Major new software/firmware bundle update for IMS3000 released (3.21.7)

[Leo Enticknap]

Available for download now. I don't see any "do not distribute without permission" notice on the release notes, so here are the additions and bug fixes. There are a lot:

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This would seem to me to be a no brainer to install as a priority on units that are used with a Christie Series 4 projector, and/or the NAS, and in use cases where the HDMI input is used extensively. It's good to see a fix for the bugs whereby large log packages can't be downloaded via the web UI, and the IMS3000 can freeze up if you have DCP drives connected to both a USB and the eSATA port simultaneously. The ability to disable auto quick ingest is also very welcome. I've had customers who thought that they'd ingested something, disconnected the shipping drive, and were then unable to play, thanks to the quick ingest by default.

[Elia Orselli]

The quick ingest disable was a feature I've asked since 2021... Now it's there, quite well hidden in Content feed manager
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and with an unfriendly description:
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But it's there

Still not there the Cinelister playback with SPL shown in column as it was for IMS2000...

[Carsten Kurz]

Good to see those HDMI improvements.

[Leo Enticknap]

I've come across the following issues so far.

• After this update (from 3.5.20 to 3.21.7), the GDC TMS will no longer push KDMs into the IMS3000, presumably because it does something to the certificate. You have to delete and then re-make the entry for the IMS3000 on the TMS, and then all is good.
• On IMS3000s that have HD-SDI inputs, the IMS3000 will wake up from a cold boot with the input set to SDI, even if it was on DCP playback or HDMI when it was shut down. Loading a SPL for playback in Cinelister will automatically change the input and you don't need to do any more, but if the input was on HDMI before the shutdown, it has to be selected again if that is what you want after the reboot.
• After this update, the IMS3000 will display constant "drive is in a warning state" banners at the top of the UI if you are using non-approved drives. Previously (with 3.5.13 and 20), if you went in to diagnostics > storage, you'd see yellow ink, but the nag banners are a new development.

[Joseph Boutros]

Dear Leo,

Thank you for bringing these findings to our attention. Let me address each point:

1. TMS Integration:
   I'm particularly concerned about the reported issue with the TMS, as the IMS3000 certificates were extended in software version 3.5.20. The upgrade to version 3.21.7 should not, in theory, create any compatibility issues.
2. Input Signal Detection:
   We are actively investigating the reported SDI/HDMI/Internal input detection issue. Our preliminary assessment suggests this may be a reporting bug, as our diagnostics indicate the IMS3000 is operating in the correct input mode.
3. Drive Approval Warnings:
   Regarding the warnings for unapproved drives, this is actually a designed feature to promote the use of validated storage devices. However, if needed, this notification can be disabled through the "System Notifications Manager" in your settings.

If you need any clarification or encounter additional issues please contact our Support Team via CinemaSupport@dolby.com. We're committed to ensuring optimal system performance.

Best regards,
Joseph Boutros
Cinema & Group Entertainment Support Services - EMEAI

[Leo Enticknap]

On 2, it definitely wasn't playing HDMI after the reboot. I had an HDMI source playing into the IMS3000 with an image on the screen, at which point I installed a software/firmware update into the projector in which the IMS3000 was installed (an NEC NC1202L). This had the effect of rebooting the IMS3000 as well, because the projector updating process momentarily kills power to its card cage. After the projector had rebooted, the light source turned back on, and the option slot containing the IMS3000 selected as the projector's input source, I had a blank screen. The HDMI source (an Apple TV box) had been playing uninterrupted throughout. Troubleshooting further, I looked in device controller > IMS, and discovered that the IMS3000's input was set to SDI. Changing it back to HDMI restored the picture.

This is unlikely to be a major problem in most usage scenarios, as the selection of HDMI as the playback source would likely be done during any startup from cold process that requires it. The only situation I can imagine it being significant is if, for example, there is a power brownout on one leg going into the booth that affects the projector, but not some external automation system controlling it (e.g. Crestron or Q-Sys), such that it doesn't know that HDMI is no longer the selected input source.

[Steve Guttag]

Leo,

I've been running with 3.21.7 in GDC TMS theatres (multiple) and no KDM issues were reported. This includes those that were running 3.5 before. I can't claim a large number of sites with this scenario so I can't claim a statistically relevant number.

I don't have any sites that, at present, shut their system down with HDMI selected. Those with DCP selected, come up with DCP (internal) selected. And yes, the act of starting a show in Cinelister does switch the input source to DCP. I my opinion, a system should wake up in the same state it shut down in. Barco, on later versions of their firmware seem to want to clear out the old state and come up in a nebulous unselected state though still looking at their last thing they were looking at (format wise).

I have no systems, at this time, not running Dolby supplied drives but it appears that Joseph has spoken to that "feature."

[Leo Enticknap]

I don't have any sites that, at present, shut their system down with HDMI selected.

That would be unlikely in a regular multiplex movie theater (in fact, most likely never use the HDMI or SDI inputs at all), but very common in a residence, post house, university, or mixed use theater, where HDMI can easily account for 80-90% of system's usage time. Again, waking up on SDI won't be a problem if whatever automation/integration system in use sends a "change input to HDMI" API command to the IMS3000 as part of its startup sequence. In the grand scheme of things, it's a minor annoyance.

[Steve Guttag]

Where I would see commercial theatres wanting to wake up in HDMI would be those that use HDMI for "Preshow" content. So, the last show of the night would switch it back to HDMI for the preshow...it would stand to reason, when the system comes up the next day, it should still be in HDMI the following day.

Now, I do believe that a proper system should prep everything (select what is needed) as part of its start up routine. So, as part of our "Day Start" routine, we would select what is expected for beginning of each day.

[Joseph Boutros]

Dear Leo,

When HDMI input is required at system startup, you can set HDMI as the default input source on your IMS3000 device. This configuration ensures that the IMS3000 automatically selects HDMI as the input source every time the system boots up.
To set this configuration, access the Dolby Macro Editor's Library, where you'll find the necessary command to establish HDMI as your default input source.

If you need any clarification or encounter additional issues please contact our Support Team via CinemaSupport@dolby.com.

Best regards,
Joseph Boutros
Cinema & Group Entertainment Support Services - EMEAI

[Miguel Moreno]

With this update, is it now possible to get audio from the HDMI input and play it on a CP750?

[Steve Guttag]

That has always worked (that has been my experience) and I can confirm that I have played audio, via the HDMI input on the IMS3000 and it comes out on the AES3 audio just as DCPs would. What I forget is if it channel maps 7 and 8 (Lrs/Rrs) to 11 and 12 for you. I know that the ICMP-X (Barco) does not...you can set a channel mapping on the Barco but it is across the board, not on an input-by-input basis.

[Elia Orselli]

you can set a channel mapping on the Barco but it is across the board, not on an input-by-input basis.

Same with IMS3000 if you don't have 5.1/7.1 or atmos processor licenses.

[Steve Guttag]

Same with IMS3000 if you don't have 5.1/7.1 or atmos processor licenses.

Doremi/Dolby has had the ability to remap channels on a content-by-content basis for some time. You can set up your mapping for the server and you can set up your mapping on a per-content basis, including "Live" which is where HDMI and SDI would be be classified. You'd have to set up your HDMI show by creating a live CPL to take advantage of that.

The IMS3000 will default to Lrs and Rrs to being on outputs 11 and 12, respectively. Barco's ICMP-X sends Lrs of HDMI sources out of channel 7 and Rrs out of channel 8 instead of matching cinema standard. Oddly, they do make the swap for Center and Subwoofer (HDMI standard has channel 3 be LFE for "2.1" and channel 4 be Center. You can remap your DCPs to send Lrs to channel 7 and likewise for Rrs so that DCinema matches HDMI but that is sort of messed up, if you ask me. A cinema server should have other sources conform to a normally wired cinema system and even if the channels are remapped, the alternative content sources should follow that remapping too.

[Elia Orselli]

My mistake: I forgot that possibility with IMS. Maybe ICMP-XS will have improvements in this sense...