Audio Video News

One of the most respected names in video is pushing the performance envelope again. Faroudja, a division of Sage, Inc., has introduced the Digital Cinema Source (DCS), an innovative new Native Rate Series video processor.

The Digital Cinema Source is said to be the first product to combine a full-featured Faroudja processor with an internal high-performance DVD transport and digital video interface (DVI) outputs along with a high-end digital audio stage. The DCS uses its internal DVD drive to send a clean digital video stream straight to the video processing stage where Faroudja's patented deinterlacing, scaling and image processing are applied. The signal is optimized for the display resolution being used for the highest quality image possible.

Patented technology in the DCS includes adaptive comb filtering, cross-color suppression, and two-line time-base correction, all for color processing; advanced 3/2 film logic with advanced edit detection to handle film motion processing; and Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDi), which produces smooth, natural images by eliminating the jagged edges seen on moving angled lines in video.

In addition to its digital inputs, the DCS offers a full set of analog inputs so all sources can be processed and optimized for the display. Two sets of analog RGB and YPrPb outputs are also offered, as are DVI outputs. Displays with this type of connection can thereby benefit from a pure digital signal from the source to the display.

User features include internal aspect ratio control, a test pattern generator, a DVD Animation Circuit, an IR control system teaching function, and HDTV transcoding from YPrPb to RGB signals. The Digital Cinema Source also includes a proprietary audio stage with AES/EBU outputs, and offers high-quality DVD sound and CD-quality audio. Special low jitter crystal oscillators are used to drastically reduce the digital noise that can degrade sound. Data is buffered, re-clocked and corrected for timing errors. This assures that all the inherent noise associated with the audio can be isolated and filtered.

The Digital Cinema Source will be available in mid-March from Faroudja dealers at a suggested price under $10,000.