DTS focus change mean anything?

[jackisdead]

eh?

DTS - We Bring Entertainment Alive!

[georgia]

yeah, it means Dolby won.

cheers
geo

[kk@jamsync.com]

Word.

[jacobfarron]

I'm glad Dolby won. Makes life easier. Anyone here using Dolby E? I'm still looking into buying DP571 and 572 for Dolby E... do you have any thoughts on that? How often do you use it? Any idea on life expectancy? Over the last week I called literally every studio and production house in FL (over 100) and none have Dolby E - just providing stems on DA-88 or wave files. Either I buy the Dolby units and get most of the network surround encoding in FL, or it becomes obsolete with HDCam SR. (I also found out I have one of 3 Dolby LM100's here). Anyone have any insight?

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

I'm glad Dolby won. Makes life easier. Anyone here using Dolby E? I'm still looking into buying DP571 and 572 for Dolby E... do you have any thoughts on that? How often do you use it? Any idea on life expectancy? Over the last week I called literally every studio and production house in FL (over 100) and none have Dolby E - just providing stems on DA-88 or wave files. Either I buy the Dolby units and get most of the network surround encoding in FL, or it becomes obsolete with HDCam SR. (I also found out I have one of 3 Dolby LM100's here). Anyone have any insight?

Do you have the decks to use it with.
You would want t do the encoding at the same tiem you're doing the layback.
Havign only the unit is kind of pointless, as they'll have to pay to do the layback as well.

[jacobfarron]

I agree, and yes we have the decks. The concern is that no one (I can find) is using Dolby E in FL at all. Does that mean no one is actually posting major episodic series here in discrete 5.1? I don't know. I'm trying to talk to bosses into it so we can go after that sort of work.

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

I agree, and yes we have the decks. The concern is that no one (I can find) is using Dolby E in FL at all. Does that mean no one is actually posting major episodic series here in discrete 5.1? I don't know. I'm trying to talk to bosses into it so we can go after that sort of work.

The thing with major episodic tv series is that most of it is posted in the major cities. Even in Vancouver the big shows that are shot there, get posted mostly in LA. Reason being is that that's where the producers live.

If there are no major shows being posted there in 5.1, it's not because no-one has Dolby E.

[charles maynes]

If you have DTS stock- well....sorry.


sucks to be them.


they drove that business into the wall, Just like Sony did.

[jacobfarron]

Thus the question... do I get it and try to get the business, or not? Haha.

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

Thus the question... do I get it and try to get the business, or not? Haha.

If your clients are going to pay for it- hell yeah. You shouldn't be asking questions llike that-

Keep your finger on the pulse on network delivery specs- that is all that matters, because your clients are delivering to the networks.

If you want to buy DTS stuff because you like the was it looks, that is your decision to make, but I wouldn't...

[jacobfarron]

I know what you mean Charles. I've no experience with DTS at all. What I was saying is that right now I can't find a single company in FL delivering surround to networks (except in LtRt). Not one. So if those clients are here, they're going to NY or LA to post. Our facility isn't even surround, but the surround stage should be finished towards fall.

I suppose my dilemma isn't do I buy the units and try to entice people to post here, because I'll do that. I'm wondering how you all in the larger markets foresee Dolby E's life-span as a network requirement, verses PCM tracked out on HDCam SR, etc?

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

I know what you mean Charles. I've no experience with DTS at all. What I was saying is that right now I can't find a single company in FL delivering surround to networks (except in LtRt). Not one. So if those clients are here, they're going to NY or LA to post. Our facility isn't even surround, but the surround stage should be finished towards fall.

I suppose my dilemma isn't do I buy the units and try to entice people to post here, because I'll do that. I'm wondering how you all in the larger markets foresee Dolby E's life-span as a network requirement, verses PCM tracked out on HDCam SR, etc?

I am afraid I am unqualified to speak on that- I will allow those who be helpful to comment authoritatively-

Don't buy anything until you have signed contracts requiring new gear though...

[Eric L]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

I'm wondering how you all in the larger markets foresee Dolby E's life-span as a network requirement, verses PCM tracked out on HDCam SR, etc?

FWIW, NBC/Universal has an LM100 spec (-23) but they do not deliver on nor broadcast Dolby E. PCM from HDCAM SR masters.

I don't know about others.

[jacobfarron]

Thanks Eric, exactly what I was looking for. I guess a good idea is for me to compile a list.

[georgia]

I've got a nice DTS T2 tower that is now basically a door stop. We haven't had a DTS request for a long time. Lots' of Dolby Printmastering, AC3 and DolbyE film and broadcast work though.

We still do a few DTS DVD encodes and some DTS music stuff.... but not much.


cheers
geo

[Frank S.]

Originally Posted by jacobfarron

I'm wondering how you all in the larger markets foresee Dolby E's life-span as a network requirement, verses PCM tracked out on HDCam SR, etc?

I don't know about the "lifespan", but I do know that several of our biggest clients require us to deliver all 5.1 in Dolby E. We use two DP571s and two DP572s for encoding/decoding and typically lay the Dolby E to SR. On occasion we'll do it on HDCam as well. Some networks want the PCM delivered and they encode it on their own. With the new ATSC requirements less than a year away I can only see that more people would use Dolby E as they will the LM100 meters, etc.

Isn't it always just a guessing game though?

[jayfrigo]

The video side of our business these days is heavily weighted toward concert video and other music related programs in HD, and we deliver to many cable networks in Dolby E. We didn't use E back when I was working on the HD show for CBS, but I think E was barely around at that time, so I wouldn't read anything into that. I tend to think it's going to be around for a while, and for more than just prime-time network shows. Still, I wouldn't buy it until a customer requests it. There may be a better, cheaper way to do it by then.