The X-Curve: Its Origins and History: Electro-Acoustic Characteristics in the Cinema and the Mix-Room, the Large Room and the Small

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Mot. Imag. J
Volume: 115, No. 7-8, pp. 264–275
Abstract: This paper traces the beginnings of the X-Curve in work carried out in the early 1970s and follows the various developments since that time. This electro-acoustic characteristic is now employed in most theaters throughout the world. The “X” stood for “experimental,” an epithet that now seems inappropriate for something that's been a national and international standard for 30 years!
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
DOI: 10.5594/J16175
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279 | Electronic: 2160-2492
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J16175
Author(s): Ioan Allen
bio
Ioan Allen joined Dolby Laboratories in 1969, and has been directly involved in the origination and development of major audio advancements in the Dolby Stereo film program. He is a Fellow of SMPTE, AES, and BKSTS, and is active in U.S. and world standards organizations. He is past president of the ITEA and past Engineering Director—Motion Pictures for SMPTE. Allen is a member of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's Digital Media Advisory Council, serves as technical chairman of the Trailer Audio Standards Association (TASA), and is also an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television. Allen holds several patents and has authored and contributed to many journals and technical papers. He has been honored for his contributions to the film industry and has been the recipient of awards from Intersociety for the Enhancement of Theatrical Presentation (2002), the National Association of Theatre Owners (1998), the BKSTS, and the Samuel L. Warner Award from SMPTE (1985). Allen was the recipient of Scientific and Engineering Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1979, 1987, and 2001, and received an Oscar in 1989.
Copyright: © 2006 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

Bibliographic Reference(s)

The Production of Wide-Range, Low-Distortion Optical Soundtracks Utilizing the Dolby Noise Reduction System [Active]
Standardized Sound Reproduction in Cinemas and Control Rooms [Active]
A Report on Listening Characteristics in 25 Danish Cinemas [Active]
The Evaluation and Standardization of the Loudspeaker-Acoustics Link in Motion-Picture Theaters [Active]
Characteristics of Film Reproducer Systems [Active]
1. Standard Electrical Characteristics for Theatre Sound Systems,” Technical Bulletin, Motion Picture Research Council, Inc. , Apr. 1948 . EXTERNAL
10. Queen Daniel , “Temporal Considerations Differentiating Sound in Review Rooms vs. Theatres,” SMPTE J. , 86 : 148 , Mar. 1977 . EXTERNAL
11. Vlahos Petro , “Comment on DIS 2969—Electro-Acoustic Response of Motion Picture Control Rooms,” Document submitted to ISO TC36 by U.S. Correspondent, Aug. 1973 . EXTERNAL
12. Allen Ioan , “Surrounds and Surround Loudspeaker Distribution,” ITEA Seminar Series, Dec. 1999 . EXTERNAL
13. “Relative and Absolute Sound Pressure Levels for Motion-Picture Multichannel Sound Systems—Applicable for Analogue Photographic Film Audio, Digital Photographic Film Audio, and D-Cinema,” SMPTE RP 200–2002, www.smpte.org . EXTERNAL
14. Allen Ioan , “Are Movies too Loud?” SMPTE J. , 107 : 1 , Jan. 1998 . EXTERNAL
15. Watson C. S. Gengle R. W. , “Signal Duration and Signal Frequency in Relation to Auditory Sensitivity,” J. Acoust. Soc. Amer , 46 : 989 , No. 4 Pt. 2, Oct. 1969 . EXTERNAL
7. Olson Harry F. , “Frequency Range Preference for Speech and Music,” J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. , 19 : 549 , July 1949 . EXTERNAL
8. Davis Don Palmquist Don , “Equalizing the Sound System to Match the Room,” Electronics World , 83 : 34 – 36 , Jan. 1970 . EXTERNAL
9. Schulein Robert B. , “In Situ Measurement and Equalization of Sound Reproduction Systems,” J. Audio Eng. Soc. , 23 : 178 , Apr. 1975 . EXTERNAL

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Ioan Allen; The X-Curve: Its Origins and History: Electro-Acoustic Characteristics in the Cinema and the Mix-Room, the Large Room and the Small, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 115, Issue: 7-8, 2006); SMPTE, 2006. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J16175

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Ioan Allen; The X-Curve: Its Origins and History: Electro-Acoustic Characteristics in the Cinema and the Mix-Room, the Large Room and the Small, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 115, Issue: 7-8, 2006); SMPTE, 2006. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J16175

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<span class="citation">Ioan Allen; <cite>The X-Curve: Its Origins and History: Electro-Acoustic Characteristics in the Cinema and the Mix-Room, the Large Room and the Small</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 115, Issue: 7-8, 2006); SMPTE, 2006. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/J16175" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/J16175</a></span>

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Ioan Allen; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j16175">The X-Curve: Its Origins and History: Electro-Acoustic Characteristics in the Cinema and the Mix-Room, the Large Room and the Small</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 115, Issue: 7-8, 2006); SMPTE, 2006
<span class="doi">10.5594/J16175</span>
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