How to adjust Key West Big Voodoo TBC brightness?
 

Hello, I’m testing the settings of a Key West Big Voodoo TBC and was wondering if there was a way to adjust the brightness. I consulted an online manual but honestly have no idea what it’s saying. Here’s the page.

Attachment 17083

The manual is very confusing, using somewhat different terminology. Try adjusting “Setup” as described on page 8 of the manual. “Setup” usually refers to the 7.5 IRE offset used on US NTSC video. But I think for the BVTBC10, “Setup” = “Brightness”.

In this manual, US NTSC offset is called “Pedestal” which is set per the instructions on page 14.
The page you’ve referenced is discussing the serial data communication protocol used to adjust the unit remotely. Why here they refer to contrast and brightness rather than luma and “setup” as used for direct control, I have NO idea. :smack::screwy:

Hope this helps,
BW

I’ll have to mess with it but I think the most I was getting with setup was switching between Composite and S-Video.

That would be “Source” not “Setup”. That top left button is Source in Menu Level 1 and it’s “Setup” in Menu Level 2.

The controls are spread out over 4 Menu Levels. Level 1 is mostly the basics: Source, STD (NTSC -PAL), etc. Level 2 is where most of the Process Amp adjustments are: Setup (brightness), Chroma, Luma and Hue.

Again, the controls on the BVTBC are not easy to learn and adjust. The manual is confusing to make it worse. It will take some time to understand it and even then you will make mistakes. In the “Operations” section of the manual, it’s not obvious which image goes with each description. Sometimes it’s not on the same page. I suggest printing out the manual pages you’ll be using most and mark them up with notes to clarify things for your own understanding. Take your time.

Good Luck,
BW

For starters, the base unit is not the 8/10 models.

Knowing jargon helps:
chroma = color
pedestal = IRE
luma/gain = brightness
setup = contrast

RTFM helps. It should be in the manuals thread in the repair forum. I'd add it here, but on another computer now. :book:

Be aware that the BV units all have versions, many with issues (especially noise). I've come across many units over the years where buttons or functions do not work properly. The quality of the button panel was the weak point of these TBCs.

I figured it out. ;)

Great to hear!