“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein
For the Standard subscription, the initial program purchase is good for a period of 6 months. After the first 6 month period, lifetime access is $75. Or just spend $25 more at the start and get Lifetime right away. Save $50 right there.
See what Leo Laporte “The Tech Guy!” and Scott Wilkinson “Home Theater Geeks” are saying about this video series. Go to time code 33 Min 10 Sec.
Bonus View … Watch Part One for Free.
And if all that wasn’t enough for you yet, here is a one hour interview that Scott Wilkinson did with Michael Chen and Ray Coronado on all things calibration related and how the videos got their start.
This is the Video Calibration Training store page. The training video is actually a series of separate videos that run from 4 minutes to 25 minutes in length. (Currently at 73 with more in the pipeline.) Total combined run time for all the videos is now over 14 hours. It is highly recommended that the videos are watched in numeric order for the first viewing. (Parts 1 through 12, that is. The remaining are more random topics outside of a normal calibration.) My own preferred viewing order would be Part 18 first as that covers set up. Then Parts 1 to 12. Then Part 16 for 3D. Parts 13 and 17 are just additional learning topics with 17 dealing with more advanced calibration features on some TVs. Parts 14 and 15 are a repeat of material covered in the original 12 parts, but focusing on using the Chromapure software.
The Training Video serves two purposes. It is a visual aid and guide for the new THX Video Calibrator as it covers what is said to a client in a typical calibration session that I do. (#1 thru #12) The only difference being that the client actually ends up with a calibrated TV at the end of the process and pays 4 times to 5 times the cost of these videos in the process. The client also does not get the benefit of referring back to the many stories within the calibration session. This Video Training Series should be a great way to supplement the material that was taught in the THX Video Calibration Class (or ISF class for that matter). The old Spectracal Professional Monitor Calibration classes that I taught for them were actually based on my 4 to 6 hour calibration sessions and those students routinely paid $400 for that eight hour class.
As THX Video Calibrators will quickly realize, this Video Training program is very similar to a compressed version of the actual THX class minus the hands-on calibration time and some other stuff. Why? Because the structure of the THX class was largely influenced by these original calibration sessions. Same people after all involved in both programs.
The second purpose of the Training Video series is that it is precisely about training. An enthusiast using an entry level probe can watch and reproduce the results of what is being taught and they will have a calibrated display at the end of the process and a lot more certainty that they did it correctly. Visual training is usually much easier to understand than the written word. There is a lot less open for interpretation when learning a concept via the Video Training program. Nothing like getting the basics down the first time. No guessing.
These Training Videos should not be construed as a substitute for Professional Video Calibration classes nor are they intended to be. (Although minus the hands on experience, they now exceed the material covered in those classes now.) They are also not intended to cover every last detail and nuance about calibration. No class can even hope to cover that and 14+ hours of videos certainly won’t although it starts to get close … Expectations like this are unrealistic and you won’t get a $1200-$2000 class and a life time of experience in a $175/$250 package. (But in some ways, you may get more out of these videos than the actual ISF/THX classes) These videos do compliment the professional training because they ensure that the fundamentals of calibration learned in the class will not be misunderstood by the student when they start to offer these services to clients.
Bonus View … Watch Part 22 for Free. Profiling Meters with Calman V4
The Training Video uses the AVSHD test disc which is a freeware disc for anyone to download and burn to a DVD. While not technically free, it will cost a user all of 25 cents for the cost of a blank DVD in most cases. It can be found here. Just download it and burn it. Most Blu-Ray players will recognize the contents on the DVD as BD material and play it back correctly. Then follow along through the videos and end up with a much better result than where you started out. Don’t remember what I said about a certain topic or aspect? Play it back 10 times until you fully understand.
The Video Training program here will not be static either. I reserve the right to update them and add additional material as I see fit. (When I first wrote this, the total number of videos was at 12 … and we have now blown past “70” with #75 in sight, so I guess I did end up having a lot more to say…) Some special edition versions of the videos are already in the pipeline. Let’s say that they are always a work in progress just like for the filmmakers themselves. The Video Training programs also include what I call text based commentary that further supplements the existing material. Sometimes some elements of calibration do not always find their way into normal conversation so these are added in. It may be distracting at first, but read the commentary on the second viewing.
Bonus View … Watch Part 23 for Free. Profiling Meters with Calman V5
Please note that the Calibration Training Program Videos are offered “as is” and no refunds are provided.
Bonus View … Watch Part 24 for Free. Profiling Meters with Chromapure
For a summary of what each of the Training videos covers in terms of content, read this article. (Click here)
Current Sales statistic. 40% World Wide Sales … 60% US Sales