User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder AfterBurner Time-Lapse DVD Video Recorder User Guide Ovation Systems Ltd. Springfield Barn London Road Milton Common Oxfordshire OX9 2JY UK Tel: Fax: Email: Web: +44 1844 279 638 +44 1844 279 071 support@ovation.co.uk www.ovation.co.uk Manual Issue 046 Afterburner firmware .046 Ovation Systems Ltd. www.ovation.co.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................3 2 Hardware Installation........................................................................................................4 2.1 Hardware Set-Up...................................................................................................................... 4 3 Basic Operation & Configuration ...................................
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 1 Introduction Designed specifically for video surveillance operations, AfterBurner is able to record video in real-time, or in time-lapse, onto DVD-R write once disks. Once burnt, the disks are viewable on either a PC or standard, low-cost, DVD players. AfterBurner may be configured for video quality and record rate via its front panel LCD display or serial interface.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 2 Hardware Installation 2.1 Hardware Set-Up 1 Connect power to the unit via the 12 V DC supply provided or if using an external supply, AfterBurner requires a 10 to 20 V DC supply, drawing approximately 0.7A at 12 V when recording, 1.2 A when burning DVDs. 2 Connect a camera to the BNC video input. AfterBurner automatically configures itself for PAL or NTSC operation.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3 Basic Operation & Configuration AfterBurner is simple to set-up and operate via its front panel LCD and control buttons. Please note: Afterburner is a video (and audio) recorder (not a player). The only way to view the recordings is by burning them onto DVD. AfterBurner is primarily intended for use in surveillance operations in 24-hour time-lapse mode. In this mode, it may be operated in 3 main ways: 1.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.1 Front Panel Controls 15:25:34 21FEB05 Recording-TL Serial No 000005 ▲ ▼ ► MENU REC DVD ON STBY Up Down Select a menu item. Steps though main menu items (At any point, pressing for more than 2 seconds exits all menus). Starts / stops recording (shows red when recording, flashing red when recording in time-lapse). Powers up DVD drive, opens / closes tray, starts DVD burn. Power-up unit. Power down unit (standby for timer modes).
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.2 Record Set-up As standard, AfterBurner is shipped configured for 24 hour time-lapse recording (at 2 pictures per second) in medium quality. This may be altered by pressing the “MENU” key 3 times to show the following screen: Set Record Mode =================== DVD: 24.0h 2.08fps Quality: M Vid-only Initially, the record time per DVD is flashing, indicating it may be altered by the ▲ ▼ keys.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.3 Set The Burn Mode Set Burn Mode =================== Burn: auto mode Eject: manual Set the burn options by pressing the “MENU” key again. In auto-mode (the default), once AfterBurner has enough data, and if there is a suitable blank disk in the DVD tray, AfterBurner will automatically burn a DVD (4.7 GB). For example, if the unit has been set to record in 24 hour mode, it will start burning a DVD 24 hours after recording starts.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.4 Start / Stop Recording Once the record time, quality and burn options are set, the recorder may be set into record mode by pressing the “REC” key. The key will show constant red when recording in real-time, flashing red when recording in time lapse. Pressing the record key again will cause the unit to enter “stop” or “Record-Pause” (see below). IMPORTANT: Record-pause mode is new feature for firmware version 043c onwards, Feb 2007.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.5 Burning a DVD 1 From the default screen, press the “MENU” once to show a list of files on the hard disk. The file to be burnt may be selected by the ▲ ▼ keys. For each file, the start times, finish times & dates are shown as well as the number of times the file has been burnt to DVD disc.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 3.6 Playing DVDs The DVDs produced by AfterBurner are formatted for playing on standard (consumer market) DVD players. The disks may also be played on a PC with a suitable DVD player application. Playing time-lapse recordings Time-lapse recordings appear to playback at a fast rate because frames have been dropped from the recording. Most DVD players have the ability to replay in slow motion, which will show the recording closer to real-time. E.g.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4 Advanced Menus The advanced menus are accessed by pressing the “MENU” key until “Advanced Menus” is shown. Then press ► to enter this option.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.1 Set Disk Options Set disk options =================== DSK: endless loop Quick wipe: No DSK: endless loop: (default) the unit fills the disk as it records. Once full, AfterBurner then automatically overwrites the oldest data. stop when full: stops recording when the internal disk is full (i.e. no overwrite). stop on unburnt: keeps recording to the hard disk in a loop (overwriting the oldest data) until it encounters an un-burnt DVD file.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder DVD Type: Normal / Dual: (default normal) selects whether the unit will burn single (normal) 4.7 GB DVDs or Dual layer (8.4 GB) DVDs. IMPORTANT: if Dual mode selected, it will not be possible to burn the recordings to standard (single layer) DVDs. 4.2 Burn Options Set the disk burn / display options.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.3 Set Record Timer Menu to set-up the 4 internal record timers. Press ► to enter this option. Set Record Timer =================== Timer #1: range 10 Jan to 15Jan Use the ▲ ▼ keys to select the timer (1 to 4) to be adjusted. Pressing ►then adjusts the timer options, which are as follows: Disabled: Range: Monthly: Period: Daily: default. allows AfterBurner record for a preset start and stop times each day, over range of dates.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.4 Set Alarm Options Allows Afterburner to increase its picture record rate under control of external alarms inputs (pins 1 & 2 of the external control I/O connector, see Section 5.1). There are various alarm modes described below which are selected by the ▲ ▼ keys: Set alarm options =================== Mode: start/stop Alm rate: 25 fps The ▲ ▼ keys cycle through the Alarm mode options: Alm mode: Disabled: (default) both alarm inputs are disabled.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.5 Set Video Options This menu controls the video input configuration.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.6 Set Onscreen Display (OSD) Format This menu controls on -screen display configuration: Set OSD Format =================== OSD: Set A Locale: UNVERSAL NB: it is recommended to use the video monitor output when adjusting the OSD format. Pre set mode showing date and time at the top of the screen. Pre set mode showing date and time at the top left of the screen. Pre set mode showing date and with a title in the top left and the date and time at the bottom right.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder User OSD Set-up: Enter by pressing ► at the flashing “User” prompt. There are 5 possible on-screen items that can be set-up to show a number of parameters, along with the position, colour and format. Set OSD Format =================== 1: Y:00 X:21 Green Date: ddMonyyyy The following describes the adjustable parameters of the LCD screen example above. 1: Y:00 X:21 Green Date 1 to 5: OSD item being adjusted. By default (.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.7 Set Time & Date Sets the internal clock and Daylight Savings Time mode.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.9 Set Active Keyes Allows “MENU”, “REC” , “DVD” and “STBY” front panel keys to be disabled when the rear panel configuration switch “B” is set to ON. See Section 5.3 for more information about the rear panel configuration switch. Set Active Keys =================== Up: Fwd On Dwn Mnu Rec Dvd Stby By default, the “MENU” key is disabled when the rear panel switch is set to ON. 4.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 4.11 Set Configuration Reset the AfterBurner system configuration to factory defaults and enable load-systemconfiguration from CD or DVD disk. Set Configuration =================== Factory setup? No Enable setup? No Default values?: if set to “yes” and the ► key pressed, the unit’s system configuration will be returned the factory default settings.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 5 Rear Panel Interfaces: External I/O & Control Unit Config 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a b c d [a]On [b]Lock [c]Aux [d]Light 1 2 3 4 OUT 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 IN VIDEO LEFT OUT SERIAL 2 (Aux) LEFT IN SERIAL 1 (to PC) 1 Alm Start ..in 2 Alm Stop...in 3 Record .in 4 Time .........in 5 Chain .......in 6 Wake Up ..in 7 Ground 8 Record ...out 9 Disk Full.out 10 Alarm .....out 11 Time .......out 12 Chain .....out 13 Fault ......
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 5.1 External I/O & Control AfterBurner has a 14 way external input / output and control interface which have functions based upon the now obsolete Panasonic 6730 S-VHS time-lapse VCR. NB: With the current issue of AfterBurner firmware, the external I/O and control interface has a limited capability. This will be enhanced via future firmware upgrades.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 11 Out Time-out Mirrors the “Time In” pin 4 in the format selected in Section 4.7, page 20) If in external time-sync mode, and no external time code signal received, AfterBurner outputs its internal clock. Can be used to synchronise a second AfterBurner unit. 12 Out Chain-out Asserted when disk is 5 MB from being full. Can be used to start a second AfterBurner recording when connected its “Chain In” input. 13 Out Fault Active low, open collector output.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 5.2 Examples of External Control External Alarm Sensor: ● Connect sensor to pin 1, the Alarm-start input. ● In the in the “Set alarm options” advanced menu set “on open” or “on closed” and the alarm record rate (in frames per second) the alarm duration (see Section 4.4, page 16). Alarm Start / Stop: ● Connect switch / sensors to the Alarmstart and Alarm-stop inputs.
User Guide Synchronise AfterBurner Internal Clock With External Time Code Receiver. ● ● ● Connect time code receiver serial output to pin 4, Time-in. In the “Set time & date” advanced menu set “Time-sync” to the relevant format, e.g. “UK-MSF” A second unit can be synchronised via the Time-out pin.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 6 Appendix1: AfterBurner Operation Hits & Tips 6.1 Reviewing The Unit’s Configuration When the unit is not recording and showing the default LCD screen (date / time etc). Pressing the ► key for 2 seconds will show a list of configuration parameters. The ▲ ▼ keys allow the user to scroll through the items. Pressing the “MENU” key returns to the display to the default screen. 6.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 6.4 Join a Number Of Small Files Together From version 042 onwards, it is possible to join a number of small files together into one prior to burning. This is especially useful when there have been a number of power interruptions creating several small files. ● Go to the "Set Burn” menu and use the ► key to scroll to “Join files” option. Set to “yes” by ▲ key. (Section 3.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 7 Appendix 2: User Firmware Upgrades The main AfterBurner firmware is upgradeable to add new features etc. Users are able to upgrade in the field by downloading files from the Ovation Systems web site. From firmware version 34 onwards (September 2005), the upgrade files maybe burnt onto to a CD or DVD. This CD or DVD is then be inserted into the AfterBurner DVD tray, where the upgrade takes place automatically.
Manual Issue 046 Afterburner firmware .046 Ovation Systems Ltd. www.ovation.co.uk >> to enter Video only, audio + video, audio mode Quality: Very low, low, medium, high, very high DVD: Set time per DVD 24hr default Eject: Manual, when burnt Burn: Auto Mode, Manual only, at given time. MB No.
User Guide Time-Lapse DVD Recorder 8 Appendix 4: Specification General: Operating temperature range Mechanical size Finish Weight Standard accessories Operating voltage range Power consumption RS232 interface Internal timers Onscreen display 0 to +40°C 155 x 90 x 260 mm Painted aluminium 2.2 kg approx. Mains PSU, user guide 10 to 20 V DC Standby: <5mA at 12 V DC Recording: <9W (~0.7 A @ 12V) Recording & burning: <15W (~1.3 A @ 12V) Contact to ground, user definable change in record rate on alarm.
