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Author Topic: Star Wars goes to Non-Sync Randy Haberthur Film Handler Posts: 1 From: Des Moines, IA, USA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 05-19-2005 04:02 PM                     I've had two different theatres call me with the same problem. Half way through the 6th reel the DTS6AD decides to go to non-sync. Anyone else experienced this?  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-20-2005 03:41 AM                     I've been experiencing sporatic dropouts to analog on a perfectly aligned DTS unit. I'm thinking there's some issues with these prints. Incidentally the prints in question are #8180 and #8181. The DTS system is determining that the timecode in R6 in your case is the end-of-show code and thus terminates to non-sync. If the firmware's up to date and everything jibes I'd say swap the reel.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-21-2005 02:10 AM                     I don't think that DTS has an "end-of-show" code. End of show should drop to analog just like during the show, unless your automation tells it to do something different... So what happens if you block the led on the DTS reader with a piece of paper mid-reel? Does it correctly fault to analog, or do you go to non-sync? Sounds like an automation cable/wiring configuration problems... --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 05-21-2005 02:19 AM                        quote: John Hawkinson I don't think that DTS has an "end-of-show" code. It does. At the end of the program, DTS pulses to non-sync.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-21-2005 02:30 AM                     Whoops, right-you-are, Michael. quote: The NON-SYNC (NS) pulse (from the DTS-6D) will be sent when DTS timecode is lost during the last 60 seconds of the last reel. I plead the late hour and our automation that handles this case differently (I assume the 6AD has the same logic as the 6D here). --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 05-21-2005 03:33 AM                        Although I don't know if there is any form of end-of-show code actually in the timecode. Probably not. The problem here might be that timecode is briefly lost in a place where the DTS-6AD thinks it is at the end of the last reel, and so it "figures" it has to end the show. None of our 6D units seem to have that problem - at least I haven't been notified of any such occurence, and that is something that no one is likely to "miss" in a sold out house...  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-21-2005 06:50 PM                     Non-sync is actually a better place to be. The dialog in that movie sucks! Mark  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 05-21-2005 09:12 PM                        I think you have a point there, Mark. The brainless, flat dialog and also the constant background doodling of recycled Star Wars music - John Williams did not really come up with any exciting new material for the trilogy - might make it hard to notice when the system switches to non-sync, especially when the soundtrack album is running on the MDS  |  IP: Logged Maddison Lake Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Hayesville, NC, USA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 05-22-2005 02:21 PM                     I have been having troubles with the automation on my 6AD! I have seen (not a big deal just reprogrammed it)when a splice goes through (which looses DTS time code), It switched to non-sync AND DIDN'T COME BACK OUT! so basically my damn automation screwed it over. Among a variety of other problems I have just replaced my 6AD with another one, the last unit was not letting anything come out whatsoever. -ML  |  IP: Logged Frank Dubrois Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 896 From: Cleveland, OH Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-22-2005 09:51 PM                    For some reason, Fantastic Four trailer (att) doesnt play in DTS, but when the movies kick in, DTS is fine. No biggie here.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-23-2005 12:38 AM                     The FF4 trailer was a splice-on. But it apears that it has faulty timecode as well. It's like that on all 3 of our prints. I wonder if the DTS discs even have the FF4 soundtrack on them I get some poor timecode detection during Mr. & Mrs. Smith trailer as well, but that one does play in digital without dropping out. Go figure.  |  IP: Logged Bill Carter Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 From: Minneapolis, Minnesota Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-23-2005 09:47 AM                     The problem with the Fantastic Four trailer is especially annoying because the printed face of the feature disc says it is on there, but it doesn't play. -------- I believe the 6AD has an adjustable setting for how long it will "free run" before switching out of digital when timecode signal is lost. If your timecode interruptions are shorter than a couple of seconds, this might be enough to fix it.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-23-2005 02:21 PM                     I'm not sure if the timecode dropout delay is configurable however it's 4 seconds by default isn't it?  |  IP: Logged Mike B. Smith Film Handler Posts: 82 From: Universal City Registered: Nov 2004 posted 05-24-2005 03:20 PM                     The trailer has timecode but the DTS will not play, reason for this is the Star Wars III discs have Fantastic Four version "H". A last minute remix was done and a new trailer version "I" was created and attached to the print. Many may not have noticed this because version "I" is on the DTS trailer subscription disc and therefore played with the feature. As to DTS systems freewheel, they do not have an operator "configurable" fallback time, all DTS systems should switch to optical after approximately four seconds from start of receiving no timecode input.  |  IP: Logged

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