|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Author
|
Topic: Non-Standard Practices (a.k.a. We Don't Need No Stinking X-Curve!)
|
|
Rick Long
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 759
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-16-2003 08:56 PM
Forgive me Film-Tech for I have sinned....
Before leaving this theatre (4 hours one-way from our Toronto base), I decided to check (as is standard practice) the B-chain levels. I know for a fact that they were properly set at the time of installation, but have never understood, on subsequent checks, why they always drift from their settings. Thus, we check'em.
3:00 AM - With a house that runs from 10:00 AM till midnight, this is the only way to get any real service done.
I am the only one in the theatre.
Installing a Cat.85, and setting the fader to exactly 7, I switch on LEFT channel. I go downstairs with the Radio-Shack S.P.L. (C weighting, slow response). I read 82.5.
Instantly, I realize that this could be a never-ending trial-and-error stair run (lotta stairs too) until i reach the proper level.
Having a doctor's degree in laziness, I decide (back at the booth) to lower the monitor level with the S.P.L. meter held against the monitor speaker until i read exactly the same reading as I read in the auditorium.
Then (fortunately the processor and monitor are in the same rack), I raise the output level in the processor for a reading of 85.
Returning to the auditorium for verification: exactly 85 on the nose.
Ditto for the other channels.
I continued this proceedure for the rest of the theatres.
I re-checked in the auditorium for each channel of course.
Still involved quite a number of stairs, but cut the trial-and-error proceedure a lot.
Edited for me grammer.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rick Long
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 759
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-17-2003 11:30 PM
Christopher,
You are right, of course, reverberant characteristics in the auditorium would be vastly different that those found directly in front of the monitor speaker.
However, since the reading was taken in the same place in the auditorium (I knew that, because i left my pack of smokes on the seat), reading the same channel, the relative change in volume produced the same effect in both cases. (Both agreed with the increase).
Also, I hasten to mention that each channel had to be checked in the auditorium before adjustment (of course) to find out how much of an increase (or decrease) was necessary.
I agree that this might not happen in every case, but it worked in this instance, although there were 3 cases where I did in fact, have to make extra trips to the booth for minor trimming after the monitor test. (especially when around 7 AM I realized that I had trimmed the wrong pot).
This did enable me to set levels on a 12-plex in one night, however.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1171i.jpg)
Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 02-19-2003 07:24 PM
First -- I did not mean for it to seem as though I was calling John a cheat. I realize that it could be read that way. Sorry about the confusion.
On the contrary, as I mentioned -- and as Mark pointed out -- I found John's writings to be intriguing and I even tried his technique in one of my theatres today.
Here are the links that John posted in the "Mic placement" thread:
http://www.hps4000.com/pages/special/missing.pdf http://www.hps4000.com/pages/general/the_mythical_x_curve.pdf http://www.hps4000.com/pages/general/toss_meters.pdf
Guess what? It sounds amazing in that theatre. John says that we can't be sure what a movie is supposed to sound like, and this is true. The fact is that it sounds better in that theatre than it did last week -- or yesterday, for that matter.
For the record, that system was EQ'd last week using the X curve and the official procedure. John's method took less time to carry out and it resulted in fewer EQ bands being altered. The same movie (CHICAGO) is showing in that room and it sounds much, much better today than it did yesterday. I can hear more bass than before and I can hear that the surrounds are getting in on the action without anything seeming "too present." Vocals are coming through nice and strong -- and with great clarity. Overall, the room has really come to life. The film is playing at 7 (where it was indeed calibrated). It's plenty loud without seeming so.
So...Thank you, John! I'm converted. [ 02-19-2003, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: Manny Knowles ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|