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   » CP500 Dolby Digital Strange Problem

   
Author Topic: CP500 Dolby Digital Strange Problem
Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002


 - posted 10-20-2006 09:12 PM      Profile for Lyle Romer   Email Lyle Romer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
A CP500 stopped playing Dolby Digital. Looking at the "internal DA-20" the error rate was "F" and the "corner found" LEDs were flashing randomly. When you cover the lens on the reader, the "corner found" LEDs just keep flashing randomly and don't turn off like they would normally do. Tried resetting the processor to no avail. Any suggestions on what might cause the random flashing? Some kind of software corruption maybe?

 |  IP: Logged

Robert Minichino
Master Film Handler

Posts: 350
From: Haskell, NJ, USA
Registered: Dec 2005


 - posted 10-20-2006 09:44 PM      Profile for Robert Minichino   Author's Homepage   Email Robert Minichino   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I'd first think it might be a reader or cable issue causing random video signals to be detected. Just my $0.02.

 |  IP: Logged

Demetris Thoupis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1240
From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 10-21-2006 01:38 AM      Profile for Demetris Thoupis   Email Demetris Thoupis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
CAT 670
Video Aquisition board. If this is a multiplex and you have another CP500 available try swapping it. I recall once it gave us a big hustle as everything was set up ok but we could not get Digital playback. Swapped that card and Walla!
D

 |  IP: Logged

Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005


 - posted 10-21-2006 01:50 AM      Profile for Frank Dubrois     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I would suggest the same....Video Aquisition board. When you cover the LED the lights dont change what their doing? Do they go out at all when you cover the LED?

 |  IP: Logged

Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002


 - posted 10-21-2006 08:53 AM      Profile for Lyle Romer   Email Lyle Romer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
When you cover the reader LED, the "corner found LEDs" just keep randomly flashing. It seems to be 2 LEDs at a time in each set. I was trying to notice a flash pattern but it seems pretty random.

 |  IP: Logged

Paul Carey
Film Handler

Posts: 17
From: St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Registered: Feb 2004


 - posted 10-25-2006 08:21 PM      Profile for Paul Carey   Author's Homepage   Email Paul Carey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It may not be this, but try checking the power supply to the reader. We had a really annoying problem with our system lossing Digital randomly. After checking almost everything, it turned out to be a duff transfomer which had a fluctuating voltage which was screwing the reader up.

Paul

 |  IP: Logged

Chad M Calpito
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 10-29-2006 04:38 PM      Profile for Chad M Calpito   Author's Homepage   Email Chad M Calpito   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Currently, I also have a strange problem with the CP500 unit in Theater #1. The Dolby Digital Processor doesn't switch to Dolby Digital. When I press the Dolby Digital button, the system says "Not Ready". This has happened with two different prints. So, I can't quite figure it out. The one in Theater #10 works great, which is the same unit. I tried the other selection, Dolby A-Type with a volume setting of 6.5 so customers won't have to complain about the sound being too low. The movie I am playing in #1 is "The Prestige". So, any ideas would be helpful.

 |  IP: Logged

Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005


 - posted 10-29-2006 05:11 PM      Profile for Louis Bornwasser   Author's Homepage   Email Louis Bornwasser   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
First of all, use Dolby SR as a back up, not "A" since that hasn't been used in 20 years.

"Not ready" could be any problem in the DA-20 part of the processor or any part of the reader & cable. Louis

 |  IP: Logged

Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005


 - posted 10-29-2006 10:37 PM      Profile for Frank Dubrois     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You might want to check the voltage in the readers LED. My past experience has been if it wont switch into digital, its because the reader isnt able to read the print correctly. Could be LED, could be reader alignment. When the print is playing, do you see the 32 green LEDS on and steady? (I think theres 32..4 rows of 8 or possible 4 rows of 6) I dont remember. If you can't get the processor into digital, my guess is that those little green LEDS are blinking and flashing like crazy....at least, thats been my experience.

 |  IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 10-30-2006 09:48 AM      Profile for Steve Guttag   Email Steve Guttag   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Frank is probably much closer on this one especially if Dolby-A is a better alternative.

If the LEDs have faded (as they do the moment they are turned on)...then the Digital audio will fail to a reduced level analog. The Dolby SR circuit will treat this reduced level more like noise than signal and further reduce the level and introduce "pumping" to the sound.

Steve

 |  IP: Logged

Chad M Calpito
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 10-30-2006 10:31 AM      Profile for Chad M Calpito   Author's Homepage   Email Chad M Calpito   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
While the movie "The Prestige" was playing, I opened the Dolby Digital Processor front panel and I did notice that a letter "F" was being displayed. Also, I did notice some green lights, and it appeared that some were steady, but, I could be wrong. Anyway, I ran the movie once in A-Type and once in Dolby SR. During the last show last night, I turned off the Dolby Digital Reader and ran the print in Dolby SR and increased the Volume setting. Anyway, I left a note in my Log book for my technician to work on it. Hopefully, he will get to it today, since Projector #9's motor quit in the middle of the last show of "The Departed". Well, I will stop there so I don't get off topic. But, if he doesn't, any suggestions would help and I will see about working on it tomorrow. [Smile]

 |  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.