Kramer 810: Composite Video & s-Video Color Bar / Audio Tone Generator

The Kramer Composite Video & s-Video Color Bar/Audio Tone Generator (model 810) is a precision, professional-grade test signal source designed for broadcast, post-production, and AV installations. It delivers two independent composite video color bar outputs and a dedicated S-Video (Y/C) color bar signal, paired with a built-in 1 kHz audio tone, all selectable in NTSC or PAL. This combination makes it an essential tool for calibrating displays, validating signal paths, and ensuring color accuracy across complex video chains. The 810 is compact enough for bench use and rugged enough for field service, delivering repeatable, dependable reference signals that help technicians verify grayscale tracking, chroma levels, and audio path integrity quickly and efficiently. In environments where consistency and efficiency matter—television studios, post facilities, educational campuses, and professional installation teams—the Kramer 810 stands out as a reliable, easy-to-use solution for color bar calibration and audio tone reference.

• The Kramer 810 provides powerful, parallel color bar testing with two composite video outputs and a separate S-Video (Y/C) color bar signal, enabling side-by-side verification of multiple paths and devices. This enables technicians to compare video paths—such as processors, routers, and displays—under identical test patterns, identify signal degradation early, and confirm that color and brightness remain stable across the chain. With dual composite outputs and a dedicated S-Video color bar, you can test and validate both traditional coaxial video routes and S-Video-equipped devices in a single session, reducing setup time and cabling complexity while improving calibration confidence. The color bars are designed for industry-standard reference, helping engineers quickly spot hue, saturation, and luminance inconsistencies that could affect broadcast or presentation quality.
• NTSC and PAL compatibility ensures global versatility without the need for multiple, region-specific test generators. The 810’s standard switching between NTSC and PAL formats lets you adapt to different regional workflows or production environments with ease. This capability is particularly valuable for facilities that operate across borders or with clients from various regions, as it guarantees that color bars, alignment signals, and the accompanying audio tone remain consistent and accurate regardless of the project’s geographic origin. The result is a dependable reference source for color calibration and signal validation across diverse equipment inventories, including older equipment that may still rely on traditional color bar standards. By consolidating formats in a single, portable unit, the 810 reduces inventory, simplifies training, and streamlines calibration procedures for crews that traverse multiple locations or studios.
• Embedded 1 kHz audio tone provides a precise, stable reference for audio path calibration and level verification. Alongside the color bars, the 1 kHz tone allows technicians to align audio meters, verify signal integrity in the audio chain, and coordinate timing between video and audio paths. This synchronized signal source simplifies field service and on-site testing, enabling quick checks of mixer outputs, line levels, and downstream processing equipment. Whether you are benchmarking audio meters, calibrating headphone monitoring routes, or testing how audio equipment handles a known reference frequency, the 1 kHz tone in the Kramer 810 gives you a reliable, repeatable benchmark that travels with your color bar tests. The result is more efficient commissioning, faster fault isolation, and greater confidence in the overall system calibration.
• Robust, professional build quality from Kramer Electronics ensures reliable performance in demanding environments. The 810 is designed for daily use in broadcast control rooms, production facilities, and field service scenarios, offering stable signal outputs and predictable behavior from test session to test session. Its compact footprint fits neatly on a bench or within a equipment rack, helping to keep your workflow organized and accessible. Designers at Kramer emphasize practical ergonomics and dependable connectivity, so you can trust the 810 to deliver consistent color bars and tones without drift or surprising changes between sessions. This reliability translates into fewer retests, reduced downtime during calibration windows, and improved confidence when presenting test results to clients or stakeholders.
• Ideal for calibration, maintenance, and system commissioning across broadcast, post, and AV installations. The Kramer 810 consolidates essential test signals into one versatile tool, enabling technicians to execute comprehensive color and audio tests without juggling multiple devices. By providing two video color bars, an S-Video color bar, and a 1 kHz audio tone simultaneously, it supports a wide range of equipment—from legacy CRT displays to modern HDMI workflows that still benefit from consistent test patterns. The unit is well-suited for routine maintenance checks, equipment handoffs, and field services, where reliability, speed, and repeatability are paramount. For education facilities, corporate AV departments, and professional installers, the 810 delivers a straightforward, efficient solution for standardizing test procedures and ensuring signal integrity along every segment of the video path.

Technical Details of Kramer Composite Video & s-Video Color Bar/Audio Tone Generator

• Model: 810
• Outputs: Two composite video outputs and one S-Video (Y/C) color bar signal
• Video formats: NTSC or PAL selectable
• Color bars: Composite and S-Video color bar signals
• Audio output: 1 kHz tone generator (simultaneous with video)
• Manufacturer: Kramer Electronics
• Intended use: Video test, calibration, signal integrity verification, color/balance checks

How to install Kramer Composite Video & s-Video Color Bar/Audio Tone Generator

• Place the Kramer 810 on a stable bench or rack-mount its chassis in your equipment rack where it is easily accessible and connected to test devices.
• Connect the two composite video outputs to your video monitors, capture devices, or test equipment using appropriate coaxial cables. Ensure cables are of good quality to avoid signal degradation during testing.
• Connect the S-Video output to an S-Video input on a monitor or test device if you are validating Y/C paths or testing S-Video equipment in your chain.
• Set the video standard to NTSC or PAL according to your testing region or project requirements. Verify the selected format matches the equipment under test to ensure color bars align correctly with expected timing and color spaces.
• If you want an integrated audio reference, connect the 1 kHz tone output to your audio monitoring or measurement chain. This will allow you to observe audio levels and verify path integrity alongside video testing.
• Power up the unit and use your connected displays and test gear to observe the color bar patterns and confirm that the tone is present and at a stable level for calibration.

Frequently asked questions

• What formats does the Kramer 810 support?

  The Kramer 810 supports NTSC and PAL color bar formats, providing two composite video outputs and one S-Video (Y/C) color bar signal, with a simultaneous 1 kHz audio tone for reference.

• How many outputs does this device provide?

  The unit offers two composite video outputs and one S-Video color bar signal, allowing parallel testing of multiple video paths and devices.

• Can I use the color bars and audio tone at the same time?

  Yes. The 810 is designed to generate color bars and a 1 kHz audio tone simultaneously, enabling coordinated calibration of both video and audio paths.

• What is the primary use case for the Kramer 810?

  The primary use is professional video calibration and signal integrity testing—calibrating displays, testing routing matrices, validating video paths, and providing a reliable audio reference in broadcast, post-production, and AV installations.

• Is the 810 suitable for field service or only for studio use?

  The compact, rugged design makes it suitable for both fixed installations and field service. Its portable form factor allows technicians to carry and deploy it at client sites for quick, repeatable test signals.

• Who is the manufacturer?

  Kramer Electronics is the maker of the 810, a well-regarded brand in professional video and AV test equipment known for reliable signal generators and calibration tools.