Friday, November 6, 2009

WJ-MX10 Luma key mod

I finally got around to attempting to add luma key capabilities to my video mixer. My device is, in fact, a Blaupunkt DVM-1000, but since it is a 1:1 clone of the Panasonic WJ-MX10, and the MX10 is far more popular, I will refer to it as an MX10.
So what's this project all about? Well, the MX10 has the ability to key out elements based on luminance ("luma key"). However, you cannot use the other video channel as the background - only a solid color. This is pretty stupid, but luckily, there is a relatively easy mod that's supposed to get one around this limitation. Having tried it, I can say that not only does it work, it actually adds a lot more creative potential to the device than I ever hoped for, becase the way it works is that the "White" channel is replaced with either input channel. This means that in addition to using it with the Superimpose effect (to get luma key functionality), you can use it with the Fade control as well. By setting the Fade control out channel to White, you can fade between the two input videos, and use the wipes at the same time! Of course, you can still fade/key to white by using the background color.

Alright, let's get moddin'! Cracking open the mixer reveals the circuit boards. Our interest is in the mixer board, which is in the center in the picture.





Our two targets are IC 6 and connector 4:

The original instructions tell us to "cut the grey wire that runs to connector 4 - pin 7". Here's a closeup of the connector:


The grey wire is connected to the center pin of a SPDT switch. The other pins connect to pins 4 and 7 of IC 6:


And there you go. Now when you select "white" as your background (in the "Colour select" section of the superimpose effect, not the back color selector), you should get the video channel instead. I might put up a video demo later, but I think you get the idea.
I've rehosted the original instructions (originally hosted at http://x.sysx.org/vsv/MX10mod.html, which is now dead, and modified by LEVEL6 of leper.org, which also seems dead at the time of writing), as well as a series of pictures by vjforums member Kyle.

4 comments:

  1. Its not 100% clear in either this or other documentation on this mod, but the Connector side of the Grey wire is connected to the switch, rather then the side that goes off into the wire loom. Thanks for having this documented I just did this mod on mine, although unfortunately on mine the External Camera is no longer in sync.

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    1. Thank you for clarifying this! Was not sure at all.

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  2. I'm thinking of trying this mod too, how did you put the SPDT switch in what position?
    I would appreciate it if you could show me a picture if possible.

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    1. I'm not sure I understand your question? As I say in the post, "The grey wire is connected to the center pin of a SPDT switch. The other pins connect to pins 4 and 7 of IC 6" - that means the other pins of the switch. So, the "center pin" is the "pole", and the switch switches between connecting that to either pin 4 or pin 7. I hope that helps!

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