tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi Everyone, I'm familiar with audio setup discs and was wondering if the same exists for video? I'm pleased with the settings on my TV, but it'd be fantastic to tweak them if I'm maybe off a hair with color, contrast, etc. Anyone heard of such a thing? I tried doing a search, but no luck. If it's been discussed, please lead me to the right spot! Thanks! Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merkin Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Avia has a disc for Audio and Video. Found all over. It include strips of colored plastic to match up with screen colors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwoods Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi, Avia and Digital Video Essentials are the two that I know of, but I've no experience with either. I've read they sometimes dive into the service menus, where mear mortals should fear. [:|] If it looks good.....it is good. Anyways, there's a start. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Merkin, Are you familiar with the Avia DVD? Positive results? I'll do some searching around today and see what I come up with too. Thanks for the help. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 I'll check out the Digital Video Essentials as well. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Ok, so far it looks like the Dig. Video Essentials DVD covers more ground than the Avia DVD. But descriptions online of course say each is the best one. If anyone out there has experience with either/both, please chime in. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARPRINCE Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Ok, so far it looks like the Dig. Video Essentials DVD covers more ground than the Avia DVD. But descriptions online of course say each is the best one. If anyone out there has experience with either/both, please chime in. Jeff I have both disks. AVIA is more user friendly compared to DVE, easier to navigate through the tests. However, DVE can test for BTB (Blacker than Black) which AVIA lacks. I think both were designed initially for the older type of TV (not DLP, LCD or PLASMA) however, some of the major test you would be able to use if you have one of those types of TVs I mentioned as well. If you have a THX DVD (i.e. star wars), it has a THX optimizer that you can use initially to tweak your video settings until you get either one of the disks. If I'll make a choice all over again, I'll get DVE because of the BTB tester (I got AVIA before DVE). Here's some more info for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-man Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I also like the Sound and Vision setup disk. It's the cheapest and is easy to navigate. Hey Merkin, nice avatar! Mustangs and Klipsch are my favorite hobbies as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffDurbin Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Here's another thing to consider - sometimes (OK, rarely) the settings from the factory are very close to the ideal. I got the InFocus 61md10 and set it to the Professional preset display setting and I was unable to improve on it using AVIA. I read two reviews of the RCA Scenium, which is the identical HDTV, and they pointed out that the Professional preset was very close except for the grey-scale (which should be set to 6,500 lumens). Only a professional calibrator has the equipment to let you tweak your lumens setting. AVIA and DVE will not let you do it. I suppose the $37 I spent on AVIA was largely wasted. I will probably sell it on half.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Here's another thing fellas: My TV isn't anything special. It's a Sony tube 34HS420. I don't sit far from my screen (8') and the depth of the TV wasn't a huge deal, so I stuck with tube. Will I still benefit from using these DVD's, or is it mostly for LCD, DLP, and plasma stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARPRINCE Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Here's another thing fellas: My TV isn't anything special. It's a Sony tube 34HS420. I don't sit far from my screen (8') and the depth of the TV wasn't a huge deal, so I stuck with tube. Will I still benefit from using these DVD's, or is it mostly for LCD, DLP, and plasma stuff? Yes. They were both designed primarily for tubes. AVIA was released 1999 and DVE on 2001 but was updated 2003. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I too use the Digital Video Essentials DVD. All my colors and greyscales are right on except for my green. JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 JM, Is it a software (Essentials DVD) issue that throws your green off, or did you mean that green was the only one that needed adjustment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwoods Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 All my colors and greyscales are right on except for my green. JM If my calculation is correct, this means 66.666 % of your colors are right.? [:^)] I think I'll stick to eyeballin' it. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 I have only ever used the THX optimizer to set up our 25" tv. Does it make a difference? You bet, but probably not much far off of using a test disc. I could be just blowing some smoke here, never have experienced an ISF calibrated display. Service menu adjustments can literally ruin your television, and shoud be left to professionals, like those from the Imaging Science Foundation. Make sure the television has been on for at least a half hour first, so that everything has come up to temperature, and has stabilized. Next, set the television contrast, sharpness, tint, etc, according to the directions. Most importantly, adjust the television with the same lighting conditions that you will use while watching the set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 I picked up the Digital Essentials disc off eBay today. I'll report back with my results. Thanks for the help guys! Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 JM, Is it a software (Essentials DVD) issue that throws your green off, or did you mean that green was the only one that needed adjustment? They give you a filter to look thru where you can adjust each color setting until all the bars look equal giving you true acurate color. You start with your grey scale since that actually has more information than color. You then move to blue since that is the primary with the most information. Then red then green. The instructions on the disk are great. It is really not too hard to do. In my case, I could not shift my green enough to make it even. It is close, but not dead on like the other colors. The picture looks great. I am not sure how you could eyeball this without some sort of tool for reference. JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted November 10, 2005 Author Share Posted November 10, 2005 I received my DVD yesterday! Great service too, less than 48 hours and it was in my player. I'm pleased with the results, but interestingly, my TV wasn't too far off. My sharpness and brightness needed the most adjustment, but overall the factory settings would definitely be ok in my case. For $20 I think it's worth taking a look, even from an informational aspect alone. This sounds way too much like an info-mercial!! Thanks to all for the recomendations- Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwoods Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 The picture looks great. I am not sure how you could eyeball this without some sort of tool for reference. JM Most everyone knows what skin/flesh-tones should look like, and are most critical to the observer, so that's my reference. Working in the graphics/printing field may also aid in my guesstimations here, however we typically work and color correct in a CMYK mode, not RGB. It's a whole different world, but I'm still learnin' [8-|] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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