Progressive Scan, Panasonic TH-42PW4, DVD and "Boxes"
David Longley
If the Panasonic TH-42PW4 has progressive scan, does this mean that the
plasma de-interlaces its source or does one have to feed it a de-
interlaced, ie progressive scan signal?
Is progressive scan really worth having in the UK (with a) DVD material
b) sky signals c) sky plus signals).
I've seen AV units advertised (produced by Silicon Inc who produce the
chipset that does progressive scan in the DENON high end DVDs0, which
are supposed to allow you to control all sorts of video sources -
sending out a progressive scan signal. These are very expensive, around
1K each. The facilities do not seem to be incorporated into even the
highest level AV amps though.
I'm on the lookout for a DVD player (or player/recorder) which does
progressive scan, DVD Audio, SACD and DTS 5.1 etc. Just about everything
out at the moment (SONY 905, DENON 2800, 3800, SONY 9000, DENON 9000
seem to leave something out. Does anyone know of anything on the horizon
from SONY, DENON, PIONEER or PANASONIC?
--
David Longley
Writer
regardless of the signal I feed into it. That includes standard and cable
TV and all DVD. It is not necessary to feed the unit with a progressive
scan signal.
Writer
"David Longley" <Da...@longley.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:t6WZsBAu...@longley.demon.co.uk...
David Longley
<Da...@longley.demon.co.uk> writes
This is a press release covering the "box" I refer to above? Would it
improve sources like SKY, SKY+ and VHS tape sources? Would it obviate
the need to buy a progressive scan DVD?
Press ReleaseSource: Silicon Image, Inc.
Silicon Image Debuts Latest Addition to Acclaimed iScan(TM) Family of
Video Processing Systems
Tuesday October 22, 8:31 am ET iScan Ultra(TM) Builds Upon Tradition of
Affordable, High-Performance Progressive Scan Conversion
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Silicon Image, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SIMG - News), a leader in high-bandwidth semiconductor and
system solutions for mass markets, today debuted the iScan Ultra(TM),
the latest addition to its acclaimed iScan family of affordable, high-
performance video processing systems. The iScan Ultra dramatically
improves the video quality of multiple source devices -- such as
satellite or cable television, DVD and Laserdisc players, VCRs and game
consoles -- and is compatible with DTVs and HDTVs capable of accepting
480p inputs, including most plasma and LCD displays, as well as front
projectors with 480p inputs.
Utilizing Silicon Image's award-winning PureProgressive(TM) technology,
the iScan Ultra performs various advanced video-processing functions
designed to maximize the home viewing experience. Like its predecessor
the iScan Pro, the iScan Ultra performs state-of-the art deinterlacing
and line doubling -- eliminating visible scan lines and motion artifacts
for dramatically improved, near high-definition picture quality. In
addition, the iScan Ultra also offers the following new video processing
capabilities:
-- Video switching, including dual component, S-video and composite
video
inputs plus a pass-thru input
-- Precise picture control, with separate controls for each input
-- High-quality scaling to support widescreen 16:9 displays
-- Digitizing of video streams to provide a Digital Visual Interface
(DVI)
output
"The iScan Ultra is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to
improve the quality of your home theater video while also providing
video switching for each of the six inputs," noted Kevin Nakano, editor
in chief of the Los Angeles Audio File. "The latest iScan represents a
fourth-generation product that has been refined to offer real value-
added features along with proven core deinterlacing technology from past
and proven iScan products. Any serious home theater system with multiple
video sources, whether they be composite, s-video or component, would
benefit from the iScan Ultra."
Featuring Silicon Image's SiI(TM) 504(TM) digital video processor chip,
the iScan Ultra upconverts standard-definition input video signals to
high-quality progressive scan video outputs offering twice the vertical
resolution. The result: smoother, enhanced-definition images without
visible scan lines or motion and time-based artifacts. In contrast, scan
lines, jagged edges and flicker resulting from the interlacing process
are readily visible on most big-screens and front projectors rendering
the same source content without the benefit of a deinterlacer.
Parviz Khodi, vice president of marketing for Silicon Image, stated,
"The iScan Ultra dramatically improves the quality of a wide variety of
standard interlaced source material and sends it in digital form to the
display for the highest video quality. Even consumers with progressive-
scan DVD players or TVs featuring an internal line doubler can benefit
from adding an outboard progressive-scan converter such as the iScan
Ultra to their home theater set-up."
Inputs and Outputs
Consumers are increasingly facing the challenge of managing a home
entertainment system with multiple video sources and formats, and the
iScan Ultra is uniquely positioned to address this growing need. The
iScan Ultra processes standard interlaced NTSC/PAL/SECAM video inputs.
Dual component, S-video and composite inputs, as well as a pass thru
input, provide switching capability and greater flexibility in system
configuration. In addition to a 15-pin VGA output with user-selectable
RGB or YPbPr formats, the iScan Ultra boasts a DVI output, which enables
it to interface to the growing number of DTVs and projectors with DVI
inputs. The DVI output enables the iScan Ultra to transmit an NTSC video
input digitally to a DVI-compliant display, providing the highest video
quality without the losses associated with an analog interface.
Advanced New Features
The iScan Ultra is packaged in a standard 17-inch rack-mount enclosure
for easier system integration and cable management. Among its powerful
new features is Aspect Ratio Control (ARC) scaling, with six options for
displaying 4:3 images on a 16:9 TV, including full-frame, four squeeze
modes and a new letterbox option that scales a 4:3 letterbox format onto
a 16:9 display. The iScan Ultra also features separate picture controls
for each input, including brightness, contrast, saturation, hue,
luma/chroma delay adjustment, sharpness and chroma filter. The chroma
filter function corrects a common problem found in many DVD players,
where the chroma portion of the signal is improperly decoded from the
source material, causing some of the colors to appear incorrectly on the
display.
Video sources with poor timing stability, such as VCRs, can cause
jittery or wavy edges on objects, bends in the sides of an image and
overall image instability. The iScan Ultra's full-frame Time Base
Corrector (TBC) significantly improves overall image quality in these
scenarios by removing any timing variations and irregularities from the
input video image before sending it to the iScan Ultra's progressive
output.
The iScan Ultra also features multiple output controls, including a
"curtain" adjust feature that allows cropping of the sides of a 4:3
image, and comes equipped with a remote control that mirrors the
functions on the iScan Ultra's front panel.
PureProgressive Video Processing
Silicon Image's PureProgressive video processing technology uses
advanced motion-adaptive and source adaptive processing to convert the
incoming video stream and output progressive scan video at
31.5kHz/31.25kHz scan rates. Four input fields are used to determine the
contents of each output frame. Motion detection occurs on a fine-grained
cell basis for maximum image resolution. Advanced Source Transition
Management technology enables smooth handling of source sequence
changes, delivering the best picture quality for broadcast TV material.
An advanced cubic interpolating deinterlacer detects and corrects motion
artifacts on a pixel-by-pixel basis, resulting in remarkably clear and
flicker-free pictures.
Pricing and Availability
The iScan Ultra is immediately available through the following
authorized home theater and professional A/V distribution channels at a
MSRP of $1199. For a full listing of authorized iScan distributors, as
well as a list of displays compatible with the iScan Ultra, please go to
www.siliconimage.com/dvdo/iscanultra.asp.
West Coast (USA):
Custom Plus (Oliver Marketing), www.olivermarketing.com
A/V Products, www.escientconvergence.com/mkmark.htm
East Coast (USA):
Acoustic Solution, aceo...@ix.netcom.com
Just In Time Distributors, www.justintimedistributors.com
EDA Marketing, www.edamarketing.com
Canada:
Sound Developments, in...@sounddevelopments.com
About Silicon Image
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Silicon Image, Inc. designs,
develops and markets multi-gigabit semiconductor and system solutions
for a variety of communications applications demanding high-bandwidth
capability. With its proprietary Multi-layer Serial Link (MSL(TM))
architecture, Silicon Image is well positioned for leadership in
multiple mass markets including PCs, consumer electronics, storage and
networking. Currently, Silicon Image leads the global PC/display arena
with its innovative digital interconnect technology, and is now emerging
as a leading player in the storage industry -- offering robust, high-
bandwidth semiconductors and systems. For more information on Silicon
Image, visit www.siliconimage.com
This news release contains forward-looking information within the
meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking
statements include statements related to the anticipated performance,
features and advantages of Silicon Image products. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described
from time to time in Silicon Image's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements.
In particular, Silicon Image's products may not have the anticipated
performance, features, and advantages, which could cause consumers to
choose alternatives over Silicon Image's products. Also see
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations-Factors Affecting Future Results" in the most recent
Annual Report, Form 10-K or 10-Q filed by Silicon Image with the SEC.
Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update this forward-looking
information.
NOTE: Silicon Image, iScan, iScan Ultra, SiI, SiI 504, PureProgressive
and MSL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Silicon Image, Inc.
in the United States and other countries. All others are trademarks of
their respective owners.
--
David Longley
Marcus L. Rowland
<Da...@longley.demon.co.uk> writes
>SUNNYVALE, Calif.,
Not to be confused with its neighbouring town where they have all those
nasty guys with the facial problems...
--
Marcus L. Rowland http://www.ffutures.demon.co.uk/
http://www.forgottenfutures.com/
Forgotten Futures - The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game
"Life is chaos; Chaos is life; Control is an illusion." - Andromeda
ViNNY
news:t6WZsBAu...@longley.demon.co.uk...
> A few questions:
Pioneer 747 does DVDA, SACD and prog. scan. The new 757Ai has firewire out
on top.
Your plasma deinterlaces all inputs anyway, since fixed pixel devices (LCD
screens and projectors, DLP projectors, and plasma screens) are natively
progressive screens. An external deinterlacer will do it better than your
plasma, most likely, but I wouldn't go spending on an iScan Pro or Ultra if
you can't easily afford it.
-Vin
tvbug
>
> If the Panasonic TH-42PW4 has progressive scan, does this mean that the
> plasma de-interlaces its source or does one have to feed it a de-
> interlaced, ie progressive scan signal?
>
> Is progressive scan really worth having in the UK (with a) DVD material
> b) sky signals c) sky plus signals).
>
I think progressive scan really sucks for TV. Its simply trying to follow
film as a medium which in itself is painfully out of date. The simple
problem at present all the systems lack frame rate which is useless for
sport. A true progressive system would have to maintain a frame rate of
atleast 50 frames a second at more than 1000 lines. Or even better a 100hz
interlaced system.