IMAX Enhanced

[koberulz]

Overriding calibration to add random tweaks to audio settings is objectively bad.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Most folks prefer a smoothed over PQ and bloated bass so I’m sure many will like it. They’ll use it because their AVR will light up with the IMAX logo but in the end it’s another crappy DSP mode that bypasses setup options in the AVR. Soon we’ll see Logitech computer speakers get the IMAX badge. It reminds me of what THX Re-eq did, only instead of rolling off the highs with the x curve it’s adding bass and pumping up the dialogue.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

Most folks prefer a smoothed over PQ and bloated bass so I’m sure many will like it. They’ll use it because their AVR will light up with the IMAX logo but in the end it’s another crappy DSP mode that bypasses setup options in the AVR. Soon we’ll see Logitech computer speakers get the IMAX badge. It reminds me of what THX Re-eq did, only instead of rolling off the highs with the x curve it’s adding bass and pumping up the dialogue.

But THX Re-Equalization made a lot of sense on the early days of home cinema,specially with Dolby Digital as back in the 90's there were no home intended multichannel mixes, the same mix they used for cinema release ended up on the Laser Disc or DVD and some of them were earbleeders without THX or doing your own tweaking rolling off treble.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by EbonDragon

For sure, I’m not discounting the possibility that it’ll end up being a hot mess, I’m just wary of saying something is “objectively” a certain way when we don’t have the proof just yet.

It sounds like it's objective to say their goal is processing video to make it look more crisp and clear, and audio as well. I think we can say those goals are a turn-off, which limits how interested we are.

That said sure, we don't reallllly know until a movie comes out.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

But THX Re-Equalization made a lot of sense on the early days of home cinema,specially with Dolby Digital as back in the 90's there were no home intended multichannel mixes, the same mix they used for cinema release ended up on the Laser Disc or DVD and some of them were earbleeders without THX or doing your own tweaking rolling off treble.

Yeah I know what it does and why it was developed, I said IMAX seems to do the opposite. Some people myself included, do not want their mixes dulled or jacked up.

[sapiendut]

1. The inage will be DNR and re-color timed
2. Bass management is moved to 70Hz no matter what with 4th order slope instead of 2nd order
3. Ceiling speakers will create a phantom channel to mimic centre front height speaker just like in the IMAX theatres
4. your calibration target curve will be changed to IMAX target curve.
5. while THX attemps to provide the listener to experience the mixing stage environment, IMAX ENHANCED attemps to simulated experience of an IMAX cinema.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Yeah the 70hz won’t work for many people. My speakers can but I prefer the extra headroom. Many people don’t have subs capable of 20hz either. Also many people with Atmos modules need to set the crossovers at 150hz. It’s a very specific DSP mode that only a few will be able to take full advantage of. The only piece that has me intrigued is a theatrical mix over a near field.

[gotmule]

In the latest edition of Widescreen Review (First Man on the cover), there are about 12 pages of interviews with the head of IMAX post production along with VPs from Xperi (DTS) explaining their approach to IMAX enhanced. It was a pretty interesting read that some may call a puff piece or a biased interview since they are advertisers within the publication, but I still had a better understanding of what to expect after reading it.

A couple takeaways (not already listed in this thread) were:

- the post production on the video side is the same process they use before a movie is sent to a commercial theater, intending to remove grain and noise.
- there are no adjustments of any channel volume nor frequencies, as what we will get will be the original full range mix. What we have been listening to for all these years in our homes actually are the ones that have been adjusted.
- it was stated that they have not released the recommended speaker layout for home theaters yet, as their 5.0 and 12.0 layouts in commercial theaters have surround speakers in back corners.
- the .1 we will get is not a remix, but a conversion since there are a fair amount of receivers that can’t do the .0 roll off.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by gotmule

In the latest edition of Widescreen Review (First Man on the cover), there are about 12 pages of interviews with the head of IMAX post production along with VPs from Xperi (DTS) explaining their approach to IMAX enhanced. It was a pretty interesting read that some may call a puff piece or a biased interview since they are advertisers within the publication, but I still had a better understanding of what to expect after reading it.

A couple takeaways (not already listed in this thread) were:

- the post production on the video side is the same process they use before a movie is sent to a commercial theater, intending to remove grain and noise.
- there are no adjustments of any channel volume nor frequencies, as what we will get will be the original full range mix. What we have been listening to for all these years in our homes actually are the ones that have been adjusted.
- it was stated that they have not released the recommended speaker layout for home theaters yet, as their 5.0 and 12.0 layouts in commercial theaters have surround speakers in back corners.
- the .1 we will get is not a remix, but a conversion since there are a fair amount of receivers that can’t do the .0 roll off.

None of that makes me feel any better... especially on the picture front. What looks good on a projection screen blown up to HUGE proportions does not lend itself to the home environment very well.


After all this time jabbering on about their Enhanced program, they still haven't come up with a home speaker layout??? How about reformatting their center height speaker information so they don't have to use matrixing within the DTS: X format to accomplish it. Yes, that does mean remixing, but it would at least allow for better sound placement and panning in the home.


If they don't have some sort of re-EQ feature, theatrical mixes can sound brittle and harsh given that the front speaker section is firing through perfed screens and the higher frequencies are boosted to compensate.


It's possible that movies with an immersive mix (like, say, Atmos) that did not receive a 12 channel mix for specialty IMAX theaters may actually get a sound downgrade given that they state there is no true remixing going on. Plus, a true object-based Atmos mix that hasn't been overly tampered with may actually be superior to 12 channel IMAX as more speakers are in play.


I just hope IMAX titles receive normal UHD Blu-ray releases as well outside of their tampering. Then we can see which release is TRULY better.


16x9 reformatting doesn't float my boat either.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

None of that makes me feel any better... especially on the picture front. What looks good on a projection screen blown up to HUGE proportions does not lend itself to the home environment very well.


After all this time jabbering on about their Enhanced program, they still haven't come up with a home speaker layout??? How about reformatting their center height speaker information so they don't have to use matrixing within the DTS: X format to accomplish it. Yes, that does mean remixing, but it would at least allow for better sound placement and panning in the home.


If they don't have some sort of re-EQ feature, theatrical mixes can sound brittle and harsh given that the front speaker section is firing through perfed screens and the higher frequencies are boosted to compensate.


It's possible that movies with an immersive mix (like, say, Atmos) that did not receive a 12 channel mix for specialty IMAX theaters may actually get a sound downgrade given that they state there is no true remixing going on. Plus, a true object-based Atmos mix that hasn't been overly tampered with may actually be superior to 12 channel IMAX as more speakers are in play.


I just hope IMAX titles receive normal UHD Blu-ray releases as well outside of their tampering. Then we can see which release is TRULY better.


16x9 reformatting doesn't float my boat either.

I certainly agree with a lot of your points.

Especially about not having a reccomended speaker layout released yet. The interviewer actually circled back to the comment for clarification. The fact that DTS is limited to a number of channels is causing them to fake the center height channel instead of building it in the mix. I use a center height channel with Auros upmixing, and I must confess it is a pretty cool effect. Shame they can’t do it the right way.

I am also curious how many speakers in people’s homes will be blown if they are receiving a true theatrical mix.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Initially they were firm on the 70hz but have now said that they will allow users to customize for their speakers natural rolloff.

[sapiendut]

So they don’t have a real standard and they just making it up as they go along

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

None of that makes me feel any better...

Yeah, I dunno if it was supposed to make me feel better but "more removal of grain and noise" makes me feel the opposite.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yeah, I dunno if it was supposed to make me feel better but "more removal of grain and noise" makes me feel the opposite.

I have a friend who I'm sure will be happy with IMAX discs, he hates grain, he likes his screen to be full and complain all the time about "those damm black bars that waste my screen" and he loves things to be exagerated and very compressed sound with no dinamics, he loves how the Phil Collins era Genesis SACD's sound which are pure compressed garbage to me.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

So they don’t have a real standard and they just making it up as they go along

That's what I read so take with a grain of salt. Things would have been much clearer if they marketed it as a theatrical mix. Early reports suggested it was just more bass and louder center channel.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by gotmule

It was a pretty interesting read that some may call a puff piece or a biased interview since they are advertisers within the publication

WSR is the DTS Propaganda magazine. Reber's been so far up their backside that they sneeze when he does.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

WSR is the DTS Propaganda magazine. Reber's been so far up their backside that they sneeze when he does.

Gary is now supporting Auro as well. He produced a jazz cd in Auro 3d, and I believe moved his height speakers in his reference theater to the recommended Auro locations minus the VOG channel.

[Tim Glover]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

WSR is the DTS Propaganda magazine. Reber's been so far up their backside that they sneeze when he does.

Amen x 100.

Gary was Dr. DTS back in the laserdisc days vs AC-3...even when DTS was caught jacking up the loudness in the surround speakers to give the effect of 'better spatial" mixes.

Widescreen Review with all due respect has zero credibility.

IMO IMAX enhanced is just a way for DTS to re-gain some market share its lost since Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision have taken over the the 4K market.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Gary is now supporting Auro as well. He produced a jazz cd in Auro 3d, and I believe moved his height speakers in his reference theater to the recommended Auro locations minus the VOG channel.

It's because the Auro material relied on DTS as the carrier.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Tim Glover

Amen x 100.

Gary was Dr. DTS back in the laserdisc days vs AC-3...even when DTS was caught jacking up the loudness in the surround speakers to give the effect of 'better spatial" mixes.

Widescreen Review with all due respect has zero credibility.

IMO IMAX enhanced is just a way for DTS to re-gain some market share its lost since Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision have taken over the the 4K market.

Are they the "holosonic" guys? lol