Chief projectionist at UCI, tower park, this is 32 years ago and he often would make the prints up or deputy. Chief often would have Dolbt fader set at 6.5, oh my, that is few dB below the mixers loud level mixes they often mix. oh my. Actually it wasn't that loud, it was loud but not harsh sounding and harshness only comes from the HF horns or maybe though the surrounds mid and high range of three-way surround or two-way with smaller horn. I didn't once have to cover my ears while working there or seeing a movie there. Bass mid was okay, better than any tv or home cinema at the time. But never once harsh. Loud yes. but never deafening like I have noticed with film mixes today and some cinemas often JBL PA speakers.
UCI Lee Valley 12 plex, went there for interview late 90's and while waiting, watching movie in mid size auditorium. They had three size auditoriums, small mid and large. While waiting watching Face/Off, in SR-D via CP500 using JBL same surrounds speakers I use, the stage speakers may have been smaller model down from the JBL 4675A (that was used for the larger auditorium). Face/Off, was Deafeningly Loud!
While watching it while waiting as I counted the reels I think it was by end of 3rd reel my interview was ready, but that's not important. What is important that I noticed, four Asians three rows in front of me getting rather uncomfortable with Deafeningly film mix. And maybe the cinema installer of the JBL speakers, could have been installed by, Bell theatre service, Cinema associates or Future projections? Thou I nominate Bell theatre service they mostly often did UCI cinemas mostly the time, mostly maybe. So part of possible its possible. Then another sound guy will often be hired come in and do the EQ X-curve turning. It's possible he rushed or is overpaid and getting sloppy at his work?
So I knew these four Asians was about to get up and walk out before end of reel 3 and I was soundly spot on, as I can see the body chemistry.
I had to place my fingers over my ears few times with chase scene with helicopter and airplane and crashing into a airplane hanger. There simply wasn't enough decent bass on the playback in the auditorium it was, TOPPY!
I can play the same film on THX/Laserdisc AC-3 if I wanted to to check the loudness. So what if my room is small. It is unnecessary for soundmixers to do near field mixes, since a film print would play in many sized auditoriums with the sound gain settings and amplifier levels adjusted for the auditorium size. You don't put small size gain settings into a large auditorium it sound way too quiet. You don't put large auditorium gain level settings into a small auditorium, everyone will be sticking their fingers or earplugs in their ears or running out of the auditorium.
Another case was when I went to see 'wolverine x-man' at the Warner village west end, Leicester Square, I think screen 7, and I think I noticed the changed in the cinema PA speakers was no longer JBL but Martin audio. I also believe I think, Warner lost it's THX licence as there was no THX trailer or Warner projection was getting lazy at doing proper showmanship presentations, because it was Utter rubbish from start of show to end credits.
It was DEAFENING that I had to ware my earplugs. I believe I was sat, front and centre row. Yep, I saw no THX trailer I believe it was also Dolby cinema digital projection and looked utter rubbish. Film or digital film really has driven cinema down the toilet.
There was a bit of bass but new Warner village west end, never did have good THX for bass, it was rubbish when I went there few weeks after it reopened with 'Maverick' Dolby SR THX and I measured 90dBA peak with that horse wagon chase that made me few times cover my ears. Anyway Warner village, was Nothing as near or close to the CIC UCI High Wycombe in terms of Bass that continuously pressing on the body from shoes to legs body face even my hair and had loud but exciting HF horn coverage through to the surrounds with, 'Arachnophobia' Dolby SR THX.
So after listening to that rubbish x-man about some wolf-reen and being deafened by soundmixers, I came home.
Only two THX cinemas I been to that had 10/10 score marks CIC Empire Leicester Square and High Wycombe. Maybe the UCI Solihull THX sounded good, I don't know it is further than London and doesn't exist anymore.
Watch what is said between 3:52 - 4:10. If you change the calibration level you won't hear the dialog. This is why sound levels are calibrated and cinemas do not want to mess with the calibrated levels. This is why Dolby insist on calibrating the cinemas levels.
