Wang Lanxi had a smile on his face: "The ministry has been paying attention to stereo, and in the past two years, technical experts and research institutes have held several meetings to discuss how to do stereo, and finally decided to do 424." In August this year, the ministry asked our company to import a complete set of 424 stereo equipment from Dolby in the United States this year, including a projection system and a recording system, and spent more than 100,000 US dollars. I just want to copy this system and make stereo movies in China. ”

Xu Wangqiu was stunned: "This equipment was introduced by our company, so should we do the research and development?"

Wang Lanxi shook his head: "That's not it, let's introduce it because we have money and can apply for foreign exchange." ”

In this era, the country has very strict foreign exchange control, and if you want to import equipment from abroad, you need to make a report to apply for foreign exchange. Export companies are different from other enterprises, export companies have foreign exchange income, but this money can be seen on the books, but cannot be obtained. The account of Qianyi Import and Export Company will be taken over by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. However, the state encourages exports to earn foreign exchange, and there are preferential treatment for enterprises such as export companies in the use of foreign exchange, and the foreign exchange earned can be applied for use.

It is more troublesome to ask other film studios or research institutes to introduce the Dolby system, and it is more troublesome to apply for foreign exchange, but the export company does not have this problem, so the ministry handed over the work of introducing the full Dolby system to the export company.

Xu Wangqiu asked: "Who is assigned the task of developing stereo sound in that department?"

"It's not decided yet. There is no understanding of this technology in China, and the first batch of personnel we sent to Dolby for training have just returned, and the ministry is selecting the second batch of personnel to receive training at Dolby. To officially engage in stereo research and development, it is estimated that the second batch of trainers will come back. At least until the second half of this year, or even next year. ”

"Dean, what kind of training did you go to Dolby to receive, craft or technology?"

"Of course, it's a whole set of content, from process to technology. We sent out engineers and technicians, as well as sound engineers. When engineers and technicians come back, they can engage in technical installation and maintenance, while sound engineers can participate in stereo movie recording when they come back. The film is a system from shooting to screening, and if you want to do it, you must do a complete set. ”

Xu Wangqiu was overjoyed when he heard this: "That's great! A few days ago, when I was in Xiangjiang, I was thinking, but it's a pity that we didn't make stereo technology and equipment, otherwise we would have made "Cold" into a stereo movie, and the effect would have been much more shocking. Unexpectedly, now we not only have the equipment, but also the sound engineer has been trained. When I wait for the next movie, I'll definitely make a stereo sound movie. ”

Wang Lanxi said with a smile: "The ministry sent a recording engineer to the United States for training, in fact, to prepare for making stereo movies. If we get stereo equipment and we don't have a stereo movie, we can't use it with guns and bullets. So, someone has to make a stereo movie, and since you're interested, that's even better. ”

Xu Wangqiu immediately said: "Dean, since the ministry attaches so much importance to stereo and is also ready to promote stereo technology in China, then I think we should take the initiative to invite Ying, and our company will engage in stereo research and development." If other research institutes are allowed to do it, they will only do 424 stereo sound and will not think about future problems, nor will they think about the next generation of technology. If we do it, we will not only do 424, but also 5.1 channels. ”

Wang Lanxi participated in the film bureau's stereo seminar, and he was more clear about what 424 stereo sound was and what 5.2 channel was, and when he heard that Xu Wangqiu not only wanted to engage in 424 stereo sound, but also wanted to engage in 5.1 sound channels, he couldn't help scolding: "You little ghost, you really haven't learned to shoot and climb, so you want to fly." 5.1 channels can only be used for 70mm widescreen movies, 35mm movies can't be used, and they can't be promoted on a large scale, so what are you doing with that?"

5.1 channel cannot be used on 35mm film now, but with the development of technology, it will definitely be used on 35mm film in the future. If we only think about 424, don't make technical reserves, don't study 5.1 channels, then we can only follow other people's butts forever.

I think that R&D should be engaged in a generation of development, a generation of pre-research, and a generation of reserves. With our company's ability, as long as we cooperate with other scientific research institutes, it should not take much effort to make 424 stereo sound. I think that with our ability, we can do 424 channel research on 35mm film at the same time, and we can also do 5.1 channel research on 35mm film. Now European and American countries are also conducting corresponding research, if we can get ahead of European and American countries, then we may be able to sell our products to Europe and the United States, and our export company may also become a world-class film company and become a leader in the film industry. ”

"Do you think it's a trick? 5.1 channels can be done just as they say they can do it! We can't even do 424 now, and we have to be trained by Dolby, how can we get 5.1 channels before them?"

A few years ago, the foreign printing industry began to develop the fourth-generation laser phototypesetting machine, and we were still in the era of lead printing, so the state set up the 748 project, intending to develop the second-generation machine and the third-generation machine, but Wang Xuan made a technological leap and directly developed the fourth-generation laser phototypesetting system that was not yet available in the West. At that time, many people questioned it and thought he was whimsical, but Wang Xuan didn't they come up with the fourth-generation laser phototypesetting system!

I think it's really possible for us to get 5.1 channels ahead of European and American countries, and now European and American countries are doing 5.1 channels, and all they think about is how to compress the soundtrack and record the soundtrack on film. Due to technical constraints, it is impossible to succeed in a short period of time, and it will take them at least 5 years to develop 5.1 channels. We can think differently and record the sound not on film, but on other carriers. In this way, it is possible to take a shortcut and make a 5.1 channel ahead of European and American countries. ”

Wang Lanxi thought that Xu Wangqiu wanted to use the tape to play sound, and slowly shook his head: "You think things too simply. It's very easy to record sound on tape, and some people have tried it before, but why didn't it work? Because the sound and picture have to be aligned, and it is very difficult to align the sound and picture with tape. If the sound and picture don't match, then how can you watch the movie?"

Xu Wangqiu said confidently: "Of course, it is impossible to use tape, but it is possible to do it with the latest technology." ”

"Oh, what new technology?"

"Laser digital technology. Dean, you know the laser disc, right?"

"Last year I saw the laser disc player and the laser disc in Europe, and the test show was the classic Russian ballet Swan Lake, the picture is very clear, the music and color are very realistic, but what does this have to do with the 5.1 channel?"

"I think we can combine laser disc technology with movie projectors. The sound of the film is stored in the laser disc, and we store the time code in the place where the sound track was originally stored in the film film. The reading head in the projector can read the time code from the film, and then play the sound file in the disc synchronously according to this code, which can perfectly solve the problem of sound and picture alignment. If we concentrate our efforts on it, it is entirely possible to get ahead of Europe and the United States and get the 5.1 channel system out!"

Wang Lanxi had only seen the laser disc, but he didn't understand the principle, so he said suspiciously: "The laser discs are high-tech, we can't even handle the 424, can such an advanced thing really be made?"

Xu Wangqiu nodded very affirmatively: "We can't get the 424 technology because we haven't done stereo sound in the past, and we don't have the technical accumulation in this area." The situation with digital technology and laser technology is completely different, the state attaches great importance to both technologies, there are many specialized research institutes. For example, the laser disc player was developed by a research institute in the magic capital the year before last. There is a technological gap between us and Europe and the United States, but the gap is not very large. If we take the lead and unite various research institutes, we will definitely be able to do it!"

"Could it be that we just started doing it, and people will do it?"

"It's possible, but I think even if someone else does it before us, it's nothing, at least we have narrowed the gap with foreign countries. And I don't think it's very likely. Recording a sound signal to film is one technique, and recording a sound signal to a disc for reading is another. Dolby is in the business of sound, they are stereo experts, but storing sound on disc, requires laser technology, which they don't have. Sony and Philips have laser storage technology, but they have not set foot in the field of film, and their current energy is on disc storage, and they will not engage in stereo sound in the short term. Our state-owned enterprises can draw experts in digital research from the Institute of Computing and experts in laser storage from the Laser Research Institute to form a research group. As long as everyone works together, it is entirely possible to get the 5.1 channel out before Europe and the United States. ”

Wang Lanxi nodded slightly, feeling that Xu Wangqiu's words made sense. He has worked hard for the country and the Chinese film industry for half his life, and now he has reached retirement age and will retire soon. Before retiring, he really wanted to do something more for the country and for the film industry.

If it can really get ahead of Europe and the United States, it will be an epoch-making feat, which will be of great benefit to the country, the film industry, and the export companies. Even if it can't be made in front of European and American countries, it is nothing, at least the gap with Europe and the United States has been narrowed, and the equipment produced can be used by domestic cinemas.

Wang Lanxi felt that this thing could really be done, and slapped it heavily on the table: "Since you are so sure of making a 5.1 channel, then you should take the lead!"

Xu Wangqiu waved his hand again and again: "Where can I take the lead." This is a big project, it requires a lot of investment, and it needs to mobilize all kinds of forces, and it must be the dean in command, and we will definitely not be able to do it without you pressing the formation. ”

Wang Lanxi felt that it made sense, so he said: "You go back and get a detailed application report, and write out in detail what this institute wants to do and how to do it." When the time comes, I will take the lead in setting up a leading group, and you will do the specific work. ”

Xu Wangqiu said excitedly: "Thank you, dean, I will definitely write the report as soon as possible." ”

Coming out of Wang Lanxi's office, Xu Wangqiu thought about the question of 5.1 channel as he walked.

Achieving 5.1 channels through the separation of sound and picture from the disc is not particularly high in terms of technical difficulty, and it should be possible to do it in two to three years. But being able to do it doesn't mean that it can be promoted on a large scale, let alone that it can be successful in the market. The key to the success of DTS in the previous generation is that Spielberg and Universal have both invested in DTS. It is with their strong support that DTS has opened up the situation and gradually become an industry giant.

It is not difficult to open up the situation in the mainland and East Asia under the condition of an export company, but it is very difficult to open up the situation in Europe and the United States. If it can't open up the situation in Europe and the United States, it will be difficult to become an internationally accepted audio standard.

Xu Wangqiu dropped two chess pieces in the United States, but these chess pieces grew too slowly, and they had to find ways to make them grow as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the 5.1 channel comes out, they will not be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of opening up the US market.

However, there is no urgency in this matter, and the most important thing now is to set up the research institute.