my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » non-sync audio bleeding through into feature (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: non-sync audio bleeding through into feature Steven Stroud Film Handler Posts: 13 From: Cuyahoga Falls, OH Registered: Feb 2012 posted 02-21-2012 01:50 AM                     I am but a humble booth monkey looking for some input on a situation. I have several auditoriums with older Smart Mod IIB & IIIB processors with the high end of the non-sync audio bleeding though into the feature audio. None of the houses with the newer processors have this problem. Our booth tech has, at this point, advised us to turn the preamp trim pots on the DA 226 processor that feeds the individual houses down to their lowest levels. Meanwhile he says that we can turn the individual house non-sync trim pots up a little more to compensate. If anyone could just point me in the general direction of a fix for this situation, I would be most appreciative. I don't like that fact that my guests who are there to watch Hugo have to hear the remix of Beauty and the Beast stepping all over the dialogue during the quiet portions...  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 02-21-2012 02:56 AM                     maybe put a switch on the N/S feed, which comes from the source, so you can physically disconnect the feed from going into the processor...as an easy and cheap fix for now. Seen a few of those installations mods in older booths from time to time....  |  IP: Logged Bernie Anderson Jr Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: Woodbridge, New Jersey Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-21-2012 08:21 AM                        is this both in digital and analog playback or just analog?  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-21-2012 09:20 AM                     quote: Steven Stroud Our booth tech has, at this point, advised us to turn the preamp trim pots on the DA 226 processor that feeds the individual houses down to their lowest levels. Meanwhile he says that we can turn the individual house non-sync trim pots up a little more to compensate. Have you tried this yet?  |  IP: Logged David Zylstra Master Film Handler Posts: 432 From: Novi, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-21-2012 09:26 AM                     I had theatres with Smart Mod IV processors (with a Smart DA for non-sync) and the non-sync on those would bleed through as well - once we lowered the gain on the DA and balanced the non-sync it was fine. Your tech is correct that the gain on the DA226 should be turned down - that was our exact solution 20 years ago.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 02-21-2012 06:14 PM                        Don't turn it down "all the way." btw: isn't this HIS job?? Louis  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-21-2012 07:39 PM                     Too many Tweakers can lead to Twadgedy! Courtesy of Elmer F  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-22-2012 01:01 AM                     I'm hunting wabbits...  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-22-2012 01:34 AM                     Finally, this thread has real value.  |  IP: Logged Steven Stroud Film Handler Posts: 13 From: Cuyahoga Falls, OH Registered: Feb 2012 posted 02-22-2012 04:04 AM                     Thanks, Manny.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-22-2012 09:33 AM                     (I was being sarcastic.) So...? Did you try adjusting your DA output trims (down) and your Non-Sync volume controls (up)? How'd it go? As I recall the DA-226 has trims on its input - mine were about 3/4 of max. Next - each output has individual trims for left/right. Turn them down to 1/2 max or perhaps slightly lower. The trick is keeping the left/right output levels balanced so the music doesn't end up lopsided. To help with this, I burned a disc with a steady 1kHz tone and made it repeat in the CD player so I could take my time and measure all of the outputs (with an AC volt meter) and tweak them to make sure they were all equal. Finally, play your normal music CD and go to each cinema and use the Non-Sync trimpot in the processor to adjust the playback level for each cinema. (1) Make sure your main cinema volume controls are in their usual position before you adjust the Non-Sync volume. (2) It will be easier if 2 people with walkie-talkies tackled this part - one in the auditorium evaluating the music level, and one in the booth making the adjustments. Test your work - switch to a film format (like Stereo or SR) with no film playing - do you still hear the music?  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-22-2012 01:39 PM                     This is pseudo related being a nonsync question so please forgive me for butting in. Do you guys set your ns volume to a specific level in db? I personally like to have everything that is required to be adjusted for each house to be identical. Most techs I've noticed whether admitting so or not don't seem to have much thought toward nonsync as long as its playing and not overly loud or overly quiet. Some major chain techs also seem to think it should be as loud as the feature too apparently. But I digress. Seems to me Id burn something like pink noise and set it just like the film sound but at a lower volume. Is this excessive?  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-22-2012 02:02 PM                     I used to do that when I worked in multiplexes. I'd get the DA set up and then play some music and let the manager (or owner) tell me what level they liked. Next, I'd switch to a CD with a pink noise track to quantify that level, and use that SPL value as my guide for setting level on the remaining screens (using pink noise). However, if you have significant variation in house sizes, you'll find it necessary to increase SPL in the larger houses and decrease SPL in the smaller ones. But I think it's good to have a known reference point.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-22-2012 11:50 PM                     Sweet. Thanks, Manny!  |  IP: Logged Steven Stroud Film Handler Posts: 13 From: Cuyahoga Falls, OH Registered: Feb 2012 posted 02-23-2012 02:20 AM                     No worries, Manny. I have a sense of humor. The problem was most evident on the house with the Mod IIB processor while it was in surround. It was significantly less obtrusive when switched to stereo. The Mod IIIB houses weren't as noticeable, but it's still too obtrusive for my personal tastes. We did as our tech instructed and lowered the preamp trimpots, and it's certainly helped, but I can still hear the disturbance. The entire pre-show setup is run by a third party who send their own techs out on regular visits. They insist that the audio levels on the pre-shows be set to absurd levels... which we always end up decreasing after the old people complain about it being too loud. It occurs to me that we are about due for another visit, so I'll bring this whole ordeal up with them. Hopefully they will be able to get this ironed out once and for all... or at least until our landlord agrees to convert us to digital.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.