Melbourne Planetarium: Content delivery specifications

The Melbourne Planetarium uses fulldome projection. Six 4K projectors work together to create a seamless image across the 16m domed screen. This is complemented by a 5.1 surround sound system.

A fulldome image is a full-frame fisheye image created in a square format (eg. 1024 x 1024 pixels or 4096 x 4096 pixels). For example Figure 1 shows a low resolution frame from the Melbourne Planetarium production TILT. (n.b. In this image the bottom of frame is the front of the dome, the top of the frame is the back of the dome)

The standard playback rate for the Planetarium is 30 fps. (But it can handle 25fps & 29.97fps)

There are two options for preparing sequences for the dome:

OPTION 1 – High Quality Video Files

We will accept files encoded using either the h.265 (HEVC) codec or the older h.264 (AVC) codec, but please note the different bitrate requirements for the two codecs.

MPEG-4 / h.265

• Resolution: Preferred 4K (4096 x 4096 square pixels)
• Minimum 2K (2048 x 2048 square pixels)
• Frame Rate: 30 or 60fps
• Video Format: MPEG-4 using the HEVC (h.265) codec.
• Video Bitrate: 60Mbit/s (for 30fps content) or 120Mbit/s (for 60fps content) Audio Format: Two-channel (stereo) embedded in the MPEG4 file.
• Multi-channel (5.1) supplied as separate mono uncompressed WAV or AIFF.

MPEG-4 / h.264

• Resolution: Preferred 4K (4096 x 4096 square pixels)
• Minimum 2K (2048 x 2048 square pixels)
• Frame Rate: 30 or 60fps
• Video Format: MPEG-4 using the HEVC (h.264) codec.
• Video Bitrate: 100Mbit/s (for 30fps content) or 200Mbit/s (for 60fps content) Audio Format: Two-channel (stereo) embedded in the MPEG4 file.
• Multi-channel (5.1) supplied as separate mono uncompressed WAV or AIFF.

Here are some more recommended encoding settings for your Final Delivery MPEG-4 file:

• Square Pixels
• Main Profile, Level 6.2
• CBR (constant bitrate)
• Higher or Highest Quality

Files may be delivered to the Melbourne Planetarium on DVD, USB stick or via FTP or web-based file sharing (eg. Rapidshare/Dropbox)

OPTION 2 – Images Sequence and Audio Files provided on a Hard Disk Drive or USB Drive

Hard Disk Drives must be USB powered, USB2.0 / 3.0, NTFS formatted.

Image Files

Dome Master Format

24-bit RGB, 1800 equidistant image field

Dome Orientation

Bottom = Front, Left = Dome Left, Right = Dome Right, Top = Rear

Resolution

Preferred 4K (4096 x 4096 square pixels)
Minimum 3K (3072 x 3072 square pixels)
Maximum 8K (8192 x 8192 square pixels)
Student works Minimum resolution 2K (2048 x 2048 pixels)

File Format

PNG, JPG, TIF or uncompressed TGA

Frame Rate

Preferred 30fps. 24, 25, 29.97 & 60 fps will also be accepted.

File Names

Title + Underscore + 5-digit frame number. Eg: Title_00000.png. Title_00001.png etc. File names must not include umlauts, special characters or symbols. Frame numbers must start at 0 or 1.

Metadata

Each frame should include the name of the film, timecode & frame number outside the dome viewable region

Figure 3 (below) The same frame from Figure 2 (above) after it is has been sliced and warped for the six video streams

"Sweet Spot"

Audio Files

Audio files can be delivered as mono, stereo or 5.1 surround sound.

A mono or stereo file is best delivered as a 16bit 48Khz .wav file.

5.1 Surround files must be delivered as separate .wav files and must be 16bit 48Khz. The files should be in the following order: Left Front, Right Front, Centre, Lfe, Left Rear (surround), & Right Rear (surround). Please use the following naming convention for these files:

• LEFT = myfile_l.wav
• RIGHT = myfile_r.wav
• CENTER = myfile_c.wav
• LFE = myfile_lfe.wav
• LEFT REAR = myfile_ls.wav
• RIGHT REAR = myfile_rs.wav

Audio Playback

The audio playback system uses London Architect software.

When stereo files are played the audio will only come from the Front L&R speakers. However, it is possible to use the London Architect Software to output Stereo files to all of the speakers (Front L&R, Side L&R and Rear L&R) for Special Events.