The DVD

In 1997 the DVD format was born and Video Essentials (VE) was the best option for people who wanted to calibrate their audio/video home theater systems without the help of expensive home theater professionals. During those first few years, Video Essentials sold over 300,000 copies and became an essential tool for videophiles. (No pun intended)

But in 1999, a new calibration DVD came onto the scene, it was called Avia. Avia excelled in almost everyway to the then dated VE. Avia's menus were easier to navigate, it provided better hands on explanations, and it gave more accurate test patterns to calibrate advanced video systems. So Avia dethroned VE as the "must-have" calibration disc for home theater enthusiasts.

But a lot has changed since 1999. Digital video broadcasts are now slowly becoming a reality, and the DVD format has finally caused the once popular VHS format to go the way of the Dodo (With the exception of D-VHS). With this new serge in digital video communication a newer and more advanced calibration disc was needed to fill the void left by the aging Avia.

So VE has finally struck back with the long awaited and highly anticipated Digital Video Essentials (DVE). Which brings up the question; was it worth the wait? The answer is an enthusiastic yes! DVE is the most advanced and easy-to-use calibration DVD software available for home theater enthusiasts. It is a night and day improvement over VE, and greatly overshadows Avia in terms of visual presentation, and more importantly, ease of calibration.

DVE begins with a four-minute space shuttle launch introductory scene that lets you know from the beginning you're watching a professional, and well-produced DVD. The launch sequence looks stunning, which is no surprise since it, along with all the footage on the DVD, was filmed in Hi-Definition. And even though the end result on your monitor or screen isn't in true Hi-Def resolution due to the DVD format, the picture quality is still spectacular.

After the NASA montage, an introduction to DVE engages, which touches on the subjects of room environment, A/V equipment, and digital video. This is a lengthy and well-organized intro that goes into great detail about how a home theater room should be set up, what types of rooms are best suited for home theaters, what kinds of speakers you should use, the differences between analog and digital television broadcasts, interlaced vs. progressive output, the amazing MPEG format that makes DVD technology work, and the future of Hi-Def viewing that can be found today via D-VHS, personal home computers, and digital broadcast TV.

After the intro you can access the program menu that divides DVE into five separate segments; Introduction, DVD Navigation, Program Guide, Playback Options, and Program Notes. If you're new to Home Theater you should sit through the Introduction and DVD Navigation segments to familiarize yourself with the technology and terms that will be used throughout the presentation. For instance, the DVD Navigation segment shows you how to make sense of your DVD player's remote control and DVD software.

The meat of this production is in Program Guide menu, so that's where you'll want to spend most of your time. Accessing the Program Guide menu takes you to another categorized menu subdivided into Room Environment, Audio, and Video. The Room Environment segment teaches you the importance of acoustics, and how an improperly set up room can be counterproductive in recreating the perfect home cinema experience. Here we learn the proper use, or nonuse of ambient light, and the history of gray and why calibrating proper gray levels is important to home theater applications. Fantastic 3-D animations and wonderful audio demonstrations make this segment enjoyable, and easy to understand, even for the laymen.

The Audio menu touches on many different subcategories, DVD Formats, Loudspeaker Placement, Stereo Demonstration, Multichannel Formats, System Connections, and Setting Audio Levels. Here we learn how to decide which audio format is best for your setup, the true purpose of rear surround speakers, the proper way to position your LFE (Subwoofer) channel speaker, tips on configuring speaker levels, how to use a sound level meter to check that proper sound levels are being directed to the ideal viewing area, and get to run through various audio setup tests.

The Video menu is divided into four subcategories, Basic Calibration, Troubleshooting, Advanced Calibration, and Video Systems Details. Here you'll receive basic step-by-step instruction on how to use the included video test patterns to improve and optimize black levels, flesh tones, color, and sharpness. Thankfully DVE now offers a color filter decoder tool for calibrating color levels. Unlike VE, DVE includes a single card that houses the red, green, and blue filters together. This makes using it simple, as you don't have to go fishing for each individual filter like you do using Avia.

My Impressions

DVE is a real winner. The narration and complex computer animations make this an extremely user-friendly calibration device. Even those who are completely new to the home theater world will be able to learn and adjust their TV on the very first viewing. A lot of the basic technical information will probably fly over the heads of newbies but will most likely be old news to veterans. However, videophiles can still benefit from the many detailed theater layout diagrams that may spark new ideas for speaker and TV placement.

Menu navigation is a huge improvement over VE, but could have been made even simpler. For some reason an arbitrary menu was created strictly for the use of the "menu" button on your DVD's remote control. This menu can cause confusion, as it doesn't offer any new content but merely reorganizes topics already introduced. But besides this flaw, menu navigation is fairly easy.

Many people interested in DVE already own, or have some experience using Avia. And since comparisons between the two are inevitable, I did a direct head-to-head evaluation of both. While Avia is still an excellent and easy-to-use tool for home theater calibration, I feel DVE is a superior product. Avia may have more overall content, but the summarization done by DVE is concise and to the point, and does not skimp the viewer in any way. However, I still prefer the face-to-face instruction in Avia for demonstrating hardware configuration scenarios. I would have liked to see some of this in DVE, but there was none.

In terms of visual and audio teaching supplements, DVE is the unanimous winner. DVE looks and sounds fantastic. The diagrams are much more detailed, and the graphics are light-years ahead of those found in Avia. The audio tests coupled with the 3-D animations makes understanding and adjusting audio levels a breeze, going way beyond Avia's content.

But the area where DVE completely blows Avia out of the water is with its video calibration test patterns. New test patterns were designed specifically for DVE, making video calibration simpler and more efficient. Avia has an enormous arsenal of video test patterns but offers absolutely no instruction on how to use them. So if you're new to home theater, you will need advice from a calibration veteran to help you utilize the patterns. DVE not only narrates the user on what to look for, but it pauses to let you configure each setting during the middle of the segment.

If you're serious about home theater you absolutely need a calibration software DVD. If you don't own a calibration disc yet, DVE is your best option. If you're completely new to home theater and prefer face-to-face instruction by a fellow human, then Avia may be more to your liking, but be warned that Avia does not instruct much on the newer digital video formats, so Avia is already somewhat obsolete. But it's still a great tool for learning the ins and outs of home theater, and is good for calibrating if you know what you're doing. But for the modern videophile, DVE is the only way to go. If further persuasion is still needed, just remember that DVE sells for roughly half the money that Avia does.

I'm convinced, and you will be too.


Video:
Digital Video Essentials is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This may not be a movie, but video quality is important when you're using test patterns to calibrate your TV. DVE doesn't disappoint as it offers stunning visuals shot in Hi-Definintion resolution. The opening space shuttle launce sequence is breathtaking, and looks almost as good as true Hi-Def material. The only downside is the appearance of edge enhancement, which actually made calibrating the sharpness of my front projector somewhat confusing because the halos blended in with the perceived sharpness level adjustments. Other than that, this is a fabulous looking DVD.

Renowned cinematographer Allen Daviau, (ET, Empire of the Sun) shot all of the live action footage, so every sequence looked exquisite. This DVD looks every bit as professional as you'd hope, and it makes Avia look like a low-rent production.

Audio:
DVE will work with both analog Dolby Digital 2.0 surround systems, as well as Dolby Digital EX 6.1 and DTS-ES equipped systems. Of course if you're a true audiophile you'll want your receiver in 6.1 mode so you can make sure your system is properly configured.

The narration dialogue is clear at all times, however, if you only have a 5.1 speaker setup, you will miss out on a large chunk of dialogue that goes to the back surround speakers during a couple of the audio demonstrations. A 6.1 speaker setup is highly recommended.

The audio tests are very effective. For instance, during the first surprise surround sound test, the spontaneous sound of a ricocheting bullet nearly made me jump out of my seat. The audio works just as it was intended, and sounds perfect for its main purpose of system calibration.


Final Thoughts:
Joseph J. Kane, Jr. has done a wonderful job creating a modern calibration DVD for the new-age home theater system. The graphics and animations provide tons of eye candy, and the Hi-Def live-action footage makes adjusting video settings easy. The step-by-step video test pattern instruction is the best on the market, and far exceeds Avia in ease of use. If you already own Avia, DVE is not a "must-have" DVD, but it will make calibration simpler. If you don't own Avia, DVE is easily your best option as it sells for half the price of the now nearly obsolete Avia. Digital Video Essentials is currently the latest and greatest tool for turning would-be home theaters into true home cinemas. DVD Talk Collector Series