Official Lumagen RadianceMini 3D thread. - Page 21

Please contact support at Lumagen to resolve this issue.

Randy Freeman
503-574-2211 x104
support@lumagen.com

Excellent video. I have been considering the Lumagen for some time now, primarily for calibration and the ability to force aspect ratios since I have a CIH setup using a projector zoom. I'd also like to see how Avengers/Avatar 3D translates when forced to a widescreen ratio. Does NLS work with 3D content? (From what I've read, it looks like it does all of the same stuff with 3D content)

I have been wanting solutions to movies like TDK/TDKR/Tron for some time, and your demo of the Avengers brings up a lot of interesting possibilities. A question though, I have moved all of my movies to a HTPC (other than my 3d movies) to prevent handling of my physical media. Will the lumagen be able to detect the AR changes from a MKV file played by MPC-HC, or will I have to use my physical discs through my blu ray player on these particular movies? Since there are very few movies with multiple ARs, it's not that big of a deal, but I'd still like to know!

I also have an Oppo BDP-93 and a Sony VW95ES, so maybe those do the AR manipulation I am looking for (Similar to the NLS) already and I don't know it. I've never really looked into it much
Edited by damelon - 10/16/12 at 12:49pm

The Radiance supports horizontal and vertical stretch of 3D content.

1. Horizontal Non Linear Stretch (NLS) of 16:9 movies to fill a 2.35 screen.
2. Vertical linear stretch of 2.35 letterboxed movies to fill a 16:9 screen for an anamorphic lens.

In the Radiance menu you can modify the NLS parameters, if you like to experiment. But I think that the default settings are very good.

Randy Freeman
support@lumagen.com

Thank you Randy. I was more concerned with movies that have both aspect ratios and switch back and forth. If that will be auto-detected off of a HTPC using a MKV file and a media player or only off of a blu-ray

I'd use the configuration program (V1.4) to take a back up of your current settings and then try going to an earlier firmware (you will have to drop down to 8 point CMS depending on how far back you go. I'd also recommend posting on Lumagen's own forum as I did last night with a minor issue I've been having.

http://www.convergent-av.co.uk/forum/

Firmware update page:

http://www.lumagen.com/testindex.php?module=radiancemini_updates

Configuration software:

http://www.lumagen.com/testindex.php?module=utilities


EDIT I thought I'd answered a question to do with gaming issues, but can't see the post I replied to any more. Must be going mad.
Edited by Kelvin1965S - 10/16/12 at 2:17pm

Hmmm a very interesting question. I wish I had some MKV files to test that out. My wild (wild=on the train and cant test) guess would be that it would auto detect if the "sticky" option was disengaged from the NLS menu. Does your HTPC go through a Pre/Pro or AVR? I ask because there might be a better chance of auto-detection if your avr or PrePro sends the computer signal to the Lumagen. Video cards can be fickle and moody when they want to be. That's just a thought.

Yes it is HTPC -> Integra -> Projector. I also use Oppo -> Integra -> Projector.

From your video, it is obvious I can "force" movies like Tron/TDK to stay scope the whole time, which is great. Since there are so few titles that do this with multi-aspect ratios, it's fine with me to use the physical media in these cases, it's just easier if I don't have to!

Also, seeing as how my Sony projector supposedly has a decent CMS, I was trying to see if my Oppo/Sony/HTPC would be able to do the same thing as far as playback in a fixed ratio (Similar to NLS) . Although I know the Lumagen will do what I need, I am trying to determine if what I have can handle that on its own decently or if I'd need the Lumagen to do so. I haven't yet done a professional video calibration, nor do I know how, so either way that cost comes into play too.

Been contemplating the mini for quite some time now and am proud to say I have finally joined the Lumagen family. Mike Garret of AVS Science was his usual gracious self, really a nice guy to deal with. My lumagen has shipped and on its way---can't wait to introduce it to my X30!!!!!. Now, all I have to read this lengthy thread and try to catch up. I may be hanging out here seeking advice from time to time.

Thanks in advance.
atabea

I'm sure you'll be happy, it's a cracking device with great support too. I'm waiting for my X35 to arrive, so last night I ran a fresh recalibration of my HD350 (RS10) using my Mini3D (apart from setting basic controls and whitebalance at 100% in the projector itself). It took me about 40 minutes split in two halves during the evening (though I've done it quite a few times now, so I'm quicker these days ). I got pretty good results for a quick job and the picture did look better afterwards (it had drifted, but I haven't got the pre greyscale figures on this report due to my rushing ). I'm going to try the 125 point CMS autocal soon as well in a spare memory slot to compare the two.

Note that I deliberately set the 10% gamma to 2.1 to improve the shadow detail as the room is quite light walled at the moment. HD350 D3 quick recal.pdf 2377k .pdf file

I'm sure the X35 plus Mini3D will give similar results, with added contrast and better black levels.

I have zero calibration experience and it's sure going to be a tough learning curve. Of course, I want to keep things as simple as possible so I wil be getting the auto calibration software.

Still to try the autocal myself, but you still need to do some work first to give it a good chance of working at it's best. Setting brightness and contrast properly, plus choosing a mode that gives a slightly oversaturated colour gamut otherwise the Mini3D can't 'add' extra colour saturation, only reduce it. Nothing too difficult though.

I'll be going through similar once I get my X35 (doubt that the X30 is that much different really) so I'll be able to help hopefully should you need it.

Thanks kelvin I sure would need and appreciate any help. I do have a calibration disc that deals with setting contrast and brightness so i should be able to do that. This is all a bit intimidating but also very interesting. Looking forward to the challenge though.

While updating my Mini to the latest software to-night , can't help writing that Lumagen being the 1st company that deserves my praise as offering the most supports to their products , after amost 2 years of owning the Mini , I still get updates regularly and my Mini is offering me more than what it costed me , so many presets at push of a button and the picture changes at will not a second delay , I try not to change on the PJ menu as it causes blackout of the picture a second or two that makes me uncomfortable . I am expecting 4k Lumagen and will not be hestiated to place my order . Not to mention that Mini offers Auto-calibration , what a value ! What a machine !
Larry

I have read this entire thread and while it is clear the lumagen appears to be an amazing kit, I am convinced I am totally in over my head on this. Earlier I was looking forward to the challenge but now I am not so sure. I hope the luagen mini/chromapure advanced autocal package come with some serious (read simple) step-by-step instructions.

atabea

Normally, i like to take care of such things myself, but for this--I figured the cost of professional calibration was well worth it. My guy did a remarkable job. Autocal, from what I hear, is extremely simple though. I believe once everything is setup, a single button press will start the show (With chromapure, at least).

Brolicbeast, that video you posted about the 16:9 stretch to 2.35:1 on youtube doesn't seem to work anymore. I would have really liked to see it. The ability to do my own calibrations is what realy attracted me to this method, as well as the pride and satisfaction of doing it yourself.

atabea

Yeah, I can definitely understand the need to DIY.

Videos not working? That's odd--perhaps some kind of embedding glitch? Below I've pasted the raw URL's to the videos. I hope they work from here.

Aspect Ratio Management Videos (16:9-to-2:35) Videos:

Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwF7nYe-YzM
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Stq_2lWYM

Ok, they work now. Thanks a lot!! That feature alone is worth the price of admission. I zoom to fit my 2.35 screen and I hate watching 16:9 material with black bars on the side. Finally, I will be able to watch everything in one aspect ratio. awesome.

atabea

Yeah I have a feeling this is going to be my next purchase too. I've been wanting this for a while, and those videos were a great example of how great the Lumagen is at it.

I was curious how other Lumagen owners may be using the input enhancement controls (Sharpness, Noise Reduction, and Adaptive Contrast)? I tried out the Adaptive Contrast last night on some SD cable material via my 50" plasma, and did notice increased shadow detail inside the box when adjusting the control. However, when I selected OK and it was applied to the entire screen, I was not sure if I liked it.

Any input / opinions would be appreciated.

Mark

I use sharpness enhancements modestly with cable and BD HD. You have to set them by eye to what suits you. Also look into the deinterlacing adjustment especially for good quality cable HD. Only use noise reduction for 480i/576i sources and usually adjust on case by case basis. Adaptive contrast crushes blacks (IMO) and raised max white output. I don't use it. If you look at sharpness test patterns, they are unaffected.

Need some help here,

I`m about to purchase a Mini3D but can`t really figure out how to connect it in my setup with a Darbee in the chain. My current setup looks like this:

Projector in ---> HDMI ---> AVR out
Satellite Box out ---> HDMI ---> AVR in
BD Player out ---> HDMI ---> Darbee in
Darbee out ---> HDMI ---> AVR in

I want to use the Mini3D for both my sources (satellite box & BD player) so how should i connect it in this setup?
Any help is appreciated.

I run all of my sources into my avr and send avr out to the Mini.

I connect:

Source Devices -> AVR -> Mini3D -> display

So you could try:

Source Devices -> AVR (used a switch in pass-through mode) -> Mini3D - > Darbee -> Projector.

That is a lot of processing though.

- Rich

"Source Devices -> AVR (used a switch in pass-through mode) -> Mini3D - > Darbee -> Projector."

 

This my arrangement, and I think what most people do.   No problems.

Thx! I will try this.

Putting the Darbee last in the chain makes sense. Now i just need to figure out how to turn off the video processing in my AVR.

That's similar to my setup too:

Oppo BDP93>Mini3D>HDMI splitter>Darbee>JVC HD350

[My TV is also connected to the HDMI splitter and doesn't use the Darbee (TV screen is too small to really tell much difference with the Darbee)]

BakeApples:

Not to make your decision harder, and I realize it would cost more, but I/we always recommend a RadianceXS-3D (or a RadianceXE-3D), over the RadianceMini-3D, to avoid having to send video through an AVR. This is because an AVR can (and often does) cause issues with the video. These come in the form of video artifacts, reduced bandwidth, or additional video delay, and often happen even if the AVR is placed in "pass through mode."

Of course not all AVR's have these issues, but even AVR's that do not will still add an additional HDMI connection to the video path and will cause additional switching delay on an input resolution changes (such as occur when a Bluray goes from the title screen,often 1080p60, to the actual movie which is typically at 1080p24) since there is an extra HDMI re-aquire in the path due to the resolution change. Also, input switching times will likely go up as well due the this extra HDMI re-aquire when the new input is selected.

By using a RadianceXS-3D (or XE-3D), the Radiance does the audio and video switching eliminating the chance for an AVR to damage the video, and reducing switching, and resolution change, times. It is important to note that the RadianceMini-3D processing is the same as the XS and XE, so it will provide the same quality and calibration if you do not have issues caused by passing through an AVR. So choosing the RadianceMini-3D is still an excellent choice. Just be careful of AVR issues -- even if they claim to have wonderful video processing.

I understand you might be skeptical my recommendation for the XS or XE over the Mini since it is coming from the manufacturer. Perhaps someone who purchased the RadianceXS-3D (or XE) for its switching and dual HDMI output could could comment on whether you think it was worth the extra money so as to allow the Radiance to act as the switching hub.

Feel free to call us at 503-574-2211 (or email support at Lumagen) if you want to discuss options before contacting your dealer to make the purchase. If you already pulled the trigger on the RadianceMini purchase, and want to switch to a RadianceXS, you can contact us, and we would be happy to work with you.

Jim Peterson
Lumagen

Hi,
I'm looking for an external video processor that will allow me to crop the input and scale (or not scale) the output. I'm able to do this with the video processor in my Anthem Statement D2, but I am also looking for an external solution. Can anyone recommend any suitable products? Thanks in advance!

any of the current radiance range or the previous Vision range can do this