The greek god Prometheus brought fire from heaven and gave it to man, thus he has been our friend, the Master of Technology.

A professional product developer was hired to visualize the complex layers needed from the as builts.

I had posted an extensive technical explanation but somehow it got deleted so more later...

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus1.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus2.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus3.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus4.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus5.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus6.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus7.jpg

Truly awesome! So, all the speakers are hidden behind acoustically transparent cloth, right? Where does one buy suitable cloth? And what if you have speakers for rear-firing ports (like I do)? Would this still be doable with such speakers (or should I just replace them with speakers having front ports?)

you should just get rid of those bose boxes :D

you should just get rid of those bose boxes :D

Bose? That's truly a four letter word. :)

No, I have some lowly Paradigm speakers, hardly fit to talk about in this $20,000+ gear forum, but they do have rear-firing ports, so I thought I would ask if I can do the same kind of thing as Cineramax did here, hiding the speakers. I always heard that getting too close to a wall behind the speakers would create an unnatural bass bump, a problem only made worse by a rear port.

Hi Gi Joe,

As it is every speaker in this room is rear ported, the C4's only need 3.5 inches to the rear wall, which we corroborated in helene and still have a beautifully smooth response and decent soundstage, the center does too, the real trick are the 4 c1 hidden in the ceiling those get a plywood exoskeleton with a 2" wavegide along the back and top of the speaker. According to Dynaudio this will work perfectly, and "Danes don't lie"...:D

attachment

You can see it's a Stewart Torus, First the DP1500 is being hacked with a .63 AP, with a complimenting matching Iris on the lens, the lens is also optimised for the Torus. We are using a higher wattage 2kw lamp. All of this means the highest on/off, ansi contrast and MTF on the planet.

There's a d-box, provisions for a Digital Cinema Dolby Sever in 2 and 3-D, and access to first run movies the wedenesday before they reach the movie theaters. Truly a no compromise image befitting a King,;).

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus8.jpg

Check these renderings out:

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus9.jpg

Cantilevered Soffet "Voice of God" 7.1 surround array with Confidence 1's. The porthole on the right is for convergence only.

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus10.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Prometheus11.jpg

The vertical element that holds the Speaker fabric where it turns into the screen is a metal rod to minimise mass in the reflections.

Voice of God ! I like that.:D

Art

Yeah a cool term, alas I believe it may have been coined by Tom Holman in his 10.5 surround channel experiment at UCLA school of Film. Both Holman and Bob Stuart had experimented with multichannel expansion of the 5.1/7.1 tracks and they (like ambisonics) had determined that a height channel would be useful. There is where I heard the "Voice of God" term used first. I am using it perhaps incorrectly but because in this case the all the surround channels are hung from this cantileverd dropped ceiling that is so clearly demarcated away from the walls and andgled down smack into the "spectator Killing zone" -I will take creative license and call it just that.:)

Well I'd do the same,very descriptive.:D

Art

I have instructed the optical engineer modifying the Prometheus Barco Superkontrast, that this time around I want the Superkontrast MK II to live up to it's name.

No one in this forum has a remote clue of all the legwork involved in order to have had Barco to OK the Helene mod. It was like getting a marriage annulled by the Pope. The ticket to modifying these sets is to not void the warranty, that would be super foolish as I believe the sum of the cost of the parts probably exceeds the cost of the projector. The projector is 100% modular, I don't think the upcoming .98 competing product is. Barco acquiesced on a case by case bassos to honor the warranties assuming certain conditions were met.

All parts that are modified like light engine and lenses have to be clearly labeled with a date and description of the modification performed. This is in case a part is serviced and is swapped; now entering the pool of service parts. I assume.

Much more concern for the heat buildup exists on this chassis than on the larger dp90-100 which Odyssey uses. With closer space confines comes the possibility of accelerated heat buildup. In addition great strides have been made in this chassis to wards perfect uniformity, Barco is adamant that the integrity of the uniformity NOT BE SACRIFICED. This projector uses an O shaped optical path , a departure form the Delta Shaped path, this is credited for it's unmatched uniformity.

Prudently observing Barco's wishes we conservatively set the single aperture plate at .53 reduction and called it a day to monitor the heat levels. We also
limited the lamp size to 1,600 watts.

The purpose of Prometheus is to push the visual to the limit, audio is clearly secondary (we cover all our bases using the tried and proven natural sound of dynaudio esotar controlled directivity units- but we are working around the Torus screen with every known acoustical countermeasures to typical Torus sound anomalies as personally researched over 2 decades). I believe it will sound great -well see.

The Torus screen optimizes for ANSI contrast and MTF. The screen is ray traced to the room . In this case it was Don Stewart personally that did the ray tracing. The Barco Dp1500 control suite does offer the unique capability of trimming any shape during masking to any kind of screen flat, curved, or Torus. This is fortuitous.

http://cineramax.com/images/Torus-Cinemascope-Metrics.jpg

Emboldened by the superior uniformity of the TORUS (and having comfort in the low heat levels thus far) I have instructed the optical engineers preparing the SUPERKONTRAST II to spare no sacrifice in obtaining the maximum possible contrast out of this opportunity to break the world MTF record for any HDTV device.


http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/monitor.jpg The Barco Communicator software has been on line in Helene with the engineers on the west coast for two months now. Heat and operational data has been collected and analyzed with extremely positive results.

We all now about the custom aperture plates that need be heat proof, we had three plates made. A .53 (Helene), a .63, a .73 this later one is a joke (a pinhole) so for Prometheus a .63. Much investigation with Barco and with a top optical engineer that worked on the .98 engine design for TI and now defected to a German lens Manufacturer has been made during the last few weeks. Greater aperture reduction is clearly yielding a severely diminished return. We also are comissioning with a New England custom lens technician a matching iris. The iris on the lens does not need to match the aperture in the light pipe just aproximate it. Say 60% reduction.

This are the secret tools that have been used thusfar to achieve increased contrast in digital cinema thus far.

The SuperKontast II will sport a third technique not previously considered. THIS CONCEPT IS NEW TO ME and it is still It is not very clear to me what combination of manual adjustment of the DMD and it's corresponding "SEMAPHORE" in the software side of the process but essentially there are ways of aligning the dmd while "setting it up" for native white where the contrast values of native white are maximised, this technique will be used to push the CR over the 5k-1 hump. I am calling it MAXIMUM CR NATIVE WHITE SEMAPHORE SETUP.

While achieving an extra 1.1k-1 in sequential contrast over the Superkontrast I is dignified, what we are after here is the elusive MTF. We will be taking the MTF pedal to the metal here. Don't let the dust trail incovenience you.:D

Peter

You are talking an extreamly bright image. What is your choice of screen material that does not exhibit texture or sparkles in bright scenes for the torus?

Am afraid some sparklies will be there, the choice is up to Don. What it must be is it must be white and not grey. My take a gain of 2 or so. You need gain in order to avoid cross reflectivity and be able to increase ANSI CR (MTF).I believe a value of 2.2 was used during the Ray tracing.

We need a balance to have a nice bright image in 2-d and an acceptable image in 3-d. Originally I had 23 ft lamberts in mind for 2-d using a 2kw lamp, now I have art wolfgang and others spousing 26, 45, 63 ft lamberts (hell I am considering jumping to 3kw for 2-d although I think the owner will object as he prefers the Film Look). What I will probaly do is get another lamphouse with a 4kw and use it for the 3-D movies.

This theater as discussed is my first Bel Air Digital Circuit and we expect 3-D to be a big part of it.

It is very easy to set the lamp power level though the Barco coomunicator software for which I am sketching an amx control interface.

he prefers the Film Look).

I like his thinking.
Our display systems exceed film in many ways but unfortunately our source does not.






.

I can't really expand too much on the new technique used for seting up native white, it is sort of TRADE SECRET in the dlp industry, but I was able to puull two or three more teeths of information.

As you all know when you calibrate these projectors to native white and then you switch the setting for rec 709 on/off contrast goes down. Using multiple techniques in the coding of the reflector and things like the mirror fold on the dmd and fine tuning somekind of filter (i can't read my handwriting there) it is possible to bring the native white really close to d65, during critical setup. That way the maximum bit depth is used for things like grayscale etc. Is a native white of d65 possible? I don't think so but apparently with a lot of care it can come close.

Gone

I ventured up to the tower today for the first time.

This is the original 3 passenger elevator.
http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethTowerelev.jpg

When you get to the observation room there is a little hearth getting ready for a plasma.

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethTowerHearth.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethTowertop.jpg

Kinda cozy up there...

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethTowerView.jpg

Back in the main hall these are the new stairs, the old ones had termites.

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PrometheusMay-Stairs.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Promethfloatwall1.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Promethconduit.jpghttp://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Promethstage.jpghttp://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethScreenPutty.jpg

Conduit work for rack/isolation pedestal/ expoxy putty to prepare ToRUS screen corners.

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Promethfloatwall2.jpg

Wall hanging hardware

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethPortholes.jpg
Porthole locations...

There are now double aperture plates, this thing will go past 6,000-1.

he SuperKontrast is earning it's name...

Peter,
Have you considered the coming 4K home units for any of your installs ?

Art

Regarding designing for a review room.
The only 4k unit I saw was the JVC pro, and it was nice but sorto like a step back from the SK MKI.

I am really enamored with the DCI platform the way there is a sure foolproof way to calibrate, and the servo zoom lens seems to be a TI development. I also have a small but developing market of people in the indutry that could benefit from superior review rooms.

I will monitor however as TI migrates to 4k for the theater.

For non critical rooms I will look at lcos 4k, do you know any specifics?

Regarding designing for a review room.
The only 4k unit I saw was the JVC pro, and it was nice but sorto like a step back from the SK MKI.

I am really enamored with the DCI platform the way there is a sure foolproof way to calibrate, and the servo zoom lens seems to be a TI development. I also have a small but developing market of people in the indutry that could benefit from superior review rooms.

I will monitor however as TI migrates to 4k for the theater.

For non critical rooms I will look at lcos 4k, do you know any specifics?

Just rumors so take with grain of salt:

* We will see them from two or three manufacturers by CEDIA

* They will sport 4K res with internal anamorphic lens

* Around 2000 lumens

* At least one will have been uber optimized by a well known calibrator

* At least one will be xenon based

* One is touting between 50,000:1 to 100,000:1 FF CR

* They should be shipping in about six months

Art

That could bode well for immersion seeking people sitting close to the screen.

My designs always have a buffer zone for architectural and acoustical reasons so 4k is not needed. While on off cr is important it should not be wheiged the same as ANSI CR, MTF and COLOR.

It's Ironic but for some reason I don't expect the LCOS with xenon to be as easy to discern as is in 3dlp. The dlp is reflective and not transmissive.

I am happy the industry is heading that way, it imparts new heroic purpose to the SK approach.

It's Ironic but for some reason I don't expect the LCOS with xenon to be as easy to discern as is in 3dlp. The dlp is reflective and not transmissive.



Ah, yea but SXRD stands for what ?:rolleyes::D

Art

Art:

Do you hear anything about pricing?

Art:

Do you hear anything about pricing?

Too vague but I'm guessing in the 50K range except for the optimized version which could be double that I'm betting.

Art

:)One of them anyways.

The cantilevered floating soffit in reverse trapagon angle.

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Float-cantilever-ceil-1.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Float-cantilever-ceil-2.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Float-cantilever-ceil-3.jpg

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/Float-cantilever-ceil-4.jpg

Peter,is all the metal because the construction is in Florida ?

Art

Believe it or not the entire staff at Steve Haas (http://www.stevehass.net/hassy-bio.html) acoustics insist metal is better as a bitumastic resonance attenuator. Go Figure! They designed the floating room part.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promeceiling.png

The CMC construction foreman building the cantilevered ceiling was commenting how beautiful the design of the ceiling was, we got to talk and he is the same guy I had worked in 1993 in Dione, Ugo's old penthouse cinema. The length of tenures of the people working for the KOM are impressive, maybe I'll get a job there and quit trying to live the heroic life.:)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promestatmat1.png
Pirreli Rubber Antistatic Flooring being applied under rack location.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promestatmat2.png

Master Bedroom rs-2 niche is also Pirellitized...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed1.png
The BRIC controller is located in ceiling by screen and connected to keypad.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed2.png

A Bric controller eye/keypad is installed inside the bedroom media enclosure along with an infrared repeating system for the RS-2
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed5.png

Eventually both the screen and the projector will be controlled rs-232 by amx but for now...

The freaking armoires latticed glass door are drop dead gorgeous crafted by world famous master craftsman Paolo Roncoroni, he will also will be doing the millwork upstairs in Prometheus. He is also doing Michael Schumacher's theater outside Geneva (perhaps the reason why I'm spiffing my website:D), and is doing tons of work in Dubai, I am ready as soon as Paolo gives me the go ahead.:D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed3.png

The bedroom system was fired up and precisely set up before burying the projector behind a large wood panel.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed7.png

After a hard days work we lightened up the construction crews with some 1080p BD flesh tones...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Ubed6.png

Programmed the bric to the calibrated AR - which is wicked simple.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promebedscope.png

Insulated wall cavities...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheater.png

The dining room has four invisible speakers and 2 nearly invisible subs(velodyne)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promedine.png

The Historical stairs are nearing a complete restoration. 2 sub slots visible.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promestairs.png

And the living room, I could see a masked ball taking place there...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promeliving.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Acoustreat1.JPG



One side shows: absorption in the front, BAD panel with binary refraction template over 1 inch fiberglass behind fabric.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Acoustreat2.JPG

http://www.rpginc.com/products/flatffusor/flat_img/flatffus.jpghttp://www.rpginc.com/products/flatffusor/flat_img/flatdc2.gif

The back wall...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Acoustreat3.JPG
http://www.rpginc.com/products/hemiffusorw1/hem_img/main_hem_image.jpg

The front wall and inside the TORUS Vacuum screen.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Acoustreat4.JPG

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/PromePJwalls.png
Projection

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/PromePlat.png
D-Box Platform

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/PromSpeakers.png
Voice Of God soffet

Just got this message from the operating table...
"63% isn’t going to work, can’t get enough lumens with a 3k. Trying a 58% now."

There go the chances of hitting 6,500 on/off, this is a cliffhanger.

Just got this message from the operating table...
"63% isn’t going to work, can’t get enough lumens with a 3k. Trying a 58% now."

There go the chances of hitting 6,500 on/off, this is a cliffhanger.

How is the patient ?

Art

In a conference room scratching 5k-1 and 825 ansi cr (same as wolfgang), iluminating a 4meter 1 gain of 1.8 with 30 ftlamberts. The picture subjectively is spectacular, however I have been promised a new DLP MOD development so hush hush that not even Barco knows about it, not even Odyssey or Wolfgang know about it, it won't be available for another month but it is guaranteed to increase the extra 15-20%, it will be retrofitted on this one.

As you see a lot of this experimentation is trial and error, the .63 aperture reduction (perfectly acceptable with 1.2 chip units) is a light hog, it had to be opened up a bit for optimal .98 chip light-tube compatibility.

The projector will be moved to a black hole for the measurements that I will post later.

Just got this message from the operating table...
"63% isn’t going to work, can’t get enough lumens with a 3k. Trying a 58% now."

There go the chances of hitting 6,500 on/off, this is a cliffhanger.

No, this provides the opportunity to increase ARPU, by using DP2000 4KW as base;). Making it the exclusive option to the little kontrast, and those looking to go slumming with the farbenmeister:rolleyes:.

Originally the torus was going to be 16" in it's deepest point. The King is concerned that with all the acoustical treatments and by having floated the room, that we lost valuable viewing space, consequently a decree was passed to reduce the shape of the screen and bury the proximity sensor, we will gain 4".

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul5.jpg

The superkontrast MKII serving as a snack table:mad::mad:

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul1.jpg

My exclusive cantilevered soffit ceiling and triple porthole:

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul7.jpg


Preparing the Voice of God:

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul4.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/vog2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/vog5.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/vog3.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/vog4.jpg

First no tiny peephole, now an ox instead of a bull for screen, what is this slave of technology coming to...

What no direct cargoflights from Zaventem to Miami?

http://cineramax.com/CES_2008/PromethTowerView.jpg



Nice design on the layout of switching the thing around rather than other way. And the lowered ceiling suspended is nice touch as well.

First golden rule matching fronts behind the screen no mismatching only matching makes a perfect sonic sound. Also stick all the audio equipment into the same room along with the video projector as that is where you should be when show-off to friends and family. You first review the DVD on your own in the home cinema, then on opening night you stay in the booth that is the golden number one rule!


Now I’ve spotted the ultimate home cinema its often what is in front of you that eludes you! The swimming pool no one gives a hoot about swimming pools today I mean you’ve got shark infested waters and what more do you what!?

The swimming pool is the perfect candidate, its got a sloping concentre flooring that levels out at the deep end and all it takes now is rethinking and remodelling the idea out again! I bet the swimming pool home cinema idea can do at least 20 seats if not more! And you can cover the walls with at least 10 on each side and 4 to 6 on the back wall and 20 for “overheard sonic whole” the fonts should all be JBL professional 4675-A and 4645C subs, easy if you’ve got the dosh.

How much are those guys charging you for all this? I think you need a mate who’s on the demolition payroll to get most if not all the materials next to nothing and you may save at least a few grand!

First golden rule matching fronts behind the screen no mismatching only matching makes a perfect sonic sound. Also stick all the audio equipment into the same room along with the video projector as that is where you should be when show-off to friends and family. You first review the DVD on your own in the home cinema, then on opening night you stay in the booth that is the golden number one rule!


Now I’ve spotted the ultimate home cinema its often what is in front of you that eludes you! The swimming pool no one gives a hoot about swimming pools today I mean you’ve got shark infested waters and what more do you what!?

The swimming pool is the perfect candidate, its got a sloping concentre flooring that levels out at the deep end and all it takes now is rethinking and remodelling the idea out again! I bet the swimming pool home cinema idea can do at least 20 seats if not more! And you can cover the walls with at least 10 on each side and 4 to 6 on the back wall and 20 for “overheard sonic whole” the fonts should all be JBL professional 4675-A and 4645C subs, easy if you’ve got the dosh.

How much are those guys charging you for all this? I think you need a mate who’s on the demolition payroll to get most if not all the materials next to nothing and you may save at least a few grand!

Please tell me this post isn't serious.:rolleyes:

Why pump the water out. Just get some of those butt kickers for underwaterspeakers, and you're set.

And at some of its construction pictures Arnold Chase's theater did look like a giant concrete swimmingpool;-).

Please tell me this post isn't serious.:rolleyes:

Look me in the eye, do I look like I’m joking?:D
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/12/18/Joker460.jpg

I’m quite serious because I bet when he had the idea and stated taking pictures to show-off the real answer was starring straight at him.

Why pump the water out. Just get some of those butt kickers for underwaterspeakers, and you're set.

And at some of its construction pictures Arnold Chase's theater did look like a giant concrete swimmingpool;-).

Yeah put a big screen erected on the far end of the swimming pool while guests are swimming around and toss in the bass shakers, just make sure there safe for water first, otherwise the guests might get a bit of BUZZZZZ! ROTFLMAO :D

I'll let Peter answer you himself.

I think your idea of quality sound and Peters are at very different levels.

Why pump the water out. Just get some of those butt kickers for underwaterspeakers, and you're set.

And at some of its construction pictures Arnold Chase's theater did look like a giant concrete swimmingpool;-).

I have not seen any further posts on his theater. Was it ever finished or is there a thread showing its progression?


Thx.

According to a post on cp's forum the scheduled completion date is November, in May there was a post that pictures would follow once the actuall theaterbuild starts.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promceiling2.png this is behind the cantilevered siffet, we still have to add 4" of rpG diffusion and absorption in the middle, as well as 5/8 faBRITRAK WITH GOM.

This is one heck of a floating soffett, Proud Papa says...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promceiling5.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promceiling1.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promceiling3.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promceiling4.png

This is where the rack goes, notice the antistatic flooring:

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promrack1.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promrack2.png

OT: Some brilliant grafik design by CINERAMAX JR. for the website he is creating...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/moonsofsaturn.png

Play CLICK ON THE MOON...here (http://cineramax.com/projects.html)

Not an entirely uneventful day...

Where do I start? At this point Helene and Prometheus are a juggle, but Prometheus is obviously the bulk of the tasks. We also have to keep the web site development part going, and as I Googgled SUPERKONTRAST I find this:

SUPERKONTRAST (what they really think about CINERAMAX) (http://www.curtpalme.com/forum//viewtopic.php?p=119101)

I laughed and cried, how emotions run... Every single aspect of my persona is scrutinized and dumped on therein. Anyways the thread kept me up late last night, and we have a very tight schedule to finish the "Voice of God".

We were hoping to have had that done by last Friday and we need to move on to other things so we started early this morning installing the speaker baffle boxes that convert a rear ported esotar design to a slot loaded front firing in-ceiling. I predict it is going to sound celestial.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul85.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul89.pnghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul815.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul87.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul816.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul817.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul86.png

Meanwhile we noticed that a cherry picker had been hauling huge boxes to the third floor. The CINEMATECH ESPADA CHAIRS.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul811.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul810.png

"Today?, during this construction? " Yes the top italian VP ordered that all the chairs be positioned for an inspection from the Architect.

We continued fitting the boxes which was a PAIN TO LINEUP WITH THE EXISTING CONDUIT, ETC ETC.

At one point the entire upper brass speaking 100% Italian walked into the room and asked me what I was doing, we demonstrated the design of the boxes to the owner, he asked if it would work, and I said yes, it is the "voice of god", he nodded.

Meanwhile I was asked to stop, nevermind that I had commissioned the cabinet worker and his assistant to put the speker boxes. The architect was here. I asked foir 3 hours and got 1/2 hour to clear the space for the chairs. :D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul812.png

The owner and architect discuss hallway clearances. The rear divan is discussed, the architect explains that traditional form and function demds that the sofa be 160cm deep, we barely have 140 cm not counting the 10 inches of the rpg refractor panels, we decide to cut the refractor panels in half and make the divan 140cm deep.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul83.png

The architect like all great designers has great conviction in his ideas that during the design construction phases have clashed with MY ideas of what works ergonomically best, I am as accommodating as possible but if I see that something will be greatly sacrificed I let it know. Suffice is to say thet there were three things that I told the owner to do that he agreed with me, that did not sit well with the architect. At the end of the day, and after some very spirited and dramatic shows of emotions on the part of the Peninsular Brass, some compromises were made

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul84.png

The architect is a ****ing genious, I was able to take a snaphot of his handmade sketch. The wing shaped armoires on the side are not only a show stopper they are acoustical too.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul813.png

At least one thing impressed the architect, the D-BOX.

When we explained to him that the whole "pavimento" would move with the "Film" he said. "Esso si me piace".

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul81.png

Italian design at it's highest meets maximum MTF. What a day!
Some of my critics are right. I don't give a damn of what they think, this is taking an artform to it's highest plateau, they should stay on the sidelines, shut up, and learn. :D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-2.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-1.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-4.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-5.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-6.png
Before Ugo did not care how much motion the platform had, thankfully he changed his mind, now it is only going to be as wide as the 4 seat 5 arm footprint.

I however compensating for the shifted center of gravity of the reclined seats will make the actuator footprint as small as humanly possible, leaving the two outside chairs fully cantilevered, and occupying as small as possible front to back span, this sucker is going to ROCK even if we have to build the aluminum support twice.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promjul10-7.png

We also have to keep the web site development part going

Indeed, you need to make those depictions of the deities clickable!

Yeah but I only have detailed content on the two last ones, so I will need to make them featured installations or something.

You used to have sketches of the rearpro set-up as well. You promised us some pictures of this set-up, months ago, needed to be re-taken you said, so would be a while.

For the rest you could just give a bit more detail, like the equipment used, basic designprinciples invoked, size of the room, perhaps a scan of some old polaroids. You refer to 'award winning', 'influential', 'inspired such and such', so add to that, perhaps some pictures of the spin-offs, and additional credentials. An unidentified 'awardwinning' claim, always makes me cringe;-).

But indeed start with what you have. At the Curt's thread you linked, they also referred to that other 'hyperbole site', Jeremy's, that has also started to look better, needed some clean-up, that's all. His site, nor your's are cleaned-up enough, yet, but good progress to nice and navigatable sites has been made.

Rear Pro is dead in General. Why waste my minuscule resources on it?

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-3.pnghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-8.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-5.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-4.png

What is wrong with this picture?
:D:D:D:D
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-11.png
We put the explosive lamps in this corner a few weeks ago, the cabinet guys went and built all that millwork so the box could not be moved, in any direction. LOL.

The box had to be carefully cut in place.


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-12.png
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-6.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-7.png
These guys have done the most exquisite cabinet work for royalty in every kingdom, from the uk, to dubai, and for Michael Schumacher.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-10.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-13.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-2.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-1.png

I accidentally dropped a 500 watt xenon the other day. It was still sitting in its Styrofoam container but just my luck when it hit the floor it still blew up. For such a small lamp it was plenty loud. I can imagine one of those larger lamps going off, scary indeed. Definitely worth the precaution waring the gear. Nice work Peter.

Rear Pro is dead in General. Why waste my minuscule resources on it?

Somehow I expected you would say something like this;-).

Are you serious? I don't think I would agree. Perhaps for your type of set-ups of dedicated viewing rooms, but with the readily available architectural glass screens new opportunities for great displays have arisen.

A Barco with Christie lamps:rolleyes:.

I accidentally dropped a 500 watt xenon the other day. It was still sitting in its Styrofoam container but just my luck when it hit the floor it still blew up. For such a small lamp it was plenty loud. I can imagine one of those larger lamps going off, scary indeed. Definitely worth the precaution waring the gear. Nice work Peter.

No that's so he can go over to Curt's:rolleyes::D:p.

Thanks Alan

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/r_2wTdDXOzM/default.jpg

here is the video. (http://www.youtube.com/user/Cineramax1)

The Projector will need sway bracing. the drop hang on the unistrut is fine, but you will need to prevent and side to side sway.

Somehow I expected you would say something like this;-).

Are you serious? I don't think I would agree.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/supernovainf.png

The biggest Rearscreen company is kinda bullish on daylight front projection.

The Projector will need sway bracing. the drop hang on the unistrut is fine, but you will need to prevent and side to side sway.

Quote that was discussed Dizz, thanks.

However would have preferred much better if they let me get the projector correctly into position first before securing anything, they added a second unistrut underneath the support unit cause the front one ws bending in the middle, but we did not come prepared with a socket wrench deep enough, and could not get the siting completed.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promejul11-2.png

Still quite some hotspotting/white haze on this display, Peter. As a display this looks nice, but there are architectural effects that one can get with glass screens, one can't get with sheets of white acryllic.

BTW, looking at this pictures, again, this picture seems to be taken with fairly limited amounts of ambient light. How much nits are they offering? Have seen DLP cubes and 4mm LED displays in the same venue, for wich i remember the rating and a HD1 stack for wich I don't have any figures, but in a much lighter part of said exhibition center, to compare.

Film screens (Vikuity), offer other opportunities, digital signage, narrowcasting and so on in shop windows (vacant stores).

Look I set out to change the world in 2004 with rp and it did not get me too far, I changed HT in Brazil, that's is about it.

RP to me is so complex and time consuming and integrating CinemaScope, a big part of my area of interest into rear screen means probably adopting a compromised 2.0 aspect ratio, so I don't really want to get into it.

Empty storefronts are agreat application, but who pays for the install.

Don't get me wrong Peter, I see your points. And understand why you like the new FP options.

If daylight FP will become an affordable option I am all for it. The Small DNP FP 'Plasma-alternative' screens sofar seem to be more about design (read 'expensive') than lightoutput.

Personally, I don't care about cinemascope, but if you are looking for wider than widescreen in a room, FP does seem to offer better opportunities.

As for storefronts, there seem to be a few sprouting advertising networks willing to pick-up the tap, still early days though.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GP7ZS47SbNE/default.jpg

BARCO DP_1500 above hallway (SITING VIDEO). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP7ZS47SbNE)

This video shows the sitting of the projector in a very narrow hallway.

Warning: because I had to be directing the action while holding the camera for a minute or so the camera looks in the wrong, and one very wrong direction, at the end however it all comes into view.

You refer to 'award winning', 'influential', 'inspired such and such', so add to that, perhaps some pictures of the spin-offs, and additional credentials. An unidentified 'awardwinning' claim, always makes me cringe;-).


Id be very hard to find out what award Charles Pawley received for the Architecture and Design of this house featuring a central rear projection system in the living room. A couple of years ago Charles blew his brains out.:(

Well, well just mention that it (your work) and the complete design by Charles Pawley won an architecture award. Name dropping (I assume this Charles was a big name designer) is not always to be frowned upon;-).

Edit:

http://www.stagsclub.com/Reunion%20Pictures/Suarez03.jpg
?
From 2003.

http://www.byblosgroup.com/flarchitect.htm

I miss him , one of the top 4 architects I have ever worked with, you can see his work in Miami Vice Movie before Sonny takes the Chinese chick to Havana, that house where they were meeting is of his design.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/barcowp.jpg

Tomorrow I will perform a lamp focusing procedure without even removing the lens cap.

I'll You tube that. It's all done on the touchscreen.

I miss him , one of the top 4 architects I have ever worked with, you can see his work in Miami Vice Movie before Sonny takes the Chinese chick to Havana, that house where they were meeting is of his design.

Did find a few of his works online, but not the one you worked on it seems.

[

Warning: because I had to be directing the action while holding the camera for a minute or so the camera looks in the wrong, and one very wrong direction, at the end however it all comes into view.

Well it appears that you either have a blue jean or drywall fetish, but that's just my opinion..:D

Behold the custom ray traced PROMETHEUS STEWART TORUS (with plenum Box by 1st Impressions)

ME(Mechanical Electrical) UNIT
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-005.jpg

Box depth was reduced by 3 inches
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-079.jpg

Proximity sensor was setback 3 inches
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-135.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-040.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-043.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-073.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-077.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-079.jpg

cinemascope width

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-096.jpg

1.77
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-108.jpg

ME unit vacuum hose
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-110.jpg

velvet applique to eliminate internal reflections

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-132.jpg

The triple port in action...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-086.jpg


The "Voice of God" soffet awaiting refraction layer treatment.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-082.jpg

At the risk of the whole seat array dislodging with mucho motion :D.

The two outside chairs in this 4 chair row are completely cantileved the front motion actuators are positioned 6 inches back from the fascia of the chairs. This thing is cantilever city.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-069.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-102.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus723-101.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-016.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-001.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-009.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-041.jpg

The polystyrene sound diffusers had to be cut in half in order to fit a 2" wall.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-024.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-006.jpg

Rack is inserted...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/813-027.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-060.jpg

Front half finished.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-014.jpg

Side speakers wired.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-012.jpg
We did a test with the3 flash and decided to paint the speaker slot baffle enclosures black.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-067.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-070.jpg

Porthole sleeves installed for trimming acoustical materials.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-036.jpg

Design of Porthole insert.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/814-052.jpg

"The Torus," wasn't that created by Dr. Klee Torus???

One and the same.:D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-001.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-004.jpg


A precision instrument is improvised...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-005.jpg

Here the master teaches the installer on the utilisation of the implement...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-007.jpg

The reduced depth diffuser must be exactly 2 inches, hence the need for the cheese grater.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-013.jpg

The panel on the right is the front 2 inches of a 4 inch diffuser it has deeper cavities than the one on the left, deeper cabinet lower frequencies, corner-lower frequencies.See the relation?

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-015.jpg
The one of the left is a Center 2" slice from the 4" diffuser, it has narrower pits overall, we use this to scatter mid high frequencies.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-019.jpg

For someone that self confesses that acoustical treatments are overrated, I sure am having a ball here. There is some very good reasons for the care we are taking, it is a torus room and that changes everything.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-025.jpg

More cheese grating...:)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-031.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-034.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-033.jpg

Digital Perforated masonite panels over fiberglass to come on left.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/820-010.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/820-011.jpg

This "Voice Of God" soffet is promising to sound "CELESTIAL".

http://www.michelebonan.it/images/Lobby.jpg
This architect from Florence is something else, (at times I feel like addressing him as El Duce (http://ezinearticles.com/?El-Duce-or-How-I-Came-to-Hate-Mussolini&id=86591) :D) but he is brilliant.

You have no idea how many times I overheard him complaining that the design has to be defined after the technical part has been defined and not the other way around. Meaning my restrictions annoy the heck out of him. This is going to be one cool looking space. Notice the M shaped armoires on the side of his own design. Could have been designed by some acoustician trying to avoid parallel surfaces, bravo.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/BonanDesign.jpg

The IMAX approach of the “voice of God” is located above the centre channel!

The Indian IMAX Experience AEG audio engineering society
http://www.aesindia.org/activities2.htm

Indeed. Not unlike Tom Holman's 10.3 system's.

Sometimes, specially at the very end of these engagements one has to remind the patron (no matter how affluent) of what they are getting, otherwise there is a risk they may lose the forest for the trees.

I took the opportunity to hopefully catch the KOM relaxed during his globe circling private jet vacation to remind him of the worth and uniqueness of our work.

Intellectual Property arts of CINERAMAX (Miami) exclusive to Prometheus -RECAP

Room
Torus Optimized room-Takes into consideration complex acoustics
based on past hands on design, and evaluation of all relevant
public venues in the United States- designed for performance without peer.

Ergonomics - From the tailor fitted triple projection portholes, to the strategically
augmented 7.5 inch steps, to the voice of God soffet that positions a surround
killing zone without screen interference in an unequaled spectacular
stealthy array, plus a peripheral halo of light that will exude a balcony-like viewing
intimacy and a strong architectural-kinetic sense of adventure. From the moment one walks in and sits the expectation is that of impending take off...

Projector - A projector designed with the latest in contrast enhancement and MTF
magnification, based on the most respected Hollywood platform selected by the
most respected and fastidious eye in Hollywood. But this one is not the stock model.
It is not the three modification SuperKontrast MK I level (4k-1) the envy of every projector
presently, it is not the four modification SuperKontrast MKII (5k-1) an intermediate
performance level that was thought to be the limit for this machine, it skips it
and achieves an unheard of 6k-1 , SuperKontrast MK III level with 5 modifications. A world record for DCI class.

The blanking system of this projector was custom requested to match the curvatures of Torus screen
(a feature transplanted from the simulation projector line at CINERAMAX insistence in 2007)
The combination of this high ansi contrast projector wth this ansi contrast enhancing screen will yield
the ultimate CineMascope Bluray and Dolby Server reference experience.

Screen
CINERAMAX , Don Stewart, and retiree Glenn Bergrenn remain the last three living Torus screen experts.
Contrary to popular opinion that dismisses the screen as obsolete, there are many psycovisual properties to
this screen that defy technical explanation in terms of immediacy, dynamic range and enhanced depth perception.
With Prometheus the videophile segment of humanity rolls the dice one last time in the clear expectation of Synergy.
Don Stewart and CINERAMAX have carefully implemented a plan to tailor fit not only optically(gain /depth of field/ focus) but physically, this screen
phenomenon in a manner reminiscent of the finest bespoken threads of Savile Row (around the edges of the plenum box).

The high risks involved in not creating an acoustical torture chamber (the dark underbelly of every hastily planned
Torus installation) has been addressed with great care and every conceivable countermeasure discovered by
CINERAMAX over a 20 year period is in effect.

Sound System
Covered in the last point above is the secret to the acoustics in Prometheus, not gritty, not dry, totally transparent,
fatigue free, and requiring very little automatic room correction (mainly the center channel and the subs).
The sound quality every expert said could not be achieved (with that screen) will be the most spectacular surround sound
experience possible in a room of these dimensions.

A tall order? Nawh.;)

I wanna play HALO on that thing!




(This is the most simplistic, base, sarcastic comment i could think of to provide kontrast to the comments above! :) )

On a serious note, how is the Torus screen masked? Or are you going to mask it?

Touche.

You can design dual gull wing monocoques that swing in and out into position.

That is one luxury we don't have in this job. I am hoping there is a huge delta between this image and Helene's, if there is not, then I will abandon the Torus for good, but my gut instinct tells me this will be spectacular, it's a gamble, for a client that lived with one such screen for 16 years and found none better, mind you.

I have been promised the highest exposure sports client in Palm Beach (in 2010) by the architect in Helene that already pimped me out , very very famous sports figure. Of the many things I envision is the possibility of having a 16 wide masking torus system with 3-D day and date Dolby Show Bel- air circuit system. I would create and insane 12 quad/biamped channel (multiamped) Munro designed Dynaudio acoustics system with ML amps, racks and racks of it. I would do distributed surround sound systems all over the house (surround in the bedrooms, the family room, the living room(invisible), around the pool. Put in several 103 inch and 1 150 inch plasmas with 4 way custom masking systems.

One can dream... Right? I believe in the power if visualization, life may be a sheithole but visualization helps.;)



Because we can match any shape in the Torus blanking we are going to use two lutron roll down shades and fudge the midscreen side edge positions to match the rollers. Not ideal, I know (but fvck it) this rig is for maximum MTF CinemaScope, (CinemaScope at 825-850 ansi contrast), one cannot get that with an Isco, or an Isco plus a color correcting filter, or a LCOS with Isco (regardless of price). Everything else is <500 ansi cr..

Because we can match any shape in the Torus blanking we are going to use two lutron roll down shades and fudge the midscreen side edge positions to match the rollers. Not ideal, I know (but fvck it) this rig is for maximum MTF CinemaScope, (CinemaScope at 825-850 ansi contrast), one cannot get that with an Isco, or an Isco plus a color correcting filter, or a LCOS with Isco (regardless of price). Everything else is <500 ansi cr..What color are the walls, floor, and ceiling in the rooms you are putting these in? Do you have things blacked out? Seems like in the past you were mostly working with rooms with lighting coming in or on and even if you get rid of that light, if you go along the same lines of having living room type setups with light colored rooms then you are going to kill the ANSI CR quite a bit. Have you measured the ANSI CRs off of any screens in these rooms? I also wonder what a Torus does to ANSI CR since part of the screen can then reflect on another part opposite it in the angle, but I don't recall ever measuring that effect with a curved screen to see how much it is.

--Darin

This one will be very dark .

Don't confuse MY PREFERENCE with my clients. I am the one that continues trying to defy the laws of physics by trying to preserve the view. Sue me but I like media rooms not theaters. Although I now fully understand the limitations of FP, there's no free lunches.


The Helene room before the porthole was measured at 815 when the colors were shot first even though the chairs are beige the room is long and narrow with navy walls. But that projector is a fluke it measured 860 in the west coast in a totally dark room. Probably after the port hole is 780.

This one Prometheus only measured 825 in the west coast. The room is freaking dark, with one double seal door 2 doors one after the other.

The wood is dark rosewood the ceiling and front wall and upper side walls is black gom, the lower sides and lower back is super dark navy, the chairs are deep wine, the divan (family bed is cashmere, don't know exactly there), it's very dark, but the screen is designed to ignore the walls ceiling and floor and direct the light at the audience.

This will be as dark as it gets from me probably.

But remember all the ansi cr. maximization effort is really for the MTF. It is not a clear correlation that MTF goes down linearly with ansi cr., my gut feeling tells me MTF can stay at maximum whilst the ansi cr may have taken a minor 15% hit for whatever condition.

Anyways please don't start picking on my marketing material to the customer, until every claim is proven it is just that. ;)

I also wonder what a Torus does to ANSI CR since part of the screen can then reflect on another part opposite it in the angle, but I don't recall ever measuring that effect with a curved screen to see how much it is.

--Darin

No the gain in the screen is such that it does not cross reflect 2.3.

This one Prometheus only measured 825 in the west coast. The room is freaking dark, with one double seal door 2 doors one after the other.To be clear, is that from the projector or the screen? I'm guessing from the projector. Have you done any measurements off the screens in these rooms? I know can be a tough thing to do at these high values, which is one reason I wonder if you have been able to get any reliable readings off the screens.
No the gain in the screen is such that it does not cross reflect 2.3.Have you measured ANSI CR off a screen like this to see? I realize that the high gain helps focus the light, but even a 1% washout from a white rectangle on one side to a black rectangle on the other (like 0.01 gain to that spot) would take a 700:1+ ANSI CR projector to under 100:1 ANSI CR off the screen for those rectangles.

--Darin

To be clear, is that from the projector or the screen? I'm guessing from the projector. Have you done any measurements off the screens in these rooms? I know can be a tough thing to do at these high values, which is one reason I wonder if you have been able to get any reliable readings off the screens.
Have you measured ANSI CR off a screen like this to see? I realize that the high gain helps focus the light, but even a 1% washout from a white rectangle on one side to a black rectangle on the other (like 0.01 gain to that spot) would take a 700:1+ ANSI CR projector to under 100:1 ANSI CR off the screen for those rectangles.

--Darin

I will get back to you, I think both I know the numbers were all over the place and the dlp engineer that does this for me at the west coast took many readings. So probably the screen (an smx ug he uses).

In Helene here it was at the projector, it was done after shooting the colors for the TiP7 autocalib.

Take a look at the screen radius is not that deep, with a 2.3 gain skin I doubt it cross reflects like you say.

If you'd like , I'll let you measure it yourself. But keep in mind we are after Maximum MTF not maximum ansi cr. I would like to understand the linearity of the interdependency, not much info. It's clear its not linear, maybe log..

Touche.

You can design dual gull wing monocoques that swing in and out into position.

That is one luxury we don't have in this job. I am hoping there is a huge delta between this image and Helene's, if there is not, then I will abandon the Torus for good, but my gut instinct tells me this will be spectacular, it's a gamble, for a client that lived with one such screen for 16 years and found none better, mind you.

I have been promised the highest exposure sports client in Palm Beach (in 2010) by the architect in Helene that already pimped me out , very very famous sports figure. Of the many things I envision is the possibility of having a 16 wide masking torus system with 3-D day and date Dolby Show Bel- air circuit system. I would create and insane 12 quad/biamped channel (multiamped) Munro designed Dynaudio acoustics system with ML amps, racks and racks of it. I would do distributed surround sound systems all over the house (surround in the bedrooms, the family room, the living room(invisible), around the pool. Put in several 103 inch and 1 150 inch plasmas with 4 way custom masking systems.

One can dream... Right? I believe in the power if visualization, life may be a sheithole but visualization helps.;)



Because we can match any shape in the Torus blanking we are going to use two lutron roll down shades and fudge the midscreen side edge positions to match the rollers. Not ideal, I know (but fvck it) this rig is for maximum MTF CinemaScope, (CinemaScope at 825-850 ansi contrast), one cannot get that with an Isco, or an Isco plus a color correcting filter, or a LCOS with Isco (regardless of price). Everything else is <500 ansi cr..

Holy ****! Seriously wow man- that is some system!

But keep in mind we are after Maximum MTF not maximum ansi cr.Then there is a good chance that Art's HT5000 is at or near the top, since it has such great convergence.

And for all the talk of the ISCO III hurting ANSI CR, if you are going for maximum MTF then I wouldn't be surprised at all if an ISCO III in the path could still achieve higher MTF if the resulting image was converged well enough over a projector without an ISCO III, but without convergence that is as good. At least for native resolution images of very high frequency (like a 1x1 checkerboard).

--Darin

Then there is a good chance that Art's HT5000 is at or near the top, since it has such great convergence.

And for all the talk of the ISCO III hurting ANSI CR, if you are going for maximum MTF then I wouldn't be surprised at all if an ISCO III in the path could still achieve higher MTF if the resulting image was converged well enough over a projector without an ISCO III, but without convergence that is as good. At least for native resolution images of very high frequency (like a 1x1 checkerboard).

--Darin
Yes Art should start an auction on his projector, maybe it will sell at Christie's for millions but dude you really need to take a look at a DCI projector on these size screens and IMHO stop wasting time with more mundane projectors. As discussed in the other forum there is DELTA in performance that is hard to account by ansi numbers,even with imperfect convergence, and all the metrics you want to throw at it. I made the assumption that a home projector could approximate the levels of performance that was the big epiphany for me this year, that compact 70mm CinemaScope look, a materially superior image whose advantage I have deducted to be ascribed to as more MTF (for lack of better explanation or psycho-visual research). It is probably a combination of better optics but these things are not even close. And I would recommend that as many people as possible here take time to see such setups, because when that happens you will instantly understand that is apples and oranges, better yet it's peanut butter and caviar (or if you don't like caviar substitute for your favorite delicacy).

And that underscores a fallacy Darin that your signature about this forum having to be "ALL SCIENCE" raises. I appreciate your scientific curiosity but in my field work with the DCI PJ's and The Torus screen shows that it is the least understood of sciences, because it is making partial, incorrect or oversimplified assumptions about the primary human sensor (the eyes). In other words theory is a must, but never let instrumentation tell you you are seeing what your eyes don't see. Like the above comment about a perfectly aligned HT 5000 being at the top of the MTF range (I am telling you it is not from recent experience -not even close- stop theorizing there). Instrumentation may corroborate part of the picture but never the whole picture, and to limit or fine tune a system just with instrumentation does not get you the girl. Sorry, so in mastering this field it's part science, a lot of experimentation and visual training and some bravado and willingness to learn from a failure.


Re convergence on Barco:
In any event the current Barco requires a serious technician to do the convergence correction with special tools working at multiple points of the engine, in the next PJ DP-1200 it will be a cake walk all in one easy to access board not unlike the 1.2 dci dmd units.

Mars Attacks!!!
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-040.jpg

As you see the entire surround sound canopy is refractive at mid to high frequencies in a visually stealthy and light robbing fashion.



http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-051.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-053.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-056.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-036.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/82108-037.jpg

Here is the Vox Divina fully finished.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/825-017.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/825-018.jpg

View of the TORUS.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/825-024.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/825-026.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/825-028.jpg

Steve Layne of www.objectivedesign.com was kind enough to forward me these upgraded renderings.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/PrometheusRend2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/PrometheusRend.jpg

Looking good Peter. Cant wait to see that screen in action.

It's nice to know that Peter will be scorching the earth looking for the best that there is the AV world, stretching the boundaries of our imagination, while we go back to our working and family life's, and fall out of the loop of what's going on in hi flying world of hi-end AV.


Thanks Peter;)

Thanks to you guys. Here comes the tough part now...

Getting the XLR cables made to length. We must measure the conduits for the three front channels and two subs in order to get exact cable lengths(sucker is tight).
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-005.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-030.jpg
A specially made rack was built to hold the three front ML mono blocks , plus the center channel... This table is not positioned center but the cc speaker is.

In addition the whole speaker array is covered by a speaker fabric box, that acts as a shadow box for the TORUS screen. How to build this exoskeleton strong enough , yet open enough for acoustical transparency is the hardest part of this job. A Huge tailored sculptured speaker grille from wall to wall around the 2.37 screen.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-022.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-033.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-026.jpg

The rack starts populating...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promsepscreen-040.jpg

This installation is by another vendor in charge of the Lutron/AMX home automation.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-023.jpg

Speaker screen exoskeleton:
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-033.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-042.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-033.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-035.jpg


D-box custom support by SMX Ruben.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-041.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/iphone1-043.jpg

Why are you so concerned with getting the XLR cables the "right length"? they can be different by hundreds of feet and there will be no difference. The physics is quite clear on it.

Why are you so concerned with getting the XLR cables the "right length"? they can be different by hundreds of feet and there will be no difference. The physics is quite clear on it.

Mebbe MAX is a closet tweaker?

Thanks to you guys. Here comes the tough part now...

Getting the XLR cables made to length. We must measure the conduits for the three front channels and two subs in order to get exact cable lengths(sucker is tight).




More seriously, Max simply said he had to measure carefully to get the right length of XLR cable to each speaker. He didn't say that each XLR cable would be the same length. Don't they teach you techies over at Extron how to read???:D

i only asked as there is much false info perpetuated by tweakers... :D that is completely wrong.

While i am willing to accept that there is much subjective "stuff" on cable "sound quality (eye roll) and esoteric "stuff" about speakers that follows nothing in the known physical universe...

the reality is that with cables, when you look at the length of the wavelength of the signal in the audio range, an interconnect (line level) signal cable can be hundreds of feet different in length and the signal will arrive at the speaker at the same time.

So if it is a case of just trying to ensure that it is long enough, add a few feet and then dress it at the rack, there will be no issues unless you start sending audio in the 50mHz range.

Yes ,very cool ! Peter, why was it that you chose a toroidal screen for this install ?

Art

The owner's rear rack dressing and overall cable length expectations are extremely high, he don't want any slack coiled. It has to be made to length and be very well dressed and terminated, as we site the equipment in the close confines of the stage, everything has shifted a bit from the original design. The speaker grill cloth assembly is another high precision tailoring job. The risks on both of these tasks outweigh the compensation.:D

Yes ,very cool ! Peter, why was it that you chose a toroidal screen for this install ?

Art


Hi Art, The owner is a big fan of the Torus, and believes that the ansi contrast enhancements will be worth it to bring all the nuance out of the highly modded Barco's image. I am 66% confident that the image will have the ultimate punch depth and 3 dimensionality, those elusive psychovisual benefits the Torus fans claim to see but have a hard a time explaining the why.

If it is not significantly better than say the SMX at Helene this may be the last Torus for Home Theater, I am hoping that is not the case.

Nothing like the dynamic presence of the Dyn's. One of my top five. What's the models?

Why are you so concerned with getting the XLR cables the "right length"? they can be different by hundreds of feet and there will be no difference. The physics is quite clear on it.

You can't use them to double dutch if they aren't the same lengths... ;)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/474313822_6ef41e7659.jpg?v=0

^ The physics are quite clear on that as well. :D

this is true

Nothing like the dynamic presence of the Dyn's. One of my top five. What's the models?

Yeah very easy sound to fall in love with. Confidence 4's,cc,c1's in the ceiling.

While the high end forum continues to theorize to no end, here in the trenches these are the issues.:)

The TORUS proximity sensor tolerances.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-sensor.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-sensor1.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-sensor2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-sensor3.jpg

when the custom machined high cantilever 134" d-box platform was set on test mode the vibration to the house could be seen on the chandelier 3 floors down.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/10608-033.jpg

We opted to insulate the pit with two layers of Acustiblok.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-002.jpg

Here the actuators are shimmed for exact platform level with the ground floor.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-016.jpg

An access panel is prepared for later service of the system. Of course all wiring will be detailed neatly against the floor.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-028.jpg

The rs-2 Stewart stealth system is being finished...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-006.jpg

Notice the aperture on the removable giant panel is the minimum necessary, thus the rectangular shape.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-004.jpg

In order to have a nice clean look across the front stage we decided on a shadow box (which should add some ansi enhancement properties to the already high ansi cr design as well).

Because it is an 87 year old house, not everything is square. That coupled with the uneven radiussed edge of the torus have presented a protracted fitting challenge.


The structure is semi acoustically transparent to minimize early reflections from the speakers and screen. This also keeps the weigh low.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-025.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-019.jpg
All four sides must be removable to change the screen surface.
For this we devised a tongue in slot hanging method.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-018.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-010.jpg

While the front facing grilles use an acustone highly transparent speaker grille material, the four sides of the shadowbox and the soffit above it are fr701 black. This ties in to the rest of the ceiling treatment.

We are testing sevral padding materials for the shadow box to give it a smooth elegant finish.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-039.jpg

It was decided for aesthetic reasons to not have any seams across the long lines, this presents a CHALLENGE as the two long spans have now to be joined into une giant 146" long removable pane.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prometheus-007.jpg

In a shoving match I nearly had to fistfight the representative of the biggest name Hollywood director for this one at SHOW EAST. He got the first two in the country. You are looking at number 3.

This monster converts 240 10 kw into 5 20 amp 120 circuits.

It weighs like 350 pounds. Very difficult to move in tight quarters, many strongmen chickened out from this task, finally found some herculean assist.
:)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/equidbox3.jpg

The unit is facing the rear, opposite the rest of the equipment. Reason for this is that the jumper cables from the back are conveniently near the INLETS that take the conduit directly to the amplifiers and subwoofers in the front of the room.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/equidbox2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/equidbox1.jpg

Another layer of acustiblok was applied to the plywood being laid over the d-box platform, as you can see we did deatil out the wiring connections.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/equidbox5.jpg

Access panel for future serviceability.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/equidbox4.jpg

LCD TV embedded in mirror... (http://www.ad-notam.com/Products/DYO.asp?DYOID=3)
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-003.jpg

Sitting Room...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-004.jpg

13.5 foot speaker grille frame lifted to third floor.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-005.jpg

Who would have thought=This single pane of upholstered speaker grille is one of the most important architectural elements in the room. It is just so long and clean looking that it makes the whole frontal stage area. Picture to come.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-009.jpg

L+R grilles.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-010.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-012.jpg

Top of the shadowbox being upholstered

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-019.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-021.jpg

SHBX side 1 layer trunk carpet and 1 layer gom701

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/theus-030.jpg

New TORUS finger was received from Stewart, this one stays erect further than 3/4 inches (1/2 is the proximity dis-engage set point).
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/eus-027.jpg

Glimpse of bottom 13.5' and side speaker grille...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/eus-026.jpg

Al upholstery is done, what awaits is hanging the TORUS skin.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/eus-023.jpg
More corner trapping was added in addition to the areas behind the l+R speakers.
The inside of the Torus is also packed with 4" and 2" cotton behind the velvet.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/eus-012.jpg

The "Industry Ubiquitous" Steven Hill of Straighwire graciously volunteered to field terminate his virtuoso and symphony interconnects for the LCR and subs.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/eus-031.jpg

His new insulation material is made of crushed skull of virgin yogurt-fed Rumanian dogs so as to tightly fit the xlr connectors. :D

this one stays erect further than 3/4 inches

Unlike yourself.:D

Ok I was wide open for that one. Touche.

Sorry about the iphotos (we are still awaiting arrival of the lx-3)

Someone else took photos of the after I will add those tomorrow

This is the material taken out of the shipping tube...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-001.jpg
The short strings are ud to yank the screen to the right while grometting.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-004.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-005.jpg

This is a very nerve racketing part, nothing looks like it's coming together.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-009.jpg


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-012.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-014.jpg
There are wrinkles everywhere- definetely not looking good...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-018.jpg
This is the secret TORUS corner adjustment that is the secret of all Stewart Torus installs- it works it's magic!
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-023.jpg
all four corners adjusted(easier said than done because we rammed that thing all the way to the ceiling)
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-025.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TORUS-027.jpg
This picture does not do it justice- success factor shattered all fit and finish expectations by 300%.

Very cool Peter but I swear , I'm going to buy you a camera !:p

art

Ive been waiting for the lacing of that screen:) Tell us about the material.
The brightness of the image in 16x9 mode will shut down the pupil and masking may not be necessary but I am sure your panels are ready to go.
Looking forward to the performance on this one. This scores a 10 on the cool scale.

As you know I have done a fair share of Toruses in the past while also studying dozens AMC Torus auditoriums here in FL and in Hollywood also the 2 units at Sony Pictures. That is how I was able to develop a theory of what screen speaker /room combination would minimize the unwanted Torus acoustical interactions.

First of all let me say that this last team of Little Havana upholsterers beat the pants of old Red's from Oklahoma (theater rigging), the most prolific Torus installation team in history (a trio of tattooed hell angels guys from Barstow that traveled the country in a Harley hitchin' Winnebago) installing over 1,000 Toruses.

I had seen these guys in action twice and also personally re-skinned two of these boxes, NEVER BEFORE was anyone able to obtain a more perfect corner to corner TORUS. Bring the microscope, you wont find a crease, crinkle or slightly slanted material.

Comparing dozens of AMC torusses and the Torusses built for SONY at Culver city and Fox studios - no way there were this perfect. We are dealing with the best fitted TORUS I have ever seen.

Another critical factor is to get the vacuum unit working just the right amount and not too much. This assures the quietest experience and is also environmentally correct.

The alignment of the screen to the proximity sensor is calibrated to less than a 16th of an inch tolerance, this sucker sucks right and knows exactly where and when to stop. I point this out because I had seen many a Torus that were working overtime due to improper calibration of the proximity sensor. In one case the room had a lot of fabrics and debris got into the vacuum clogging it a bit, the whole thing sounded like giant turtles copulating :D. This one beats them all in it's precision. After months of checking and rechecking changing the "sensor finger" at the last minute surely paid off.

Thirdly and lastly but of equal importance was the degree of success in eliminating the "voice in your head" reflection that happens with all Torus screens. I have not fired up the sound yet but some of my countermeasures seem to have worked exceedingly well. There are minor reflections in two points (one off center and one close to center) this proves that by going CineMascope the hotspot would be spread horizontally and thus become de concentrated. How deconcentrated it sounds? If I had to guesstimate? A puny 8% as intense of the original Torus reflection effect. It' is really minute and the room sounds great; no slap echoes, dead front hemisphere, and rt60 in the rear.

The construction project manager took some shots with a good camera, you will get a chance there to see the fit and finish, together with the shadowboxing this thing is looking like a 75 grand contraption. With no projection shun on it!

I was a HAPPY CAMPER LAST NIGHT (even went nightclubbing) truly a historical event, at least from a fit and finish standpoint this is indeed the coolest screen in the world. Now let's see what happens next when we fire up the SKmKII. Lots of work to do there to match the Torus radiused edges with the blanking.

This is obviuosly optimized for Cinemascope, I even envision watching some 16x9 content into a modified cinemascope version (with less crop and a bit of upward shift) we will label it subtitle mode ( it is designed to show the directv closed captions).

Ive been waiting for the lacing of that screen:) Tell us about the material.
The brightness of the image in 16x9 mode will shut down the pupil and masking may not be necessary but I am sure your panels are ready to go.
Looking forward to the performance on this one. This scores a 10 on the cool scale.


Hi Alan,

This is a beautiful white, looks pure, but it does have a gain of 2.3.

As you know the torus will spread out the hotspot among the money seats thus eliminating it.

I do not have masking going in on this one, there was no space on the side to do swing-in fiberglass hulls.

What we have created is a shadowbox to marry the speaker level plane to the torus radius in a very elegant way. It took months of carpentry fitting and refitting work. When you see a good picture it exudes that: "you are in a 5 million dollar room feeling" better than any other screen, it's just that cool.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we stay in the zone...

With low apl content watching 169 here may not be the greatest but due to the 860 ansi cr of the projector coupled with the high ansi preservation of this screen (which could/should be higher than the ansi preservation properties of the Supernova) this room quite possibly perform as good as a black hole while not being quite so.

Abit better but not quite. We need to wait for the lx-3.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor1.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tor2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor4.jpg

The Top Balance of the shadowbox is a cantilevered tongue in grove. A royal pain in the butt to line up and attach. 45 minutes trying until finally: success. Look like a million bucks

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor11.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor10.jpg

The projector: MUCH WORK TO BE DONE BY A FACTORY CERTIFIED TECH

These projectors are totally unsuitable for installation by even the most ardent ISF calibrator, it requires Factory certification and years of experience to get perfect.

The core adjustment of the focus is not for the faint of heart but once done it will be the most spectacular focus anywhere. Convergence of red is perfect, an itty bit of blue is off on the right hand side, overall excellent. Will worry about it later. The contrast appears to have been improved over Helene's 4,000-1 .

40 hours: these large 2kw lamps have to be burned that long in order to do lamp focus, currently there is flickering (shown on pic as large hotspot on left) that after 20 hours is well on it's way to disappear.

Overall I am very excited that after thanksgiving this puppy is going to be humming. We have been down this path before, these thiungs should not be even looked at UNTIL THE FACTORY Prescribed conditioning procedures are done.

I WISH THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE SCREEN MATERIAL.

The screen looks like a 75,000 contraption up until the point you shine a white field. There you will see that there are smudges of uneven gain all over the screen. This is defect associated when you have a high gain pearlescent screen that has been sitting in storage for too long, or if excessive crinkling happened during install. As seen above that was not the case.

We will have to reskin this cat, that may take a month. In the meantime the smudges won't be noticeable on normal moving content, just on white fields.

There you have it there are no free rides, I am still confident that once we lick the smudge situation and calibrate the projector it will be the top contender for HT.:):mad:

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor7.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor8.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor9.jpg

ta da...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-003.jpg

Ladies you can now have a glimpse into the most brilliant room design of the century. If I can say so myself.:D Look at the details...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-011.jpghttp://
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-013.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-019.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-029.jpghttp://

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-032.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-038.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-041.jpg

Looks like your doing an excellent job of light control Peter. I like it.

So do you actually have to replace the screen material?

Cliff

Thanks Cliff, let's see when the crazy Italian design "w" shaped teak cabinet with matching shelving, perimeter woodcasing work and cinematech Espada red chairs get placed. When all that is in we will see the final effect, the wall padding is very dark navy blue with diamong shape square quilted stitching, I hope the teak to be very dark too.

Oh absolutely the skin has to be changed it has leopard spots, it has to be perfectly uniform with the white field on. Kodak showed a lo gain eggshell white Torus back in NAB1992 with 35mm film. Maybe that is the solution.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-044.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-062.jpg

It is a good thing that the shadowbox system is removable for service.:D


We are waiting for the arrival of the Barco tech, the unevenness in the left is giant localized flickering of the 2kw lamp -this is resolved by doing a lamp refocus after 40 hours, but you need the tech to do that (on all new Barco's there is a robotic lamp focusing option), and the core focal-length shift adjustment for Focus needs to be centered, also must match the image smile-shaped pincushion edges with the blanking, and shoot the colors. There is a lot to be done before we can have this videophile ready.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-028.jpg

Long speaker grille underneath gives big width effect to the front stage.


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-045.jpg
Internal Green Focus pattern.


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3-025.jpg

Screen corner detail...

Nice job on the screen surround baffles. You have out done yourself on this project.

You have out done yourself on this project.

Seconded!

It is absolutely spectacular, Peter!! :)

Having said that, I really can't wait for your new camera to arrive. Har !! :p

Regards,

Sean

+3! Nice job Peter.

Peter,
Is this an internal pattern ?

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/tor9.jpg

Art

Yep. Guess it shows some kind of DCI safe area...2000 x 838.

I should have known when I saw 2048 but I guess it could have been software or a pattern generator.

Art

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-016.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-057.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-100.jpg

This one shows both CINERAMAX IP"s in action the triple porthole AND the VOICE OF GOD floated...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-018.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-035.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-045.jpg

HDCP card install....

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-050.jpg

Cool Tact
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-058.jpg


Unlocking stuck z adj...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-063.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-064.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-066.jpg

Lamp focus adjustment eliminates any and all flicker off the face of the screen as in Helene.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-069.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-074.jpg

Mottling on screen is now clearly visible, new st130 skin on it's way.

after a lot of hard work up in the hallway Ray C now takes a seat to setup the lens and screen files.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-092.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-117.jpg
Tight quarters back in the hallway.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-119.jpg
Focus adjustment required the removal of the side and front panel. Not easy.

WALL-E

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/s-132.jpg

I am fully convinced now that with the new skin, Superkontrast MkIII secret mod AND loading the super special s-shaped gamma curve that we will have the finest image on the planet for DCI content.

If one way curved is better than flat two way curved takes the cake. There is a lot to be researched about SCREEN CORNEAL COUPLING.

Peter,
How is the focus edge to center ?

Art

Hi Art,

After a top sheimpflug adjustment It's razor screaming good.

Peter,

I am really enjoying the new higher quality of the photos! Great stuff as usual!

:)

Regards,

Sean

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-001.jpg

The theater cabinetry arrives from Italy. Installation commences tomorrow.

Tivoli light strips mounted on wood trim to be dropped in to the light coves.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-013.jpg

Back of room is cleared for the Italian Cabinet Workers...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-017.jpg

Which sensor are you using behind the screen ?

What's the screen size ?

The sensor detects when the ideal shape of the screen is achieved and stops the vacuum unit.

The screen is 4 meter wide 13.13 feet.

The sensor detects when the ideal shape of the screen is achieved and stops the vacuum unit.

The screen is 4 meter wide 13.13 feet.

Thanks for the answer.

Anyone visiting our website will see that we shamelessly boast to be 15 years ahead of time, well looks like we are going to have to edit that bold incredulous statement, to those offended by the first claim take a valium. Ladies PROMETHEUS SuperKontrast MK II improvements and the incredible depth sensation imparted by the TORUS have now catapulted us 30 years into the future...

Play Also sprach Zarathustra in your head while admiring the floating Vox Divina (surround sound concealing,reverse trapagon shaped, acoustically refractive, Torus anomalies countermeasures optimized) Soffit... :D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-014.jpg

I kid you not... The new dawn of home cinema technology is here, and anyone attempting to accomplish or lulled in the comfort of thinking being in the high end, better pay attention.

Of course we are talking visually, as it will take two weeks to read the Tact TCS book, and with the other goings on and all it is strictly visual for now... But boy are these visuals a treat.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-008.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-016.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-030.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-037.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-039.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-044.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-052.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-090.jpg
see the white condo building on the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge?
Look at it now...
http://macsystems.com/Apri30-2008.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-093.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Gl-086.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-130.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-132.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-138.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-141.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-145.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-146.jpg

Wow... (There's nothing more to say)

How long was the design phase of this? I know you started construction back in March, and there have been some design changes along the way, but when was the actual design began?

Hi Will,

October 17 2006 the whole thing got kicked off. Design adapts to the field conditions, the development of the shadowbox took months recently measuring, fitting, re-building.

Very nice Peter!!!!

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/G-138.jpg

Cliff

Hi Will,

October 17 2006 the whole thing got kicked off. Design adapts to the field conditions, the development of the shadowbox took months recently measuring, fitting, re-building.

Thanks for the information. The quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and never-ending pursuit of perfection definitely seems to be paying off. Too bad this is a private theater that won't be shared with other enthusiasts.

Amazing build. I'm looking forward to your continued updates. :D

Thanks guys. Yes it is a pity that for now only a handful of individuals will get to experience the wonders of the CinemaScope Torus and Contrast Enhanced Barco DCI units, in fact it is criminal to hold back like that when you consider the very best Runco, Wolf , Meridian, Sim, and even DPI have recently shown. This just creams it.

These two technologies together synergistically achieve a much higher plateau of image quality from a signal to noise, immersiveness, image accuracy, 3-D readiness, suitability to close proximity scrutiny and what I call "Nuance"; the sooner people learn about it the more auspiciously the market correction will begin to take effect. I am committing all my effort to developing this platform to a point where it can be exposed to the larger population. If we sell a couple of these it should be a no brainier to be able to have it on continuous open display.

I would also appreciate less copycatting from certain companies come next CEDIA, one company last CEDIA decided to regurgitate verbatim all the talking "Image Quality" points of the Helene thread in their product launch. My suggestion to them this time around is CREATE YOUR OWN IP.

The blocking for the teak casework was started.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-001.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-017.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-018.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-020.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-041.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/ginet2-044.jpg

Oh my. typical construction work. Walls are beautiful, the center is a mess, and NOTHING touches the outside walls. lol

Great shots of the gom corner detail. It takes my wife hours to get corners looking that good (she does some material work).

Is there anything special about the gom material you are using or is it your typical, standard ATtype, gom?

Hi Will,

It is regular black gom except in the speaker grille panels where it is AcOustone.

Hi Will,

It is regular black gom except in the speaker grille panels where it is Acustone.

Thanks for the prompt response. :)

Great work Qualio! Marvellous! :cool:

Thanks Haroon, your kindness is overwhelming.:)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-004.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-016.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-015.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-018.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promy-023.jpg

This is very close in it's shade to the original Wenge I had specified, with the right amount of grain to give it a diffuse neutral visual texture.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/BonanDesign.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pro-006.jpg
Proprietary Torus anomaly countermeasure.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pro-012.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pro-014.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pro-017.jpg

You have got to stop with these updates Peter. I can't take it anymore. Those pictures are flat-out STUNNING. I don't even want to see this in person. It would be torture.

Chris White

Peter,
When do you think this project will be completed ?

Art

Hi Peter it looks unbelievable, great in every last detail.

I thought you mentioned you were going to install 2 or 3 port holes, 1 for the projector and the other 2 for setup and adjustments. In the picture I aonly saw one port hole

Hi Peter it looks unbelievable, great in every last detail.

I thought you mentioned you were going to install 2 or 3 port holes, 1 for the projector and the other 2 for setup and adjustments. In the picture I aonly saw one port hole

Looking at the picture I think I can see what looks like two additional portholes left & right of the projector through the black Gom. Maybe they decided to not use them or I am seeing things..wouldn't be the first time:)

You have got to stop with these updates Peter. I can't take it anymore. Those pictures are flat-out STUNNING. I don't even want to see this in person. It would be torture.

Chris White

LOL :D Thanks!

Peter,
When do you think this project will be completed ?

Art

Hi Art, With Blue Ray and HD Sat this x-mas. With DCI 3 weeks after the new Tact audio TCS MK 3 with 8 digital aes/ebu in (the CINERAMAX VERSION;))
becomes available. It's never ending there are complications with everything including the length of dvi cable runs and getting the twin DVI 12 bit chroma expansion scaler to work, and programming the macros on the projector to respond to general i/o port closure commands. It is just a lot of learning curve intensive stuff. The good thing is that upon task completion thusfar everything seems to be performing better than plan. Just yesterday I had a minor heart attack moment with regards to a major slap echo that augmented the intensity of the original sound (a clap sounded like a loud castanet), we then applied one of several key Torus countermeasures, the one across the back focus point and voila, all of the rooms anomalies completely disappeared. This level of room high fidelity is clearly beyond all expectations in a Torus situation, not a trade off as anticipated but a non issue.:D

Also the SK MK II mod is a whole 1k to 1 higher cr. than the Helene, at this point , without the extra 12% we expect from the 3rd mod (2-3 weeks out), the contrast is incredible good, the torus, the shadow box helps preserve the 825 ansi and they do lower the ambient floor. I was saying that the whole race for greater than 7k contrast in consumer projectors is very poorly misplaced. They should concentrate in increasing the s/n ratio first which decreases required viewing distances, like demonstrated here.

Oh yes we have an anemic lens that needs replacement, the little motor is conking out at the very end of the macro sequence. This is no big deal (warranty covered).

Needless to say my whole outlook towards these contrast enhanced Barco's is one of tremendous appreciation for their superiority over all others shown at CEDIA. I found that all of the older 1080p Chrisite based units have a pastiness to the image to much lesser extent that my first siting in June 2006 but it is there nonetheless, the meridian was great but the images hyper realism is not exactly film like. TBH the only 4k image that I have seen that reminded me of 70mm is the last Sony Cinealta showing Hancock and Quantum Solace at ShowEast.

Fatherly Pride: I sometimes pinch myself when admiring this monster and realizing it's my baby. Let's just hope all this hard work pays off in the future. Needless to say I am very optimistic.

Hi Peter it looks unbelievable, great in every last detail.

I thought you mentioned you were going to install 2 or 3 port holes, 1 for the projector and the other 2 for setup and adjustments. In the picture I aonly saw one port hole

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/818-034.jpg

The portholes are there the one was crucial to focus the lamp and push the flicker out of the image, th other one was helpful in the schiempflug adjustment, and would be absolutely indispensable for convergence (which we are cool for).

There are two gom covered "ice chest" type covers that fit under pressure and that completely dissapear in the darkness of the room.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-007.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-013.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-015.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-019.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-018.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-024.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-026.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-029.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-032.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-033.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-038.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-044.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-055.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-045.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pr-047.jpg

The sudden arrival of the cabinet has surprised some forum members who are concerned it may be ruining the look of the room. For those of us that were familiar with the design it does not come as a surprise.The owners desire to have some counter space has historical precedent, this time a wall to wall family sofa was added in the back, as well as two large gull wing shaped armoires and some oversized case frames. Some of you feel that such cabinetry has no place in a home theater, :) what can I say , I can neither agree nor disagree at this point. This is the great Florentine architect Michele Bonan (http://www.michelebonan.it/)we are talking about, let's have some faith that at the end this space should achieve the acme in civilised living.

The first home theater the owner saw was Titan it had granite counters along the back/sides with a bar and all.

http://cineramax.com/images/projects/titan250.png

When we did his theater Phoebe there was plenty of counter space and also top storage space.

http://cineramax.com/images/projects/phoebe250.png

So the cabinetry while unusual to the casual ht aficionado is part of the owners style and sense of fine living.

Contrary to Phoebe, the room acoustics are such that the cabinetry will have very little effect.

I do share some trepidation that the two side armoires may be too big for the space. I am just hoping when the place is cleaned up that there is enough clearance for larger individuals to be able to navigate to the back sofa.

All of us that dared distrust Michele Bonan's vision for Prometheus with his cabinetry are about to be proven wrong. It's clicking in like a charm today.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-023.jpg

Rear sides with refractive backings.


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-042.jpg
With wing shaped doors installed

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-035.jpg

Cool doors...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-077.jpg

Front absorptive left wall.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-057.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-084.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-089.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-048.jpg

PJ with all lights on and opened door...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-060.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-063.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-064.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-071.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pmt-002.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-002.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-008.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-017.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-019.jpg

The first home theater the owner saw was Titan it had granite counters along the back/sides with a bar and all.

http://cineramax.com/images/projects/titan250.png


Peter,

I remember reading about the Titan in AVI many moons ago. I didn't realize that was you. In fact, I think you had a couple installs featured if I am correct. Man I loved that magazine before it began to suck. Still have all my issues from 1989 on. But I digest...

Prometheus is looking sweet man. Keep us updated.

Chris White

Chris you are showing our age man...:D

I only did the video on that one and space planning. Chris Hansen did the audio with Lexicon,bryston and meyer ( a little rough but loud).

The video was no slouch a dual aspect ratio 12 foot wide Stewart with side making (the vey first 16 x 9 projection in this country). This was disputed and I was able to prove it, Runco had done widesreen projection first but he was doing 2.35 screens. It had an Ikegami 1080 scaler which inspired Faroudja to do a step down model from his 50k unit. With the Sony 127(9)1 the combo creamed the nec based Runco.

You may recall Pan (although it was not named in the article, baptism came later). I was retiscient to name moons there were only 14 back in 1987, now there are hundreds of moons.

That one made the front cover:
http://cineramax.com/images/projects/pan250.png

And the polish whore house inspired Atlas :D

http://cineramax.com/images/projects/atlas250.png

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-032.jpg

Allways a surprise we have white piping forming large diamonds on the navy wall acoustical covering. After consideration a neutral pattern is ok by a Video standard 101 guidelines. Let's see.:D

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-057.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-063.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-067.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-071.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-073.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-079.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-081.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/cleanup-087.jpg

I don't know but I think this interior designer /architect is beginning to live up to his "Best in the Riviera" reputation.

The Divan in Mohair...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-007.jpg

Three viewing areas...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-013.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-026.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-029.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-034.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/finitoProm-040.jpg

I like the wall to wall seating in the back.

Yes, that's a great idea, looks really comfy and inviting.

Thanks.

Here is a definition:
A divan is a type of couch-like sitting furniture.

Originally, in the Orient (especially the Ottoman Empire), a divan was a long seat formed of a mattress laid against the side of the room, upon the floor, or upon a raised structure or frame, with cushions to lean against.

Divans received this name because they were generally found along the walls in Middle Eastern council chambers of a bureau called divan or diwan (from Persian, meaning a government council or office, from the bundles of papers they processed, and next their council chambers). Divans are a common feature of the liwan, a long vaulted narrow room in Levantine homes. The sofa/couch sense was taken into English in 1702.

The divan in this sense has been commonly known in Europe certainly since about the middle of the 18th century. It was fashionable, roughly speaking, from 1820 to 1850, wherever the romantic movement in literature penetrated. All the boudoirs of that generation were garnished with divans. They even spread to coffee-houses, which were sometimes known as divans or Turkish divans, and a cigar divan remains a familiar expression.

Front left wall...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-004.jpg


Steamer required...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-005.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-009.jpg

sculpted seat backs...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-014.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-019.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-028.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prome-032.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Original.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/OriginalPlan.jpg

I for one am glad of the final changes with the exception of the main speakers which are a bit of a step down, though beginning to sound stellar.

Just when everything looked nice and finished, it's front screen area tear down.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-002.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-010.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-004.jpg

two weeks ago we powered the amps connected to the speakers to listen for possible imperfections, it was all dead silent until we head a loud pop, much like a 22 caliber shot. It was one of the 436's dying. When we removed the grille the amp was not turning on.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-004.jpg

We reassigned the center channel amp to the left channel and listened to stereo.

The c4's sounded great considering the degree of separation.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-012.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-015.jpg

As you recall the first screen was full of blotches, as per Alan it had mottling.

Stewart quickly dispatched a warranty replacement but this time in ST130 gain.

The new screen potentially would suffer of cross reflectivity (in a Torus that may wash out minute details). It is less "in your face looking" than the previous screen and certainly a lot less bright (from 2.2 to1.3) but I can comment that the uniformity is beyond perfection and the slight diffuseness of the screen does bnot detract form the razor sharpness of the image. The enhanced depth is still there in all it's glory and I had a once in a longtime chance to enjoy the paragon of movie watching with Narnia 2.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-019.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-021.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-024.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-028.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prm-031.jpg

The most dreaded part of the TORUS procedure is installing the tongue in groove slide in ballast for the shadowbox.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promend-030.jpg

At no point is there more risk to smear or damage the screen surface.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promend-034.jpg

Success!

Later we assigned the center channel in -3db to the left and right channels of the TACT using the mixing facilities of the TCS MK II. The TCS MKIII DCI compatible unit is being built.:cool: The dialog is highly inteligible and the sound stage enhances the moving image.

The tact audio blows away of the water the Denon in fidelity and resolution.The surround channels delivered from the voice of god sounded natural in panning and timbre. We have not done the autoeq just yet.

We also fired up the d-box with chronicles of narnia 2 and the whole experience began to confirm that this is indeed the finest system on earth.

On Monday we had moved the projector back 4 inches to gain access to the front controls (the lens mount) in order to centralize the range of adjustment
for focus (Core focus adjustment), the lens mount is very sensitive to even the most minor adjustment and the pressure applied to the screws at any given time, coupled with the order of adjustment is crucial, but we did and the focus is humming.

There are still a myriad of other adjustments left with the projector but those have more to do with the GPIO automation part and the DCI 3D part.

In addition we want to integrate a steering whell and pedals to the d-box platform. This may be a very difficult task.

Better pics to come...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprm-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprm-020.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprm-022.jpg


Getting ready to build portholes....
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprm-034.jpg

For those paying attention at the highly cantilevered re-design process at Prometheus. This is no ordinary D-Box platform, we called upon the custom engineering department of SMX Cinema to cantilever the crap out of the platform design.

Here is a video (http://www.vimeo.com/2569374).

Defective 436 proved to be providence acting in a very mysterious way.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprom-002.jpg

Long post about phantom center and opportunities to improve on the Epilog built in center channel concept to come.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprom-005.jpg

Master Bathroom screen behind mirror.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprom-009.jpg

Are you using just a single JL Audio sub?

TJ, There are two. That 3rd floor room structure is old and malleable, one sub would have been enough. The whole thing feels like it wants to explode. And mind you it is a Steve Haas engineered floating room but still 1927 standards of construction.

Ahhhhhhhhh, it's refreshing to see that light control especially in the screen area.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/decprom-005.jpg

Peter, room is looking awesome. How reflective is the rest of the room?

How is the sound with the ceiling design? I'm extremely impressed and kudo's to you. :)

Cliff

Thanks Cliff. Yes the shadowbox works dramatically well in the ansi contrast enhancement department. The voice of god sounds like that and being dark eliminates alot of possible reflections, so the room does behave like a bat cave. I really cannot overemphasize how pleased i am with the sheer beauty of the TORUS, now with the Studio Tech 130 we have perfect evenness and no sparklies (except only on the rim edges of the screen -that are masked by the shadowbox) prior to it my favorite fp screen had been the smx, way much "more-betterer" than the supernova (with which I am stuck), this thing however is off the charts. This ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL of HT design truly deserves the auditioning from the most fastidious videophiles, the problem you have is the need for the combination of a) the projector with the TORUS friendly characteristics, B)the screen itself (ray traced to the actual venue) and c)the Torus optimized room and screen periphery, without the three elements perfectly balanced you have certain catastrophic failure. A high risk delicacy not unlike eating blow fish (http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/21/big-in-japan-the-subtle-art-of-eating-blowfish/).

When you are sitting in that theater and the show starts you feel like you are aboard Klaatu's saucer, about to take off. :D

Here are some pics with a wide angle lens...

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-020.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-026.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-035.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-023.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-039.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-057.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-097.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-102.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-114.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-126.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-143.jpg

The three portholes , the service portholes which are fixed with removable stealth covers and the projection porthole which is removable for periodic glass cleaning are being built.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-010.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-011.jpg

Peter, did you know this house was used in "Any Given Sunday" with Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz? They filmed inside and outside the house.
It is around 1:50:30 into the movie

In these first two shots they are sitting next to the dreaded stairs you have to walk up everyday :D

http://www.smxscreen.com/images/sunday2.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/promeliving.png

http://www.smxscreen.com/images/sunday1.jpg



http://www.smxscreen.com/images/sunday3.jpg

http://www.smxscreen.com/images/sunday4.jpg

Ruben

In order to have an accurate calibration with the pr-655 (calibrated to 2nm accuracy) we had to rush the portholes in, the glass had not been siliconed so some sound was going through the porthole.

You still can hear the difference here:

PORTHOLE TEST VIDEO (http://www.vimeo.com/2678513)

experiencing technical difficulties...

Peter, did you know this house was used in "Any Given Sunday" with Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz? They filmed inside and outside the house.
It is around 1:50:30 into the movie

In these first two shots they are sitting next to the dreaded stairs you have to walk up everyday :D


That is amazing, the square footage has been increased a lot.Thanks Rub...

VIDEO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpHY-ug0iE&feature=channel_page)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-016.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-034.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-033.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-041.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/calibration-044.jpg

Once again,thanks for sharing some of your amazing work with us Peter. The room ended up looking quite beautiful. Personally , I like the overall look better than Helena.

Art

I second Arts comments Peter. Not only is the room over the top from the technical aspect for both audio and video it also looks very comfortable.

If I heard your calibration video correct I was surprised how dim ( which is normal ) the Blue channel was and that Barco is a light canon compared to a typical consumer machine. I wonder what the blue ch delivers on a 500 lumen projector, does it even register:)

What are you using to capture your videos. I just bought a "Mino HD" which allows quick uploads to youtube. Its only 720p but it does the job and fits in your pocket.

Good work.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c387/itsmeto/happy_yearflag.gif

Peter,

Since you don't use an anamorphic lens with the Barco how do you deal with 16:9 HDTV content?

Thanks

Once again,thanks for sharing some of your amazing work with us Peter. The room ended up looking quite beautiful. Personally , I like the overall look better than Helena.

Art

Thanks so much Art, means the world to me that you like it, my next goal is for you to like the picture, let me know when you are in town. :)

Ps . I too prefer this design over the Helene, at least I had more control of the space planning here and the architect gave the space wonderful intimacy and warmth.

I second Arts comments Peter. Not only is the room over the top from the technical aspect for both audio and video it also looks very comfortable.

If I heard your calibration video correct I was surprised how dim ( which is normal ) the Blue channel was and that Barco is a light canon compared to a typical consumer machine. I wonder what the blue ch delivers on a 500 lumen projector, does it even register:)

What are you using to capture your videos. I just bought a "Mino HD" which allows quick uploads to youtube. Its only 720p but it does the job and fits in your pocket.

Good work.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c387/itsmeto/happy_yearflag.gif

Thanks Alan,

The calibration took like 20% off the light on white:eek: however the picture is to die, after a special 3.0 shaped gamma curve with a big belly this thing is just incredible. Despite the porthole glass that does take maybe 12-14% contrast (no more ansi cr) after the special gamma we are hitting 13.5 ft Lambert of the most spectacular depth enhanced rec 709 on the planet. The beauty of this baby is that you can always go to a 3 or 4k lamp.

I use the lx-3 leica panasonic which normally does very nice 720p, but during the darkness of calibration it's hard to see.

Peter,

Since you don't use an anamorphic lens with the Barco how do you deal with 16:9 HDTV content?

Thanks

Ccool,

There are macros for flat as well as cinemascope, we have three Picture Color File variations, rec709, dci, and proprietary which is rec 709 with a super 3.0 big belly s shape gamma curve that i swear is the future of projection HT.

You have three macros for each plus two more for 3d with the DCI PCF for upcoming stuff.

The lense has a memory and it goes from one aspect ratio to another. It get s there quick but the system keeps on checking in the background adjusting focus in minute increments for another minute.

This time youtube for porthole sound reduction test. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RqRrd8aPzs&feature=channel_page)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/newlens-114.jpg

Ok, when do I get to actually see this work? :)

Do you mean her, work? I dunno, if you mean the system that could be arranged.;)

Here is a porthole shot where if you look closely the Formica frame can be seen.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/portholeglass-002.jpg

We ripped out the 30 foot Wireworld superstarlight5 dvi,the connector was way too wide for side by side dual link situations.Both straightiwre 33 footers failed miserably, shame.

We went with DVI Gear Fiber optic. Orange.Works perfectly.

Also 4 multistrand shielded cables were run for 10 contact closures and the red cable is sd-hdi.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-013.jpghttp://www.miamibadc.com/Images/RackLayout.jpg

Final Ergonomic Rack Layout.

A CINERAMAX Guilty pleasure, Guilty as charged.
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-020.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-024.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-040.jpg
Anaglyph glasses needed.



Forum member Mr.Automation's crew has been making progress on the main rack we have successfully played entire HD movies without any hiccups some 350 feet away in the theater.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-052.jpg

Looking Good.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/prum-050.jpg

I stumbled across this thread and I apologize for the "theater worship" post...but this is almost surreal to me. Having a hard time imagining actually having something like this to call my own [won't ever happen obviously].

Amazing...truly amazing.

Thank you Laserjock. You can always go in the business of designing these type of systems for other people just to get to play with the goods.:)

This is before fixing the correct masking, just a drill, but yes those with a busy schedule have time to spread peanut butter on bread while the superkontrast tweaks itself.:)

VIMEO (http://www.vimeo.com/2791461)
http://images.vimeo.com/24/64/60/246460062/246460062_100.jpg

Porthole shot with flash.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-004.jpg

Redone Rack
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-035.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-005.jpg
Xbox 360 GTA
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-027.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-036.jpg
Reviewing possible new shadowbox lining material courtesy of Ruben.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-051.jpg
Light absorbing velvet applique test
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-037.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-057.jpg

Peter is the curved masking done in the projector. Is it masking or does the projector offer warp technology. Very nice.

Thanks Alan,
If you use Warping you would loose pixel for pixel mapping as it involves rescaling, this is pixel for pixel freeform blanking. This is prime example, along with the depth of field (to be able to focus on the deep curvature) why this screen and projector do form a neat cutting edge package.

I am used to seeing Speedracer on the Titan reference and the supernova but when I saw it here tonight "Lordie Lord"... I am perplexed how much cleaner and cinematic the image is.

Alan when in Florida you should take a look.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/pra-043.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TorusBlanking.jpg

That pixel blanking would be a dream on a 4k unit to allow 235 zooming without losing pixel density and thus facilitate uber close seating distances and no lens. I've been spouting off about that, and hoping for it, for a while.

How accurate and sharp is it close up? Is it fully adjustable and programmable?

I've said it a few times but once again ... great job Peter. :cool: Shift the surrounds and share your results as per Steve's recommendation. Oh, and next time switch on some spotlights so that when somebody points to the surrounds, we can see them! :p It's so freaking dark up there that I couldn't see the surrounds that Steve was pointing to! :D

What's the next big project? I can't wait! :)

CM hi, the precision is three points per screen edge, could be 5 points above an bellow but it is quite good.

Haroon thanks. Im hunting down a job (it's like big game hunting) for a very famous NBA hall of famer but literally have to hustle to get it, so I may not. Also working on a famous Hollywood director, in fact Hollywood may be a-calling.;) If you know of anyone looking for a moon of Saturn , I am available.:D


On Monday the owner was complaining what was taking so long with the projector setup (we are at the end of the range with the zoom lens and sometimes the lens is hitting the limit sensor, this is causing occasional 1/4 inch gaps - i have fudged the software as best possible but we are planning on pushing the projector back some more). There is no remote control shipped with this projector. barco seems to want to make these things as home theater unfriendly as possible to help position them as the ultimate pro piece(which it is). I whipped out a cheat sheet for the laptop control dashboard BARCO COMMUNICATOR and let him have at the system.

Tonight he called and described the image as "stunning". What a breather.

attached is the cheat sheet.

Peter I think I just accidentally pressed the "self destruct" button on your cheat sheet. You may have to start this project all over again, sorry:)

Oh no Mr. Bill!!!

CINERAMAX,

First of all, I'd like to just say that this is simply outstanding. Your work is truly inspirational.

Now that that's out of the way, I just have a simple question for you. With your Blu-Ray player, how do you have the audio setup? I mean, does the Tact have HDMI in, or are you using the analog connections? Or is there something completely new and revolutionary that I'm not aware of?

Thanks,

Chris

CINERAMAX,

First of all, I'd like to just say that this is simply outstanding. Your work is truly inspirational.

...is there something completely new and revolutionary that I'm not aware of?

Thanks,

Chris

Thank you Chris for the kind words. I , and most importantly the client is super thrilled with the results. Just yesterday he avowed to recommend me to all of his celebrity and captain of industry acquaintances as he is convinced that a home theater is a good thing to have during hard times, the least conspicuous of all luxury consumptions (so to speak).

There is a certain level of Synergy in the componentry that has evolved from customization, it is a custom screen that will only work in a room treated for this type of screen so in a way I do not see Stewart recommending Torus screens for their HT dealers simply because the risk of the screen been installed in a normally treated room could result in a dissatisfied customer complaining about slap echoes, yet as posted in THIS CRITIQUE (http://www.vimeo.com/2831155) the most skeptic of acousticians that previously had asked me to "rip the TORUS out" ; endorsed it acoustically and visually.

I will procure some more testimonials about the image quality to show the skeptics here why we feel we are on the cusp of a Vision Quest; despite candidly comparing it's undertaking to the subtle art of eating Fugu (http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/21/big-in-japan-the-subtle-art-of-eating-blowfish/), a very high risk often lethal proposition but the most rewarding of all culinary delicacies to some nonetheless. The Torus is an indispensable component in any truly high end front projection system.

So custom screen-room treatment combo, we also have a digital cinema projector that if you want to have operating at 14 to 22 foot lamberts will almost triple the contrast ratio of the stock unit, you will see the custom control harnesses that is necessary to control this "remote control-less" projector. It is a lot of work but the results are simply spectacular with Blue Ray, but the market void of offering DCI content in the homes of prestigious members of the academy AND the obvious performance DELTA of having a 175 gig for a movie in DCI over 30 gig in BlueRay, that inspired us to develop our own surround processor.

We had been semi-influential in the design of the new TacT audio TCS MkIII
but when we started analyzing the connectivity of the DCI Dolby Player System we realized that the AUDIO portion of it is handled with external black boxes in the projection room, there is truly a BARRIER designed to prevent the playing of DCI content in home systems.

That is where we decided to work with TacT in creating a new super high performance surround sound processor targeted for all the Hollywood big wigs with a screening room at home. There are about 700 such 35mm rigs known as the BEL AIR CIRCUIT. The fact of the matters is that these screening rooms have been rendered half ass in execution. First a Runco or qualia projector is installed in the ceiling by a prominent LA area custom installer then (to quote Forrest Gump) for no apparent reason at all some Union Projectionists are in charge of the 35mm projection room. These things are not only outdated but the duplicity of the systems and the diminished sound quality of the 35mm rig, and the impracticality of handling film is just an idea whose time has gone. This is stupidity, someone needs to rescue Hollywood from the status quo. Enter CINERAMAX :D.

CINERAMAX proposes to bulldoze these 700 home theaters and outfitting them with some of the concepts proofed in Prometheus, marrying DCI blue Ray and satellite seamlessly with a new 12 channel surround sound processor
which cosmetically is based on the TCS MK III.


http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TCSjackP.jpg

The Bel Air Mastering Reference TCS MKIII has an 8 channel ganged aes/ebu input capable of 16,20,24 bit words and 40, 48, 96khz, and even 192khz up sampling. Biut that is not all in a further effort to alienate the consumer surround market the signal requires a fixed DOUBLE FRAME delay to correctly present the content. For this reason the list price of this piece exclusive to us is nerly double the new TCS.

For the curious here are some tech details...

This is the way things get controlled in a projection booth. The projector Macros as defined a page behind are triggered by Low Level TTL closures.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/gpio-003.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/gpio-002.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/GPIO-Numbering.jpg

Projector Good GPO #8 is used by other system (ie 3d-controller)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/gpio-005.jpg

So add custom remote control interface to the list of custom items.

What is left to complete a Rec 709 Bel -Air Mastering Reference System?

The powered loudspeakers of course, gives us two more moons and perhaps...

Peter Ive searched the web on the TCS MKIII and only find the MKII, this includes the manufactures site. Can you link me to any info on the model III.
Are you limited to using their amps with this product.

Thank you!

Peter Ive searched the web on the TCS MKIII and only find the MKII, this includes the manufactures site. Can you link me to any info on the model III.
Are you limited to using their amps with this product.

Thank you!Hi Alan the tcs MK III is a new product that has benn delayed by the hdmi1.3 delays. The back jack pack is as shown above except it has triggers T1 and T2. It is ausio only for hdmi and it will not deinterlace 480i and 1080i.

The sound of the Tact tcs MK II is very good , id say way better than a denon or onkyo pre, simply very clean. The current unit is only 10 channels the MkIII is 12 channels, it has a full blown mixer so additional side channels and center left and right fills can be added no problem. The owner Boz is a friend, if you call him tell him, he also knows the forum.

Hi Alan the tcs MK III is a new product that has benn delayed by the hdmi1.3 delays. The back jack pack is as shown above except it has triggers T1 and T2. It is ausio only for hdmi and it will not deinterlace 480i and 1080i.

The sound of the Tact tcs MK II is very good , id say way better than a denon or onkyo pre, simply very clean. The current unit is only 10 channels the MkIII is 12 channels, it has a full blown mixer so additional side channels and center left and right fills can be added no problem. The owner Boz is a friend, if you call him tell him, he also knows the forum.

Thanks Peter. From what I have researched this seams to be the only product offering additional channels outside the typical 6 or 7.1
It has my attention.

Will do the new celling channel that dd and dts are talking about coming out with.

John if you are asking I do not know. You could derive two side channels mixed from the front and side (Main)surrounds, you could then derive a third ceiling channel summing these two channels, maybe out of Phase and delaying them a bit more to create a ceiling fill. This of course is up to experimentation.

Here is what I mean DTS is also working at coming out with it.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/prologic-IIz.html

Peter,

Amazing work as always... I enjoy following your builds.. Perhaps I missed something but what is the story on the wall fabric workmanship. The wrinkling puckering doesn't seem to be up to the standards that I would expect from your builds. Are the pictures making it look worse than it really is??

Ah the Italians, the owner is Italian, the architect is a Benito Mussolini of interior design. Very passionate about the looks of it.

My responsibility was to treat the area behind where the fabric applique would go, :rolleyes:the finest curtain maker from Italy:rolleyes: decided to pad and create a quilted natural look when sewing the piping unto the fabric, which I had approved for single layer use not as double quilted... But whatever you really can't see it. The imperfections do add it a human touch...:)

It seems to me that it will be very difficult to achieve such diamond piping on 1 layer an acoustically transparent cloth...

I am typing and trying watch the game, lots of good new movies coming our way, GI JOE, Land of the Lost , and after the second quarter we have a 90 minute 3D commercial fro Monsters vs Aliens.

For Movie and Film Producers... that is.:)

From http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090127_9337.php

Stimulus' Film Industry Provision Is Ready For Its Closeup

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009

With even Hollywood facing an economic slump, the Senate Finance Committee's $275 billion tax title of the economic stimulus package would lend a hand to movie studios that have seen outside financing dry up.

The Senate bill includes a tax break worth up to $246 million over 11 years for investors in bigger-budget movie projects that don't necessarily qualify for incentives currently. The provision is backed by firms like the Walt Disney Co., and the industry trade group the Motion Picture Association of America, according to aides and lobbyists.

Broadly speaking, the Senate bill includes a one-year extension through 2009 of a provision enabling companies to write off 50 percent of the cost of equipment placed in service during that year, same as in the House Ways and Means version. But the Senate bill amends the definition of "qualified property" to include "certain motion picture film or videotape," bringing the cost of the Senate provision to $5.32 billion, up from the House's $5.07 billion version.

Companies that use the tax break would then forfeit the right to use the existing incentive, which allows companies to deduct 100 percent of production costs up to $15 million. That provision is backed by groups such as the Directors Guild of America and is aimed at keeping smaller productions from relocating to foreign countries; it was extended as part of the $700 billion financial rescue plan in October.

But a problem arises for pictures that cost $30 million or more, which the option to instead use bonus depreciation attempts to resolve.

It probably wouldn't benefit blockbusters that take years to produce, a lobbyist said, given that, to benefit, a firm's asset must be placed in service -- hitting the theaters or video market -- during that time.

A similar provision was included in the Senate version of legislation extending pension relief to companies and suspending the minimum withdrawal requirement from seniors' retirement accounts, which stalled last year. The final bill dropped business tax breaks but preserved the pension and IRA provisions.

The lobbyist familiar with the discussions said the movie equipment has been "unfairly excluded" from bonus depreciation in the past, which has generally applied to most other equipment purchases. And with the downturn choking capital financing for film projects by companies like Disney, General Electric Corp.'s Universal Studios and Time Warner Inc., enabling investors to depreciate film equipment on bigger projects could make a difference, he said. "Anything that facilitates more outside investment will be helpful in this environment," the lobbyist said.

However, as critics scour the stimulus, the film and videotape depreciation provision has attracted notice. "It's a piece of pork inserted by Democrats in the Senate for their Hollywood friends," one GOP aide said. "President Obama said that he didn't want the stimulus bill to turn into a Christmas tree. Well, Christmas has come early for Hollywood."

by Peter Cohn


DESCRIPTION OF THE
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT
TAX ACT OF 2009



Description of Proposal
The proposal extends the additional first-year depreciation deduction for one year,
generally through 2009 (through 2010 for certain longer-lived and transportation property).
The proposal modifies the definition of qualified property to include certain motion
picture film or video tape (within the meaning of section 168(f)(3)) for which a deduction is
allowable under section 167(a) (without regard to section 168) and with respect to which an
election is not in effect under section 181. For purposes of the election out of bonus
depreciation, all motion picture film and video tape property is treated as one class of property.
The proposal does not apply to any property for which records are required under section 2257 of
Title 18 U.S.C. to be maintained with respect to any performer in such film or video.
The proposal does not modify the property eligible for the election to accelerate AMT
and research credits in lieu of bonus depreciation under section 168(k)(4).60

Peter,

Do you expect we will ever see Blu-Ray discs or another format of HD do 2.40 content anamorphically so we don't loose any lines of resolution. If so, how would you deal with that with a DCI setup.

ccool96

"My Movie Palace"

Very nice indeed, love it. Looking forward to seeing it with the curtains. I love the RP in the dinning area. A true videophile.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/ccool962/DSC_0388Stitch.jpg
Yes that was quite a nod and a wink to Helene :D
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/lx3b-005.jpg

I am flattered.

Someone please call the Guinness book of records with our latest mod results...

I do not have an incident light meter and the room is not pitch black so I can only extrapolate. We are definitely in the over 6.2k-1 territory from a previous of 4,960-1.

Our super secret filter is increasing on /off contrast to the maximum possible for a DCI projector in DCI color space (P3). Can the contrast be increased a bit more for REC 709? yes, but that will have to be the Mark IV mod.:)

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/LampandFILTER-011.jpg

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/LampandFILTER-015.jpg

And yet another testimonial (http://www.vimeo.com/3494341).

Peter optimizing the Torus is no easy task. If cost were no object would you recommend the Torus again for your future projects.

Peter optimizing the Torus is no easy task. If cost were no object would you recommend the Torus again for your future projects.


You are 100% correct, and just when I have convinced myself that a 4 way masking is the ultimate way to go, I revisit Prometheus and get grabbed by the TORUS tractor beam. So the answer is yes but very expensive as a total of three proto screens have to be fined tuned, destroyed, re built improved etc etc.

They can be perfect if you recreate the conditions in a lab first, I Intend to have such facilities for Saturn moon KIRIUQ.

sketches potential next Torus

I will be expounding the virtues and my surprise at the general lack of total market domination by this product from now on. No amount of praise can convey what this powerful audio computer can do. Like with the Barco with the Superkontrast mods, the Torus, the Dynaudio's and many of the unorthodox absolute performers we have tested successfully in Prometheus this is an extremely powerful but pleasant tool to have that deserves it's place firmly in the finest home theaters.

By comparison the Denon Pre's sound is slow, muddy and hazed, with the ethereal combination of the ML amps and the Dynaudio this is the first surround processor that just aint there sonically. The TCS Mk III DCI compliant version that we custom commissioned to our specs, is still in Beta but very soon the Home Cinema market will finally have an audio processor befitting our sources, amplifiers and loudspeakers. Class AAA highly recommended.

descriptions to come later...
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-001.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-006.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-010.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-012.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-015.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-016.jpg
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-023.jpg

It is a lot of work but the results are simply spectacular with Blue Ray, but the market void of offering DCI content in the homes of prestigious members of the academy AND the obvious performance DELTA of having a 175 gig for a movie in DCI over 30 gig in BlueRay, that inspired us to develop our own surround processor.

Peter,

I've just read this entire thread and have a question. On the first page you said "provisions for a Digital Cinema Dolby Sever in 2 and 3-D, and access to first run movies the Wednesday before they reach the movie theaters." Then above you say the market is void of DCI offerings for prestigious homes and, I would assume, for mere mortals. So, will this installation have access to the movie stream that is available to theaters? If so, is it downloaded from satellite? Is it an expensive service to have and do the powers that be grant non-commercial access (for a price) to anyone who wants it?

Hi Johnty,

At the moment the situation in this abode is where a Hollywood Director whose films have grossed more than one Bil, comes and goes to the property as he pleases and has a whole wing where he stays at when in Miami. His fingerprint is n the keylocks etc. Under these conditions it is easy to get access to circuit content for him as he uses the screening room as his only way of monitoring dailies and preview films when in Florida.

The Tact audio TCS MK III DCI version is alive an well and awaiting the Dolby Server, the Dolby Server will even put out a D-Box synch signal for D-Box DCI releases like the next Fast and Furious.

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/Tact-015.jpg

Tools drop down menu
http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TaCt-019.jpg
Crossover setup

http://www.miamibadc.com/Images/TaCt-013.jpg
9 channel response , taget and correction curves.