I’m not sure exactly what you mean. ART3 and Chromagnon are the same basic functions as Navigator/Shapechanger under the hood. They are analog computing functions that perform 2D math on voltages – they are not frame buffers than can reposition the pixels in an input image. (That’s the domain of digital processing such as Memory Palace.) The exception of course is if you’re doing vector rescanning techniques and using these to modify ramps sent into XY of the vector display. Then you are able to warp, spin, reposition where the texture appears on the screen in an analogue way.
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Thanks Lars, you have just answered my question - I just wanted to comprehend a form or technique which is the last “outpost” between the analog 2D computing and digital frame buffer territory. I am sure I will try to have a go at it this way as I have managed to get Andor1 images and videos on my oscilloscope screen modulating the Cadet ramp and VCO. Hope to see ART3 available soon. 
I have a few questions about sync with the gen3 modules…
- Does the sync signal have to be a black video signal, or can it have video data also?
- Will presence of a color burst in the sync signal change anything for better or worse?
- Are some of the modules more tolerant to the above conditions in the sync signal than others?
- Do any of these answers differ depending on SD vs HD sync?
And specifically about the two that are up for pre-order right now:
- Do either of them take sync? (I presume the FKG3 does and the SMX3 doesn’t, and I feel like this has come up in this thread, but it’s kind of hard to search.)
- If either of them take sync, do you think they can still be useful without sync?
(Can you tell that I don’t really have an RCA sync generator (yet) and am wondering what I can get away with? )
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I love questions in lists!
There can be video present as long as the sync is clean. There’s an auto detecting SD/HD filter in the LMH1980 circuit (from their datasheet) that will filter SD more aggressively (to remove chroma artifacts that could interfere with sync.)
I can think of a few stray cases in which it matters, but in practical terms: no, you don’t need color burst. It’s something generated at the encoder/syncgen, on modules with CVBS output (like ESG3.)
- Are some of the modules more tolerant to the above conditions in the sync signal than others?
No. The sync IO are on the rear power + sync assembly and the circuit is identical on all modules.
- Do any of these answers differ depending on SD vs HD sync?
No.
- Do either of them take sync? (I presume the FKG3 does and the SMX3 doesn’t, and I feel like this has come up in this thread, but it’s kind of hard to search.)
- If either of them take sync, do you think they can still be useful without sync?
FKG3 requires sync connection.
SMX3 does not require sync connection.
In the case of your existing system and using FKG3, you can just loop your encoder output thru it or your input source (if that is what you are genlocking your C1 to.) That should work no problem.
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Thanks, those are all what I was hoping/figuring!
@creatorlars Can we discuss SMX3 and its functionality in relation to VBM I & II? Is SMX3 essentially a VBM I without the 1-n switches, ABS out, and xtra channels?
Can we discuss SMX3 and its functionality in relation to VBM I & II? Is SMX3 essentially a VBM I without the 1-n switches, ABS out, and xtra channels?
Correct, it’s the core “3x3 colorspace matrix function” without any of the extras. Implemented with Gen3 circuit designs for null band attenuverters. We feel like this is an important function that is complex enough as it is (patchable in several different ways) to encapsulate in 12HP. The other functions move to new homes in other modules.
There is a 12HP 2-channel blending module coming that will cover things like ABS outs and advanced blending modes from Marble Index (include Luma logic based blends we’ve never implemented before, like Screen and Overlay.)
Note that “1-n” and “ABS” (in addition to MIN and MAX) are also discrete functions of the DSG3 Dual Shape module. Definitely think of DSG3 Dual Shape as a Dual Multimode Mixer / Blending / Inverting Function when you’re thinking about processing RGB signals with this initial set.
So think about the case of a system with 2x DSG3 + 2x SMX3. This is two very different systems depending on how you patch it: a complex RGB ramp/shape synthesis toolkit when shapes go to matrix inputs – or an RGB layer blending / color correction engine with RGB gamma / RGB logic when matrix inputs are frontends for RGB blending functions patched across the two DSG3s.
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So when adapting from thinking of the early approach, the SMX3 is really a “front end processor” or “sub mixer” more than anything. It’s designed to produce a single RGB output. Like a preamp or mixer channel insert in audio console. But instead of “RGB level controls” you have “RGB to RGB translation controls.”
So it’s “roll your own RGB workflow” in Gen3, effectively. The “VBM” concept is tunable based on the ratio of SMX3/DSG3/future blender modules you put in a row. Even if you’re just looking at 3 modules, there are several viable combinations that are each unique variants of the original VBM concept.
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Perfect. That is exactly what I thought. Can’t wait!
Nice to get these blending modes in the mix (pun, I guess, intended?). Screening, especially, is a much better-looking way to mix RGB images than adding or multiplying in many cases. Looking forward to seeing that module!
Would also be cool to have a mixer module that, instead of just crossfading with an inverse linear ratio (center of fade is 50% of each channel), could blend 2 RGB channels with the following mix curves (center is 100% of each), and then with user-selectable blending modes:
Maybe in the eventual RGB instrument (“Solarium”)?
NOTE: edited this to maybe be a bit clearer(?)
Gamma shape the signal going into threshold CV of FKG and you could quite precisely adjust that curve however you want.
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A curve like that would be part of a blending function itself – for example, the Screen and Overlay luma functions would look similar (but maybe the inverse of that.) The blending module will likely have individual inverts on both RGB inputs, so you can get 4 variations of each blending mode if you wanted to, for example do a “Negative Screen” or an “Inverse Screen.”, etc. Marble Index works this way (with the Clip / Solarize functions.)
What you’re showing is 1-DARKS for the B channel and 1-LIGHTS for the A channel. Discrete outs for DARKS & LIGHTS functions will definitely be part of the Outliner module, which is a rectifier/filter. So maybe some other options there for the more piecemeal style blending.
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Absolutely! Or you patch the gamma shaping itself, by using FKG as a luma multiplier and then mixing its output back with the original RGB (using an SMX or more complex blending function.)
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I guess I was misinterpreting your original comment about “2-channel” as meaning two mono channels. But it sounds like you were speaking of 2 RGB channels, which is great! Excited!
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Yeah! It would be an “RGB blender” in the same sense that FKG is an “RGB keyer.” Both are similar in the sense that are “RGB 2:1” functions.
SMX3 is an “RGB matrix” (RGB 1:1 function) or an “RGB mixer” (RGB 3:1 function).
DSG3 is a “Dual Multimode Mixer” (Mono 2:1 functions).
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Yeah, I was imagining something more like 2:many, like the left side of Arch.
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Yeah, I was imagining something more like 2:many, like the left side of Arch.
Right, that’s what the 4x outputs on each “DUAL SHAPE” section are (SUM, MIN, MAX, ABS.) I guess I still consider it 2:1 (there’s just 4 variant outputs) where as a 2:4 would be more like a mux/router scenario.
Of course, you are right – it is missing the DARK/LIGHT outputs like Arch, but those will show up elsewhere.
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I read the thread thoroughly, seeing that how each Gen3 module had its own HV ramps built in - just here to make sure that if I had a system with Expedition, Castle and Cadet modules (including the RGB Encoder on the output), that I could get my ART3 to either be the master sync for the Cadet system or slave it via the RCA sync in on the rear. I would also wonder what it or other Gen3 modules would do without input signals - sounds great not to have these “pre-filled” modules anyway!
ART3 is not a sync generator, it needs connection to a sync generator or video source of some kind. You can use your Cadet Encoder output and chain it through.
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Thanks for clearing that up - I was just reading on Modular Grid that “This module requires sync” - at first I thought it right just how it was with Shapechanger! Really looking forward to integrating it and adding DSG later on!
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