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Author Topic: Dark Knight Rises Audio Problems Ross McLaughlin Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Registered: Feb 2012 posted 07-20-2012 06:37 PM                     Hi, Has anybody else had audio problems with TDKR? We've had a hell of a lot of complaints about muffled dialogue. I'm aware there's been an issue for months with Bane's dialogue, but when checking our screening today, the surround sound was overpowering the dialogue for a lot of scenes, even without Bane. We've had no issues with this with any other films we've had in the same screen in the last however long. Though our Surround speakers have been dropping out and kicking in randomly today, it seems to be an issue whether they're on or off. I'm guessing this is an issue with the mixing on our 35mm print (not to mention the two reels printed slightly out of rack!), though without the technical know-how I can't clarify this. Anyone else out there had the same issue? Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-20-2012 07:23 PM                     What sound format is the film running in? Dolby SR (Format 05) or Dolby Digital (Format 10)? Or are you using DTS or SDDS? Sounds like you have some alignment issues with your processor and you would be well advised to get a tech out to check the A and especially B chain alignments. A service call will cost you a hell of a lot less than the lost attendance or refunds from having bad sound.  |  IP: Logged Ross McLaughlin Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Registered: Feb 2012 posted 07-20-2012 07:47 PM                     We're running it on Dolby SR. I ran the 69T test reel this morning and all was good. The issue with our Surround dropping in and out is pre-exisiting, though is mainly for very loud-effects driven films (Transformers 3 blew it before). Have just seen a cinema down the road from ours posting on twitter saying "for all of you asking, yes that's the sound mix for TDKR - no, it's NOT our sound system!" - seems like not just us.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 07-20-2012 10:58 PM                     quote: not to mention the two reels printed slightly out of rack! Interesting- - I got a call today from one of the theaters I do some occasional service work for who told me they also got two reels that were printed off-frame by about half-a-perf. They wanted me to come down & confirm that there wasn't some other problem, but I was pre-occupied at the other end of town with another commitment. They're getting a couple of replacement reels by courrier tonight.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-20-2012 11:18 PM                        Over on the Drive-In blog one of the guys said exactly the same thing -- he said one reel was out of frame and wanted to know if it could be his equipment. Not likely on scope. It is either printed with the frameline exactly between two sprocket holes or it isn't -- very easy to see when you put it in your splicer and make the cut. Either the cut is right on the frame line or not. If not, get a replacement reel.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 07-20-2012 11:23 PM                     That's some quality labwork. I would say Tech and Deluxe really screwed up when they decided which lab and depot to stay open, but lets face it, the studios would've WANTED the crappy Deluxe lab to churn on the last 35mm prints.  |  IP: Logged John Stevens Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Whitianga, New Zealand Registered: Mar 2009 posted 07-21-2012 01:26 AM                     I found the sound quality to be a little off on TDKR and the previous film TDK. I have an ex Dolby tech from LA living in the area who thinks it is the mix and not my equipment. This would be correct if others have had a problem as well. As for the printing issue i have seen a few of these over the last few years, espically reel 5 and 6 of "The Worlds Fastest Indian" and ......Terminator Salvation reel 3.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Cattenazzi Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Mernda, Victoria, Australia Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-21-2012 01:52 AM                        We too are having audio issues with this film. The action sequences are way louder than any other film I've screened. Our first session was one for what we call "babes in arms". We run the feature with the lights at preset, and the volume lower than regular sessions. Upon feature start, I went into the auditorium to check the level, and wondered if I'd actually turned it down at all. It was ridiculously loud! I had to run the audio lower than we run our pre-show. I've sinced checked other scenes, and it's the same right through. Muffled dialogue, over the top booming action, etc. We had similar issues with Prometheus just recently.  |  IP: Logged John Stevens Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Whitianga, New Zealand Registered: Mar 2009 posted 07-21-2012 02:15 AM                     Yeah, not the best for a presentation.  |  IP: Logged Ross McLaughlin Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Registered: Feb 2012 posted 07-21-2012 05:32 AM                     Regarding the reels out of rack, you could visibly see at the end of the reel, on the frame there was about half a perf's worth of another frame there. We had the same with Snow White and the Huntsman. It was weird though because on that one during the show you could just see a slight frame line at the top or bottom of the screen, but with this one, each time the shot changed, there would be a white line at the top or bottom of screen for 1 frame, which I've never seen before. We've got around it by moving the racking on the projector so you can't see it on the masking. The two cinemas closest to ours are reporting sound mix issues as well now, and one of them is screening it in 35mm and digital, so seems like whoever mixed this one screwed up.  |  IP: Logged Philip Jones Film Handler Posts: 90 From: England Registered: Dec 2011 posted 07-21-2012 08:15 AM                     A lot of the dialogue is very hard to pick out here as well and the effects overpowering.. We've not had any such problems since we went digital late last year. Just seen this on the Daily Mail's review: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-2176260/The-Dark-Knight-Rises-review-A-pretentious-mess--Batman-escape-disaster.html quote: An over-enthusiastic effects track, poor diction (not only by Hardy, hampered by his hockey mask) and what sounds like hundreds of crazed Japanese drummers make large stretches of dialogue incomprehensible. And in case you think I’m going deaf, my 21-year-old son sitting beside me found it just as difficult to hear.  |  IP: Logged Joris Springer Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Almere, Flevoland, The Netherlands Registered: Feb 2007 posted 07-22-2012 05:55 PM                     The problem is not just on 35mm, digital projection has the problem as well, at least in 2 cinema's that I know of. Though not really muffled dialogue but different problems, the audio of this movie is not just 100%. (though the movie is fantastic)  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 07-22-2012 06:14 PM                     I was running it in 2 great 35mm auditoriums last night. One was d.t.s and the other Dolby digital.I only watched the opening scene in each theatre but both sounded great. That said I could tell the sound effects were much louder than the normal dialogue. Banes voice was also far louder than anyone else.He sounds muffled but much clearer than the prologue was back on Imax MI4. It looks great on 35mm!  |  IP: Logged

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