Component Outputs Noisy?
 

I was running some tests yesterday and checking out the component output of our HD100 on a new 26" LCD HDTV and couldn't believe how noisy the output was. Is this what other people have experienced? The shot was an outdoor cityscape so lack of light was not the issue. There was no gain and I went through changing a lot of the processing options because I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. I basically returned all processing to neutral settings to see what the difference was and did not really notice a difference in terms of noise.

Is there anyway that the component outputs are post-MPEG2 processing? It certainly looked like post-encoding noise to me.

If anyone has any ideas about something I may have messed up or if you think I need the camera check by a JVC repair shop, I'd love to hear it. As I haven't had a chance to check out most of our footage from the camera yet, I'd hate to find a nasty surprise down the road.

mg

I use the components to view the action when we're on set. Perhaps a bit noisy, but not unbelievebly so.

Did you swap out our cables? Use fat cables?

Are you near a strong radio/electric source?

Sure the cables are conected correctly at both ends?

And lastly, are you sure the set is cool?

Good luck, Merry Christmas -

john
evilgeniusentertainment.com

The component analog signal off of my HD100 into my black magic multibridge extreme is clean as a whistle.

I get a clean signal 100% of the time to a HD studio monitor.

Try different cables. I use properly shielded BNC cables with BNC to RCA adapters on the camera end.

Turn your detail setting to "minimum".

This will eliminate the edgy look. You can't really see the difference on a SD monitor but on an HD monitor, turning down the detail setting give you a much more solid, smooth look without the grainy noise.

Matthew,

The suggestions that others on this thread have made are good, but also consider this:

Many people have found that the quality of LCD HDTV's varies widely, and that some consumer LCD HDTV's introduce a good bit of noise on their own. I woud suggest that you connect the camera to a professional grade HDTV monitor, not a TV set, and preferably CRT-based, before deciding that the camera's at fault. If you can't get to a CRT HD monitor, then try a professional grade HD LCD monitor. Most JVC Pro dealers are equipped with professional grade HD monitors that you could coordinate a test with.

To answer your question, the component output is before the MPEG encoder - it is a full-bandwidth, uncompressed signal, if the camera is live. Of course, if you record on tape and then play it back, then the signal is being compressed and then uncompressed.

Regards,

Carl,

Thanks for the reply. For a little background, I've done switching between a Varicam and the HD100 on a SD/HD switchable Sony monitor (forget the model number) and didn't notice any real noise difference. That monitor was only about 8 or 9 inches though so I think that's where the surprise came from -- from seeing it much larger and seeing the noise introduced.

I will check it out on a decenter HD monitor next time I get the chance.

mg