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Topic: Problems manufacturers should be aware of

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-05-2000 02:39 PM

Since most the manufacturers lurk here ready to be bashed I think it would be helpfull if we started a topic of likes and dislikes so they can come up with solutions or atleast explain why the problem is as it is
To make it easier for them lets have a seperate topic for each manufacturer rather than this thread getting a confusing list and in a spirit of professionalism I humbbly sugest that there be no posts of just it suck or I don't like it that are not followed with a detailed explanation

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Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler

Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-06-2000 06:08 AM

Gordon and others,

I agree with your idea. I for one am willing to be bashed if necessary as long as I can at least attempt to explain, clarify, justify, rationalize, or perhaps even solve your problem. I do NOT promise to be able to please everyone. That would be impossible.

My opinion regarding the audio equipment manufacturers is that for the most part we all make pretty good equipment. None of us is perfect, and we all make our mistakes from time to time. And I know that each manufacturer has its loyal following.

But we all have our equipment running day in and day out in many thousands of theatres and for the most part it works regardless of who made it.

Assuming you are otherwise happy in general with the product and its performance, what counts next is how we respond when there is a problem. So if I can help by responding here in this forum when someone is unhappy, doesn't like, or has a problem with SMART equipment, I will be glad to do so.

Again, let me emphasize that I know I can't please everyone all the time or even some of the time. But I will do my best to honestly answer questions and help in any way I can and in as timely a manner as I can consistent with getting all my other work done.

Ultimately, I believe we all want to produce the best presentations we can possibly have, and to that end, let's all help.

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 05-06-2000 08:40 AM

Hi, Oscar! Welcome to the forum.

Oscar and crew have always given outstanding service advice on their equipment. And let me tell you, they bend over backward to help!

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Better Projection Pays!

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 05-06-2000 02:50 PM

Well I am not ready to bash any SMART products yet since I have never tested any. This is one of the reasons I do reviews on the site. Of course anybody can respond and challenge or support my reviews here on the forum (Gordon does not like my CIR splicer review). In fact, it is encouraged. The new reviews should be up on Monday, by the way.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-06-2000 09:14 PM

I have had great reliability with all the Smart products I have sold over the years.....after the SR300 processor.
All the Mod 2's I installed are still going along without a quirk. It is really hard to beat it for the buck.
Mark

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 05-06-2000 10:23 PM

A friend of mine has the Smart speaker phase checker. Loves it.

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Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-07-2000 08:01 AM

Hi everybody;
I'll be here on behalf of Strong. Contructive Interchange is encouraged and we'll do what we can...
Look forward to seeing what's to be said and thanks for your input.

Pat

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-07-2000 02:51 PM

Actually Pat,
I have to commend all you guys at Strong. Things have really gotten better there, especially in the parts dept from what it was 10 years ago. Also, everyone I talk to there is quite knowledgable, and if they can not help you they don't try to BS their way through the conversation like some companies do, they seek someone out in the factory that can help. The equipment also seems better QC'd and I have really had almost 0 problems with any equipment we have sold/ installed in the last couple of years.
Mark

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Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-07-2000 07:50 PM

Thanks, Mark. We do work on it and it's a never ending project. Our Customer Service people make it go, they are just the best. QC is a high priority on equipment we ship. Room for improvement always but we're working hard at it.

Pat

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Curtis Barnes
Film Handler

Posts: 15
From: Laguna Hills, CA, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-07-2000 09:07 PM

How about Christie and their horrible projector? I mean seriously, the thing is a piece of CRAP! What are my problems? Too much vibration, the intermittent cannot run a steady picture, and these Dolby Digital readers included on these projectors are the worst thing I have ever seen. We can't get them to work reliably no matter what we do! Surely Christie is aware of this. But I haven't seen them on this site talking about these problems or anything else. Also, why hasn't there been a review on this projector in the reviews section yet? I would love to see that.

Speaking from my own experience, Christie projectors should never ever be purchased for any reason.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-08-2000 06:51 AM

Actually, the older Christie projetors are very good. The P35 that has the shutter gear box was far better than the P35GP. No soundhead problems,no wow, no flutter. Mine still has the original Ultramittant in it. Supposedly the shutter gear boxes in this version used to go out once in a while, but surely not as often as the shutter drive belt.
Mark

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Bill Purdy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Seattle, WA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 05-08-2000 09:39 AM

Sure, Gordon, sounds good to me. I think you all know by now that we are always anxious to hear from the trenches. This is the way we learn about those things which irritate people or which we never thought of.

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Bill Purdy
Comonent Engineering

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 05-08-2000 12:37 PM

I've been here since last summer (over 350 posts ago), and enjoyed every minute of it (really!)

Perfection is the goal. Imperfection is an opportunity for learning, improvement, and shared support. Let's all make film and film presentation as perfect as we know it can be!

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

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Chris Rhode
Film Handler

Posts: 39
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 05-08-2000 05:32 PM

Pat I have a question for you.

My theater runs 24 Simplex 35 PR2000 projectors. When I went to look at the film path, I noticed that you only have one studio guide but yet there is another set of holes to put another one in on the opposite side. When my cues run through the film gate, it causes a jump in the picture because of the absence of the other studio guide. Why did you make holes for another one but fail to put one in there? Are you planning to put one in or are you just going to leave it the way it is?

Other than that everything else works fine!! Even though the PR2000 is the first projector I have ever worked with, it sure seems nice and sturdy to work with!

------------------
Chris Rhode

chrisrhode@hotmail.com

My reputation preceeds me..... in fact, it arrived about 45 years ago!

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Pat Moore
Master Film Handler

Posts: 363

Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-08-2000 08:05 PM

Chris; There is one "studio" guide on the Millennium on the soundtrack (reference) side of the film. The Lateral Guide Roller Assembly above the aperture is fixed on one side and spring-loaded on the other. A fixed guide on the non-soundtrack side doesn't do much good. The splice appears to jump because of the change in film thickness. A guide on the other side wouldn't change that.
Thanks for the input and continued good luck.

Pat

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