SIGGRAPH 97 Basics of Video Animation Systems Down Convertors Consumer Grade Professional Grade Broadcast

NOTES:

The variety of down converters on the market has been increasing rapidly, and the prices have been falling. In general, you can devide them into the above three categories by price and by function. The following is abreakdown of converters by features (some high level features are also provided in some of the lower level models)

Consumer:

• Bought through computer stores or consumer catalogs
• Lower level resolutionconversion only 640X480 800 X600 etc.
• Compoisite video output via RCA connector
• DIN style input connector
• May eliminate pixels or lines away
• May slow the VGA card to produce video scan rates.
• Affordable!!!

Professional / Industrial:

• Converts a wider range of resolutions and scan rates
• Uses an algorithm to determine output pixels. Qualities of these algorithms vary.
• Allows some manipulation of the image such as H-Phase and size
• May have "Genlock "for interfacing to other video equipment
• May support a variety of outputs such as S-Video, RGB, Component, PAL, ect.
• Input is usually a DIN style connector with adapters
• Output is usually BNC and /or S-Video DIN connectors

Broadcast:

• Converts a wide range of resolutions and scan rates
• Allows for user programing for new or unique signals
• Full mainpulation of video including position, size, color balance
• Ability to "Genlock"
• Supports all outputs and may support PAL, HDTV along with programmable outputs
• Input is usually a combination of DIN and BNC connectors