San Francisco—Oct 23, 2006
Dolby to Showcase Advanced Dolby Digital Cinema Networking and Sound Technologies with JPEG 2000 Content at ShowEast 2006
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) announced today that it will be demonstrating its advanced digital cinema technologies to improve connectivity for Dolby® Digital Cinema systems at ShowEast, October 23-26 in Orlando, Florida. In addition, Dolby will exhibit JPEG 2000-encoded content on its upgraded server systems. To support DCI compliance, Dolby is currently upgrading its deployed Dolby Digital Cinema systems to the JPEG 2000 format worldwide.
"As digital cinema continues to grow, it is critical for exhibitors to have connectivity options that tie together digital cinema products for video and sound as well as DCI-compliant systems in their cinemas," said Tim Partridge, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dolby Laboratories. "Our latest technologies not only ensure the seamless integration of Dolby Digital Cinema systems in a multiplex but also simplify the process of presenting digital movies in JPEG 2000 on multiple screens."
Bringing enhanced networking and sound components to cinemas, the Dolby Show Library, a centralized multiplex digital cinema server, and the Dolby DMA8Plus, a digital media adapter for sound, simplify the installation and operation of digital multiplexes. Dolby will demonstrate its new digital cinema technologies in booth 900 at ShowEast.
Dolby Show Library
The Dolby Show Library allows exhibitors to load digital content from a central server via Ethernet, USB 2.0, satellite, DVD, or removable hard drive. The easy-to-use system dispenses the files electronically and unattended to networked Dolby Digital Cinema systems throughout the multiplex. The theatre operator can easily program the entire movie schedule, including onscreen advertising, by using the drag-and-drop Dolby Show Manager software interface.
DMA8Plus
The Dolby DMA8Plus Digital Media Adapter is a cost-effective and flexible solution for interfacing digital cinema and alternative content sources to existing cinema sound systems. Based on the Dolby DMA8, the unit accepts four independent digital inputs with up to eight channels of PCM digital audio from sources such as digital cinema servers, preshow advertising servers, DVDs, satellite, and alternative content sources. It also accommodates other audio coding formats from nonfilm sources, including PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby E, Dolby Pro Logic®, and Dolby Pro Logic II. Six analog output channels ensure straightforward interface with a cinema's existing Dolby sound processor.
The DMA8Plus is easily set up via a laptop computer and can be controlled by acinema's automation system. Individual digital sources can also be selected rapidly using dedicated front-panel buttons. In addition, the unit provides a switched "through" connection for external film audio decoders such as the Dolby DA20 Digital Adapter. An adjustable audio delay is built in to ensure that the sound and picture are synchronized during digital cinema presentations. Different delays can be assigned to different inputs, giving flexibility with alternative content sources which often require different delays.
Dolby will also present a new GPI/O card upgrade for the Dolby Show Store. This module provides an interface to existing automation systems to allow the Dolby Digital Cinema system to control lights, curtains, masking, and audio format changes.
Also at ShowEast, Dolby will debut its new 35 mm film trailer entitled City Redux, which takes viewers on a fast-moving journey through a futuristic city. Using edgy visual design elements and dynamic sound engineering to emphasize Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Surround EXTM, the trailer will provide an exciting prelude to the featured movie and illustrate how going to the movies will always be the ultimate entertainment experience.
As part of its ongoing commitment to digital cinema education, Dolby is hosting the ShowEast Technology Workshop on digital cinema on Monday, October 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dolby Senior Vice President Ioan Allen will moderate the event and executive Paul Pearson will present a seminar entitled "Building a Show: Scheduling, Monitoring, and Diagnostics." In addition, Dolby will sponsor the opening-day lunch on Tuesday, October 24, on the tradeshow floor from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To date, more than 50 digital movies have been presented on more than 175 screens in 12 countries using Dolby Digital Cinema. Recent and current presentations in select locations around the world include Cars, Monster House, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Superman Returns, and The Guardian.
To learn more about the Dolby Digital Cinema systems, please visit www.dolby.com/promo/digitalcinema.html.