DCP Cinema Screen Test — Make Sure Your Film Plays Perfectly on the Big Screen
Most labs never see your film projected in a real cinema. We do.
With DCPReady’s Cinema Screen Test, your DCP is screened in a real, DCI-compliant theater before your audience sees it. We verify picture, sound, and subtitles under true projection conditions—and give you a clear report so you walk into your screening with total confidence.
Why DCP Screen Projection Test Matters
Watching a Digital Cinema Package on a laptop isn’t the same as seeing it in a theater. Small issues—subtitle legibility, a slight audio imbalance, a scaling mistake—can ruin a screening or even trigger a rejection. Our test prevents projection failures, last-minute stress, and unpleasant surprises, so your film lands exactly as intended.
What You Get
- Real theatrical projection of your DCP (not a software preview)
- Visual and audio review by a cinema technician
- Subtitle readability and sync check
- Verification of delivery media (download/drive) and ingestion
- A plain-English report with findings and recommended fixes
- Optional quick remaster if we spot issues
Turnaround: test promptly; report within 24 hours.
When to Book
- Before a festival or premiere
- If your Digital Cinema Package was made DIY (Resolve/DCP-o-matic) or by a third party
- After changes to color, mix, or subtitles
- When screening in multiple theaters or countries
- If you’ve had a playback issue and need peace of mind before the next show
How It Works
- Send your DCP (secure link or drive).
- We ingest and project it on a cinema server and projector.
- We review image, color/contrast, sound, subtitles, and delivery media.
- You receive a clear report and, if needed, next steps.
- Optional: we apply fixes/remastering and re-test.
Pricing
- Standalone Screen Test: €100 (~116$)
- Add-on to any DCP conversion: discounted
We accept DCPs produced elsewhere. Send digitally or on a drive. If your DCP is encrypted, just provide a valid key for our theater server.
Trusted by Filmmakers and Festivals
Because we also operate a cinema and run a film festival, we know exactly what projection teams expect—and we deliver it
Olga M.
"I find DCP creation the most stressful part of the whole filmmaking process and always just prefer a post house to do it."
Kyle G.
I just got accepted to my first film festival and had to teach myself what a DCP is. DCPReady made the full process easy
Gus R.
Creating a DCP with DCPReady gave my film access to festivals that would have been out of reach otherwise
David D.
This is so awesome and can't wait to dive in. We saw the cinema recording DCPReady provide us as real theatre QC and looks amazing
Frank H.
I'm really very grateful for the work you've done and I can't thank you enough, as I've stretched the limits of my efforts on the film and its small budget
Cristina L
It was my first time creating a DCP, and seeing my film on the big screen looked incredible.
FAQs
What exactly do you test?
That your DCP ingests and plays without errors on a cinema server and projector, with correct scaling/aspect (Flat/Scope), consistent color/contrast, proper audio routing (stereo or 5.1/7.1), readable, in-sync subtitles, and reliable delivery media.
Do you support SMPTE and Interop?
Yes. We pick the standard that best matches your destination. SMPTE is the modern standard; Interop still appears on older systems.
Can you test encrypted DCPs (KDM)?
Yes. Provide a KDM valid for our server for the test window.
Which drive format should I use (EXT2/EXT3/NTFS)?
We typically recommend EXT2/EXT3 for maximum compatibility. We’ll advise if your destination prefers NTFS or CRU over USB.
What’s inside a DCP (tech components)?
Picture encoded as JPEG-2000 and audio as PCM 24-bit/48 kHz inside MXF files, referenced by a CPL (Composition Playlist) and XML metadata; subtitles as timed text or burn-in.
How do you check AV sync and audio mapping?
We project the actual DCP start-to-finish and verify sync, channel routing (L/C/R/LFE/Ls/Rs), and playback stability in a real auditorium
How long does the session take?
Typically 15–30 minutes of projection and checks; the written report arrives within 24 hours.
If you find issues, can you fix them?
Yes. We offer remastering/adjustments (color, audio, subtitles, standard, media) and can re-test after the fix.