Configurable cinema sound system

A digital cinema sound system for playing back an audio visual production according to one or more stored parameters, the digital;

• cinema sound system comprising:
• a playback device for playing back prerecorded sounds according to the audiovisual production;
• a memory;
• at least one speaker coupled to the playback device;
• a parameter stored in the memory for specifying a characteristic sound quality of the playback of the prerecorded sounds;
• input means coupled to the processor and memory for modifying the parameter to change the specification of the characteristic sound quality of the playback of the prerecorded sounds;
• and
• a digital processor coupled to the memory and the playback device for controlling the playback of the prerecorded sounds with the characteristic sound quality according to the stored parameter.

A digital cinema sound system for playing back an audiovisual production according to one or more stored parameters, the digital cinema sound system comprising:

• a playback device for playing back prerecorded sounds according to the audiovisual production;
• a memory;
• at least one speaker coupled to the playback device;
• parameters stored in the memory for specifying the playback of the prerecorded sounds to create a characteristic sound quality;
• input means coupled to the processor and memory for modifying the parameters to change the specification of playback of the prerecorded sounds to modify the characteristic sound quality;
• a digital processor coupled to the memory and the playback device for controlling the playback of the prerecorded sounds according to the stored parameters;
• sound distribution processing responsive to one or more of the stored parameters for playback of the prerecorded sounds in a sound distribution mode;
• noise reduction processing responsive to one or more of the stored parameters for playback of the prerecorded sounds in a noise reduction mode;
• and
• equalization processing responsive to one or more of the stored parameters for playback of the prerecorded sounds in an equalization mode, wherein the sound distribution mode, the noise reduction mode and the equalization mode are all components of the characteristic sound quality.

A method for reproducing sound from an audiovisual production having a sound portion, wherein the audiovisual production is played back using a playback device located in a theater, wherein the method utilizes a digital cinema sound system including a digital processor coupled to a memory, the playback device, noise reduction processing for applying one of a plurality of noise reduction modes and at least one speaker, wherein the method further utilizes a digital transfer system for transferring data, the method comprising the following steps:

• creating a program definition including at least one parameter specifying one of the plurality of noise reduction mode to be used during the playback of the sound portion of the audiovisual production;
• storing the program definition in the memory of the digital cinema sound system;
• and
• using the processor to play back the sound portion of the audiovisual production according to the noise reduction mode specified by the at least one parameter of the program definition.