Digital Cinema Package

[Jean-Charles Wolfarth]

On my PC system Redcine sucks too while exporting DPX sequences. I found another way : using After Effects and the Red importer plugin (downloadable at red.com/support). You can create batch exports of 10 bits DPX at full resolution. Quite slow. Sure there might be problems of time code, etc.. (I haven't tested all the details, I'm so desperate to be on PC as Red releases most of the useful apps on Mac).

[Chris Swinbanks]

FYI, there is a new version of EasyDCP called EasyDCP+ (still in Beta, you can email and ask for a test license, same deal with the logo top-left corner) which also does stereo 3D packaging, and KDM generation & encryption of the DCP.
I'm testing that at the moment for RealD 3D playback.... seems to work fine.... for the most part (no pun on Mike's name intended).

Also, Doremi have a software package called CineAsset, more open to "fiddle" with your images, but I seem to be having some colour weirdness at the Cinema with it... maybe attributable to Mike's comment about the P3 colour space... since I was feeding it Rec709 material.

DVS Clipster seems to be the bees-knees (had a demo last week) for serious DCP generation and playback for QC... quite $$ though.
Hmmm, and a lot of similarity between the hardware card and a little red-rocket...

[Leerafel]

FYI, there is a new version of EasyDCP called EasyDCP+ (still in Beta, you can email and ask for a test license, same deal with the logo top-left corner) which also does stereo 3D packaging, and KDM generation & encryption of the DCP.
I'm testing that at the moment for RealD 3D playback.... seems to work fine.... for the most part (no pun on Mike's name intended).

Also, Doremi have a software package called CineAsset, more open to "fiddle" with your images, but I seem to be having some colour weirdness at the Cinema with it... maybe attributable to Mike's comment about the P3 colour space... since I was feeding it Rec709 material.

DVS Clipster seems to be the bees-knees (had a demo last week) for serious DCP generation and playback for QC... quite $$ though.
Hmmm, and a lot of similarity between the hardware card and a little red-rocket...

Dang, CineAsset is pretty sweet! It lets you bypass like 95% of what my tutorial drags you through for pre-processing! I'll have to test out a new DCP on that to see those color issues you mentioned.

[Adil Lahoulou]

has anyone tested the open source dcp maker?

http://code.google.com/p/opencinematools/downloads/list

[Jakebarnes]

Hi, I've been experimenting with the demo versions of EasyDCP (which by the way is $2000 EURO-- or almost $3000!) and Wraptor ($700 but with no support). Taking the same TIFF/DPX sequence, the DCP created by EasyDCP looks great on the digital projector in my local theater. But the Wraptor DCP from the exact same sequence (via Final Cut Pro) looks dark and color shifted. I've tried many different settings with no success. I can output a Quictime file or DVD and it looks great-- but not from Wraptor.

So it seems that EasyDCP works perfects with files set up for normal HD computer Gamma, and maybe Wraptor expects something different. Or I am doing something totally wrong with Wraptor and its settings.

Has anyone successfully used Wraptor and could they share their basic settings? What Apple OS do you use, what version of FCP and compressor? And what type of file have you converted? I have a film that needs a DCP for a festival, and I can afford the $700 Wraptor license but not the $3000 EasyDCP program.

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jakebarnes]

Open Cinema Tools is basically for developers at this point. You would need engineering-level skills to to the YUV/RGB to XYZ color conversion, MXF wrapping, etc. This is not a program you can run on Windows or a Mac, feed in your image sequence and get out a DCP.

Hopefully someone will take these tools and make a program that filmmakers can use. Making DCPs should be as easy as making a DVD.

[Jim Geduldick]

Dang, CineAsset is pretty sweet! It lets you bypass like 95% of what my tutorial drags you through for pre-processing! I'll have to test out a new DCP on that to see those color issues you mentioned.

Have you been able to test your DCP at a Studio or Theater ?

[Leerafel]

Have you been able to test your DCP at a Studio or Theater ?

I've only been able to test my DCP made by EasyDCP in the cinema, but I am still fiddling around with CineAsset, and have not yet created a test package.

Here is an update on EasyDCP with Vista x64 - I have continued to encounter various problems running EasyDCP in Vista 64, even after changing its compatability to Win 98, which seemed to fix a lot of problems. I was unable to import audio, and thus, unable to make a complete DCP.

I contacted Fraunhofer, and they sent me a newer, although unpublished version to toy with (v1.2.2) and it seems to work fine on my 64 bit system without requiring any special treatment. Either wait for that newer version to be published, or contact Fraunhofer to get the Vista compatible version.

[Russ Lasson]

One thing that should be considered it the aspect ratio. Digital cinema projectors have a resolution of 2048x1080, but you shouldn't encode your film at that aspect ratio or it will crop parts in the theater.

Basic resolutions for digital cinema are still based on flat and scope like film. Flat is 1998x1080 and scope is 2048x858. DCI projectors/servers are set up to handle this.

I also just want to throw it out there that I've been doing digital cinema mastering for about a year and a half now. I work with a QubeMaster Pro encoding system, Qube DCI server, and a Christie DCI projector. I can say that even with the right equipment, there are still little things that aren't exactly straight forward and can cause problems if you're not careful.

So if any of you guys need some help with a project let me know and I'll work out a good rate.

-Russ

[margolisd]

Also, if anybody is in need of a DCP, we have digital cinema mastering service aimed at indi film makers on a tight budget. Our rates are really competitive. We're based in London but our service is worldwide. Take a look at http://www.tworoadsproductions.co.uk...a_Package.html