Doug Pyper
Editorial Contributor
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2012
- Messages
- 3,956
- Reaction score
- 2,919
- Points
- 1,258
I've been wondering lately why digital vertical shift isn't more widely available. Partly because its lack of availability means, as far as I can see, I'm somewhat locked into using Kodi.
By digital vertical shift I mean the ability to shift the active video content up or down. Kodi allows one to adjust the position of scope content within the projected image. One can then use this feature to shift scope video to the bottom of a 16:9 drop down projector screen, such that both black bars are at the top, instead of at the top and bottom.
The main benefits of this:
I'm using a grey screen, so the black bars weren't too bad, but still this is a huge improvement. For a white drop down screen the improvement would be so significant that everyone should do it if they can. Making the masking is relatively easy. The only problem is hardly any media players support the feature and I don't know of a single Blu-ray player that does.
As far as I'm aware, digital vertical shift can be achieved via Kodi and Lumagen (one's free, the other's many thousands of pounds). I think I recall that Dune players have it too, but I'm not sure. That's it, as far as I know.
Am I missing something? Is there some reason why this functionality isn't more popular? It's made such a massive improvement to my image I'm just really surprised more projector users aren't doing it.
By digital vertical shift I mean the ability to shift the active video content up or down. Kodi allows one to adjust the position of scope content within the projected image. One can then use this feature to shift scope video to the bottom of a 16:9 drop down projector screen, such that both black bars are at the top, instead of at the top and bottom.
The main benefits of this:
- The bottom of the scope image is closer to the centre speaker (assuming it's not an AT screen) and typically better aligned with eye level. This means audio from the centre is better locked on to the action and the image is more visually immersive.
- Being as both black bars are at the top of the projected image, light overspill can easily be masked. This massively improves perceived contrast, especially if you're using a white screen.
I'm using a grey screen, so the black bars weren't too bad, but still this is a huge improvement. For a white drop down screen the improvement would be so significant that everyone should do it if they can. Making the masking is relatively easy. The only problem is hardly any media players support the feature and I don't know of a single Blu-ray player that does.
As far as I'm aware, digital vertical shift can be achieved via Kodi and Lumagen (one's free, the other's many thousands of pounds). I think I recall that Dune players have it too, but I'm not sure. That's it, as far as I know.
Am I missing something? Is there some reason why this functionality isn't more popular? It's made such a massive improvement to my image I'm just really surprised more projector users aren't doing it.