DCP server for postproduction house

[Misha Aranyshev]

I'm looking for a cost effective way to add a DCP playback server to our facility. We author about a dozen DCPs a month and use Clipster and EasyDCP to watch them back. Our projector is Barco DP2K-P and we play sound through Datasat AP20. What would be a sensible addition to this rig? There is no urgency and I'm looking for a bargain. This is only because of my deep dislike of Clipster, not real need.

Thanks.

[Leo Enticknap]

What cards are currently in the DP2K-P? If there is a TI ICP and an Enigma (HD-SDI link decrypter) card, then a used but OK old school rack server (e.g. Dolby DSS200, Doremi DCP-2K4, or GDC SX-2000) would work (but with no guarantee as to how long it will continue to work), if you can find one, and if money is tight. Otherwise, you're looking at a current generation IMS. If your budget could stretch to it, a Barco ICMP would be preferable, because it would also replace the ICP, thereby defusing the ticking time bomb of the ICP's certificate battery, which is not field replaceable (the ICMP's is).

I would absolutely advise that you should have actual DCI-compliant playback equipment to test DCPs with. Software DCP players will not give you an absolute guarantee that a DCP will play on a DCI compliant system, especially when it comes to KDMs and encryption.

We (the country's largest Barco dealer) are located pretty close to you. I'm not sure what used servers we may currently have in stock, but please feel free to contact us at sales [at] movingimagetech.com or (714) 751-7998.

[Misha Aranyshev]

The boards aren't marked but here is the photo:

[Ryan Gallagher]

NeoDCP is another software solution to check out, but I second Leo's suggestion of a hardware player.

It's a roll your own server method a lot of smaller festivals will use that exclusively show independent type stuff.

https://www.neodcp.com/

It seems it will fall short of supporting cinema grade connections via SMPTE 292 and probably the DCI colors as a result?
Their site claims this feature was added in 3.6.1.

• Added DCI P3 RGB color space (SMPTE-431-2)

Also James just chimed in with a Linux based alpha software solution over here, perhaps tailored to your use case?
https://www.film-tech.com/vbb/forum/...-posthouse-etc

[Leo Enticknap]

It has an ICP-D, so I'm guessing that you had a TI ICP die in the relatively recent past.

The bad news is that this rules out a used but OK older HD-SDI server, because the ICP-D won't support input from an Enigma link decrypter. So you would need a rack server plus IMB (e.g. Doremi ShowVault/IMB or GDC SX-2000AR) or an IMS (e.g. a GDC SX-3000/4000/SR-1000, or Dolby IMS). Were you to buy a Barco ICMP (which would replace the ICP-D as well as adding server and media block functionality), there might be some trade in value for the ICP-D: our sales department could advise.

[Misha Aranyshev]

Thank you, Ryan. I know of NeoDCP. I'm not trading one Windows box (Clipster) for another. EasyDCP player is fine.

Yes, Leo. We replaced a board recently and it cost an arm and leg. IMS sounds interesting since it eliminates an extra box. If Barco ICMP replaces ICP-D do I lose SDI input? We use the projector for color grading so I need it before anything else.

[Marcel Birgelen]

You absolutely need to test DCPs for bigger markets, that's also what people are paying for. For example, we have a DP4K-23B with Barco ICMP and a SP4K-25C with IMS3000 in our screening room. Furthermore, in another room we have two older NC900Cs, one with a Doremi DP2000 and the other one with a Dolby DSS220. We also retain a GDC server, although that one isn't directly connected to a projector at this time. We put releases through any of those systems, which covers a broad spectrum of the install base. We've had several incompatibility events in the past, which we could tackle pre-release this way.

In your case, I think I'd go for the ICMP upgrade in the Barco projector. Those big-box PC-based servers are getting so old, they're becoming a real pain to keep them going.

Furthermore, I'd suggest strongly to avoid NeoDCP like the plague, their support department ranges from abysmal to completely absent. Not acceptable for something that's not entirely cheap.

[Misha Aranyshev]

It looks like ICMP has HDD slots. Is it for CRU kits?

[Marcel Birgelen]

No, those are for the RAID array that hold the content. There is no CRU slot on any IMB-style server I know about. Ingestion on those servers is done via USB or, much more common those days, via network.

[James Gardiner]

I make a Software player, and I too would suggest. Go with a real player. The new ICMP-xs is suppose to hae 2x12G-SDI, and SFP+ (for 10GBE). This may be important to you as a POST house. Every other IMS only has 2x3G-SDI at best.
The main issue is that you will have to remove the native SDI inputs and go via the IMS. As a Barco, I suggest using Barco ICMP.

On the issue of th player, I just implemented compatability with Blackmagic cards, you can switch to an SDI input, or outpus the image via SDI. Testers welcome. use upgrade button to upgrade to latest once installed.

[Misha Aranyshev]

Thanks, everybody. The more I read, the less attractive the setup looks.

[Leo Enticknap]

The new ICMP-xs is suppose to hae 2x12G-SDI, and SFP+ (for 10GBE). This may be important to you as a POST house. Every other IMS only has 2x3G-SDI at best.

The XS won't work in a Series 2 projector, which Misha's is. It will only work in Series 4s (excluding LS4Ks as of now, but compatibility is promised for future firmware updates).

The previous versions of the ICMP are as follows:

• The original ICMP, identified by having one HDMI input and two DPs; will work in Series 2 projectors only
• The second generation ICMP+, identified by having two HDMI inputs; will work in Series 2 projectors only
• The third generation ICMP-X, identified by the "-X" on the faceplate); will work in Series 2 and 4 projectors

As far as HD-SDI functionality goes, all original ICMPs have 2 x 3G. The ICMP+ and -X also have this, but only if it has the optional video mezzanine card installed. This is for unencrypted HD-SDI input: none of the ICMP variants include Enigma link decryption, meaning that they cannot accept the input from an old school HD-SDI media block, unless link decryption is disabled in it (in which case it won't be able to play encrypted DCPs via that route).

If native HD-SDI is important to Misha, my suggestion would be to try to find a used but OK generation 1 or 2 ICMP. However, one argument against this is that the mk, I ICMP cannot take SSDs at all, and the ICMP+ only can if it is retrofitted with the new generation RAID controller that is fitted as standard to the ICMP-X. As spinning rust hard drives are becoming harder and more expensive to obtain, this could be an issue going forward.

But as an alternative, a good quality HD-SDI to HDMI adapter, such as a Teranex, might be the better bet, because the HDMI implementation on the ICP-D, which Misha already has, is very good. That plus an older, used but OK IMS type server (e.g. a GDC SX-3000 or a Dolby IMS2000) might be the most cost effective solution.

[Christos Gartaganis]

Misa, what kind of video signal is routed to your HD-SDI inputs during a color grading session? Is it RGB 4:4:4 or DCI X'Y'Z' ?

[Misha Aranyshev]

It is RGB 4:4:4 during grading.

[Hong Sung Hyeok]

sell the ICP-D and buy the ICMP-X, it would be a reasonable deal. I recommend doing so.
If you need an HD-SDI input, you can add it as an option.