Panasonic VT30, Decklink HD Extreme, & DaVinci: No signal?

[Patrick O'Sullivan]

After 10+ emails back and forth between myslef and BMD tech guys they are stumped.

I called the local tech support in Australia and they too were stumped.

We tried rolling back the decklink driver to 7.9.5 but that didn't do anything.

I tried multiple different HDMI cables. Still nothing.

I reinstalled the card 3 times and still nothing. They think it is an issue between the decklink and the tv as Media Express isn't showing any output either.

It is definitely something between the card and the tv as everything else is working perfect and on our other client monitors (not vt30) it is working.

[Rob Ruffo]

Try another HDMI input. Most of mine were dead at first, and then Panasonic switched them out. It seems a common defect. Also DO NOT try to connect HDMI hot/live to a Panny plasma - you will grill the input.

[Patrick O'Sullivan]

I tried all the HDMI ports.

all work just not with the decklink.

Starting to think I just bought a new house tv.

Will have to go the flanders route I guess.

THis problem has stumped everyone at Blackmagic and Panasonic.

No one has an explanation.

[Paul J Steinberg]

I had similar problems with other brands of consumer monitors, in the end i switched to Sony Bravia panel that can display 24p and it fixed it right up.

[Rob Ruffo]

Vt30 and Vt25 are used by dozens of post houses for display. We use both. Likely your BM card is grilled. We have no issues with a cheapo Intensity Pro.

A Bravia LCD is highly angle-dependant, has poor blacks, many non-defeateable (and invisible to the user) "image enhancements" and should never be used as a grading monitor. I have never seen one in any serious post suite.

[Marc Wielage]

I've never seen a VT25 or VT30 used at post houses in LA. Typically, what I see is the older TH-50PF20 (20-series) or TH-50PF30 (30-series). One of them I've used myself extensively for Mac-based Resolve sessions, and it works absolutely fine. Haven't used the BT300 series yet.

[Rob Ruffo]

I've never seen a VT25 or VT30 used at post houses in LA. Typically, what I see is the older TH-50PF20 (20-series) or TH-50PF30 (30-series). One of them I've used myself extensively for Mac-based Resolve sessions, and it works absolutely fine. Haven't used the BT300 series yet.

Here in Montreal, VT-25 and 30 is common. I've heard NY too (Off Hollywood uses them) Pro panels are actually older, inferior technology. The problem with a VT-whatever is that out of the box, the primaries are way off, but that is easy to fix with a LUT (i.e. calibrate with Lightspace) New Vt50 looks killer - uses same new panel and tech as BT300. Its' cheaper to buy the consumer panels + Lightspace than a pro panel, and you can keep updating the panels as tech improves because they are so cheap. I can guarantee that a Vt30 offers better color (after LUT fix) than a 4 year old pro panel - and I see those in suites.

I am not a snob like that about pro or consumer - whatever works best at the most efficient cost.

[Marc Wielage]

The pro monitors are $1500 -- it's not a major expense at all. The Cinetal Davio box costs about as much as the monitor, just to get Rec709 via HD-SDI into the display. Panasonic's own HD-SDI option also costs about as much as the monitor.

[Rob Ruffo]

Or get a Decklink box for $700 or so. Still cheaper than a Flanders, and you get 50 inches or more (if that can work for you).

The thing is, those pro plasma monitors use older panels with older tech, and simply do not perform as well at any level as the VT line - we tested thoroughly.

[Marc Wielage]

Actually, I think the new 30-series pro monitors are the same -- those are a current model, launched just last year. People using the older 10- and 20-series monitors are using the old ones. They still work, and are useful and functional when they're adjusted well. I know of one company in LA that has about 30 of them in different rooms, and I think they deliver upwards of 40 or 50 hours of program content a week.