Dolby Laboratories CP500 User Manual
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Dolby Laboratories CP500 User Manual

Dolby Laboratories CP500 User Manual

Digital cinema sound processor
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Film-Tech
The information contained in this Adobe Acrobat pdf
file is provided at your own risk and good judgment.
These manuals are designed to facilitate the
exchange of information related to cinema
projection and film handling, with no warranties nor
obligations from the authors, for qualified field
service engineers.
If you are not a qualified technician, please make no
adjustments to anything you may read about in these
Adobe manual downloads.
www.film-tech.com

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  • Page 1 Film-Tech The information contained in this Adobe Acrobat pdf file is provided at your own risk and good judgment. These manuals are designed to facilitate the exchange of information related to cinema projection and film handling, with no warranties nor obligations from the authors, for qualified field service engineers.
  • Page 2 Model CP500 Digital Cinema Sound Processor Users' Manual Issue 2 Part. No. 91372...
  • Page 3 Digital decoding covered by the following U.S. patents: 4,790,016, 4,914,701, 4,799,260 4,941,177, 5,109,417, 5,142,656, 5,230,038, 5,274,740, 5,297,236, 5,357,594, 5,463,424, 5,583,962, 5,608,805, and other worldwide patents granted and pending. Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation ©1997 Dolby Laboratories Inc.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    2.2 System Password.................. 2-4 2.3 Normal Operation................. 2-4 2.3.1 Power On................2-4 2.3.2 Format Selection ..............2-5 2.3.3 Automatic Selection of Dolby Digital Format ...... 2-5 Operation With Standard Format Screen ......2-5 Operation with Custom Format Screen and Special Configurations..............2-7 2.3.3 Main Fader ................
  • Page 5 Bypass Signal Path LEDs ........... 4-7 4.3 Troubleshooting Chart................4-7 Appendix A How to Identify Sound Tracks on Prints Appendix B Dolby Test and Demonstration Films Appendix C The Evolution of Dolby Film Sound Appendix D Fold-Out Drawings Software Menu Tree Circuit Card Locations...

  • Page 6: Section 1 Introduction

    As improvements to the CP500 digital control and processing software are developed, the latest revisions can be downloaded from a PC to the CP500 hardware. Moreover, updates to the audio coding used for Dolby Digital soundtracks, which are included from time to time right on Dolby Digital release prints, download automatically into the CP500 the first time such a print is played in the cinema.
  • Page 7 For the sake of clarity, boldface type is used for all specific references to the CP500 controls and their labels, such as Mute, and front-panel Main Fader. In addition, indicator lights on the CP500 are referred to in the text as LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

  • Page 8: Section 2 Operating Instructions

    The large key on the left, FORMATS, is used to return to the Format Selection screen from any other menu screen. This screen is displayed during normal day-to- day operation of the CP500. If any other screen or menu is displayed, this key returns the display immediately to this screen.
  • Page 9 BYPASS INDICATOR SOFT KEYS 1 - 8 Indicates continuous red when unit is in bypass mode. Used to select the function shown next to the switch in the front panel MUTE ON INDICATOR display. Flashes when mute is activated. MAIN FADER/MULTI-FUNCTION CONTROL Controls sound level and also is used for data selection in menu operations.

  • Page 10: Cancel

    BYPASS A BYPASS LED is located to the left of the MUTE ON LED. As with other Dolby cinema processors, the CP500 utilizes a separate back-up power supply which is used during emergency operation. If the CP500 is operating in bypass mode, this red LED will come on (not flashing).

  • Page 11: System Password

    Power On After initial installation, the power-up state of the unit may be selected from the following choices. Each time the CP500 is connected to power or switched on, it automatically sets itself to the selected "wake-up" state: Projector 1 or 2 selected by the installation technician.

  • Page 12: Format Selection

    The Standard format control screen on the CP500 comes with Formats 01 (Mono), 04 (A-Type), and 05 (Dolby SR) set up so that auto-digital will occur from them. These formats are marked by an “s” (for sources) on the screen.
  • Page 13 Format 10 is the format that the auto-digital system will switch to when good Dolby Digital data is detected. It is marked with an “a” (for automatic) on the screen. Format 10 is defined as the “target” format, in this case.

  • Page 14: Operation With Custom Format Screen And Special Configurations

    “AU”. FORMATS NOTE: When the auditorium fader is selected, the CP500 front panel main fader and any Cat. No. 734 remote faders or Cat. No. 689 remote unit faders installed in your system will be disabled. Only the auditorium fader...

  • Page 15: Mute Function

    A green LED, MUTE ON, located above the fader level display will flash, indicating that the CP500 outputs are muted. When you press the MUTE key again, or select a new format, the volume will automatically rise to the level set by the main fader.
  • Page 16 Be sure to follow the troubleshooting procedures and if necessary, call your trained service engineer as soon as possible. The CP500 will not operate -- even in the bypass mode -- if there is a fault in any of the NOTE...

  • Page 17: Manual Bypass Selection

    2-10 2.4.1 Manual Bypass Selection The CP500 can be manually switched to bypass using either of two methods: Open the front panel and operate the pushbutton switch located on the right-hand side of the unit. Use this method in an emergency situation, or...

  • Page 18: Customizing Features

    Begin the procedure by pressing the Menu Format MENU key, Selection press: screen shows: Press System Setup (SK1), System Setup Menu Selection Press CP500 Controls (SK1). press: screen shows: System CP500 Controls Setup Exit FORMATS Menu Cancel Press LCD Contrast (SK1).

  • Page 19: Setting Mute Speed

    Format Selection press: screen shows: System Setup (SK1), System Setup Menu Selection press: screen shows: CP500 Controls (SK1), CP500 Controls System Setup Mute Speed Adjustment (SK7). Menu Cancel Exit FORMATS Use the main fader to select the fade-out time you prefer. The time displayed is the approximate time to silence.

  • Page 20: Customizing The Format Display Screen

    2-13 2.5.3 Customizing the Format Display Screen There are two types of Format Selection display screens. The unit is shipped in Standard Mode, which allows selection of eight commonly used formats. There also exists a Custom Mode which allows the user to program the softkeys to show formats of his own choosing, along with changes to the fader setting and projector selection for each of these softkeys.
  • Page 21 2-14 FORMATS To assign formats to the softkeys press the Assign Formats key (SK1). Exit FORMATS Menu Cancel A copy of the existing format selection screen is displayed. Pressing any softkey causes a pop-up box to appear, allowing any format to be assigned to that softkey.
  • Page 22 Press OK to save the new settings. NOTE Pressing the CANCEL key discards the new settings and restores the old settings. NOTE When the CP500 switches to a format that has no fader setting programmed, the current front panel fader setting will remain unchanged.
  • Page 23 This example shows the display after SK4 has been pressed to link a projector to SK4, Format 10, Dolby Digital. Rotate the front panel knob to display the projector you wish to link to the softkey.
  • Page 24 2-17 Press the FORMATS key to return to the format selection screen. FORMATS Notice that a small indicator (CUST) now appears next to the Current Format area, indicating that 'Custom' screen mode is active. Any fader settings and projector selections are also displayed. In this example, the screen tells you that the fader setting has been adjusted to 6.5 and Projector 1 has been selected.

  • Page 25: Section 3 Maintenance And Adjustments

    These procedures can also prevent costly show cancellations and service calls. A Dolby Cat. No. 69T test film is required for proper maintenance of your sound system. We also recommend that you keep on hand the Dolby Cat. No. 251 Jiffy Test Film and run it regularly to check the theater sound system thoroughly (see Appendix C).

  • Page 26: Dolby Level Adjustment

    Dolby Level Adjustment Proper decoding of Dolby encoded soundtracks requires careful level matching between each channel of each soundhead and the CP500 (see Appendix C for a discussion of why Dolby Level is important). When the CP500 is first installed, the installer makes this adjustment for you.

  • Page 27: Menu Key

    Projector 1, then press OK. " Projector 1" With Dolby Tone test film running, the CP500 automatically calibrates the left and right channels of the CP500. This operation takes approximately 30 seconds. When the screen reports that the calibration is finished, press the EXIT key.

  • Page 28: Digital Sound System

    If either is accidentally touched, carefully clean the area with isopropyl alcohol when the bulb is cool. Slide the lamp back into its base in the soundhead, replace the rear cover assembly, and tighten the six screws. Replacement lamp: Use only General Electric EPT Reflector-type Dolby Part No. 34010...

  • Page 29: Print Cleanliness

    The Dolby Digital print format has robust error correction information encoded along with the audio data, and the CP500 uses a powerful digital error correction technique, allowing the data to be decoded perfectly even if scratches and dirt are present.

  • Page 30: Section 4 Troubleshooting

    6. If sound is not restored, check that bypass power is connected to the CP500. A red LED located above the front panel knob will be on if bypass power is present.

  • Page 31: If One Channel Fails Or Is Distorted

    2. If you are showing a mono film and the Center channel has failed or is distorted, switch the CP500 to Bypass so that the mono signal is fed to the still- functioning Left and Right channels. Turn off the power amplifier for the Center channel.

  • Page 32: Excessive Or Inappropriate Sound From Surround Speakers

    If it appears that the Cat. No. 683 card is the cause of the problem, open the front door of the CP500 and switch to Bypass using the pushbutton switch in the lower right corner. A separate speaker crossover system is provided for Bypass operation;...

  • Page 33: Analog Film Sound Signal Path Leds

    No. 661 Optical Preamp card. This card is located on the third slot from the left in the CP500 chassis (J3). Two LEDs near the center of the card indicate that signals exist for the Lt and Rt sound channels from the film. The other two LEDs above and below these indicate which projector is selected.

  • Page 34: Digital Film Sound Signal Path Leds

    Cat. No. 673 card (third slot from the right hand side of the unit, J18) will frequently cure this problem. WARNING: Pushing digital reset will cause the CP500 to revert to analog sound until the reset process is complete. This will produce a small change in sound quality and can usually be done once or twice during a show without disturbing the audience.

  • Page 35: Bypass Signal Path Leds

    R, Rs, and SW channels. In each group, the bottom one is illuminated for signals of 40 dB below Dolby level or louder, the middle two for signals very close to Dolby level, and the top one for signals 10 dB above Dolby level and louder.
  • Page 36 NO SOUND AT ALL No power to either main or bypass systems. See if mains panel fuse or circuit breaker feeding the CP500 is blown. No sound, front panel dark, no bypass Verify all power connectors are fully inserted into their sockets. If power is present, see if CP500 bypass transformer is installed correctly.
  • Page 37 Cat. No. 681, turning both left and right channels by equal amounts. System is in Bypass operation. Turn on the CP500 with the push switch at the lower right Red Bypass LED lit. Front panel dark. hand corner behind the front door. Check that the power There is sound.
  • Page 38 CONTROL PROBLEMS CP500 won’t accept a format, gives CP500 doesn’t have the optional modules needed for that Obtain and install the necessary modules. If they are circle/slash symbol format, or that part of the system is not working. For...
  • Page 39 Redirect the light from the offending source or keep it off during a showing. If the hum still is present, the problem is either in the grounding or wiring or in the CP500. Call your service engineer.
  • Page 40 Check that the cards are all properly seated in their connectors. Wiring from the stereo solar cell to the CP500. Check that the wiring from the stereo solar cell to the CP500 has not become damaged and that the solder connections to the fanning strip are secure.
  • Page 41 Call service engineer. When a stereo film is projected, the sound The A-chain has become misaligned. Check Dolby level calibration. appears to be coming from the wrong Call service engineer. speakers. Sound from the front (screen) channels is The A-chain has become misaligned.
  • Page 42 If the distortion goes away, you have found the problem. If changing both the device and the selection does not eliminate the distortion, the problem is in the CP500, probably on the Cat. No. 681. Call service engineer. Defective Cat. No. 681 board...
  • Page 43 CP500, switch to bypass and call service engineer. With optional remote control unit Cat. No. Disconnect the Cat. No. 689 cable from the CP500. If you 689 connected to the CP500: can exercise local control over the CP500, the problem is...
  • Page 44 4-15 You can hear pops and thumps during If your projector changeover relay power is DC, a diode If possible, check that the diode is installed across the projector changeover. should be soldered across the winding of the relay to relay winding.

  • Page 45: Appendix A How To Identify Sound Tracks On Prints

    APPENDIX A HOW TO IDENTIFY SOUND TRACKS ON PRINTS A Dolby Digital film print or a stereo optical print (A-Type or SR), or a mono optical print should be identified as such on both the film can and leader. However, with handling, the identification may be lost. If you are not sure if...

  • Page 46: Appendix B Dolby Test And Demonstration Films

    This film is required to maintain your theater system. The Dolby Tone recorded on the film is for automatic calibration of the operating level in the CP500. This simple procedure must be performed whenever an exciter lamp is replaced and should also be performed from time to time to compensate for the normal aging (and reduced light output) of exciter lamps.
  • Page 47 This is where the Dolby Level Tone on the Cat. No. 69T test film comes into play. The tone on this film is very carefully recorded at the standard reference Dolby Level. When you perform the Dolby Level calibration on the CP500 as this film plays, you are making sure that the tone on the film is converted to a standard reference voltage at the inputs to the decoders.
  • Page 48 Cat. No. 1012 Test Films These specialized test films are for use only by trained engineers with special test equipment and need not be kept on-hand at the theater. They are used to set up the digital sub-system in the CP500.

  • Page 49: Appendix C The Evolution Of Dolby Film Sound

    Dolby Laboratories more than twenty years ago. Indeed, the evolution of motion picture sound over the past two decades is, in great part, that of Dolby film sound technologies.
  • Page 50 to the older speakers. The result was to ignore the improved high-frequency response of the newer, better units. To forestall compatibility problems, in the late 1930s a de facto standardization set in, the theater playback response that today is called the “Academy” characteristic. Theater owners knew what to expect from the films, and therefore what equipment to install.
  • Page 51 (although it is more expensive to record and mix in stereo than in mono). Conversion to Dolby optical is relatively simple. Once the equipment has been installed, very little maintenance is required, particularly when compared to magnetic stereo playback systems.
  • Page 52 Dolby SR (spectral recording). Like Dolby noise reduction, it is a mirror- image, encode-decode system used both when a soundtrack is recorded and when it is played back. It provides more than twice the noise reduction of Dolby A-type, and, moreover, permits capturing loud sounds with wider frequency response and lower distortion.
  • Page 53 CD. This new technique is called Dolby AC-3. Just like the Dolby Surround technology developed originally for motion picture sound, Dolby AC-3 can be used in a wide variety of other applications, including consumer formats. For example, AC-3 will be used to provide 5.1 channel surround sound with the U.S.
  • Page 54 It can be likened to an artist’s palette that provides the director with a full range of colors, where before there were but a few. Above all, Dolby formats have been developed to enhance that very special experience of going to...

  • Page 55: Appendix Dfold-Out Drawings

    NOTE: Cat.No.222 SR/A modules are primarily intended for playback of 35mm photographic sound-tracks, and have headroom capabilities based on that medium. As a result, use of Cat.No.222SR-A modules is not recommended for playback of 35 mm magnetic print-masters or SR encoded 70mm magnetic film. Contact Dolby Laboratories for further information.

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