Up converter (analog SD component to HDMI)

[STORMDAVE]

Anyone know of such a product? I use professional SD monitor along with my Bravia to preview and color correct footage. However, even for the XBR4 Bravia the scaler is not so good (I thought it would be good for expensive LCD's, but I was wrong).

If I use an HD project and put in SD clips, footage looks beautiful (as far as up conversions go)...so is there a small box that can convert the NX Component SD out to HDMI (HD)?

Thanks in advance

[Zorro]

Could do the job, should be under $500:

http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=rgbhdmi300&subtype=278

[tuyle]

I understand the NX component output is SD/HD, so you don't need to convert component to HDMI (HD)? (LCD TV/Monitor has component and HDMI inputs)

[Zorro]

I understand the NX component output is SD/HD, so you don't need to convert component to HDMI (HD)? (LCD TV/Monitor has component and HDMI inputs)

I assume that Dave wants to use the HDMI input on his Bravia without buying a HDSTORM.

[STORMDAVE]

Thanks Zorro, will look into that one.

To explain what I want to do is...I still do SD with clients and the (down)scaler on the LCD is not so good. Image looks kind of grainy or what not. I just wanted a solution to have SD out to the LCD via upconversion in SD mode. I know I can edit in HD with SD footage, but I might have problems later if I switch back to SD with Titlemotion problems etc.

I don't really need HDMI, if there is a SD component to HD component adapter, that would be nice too.

[GrassValley_BH]

What you want is a scaler. Like the DVDO iScan-series, or Pixel Magic Systems Crystalio.

Your Sony should also have a Through mode, where it doesn't up/down scale and does 1-to-1 pixel mapping. Of course an SD image will be smaller though...

[Emulgator]

BTW, I just finished my search for a decent upscaling
32" to 37" FullHD consumer TFT-TV.
(For 3 years now I did tests with cameras and Laptop in different shops
but I wasn't willing to buy one.)
If I had put in some SD footage from DV-Cams all I saw
was poor to very poor pictures, sometimes blocky,
strong double line structures, misdeinterlaced rolling and creeping text.
I brought my cams and fed mainly intentionally dark and noisy DV material
and some prime HDV.
With the dark and noisy DV all weak spots of built-in upscalers became clearly visible.
My ranking from poor to mediocre :
(regarding SD upscaling abilities only, no general pun intended)
Samsung (although different engines), Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony (although different engines), Philips.
Of course HD was fine with almost all of them.
But I went for SD.
A Loewe connect 32" survived best.
Smooth and detailed SD picture over Component In and Composite In.
Looked like source as I knew it.
But you have to kill all automatic "improvers" "Image+", etc.
Still 3 firmware bugs.
Some features still have volatile settings, I am in contact with Loewe.
HD looks good anyway (To good to judge SD..)
If I have to test any DVR SD to FullHD upscaling
I use a Panasonic EX-95 connected via HDMI to the Loewe.
Looks different then, many sharpening artifacts, but this is as end-users will see my SD-DVD if they use normal built-in upscalers.

Why can consumers not have the scaling abilities as they have in a 800-Euro Notebook from their 2000-4000 Euro-TFTs ?
Just a decent GPU from stock as in our notebooks would help TFT developers a lot, I guess ;-)
But time will show there is no way around dedicated PC-GPUs in TFTs with more and more formats coming...

[GrassValley_BH]

One very important question - what were the native resolutions of these sets?

Scaling on 720p- and 1080p-native sets is different from sets that are non-HD native resolutions like 1366x768, etc.

[Zorro]

What you want is a scaler.

The Extron device I've mentioned is a scaler.

[GrassValley_BH]

The Extron device is nicely priced if you don't need a variety of outputs.

Another very important issue that comes up here is A/V sync. Scalers (even built-in ones) will delay the video signal. If you have too much video processing, the video will fall behind the audio.

Most dedicated scalers include an audio delay function in order to maintain sync.

[STORMDAVE]

What you want is a scaler. Like the DVDO iScan-series, or Pixel Magic Systems Crystalio.

Your Sony should also have a Through mode, where it doesn't up/down scale and does 1-to-1 pixel mapping. Of course an SD image will be smaller though...

Didn't find a 1:1 pixel mode :(
And I thought higher end LCD's would do a better job at this.

Thanks everyone will look into these...or just stick to using my SD monitor and just not notice the pixelation of the DV footage on the LCD.