Review: DPS VM-2000 V-Scope

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE DPS V-SCOPE (VM-2000) & THE EXTERNAL BOX (ES-2200) by Digital Processing Systems, Sept. 1992 RevB 02/11/93

This review is based on a quick initial look at this unit. It does not pretend to be complete, infallible or to mention all of the unit's features. It is intended to highlight notable findings, shortcomings or thoughts that came to mind when I was testing it. More thorough reports than this can be commissioned on a paid product evaluation basis. These comments are copyright & may not be used in any publication or for advertising without written permission.

*Should be able to parade flat and low pass waveforms together.

*A display for chroma differential gain is common on most waveform monitors but this unit doesn't have that feature.

*Screen size is slightly larger than safe title area which is good. It should display well on all but the most grossly misaligned monitors.

*An RF output channel 3 or 4 of the scope readings would make it possible to display them on a cheap consumer TV.

*The tiny muffin fan of the ES-2000 box is very noisy, however the V-Scope does not overheat with the fan disconnected and seems to function accurately. There is a slight change of about 2 IRE as the scope warms up, but this happens regardless of whether the fan is connected or not.

*This scope has a good DC restore level, so that you don't have to be constantly adjusting the pedestal.

*The corners of the box aren't as sharp as most.

*Displays are in black, white and gray only, so you don't need a colour monitor.

*The V-Scope that comes in a box did not come equipped with a RJ-14 serial data connector or the internal serial data wire for hook up to a computer.

*The SMPTE bars #800 test pattern that comes on the disc is far more accurate than the one supplied by Newtek 2.0 software, especially the purity & rise time transition of the chroma. The other test patterns are very useful too. I would recommend that DPS add a test pattern that helps to adjust monitors to an even underscan area. Lines around the perimeter at 5, 10, 15 & 20% cut off of full raster would be very useful. The test patterns supplied, fall just short of the 752 pixel width allowed by Toaster 2.0 software. The multiburst and sweep patterns should go beyond 4.2 MHz, perhaps up to 6.25 or at least 5.5 MHz.

*There is no external adjustment to rotate the burst to align with the horizontal line of the vectorscope. The AC35 adjustment on the inside does this, but it should be on the outside where you need it.

*TSG install software should say insufficient not unsufficient. Other spelling mistakes exist such as "Don you want to install to create it for you?"

*I had some difficulty installing the software and couldn't get the DPS icon to consistently come up on the toaster screen.

*It would be nice if there were also separate outputs for the waveform and the vectorscope.

*The top cover should have 2-4 supports inside, so it can take the weight of an editing VCR sitting on top, since space is at a premium in an edit suite and you want the controls within arms reach.

*Page 6-1 indicates that Dh:0 is where the Video Toaster framestore lives. That is not necessarily the case. In fact, Dh:0 is often the system workbench section of the drive and you definitely don't want to store your framestores there.

*Page 7-1 paragraph "IRE units" 8th line should be amended to read... This is normally the correct level for the darkest portions of the luma signal, however you may choose to produce levels as low as 0 IRE for certain purposes such as super black backgrounds for graphics.

*The manual says this unit complies with Class B FCC rules but the sticker on the outside says Class A.

*The warranty is a good one but limited to the original purchaser.

*There is no 1 800 number for customer support and no special customs instructions for those shipping from outside Canada.

*The unit was not well calibrated when I received it. B-Y & R-Y clamp adjustments were out as well as Blk Ref & ADC Ref.

*Most composite scopes have at least 2 inputs so you can compare 2 signals at the flick of a switch. Perhaps an optional passive switcher box should be offered. This unit also did not have an external reference for timing various signals in a system.

*This unit locked up properly to a TBC'd signal and an unstable one.

*Although the graduations on the vectorscope gradicule were course, it seemed more than adequate for most jobs.

Product reviewer Doug Hembruff