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Product Description
An easy-to-use guide for calibrating high-definition televisions and state-of-the-art home cinema systems.
Review
Digital Video Essentials HD Basics: Back in 1998 I received a marked jump in my knowledge about video in a period of about an hour. That was because I had bought the DVD 'Video Essentials' from the US. The disc talked through the process of setting up a display for fine video quality. It indicated what to look for. It explained what the controls actually do. It sought to convince that accuracy should be the aim. But it was in NTSC format, not our own PAL system, which limited the usefulness of its test patterns. Now Joe Kane Productions, responsible for that disc, released 'Digital Video Essentials' about four years ago in both NTSC and PAL versions. It followed this with a version of Digital Video Essentials in HD DVD in 2007. And, now, at last, DVE HD Basics on Blu-ray. If you have a Blu-ray player, you should buy this disc. That's all there is to it. It supplies nearly all you need to set up your sound and video systems, and helps you understand how to do it. There are three sets of video running to a total of 126 minutes that will leave you ... not an expert, but someone with a decent understanding of how to use the supplied test patterns to make your display produce a better, more accurate picture. Only a professional trained by the Imaging Sciences Foundation-trained could improve it. Included in the package are three colour filters to help you use the test patterns to best advantage. Not all is perfect. There are dozens of test patterns, but none designed help optimise moving video quality. The instructional section on sound standards talks about 5.1 and 6.1 channels, but not 7.1. The audio test signals are all in 5.1 channels (the PAL DVE version also had 6.1 channel calibration). Some of the test video sequences are sufficiently old that they were captured in 720p rather 1080p. Still, with this disc you will get the your display starting to operate the way that it ought to. --Sound and Image 2008
It seems like the TV calibration wiz, Joe Kane, isn't going to sleep until every HDTV around is properly calibrated. In the past he has produced Video Essentials and then Digital Video Essentials (DVE) but neither one of these calibration discs properly addressed high-def basics. Hence the follow-up HD DVD and Blu-ray release titled DVE: HD Basics. This disc features six essential calibration tests that should only take a few minutes to run but if the consumer wants to dive into the vast world of calibration, the disc also includes many of the same patterns found on the professional DVE release. It would be nice to see retailers throw in this $30 disc when someone buys an HDTV set along with an HD DVD or Blu-ray drive but then they couldn't sell their in-house services. The disc is going to hit store shelves just in time for the holiday season on October 30 and we would like to point out that this disc would be a great gift for anyone receiving a high-def set from Santa this year. Just think, they could set up the HDTV themselves, leaving you, the TV guy to enjoy your holiday eggnog. Matt Burns, enGadget website --Matt Burns, enGadget
It seems like the TV calibration wiz, Joe Kane, isn't going to sleep until every HDTV around is properly calibrated. In the past he has produced Video Essentials and then Digital Video Essentials (DVE) but neither one of these calibration discs properly addressed high-def basics. Hence the follow-up HD DVD and Blu-ray release titled DVE: HD Basics. This disc features six essential calibration tests that should only take a few minutes to run but if the consumer wants to dive into the vast world of calibration, the disc also includes many of the same patterns found on the professional DVE release. It would be nice to see retailers throw in this $30 disc when someone buys an HDTV set along with an HD DVD or Blu-ray drive but then they couldn't sell their in-house services. The disc is going to hit store shelves just in time for the holiday season on October 30 and we would like to point out that this disc would be a great gift for anyone receiving a high-def set from Santa this year. Just think, they could set up the HDTV themselves, leaving you, the TV guy to enjoy your holiday eggnog. Matt Burns, enGadget website --Matt Burns, enGadget
It seems like the TV calibration wiz, Joe Kane, isn't going to sleep until every HDTV around is properly calibrated. In the past he has produced Video Essentials and then Digital Video Essentials (DVE) but neither one of these calibration discs properly addressed high-def basics. Hence the follow-up HD DVD and Blu-ray release titled DVE: HD Basics. This disc features six essential calibration tests that should only take a few minutes to run but if the consumer wants to dive into the vast world of calibration, the disc also includes many of the same patterns found on the professional DVE release. It would be nice to see retailers throw in this $30 disc when someone buys an HDTV set along with an HD DVD or Blu-ray drive but then they couldn't sell their in-house services. The disc is going to hit store shelves just in time for the holiday season on October 30 and we would like to point out that this disc would be a great gift for anyone receiving a high-def set from Santa this year. Just think, they could set up the HDTV themselves, leaving you, the TV guy to enjoy your holiday eggnog. Matt Burns, enGadget website --Matt Burns, enGadget
It seems like the TV calibration wiz, Joe Kane, isn't going to sleep until every HDTV around is properly calibrated. In the past he has produced Video Essentials and then Digital Video Essentials (DVE) but neither one of these calibration discs properly addressed high-def basics. Hence the follow-up HD DVD and Blu-ray release titled DVE: HD Basics. This disc features six essential calibration tests that should only take a few minutes to run but if the consumer wants to dive into the vast world of calibration, the disc also includes many of the same patterns found on the professional DVE release. It would be nice to see retailers throw in this $30 disc when someone buys an HDTV set along with an HD DVD or Blu-ray drive but then they couldn't sell their in-house services. The disc is going to hit store shelves just in time for the holiday season on October 30 and we would like to point out that this disc would be a great gift for anyone receiving a high-def set from Santa this year. Just think, they could set up the HDTV themselves, leaving you, the TV guy to enjoy your holiday eggnog. Matt Burns, enGadget website --Matt Burns, enGadget
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By J. Lavender
Format:Blu-ray
I purchased this blu-ray to setup a new hd tv I had purchased as I wanted to get the best out of it that I could. There is a lot of background information to do with HD and various standards, which did bore me within the first 15 minutes. So I skipped straight to the calibration section.
This section is really what you buy this disc for and so I was a little dissapointed to find the narrator taking forever to explain how to use the test screens, when really it can be explained within a few sentences. Even then, the explanation is not crystal clear and led to some confusion when calibrating my screen, meaning I would have to go back and listen again in detail to what the narrator is saying word for word. This could lead to people miscalibrating their screens, and left me a bit miffed when I was left with a dull blue-tinted screen the first time i tried it.
Once you get used to the narrator and manage get what you need to know from the excessive explanations, you will get better results. I found myself using the test screens on their own once I figured out what I was supposed to do with them.
It did take a fair bit of trial and error to get a result I was happy with as the test patterns do show the shortcommings of my tv, which means having to compromise with some calibrations. The narrator gives the impression that this is a common problem however, and that most users will face these problems as manufacturers fail to make tv's which adhere to various standards needed to reproduce a reliable image.
Overall I am pleased to have purchased this disc, knowing that I am getting much better picture quality from my new tv. For those of you that want to get the most from your own HDTV this is an essential purchase.
This section is really what you buy this disc for and so I was a little dissapointed to find the narrator taking forever to explain how to use the test screens, when really it can be explained within a few sentences. Even then, the explanation is not crystal clear and led to some confusion when calibrating my screen, meaning I would have to go back and listen again in detail to what the narrator is saying word for word. This could lead to people miscalibrating their screens, and left me a bit miffed when I was left with a dull blue-tinted screen the first time i tried it.
Once you get used to the narrator and manage get what you need to know from the excessive explanations, you will get better results. I found myself using the test screens on their own once I figured out what I was supposed to do with them.
It did take a fair bit of trial and error to get a result I was happy with as the test patterns do show the shortcommings of my tv, which means having to compromise with some calibrations. The narrator gives the impression that this is a common problem however, and that most users will face these problems as manufacturers fail to make tv's which adhere to various standards needed to reproduce a reliable image.
Overall I am pleased to have purchased this disc, knowing that I am getting much better picture quality from my new tv. For those of you that want to get the most from your own HDTV this is an essential purchase.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Chris A
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great start for anyone with a new HDTV or AV set up who really want the best out of it. But be warned there is a lengthy and rather poorly explained introduction. This goes straight into quite a complex explanation of the origins of audio visual standards and the fact that no TV (or very few) is truly correct. Having said that I did learn quite a lot, but I imagine few would sit through the rather monotone monologue.
The test cards are very good, but for this money it seems rather overpriced, since you can down load or create various test cards yourself.
In short this is a quick way to set up your system, but it can mostly be done for little outlay by searching on the internet if you are prepared to look around.
The test cards are very good, but for this money it seems rather overpriced, since you can down load or create various test cards yourself.
In short this is a quick way to set up your system, but it can mostly be done for little outlay by searching on the internet if you are prepared to look around.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
beware selling on uk website but supplying us disk thats no good on uk players
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great results. Tricky to use.
There is no question, you will absolutely improve you picture if you follow the instructions. Unfortunately, much of it is boring or awkward to watch. Read more
Published 20 months ago by The Lone Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
This Blu ray is now region B(2) so you can use it on blu ray players purchased in the UK
The blu ray will definitely improve image quality of your tv
The blu ray will definitely improve image quality of your tv
Published 23 months ago by gammage9542
4.0 out of 5 stars
Useful disc for making the most of your setup.
All the video AND audio calibration tools you need to do a good job of setting-up your system.
The full suite of video calibration screens are there. Read more
The full suite of video calibration screens are there. Read more
Published on 8 May 2011 by P. Duggan
1.0 out of 5 stars
I'm glad it's not just me....
I keep asking myself why I purchased this drivel, as I'm sure it seemed a good idea at the time.
As everyone else mentions, there is an incredibly tedious bloke that goes on... Read more
As everyone else mentions, there is an incredibly tedious bloke that goes on... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2011 by Kwaze
1.0 out of 5 stars
Watch out for region code !
Got this from a UK seller, but the bluray was region coded for US making it completely useless to me.
Published on 2 Jan 2011 by Cookie
1.0 out of 5 stars
REGION A LOCKED
THIS IS A NO STAR REVIEW AS THIS BLU RAY IS REGION A LOCKED AND WILL NOT PLAY ON EUROPEAN MACHINES THIS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES BUT AMAZON STILL LISTS IT AS REGION FREE
Published on 2 Jan 2011 by Graham P. Davies
1.0 out of 5 stars
Sent Region A NOT 'All Regions' as advertized.
I deliberately spent several minutes checking that this item was for Region B or All regions, before ordering.
It was advertized for All regions. Read more
It was advertized for All regions. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2010 by BJ
1.0 out of 5 stars
Digital Video Essentials - HD Basics (WRONG REGION)
Sadly I was unable to reveiw the item as it was packaged as a Region 1 Blu-Ray disc and not Multi-Region as stated on item advertisement.
Not recommended. Read more
Not recommended. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2010 by The Instructor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Setup Disc
This disc will reward the user who takes the time to absorb everything covered. It is very informative and the settings should not be rushed. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2010 by M. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
be prepared for a night in setting it all up
loads of test images etc , make sure you allow a few hours to do it.
tbh when i finished i just changed ev thing to how i like the look of, lets face it why set it up... Read more
tbh when i finished i just changed ev thing to how i like the look of, lets face it why set it up... Read more
Published on 16 July 2010 by chris wray
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