Client Trouble with DCP

[BoomMikeAudio]

Hello! Recently did a 5.1 mix for a filmmaker in my small studio (Mixed at 79). They made the DCP using DCP-o-matic and when they went to test it out, the sound appeared to only play out of the front speaker. Not sure what happened. I included the graph of the audio levels. Did I not mix this movie loud enough to where it only plays out of the front of the room? It sounded full and loud in my room at 79.

[Kewl]

Recently did a 5.1 mix for a filmmaker in my small studio (Mixed at 79). They made the DCP using DCP-o-matic and when they went to test it out, the sound appeared to only play out of the front speaker.

You provided your mix in one six-channel file or six mono files? DOM can deal with both scenarios, but the person making the DCP must be attentive to that aspect. Your mix levels should not have any bearing on the situation.

In any case, whoever made the DCP is probably responsible for the situation. Or there's something seriously wrong in the cinema theatre, assuming it's there they tested the DCP.

[Carsten]

Looks correct to me. You wrote 'they made the DCP' with DCP-o-matic, did you create one as well, where did you gather these levels?

Sometimes sound may appear to only come from the center, even if there is signal on the other speakers. Yes, sometime cinema staff is incompetent and may not switch on all amps.

From the levels, it may appear that center is a bit dominant, but that may be just the right mix for this movie.

[BoomMikeAudio]

Thanks for the response!

I sent them them both the 6 mono files (labeled correctly from Pro Tools) and the 5.1 wav file. Not sure which files they would have used. They didn't get me any information other than "your mix is only playing out the center".

I downloaded DCP-O-MATIC to check the levels to make sure everything is in order; I actually compare it to other graphs you shared throughout the forum. Started doing that because I've been taught to mix dialogue at -27 for cinema and that appeared to be too low for my mixes that I've seen in the theater. Mind boggling haha

[Carsten]

Maybe you can ask them to send you their audio.mxf file from the DCP?

If they used the mono files, chances are high that without adjusting the channel placement in the matrix, that all mono files have been routed to center (default). There should also be quite some distortion, but maybe they noticed the hint in the software and levelled it down, without noticing their routing error.


- Carsten

[SethMutchler]

Agreeing with what others have said. It could be a number of things, but it's less-than-likely the issue falls on you.

One troubleshooting I'd suggest recommending is to look at the metering for their audio system. As Carsten said, based on those levels it's very likely they think the sound is only coming from center but is actually coming from all speakers. The center is the loudest, with the left and right below them, which can all sound generically center. Your surrounds are low, but not uncommonly. But that would definitively say whether it's truly ONLY center, or MOSTLY center - two very different scenarios.

Also, I don't think this is an issue of "not mixing loud enough" as you said in your initial post. The audio peaks at -1.8 dB, and DOM actually recommends lowering that to at least -3.0dB. If the filmmaker wants a more surround-heavy mix with heightened ambience, that's an artistic choice, but the answer wouldn't be to raise all the levels - that would just begin clipping. It would necessitate an entire remix with adjusted balances.