Large Format/"Premium" Theaters (IMAX 15/70, Digital IMAX, XD, ETX, RPX, etc.)

[xbs2034]

Labor Day week is going to be a 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios series in IMAX, with Iron Man 1, Captain America 1, and The Incredible Hulk making their IMAX debuts and reportedly having discount tickets.

Format wise, seems like the films which went out IMAX 3D only (Avengers 1 and 2, Guardians 1 and 2, Doctor Strange, etc) will be in 3D, while all the titles which went out in both IMAX formats and the new additions are 2D (obvious in the case of Iron Man and Incredible Hulk). I'm guessing there won't be new sound mixes done for these smaller scale releases of just a few showings, so probably 12 channel only available from Age of Ultron on.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Labor Day week is going to be a 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios series in IMAX, with Iron Man 1, Captain America 1, and The Incredible Hulk making their IMAX debuts and reportedly having discount tickets.

Format wise, seems like the films which went out IMAX 3D only (Avengers 1 and 2, Guardians 1 and 2, Doctor Strange, etc) will be in 3D, while all the titles which went out in both IMAX formats and the new additions are 2D (obvious in the case of Iron Man and Incredible Hulk). I'm guessing there won't be new sound mixes done for these smaller scale releases of just a few showings, so probably 12 channel only available from Age of Ultron on.

the first Avengers got a Dolby Atmos remix for it's 4K UHD edition, it's possible Disney remixed the DCP to similar effect? CA: WS was Dolby Atmos too, and another possibility too.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

the first Avengers got a Dolby Atmos remix for it's 4K UHD edition, it's possible Disney remixed the DCP to similar effect? CA: WS was Dolby Atmos too, and another possibility too.

I wonder if the mix will be as terrible as the other recent Disney releases. Hopefully the old track will still be there.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

It is mentioned the 15/70 prints of 2001 are the "unrestored" version and completely analogue with no revisionist tricks, while the IMAX laser and digital versions are based off the 4K restoration. Suggests to me that the 15/70 prints will bypass the DMR process, so it could well be a case where IMAX laser is the best version.

that's the case for the image, but Warner's had to re-encode the sound onto DTS discs to run in tandem with the film print, guess that still qualifies as 'unrestored' but unlike the IMAX DCP's which I assume will be 5-track (without the center height channel). the 5/70 prints had the five front channel spread which is not possible in IMAX configuration. So all the 'restorations' have had some tinkering in some way or the other.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

that's the case for the image, but Warner's had to re-encode the sound onto DTS discs to run in tandem with the film print, guess that still qualifies as 'unrestored' but unlike the IMAX DCP's which I assume will be 5-track (without the center height channel). the 5/70 prints had the five front channel spread which is not possible in IMAX configuration. So all the 'restorations' have had some tinkering in some way or the other.

I don't even think theaters, 70MM or no, still have DTS CD-ROM readers.
They're probably playing whatever format Dunkirk 70MM played in.

[Geoff D]

Forgive the dumb question but how is sound exhibited on a modern 5-perf 70mm print then? If not a CD then do they have a digital audio file running in tandem?

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Forgive the dumb question but how is sound exhibited on a modern 5-perf 70mm print then? If not a CD then do they have a digital audio file running in tandem?

Seems like the sound is on a DTS disc. At least for Interstellar it was said to be that way (theatrically I saw Interstellar first on 5/70 and then digital IMAX, and did prefer the 70mm mix but I think that had more to do with the IMAX mix drowning out dialogue in quite a few scenes):

https://www.slashfilm.com/interstell...ocations-imax/

When presented on regular 70mm film, the IMAX sequences have been optically reduced to 70mm 5 perf film to produce a grain-free, ultra-high resolution image, cropped top and bottom to fill the wide screen. The 35mm anamorphic sections have been blown up optically. Both processes are photochemical, preserving the original analog color of the imagery and combined in a 2.2:1 widescreen presentation. The sound is carried on a separate DTS disc to produce state-of-the-art 6-track digital sound

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Sounds like the sound is on a DTS disc, at least for Interstellar it was said to be that way (theatrically I saw Interstellar first on 5/70 and then digital IMAX, and did prefer the 70mm mix but I think that had more to do with the IMAX mix drowning out dialogue in quite a few scenes):

https://www.slashfilm.com/interstell...ocations-imax/

When presented on regular 70mm film, the IMAX sequences have been optically reduced to 70mm 5 perf film to produce a grain-free, ultra-high resolution image, cropped top and bottom to fill the wide screen. The 35mm anamorphic sections have been blown up optically. Both processes are photochemical, preserving the original analog color of the imagery and combined in a 2.2:1 widescreen presentation. The sound is carried on a separate DTS disc to produce state-of-the-art 6-track digital sound

unlike my most recent horribly worded comment, yes, most if not all 5/70 prints have a DTS disc with the soundtrack on them running in tandem with the print. Recent 70mm prints shown at the AFI Silver are done that way: '2001' (this year's release), 'West Side Story', 'Khartoum', I think the only exception was a showing of 'Around the World in 80 Days' in mag sound. The DTS discs can also accommodate and be encoded to have the five front channel sound.

[Geoff D]

Thanks chaps. CD it (still) is then.

[ITDEFX101]

So I found out yesterday that my local cinemark just put a THX Certification plaque just outside of their xD screens. I read about this months ago but I was like whoa. So I am wondering if this is a good thing or it doesn't matter anymore because in most theaters they are toning down the audios and it is never reaching it's full power?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

The sound is carried on a separate DTS disc to produce state-of-the-art 6-track digital sound

Lossy compressed APT-X with the LFE encoded to the surrounds is far from state of the art.

Nor is 6-track for that matter

[sandman slim]

Just ordered my 2001 IMAX ticket for Saturday the 25th!

First saw this back around 1973 or 74, NBC Sunday Night Movie of the Week, on my crappy little 12 inch black & white tv. The Memphis area doesn't really do a lot of "classic" showings, so this will actually be the first time I've ever seen 2001 in a theater. Can't. Wait.

[sandman slim]

Anyone know more about this?

New theater opening soon near me, never heard of this company before. Big screen, all recliners, first laser projection in the state... sounds interesting.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Lossy compressed APT-X with the LFE encoded to the surrounds is far from state of the art.

Nor is 6-track for that matter

Heh, Nolan doesn't even like discrete LFE so having the bass in the other channels suits him fine, just fine.

[Dreamliner330]

My locally-owned theater just added their very first premium room with recliners, Atmos, 4K Laser and a 30 foot tall screen....but it is TERRIBLE!!

They completely botched the simplest things:

1) The ceiling tiles are WHITE...WHITE?!?!
2) The in-floor LED strip lights are full on bright red the whole time.
3) The exit signs are super bright red, so bright they make the screen glow.

I can hardly believe it. These things come down to pure incompetence. Interestingly enough, I liked the seats and sound. I would like the image quality if it wasn’t for the screen glow and room glow because of the bright red led lights and freaking white ceiling reflecting it all!

So frustrating. All they have to do is dim the lights and paint the ceiling black. I called their corporate office but they seemed quite apathetic.

[CelluloidPal]

I heard that 2001 is coming to IMAX screens. The good news is that it'll be showing in the IMAX screen at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, so it'll be the largest IMAX available.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Lossy compressed APT-X with the LFE encoded to the surrounds is far from state of the art.

Nor is 6-track for that matter

From what I've read, the digital IMAX sound systems are lossless (48/16 I'd think)

https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.co...x-sound-373444

Another distinction between IMAX and other theater surround systems is that Sonics uses no digital audio data compression. Both the DDP and DTAC lines are full fidelity, "double-system" approaches, meaning that the sound is not recorded on the film itself. "DDP uses three CD-Audio discs with a patented sample-accurate playback synchronization system," McCroskey says. DTAC, the company's newest system, plays back audio files either from DVD-ROM or from a built-in hard disk. In some older IMAX theaters, the original 35mm six-track, full-coat mag-sound system used from 1971 through 1988 is still in place.

As good as the Atmos sound is in my local Dolby Cinema, I still maintain that the system in the 15/70 IMAX theater is the most enveloping. Dunkirk was one of the greatest theater experiences I ever had. Insanely gorgeous 15/70 film on a giant screen with a killer sound system that had a tremendous sound stage and presence to it, including the low end.

[Riddhi2011]

This is a question to those who saw Mission Impossible: Fallout in IMAX 2D - Did you folks find the aspect ratio expansion in those two scenes to be impactful or did they feel unnecessary? A response would be appreciated. I haven't had the chance to see it that way yet.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by singhcr

As good as the Atmos sound is in my local Dolby Cinema, I still maintain that the system in the 15/70 IMAX theater is the most enveloping. Dunkirk was one of the greatest theater experiences I ever had. Insanely gorgeous 15/70 film on a giant screen with a killer sound system that had a tremendous sound stage and presence to it, including the low end.

Dunkirk at Universal CityWalk (true 70MM IMAX) was deafening - I actually had to plug my ears during several parts of the film and I love my films LOUD.


I can localize the speakers in IMAX. Atmos in my experience is much more immersive.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Dunkirk at Universal CityWalk (true 70MM IMAX) was deafening - I actually had to plug my ears during several parts of the film and I love my films LOUD.


I can localize the speakers in IMAX. Atmos in my experience is much more immersive.

For me, at least, I often have difficulty hearing the height speakers in Atmos theaters. I've watched several movies and haven't really detected them. At least we have options, eh?

Sorry that the IMAX was so loud for you. I've avoided one of the two Dolby Cinema screens in the Twin Cities (Southdale in Edina for those of you who live here) because the sound was just way too damn loud. The Last Jedi was downright painful during the opening sequence because of this. I asked them to turn it down (and normally I complain that the theaters are way too quiet) and they didn't. The other thing I like about my local 15/70 IMAX theater is that the volume level is perfect- loud the way it should be without being uncomfortable.