Marker timings

Anything and everything to do with DCP-o-matic.
Mundox
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:41 pm

Marker timings

Post by Mundox »

Hi all, long time user of this great tool here.
I have a quick question about the markers and how they work with cinema automation.
I made a DCP for a feature and placed markers on first frame of credits, credit roll etc.
However, while watching the DCP in the cinema some lights came on several seconds before the credits. Is this normal behaviour?
Thanks for any insight into the markers and what they do!
Carsten
Posts: 2665
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:11 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Marker timings

Post by Carsten »

Markers are not necessarily added to a playout process automatically. They are only hints or aids for the operator where to place automation cues. So, they may be used exactly where they are set in the DCP, or shifted by some amount. Cinema auditorium lights driven through dimmers always need some time to come up, so, some operators may always subtract a certain amount of time from the markers in order to achieve the right timing.

Long story short - you probably need to talk to the specific operator to find out what happened why.

In our cinema, markers are not used at all.

- Carsten
Last edited by Carsten on Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mundox
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:41 pm

Re: Marker timings

Post by Mundox »

Thanks for that explanation!
I will skip the markers on the next one then..