CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Axatax]

I would like to see an HD-SDI output on an ATSC/encrypted QAM tuner such as the Tivo Series3 or Sony DD250/500, both of which offer a source-direct mode. This will allow the signal to remain in the digital domain, and eliminate the long HDCP negotiation delays during resolution changes when changing channels. AFAIK, HD-SDI is the *ONLY* way to reach this goal.

Gary, do you think this would be possible.

[Gary M.]

[Nashou66]

Ok Looking up some info on HDMi and SDi(HD) i came across and article about component vs HDMI And found this section interesting as it explains somewhat the benifits of SDI over HDMI having to do with Impendance and its effect on digital signals:

[Gary M.]

[stefuel]

I won't have any interest in HD SDI intil it's piped directly into the back of my projector.

[nomadII]

Stefuel,

I agree that would be a best case scenario.

[Gary M.]

that would be great, however it won't be of any use for a few reasons, the main one is that you must have a scaler of some kind to do processing and framerate conversions

that is unless someones makes a built in card with processing, framerate conversions and HD-SDI input, which will never happen, NEVER!!, it's called a scaler like DVDO or Lumagen or Crystalio, which can be set on top of a PJ (literally) with a 500+ feet HD-SDI lead from the gear and a 6 inch set of Belden 1694a RGBHV leads into the PJ

you can't use 1080p/24 via HD-SDI into a CRT, that is you wouldn't want to or want to watch it I should say, 1080i is a alternative but who uses simple 1920x1080i/30 anymore and furthermore this is not a direct pure 1080p/24 output like we want via HD-SDI, you could use 720p via HD-SDI but that is using simple scaling inside the video decoder in the player which is blah or sometimes simply bad and again is not pure 1080p/24 output, 1080p/60 via HD-SDI as we know is impossible in the players that we are modifying because of single link limitation to 1080p/24, 1080i or 720p

basically I see no practical usage that could come of it, if someone could show me how it would work then please by all means let me know

the fact that we want 1080p/24 from the HD-SDI output for a pure a output as possible means it must hit a processor of some kind if anything to do only simple framerate conversion to 48 or 72

1080p/24 4:2:2 HD-SDI is where it is at for BD/HD players

-Gary

[Nashou66]

I agree the scaler would have to built into the card or pre set for one or two rez's, I asked Moome about this for a Marquee and he said it would cost way too much and he would need more room that is allowed on slot 2 ,and i suggested using the quad decoder slot but still said it be too difficult, no way for on screen menu unless it had a separate output for using on a comp monitor for initial set up.

Athanasios

[Gino]

I contacted Bob Zuch at Reference Imaging sometime ago to hear about their HD-SDI solution for their CinePro 9x. Basically it was an external powered box which took the HD-SDI signal and converted it to RGBHV. Wanted $4K for it at the time.

He said since SDI/HD-SDI is the broadcast standard it offers several advantages over the consumer electronics formats. This is a high quality, robust, unencrypted digital transmission format that will outperform all of the commonly used formats. An HD-SDI signal run to the projector is on a single coax cable that can be as long as 1000 feet without any signal degradation.

That doesn't really say anything new to this discussion though.

[Gino]

Phil, instead of arguing about the capabilities of HDMI vs HD-SDI, perhaps you should look at the fact that a HD-SDI mod takes the information direct from the disc, giving the purest signal, rather than HDMI taking it from a decoder which has messed about with the signal. This could explain the differences Gary and Alan report with with better colour gradations and less edge enhancement.

My example with Caspers mod and the poorly implemented Broadcom decoder chip shows that manufacturers try and do things to the signal before sending it out over HDMI.

[Gary M.]

[dochlywd]

I think the main thing that would keep me from going this route is the price. I do have one of Gary's SDI-modded Panny RP91's and I love it. But, when you drop $400 on a PS3 and then need to invest another $900 to get the SDI mod performed, that puts it in the arena of a small majority. Now, that's nothing for someone like Art or Gino, but for us DIYers, it's a little rich for our blood. I mean hell, a Gary SDI-Modded PS3 is probably cheaper than JUST ONE of the binding posts on Gino's custom built speakers!!!

If not for the price, I would be all for it. It would also allow me another connection to my Lumagen HDP. Right now I have my HD-Direct TV and XA2 taking up two of the inputs and I would have to add a switcher of some sort to connect the PS3. SDI not only gives a great, clean feed to the Lumagen but it also allows me to use the second SDI input next to the Panny RP91s with no switcher.

Any coupons floating around Gary?!



Doc

[Gary M.]

hey doc, haven't talked to you in forever dude

I must be careful discussing such things on Curt's forum, I am not allowed to discuss sales or make ad's here, I have to respect Curt's wishes and that included originally banning me (and all sales) for some parts I owed him that never made it to him, I have signed up again and am talking a little and don't want to get banned again

Doc, the first thing I must tell you is that the Lumagen scaler is not HD-SDI capable, it can only accept 480i/576i SD-SDI signals, you would need a totally different scaler to even try HD-SDI, the new Radiance doesn't even contain HD-SDI inputs or SD-SDI ones for that matter, a stupid decision IMHO, there is a Radiance pro that is coming that will have dual HD-SDI inputs, 5500$ MSRP I think, again IMHO overpriced badly

I am glad to hear you are still enjoying that RP91, I still love those guys, what a classic

BTW, Lumagen partnered with Sencore, I wonder what the later thinks of HD-SDI?

-Gary

[Welwynnick]

Mad Mr H uses a Gefen HD SDI to DVI convertor. The box is only 8" x 7" x 1.75" and sits on top of the projector with a short cable to an HMDI input card. The scaler uses Gennum VXP processing to generate 1080p60 from 1080p24 or 1080i60 inputs from a single SDI coax cable, and you hardly know its there. It performs as well or better than anything I've seen and is reasonably priced. There are two IR-remote controlled inputs, and it accepts SD SDI as well. I think it's an obvious solution for someone who wants to use HD SDI.

I do wish HD SDI had become the domestic video standard, but have to accept that HDMI is what we got. Blu-ray players are still developing, and there's a bit of functionality to go before they stabilise. HD SDI modifications are difficult and expensive, and anyone that jumps into HD SDI now, may want another player with say profile 2.0 and DTS MA decoding in a year's time. So the conversion may not be very future-proof.

There also seem to be issues with the modification. If the mod is incorporated at the HDMI driver, as I hear some of them are, then the raison d'etre of SDI is lost. Because of the very high bit-rate/bandwidth, the conversions are not as robust as SD SDI either, and there isn't the same level of assurance that they will work properly. HDMI is the spawn of Satan in my book, but it is the devil you know...

regards, Nick

[Nashou66]

[Gary M.]

[nomadII]

Any input would need to be 424M. Sorry for the confusion.

[Welwynnick]

[fireanimal]

Here is the MoonJong card with SDI

[Nashou66]