The Makeup of Digital Cinema Server Systems

February 26, 2008

Source: TV Technology

Digital Cinema server systems, in production for several years now, are reaching hundreds of placements in cinemas around the world. Digital Cinema harnesses disk based post-production, compilation, transport, distribution, and play-out technologies into an end-to-end solution.

The operational and workflow requirements for these disk based systems require specific parameters be met which are outlined in the Digital Cinema System Specification (Version 1.1), as presented by the Digital Cinema Initiatives LLC to the Member Representatives Committee in April 2007. This month we’ll explore those server technologies and workflows applicable to cinema systems, while introducing the reader to some of the terminologies relevant to Digital Cinema. The exhaustive fine details of the entire specification (from post production to projection) can be found in the 146 page DCI specification.

DIGITAL CINEMA SYSTEM

The entire Digital Cinema System is built upon a data file-based design where all of the content is made up of data stored in files that are organized around the image frames; thus the “file” is the most basic component of the system.

Early in the preparation of a release for Digital Cinema are processes such as the digitizing a motion picture film, manipulating color or other image characteristics, and conforming those final creative adjustments prior to distribution; all part of what is called the Digital Intermediate (DI) process. These various DI elements are carried to the first stage of preparing that material for presentation to the cinema projection system. This workflow results in the production of a Digital Source Master (DSM) which is then used for conversion into a Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM).

Click here to read the rest of the article by Karl Paulsen.

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