The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has established a new technology committee which will work to improve the quality and consistency of cinema sound.
The committee, TC-25CSS, will also work to update SMPTE standards and recommended practices to reflect the many technical advances which have occured since the standards were created.
"Improvements in measurement technology, digital sound delivery, and in sound reproduction equipment, as well as the greater detail and dynamic range of movie soundtracks, present a variety of challenges in providing quality cinema sound," Brian Vessa, executive director of digital audio mastering at Sony Pictures Entertainment and chair of the new SMPTE committee, said in a statement.
"Existing SMPTE standards and recommended practices help to minimise variations but cinema sound quality today is highly dependent on the skill, talent, training, and hearing acuity of the adjusting technician. TC-25CSS, the first SMPTE technology committee dedicated solely to cinema sound, will explore and standardise new sound measurement techniques with the goal of consistency in sound reproduction between the mixing stage and diverse cinema spaces."
A free SMPTE Standards webcast to discuss the area, "Cinema Sound Systems — Raising the Bar Through New Standards," will be held on March 12.
Separately, the SMPTE Australia section will hold a 'loudness' session on Thursday, March 7, from 6pm-9pm at AFTRS in Sydney. Those interested in attending can email John Walsh at jwalsh@gencom.com.
A technology summit on cinema will also be held at this year's NAB Conference. IF Magazine editor Emily Blatchford will be attending the NAB Conference, which will be held in Las Vegas from April 6-11.