FXHD PQ (Third Watch and Dexter)

[HDCriticalFan]

I'm a BIG fan of FXHD.

I have been watching season six of Third Watch (which has been stripped Mon-Fri since the end of August).

About a week ago (so about half way through this run) I noticed that the PQ had changed substantially. It was sort of coaser, more grainy, harsher and darker. I put this down to editorial choice (the whole tone of the show has become darker as a result of the storyline now involving police "Internal Affairs").

But then I started noticing areas of white which were completely bleached out (I believe the term is "white crush"). I thought that my TV settings had been changed (or drifted) but the BBC still seems the same (the Proms looked good last weekend for instance). So I again put it down to poor editorial choices made by the programme makers.

I have just watched my Dexter from last Friday. Although the picture seemed fine (not grainy) I noticed a couple of "crushed whites" again. Specifically on the forehead of SA Lundy when he was sitting outside in the cafe talking to Dexter's sister (just before they got the call about one of Doakes' aliases coming up).

I know a few people here watch Dexter (which is the best thing on TV right now !) and I wondered if anyone else has noticed this ? Or is my plasma "on the way out" :o(


And another thing ...

Whilst looking at these issues I used the slo-mo feature (holding "play" for two seconds). To my surprise it kept freezing intermittently. This does not happen on my proms recording or any of the SD recordings I have. Can anyone see if slo-mo works OK on FXHD ? Or is my box "on the way out" :o(






Regards

HDCriticalFan

I am a fan ... but I remain critical.

[James Payne]

Originally Posted by HDCriticalFan

I'm a BIG fan of FXHD.

I have been watching season six of Third Watch (which has been stripped Mon-Fri since the end of August).

About a week ago (so about half way through this run) I noticed that the PQ had changed substantially. It was sort of coaser, more grainy, harsher and darker. I put this down to editorial choice (the whole tone of the show has become darker as a result of the storyline now involving police "Internal Affairs").

But then I started noticing areas of white which were completely bleached out (I believe the term is "white crush"). I thought that my TV settings had been changed (or drifted) but the BBC still seems the same (the Proms looked good last weekend for instance). So I again put it down to poor editorial choices made by the programme makers.

I have just watched my Dexter from last Friday. Although the picture seemed fine (not grainy) I noticed a couple of "crushed whites" again. Specifically on the forehead of SA Lundy when he was sitting outside in the cafe talking to Dexter's sister (just before they got the call about one of Doakes' aliases coming up).

I know a few people here watch Dexter (which is the best thing on TV right now !) and I wondered if anyone else has noticed this ? Or is my plasma "on the way out" :o(


And another thing ...

Whilst looking at these issues I used the slo-mo feature (holding "play" for two seconds). To my surprise it kept freezing intermittently. This does not happen on my proms recording or any of the SD recordings I have. Can anyone see if slo-mo works OK on FXHD ? Or is my box "on the way out" :o(






Regards

HDCriticalFan

I am a fan ... but I remain critical.

Now that is spooky , as I was thinking about the PQ of Dexter myself as I sat watching the same episode this morning.

However I was leaning the other way & thinking just how superb the HD PQ seemed to be. The highlight for me was when they were showing the Miami beach shots. So bright , crisp & detailed , all adding to the experience of watching the best prog on the TV at the min by far.

Regards James

[HDCriticalFan]

Hi James,

Don't get me wrong. I think that the Dexter PQ was excellent - and the brightly lit beach shots were among the best. It certainly doesn't suffer from the "coarse" and "grainy" issue I noted in Third Watch.

But if you still have the recording can you check out Lundy's forehead in the cafe scene ?


I had my screen ISF calibrated (admittedly some time ago) and I am pretty fussy about PQ - certainly about relatively major and "fixable" issues (nah, errors) like "white crush". It's one of those things that, once noted, really bug you :o(




Regards

HDCriticalFan

I am a fan ... but I remain critical.

[Disco_Stu360]

Originally Posted by James Payne

Now that is spooky , as I was thinking about the PQ of Dexter myself as I sat watching the same episode this morning.

However I was leaning the other way & thinking just how superb the HD PQ seemed to be. The highlight for me was when they were showing the Miami beach shots. So bright , crisp & detailed , all adding to the experience of watching the best prog on the TV at the min by far.

Regards James

Yeah I have to agree with this, I LOVE the show and think the PQ keeps getting better and better!

[James Payne]

Originally Posted by HDCriticalFan

But if you still have the recording can you check out Lundy's forehead in the cafe scene ?

Would love to help out , however unfortunately I have now deleted.

I have to say I have been very impressed with the PQ of Dexter throughout , so for me I'm sure I'd of noticed if anything not quite right stood out.

However that's not to say your not right with that particular scene.

Regards James

[mattclarkie]

Dexter has been getting gradually worse for weeks. I mentioned it about 3 weeks ago.

Watching Pirates of the Caribbean the other day, the colours were also complete out of whack, at some points black was an orangey grey, and the white and black were crushed.

It seems an issue across several channels lately, maybe linked to the new encoders.

[James Payne]

Originally Posted by mattclarkie

Dexter has been getting gradually worse for weeks. I mentioned it about 3 weeks ago.

Maybe for you & your setup as I couldn't disagree more.

I have noticed no deterioration in PQ for Dexter in HD whatsoever. Same consistent high standard , certainly on my Sony D3000 set up.

Regards James

[mattclarkie]

Your just saying that because that skank from Hustle keeps getting her knockers out.

I never said Dexter had poor PQ, but compared to the first episode the more recent ones have not been as good. Still better than BBC HD.

And there have definately been issues with some broadcasts lately, POTC AWE had something wrong with it.

[James Payne]

Originally Posted by mattclarkie

Your just saying that because that skank from Hustle keeps getting her knockers out.

LOL

I certainly wouldn't disagree with ya there my friend

Regards James

[Smurkenstein]

You may be interested to know that Dexter season 3 is about to start airing in the next few weeks in the US

[James Payne]

Originally Posted by Smurkenstein

You may be interested to know that Dexter season 3 is about to start airing in the next few weeks in the US

I'd be even more interested to know whether FX HD are going to show it shortly after , or whether we'll have to wait 6 months or more to see it.

Regards James

[eiren]

I'm more annoyed that the HD version of Dexter is a week behind the SD version. It means my wife forces me to watch the horrible 4:3 letterboxed version on normal Fox.

For me this makes Fox HD a very poor channel.

[wednesday83]

Originally Posted by mattclarkie

Dexter has been getting gradually worse for weeks. I mentioned it about 3 weeks ago.

Watching Pirates of the Caribbean the other day, the colours were also complete out of whack, at some points black was an orangey grey, and the white and black were crushed.

It seems an issue across several channels lately, maybe linked to the new encoders.

Ive been telling people on here for a while the PQ accross lots of channels has been poorer recently but the so called experts keep telling me im seeing things and making it up. They just blame how shows are made even when it clearly isnt.

At least its not just me that is noticing the quality seems to be lower. Im expecting a post by the so called experts who wont have a negative word to say about HD to say something along the lines of "its how the show is made. obviously the production team changed how the show was made mid way through the series".

Some people will not have a bad word to say about the new encoders. Brain washed springs to mind for some people. They actually make me laugh.

[HDCriticalFan]

Getting back to my main (and original) point ...

I have just seen last night's Third Watch. It still seems a bit "harsh" and "grainy" to my taste (although perhaps less so than the last few eps).

As an example, check out Bosco's face as he turns to the camera shortly after the 26 minute point (on my recording with two mins of padding). His mother says "leave it" and he turns and walks towards us. I thought that his face looked rather "over-exposed".


I have re-checked my settings with my DVE calibration disk and it seems that my screen still resolves all the different shades of grey on the contrast ramp - so my screen hasn't completely "blown up" !

However, now that I am looking out for it, I am starting to see the odd bit of "blown out" white in areas of high brightness (usually foreheads). Maybe I have now made myself paranoid and I am noticing something that was there all along ! Aaargh !


One thought occurs (given comments about new encoders). This recording shows as only three percent (for 48 minutes) which I make at between 9 and 13 mbps. This seems quite low. I wonder if this is being achieved by taking the video signal and filtering or limiting it in some way before being compressed. Could this crush the extremes of brightness ?




Regards

HDCriticalFan

I am a fan ... but I remain critical

[Jaycee Dove]

Dexter last week took only 3% as compared with 4 or 5% for previous recordings.

This suggests the introduction of newv encoders as with Sky channels?

Anyone know if this has happened?

Bit rate can go down without losing PQ if they are using new encoders.