Possible Full-Resolution 3D On Cable/DBS? - Page 2

A year or so back one of the tech supervisors for mobile equipment trucks outlined (HD programming section) how joint 720p/1080i sports events, like ESPN's 720p for weekday golf coverage plus a 1080i network on weekends, are handled: While 1080/60p cameras can output that format, 720p, or 1080i, he mentioned the on-site cameras typically (to avoid mixups) feed 1080i to trucks, then it's either converted to 720p or used as is. The short Ambarella paper I linked earlier discusses 1080p60, with MPEG-4, for broadcasting. And of course 1080 at 60 full frames/sec is much more bandwidth demanding than 1080@24 fps for movies.

Doubt live 3D events like the recent Masters are using or recording 1080p60 camera outputs instead of 1080i30 (1080/60i). 1080p60@3 Gbps, with ~148-MHz sampling--double standard-HD's 1.5 Gbps with ~74-MHz sampling--requires dual-link or equivalent camera outputs. Taping 1080p60 typically involves HDCAM-SR recorders running at double speed (~800 Mbps). It's being used for some movie and archived productions; maybe they'll use and store it for the new 3D channels; recall a news item about ESPN upgrading studios for 1080p60 (storage).

Mentioned RED digital-cinema hardware earlier here since, even though it's not designed for live programming, its output might be modified for broadcasting, boosting effective 1080i resolution and image sharpness after its ~4k downconversion. 3D RED rigs benefit from the camera's compact size, and the digital outputs have a standard bandwidth-saving compressed format; recent sensor/firmware enhancements have boosted dynamic range.

Any PC rigged for 3D-signal output. A different thread topic if detailed, which I summarized for my current 2D display, supposedly capable of taking a 120-Hz HD input. Yup, we likely still differ on this. -- John

My NYC TWC HD Showcase VOD channel has numerous side-by-side 3D segments from the recent Masters golf match. Folks with 3D setups, who also DVRed Masters 2D clips could easily A-B compare similar golf holes (3D, 2D) to see whether 3D-decoding/interpolation actually matches, or comes close to, 2D 1080i origination. Different hardware used for 2D and 3D capture/delivery from Augusta, of course.

So, not that sure interpolated 'half-resolution' 3D can really be called "full resolution." It may become a 1920X1080 "full" format per eye, but the resolvable detail in 3D versus the all-2D path may differ. And all sorts of variables may differ between the 2D 1080i delivery chain and the 3D that influences final on-screen effective resolution. Needs more testing, IMO, both anecdotal while scrutinizing and comparing motion-image details, perhaps with test patterns, too. Again, suspect 3D's gee-whiz factor could override some PQ degradation for some observers. --John