Qube Cinema installed a single-server 4K 3D system at Moody Gardens for last month’s GSCA Film Expo and Digital Symposium in Galveston Texas. The single Qube XP-I server delivered 4K stereoscopic imagery to two Barco 4K projectors each with its own embedded Qube Xi 4K Integrated Media Block (IMB). Moody Gardens now joins the ranks of giant screen theaters in North America with 4K 3D capabilities offering visitors stunning stereo digital imagery. The MG 3D Theater at Moody Gardens upgraded from film to digital two years ago with two 4K Barco projectors and a 2K server. Because they wanted to show high-resolution content they immediately began the search for a server and integrated media block that could deliver the full 4K power of their two Barco 4K projectors. Their search led them to the Qube Cinema XP-I server which offers up to 1 Gbps throughput of uncompressed data to paired Xi 4K IMBs delivering 4K resolution at 30 fps or 2K 3D content up to 120 fps per eye. “The only server and IMB technology we saw that could deliver 4K 3D content was the Qube XP-I server ” said Brandon Compton theater director at Moody Gardens. “Its high frame rate and high bit rate capabilities offer a much improved viewing experience to our audiences.” In addition to its HFR 3D capabilities the XP-I server can synchronize dual DLP projectors thus increasing screen brightness for 3D exhibition to 14 foot-lamberts a level which is comparable to that of 2D screenings. This is especially pertinent for giant screens like the 80-foot by 60-foot screen at the MG 3D Theater where high brightness adds greatly to the power of the experience. But it’s the ease of operation that has really impressed the staff at Moody Gardens. “The results of audience surveys are consistently great with high marks for image clarity ” said Compton. “The big difference from our perspective is in the equipment booth. The XP-I makes it so simple to ingest content and build show files. Qube has made life a lot easier for the guys in the booth.”
