CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jrwhite

Hi All,

Are the user white/black balance values stored in the input block?

I recently added a bluray player via an HDFURY2 to port 3. I copied my Port5 block as a starting point ( also 720p in, but at 48Hz, where the BR player is at 60 ). I then started on the new setup. To my dismay, I found that the colour balance values I set for Port3 showed up on my Port5 settings. Only colour balance .. none of the other convergence / geometry settings changed.

I had thought that colour balance was one of the value sets stored in the block. When I browse the blocks with the Barco PCsoft software via rs232, the colour balance is listed as part of the block.

Do you think it was just a fluke or possible firmware bug that my Port5 block inherited my Port3 settings?

Thanks,

Jonathan

zGman · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 599

Barco usually copies (or interpolates) info from previous memories when a new one is created.
This can be a pita if there are lots of conflicting setups, but a timesaver otherwise.

Best test is to set different user color values in that block and determine if they will remain
unique to that input and frequency - in theory they should.

G

jrwhite · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:12 am Post subject:

Thanks zGman,

Since I specifically copied the block, and then immediatly made changes to the new input, I had thought it would seal the new block. I guess more eperimentation is at hand. I was basically just trying to find out if I was wrong about my assumntion that user black/white should be stored in the new block, and not universal across all blocks.

Jonathan

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

There is some useful Barco stuff here also...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/crt-projectors/757690-barco-faq.html

jrwhite · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks Tom,

Yes, I had already gone through the AVforums Barco FAQ ( downloaded it years ago ). Unfortunately it doesn't specifically say if colour balance is included in the block ... it mentions colour, but that might just be saturation and chroma phase.

I'm going to do some more experimenting on the weekend. Worst case I can sniff what the Barco software is sending via serial, and write a script to change the colour balance each time I change inputs ( I already control the Barco from an HTPC via serial ). This is a bit of a pain, as the Barco serial protocol is one of the wackiest I've ever encountered.

thanks again,

Jonathan

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

I believe color balance is not included in the blocks. After all the G2 settings and RGB amps act in unison on all the blocks...

Please correct me if I'm wrong but color balance should remain the same on all blocks. Confused

jrwhite · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:30 am Post subject:

Well, that would be bad for me, but not surprising. Ideally the colour balance shouldn't need to be chanced across inputs, but in my case it does. My projector has always had a green push that I've never been able to entirely get rid of despite many G2 and gain tweaks. I've compensated using my HTPC, but with the BR player there is no way to compensate. My blue, and surprisingly red, are getting to EOL, and I'm trying to keep the beast running for a few more years as I love the pic CRT throws.

Like many, I can't justify the price of re-tubing an 8", so, it looks like real-time black/white balance changes via RS232 is my only option now.

Thanks again for the advice Tom.

Jonathan

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Enter the random access menu. Select picture tuning,color balance then custom White balance and then custom Black balance.

You can adjust the Red and Blue tube output relative to Green.

It will be a global setting on all blocks but it should correct the Green push...

Also write down the current settings first just for reference before making changes.

jrwhite · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:45 pm Post subject:

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the info. I've been doing just that for many years, but I've never been able to get a good grayscale and low delta e. I've gone through the 'short the shunt, check the tube face' G2 adjustments many times. It's almost like the gamma is is different on the green channel, and searching through the service manual of the various boards in the video chain, I've never been able to find an explicit gamma or linearity adjustment for the individual channels ( although I may well have missed it ). Also, I don't have an extender card set, so probing test points and adjusting non-down(up) facing pots is a bit of a challenge. I have managed to get a pretty flat and low delta e using CMS controls on my HTPC, and that's what I've lived with ( pretty happily ) for years. I've used a Spyder and HCFR, so I'm not adjusting blind. Not the calibre of spectroradiometer gear, but, better than eyeballing the colour of a banana.

With a direct connect bluray, I lose all of these capabilities of course. Having the ability to have 2 sets of user black/white is only a temporary measure until I upgrade my HTPC for bluray. It's mainly so I can get a not-terrible balance for the stand-alone player while I'm finishing the upgrade, which might be a while.

Thanks again for your help,

Jonathan

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Have you tried a new RGB amp on Green or did a swap ? Can you turn the Green tube completely off when adjusting the G2 ?

jrwhite · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Tom,

Yes, I can turn the green off completley when adjusting G2, but no, I've never swapped the RGB amp. I have a set of spare's from my parts pig, so I'll try it this weekend.

Thanks again,

Jonathan