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Author Topic: Digital Cinema Requirements Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 09-22-2014 09:42 AM                     Quick question. Does a theater have to change from mono sound to stereo in order to get digital movies? No VPF's are involved.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-22-2014 10:08 AM                     No, I don't think so. You will need some device to mix the 5.1 sound down to mono. The many DCI specifications require lots of things - 5.1 sound among them - but they are routinely ignored.  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 09-22-2014 10:16 AM                     Thanks Dave. It's coming out of the D/A converter into a powered 5 channel mixer (no sub).  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 09-22-2014 12:04 PM                     DCI compliance essentially only covers your playback equipment and if you're going to buy/finance that yourself, it's up to you what you do with the sound. DCI was never designed as a seal of quality, but the primary focus has always been on content security (from the perspective of the studios). I've not yet heard about studios forcing something like a "minimum equipment list" upon exhibitors. Disney is implementing something like that with an "verified equipment list" for their 3D titles, but even that is more like a recommendation and not really a requirement. But as Dave already put forward, you need something to mix down at least 5.1 to mono, as it will be very hard to get any DCPs in mono or even purely stereo.  |  IP: Logged Harold Hallikainen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 906 From: Denver, CO, USA Registered: Aug 2009 posted 09-22-2014 01:29 PM                        The USL JSD-60 can do this mixdown. Harold  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 09-23-2014 07:27 AM                     As said you just need to mix down the 5.1 to Mono but man get with the times and upgrade to 5.1 surround. Unlesss your an Art House I understand but still. Sorry to sound rude but its my opinion.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-23-2014 07:59 AM                        Agreed with Jarod. If you're putting in digital going to 5.1would not add that much more to the price tag and your audience will like it.  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 09-23-2014 08:12 AM                     It's a seasonal theater open 3 1/2 months out of the year. He will not switch to stereo. You're not being rude. I have tried to get him to switch. They already spent $150,000 to convert 4 screens to digital. It would probably cost at least another $15,000 even with used equipment.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 09-23-2014 06:22 PM                     Wow, converting 4 screens to digital but still playing mono sound I'm wondering what the reasoning behind that would be, financing through a bank could easily get the $ required for sound upgrades. I'm assuming this plays subrun/indie films?  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 09-23-2014 06:58 PM                     I guess it's easy to spend other people's money. This is a first run house.  |  IP: Logged Jarod Reddig Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 513 From: Hays, Ks Registered: Jun 2011 posted 09-23-2014 07:57 PM                     I understand Richard. That can be so frustrating.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 09-23-2014 08:37 PM                     quote: Richard May I guess it's easy to spend other people's money. I get what you are saying but it isn't right to expect somebody to pay first run prices (even if they are below average) and get a sound presentation that is worse than what comes out of a stock TV with no "sound system." There are theatres closing all the time and dealers that get speakers and amps stripping them and can sell them very cheap.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 09-24-2014 01:40 PM                     All you guys suggesting an upgrade to stereo are correct, but as Richard indicated, and as I can attest, this is a very short-season operation in a wealthy area with absolutely no competition--none now or probably ever. Bottom line, if anyone wants to see a current film it's this theater or nowhere, and no matter how nice you make it you're not going to materially increase the audience. Personally I'm somewhat surprised the owner even justified the conversion to digital.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-24-2014 02:18 PM                     Justify? It's a stark choice - convert or close.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 09-24-2014 02:55 PM                        quote: Jeff Taylor Personally I'm somewhat surprised the owner even justified the conversion to digital. This is a first run theater running film. Which means the grosses are quite good in order to play a first run film due current treatment of playing movies on the break (higher than average guarantees). I agree with the others on not upgrading the sound too at this point. It should be done. I bet their are many potential customers do not attend this theater due to the sound not being what it should be. Are the seats old? Broken? Crummy bathrooms, too?  |  IP: Logged

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