New Server Barco vs GDC vs Dolby

[Steve Guttag]

I had a semi-early SR-1000 and yes, it needed the then "pilot" version of the software to get it to work properly but the last one I put in a few months ago, didn't. The IMS3000 has been on 3.4.11 for some time now so, yeah, new ones will work out of the box. I like having the drive at the server and Dolby puts a backup on those drives. If you ever need to do a server swap, moving the drives over moves the backup with it and bam you have your shows, schedules, everything right there (just not the keys). I don't think I've had an SR-1000 go down.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Mark, the IMS series 2000 and 3000 have had 2TB SSDs as well as the Barco ICMP (X) though the 1TB spinning rust drives have been reliable. I don't know where you get your information but SSDs have been in cinemas for years and most of our new systems are using them. Again, on the SR-1000...we've used the Enterprise storage with 2TB drives (4TB total storage) and have had zero issues. Only the PSD sites have had storage issues. Even in these times, HDD/SDD are relatively cheap, user changeable and reliable. We do have a couple of sites that have the IMS3000's NAS storage for about 10.5TB total (shows play off the NAS). Those sites tend to have festivals or a large quantity of 1-off shows (screening rooms), however. Our most popular configuration remains the 4TB of total storage via 3 x 2TB drives.

I have not had issues with Dolby's tech support (or Barco/Cineonic or GDC).

Note, on the GDC SR-1000...you can get up to 10-years of warranty (3 with the server 7-years extended) if you want to protect your purchase out that long. It won't cover the consumables (drives) but it should cover most everything else. Barco ties their server warranty to the projector it is in so, in effect, you could warrant your ICMP out to 10-years too. Dolby tops out at 5-years but those last 2-years are cheap.

Steve, GDC does still not advocate using SSD's. Not sure why, because they work just fine. I install them when ever drives fail in a PDP-3000. I have not had a drive failure in a full size server for going on 8 years. I suspect that most of the existing drives will outlast the old servers. No complaints from me on GDC or Barco tech support. Dolby's used to be dismal, however it got better when they hired Mike Renlund.. Fortunately, there is but one Dolby server left amongst the customers I still do work for, but no sound processors. I like the Cinecache, and having a TMS. Cinecache is a lot better than old fashioned hard drives and the server can be repaired if Cinecache ever fails. GDC actually sends you another refurbished server anyway... I installed three SR-1000 in central Utah right after they came out. My experience with the 1000 was totally opposite the 3000. The 1000's actually had to have the latest updates in order to even work. But after that they were fine. The theater has had zero problems with them... They are also hooked to the existing TMS and all remote controlled from another theater location.

[Carsten Kurz]

AVATAR 2 will be released in HFR. Actual framerate specs are not fixed, they are still testing best supported frame rates.

[Marco Giustini]

ahahah - I was definitely being sarcastic, but did not pay attention to the date to be honest. But considering the expiring certs and the required service contract saga, my comment was actually more real than you'd think!

[Leo Enticknap]

I'm fairly sure he was being sarcastic. At least I hope so lol.

It's already April 1 in the UK, but not here. That's why I didn't spot it (that, and having just got in from a 15-hour day in the field). CineScrews sounds like the name of a porn channel.

Ang Lee might come out with another weird arthouse melodrama in HFR, but I can't see it going mainstream. Do check out if any feature you require has to be unlocked with a license that costs extra, though.

[Steve Guttag]

Mark, the IMS series 2000 and 3000 have had 2TB SSDs as well as the Barco ICMP (X) though the 1TB spinning rust drives have been reliable. I don't know where you get your information but SSDs have been in cinemas for years and most of our new systems are using them. Again, on the SR-1000...we've used the Enterprise storage with 2TB drives (4TB total storage) and have had zero issues. Only the PSD sites have had storage issues. Even in these times, HDD/SDD are relatively cheap, user changeable and reliable. We do have a couple of sites that have the IMS3000's NAS storage for about 10.5TB total (shows play off the NAS). Those sites tend to have festivals or a large quantity of 1-off shows (screening rooms), however. Our most popular configuration remains the 4TB of total storage via 3 x 2TB drives.

I have not had issues with Dolby's tech support (or Barco/Cineonic or GDC).

Note, on the GDC SR-1000...you can get up to 10-years of warranty (3 with the server 7-years extended) if you want to protect your purchase out that long. It won't cover the consumables (drives) but it should cover most everything else. Barco ties their server warranty to the projector it is in so, in effect, you could warrant your ICMP out to 10-years too. Dolby tops out at 5-years but those last 2-years are cheap.

[Darin Steffl]

Do you mean the faceplate screws? If so, you won't be able to move the server to another projector, or even pull it to clean the contacts during maintenance, replace the cert battery, etc. etc. That's insane!

I'm fairly sure he was being sarcastic. At least I hope so lol.

So comparing specs between the 3 servers, some offer 4k with higher fps like 60 or 120. Is that something we should factor into our decision? Are there any high frame rate films today or expected in the future?

[Leo Enticknap]

next revision will have "CineScrews", non-replaceable. The server can be fitted only once. The screws are single use, once the board is removed, you need a new one.

Do you mean the faceplate screws? If so, you won't be able to move the server to another projector, or even pull it to clean the contacts during maintenance, replace the cert battery, etc. etc. That's insane!

[Darin Steffl]

As far as I know, I can't purchase extended warranty for 10 years of service life? We don't want a new server every 5 years so I'm trying to purchase what will be most reliable. A portable storage device is cheaper to replace or the drives inside it than a whole new sr-1000 unit. We don't have anything separate like a server and separate media block.

I can ask GDC if the cinecache can be replaced if it fails.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Not all SR-1000 have the 2 TB cinecache. It's an option. Ours does not have it. We have the portable storage which has 4 drive bays and ours was populated with 3X1TB drives. The portable storage device is a separate unit that connects via esata and has its own power supply.

We were told to avoid the cinecache version because if it fails and we're out of warranty, we need a whole new server instead of just a replacement storage device.

Why would you let the server warranty expire? The warranty also covers the media block and that is the most expensive part of any server, they usually cost around 4k. Am very familiar with the PSD 3000 drive box as all the 50 or so SX-3000's I installed have them.. That's the only part of the SX-3000 I have had consistent problems with over the years. Also, if you update the server then you can only update the RAID by breaking the raid itself and creating a new one. Many other technicians skip doing that because A. They don't want to lose all the content, and B, they don't even know it has to be done. If you don't update the RAID then you will eventually have skipping problems, although many think is a bad drive and it's not. Of course you could FTP the content to a NAS, or another server in the booth. and then move it back to where it came when the RAID is good again. I personally would not want a server that uses standard hard drives in this day and age. SSD might be ok, but even those wear out from excessive write cycles. And it seems that none of the server manufacturers except USL ever advocated using them...

[Marco Giustini]

next revision will have "CineScrews", non-replaceable. The server can be fitted only once. The screws are single use, once the board is removed, you need a new one.

This nonsense (which does not apply to servers only of course) has to stop.

[Darin Steffl]

Not all SR-1000 have the 2 TB cinecache. It's an option. Ours does not have it. We have the portable storage which has 4 drive bays and ours was populated with 3X1TB drives. The portable storage device is a separate unit that connects via esata and has its own power supply.

We were told to avoid the cinecache version because if it fails and we're out of warranty, we need a whole new server instead of just a replacement storage device.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Darin, Note that the SR-1000 does not use hard drives. It uses on board cache memory to store up to 2 tb of content. Only if you buy the external server for it for do hard drives enter into the equation. And those are expensive. You can have a nice TMS for way less money that also does a lot more. It can connect to both screens, and it allows you to make up shows and control the theater from anywhere there is internet available.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

[QUOTE=Darin Steffl; We have an SR-1000 in our Nc1200c now and we like it. Pricing is very close between the GDC and Dolby servers. Both are quoted with 3x1 TB drives for a usable 1.8TB with raid 5.[/QUOTE]

I just caught your comment on the SR-1000 using thee dives. Actually, it doesn't use any drives at all, but the SX-3000 comes with three rives if you get it with the PDP-1000 storage box. The SR-1000 uses onboard cache memory instead which is way more reliable than mechanical hard dives are. Both servers offer ~ 2 TB of storage.

As far as the warranty extension costs go, you get what you pay for there. GDC Tech support has always been available 24/7 around here. I always got the answering machine at Dolby after hours, although sometimes an email did get through.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Good point about the ICP-D giving you the HDMI benefits of the ICMP.

The only ICMP failures I've had to deal with have been when the end user has let the certificate battery discharge. Usually this is because they weren't told by the original installer that this was a critical maintenance item. For this reason, I always put a printed label on every ICMP I install, saying something like "Battery replacement due by March 30, 2025," and we are now starting to get calls from customers from installs 3-4 years ago following up on that label. But still, Barco/Cinionic's policy of only recertificating units covered by an active warranty is, IMHO, one of the ICMP's few drawbacks.



My understanding is that you can't use it in any other projector. I've often wondered if Barco will ever make an ICMP variant that would work in a NEC or a Christie. It seems strange to sink that R & D investment into a product that can only reach a third of its potential market.

I had that happen to a couple of the very first SX-3000's I installed. At that point GDC in Los Angeles didn't even know about the certificate batteries, or at least they were not aware of how critical they are. .... The second one failed at 3 years and 10 days! Before I could even get to the thing....