Communications Specialties Scan Do Pro II User manual

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
High Resolution Computer-to-Video Scan Converter
with Genlock and Optional SDI Output (Scan Do Pro II/D)
USER’S MANUAL
Copyright 2000 P/N 120860 Rev. E
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
55 Cabot Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA
TEL: [phone] FAX:[phone]
WWW: http://www.commspecial.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
Communications Specialties Pte Ltd
100 Beach Road
#22-09 Shaw Tower
Singapore 189702
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [email protected]

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 16 Page 1
CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................................................................... 3
Installation ........................................................................................... 4
Operation ............................................................................................ 6
Tips for Improving Your Converted Computer Images ...................... 9
Troubleshooting ................................................................................. 11
Accessories ...................................................................................... 12
Rear Connector Pin-outs .................................................................. 13
Statement of Warranty ..................................................................... 14
Certification Information ................................................................... 15
Scan Do is a registered trademark of Communications Specialties, Inc.
Macintosh and Macare registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
INCLUDED WITH THIS PRODUCT
YOU SHOULD HAVE: 1 - Scan Do®Pro II Computer-to-Video Scan Converter
1 - AC power line cord
1 - 6 foot Computer input cable for VGA and Macintosh
1 - 12 foot composite video output cable
1 - 12 foot S-Video output cable
1 - User’s Manual
1 - Product Registration card
AVAILABLE OPTIONAL
ACCESSORIES • RF Modulator for North America channels 3 and 4
• AC line cords for North America, Japan, UK, Europe or Australia
• Rack mounting kits

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 3
Thank you for purchasing Scan Do Pro II, the amazingly affordable,
high-performance, computer-to-video scan converter. With
Scan Do Pro II, you now have the ability to convert your high-
resolution computer video signal into a form suitable for recording on
a VCR, displaying on a conventional TV or video monitor, or integrating
into a professional video production system.Scan Do Pro II does not
require any special software and operates completely externally from
your computer.
We advise that you read the section entitled Tips for Improving Your
Converted Computer Imageslater in this manual. It provides some useful
suggestions for obtaining the best possible image from your Scan Do Pro
II. It also explains what you should expect, in terms of image quality, when
your computer images are recorded on a VCR or displayed on a
conventional video monitor or TV.
Like all the products from Communications Specialties,
Scan Do Pro II comes with our continuing commitment to provide
support. In order to assist us in this process, please be sure to mail in your
product registration card. This will make it easier for us to notify you
with any new product announcements or other information concerning
our product line. Should you need to contact us for support, our office
is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
We also offer a comprehensive web site for your added convenience.
Thank you for choosing Scan Do Pro II. As always, we welcome your
comments and suggestions.
INTRODUCTION
Communications Specialties, Inc.
55 Cabot Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WWW: http://www.commspecial.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
Communications Specialties Pte Ltd
100 Beach Road
#22-09 Shaw Tower
Singapore 189702
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WWW: http://www.commspecial.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
Page 14
Communications Specialties, Inc. (CSI) warrants that for a period
of three years after purchase by the Buyer, Scan Do Pro II will
be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal
use and service. A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must
be obtained from CSI before any equipment is returned by the Buyer. All
material must be shipped to CSI at the expense and risk of the Buyer.
CSI’s obligation under this warranty will be limited, at its option, to either
the repair or replacement of defective units, including free materials and
labor. In no event shall CSI be responsible for any incidental or
consequential damages or loss of profits or goodwill.
CSI shall not be obligated to replace or repair equipment that has been
damaged by fire, war, acts of God, or similar causes, or equipment that has
been serviced by unauthorized personnel, altered, improperly installed, or
abused.
RMA numbers and repairs can be obtained from:
Communications Specialties, Inc.
55 Cabot Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
or, in the Asia Pacific Region:
Communications Specialties Pte Ltd
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
(See page 5 of this manual for complete address)
RMA numbers can also be obtained from our web site:
http://www.commspecial.com
Please have your serial number (located underneath Scan Do Pro II)
available when contacting us.
WARRANTY

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 4
INSTALLATION
SYNC TYPES SUPPORTED: Scan Do Pro II will automatically lock to any one of three different sync types:
separate H & V; composite sync; and sync-on-green.
Composite: This is a single composite video signal and is compatible with
the “video” input on consumer TVs, monitors and VCRs as well as on all
professional video equipment. It cannot be connected to the “antenna” input.
S-Video: This is an advanced form of video where the brightness and color
parts of the image are actually on two separate signals. This signal is
sometimes called S-VHS, S-Video or Y/C. It is also compatible with
Hi-8 and the Beta-ED standards. Using this output will result in a better
quality picture than using the video output.
AVAILABLE OUTPUTS:
Disconnect your monitor from the monitor port on your PC.
Using the reversible 6-foot input cable provided with Scan Do Pro II, connect
one end to the monitor port on your computer and the other to the connector
on the rear panel of Scan Do Pro II marked either VGA In or Mac In.
Connect your monitor, if you have one, to the Scan Do Pro II connector
labeled VGA Out or Mac Out. Use the cable that is attached to your monitor
for this purpose.
Connect the AC line cord provided with Scan Do Pro II to the connector
labeled Power. Plug the AC line cord to the wall outlet to provide power.
Connect Scan Do Pro II’s Video, S-Video or component output to your video
equipment. If desired, you may use all outputs simultaneously. (Refer to the
next section.)
Complete the installation by turning your computer on, if it is not on already.
The front panel green LED labeledInput should illuminate, indicating the unit
is receiving a valid signal from the computer.
INSTALLATION STEPS: 1.
4.
2.
5.
3.
6.
Component: This is another advanced form of video used in professional
video applications. The luminance and two color difference signals are used.
Scan Do Pro II may also output seperate red, green, blue and sync signals
instead of Y, R-Y, B-Y component signals.
SDI: This is a SMPTE-259M compatible serial digital signal. It is standard on
the Scan Do Pro II/D model only. A Scan Do Pro II may be upgraded at the
factory for this SDI option.
VIDEO STANDARD
SELECTION:
NTSC/PAL: This switch selects the video timing standard to be used for the
Video and S-Video outputs. NTSC is the standard for the USA, Canada,
Mexico, Japan and parts of South America. PAL is used throughout most of
Europe, the Middle East, Southern Asia and the Pacific Rim.
Page 13
REAR CONNECTOR
PIN-OUTS
VGA IN/MAC OUT
(DB-15CONNECTOR)
VGA OUT/MAC IN
(HD-15CONNECTOR)
PIN VGA OUT MAC IN
1 ...................... Red ........................................... Red
2 ...................... Green ........................................ Green
3 ...................... Blue........................................... Blue
4 ...................... ID bit 2 ...................................... ID bit-2
5 ...................... Ground ...................................... Ground
6 ...................... Red Ground............................... Red Ground
7 ...................... Green Ground ........................... Green Ground
8 ...................... Blue Ground .............................. Blue Ground
9 ...................... N/C ........................................... N/C
10 .................... Monitor Present ........................ Computer Present
11 .................... Ground (ID bit 0) ...................... Ground (ID bit 0)
12 .................... ID bit 1 ...................................... ID bit 1
13 .................... H-Sync Out............................... H-Sync In
14 .................... V-Sync Out............................... V-Sync In
15 .................... ID bit 3 ...................................... Comp. Sync In
PIN VGA IN MAC OUT
1 ...................... Ground .......................................Ground
2 ...................... Red ............................................ Red
3 ...................... Reserved .................................... Comp. Sync Out
4 ...................... ID bit 0 .......................................ID bit 0
5 ...................... Green .........................................Green
6 ...................... Red Ground................................ Red Ground
7 ...................... ID bit 1 .......................................ID bit 1
8 ...................... N/C ............................................ N/C
9 ...................... Blue............................................ Blue
10 .................... ID bit 2 .......................................ID bit 2
11 .................... Ground .......................................Ground
12 .................... V-Sync In .................................. V-Sync Out
13 .................... Computer Present ...................... Monitor Present
14 .................... Ground .......................................Ground
15 .................... H-Sync In .................................. H-Sync Out
Center ............. Video Out
Outer ............... Video Ground
1 ...................... Ground
2 ...................... Ground
3 ...................... Luminance
4 ...................... Chrominance
1 (left) ............. Ground
2 (middle) ........ Receive Data
3 (right) ........... Transmit Data
GENLOCK IN/OUT,
COMPONENT, SDI,
COMPOSITE VIDEO OUTPUT
S-VIDEO OUTPUT
RS-232 REMOTE

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 5
REMOTECONTROL: Scan Do Pro II provides for a hard-wired RS-232 remote control connection using
a 3-pin Phoenix-type connector on the rear panel. The baud rate is 9600 baud, no
parity, 1 start bit, 1 stop bit. The pin out is as follows:
1- Ground 2- Receive Data 3 -Transmit Data
Please contact the sales department at Communications Specialties or our web
site at www.commspecial.com for detailed specifications on the command
structure for this remote control port.
The genlock button turns the mode on and off. When the genlock mode is on, the
unit looks at the genlock input and determines if a signal is present. If a signal is
present, it determines if it is the correct format (525 or 625) according to the
personality of the rear panel output format switch.
When the genlock mode is off, the LED is off. The LED is on steady when the
genlock mode is on and a valid signal is present on the genlock input connector.
The LED blinks slowly when genlock mode is on and a valid signal is not present
on the connector. The LED blinks fast for 3 seconds when the genlock mode is
on, there is no valid signal and the genlock phasing button is pressed.
The factory default setting is genlock mode off.
The genlock phasing button turns the mode on and off only when the genlock
mode is on and a valid signal is present on the genlock input. When genlock mode
is off, the genlock phasing mode is automatically off. Pressing the button in this
case does not initiate any action. In the case where the genlock mode is on but
no valid signal is present, genlock phasing cannot be turned on. Pressing the
genlock phasing button in this instance causes the genlock mode LED to blink fast
for 3 seconds as described in the section above.
The LED is on when the genlock phasing mode is on and off when the genlock
phasing mode is off.
When the genlock phasing mode is on, the arrow buttons become the Horizontal
and Subcarrier phasing advance and delay buttons. Panning the image, moving to
a quadrant and centering the image horizontally and vertically are not available
from the front panel when genlock phasing mode is on.
When the unit is in genlock phasing mode, the right and left arrows are the
horizontal phase delay and advance buttons respectively. They are auto-repeat
functions and will single step for approximately 2 seconds then step in increments
of 10 after that as long as the button is held down.
The factory default is the center of the horizontal phasing range.
The up and down arrows are the subcarrier phase advance and delay buttons,
respectively, when the genlock phasing mode is on. They are also auto-repeat
functions and will single step for about 2 seconds then step in increments of 10
as long as the button is held down.
The factory default is the center of the Subcarrier phasing range.
1 2 3
GENLOCKMODE:
GENLOCK PHASING:
HORIZONTAL PHASING:
SUBCARRIER PHASING:
Page 12
ACCESSORIES
The following accessories are available for Scan Do Pro II. They
may be ordered from your dealer or directly from Communications
Specialties, Inc. If you have a need for an accessory that isn't listed
here, or have a specific application for which you need assistance, please
give us a call.
ITEM # DESCRIPTION
1246 Single rackmount kit. This kit allows one Scan Do
Pro II unit to be rackmounted.
1247 Double rackmount kit. This kit allows two Scan Do
Pro II units to be rackmounted.
1009 RF modulator. Modulates the composite video output
of Scan Do Pro II to TV channel 3 or 4 for connection
to the antenna input of your TV.

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 6
OPERATION
Scan Do Pro II not only offers high performance and reliability, but
also provides an extremely easy, intuitive user interface. Please read this
section in its entirety. If, after becoming familiar with the unit’s operation
and features, you still have questions and need to contact us, please refer to
Page 3 for our phone, fax, email and web address.
COLOR BARS WHEN TEST IS
NOT ACTIVATED:
From time to time, your Scan Do Pro II may output color bars even though you
have not pushed the Test button on the front panel. If your unit is generating
color bars but the LED on the Test button is not illuminated, there is either no
input signal from the computer or the input signal from the computer is not in
a resolution or mode supported by Scan Do Pro II.
Page 11
TROUBLESHOOTING
IF THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM THEN CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
• Is the green POWER LED lit? If it is not, check to make sure that the
AC power cord is connected and plugged into the AC wall outlet.
• Check to make sure that the computer is properly sending out a
VGA or Mac signal by plugging the monitor directly into the
computer’s video output.
• Is the green Input LED lit? If it is not, check that your computer is
correctly connected to the Input connector on Scan Do Pro II. If it
is connected properly (see page 6), then your computer may not be
producing a resolution within the valid range or may not be producing
any signal at all.
• Press the Test button to see if you get color bars on the composite and
S-Video outputs. If you do get color bars, then the problem is related
to your input signal. Check the items mentioned in the above bullet.
If you do not get color bars, the problem is related to your output. Is
the VCR or video monitor in the proper mode to accept direct video
input? Is the output cable connected properly?
• When using a laptop, try turning off the laptop’s LCD screen and
having the VGA signal output through the external port only.
• This is normal unless you are in the 85% Zoom mode. See page 6 for
instructions on how to use the Zoom button. Then use the cursor
buttons to center your image on the screen.
• The colors on your TV monitor will never exactly match the colors on
your computer monitor because each of these devices reproduce
color differently. However, try adjusting the color, tint, contrast and
brightness controls on your TV to help match the colors as best you
can. The color bar test pattern built into Scan Do Pro II may help you
in this process.
Nothing works or
there is no video output
No video on outputs
(Just a color bar test pattern)
Some of the image is being lost off
the sides, top or bottom
The color on the TV monitor is
different than the color on the
computer monitor
Zoom: The zoom feature performs two important functions. First of all, it
provides an “underscan” function, which shrinks the image display both
horizontally and vertically by 15%. This ensures that no edges of your image are
lost beyond the borders of your screen when converted to a TV video format.
Secondly, the zoom feature provides three
settings which enlarge your image display
while also enhancing its resolution. By
repeatedly pressing the zoom button, you can
cycle through the different image sizes shown
on the chart to the right.
SIZING THE IMAGE:
*The 200% zoom ratio may not be available
at the highest input frequency.
Zoom Shortcut Buttons: Scan Do Pro II provides the option to go directly
to three of the zoom settings using the following button combinations. Both
buttons must be pushed simultaneously to access this feature.
DIAGNOSTIC LEDS: Power: This indicator tells when power is present and
Scan Do Pro II is ON. If this light is glowing dim or not at all, it is an indication
that something might be wrong with the internal power supply.
Input: This indicator tells when a valid computer signal is present at the VGA
In or Mac In connector on the rear panel.
Scan Do Pro II will support any computer resolution having a horizontal sync
frequency within the range of 31-71 kHz. Generally, this will include PCs up to
1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz. Interlaced resolutions are not supported.
VGA AND MAC RESOLUTIONS
SUPPORTED:
Test: This button will force Scan Do Pro II to generate a color bars test signal
on its outputs. Press once to activate it. Press it again to turn it off. The green
LED on the Testbutton indicates when the test pattern generator is in operation.
HOW TO ACTIVATE
TEST SIGNALS:
Zoom Ratio Indicator LED
85% ON
100% OFF
130% ON
160% ON
200%* ON
Zoom Ratio Button Combination
85% (lowest zoom; "underscan mode") ZOOM &
↓↓
↓↓
↓
100% (standard "overscan mode") ZOOM & →→
→→
→
200% (highest zoom mode) ZOOM & ↑

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 7
Page 10
USE HIGH GRADE VIDEO
TAPE:
When making a VCR recording, use a name brand videotape with a
“Pro” or “Broadcast” grade. An S-VHS tape can also be used, even if
you’re only making a standard VHS recording. Also, record using the
fastest possible speed (shortest time mode). You will have less noise and
tape jitter in your recording.
TV and video signals are designed to bleed off the edges of the screen.
This means that when a computer picture is converted to a TV standard,
the borders of your picture will be lost. In order to avoid this cropping
effect, you can use the Zoom feature on Scan Do Pro II to display your
image at 85%. If you would prefer to use the bleeding effect in your final
display, be sure to design your presentation with ample borders surround-
ing the “live area” of your image. That way, when the cropping does
occur, no critical part of your picture will be lost.
PAY ATTENTION TO
YOUR BORDERS:
ELIMINATE FLICKER: By far, the most annoying effect that occurs when a computer image
is converted to video is “flicker.” This rapid flashing may appear
throughout the screen or localized in one particular area, and is due to the
fact the TV monitors, unlike computer monitors, draw the even and odd
lines within the picture in alternating passes. This effect is most
noticeable on thin horizontal lines – particularly, bright lines against a
dark background.
The four-step anti-flicker filter in Scan Do Pro II employs an advanced
design technique to overcome this annoying problem with only a very
slight loss in vertical detail. When using this feature, experiment with
different settings, as you will receive the maximum benefit from differ-
ent levels depending on the type of visual you are displaying. You may
also want to keep in mind when designing your presentation that the less
thin, horizontal lines you use in your image, the less likely that any flicker
will be visible.
USE S-VIDEO: Almost all new, larger screen commercial TVs have an S-Video jack.
S-Video is a superior form of the standard TV video signal, in that the
brightness and color components of the image are separated into two
separate signals. This results in far fewer distortions and noticeably
superior image quality. So, if your TV or VCR is S-Video equipped,
definitely use the S-Video output from Scan Do Pro II. You’ll see a
difference.
This button toggles between YUV and RGB color space. The LED is lit when in
YUV and off when in RGB. YUV is the factory default setting.
YUV/RGB COLOR SPACE:
Anti-Flicker: This button will activate one of four levels of flicker reduction. To
turn on the flicker filter, push the Anti-Flicker button once. This activates level one
of the filter. The green LED should illuminate, indicating that this feature is now
active.
Press the button repeatedly to cycle through levels two, three and four of the
flicker filter. The green light will remain lit for all four stages. Pushing the button a
fifth time will turn off the flicker filter and extinguish the green LED.
Try the different settings for this button to see which gives the best results for the
application you are viewing. You’ll discover that depending on the type of image,
different settings provide the maximum benefit.
REDUCING FLICKER IN
THE IMAGE:
VERTICAL FILTER: This button toggles the vertical fliter on and off. The LED is lit when the vertical
filter is on and off when it is off. The factory default setting is vertical filter off.
FREEZING THE IMAGE ON
YOUR VIDEO SCREEN:
Freeze: Scan Do Pro II gives you the ability to freeze or stop the image on your
video screen without halting your computer application. When you push the Freeze
button, the images output by Scan Do Pro II will freeze and the green LED will
illuminate. (The loop-through support to your local computer monitor will remain
active.) Press the button again to deactivate the freeze feature and extinguish the LED.
While in the freeze mode, all keypad functions are still active. However, you will
not see the effects from using any other features, such as Zoom, until the Freeze
mode is turned off.
Cursor Buttons (Arrows): As TV monitors and video projectors may not always
display the image in the center of the screen, you may use the four “arrow” buttons
on the front of Scan Do Pro II to position the image up, down, left and right. The
image will move one increment each time you push the button. If you continue to
push down any of the arrow buttons, the image will begin to move continuously, first
slowly and then more quickly.
POSITIONING THE
IMAGE ON THE
SCREEN:
Positioning Shortcut Buttons: Pushing the following button combinations simul-
taneously will immediately position your image as follows:
IMAGE POSITION BUTTON COMBINATION
Center image vertically ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and ↓↓
↓↓
↓
Center image horizonatally ←←
←←
← and →→
→→
→
Upper left corner ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and ←←
←←
←
Upper right corner ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and →→
→→
→
Lower left corner ↓↓
↓↓
↓ and ←←
←←
←
Lower right corner ↓↓
↓↓
↓ and →→
→→
→

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 8 Page 9
TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR
CONVERTED COMPUTER IMAGES
It has been our experience, at CSI, that customers are sometimes
surprised that computer images converted to video do not look as
sharp and vivid as the original computer image does. Unfortunately,
this result is inevitable regardless of the scan converter you use, for the
technology behind TV video is far inferior to that behind newer computer
video standards. This is not to say that the quality of scan converter you
use doesn’t matter, but even the very best scan converter will not provide
output that matches the quality of your original computer picture.
Scan converters, like Scan Do Pro II, were created to bridge the
differences between the relatively new standards of computer video and
the 40-year old standards of conventional TV video. When using a scan
converter, there are several things you can do to get the best possible
results from the conversion process. These involve understanding the
limitations of standard TV video and creating images that “work around”
these shortcomings. The following tips apply whether you are displaying
your scan converter output directly on a monitor or recording it onto
videotape. While you should have realistic expectations regarding the
type of image you will be able to obtain, taking the following steps will
definitely improve your results:
USE BLACK AND WHITE: In the world of standard TV video, shades of gray are processed
differently than colors. In fact, TVs and VCRs process black, white and
all grays in between with a minimum of distortion. Use this to your
advantage in the design process by substituting gray in place of color
whenever appropriate.
AVOID INTENSE COLORS: Along the same lines, fully saturated colors (like bright red and green)
look terrible on a TV monitor. And, recording these colors to videotape
makes them look even worse. Whenever possible, try to use slightly
muted colors instead.
KNOW WHAT YOUR CONVERTED
IMAGE WILL LOOK LIKE:
First of all, when creating any computer presentation that you ulti-
mately plan to display in video format, it is always a good idea to hook
up a Scan Do Pro II and view the output on a TV monitor during the
creation process. While this may require a little bit of extra set-up time,
it has the potential to save you far more time and aggrevation later on by
avoiding the need to correct any unwanted “surprises” in your finished
work.
Sync-on-Green: Set "lever 1" to "ON"
Pedestal On/Off: Unit is preset for Pedestal Use. To turn it off, set
the switch to "ON"
PAL M: Set "lever 3" to "ON" and set exterior back panel
switch to NTSC.
PAL N: Set "lever 4" to "ON" and set exterior back panel
switch to PAL.
SYNC-ON-GREEN, PEDESTAL ON/OFF,
PAL M AND PAL N:
An internal switch located on the Scan Do Pro II and Pro II/D board
allows you to configure the unit for several custom settings. To access the
switch, first disconnect AC power. Then, remove the two screws from the
front panel. Drop the panel, which is connected to the board by a ribbon
cable. The switch, labeled "S2", is blue with four white levers and is located
on the front left corner of the board. The unit comes preset with all levers
set to "OFF." Printed to the left of the switch, on the board, are instructions
for use. A summary is provided below:
RETURNING TO FACTORY
DEFAULT SETTINGS:
Reset: You may quickly return all Scan Do Pro II functions to their
factory default settings by simultaneously pressing the Test and ←
buttons.
LOCKING THE BUTTON
PANEL:
Lock/Unlock: The button panel may be locked or unlocked by simulta-
neously pressing the following button combinations:
LOCK: TEST AND ↑↑
↑↑
↑
UNLOCK: TEST AND ↓↓
↓↓
↓
Genlock Buttons Lock/Unlock: Once the genlock timing has been set,
it may be desireable to lock the Genlock and the Genlock Phasing
buttons so that nothing happens if they are accidentally pressed.This can
be accomplished by simultaneously pressing the following button combi-
nations:
GENLOCK BUTTON LOCK: VERT FILTER AND ↑↑
↑↑
↑
GENLOCK BUTTON UNLOCK: VERT FILTER AND ↓↓
↓↓
↓
When the genlock keys are locked, the function of the arrow keys will
automatically become set to the panning mode. Once the genlock keys are
unlocked, the Genlock Phasing button must be pressed to put the arrow
keys back in genlock phasing mode.
LOCKING THE GENLOCK AND
GENLOCK PHASING BUTTONS:

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 8 Page 9
TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR
CONVERTED COMPUTER IMAGES
It has been our experience, at CSI, that customers are sometimes
surprised that computer images converted to video do not look as
sharp and vivid as the original computer image does. Unfortunately,
this result is inevitable regardless of the scan converter you use, for the
technology behind TV video is far inferior to that behind newer computer
video standards. This is not to say that the quality of scan converter you
use doesn’t matter, but even the very best scan converter will not provide
output that matches the quality of your original computer picture.
Scan converters, like Scan Do Pro II, were created to bridge the
differences between the relatively new standards of computer video and
the 40-year old standards of conventional TV video. When using a scan
converter, there are several things you can do to get the best possible
results from the conversion process. These involve understanding the
limitations of standard TV video and creating images that “work around”
these shortcomings. The following tips apply whether you are displaying
your scan converter output directly on a monitor or recording it onto
videotape. While you should have realistic expectations regarding the
type of image you will be able to obtain, taking the following steps will
definitely improve your results:
USE BLACK AND WHITE: In the world of standard TV video, shades of gray are processed
differently than colors. In fact, TVs and VCRs process black, white and
all grays in between with a minimum of distortion. Use this to your
advantage in the design process by substituting gray in place of color
whenever appropriate.
AVOID INTENSE COLORS: Along the same lines, fully saturated colors (like bright red and green)
look terrible on a TV monitor. And, recording these colors to videotape
makes them look even worse. Whenever possible, try to use slightly
muted colors instead.
KNOW WHAT YOUR CONVERTED
IMAGE WILL LOOK LIKE:
First of all, when creating any computer presentation that you ulti-
mately plan to display in video format, it is always a good idea to hook
up a Scan Do Pro II and view the output on a TV monitor during the
creation process. While this may require a little bit of extra set-up time,
it has the potential to save you far more time and aggrevation later on by
avoiding the need to correct any unwanted “surprises” in your finished
work.
Sync-on-Green: Set "lever 1" to "ON"
Pedestal On/Off: Unit is preset for Pedestal Use. To turn it off, set
the switch to "ON"
PAL M: Set "lever 3" to "ON" and set exterior back panel
switch to NTSC.
PAL N: Set "lever 4" to "ON" and set exterior back panel
switch to PAL.
SYNC-ON-GREEN, PEDESTAL ON/OFF,
PAL M AND PAL N:
An internal switch located on the Scan Do Pro II and Pro II/D board
allows you to configure the unit for several custom settings. To access the
switch, first disconnect AC power. Then, remove the two screws from the
front panel. Drop the panel, which is connected to the board by a ribbon
cable. The switch, labeled "S2", is blue with four white levers and is located
on the front left corner of the board. The unit comes preset with all levers
set to "OFF." Printed to the left of the switch, on the board, are instructions
for use. A summary is provided below:
RETURNING TO FACTORY
DEFAULT SETTINGS:
Reset: You may quickly return all Scan Do Pro II functions to their
factory default settings by simultaneously pressing the Test and ←
buttons.
LOCKING THE BUTTON
PANEL:
Lock/Unlock: The button panel may be locked or unlocked by simulta-
neously pressing the following button combinations:
LOCK: TEST AND ↑↑
↑↑
↑
UNLOCK: TEST AND ↓↓
↓↓
↓
Genlock Buttons Lock/Unlock: Once the genlock timing has been set,
it may be desireable to lock the Genlock and the Genlock Phasing
buttons so that nothing happens if they are accidentally pressed.This can
be accomplished by simultaneously pressing the following button combi-
nations:
GENLOCK BUTTON LOCK: VERT FILTER AND ↑↑
↑↑
↑
GENLOCK BUTTON UNLOCK: VERT FILTER AND ↓↓
↓↓
↓
When the genlock keys are locked, the function of the arrow keys will
automatically become set to the panning mode. Once the genlock keys are
unlocked, the Genlock Phasing button must be pressed to put the arrow
keys back in genlock phasing mode.
LOCKING THE GENLOCK AND
GENLOCK PHASING BUTTONS:

Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Scan Do Pro II User’s Manual
Page 7
Page 10
USE HIGH GRADE VIDEO
TAPE:
When making a VCR recording, use a name brand videotape with a
“Pro” or “Broadcast” grade. An S-VHS tape can also be used, even if
you’re only making a standard VHS recording. Also, record using the
fastest possible speed (shortest time mode). You will have less noise and
tape jitter in your recording.
TV and video signals are designed to bleed off the edges of the screen.
This means that when a computer picture is converted to a TV standard,
the borders of your picture will be lost. In order to avoid this cropping
effect, you can use the Zoom feature on Scan Do Pro II to display your
image at 85%. If you would prefer to use the bleeding effect in your final
display, be sure to design your presentation with ample borders surround-
ing the “live area” of your image. That way, when the cropping does
occur, no critical part of your picture will be lost.
PAY ATTENTION TO
YOUR BORDERS:
ELIMINATE FLICKER: By far, the most annoying effect that occurs when a computer image
is converted to video is “flicker.” This rapid flashing may appear
throughout the screen or localized in one particular area, and is due to the
fact the TV monitors, unlike computer monitors, draw the even and odd
lines within the picture in alternating passes. This effect is most
noticeable on thin horizontal lines – particularly, bright lines against a
dark background.
The four-step anti-flicker filter in Scan Do Pro II employs an advanced
design technique to overcome this annoying problem with only a very
slight loss in vertical detail. When using this feature, experiment with
different settings, as you will receive the maximum benefit from differ-
ent levels depending on the type of visual you are displaying. You may
also want to keep in mind when designing your presentation that the less
thin, horizontal lines you use in your image, the less likely that any flicker
will be visible.
USE S-VIDEO: Almost all new, larger screen commercial TVs have an S-Video jack.
S-Video is a superior form of the standard TV video signal, in that the
brightness and color components of the image are separated into two
separate signals. This results in far fewer distortions and noticeably
superior image quality. So, if your TV or VCR is S-Video equipped,
definitely use the S-Video output from Scan Do Pro II. You’ll see a
difference.
This button toggles between YUV and RGB color space. The LED is lit when in
YUV and off when in RGB. YUV is the factory default setting.
YUV/RGB COLOR SPACE:
Anti-Flicker: This button will activate one of four levels of flicker reduction. To
turn on the flicker filter, push the Anti-Flicker button once. This activates level one
of the filter. The green LED should illuminate, indicating that this feature is now
active.
Press the button repeatedly to cycle through levels two, three and four of the
flicker filter. The green light will remain lit for all four stages. Pushing the button a
fifth time will turn off the flicker filter and extinguish the green LED.
Try the different settings for this button to see which gives the best results for the
application you are viewing. You’ll discover that depending on the type of image,
different settings provide the maximum benefit.
REDUCING FLICKER IN
THE IMAGE:
VERTICAL FILTER: This button toggles the vertical fliter on and off. The LED is lit when the vertical
filter is on and off when it is off. The factory default setting is vertical filter off.
FREEZING THE IMAGE ON
YOUR VIDEO SCREEN:
Freeze: Scan Do Pro II gives you the ability to freeze or stop the image on your
video screen without halting your computer application. When you push the Freeze
button, the images output by Scan Do Pro II will freeze and the green LED will
illuminate. (The loop-through support to your local computer monitor will remain
active.) Press the button again to deactivate the freeze feature and extinguish the LED.
While in the freeze mode, all keypad functions are still active. However, you will
not see the effects from using any other features, such as Zoom, until the Freeze
mode is turned off.
Cursor Buttons (Arrows): As TV monitors and video projectors may not always
display the image in the center of the screen, you may use the four “arrow” buttons
on the front of Scan Do Pro II to position the image up, down, left and right. The
image will move one increment each time you push the button. If you continue to
push down any of the arrow buttons, the image will begin to move continuously, first
slowly and then more quickly.
POSITIONING THE
IMAGE ON THE
SCREEN:
Positioning Shortcut Buttons: Pushing the following button combinations simul-
taneously will immediately position your image as follows:
IMAGE POSITION BUTTON COMBINATION
Center image vertically ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and ↓↓
↓↓
↓
Center image horizonatally ←←
←←
← and →→
→→
→
Upper left corner ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and ←←
←←
←
Upper right corner ↑↑
↑↑
↑ and →→
→→
→
Lower left corner ↓↓
↓↓
↓ and ←←
←←
←
Lower right corner ↓↓
↓↓
↓ and →→
→→
→