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FEBRUARY 1995
AC095A
AC096A
ProVideo Converter
Video Scan Converter II
CUSTOMER Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX
SUPPORT FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
INFORMATION
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com
ProVideo Converter
INPUT
TEST
POWER
Video Scan Converter II
INPUT
TEST
POWER
UNDE
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FCC AND IC STATEMENTS, TRADEMARKS FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY CANADA RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado. 2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura. 3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser respetadas. 4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben
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NOM STATEMENT 12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada. 13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del aparato. 14. El equio eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del fabricante. 15. En caso de existir, una antena ex
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ............................................................................................. 1 2. Introduction ............................................................................................... 4 3. Installation .................................................................................................. 5 3.1 Initial Steps .....................................................................
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CHAPTER 1: Specifications 1. Specifications Approvals — FCC Part 15 Class A, IC Class/classe A System Software Required — None Standards — Input, Computer Output: VGA, SVGA, or Mac video at the refresh rates and resolutions listed below; Television Output: NTSC or PAL composite, S-Video (including Hi-8 and Beta-ED), and/or RGBS Compatibility — All operating systems and environments Color — Up to 24-bit (“true”) color (16.8 million colors) Refresh Rates and Resolutions — ProVideo Converter (AC0
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II Computer- and TV- Video Processing — Input Sampling: 24-bit (8 bits per RGB), 708 samples per active portion of computer-video line; Graphics-Mode Detection: Automatic; Video Processing: 24-bit separate RGB; Video-Memory Size: 708 x 740 x 24 bits (1 video frame); Video-Encoding Process: 24-bit RGB encoding with 10-bit output D/A; RGB Output Processing: 24-bit RGB with 3 x 8-bit output D/A; Differential Gain: Less than 1%; Differential Phase: Less tha
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CHAPTER 1: Specifications ® Power — From UL , CSA, and TUV certified desktop power supply: Input range: 95- to 250-VAC, 47 to 63 Hz (autosensing) at 0.9 amps; Output: 5 VDC at 5 amps Size — 1.5"H x 7.25"W x 6.25"D (3.9 x 18.5 x 15.9 cm) Weight — 3 lb. (1.4 kg) 3
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II 2. Introduction Thank you for purchasing the ProVideo Converter or Video Converter II. We are sure you will find it to be a reliable and useful product. You now have the ability to convert your computer monitor’s signal into a form suitable for recording on a VCR, displaying on a conventional TV or video monitor, or integrating into a multimedia production system. And you can do this without installing any boards or software in your computer! Chapters 3
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CHAPTER 3: Installation 3. Installation Follow the procedure outlined in this chapter to install your ProVideo Converter or Video Converter II. 3.1 Initial Steps 1. Disconnect your monitor from the monitor port on your computer. 2. Connect one end of the special 6-foot (1.8-m) input cable provided with the Converter to the monitor port on your computer. (See Section 4.3.3 for more info on this cable.) Plug the other end into the appropriate connector on the rear panel of the Converter: either th
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II IN VGA OUT RGB S-VIDEO COMPOSITE OUT MAC IN POWER NTSC PAL NTSC/PAL S-Video Either VGA video input Power supply switch for output with from computer or (line cord from selecting the separate, Macintosh video output transformer appropriate clearer Y/C for local Mac monitor plugs in here) video standard video signals Either Macintosh video Highest-quality Composite video RGBS output ouput for standard input from computer or VGA video output for video equip
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CHAPTER 3: Installation 3.3 Selecting Your Video Standard Use the NTSC/PAL slide switch on the back of your Converter to choose which standard you’ll use for the VIDEO, S-VIDEO, and RGB outputs. NTSC is the video standard for the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and parts of South America. PAL is used throughout most of Europe, the Middle East, Southern Asia, and the Pacific Rim. 3.4 Booting Your Converter System If you haven’t already done so, plug in and turn ON your computer. The green indicator
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II 4. Operation The ProVideo Converter and Video Converter II are designed for ease of use, reliability, intelligence, and high performance. We hope you’ll find that using your Converter is pretty simple, especially since there are few controls to adjust and no hidden DIP switches to set. However, we suggest you read this chapter carefully so you can fully understand how your Video Converter operates and can take advantage of all its features. Figure 4-1, b
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CHAPTER 4: Operation 4.1 Indicators Most of the Converter’s indicators are mounted in, and function in concert with, its front-panel pushbuttons; these indicators are described in the next section. There are also two independent LEDs mounted in the front panel: POWER: This indicator lights when your Converter is ON (receiving DC power through its external power supply). If this light is glowing dimly or not at all, there might be something wrong with the power supply. See Chapter 6. INPUT: This
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II ANTI-FLICKER BUTTON: When this button has not been pressed, the Converter sends images using fully interlaced composite, S-Video, and RGBS video signals. However, thin horizontal lines in the images might appear to “flicker” on and off at a very fast rate. If this happens, you can use this button to activate one of two levels of flicker reduction. When you press this button once, its green light will flash once and stay lit, indicating that “level 1” of
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CHAPTER 4: Operation By using the four positioning arrows, you can show any magnified portion of the original computer image. You can also move the display by pressing the HOME (UNDERSCAN) button: Each time you press it, the display will move to a different portion of the image: First time: Center Second time: Upper left-hand corner Third time: Lower left-hand corner Fourth time: Lower right-hand corner Fifth time: Upper right-hand corner Sixth time, etc.: (Cycle repeats) To restore the image t
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II 4.3.2 COMPUTER-DISPLAY RESOLUTION SUPPORT The ProVideo Converter and Video Converter II do their best to determine the pixel resolution (for example, 640 x 480) and the vertical refresh rate (for example, 72 Hz) of every image that comes from your computer. While there are published standards for most of the display modes, some manufacturers of older cards may have chosen to vary slightly from these standards. If you encounter a display mode that matche
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CHAPTER 5: What to Expect from Converted Computer Images 5. What to Expect from Converted Computer Images We have included this section to give you some insight into what you can and should expect computer images to look like once they are converted to standard video. People are sometimes surprised that computer images converted to video do not look as sharp and vivid as they do on the computer monitor. Although this might be somewhat disappointing, it should come as no surprise. Color TV and v
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PROVIDEO CONVERTER AND VIDEO CONVERTER II • Sometimes graphics look so impressive on a computer monitor that users assume that the process of conversion to TV can’t possibly make the graphics look bad. However, what TVs will actually show, especially if they are displaying a video signal that was “beat up” by a VCR recording, can be ugly. To avoid such nasty surprises, connect a Converter and TV to your computer and view your “televised” graphics while you create them, before you present them. •
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CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6. Troubleshooting The first part of this chapter lists some concerns that commonly arise during operation af the ProVideo Converter and Video Converter II, as well as some possible causes and remedies. The other sections describe the steps you should take if a problem proves intractable. 6.1 Common Concerns If your ProVideo Converter or Video Converter II is doing something wrong, the first thing to try is to press and hold the TEST button on the Converter’s front pan
