Comb filter - on or off?

Soundbox · 25-01-2012, 11:36

My Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder has an option in the menu for a 'comb filter'. The person writing the manual has just written a generic line 'turn on for high quality recordings' but what does it exactly do and when would it be active?

I leave it on, but I would like to understand when (or if) it should be turned off and what inputs it is active on.

Thanks

njp · 25-01-2012, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundbox

My Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder has an option in the menu for a 'comb filter'. The person writing the manual has just written a generic line 'turn on for high quality recordings' but what does it exactly do and when would it be active?

I leave it on, but I would like to understand when (or if) it should be turned off and what inputs it is active on.

Thanks

The comb filter is what separates the chrominance and luminance information. That's only going to be relevant if they've previously being combined, which pretty much just means the composite video input.

witham1 · 25-01-2012, 14:10

Don’t bother with it.
It only applies to analogue television; the filter was used to extract the colour information from the main video (composite).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_filter

Deacon1972 · 25-01-2012, 14:19

Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese.

Soundbox · 25-01-2012, 14:19

Thanks. So active on composite only - but if I used composite in and the selected 'comb filter off' would the recording be done via composite all the way to the DVD A-D converter or some other method? I copy VHS tapes using composite input you see.

Soundbox · 25-01-2012, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon1972

Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese.

I have it in my diary for this evening!

Deacon1972 · 25-01-2012, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundbox

I have it in my diary for this evening!

Nice one.

njp · 25-01-2012, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon1972

Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese.

Yes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundbox

Thanks. So active on composite only - but if I used composite in and the selected 'comb filter off' would the recording be done via composite all the way to the DVD A-D converter or some other method? I copy VHS tapes using composite input you see.

No, it will have to separate the chroma and luma in some other (presumably inferior) way. A notch filter? I don't know why you'd ever want to not use it if you were recording from composite, but perhaps somebody else does...

Perhaps (once you've tested the index marks) you could make some test recordings and see which works best?

25-01-2012, 11:36	#1
Soundbox Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The garden of earthly delights Posts: 4,509	Comb filter - on or off? My Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder has an option in the menu for a 'comb filter'. The person writing the manual has just written a generic line 'turn on for high quality recordings' but what does it exactly do and when would it be active? I leave it on, but I would like to understand when (or if) it should be turned off and what inputs it is active on. Thanks

25-01-2012, 14:10	#2
njp Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 21,646	Quote: Originally Posted by Soundbox My Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder has an option in the menu for a 'comb filter'. The person writing the manual has just written a generic line 'turn on for high quality recordings' but what does it exactly do and when would it be active? I leave it on, but I would like to understand when (or if) it should be turned off and what inputs it is active on. Thanks The comb filter is what separates the chrominance and luminance information. That's only going to be relevant if they've previously being combined, which pretty much just means the composite video input.

25-01-2012, 14:10	#3
witham1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Witham, Essex. Posts: 266	Don’t bother with it. It only applies to analogue television; the filter was used to extract the colour information from the main video (composite). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_filter

25-01-2012, 14:19	#4
Deacon1972 Guest Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8,103	Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese.

25-01-2012, 14:19	#6
Soundbox Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The garden of earthly delights Posts: 4,509	Quote: Originally Posted by Deacon1972 Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese. I have it in my diary for this evening!

25-01-2012, 14:26	#7
Deacon1972 Guest Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8,103	Quote: Originally Posted by Soundbox I have it in my diary for this evening! Nice one.

25-01-2012, 14:36	#8
njp Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 21,646	Quote: Originally Posted by Deacon1972 Stop messing about with comb filters and get these index marks sorted pleeeese. Yes! Quote: Originally Posted by Soundbox Thanks. So active on composite only - but if I used composite in and the selected 'comb filter off' would the recording be done via composite all the way to the DVD A-D converter or some other method? I copy VHS tapes using composite input you see. No, it will have to separate the chroma and luma in some other (presumably inferior) way. A notch filter? I don't know why you'd ever want to not use it if you were recording from composite, but perhaps somebody else does... Perhaps (once you've tested the index marks) you could make some test recordings and see which works best?

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Comb filter - on or off?