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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Odd sound loss

Author Topic: Odd sound loss Dan Chilton Expert Film Handler Posts: 191 From: Springfield, MO Registered: Mar 2004 posted 03-08-2008 05:53 PM                        We just started having a strange problem where dialog is mysteriously cutting in and out. I stood in the auditorium to assess the problem, and it was very odd -- music and background noises sounded fine, but the dialog was weak and crackly. In the booth, the same problem was evident through the monitor. I checked all the inputs going into the processor, everything was fine. I traced the wires from the soundhead to the processor, checking for a problem, but again, everything seemed fine. The film was seated properly in the soundhead, and the red laser was in focus and aimed correctly. As I was looking for the source of the problem, the sound came back on... I didn't do anything! 20 minutes later, it happened again. I opened the sound gate just a little and moved the film with my finger, to ensure it wasn't loose. That was fine. I moved the red laser back a little, then up a little. Didn't seem to affect it. Finally I stopped the film and cleaned the cell and laser with a q-tip and lens cleaner. Started it back up, and it seems to be okay... for now. I'll continue monitoring it throughout the day, but in the meantime, has anyone had similar problems? Any ideas what may have caused this?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-08-2008 06:11 PM                     Telling us the type of soundhead processor and amps would be helpfull  |  IP: Logged Dan Chilton Expert Film Handler Posts: 191 From: Springfield, MO Registered: Mar 2004 posted 03-08-2008 06:17 PM                        Soundhead is Simplex SH-1k, Star/RS I believe. Amps are Strong TA 240 & 242. Speakers are set up in a center/surround configuration.  |  IP: Logged Scott Christopher Film Handler Posts: 69 From: Adelaide, South Australia Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-09-2008 05:59 AM                     I'd start by swapping amps. Also check the speaker connections - I have had the speaker terminals slowly come loose in the past. I now make routine speaker terminal checks.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 03-09-2008 06:41 AM                     Does your monitor allow you to listen to either the amp inputs or the speaker output? If so, use it to see if the problem is occuring before or after the amps.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-09-2008 09:48 AM                        What sound processor are you using?  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 03-09-2008 05:00 PM                     The problem could be the center channel eq card needs it's contacts cleaned where it plugs into the processor OR the eq card needs replacing.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.