What To Do Or How To Do It?
Dear Gary: When I got my Pioneer Pro 520HD last year I immediately obtained one of the original Video Essentials DVDs to help me set it up for the best possible picture. The original DVD was fantastic; it would tell me what to look for and what to adjust. It took the viewer through each of the possible settings—brightness, contrast, color, hue, etc.—and told the viewer what to look for and how to adjust it accordingly. When I viewed Digital Video Essentials, never once was I told what to do or how to do it. Not being a TV tech, I was totally lost. You have to remember that I am “Joe six pack” when it comes to video. I know what I like and I only want the best. My frustration was compounded by the fact that I had waited so long for the tape. While most of us can afford to hire an ISF’er for calibration there will always be people like me who like to tweak their equipment, if possible. And, after using the old DVD with its excellent audio instructions I was hoping for the same from this tape.
Hugh R.F. Campbell, Charlotte, North Carolina
mailto:hcampbell1@carolina.rr.com
Contributing Editor Joe Kane Comments:
Adding what you are looking for in the D-Theater program would have required a complete rewrite of that section of the program to accommodate the linear format. The changes weren’t made, if for no other reason than the D-Theater format not being large enough to justify the expense. I don’t even see a way I’ll break even on the separate cost of its current production in the next two years. It is valuable for the set of test signals alone and they are badly needed in this new industry. What I’ve done is make a solid commitment to HDTV in providing reference video materials in whatever way we can. I suspect people in the software industry will find it difficult to understand that I’ll look into any format that will deliver good-quality HDTV to consumers. Expect Joe Kane Productions to support every reasonable option in HDTV, even if we don’t see an early return on our individual investments.
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