Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How to use digital soundtrack at a drive-in?

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Film Handlers' Forum » How to use digital soundtrack at a drive-in?

Author

Topic: How to use digital soundtrack at a drive-in?

George May
Film Handler

Posts: 60
From: Bath, United Kingdom
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 01-10-2007 04:47 AM

I help run a mobile drive-in, with a Vic 18, Strong Ultra 80 and Dolby SR analog sound via a CP55. We feed the CP55 L&R preamp outputs to a broadcast band FM transmitter for the sound.

I've been approached by one or two potential clients, primarly interested in using my screen, who want to do 'all-digital' shows. They are offering to provide a hard drive source, a generic Show Store of some kind, and a digital projector. I know almost nothing about such devices.

My questions to you are:

1. Do Show Stores automatically/generally provide analog sound outputs?
2. Assuming yes, how do I produce the best two-channel L&R mix from these outputs? (I was planning to ditch the surrounds and the subwoofer feeds, feed C equally to the L and R channels and then add in L&R).
3. What should be the relative balance levels between L/R and C? How do I set that up?

Thanks.

[ 01-10-2007, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: George May ]

| IP: Logged

Cameron Glendinning
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 01-10-2007 05:36 AM

So far I have only used 2 digital servers. Both used stereo outputs which I placed into the analogue input of the processer to create a regular Dolby SR style surround sound.
I am only guessing but as a digital server is only a glorified PC, that you would be able to use a regular stereo output from the sound card or perhaps your choice of which sound card would be better for you.
Please note that I am no expert! but suspect its easier than you think.

| IP: Logged

Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 01-10-2007 06:38 AM

Digital servers vary almost continuously. Depends upon which one is sent.

Left goes hard left, right goes hard right, center to both. Surrounds COULD also go hard left and right, but at a reduced level.

The expert for this would have to be Jack O. at Rodeo drive in. Search under that; he has a really good web site. Louis

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

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.