Barco and Doremi Cinema to unveil integrated 2K/4K media block for digital cinema at ShowEast

http://www.barco.com/digitalcinema/pressrelease/2411/

 

Sacramento, California — 15 October 2009 — Digital cinema pioneer Barco and server technology leader Doremi are proud to announce another industry first — an integrated 2K/4K media block designed for Barco Series-II projectors. Barco and Doremi will showcase this industry leading technology on the show floor at ShowEast.

In June of this year, Barco, Cinemark and Doremi announced an exclusive agreement for the delivery and installation of over 3,000 projectors in more than 300 US theatres. This agreement was the first-ever to include Texas Instruments' Enhanced DLP Cinema® 4K technology and Doremi's integrated media block (IMB). Now, Barco and Doremi are extending this advanced technology to all exhibitors.

With the IMB installed in a Barco Series-II 4K-ready projector along with Doremi's external ShowVault™, Barco customers can now choose the most future-proof digital projection solution in the industry. If the customer elects to project in 2K, the integrated media block keeps content secure by moving the digital video decryption from outside of the projector — to inside the projector. When Texas Instruments' Enhanced DLP Cinema® 4K technology is made available, if the customer elects to project in 4K, the integrated media block can deliver 4K with a simple software upgrade.

“We are thrilled to continue our technical development and partnership with Barco, and to offer the digital cinema industry the first-ever 2K and 4K solution with an integrated media block” said Michael Archer, Vice President of Digital Cinema at Doremi. “In addition to providing the highest level of content security, our IMB product offers a future-proof configuration, based on the system's ability to support both 2K and 4K resolutions.”

The Barco/Doremi integrated 2K/4K media block provides a total of 4096 x 2160 pixels of resolution, and requires just one server rather than the four synchronized HD video servers needed until now. The solution offers exhibitors the opportunity to utilize a single server manufacturer across a digital cinema multiplex, with the ability to freely mix and match 2K and 4K technology while maintaining the same server hardware.

“Barco and Doremi have been leading innovation and setting digital cinema milestones for almost a decade,” said Todd Hoddick, Vice President of Digital Cinema for Barco, North America. “By combining our talents, we're taking a huge step forward in the evolution of digital cinema. Together, we are making digital cinema simpler, more secure, and more profitable for our customers.”

Barco and Doremi will demonstrate the integrated media block at ShowEast in Orlando, Florida, from October 26th through October 29th, booth #401.