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Topic: Theatrical HD concert image quality?
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Ed Mauger
Film Handler
Posts: 11
From: London, London, UK
Registered: May 2008
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posted 01-06-2011 05:24 AM
Hi All! We do the Met Opera in the UK as well, and it's extremely popular. Ticket prices are £25, and this is set by the Met - they take 50% of the takings.
The picture is decoded through a domestic HD satelite box, either exiting through DVI-D or component analogue. In my opinion there's not much difference. Sound is Dolby AC3, and they use the stage and surround channels. So, it's like watching a good-quality Blue Ray - there is not as much colour available as for real digital cinema, and more compressed.
Just when the men in suits think that projectionists are unnecessary, I think the end result depends hugely on the skill and sensitivity of the operator. I've seen so many video scalars with wrong settings, projector macros with errors, and focus and convergence problems, it's not surprising that the picture doesn't always look as good as it should.
So now it's all down to the operator. A well set-up scalar, and the sound not played on fader 7, and the result can be stunningly good.
Ed.
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Frank Angel
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/248b.jpg)
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-08-2011 12:08 AM
Claude, I can understand watching a Met opera, or La Scala opera, etc. There you have the music yes, but you have a story and spectacle. BUT, a symphony orchestra? How interesting is that? No matter how creative the director is, it's still a static bunch of musicians in uncomfortable looking monkey suits sitting for 2.5 - 3 hours playing -- that's not exactly cinematic and not my idea of excitement.
And then there is the sound. This experience can only be as good as 1) the sound as it's mixed for the production and even more crucial, 2) the quality of the playback in the theatre. You say you know the sound in that particular theatre. That's a decided advantage -- I am sure lots of patrons at various other venues don't know what they are getting. Hopefully it will be tweaked to it's best for the engagement that you are going to; unfortunately that might not always be the case.
Then for me when it comes to Beethoven, unless it's a new-comer who I would want to hear perhaps for the curiosity, like Dudamel, by this time in my life, I have collected MANY versions on CD and I know and love particular conductors and orchestras and even particular performances by the same conductors. To be honest, if I am in the mood for Beethoven -- I know exactly what conductor, what orchestra I love the best and want to hear. Why risk some other performance that more than likely will displease. At this point in my life I know which interpretations I know note for note and love, and so hearing others, especially PAYING to hear others on some system that may or probably may not be as good as mine....what's the point?
I have my Bernard Haitnik & the London Philharomic for the No. 3 and the 'Eroica' & Leonore; I love my Lenny & the NYPhil for No. 3 & 7, there's no one (for me) better than Karl Böhm and the Vienna for No. 6, and ANY of the 9 from that SACD set with Kurt Mazur & the Leipzig. Nah, for classical music, I've got my library and more to the point, my preferences. I can't tell you how many Saint-Saëns organ symphonies I have purchased on CD to see if any of them are as good or as powerful as the one I got when I was in my 30s on LP. Some come close, but in the end, a disappoint. I fear that's what will most likely happen going to hear, not a live orchestra (which I WILL risk a performance not up to par with some of my favorites), but a PLAYBACK -- I do playback in my living room.
Now I admit, the Los Angeles is no slouch...do you know if it will be under Zubin Mehta or the guy with the name that for some reason I just love saying out loud cause it makes me laugh -- Eka-Pekka Salonen (say it out loud 10 times). It might be interesting if it were Mehta, but come all the downsides, the price, the questionable theatre audo presentation, the dangers of picking up bedbugs here in NYC, epicenter of the invasion of the body suckers, I will pass.
Anyway, all I can say about these broadcasts is that, just like the studios, don't think for a second they won't be releasing them on DVD. NOBODY produces anything on this planet that they won't already be making deals to whore it out on every conceivable format in existence. Believe me, anything the Met has spent millions to produce will sooner or later be available for you to PURCHASE for your very own home. And given the popularity of opera and classic music, it will quickly be moved to the Walmart discount bin.
Wait! By your patience you will win.
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