DCP encoder + player NEW

[Peter Nevedal]

Hello all,

my friend is co-owner of one software company, and they are developing DCP software.
For new product i have some question on you, maybe we can help make it better useful for us.
Please tell me your opinion.

1. The pricing for software tools have to be around 500,- , i think it is very good, what do you think? They want to make new tools for everyone.
2. Do you need 3D? Do you need keys? or they have to put out 2 versions, different price, one cheaper and one full... i personaly not need 3D, therefor i was thinking to ask this...
3. Player, what about one personal cheaper player, for controling final DCP in window on monitor, and one full player for cinema using - full screen output on secondary monitor, playlist etc.
4. What are your ideas?

thank you

Peter Nevedal
peter@filmpark.sk

[roryhinds]

Why cripple the software when you can just develop one tool that does what is needed and then some.
Price it accordingly and be competitive and deliver a tool that is powerful and advanced.

3D is here wether we need it, like it or even want it. It needs to be in both versions.
We need to see what the theatre will see so the player needs to be the same in both versions.
Projects need copy protection so you need keys in both versions.

= make one killer version and price it so everyone can afford it.
$500 is a great price.
Linux support please.

[Mike Lary]

Yes to keys - otherwise you're competing with free software.

Yes to a competitive price, but for all features. Multi-tier pricing structures are very unattractive for this kind of product. Needs change fast. Provide all the options we might need today at a reasonable cost. Charge a reasonable fee for significant upgrades.

Include a player with the builder.

Also, please put me on the beta list.

[Joost Kelderman]

Hello Peter,

I vote for just one version as well. you can always include a
simple and advanced modus. simple with presets and no 3D and
stuff and advanced with everything tweakable [starting from preset]

player should be included and full screen. why cripple good software
and scare away customers before they even buy?

maybe start with a stable version that does all the simple mode stuff
to satisfy most [indy and non 3d projects] and add to it with new versions.

include a timetable in which you give us an idea how long it will take for new
features to be added and stick to it or at least frequent logs about how it's going

that way you will start selling a product that is perfectly workable for most; start
earning money for the hours that you put into it and will put into it.

you could even do beta/stable release for feedback purposes like the epic/scarlet firmware.

since most free versions are asking for a lot of knowledge
a good hover over information would be appreciated as well
so you know what a slider does exactly. safe modus to keep
you from crossing the lines and delivering non-standard DCP's
[when starting from a preset].

personally I would buy at 500$; probably for more as well
but if you can offer it for that price I think it will be a lot more
likely that people will pay you for the tool right away instead of
waiting for it to 'magically' appear for free. also more likely that
instead of wasting time hacking the software; they will just buy it

unfortunately I see a lot of professionals that use professional sofware
for 'free'. It leaves a bad taste after spending another couple of k$
but i guess that always turns back into a little smile when they call me
about how something should work in i.e. premiere and the only reason
I can think of why it won't work for them is improper install; not the latest
updates installed etc.

would love to beta as well! have a good understanding with a couple
of operators [up to 4k, different machines] and it's a good excuse to
spend time on, since lots of people can't [afford] acces to proper dcp yet (=

kind regards,
Joost

[Peter Nevedal]

Hello all,
thank you for quick answears, on 30 minutes we have big meeting with all programators in that company, this is very useful...thank you

[Joost Kelderman]

will it allow for just about anything for use as input? i.e. will it convert or will it have a plug in for say CS6, fcpx, avid etc? I will enjoy having a mailing conversation to discuss if that helps you out?

[Jaakko Rinne]

1. For a full software package 500€/$ sounds reasonable. If that includes the player then it sounds even more reasonable.
2. Contrary to the others I do feel that two versions might be useful. I work with a lot of small production companies and if they don't need a function (like 3D) they're not going to pay for it. Just make sure there's the possibility to upgrade to the "full" version. Ease of use, good tooltips and a clear manual are great ways to compete with free alternatives.
3. What I'd like to see from the player is compatibility with I/O cards (SDI out). If there are two version maybe make the cheaper one desktop only and the more expensive one with I/O support.
4. Multiplatform is always nice.

[Dermot]

1. The pricing for software tools have to be around 500,- , i think it is very good, what do you think? They want to make new tools for everyone.
2. Do you need 3D? Do you need keys? or they have to put out 2 versions, different price, one cheaper and one full... i personaly not need 3D, therefor i was thinking to ask this...
3. Player, what about one personal cheaper player, for controling final DCP in window on monitor, and one full player for cinema using - full screen output on secondary monitor, playlist etc.
4. What are your ideas?

1- we are looking at options that will cost us 50,000 USD, so yea.. $500... no brainer
2 - yes we NEED keys & 3D, can't use the software otherwise
3- the full player is the one we NEED, the personal player can be handy, but not needed
4- rock solid out of the gate, 100% compatability with all existing servers

if you are ready for beta sites very soon, we would be interested, we are currently a beta site for several companies already, under NDA tho so i can't discuss details

dermot

[Peter Nevedal]

Hello, thank you for post, i will shure contact you directly.
Now we are hard working on analysing hardware and possibilities, so we will have in short time some specifications. For player sooner, because we will finish the payer sooner. I think it is more important than encoder. But encoder will be in close after...
Peter

[Brad Allen]

Hi Peter,

I would love to help you guys test this out if I could. I handle all of the DCP conversions for advertising for one of my local cinemas and definitely would be keen on finding a stable, accurate, and fast Player for the content I spit out.

Echoing other peoples statements here - I would definitely want to have keys and 3D support.

I guess the most important feature for the player for me would be XYZ to RGB conversion and real time performance through using GPU acceleration :)