Calibration Disc - Blu-ray and DVD
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:07 pm
From most current to oldest...
Digital Video Essentials, DVE, HD Basics - Blu-ray
Designed by Joe Kane Productions for consumers this disc offers an educational course in video and audio, a full compliment of calibration tests plus painstakingly chosen and mastered demo material. This is the HD version of the original DVE (next disc listed) providing the same test material for a great SD versus HD comparison with both formats mastered at their best possible performance for a truly fair and balanced test. Adds additional tests and material.
Digital Video Essentials, DVE
Designed by Joe Kane Productions for consumers this disc offers an educational course in video and audio, a full compliment of calibration tests plus painstakingly chosen and mastered demo material. Highly recommended for the beginning videophile. Professionals will like it due to the new patterns designed by Joe Kane that allow you to check many facets of imaging with a handful of patterns rather than numerous ones specific to a single alignment. Improved RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
HDTV Calibration Wizard
Designed by the ISF specifically for the general public this disc has been applauded for using actual images to set the controls rather than foreign looking test patterns making it easier for the layman to understand and appreciate the before and after difference. Great for a basic introduction and general check up. Since it does not have any test patterns it cannot be used to obtain accuracy but with it you are bound to get better and therefore more accurate imaging without the high tech hieroglyphics and lingo.
Click on the cover!
Avia Guide to Home Theater
This disc from Ovation has a few gray hairs being released after the original Video Essentials providing far more patterns with full descriptions on how to use them. For many years it was a professional industry standard due to the depth of tests going well beyond what most consumers and videophiles needed. It still has patterns that have not been made fully available elsewhere like aspect ratio grids for native 4:3 and 16:9 covering 1.33, 1.85 and 2.35 content. A great disc for videophiles seeking patterns beyond basic setup without spending $300+ for the new professional versions from either camp. RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
Sound and Vision Home Theater Tune-up
This disc, also produced by Ovation, was commissioned by Sound and Vision Magazine to expand on the educational side of imaging science via infotainment while simplifying the basic calibration process for consumers. Ovation took this opportunity to improve some of the basic patterns and also fix some errors that affected professional calibrators only. RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
THX Optimizer - included on THX mastered DVD movies
This THX calibration process is included with a number of feature films on DVD as a quick introduction to imaging science covering the basics only. Blue filter glasses can be ordered and are required for setting color and tint. While a great feature for a quick confirmation of simple settings it lacks the educational features, in depth patterns and RGB filters that are standard with all of the above calibration DVDs.
Professional Calibration DVDs
The following two DVD calibration packages are intended for professionals using test equipment for the calibration and evaluation of video displays and DVD players hence the significantly higher price.
Click on the cover!
Click on the cover!
D-Theater D-VHS
These tapes require a DVHS VCR that supports D-Theater encoding
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=hdtvforum0c-20&creative=9325&camp=1789&link_code=as2&path=ASIN/B00009WHRX">Digital Video Essentials: High Definition 720p*</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=hdtvforum0c-20&creative=9325&camp=1789&link_code=as2&path=ASIN/B00009WHS0">Digital Video Essentials: High Definition 1080i*</a>
*Does not include instructions. You must be familiar with test patterns or have the DVD version. Playback requires a D-Theater enabled D-VHS player.
Digital Video Essentials, DVE, HD Basics - Blu-ray
Designed by Joe Kane Productions for consumers this disc offers an educational course in video and audio, a full compliment of calibration tests plus painstakingly chosen and mastered demo material. This is the HD version of the original DVE (next disc listed) providing the same test material for a great SD versus HD comparison with both formats mastered at their best possible performance for a truly fair and balanced test. Adds additional tests and material.
Digital Video Essentials, DVE
Designed by Joe Kane Productions for consumers this disc offers an educational course in video and audio, a full compliment of calibration tests plus painstakingly chosen and mastered demo material. Highly recommended for the beginning videophile. Professionals will like it due to the new patterns designed by Joe Kane that allow you to check many facets of imaging with a handful of patterns rather than numerous ones specific to a single alignment. Improved RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
HDTV Calibration Wizard
Designed by the ISF specifically for the general public this disc has been applauded for using actual images to set the controls rather than foreign looking test patterns making it easier for the layman to understand and appreciate the before and after difference. Great for a basic introduction and general check up. Since it does not have any test patterns it cannot be used to obtain accuracy but with it you are bound to get better and therefore more accurate imaging without the high tech hieroglyphics and lingo.
Click on the cover!
Avia Guide to Home Theater
This disc from Ovation has a few gray hairs being released after the original Video Essentials providing far more patterns with full descriptions on how to use them. For many years it was a professional industry standard due to the depth of tests going well beyond what most consumers and videophiles needed. It still has patterns that have not been made fully available elsewhere like aspect ratio grids for native 4:3 and 16:9 covering 1.33, 1.85 and 2.35 content. A great disc for videophiles seeking patterns beyond basic setup without spending $300+ for the new professional versions from either camp. RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
Sound and Vision Home Theater Tune-up
This disc, also produced by Ovation, was commissioned by Sound and Vision Magazine to expand on the educational side of imaging science via infotainment while simplifying the basic calibration process for consumers. Ovation took this opportunity to improve some of the basic patterns and also fix some errors that affected professional calibrators only. RGB filters are included for color decoding.
Click on the cover!
THX Optimizer - included on THX mastered DVD movies
This THX calibration process is included with a number of feature films on DVD as a quick introduction to imaging science covering the basics only. Blue filter glasses can be ordered and are required for setting color and tint. While a great feature for a quick confirmation of simple settings it lacks the educational features, in depth patterns and RGB filters that are standard with all of the above calibration DVDs.
Professional Calibration DVDs
The following two DVD calibration packages are intended for professionals using test equipment for the calibration and evaluation of video displays and DVD players hence the significantly higher price.
Click on the cover!
Click on the cover!
D-Theater D-VHS
These tapes require a DVHS VCR that supports D-Theater encoding
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=hdtvforum0c-20&creative=9325&camp=1789&link_code=as2&path=ASIN/B00009WHRX">Digital Video Essentials: High Definition 720p*</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=hdtvforum0c-20&creative=9325&camp=1789&link_code=as2&path=ASIN/B00009WHS0">Digital Video Essentials: High Definition 1080i*</a>
*Does not include instructions. You must be familiar with test patterns or have the DVD version. Playback requires a D-Theater enabled D-VHS player.