Essential Install | Smart Thinking : The Cinema Designer
TCD provides all relevant documentation for theatre design , allowing any company to enter the CEDIA awards , no matter their size
Guy says the system is easy to use and can be continually updated principles and performance data . Other key features include a seating configuration design tool and a Sabine equation / RT60 calculation tool . Amplification and required SPL can then be specified . “ What we ’ re looking for with an RT60 value is about a . 32 to . 39 , so if we were to find a room that would be around . 35 , that would be fine ,” says Guy .
TCD isn ’ t subjective ; it ’ s not Guy ’ s opinion on cinema design – the software follows rules governed by mathematics . The theatre designs are based on CEA / CEDIA CEB-22 and CEB-23 home theatre standards for design , as well as several ITU documents on audio and video criteria .
Guy adds : “ Basically , it ’ s all of the things that unite to produce a predictable outcome . You type in project name , put in the dimensions , then you type in the size of the room . Instantly I can tell you the volume of the room and what kind of subs I ’ m going to need .”
Aspect ratios for the screen can then be selected . “ If I took you to the movies and said ‘ where do you like sitting ?’ you might say ‘ I sit absolutely in the middle ,’ or ‘ I sit two thirds of the way back ,’ – some people might want to sit right at the back , or the front ; that ’ s quite a personal thing .”
Using TCD , this choice of seat preference guides the user as to which screen would be the best fit . From here , the installer can choose from a range of screen manufacturers that are available from a dropdown list ( with more being added to the database every month ).
TCD cares about the gain , colour and the off-axis viewing when it comes to screens – the manufacturer doesn ’ t factor into this decision . TCD takes into account if a screen is acoustically transparent or not , which then affects loudspeaker placements , then factors in if there is ambient light in the room that can ’ t be controlled and creates a list of suitable projectors that can excel in that environment based on lumen factor .
“ One of the most difficult things is : which lens do I specify when I buy a projector ?” Guy admits . “ Because they come with different lenses .” TCD has that covered : the drop down menu allows the user to click on a lens , which will then prompt the software to highlight where that projector should be located within the room . Then it inspects the lens , guiding the installer step by step through the seating plan . It considers sightlines , allowing the user to reduce the distance , change the arm width , seat depth , riser height and reduce the gap between the seats .
Codecs are taken into account , allowing the installer to specify Dolby Atmos and DTS : X ( although Auro-3D currently works at a beta level and is coming soon ).
Next , suitable loudspeaker brands can be selected . TCD already boasts Artcoustic , Crestron , JBL , Meridian Audio , Procella , Sonance , Triad , Wisdom , with more being added all the time . It used to be that Guy approached the manufacturers asking them to join TCD , now they are approaching him .
The software knows what the sensitivity of each speaker is , the relationship between the sensitivity of the loudspeaker , the seating distance and the required amplification needed in order to hit the required SPL . If the user ’ s preferred loudspeakers aren ’ t yet in the database , they have the option of manually adding in loudspeaker sensitivity figures , or lumens for a projector .
Next , it ’ s on to sub placement and bass management ; TCD has four preferred sub placements , the same that appear in CEB-22 . The user can select a button that shows them the models available that will get the job done ; it won ’ t let the installer select an eight-channel model if they need 16 .
TCD takes into account the carpets , chairs , plasterboard , or if there ’ s fibreglass present , altering the reverb time whilst telling the installer exactly how much m 2 of plasterboard to order . Then the user can experiment with different renders by choosing different ceilings , décor , carpets and panels .
How Do Installers Get It , And What Does It Cost ?
TCD is priced at £ 150 GBP for a single use of the tool , while a subscription provides 30 uses each month for £ 60 GBP per month . Those that prefer to pay in one go can purchase 365 uses over one year for a one-off payment of £ 710 GBP . There is no trial version .
“ If I made it cost 50p in the App store , you ’ d have every electrical contractor or aerial guy getting it ,” Guy reasons . “ I didn ’ t want to devalue it to the point that an installer is not needed . I don ’ t want people to think ‘ well I can do this myself ’. I wanted to make the barrier enough so that it ’ s for professionals to use . I want people to be able to sell their own designs .
“ Plus , if you give something away , it ’ s worthless . This isn ’ t worthless ; it ’ s something that is valuable . I could have sold thousands of these by making it cheaper , but I would be happier if 100 people used it rather than 1,000 if they were professionals .”
As TCD is a web based design tool , all updates are part of the subscription process , there will be no ‘ new versions ’. “ This is all web-based , it ’ s all live ,” Guy nods . “ The minute I make a change , everybody gets it .”
In regards to training , Guy anticipates that some installers may require some in order to finesse their use of TCD and will look into hosting a series of webinars in future .
More information : The Cinema Desinger http :// thecinemadesigner . com /
36 | February 2017