Qube Cinema, a world leader in 4K digital cinema technologies, will introduce the new Quad 3G interface for digital cinema projectors at the NAB Show next week in Las Vegas. The Quad 3G interface allows for integrated postproduction and digital cinema mastering workflows. Facilities can use one projector setup for both HD-4K uncompressed color grading and 2K-4K digital cinema playback providing a comprehensive review and quality control solution from one system.
At NAB, Qube Cinema will demonstrate the new Qube Xi 4K Integrated Media Block (IMB) installed in a Barco DP4K-32B projector. The new postproduction version of the Qube IMB features a Quad 3G interface with four BNC connectors that can be connected to color grading or finishing systems in order to stream uncompressed 4K digital content directly to the projector. The Qube XP-I D-cinema server offers a data throughput of up to 1,000 Mbps, sufficient for 4K dual-projector 3D playback from a single server, and the Qube Xi can support High Frame Rate playback and DCPs up to 500Mbps. Internal synchronization of the IMB allows for multiple-projector setups, for example, for stereo 3D playback or for venue entertainment projection. With the Quad 3G interface, users can switch seamlessly between uncompressed 4K and 4K DCP playback.
“As the development of 4K cinema continues to gain traction, the industry is going to need transitional tools,” said Michael Cioni, founder of Light Iron Digital, a postproduction facility in Los Angeles. “The Qube Cinema Quad 3G is the perfect example of a small but powerful solution that will help facilities offer filmmakers a simple pathway to 4K monitoring while making use of other 4K components that are readily available.”
“Rather than having to switch input boards, which can take hours to complete, facilities can now use one system for review and playback of all their 4K content,” said Rajesh Ramachandran, CTO of Qube Cinema. “This is a key piece of the new 4K pipelines that post houses are now hurrying to implement.”
Rather than requiring eight separate HD-SDI links to get 4K uncompressed playback, the Qube 3G interface uses four 3G-SDI cables, further simplifying 4K setups for post houses.
“As an industry leader in DCP mastering, Qube understands the importance of ensuring that digital cinema is brought to the screen in a way that reflects the vision of the director and the hard work of the cinematographer and colorist,” explained Ramachandran. “It’s about making sure everything looks the way it was intended to look. The Quad 3G makes that much easier to achieve.”
Visitors to NAB can see the new Qube technology first-hand at booth SL7708 in the Lower South Hall.
