Echolab Converters
We have developed our range of Echolab Converters to give you freedom of choice. The move to the digital platform can sometimes be difficult and expensive one. Echolab Converters bridge the analog and digital divide as well as resolve wide screen formatting issues now common in everyday production.

Echolab Converters have been specifically designed to compliment the Echolab Nova SDI range of remarkable System on Chip next generation switchers allowing you to seamlessly upgrade your existing infrastructure and retaining may of the expensive analog devices still so crucial to your production environment.

Echolab Converters can also be coupled with almost any brand and type of switcher as standalone interface. The Converters are bundled with Echolab Convertr Frames that provide smart control and power supplies in 1, 2, 4 RU or Desktop units.

Echolab Converters separate themselves from the crowd by delivering superb 12 BIT conversion, providing true 10 Bit conversion output. Ask any of our competition if they can match this and we’re sure you will see that only our converters deliver 100% reliable, BEST 12 Bit in 10 Bit OUT QUALITY conversion against broadcasting standards.

Discover the unmatched power and felxibility of our Nova SDI Range now with full conversion gear for those with remaining analog infrastructure.

• Our new A to D card converts NTSC/PAL, composite, Y/C or YUV video to SDI.
• The D to A card converts SDI into flexible combinations of NTSC/PAL, Composite, Y/C, YUV or RGB video using a high quality 12 bit encoder
• The Echolab ARC converter performs two conversions - 16:9 to 4:3 Full Screen and 4:3 to 16:9 Pillarbox.

The ECHOLAB CONVERTER ARC is the answer for anyone who needs inexpensive and high quality bi-directional horizontal aspect ratio conversion.

It performs two conversions - 16:9 to 4:3 Full Screen and 4:3 to 16:9 Pillarbox - which change the horizontal aspect ratio only. It converts a 16:9 picture to 4:3 by performing a centre cut, taking the middle 75% of the 16:9 picture width and stretching it to full screen so it fits on a 4:3 monitor. In the second conversion, a 4:3 picture is made suitable for showing on a 16:9 monitor by squeezing the 4:3 image horizontally and adding black bands to the left and right.


The 10 bit aspect ratio converter provides an output picture of unparalleled quality. Because it only performs horizontal processing, it uses better filters which ensures the minimum possible distortion to the picture. This high performance multi-tap filtering leads to a wide and flat frequency response with very low levels of measurable conversion artifacts such as aliasing, banding and ripples, and the result is that the customer ends up with the most realistic conversion possible.

The ECHOLAB CONVERTER ARC has virtually zero delay - just ten microseconds - which means audio-video timing is preserved with no lip sync errors and no correction needed for external audio. Embedded audio and auxiliary data are passed with an appropriate compensating delay.



There are two operation modes - convert and bypass - with the latter used to delay unconverted video by the same amount as converted video so no timing changes occur when switching. EDH generation can be switched on or off. It also offers ease of operation and is extremely quick and straightforward to set up and use, with a choice of control methods: board edge, GPI, frame active front panel, remote panel and the Statesman PC Control System.

The ECHOLAB CONVERTER ARC is a 4 x 10.5 inches module and can be housed in your choice of 4RU, 2RU, 1RU or desk top box frames.

• 10 bit horizontal digital aspect ratio converter

• Two conversions: 16:9 to 4:3 Full Screen and 4:3 to 16:9 Pillarbox

• Exceptional quality

• Wide and flat frequency response

• Minimal delay (10 microseconds)

• Space-saving: 4 x 10.5 inches module allows 12 ECHOLAB
CONVERTER ARC’s in 2RU (24 in 4RU, six in 1RU and two in desk top box)


• Flexible control, including PC software

MECHANICAL
4 x 10.5 inches module
Weight: 230g
Power consumption: 8 Watts

VIDEO SDI INPUT
SDI 270Mbit to EBU 3267-E & SMPTE 259M
Cable equalization >200m Belden 8281 or equivalent
Auto 625/525 line selection
May contain embedded audio or data (10 bit data path)

VIDEO SDI OUTPUTS
Two outputs using RM01 frame rear module
SDI 270Mbit to EBU 3267-E & SMPTE 259M with EDH
10 bit picture with full embedded audio and data path

HORIZONTAL PICTURE CONVERSIONS
16:9 to 4:3 conversion stretches middle 75% of picture to fill whole screen
4:3 to 16:9 conversion squashes picture to fill 75% of screen creating a pillarbox with black vertical bars
No vertical conversion
NB: 16:9 to 4:3 conversion is virtually distortion free. 4:3 to 16:9 output frequency response 0 to 5.5MHz. This
corresponds to input frequencies of 0 to 4.1MHz. The squashing of the picture raises the frequency spectrum
of the picture and so the anti-aliasing filters can cause a loss of very fine detail

DELAY THROUGH BOARD
10us

PICTURE PROCESSING
Processing is 10 bit with 10 bit data path
in horizontal and vertical blanking interval
to allow embedded audio or data

GPI INPUT LEVELS
Active: connect to ground
Inactive: high impedance, or 5 volts
Input current <50uA

GPI INPUTS
Convert or bypass
Stretch or squash

LED INDICATION OF:
Power supplies on board
SDI input present
625/525 input standard
Bypass
LOCAL CONTROL
Conversion set by DIP switches
Front panel control from frame active panel and remote panel

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