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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: ACS-2048 Scaler
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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 04-27-2014 06:12 PM
Central (GMT -6:00) (12:12 AM Local)
Huh? Are you sure Mark?
http://www.barco.com/en/Products-Solutions/Options-accessories/Other/Alternative-content-switcher.aspx
Barco is not showing it as discontinued. Christie is who sells the Gefen scalers (of the projector manufactures) as does Film-Tech.
As far as DCinema scalers go, the ACS2048 was/iS BY FAR the best. That is, if what you wanted was actual scaling. For instance if you had a DVD with say a 1.66:1 aspect ratio, it could scale that up to prevent letterbox bars, regardless if it was with an anamorphic squeeze or not. However, in order for it to do its magic, one has to understand what you want it to do and put in the correct amount of "cropping" to have it magnify just right.
Though HDCP compliant, it is VERY FUSSY about HDCP. If one hooks up a BluRay to it and then right to the projector...generally, there are not problems...if you have other things in the HDMI/DVI switching scheme...like say an Audio de-embedder or A/V receiver...you may have HDCP handshake issues. It all depends on the player and the devices you have upstream.
We have used it rather extensively in some of our more sophisticated systems.
The truth is, the need for scalers is diminishing as consumer content moves heavily to BluRay and other 1080p capable sources. Furthermore, the scaling engine with current ICP software running in series 2 projectors can also scale HD content and eliminate letterbox bars or deal with anamorphic squeeze source material, if you know how to set the SOURCE parameters of the ICP. I carry around PCFs that are set for the popular ratios and they work on any DLP projector.
So what is left for scalers is to deal with are non TMDS sources like SDI/HDSDI. If you have a Christie or and NEC with a "legacy" module...then you already have a direct SDI spigot...which is best anyway. Failing that, using an AJA or Black Magic Design converter, one can get SDI to DVI pretty easily though one has to watch out for PSF formats since they are not really part of the TMDS world...the converter would have to put it in a proper HDMI format (the right AJA should do it fine).
As for Gefen, I've never really liked them. Their scalers are so-so and their accuracy of getting the image right isn't there. The current A/V Cinema Pro III (black case) handles the low bandwith Dolby and DTS now so you are covered on the sound though you are only going to get discrete 7.1 if your source can output LPCM. However, if you need just a box that will deal with sound and provide a single point of entry for BluRay, Cable, laptop...I suppose it is a way. Remember, the ACS never dealt with sound.
The most direct alternative to the ACS is the more powerful but much more expensive ImagePro II.
http://www.barco.com/en/Products-Solutions/Image-processing/Presentation-switchers/All-in-one-video-scaler-scan-converter-and-switcher.aspx
What is it you are trying to do?
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