Preface

Preambule

The purpose of this documentation is to describe the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) as comprehensively as possible.

Started naively in 2020, this documentation began as a collection of technical tips and information I have been using for years (probably since the early days of the DCI). This documentation aims to be, at last, a compilation of my own research on Digital Cinema, especially about DCP, all in one place.

Since the early release of the DCI specifications (2004-2005), getting information about DCP and its details is really complicated (above all because of standards not publicly available). Everyone who implements the standards has never explained to less knowledgeable people.

This documentation is intended for experts and beginners :

Beginners : a quick and easy understanding of what a DCP is.
Experts : avoid having to read thousands of pages of the SMPTE standards

This documentation doesn't claim to be perfect, its may have mistakes, omissions or lack of understanding :

If you have technical or historical skills and you find mistakes or omissions, do not hesitate to report them.
If you are a beginner and some paragraphs seem unclear, do not hesitate to report them as well
If you have in mind a new potential subject or a missing one, do not hesitate to request it.

This documentation doesn't aim to be a translation of SMPTE standards or DCI specifications : They are too vast, it would be counterproductive to do that, especially because they often change.

This documentation aims to be evolving and updated over time : this is not a static documentation, it evolves to add new technological features and updates to the SMPTE standards. Keep an eye on changelog.

The Source code through this documentation doesn't aim to be "best practices of coding", they are intentionally oversimplified, in order to understand each step. I don't like documentation with complicated source code that only experts can understand. In my point of view, it's a bad way for the original author to prove their own expertise. If you find any unclear source code, report it, I will try to simplify further. This source code aims to have a second purpose : to be used and integrated into any other source code or project. It's like a library of ready-to-use source code, or snippets.

Tools and prototypes

During the writing of this documentation, I needed some tools, so I wrote them concurrently. You may see their outputs throughout some chapters. In addition, you may find some lighter versions of these tools to help with understanding. You can take a look in the assets directory, you will find small software and source code.

Below, a brief description of these main tools.

To be clear, at this time, these tools are only proof-of-concept, they need a complete rewriting.
However, they are functional for the purpose of this documentation.

MXF Analyzer

It's a MXF analyzer, it provides several options, such as analyzing and extracting data and metadata from MXF files.

The project is now available in the github repository : https://github.com/sherpadown/mxf-reader/

$ mxf_analyzer.py --help -h, --help show this help message and exit -f FILENAME, --filename FILENAME = mxf filename -x EXTRACT, --extract EXTRACT = extract each KLV into files -k KEY, --key KEY AES Key, ex. --key 00000000000000000000000000000000 -v, --verbose increase output verbosity -n, --no-resolv Do not resolv UL (speed) --filter FILTER filter by name --fuzzy Fuzzy mode only (very slow) --limit LIMIT stop after x klv parsed --slow Slowdown parse to avoid flood loadavg

# mxf_analyzer.py -f 2D.mxf offset │ uuid │ ber : data-size │ data │ name 0 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01020400 │ 83.000078: 120 │ 00010002000000010000000000000000 │ Partition Pack - Header - Closed & Complete 140 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01050100 │ 83.000596: 1430 │ 0000004f000000120201060e2b340101 │ Primer Pack 1590 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01012f00 │ 83.0000be: 190 │ 3c0a0010aaffbd07420e44a2b3f87d3c │ Preface 1800 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013000 │ 83.0000d8: 216 │ 3c0a0010c00c5d91bc1b4e58aefabf33 │ Identification 2036 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01011800 │ 83.00005c: 92 │ 3c0a0010acc6d12cda0c465b861a1c33 │ Content Storage 2148 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01012300 │ 83.000048: 72 │ 3c0a0010bf8a6ebc3aca4164a47e45e0 │ Essence Container Data 2240 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013600 │ 83.0000a0: 160 │ 3c0a001096b13153bd5d4cd29abcd608 │ Material Package 2420 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013b00 │ 83.000070: 112 │ 3c0a0010005ea82d6afb4a37aae4d74b │ Timeline Track 2552 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01010f00 │ 83.000050: 80 │ 3c0a00108afb9187a608464f85713462 │ Sequence 2652 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01011400 │ 83.00004b: 75 │ 3c0a00108fe911af95d4464e9e794651 │ Timecode Component 2747 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013b00 │ 83.00006e: 110 │ 3c0a0010f8427198af884d4f8c9855f3 │ Timeline Track 2877 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01010f00 │ 83.000050: 80 │ 3c0a0010e2bfd055e5d249a0bfcb4da8 │ Sequence 2977 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01011100 │ 83.00006c: 108 │ 3c0a00106daf21bab69a41c99ec54f4f │ Source Clip 3105 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013700 │ 83.000116: 278 │ 3c0a0010b87f0871f98446d39a842893 │ Source Package 3403 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013b00 │ 83.000070: 112 │ 3c0a00106378d2218be746d28508fedf │ Timeline Track 3535 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01010f00 │ 83.000050: 80 │ 3c0a001075ef53606937484a9ee14472 │ Sequence 3635 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01011400 │ 83.00004b: 75 │ 3c0a001059cf1ad86f314b5db0164871 │ Timecode Component 3730 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01013b00 │ 83.00006e: 110 │ 3c0a0010d4e733700afb45329cc796c6 │ Timeline Track 3860 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01010f00 │ 83.000050: 80 │ 3c0a0010e2f035aa64684a7f98eddfa7 │ Sequence 3960 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01011100 │ 83.00006c: 108 │ 3c0a0010c93d2257b09a4dbea24c782e │ Source Clip 4088 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01012900 │ 83.0000bd: 189 │ 3c0a00102cb46505be6b41c3abbe8848 │ RGBA Essence Descriptor 4297 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010101.01015a00 │ 83.0000b5: 181 │ 3c0a00106054268f8fdf47ba98db7167 │ JPEG2000 Picture Sub-Descriptor 4498 │ 060e2b34.01010102.03010210.01000000 │ 83.002e5a: 11866 │ 00000000000000000000000000000000 │ KLV Fill item (SMPTE) 16384 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01030400 │ 83.000078: 120 │ 00010002000000010000000000004000 │ Partition Pack - Body - Closed & Complete 16524 │ 060e2b34.01020101.0d010301.15010801 │ 83.009cc8: 40136 │ ff4fff51002f00040000100000000870 │ Picture Essence - 1 frame 56680 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01040400 │ 83.000078: 120 │ 0001000200000001000000000000dd68 │ Partition Pack - Footer - Closed & Complete 56820 │ 060e2b34.02530101.0d010201.01100100 │ 83.000083: 131 │ 3c0a00101c86aa0136fb414ebcd47120 │ Index Table Segment (2-bytes LocalTags, 2-bytes Length)

With more verbosity :

# mxf_analyzer.py -f 2D.mxf offset │ uuid │ ber : data-size │ data │ name 0 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01020400 │ 83.000078 : 120 │ 00010002000000010000000000000000 │ Partition Pack - Header - Closed & Complete ╓──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ║ Major Version ║ 1 ║ Minor Version ║ 2 ║ KAGSize ║ 1 ║ ThisPartition ║ 0 ║ PreviousPartition ║ 0 ║ FooterPartition ║ 56680 ║ HeaderByteCount ║ 16244 ║ IndexByteCount ║ 0 ║ IndexSID ║ 0 ║ BodyOffset ║ 0 ║ BodySID ║ 0 ║ Operational Pattern ║ 060e2b34.04010102.0d010201.10000000 (Operational Pattern - Specialized Pattern - OP Atom - SMPTE) ║ EssenceContainers ║ 2 item(s): 060e2b34.04010103.0d010301.027f0100, 060e2b34.04010107.0d010301.020c0100 ║ Resource [1] ║ SMPTE.ST.0377-1-2011 - MXF - File Format Specification - page 41-44-46 ╙──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 140 │ 060e2b34.02050101.0d010201.01050100 │ 83.000596 : 1430 │ 0000004f000000120201060e2b340101 │ Primer Pack ╓──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ║ 0201 ║ 060e2b34.01010102.04070100.00000000 - Statically Local Tags - Data Definition ║ 0202 ║ 060e2b34.01010102.07020201.01030000 - Statically Local Tags - Duration (...)

A (very-very) lighter version of MXF analyzer is available here : https://github.com/sherpadown/js-mxf/ (demo)

UL Analyzer

A (very) quick & dirty Universal Label parser.

$ ul "060e2b34020401010d010301027e0100"
SMPTE UL Format                             060e2b34.02040101.0d010301.027e0100
Hex Format (lower)                          06.0e.2b.34.02.04.01.01.0d.01.03.01.02.7e.01.00
Hex Format (upper)                          06.0E.2B.34.02.04.01.01.0D.01.03.01.02.7E.01.00
Hex Format (small)                          060e2b34020401010d010301027e0100
──────────────────────────────────────────────  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
name                                        Encrypted Essence Container (SMPTE)
parser                                      essence_encrypted
resource                                    SMPTE.ST.0429-6-2006 - DCP - MXF Track File Essence Encryption, Page 10
─────────────────────────────────────────────   ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
UL Header (2 bytes)                         060e
UL Designator (6 bytes)                     2b3402040101
Item Designator (8 bytes)                   0d010301027e0100
────────────────────────────────────────────    ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1 - Object ID                               06
2 - UL Size                                 0e (14 bytes)
3 - ISO/ORG Identifier / UL Code            2b
4 - SMPTE Designator                        34
5 - Category Designator                     02 (Groups - Sets & Packs)
6 - Registry Designator                     04 (Variable-Length Pack) - [Length=BER short/long] (All Length)
7 - Structure Designator                    01 (Set/Pack Registry)
8 - Version                                 01
─────────────────────────────────────────────── ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
9 - Item Designator                         0d
10 - Item Designator                        01
11 - Item Designator                        03
12 - Item Designator                        01
13 - Item Designator                        02
14 - Item Designator                        7e
15 - Item Designator                        01
16 - Item Designator                        00

IAB Analyzer

An Immersive Audio Bitstream analyzer for IAB assets, such as Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Barco Auro assets.

The project is now available in the github repository: https://github.com/sherpadown/iab-reader/

Usage: iab-analyzer.py <IAB data> or <IAB directory> ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │▐━━━━ IABitstream Frame ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━▐ [1] │───── Preamble ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [1] │ PreambuleTag : 0x01 │ PreambuleLength : 1603 bytes │ PreambuleValue : 11010effffffffffffffffffffffffff(...1571 bytes...)ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff │───── IAFrame ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [1] │ IAFrameTag : 0x02 │ IAFrameLength : 44501 bytes │ IAFrameValue : 08ffadd10110529bff0200ff020e6402(...44469 bytes...)0173ffc1bfffc0300000200000000500 │───── IAElement ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [1] │ ElementID : 0x08 (IAFrame: Frame Header) │ ElementSize : 0xadd1 (44497 bytes) │ SubElementValue : 0110529bff0200ff020e64020b12d0202aad16adb68b4ab6daa55b4ab4aa0a2a(..) (44497 bytes) ┌ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │▐━━━━ IAFrame ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━▐ [2] │ │ IAVersion : 1 │ │ SampleRate : 0b00 (48000 Hz) │ │ BitDepth : 0b01 (24 bits) │ │ FrameRate : 0x0 (24 fps) │ │ MaxRendered : 0x52 (82 bytes) │ │ AlignBits(0) │ │ SubElementCount : 0x9b (155 elements) ┌ ┌ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │ │───── SubElement 0 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [3] │ │ │ SubElementID : 0x0200 (Audio Data DLC Encoded) │ │ │ SubElementSize : 0x020e (526 bytes) │ │ │ SubElementValue : 64020b12d0202aad16adb68b4ab6daa55b4ab4aa0a2a96d5156d55aab6db6d5b(..) (526 bytes) ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │ │ │▐━━━━ Audio Data DLC ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━▐ [4] │ │ │ │ AudioDataID : 100 │ │ │ │ DLCSize : 523 bytes │ │ │ │ DLCSampleRate : 48000 Hz │ │ │ │ ShiftBits : 9 │ │ │ │ ────── Predictor Informations ───── │ │ │ │ NumPredRegions : 0b01 (1 regions) ( .. .. .. )

JPEG2000 DCI Analyser

A JPEG2000 DCI 2K/4K images analyzer.

The project is now available in the github repository: https://github.com/sherpadown/jpeg2000-reader/

# jpeg2000-parser.py <file.j2c> <fileN.j2c> ... read file.j2c [SOC] Start of codestream (FF4F) [SIZ] Image and tile size (FF51) SIZ - rsiz : Profile 4 SIZ - Xsiz : 4096 px SIZ - Ysiz : 1716 px ( . . . ) [COD] Coding style default (FF52) COD - Scod : 01 Binary Parameters: 00000001 COD - Progression order : 04 Binary Parameters: 00000100 COD - Number of Layers : 1 COD - Multiple Component Transform : 01 00000001 COD - Decomposition levels : 6 COD - CodeBlockSize : 32 x 32 ( . . . ) [QCD] Quantization default (FF5C) QCD - Sqcd (Scalar coefficient dequantization), Quantization style for all components: 00100010 QCD - Sqcd binary parameters (bit1-3): Number of guard bits 0—7: 0b001 ─➤ 1 bits QCD - Sqcd: 0b00010 ─➤ Scalar explicit QCD - SPqcd (Exponent+Mantissa), Quantization step size value sub-band 0: ─➤ SPqcd : 0111111100010110 (0x7f16) ─➤ Mantissa : 01111 : 15 ─➤ Exponent : 11100010110 : 1814 ( . . . ) [CME] Comment and extension (FF64) CME - Registration values 1: Text ISO 8859-1 CME - Text: Created with Doremi Labs DMS2000 SN70062 server v1.8.0. Src0. ( . . . ) [POC] Progression Order Change (FF5F) POC - [2K] RSpoc (Resolution Start) : 0 (0x00) POC - [2K] CSpoc (Component Start) : 0 (0x00) POC - [2K] LYEpoc (Layer) : 1 (0x0001) POC - [2K] REpoc (Resolution End) : 6 (0x06) POC - [2K] CEpoc (Component End) : 3 (0x03) POC - [2K] Ppoc (Progression Order) : 4 (0x04) POC - [4K] RSpoc (Resolution Start) : 6 (0x06) ( . . . ) [TLM] Tile-part lengths, main header (FF55) TLM - Ztlm: Index of this marker segment: 0 TLM - Stlm: Size of the Ttlm and Ptlm parameters: 01010000 TLM - Stlm Bit-Parameters: SP = 1; Ptlm parameter 32 bits TLM - Stlm Bit-Parameters: ST = 1; Ttlm parameter 8 bits TLM - Ttlm - Tile number of tile-part 1: 0 TLM - Ptlm - Length SOT+SOD of tile-part 1: 190 bytes ( . . . ) [SOT] Start of tile-part (FF90) SOT - Isot, Tile number : 0 SOT - Psot, Length of SOT+SOD : 190 SOT - TPsot, Tile-part number : 0 SOT - TNsot, Number of tile-parts : 6 ( . . . ) [SOD] Start of data (FF93) data: 176 bytes : eff07ffe0fc0115054afff5574bcab4000000000000c2425ff69dc40000000000309097fe4a5400000000061212ffc94a8000000000c2425ff494a8000000000c2425ffd3c115054afff5574bcab4000000000000c2425ff69dc40000000000309097fe4a5400000000061212ffc94a8000000000c2425ff494a8000000000c2425ffd3c8080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080808080 ( . . . )

Conclusion

Go back to table of contents of this documentation.