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Pixel Magic Crystalio II Owner's Manual

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  • Page 1 Owner’s Guide...

  • Page 2: Safety Information

    SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THIS PLUG WITH AN EXTENSION LEAD, RECEPTICLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

  • Page 3: Additional Safety Instructions

    ADDITIONAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS • To ensure maximum performance, please read this manual carefully. Keep it in a safe place for future reference • Install this unit in a cool, dry, clean place – away from windows, heat sources, sources of excessive vibration, dust, moisture and cold.

  • Page 4: Crystalio Ii Owner's Guide

    This unit will bring you a breathtaking visual experience by revealing the full potential of your display devices. After unpacking Crystalio II, please save all packing materials; they may be useful as a safe way to transport your system. If any part of your system is missing or appears damaged, contact your dealer immediately.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Safety Information Important Safety Instructions Additional Safety Instructions Welcome 1. About Crystalio II Why do I need Crystalio II? Video Processing History Video Processing Technology Primer 2. Familiarizing yourself with Crystalio II Crystalio II Front Panel Crystalio II Rear Panel Remote Control 2.3.1...
  • Page 6 5. Crystalio II Configuration INPUT Sub-Menu 5.1.1 Input Select 5.1.2 Input Port Configuration 5.1.3 Analog Input Adjust 5.1.4 Hide Input Source 5.1.5 Input Profile IMAGE Sub-Menu 5.2.1 Video Settings 5.2.2 Color Temperature 5.2.3 Gamma Correction 5.2.4 Aspect Ratio 5.2.5 Overscan 5.2.6...
  • Page 7 7. Advanced OSD options HDMI Input Configuration Advanced Gamma Correction 7.2.1 User Defined Gamma Curve 7.2.2 R/G/B Individual Gamma Curve Y/C Delay Noise Reducer Smooth Scaling Faroudja Processor Chip Advanced Options 7.6.1 True Life 7.6.2 Film Bias 7.6.3 Film Detect Advanced Output Port Configuration 7.7.1 Voltage Pump...

  • Page 8: About Crystalio

    1. ABOUT CRYSTALIO II With the huge success of Crystalio in past years, Pixel Magic Systems Ltd. is now proud to introduce an absolute must for any videophile passionate about their hi-performance home entertainment system: Crystalio II. It has been designed to deliver the most natural and artifact- free images with smooth motion, true colors and stunning detail that you have ever experienced.

  • Page 9: Video Processing Technology Primer

    Pixel Magic together with the awesome power of the Gennum Visual Excellence Processing (VXP) image processor. Crystalio II is the first video processor on the market to use the latest Gennum VXP processor so, if you want to enjoy the benefit of the new benchmarks for video realism and processing flexibility, Crystalio II is your video processor of choice.
  • Page 10 FAROUDJA TECHNOLOGIES: DCDi ® DCDi ® eliminates the jaggedness that conventional up-converters cause to diagonal edges in ® video. DCDi ’s unique algorithm identifies all the moving edges in a scene and adjusts the angle of interpolation at each pixel so that the interpolation always follows the edge instead of crossing it, eliminating staircasing or jagged edge artifacts.

  • Page 11: Familiarizing Yourself With Crystalio

    Press once to switch on; press once again to switch to standby. The status is shown by the power indicator LED. Caution: When Crystalio II is switched off, please wait for at least 10 seconds before switching it on again.
  • Page 12 • Output resolution • Deinterlacing mode Setup Display When you are setting up Crystalio II, the LCD display shows the setup menu. Typical operation includes: • To enter menu set up mode, press [OK] • To highlight the previous or next item, press [UP] or [DOWN] •...

  • Page 13: Crystalio Ii Rear Panel

    POWER Power Supply Cable Entry Use the cable supplied with your Crystalio II. VIDEO INPUT TERMINALS These allow you to connect your video sources to Crystalio II. Please refer to Section 3.3 details. Digital HDMI 1; HDMI 2; HDMI 3; HDMI 4 (all HDCP and embedded digital audio) HD-SDI/SD-SDI 1;...
  • Page 14 The HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) provides the best quality video and audio output from Crystalio II. If you are connecting to a display device that has a HDMI terminal, this is the recommended option to use. This allows direct transmission of the video information from Crystalio II to the display without any conversion from digital to analogue signals.

  • Page 15: Remote Control

    Please check future firmware updates for information. REMOTE CONTROL There are two remote controls; one for main Crystalio II functions and one for media player functions on Crystalio II model VPS3800 Pro (please refer to the Crystalio II Media Player User Guide for detailed information about the Media Player and the remote control).
  • Page 16 • Back - goes back to the previous step or previous OSD page When not in OSD menu, some keys have different functions: • OK - shows the Crystalio II status information: • Input: • Input source name, or user defined source name •...
  • Page 17 Off: Power off Light: • Turns on Crystalio II Front Panel LCD light for a short time • When in OSD menu, toggles Hide/Show of the whole OSD (note that the OSD menu will still exit after the time-out period)

  • Page 18: Hardware Installation

    Caution: Connect Crystalio II to a power point using the mains cable provided. VIDEO INPUTS Crystalio II includes a comprehensive set of input terminals to allow you to connect a wide range of video sources. For the best results you should: •...

  • Page 19: Video Outputs

    Section 4.6.1). PRODUCT REGISTRATION To enjoy the 12-month warranty for your Crystalio II, you must register online at: http://www.crystalio.com/support.html This will only take a couple of minutes. You will need your serial number so please make a note of it prior to registering your Crystalio II.

  • Page 20: Basic Setup

    Press the POWER button on the front panel. The Power LED should show green and the LCD display illuminates. Note that you will need to wait for approximately 5 seconds for Crystalio II to initialize and for video to display.

  • Page 21: Set Output Format/Resolution

    (size) to the native resolution of the display for optimum results. If the Crystalio II output resolution is mapped to the display in 1:1 mode, or pixel perfect mode, this ensures all video processing and scaling is done by Crystalio II. This is very important because: •...
  • Page 22 Video Test Pattern: Horizontal Line 50 Pixel Perfect Not Pixel Perfect Video Test Pattern: Vertical Line 50 Video Test Pattern: Vertical Line 50 Pixel Perfect Not Pixel Perfect Video Test Pattern: Pixel Magic Video Test Pattern: Pixel Magic Pixel Perfect Not Pixel Perfect...

  • Page 23: Output 50Hz Or 60Hz Automatically

    60Hz vertical refresh rate) and produce a 60Hz refresh rate video image. You can verify this if you have configured Crystalio II to output the same refresh rate as the input; if with a 50Hz source you see jerkiness in the image, your display’s internal scaler may be performing a frame rate conversion to 60Hz...
  • Page 24 * Advanced Gamma Correction function is available only in firmware version 2.00 or later If you have two digital displays connected to Crystalio II’s HDMI output ports, you have to calibrate each of them according to the steps above. Remember to: •...

  • Page 25: Calibrate The Video Level And Color Balance Of Your Video Sources

    • Adjust Red, Green, and/or Blue Offset settings of Crystalio II to fine tune the color of black bar if it doesn’t look a neutral black • Adjust Red, Green, and/or Blue Gain settings of Crystalio II to fine tune the color of white bar if it doesn’t look a neutral white...

  • Page 26: Digital Projector With Anamorphic Lens

    Video Profiles. Note that Crystalio II has 10 different Video Profiles for each individual video input port. If you use both NTSC and PAL video into an input you can program DynamicVP™...

  • Page 27: Tips For Avoiding Burn-In On Plasma Displays

    If your projector’s native output is 4:3 (e.g. some 1400x1050 LCOS projectors) and you are using an anamorphic lens to compress it to show a 16:9 image, you need to configure the Screen Shape to be 16:9 instead of the default 4:3. Follow the steps below: •...

  • Page 28: Sweet Spot Timings

    PAL is 50Hz vertical refresh rate, the requirement for 3:2 pulldown (NTSC) and 2:2 pulldown (PAL) is created (you can research this in more detail on the internet). Crystalio II has the ability to offer 48Hz (24 film frames times two) and 72Hz (24 film frames times three).

  • Page 29: Basic Calibration

    4.7.3 BASIC CALIBRATION Section 4.6.3 for help with picture calibration. Most of the basic steps for pixel-based displays apply except for CRT projectors. They may have more control over color balance, which generally involves the ability to calibrate and store color balance per projector source memory. Setting contrast or peak white level is more difficult with a CRT projector as the blue tube will normally be close to beam current-limiting at full IRE100 output over the whole screen.

  • Page 30: Crystalio Ii Configuration

    The Input sub-menu consists of all options related to the inputs of Crystalio II 5.1.1 INPUT SELECT This option allows you to select the active video source. • If you have configured Crystalio II to hide one or more sources, the hidden sources will not be shown (see Section 5.1.4 for details) •...

  • Page 31: Input Port Configuration

    5.1.2 INPUT PORT CONFIGURATION This option is used to define the characteristics of the input ports • You can define the format of the component input ports • You can assign a name to each input port to improve day to day operation. For example, the input port for DVD could be called ‘DVD’;...

  • Page 32: Hide Input Source

    Menu key to exit from OSD mode 5.1.4 HIDE INPUT SOURCE Crystalio II has a comprehensive set of input connections. For ease of use it may be more convenient to remove any unused inputs from the OSD and LCD front panel menu selections.

  • Page 33: Image Sub-Menu

    • Store the input profile by pressing any of the profile numbers under Store • Recall any input profile by pressing the desire profile number under Recall • By pressing the action button, the OSD turns to the following page: •...

  • Page 34: Color Temperature

    • The effect of Gain is roughly the same as “Contrast”. It adjusts the total video output level of Crystalio II. The most obvious effect is that when it is increased, you’ll see the white level of the image become brighter, thus giving you a similar effect to more contrast •...
  • Page 35 • Pressing Back on the remote control will return you to the full OSD, or simply press the Menu key to exit from OSD mode The following graphs represent the Gamma Correction acheived by using Crystalio II's preset options. The 'x axis' is the original source IRE value and the 'y axis' is the corrected output IRE value.
  • Page 36 When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • Store the gamma profile by pressing any of the profile numbers under Store • Recall any gamma profile by pressing the desired profile number under Recall •...

  • Page 37: Aspect Ratio

    • When aspect ratio is Full Screen, the image occupies the whole display • 1:1 Pixel Mapping maps the source to the display pixel by pixel, with no scaling performed by Crystalio II. For example, a NTSC DVD will be shown as 720x480 on the display •...

  • Page 38: Position

    • When overscan is smaller than zero, the image is reduced in size and borders are filled with the background color (see Section 5.2.7 on how to change the background color) • Use the Left/Right arrow remote control keys to adjust the slider •...

  • Page 39: Deinterlace

    • Default background color is Black 5.2.8 DEINTERLACE This option allows the user to select the deinterlacing method of Crystalio II. Since Crystalio II is a dual processor design, you can define deinterlacing of both the VXP processor chip by Gennum, and the FLI2300 processor chip by Faroudja.

  • Page 40: Noise Reducer

    • NTSC@30: Crystalio II will automatically select the deinterlacing method from one of the below: • DCDi • 3:2 reverse pulldown • 2:2 reverse pulldown (PAL and NTSC) • 2:2 Even: Crystalio II will only use 2:2 reverse pulldown (even) •...

  • Page 41: Video Profile

    5.2.11 VIDEO PROFILE This option stores video image configuration parameters, which include: • Image Aspect Ratio • Overscan • Image Position • Image Crop • Video settings: Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Hue • Color Temperature settings • Deinterlacing modes • DCDi Enabled/Disabled (bypass FLI2300) •...

  • Page 42: Output Sub-Menu

    • Video output of Crystalio II is targeted for the Primary output port • Crystalio II simultaneously outputs video to all three output ports. All three ports will also be set at the same resolution (that of the Primary Port). Because the Primary Port settings will always take priority over secondary port settings, you may find that the video quality of the secondary ports will not be as good as when they are set to Primary.

  • Page 43: Output Port Configuration

    5.3.2 OUTPUT PORT CONFIGURATION This option defines the characteristics of output ports. • You can define the color space of the analog output port • You can name each output port When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: •...

  • Page 44: Output Resolution

    • If you select a resolution or format with 24Hz, 48Hz or 72Hz refresh rate, Crystalio II will automatically perform Cadence Lock of 24 frames per second for film source material •...

  • Page 45: Screen Shape

    A confirmation box will appear for about 10 seconds for you to confirm the new resolution. If the new resolution is not confirmed, Crystalio II will revert to the previous resolution in case your display did not lock to the new resolution •...

  • Page 46: Screen Masking (Blanking)

    output resolution. Example: 1280 x 768 pixels is 1.66 (1280 divided by 768) and 1280 x 1024 pixels is 1.25 (1280 divided by 1024). This setting is normally used for non-standard display aspect ratios. In the case of 1280 x 768 pixels the ratio is 15:9 instead of 16:9 Define any custom display aspect ratio by selecting Customize and pressing the action button.

  • Page 47: Output Profile

    When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • The mask layer color can be defined by selecting the color and pressing OK • Default mask layer color is Black 5.3.6 OUTPUT PROFILE This stores output configuration parameters, which include: •...

  • Page 48: Audio Sub-Menu

    • Clear the name by pressing the action button AUDIO SUB-MENU The Audio sub-menu consists of all options related to the audio features of Crystalio II. • Crystalio II has 3 audio output ports: • 1 digital coaxial audio output •...

  • Page 49: Audio Input Select

    • HDMI3 audio can not be mapped to HDMI4 video source • HDMI4 audio can not be mapped to HDMI3 video source • Crystalio II outputs the audio to ALL of its audio output ports 5.4.2 INPUT PORT CONFIGURATION • You can define names for each input port, to help with identification •...

  • Page 50: Audio Delay

    Crystalio II. Since all video processors require a period of time to deinterlace and scale video this option allows the audio to be synchronized to the video. • Audio delay can only be applied to audio passed thru Crystalio II. It cannot be applied to audio passed directly to an audio processor or surround controller •...

  • Page 51: System Sub-Menu

    SYSTEM SUB-MENU The System sub-menu consists of all options related to the system settings of Crystalio II. 5.5.1 OSD OPTIONS You can change some characteristics of the OSD, such as: • The transparency of the OSD • The size of the OSD* •...

  • Page 52: Front Panel

    5.5.3 PASSTHRU This option controls whether the input video should be processed by Crystalio II or passed thru directly to the output port without any processing. • Passthru from SDI and analog input is only available in firmware version 2.00 or later •...

  • Page 53: Advanced Option

    • Press to go back without resetting • Warning: All Crystalio II custom settings will be lost by performing a factory reset. Section 5.5.7 for details on how to save part or all of your custom settings...

  • Page 54: Firmware Upgrade

    5.5.6 FIRMWARE UPGRADE This option is used to do firmware upgrades. If your firmware is downloaded onto a USB disk, insert it into Crystalio II’s USB port and press the action button to start the firmware upgrade 5.5.7 IMPORT/EXPORT SETTINGS Crystalio II’s settings can be exported and saved onto a USB disc for later import and restore.

  • Page 55: Front Panel Configuration

    6. FRONT PANEL CONFIGURATION A sub-set of Crystalio II configurations can be done using the front panel and LCD Display. The menu tree diagram on the following page illustrates the navigation of the menu and the configuration options available. For details about how Crystalio II can be configured using the...

  • Page 57: Advanced Osd Options

    Alternatively you can force Crystalio II to handle the input video format as defined • When Input Color Space is set to Auto Detect, Crystalio II will take the color space information embedded in the HDMI video signal. If no color space information is present, RGB will be used •...

  • Page 58: Advanced Gamma Correction

    = adjustment point User Gamma can be adjusted along the vertical lines in the graph to create the desired gamma curve. Crystalio II will create a smooth curve between the adjustment points. When User is selected as the Gamma Type and the...

  • Page 59: R/G/B Individual Gamma Curve

    Use the Left/Right remote control keys to adjust the Output Luminance at that IRE value. To return to the User IRE slider press the Back remote control key. • User IRE slider has values from 7.5 (black) to 100 at 5 IRE intervals from 10-100 (refer to the graph on the previous page) •...

  • Page 60: Y/C Delay

    Y/C DELAY This option is used to set the Y/C delay of the source. • Sometimes the timing of Luminance (brightness) and Chrominance (color) of the video source signal may be slightly mismatched due to transmission delay, long S-Video cable runs, or incorrectly encoded source material.

  • Page 61: Faroudja Processor Chip Advanced Options

    • High values of smoothness can reduce the “Staircase” effect when the resolution of the input video source is low, or when it has a certain degree of pixelization • Low values of smoothness can make the image look sharper •...

  • Page 62: True Life

    7.6.1 TRUE LIFE When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • Enter value in the [numeric entry box] • Press the action button to apply the changes •...

  • Page 63: Film Bias

    7.6.2 FILM BIAS This option adjusts the deinterlacer’s level of bias towards either film mode or video mode while operating in any automatic detection mode. • Select Film Bias in the dropdown list • Press the action button to apply the changes •...

  • Page 64: Voltage Pump

    Primary Output Port. Crystalio II will attempt to maintain the Color Space and Video Level of secondary output ports but the following table gives a full list of cases where this may not be possible:...

  • Page 65: Output Sync Polarity/Sync Type

    Primary output port Secondary output port defined as Secondary port actual output HDMI RGB HDMI YCbCr 4:2:2 HDMI RGB HDMI RGB HDMI YCbCr 4:4:4 HDMI RGB HDMI RGB 16-235 Video Level HDMI 0-255 PC Level HDMI 16-235 Video Level HDMI YCbCr 4:4:4 HDMI YCbCr 4:2:2 HDMI YCbCr 4:4:4 Analog RGBHV or RGsB or RGBS...

  • Page 66: Output Port Configuration When In Passthru Mode

    If the Analog output is configured as RGBS, the composite sync is simply the combined signal of H-sync and V-sync. Please adjust the sync polarities of both H-sync and V-sync accordingly. If the Analog output is configured as YPbPr or RGsB, the OSD turns to the following page: 7.7.4 OUTPUT PORT CONFIGURATION WHEN IN PASSTHRU MODE •...
  • Page 67 Primary Output Port. However, in Passthru mode, Crystalio II will still output the video to the secondary output ports and attempt to maintain the Color Space and Video Level of secondary output ports;...

  • Page 68: Output Sync Polarity/Sync Type When In Passthru Mode

    7.7.5 OUTPUT SYNC POLARITY/SYNC TYPE WHEN IN PASSTHRU MODE • Output Horizontal and Vertical sync polarities of HDMI can be defined as: • Positive • Negative • Same as Input • When Analog output is RGBHV or RGBS, Horizontal and Vertical sync polarities can be defined as: •...
  • Page 69 • Select the correct polarity for your display. Consult the display manufacturer’s user guide for help • If polarity is unknown, select the polarity that gives a stable picture. Incorrect vertical polarity often results in a rolling image. Incorrect horizontal polarity may result in loss of picture or the picture moving to one side of the display •...

  • Page 70: Audio Delay Profile

    When Crystalio II is working (either processing or in passthru mode) on one input to one output, Crystalio II can also have another input being passed thru to another output. • This feature is available only in firmware version 2.00 or later...
  • Page 71 When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • Define the secondary passthru video path by selecting the Passthru Video From option • Video Input: • You can select video input from any of the HDMI, Component 1 and Component 2 ports as the “source”...
  • Page 72 • Video Output: • You can select any of the output ports as “secondary passthru” output port. However, when the output port of “normal processing” and “secondary passthru” is the same, “normal processing” has the priority • You can also set the output color space •...
  • Page 73 The passthru path and settings can be stored in profiles. When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • Secondary Passthru profile consists of the following: • Secondary Passthru ON or OFF • Passthru Video From •...

  • Page 74: Picture In Picture/Picture By Picture

    7.10 PICTURE IN PICTURE/PICTURE BY PICTURE • When Crystalio II is in “Picture In Picture” (PIP) mode, there is a small sub-picture on top of the main picture, which comes from another video input source. In PIP mode, you can: •...
  • Page 75 • Audio Output: • You can also define any audio output port as the output of sub-picture audio. In this case, the audio output port(s) is switched to output audio from the “audio source of sub- picture” rather than audio from the “audio source of normal processing” •...
  • Page 76 When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • PIP/PBP profile contains the following: • PIP/PBP mode (includes OFF, PIP , and PBP) •...

  • Page 77: Dynamicvp

    DynamicVP Mode is “ON” • Crystalio II checks the video format under “When Input” one by one. If it matches the input video format, the action under “Action/Resolution” will be executed or the resolution will be set as the output resolution •...
  • Page 78 • Action/Resolution dropdown 1 options: • Output Format • Output Resolution • Custom Resolution (available only if customized resolutions are defined) • Load Output Profile • Load Video Profile • Load Gamma Profile • Action/Resolution dropdown 2 options: • if Action/Resolution is set as Output Format, options such as 480p, 720p, 1080i, etc become available (see Section 5.3.3)
  • Page 79 • DynamicVP mode (including ON and OFF) • All the DynamicVP rules (including the “Otherwise” condition) When the action button is pressed, the OSD turns to the following page: • You can define names for each DynamicVP profile, to help with identification •...

  • Page 80: Troubleshooting

    • Ensure that the remote backlight is working, otherwise replace the batteries with a fresh set • Ensure that the front panel of the Crystalio II is not obstructed by any objects, as the IR remote control requires ‘line-of-sight’ to function correctly.
  • Page 81 16:9 in the setup menu of all source devices that support this feature (DVD players, satellite receivers, etc), even if the screen is not 16:9 Crystalio II VPS3800 (PRO) owners, please refer to the separate Crystalio II Media Player Owners Guide for Media Player troubleshooting.

  • Page 82: Support & Warranty Information

    Crystalio II. PRODUCT WARRANTY Pixel Magic Systems Ltd. warrants Crystalio II for One-Year from date of purchase to the original purchaser that this product is free from defects in materials and workmanship. If, after inspection, you discover any defects in materials or workmanship, Pixel Magic Systems Ltd. will have the option to repair, or replace the defective Pixel Magic Systems’...
  • Page 83 Email: sales@pixelmagicsystems.com © 2005 Pixel Magic Systems Ltd. All rights reserved. Crystalio, Pixel Magic, DynamicVP , UltraAR and Ultra-Fine Audio Delay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pixel Magic Systems Ltd. VXP and Visual Excellence Processing are trademarks of Gennum Corporation. DCDi by Faroudja and TrueLife are registered trademarks of Genesis Microchip. Specifications subject to change without notice.

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