Film-Tech Cinema Systems
Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE


  
my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Getting too much bass in sound.

   
Author Topic: Getting too much bass in sound.
Bernie Anderson Jr
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Registered: Apr 2000


 - posted 01-04-2002 10:39 PM      Profile for Bernie Anderson Jr   Author's Homepage   Email Bernie Anderson Jr   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Here's something that I've been trying to figure out since I got my machine running. Here's the deal. I'm running a mono sound system with a Kelmar amp and a RCA 9050 My speakers are older AR Hi-fi speakers and the slit lens I believe is 1 mil And the A-chain was aligned. Now, what would be the cause of having too much bass and an okay amount of mid to high end and how can it be fixed?

Would a .5mil slit do it? or is it just the speakers? If it is the speakers, what kind of speakers should I be using. And I don't have the space for any kind of professional theatre speakers. What kind of speakers do you guys have at home?

Thanks
Bernie


 |  IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

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


 - posted 01-04-2002 11:22 PM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Need more details. What processor are you using? Making the slit size larger will increase the output, but decrease the hi freq, so I don't think that's the problem. I don't think it's a 1 mil slit; that's pretty small.

Are you saying the A-chain aligned correctly, but the B-chain isn't? You could test the speakers by hooking them up to a regular tuner/amplifier and listening.

Most films have a Dolby optical track; not decoding them will result in strange sound.

 |  IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 01-04-2002 11:44 PM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Bernie,
I'm assumming that this is a small screening room situation....
The AR speakers, if they are behind a perforated screen will never suffice. The AR's were never known for lots of high end in the first place and a perforated screen will only serve to attenuate the high end even more. Pushing them with an EQ would probably only result in the destruction of the tweeters and possibly parts in the X-over. I used to repair AR speakers at a Hi-Fi service center that I worked at when I got out of High School. A theatre type speaker is in order for you in this case. A small JBL would work out nicely and won't set you back a ton of $$ either. Also watch E-Bay for used Dolby CP-50 processors. They can be had for a cheaply as 150.00 and having one will allow you to set up a proper optical playback chain. This is the first pre-requisite........
It is possible, and very common with older RCA slit lenses to fill with oil. If this is the original lens it probably does have at least some oil in it and can give you a somewhat muffled playback. Even with an inexpensive spectrum analyzer and loop of pink noise this problem will show up quite readily, and you won't be able to get decent response no matter how you try to adjust the slit lens focus. If this is the case a .5 mil slit lens is in order for you, especially if you were to get a proper processor. It is not a bad idea to do an upgrade anyway and can't hurt. A reverse scan LED retrofit is even better, and far more stable, but more costly.
Please provide us some more details and we'll see if we can be of more help to you.
Mark @ GTS


 |  IP: Logged

John Anastasio
Master Film Handler

Posts: 325
From: Trenton, NJ, USA
Registered: Sep 2000


 - posted 01-05-2002 09:41 AM      Profile for John Anastasio   Author's Homepage   Email John Anastasio   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If you want to try a different lens, you're welcome to the 1 mil I removed from my 9050 down here in Trenton. I'd pop for the .5 marble myself...the difference is audible and if you want to do surround stereo, you'll need one anyway to do it right. You can get them from any supplier.

 |  IP: Logged

Patrick de Groot
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 161
From: Sprang-Capelle, Netherlands
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 01-05-2002 12:55 PM      Profile for Patrick de Groot   Email Patrick de Groot   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If you're using a mixer make sure you're using microphone preamplifiers! Using the phono input will result in the problem you describe: high bass en low treble. This has something to do with the frequency curve of a pick-up. Also it is a good idea to put an equalizer in between so you can fine tune the sound.
Next is the use of some dolby surround decoder for home use. Of course you have to have a stereo solarcell for this to work.
You can make some really nice sound using this kind of equipment!


 |  IP: Logged

John Anastasio
Master Film Handler

Posts: 325
From: Trenton, NJ, USA
Registered: Sep 2000


 - posted 01-05-2002 01:27 PM      Profile for John Anastasio   Author's Homepage   Email John Anastasio   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Does your cell connect directly to the Kelmar? I'm assuming it already has a preamp built in. If not, and your'e using a preamp.....he's right. You'll get a REALLY bassy sound from using a magnetic phono input, since they're equalized to an RIAA curve, which really boosts the bass to counteract the rolloff used in the cutting process.

 |  IP: Logged

Bernie Anderson Jr
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Registered: Apr 2000


 - posted 01-05-2002 03:47 PM      Profile for Bernie Anderson Jr   Author's Homepage   Email Bernie Anderson Jr   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
More Info: Mono Kelmar solar cell directly into a Kelmar amp (preamp and amp all in one models-the little blue ones) Comes out of the amp into the speakers. There is no stereo cell, dolby processors or equalizers.

thanks
Bernie

 |  IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000


 - posted 01-06-2002 07:03 PM      Profile for Paul G. Thompson   Email Paul G. Thompson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Bernie, in addition to the above suggestions, make sure your solar cell is properly loaded and decoupled. Also make sure your sound focus is correct. If you used the sound focus tracks of test film (including pink noise) and the test strip was in backwards, your high end will suffer. (emulsion towards the rear....)

 |  IP: Logged

Gordon McLeod
Film God

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


 - posted 01-06-2002 09:01 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The cell loading is part of the Kelmar basically the slit wisth limits the hi end response but a narrower slit will reduce the gain
Is by chance you Kelmar one of the ones with the twin proj balancing pot

 |  IP: Logged

Bernie Anderson Jr
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Registered: Apr 2000


 - posted 01-07-2002 08:31 AM      Profile for Bernie Anderson Jr   Author's Homepage   Email Bernie Anderson Jr   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
No, the amp is one projector input only. I have both cells hooked up to the terminals and I'm switching between the projectors via the exciter lamp

 |  IP: Logged

Gordon McLeod
Film God

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


 - posted 01-07-2002 10:20 AM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The second cell is loading the first one down. There is a set of decoupling resistors and pot that kelmar supplies on a little board and terminal strip for 2 machine operation

 |  IP: Logged



All times are Central (GMT -6:00)  
   Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic    next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:



Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.

© 1999-2020 Film-Tech Cinema Systems, LLC. All rights reserved.