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Topic: SR Cards........

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-15-2001 09:54 AM

Here is a curious question. We use ultra stereo units at our theater so this is the units to think about. Since all prints now days are recorded in SR can the noise reduction cards in the unit be swapped out and replaced with SR cards or does it require the use of both cards. I can not remember if the SR card has the meters to set dolby tone on them since we do not use them here. I remember the first SR cards for dolby that could be used in their cp50's you had to swap the two noise reduction cards with the SR cards and then back again. Since the need for these cards could be important in the future do to the cyan tracks all you would have to do is exchange the cards for Sr cards. Just curious.

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 02-15-2001 11:02 AM

Since there is already an empty slot designed for SR use alongside A use, you mine as well just plug them into the empty slot designed for it and have both.

Also, cyan tracks has nothing to do with the noise reduction cards in your processor. You will need a red light source in your projector instead of the exciter lamp to play them.

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-15-2001 11:25 AM

The new cyan-dye only analog tracks MUST have a red LED reader, as cyan dye does not effectively modulate the infrared light found in white light (tunsten lamp) readers. Tests show that even with a red LED reader, the signal-to-noise of the cyan dye track is approximately -2 dB compared to current dye+silver tracks, so effective noise reduction (e.g., Dolby SR or equivalent) is highly recommended.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-15-2001 11:57 PM

Well, I looked at the ultra-stereo manual when I got to work today. The SR card pretty much does the same thing as the Noise reduction card except it doesn't show any meters. I guess what I'm getting at is why don't they just make noise reduction cards with SR capability to replace the A noise reduction cards. Instead of having both cards. All prints are recorded in SR now so there is realy no need for the other card in first run theaters. All they need to do is suply the meters for the ability to set the dolby tones. Basicaly upgrading the older cards. I helped finish up installing the red jaxlite LED's in our area last year so we are good to go on that end.

Michael Cunningham
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-16-2001 04:24 AM

It's not true that all prints nowadays are recorded in SR. You will occasionally see DTS only prints recorded with A as the back-up analog. SR is more cost effective if a studio pays for SR-D because the SR is thrown in for free. But, if you are not going with SR-D and you have negligable care for sound quality, A would be much cheaper. Regarding "obsolute" sound formats, although I work in a first-run theatre, we sometimes run quite old (1950's or 60's) prints which makes me ever-so-glad that my CP500's still have Mono as a sound format option.

-Mike

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-16-2001 05:17 AM

Lots of new prints don't have SR. Many trailers/snipes (fire exit, etc.) are mono and sound quite bad when played through an SR decoder. Many independent/limited release/foreign films are mono, Dolby A, or Ultra-Stereo. Even some of the SDDS trailers have dolby A optical tracks...

It's a really bad idea to assume that "new print"="SR track" unless the print has an SR-D track on it, which implies an SR optical track (it's in the licence agreement, I think).

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-16-2001 05:25 PM

OK, Thanks for the info. I stand corrected as far as the SR card only. When was the last time you ever saw a dts only print in first run release. Last one I saw was Lost world. Normaly if it has the dolby digital sound track on it it has the SR analog track.

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-16-2001 06:45 PM

Sr is a much more complicated noise reduction scheme (read the info on dolby's site)
All non Dolby manufactured processors work around dolby's patents on SR (ulike A type who's patents have expired).
The card size used in the Ultra Stereo has limited real estate and as such a combo card or one with meters isn't practicle

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-16-2001 07:16 PM

Makes sense Gordon, Thanks.

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-17-2001 02:12 PM

and furthermore....

Not much is going to be invested in trying to make an analog version of an A and SR card at this stage of the game. Ultra used to have an external card cage (The SRM-10) to use Dolby's SR cards (or, god forbid, the Copy Cat. 280 by SMART). When they developed their own SR knockoff that completed the system. Heck there is still a card slot left over for the JSYN-05 stereo sythesiser card that nobody gets anymore...as such it is the defacto Pink Card slot.

I think Ultra has instead invested their R&D on the DSP-60. This might replace the JS line and be their "everything" processor.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-17-2001 03:08 PM

PanaStereo has an external SR adaptor available and itw will be in the Smart booth at Showwest along with the PanaStereo inventor Ray Derrick

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-17-2001 05:17 PM

It will be wonderful meeting Ray.

I already have plans to use that SR unit too.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Stefan Scholz
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 223
From: Schoenberg, Germany
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 02-18-2001 05:46 AM

For Ultra JSX 2XX / 1000 series:
There is an Extended Range Noise Reduction card from USL, that goes into the slot next to the ISO-Type 1 NR cards. With the electronic, remote controllable switch card, there isa format, sometimes labeled "Future", or with later models "Stereo SR". Theese can be remote controlled. Witzh the manual switch card, no SR position is provided. You can adjust levels using the NR1 (A) card, and then swap the card for the Extended Range(NR2/SR) card. Swapping back would be neccessairy for those NR1/ A type prints, that randomly occurr.
It might also be possible to use 3rd party cards, like CAT 280 and SR/A 5 adaptors, rthat can sometimes be found in dumpsters, at least here. It can be connected backplate between preamp out and matrix in (there's a bridge). Remember to set the reference level on the input measured with mv meter to 423 mV.

With older Dolbygear, CP 50, 100, 200 it was just swapping the CAT 22 with CAT 280 modules for NR2/SR reproduction, but only recommended, if the rest of the hardware (CAT 64, optrical preamp, matrix, etc) was updated to a higher dynamic version.
CP 55 required the external adaptor and changes in the control board layout. CP 65 was NR1 /NR2 capable with CAT 222 dual A /CAT 350 SR modules.

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-18-2001 01:07 PM

Smart also make a SR card for the UltraStereo
Stefan svae me some of those dumpstered SR cards and adapters I have a use for them

Stefan Scholz
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 223
From: Schoenberg, Germany
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 02-19-2001 01:22 PM

Gordon, I will try.
On the other hand... soon to come newer equipment...
First multiplex theatre in Germany to be closed. Recently announced was the closure of Freiburgs UFA Palast, a new 7 screen theatre opened 2 1/2 year ago. All halls digital and with curtains. To remain is the same age Cinemaxx, no curtains, Dolby A, but 9 smaller screens.
When reading through all the bankruptcies in US ans over here, I have a feeling we can soon pick modern equipment from dumpsters.
I am thinking of those motivated people, that ran the places, badly paid during work time, and then fired with short notice.
Sad, sad, sad.

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