REDray Projector..

[Jarred Land]

Can you give any specific recommendation for a prefect screen gain/type/brand?! We're looking into building a new color correction room based on the projector, so we want everything to be perfect once you release it :)

I would wait on that one ;)

[Alex Kiritz]

So how's this going to work? Seems like at most you could just sell Red branded high quality screens at a much lower price similar to how the current lenses are sold. I'd imagine cost cutting on a piece of fabric is a lot easier than with a brand new projector.

[Jonathan McGuire]

I would wait on that one ;)

Jarred, is there any possibility of using spectral filters in the future since the laser source looks to be external? I know lasers can have problems with these type of filters since most work on a single line of spectrum, but there seems to be ways to make this work. The guy who designs the filters for Omega 3D that Runco uses said he would be happy to work with RED to make custom dichroic filter system. Even if this meant purchasing two laser engines I would be all for it!

[L. Langer]

I would wait on that one ;)

You're only allowed to say "heh heh heh".

[Michael Kobb]

Yes, I was told that it requires a silver screen and that the one used in the demo is a Stewart screen with 2.0 gain.

Well, I have to say, that's terribly disappointing. Although I really congratulate Red for the achievement that this projector represents, I'm afraid it just went from the top of my list to the "not an option" list.

It may be that there was no better option for passive 3D with a laser light source, but silver screens are really a problem in home theater applications, where their performance for 2D material doesn't compare very well with a white screen. So, if I wanted to use this projector in my home theater, I would have to install a second, silver screen that could drop instead of my white screen, and either ensure that the projector's focus was broad enough to cover both screens, or manually refocus the projector when using 3D. And, I would have to change the equalization of my center channel speaker depending upon which screen was down, since my primary screen is a woven screen, and the only options I'm aware of that retain polarization are vinyl screens with perforations, which require very different EQ.

Plus that's now a substantial extra expense that really hurts the projector's price point. Even if somebody is willing to change screens, you've added thousands of dollars to the cost for anybody wanting to install your projector in an existing theater.

I've seen the Stewart screen you were using (elsewhere, not at NAB), and I didn't like it at all.

I would encourage the folks from Red to take two things into consideration when bringing this machine to the home theater space:

1. Do whatever it takes to make the projector quiet. It looks from the photos as if your light source is in the offboard box. If that's true, that should be a big help, because that heat source and its cooling fan can be placed in a remote location. I'd suggest that you go pick up a Sony VPL-VW95ES. It's extremely quiet even though its light source is internal. You should be able to beat the sound levels from that projector with your external light source. Many home theaters can't install a projection booth or a "hush box", and at your price range, you're targeting home theaters that don't want that level of complexity. If your machine is noisier than other options, you will lose sales. I passed up a much more expensive projector with a stellar image because it was too noisy for my theater.
2. Consider also supporting active 3D with shutter glasses, for those users who will not be able to use a silver screen. If you can really do 120Hz passive 3D with 120Hz to both eyes, you should be able to do really really good active 3D. This could make the projector into a superb option for those of us for whom 3D is not the main focus, but who do want to be able to do the occasional 3D screening.

[Espen Jensen]

So what is the chance of RED making an appearance at Infocomm? I know it's not NAB, but it would be my only chance to see it live! Besides.. it would be nice for people in the installed AV industry to be able to compare this to the Sony/Christie/BARCO/DP equipment on site.

[Tommy Kristensen]

Will the projector come as a "complete package" - ready to use - REDray projector, Lens, REDplayer etc. - everything but the screen? Or would you have to add some stuff?

[James Kirst]

You only need a silver screen for front projected 3D... If you only plan on using our Laser projector for 2D.. a white screen is fine.

And remember.. since we are shooting 24 foot lamberts you don't need it to be high gain. A higher gain screen improves the effects of polarization but also gets into all sorts of other issues like hotspots etc.

You guys that saw it yesterday should come see it again today.. we made some substantial improvements late in the wee hours today :)

You guys are so close to WORLD DOMINATION!!! :-)

[paulherrin]

Well, I have to say, that's terribly disappointing. Although I really congratulate Red for the achievement that this projector represents, I'm afraid it just went from the top of my list to the "not an option" list.

It may be that there was no better option for passive 3D with a laser light source, but silver screens are really a problem in home theater applications, where their performance for 2D material doesn't compare very well with a white screen. So, if I wanted to use this projector in my home theater, I would have to install a second, silver screen that could drop instead of my white screen, and either ensure that the projector's focus was broad enough to cover both screens, or manually refocus the projector when using 3D. And, I would have to change the equalization of my center channel speaker depending upon which screen was down, since my primary screen is a woven screen, and the only options I'm aware of that retain polarization are vinyl screens with perforations, which require very different EQ.

Plus that's now a substantial extra expense that really hurts the projector's price point. Even if somebody is willing to change screens, you've added thousands of dollars to the cost for anybody wanting to install your projector in an existing theater.

I've seen the Stewart screen you were using (elsewhere, not at NAB), and I didn't like it at all.

I would encourage the folks from Red to take two things into consideration when bringing this machine to the home theater space:

1. Do whatever it takes to make the projector quiet. It looks from the photos as if your light source is in the offboard box. If that's true, that should be a big help, because that heat source and its cooling fan can be placed in a remote location. I'd suggest that you go pick up a Sony VPL-VW95ES. It's extremely quiet even though its light source is internal. You should be able to beat the sound levels from that projector with your external light source. Many home theaters can't install a projection booth or a "hush box", and at your price range, you're targeting home theaters that don't want that level of complexity. If your machine is noisier than other options, you will lose sales. I passed up a much more expensive projector with a stellar image because it was too noisy for my theater.
2. Consider also supporting active 3D with shutter glasses, for those users who will not be able to use a silver screen. If you can really do 120Hz passive 3D with 120Hz to both eyes, you should be able to do really really good active 3D. This could make the projector into a superb option for those of us for whom 3D is not the main focus, but who do want to be able to do the occasional 3D screening.

install silver, drop white. set focus marks if it's going soft. do you really have another option for something more affordable at this level of performance? are there any other projectors in existence with this level of performance? what's the real problem?

[Jonathan McGuire]

install silver, drop white. set focus marks if it's going soft. do you really have another option for something more affordable at this level of performance? are there any other projectors in existence with this level of performance? what's the real problem?

The problem is spectral 3D is better than polarized, better extinction and no need for a silver screen. This may be something that could not be done under 10k with lasers or may have cut brightness too much. If the native CR on this projector ends up on par with JVC HT projectors then this is still a major home run, I just would have liked to seen them go with a different 3D tech.