DCP - how to?

[Martin Weiss]

Can anyone help me on how to turn a Quicktime HD file into

DCP (JPEG 2000)

for Digital cinema - without spending thousands of dollars?

I have a 1 minute animation that needs to be screened digitally, and they only accept that format. They say that they could convert it, but first they need it on HDcam tape (which costs a couple of hundred dollars to do) and then they charge a couple of thousand! dollars for the actual conversion.

There must be a better/cheaper/less complex way to do this, right? After all what they really need is a file, and I have a file...

 

[Brandon Fraley]

I dunno about the DCP part, but you can open the project in FCP and export as quicktime, and under setting select custom. then change the compression to jpeg 2000.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

There must be a better/cheaper/less complex way to do this, right? After all what they really need is a file, and I have a file...

It's more than a file - it's a folder of specific files (more than just the JPG2000). YES there is a SIMPLE - better/cheaper/less solution coming soon - but it is not available yet.

 

[Rudi Herbert]

It's more than a file - it's a folder of specific files (more than just the JPG2000). YES there is a SIMPLE - better/cheaper/less solution coming soon - but it is not available yet.

...and do tell oh wise but withholding Mark, when is such solution arriving and, is Adobe related to that in any way or form?

 

[M Most]

...and do tell oh wise but withholding Mark, when is such solution arriving and, is Adobe related to that in any way or form?

You can look at Qube Cinema's QubeMaster Express right now. It runs on Windows only. I'm not sure about the cost, but it might be what Mark is referring to. The "coming soon" part might be his reference to a Mac version, since that's all most of the posters here often seem to care about.

Personally, I think if one wants to just screen a trailer or a commercial spot, there are much easier ways to do that, and very few projection venues that won't accommodate them. HDCam tape and direct output from a computer via a DVI connection are two I can think of immediately.

 

[Peace Villow]

HydraDDR
The ideal JPEG2000 video board

You need a video I/O board easily capable of processing JPEG2000 data in real time? The HydraDDR has been designed specifically for JPEG2000 input and output. Thanks to the X’Y’Z’ color mode and JPEG2000 format, you may benefit from excellent image quality combined with reduced storage space requirements. In addition to compressed data, HydraDDR also processes uncompressed material up to 2K in real time. This DVS video board also offers real-time compression and decompression of SD, HD and 2K material, as well as quick conversion of 4K data.

Key Features
* Single board for JPEG2000 compressed and uncompressed video
* Real-time I/O of SD, HD, 2K and non real-time 4K HSDL
* Highest quality in uncompressed 12 bit RGB mode
* Low data rate and storage requirement in compressed mode
* Comprehensive feature set
* Universal PCI-X 133 audio and video I/O board
* Real-time play and capture of uncompressed video and audio
* Real-time compression and decompression of JPEG2000 files in formats up to 2K
* Fast compression and decompression of 4K material
* Real-time YUV, RGB and X’Y’Z’ color space handling
* Real-time watermarking for content security, tracking and monitoring
* 2x SD/HD SDI input and output
* 2x dual-link DVI output or 4x single-link DVI output
* 16 channels of AES/EBU and embedded audio with embedder/de-embedder and word clock output
* RGB X’Y’Z’ conversion with 1D LUT optimization
* 4:4:4 <-> 4:2:2 filtering
* ANC and 3-line VITC handling
* Analog reference genlock (bi-level, tri-level) input
* 4x RS-422 remote control ports
* SDK and drivers available for 32 and 64 bit Windows® and Linux®

I think it's an OEM card, but you can contact DVS guys if you're really interested.

 

[Rudi Herbert]

You can look at Qube Cinema's QubeMaster Express right now. It runs on Windows only. I'm not sure about the cost, but it might be what Mark is referring to. The "coming soon" part might be his reference to a Mac version, since that's all most of the posters here often seem to care about.

Mike, could you point me towards a place with more information on this solution?

Thanks,

 

[M Most]

Mike, could you point me towards a place with more information on this solution?

www.qubecinema.com

Of course, please keep in mind that I'm not one who necessarily thinks that everything should be do-it-yourself desktop software. There are intricacies and technical standards to meet when you're doing things like Digital Cinema delivery elements for full features with multiple soundtracks, encryption and its attendant requirements, multiple language subtitle tracks, and any number of other things. Plus, it's much easier (and considerably less time consuming) to use the things I mentioned earlier (HD video, DVI feed from a computer) to screen short pieces. Not to mention that it's much easier for the theater because they don't have to ingest your files (taking up space on their server that they really don't want to use), build shows around them (it's not just the DCP that's necessary in an automated theater environment), and check to see whether you're in the right color space (chances are you won't be). People here who have no exposure to the digital cinema system seem to think it's just like Quicktime files on their personal computers, where you click on a file and it plays, and if you want to stop it, you hit stop. That is not the case. The digital cinema system was designed both for distribution and exhibition - specifically, theatrical exhibition, which encompasses a number of things in a typical theater that you as a PC user never have to think about.

And that's why it's easier (and probably better) not to bother with any of this for a spot or a short being shown once in a local theater. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Martin Weiss]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I don't know anything about Digital Cinema, I can only refer to what the protectionist told me he needs. It's either a HDcam tape and he and his buddy do the transformation for about 2.5k$, or I deliver said file format.

So I guess what I am really asking is who can transfer/code a 1min QuickTime file into something that can be used in Dig. Cinema? (preferably for less than what the whole production cost...)

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

You can look at Qube Cinema's QubeMaster Express right now. It runs on Windows only. I'm not sure about the cost, but it might be what Mark is referring to. The "coming soon" part might be his reference to a Mac version, since that's all most of the posters here often seem to care about.

HIGHLY recommend Qube's solutions. And yeah Mike, you are on the money ... as usual.

 

[M Most]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I don't know anything about Digital Cinema, I can only refer to what the protectionist told me he needs. It's either a HDcam tape and he and his buddy do the transformation for about 2.5k$, or I deliver said file format.

So I guess what I am really asking is who can transfer/code a 1min QuickTime file into something that can be used in Dig. Cinema? (preferably for less than what the whole production cost...)

I don't know why playing a QT file out to HDCam for a 1 minute spot would cost $2500. It should cost about $30 for the stock (6 minute HDCams are available), and about $100 or less to play it out (many places will want a 1/2 hour minimum charge). If you need that done, I can help you if you contact me privately.

Being in Europe, I would think that any number of places in Germany or possibly in London could help you for about the same costs. All you would need to do is send them the file.

 

[Greg M]

I think he was refering to the DCI conversion being $2500. He needed to supply an HDCAM tape and pay $2500 is how I read it.

 

[Martin Weiss]

I think he was refering to the DCI conversion being $2500. He needed to supply an HDCAM tape and pay $2500 is how I read it.

Yep, that's the quote I got.

 

[Harva Raj]

why not buy the HydraDDR and fix it in your macpro? i'm sure it's priced around USD 2.5k. it would be useful in long run too.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

why not buy the HydraDDR and fix it in your macpro? i'm sure it's priced around USD 2.5k. it would be useful in long run too.

The Hydra will not make a DCP.

 

[Greg M]

...and its not 2.5k

 

[M Most]

I think he was refering to the DCI conversion being $2500. He needed to supply an HDCAM tape and pay $2500 is how I read it.

Yes, I reread it and that seems to be what's being said. In that case, my advice changes to:

a) Contact a company that does DCP delivery elements. In the US, I'd suggest Modern Videofilm, Fotokem, Laser Pacific, Technicolor, or Deluxe Digital Services. I'm sure there are some companies in London that do this as well (Technicolor would be a good bet).

OR

b) Find another theater. Because quite frankly, I've never heard of a theater demanding a DCP as its only projectable format, especially for a one minute spot.

 

[M Most]

why not buy the HydraDDR and fix it in your macpro? i'm sure it's priced around USD 2.5k. it would be useful in long run too.

The Hydra is an OEM board that is sold to system builders that design digital cinema servers and authoring systems. It is not a "product" you can buy, and it is not a system, it is a component of one.

 

[Harva Raj]

I'm not sure if this will help but, there are some options in combusion 3.0 which can output JPEG2000 in a sequence. these are the options:

 

[M Most]

I'm not sure if this will help but, there are some options in combusion 3.0 which can output JPEG2000 in a sequence. these are the options:

Compressing to JPEG2000 is simple, but it has little to do with the steps necessary to create a DCP. The material must be formatted correctly, be in the proper color space (i.e., X'Y'Z' at 2.6 gamma, with the color correction prior to the conversion done in P3 color space), formatted into reels that are represented by MXF files, and combined with a number of other files that also must be formatted correctly (such as sound files that are properly synched with the picture, a composition play list, a packing list, and a few other supporting files) in folders with specific naming conventions. You also have to be able to check the integrity of the package once the DCP is created by loading it on a server and playing it through a digital cinema projector that is set up to properly display it - which you're very unlikely to have available if you're not doing these things for a living.

Now, if you actually understand everything above, you can begin to think about creating DCP's. If not, have people who do understand do it for you. A DCP is not a consumer format, and it is not intended to ever be one. It was created for the motion picture industry and the distribution/exhibition business, not for home video. It is not simple, never will be, and really shouldn't be.