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'Sorry', I replied, 'This film is not EX encoded'.

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If you have the SMART ex format decoder, go ahead and play ALL 5.1 digital soundtracks in ex mode. If you don't like it on a particular movie, just turn it off. I am willing to bet that you will like it very much, and there are few films that do not benefit much from this treatment.

And PUH-LEEEZ don't start the "as the film sound mixer/producer intended" argument with me because I don't buy into it for a minute.

Oh well, nothing like a little controversy to liven things up a bit!

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Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

My SA-10s do not "auto-sense" EX encoding. Last time I checked, Dolby was still working on it.

Is there a software patch available that will cause the CP-500 to cue to SK-8 when EX encoding is present? Somebody email me!!

Mark? Please explain.

Oh well, nothing like a little controversy to liven things up a bit!

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Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc."<<

Just curious, is that SMART's position on cinema sound? That is, They dont' care how it was mixed or intended to sound?

Again, just curious on that one.

Steve

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Again, just curious on that one.

Steve<<

Well, Steve, you have certainly taken my comments on the topic of EX and whether all 5.1 soundtracks should be played in ex format mode when using a SMART ex format decoder and expanded it to include the entire realm of film sound!! You may think it is a perfectly logical conclusion to which you can leap, but I assure you that is not the case.

It has been, and continues to be, SMART's position that with the _SMART_ (not other brands)ex format decoder, you should play all your 5.1 soundtracks in ex format mode. If a particular film does not play back well in this mode, then push the little red button to the out position and continue on.

It is also SMART's position that given whatever situation you are in with regard to your booth equipment, auditorium acoustics, speakers, etc., you should do all you can to maximize the presentation for your audience.

It is SMART's opinion that playing 5.1 soundtracks in ex format mode on SMART products gives the customer a better presentation of the soundtrack. From MANY comments we have received in this regard from our customers, this opinion is justified. It may not agree with the opinions of others, but then I do not expect everyone to agree.

There are many things of a practical nature that prevent soundtracks being heard by the audience exactly as the sound mixer intended.

1. The acoustics are different (usually greatly different) from those of the mix room.

2. The sound mixer sits in the perfect spot for sound. The vast majority of your audience does not. Do you give them a reduced ticket price depending on the position in the auditorium?

3. The equipment in your booth is probably different from the equipment in the mix room. There are several sound equipment manufacturers as you well know, and their sound processing is not always exactly like some other manufacturer's.

4. Do you always play the film at the recommended level? What if it is just too loud for your audience or auditorium? Maybe you have sound leakage problems, or perhaps you care about your customers' hearing, so you cut the level a bit. Is that what the sound mixer intended?

5. Do you have the same sub-bass level and extension as that in the mix room? Nothing adds impact like deep, tight sub-bass. Is yours as good as the mix room's?

6. Is your auditorium noise at acceptable levels like the mix room?

Bottom line is this: SMART _does_ care that the best possible presentation, within the limitations of your theater, be provided for the audience. Sometimes that means doing things differently in order to achieve that goal.

Best regards,

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Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

Sound mixers mix loud sound all day long almost every day. There is a probability that their hearing is slowly becoming damaged. So they crank the levels up even higher so it sounds loud to them!