I have been reading about his new technology over the past couple months and it seems like it is starting to get some press.. It looks like a must have!!

It looks like a natural in terms of the evolving of the overly complicated world of HD video and audio.

They demo'd it at CES this year with Lyngdorf processor, DVD-O VP-50 scaler and it looks like something many would love to have.


Here's the skinny....

THX Media Director self-configures home entertainment products based on metadata descriptors embedded on DVDs, CDs and downloads. This metadata can describe audio and video characteristics of digital content, including the appropriate surround sound formats and post processing modes for playback on AV receivers, and video aspect ratios, color temperature, brightness and sharpness for playback on HDTVs and DVD players. THX Media Director metadata is communicated to playback devices via an HDMI connection, which delivers the content and its descriptors, and enables the device to automatically select the appropriate playback settings on each device.





From the THX Web Site:



With THX Media Director, digital content automatically triggers playback modes in CE devices. For example, the appropriate surround sound formats, post processing modes, reference levels and video aspect ratios can be seamlessly selected based on the content being played.

All you have to do is sit-back, press play, and THX Media Director does the rest.

AUDIO SETUP

Surround Sound Formats
Surround sound formats and modes require a specific setting to be enabled on the AV receiver. But, with so many choices, coupled with the challenge of figuring out the distinct characteristics of the digital media itself, it’s difficult to know which playback modes to select. For example, should re-equalization be enabled or not? Is the music best heard in Jazz or Concert Hall Mode?

With THX Media Director, the selection can be automatically made for you.



VIDEO SETUP

Proper Aspect Ratio and Picture Size
THX Media Director addresses one of the biggest issues today – proper aspect ratio and picture size. By interpreting metadata associated with the content, THX Media Director will enable the system to select the best way to scale the image to fill the screen, either horizontally or vertically, without distorting the original aspect ratio.




Content Type
In addition to picture size, THX Media Director will identify the type of content being played and implement picture control presets to adjust the HDTV accordingly. For instance, if you are watching a football game or NASCAR race, THX Media Director will automatically play the program material in the correct sports or action mode.

And when you are playing a video game, THX Media Director will switch to games mode. This will ensure the video processing is turned off, reducing latency to improve your reaction time.

In fact, in talking to Stewart Film Screen about this, they are aware of it and their BRIC processor (the brains behind controlling their masking system) could likely integrate with THX to move masking to change aspect ratios seen in various discs. How slick is that?


CINERAMAX! You are the Lyngdorf guy... What is the story with this?




This, to me, looks like THE feature, the must have feature in the next generation big $$ surround processor!


See: http://www.thx.com/technologies/mediadirector/bigpic.html

Very cool Tech.

It is exciting indeed but may run across hickups on very large systems initially. It holds a database of all movies and music and it intends to automatically adjust the surround processor and the displays aspect ratio and other functions based on this interactive database. It will probably work first with THX certified displays.

Presets are always great, this takes the idea of presets to the level of the directors intentions. Again, it will take some time before it achieves it's full potential. Due to all the iterations of product out there. This is a no brainer Bric interface application.

Thanks.

Would you expect when the heavies like Lexicon, Meridian, Krell, Halcro et al finally release their mega buck HDMI 1.3 Pre/Pros that this will be part of the architecture??

Is this something these companires may be waiting on to add (other than a stable HDMI system)??

Thanks.

Would you expect when the heavies like Lexicon, Meridian, Krell, Halcro et al finally release their mega buck HDMI 1.3 Pre/Pros that this will be part of the architecture??

Is this something these companires may be waiting on to add (other than a stable HDMI system)??

Certainly looks like any high end processor that does room correction and aspires to be THX certified will likely have it, there is also a way for THX to take a Look at your systems acoustics and remote adjust. The ULTIMATE THX certification.

Too early to tell. IMO The reason for the hdmi delays is the outsourcing of hdmi boards to china and lack of adequate communication at the engineering level during product development phases. That and the fact that Onkyo and Denon bogarted the first batches.

To be able to obtain a decent surround processor for Helene I had to import a Denon at premium as my chances of getting one of the allocated black units were slim, I don't think Denon Jeff has a production unit yet. The denon in Helene is just a holdover until the ML508. I feel like a commodities broker for the hardest to get possible commodity. Even the integra sp is delayed 2 months in japan. It's totally crazy. THX should definetly take advantage of the boggdown to rapid deploy this system.

I am hoping though that the denon works well, at least it's output appears to accomodate two simultaneous hdmi at different frequencies. crossing fingers.