January 02, 2007 — Lumagen, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of video processing / switching products for the home and corporate theater markets, announces the new Radiance™ series of video processors.
Combining proprietary strides in video technology with enhanced connectivity flexibility
(up to 18 video and 18 audio inputs), Lumagen's Radiance series both refines and enhances the video images presented by high definition front projectors and top-level rear-screen and flat-panel displays, while at the same time functioning as an extensive central switching hub ideal for large home and corporate theater systems.
"By incorporating improved video de-interlacing, new MPEG artifact reduction and temporal noise reduction, Radiance expands upon the company's well-known Vision series – a line which received industry recognition in 2005 and 2006 for advancements in switching, calibration and proprietary No-ring™ scaling technologies,” says Lumagen President and CTO Jim Peterson.
“Radiance offers 10-bit processing, per-pixel standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) video de-interlacing with adaptive diagonal filtering, edge enhancing scaling technology that does not add ringing (unlike competing products), plus MPEG mosquito and block artifact reduction. Finally, an important image quality feature is temporal noise reduction for both SD and HD sources. For all these reasons, the Radiance™ processor series sets the industry benchmark for switching, calibration and video processing performance,” furthered Peterson.
The first product in Lumagen's Radiance™ series is the RadianceXD™ which supports 18 video inputs - six HDMI with HDCP, four SD/HD component, four S-Video, and four composite. Component inputs can be combined with a composite to support up to four SCART RGBcvS video sources. The HDMI and component inputs accept resolutions of up to 1080p at 60 Hertz. Audio input can accompany the video on one of the HDMI inputs, or use one of the four analog stereo pairs, six coax or two optical audio inputs.
The RadianceXD supports two HDMI outputs at resolutions up to 1920 by 1080, at 60-Hertz progressive. The second HDMI output can be a copy of the first output, or it can be used as an audio only output to send audio to receivers that do not support full 1080p60 for their HDMI inputs. Audio output is supported on the HDMI connections plus two COAX audio outputs.
Other RadianceXD key features include user-adjustable image enhancement, including four configuration memories for each input, a programmable output resolution from 480p to 1080p, plus 1080i; the ability to zoom in on any source by up to 33 percent; selectable aspect ratios of 4:3, 4:3 NLS, 16:9, 1.85, and 2.35. The 4:3 NLS aspect ratio uses Lumagen's Preciseview™ user programmable non-linear-stretch mode to allow the user to program exactly how 4:3 sources fill a 16:9 display. For film sources 2:2, 3:2 and 3:3 pull-down detection is supported to allow for correct cadence output at 24, 48, 60 and 72 Hertz for 24 fps film sources, plus 50 and 75 Hertz for 25 fps film source.
The RadianceXD is a modular platform that allows for upgrading capabilities without the need to purchase an entirely new video processor. For example, the unit's current video processor chip utilizes 10-bit pixel-depth processing, however when a 16-bit pixel-depth video processor becomes available from Lumagen, it can be installed by simply replacing a small daughter card and updating the unit's software.
The Radiance series automatically detects the input format for SD composite, and SVideo, as well as HD component and HDMI signals. There is an extensive suite of test patterns. These include: 11-point parametric grayscale and gamma calibration; Color and Hue offsets; Y/C delay; CUE/ICP filtering, and programmable input and output color-space. An RS232 interface is provided for software upgrades and control functions. An external universal power supply enhances reliability, placement options, and allows for quiet – no fan – operation.
The UK distributor, are aware that when you have a processor with this level of sophistication, it is unwise to allow someone with no training to set it up. That's why we are very careful in selecting who will resell Lumagen Radiance. While it is quite possible to follow set up guides and do a decent job yourself the real power of these devices is only tapped by someone who has experience of them and who knows how to get the best from them. Even although Radiance will have clearer, more intuitive on screen graphics, with HELP menu options, the increased calibration and configuration possibilities that Radiance offers will put it in another league once again. To that end we have taken the complexity and fear away from the customer. All RadianceXD will be setup and configured for optimum performance by your dealer as standard and a copy of the configuration will be backed up for safekeeping and analysis. All you have to worry about is what to watch next!
Lumagen also produces the Vision series of video processors. These award-wining products were the first to provide affordable per-pixel HD de-interlacing for video sources and inverse-telecine for 1080i film-based sources, allowing a true 1080p viewing experience. Members of the Vision series include the VisionHDP and the Vision HDQ.
Feature list:
Inputs (18 audio and video inputs):
- 6 HDMI with HDCP
- 4 SD/HD Component/RGB
- 4 SVideo
- 4 Composite (can combine with RGB for up to 4 RGB Scart inputs)
- 4 Stereo analog
- 6 COAX audio
- 2 Optical audio
Outputs (2 video, 4 audio including audio on HDMI outputs):
- 2 HDMI
- 2 COAX audio
Functionality:
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and Picture-Outside-Picture (PoP)
- Two HDMI outputs allow two digital HDCP displays to have independent setups
- Second HDMI output can be copy of the first, or it can be audio only at a lower rate for receivers not capable of accepting 1080p inputs
- 10-bit processing input to output
- Modular design. Video processing can be upgraded to 16-bit when 16-bit depth video processing chip becomes available, by replacing small daughter-card.
- Per-pixel detail enhancement
- MPEG artifact reduction, including mosquito and block artifacts
- Temporal noise reduction for SD and HD sources
- Per-pixel noise adaptive, directional interpolation video deinterlacing
- Film inverse-telecine with cadence processing including bad-edit detection
- Film genlock for correct 24, 48, 60, 72-Hertz output (24fps), and 50, 75 Hertz (25fps)
- Inherently low-latency video and film deinterlacing (1.25 frame if genlocked)
- Game mode for lowest latency (approximately 0.25 fames if genlocked)
- MPEG mosquito and block artifact noise reduction
- Lip-sync matching for audio and video
- HDMI and analog support up to 1080p input
- Adaptive diagonal filter for best quality video source processing
- Full-resolution Chroma processing (4:4:4)
- Direct selection of 4:3, 4:3 NLS, 16:9, 1.85 and 2.35 source aspect ratio
- User definable Preciseview™ Non-Linear-Stretch (NLS) of 4:3 source on 16:9 screen
- Software and video processing algorithms are user upgradeable using free updates
- 11-point parametric gamma grayscale calibration
- Color and Hue offsets for Red and Green push correction
- Primary color correction
- Extensive test patterns for display/projector setup
- Extensive input and output sizing, color-space, etc, controls provide an optimal setup for all combinations of input sources and displays.
- Rack mountable case (17 by 3.5 by 10.5)
- Optional external HDMI to analog converter
- Optional rack mount ears
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