Omnex Newsletter: October 22

mne Our news, our views October 2022

!

N I W

£1,000-worth of Christie Vive Audio technology up for grabs in our Free Prize Draw!

IN THIS ISSUE

See page 25 for details!

DIY: Tips to

Maximise

Sharpen up

keep your

picture quality

your image:

equipment

with a low-cost

affordable laser

at its best

new screen

projection

C O N TA C T U S

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0161 477 7633 available across the UK

sales@omnex.co.uk www.omnex.co.uk

SERVICE

PLANS

OUR SERVICE PLANS ARE MORE AFFORDABLE WITH PAY-MONTHLY PLANS FROM JUST £59 PER MONTH

We aim to save you money, improve cashflow, and keep you on screen - all for as little as £59 p/month.

Our engineers are geographically spread across the UK to provide outof-hours support 8am - 10pm daily.

You can sign up to a our Silver, Gold or Platinum service plans, which combine daily telephone support and remote intervention.

All of our support plans provide you with access to our online shopping portal for further discounts on Lamps and sundries.

It’s what we do Established in 1987, Omnex supplies, installs, services and maintains technologies to cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. We work alongside leading equipment manufacturers, and our goal is to support exhibitors in making cinema the ultimate place to enjoy the movie experience.

Truly the one-stop business for any cinema auditorium related items.

Contents

Discover…

In the October 2022 issue

08 10 14 20

Seeking efficiency? Why not look at the benefits of a modern screen.

Phil Clapp reflects on the success of this year’s National Cinema Day.

2022’s biggest event?

Top Gun. And Omnex was at the premiere.

Do rising energy costs make laser compelling?

We look at the maths.

WIN! 25 46 60 62

We’ve teamed up with Christie to offer goodies in a free prize draw!

We’ve got our eye on you in a good way: our NOC+ monitoring services.

Are you ready for 3D in your cinema? You should be… Avatar 2 is coming!

RAID: the lowdown on a storage solution that’s anything but redundant.

Get in touch with us at Omnex… +44 (0)161 477 7633

info@omnex.co.uk

www.omnex.co.uk

Affordable laser wows the crowds at the new Chiswick Cinema On p.22

Omnex is part of the MPS group.

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Q4, 2022

3

Our views

It’s all four the taking...

WE ARE REALLY pleased to

work with, ones that may well

highest-grossing film at the box-

share our 64-page bumper issue!

find a good home in your cinema.

office. That’s great news. Here’s

We started our newsletter with

As well as being distributors of

some more… We have big titles

just eight pages back in October

all major cinema technologies,

still to come in 2022. If you were

2019, and here we are — three

don’t forget we also still run with

at the recent Distributor Slate

years on — with eight times the

our

(i)

Days, you’ll have had a chance to

content! Perhaps our calling is

affordable pay-monthly service

catch ComScore’s take on the

actually in Distribution!?

plans, (ii) our dedicated website

2022 box office so far — there’s a

For those who haven’t seen

shop at omnex.co.uk, (iii) our

potted version on the opposite

our Newsletter before, it is our

seating division, and (iv) our

page if you missed it. It makes for

version of an industry update,

finance options to support the

healthy reading.

with items written by and based

broad range of technologies and

on the experience of the team at

services we provide.

four

core

offerings:

Equally upbeat and healthy reading is our Omnex newsletter.

Omnex. We like to give a balanced

I encourage you to read all about AND SOON THE clocks go

our services that help to make

back… If that was the summer-

technology an enabler of a

season, where blockbusters ring

growing cinema sector. Enjoy!

appraisal of technologies that we

With 64 pages in

in the till, does it feel a little as if

Simon Tandy,

our latest newletter,

we’re still waiting for some major

MD, Omnex

perhaps our

wake-up call was the unveilling of

calling is Content Distribution?

releases? Undeniably, this year’s the long-anticipated “Top Gun: Maverick”, now in its 20th week at the cinema. The film has secured

0161 477 7633 available across the UK

www.omnex.co.uk

SERVICE

SEATING

PLANS

SERVICES

OUR SERVICE PLANS ARE MORE AFFORDABLE WITH PAY-MONTHLY PLANS FROM JUST £59 PER MONTH

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0161 477 7633 available across the UK

sales@omnex.co.uk

sales@omnex.co.uk

www.omnex.co.uk

www.omnex.co.uk

SHOPPING

AT OMNEX

SOLUTIONS

IMAGINE A VPF, WHERE YOU’RE IN CONTROL WITH A RANGE OF FINANCE PACKAGES AVAILABLE

SIT BACK, RELAX, OMNEX PROVIDES SEATING SERVICES CONTACT THE TEAM AT OMNEX

Our engineers are geographically spread across the UK to provide outof-hours support 8am - 10pm daily.

In 2020 Omnex set up a brand new seating division, providing testing and inspection services of luxury recliner cinema seating.

At Omnex we have a dedicated team of seating technicians who specialise in the installation and repair of cinema seats.

You can sign up to a our Silver, Gold or Platinum service plans, which combine daily telephone support and remote intervention.

All of our support plans provide you with access to our online shopping portal for further discounts on Lamps and sundries.

Omnex helps cinemas with a range of seating, to suit a variety of budgets. With bespoke options for fabrication and control.

From traditional art-house and theatre seating, we also offer a range of luxury recliners from selected manufacturers.

A replacement projector installed and commissioned, with five years warranty and full Gold Support... all from Omnex from just £595* per month With a projector suitable for a 6m screen, a full five-year warranty and an inclusive service plan from just £595 per month, we believe the future is a lot more affordable.

With finance packages available to suit a range of screen sizes, we also have options to include full peace of mind - speak to our team for the most suitable equipment.

It’s what we do

It’s what we do

It’s what we do

Established in 1987, Omnex supplies, installs, services and maintains technologies to cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. We work alongside leading equipment manufacturers, and our goal is to support exhibitors in making cinema the ultimate place to enjoy the movie experience.

Established in 1987, Omnex supplies, installs, services and maintains technologies to cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. We work alongside leading equipment manufacturers, and our goal is to support exhibitors in making cinema the ultimate place to enjoy the movie experience.

Established in 1987, Omnex supplies, installs, services and maintains technologies to cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. We work alongside leading equipment manufacturers, and our goal is to support exhibitors in making cinema the ultimate place to enjoy the movie experience.

Truly the one-stop business for any cinema auditorium related items.

Truly the one-stop business for any cinema auditorium related items.

Truly the one-stop business for any cinema auditorium related items. *Terms & Conditions apply

4 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

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0161 477 7633 available across the UK

sales@omnex.co.uk

FINANCE

We aim to save you money, improve cashflow, and keep you on screen - all for as little as £59 p/month.

mne

C O N TA C T U S

mne

www.omnex.co.uk

C O N TA C T U S

0161 477 7633 available across the UK

sales@omnex.co.uk

CO N TAC T U S

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C O N TA C T U S

its current position as the 8th

info@omnex.co.uk

INTRODUCING SHOPPING@OMNEX OUR NEW ONLINE PORTAL FOR A RANGE OF CINEMA SUNDIRES This year, we introduced our online portal, allowing for the simple & efficient purchase of online cinema sundries.

We host a range of xenon projector lamps and filters; broadening the range of parts available in the future.

As well as stocking OEM filters, we also stock our own range of best-value filters for all xenon projectors.

Did you know... we also offer further discount to those signed up to our service agreements.

It’s what we do Established in 1987, Omnex supplies, installs, services and maintains technologies to cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland. We work alongside leading equipment manufacturers, and our goal is to support exhibitors in making cinema the ultimate place to enjoy the movie experience.

Truly the one-stop business for any cinema auditorium related items.

To £1bn... and beyond THE UK AND IRISH box-office is set to exceed £1bn by the end

seeing the year out on a much-

the highest-grossing Event

needed high.

Cinema release of all time.

of the year — if you were part of

Hearts [and tills] will have been

the audience at the recent

warmed by recent headlines and

forward to as well, not

Distributor Slate Days, held in

comment such as this: “by the

least the latest outing in

London on the 20-21 September

end of July, we had already

the

at Picturehouse Central that is

surpassed the total for 2021” and

Universe

the message you will have heard

“Top Gun: Maverick debuted at

Forever — in November,

from Lucy Jones at ComScore. By

No1 with £15.9m — the highest

and, of course, Avatar:

any measure, that’s a pretty

ever opening for Tom Cruise”.

The Way of Water in

positive outlook on the state of

From home soil, we have seen Belfast

—

Cinematic Wakanda

December.

both

post-pandemic year.

Abbey: A New Era as the highest

some

The estimate from Gower

grossing British titles of the year.

content to get your

Street’s weekly State of the

Event cinema has also paid

audiences

Market report suggests that we

dividends this year, notably with

into their seats

can expect to see a final Q4

Prima

this

boost as cinemas start screening

Comer. It debuted with £1.4m

Roll on the big

the autumn and winter slates,

and went on to £4.7m, becoming

releases!

www.omnex.co.uk

Downton

Marvel

the cinema sector in our first

Facie,

and

There is plenty to look

starring

mne

Jodie

That represents

info@omnex.co.uk

compelling firmly

Christmas.

Q4, 2022

5

Omnex news

A new costeffective LMS-TMS solution MOVING TO A full TMS software

Hardware Warranty, and a 2U Chassis

solution often required hardware that

(requires 800mm deep rack or will fit in

was prohibitive for smaller operators. At

a projector pedestal)

THE COST?

£3,495 ex vat Additional

Omnex we saw this problem firsthand.

To help resolve it we have made available

PRICING BUNDLE for a single-screen,

a new low-cost large-capacity Library

3 Year System: 3 Years AAM Screenwriter

screen / year to

Media Server (LMS) for the TMS software

TMS Software Licence, 3 Year Hardware

more than one

to be hosted on. Our new Omnex LMS

warranty (Ex Monitor and Keyboard),

screen are

features 6 x 8TB Drives in RAID 6 for

36TB LMS – 22TB of usable Storage

discounted to

robust data storage, CRU Drive Bay for

space, 1GB Network (Suitable for 1-5

match the

ingest, USB ingest, APC UPS monitoring

screens), 21.5” Monitor, Keyboard/Mouse,

included 3 years.

support, Robust SSD OS system, 16GB

Installation Included into an existing

RAM,

licences per

Network

suitable rack or projector pedestal.

Contact sales@

Options, SNMP Monitoring of RAID

Additional network links or network

omnex.co.uk

Status via Omnex NOC services, 3 Year

switched may be required.

1GB/4GB

or

10GB

Who’s there to support Omnex while Omnex supports you?

RECENT JOINER HAMISH BLAIR has hit the ground running as MPS’s new Head of People Experience. With a new take on how to turn boring HR into a more personable affair, one that is intrinsically linked to the culture of the company, his People Strategy will support Omnex, MPS and our sister group Chinagraph as they continue on the road to success. His strategy is centred around securing strong foundations — for example ensuring that policies and processes are up to date — then considering who we are as a company, and representative of our staff. Hiring, developing and retaining the best people is a critical piece of the puzzle. Off to a running start, the People Team is on the way to making true the MPS Group’s promise to be one of the best companies to work for by 2025.

6 Q4, 2022

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KCS: a perfect fit in a multi-use studio space WHEN OMNEX WAS asked to bring

Don’t miss the UKCA autumn meetings!

A REMINDER TO cinema folk — you are invited to attend any or all of the UK Cinema Association’s Autumn round of regional meetings (see dates below), which give you the chance to meet and network not just with a wide range of Association members, but also with colleagues from across the wider UK cinema industry.

SCOTLAND: Grosvenor, Glasgow – Weds 5 October WEST OF ENGLAND: Little Theatre, Bath – Thurs 13 October NORTH AND MIDLANDS: Arc Cinema, Beeston – Tues 18 October

The venue

big screen entertainment to a multi-use

now has

larger full-time cinema at the same

a fully

studio auditorium to complement the location, we needed to find a solution where speakers could be permanently

installed

fitted but out of the way for daytime use.

7.1 audio

lighting grid system installed and the

system which can be very simply set up for

The auditorium had an existing KCS SR29-N speakers provided an ideal solution when combined with the clamp mount brackets, that are installed on the front most lighting bar.

Combined

with

two

KCS

four-

channel amplifiers, a Trinnov Ovation 2 processor and a GDC Supra 5000 projector, the venue will benefit from a

cinema

fully installed 7.1 audio system which

use in the

minimum amount of time, with the

minimum

can be setup for cinema use in the minimum number of technicians.

amount of time.

WALES: Chapter, Cardiff – Thurs 27 October LONDON AND SOUTH EAST: Barbican, London – Tues 1 November NORTHERN IRELAND – Moviehouse Cityside, Belfast – Weds 16 November Exact details are to be confirmed, but in general terms all meetings start with a networking lunch at around 1pm and continue into at least the early evening.

To find out more or to register your interest in attending, email maria. constantinou@cinemauk.org.uk

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Q4, 2022

7

Changing screens

Projectors are only half the picture... Why not replace your screens?!

In the drive for efficiency, cinemas often think only of the projector. As Geoff Newitt explains, it’s wise not to ignore a new screen’s benefits.

ENERGY COSTS HAVE risen over the past year, as we all know. The impact on your cinema’s running costs is clear — ­ but there is a relatively simple way that you can reduce the power consumption at your site. Clearly the biggest change you can make is to replace your projector

In most cases, you will find that a new screen pays for itself in savings very quickly

8 Q4, 2022

and install a new power-friendly laser-

by your service engineer to maintain the

based projector — but we do understand

correct brightness, increasing the light

that this is not an option for every one of

output and the electricity consumption

our customers. So why not look at the

of your projection system.

difference that a change in screen can IF YOU PLAN TO keep your current

deliver to your electricity bill?

Over time your screens’ surfaces will

projector, then you could consider a

deteriorate, dust, and other airborne

cost-effective update of your screen

contaminants will reduce the efficiency,

surface. Depending on how long your

even vandalism has an impact, with fizzy

screen has been installed, you could see

drinks and sweets being common items

a considerable increase in efficiency

that the screen surface is damaged by.

allowing you to reduce your light output

During the years that the screen is

from your projector, which in turn will

installed, the projector will be calibrated

reduce electricity consumption, and in

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IF YOU ARE REPLACING your projector, then you should consider changing the screen at the same time. Depending on the size of your screen, and the shape of your auditorium it maybe beneficial to consider a new surface with a gain that will reflect more of the light back towards your customers (see inset image left). This increased light reflection will allow the projector to run at a lower power level, it can also occasionally mean that we can specify a lower output projector creating an overall cost saving on the entire installation package.

IF YOU KNOW THE size and type of screen surface you need, let us know and we can order a replacement for you, but if you need help with the size you need to order, let us advise you on the perforation type, the screen gain, and other considerations such as whether the screen is installed in a traditional

Depending on how long you have had your screen installed, you could see a big increase in your power efficiency if you replace it for a newer type

frame with masking, or a wraparound frame. Our engineers can help, we can survey the installation and talk through the options available.

some cases, reduce the lamp size introducing a purchase cost benefit with a longer lamp life further decreasing your expenditure. In most cases you will find that the screen pays for itself very quickly. One such venue to have recently replaced its screens is the Mallard Cinema, in Guernsey. An independently owned four-screen, the Mallard provides the island with it’s only big screen entertainment — and thanks to the help of Omnex engineers is now delivering a brighter image to cinemagoers.

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Q4, 2022

9

UKCA news

National cinema day drew the crowds in to celebrate the big screen. The UKCA’s Phil Clapp reflects on a successful campaign.

WHEN YOU READ THIS, National

Success of the event exceeded all hopes, with more

£1 Cinema Day in 1997) out of the park.

Cinema Day — Saturday, 3 September —

Equally importantly, feedback from

will be a distant but hopefully positive

cinema staff and on social media was

memory. Brought together by the cross-

that the event produced a huge sense of

industry body Cinema First, with support

excitement and celebration in returning

of the UKCA, the Film Distributors’

audiences. Being so close to the sector, it

Association and key players on both

is easy to forget the escape that a trip to

sides, the day was conceived primarily as

the big screen is for so many. National

a celebration of the place of cinema and

Cinema Day was perhaps a wake-up call

cinema-going in the UK public’s hearts.

to remind us of all that we collectively

Backed by a marketing campaign

represent.

across broadcast, print, online and

than 1.46m

outdoor, the aim was to excite the public,

AND THAT BRINGS ME to a final point,

not least with heavily-discounted tickets

which is a huge thank you to those across

admissions

at all participating sites at a time when

the industry who showed their support

household budgets are under pressure.

to National Cinema Day, extending the

on the day

Success of the event exceeded all

reach of our marketing across their own

expectations. With support of colleagues

social media and other channels. It was

in distribution and the involvement of

noted and appreciated and undoubtedly

over 570 UK cinemas — including major

had an impact in driving the numbers to

multiplexes, regional chains and a large

such heady heights.

number of smaller venues — National Cinema Day delivered in spades.

10 Q4, 2022

In terms of what’s next, it’s still early days and we continue to analyse a

We saw over 1.46 million admissions

number of aspects of the day, but fair to

one the day — an astonishing figure that

say I think that none of us is ruling out the

knocks those seen for previous events of

possibility of repeating the exercise in

their kind in the UK (including the

2023. So stay tuned!

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XMAS PARTY 8 Northumberland Avenue

THURSDAY Ist DECEMBER

SAVE THE DATE To reserve your table/places please email maria.constantinou@cinemauk.org.uk

Omnex news

Upgrading Stornoway’s big screen experience Detailed preparation meant the

Darren Briggs heads north to the Outer Hebrides to upgrade a community gem: An Lanntair, the cultural hub of Stornoway STORNOWAY ON THE Isle of Lewis

venue. This audio upgrade included all-

An Lanntair

hosts An Lanntair, a multi-arts venue

new speakers and cinema processor.

that houses an art gallery, theatre/

Now, to ensure it continues to provide

upgrade

cinema, a dance studio, restaurant and

the best show possible, the venue has

bar. Opened back in 2005, the 200-seat

upgraded to the latest laser light source

auditorium was initially installed with

projection. This delivers a welcome

of Lewis

35mm film projection which we then

reduction in running costs and it also

recently

replaced in 2014 with digital projection

enables far brighter 3D projection — ­ all

technology.

in time for the release of “Avatar 2”.

on the Isle

passed off seamlessly

12 Q4, 2022

In 2020 the audio system received an upgrade from the Omnex team,

AT THE TIME OF THE original digital

helping to improve further the big

installation, we had installed LANsat as

screen experience provided by the

well as a Screenwriter TMS system

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which was all neatly housed within the

BEING ONE OF THE harder to reach

projector pedestal. As the new projector

venues on a relatively remote island, full

had a slightly larger footprint compared

pre-configuration of the projector was

to the outgoing digital projector, a

carried out in the Omnex workshop

complete new pedestal was required.

prior to being transported together with

A Dolby IMS3000 server partnered the NEC NC1402L projector. This made

the new pedestal, accompanied by our own engineer to the venue.

the installation slightly more challenging

The installation day was planned

since the TMS, networking equipment,

meticulously to ensure that all could be

LANsat and advertising server all had to

completed quickly, with work starting

be fully removed and then re-installed

promptly at 9am. Of course the cinema

and wired into the new pedestal. 3D is

was back on screen, fully commissioned

also provided via Xpand Active glasses.

and ready for the 7pm show of “Nope”.

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The day was well planned to ensure all work could be completed quickly

Q4, 2022

13

Event Cinema news

Maverick: It was Top Fun too…!

THIS YEAR’S BIG CINEMA wake-up was the unveiling of the long-anticipated “Top Gun: Maverick”, which brought muchneeded footfall to the box-office.

To kick off one of the cinema highlights of the year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the UK premiere of the film at Leicester Square in London on Thursday 19th May. The premiere was hosted by Paramount Pictures and The Film and TV Charity. It was the 72nd Royal Film Performance™ delivered by the charity in its near 100-year history. The Omnex team joined forces with MPS’s premiere engineering team and our friends at Content Creator Studios to deliver the Royal Event to IMAX cinemas across the UK — a simultaneous satellite and IP broadcast to IMAX Cinemas across the UK, that brought the premiere buzz to audiences nationwide.

Access all areas…

HOUSED BEHIND THE recently refurbished Odeon Leicester Square, we set up ‘shop’ with a satellite uplink truck to take the filmed event to UK Cinemas — via satellite and Gofilex’s IP delivery system. Cinemas across the Square, including the Odeon West End, Cineworld at The Empire and Vue Cinemas, were supported by our experienced team of MPS Engineers who were responsibile for all pre-performance picture and sound alignment, running a number of format versions, including Screen X, IMAX and 2K performances. And to top it off, there were even special in-screen appearences from Tom Cruise and the crew!

14 Q4, 2022

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Live streaming your events via IP broadband?

With Cinio, it really is this simple.

Easy to connect, simple to select — instantly find your multiple available streams.

Experience plug-and-play connectivity on an available, robust and proven networkin over 25 countries worldwide and more than 2,500 sites… and growing.

This is how we do live.

Gofilex is proud to support Paralympian Niels de Langen Winner silver and bronze medal Paralympic Games, Beijing 2022

by Film services since 1938.

This is how we connect.

gofilex.com cinio.gofilex.com

Lamp adaptors

Adapt to survive: how to fit the (im)perfect lamp Pete Naples puts down the laptop and turns to the lathe to address a tricky illumination issue: what to do when you need less brightness!

How do we lower the light output? A woven, negative gain screen surface can reduce the illumination but does not go far enough. Install the lowest possible

What if the lamp you need to use is unavailable or you need to use less power than the minimum supported?

16 Q4, 2022

PROJECTORS PROJECT light: they

wattage of Xenon lamp? In the room in

need a light source. Few in the industry

question, that’s 3000W. Still too bright!

now have seen or worked with carbon

Defocus the Xenon lamp by adjusting

arc lamps. Many will have seen and

the Z axis? It helps, but the quality of

worked with laser projectors. All of us

light suffers in terms of illumination

have seen Xenon lamps.

uniformity. Not acceptable in a QC room!

Xenon lamps come in an array of

Xenon lamps can be unstable when run

shapes and sizes, as do the projectors

at extremes of their current range, so

they illuminate. As you well know, it’s

running a lamp on minimum current for

important to ensure you have the correct

extended periods of time isn’t feasible.

lamp for your projector and power rating

The solution was two-fold. First the

for your screen. But, what if the lamp

manufacturer supplied a low wattage

specified is unavailable? Or you need to

LPS for the projector, as well as special

use less power than the minimum

firmware which effectively reduced the

supported by the projector? The answer

minimum wattage to 1200W. You can’t

might be… a lamp adaptor. Many will be

drive a 3000W lamp at 1200W and

familiar with the brass lamp adaptors

expect colour to be accurate, nor can

supplied by projector manufacturers or,

you expect reliability. So, we need to

in

install a 1200W lamp that won’t fit. And

the

film

domain,

lamphouse

manufacturers. What if we can’t use

the

those or need a lamp not provided for?

appropriate adaptors.

manufacturer

doesn’t

provide

SCENARIO ONE: Most QC rooms are

SCENARIO TWO: The site conditions

small with a small screen. They need 4K

(screen size and surface type etc) dictate

resolution, but 4K projectors tend to be

a 3000W lamp, the lowest wattage

big and tend to be bright, making it

specified for the Barco DP4K32B in the

impossible to hit target illumination of

XL lamphouse. However, at the time of

14fl. The client has NEC 4K projectors

installation the specified 3000W lamp

which put out a stunning picture, just far

was unobtainable. But another style of

too bright. Not ideal for a 3m screen!

3000W HS lamp was. Sadly it didn’t fit…

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ENTER THE MYFORD… My late father had a small Myford ML10 lathe which I now have. I don’t possess his level of skill, but I am able to produce lamp adaptors from a lump of round brass stock.

On the drawing board, I look at the critical dimensions of the lamp I can use vs the lamp I want to use. It’s vital that the arc sits in the focal plane of the reflector, which isn’t something you can easily see. It’s a position in thin air!

I look at the LCL (Light Centre Length) dimension of the two lamps in question, referencing

from

the

rear

(Cathode) lamp mount. The difference tells me how long my adaptors need to be overall.

Good old-

Generally they are not equal.

Usually the Anode adaptor is longer than the Cathode. This is because

The DHS lamp has a smaller pin than

the Anode end might be supported by a

the one available. I measured the pin of

yoke just in front of the reflector (Christie-

the lamp to be fitted. Luckily it was a

style), or it may be a pin which fits into a

standard drill size. I could quickly modify

supporting boss in the front cover of the

the factory-supplied adaptor to suit.

lamphouse (Barco-style). The important things are that the arc sits in the right

WITH SUPPLY CHAIN issues of late,

place, and the overall length of our small

some lamps have become scarce. That

lamp with adaptors fitted is the same as

led me to think it was time to revisit

the large lamp. Then I look at the end

lamp adaptors. Omnex has now also

caps, there are a variety of designs. Some

installed DHP lamps in Kinoton DCP II

are pins and some are threaded.

projectors which had been using HS/

fashioned skills still have a role in making sure the show goes on

HSC lamps from the 35mm catalogue.

IN THE CASE OF THE NEC lamps for

Speaking of 35mm, we are seeing longer

the QC rooms, it required both adaptors

lead times on those, so something which

to be machined from a 30mm diameter

could be explored now is the use of

piece of brass stock, then cross-drilled

digital projection lamps in a 35mm

and tapped for grub screws.

lamphouse — with appropriate adaptors!

The job of fitting the non-specified

Of course, what is most satisfying in

3000W lamp in the Barco XL lamphouse

the era of networks and touch-screens, is

was simpler. The two lamps in question

that good old-fashioned mechanical

were dimensionally identical, with one

engineering still has a role to play in

exception, the Cathode pin diameter.

making sure that the show still goes on.

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

17

Content management

Talking about the TMS… Is basic sufficient, or do you need a feature-rich system?

Your theatre management system is a powerful tool in day-today cinema management. Darren Briggs looks at some of the features you could take advantage of with a full TMS system.

FIRST OFF... WHAT’S the difference

systems as the hub of all operations

when it comes to managing your

required, using the LMS hardware as the

content? In simple terms, a TMS (Theatre

main Library for content storage.

Management System) is the software

18 Q4, 2022

package which will run on hardware.

ENTRY TMS OR basic level TMS

This hardware — on a full system — Is

Software often only provides enough

generally known as a LMS – Library

interaction to add dynamic advertising

Management Server.

packs. The systems don’t allow remote

Larger storage capacity on the

projector control or status of the

Library Management Server is one

projection system to be controlled or

major use of the LMS, alongside running

allow you to manage content from all

the operating system the TMS software

devices on the network.

relies on. The LMS and the TMS go hand-

Also the smaller the server the less

in-hand to manage content, playlists

content storage in general. That means

and scheduling efficiently.

these more rudimentary systems can’t

The LMS is used to ingest all content

be used as long-term storage and they

from all sources, via the TMS software.

don’t ingest from external delivery

Only content required on the individual

devices such as LANsat. For some sites

playback servers is sent so as not to use

that’s not a major drama, but for others

the playback servers as general storage.

its means substantially more manual

The latest Smart TMS functions can

management of content is required,

also manage and auto-delete content

ingesting to screen servers directly from

and playlists on the screen servers,

such solutions as LANsat. Fine if you

optimising their local storage.

don’t put on many shows, but a more

The TMS software then speaks to the

seamless solution can often deliver so

screen servers, advert delivery systems,

much more — and that’s where a full

content delivery systems and even POS

TMS solution comes in.

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

A FULL TMS SOFTWARE solution, as

CONTENT MANAGEMENT is key to

you can imagine, provides Management

ensuring an efficient cinema operation.

of your theatres. A full TMS is usually

A TMS will never replace fully decisions

licensed per screen per year, with the

required on content, but the latest

rationale behind this business model

smart TMS solutions certainly give

being that it adds far more control over

operators a huge helping hand. Control

your complex and updates regularly as

over the server and projector is also

the software is further developed. It

available on full TMS systems, avoiding

ensures compatability with new servers

the frustrating ‘Function Not available’

and projectors as you upgrade your kit.

message you see on entry level systems

Linking to a POS system is also a big

when tantalising buttons are pressed.

advantage to cinemas where available,

If you opt for a full TMS software

as it can auto-populate your schedule to

solution, you will find it goes hand-in-

match the box office.

hand with a large reliable LMS hardware

A typical full LMS will have at least

solution. Omnex has a new LMS server

11TB of usable storage. Generally, the

designed to run the latest Screenwriter

smaller the cinema, the more varied a

smart TMS software. This is a software

film program is played and therefore

widely used around the world and will

sites do find that local server storage

integrate with your POS and all delivery

does quickly become very full and larger

server options. Give us a call if you’d like

capacity is often required.

to know more!

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Smaller sites with more varied programs often find local server storage quickly becomes very full

Q4, 2022

19

Laser projection

Bring on the lasers!

Laser projectors

As laser projection becomes a reality for a wider spectrum of cinemas, Omnex’s head of engineering Darren Briggs examines the key facts and figures you need to know if you’re in the market for an upgrade.

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, laser light

presently mastered for the DCI P3

projectors are becoming the norm. The

colour space which xenon projectors

manufacturers now have a good range

easily operate in. This means the wider

suitable for smaller screens as well as

colour gamut in some laser units is not

available

initial ranges made for the PLF screens.

used fully for DCI projection — currently.

to suit all

electronics still have their place, notably

ALTHOUGH ALL projectors require to

in post-production screening rooms or

be operated within a set temperature

are now widely

budgets

Xenon machines featuring the latest

£££ part-time cinemas where it is still the

range, heat from a laser projector is

most cost-effective of routes into DCI

greatly reduced compared to a xenon

Cinema projection. From a technical

unit. The knock-on is the possibility of

perspective, standard* DCI content is

removing the extract ducting fully and

ELECTRICITY COSTS Xenon Vs Laser

As of Sept 2022 a cost increase of an average of 73% in 2002 over 2021 is

Laser vs Xenon power consumption

A smaller S2K Xenon projector consumes approx. 2.5kW A comparable Laser based system only 0.9kW

expected — a unit price of an average

The scale remains similar all the way through model ranges

19p/kWh to 33p/kWh. What does that

and is an average. The headline average is that a laser

mean to a projector’s running costs?

projector draws at least 50% less power.

2021

2022

How much could switching from a small xenon-based

Xenon Projector

£1,995

£3,465

projector save you per year?

£718

£1,247

Electricity cost Laser Projector

Electricity cost

Based on average 4,200hrs’ operation, electricity costs/year (11.5 hours/day)

20 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

Lamp Costs

2022

(3000/Lamp)

Power

Running Costs

Xenon £595 usage

£3,465

£4,298

Laser

£1,247

£1,247

N/A

mne

Total

Saving of £3,051 / year

info@omnex.co.uk

KEY TERMS AND PRODUCTS AVAILABLE LASER PHOSPHOR LIGHT SOURCE - Use of a combination of Laser plus a Phosphor wheel (Which in turn generates a different colour) to generate a White Light source. Often just Blue or Red and Blue lasers are used. NEC use Blue laser and Red/Blue laser light sources in combination with the use of a phosphor wheel. The advantage of Phosphor is the near elimination of all visible Speckle. simply cooling the room with A/C. Each cinema is unique and Omnex can advise

RGB – Pure Red, Green and Blue lasers making up the

on the environment vs any saving to be

White light source. Providing the widest range of colour

made when upgrading to laser. A

reproduction and can produce very bright images for

standard projection room of a new build

larger screens.

will not require extract ducting, only room A/C. (A xenon unit requires both).

RGB 6P – As per RGB but when using dual projectors,

With Omnex finance options available,

left and right with different wavelengths of the three

paying a set monthly fee for a new

Primary colours. Using colour filtering glasses, 3D can be

projector, warrantied and supported,

achieved without any further equipment (Dolby Cinema

makes upgrading easier still.

for example).

IN PRACTICAL TERMS, laser does

CHRISTIE’S RGBE - Pure Red, Green and Blue Laser

generally improve contrast and long-

with phosphor wheel to provide low to non-existent

term stable 14fl brightness is a huge

speckle but at a lower cost to pure RGB for smaller

benefit in comparison to a xenon**

screens.

projector whose light output decreases over its hours before being replaced.

BARCO SMART LASER – The range of SP projectors use

Power consumption of laser light source

a varied combination of R/G/B lasers with a Phosphor

projectors can be a lot lower than xenon

wheel to produce the white light source. A great modular

equivalents. This can make a material

design which has greatly reduced the cost of Laser light

difference to operating costs. Look for

source for the latest range of 2K and 4K projectors

the Lumens Per Watt figures. With the vast range of laser light source projectors

SPECKLE – The name given to the visible interference

available to fit most budgets, in 2022,

patter generated between the laser light reflected from

laser is certainly here for the masses.

the screen surface and the laser light being projected to

*Dolby Cinema and IMAX laser both have

the screen causing the wavelengths to interact. Generally

bespoke DCPs created to use the wider

higher reflective screens cause more speckle. Speckle

colours available.

has been greatly reduced by both projector manufactures

**A xenon projector should not fall lower

and the latest generations of screen surfaces. Matt White

than DCI min. brightness if specified,

screens don’t suffer with speckle.

calibrated and maintained correctly.

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

21

The Chiswick Cinema

The Chiswick Cinema: affordable laser comes of age Superb image, low maintenance, great value: there’s a reason Omnex specified Christie laser projectors in London’s latest independent cinema destination. budget, which turned the original spec for a mix of laser and Xenon illumination into laser throughout. The five screens range from 4 to 8.5 metres, so projectors of different sizes were selected to match the requirements from three ranges and two technologies: the RGBe and RGB

pure

laser

technology

with

CineLife™ and Real|Laser illumination.

“LYN CAME TO US to recommend projectors for the cinema as a trusted technical partner. She was familiar with Christie from the Picturehouse Cinemas, where Christie’s equipment was widely THE CHISWICK CINEMA in London

in use. Lyn’s Abbeygate cinema also uses

When

was a success from the start. As the

a CP4330-RGB pure laser projector on

the team

passion project of UK cinema pioneer

its flagship screen,” explains Darren

Lyn Goleby, co-founder of Picturehouse

Briggs, Omnex’s head of engineering.

crunched

Cinemas, that’s not a huge surprise

“Although our original spec was a

Owned by Trafalgar Entertainment

mix of laser and Xenon, there were

and developed and launched by Lyn, it

delays in the build, during which Christie

numbers,

is a standout venue. An entirely new

announced higher levels of affordability

build on the site of the former Ballet

for laser, introducing their RGBe range, a

the RGBe

Rambert, it is an independent with an

powerful solution for smaller screens,

intimate boutique feel. The venue has a

and ideal for use in this site,” said Darren.

all the

projector

club atmosphere with members, private

“The numbers fitted the budget. We

became

hire and five screens. Christie RGB laser

could easily show low running costs plus

a game-

projectors illuminate all five screens;

the advantage with no lamps. For a little

naturally image quality was key, but

more upfront cost than Xenon there is

Christie’s laser also offered value.

payback within a few years,” continued

changer

22 Q4, 2022

When the team at Omnex crunched

Darren. “The CP2306-RGBe will give DCI

all the numbers, the RGBe projector

brightness for around 30,000hrs and is

became a real game-changer in the

low maintenance with a sealed light

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

source. The colour gamut is extended,

Crucially, it also delivers the best TCO in

offering outstanding image quality for

the industry with up to 50,000 hours of

the audience,” he said. “There is low

operational life.”

maintenance and reduced cooling;

“The largest auditorium, which uses

and it is a more ecological choice — an

the CP4315-RGB projector is used by a

important consideration for the site. The

local film studio for testing pre-release

RGBe was a new platform for us, but it

content,” says Darren, “Christie laser

really impressed us when we saw the

projectors give better, brighter images

image vibrancy. In brightness terms, it

for a longer period, and they produce a

was more than the specs say that it is,

lot less heat meaning stress on cooling

while running close to minimum power.”

systems is reduced. The projectors are compact and suited to pod enclosures.

THE SMALLEST auditorium, with just

These auditoriums all use pods to house

16 seats, has a small dining room

their projectors. Audiences will get a

attached for private parties or company

great

presentations. In the 60-seat auditorium

affordable platform that will perform

Omnex selected Christie CP2306-RGBe

long into the future.”

visual

experience

from

an

Audiences will get a great visual experience from an affordable, futurefocused platform

projectors. The other three auditoriums, two with 8.5m screens, one with a 7.3m screen,

feature

CP4315-RGB

and

CP2309-RGB projectors, respectively.

Phil Lord, the sales manager at Christie, explains the R&D behind the Real|Laser illumination. “It hinges on how we engineered the Multi Laser Pack Devices (MPDs) to deliver audiences true-to-life detailed image brightness, image uniformity and high contrast — and it is all factory calibrated to hold the colour balance for years with almost no maintenance.

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

23

CHRISTIE M1 SPEAKER CHRISTIE M1 SPEAKER SYSTEM CHRISTIE M1 SPEAKER CHRISTIE M1 SPEAKER SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM Christie Digital Systems, Inc. 10550 Camden Drive | Cypress, CA 90630

christiedigital.com/cinema

The M1 stereo system is a high quality audio speaker system that showcases key features of Christie® Vive Audio™, including Christie ribbon driver technology and class D amplification.

The M1for stereo system a high speaker system that showcases key features of Perfect your office or is home.

Thequality soundaudio is excellent – rich and clear!

Christie® Vive Audio™, including Christie ribbon driver technology and class D amplification.

The M1 stereo system is a high quality audio speaker system that showcases key features of Perfect for your office or home.

Theby sound is excellent – rich and clear!

This impressive package, inspired the Christie Vive Audio brand campaign ® ™ Vive Audio Christieaudio ribbon driver system technology and class Dkey amplification.

Christie The M1 stereo system, including is a includes high quality speaker that showcases features of “Complete the Experience”, the following components: ® Perfect for yourAudio office™or home. TheChristie sound is excellent – rich and clear! and class D amplification.

Vive , including ribbon driver technology Christie This impressive package, inspired by the Christie Vive Audio brand campaign Perfect for your office or home.

The sound is excellent – rich and clear! › A pair of M1 ribbon driver speakers “Complete the Experience”, includes the following components: This impressive package, inspired by the Christie Vive Audio brand campaign › One class D digital miniincludes amplifierthe following components: “Complete Experience”, This impressive package, inspired by the Christie Vive Audio brand campaign › A pair the of M1 ribbon driver speakers › Necessary connecting wires andthe power cord components: “Complete the Experience”, includes following › One D digital amplifier A pairclass of M1 ribbonmini driver speakers ›› Necessary A pairclass of M1 ribbonmini driver speakers connecting wires and power cord One D digital amplifier ›› One class D digital miniwires amplifier Necessary connecting and power cord › Necessary connecting wires and power cord

W

IN

O

r ou e rs w s e li e r a ls p d e ! a i up z e i t e t S p ri o s x r d n e se pp Fo m c a e o g ow pa Sh on

Christie Digital Systems, Inc. 10550 Camden Drive | Cypress, CA 90630

!

Christie Digital Systems, Inc. 10550 Camden Drive | Cypress, CA 90630 Christie Digital Systems, Inc. 10550 Camden Drive | Cypress, CA 90630 Christie Digital Systems, Inc. 10550 Camden Drive | Cypress, CA 90630

christiedigital.com/cinema

christiedigital.com/cinema christiedigital.com/cinema christiedigital.com/cinema

s up p li e r

showcase

t h g i l t o p s 2 2 0 2 r e b Octo s r e i l p p u s x e n m O on

!

N WI £1,000-worth of Christie Vive Audio technology up for grabs in our Free Prize Draw!

To celebrate the best in cinema technologies, the teams at Omnex and Christie have got together to offer a special free prize draw for our customers — enter for your chance to win fantastic Christie Vive Audio Technology!

IN THIS ISSUE of the Omnex newsletter, we have teamed up with our friends at Christie to celebrate the best in the world of cinema technology — we have a fantastic bundle of Christie Vive Audio goodies to give away in our free prize draw, including a superb M1 speaker system with digital mini amplifier to fill your home or office with rich, clear Vive Audio.

We’ve also got 25 handy Christie speaker docs and other Vive goodies, too!

To enter, send an email with the subject “Christie Draw” and your name, contact details and the site you work for to…

info@omnex.co.uk Closing date is 8th December 2022 and winners will be announced on 15th Dec 2022.

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

25

Trinnov audio

Part of the solution...

In locations like the BFI Southbank, the Dominion Edinburgh, the Aldeburgh Cinema and Woodbridge’s Riverside, Trinnov’s Ovation2 cinema processor delivers improved premium audio whether it be just a processor replacement or as part of a larger package upgrade.

ALDEBURGH CINEMA in Suffolk is one

Omnex replaced an aging system, with a

Trinnov’s

of a number of sites where the Omnex

Trinnov Ovation and QSC Speakers and

team has improved the premium sound

amplifiers. This combination has made

Ovation2

experience through the installation of

an enormous difference to the quality

the Trinnov Ovation2 cinema sound

and intelligibility of the audio in the

processor. A charitable enterprise that

room, often a concern in older sites and

the audio

has been at the heart of the community

in those that were not necessarily built

in a truly

for over 100 years, the Aldeburgh cinema

for the sole purpose of screening films.

has entertained audiences since the

According to Omnex’s Suffolk-based

silent era through to live transmissions

engineer, Tony Everett-Spearing, general

from the Metropolitan Opera and the

manager Michele Kench and the team

National Theatre. Clearly, sound quality

at the Aldeburgh Cinema were blown

matters now more than it ever has.

away with the improvements that the

elevates

diverse range of venues.

To ensure a loyal and discerning audience enjoy the best possible sound,

26 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

installation has made to the experience within the auditorium.

info@omnex.co.uk

supplier

showcase

What are they all hearing?

IMPROVED DIALOGUE QUALITY ­­— this is the most consistent comment that the Trinnov team hears IMPROVED SUBWOOFER AND BASS — our time alignment yields better performance A MORE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE — all speakers working together as the filmmaker intended OVERALL SYSTEM CLARITY — due to precise room measurement/calibration THE ALDEBURGH CINEMA

BFI SOUTHBANK

FOR A NUMBER OF years, the business strategy at Trinnov has been a relatively straightforward proposition — let people hear the product, and let them make their own decision, ideally in their own cinema which they know very well.

The success of these demonstrations tells its own tale and explains Trinnov’s growth from a company serving the French market back in 2015 to one that delivers to customers worldwide today.

THE DOMINION, EDINBURGH

THE RIVERSIDE, WOODBRIDGE

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

27

LASER CINEMA

Bring Screens to Life!

The NEC NC1202L & NC1402L DC Laser Projectors deliver the ultimate theatre experience.

Captivate your audience with ultra-crisp almost speckle-free Laser technology with 7,000 and 9,500 lumens in 2K resolutions.

Visit sharpnecdisplays.eu

upportQ-SYS users ecosystem

ith remote helpdesk tool e and interact with your remote stems’ user control interfaces from a mple web browser, and resolve issues thout putting boots on the ground.

Q-SYS: perfect in today’s cinemas ncrease uptime

— making the most of the space — with

ith remote design updates oubleshoot, Steve update and redeploy Case explores the benefits of a modern sign files to systems anytime from management ywhere, without the need for ecosytem in your cinema mplex network or remote desktop nfigurations.

the heat dissipation is less of an issue,

NO PROJECTOR ROOMS: Today’s

speaker cables. The Q-SYS system also

cinema projectors no longer need large

provides non-cinema audio and video

projection rooms. Projectors can be in

links for presentation from within the

for Omnex customers only enclosures at the rear of the auditorium or suspended the ceiling, named 60 day freefrom trial

the audio processing in a central control room/manager’s office from which the technical team can then monitor what’s going on. And the power amplifiers can be behind the auditorium screen where the speaker cables are shorter, reducing the amount of work the amplifiers need to do, with less cost involved installing

auditoriums via the same network link.

as hush-boxes or pods. This leads to a www.qsys.com/reflect

THE Q-SYS SYSTEM can power down

question: where do you put the audio

the amplifiers when they are not in use

processing and amplifiers? ©2022 Q-SYS, LLC all rights reserved.

QSC,Q-SYS and the QSC logo are registered and trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries.

automatically wake them up before

One answer can be to install all of

the first screening. Being a network

the audio equipment in a server room.

system, Q-SYS automatically monitors

This can take the form of multiple audio

itself and will show any issues, such as

systems in one room, sometimes beside

amplifier faults and even speaker short

all the IT servers that a cinema needs to

or open circuits. NOC centres can

operate efficiently in the modern age.

monitor the Q-SYS ecosystem and the

The disadvantage? Server rooms

Q-SYS Reflect system can connect your

now need a larger footprint, taking up

system back to the technical support

more space. Staff must also attend the

team from QSC who can offer real time

server room to control audio systems,

support in the event of any issues. In

and the increased heat load on the

total, a very versatile system!

room uses more power to run a/c

The Q-SYS system helps you to make the most of your

systems to keep it all cool. And then there are the miles of speaker wiring from the speakers to the amplifiers.

QSC Q-SYS provides a simple solution. The audio processor can connect to the amplifiers through a simple network connection, allowing the audio processor to

cinema’s

be located remotely from the

footprint

can now see the projectors

amplifiers. A typical installation mounted in small enclosures

30 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

connect, monitor & manage. the future of cinema

Q-SYS allows remote monitoring and management, which means there is less downtime and more showtime. support users with remote helpdesk tool See and interact with your remote systems’ user control interfaces from a simple web browser, and resolve issues without putting boots on the ground.

increase uptime with remote design updates Troubleshoot, update and redeploy design files to systems anytime from anywhere, without the need for complex network or remote desktop configurations.

for Omnex customers only 60 day free trial www.qsys.com/reflect

©2022 Q-SYS, LLC all rights reserved. QSC,Q-SYS and the QSC logo are registered trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries.

Cinionic laser

Cinionic: pure laser-focus Offering the industry’s most extensive laser solutions portfolio, cinemas worldwide benefit from Cinionic’s award-winning and sustainable laser solutions for all screens, from boutique to giant.

Working

CINIONIC IS LASER-FOCUSED on

It’s no surprise that the world’s

cinema and proudly offers a laser

largest theater chains choose laser from

hand with

solution for every screen. Since laser’s

Cinionic to deliver a wow experience for

exhibitors,

market debut in 2014, Laser Projection

audiences and to reduce operational

by Cinionic has set a new standard for

complexity. When talking about the

Cinionic is

cinemas. Cinionic leads the market with

benefits of laser versus traditional lamp-

more than 30,000 cinema laser solutions

based projectors, Cinionic refers to the

elevating

deployed and thousands of all-laser

suite of laser advantages as ‘360 degrees

multiplexes worldwide. The momentum

of laser benefits’, covering the visual

with laser is thanks to Cinionic and

performance, the viewer’s experience,

Barco’s rich heritage in cinema and

operational excellence, and efficient

more than 100,000 projectors.

sustainability.

hand in

the cinema experience

Key benefits of laser...

Visual performance 86% of moviegoers rank picture quality as the main factor when deciding to see a film in a cinema (ERM Research, 2019). Cinionic Laser solutions are brighter, offer higher contrast, and greater uniformity, eliminate lamp flicker, and can deliver a broader colour spectrum. Audiences notice the wow factor and that keeps them coming back.

Moviegoer satisfaction Laser offers proven benefits to enhance visual performance and audience satisfaction. When audiences are presented with laser projection, they will see the difference. When they are educated about Laser Projection by Cinionic, they value the visible benefits it brings to the big screen.

32 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

Operational excellence Laser projection offers peace of mind for exhibitors with simpler operations thanks to the absence of lamp changes, flawless 2D-3D switching, reduced maintenance and training, and consistent DCI performance over time.

Sustainable efficiency When a cinema chooses laser, it’s a choice to use fewer resources and to deliver an eco-friendly presentation. Laser is a less wasteful technology than lamps and offers savings on cinema construction with boothless options, lower HVAC consumption, the elimination of lamp expenditures, reduced electricity consumption, and an optimised technology lifetime.

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

34 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

35

Christie technology

RealLaser... Real Savings Class-leading efficiency is a welcome benefit at a time of soaring energy costs. Good job Christie’s projectors have you covered.

AS WE CONTINUE TO find ways to

rise, this translates to savings that could

reduce exhibitors’ TCO (Total Cost of

be more than $USD500 per projector

Ownership), writes Christie cinema

per year, as the chart below illustrates.

sales manager Phil Lord, the latest

Better energy efficiency results in a

adaptations to our CineLife+™ and

more sustainable and environmentally

Real|Laser™ illumination, Christie’s new

friendly projector that consumes less

CP4425-RGB and CP4435-RGB, offer

energy

30-50% higher operational efficiency

effectively… We’re really putting the

than our competitors.

green into RGB! For more information,

As volatile energy costs continue to

36 Q4, 2022

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

and

dissipates

heat

more

visit us at christiedigital.com/cinema

info@omnex.co.uk

supplier

showcase

Identifying the perfect projector…

EVER WONDER what model names of Christie projectors

Everything you need to know about our latest projectors:

mean? We created a simple system to help you find the right resolution, electronics platform, brightness, and illumination source by glancing at its name, as you can see above.

We are dedicated to providing options in a variety of specifications, to ensure we offer the widest range of cinema

• 26,000 and 35,000 lumens projectors

projection, period. From Xenon to RGB, we offer the options

offer more brightness options for

you need, from the most affordable to the most advanced.

mainstream cinemas • 30-50% better operational efficiency over the leading competition • 32% energy savings over the leading

Vive and Powersoft: a powerful boost to your cinema sound

competition WE ADDED POWERSOFT® amplifiers to our product

• 50% more lumens per watt; that’s 15 lumens per watt of electricity!

offerings so that exhibitors can find all the best cinema

• Future-proofed electronics, with

equipment in one place. Powersoft amplifiers create amazing

electronic color convergence (ECC),

sound and pair exceptionally well with our Vive Audio®

enhanced wavelength diversity (EWD),

loudspeakers. Learn how you can amplify your Vive Audio

and more proprietary IP built in

system and make running your theatre sound easier than ever.

• Field-serviceable, so you no longer have to send equipment in for repairs • Completely backwards-compatible with components purchased for other CineLife and CineLife+ projectors, further reducing our manufacturing carbon footprint

www.omnex.co.uk

mne

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

37

AllAll England EnglandLawn LawnTennis TennisClub, Club,Wimbledon Wimbledon

Odeon Cinemas Odeon Cinemas

From Odeon Cinemas to Wimbledon Centre Court, From Odeon Cinemas to Wimbledon Centre Court, Camatic Seating delivers high quality seating Camatic Seating delivers high quality seating solutions to venues across the United Kingdom solutions to venues across the United Kingdom and Europe. and Europe.

WORLD LEADING CINEMA CINEMAAND ANDSTADIUM STADIUM WORLD LEADING SEATING MANUFACTURERSWITH WITHMORE MORE SEATING MANUFACTURERS THAN 50 YEARS YEARS OF OF EXPERIENCE. EXPERIENCE. THAN 50 Working some of of the themost mostrecognisable recognisablefacilities facilitiesinincinema cinemaand and sports Working with with some sports architecture, Camatic Seating designs and manufactures high quality seating solutions architecture, Camatic Seating designs and manufactures high quality seating solutions that perform above venue managers expectations and leave audiences comfortable that perform above venue managers expectations and leave audiences comfortable for We have have aa proven provenrange rangeof ofininhouse housedesigned designedproducts products and tailored for hours. hours. We and tailored services suit the the following followingvenues. venues. services to to suit •• •• •• ••

Cinemas and and theatres theatres Stadiums and and arenas arenas Retractable seating seating Product customisation, customisation,installation, installation,servicing servicingand andmaintenance maintenance contracts contracts

Camatic Seating is toto deliver cinema Camatic is proud proud to tohave havestrategically strategicallypartnered partneredwith withOmnex Omnex deliver cinema seating installation installation and the UKUK and seating and programmed programmedmaintenance maintenancepackages packagesacross across the and Europe. Contact our your next project Europe. our newly newlyestablished establishedEuropean Europeanoffice officetotodiscuss discuss your next project and let us guide you and you to to your yourperfect perfectseating seatingsolution. solution.

EUROPEAN OFFICE EUROPEAN OFFICE

Camatic Seating Camatic Seating C/ Travesseres nr. 43 C/ Travesseres nr. 43 08401 - Granollers 08401 - Granollers Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Telephone:Spain +34 620 216 673 Telephone: +34 620 216 673 Email: sales@camatic.com Email: sales@camatic.com website: www.camatic.com/uk website: www.camatic.com/uk

GLOBAL HEAD OFFICE GLOBAL HEAD OFFICE

Camatic Pty Ltd Camatic Pty Ltd 93 Lewis Road Wantirna South, 93 Lewis Road Wantirna South, VIC 3152 VIC 3152 Australia Australia +61 3 9837 7777 Telephone: Telephone: +61 3 9837 7777 Email: sales@camatic.com Email: sales@camatic.com Website: www.camatic.com/au Website: www.camatic.com/au

Integrated innovations for a complete cinema solution

Introducing Dolby Cinema Processor CP950A Fully featured, fully immersive Dolby Atmos The Dolby Atmos Cinema Processor CP950A, the newest addition to Dolby’s market-leading line of cinema processors, is designed to deliver an exceptionally immersive Dolby Atmos experience in a flexible, modular, cost-efficient solution.

The Dolby Integrated Media Server IMS3000 With flexible storage options and robust feature set.

Dolby, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. © 2022 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.

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7/9/2565 BE 23:15

Immersive Audio

Where’s my Atmos...

And what is an IAB!?

Spoiler alert... IAB is a new SMPTE standard; Dolby Atmos is a system to play the standard back. C.J. Flynn, of CinemaTestTools, considers a three-letter change coming to your cinema soon.

MORE ACRONYMS! More DCP file

1. Movies that use the standardised

names to understand… Fortunately, the

method for Immersive Audio will use

latest — IAB — is simple to understand.

the term “IAB Compliant“.

Cinema operators need to know that a

2. IAB Compliant soundtracks will be

change is coming which will cause those

labeled “IAB” in Content Play Lists (CPL)

who examine the TMS for keys and DCPs

and via the DCP Naming Convention.

to wonder where the Atmos DCP has

3. A cinema’s Media Player, TMS or LMS

is

gone, and also to help train those who

will begin displaying the term “IAB” —

with

only know robotically what to look for. If

and not Atmos.

the kind support

you’re confused by these three letter

4. Cinema staff may be more familiar

of our friends at

acronyms, have no fear: I’ll explain.

with seeing the Atmos designation for a

This

article

reprinted

Celluloid Junkie.

If you are

movie. In the future, “IAB” will be used.

THE SHORT ANSWER? Immersive

5. This will not change the content in

Audio is a technology defined by a set of

DCPs. Dolby has been shipping SMPTE

SMPTE standards that all Immersive

Compliant “IAB” DCPs for years.

Audio Compliant media players follow.

So, your TMS and SMS will only

This includes Integrated Media Blocks

display “IAB”. They will not display the

by all the

(IMBs) inside the projector, and separate

word “Atmos”. When will this happen?

external systems (SMS).

Sometime in the near future — Studios

three-letter

The SMPTE ST 2098 standards for

need to make certain the equipment is

immersive audio, published in 2018, are

ready and the cinemas need to make

finally being adopted by the cinema

certain their equipment is updated.

confused

acronyms, no fear.

industry. Soon, content owners (studios)

Studios also wish to make certain

I’ll explain!

and content service providers (motion

that everyone is aware and comfortable

picture labs) will distribute movies with

with the change in naming so that there

the IAB label. This means:

is no confusion and 11th hour panic calls.

44 Q4, 2022

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The Auditorium Audio

System

from library to speakers.

IAB

The

device is

shown in green.

Like the Media Server and Audio Processor, these might be inside the projector or separate units.

AND THE LONG ANSWER? In the big

of these “binary” choices. In computers,

Digital Cinema Book of Abbreviations,

each binary digit is a “Bit.” Put them in a

IAB is yet another acronym. It stands for

particular order… you have a bitstream.

Immersive Audio Bitstream. Bitstream is LIFE BEFORE ATMOS… we had 5.1 and

a computer term we should explain…

In a standard audio system the audio

7.1 surround sound. The 11.1 and 13.1

starts from the Media Server, then goes

Auro systems from Barco were released

to an Audio Processor, then is played

two years before Atmos in 2010. These

direct into the sound system. In a sound

systems are Channel-based. Typically,

system that can play Immersive Audio,

they include the three front channels

the audio system includes a magic

(Left,

processor chip that delivers a second

surround channels (Left Surround / Right

stream of information to the sound

Surround). They also include the “point 1”

system. The chip may be magic, but the

of the 5.1 channel-based system: a Low

information it sends, the data stream, is

Frequency Effects (LFE) channel; 7.1

not. It follows a standard agreed by a lot

added two rear surround channels. The

of engineers who do understand magic.

Auro system added upper channels to

They designed an Immersive Audio

Center

and

Right)

and

two

include a height element.

Standard to ensure every “IAB” system

Dolby Atmos introduced a new

will receive the same immersive audio

concept the “Object”. The Atmos system

information, then do its magic to present

still includes the 5.1 or 7.1 channels — the

it to your Immersive Audio speakers. Its

Bed Channels. Bed Tracks in a DCP are

data stream uses bits of information: a

the basic 5.1 or 7.1 channels of the

‘bitstream’. Computers understand two

movie’s audio. The Object is different. It’s

choices: a one or a zero, or combinations

a sound, but it has no particular channel

of those. Every unit of information is one

to play out of. There is no particular cable

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The ‘object’ is different.

It’s still a sound, but there is no particular channel for it to play out of.

Q4, 2022

45

Immersive Audio

The screenshots

for it to travel on. Instead, the object has

might not hear the sound if it all came

above show part

a position in space to go to. It needs an

from the right side. So, many mixers put

of the Content

IAB system to tell the sound object: “Go

all the sound into both speakers.

Play List for the

4m in front of the screen, 3m from the

There is a trick that can be played on

same film with a

left, 1m off the ceiling. Be very narrow,

the ear though. If the same sound comes

small change in

but very loud. Then take 5 secs to move

from two speakers to the ears at the

the Content Text

elsewhere in 3D space and be very wide.”

same time, the sound seems like it

Title highlighting

Those positions in space probably

comes from the centre — even if there is

the change when

don’t have a speaker, right? If they did,

no speaker there: the “Phantom Centre”.

an Atmos movies

the speakers would probably block the

is listed as an IAB

picture on the screen. In fact, with Atmos

THE IMMERSIVE Audio standard uses

movie.

and the other systems, AuroMax and

this phantom trick. If the mixer wants

DTS:X, there are a lot of extra speakers.

the sound of an eagle to be above your

Smaller auditoria might only have eight

head at a certain position, they move a

additional speakers plus bed channels,

position pointer to that place and the

but in another auditorium there might

computer creates a set of numbers for

be 20 additional speakers, and they are

that sound to be in that place at that

channels

located in many different places in the

time. It might use side speakers and

auditorium. The total combination can

some of the front to get the sound to

were

be up to 64 speakers. It takes computer

“appear”. You remember the bitstream?

magic to direct these sounds to trick the

The position and time values, with the

human hearing system.

values for the level of that sound, and

When two separate

brought in, the audio mixer now

how wide or narrow are what the mixers WHEN TWO SEPARATE channels became available for sound, the audio

place into space. All are converted into bits, which flow to the larger bitstream

had to take

mixer had some decisions to make. They

So, that’s it. A bunch of engineers

could mix everything to one channel or

figured out how to convince computers

decisions

to the other, or to both. But, if you were

to do magic, creating phantom sounds

sitting on the left side of the screen, you

and magic boxes make the phantom

46 Q4, 2022

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sounds appear using eight speakers, or

Countless meetings occurred for years to

20, or 32, or 64 speakers.

make certain various Immersive systems

Not so fast. Engineers at Dolby put additional speakers on the ceiling. Barco

all understood the same language and definitions of space and time.

engineers put the Auro speakers above

But will it all work together? That was

the surround speakers, at the edge of

the question for a group known as the

the ceiling, and one or more speakers on

ISDCF: the InterSociety Digital Cinema

the ceiling. The Xperi engineers have a

Forum, who performed a great series of

formula for DTS:X Cinema System which

“plugfests”, an enormous list of tests and

defines speaker placement individually.

processes, individually and randomly

Sadly, movie studios said, “We only

until some certainty about how the

want to distribute one Immersive Audio

equipment would perform under the

version.” And exhibitors said, “We’re not

SMPTE standards. So now sound mixers

In Dolby Atmos,

going to buy something like this unless it

have a rather elegant tool for placing

extra

works with all the company’s bitstreams.

sounds in space and fulfilling the

for the objects to

No matter what, we have to buy a lot of

Director’s Intent, while cinemas have a

use are circled in

new amplifiers and a lot of new speakers

new tool to differentiate their offerings

red: there could

and hang them and wire them. Just the

from the home experience.

be more, or less.

speakers

Alll you have to remember: beginning

IAB units guide

soon, every Atmos movie that is released

the sounds to the

to over 6,000 Dolby Atmos auditoriums

proper speakers

ONE BITSTREAM to rule them all...

will have “IAB” on the label of the DCP

to help duplicate

Fortunately, SMPTE assembled technical

file name and the TMS… and the External

the sound that

volunteers from manufacturers, and

Media Server… instead of “Atmos”.

the mix engineer

cost of the scaffolding will be $100,000.

Magic boxes must be compatible.”

You can read the full version of this

studios, and system integrators, and even some techs from some cinemas.

article at celluloidjunkie.com

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and the director want us to hear.

Q4, 2022

47

Immersive Audio

Sound quality from GDC and DTS Fit for the future, GDC and DTS are rolling out DTS:X™ for IAB immersive sound with the SR-1000 Standalone Integrated Media Block™ built-in Audio Option FOR OVER 20 years, GDC has been a

release of ‘Jurassic Park’. Its latest

trusted partner in the cinema industry.

achievement is to support the latest

Recognised as a leader in integrated

SMPTE immersive audio bitstream (IAB)

media block (IMB) technology, GDC’s SR-

standard. DTS has always focused on

DTS and

1000 is the company’s sixth-generation

making sound better. In early 2015, the

digital cinema media server designed

company unveiled DTS:X, its open,

GDC has

for near-zero maintenance and minimal

immersive technology. DTS:X replicates

total cost of ownership.

a real-world sound environment to

worked

With embedded power electronics

transport the audience to a new level of

together

of the kind used in medical and military

sound immersion. It provides many

for years

products, the SR-1000 is certified for

customisation options and allows for a

100k hours MTBF by the world’s largest

flexible speaker configuration that best

to deliver

testing and certifications company., SGS

fits

Since launch in 2018, over 18,000 units

movement of sound creating a richer

a realistic

have been shipped worldwide.

soundscape.

experience

the

viewing

space,

with

fluid

DTS and GDC, the first licensee of DIGITAL THEATRE SYSTEMS, now DTS

DTS:X technology, have collaborated for

Inc., launched in 1993 with Universal’s

the past seven years to deliver this realistic experience. Today, GDC has more than 1100+ screens installed and is rolling out DTS:X to screens worldwide.

SINCE ITS LAUNCH back in 2018, the robust SR-1000 has received excellent feedback and

acceptance

from the industry.

With a future-proof architecture, the SR-

48 Q4, 2022

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Rapid Rollout of DTS:X for IAB THE IMMERSIVE audio bitstream (IAB) solution is designed to support SMPTE’s ST 2098-2, a major milestone towards a

PVR Cinemas, a leading cinema chain in India features GDC’s DTS:X for IAB sound in two screens in Mumbai and Hyderabad

single interoperable immersive audio format. Supporting IAB will bring more immersive content to DTS:X screens globally.

In early 2020, GDC and DTS jointly demonstrated the DTS:X for IAB cinema solutions to Hollywood studios and industry stakeholders in Los Angeles. In August 2021, the two signed a landmark agreement to deliver DTS:X for IAB solutions to existing and future DTS:X customers worldwide. “The engineers at GDC and DTS diligently develop the best immersive audio solutions for exhibitors. We are delighted by the rapid adoption of DTS:X IAB solutions by theatre owners.” said Dr. Man-Nang Chong, CEO of GDC Technology Limited at the time.

B&B Theatres, the fifth largest theatrical exhibition company in the US, exclusively features DTS:X for its Grand Screen and Grand Screen with ScreenX PLF concepts

32-channel DTS:X IAB Solutions At CinemaCon 2022, it was unanimous that the SR-1000 IMB with the built-in cinema audio capability of rendering up to 32-channels of DTS:X immersive audio and AES67 networked audio that supports the IAB standard will be a game-changing audio solution. At Big Cine Expo 2022, GDC also showcased the built-in 32-channel DTS:X for IAB solution.

1000 offers several affordable options, including built-in

Independence Hall, South Korea’s largest exhibition facility features the Samsung Onyx Cinema LED screen with DTS:X

diskless CineCache™ storage and built-in cinema audio processor designed for 5.1/7.1 surround sound.

By selecting GDC’s optional built-in cinema audio processor instead of an external audio processor, exhibitors can save cost, space, installation, and maintenance time.

For the first quarter of 2022, the cumulative global sales for its SR-1000 IMB with a built-in cinema audio processor has exceeded the forecast despite the economic impact caused by the pandemic. For more information on the new IAB solutions, visit gdc-tech.com

www.omnex.co.uk

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MEGA auditorium featuring DTS:X immersive audio at Arena Cinemas in Geneva, Switzerland.

info@omnex.co.uk

Q4, 2022

49

Monitoring services

Omnex NOC+ We’ve got our eyes on you... but in a good way!

Omnex’s NOC+ services help to keep your cinema systems online day and night. Darren Briggs illustrates the benefit of our brand of 24/7 surveillance.

AT OMNEX WE have a 24/7 monitoring

associated tools that alert us to a variety

Red notice? The

system, which forms the backbone of

of issues arising in any device connected

lamp on site has a

the NOC+ services that we deliver to our

to our NOC service — for example, a

run-time warning

customers. For added peace of mind,

degraded RAID or a fan failure.

our NOC+ services are backed up by our

To allow connection, we work with

engineers who are on call 8-10pm every

the cinema and update to a dedicated

day of the year, with the exception of

IP range assigned to your cinema to

Christmas Day.

benefit from this service. All existing

To provide an efficient service, we

customers are currently being added as

make use of a custom ticketing system.

we update out-of-the-box standard IP

This system allows us to manage and

schemes in use at cinemas.

communicate information to cinemas in a timely manner, and it also supplies

WE HAVE MULTIPLE staff each day

service reports which are emailed out to

providing the NOC service. They are all

cinemas after one of our visits has taken

contactable via our new phone system

place. This ensures your own information

which allows calls to be directed straight

is kept fully up to date.

to the engineers on duty.

Our systems also provide the ability

AT THE HEART OF the NOC+ services

for engineers to connect securely into

are the monitoring systems and the

the monitoring system and, therefore,

50 Q4, 2022

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they

can

cinema

support

remotely

any from

anywhere in the world.

SNMP? It’s a system lifeline

Existing customers will

SIMPLE NETWORK Management

already receive ticket alerts

Protocol (SNMP) is a protocol used

from our custom Cinema

primarily for the monitoring of network-

Ticketing System when any

connected devices — and it’s fairly

issues are raised either by the

fundamental to the way your cinema

cinema or through pro-active

systems operate, writes Omnex service

intervention from Omnex.

engineer John Caswell.

SNMP is the backbone of the

Embedded

into

most

modern

monitoring system (see the panel

network devices, such as your projector,

on

detailed

server, sound processor and router,

explanation). Every screen has, on

the

right

for

a

SNMP has been about in some form for

average, at least four devices to be

more than 30 years. And here’s why it’s

monitored. In turn, each device then

so important — SNMP allows for passive

reports multiple items (i.e. model,

monitoring and for networked devices

serial, software, firmware, lamp/laser, lens, fans, temperatures, interlocks, security, status and information).

OUR SYSTEMS monitor thousands of devices connected to hundreds of

SNMP actively flags your system errors — like a cry for help

screens internationally. On average, 30

actively to send out messages in case of

items are monitored per device. That

errors and failures, like a cry for help.

means tens of thousands of separate

We use SNMP for our Monitoring

items monitored, delivering resilience to

Server, which is a part of our Network

customers’ businesses. Data such as fan

Operations Centre (NOC). This allows us

speeds and temperature are logged to

to monitor your equipment for errors

provide a detailed equipment history,

and equipment failures (aspects such

while certain items automatically alert

as

us if an error demands an engineer be

temperatures etc), usually allowing us to

sent to investigate and resolve it. We can

pick up on any issues before they

identify lamps nearing end of life, fans

develop into drama. We’re also able to

running slowly, software which requires

monitor when you may need a new

upgrading and other items, all of which

lamp for your projector. Any supported

contribute to the integrity of our support.

cinemas to which we have a remote

To join the world of Omnex and gain

connection, can be on our Monitoring

peace of mind that your system is being

System. It’s a handy service that can

looked after, contact us to discuss the

prevent problems before they occur, so

various support offerings.

give us a call if you’d like to know more!

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fan

mne

and

hard

drive

health,

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Q4, 2022

51

Self-checks

The DIY handbook...?

Our tips to keep you on screen before calling the pros We love to hear from you, obviously, but before you call Omnex about a problem Nigel Priest has a few suggestions for simple things you can do to set things right yourself.

It’s good to be aware of the things you can check for yourself at your site

MANY CINEMAS use the services of a

Whilst many of the checks that the

Cinema Integrator; either on an ad-hoc

visiting engineer conducts will require

basis or through the means of a service

many hours of training and experience,

contract. In a trouble-free year you may

they also require the use of extensive

only see an engineer attend once in any

calibrated equipment to ensure that the

twelve-month period to check over your

standards are met.

sites’ sound systems and their projected

Cinema engineers use a variety of

image. These don’t always stay perfect

tools to help them make the sound and

between visits and it is important that

picture from your digital cinema as

you are aware of things you can check

great as it can be. Tools like colour

regularly year-round to reach the high

meters, convergence cameras, sound

standards of presentation you strive for.

analysers, audio sync meters are what

LIGHT POWER: As the electrodes inside your xenon lamp wear down, they alter the light efficiency of the projector. The light output is calibrated and when the xenon wears and stops enough light passing through the optical system correctly the projector will normally increase its power to compensate until it can no longer achieve the calibrated levels.

This reduces the life of the xenon and also costs more in electricity. It is advisable to check the alignment of the xenon periodically, every 1-3 months to ensure it is always running as efficiently as possible. Checking the alignment is relatively easy, in some cases it is fully automated with a simple press of a button.

A clean lens and porthole is essential for this so they should be cleaned regularly.

52 Q4, 2022

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we all carry with us daily and regular training and a sound understanding of the technologies allows the cinema

Sounds simple…

Basic audio checks

engineer to use these tools to perfect the calibration of your projection and

ALTHOUGH SOPHISTICATED test equipment and a

audio systems so that your customers

thorough understanding of your equipment capabilities is

have the best experience when they

essential for getting the best out of your audio, there are a

visit your cinema.

few things you can do to satisfy yourself that all is well.

Most playback servers these days have a test DCP on

THE PICTURE MATTERS: There are so

them to verify that all your audio channels work as they

many things to look out for on the

should. Often these move channel to channel with an

picture that it can be tricky to know

audible voice stating the identity of each channel. This test

what to do for the best. Often, simple

can identify that the system is performing well in many

checks to focus and screen alignment

ways. First, it allows you to hear if channels are physically

are all that are needed to keep the

working (or not) and the correct sound is coming out of the

picture looking great. Your projector will

correct speaker or surround array. You can also tell if the

undoubtedly have a test pattern that is

speaker is missing any range; specifically a failure on high

available which is a great start for

frequency or low frequency response. You can also gauge

checking focus. Although this is mostly

if volume between the individual channels is balanced.

done electronically by the projector, the settings can drift occasionally.

If they are wildly out of balance, in an emergency use a simple app on your smart phone or purchase a SPL meter

If you notice that the focus is drifting,

(sound pressure level, right) to check and make crude

then it can easily be adjusted on site and

adjustments to rebalance the system. Simply take the SPL

the setting re-saved into the projector’s

meter, or phone and head to the seat in the centre

memory. If you are having more focus

(left to right), two thirds back from the screen and

issues, such as only being able to focus

hold it at head height whist you are sat down. Play

one area of the screen, then it is likely

a pink noise DCP and note the levels.

taht you will need an engineer to visit make the necessary adjustments to the lens mount to rectify (continued over)

IN MOST CASES, the stage channels would be 85dB, the surround arrays would be 82dB and the sub-woofer

somewhere

around

90-92dB.

Unless your measuring device is calibrated, you would simply be checking that the Left, Centre and Right are the same level, then check the surround arrays are 3dB lower than the stage channels, then check the subwoofer is 5-7dB higher than the stage speaker measurements.

Whilst it would be preferable to get an engineer in to calibrate, there are often times where you just need to keep things running after an issue.

To note: if you use a phone app, make sure you hold the phone so the internal mic is exposed.

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Q4, 2022

53

Self-checks

Don’t forget the housework...

KEEPING THE PROJECTOR clean is

you will also save a little bit of electricity

essential to maintain its performance. It

as the internal fans may be able to run a

reduces the likelihood of dust ingress

little slower. The intervention locally for

into

this is very simple — a monthly wipe over

the

delicate

components

Your engineer will be able to advise on regular tasks that you can undertake

and

internal also

optical

allows

the

the casing of the projector will help

projector cooling system to run as

keep it dust-free. Where possible, you

efficiently as it can. Generally, the cooler

should also remove the filters to give

the projector can run the better — and

them a quick clean to.

(continued from previous) this; though

THE FEW TIPS ON these pages are

you should always double check first

simply to allow you to assess your

that the lens and porthole are clean.

projection operation to try and ensure

Projectors generally have simple

you always deliver the best experience.

procedures for adjusting the image

Many cinemas already carry out checks

focus, along with the size and position

and tasks throughout the year, but if you

on the screen. The method for saving

would like to know specifically how to

these settings differs significantly across

carry out any then do speak with your

different projectors but your support

regular engineer. They will advise you on

team should be able to dial into your

how to make some of the adjustments

system and save the changes you have

and also ensure you have the necessary

made for you.

test content and test patterns available.

CONVERGENCE DESCRIBES

the

misalignment (refer to

relative position of each imaging chip.

the example of primary

They have to be in perfect alignment to

colour misalignment to

achieve the best image. Whilst you

the right). When looking

probably

at

would

convergence

not

yourself;

adjust it

is

the

convergence

you

worth

should assess this with a

understanding and knowing when to

test pattern designed

call the engineer.

for this purpose.

There are circumstances where it is

If you are checking

not possible to have the convergence

the convergence you are

perfectly aligned across the whole

best to sit on a seat near

screen. Projector manufacturers have

the middle of the front row and if the

tolerances they use to determine when

lines of the test pattern look reasonably

convergence needs adjusting; typically

white along their length then there is no

this is around a full pixel width of

need to be requesting their adjustment.

54 Q4, 2022

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The Pavilion, Galashiels

Q-SYS proves to be a sound decision for audio upgrades In the Scottish Borders, Omnex and Q-SYS have transformed the audience experience in a 100-year old independent theatre WITH SLATE GREY roofs speckling the

era, with elements only replaced due to

Scottish Borders’ verdant landscape, the

failure. While the legacy of the Pavilion

town of Galashiels projects a quiet

Cinema is part of its allure, it presented

charm borne of long history. We can say

some difficulties for modernisation. As a

the same for the Pavilion Cinema, an

site built over a century ago, it presented

independent venue in operation for

some unique challenges that we would

more than a century. This family-owned

not have found in a modern building.

cinema maintains an important role in

Our customers are now being treated to the best sound this

the town, providing not simply access

EXTRACTING THE old loudspeakers

to the latest in film, but showcasing

proved a challenge. The Omnex team

streamed performances of the National

only had a limited time to complete the

Theatre and the Met Opera.

installation. “We needed to remove the

In its centenary year, the team at the

screen surfaces to access the stage and

Pavilion discovered their application for

LFE speakers, and replace more than

a £75k grant from the Creative Scotland

50 surround speakers,” details Simon

Cinema Technology Fund had been

Tandy, MD of Omnex. “Due to the legacy

successful. This unlocked the funds for a

architecture, the series and paralleling

myriad of upgrades, including replacing

of the surrounds had to be done in the

the sound system in all four auditoriums

wall itself, rather than in dedicated

as well as improving accessibility for the

cable ducting. As part of the installation,

hard of hearing and visually impaired.

we also removed two 35mm projection systems! Our plates were certainly full,

cinema has ever produced

Cinema team engaged with Omnex,

Andrew Poole, cinema manager

56 Q4, 2022

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, the Pavilion

but the difference was worth it.”

Our

technical

team

selected

a

who, after completing a full survey and

combination of QSC DPA 4.2 and QSC

considering all the options, selected

DPA 4.3 amplifiers. Their in-built digital

QSC to power the audio upgrades. The

processing made them an ideal choice

cinema’s previous system had been a

to drive all the loudspeakers. In the

mix of equipment dating to the 35mm

speaker system that can be driven from

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info@omnex.co.uk

Q-SYS audio has been

a

central

element in the revitalisation

of

Pavilion Cinema a single amplifier channel. In the larger

NOW MORE THAN ever, the residents

auditoriums, we selected QSC’s SC223X

of this Borders town are hungry for

3-way system for larger spaces. We had

entertainment, and the Pavilion Cinema

to replace the original speaker cabling

is happy to oblige. “Our customers are

In situ: the all-

to power these bi-amplified speakers.

now treated to the best sound this

new QSC DPA 4.2

With the QSC SR Series cinema surround

cinema has ever produced in its one

and

loudspeakers and QSC SB Series sub-

hundred years of operation,” exclaimed

processing amps

woofers, it completed a really perfectly

Andrew Poole, cinema manager of the

matched audio system.

Pavilion Cinema. “It’s been one hundred

The installation in each auditorium

percent positive feedback from our

included reconfiguring to incorporate

customers, including comments like

7.1 audio channels. Simon explains, “The

‘That’s the best sound I’ve ever heard in

new 7.1 sound lifts the total experience

a cinema!’.”

with 3D sound and improved spatial

From massive premiere events to

awareness. The QSC amplifiers and

family-run cinemas, QSC are proud to

loudspeakers

job

be providing the best possible audio

powering this upgrade and translating

do

an

amazing

experience for patrons at venues around

these sites into truly immersive spaces.”

the world.

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info@omnex.co.uk

4.3

digital

Q4, 2022

57

HDMI set-up

HDMI — making the right connection HDMI may be a simple enough cable, but it can be the cause of many frustrations. Kris Bell explains how to keep things well-connected WHEN LANSAT switched to IP delivery

cause issues, as many cinemas have

of live broadcasts last year, we found

multiple output devices like projectors

that a lot of cinemas changed their

and

event cinema set-up to accommodate

different capabilities. This is why we

new equipment. I’ve taken a number of

often recommend devices with EDID

Don’t

calls from cinemas looking for advice in

management.

setting up a reliable HDMI system that

It’s important to note that many IMBs

end up

does not end up with the user doing the

and projectors capable of presenting 4K

stressful unplug / replug / reboot dance

DCPs may not have 4K capabilities

every time you schedule a live event.

through the HDMI port. The Doremi IMB,

doing the un-plug, re-plug, re-boot dance

confidence

monitors

all

with

Every cinema is different, but here

for example, uses a HDMI v1.3 chipset

are things to consider when designing a

limiting the HDMI to 1080p although the

system that works for you.

internal playback server outputs 4K.

HDCP & EDID

CABLE

This is the digital handshake that occurs

The most important things you need to

between equipment. If you have a lot of

know are the resolution, Hz and speeds

items in the chain you are likely to have

that it can handle. A high-speed HDMI

had problems with this. HDCP ensures

cable will do fine in the majority of cases

that every device in your HDMI chain is secure. The two main versions are HDCP 1.4 and HDCP 2.2. HDCP 1.4 was

DID YOU KNOW?

designed for HD content, while HDCP

THE HDMI CHIPSET in an IMS3000

2.2 relates to 4K media. To view

uses Dolby’s own FPGA code and so is

content in 4K across devices, all

upgradeable with a software update

components

must

comply

— so the HDMI port will stay current.

with HDCP 2.2. EDID is the information provided by

SOME IMS’S also have the option to

a display (projector) to

change HDMI versions in the settings.

a

58 Q2, 2022

source,

We’ve had to do with older Icecrypt

outlining the capabilities

receivers that have been dusted off

of the output device. This can

and disliked the IMS’s newer HDMI 2.0.

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video

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HDMI VERSIONS HAVING ALL your equipment on a similar HDMI version can help the reliability of the HDCP and EDID handshake. Each HDMI version differs in the way it handles picture and sound: HDMI 1.3: Up to 1080p at 60Hz HDMI 1.4: Up to 4K at 30Hz HDMI 2.0: Up to 4K at 60Hz HDMI 2.1: Up to 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 120Hz

HDMI TROUBLESHOOTING...

HAVE YOU TURNED IT OFF AND ON...? It’s a joke for a reason. A reboot will wipe away the current state of the software and any mis-behaving code. With HDMI, there are a lot of digital handshakes between devices and EDID — these are relatively inexpensive. If you

management, so a reboot is often a good first fix.

plan to do 4K/60Hz then you need an Ultra-high-speed cable. For longer runs

CHECK/RESEAT CABLES… It can be weeks between

we recommend you send over HDBaseT.

HDMI screenings. Things get knocked or unplugged. Check status LEDs on equipment and that power is running to all

HDBaseT

equipment. A handy tip: before you unplug too much, take

This technology allows us to send HDMI

some photos so that you can put it back again.

video up to 4K/60Hz plus audio over lengths up to 100m over a single CAT6A

TRY A DIFFERENT SOURCE… This will quickly determine

cable. These units often have PoE (power

if the source is the problem. Take the HDMI cable out of the

over Ethernet) capability so usually only

back of the source device and plug it into something else.

one unit needs to be powered.

HAVE A MONITOR IN THE BOOTH… Check the monitor AUDIO

will accept the signal your projector is expecting (in most

Some IMB/IMS will carry audio over their

cases a 1080p monitor will do). Plug the HDMI from the

AES. However most only process L-PCM

source directly into Monitor 2, check the settings on the

audio. On many alternative sources, the

source device are outputting what your projector and audio

audio can be encoded differently (Dolby

processor is expecting. Then add equipment like a splitter/

Digital / Dolby Digital Plus/ DTS etc)

HDBaseT links into the chain to narrow down the problem.

which is why often the HDMI is looped

Try to use the same cables; they can often be the culprit.

through the cinema’s audio processor or the Bit-stream audio is de-embedded

STILL STUCK? CALL OMNEX SUPPORT… Often, doing the

on a digital coax cable which is then sent

above will resolve issues but if it doesn’t then our team is on

to the audio processor.

hand between 8am and 10pm every day.

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Q2, 2022

59

The 3D experience

Are you ready for 3D? (NB. ‘Avatar 2’ is coming...)

Now feels like the time to check your 3D system. Tony EverettSpearing has tips to send your viewers to another dimension.

THE FIRST QUESTION? What 3D system does your cinema have? Is it

• Correct Illumination • Correct projector configuration

Polarised or Active? Active 3D uses the battery-powered glasses loaned to the

SOMETHING LOOKS OFF? Check if the

audience and collected after each show.

polarisation is inverted. Each eye will be

They give the best 3D separation with

seeing the wrong projected image

little crosstalk/ghosting and can be used

reversing the 3D effect. This is a problem

on any type of screen surface. You need

so must be checked, especially if the

a brighter projector due to light lost

system has been moved around.

through the electronic glasses to make this work at its best, though.

Test DCPs either from 3D equipment suppliers or charts supplied with the

In contrast, Polarised 3D uses an

feature film are available. Playback a 3D

electronic screen system placed in front

chart and go into the auditorium with

of the projector in the projection room.

the lights out. These DCP test patterns

This polarises light for left and right eyes.

normally show ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ on the

If your

Low-cost plastic glasses have matching

screen (see opposite page). Closing your

image

filters to pick up only the Left or Right

left eye, you should only see the ‘Right’

images

systems

text, closing the right eye, your left eye

looks off,

require a silver/reflective screen surface.

should only see the ‘Left’ text. You can

They don’t use as much light from the

correct this inversion via the projector

check the

projector but do suffer from slightly

configuration or a switch on some 3D

more crosstalk/ghosting than an active.

systems. Your integrator can help too.

polarisation is not

accordingly.

These

WHAT MAKES A good 3D experience?

LET’S TALK CROSSTALK: Crosstalk or

Here’s a checklist for the basics:

Ghosting is a measure of how good the

• Good quality screen surface

separation of the left and right images is

especially if

• Good condition 3D glasses

via the 3D system and glasses. When you

the system

• Optically clear port glass that is angled

use the test for Inversion, if the left eye

correctly to minimise reflection

can see the right eye text clearly as well,

• Clean port glass and polarizer screen(s)

then this is showing that the images are

• Clean active glasses and good quality

visible in each eye. This causes the ghost

batteries with a good charge

of the opposite image. Technically this is

• Clean projector lens

crosstalk. This will cause eye strain, a

inverted,

has been moved

60 Q4, 2022

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poor 3D image, and unhappy viewers.

eye strain to maintain a good 3D image.

A typical 3D test pattern (this one

Key causes are the port glass or the screen surface. The angle of the 3D

YOU MAY SUFFER from reflection due

is from RealD).

system to the screen and lens can also

to the image reflecting from the

Using these you

cause ghosting so the installation has to

polarising screen, hitting the lens and

can

be carried out carefully with correct 3D

reflecting back through the polariser

faults

settings stored in the projector to ensure

onto the screen. This can happen due to

incorrectly setup

optimisation of the installation.

the angle of the projector and should be

polarisation.

The 3D polariser system could also

such

for as

minimised on installation of your system.

be at fault. You can test the port glass

Similarly, you can get reflection from

quickly if the port is removable. Remove

the port glass back to the screen and

the port — ­ if the image is now free from

lens which can only be fully resolved by

crosstalk, the port glass is the cause.

angling the port glass. This reflection

Your service provider can also further

also happens in 2D, hence projection

test the uniformity of the port glass if

ports should always be angled.

required via test on site.

check

With ‘Active’ 3D systems you avoid

Different 3D systems have different amounts of visible or ‘normal/acceptable’

the problem of added reflections as there is no polarising screen in use.

crosstalk. Again, service provider can advise you further. Servers also have configurations to minimise crosstalk of the alternative image via ‘Ghostbusting’, WHO YA GONNA CALL: Ghostbusting is a trick used for polarised 3D systems.

These are never 100% free from crosstalk especially when there is a high contrast between the left and right eye images.

‘Ghostbusting’ is where a ‘contrast hole or darker area) is added to the opposing eye’s image where the ghost of the brighter image bleeds into the opposing eye. This helps to reduce the brightness of the ghost and will improve the crosstalk and reduce the viewers’

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Q4, 2022

61

RAID storage

RAID: the storage solution that’s far from redundant.

Whil the R might stand for “redundant”, RAID storage is anything but.

John Caswell looks at the basics of this essential content storage tool.

WHICHEVER BRAND of server or LMS

array fail, yet not lose a single bit of your

you use, you’ll likely have heard it’s

content. RAID storage typically copies

storage mentioned as RAID. But what is

your content into more than one drive,

RAID? RAID stands for Redundant Array

and there are several systems which are

of Inexpensive Disks. It is a system of

used. Here are the most common:

using multiple drives together, in place

• RAID 1 – This uses a pair of drives, each

of one large expensive drive. It allows

keeping an identical copy of your data. If

data to be read from multiple places at

one drive fails, then you have all of your

once, so is faster than using a solitary

content on the other drive.

drive and provides more reliability

• RAID 5 – Commonly used in Screen

overall. If you were to use just one large

Servers, this uses three or more drives,

drive, there’s the risk that, if this fails, you

and allows for failure of one drive

will have lost all of your content.

without loss of data. You can replace the

The “R” in RAID, Redundancy, means that you can have a disk in your RAID

one failed drive, and your data will copy back across onto the replacement.

• RAID 6 – More often used on Library Servers, this uses four or more drives, and allows for failure of up to two drives without losing data.

WHILE USING ANY form of RAID, you do lose out on some storage capacity, ie, using three 1Tb disks setup as RAID 5, you only have just under 2Tb of storage available to use, rather than 3Tb, due to the Redundancy factor — a small price to pay in contrast to losing your content completely in the middle of a show.

Today, DCP sizes seem to be getting ever bigger, but larger capacity drives are actually getting cheaper over time.

And that’s great news for cinemas, as upgrading RAID storage is a good way to get more from your existing servers.

62 Q4, 2022

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Our team

mne

SIMON TANDY Managing Director, London Simon started in cinema in 1995, working in indies and multiplexes, then launching the company responsible for LANsat.

NIGEL PRIEST Asst Engineering Manager, W. Midlands Nigel’s first role in cinema was as an usher at UCI, He joined AAM in 2006, helping to roll out digital projectors for the UKFC.

DARREN BRIGGS Head of Engineering, York, Starting his cinema life in 1999 for City Screen, Darren was instrumental in training several hundred projectionists in the digital rollout nationwide.

CHANTAL GUTHRIE: Head of Seating Chantal manages a team of six seating technicians, directing installations — as well as managing more than 44,000 seating checks across Europe.

STEVE CASE Technical Sales Manager, London “30-years man ‘n boy” Steve has vast knowledge of mechanical and digital systems to support cinemas’ installations.

DANNY LOVERIDGE Warehouse Operations Supervisor Danny started at Arts Alliance Media in 2011 as a warehouse assistant and is now responsible for our Warehouse Ops Team.

GUY SELWAY: Warehouse Ops Facilitator After gaining experience at our sister company, MPS, in 2021 Guy joined Omnex to focus on managing contracts, customer relations and project delivery.

TONY EVERETT-SPEARING: Service Engineer, Suffolk Based in Suffolk, Tony is an experienced Omnex engineer and considered our expert wireman — he creates order out of chaos in any installation.

RICHARD LYON Warehouse Operations Support Rich supports our warehouse operations and also provides vital support to our service engineers on bigger jobs.

KRIS BELL: Cinema Engineer, Sussex Before Omnex, Kris worked in technical theatre. Today, as many cinemas become more multifunctional, his advice on live sound and lighting is invaluable.

PETE NAPLES: Senior Engineer, Scotland Based in Dunfermline, Pete has been a cinema engineer since 1998. He has also worked in television production and is a keen photographer.

JOHN CASWELL: Service engineer, Liverpool John has been a field engineer for more than a decade — prior to that, he was the chief projectionist for FACT in his home town of Liverpool.

GEOFF NEWITT: Service engineer, Oxford Formerly head of tech ops at Picturehouse, Geoff has been working in projection rooms since his student days; joining Omnex in 2018.

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Q4, 2022

63

C O N TA C T U S C O N TA C T U S

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0161 0161 477 477 7633 7633 available available across across the the UKUK

sales@omnex.co.uk sales@omnex.co.uk www.omnex.co.uk www.omnex.co.uk

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It’sIt’swhat whatwe wedodo Established Establishedin in1987, 1987,Omnex Omnexsupplies, supplies,installs, installs,services servicesand andmaintains maintainstechnologies technologiesto tocinemas cinemas throughout throughout thethe UKUK and and Ireland.

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