Captions on new Movie stuck on screen?

[Mike Reed]

Hello,

We are showing Dog Man right now and for some reason captions stay frozen on the screen? We downloaded the closed caption version and set up 2 shows on Friday and Saturday, 7pm & 845pm. The second show for whatever reason had captions stuck on the movie for the whole movie? Same movie file for both features. I assume these is a corrupt movie file but not sure. Last night the showing and no captions and tonight the captions are frozen on the screen again. No rhyme or reason. Probably need to ask Deluxe? Pic for reference. Anyone seen this before? Thanks! 20250202_020014422_iOS.jpg 20250202_023645319_iOS.jpg

[Chris Haller]

Yeah that looks absolutely like a corrupted file issue - even if you used the open caption file they don't layer themselves on top of each other like that. It's totally unreadable. Are you using the same exact playlists and DCPs for each one?

I would try the DCP in your IMB's version of Quick Play and see if it persists. Then you can nail down if its a playlist issue or a DCP issue.

[Harold Hallikainen]

I believe you said it worked properly once and not properly on subsequent playbacks. Are these rendered in the server or in the projector? If you have a choice, I think it's better to render them in the server since you then don't have to rely on the auxiliary content synchronization protocol (SMPTE ST 430-10) between the server and the projector.

Good luck!

Harold

[Hong Sung Hyeok]

I recommend not using CineCanvas mode.

Good luck

[Steve Guttag]

If you are using a modern server (Any Dolby/Doremi IMS, GDC (particularly the SR1000) or one of the projector manufacturer servers, then let the server generate the captions. Cine Canvas was sketchy, at best. Note, it is possible to have both Cine-Canvas and a server's internal caption generator on at the same time and you'll see both captions on screen.

[Mike Reed]

Yeah that looks absolutely like a corrupted file issue - even if you used the open caption file they don't layer themselves on top of each other like that. It's totally unreadable. Are you using the same exact playlists and DCPs for each one?

I would try the DCP in your IMB's version of Quick Play and see if it persists. Then you can nail down if its a playlist issue or a DCP issue.

Thanks I think I am going to redownload and reupload the movie today.

[Mike Reed]

If you are using a modern server (Any Dolby/Doremi IMS, GDC (particularly the SR1000) or one of the projector manufacturer servers, then let the server generate the captions. Cine Canvas was sketchy, at best. Note, it is possible to have both Cine-Canvas and a server's internal caption generator on at the same time and you'll see both captions on screen.

This is happening on our DSS200 server. I didnt know there was any option for generating captions?

[Mike Reed]

I believe you said it worked properly once and not properly on subsequent playbacks. Are these rendered in the server or in the projector? If you have a choice, I think it's better to render them in the server since you then don't have to rely on the auxiliary content synchronization protocol (SMPTE ST 430-10) between the server and the projector.

Good luck!

Harold

This is happening on our DSS200 server run projector. Is there a way to check and see if subtitles are being rendered on the DSS200?

[Steve Guttag]

The DSS200 requires CineCanvas...regardless if using a CAT862 or CAT745. CineCanvas is in the ICP of the projector and that is what is putting the text up on the screen.

[Leo Enticknap]

Yeah - sadly, DSS servers cannot render timed text in the media block.

My memory is hazy - I now have only one regular service customer left using DSS servers, and they almost never play subtitled movies apart from the occasional Mexican one, and those DCPs all have subtitles burnt into the image (LAS-en). I truly wish all studios would do this, as it would get rid of subtitle rendering problems once and for all.

However, my hazy memory is that there were many bug fixes related to subtitle rendering throughout the support life of the DSS servers, and CInecanvas bug fixes in Series 2 projector and ICP firmware. So my suggestion to Mike would be check that both the server and the projector are running up to date software and firmware. For the DSS200 that is 4.9.5.2 (assuming that this is not an Atmos house). If your server is on an older version, you should be able to get an update ISO file by emailing cinemasupport [at] dolby.com. They will give you a download link. You then burn the downloaded file onto a CD, and install the update via the DSS200's CD drive (you could use a bootable USB stick as well, but on a DSS200, I believe you have to change the boot settings in the BIOS to persuade it to boot from a USB). If you are using the cat862 (dual HD-SDI) media block, you will also need a license file to install the update. If you are using the cat745 (IMB in projector), you don't.

I don't know what projector Mike is using, and so could not advise there.

[Ryan Gallagher]

How often does the whole system get a reboot from cold? The variability of behavior (especially the layering) feels more like a software/memory glitch, that might be resolved with a reboot (at least temporarily).

My other initial guess was that somehow you were playing the OCAP version but still having the captions which can sometimes exist as a separately loaded resource apply to it incorrectly. Done correctly they target the correct DCPs, but sometimes there are specific instructions as to which order to ingest the resources etc.

[Mike Reed]

How often does the whole system get a reboot from cold? The variability of behavior (especially the layering) feels more like a software/memory glitch, that might be resolved with a reboot (at least temporarily).

I will give it a reboot and see if anything changes. I did have Deluxe republish the movie just in case there was a corrupt file or something. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Frank Cox]

Warm boot. Cold Boot. Steel-toed boot.

[Leo Enticknap]

A former boss of mine used the phrase "German reboot," meaning to pull the power cord out of a device without bothering to do the shutdown formalities first.