and   

Digital Subtitling and
Audio Description systems

What's available?

Click HERE for a list of DTS-CSS
and Dolby ScreenTalk cinema sites

Important news for Exhibitors/Organisers:

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force fully in October 2004 and applies to all buildings that are used by the public. It requires service providers to ensure better access to their goods and services, for people with disabilities.

Cinemas are be expected to 'make reasonable adjustments', to ensure better access, but it is believed that the provision of subtitles are likely to fall under the remit of product or service design, which is not currently covered under the auspices of the current DDA.

It is estimated that up to 5 million people in Britain have some form of serious visual or hearing disability. These people would like to be able to access the cinema experience.

It is not tragic to have a disability. Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things one needs to lead one's life (Anonymous)

There are a number of consequences for UK cinemas, such as admission, safety and facilities. Although not forced legislation, cinemas could enable people with sensory impairments to enjoy the cinema experience by considering:

Subtitles – for hearing impaired patrons and
Audio Description – for partially sighted and blind patrons.

Film distributors have recognised their responsibilities under the new legislation, and the vast majority of new film releases are now supplied with the necessary media to allow suitable cinemas to provide these additional facilities.

Equipment manufacturers have also recognised the requirements of the new act, and they have developed products to ensure that cinemas are able to meet their legal requirements. Digital cinema projection will change the arena in 2006, but in the meantime both DTS and Dolby have introduced systems that project “soft” subtitles and transmit an additional audio channel. Two-Channel Infra-Red headphone units are now available, which simultaneously transmit hearing re-inforcement and audio description. Details of all the relevant hardware are contained within this page, together with the necessary contact information to ensure that you make the correct equipment selection for your venue.

The UK Film Council has provided a study into the various options available to cinemas and in addition has provided some funding towards the installation of equipment.

Although a level of investment is required to provide this equipment, cinemas will find other uses which should help justify the expenditure. As well as providing for disability access, alternative uses include Education, Foreign Language Films, Film Festivals, Advertising and corporate presentations.

SUBTITLES

Until recently, the most common way of providing subtitles was to permanently laser etch subtitles onto the film print – making the film useless for normal use. This is an extremely costly exercise and as a result very few subtitled prints are produced. Both DTS and Dolby have now developed units, which produce “Soft” subtitles. The result is crisp subtitles that are projected onto the screen using a small LCD projector. This allows the cinema to show the same copy of the film, with or without subtitles – leading to a far more cost effective flexible system for both the cinema and distributor.

AUDIO DESCRIPTION

Audio Description provides patrons with a narrative description of the film. Headphones have been designed to ensure users can still hear the film’s soundtrack, but a narrators voice is also heard when it is important to describe some facet of the film’s action.

Most cinemas are currently equipped with either an Induction Loop or an Infra Red system for customers with hearing difficulties. A second channel will now be required for Audio Description.

2 channel Infra Red systems are now available – with one channel providing hearing assistance and the second channel providing an Audio Description of the film. Two interference free frequencies provide extremely high audio quality – particularly important to patrons with sight difficulties. The levels of each channel can be set independently in the projection room and a single emitter will be sufficient for most auditor. A slave emitter is available for particularly large areas.

New headphones and body pack receivers have also been developed. The headphones have independent volume controls for Left and Right and a channel selector switch. Importantly, the headphones are also Hearing Aid “T” switch compatible.

There are a number of equipment options depending on the number of screens and the existing facilities.

DTS offer two solutions for providing subtitling and audio description. The DTS-CSS (Cinema Subtitling System) is a dedicated unit and can be supplied with DTS's specially developed monochrome DLP video projector. The dedicated DLP projector approach offers a number of advantages. Life of the projector is considerably greater than LCD colour types. The DTS projector is compact and the same unit can be used for screen throws from 15m to 40m. This makes it ideal for moving from screen to screen to give maximum flexibility in scheduling. DTS have developed a quick release mounting system to assist with this approach.

The DTS-CSS is also available with an interface to an LCD colour projector if the Cinema already has a video projector or is considering purchasing one for alternate content use. A minimum 3500 ansi-lumen model would be advised for subtitling use.

The DTS-CSS operates in the same way as their cinema digital sound system. A CD-ROM is supplied with the film print and the captions and audio description is synchronised, via proprietary timecode, with the film. The system is foolproof and has proved extremely reliable. Importantly, the CSS is fully compatible with any cinema sound processor that you may have installed.

DTS have also developed a new electronic shutter which is supplied as part of the CSS package.

A second solution from DTS is the XD10 cinema processor, in which the opional 'access' facilities can be accessed via an unlock code. The XD10 has the capability to deliver up to 10 channels of highest quality sound plus enhanced video for alternate media. Optional features include , Hi res video card, DTS-CSS and 96/24 digital audio output. The XD10 allows cinemas to provide alternative content via a colour video projector. It can also be used with the dedicated CSS video projector for subtitling.

Click HERE for full info and contact details for the DTS-CSS and XD-10 (PDF file)

Click HERE for a list of DTS-CSS cinema sites

Dolby ScreenTalk provides 'soft subtitles' and 'audio description' for cinema audiences. Central to the Dolby system is a Linux based PC, which synchronises the subtitles and audio description files to the unique 'block code' which exists in the Dolby Digital format printed on the film.

The ST100 is the device that directs and controls the various components that are necessary for the system to operate correctly. Included with Dolby ScreenTalk is the PC software and an electronically-controlled mechanical dowser. In addition to the ST100, a rack mounted PC and video projector suitable for your venue(s), and the infra red headphone system can be provided.

Whilst ScreenTalk is designed to meet the requirements of the DDA 2004 for subtitles and audio description, it is also compatible with foreign language subtitles - particularly useful for one-off screenings for film festivals.

Additionally, because it uses a standard, full colour LCD video projector it can also be used for cinema advertising, as a 35mm slide projector replacement and for the growing market for alternative content.

The subtitle and audio description files can be loaded via the DVD-ROM drive on the PC, or via the Internet. Dolby ScreenTalk is particularly cost effective for cinemas that already have Dolby Digital installed.

Click HERE for full info and contact details for the Dolby Screentalk system.

Click HERE for a list of Dolby Screentalk cinema sites