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Theta offers two videocard options. The
first includes a composite bank of six inputs and two outputs, and
an S-video bank with four inputs and two outputs. A few companies
sell tadpole-sized composite-to-S-video converters these days (one
came with my IBM laptop!), so even if you do have a camcorder or
VCR with only a composite output, you might still be interested
in Theta's second videocard offering, which has eight S-video inputs
and two S-video main outputs and two S-video tape outputs only.
It's a good choice for anyone who's concerned that four S-video
inputs might not be enough. One option conspicuously absent on either
card is component-video switching, but given the requirements (nine
RCA connections for a bare minimum of two-in/one-out routing) and
the scarce real estate (each board is barely 2 inches wide), the
omission is totally understandable.
Theta is known for the quality
of their digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and they offer two
types in the Casablanca II, as they did in the original. Internal-processor
upgrades mean that the Casablanca II can handle 24-bit/96kHz recordings,
regardless of your ultimate choice of DAC, though at a theoretically
reduced bit-rate. The Superior cards use two 20-bit ladder-type
DACs (8x-oversampling) per channel for fully balanced differential
output to an XLR or RCA coax connection. The Standard cards use
a single 18-bit delta-sigma (64x-oversampling) stereo DAC per channel.
There's even an option to route digital signals to outboard processors!
If you want the Standard-level
DACs, two styles are available, both of which use the 18-bit stereo
DACs. The first has three channels per card, and offers balanced
XLR and in-phase and reverse-phase coaxial outputs. The second card
style forgoes the XLR and reverse-phase coaxial outputs in favor
of a single in-phase coax connection for each of its six channels-a
neat little 5.1 package on a stick. If you opt for the Superior-level
card, you'll get an in-phase coaxial and a balanced output for each
of its three channels.
Each style of card is offered in
enough programmed permutations to accommodate everything from a
2-channel setup to a typical 5.1-channel setup to one with side
and rear speakers, a rear center, and up to four subwoofers-that's
an 8.4 system, for anyone who cares to skip the math. The theoretical
possibilities are many, though practicalities and finances have
a way of whittling down your options. If you wanted a channel-rich
but relatively affordable configuration, you could use superior
DACs for the three front channels and put a costeffective, 6-channel
standard card in the second slot. One of the available standard
6-channel cards can handle two side speakers, two rear surrounds,
a center channel for the rear channels, and a subwoofer.
Mrs. Butterworth's Hot Cross
Puns
Theta Digital highly recommends
that a dealer complete your setup. I did my own, and once I realized
that the Casablanca II is sufficiently different from the original
that I'd have to crack a book, it wasn't particularly difficult.
You, on the other hand, should seriously consider letting your dealer
earn his keep. The configuration stage is timeconsuming, but once
the Theta is set up, you'll find it easy to play with.
Using the Casablanca's global setup menu, you can
name each of your digital and analog inputs, which will make the
rest of the setup and daily use much easier. Although six characters
per input aren't enough
for "DREAMCAST," it's enough for
"SEGA." As I stepped through the
alphanumeric menu used for performing this setup, my only complaint
was the virtual noman's-land of special characters and funky shapes
sandwiched between the first number and the last letter. It's easy
to get lost. I'd like to buy a vowel.
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