On The Importance Of Sound And Image Quality: “Dinosaur”
Dear Gary: I recently had the rare pleasure of attending my first digital movie screening, Disney Studios’ Dinosaur, presented in Texas Instruments’ DLP Cinema technology. This took place at the new AMC multiplex on 42nd Street at 8th Avenue in New York, part of the city’s ongoing refurbishment of the Times Square area. If I had to describe the experience in one word, that word would be “stunning.” In many years of moviegoing, I have never seen a projected image which possessed the sheer clarity of the DLP presentation. The detail, smoothness, and consistent edge-to-edge focus on screen were breathtaking. I’m sure that the fact of this particular film being an all-digital production helped considerably. Nevertheless, if this level of quality can be carried over to live action films as well, D-cinema will see me at many more such screenings in the future.
David Kass, Long Island, New York
Contributing Writer John Allen Of HPS-4000 Systems Comments:
I have had the opportunity to compare the film Dinosaur in two similar theatres. The first presentation used the Texas Instruments DLP digital projection system. The sound system in this theatre was much better than average. Having said that, it should be noted that the sound portion of this DLP installation was rather “incomplete” in some respects. The surrounds either worked or didn’t, depending on the operator’s luck when the system was turned on. There was also an annoying hum and an excessive 350 millisecond surround delay causing a pronounced echo in the theatre. Fortunately, the hum was mostly masked by the soundtrack and could be “filtered out” for the purposes of watching the presentation. Without exception, both I and the people I was with were impressed with the image quality of the digital projection. The light source was a 6000 watt console. The image was rock steady, of course, and the vivid reds in the color were reminiscent of the old Technicolor IB prints of the past. Contrast and resolution were very good. It was an excellent image. The cost of the digital projection system varies depending on who you talk to. Typically, figures of $160,000 to $440,000 are offered. So one must ask the tough question concerning such an investment: Is it worth the money? I think it depends. If it sells a substantially greater number of tickets, it could well be worth it. But if one looks at the cost-benefit ratio of this system in terms of image quality, and further compares a digital projection system with a 35mm film projection system using the same 6000 watt light source, a slower studio lens with a substantially greater depth of field, an electronic intermittent movement and perhaps a triple-bladed shutter as well, I suspect that the film image resulting from such a setup would be significantly better, at a fraction of the cost. In addition, digital projection is not without artifacts. Several times during the digital presentation, I was startled by the sudden blurring of objects and backgrounds in motion. I am never startled by this when watching film. Blurring of elements in film is smoother in its onset and completion. Obviously, I have become more accustomed to it. But, it was more noticeable with the digital system. With respect to the sound presentation in the two theatres, I was not prepared for the emotional impact I was about to experience during the second viewing. Again, without exception, both I and the people I was with (all professionals) were unimpressed with the Dinosaur mix as heard over the better than average sound system. We talked specifically about the "“lack of punch” and the “lifeless sound.” Indeed, one of the gentlemen there remarked that someone else had commented to him about the "“lack of dynamics and punch” in the soundtrack, upon seeing this film in another theatre. When the credits rolled, we ignored them, as most often happens, and began to talk and walk around. I liked the music, but was not overly impressed, with the exception of the occasional moment when I thought that the music sounded interesting, but too much in the background. I liked the movie, but did not feel that I needed to see it again, even though the animation was so outstanding. After seeing the digital presentation, I decided to watch Dinosaur again in my reference theatre. I was curious to know what it would sound like. The sound was played in the SDDS format. In a few words, I was stunned by the difference. From the beginning, I was drawn into the sound and especially the music. It was similar to listening to a great symphony in a concert hall. I didn’t want it to end. I cared more about the characters. The sound was very dynamic and had plenty of the kind of punch that had been so absent in the other theatre. The music sparkled. I wanted to know who wrote it (James Newton Howard). I wanted to buy the soundtrack CD. When the credits rolled, I stayed and listened to the very end. If I had had the time, I would have watched the film again, maybe even twice, I loved it so. The projected 35mm film picture was less bright than the digital image. Yet the film presentation had a far greater impact on me because the sound was so much better. I sometimes felt startled and scared during the film presentation versus feeling almost bored during the digital projection presentation. It was a totally different movie. When I got home, I couldn’t sleep, still thinking about the wonderful experience that this film had been the second time. In short, I was reminded once again about the greater importance of sound quality over anything else when presenting motion pictures. As exhibitors face the task of returning the industry to profitability, I think it’s well to ask what the presentation priorities should be. If without the opportunity to compare it to an optimized 35mm projected image, the public becomes convinced that digital projection is superior, and it becomes necessary to invest huge sums to equip theatres, it seems to me that seriously upgrading the sound systems becomes even more critical. An improved image quality notwithstanding, without the kind of beauty one can experience with a superior sound presentation, going to movie theatres will not be attractive enough to the numbers of customers needed to make a profit. John F. Allen, JohnFAllen@aol.com
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