New DVDO iScan Duo [2.0 firmware released] - Page 95

+1

I still miss the "CURTAIN" from the older VPs... Now that would be awesome to get back! Here's to hoping...

I really need the CMS and Grayscale info to be saved. Now that I'm using CALMAN to set these, they are highly used. Know this has been mentioned as an enhancement. SJ

I have a SandyBridge based HTPC running Total Media Theater 5. I am wondering if I run this into the iScanDuo will it send the correct 24fps to my tv if the computer is set up for 60Hz? I can change the refresh rate to 24Hz or 23Hz but it still has judder every so often. Will the iScan Duo fix this and send a stable signal 24p signal to the TV if left at 60Hz or 24Hz? Thank you for your help.

The Duo output format can be set to:
List of formats in the Video Format menu
Auto Select – this is the default setting
VGA 60Hz
480p 60Hz
720p 60Hz
1080i 60Hz
1080p 60Hz
576p 50Hz
720p 50Hz
1080i 50Hz
1080p 50Hz
1080p 24Hz
1080p 25Hz
SVGA 60Hz
XGA 60Hz
SXGA 60Hz

regardless of the input format. there is aloso the frame lock option:

1:1 Frame Rate
Disabled The output frame rate from the iScan Duo is fixed.
Enabled The output frame rate from the iScan Duo tracks the input frame rate. This avoids performing frame rate conversion, which can result in stuttering motion in some cases.
The 1:1 Frame Rate feature is useful when you need to display video from both 60Hz and 50Hz sources, as long as your video display can operate at both frame rates. Some video sources, such as Blu-ray players, can output 24Hz video. If you have a 24Hz source and your display can also accept 24Hz, enabling 1:1 Frame Rate will allow the 24Hz video to pass through the iScan Duo from source to display.
• Frame Lock
Auto Lock The output frame rate from the iScan Duo is fixed and locks to the input when possible.
Unlock The output frame rate from the iScan Duo is fixed and not locked to the input.

Suggest you download the Duo user manual.

In my experience 60Hz from a HTPC into the DVDO won't allow you do a proper conversion to 24Hz. The reason for this is that the Duo needs a PERFECT 3:2 cadence in order to do the inverse pulldown and output 1080p24. With 60Hz straight you don't get a proper cadence. You can try and set your output something closer to 59.94Hz (actual NTSC "60Hz" timing), but even then the candence isn't perfect, since the graphics card's output isn't locked to the player's video rendering.

Your post really piqued my curiosity.
Since I have TMT3 on an HP dv7 notebook using an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 a test was in order.
My Duo is normally set to frame lock to stream BR video from a WHS server to a Dune H1 to preserve the 24p. After setting the Duo output configuration to 1080/p24 I streamed Narnia Prince Osgood from the WHS to the notebook running TM3 > HDMI > Duo> HDMI> TV

The Duo reports 1680x1080p @ 59.95 Hz as input and 1080p 24 Hz. 23.97Hz (Unlocked) as output.
The LG 55LH90 TV with Real Cinema enabled reports 1080/24p as input.

The resulting video on the TV looked perfectly normal and the same as when streaming via the Dune.

Having run many tests on the Duo using the S&M BR benchmark it seems the Duo will handle any cadence one can throw at this VP.

The one problem was audio. I have the Duo set to optical out to feed a Vizio soundbar via SPDIF optical but only get sound from the notebook. Setting the Duo sound to HDMI and feeding a Sony AVR in to HDMI-1 from the Duo HDMI-3 (Audio only) also results in no audio.

Perhaps there is a setting in TMT3 I am missing.

For the moment my conclusion is that the Duo conversion from 1080/p60 to 1080/p24 works properly in an HTPC even though it is not something I would use myself.

Can anyone make an educated guess as to if there is any chance the Duo can be firmware upgraded to handle 4K / 4K2K resolutions?

no chance.

Can someone answer what would be the preferred method of hookup for the DUO to my system? I currently have a new Pioneer VX-1020 receiver, and everything is hooked to it via HDMI that is important. (PS3, and Fios cable box) I have a PS2 and Karaoke machine, and PC as well hooked to it. Everything is output via one HDMI cable to my Mitsubishi projector.

I basically have two options as I see it. Option 1 would be to take the single HDMI coming from my receiver now and input it to the DUO. Then out of the DUO to my projector. Option 2 would be to hook everything up to the DUO, then HDMI to the project, and another HDMI cable from the DUO audio out to my receiver input.

Obviously option number two is much more involved. The only inputs I really care about are the PS3 and the cable box. I don't really see a need for separate inputs for them since I would calibrate the cable box input using the PS3 anyway... my receiver is doing some upconverting of the signals I guess to be able to send everything to the projector. Do I gain anything by hooking all my stuff directly to the DUO first? I plan on calibrating with an i1pro and Calman V4.

Any suggestions appreciated!

^^
Hooking up inputs to DUO will allow for independent input control for your input, like resolution, brightness/contrast etc. Also, it sort of help a bit in terms of balancing the video/audio chain and allow you to control the lipsync better. Some other benefits might be auto-switching (which might not be a big deal if you have a universal remote) and auto-switchoff for your DUO depends on input.

Does anyone know if the scaling/deinterlacing in the Duo can improve upon the motion handling of the JVC projectors (smearing, etc.)...can you feed it a 1080i signal, have it upscale to1080p and input that unmolested through the JVC RS?

Thanks,
Cory

No, it won't, and no video processor will. However, you can feed the Duo a 1080i signal, have it upscale to 1080p, and input the 1080p signal to the projector. I am not sure what you mean by unmolested, but if you mean no CMS, edge enhancement, etc., then yes, you can turn all of those off.

Hook up all inputs to the Duo. Use the Duo audio out HDMI to feed the AVR. There is no reason I can think of to run any video signal through the receiver.

To see the OSD of the AVR.
____
Axel

Yes. Now that my AV Processor is in another room, I have to use the OSD.

Hook all sources to DVDO iScan Duo. Then run a normal HDMI out (not the audio only) to your AVR. Turn off all video processing in the AVR. This gives you both DVDO and AVR onscreen menus and should eliminate any faulty AVR video processing.

I have an older receiver that doesn't have HDMI. If I connect all of my HDMI sources to a Duo, will it pass the high-def surround audio to my receiver through the optical (Toslink) or coaxial (S/PDIF) audio connections? My receiver only supports Dolby and DTS up to 6.1.

No. It will not pass full uncompressed audio through the Toslink of coaxial S/PDIF. This is physically impossible due to the bandwith limitations of those formats. However, it can take audio it receives through HDMI and send it via Toslink or SPDIF. It will compress the audio to Dolby 5.1 or DTS and pass that signal through. This is how I have my second Duo setup with my older Marantz SR8400. Well, partly anyway. I have my Satellite box and HD-DVD players set up this way (although I really have not tested it with uncompressed on the HD-DVD player yet... I will tonight and report back).

I have my Onkyo blu-ray player passing uncompressed audio directly to my Marantz AVR via the analog outs, so for that player I bypass the Duo for audio, although I also can use the Toslink via the Duo for downrezzed audio if/when lip sync is an issue with the analog out setup. Lip sync issues are far more annoying than not having uncompressed audio on my living room setup.

Chexi,
Thanks. That's basically what I need; 5.1 will work fine for my current setup.

Thanks for all the ideas guys! All valid points. I guess i will bite the bullet and hook up everything via the duo. I just got everything working through the receiver though. Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained! As far as the OSD for the receiver i guess i can run an hdmi cable to an unused input on the due just to have that.

That would be my preference if I cared about the receiver OSD.

I have a 1018 and a 1020 (different residences). Both receivers are used for audio only as both places also have iScan Duos. As a calibrator, I absolutely do not want an AVR to even have a shot at touching the video signal.

It depends on the relative locations of the AVR, the display and the Duo.
In my HT the AVR is 4 feet from the display and is connected via HDMI to and unused input on the display, which has 4 HDMI inputs.
Merely switching the display to that input allows OSD access. This way potential AVR color space contamination is completely avoided.

The Duo HDMI Audio only feeds the AVR and the regular HDMI outputs feed the display. The Duo is located 6 feet from the display and AVR so 6 ft Monoprice cables do the job.

I confirmed last night that the Duo can take uncompressed audio from HDMI in and strip out the extras and play Dolby 5.1 and DTS out through Toslink, as this worked for my blu-ray player.

However, it did not work for my A-2 HD-DVD player, as I could not get that player to play more than 2 channel audio out the HDMI (confirmed by reading on the Duo). I think that is a firmware issue on the HD-DVD player, or I just can't figure out the settings on the player (although there are only 2 options). At any rate, this prompted me to hook up my HD-DVD player via toslink to the DUO. I was afraid to do this, as I thought that lip sync function on the Duo required HDMI in to work, but to my delight, lip sync on the Duo also works with Toslink audio in. Since my end result will be DTS and Dolby 5.1 anyway for this player due to my receiver's limitations, no need to mess with firmware update on my HD-DVD player to get the HDMI audio to work.

@Chexi1,
Thanks for the info. I was originally worried that the Duo would only pass 2-ch stereo from HDMI sources, so I'm happy to hear otherwise.

thanks for the picture it seems really gud....

Has anyone seen any actual changes in the iScan Duo made today, versus when it originally first came out? (Other than just the FW updates? and new Distributor)

Just received my Duo from AVS...Thanks Avs for the great price and quick delivery. Now the hookup. I have a 50" plasma and projector so they would go into hdmi output 1 and 2 on Duo. Then I have a oppo, XBox Slim, DirecTV and Denon A100 all those go to hdmi inputs on Duo. I do not want to lose OSD for the Denon A100 audio so I am putting the A100 on a hdmi input instead of the hdmi audio output on Duo. Do they have to go into the same inputs as what the Denon was (I have a Harmony 1100) and I still want to use that or does it not matter what hdmi input and the Duo will automatically catch the right input for BluRay, Direct TV etc...? Does this sound right? Thanks

I'm gonna have to do the same thing... Mine arrives Friday! Yes I think you are on the right track. anytime you want to use the OSD of the receiver the DUO would have to switch to that HDMI input. Anytime you want sound from any of your devices the receiver would then have to be switched back to whatever HDMI input you have coming from the dedicated audio only output on the DUO...

Thanks dpnaylor for the vote of confidence Just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I have things to do tonight so it will be all set and hooked up tomorrow. I can't wait to see the video improvement, congrats also on your purchase.