This is topic AV Cinema Scale Pro II in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Mike Moreno (Member # 4887) on 06-13-2010, 03:19 PM:
 
one of our dealers recomend us this product, does enybody use it?
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8166

thanks

mike moreno
 
Posted by David Zylstra (Member # 4230) on 06-13-2010, 04:47 PM:
 
I have a few sourced through Christie and they work OK.

It is a pretty versatile box as it adapts a variety of A/V sources to DVI 1080p (and if you have the version with AES input you can use it instead of a DMA-8 to adapt the digital audio from a digital cinema server - we don't use ours for that purpose so I can't speak to the quality of the D to A audio, but I know there are a few locations in the US using it instead of a DMA-8).
 
Posted by Danial Simmonds (Member # 4638) on 06-14-2010, 07:57 AM:
 
Yea we are using it with about 10 digital projectors here, they work,

the best thing is you can connect the source audio and video direct to the unit so you don't have to pull separate line to the audio processor...
 
Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-14-2010, 05:06 PM:
 
I'm worried about the use of RCA jacks. They could pop out too easily, and should not be used in a professional product. I wonder why they didn't put bnc connectors on it instead?

On the other hand, switching audio along side the video is a pretty nifty feature.
 
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-14-2010, 05:48 PM:
 
quote: Mike Olpin
I'm worried about the use of RCA jacks. They could pop out too easily, and should not be used in a professional product. I wonder why they didn't put bnc connectors on it instead?
It looks like something that was designed to be installed by cinema staff instead of trained technicians. I'm guessing that they went with RCA connectors because they look familiar to normal people, and because most people have the cables already, even if they don't have BNC adapters. It also saves the need to install both a scaler and a separate guest input panel.

I agree that it's cheesy, but I can understand why they might have made that choice.
 
Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 06-14-2010, 06:57 PM:
 
Mike, I have never had any issues with RCA jacks in any screening rooms I've worked. In fact, there is one small benefit to them: the action of inserting/pulling the cable helps keep the contact points clean. No chance for corrosion to interfere with the connection. I have had some BNC's give issues in that regard, as no one ever pulls them. [Smile]

But yes, accidental disconnection is easy to do. [Eek!]

Anyone have a price on this Gefen unit?
 
Posted by Mike Moreno (Member # 4887) on 06-14-2010, 07:23 PM:
 
the price for us in Mexico is like 1800 us dollars. must be the half in us (i guess)

mike moreno
 
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-14-2010, 07:51 PM:
 
Oddly enough...BH Photo Video lists it as "discontinued!"
 
Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 06-16-2010, 02:24 PM:
 
I don't have any experience with this unit, only the (more expensive?) CineIPM units. I don't know if I like the idea of the integrated audio handling, but I suppose it makes life easier when used by non-professionals.

One thing that seems to be missing is a composite video connection (I know it is worse quality, but somebody will bring along a device [camcorder, vintage Digibeta player etc.] that only has a composite out). For amateur usage this could be a particular problem.

The unit does not seem to allow fine control over the picture size, this could be useful when content arrives in odd formats.

No remote control. A wired remote allows the operator to see the screen when making adjustments (This is particularly useful when running from multiple sources).

quote: Mike Olpin
I'm worried about the use of RCA jacks. They could pop out too easily, and should not be used in a professional product. I wonder why they didn't put bnc connectors on it instead?
This is odd for the back panel connection (as this is most likely to be semi-permanently wired), but since the DVD player it connects to is also likely to be RCA then probably ok.
 
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 01-22-2012, 07:30 AM:
 

It has been 584 days since the last post.


 
Posted by Alban Birch (Member # 4121) on 01-22-2012, 07:30 AM:
 
Hi
We're still using a CP55 and a DTS-6D together with our digital setup (Doremi), so we bought the Gefefen because of the audio-switching possibilities. Is there a possibilty to control the Gefen from the Doremi, so that the scaler is always in analog bypass and only switches to digital bypass when a show is running on the Doremi
Thanks
 
Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-22-2012, 09:29 AM:
 
It uses RS232, so with some hacking into the protocol, should be able to control it from the Doremi.

- Carsten
 
Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-22-2012, 12:52 PM:
 
You should also look into the Kraemer VP-436 I just put one in and so far it's doing a good job. It is RS-232 controllable as well. LINKY
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-22-2012, 01:32 PM:
 
Terminal audio inputs but RCA outputs?
 
Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-22-2012, 01:49 PM:
 
Yeah I found that to be odd too.....but at least it does convert the audio to SP/Dif.

I'm not using the audio at all at UC Irvine, it all runs thorugh a Denon AVR for processing, and the Denon provides delay adjustment.
 
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-22-2012, 02:27 PM:
 
Normally the big sell on the Gefen piece is that it is picture and sound...especially since the subject discusses the "II" version. That is, it is a 6-channel D/A converter in addition to being a "scaler" so you can get your whiz bang audio in addition to HDCP compliant scaling of even HDMI sources.

Honestly, my need for handling analog devices is diminishing to near zero...to the point I would rather convert a remaining legacy analog piece to digital. My biggest issue is getting a true professional HDMI to analog audio device that keeps the TrueHD or Master Digital or whatever Dolby and DTS are calling their super-dooper audio. I HATE having to use consumer stuff for that. The closest I've found is by Atlona and they output in mini-phone.

-Steve
 
Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-22-2012, 06:04 PM:
 
Arvus announced a HDMI->8CH AES converter a while ago. Don't know wether it's already available. Shouldn't be complicated to do, strange they are so rare.

I wouldn't count on any of these units to decode DolbyTrueHD or DTS Master Audio. License cost would be prohibiting, and useless anyway since nowadays nearly any BluRay Player will transcode these into LPCM/HDMI anyway.

- Carsten
 
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-22-2012, 06:27 PM:
 
Hmmm...interesting that everyone is going the digital route. I just went through this discussion for a performing-arts center type of place that will do occasional film and video screenings. They will have BR and DVD players installed (in addition to 35mm) and guest inputs for whatever else comes along.

In the interest of keeping things as simple as possible for unskilled operators (we're thinking of things like birthday-party rentals here, where the theatre manager or tech director might be called upon to run video), DVD and BR analog LtRt will be routed to the NS input (configured for matrix decoding) on the CP650 in the booth. There will also be analog 6-channel from the BR player to the CP650 format 11 input. That way, the player takes care of the Dolby-this and DTS-that decoding and the user does not have to worry about what the CP650 will and won't decode. Also, some (all?) CP650s "pop" when receiving a digital signal in format 80. Apparently, this is a known issue. As is the fact that a 5.1 disk encoded as L/R only cannot be routed through the Dolby matrix when using the digital input.

Picture switching is component analog, due to the fact that it works reliably, and there will also be direct HDMI from the BR player to the projector (which is HDCP-compliant).

I don't doubt that there are benefits to keeping the signal path digital as long as possible (and minimizing the number of D/A and A/D conversions), but this seemed like the simplest (if not the most forward-looking) approach for this installation. Obviously, they will have actual projectionists for film screenings and major video screenings, but it's sort of silly and pointless to have to hire a professional operator for Little Suzy's 6th birthday party. Also, their budget was somewhat limited, which means that they did not really want to be a guinea pig for new stuff that might or might not work well.

Side question: does anyone like Phoenix connectors or think that they are a good idea? They seem kind of flimsy to me, but I guess that they are OK in a rack that will never move.
 
Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-22-2012, 06:41 PM:
 
Of course it is currently not possible in a simple way since no cinema processor has HDMI Input für audio (and loopthrough for video), but if they had, staying in digital would be as easy as any other format switch on the processor.

There are so many cheap SDI/AES/HDMI converters on the market. Really wondering why nobody makes exactly this type. Consumer stuff ? Heck, what about S/P-DIF on Dolby processors?

The GefenTV HDMI to HDMI Plus Audio Converter at least has RCA outs. Still no Pro but better than Mini TRS.

The AV Cinema Scaler Pro I has HDMI to balanced 8ch audio conversion.

- Carsten
 
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 01-23-2012, 02:19 AM:
 
Datasat AP20 has 3 HMDI inputs and 1 HMDI output.

What it does with them I am not certain, but they are there.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-23-2012, 02:39 AM:
 
Wrong. The Datasat AP20 has 4 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output.

(It also has 2 Toslink inputs and a SPDIF input.)
 
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 01-23-2012, 09:23 AM:
 
So it does.

Datasat sales people told me you could preview the HDMI streams on the LCD screen, I've never installed one of these, and probably never will, so I can't say how much use the HDMI capabilities actually are.
 
Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-23-2012, 04:14 PM:
 
Interesting. Though no cheap solution ;-)

They seem to work like on a consumer AV-Receiver - switching a HDMI video+audio source from inputs 1-4 to the output (preshow or DCI projector) and route the audio to the cinema system. Probably for preshow and BluRay/DVD showings.

---
HDMI Audio & Video Inputs
• Audio Channels: Up to 8 (DTS-HD Master Audio) • Connectors: 5 HDMI connectors (ie: 4 switched as inputs and 1 as output –
Video passed thru) • Connectors: HDMI(4), TOSLINK and RCA S/PDIF • HDMI 1.3 compliant digital audio with video pass-thru
---

I guess it doesn't really mean ONLY DTS-HD Master Audio?

- Carsten
 
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 01-23-2012, 10:10 PM:
 
If you MUST use RCA cables and jacks, Neutrik is the ONLY way to go. They are as pro as you can when you can't actually use real pro connectors. They are spring loaded and pretty much eliminate the pulling loose issue. I've never had then pull out by normal manuvering around in the back of racks and certainly not with stand-alone consumer junk. Never had then oxidize at the connector points. Nope, was never let down by a Neutrik connector -- RCA or otherwise.
 
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 01-24-2012, 01:46 AM:
 
Carsten, that's why I doubt I'll ever install one. The price has killed it stone dead in the market.
 
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 09-27-2016, 03:28 PM:
 

It has been 1708 days since the last post.


 
Posted by Greg Routenburg (Member # 1742) on 09-27-2016, 03:28 PM:
 
Greetings All,

I'm attempting to install one of these scalers and I'm having audio problems. The video is working fine but I've got no audio output on the scaler. I'm interfacing it with a DTS XD10P on the 6 Channel Analog input. As the Gefen has a balanced output, I've tied all of the negatives to ground and have connected that to the analog ground on the input of the XD10P. All of the positives are connected respectively to the signal input pins on the processor. Am I missing something?

My audio source is a laptop 3.5mm jack with a cable converting it to stereo RCAs. If I connect the RCA jacks directly into the Non-Sync input of the processor, I get audio so I know the source is OK. Is there a setting that I'm overlooking? It's on the DVI1 input and the audio source displayed on the front panel is Analog.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 09-27-2016, 04:02 PM:
 
It's probably trying to look at that stereo input beside the DVI1 connector.
 
Posted by Greg Routenburg (Member # 1742) on 09-27-2016, 05:28 PM:
 
Sorry Pete, I probably should have been more clear.

After testing the audio directly into the N/S port, I returned it to the L/R RCA jacks beside the DVI port on the Gefen and still have nothing passing through the scaler.
 
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-28-2016, 08:07 AM:
 
Any chance the basics have been overlooked? Is it in "bypass?" and has the audio input been configured properly. You have to select "analog" to activate that input (optical and Coax being the other choices). It can be done via the web interface as well as the front panel.
 
Posted by Greg Routenburg (Member # 1742) on 09-28-2016, 08:25 AM:
 
The issue, as it turns out, was that we were sent the incorrect power supply. The supply that was provided has an identical end on it but only outputs 5V rather then the requisite 12V. It even says Gefen on it so it must be for a different unit of theirs. Not sure. Anyways, I put a proper 12V supply on it and all is well.
 




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