I have an HD-A2 hooked up to a Mits. HD1000, 720p projector. I leave the HD-A2 set to1080i all the time, if that matters. When you start the disc they ask you to choose between 720p or 1080p? Which do I use for the settings? And how do you set contrast? Thanks.

Nobody?

set it to 1080p, the player will still output it to 1080i

it just needs to know what images to show to your tv. 720 or 1080

Thanks, I'll set it to 1080p. It's not a problem that the projector is 720p and the player is set to 1080i?

Greetings

The disc has more patterns in the 720 format than the 1080 format. If you want access to those additional patterns, you need to select 720.

The player always outputs 1080i if you selected that.

Regards

Thanks. 720p has more patterns. But other than that it doesn't matter which I choose with my setup?

Greetings

Correct. No difference.

Brightness ... Contrast ... color ... tint ... sharpness ... image centering ... all work either way.

Just don't use a 720 pattern to determine what resolution you have on 1080p ...

Regards

One thing I notice about my HD-A2 is my black lever is REALLY black! Like, way blacker than any other components, so my brightness will be set higher thru the A2 than on my back-up DVD player or cable-box viewing. I'll be getting the DVE HD-DVD very soon so I'll be able to adjust my A2...but will it be helpful for my actual HD cable box viewing too? Other than the obvious difference in black level, will the color and contrast be basically the same, you think?

Greetings

Since when is color even the same between channels on a cable/satellite box?

:)

Regards

Well, obviously they are not. Just wondering if the settings for my HD cable-box viewing will be more similar to the settings of my standard DVD player than the settings of my HD-DVD player. Both the standard player and my cable box are connected by component cables and the HD-DVD is by HDMI.

Greetings

Normally, we do it to the DVD player or HD signal generator and just cross our fingers. At least you know it was set up to a reference signal ... and you can always get back there.

It's still better than not doing it at all.

Regards

I'm having some problems with this disc. On the HD side, does the title search function not work? It works on the SD side, but it doesn't seem to work on the HD side. And the tests are different on the HD side? Such as color saturation? Which pattern do I use for color saturation on the HD side? Yes, I watched the instructions on the SD side twice. Thanks.

Well, the HD side is really just nothing but menu. Hit the video menu and in runs through each video test pattern. The tests are the same, there may be a fewer newer ones as well.

One thing that confused me is the brightness test has included (at least from the old 1997 disc) a third bar in it's pluge. But on my Sony 34XBR970 when the darkest bar disappears one of the other ones seems to as well. The instructions seemed to indicate that we should be able to see two bars. They suggested to bring it up until you see the second bar appear. So that's what I did and the brightness is higher than it was when I calibrated the TV with the older disc.

Oh, and don't panic if you make a selection on the HD side and it takes a long time to come up. In fact, I thought my player stalled as the test didn't show up....I couldn't stop the disc....I couldn't even shut my power off. I actually think it may have stalled. I unplugged the player, plugged it back in, and worked better. But there's still a delay when I make a selection for test pattern.

Thanks Voyeur. If this disc is improved(navigation) from the original, I'd hate to use that one. As far as brightness, they tell you to back it down til the 3rd bar on right matches the color of background. The contrast is what I can't figure out. And which pattern to use for color saturation.

Yeah, contrast is difficult on my TV. It doesn't really seem to bloom like it demonstrates in the program. I end up trying to determine when the top box is at it's whitest without having that sort of glow. It seems quite subjective.

I wound up using THX Optimizer to set contrast. What pattern do you use for color saturation? I should have waited for Avia HD to come out.

I used their newer color bar test. Not the SMPTE pattern but the one they created with the gray background. Interestingly, when I turned my Color Axis off (kind of Sony's version of adding flesh-tones), the colors were much more accurate. The pattern matched up pretty well from all three filters. The only thing is it's very hard for me to keep that Color Axis off...I do love the way it enhances flesh tones and other colors.

Voyeur, what is the color bar test called specifically? When I scroll thru all the tests on the HD side, I don't know which one it is. Thanks.

The only thing is it's very hard for me to keep that Color Axis off...I do love the way it enhances flesh tones and other colors.

That is because you are likely USED to this enhancement. The question is gentlemen, do you want accuracy or do you want enhancement? However, using the discs is more like adjusting rather than calibrating. The grey scale is still off, and will always be unless you deal with that first, then your colors.

Voyeur, what is the color bar test called specifically? When I scroll thru all the tests on the HD side, I don't know which one it is. Thanks.
I believe it's just called "Color bars w/grey reference". It's the second color test pattern seen on this page:

http://www.videoessentials.com/D_Theater_signals8.php

I have to say, I just checked out the THX Optimizer for the first time. It's pretty darn good. The brightness controls is well done, as is the sharpness setting. I actually like their sharpness test more than the one from the DVE. I have to say, contrast is still not much help. I could turn it up to "max" and still be able to differentiate between white squares. Oh well, I'll just go with what I feel is the whitest without seeming too intense.

Thanks voyeur, I'll try that tonight.

I just saw Avia's test for contast on a website and I'm salivating! It's very much like the disappearing black bar test for brightness, but it's a white bar against white background. I MUST HAVE THIS!!! I've found an Avia II disc that is (reasonably) inexpensive on ebay, so I've picked it up. I feel like I'm betraying my DVE disc by ordering it, but this looks like just what I need. Besides, the DVE was great at everything else.