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Author Topic: Smart Mod VI alternative Bill Yacey Film Handler Posts: 23 From: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2011 posted 06-15-2012 11:40 AM                     I have a dead ModVI that I have traced the problem back to the matrix board. It appears Smart is defunct, and I haven't had a reply on my information requests. Is there a similar product available from other companies?  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-15-2012 12:00 PM                     Not really is the short answer. Ultra Stereo JSD80 is an excellent processor, will handle 35mm analogue and AES/EBU + SPDIF from digital sources. Or you should be able to pick up a used Dolby CP55/65/500 or even CP650 for little, if any money.  |  IP: Logged Bill Yacey Film Handler Posts: 23 From: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2011 posted 06-15-2012 01:00 PM                     I can't seem to find anything at a reasonable cost. I just want to run stereo. Perhaps i could just use a 2 channel balanced mic preamp and a DBX PA driverack for EQ and X over. Any thoughts on this?  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-15-2012 01:05 PM                     Can work, just no 4channel stereo. Feed L/R solar cell feeds into mic imputs if the output leads are balanced. Bet there are tonnage of CP 55's out there that can be had for a dime. But, do have a lead .. I'm sending you a PM or email. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 06-15-2012 01:16 PM                        There is a Cp-55 with cat 441 split surround card on ebay right now for a buy it now price of $125.00 You really can't go wrong with that.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-15-2012 03:12 PM                     Are any of the cards in the Mod VI common with the Mod 2B? I've got a Mod 2B that's not being used.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-16-2012 02:01 PM                     There are several matrix cards for the Mod6 usually the only ones with issues were the early DSP ones and often it was the 5volt rail of the powersupply Contact Tom at Independent THeatre Supply in Edmonton we do have a few Mod 6 on the shelf  |  IP: Logged Bill Yacey Film Handler Posts: 23 From: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2011 posted 06-16-2012 11:52 PM                     I got the room up and running; I fed the reader head into a couple of balanced mic preamps and then to a 2 way active crossover, so I could drive the sub. The reader is a BACP RSTR 2000. I noticed when setting the preamp gains there appears to be some high frequency distortion (fuzziness) in the audio, I was monitoring on headphones. I checked it with some different trailers and the feature that was scheduled to run in that room. I cleaned the reader head lens and the LED, adjusted focus for best high frequency response, but the distortion remains, both channels. I checked the lateral adjustment, but I didn't have my scope with me, so I just put it back to where it was, more or less centered, however it didn't improve in any way. Any thoughts?  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 06-18-2012 12:26 AM                     quote: The reader is a BACP RSTR 2000. I noticed when setting the preamp gains there appears to be some high frequency distortion (fuzziness) in the audio, I was monitoring on headphones. I checked it with some different trailers and the feature that was scheduled to run in that room. I cleaned the reader head lens and the LED, adjusted focus for best high frequency response, but the distortion remains, both channels. I checked the lateral adjustment, but I didn't have my scope with me, so I just put it back to where it was, more or less centered, however it didn't improve in any way. I really cringe when I read about someone adjusting a reader without the proper test loops and without using a 'scope by "putting it back where it was, more or less". Redo your reader adjustments properly, using a 'scope AND an RTA. As for the HF "fuzziness" you need to make sure your reader's grounding is done EXACTLY as BACP instructs. The LED power supply is (and Sam will correct me if I am wrong) a HF "switch mode" type of supply and it can induce oscillation in the output of the reader if not grounded properly. Or another (stronger) possibility: what you are hearing is HF artifacts because of the lack of proper Dolby NR decoding (most likely) or impedance/response mismatch because of using a non-standard preamp setup....or both. Get a used CP55, 65 or 500 and do it right. Especially if this is a public venue. If it is for your personal screening room, no real harm in experimenting really.  |  IP: Logged Bill Yacey Film Handler Posts: 23 From: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada Registered: Feb 2011 posted 06-19-2012 11:08 AM                     I don't believe it's supply noise. It comes and goes consistent with the high frequency content in the audio track, so most likely it's Dolby pre-emphasis. At the time, I didn't think I could make it any worse, even though I didn't have a test loop or my scope with me. The focus was out considerably, after adjusting I was getting audio considerably higher than 3Khz, which is about all it was reproducing before. After centering the lateral adjustment as best I could, I now have pretty even balance between L and R channels, even if there is a little bit of phase shift. After adjusting, at least the audio quality is 80% better than what it was. When I get back on site to install a new processor, I'll do a proper alignment.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 06-19-2012 10:02 PM                     Bill, PM me if you're interested in a CP500 (with Dolby Digital installed) I have one just pulled from a screening room in good condition.  |  IP: Logged

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