Multibridge Extreme Question-Scaling option on DVI output?

[Luke Maslen]

Hi Carey,

The DVI monitoring of Multibridge Extreme will have some added capabilities over HDLink, partly because it supports both DVI-D and also dual-link DVI-D. At IBC 2005 Multibridge Extreme was being presented with HD1080 material scaled to fill a 30″ display as well as on other displays where pixel for pixel mapping was shown. I know there have been a bunch of ideas for scaling with the Multibridge Extreme but don’t know which ones will be included in the initial software release and which ones will be added in subsequent software updates. So I cannot provide you with a clear answer as to which scaling features may be immediately avaialble when it starts shipping but we will post information in this forum about the initial feature set once it starts shipping.

Regards,

Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design

[Bob Zelin]

I cannot begin to tell you how many people ask me if there is a DVI-D version of the HD Link for the 30″ cinema display. This should DEFINATELY become a product for you guys.

Bob Zelin

[Carey Dissmore]

Thanks Luke for the response. Although the details aren’t for sure yet, it’s encouraging that you guys are at least grappling with these issues. By 30″ display I assume you mean the Apple 30″ display.

One issue you are going to have to deal with is scaling *QUALITY*. As shown by the somewhat lacking quality of HD downconvert, there are limits to the quality that can be achieved with software-only on-the-fly scaling. Whereas, high quality, anti-aliased hardware accellerated/enhanced scaling such as that provided by a good graphics card (or dedicated hardware you could include in the design) can be quite good and elegant.

This, IMHO is what is required in the multi-format world of editing. We are pretty much all moving to multi-SD and HD format editing and we are pretty much ALL moving to some sort of flat panel/fixed pixel display device of various native resolutions. The answer of course is to provide 1:1 pixel mapping for the times we WANT that, but also to include high-quality scaling so we can fill the monitor with our content, whatever the source/target resolution.

Make THAT happen and you’ll help us all and have a winning product!

Thanks in advance and keep up the good work…

Carey

[Luke Maslen]

Hi Bob,

The Apple 30″ display requires dual-link DVI-D input for proper display. If you connect the current HDLink to it, you will find that it’s single-link DVI-D input becomes double-scaled on the 30″ monitor regardless of the settings in the HDLink Utility. This means that HDTV becomes bigger than the 30″ display and much of the image is lost where it is cropped by the border of the display.

We’re looking forward to releasing the Multibridge Extreme as its DVI-D monitoring capabilities will allow the 30″ monitor to be used either for pixel-for-pixel monitoring or with some kinds of scaled monitoring. It looks great but we’re doing a lot of testing as there are so many modes to check that we want to make sure it works well in all modes.

Regards,

Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design

[Luke Maslen]

Hi Carey,

Yes, I was referring to the Apple Cinema HD 30″ display.

We’ve been doing a lot of testing on the Multibridge Extreme and there are so many combinations of ways it can be used unlike any product we’ve made before. The testing has gone well because it has picked up issues that needed to be addressed and is a reason why it hasn’t been released yet, but it is tanalisingly close. We take your comments on board and want to be sure that the quality will meet and exceed your expectations.

Regards,

Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design

[Carey Dissmore]

[Luke Maslen] “We’re looking forward to releasing the Multibridge Extreme as its DVI-D monitoring capabilities will allow the 30″ monitor to be used either for pixel-for-pixel monitoring or with some kinds of scaled monitoring. It looks great but we’re doing a lot of testing as there are so many modes to check that we want to make sure it works well in all modes.”

That’s great Luke:

For the record, here’s what my specific requirements would be (which I think are pretty typical)

*capture/output/display of Beta SP over component with RS422 deck control
*capture/output/display of DVCPro50 over firewire or SDI
*capture/output/display of DVCProHD over firewire or SDI (firewire capture is necessary to get native 24P files, right?) (BTW this applies to both 720P and 1080i modes)
*capture/output/display of HDCAM over SDI (1080i and/or 1080P)

Monitoring: Best case is to feed an SD CRT (Sony 800 line PVM) with component for accurate color representation, while also feeding an HD LCD (1920×1080, in my case) for true HD monitoring up to the full 1080P spec. I still prefer not to make critical color decisions on an LCD though (even though CLUT’s and calibrations are getting better), hence the dual-monitor situation.

As you can see, I, and most users, I think need the flexibility to work in both 4:3 and 16:9 SD formats, as well as 720P and 1080i/p HD formats, and have them scaled to fill our DVI-driven HD display.

a sample photo of my setup https://www.dissmore.com/avs/imug.html

I think that sums up what I’m looking for best.

Right now, there’s not really a good product on the market that combines good scaling on the DVI output with good CLUT color calibration/control while also feeding other sources both SD and HD. That’s why I’m so excited about the Multibridge Extreme.

All the best,
Carey

[Jon Diener]

Luke,

I’ve been corresponding privately for some time with Carey Dissmore, regarding Mulitbridge Extreme integration. I’m still in the planning and acquisition stages of building my new FCP multi-format system, but I am looking forward to release of Multibridge Extreme. My application will be very similar to Carey’s, in that I will need to display output from FCP on a broadcast CRT as well as a large scale LCD. Initially, I’ll be using Betacam and DVCPro50, but will also need to integrate various flavors of HD as the need arises.

I, too, am extremely interested in the scaling capabilities of the DVI output of the M-E. The ability to adapt easily between various 720p, 1080i, 16:9, 4:3, HD, SD formats will be extremely important in my workflow, and hopefully, the Multibridge Extreme will fit the bill.

And of course, I’m hoping it ships by year-end – to arrive at the same time as my new Quad G5.

Thanks in advance, for what looks like another outstanding product from BlackMagic Design!

Jon Diener
President
Video Post Productions, Inc.
Toledo, OH USA