MK2 Settings – ILDA Input Cfg

The parameters set in the ILDA Input Configuration menu are valid when an external DAC is connected to the ILDA input connector on the back of the MK2. With no ILDA cable connected, this item will be greyed out on the MK2 menu UI.

When an external DAC is connected via the ILDA input connector, an additional menu item is available under Settings – ILDA Input Cfg.

This is for digitally tuning the Laser Diode Driver to compensate for any errors in the third-party DAC hardware. One common problem is “ghost beams” where one or more channels of the ILDA color signals have a small voltage present on the output pins when those channels are meant to be off (blanked).

The In Mute R, G and B levels allow a threshold to be set, below which the beams are forced to be off. For example, a DAC with a higher than normal “zero output voltage” on the green channel could cause a faint green beam to always be emitted, regardless of any master brightness setting in the controller software for that DAC. The ILDA Input Cfg -> “In Mute G” level could be raised until the green ghost beam is extinguished.

There being an increased offset on the green channel would also affect the color balance at low intensities. To compensate, the ILDA Input Cfg –> “Diode th G” could be reduced until the correct color balance is restored. This allows errors from external DACs to be tuned out.