What Is Digital Cinema?

Digital cinema refers to the latest adoption of digital technologies in the movie industry to digitally distribute or display digital motion pictures rather than the traditional use of reels of conventional motion picture film, like 35 mm film. Digital cinema differs from conventional film in that the content or images can be exchanged on a digital device such as a digital television which can be viewed by either using an appropriate television connection or by viewing the digital content directly on a computer. With digital cinema, a movie is delivered digitally, without the need for original film prints. The term digital cinema is now widely used in most countries and is gradually taking over conventional film-making methods.

In order to deliver digital cinema systems, a host device, referred to as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), is used which, in turn, records the content onto non-volatile memory cards or hard drives. The recordings are then stored in a digital format such as the Universal Media Disc (DMAD), the High Definition Digital (HDD) format or the iD format. Digital Cinema system owners have the option of transferring their films on DVD or through the mail. A host player connects to a personal computer or a digital television set and enables viewing of digital content through the appropriate device.

As digital cinema systems and equipment have increased in popularity, there have been a number of technological developments in their design and features. Currently, the latest technology in digital cinema includes High Definition Television (HDTV), which is capable of transmitting high resolution digital information in full screen format. Some digital cinema systems also allow the user to record broadcast television programs into digital video streams. Other versions offer digital cinema features such as the recording of video games into a digital video disc and playing them on a personal computer.

In order to view digital cinema content, a digital television or a digital cinema system must contain at least one digital input device, such as a television or Blu-ray player. Digital movie capture devices include compact discs and memory stick. Satellite television providers offer television sets with built-in digital video recorders (DVRs) for capturing live television content directly from satellites. DVR-like services, such as On Demand or Dish Network Direct, are also available for customers who want access to video content via a digital video recorder. Digital networks such as Netflix, Hulu, and Sirius / XM allow customers to watch digital TV content from anywhere in the world.

One of the most important characteristics of digital cinema is its digital audio quality. Dolby Digital surround sound is a standard feature in high-end movie theatres and premium home cinemas. Dolby Digital surround sound lets the audience hear the movie sounds with supreme clarity, even when other elements are presented on the screen. The quality of the sound will depend on the quality of the source and the clarity of the speakers used for capturing the content.

Digital cinema systems have revolutionized the way people watch movies and TV today. With improvements in digital video capture devices, the quality of content captured on film has improved. Viewing digital video has never been this easy or enjoyable. Digital cinema systems provide consumers with a complete home entertainment experience by capturing their favourite movies and events in high definition quality. Digital video capture devices include HD (High Definition), standard definition and ultra-high definition television sets. Satellite television providers offer digital video recorders (DVRs) for capturing television content directly from satellites.