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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => SR Forum Archives => Pro AV FUD Forum Archive => Topic started by: Karl P(eterson) on June 18, 2007, 01:32:49 PM

Title: (Intel) Macs and scalars - The Problem and Solution
Post by: Karl P(eterson) on June 18, 2007, 01:32:49 PM
Some people know that most of the new intel macs (all but certain models of the mac pro) won't work with certain projectors, old monitors, and more troubling - scalars.

The problem comes down to the type of EDID data that the display (or scalar) is supposed to send back to the computer. With most "PCs" (and some of the mac pros) an EDID signal isn't necessary for the O/S to output a signal. With most of the new intel macs however, EDID is mandatory else you get no screen.

Where this can get you however is that not all scalars output a correct EDID signal on their inputs, and some may not output a fully compliant signal leaving your shiny new mac's output to the scalar rather hit or miss.

The solution?: Get yourself a splitter that can filter out the EDID (if there is any) of the downstream devices and merge in its own instead.

This proved to be a little trickier than it would seem as most good splitters are only capable of merging the EDID from downstream, or even allowing you to select which output to recieve the signal from.

The answer came in the form of a Kramer VP-X00N (The X is the output count - 2, 3 , 4 etc) This little box has the ability to insert its own EDID data. Simply connect it between your mac output and the scalar input(s) and off you go.

If you have trouble finding the right resolution, you can use SwitchRes X to dial in a custom resolution for the EDID ID of the Kramer and off you go.

This tip may also prove handy on some of the newest windows Vista laptops which may require EDID data as well.

Karl P