You’ve locked picture, finished the grade and signed off the sound. Then comes the question:
“How long will the DCP take?”
For a clean, properly prepared feature, a professional DCP can usually be created, checked and ready for delivery within 2–3 working days. You need to factor in this time so your project isn’t unduly rushed at the last crucial stage.
For urgent projects, a 24-hour express service may also be available at an additional cost, depending on the source files and project requirements.
So what actually happens?
First, the source file is checked for things such as frame rate, resolution, colour space, aspect ratio, audio layout and sync. If the master is clean, the process is straightforward. If there are problems with the source, that’s where delays can happen.
Next, the picture and sound are prepared for digital cinema before the film is encoded into the DCP format. The finished package is then QC checked for picture, sound, sync, subtitles and playback integrity.
Once approved, it can be delivered by secure download, SSD or CRU drive, with KDMs created if encryption is required.
See turnaround times and pricing on our full services page.
The biggest cause of delays is usually the source file itself.
Before sending your film, make sure the picture is locked, the sound mix is final, the colour grade is approved and the master has been checked.
Because getting your film onto the big screen shouldn’t be complicated, it just needs to be done properly.
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