Faulty Kinoton Analog Sound Device

[Dudley Marshall]

Hi everyone, we’re having an audio problem with one of our Kinoton projectors, and I wanted to get your feedback, although we’ll most likely need an experienced technician on-site to resolve the issue. It will be helpful to hear your ideas so I can properly describe this problem. I apologize if my terminology is incorrect or confusing.

We have a dual projector system and a Dolby CP650 for processing. It seems like the sound reader on Projector 1 (Kinoton FP30 E) is having an issue. When playing films without a Dolby Digital soundtrack, so SR or A, it sounds like the entire Center channel is being sent to the Right. The Left channel is very faint but still coming through. Films with Dolby Digital play normally. Projector 2 (Kinoton FP38 E) is not having the issue, and I played the same reels on it. The reels we were watching are a compilation of old trailers from the 60s to the 2000s, so the audio formats range from Dolby A and SR to Digital.

Thanks!

- Dudley Marshall
OKCMOA

[Marco Giustini]

Sounds like your projector needs an "A-Chain" adjustment. It must be done with tools I'm afraid. There is not much you can do without them.
From the sound of it, your cell has become misaligned and the left channel is missing/faint. The centre channel is derived from Left+Right. If one channel is missing, then you end up with most of the sound on the other.

A few things you can check though:
1. Make sure all cables are plugged in. You might want to unplug-replug the analogue input on the 650 (make sure everything is powered off. The digital heads in particular WILL GET DAMAGED if hot-plugged).
2. Make sure your reader is clean. You can use a cotton bud and some isopropyl alcohol. I've seen before some debris from the print getting stuck somewhere, effectively covering up one channel only. Check that the drum is also clean
3. Do you have a Cat 69T to adjust the levels? Do you know how to do that? I doubt it can fix that but who knows. It might at least confirm what the issue is.
4. When running film on the affected projector, check the Lt/Rt LEDs behind the plastic front panel. Those are the sound levels coming from the head directly, no processing. Do you see the Right channel flashing but not the left channel?

I know you said the other projector is fine, but you can also run a "rotate pink noise" to make sure your sound processor/amps/speakers are fine. Press the menu button 5 times and then OK to play a rotating pink noise. To exit, press the currently lit format button.

[Jim Cassedy]

There are also small "bar graph" level displays on the front of the CP-650.
I don't think they're really calibrated to any reliable standard, but they are
handy to see a visual representation of what channels you do, or don't have.

[Steve Guttag]

There are physical LEDs on the Lt/Rt signals too...so, running Dolby Tone film would reveal the low channel (or mono content with sufficient level).

I'm in the camp of calling a tech out with the proper tools, test equipment and film to address whatever the problem is rather than just speculating.

[Pete Naples]

There are physical LEDs on the Lt/Rt signals too...so, running Dolby Tone film would reveal the low channel (or mono content with sufficient level).

I'm in the camp of calling a tech out with the proper tools, test equipment and film to address whatever the problem is rather than just speculating.

What was the spoken line in Jiffy?

Something like: " A qualified technician with suitable test equipment "