Frequently Asked Questions

Our sincere thanks go to all those who found us from the magazines and we hope you will bookmark this site and visit from time to time to keep up with the latest news, download our fact sheets or browse with an interest in purchasing one of our world renowned ACEs (sales now in over 40 countries)! Now that we have stopped production, sadly you will have to buy secondhand. Details of this decision and our future work can be found Here.

First it is important to realise that the Bypass button on the ACE Converter can be used to cancel all video adjustments without affecting standards conversion. With this button pressed in you have a simple converter and cannot mess up the video by incorrect adjustments. However they are still there if you need them and you will be surprised how valuable they can be. So don't worry, just use what you need!

Second it is a fact that with microprocessor control the ACE Converter's extra features do not cost much - only the cost of the knobs, buttons and switches behind them. So you get the extra functions for very little cost - the price you pay goes into state-of-the-art processing and high quality construction. A simpler version would therefore not be good value and everyone would want something different so they would probably cost more!

Our worldwide guarantee is on a return-to-base basis but covers repair and full return cost to you. We can afford to do this without adding to the shipping charge because our failure rate is so low!

Marketing policy for the ACE24 was different. These were sold through dealers as well as direct online at similar prices.

As we have now stopped all production and no longer have any stock dealers are no longer required!

The standard RGB output of the ACE on the SCART socket does not have sync on Green but works fine with European TVs when connected by a SCART lead as they are designed to take sync from the composite feed also on the SCART socket. RGB connection using our special SCART to RGB/YUV adaptor can be used with other equipment provided it can take sync on a fourth input from the separate Phono (RCA) composite output of the ACE. Otherwise you will need to buy a special adaptor such as the "Syncblaster" cable from Keene Electronics. This cable extracts sync from the composite output on the SCART and combines it with the Green to give the sync on Green required by equipment without a separate fourth sync input.

The alternative YUV output of the ACE on the SCART socket similarly does not have sync on Y (Luminance) but in this case (unlike with RGB) there is a very simple solution. Y (Luminance) with sync is available from the "S" video output socket. To use this simply plug the special "S" to two Phono (RCA) plugs lead we supply with every ACE into the "S" video output socket of the ACE. Now connect the Red Phono (RCA) plug of this lead into the Y input of your TV, leaving the other plug hanging. Then connect the U & V sockets of the special SCART to RGB/YUV adaptor to the U(Cb) & V(Cr) inputs of your TV. Make sure you press the "Output Type" button of the ACE exactly twice after power-up for the YUV with "S" combination (See page 7 of the User Manual for details).

So, if you have a standard non-"S" source such as a normal VCR then you must use Composite connections from the source to the ACE. The "S" socket on a SCART adaptor plugged into a non-"S" source does not have "S" signals on it!

If you have an "S" source then we suggest you use the "S" output socket on the source but if you wish to use "S" output on a SCART socket then you must make sure the source is set to give "S" from the SCART.

The SCART Output socket on the ACE does NOT have "S" signals on it. This output must be connected to devices expecting or set to accept Composite video, not "S".

Connection from the "S" or Composite Phono outputs of the ACE into a SCART input on a recorder or display device must follow the same rules as given above:

So, if you have a standard non-"S" recorder such as a normal VCR or older TV then you must use Composite connections from the ACE to this unit. The "S" socket on a SCART adaptor will not accept "S" signals into it!

If you have an "S" recorder or TV with "S" input then we suggest you use the "S" socket on the ACE and your device but if you wish to feed "S" to a SCART input then you must make sure the recorder/display is set to expect "S" on the SCART.

The solution is to make sure your video source machine is connected ONLY to the ACE and not to anything else, using direct cabling from video source to ACE and removing any other wires connected to the video source, including aerial cables. If this is done there will definitely be no more interference. (The most common cause of this fault is the use of video switches for equipment interconnection.)

Assuming these settings are correct you can be sure you have the right output. However you will of course only see the video in full colour on your TV or monitor if it can handle this output standard. So for example when converting from PAL to NTSC if your TV is a PAL-only one then you will not see colour on the output. In this case just be sure you are producing the selected NTSC and continue recording. During playback you will see full colour if your (UK) VCR has NTSC playback in PAL, or else you can play back the VCR tape through the converter with it now set to PAL.

First make sure the PAL and/or NTSC buttons are set IN as required for your local video standard. This will inhibit vertical expansion and allow the horizontal-only expansion needed. Now use the zoom mode with "Digitise" set four steps up from zero and record your video onto the intermediate storage with this horizontal expansion. This will give the 5/4 expansion and cropping needed to convert 20:9 into 16:9. Next re-process this stored video using the normal letterboxing mode but this time the PAL and NTSC buttons must both be OUT. Choose the level of zoom you prefer in the usual way, trading off image size against cropping. The aspect ratio will now be corrrect.

When presented with a monochrome, i.e. black and white, video input the ACE will cycle round the 9 accepted video colour standards continuously. This would not matter but for the fact that the brightness level on the different standards varies causing the output brightness of the ACE to vary and the video to flicker in some modes.

The solution is to use the Colour Standard Lock facility as described on Page 10 of the User Manual. To enable this facility simply turn the power off, hold in the button marked "COLOUR SHIFT^" and turn the power on again while this button is held in. The "COLOUR SHIFT^" button can then be released. To cancel this mode simply turn power off and on again without holding this button in.

For VHS tapes the de-facto copy protection standard is Macrovision. Unfortunately the extremely high licence fees make this available only to the largest copy houses so those doing their own copying or using smaller copy companies are unable to take advantage of this type of protection. Of course if Macrovision protection could be added then it would also be necessary to use special commercial VCRs which will record despite this protection which is an added expense. In general the videographer will just rely on the loss of quality on second generation copies and reasonable pricing of his own copies to reduce the financial losses.

The advent of digital recording changes the scene completely. Customers can now make loss-less copies from a master VHS tape either onto DVD or Dvcam and distribute to friends or family. Fortunately this can be prevented by the addition of CGMS-A (Copy Generation Management System - Analogue), as with the ACE Converter special version "R". This will still allow copying to the majority of VHS VCRs but such copies will suffer the usual loss of quality for a second generation tape. However it is this ability to record onto VHS that makes this option viable in the first place! The important point is that CGMS-A does stop loss-less copying to DVD or DVcam. Of course, copy protection removers are available, but research has shown that most people do not bother to buy these or the whole analogue copy protection industry would have collapsed!

Unfortunately for those providing copies in DVD form my research suggests that Macrovision and CGMS are unavailable on recordable DVD which is the only practical route for medium quantities. However, those providing copies on tape can now protect their copyright within reasonable limits.

For those customers living in jurisdictions where copying of their own material is permitted for personal use, or where permission has been given for copying of copyright material, it is worth noting that the Original ACE also always removes Macrovision but unlike the ACE Converter it does not automatically remove CGMS-A protection from DVDs. However this can be achieved by pressing IN just the Top Wipe button (to the right of the ACTION button), leaving the other three Wipe buttons OUT and pressing IN the MANUAL button, leaving the AUDIO button OUT. Then, starting with the SPEED/MANUAL Fade Knob fully clockwise, turn it slowly anticlockwise while trying to record your copy until copying is permitted. Turning this control too far anticlockwise will of course cut off part of the video at the top so careful adjustment is required but the correct setting will remove CGMS-A protection and not damage the video. (BYPASS must be OUT!)

Email to: sales@gthelectronics.com

Telephone: 01692 402501

International Tel: +44 1692 402501

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