Digital Cinema specs agreed

[SaSi]

At a time when we are still expecting to find what HD-DVD will really be, the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative) have agreed the specs of the next generation Digital Cinema.

These are not for the home video but for distribution of master film to cinema theaters.

The medium, Digital Cinema Distribution Master, will comprise of Jpeg2000 discrete images of either 4096x2160 @ 24fps or 2048x1080 @ 48fps. Both will be encoded at RGB @ 36 bits/pixel with square pixels.

The audio will be providing for up to 16 chanels of 24 bit @ 48kHz sampling.

The Package will be "glued" together with XML instructions for subpictures and playback, and, of course, everything will be encrypted.

It is estimated that a full 3 hour long movie will require ~ 415Gb for storage.

[edDV]

From those they create 16:9 1080p/24 data sub masters (with AC-3 sound) for TV or HD DVD distribution.

From those, 1080i/29.97 or 720p/58.94 or 480i/29.97 distribution tapes are created for broadcasting in "NTSC" markets.

And 1080i/25 or 720p/50 or 576i/25 or 576p/50 distribution tapes are created for broadcasting in "PAL/SECAM" markets.

PS: I forgot the 480i/29.97, 576i/25 Digital Betacam letterbox and pan and scan 4:3 SD distribution tapes. Maybe some broadcasters are still ordering analog Betacam.

Isn't duplication fun? It is profitable.