DVI and 1394: Work together?

wcoxe1 wrote on 1/11/2003, 5:51 PM
I am looking at all the TVs on the market that claim to have Digital Video input through a connector called DVI (Digital Video Interface) Seems that it should be called Digital Video Interference to me.

In any case, is there any way to send a 1394 signal to one of these "Digital" sets?

No one at any of the stores has the slightest idea. They all say use S-Video, which, of course, defeats the purpose of having two fine digital devices.

I found that Hitachi and Mitsubishi have 1394 interfaces, but they are for control, rather than video In/Output. They don't work with my Mini-DV camcorder or tape deck. I checked them both.

Comments

Mikee wrote on 1/11/2003, 10:45 PM
From my understanding DVI is simply another type of connection mechanism to hook your monitor to your computer. Granted its digital, rather than analog so intuition tells me it may be better...I've never seen it though.

I may be misunderstanding you, but I think you may be confused....you need a video card (some higher end GeForces, and Radeons have it) with a DVI connection on the back to send the signal to a DVI capable monitor. No 1394 necessary.

Path: VIDEOCAM--->1394 wire--->1394 card--->through computer--->out to DVI video card--->through DVI cable--->to DVI capable monitor--->to your eyeballs
wcoxe1 wrote on 1/12/2003, 10:19 AM
You are missing my point. I want to see my DV Tapes in their FULL Digital Glory on a Digital TV. Not on my computer. That is a snap. And I certainly don't want to have to connect my COMPUTER to my TV just to see a digital signal on it.

There is no 1394 connector on the TV, only that huge DVI plug. There is no DVI on the camcorder, only the 1394.

Is there any connector, translator, etc, which will allow me to DIRECTLY record a DIGITAL signal DIGITALLY from a DIGITAL TV onto my DIGITAL camcorder, and then play the DIGITAL SIGNAL on my Camcorder back DIGITALLY on a DIGITAL TV? Keep the computer out of the loop. It shouldn't even enter the picture.

After investigation, it seems that the only purpose of the DVI interface is to PREVENT what I am trying to do.

Chienworks wrote on 1/12/2003, 11:13 AM
1394 is a data connection, used for passing bits and bytes and such things. DVI is a video connection, specifically designed for video. It's not even like trying to play an LP record in a CD player ... it's more like trying to play an LP record in a toaster ... they just don't work together at all. You will need some sort of imaging or digital video conversion system to convert the DV data stream from the camcorder into video that can be sent through DVI, and at the moment probably the most easily available device for that is your computer with a 1394 port and a DVI video card. If you used something like the Canopus ADVC-100 converter to change 1394 DV into S-Video, you could probably find a device to convert S-Video into DVI. I wouldn't even know where to start looking though. Give the folks at B&H Photo/Video a call. If something like this exists, they'd probably have it in stock or know where to get it. www.bhphotovideo.com
Zulqar-Cheema wrote on 1/12/2003, 12:33 PM
I thought DVI is what was on new PC video cards to make a direct connection to the new LCD displays, .
wcoxe1 wrote on 1/12/2003, 2:35 PM
I have been doing a bit more research since my original post. There are NO plans to allow anyone to record DIRECTLY from a Digial TV source to a digital Camcorder or Deck. The substitute plan is to run it through this device known as a Digital Video Interface, which IS digital, (just like 1394, by the way) but has copy protection in the digital circuitry.

In other words, you may well find that TV shows will NOT be DIRECTLY recordable in the future in digital format, only through the lowly S-Video outputs, or worse.

Worse, you won't be able to PLAY your own DV tapes directly, either. You may well have to go through the computer so that your computer's DVI card can check for Copy Inhibit signals. You can't be trusted to play your own creations on that fabulous Digital TV that is planned for your future.

Looks like that pair of noids in Hollywood are busy.
Chienworks wrote on 1/12/2003, 3:14 PM
I have been seeing new TVs available recently that have a firewire port built in. These sound much more generally useful than a DVI connector.
rstein wrote on 1/12/2003, 4:37 PM
Right, the Mitsubishis have 1394. It has never been clear to me, from the glossy sales material, exactly what the 1394 functionality is with the Mitsus. Since the 1394 interface only comes with the HD-tuner-equipped sets and I live in a cable-only reception area, I elected to stay with the component-input "HDTV Ready" Mitsu.

Mitsubishi also promises their 2003 sets to be "obsolete-proof" because they will offer a hardware mod when and if the eventual digital standard changes the input requirement to be DVI. As others have pointed out, DVI is an abomination that is designed to connect only to the end-viewing device and preclude recording in any fashion.

Bob.
wcoxe1 wrote on 1/12/2003, 5:07 PM
I have looked at both the Hitachi and Mitsubishi 1394 ports. They are not for DV in/output. They are for interoperability controls. That is, for VERY fancy remote control type operations, basically.

My looks at the Hitachi and Mitsubish are what prompted me to start this thread. You can't connect your DV Camcorder or Deck through their 1394 ports. In fact, I believe that the Hitachi has the DVI, at least on the model I was looking at, in addition to the 1394 control port.

http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/ then look at the TECHNOLOGY Tab.