-15-2005, 04:26 PM:
 
The TV is far too awesome. Brad, your screening room sucks by comparison. Sorry but you lose, pal. Andy, you win!

Also, why is there no picture of your official THX approval license?
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 04:37 PM:
 
Scott’

Yes and no is the answer for it must be odd with a TV monitor of that size and a sound system of such size, I can place a mental image of the size that needs to be there, but that’s just the way I think. Yes a video projector as to be in order hear, and though I have my eyes set on one in a second hand shop, at around £500,00 I’m sure the halogen bulb is near it’s lifespan, and there’s the cost but if I think like a projectionist I’m sure there’s a way around it, and bring the cost to affordability.

The box under the multi stranded SONY monitor is a teletex decoder to where the signals on TV broadcasts enable views to see news updates weather entertainment etc.

But seeing it’s not connected nor am I receiving any British TV broadcasts as I’ve given up with British TV period, I’ve even dumped the antenna, it’s just Laserdiscs DVD’s and some pre-recorded future films on VHS for now.

The microphone was isn’t sadly a calibrated model but it’s got XLR connecting, the pink noise is soured from the dts calibration disc with full spectrum sound and carefully adjusting the EQ bands to get the timber close to the sweet spot in the room, whilst looking at the RTA, two of which I have one is on the Technics EQ and the other is on the pc called “TureRTA.” I’m also on the look out for some more active X-over units as passive ones are too high edge sounding.

So in a sense part of the sound chain is close to the B-chain configuration, just need two more active X-over units.

Now if you have been looking at the images you’ll notice the audio mixer that I have placed in line with the LFE and all the other channels that are outputting low frequency content, from the sub bass low pass output split-surrounds to the centre channel and the main fronts left and right sub bass low pass, I’ve said it before less is more and overwhelming the mix to point where it’s not sounding natural, simply will not do.

There’s other techniques that I’ve done like looking at the problems regarding masking acoustic masking, there’s a few black boxes that I’d like some audio compressors with gate hold and threshold settings, with around 4 needed and then I’ll start addressing the problems like in the film “Heat” and “Alien” 2000 issue not that bodged remix directors cut which I happen to also have, the mix on these films is incredibly complex and though some cinemas are still faced with the same problem I just what to correct it and get more out of the mix with little compromise issues in it’s path.

Joe’

Come Joe’ stop playing around I’ve seen Brad’s preview theatre that wins hands down, spot on I like it. Why is there no picture for home THX it’s not like the annual fee that’s paid out to the THX division with 6 monthly check ups, and the final kick in the bollocks, if you fail to maintain standards, I maintain the operation hear with out the fuss and hassle that is usually accompanied with the THX license…
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-15-2005, 04:43 PM:
 

quote:

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I’ll build it just like the real thing with plasterboard etc…

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quote: Brad Miller

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Plasterboard for a baffle wall?

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Well, thats slang for drywall... 3 layers of 5/8" to be exact!

Mark
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-15-2005, 06:08 PM:
 
Never heard that slang term. When I hear "plaster", I think of plaster.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 06:19 PM:
 
Brad’

That’s what I was tying to relay, but mark twigged on to it quicker than “John Wayne” can draw…

So it will be done like your own private preview theatre, by the way have you made any alterations to the booth auditorium or the sub bass array as I take it your still using the JBL 4675-A five-screen.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-15-2005, 08:35 PM:
 
So Andy...why the 2240H driver in the 4518 LF cabinet that is so prominately featured? Any reason for your choice of driver there?
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 09:01 PM:
 
Steve’

Edge foam surround, is the reason need I say more, the edge ribbon surround nice. And this sub as had a good 7 year run with no problems, touch wood.

Along with its durability and giving it’s only 98db sensitivity and this one I’ve measured down to 20Hz so she as the authority to play the most demanding films from “Master and Commander” “Flight of the Phoenix” and “Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones” those are some of the films that I’ve tested “The LFE” test that is and note “Spiderman 2” that’s got some wow lows in it that’s slams kicks and rumbles the room right down to low depths just like in the “Empire Leicester Square” mind you they had around 8x JBL 4645, to fill that auditorium.

Just one JBL 4645 will suffice hear, which leaves my friends in the dust with 10inc ones, where they sound to toppy…

The maximum SPL db I’ve ever had her at is 120db that was with the film called “Final Approach” on VHS and those after burners on the SR-71 really kick you in the chest, KABOOM….

So looking forward to that film, if it ever gets a DVD realise has it was one of the first films to be in digital sound, or one of many the ole CDS format which is now retired due to backward compatibility, though there where a few 70mm six-track Dolby prints of it and Dolby SR as well.

Do you have any news on this film “Final Approach”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101874/combined

Now adding on to this if some members like to drop on over, you’ll properly have to nick an SR-71 and fly her at Mach 3 and land her at “Hurn Airport” which is only 7 miles away from me, drop on in catch the DVD only real big problem hear is you’ll find the SR-71 has had it’s wheels clamped and may have to pay for landing costs etc, and stuffing some 4 or 5 members into it’s cockpit may be difficult also.LOL.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-15-2005, 09:57 PM:
 
Andy your TV is far too big. You might try stepping down to a 9 incher. Wait a minute is the one you have already a 9 inch TV?
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 10:11 PM:
 
Joe’

LOL, as usual you always come out with the funniest jokes, no she’s a classic 27inc, and I have no interest in a widescreen TV has I’ve seen so many including plasma TV monitors that over-scan the image big time and at £4000.00 for a 50inc there about, what a rip off, I mean is the engineer in the factory is he blind, I can see more width of films or lets say my friends with there widescreen TV one is a Panasonic the other is a Phillips, both over-scan with 2 ½ on the right and 1 ¾ on the left missing….and reading the credits on Star Wars or Lord of the Rings is just not there, if you get my meaning…


 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-15-2005, 10:56 PM:
 
Well you might want to at least think about stepping all the way up to composite video from the RF connection it looks like your TV has now. No TV that looks that old can have any sort of inputs other than RF. It looks like it was made in 1977.

Also, why are you looking at plasma TVs? This shows how uneducated you are about home theater. Get a CRT HDTV. My Sony 34XBR960 has overscan. I think with plasmas you are referring to UNDERSCAN, being able to see to the complete edge of the entire picture. Your 1977 crappy TV surly has tons of overscan. It probably has so much overscan that there is more information off of the screen than on it. With my Sony 34XBR960 I can adjust the amount of overscan if I want to (and I have). Plus widescreen TVs (even EDTVs) give you the full resolution of DVDs. Why have almost decent sound and a crappy, small picture? Upgrade to at least composite video and your picture will match your randomly placed speakers. My friend's LCD HDTV has zero overscan and no way to adjust it. If you are truly referring to overscan, then the store you saw it had probably had 4:3 video on ZOOM mode. Plasmas are fixed-pixel displays. No need for overscanning. I've never seen one that did that.

Fixed pixel TVs are for individuals who are not real people, like midgets.
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 10-15-2005, 11:03 PM:
 
You do realize you're not using a THX approved calibration mic cable, right?
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-15-2005, 11:20 PM:
 
Daryl’
Wow let’s get this right how about “Monster Cable” err, like it’s going to make my set-up sound like an all rounder, now if I was giving some "Monster Cable" to conduct an A&B test with some affordable cable which one will win the vote, I’m going for the affordable cable, if it comes within 98% and “Monster Cable” within 99.999% I would sooner save the money on OFC so they’ve been saying….
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-16-2005, 12:01 AM:
 
There's some pretty decent hardware in the room.

But visually speaking it's...um, well...not quite the environment where I would want to bring a lady I've just started dating.

quote: Joe Redifer

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Brad, your screening room sucks by comparison. Sorry but you lose, pal.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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But visually speaking it's...um, well...not quite the environment where I would want to bring a lady I've just started dating.

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Needs urns.
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-17-2005, 11:38 AM:
 
Frank, good job pissing all over Andy. Do you have any hobbies that you'd like to share with us so we can take turns trashing you in return? Oops, I mean, trash your hobbies. If we trash you, that would be a personal attack.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-17-2005, 02:13 PM:
 
Frank’

Interesting point you made there, and the applies some of the professional commercial cinemas in my home town, one called the “Regent centre” single screen, claming there THX come on they don’t even have the “THX 3417” or the newer “THX D-20” crossover, as for the sound there it’s too reverberant, and to make things worse the ODEON Westover Road claming to be full six-track Dolby when in fact they haven’t got any, sub bass speakers placed behind the screen, and those “Altec A4” are just generation so much audible distortion it’s indescribable last film I saw there was “Batman Begins in full dts distortion.”

ABC Westover Road screen #1 well they like bragging there the best sub standard cinema in the area, oh, and forgetting UCI for whom I worked for many years ago, they like publishing there the crème de la crème, you only have to look at form the outside, and say to yourself looks like a “Wet Fish cinema.”

Now you have got of on the wrong foot with, but I don’t mind, I’m clam and most of all cool about the personal attack, sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me….

Now on to a pleasanter note, just finished checking out,”John Carpenter’s” “Escape from New York” on region 2 DVD fantastic six-track Dolby Stereo mix with dts accompanied with it, though I prefer “Dolby” for playback did an A&B test with my Laserdisc special edition, I noted the audio commentary with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell” was the same, except for commentary by “Joe Alves” and the late “Debra Hill” who passed away a few months ago, though the commentary was recorded some time in 2003.

“Escape from New York” has been realised on region 2 DVD before, to some disappointment lacking six-track Dolby mix, I think it was scope 2.35:1, anyway this is close to what the die hard Carpenter fans wanted, which includes the deleted bank heist wow.

The playback in my home theatre was kick depth and though there’s very little action with some slam in the mix, it still presents such a complex “Dolby” mix by re-recorded mixers “Gregg Landaker” “Steve Maslow” and “Bill Varney” both of which worked on The Empire Strikes Back” and won an Oscar for sound, will there artist talents shows hear with this superb mix of creating an urban “New York” city.

Lots of low end on the LFE sub bass track, which supports the helicopters and addition effects as well as music in parts of the film the Lucasfilm THX kept harshness to a minimum timber matching was smooth as always while the THX peak manager kept LFE under control even though played at 0db reference level, bass from the three-screen and some nice body punches in the centre towards the end with “Snake” and “The Duke of New York”, LOL A number one, “Donald Pleasence” was a scream as the president….

Anyway next film will be “Batman Begins” in THX at this home theatre next week, and that opening score, looking forward to that…..with SPL in 105db three-screen and 110dbc on the LFE....

 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 10-17-2005, 05:20 PM:
 
David,

You like to stir the pot don't you? Just shut the hell up. I did not personally attack him. I am quite impressed with the sound set up, however, as other people have noted, that TV is very out of place.

Andy,

Let me rephase my comment so idiots like DAVE can more clearly understand....I realize that by making my statement more clear, he won't have anything to complain about, but here it goes:

VERY nice audio set-up, I bet it rocks. That TV is a bit out of place, why not invest a little more into picture quality so you can have a truely awesome audio/video experience.

Andy: no hard feelings I hope, I didnt mean anything but it.

David:
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-17-2005, 05:36 PM:
 
Feel free to use this thread to discuss Andy's setup, but please keep the personal comments to yourselves or private email. See the forum rules if this is not clear.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 10-17-2005, 05:37 PM:
 

quote:

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You like to stir the pot don't you? Just shut the hell up. I did not personally attack him.(snip)

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Whoa! Um, dude, you basically chimed in repeating what I wrote, but not choosing your words very carefully. I tried not to be insulting to Andy in the way I chose my words. But I strongly disagree with your notion that someone is an "idiot" if he took your post to be insulting.

And then you turn around and really flame the living hell out of David. I think he was on the money with his response, but that's just my opinion.

Also, keep in mind this is a moderated forum. Corrosive flaming may invite one of the moderators to get involved in a manner you may not like.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-17-2005, 05:46 PM:
 
Frank’

Sorry this has got of the wrong foot, maybe David was just kidding around, maybe?

Well it’s down to cost, frank’ and though I have set my eye on a front video projection system, I’m thinking at this moment should I go into this shop and see it working, and if I’m happy with what I see, I may just place a deposit on it seeing it’s £599.00 and though it’s not got DLP Texas technologies on it LCD well do just fine.

Yes anything to get a possible 7 foot wide screen in the room, giving the projection throw, will be at 14 feet I’m guessing 7 foot maybe less…

As for the sound, it does not just rock, it slams kicks rumbles and with deep abyssal depths of unrelenting pressure, given the type of Dolby or dts mix which I run exclusively on Laserdisc, given the higher bit rate over DVD, I’m not knocking the dts on DVD it’s range is good, but in general most dts DVD’s that I’ve encountered are negotiable.

Take “Saving Private Ryan” now the dts mix on that is very impressive, over the Dolby mix, dual version sound on special edition DVD.

Now going back to Video projection, if I do buy it, I’ll still be keeping the “SONY” multi standard monitor, as running a video projector all the time, light bulb life will be against me, but I’ll be looking into that, and looking for ways to maybe modify it to run an affordable halogen light source.


 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-17-2005, 08:07 PM:
 

quote: Andy Summers

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it does not just rock, it slams kicks rumbles and with deep abyssal depths of unrelenting pressure

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quote: Frank Dubrois

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Some of the discs spun so fast that it literally threw the machine out of alignment

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Yea, with the LD's spinning at 1800rpm against the CD at 440..big difference and lot of wind turbulence under the LD cover.

thx-Monte
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-17-2005, 11:26 PM:
 
Monte’

Trying to think of the name? where you can get spare parts it’s something called Elephant,, “Pink Elephant” that’s not it, I just tried, I can’t remember the name of the company, has I dealt with them before, having ordered two different spindle motors for my Pioneers and replaced both, so when the name comes to me I’ll place it hear on this site or via private Email.

Long links suck.

Hi-Vision LD
Really long links suck more.

I’ve just tried “White Elephant” laserdisc spare parts, and that wasn’t it but it’s got Elephant in the name, it’s finding the correct keyword…

[ 10-18-2005, 11:37 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 10-17-2005, 11:43 PM:
 
I had the Pioneer CLD-3080. Supposedly one of the better low-highend players. It did a good job cleaning up the picture, but nothing close to what DVD can do. I cant say I've had one defective DVD...even low end players will put out a better picture that my old 3080 ever could. Laser would be nice to keep for some of the lasers that arent out on DVD (Twilight Zone the movie comes to mind) but eventually, the laser will die.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-18-2005, 12:08 AM:
 
I hate LaserDisc. I used to think it was cool, but that was back when I was a freakin' 'tard. The picture is extremely grainy, no true 16:9, no true 24p, hell no progressive scan at all. And to top it off the movie must change sides at least once per movie. Unacceptable! Some movies even require disc changes. LaserDisc isn't even capable of true S-video since it is composite video recorded directly to the analog disc. Yup, LaserDiscs are analog.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-18-2005, 12:20 AM:
 
Joe’

Under that cynical shell of yours Joe’ you are probably deep hearted sentimentalist…..
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-18-2005, 04:15 AM:
 
Huh?
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-18-2005, 12:19 PM:
 
Joe may be a deep-shelled cynical-hearted sentimentalist 'tard, but at least he knows when to deploy an apostrophe. (')
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 10-18-2005, 12:51 PM:
 
Yeah, the60 minutes of video per side was stupid, but then when you bought the higher quality CAV version, you get a whopping 30 minutes per side. So with a standard CAV movie, you were flipping and swapping disc constantly. The constant loud noise of a 12inch disc spinning kinda annoyed me...laserdisc was poop.
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 10-18-2005, 10:05 PM:
 
Andy, Stevie Wonder will love your home theater setup.
 

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Posted by Andy Summers (Member # 3207) on 10-19-2005, 03:22 PM:
 
Pravin’
I’m sure he will, just been running “Raiders of the Lost Ark” DVD six-track Dolby Stereo surround-EX Lucasfilm via the JBL THX sound system, packs a wicked wallop lots and lots of low end…110dbc the neighbours love me LOL.
 

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Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 10-20-2005, 01:06 AM:
 

quote: Andy Summers

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110dbc the neighbours love me LOL

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quote:

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16' Flute which will make it less difficult for the neighbors to listen,

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