Contrast/Brightness setting on RTV4500?

281 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by rm -rf *.*, Jan 22, 2004

avscrds

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2004

I have two RTV4504's, one of which seems to be different from the other..... which leads me to think this: There must be an "electronic setting" for contrast and brightness, possibly on an input by input basis, ahead of the mpeg encoder in the RTV. The reason I say this is that they both seem to record at the same contrast/brightness for the RF input, but when connected to the same video source one of the two units is washed out compared to the other - definitely a contrast difference, and quite possibly a brightness difference as well.....

So... is there a hidden "zone code" in the input settings for IN1, IN2, and the RF inputs, which will allow adjustment of contrast/brightness for the input?? Replay hacker community?????? Anyone hear of this?????????

I hope so.......... PM me if you don't want to post openly!

Glenn

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rm -rf .

· #2 · Jan 22, 2004

I had a pair of RTV-4040's (gave one to mom; the arsenal now consists of RTV-2020, RTV-4040, two RTV-5040) I never recall seeing any differences between the two that were as drastic as you describe.

What version of software are the units running (411-zones to find out)?

I've seen a number of reports (and my own experience confirms it) that the contrast can be a bit inconsistant with the VGA output when when you change channels or recordings (the black level floats up and down a bit - enough to be noticeable, but not "washed out").

If you are not using the VGA/component out, ENSURE that it is disabled as from what I've read/heard it WILL degrade the quality on all outputs.

(I've never personally confirmed this, but it makes sense and I believe the source was one of the Sr. members here that knows a hell of a lot more about the encoders on these things than I do...)

RTV-4k RF tuners are notorious for less than ideal picture quality - does the problem persist if you swap the RF input sources for the units? or does the problem follow the RF source? Also, is a washed out show still washed out if you stream it to the other unit for viewing? (and what about the other way around?)

Does the problem persist if you use composite or S-video input for the recodings?

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avscrds

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 22, 2004

Actually, it follows the video in on one of the two units - the RF encoding looks comparable between the two, and the playback from either (including streaming one to the other) for RF-sourced encodings looks the same..... when recording from IN1 or IN2, recordings from one unit look pretty good and recordings from the other look washed out - and it doesn't matter which I play it back on, a washed out recording is still washed out. So maybe there is a bad video input amp, or maybe there is a digital setting which is wrong or a failed part or something....... I'm still hoping this is in a hidden menu, because these units are out of warranty.

Glenn

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joesc1

· #4 · Jan 22, 2004

There's no hidden zones code for video settings.

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rm -rf .

· #5 · Jan 22, 2004

Thanks joesc1 - I didn't think there were any hidden codes/menus either.

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rm -rf .

· #6 · Jan 22, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by avscrds

...

when recording from IN1 or IN2, recordings from one unit look pretty good and recordings from the other look washed out - and it doesn't matter which I play it back on, a washed out recording is still washed out. So maybe there is a bad video input amp, or maybe there is a digital setting which is wrong or a failed part or something.......

...

Have you verified that it's not a source/cable problem? (Ideally by swapping the two Replay-4k's) Also, that you have the most current/final SW build for the 4k's?

You stated that "recordings" (ie: shows) look washed out --

What does the display look like when you are just watching Line1 or Line2?

While I'm not 100% certain on this, but if it's a bad video amp or any part of the input circuit that occurs before the encoder, I'd expect that everything from that line-in would be affected (viewing, bufferiing and recording). If "Live TV" on input-1 is fine but Shows recorded from it are washed out, I'd start looking towards possibly corrupted software on that unit as the source of the problems (since the recordings from RF in are fine, I'm ruling out the encoder hardware).

Is there any change in the output when you use the BYPASS mode? Is S-video in affected or just composite?

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nnolan

· #7 · Jan 22, 2004

...but that's one scary user name you've got there, "rm".

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rm -rf .

· #8 · Jan 22, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by nnolan
...but that's one scary user name you've got there, "rm".

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice/comment...

*Muwahhhhhahhh*

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