Home Sales Products Support News Company

VisionDVI, VisionHDP, VisionHDQ and VisionProHDP FAQ

   FAQ Contents

 

General Setup Questions
Q: What controls do I use on the display and which on the Lumagen?
A: Initially set all controls to their defaults on the display and the Lumagen. The Lumagen controls are used for all calibration adjustments except as follows. Calibrate the DVD player first. Set the black (.brightness.) and white (.contrast.) levels for the DVD source using the brightness and contrast controls on the display. Then, for other input memories and other inputs, use the Lumagen BLACK and CONTRAST controls to adjust for differences between inputs and also between light and dark room conditions. If a video technician is calibrating the grayscale (.color-of-gray.), they should use the display color-temperature adjustments, when available, for 100 IRE and 30 IRE. Then the Lumagen service mode 5-point color-temperature controls can be used to fine tune the grayscale.

In some cases the display geometry adjustments may be needed to position the image, and it is often necessary for the display to be set to the correct mode for proper display. For example, when driving the display from the Lumagen using DVI/HDMI it is very important that the display be in set to .pixel-perfect. mode and that any .frame-rate-control. be defeated when ever possible. Pixel-perfect mode for the display defeats its internal scaling so the Lumagen can be used to best advantage. Frame rate control is used in some plasma displays to change the vertical frame rate. This rate change causes motion judder for video sources and should be turned off if possible. If it is not possible to defeat frame rate control, set the Lumagen to output vertical rate to match the native frame rate of the monitor.

Q: I made changes, but when I next used the Lumagen, the changes were missing.
A: Changes must be saved (using the SAVE->SAVE command) or they will be discarded when the Lumagen goes to standby mode.

Q: So what is .black crush. and .white crush.?
A: If the levels are set incorrectly, or adjusted incorrectly, it is possible that the output does not change in level even thought the source level changes. This can be seen in the AVIA PLUGE pattern or a stair-step test pattern. IN the AVIA pattern the 2 and 4 IRE bars, or the 96 or 98 IRE bars may not be visible. In a stair step this would show as some the steps being wider than they should be because two or more input levels are output at the same level. This can dramatically reduce fine detail in either dark or bright scenes.

Q: I set black and white levels in my darkened room. Why does it look so dark with the lights on?
A: The calibration needs to be done at with the ambient light levels intended for viewing. So, if video is to be viewed both with the room darkened and with the room lighted, the calibration must be done in both environments. Black and white levels are most affected, and just recalibrating them for the lights on condition will provide good results. However, color, and color-of-gray, are affected by the room environment. So, for the best image quality the calibration should be repeated for these critical parameters. To accomplish the second calibration, first complete the dark room calibration, then copy the memory that configuration memory to the configuration memory to be used for the bright room calibration (IN->COPY->ALL). This will speed up the recalibration process.

Q: What output resolution should I set my satellite receive to?
A: If available, the output of the satellite receiver should be set to .hybrid. mode. In this mode a satellite receiver will set its output resolution to its inputs resolution. That is SD for SD material, 720p for 720p material and 1080i for 1080i material. Unfortunately most satellite receiver manufactures fail to support this most basic feature. Others have supported it in the past but now choose to ignore this critical feature. Some satellite receivers allow the user to manually select different output resolutions. When possible with these receivers, select the receivers output resolution that matches the source resolution.

Note that setting the satellite output to always be 1080i forces SD deinterlacing and scaling to occur in the satellite receiver. This bypasses the Lumagen deinterlacing and scaling, limiting its ability to improve the image. However, calibration features, such as color, hue, Y/C-delay, etc, are still available.

Q: Why is the LED/LCD off when my Lumagen is on?
A: By default the LED/LCD is only illuminated while commands are being entered, and is turned off otherwise. This is done to minimize light in the home theater environment. If you prefer having the LED/LCD lighted when the Lumagen is on, press MENU 0 9 2 5 to toggle this option.

Q: I am going to hire someone to calibrate my system. As this is expensive I want the calibrated setting to be backed-up so that I won't lose them accidentally. Is there anyway to do this?
A: Yes. You can back up the configuration of your Lumagen to a "safe" area in the unit so that it cannot be easily overwritten. After the calibration, enter the service mode first by pressing MENU 0 9 1 0, then press MENU 0 9 9 7, at which point you will be give a choice to save the current configuration setting to a "safe" sector in Lumagen's flash. Of course you would also want to save the setting to the regular sector using SAVE->SAVE. If for any reason the regular save is corrupted or accidentally overwritten, you can restored the backup configuration by entering SAVE->RESTORE.

The Lumagen configuration editor can be used to upload the Lumagen configuration to a PC. This Windows utility can later be used to download the configuration back to the Lumagen.

Q: I watch both PAL and NTSC on input 3 and use MEMA for NTSC and MEMB for PAL, but the auto-detection function fails. What is wrong?
A: For the PAL/NTSC auto-switching to work, you must use MEMA for NTSC and MEM C for PAL. Also, the pairing of MEMB for NTSC and MEMD for PAL is also available.

Q: How do I drive both my analog display and my digital display at the same time?
A: If you have a VisionPro HDP, a VisionHDQ, or if you have a Vision HDP/DVI with the optional BNC output, you can drive two displays (one analog and one digital) at the same time. The analog display must use RGB in this case. You will also need to change the output DVI detection from .Auto. mode to .Both.. To do this, press MENU 0 9 3 2 4.

Q: I am using the default factory setting but the color looks wrong on my display. With a direct connection (bypassing) Lumagen everything looks normal. How do I fix this?
A1: If the colors only look off on inputs 3 & 4--- On some very early beta units the input 3 and 4 (component inputs) were not properly calibrated, and the color looks wrong. If this is the case input 3 and 4 need to be calibrated. To accomplish this, use a DVD player connected to input 3, play a test pattern DVD (such as AVIA or Video Essentials) and select a 100 IRE Window pattern. Then press MENU 0 9 2 6 OK and the input 3 and 4 will be calibrated and permanently saved.

A2: The colors look way off on all inputs and you're using an analog output---- You may a mismatch between the Lumagens' output type and your displays input type. For example, your display may need component video and the Lumagen may be outputting RGB video. See the manual for setting the output type and double check the connections.

A3: Your using a VisionProHDP and the colors look off on input 5,6,7 or 8--- Check that the input type matches your source. For example on input 6 if you hook up a composite input, you need to change the input type (on the menu at IN->TYPE) to .VID. from .SVID..

Q: I connected my Lumagen video processor, but the picture looks softer than before ?
A: It is important that the Lumagen provide the only scaling and deinterlacing in the system. Also, the display needs to be calibrated properly.
Set all video sources to output the image at the native rate. SD DVD players need to be set to output 480i/576i. Some SD players have digital outputs that have a minimum output rate of 480p. This means the player is deinterlacing the source, but still allows the Lumagen no-ring scaling to be used. Cable and satellite boxes should be set to “native” output mode. That is, a SD source should be output at 480i/576i, a 720p source at 720p, and a 1080i source should be output at 1080i. When setup this way, the Lumagen no-ring scaling is used to scale the input to the proper output resolution

It is just as important to set the output of the Lumagen to drive the display in “pixel perfect” mode (sometimes called “dot-by-dot” or “direct”) so that the display isn’t rescaling the image. Manufacturers will often scale an image even if the input signal matches the native resolution of the display. This is usually to introduce excessive “overscan.” While this eliminates the need for the manufacturer to properly set the image position and overscan for each display, it introduces an extra stage of scaling, which will soften the image. Many displays allow this extra scaling to be defeated. You will improve the sharpness of the image if you set the Lumagen output resolution to match the displays native resolution and you can turn off the extra scaling in the display.

Next, it is important to calibrate your system in order to get the sharpest image. The most important setting is for the black and white levels. If these are not set properly the image can look “washed-out” or detail can be lost due to black and/or white “crush” (multiple levels of input being output at the same level). It is also important to disable image “enhancement” features in the display itself as these tend to make the picture worse, not better. A Lumagen video processor gives you the all the controls you need to properly calibrate your system. Note that the black and white level for the primary source should be set in the display, and the grayscale calibration for 100 IRE inputs should also be done in the display when possible.

Finally, Lumagen’s proprietary “no-ring” scaling doesn’t add artifacts to edges. Other scalars, that add ringing to edges of objects, can seem sharper on first glance. This is due to the edge artifacts the other processors generate. Using the Lumagen “no-ring” scaling will give you the cleanest, most film-like, image.

Q: How do I know if I have achieved 1:1 .pixel-perfect. timing for the display?
A: Use the built in every-other-pixel test patterns. Go to MISC->TPAT->PATS, and use the test pattern "Every Other VLINE" and "Every Other HLINE", and check if the patterns appear as uniform pixel-on, pixel-off images. If the display is not at 1:1, the image will have bands of dark and light areas.

The Overscan Test Pattern can also help determine if the Lumagen and display are matched. Check that the outside rectangle (where the chevrons on each side come together) is at the boundary of the display.

Vendor Specifics:


* NEC 50. and 60.1365x768 plasma.s. To get to pixel-perfect mode, you must use VESA 1360x768 timing rather than what you would intuitively think.

The VESA timing's:

     VTOT 795
     VACT 768
     VFRN 3
     VSYN 6
     HTOT 1792
     HACT 1360
     HFRN 64
     HSYN 176

To set these timings, use the Lumagen timing menu (MENU->OUT->RES->TIMING), enter the number of the parameter you need to change, then enter the new value and press OK. After you have made all the changes, you must press 9 to .execute. the changes. Remember to SAVE the changes to make them permanent.
You must also set some parameters in the plasma to get it to be in pixel-perfect mode:
     * Disable .orbiting.
     * Set input mode to .PC.
     * Turn Gray-level (in Setup menu) to 0. This blacks out the left over 5 pixels.

You can check that the plasma is in pixel-perfect mode using the Lumagen every-other-pixel test patterns (MENU->MISC->TPAT, OK, then use left/right arrows to scroll to the every-other-pixel patterns). You should see a sharp on-off-on pattern that is uniform accors the screen, and not bands of dark, light, dark.

Questions on input settings

Q: How should I set the input level on my Lumagen?
A (analog): The Lumagen input level setting should match the output level of your video source. For composite and SVideo, the normal video level includes an offset between the video blanking level and the video black level. This is nominally 7.5 IRE. For reference, in this case, blank is 0 IRE, black is 7.5 IRE and white is 100 IRE. Typically component sources do not have this built in offset between blank and black. Sometimes video sources, such as DVD players allow the black level to be set. Check each source to see if there is an output level setting. The 7.5 IRE offset may be called .normal. and 0 IRE may be called .enhanced., but these vary between manufactures. Set the Lumagen input level (IN->CONFIG->ADJ->LEVEL) to match the source.

A (DVI/HDMI):As with analog sources, the Lumagen input level setting should match the output level of your video source. DVI and HDMI sources use the same levels, which can be either .PC. or .Video.. PC levels use the entire range for black to white. Video levels allow for blacker-than-black and whiter-than-white. To assure the ability to calibrate the input levels, and prevent black or white crushing of the levels, it is critical that the correct setting is used. Make sure the Lumagen input level (IN->CONFIG->ADJ->LEVEL) matches the source. Note that some sources report their output levels incorrectly, so it may be necessary to try both settings. Also note that PC levels prevent the blacker-than-black portion of some PLUGE patterns (such as on the Video Essential DVD) to be visible.

Q: I set the input and output levels on my Lumagen, but the test patterns still show black or white crush?
A: Even after the input and output levels are properly set, there may be some black or white crush in the image. This is due to differences in the products from various manufactures, and also due to normal variations in analog video hardware. Start with the display brightness and contrast in their default position. Use the AVIA .Needle Pulse. PLUGE pattern to adjust the displays brightness and contrast so that the 2, 4, 96 and 98 IRE moving bars are correctly visible. Then use the AVIA .black field with 2 and 4 IRE bars. pattern to adjust the black level properly for dark scenes. The black level setting is almost always different for bright and dark scenes. Lumagen recommends that the dark 2/4 IRE pattern be used since black is most critical in dark scenes. Of course it is still critical in bright scenes, but if it is adjusted using the Needle Pulse test pattern, dark scenes may become too black. After adjusting black and contrast per the instruction on the AVIA disk, use a quality movie transfer to check and perhaps make adjustment to the black and white levels. If the scene looks like is has a .haze., the black level it probably set too high. If the image looks overly dark, than black level may be set to low. White level is generally less demanding and so is less likely to need adjust using real video material.

Q: How does the mask command work?
A: The mask command allows you to cover up the sides of the video source. Its different then cropping in that the video is not stretched to fill the screen. It can be useful for passthru modes where you do not wish the video processor to scale the picture but there is some video noise on side(s) of the picture you wish to cover up. Another situation may be that you wish to cover up the letterbox gray from a DVD player with black instead.
   The mask command is under IN->CONFIG->ADJ->SIZE->MASK. Your sw revision (check by pressing menu 0903) must be at least 070206 to have the mask feature available. When you select the command you must first select which mask # you wish to use. There are 15 available. They can be shared among different input memories and the number of  times each mask has been used is also displayed (# USES). This allows  you to decide to use an unused mask or share a previously set up mask. After selecting the mask # you then can adjust how much the mask covers up on the 4 sides. Use the left/right arrows to select the edge you're adjusting and the up/down arrows to adjust the amount of masking The last step is to alter the gray level for the 4 sides. Note that the gray level for masks is overridden if aspect bars are present by the gray level setting of the aspect bar (aspect bar colors can be adjusted under OUT->MISC->GBAR). Also, if aspect bars are requested (via differing input and output aspects) the masking is added to the aspect bar width.
Change as of 100606 sw: Previously when a mask was deselected and went to 0 uses its parameters would get reset such that if you tried to later use it again you'd have to set it up again. This has been changed so previously set up masks are not reset. Also masks can now be selected with the ALT button on the advanced remote, i.e. pressing ALT then 1 enables mask #1. You can select mask 10-15 with the +10 button on the advanced remote, i.e. pressing ALT then +10 then 1turns on mask #11. Pressing ALT then 0 or ALT then CLR will turn off masking

 

Q: I tried to copy my IN1A settings to IN2 (or 3, or 4), but the color/hue settings are not copied. Is this a bug?
A: This is not a bug. Input 1 through 4 are capable of accepting multiple formats and we categorize them as 480/576, 720p, 1080i or OTHER. The color space defined in SD format is different from that defined in HD format, therefore we have 4 sub-memories for each input resolution. Copying one input setting to another will cause the color settings in a particular sub-memory of the source to be duplicated to the same sub-memory of the destination. As an example, you have Input 1 receiving a 480p signals and Input 2 receiving a 720p signal. After you adjust colors on Input 1, copy to Input 2, you then switch to Input 2 and go to the color setting. You won't see the color setting you just made on input 1 because it belongs to the 480p sub-memory and the 720p source on input 2 is using the 720p sub-memory.

The correct way to calibrate colors is calibrate all appropriate input resolutions, and then copy to the other input configuration memories.

Q: When I watch TV/DVD/etc, the top/bottom/left/right edge of the video is missing, and using Lumagen's output size/position adjustments does not help. What is wrong?
A: To adjust the size and position of your output display, we suggest that you use adjustments of your display first. This is especially true for digital displays which are connected to the Lumagen through the DVI interface - most of these displays simply ignore the video timing adjustments coming out of Lumagen.

Many TV displays have excessive overscan that causes part of the video to be hidden from viewing. If you can.t adjust the size/position with the Lumagen, it is sometimes possible to underscan the input using the Lumagen input top-left (IN -> CONFIG -> ADJ -> SIZE -> TOPL) and bottom-right (IN -> CONFIG -> ADJ -> SIZE -> BTMR). This is an iterative process. Adjust the input size so there is some black (where possible) around the image in the input adjust screen. Then get out of the menu and check the amount of output overscan. Continue this process until an appropriate amount of output overscan is present.

Q: I set the Lumagen to pass-through mode. Why does the input video still get scaled?
A: The pass-through is only active when the input resolution matches the output resolution. For example, if your input source is 720p and you set the Lumagen output mode to 720p, pass-through can then be active. If the input source changes to 480p the pass-through is automatically disabled.

Q: When I set Lumagen to pass-through mode, I see some garbage video on the bottom of the screen, why and how to fix it?
A: The first time you change from Normal to Pass-through, there may be some garbage pixels at the bottom or right side. This is because the garbage video may have been cropped using the input size feature. To eliminate the bad pixels, adjust the input TOPL size to the input source. We recommend allocating a dedicated memory for the pass-through mode, for example, use MemA for all normal viewing, and MemB for pass-through, and associate a different input size for each.

Q: I see dotted green lines randomly appearing on my projector, is there something wrong with my Lumagen video processor?
A: This is most likely caused by mismatched output timings between the Lumagen and the expected input timings of the display. Adjust the Lumagen output timing to best match the display.

Another possibility, if you're using DVI, is a poor quality (or too long) DVI cable. Just try a shorter one to check for this.

Q: What do the diiferent deinterlacing mode settings do?
A: As of the 110705 sw release the deinterlacing mode command was updated to add some HD deinterlacing modes. The command is found in the menu under IN->CONFIG->CNTRL->DEINT->MODE . If you're on an HD input you can set it for SD or HD sources while if you're using an SD input you'll only have a setting available for SD deinterlacing. The 2 settings for SD are "AUTO" and "VIDEO". The "AUTO" setting automatically changes between film mode and video mode based on what type of source material is detected. The "VIDEO" mode forces the SD deinterlacer into a video deinterlacing algorithm no matter what type of source material is detected and may be preferable for some video sources.
   The HD deinterlacer currently has 3 settings. "AUTO", "VIDPP" and "VIDNC". The "AUTO" mode automatically chooses the optimal algorithm based on what source material is detected. The "VIDPP" mode forces the use of a per-pixel motion adaptive video deinterlacing algorithm which eliminates/minimizes combing and provides for very good detail. The "VIDNC" setting forces a video deinterlacing algorithm which completely eliminates any combing but is does not give as detailed a picture as the VIDPP mode.
Change as of 060306 sw: There are now 3 settings for SD deinterlacing. The 3 modes are VIDEO, AUTO1 and AUTO2. The VIDEO mode is unchanged, AUTO1 is equivalent to the old AUTO mode. AUTO2 is similar to AUTO1 but will more quickly switch to video mode and can be better suited if the source tends to be have more video material than film.
Additions in  092806 sw: There For SD deinterlacing we've added a FILM mode which forces the video processor to stay in film mode. For HD deinterlacing we've added 2 new modes; AUTO2 will used the VIDNC mode for video and do inverse telecine for film (not on VisionDVI though). The AUTO mode for HD was relabeled to AUTO1. A FILM mode was also added for HD deinterlacing to force inverse telecine (again inverse telecine is not available on VisionDVI).
 

Q: How do the EDID settings work?
A: EDID is information that can be read over DVI/HDMI cables to influence how source devices send video over the HDMI/DVI cable and this can then result in a better picture. With it you can allow the Toshiba HD DVD player to send 422 YCbCr instead of RGB or you can get the SA8300HD cable box to send 480i for example. Enabling the feature does not guarantee the source will use it, for example the Pioneer 59avi will not send 422 YCbCr even though the EDID advertises it. As of the 061606 sw release there are 4 basic settings for the Lumagen EDID interface. They can be accessed in the menu under IN->CONFIG->DVI->EDID .The settings are OFF, PASS, DFLT, DFLT+EXT, USER and can be set differently for each DVI input. The OFF setting means the source plugged into the Lumagen DVI input will see no info when it tries to read it. With the PASS setting the Lumagen will read the EDID from the display and pass that back to the source. The DFLT setting enables some basic display modes such as 480p,720 and 1080i. The DFLT+EXT mode enables all of the display modes currently available and disables advertising the 422 and 444 YCbCr mode. The USER setting allows the user to individually  select which capabilities will be advertised to the connected source. You can scroll through the list of capabilities with the up/down arrows and toggle advertising the feature with the left/right arrows. Press "ok" when done.
 Important: Note  that for the Toshiba HD DVD player and many other sources, you may need to power cycle the source or unplug the DVI cable to get it to re-read the EDID information if you've made a change. Also for the Toshiba HD DVD player you need to have firmware of 1.2 or greater to use 422.
 422 Setting: Don't forget after you get a source to send 422 YCbCr successfully the colors will initially look strange---you need to then set the Lumagen input type (under IN->TYPE) to HDMI 422 component.
Setting the Toshiba HD-A1 DVD player into 422 mode
: set the EDID mode to USER and make sure 422 is enabled, set the DVI input type to 422 component.
Samsung Blu-Ray player: set EDID to DFLT (player does not correctly interpret the EDID information for DFLT+EXT or USER modes).
Change as of 122206 sw: The EDID user mode now has 1080-24p, 25p and 30p.
Sony Blu-Ray player: set the Sony BDP-S1 to enable 24p under Video Setup and under its Option->Easy Setup set the Sony's output video format to AUTO. On the Lumagen use the EDID command and set it to USER mode and turn off 1080i and 480p (making sure 1080-24p is on). If you're using 1080 25p then make sure it's on and 1080-24p is off since 1080-24p takes priority. If you have the Sony connected when you make the EDID changes then save the settings on the Lumagen, turn the Lumagen off and back on. This forces the Sony to re-read the EDID settings and it will then switch to 1080-24p.

 

Q: How do I use the new 2/5/11 point color temperature command?
A: It's not recommended that you modify your color temperature (also called Grayscale) settings unless you are, or hire an experienced calibrator and have a colorimeter to measure the adjustments. This discussion is intended for experienced calibrators, and so does not cover the basics of grayscale calibration.

If your unit was previously set using the old 5 point Color Temperature calibration updating to the new software will not change anything. Only upon the initial use of the new Color Temperature command will a reset of color temperature levels to their default settings be performed. The software will ask you to acknowledge the reset before it sets the levels back to their defaults. Even if you acknowledge this you can still get back your old settings by turning the unit off and back on as long as you don't do a "SAVE" -- so you can experiment with it as well if you like. After acknowledging the switch to the new 2/5/11 point color temperature command you'll need to recalibrate your inputs (or calibrate at least one and copy to the other input memories).

The previous color temperature command had 5 points. Now you have the flexibility to start off setting up 2 points, then, optionally, calibrating 5 and finally 11 points. By stepping from 2 to 5 to 11 points you can save a great deal of work as each time you add points to the curve they are interpolated from the previous level. So when you get to the point of doing the full 11 point grayscale the last 6 points should be fairly close. If you want, you can jump directly to 11 points or you can calibrate in 2 point mode and stop there. Note, the 0 IRE point cannot generally be calibrated using a colorimeter. Still, this black level may have the wrong color temperature. It is intended for very experienced calibrator to do an adjustment "by eye," possibly using a white reference if available.

The new color temperature command has another BIG improvement -- the IRE points are parametric. Instead of only being able to calibrate at fixed points like 10, 20, 30, ... IRE , you could choose to calibrate 0, 4, 16,27, ... and 100 IRE. There are several advantages with this method. Many new digital displays have sharp knees, or even spikes, in their curves that do not fall on an even 10 point IRE step. So you'll most likely need to modify an odd, non-multiple-of-10, point to flatten out the curve. You can even move more points in close to an aberration in the curve to accurately control that portion of the IRE range. Another plus is that if you're using a test pattern that is incorrect (the standard AVIA disc has many patterns that are off, especially in the lower levels) you can calibrate at those different points. Note that the 0 IRE and 100 IRE points are not moveable. Another detail is that if you adjust a point far enough such that it hits the neighboring point you can only move it further if you move the neighboring point out of the way (i.e. you can't adjust point #1 from 10 IRE to 25 IRE unless you move point #2 from 20 IRE to 25.5 IRE).

To assist in identifying if the test pattern is at its specified IRE point, the IRE level of the center of the image is displayed while in the Color Temperature command. This is great for a situation where you are using a disc with incorrect levels. For example, the standard AVIA test disc Window patterns have the wrong levels. You'll see that the AVIA 10 IRE window is actually at 2.5 IRE and so by shifting point #1 from 10 IRE to 2.5 IRE, you can then calibrate correctly using this 2.5 IRE pattern. Without the parametric capability, and the IRE readout, you would have assumed that the AVIA 10 IRE Window pattern actually was 10 IRE, and incorrectly adjusted the 10 IRE level, which would have led to a miss-calibrated image.

The color temperature calibration is still a "per-input-memory" calibration which can be copied to other input memories. Usage is unchanged, except for the addition of the point number. You must first enter service mode (press "menu 0910") and the CTEMP command is then found on the menu under IN->CONFIG->COLR. Use the right & left arrow to select either the point to modify (0-10), IRE level, Luma level, Red level, Green level, or Blue level. Use the up & down arrows to adjust whichever item you've selected. You can reset the grayscale calibration (all points of current memory) to the default levels by selecting the Default item and pressing "Ok".

For a linear transfer function through the Lumagen -- the default case to use unless you need to change the gamma -- after adjusting Red, Green and Blue at a point, select the Luma entry and adjust it to match the "IRE" setting. Iterate at each point adjusting R, G, and B, adjusting Luma to match IRE, and repeating, until the color temperature and the Luma level are both correct. Then go on to the next point. After adjusting all the appropriate points, recheck all the points and refine the calibration at each if needed.

Q: What is genlock and how do I use it?
A: Genlock is the ability to exactly lock the output rate to the input's rate or to a multiple of the input rate. It was added to the software with the 072005 update so if you're running an older sw revision you don't yet have the feature. Press "menu 0903" to display your sw revision onscreen. For a typical setup you might be running an NTSC source (which is 59.94 hz nominally) into the Lumagen and outputting a 59.94 hz rate to your display. The clocks of both the NTSC source and the Lumagen devices are never going to match exactly, one will be to some degree faster than the other. If they're very close you may get a dropped (or doubled) frame once every 25 minutes and you may never notice it depending on what you're watching. In some cases they may differ enough you might get a dropped/doubled frame every couple of minutes and chances are you'll eventually see that. With genlock on the clock for the output is very slightly varied in order to keep the rates locked and avoid any dropped/doubled frames. Depending on your setup it may or may not be noticeable as you can see from the above description.

In cases where you're inputting a 50hz source and displaying it at a 59.94hz rate genlock can not be achieved. You would see a "disabled" status for genlock (your video would also be fairly juddery for such a mismatch as well). To check the status press the "ok" button on our remote several times when no onscreen menu is present. Other possible states are OFF, LOCKING and LOCKED.

Genlock is able to lock onto multiples of 24 (actually 24/1.001) or 25 for NTSC or PAL sources so you can also run your output at 24Sf, 47.95hz, or 71.93 hz for NTSC inputs and achieve lock or 75 hz output for a PAL source. You'd normally only want to run at these 24/25 multiples if the source is a true film source such as a DVD movie.

Another benefit of using genlock is it does slightly reduce the video delay (aka lipsync delay) going through the video processor for NTSC/PAL sources by about 1/2 a field.

Genlock can be enabled/disabled on a per-input memory basis under the IN->CONFIG->CNTRL->GENLCK menu.

Q: How do I use the new NLS (non-linear stretch) command?
A: NLS is used to stretch a source with a 4:3 aspect ratio to fit a display that has a wider aspect such as 16:9 (aka get rid of the sidebars). The goal is to make some trade-offs in order to make it look as natural as possible. The older NLS command was limited and gave an overly stretched look to the sides. The new NLS command is very flexible and will let you adjust it to what works best for you.
   To enable NLS mode the input aspect must be set to 4:3. Secondly the NLS command must be enabled. Navigate the onscreen menu to IN->CONFIG->ADJ->SIZE->NLS. It will report that its either "OFF" or set to "NLS1", "NLS2" or "USER" mode. NLS1 is the equivalent of the old NLS mode for compatibility. NLS2 is a mode most users will find to be a better setting. USER mode allows you to make your own adjustments to the NLS parameters. When you select the NLS command you can navigate the options and adjust the settings using the arrows on the remote. On the top line select the NLS mode desired. As long as you've turned it on you can then see and adjust the NLS parameters. If you set the mode to a predefined mode you can still adjust the parameters but the mode will automatically be changed to USER. When NLS is enabled the image stretch is broken up into 3 sections. The left side, center and right side. The center is stretched less than the sides and the 2 side sections are stretched symmetrically to a greater degree then the center in order to fill the screen.

   The NLS parameters are:
CENTER STR% : This controls how much the center section is stretched. Can be set from 0-24% in 2% steps.
CROP     TOP% : Controls how much to crop off the top. By cropping a little bit from the top and bottom you can lessen
       how much stretching is necessary. From 0-12% in 2% steps.
CROP     BOT% : How much to crop off the bottom. From 0-12% in 2% steps.
CENTER   SIZ% : Controls how big the center section should be as a percentage of the image. From 15-70% in 5% steps.
PILLARBOXED   : If you have a 4:3 source with sidebars (making it 16:9 in its entirety) then set this to Y. This will then
       crop off the sidebars before performing the NLS stretching.
1.85 AS OFF      : If you would like to use the 1.85 button on the remote as a 4:3 input aspect selection with NLS off then set
        this to 'Y'. The 4:3 button will still select a 4:3 input aspect with NLS on. This setting is global for all memories which have
        NLS set to NLS1/NLS2/USER in the menu. On these memories you can still access 1.85 via the left/right arrows. For
        memories which have NLS set to OFF the 1.85 button still selects a 1.85 input aspect.
        New with 120805 release: You have your choice of the LBOX or 1.85 button to use as the NLS disable button.

   When NLS is enabled it will attempt to fill the screen with your source at 4:3 (1.33) aspect for any output aspect ratio up to 1.85. If your output aspect ratio is greater than 1.85 it will limit itself to 1.78 and add sidebars to complete the image.


 

Questions on output settings

Q: How do I select the output resolution for the Lumagen?
A: For DLP and other digital displays connected to the Lumagen by DVI/HDMI, set the Lumagen output resolution to the native resolution of the display. For example, for DLP based displays this is often 1280x720.

The exact resolution and timing for analog outputs varies. Rear-screen CRT based displays are often 1080i, but front projectors can generally accept a number of resolutions. For CRT projectors, some suggested starting points, based on tube size, are 720p for 7 inch, 840p for 8 inch, and 960p for 9 inch.

Q: My display is not a standard 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. What output timing should I use?
A: Generally 720p and 1080i displays work well with the industry standard Society For Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) timing specifications. For other resolutions, which lack standards, display manufactures do some rather silly things. For example, they often completely ignore the blanking signal available on DVI/HDMI which defines active timing and assume a specific, unique to their display, active video timing. Some displays refuse to even display an image if the pixel clock counts vary even slightly from their arbitrarily selected timings. Generally all these displays show a picture with 480p, 576p, or 720p. So, start with one of these and work on creating the best timing for your display using the Lumagen output setup menu so you can see the entries you make on the screen.

A couple example timings sets are shown below. You can visit the Lumagen user forum to see if there are other users who have posted timings that might work well with your display. Another good source is to call your display manufacturer for their timing information.

To output 1280x768 @ 60Hz on some Pioneer displays, set
0 VTOT: 798
1 VACT: 768
2 VSYNC: 7
3 VFRN: 3
4 HTOT: 1664
5 HACT: 1280
6 HSYNC: 128
7 HFRN: 64

To output 1024x768 @ 60Hz on some plasma TVs, set
0 VTOT: 806
1 VACT: 768
2 VSYNC: 6
3 VFRN: 3
4 HTOT: 1344
5 HACT: 1024
6 HSYNC: 136
7 HFRN: 24

Q: How should I set the output level on my Lumagen?
A (analog): The Lumagen output levels should also be set. For analog output, normally selecting no black pedestal (0 IRE) works well, but some CRT based displays may need a 7.5 IRE black level to avoid seeing the retrace lines on the screen. Often both 0 and 7.5 IRE settings will allow proper calibration. The output level is set using the OUT->MISC->LEVEL command.

A (DVI/HDMI): Setting the Lumagen output levels is parallel to setting the Lumagen Input levels. The Lumagen output level should be set to match the displays input level requirement. If the display can accept VIDEO levels, Lumagen recommends that this be selected. This will allow blacker-than-black and whiter-than-white, which can help in optimal calibration. Set the output level using the OUT->MISC->LEVEL command.

Q: I set the input and output levels on my Lumagen, but the test patterns still show black or white crush?
A: Even after the input and output levels are properly set, there may be some black or white crush in the image. This is due to differences in the products from various manufactures, and also due to normal variations in analog video hardware. Start with the display brightness and contrast in their default position. Use the AVIA .Needle Pulse. PLUGE pattern to adjust the displays brightness and contrast so that the 2, 4, 96 and 98 IRE moving bars are correctly visible. Then use the AVIA .black field with 2 and 4 IRE bars. pattern to adjust the black level properly for dark scenes. The black level setting is almost always different for bright and dark scenes. Lumagen recommends that the dark 2/4 IRE pattern be used since black is most critical in dark scenes. Of course it is still critical in bright scenes, but if it is adjusted using the Needle Pulse test pattern, dark scenes may become too black. After adjusting black and contrast per the instruction on the AVIA disk, use a quality movie transfer to check and perhaps make adjustment to the black and white levels. If the scene looks like is has a .haze., the black level it probably set too high. If the image looks overly dark, than black level may be set to low. White level is generally less demanding and so is less likely to need adjust using real video material.

Q: When do I use the new "shrink" feature?
A: The "shrink" command was added into the software in the 071706 release. The command is located under OUT->MISC->SHRINK and it allows you to bring in any edge of the picture, thus shrinking it either horizontally or vertically. The "shrink" parameters are part of an output configuration.  The main uses of the shrink command are to shrink the picture to fit in the display and when using masking systems.
    Many displays overscan their picture which results in some of the picture being cut off at the edges of the screen. For CRT type displays and some digital displays this can be corrected using the OUT->RES->SIZE and POS (position) commands. The SIZE & POS commands shrink the picture by adjusting display timings. Unfortunately many digital displays do not allow the picture to be resized in this manner and that is where the SHRINK command comes in. It can achieve the same result when trying to eliminate overscan in digital displays as the SIZE & POS commands and does not alter the display timing. When calibrating overscan you should check it with Lumagens' overscan pattern (under MISC->TPAT->PATS). 
   Another use for the shrink command occurs when using a masking system. As an example, if you have a screen masking system that can switch between 2.35 and 16:9 aspect ratios there may be times when you're using the 2.35 mask and some 16:9 material pops up. When this happens a large part of the top and bottom are cropped by the mask. You could of course change the mask to 16:9 but if you're just watching it momentarily and going back to the 2.35 source it would be nice to have the 16:9 image shrunk into the 2.35 mask easily just by changing memories. The SHRINK command allows you to do this. You'll want to set up at least 2 output configurations for this and then have memA select for the 2.35 movie and memB select for 16:9 (or 4:3,1.85) sources fitting into the 2.35 mask. The steps involved:
1. Go to OUT->MODE and change it to independent mode if you're not already using it.
2. Press memB
3. Go to IN->OUTSEL and set all the output configs (there may be 1 or 4 depending on which input you're on)  to '1'. When you finish this you should see a 1 (or 1/1/1/1) next to OUTSEL indicating that you're using output configuration 1 for this input memory.
4. Go to OUT->ASPECT and change it to 2.35
5. Go to OUT->MISC->SHRINK and shrink the height (by adjusting top and bottom equally). You can use the Lumagen overscan pattern to check the height

 Now when on memB and you press 4:3, 16:9 input aspect buttons you'll get the sidebars you should need and it will fit in the 2.35 masking area. If you press memA you'll go back to using the output config that works with 2.35 movies and also you'll use memA if you change the mask back to 16:9.
 

Q: When I watch TV/DVD/etc, the top/bottom/left/right edge of the video is missing, and using Lumagen's output size/position adjustments does not help. What is wrong?
A: To adjust the size and position of your output display, we suggest that you use adjustments of your display first. This is especially true for digital displays which are connected to the Lumagen through the DVI interface - most of these displays simply ignore the video timing adjustments coming out of Lumagen.

Many TV displays have excessive overscan that causes part of the video to be hidden from viewing. If you can.t adjust the size/position with the Lumagen, it is sometimes possible to underscan the input using the Lumagen input top-left (IN -> CONFIG -> ADJ -> SIZE -> TOPL) and bottom-right (IN -> CONFIG -> ADJ -> SIZE -> BTMR). This is an iterative process. Adjust the input size so there is some black (where possible) around the image in the input adjust screen. Then get out of the menu and check the amount of output overscan. Continue this process until an appropriate amount of output overscan is present.

Q: Do I need independent output mode? How does this feature work?
A: Most systems in the U.S. do not need independent output mode. Specifically fixed pixel displays do not need this feature. There is a rare exception to this rule for fixed-pixel projectors with multiple lenses that are switched to provide 4:3, and 16:9, output from a 4:3 projector. These system need the independent output mode for optimal performance. CRT projectors can use independent output mode to provide optimal resolutions for various input rates and aspect ratios.

For Europe and other areas that use both NTSC and PAL, the auto-independent output mode should be used. This mode automatically selects MEMA (or MEMB) for NTSC and MEMC (or MEMD) for 50 Hertz video modes such as PAL. MEMA and MEMC are paired. That is if either is active the appropriate one of these two memories is automatically selected based on the input type. Likewise MEMB and MEMD are paired.

To enable independent output mode, select OUT->MODE, and change it to either independent (INDEP), or automatic-independent (AUTO-INDEP). There are a total of 8 output configurations. Note that when the output mode is changed from .Same. to "Independent", the current output configuration is copied to all 8 independent output configurations and that all memories select output configuration 0. If the Lumagen is switched back from "Independent" to "Same" output mode, Output configuration 0 will be used as the single output configuration, and all other outputs configurations will be lost.

For Input 5 to 10 (labeled 0) select the desired output configuration (IN -> OUTSEL). Inputs 1 to 4, support an output configuration for each of four possible input resolutions (PC, 480i/480p (or 576i/576p), 720p, 1080i). As you enter IN->OUTSEL, you will see that you can associate an output number for every input resolution. The PC memory is used for any single input resolution other than those listed above. For these HD inputs, when Multiple-Output-Mode is enabled, the output-configuration numbers for each of these is listed as four numbers separated by a ./. in the order shown above (i.e., PC, SD/ED, 720p, 1080i). The output-configuration number for each of these sub-memories must be set independently.

To create a new output configuration, select an input and input memory to be changed. Then select a new output configuration number (IN -> OUTSEL). As an example consider a system with two sources, a DVD player and a satellite receiver. It is desired that the output resolution be 960p when the DVD is the source, 960p output when the satellite receiver is receiving SD material (e.g. 480i) and 1080i when the satellite receiver is receiving 1080i HD material. This can be achieved as follows (assumes the box is at factory default state):

     Select 960p output resolution and configure.
     Save the configuration (optional)
     Select multiple output mode
     Select the satellite input
     View a 1080i source channel
     Change the 1080i submemory output configuration number to 1
     With 1080i source coming from the satellite, select 1080i output and configure
     Save the configuration

After this, when the DVD player is selected the output will be 960p, when the satellite is selected and it is outputting 480i, 480p, 576i or 576p, the output will be 960p, and when the satellite is selected and it is outputting 1080i, the output will be 1080i.

RS232 control questions

Q: How can I use the new RS232 onscreen message command?
A: With an rs232 control device connected to your VisionDVI, HDP, HDQ or ProHDP you can program the controller to send an ascii command to display messages onscreen when any system changes are made. The format of the onscreen message command string is as follows:

"ZC" : this clears any onscreen messages

"ZT1hello" : This prints "hello" on the screen for 5 seconds. The command always begins with the characters "ZT", followed by a single digit which sets the duration of the message. '0' for 2 seconds, '1' for 5 seconds, '2' for 10 seconds and so on, with '9' leaving the message onscreen until a "ZC" is sent or a Lumagen remote control command clears the message.
                          The message string which follows the duration digit can be up to 30 characters in length. The '@' character font is replaced with a solid block for use as a volume bar. Legal characters must be in the range of ' ' thru 'z' (which is 0x20 - 0x7a in hex). Anything outside that range such as carriage return or even the '{' can be used to terminate the message command.
Improvement in the 092806 sw: The - The ZT command can now take up to 60 characters for a 2 line message. The lines are 30 characters each.

New rs232 commands in the 071706 sw:
"ZY0M" : This sets the zoom factor to M, where M can be 0-2 (or 0-7 if zoom set for 5% steps).
"ZY1MMM": This sets the output aspect ratio to MMM, valid range is 110-250 which corresponds to 1.10 to 2.50.
"ZY2MMMNNNOOOPPP": Sets the output shrink params. Where MMM=top, NNN=left, OOO=bottom, PPP=right edge. Range is 0-255 for each.

Some other useful rs232 commands:
If you're controlling the unit with rs232 and wish to hide all onscreen messages while you send commands to the Lumagen then use 's' and 'g'.
"s" : turns off onscreen messages
"g":  turns onscreen messages back on

 

Q: How do I use the new RS232 power-on/power-off commands?
A: If you want to have your Lumagen send a message out the rs232 port to turn on/off your projector when the Lumagen is turned on/off this command enables you to do just that. The relevant commands are found in the menu under MISC->POWR->RS232. There you will find a PWRON and PWROFF command for setting up the rs232 messages to be sent out when the unit powers up and down and a BAUD command for setting the baud rate for these messages.
   The power-on and power-off messages can be up to 40 characters in length. If either is power on/off message is not null then rs232 echo is off. Ascii and hex values are displayed. Press '5' to clear the powerup (or powerdown) message to null. Press '7' to move the end mark for the string which is the last character sent. The end mark is displayed as a little arrow under the powerup/down message and the position is also displayed onscreen from 0 to 39. Note the @ character (hex 0x40) is displayed as a solid block. Characters from hex 0x0-0x1f and 0x80-0xff are rather random noise patterns rather than legible characters so refer to the hex value displayed during setup of the message.

 

Q: What's the complete list of RS232 commands along with the IR codes?
A: The complete list as of Feb 2007 is below. Functions on the advanced remote have a blue background and only some of these advanced remote functions perform operations on the Vision series of processors. Function with light red background can be set up on a programmable remote but are not available on standard or advanced remotes. Functions with light yellow background are available only using rs232.

Remote Label IR-binary IR-HEX RS232-ASCII Description
ON 0010 00 0001 11 207 % Power on
STBY 0010 00 0010 11 20B $ Power to standby
MENU 0010 00 0111 11 21F M Activate menu
EXIT 0010 10 1001 11 2A7 x Exit. Often acts as a cancel key
CLR 0010 00 1001 10 226 ! Force menu off (i.e. can use to assure menu is off for input selection)
INPUT 0010 00 1000 11 223 i Choose input (i.e. i2 <enter> for input 2)
HELP 0010 10 0000 11 283 U Request onscreen help
+10 0010 00 0110 10 21A + For selecting inputs beyond 10,.ie for input 11 press '+10' then '1'
ZONE 0010 10 0111 10 29E L Output zone select
ALT 0010 00 0111 00 21C # Alternate
PREV 0010 10 0110 11 29B P Display previous input
PIP-OFF 0010 10 1010 00 2A8 e PIP off
PIP-SEL 0010 00 1010 01 229 p PIP select
PIP-SWAP 0010 00 1010 10 22A r PIP swap
PIP-MODE 0010 10 1010 11 2AB m PIP mode
OK 0010 10 1000 01 2A1 k Accept command
      <enter> Accept command (uses the PC "ENTER" keycode)
< 0010 00 1000 00 220 < Left arrow ("less-than" key on keyboard)
> 0010 10 1000 10 2A2 > Right arrow ("greater-than" key on keyboard)
v 0010 00 1001 01 225 v Down arrow (lower-case v, as in "vote")
^ 0010 10 0111 01 29D ^ Up arrow (shift 6 key on keyboard)
0 0010 00 0101 01 215 0 Enter the digit 0
1 0010 10 0011 00 28C 1 Enter the digit 1
2 0010 00 0011 01 20D 2 Enter the digit 2
3 0010 00 0011 10 20E 3 Enter the digit 3
4 0010 10 0011 11 28F 4 Enter the digit 4
5 0010 00 0100 00 210 5 Enter the digit 5
6 0010 10 0100 01 291 6 Enter the digit 6
7 0010 10 0100 10 292 7 Enter the digit 7
8 0010 00 0100 11 213 8 Enter the digit 8
9 0010 10 0101 00 294 9 Enter the digit 9
4:3 0010 00 0010 00 208 n Input is 4:3 format. Use previous zoom setting.
NLS 0010 10 0001 10 286 N Input is 4:3 and uses non-linear stretch to fill 16:9
4:3 NZ 0010 10 1111 00 2BC [ Input is 4:3 format. No zoom.
LBOX 0010 10 0010 01 289 l Input is 4;3 letter-box format. Use previous zoom setting.
LBOX NZ 0010 00 1111 01 23D ] Input is 4:3 letter-box format. No zoom
16:9 0010 10 0010 10 28A w Enhanced for 16:9 televisions format. Use previous zoom setting.
16:9 NZ 0010 00 1111 10 23E * Enhanced for 16:9 televisions format. No zoom.
1.85 0010 00 0001 00 204 j Input is 1.85 format. Use previous zoom setting.
1.85 NZ 0010 10 1111 11 2BF / Input is 1.85 format. No zoom.
2.35 0010 10 0001 01 285 W Input is 2.35 format. Use previous zoom setting.
MEMA 0010 00 0101 10 216 a Select MEMA
MEMB 0010 10 0101 11 297 b Select MEMB
MENU,MEMA (or MEMC) 0010 10 0110 00 298 c Select MEMC
MENU,MENB (or MEMD) 0010 00 0110 01 219 d Select MEMD
      g Onscreen messages on
      s Onscreen messages off
FRZ 0010 10 1001 00 2A4 z Freeze-frame. Any other character resumes
YPRPB 0010 00 1011 00 22C Y Output type is HD color-space YPrPb (component)
RGBHV 0010 10 1011 01 2AD R Output type is RGBHV. <enter> completes command
RGBS 0010 10 1011 10 2AE S Output type is RGBS. <enter> completes command
RGsB 0010 00 1011 11 22F T Output type is RGsB. <enter> completes command
480P 0010 10 1100 00 2B0 A Select Vertical Resolution = 480p
540P 0010 00 1100 01 231 B Select Vertical Resolution = 540p
600P 0010 00 1100 10 232 C Select Vertical Resolution = 600p
720P 0010 10 1100 11 2B3 D Select Vertical Resolution = 720p
768P 0010 00 1101 00 234 E Select Vertical Resolution = 768p
840P 0010 10 1101 01 2B5 F Select Vertical Resolution = 840p
1080P 0010 10 1101 10 2B6 G Select Vertical Resolution = 1080p
1080I 0010 00 1101 11 237 I Select Vertical Resolution = 1080I
VRES 0010 00 1110 00 238 V Set Vertical Resolution (i.e. V960 <enter>, for 960p)
VRATE 0010 10 1110 01 2B9 ~ Set Vertical Rate (i.e. ~5994 <enter>, for 59.94Hz)
HRATE 0010 10 1110 10 2BA H Set Horizontal Rate (i.e. H4500 <enter>, for 45KHz)
ASPECT 0010 00 1110 11 23B = Set Output aspect ratio (i.e. =178 <enter>, for 16:9 displays)
      tXMM Test Pattern command: X is a letter 'a'-'p' corresponding to the 16 available test patterns. MM is the IRE level divided by 10. Sending 'X" will exit the test pattern display.
      ta10 Crosshatch, 100 IRE
      tb10 Overscan, 100 IRE (always displayed as 100 IRE)
      tc10 Contrast, 100 IRE (always displayed as 100 IRE)
      td10 Every other Hline, 100 IRE (always displayed as 100 IRE)
      te10 Every other Vline, 100 IRE (always displayed as 100 IRE)
      tf10 Ramp, 100 IRE (always displayed as 100 IRE)
      tg10 Window 100 IRE
      th10 Solid, 100 IRE
      ti10 75% Colorbars, 75 IRE (always displayed as 75 IRE)
      tj10 Red field, 100 IRE
      tk10 Green field, 100 IRE
      tl10 Blue field, 100 IRE
      tm10 Yellow field, 100 IRE
      tn10 Cyan field, 100 IRE
      to10 Magenta field, 100 IRE
Copyright (C) all rights reserved