!" "! !"!# ! $ %# & '' &%( # )*+ # ' , This manual describes the installation and operation of Vidscope-HD, a software package that provides Television Monitoring and Measurement tools for Windows™ based PCs users. It is capable real-time waveform, vectorscope and picture monitoring on a suitable PC’s monitor screen. All information contained in this manual and the Vidscope-HD ™ software is this copyright of Hamlet Video International Ltd unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 GENERAL INFORMATION .....................................5 WARRANTY ..................................................................... 5 SAFETY COMPLIANCE ................................................... 5 BS EN 61010-1 : 1993 5 OVERVIEW....................................................................... 6 Features 6 Measurement Functions 6 Important Advice.............................................
CONTENTS 5.6 Soundcard settings....................................................... 33 6 Alarms Menu (formerly gamut) ..............................34 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Actual Error ................................................................... 34 Average Error ................................................................ 34 Peak Error...................................................................... 34 Alarm Flagging....................................................
INTRODUCTION Vidscope-HD is an integrated suite of Windows programs for television signal monitoring and measurements. Operating on a Windows desktop, the Waveform monitor, Vectorscope and associated Audio displays with the Picture can all be displayed on the PC' s monitor screen. The real time Hamlet VidScope displays look like those on conventional waveform monitors with variable intensity, persistence and graticule brightness just like a conventional CRT.
Vidscope-HD User Manual !"# 1.1 1.2 $%!&"' % WARRANTY This product is manufactured by Hamlet Video International Ltd and is warranted to be free from defects in components and factory workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one year from the date of purchase. BS EN 61010-1 : 1993 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 1.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 1.4 Important Advice Before using VidScope it is important to be familiar with the settings and control panel of your video capture card that you will be using with the VidScope. For HDV and DV users, this will probably not apply unless a custom DV capture card is used, rather than the Firewire port of the PC. Obviously, the most important setting this to check that shall capture card is set for the correct TV standard that you wish to use.
Vidscope-HD User Manual ( 2.1 2.2 )'"##"' % Graphics Card The 3D graphics capabilities your machine is very important for waveform realisation is real-time Hardware & Computer requirements The application should work satisfactorily on most AGP or PCI-X graphics cards from the following manufacturers: NVIDIA ATI 3D Labs S3 Possible problem cards: ** Intel 3D graphics, ** Matrox General Indications * Windows-based desktop PCs older than 2004 may not be able to run it or be slow.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Vidscope and needs to be plugged in whenever the program is run. This means you can install on more than one computer, but run on only one at a time. 2.3 Loading and installing VidScope CD version Insert VidScope installation CD into your CD-ROM drive in the usual way. The Hamlet set-up program should then launch itself automatically.
Vidscope-HD User Manual If you get this warning message from Windows: The install process should only take a minute or so…. Just click on Run….. At the end of the install pops-up a special registration page. The installation process is self-explanatory. When you get to the backups page, check YES if this is the first time install. This logs the technical set-up of the Vidscope installation on your particular PC and its system information.
Vidscope-HD User Manual * 3.1 %+ !"' If you don’t have the Vidscope USB stick (which automatically licenses): you get an invitation to register. )'!,-' % ) First Time Start Up VidScope can be started immediately after the installer finishes. You can run it from START -> PROGRAMS -> ~ HAMLET or from the desktop icon is installed. Vidscope-HD On running you will see a splash screen If you have purchased a copy of VidScope, then you will have been provided with a registration code.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Registration continued Demo / Trial Mode Once this is done successfully, you should not need to do it again. If this should be unsuccessful, then contact Hamlet with your Unique Reference Number displayed in the on-screen registration form and we will issue a new personal code. Do not share or distribute your registration code with anyone else as the code is unique to the installed PC, otherwise you may be prevented for getting further free product updates or support.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.3 Vidscope’s Main Application Windows Vidscope Waveform Window Main Menu Main Toolbar Transport & Capture buttons PREVIEW VIDEO WINDOW Vidscope’s Windows can be resized and re-positioned to suit your desktop and what you want to do User Presets (optional) Window VidScope Control Settings Window Display controls 13 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.4 Main Window Menu & ToolBar Setup File Name & Snapshot options The Main window menu and toolbar sets the input and (if capturing intended_ output options. The vidscope waveform & monitoring settings are all in its own independent window/menu. Capture options Pick Video Source Still picture over live superimposition Pick Audio Source Operational modes System info & manual Transport & Source Start/Stop etc..
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.5 Allocate File Space This brings up a sub-menu. Main Menu Description Main Menu Headings: File Capture file, format, snap-shot options Source Video, Video/Media file input selection Audio Audio source selection if available Options Preview monitor setups PVW Preview monitor framing tools, overlay and display modes Help Manual, system information and about vidscope You can skip this section if you don’t intend capturing….. 3.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Set Space or Time Limit Format Options This sets an automatic stop of the capture process either at the end of a fixed amount of disk space or a time limit. This is a sort of safety valve in case you were to forget to stop a capture and use too much of your disc space. The video format option depend on what you intend doing with the captured file. An uncompressed AVI uses the most disk space, but offers the highest possible quality.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Snapshot Options These extensive options set what happen when you the snapshot button on the toolbar. click Exit This closes the VidScope capture application completely. Because its complexity, this operation is not instantaneous and might take up to 10 seconds to finish. Link to Waveform combines a picture snapshot with a waveform snapshot as two separate files. See Vidscope control panel settings for waveform only snapshots. 17 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.7 Sources [Video Inputs] The content of the Video Sources menu depend on your particular PC’s configuration. This menu populates with the names of whatever video source you currently have available plus Files Sources. If you have no live sources, you get an information message when the program is first booted up. Codecs Microsoft Windows provides several codecs as operating system components.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.9 DV Sources Options To use DV a feed, your PC must be fitted with a Firewire IEEE1394 port or a specialist video capture card interface. The camera or VCR needs to be switched on and plugged in the PC before the sources menu shows the feed on the list so that the Vidscope can use it. The default driver comes up on the list as: & -! If you have a custom driver and/or specialist card other DV names could come up on the menu option from which you can choose the most appropriate.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Integrate VidScope Displays Capture makes the capture functions operational. Turning on and off is a safety feature to prevent accidental recording When checked, the waveforms window appears inside the main application window instead of the PVW monitor. Multi-window mode is pre-selected, but may be change to single mode. & ) sets which source, audio or video provides the timing reference for the capture recording.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 3.11 3.12 PVW Preview Monitor Display Safe Area Superimposes on the Preview Monitor Window a guide Graticule. This does not affect the video capture in any way. none 90% " 80% ) + 23 * 16:9 composite graticule + 23 *1 16:9 composite graticule + Display Aspect 16:9 1 Sets the Preview video display in widescreen format irrespective of the chosen window size. Safe areas are changed to reflect different properties and will be turned off when the aspect ratio is changed.
Vidscope-HD User Manual No Overlay You can pick any suitably configured graphics image as a custom graticule. Typically, you will find in the folder called C:\Program Files\Hamlet\Vidscope\Graticules a number of examples: ) %4 2 * ) %4 5 6 ) %4 67 ) %4 ) %4 Any .bmp files in this folder can be freely modified, deleted or used a templates. If you design and draw your own ,preferably save to uncompressed .bmp files as jpegs will produce poor results.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 2 4 4.1 : " This menu controls the main display function for the VidScope and accesses the other control menus available. It can be re-displayed by right mouse clicking on the VidScope display window or the VidScope icon on the task bar. Main Control Panel The Vidscope has a floating control panel and display window that can be arbitrarily placed anywhere on your desktop screen.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Line Selection 4.2 Summary of Display Modes WFM – waveform (Advanced Mode Only) Standard Luminance waveform display either 1H All lines superimposed, 1 Field (interlaced mode) or 1 Frame across the X-axis. With the line selector on (advanced mode), then any range of individual lines can be displayed 1 – 150H and the starting line position varied.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Vector Mode The vector display is related to the line selection used. Set " # for a full frame display. If the source is full frame of live action material then interpolation can be left off. With digital stills, particularly test patterns, interpolation on make the display look continuous rather that a serial of dots (which they are!). Use the ) ' to find the Vector Scale settings to choose between 75% 100% or user set scaling (uncalibrated) modes.
Vidscope-HD User Manual YUV Parade Histogram With a component source such as SDI or DV, Vidscope shows the individual Y, Pb, Pr (YUV) signals separately. A statistical analysis of all the luminance values in a frame or a band lines pre-selected with Line Select. The average weighted Histogram display is useful for identifying bad coding with missing values, super black level problems and APL characteristics.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Example Displays WFM – Waveform Display VEC – Vector Display STATS – Statistics Display RGB Display Parade RGB Display Stacked W/V – Waveform and Vector Display 27 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 4.3 Click on Monitor modes tab to display the diagnostic picture monitor. This allows special picture display modes for fault or quality examination and supplements the main preview monitor.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 4.4 Scale Menu This has various calibration tools and parameters. This changes if advanced mode is selected in the menu. Markers appear in the main video preview window if line selector is enabled in 8 menu Video format dimensions HxV Frame rate per second Video format from the capture device or file/codec When checked uses the HD decode matrix otherwise uses Rec.601 matrix for SD (std def.
Vidscope-HD User Manual ; " 5.2 & Clicking the Audio menu tab puts the Vidscope into an audio mode. Waveform and Audio vector (phase) are standard, other optional display modes are included with the extra AudioPlus option pack. 5.1 Multi-Channel Audio If you have a source with multi-channel audio content, the channel option buttons become revealed.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 5.4 Audio Configuration Embedded audio group selection 31 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 5.5 Audio Monitoring Access sound card settings for monitoring output With multichannel audio: mix down all channels to stereo output 32 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 5.6 Soundcard settings To be able hear the audio monitored through the computer' s speakers or audio line out socket, the wave audio must be selected through output section of the mixer. This is independent of the recording mixer part of the same soundcard. Thus, the soundcard output mixer needs to be accessed.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 5 " & Vidscope can continuously monitor for video gamut errors in your source material. It calculates those colour values and luminance level that exceed the proper RGB limits. It produces as a percentage of the picture area that has such excursions. This figure is shown both on the 8 and 1 . 6.1 Actual Error 6.2 Average Error 6.3 Peak Error 6.4 Alarm Flagging A small gamut percentage can occur in a legal picture due sight over-shoots on sharp bright edges.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 6.5 Audio Alarms and Logging Options Use selection as logging option once logging activated Toggles Video and Audio Alarm options 35 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Freeze Display This configures the screen layout, the waveform snapshot parameters and user presets etc. The freeze button stops both the waveform and preview monitor displays whilst other functions, including capturing continue normally. Pressing Ctrl+f on the keyboard operates freeze from any menu. Screen Layout Source Menu 6.6 Setups Menu This reveals the preview monitor window on the desktop if it has been minimized or “lost” under something else.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 6.7 Note: A saved preset will change the " 4 check box in the Settings Menu to whichever state it was in, when saved. This could mean the appearance of the control menus will change to reflect the changed mode. User Presets Any current Vidscope state of whatever settings have been made can be memorized to a user preset. Then those settings can be recalled again without having to go to any of the standard menus and controls.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 6.9 Multi – User Mode Multi-Mode Display The first time user is selected , the six windows may very well be blank or in random displays. To set any window, left click on it – the pane number will appear in the title of the control menu. Then select the display mode required using any video or audio control menu. Do this in turn for each pane required. Move the pane vertical and horizontal dividers to arrange the relative geometry for optimum clarity.
Vidscope-HD User Manual ? ) & -+,: @ The Vidscope uses considerable CPU horsepower. Usage of the CPU is shown when you click on the ) 8 -+,button. This figure is the aggregate of all the applications currently running on your PC of which of VidScope is a proportion. If the CPU usage is over 85 percent then there could be problems for any time critical job such as capturing performance.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 7.1 Waveform Snapshot Options Menu This configures the screen layout, the waveform snapshot parameters and user presets etc. Waveform snapshots are made whenever the red ball button in most menus is clicked. To use facility, the filename should be first set up in the required destination. The auto number option automatically increments of number appended to your chosen filename if required.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 7.2 Overlay Clears the current snapshot list The overlay button is located just below the decay, scale and bright sliders on the 8 tab. This reveals the overlay menu. Loads last snapshot taken this session Picks from all snapshots taken this session Loads any graphic or image in an appropriate format The overlay still substitutes for the graticule currently in use in the waveform display.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 7.3 Other Setup Options Screen Layout sub-menu only is visible and applies when the VidScope display window is “floating” and not in Integrated Mode 7.4 Pane Editing in User Mode The active window pane can be selected by single left mouse clicks or by using the Multi Screen Layout sub-menu. The up-down buttons navigate the 6 windows displayed. 42 Manual vidscope-hd v2.
Vidscope-HD User Manual A # 11 1& (advanced mode only) the logging facility allows a text-based document to be built containing the detected errors in a programme segment to be listed against time code. Setting up a log operation Click on video options and select those factors that you wish to be included in the log. Similarly, click on audio options and pick those audio aspects that also want to log. Then 11 1 to the name and location you require.
Vidscope-HD User Manual Logging Form the logging form may be conveniently repositioned anywhere on the desktop or minimised during the logging process. To edit any of the information listed on the form, the logging must have been paused stopped completely. ( or stop ). The 9 button conveniently you add your annotation or edit anywhere in the document.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 6 Spectrogram stereo or multi-channel using 1024 point FFT )+ - $ -"' % ) 9.1 Vidscope-HD version Host Platform Surround-sound display with GMO graphics Timing Measurement * Operating system: Windows XP Home or Professional with DirectX 9.0 or higher installed.
Vidscope-HD User Manual 7 -% '"-' '" #) " Hamlet Video International Limited ),++%!' if you find a problem or encounter difficulty installing or using the VidScope software product, then first find and click on the VidScope problem reporting utility. This you will find in the list of programs clicking though the Windows: Maple House 11 Corinium Business Centre Raans Road Amersham Bucks HP6 6FB England Main Line: +44 (0)1494 729 728 ) E-mail: sales@hamlet.co.uk Web site: www.hamlet.co.
