Niagara SCX® and Niagara SCX Explorer User Guide Document Number: 40-03240-03A Date: 12.18.2008 Niagara SCX Release: 5.2.187.SP2 The information in this publication is the property of ViewCast Corporation. Users may not use, reproduce or disclose this information without the implied consent and written approval of the company.
Copyrights, Proprietary, Table of Contents, Notices ii ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide COPYRIGHTS Copyright© 2008 ViewCast Corporation. All rights reserved. Trademarks or registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation or its subsidiaries include: • • • • • ViewCast The ViewCast logo Niagara The Niagara logo • • • • Niagara SCX SimulStream GoStream EZStream Osprey Trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation include: • • • Microsoft Windows • • Windows Vista Windows Media Windows Server Trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
Copyrights, Proprietary, Table of Contents, Notices DISCLAIMERS ViewCast Corporation makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this manual and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Niagara SCX User Guide Table of Contents Preface: About This Guide............................................................................................ 1 Product Description ................................................................................................. 1 Audience ................................................................................................................... 2 Conventions for This Guide ............................................................................
Copyrights, Proprietary, Table of Contents, Notices Encoder .................................................................................................................................. 31 Start an Encoder ............................................................................................................ 31 Stop an Encoder ............................................................................................................ 32 Reset an Encoder ...........................................
Niagara SCX User Guide Guide to Streaming Audio and Video Types ......................................................... 98 Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms............................................................................ 101 Publication Index .......................................................................................................
Copyrights, Proprietary, Table of Contents, Notices viii ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide Preface: About This Guide This ViewCast Niagara SCX® User Guide provides set up, configuration, and setting information. Product Description The exclusive ViewCast Niagara SCX software offers robust monitoring and control of multiple, remote, or distributed streaming encoders throughout an enterprise or across the Internet.
Preface: About This Guide The major difference between the two versions is that Niagara SCX Pro contains MPEG-4 encoding technology and Niagara SCX Standard does not. Its basis remains anchored on an international standard that is rapidly becoming the format of choice for streaming Internet video. Chapter 10 of this publication more fully explains the MPEG-4 features, available only in Niagara SCX Pro.
Niagara SCX User Guide Convention Description Provides information to help you avoid possible damage to hardware or a system crash (without data loss). Warning! Provides information to ensure that you avoid potential injury, death, or permanent system damage. Example Use case sensitive commands to keep from destroying… Warning! Do NOT touch exposed wires. Action column Step/action/result tables contain instructions. Always start instructions with an active verb. Type SPAR.
Preface: About This Guide 4 ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 1: Get Started Niagara SCX streaming media management software provides an optimal method for managing live video broadcasting over the Internet and to mobile devices. It allows you to set up and control Niagara® streaming systems positioned throughout your enterprise or anywhere in the world – all from your desktop.
Chapter 1: Get Started • • • • • 6 Dual core processor or better 512 Mb memory Network connection 10,000 RPM IDE hard drive or better for uncompressed video file capture Installed Osprey drivers and video capture card ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX You must meet the minimum system requirements and perform the specified steps to install Niagara SCX. The major steps you must take to install Niagara SCX include: 1. Set up the server or computer and install Niagara SCX. 2. Install Niagara SCX Explorer on all remote laptops or workstations (optional). NOTE: The version of Niagara SCX on the server and any optional remote clients must be the same.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 3. Click Next and verify the ViewCast Niagara SCX Setup Wizard window (Figure 3) displays. Figure 3. Niagara SCX Setup Wizard 4. Click Next and verify the License Agreement window (Figure 4) displays. Figure 4. License Agreement 5. Select I Agree. NOTE: If you select I Do Not Agree, the installation aborts and you can no longer continue installing the application. 6. Click Next and verify the Product License Key window (Figure 5) displays. Figure 5. Product License Key 7.
Niagara SCX User Guide NOTE: If you do not input an SCX license, SCX continues to run in demo mode. You have full functionality for 30 days when the software no longer allows access unless you enter a valid SCX license number. 8. Click Next and verify the Product Registration window (Figure 6) displays. NOTE: Users may optionally enter the Product Registration information. Figure 6. Product Registration 9. Click Next and verify the Automatic Update Notifications window (Figure 7) displays. Figure 7.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 11. Click Next and verify the installation begins when the Installing ViewCast Niagara SCX window (Figure 9) displays. Figure 9. Installing ViewCast Niagara SCX 12. Verify the Windows Media Format 9.5 Runtime Setup dialog box (Figure 10) displays. Figure 10. Windows Media Format 9.5 Runtime Setup NOTE: The dialog box may display behind another window since the application has no control over the focus of the display.
Niagara SCX User Guide 14. Click Yes and verify the Windows Media Format 9.5 Runtime Setup completion dialog box (Figure 12) displays to indicate completion of the setup. Figure 12. Runtime Setup Completion Dialog 15. Click OK and verify the Niagara SCX Login Credentials dialog box (Figure 13) displays. Figure 13. Niagara SCX Login Credentials Dialog 16. Enter the valid User Name and Password for the SCX user. NOTE: This user must have administrative rights and privileges. 17.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 20. Verify the Windows Desktop now has a shortcut for Niagara SCX (Figure 16). Figure 16. Niagara SCX Shortcut Optional Install Niagara SCX Explorer on Remote Computers You may choose to install Niagara SCX Explorer on remote computers and connect to the primary server for managing your encoding options. If you elect to install only on your server or primary system, you may skip this section.
Niagara SCX User Guide Figure 18. Niagara SCX Splash 4. Click Next when the Welcome to the Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer Setup Wizard (Figure 19) window displays. Figure 19. Welcome 5. Select one of the following when the License Agreement window (Figure 20) displays. • • I Agree if you wish to continue with the installation. I Do Not Agree if you wish to discontinue and abort the installation. Figure 20.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 6. Click Next. 7. The system displays the installation window (Figure 21) and begins installing the application in the default location C:\Program Files\ViewCast\Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer. NOTE: This installs SCX in the default folder the system already provides in the Folder field. Figure 21. Installing Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer 8. Click Next to confirm that you want to install the application when the Confirm Installation window (Figure 22) displays. Figure 22.
Niagara SCX User Guide NOTE: You now completely installed the Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer applications. You must install the SCX version on the Niagara streaming server or your customized server. You then may optionally load Niagara SCX Explorer on your remote workstations (laptops and computers) and use it remotely from the Niagara streaming server or your office. IMPORTANT! You must restart your computer before you begin to use SCX. Use Windows Update to check for any critical updates to the Microsoft .
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 4. Expand the Component Services entry to show the Computers entry. 5. Right-click the My Computer option and choose Properties from the right-mouse menu (Figure 24). Figure 24. Control Panel Selections 6. Select the COM Security tab (Figure 25) in the My Computer Properties dialog box. Figure 25. My Computer ¾ COM Security 7. Click Edit Limits in the Access Permissions pane of My Computer Properties window. 8.
Niagara SCX User Guide 12. Select the ANONYMOUS LOGON user name in the Groups or user names pane on the Security Limits window (Figure 27). Figure 27. Launch Permissions ¾ Security Limits 13. Ensure you check Allow on Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation, and Remote Activation in the Permissions for ANONYMOUS LOGON pane of the Security Limits window (Figure 29). 14. Click Add. 15. Enter the user names ANONYMOUS LOGON; Everyone in the Enter the object names to select edit pane (Figure 28). 16.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX 21. Click OK in the My Computer Properties dialog box. 22. Start / Restart the Niagara SCX service. Set the SCX Server Firewall Niagara SCX software applications communicate to the services using DCOM. Windows XP Service Pack 2 installs a software firewall. DCOM uses a number of dynamic IP ports that make it difficult to configure the firewall to allow these to pass.
Niagara SCX User Guide • • Select Add Program from the Windows Firewall ¾ Exceptions tab. Select Browse from the Add Program window (Figure 32). Figure 32. Add Program • Locate the following applications and add them to the exceptions list: — Program Files\ViewCast\Niagara SCX\NiagaraSCXEncoderManager.exe — Program Files\ViewCast\Niagara SCX\SCXEncoderExplorer.
Chapter 2: Install Niagara SCX NOTE: The system creates a program group for SCX in the Start Menu during installation. You may have to connect to the server from your optionally connected remote machine. 3.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 3: Quick Start A quick start for Niagara SCX includes configuring the environment then starting and using Niagara SCX. Set Niagara SCX Environment To set the environment for Niagara SCX, you must configure it per the steps in Table 2. Table 2. Set Up the Niagara SCX Environment Step Action 1. Ensure the server includes a ViewCast Osprey card and sits on a DNS network. 2. Install Niagara SCX on the server. 3.
Chapter 3: Quick Start Step Action 2. Open Niagara SCX Explorer on any configured remote workstation you plan to use to control the encoders (optional). 3. Connect to a server running Niagara SCX. 4. Insert the desired encoder type you wish to run on the server. You can choose any of the following: • • • 5. Flash® Video RealProducer® Windows Media® Encoder Enter a name to identify the encoder.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics This chapter explores the basics of the SCX service and application. It includes the following topics: • Niagara SCX Window Design — Niagara SCX Toolbar — The Menu Bar — Creating a new Niagara SCX view • Starting and stopping the Niagara SCX service Niagara SCX Window Design The Niagara SCX works like the Windows Explorer window.
Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Table 4. Tool Bar Options Option New Description • • Allows you to create a new Niagara SCX file. Allows you to group and save different SCX views for monitoring the status of multiple encoders. • Refer to Creating a New Niagara SCX View for instructions on how to create a new Niagara SCX file. Allows you to connect to and use existing Niagara SCX settings. Open • Save Connect Encoder Allows you to save any SCX combinations you put in Niagara SCX.
Niagara SCX User Guide File The File menu contains some options (Figure 39) not available on the toolbar. Table 5 explains each option in detail. Figure 39. File Menu Options Table 5. Menu Bar File Options Option File New File Open Description • • Allows you to create a new Niagara SCX file. This allows you to group and save different SCX views for monitoring the status of multiple encoders. • For instructions on how to create a new Niagara SCX file, see Creating a New Niagara SCX View.
Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Option File Save Description • • Allows you to save any SCX combinations you put in Niagara SCX. You can save different combinations with unique file names. NOTE: Click File then select Save to save any changes to an existing file when the system returns to the Niagara SCX window. This automatically saves the current file name to the existing location. File Save As Lets you save changes to existing file and apply a different file name.
Niagara SCX User Guide Table 6. Menu Bar Edit Options Option Edit Delete Description Allows you to remove the connection to SCX or a specific encoder attached to that SCX application. NOTE: You can also delete a SCX or encoder by clicking the right-mouse button and selecting Delete while you have the specific item highlighted. Edit Rename Allows you to rename the connection to SCX or a specific encoder.
Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics The View menu (Figure 44) allows you to view or hide certain elements of the interface (Figure 44). Figure 44. View Menu Options Insert The Insert menu contains options to insert the Niagara SCX Encoder Manager or an encoder (Figure 45). Table 8 explains each option in detail. Table 8. Menu Bar Insert Options Option Description Insert Niagara SCX Encoder Manager Allows you to insert the SCX Encoder Manager. Insert Encoder Allows you to insert an encoder.
Niagara SCX User Guide NOTE: The left panel of SCX Explorer represents the SCX Encoder Manager and the right panel represents the encoder properties. 2. Select Insert. 3. Select Niagara SCX. 4. Confirm the computer name listed or use Browse to locate your computer name when the Connect to Server window displays. 5. Select OK. NOTE: A window displays (Figure 47) listing the Niagara SCX Encoder Manager you insert. Figure 47. Niagara SCX Encoder Insert Selection 6. 7. 8. 9.
Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Insert a New Encoder After adding Niagara SCX Encoder Manager, you must take the next step and insert any new encoder(s) that you want the specific Niagara SCX to control. 1. Go to the Insert menu and select Encoder. NOTE: The New Encoder window displays (Figure 50). Figure 50. New Encoder NOTE: You can alternately insert an encoder by clicking the right-mouse button and selecting Insert a New Encoder while you have the specific item selected. 2.
Niagara SCX User Guide Figure 53. Rename Encoder Display 9. Type a name for the encoder such as Encoder 1 or Main Auditorium. 10. Repeat the above steps for any additional encoders installed on this sever. 11. Press Enter to save the name change. Encoder The Encoder menu contains options to start, stop and reset an encoder. Table 9 explains each option in detail. Table 9. Menu Bar Encoder Options Option Description Encoder Start Allows you to start an encoder.
Chapter 4: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Stop an Encoder Click to select an encoder in the left side of the Niagara SCX Explorer . Click the Encoder menu and select Stop to stop an encoder. The Niagara SCX Explorer stops the encoder. NOTE: You can also stop an encoder by clicking the right-mouse button and selecting Stop Encoder while you have the specific item selected. Reset an Encoder Click to select an encoder in the left side of the Niagara SCX Explorer.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 5: Windows Media Options and Settings Table 11 and Table 12 explain the encoder and streaming options tabs available when using Windows Media as the encoding option. NOTE: Niagara SCX now supports Windows Media 9. Windows Media Encoder Tabs Table 11 describes the configuration options available on the tabs accessible from the Windows Media Encoder windows. Table 11.
Chapter 5: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description Live Encoding • • • File Encoding • • • Select the Live radio button. Select the video capture device in the Video field and select the audio device in the Audio field for live encoding. The system lists all known video and audio devices in the drop-down menus. Select the File Conversion/File Transcode radio button to encode a previously recorded file (such as .avi or .wav files) into streaming format.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Gamma Corrections Description • • • • Adjust the gamma of the incoming video. Gamma refers to the response curve of video cameras/CRTs. When you capture video with a camera, the camera response remains deliberately nonlinear – it boosts low lumen values and compresses high lumen values – based on two reasons: (1) It increases the effective bandwidth in the low lumen range, where you need it, at the expense of the high lumen range, where you need it less.
Chapter 5: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description • Fields remain available whether device runs or remains idle (Figure 58). Figure 58. Windows Media Audio Settings Output • • • • • • Allows users to select the encoder profile based on the expected audience for the created content (Figure 59). Use the drop-down box to select the desired audience. The default port setting for Windows Media is 7007. Each encoder on a machine must use a unique port.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Filters Description • • Use (optionally) to enable SimulStream and deinterlacing (Figure 60). Refer to Filters on page 88 for more information about this topic. Figure 60. Windows Media Filters NOTE: Refer to Chapter 12: Tuning Utilities for more diagnostics information. Profile Settings Provide options for the Profile Settings, such as Capture Profile, and settings for Digital Rights Management (Figure 61). Figure 61.
Chapter 5: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description • • • You can adjust the color balance, size, and opacity of the graphic. Note that you can only watermark a 24-bit bmp. The system does not accept any other image formats (Figure 63). Figure 63. Windows Media Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption • • • Allows you to adjust the positioning of closed caption text if applicable, on your video feed.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Operations Description • • Control the encoder with Start, Stop, and Reset on the Operations tab. Once you select all the other options: — Select Start to begin encoding. — Select Stop to end the session. — Select Reset to stop then restart an encoding session (Figure 66). NOTE: Progress reports (Starting Encoder, Encoder started, Stopped) and error messages appear in the Status section of this window. Figure 66.
Chapter 5: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description • • • • Select Start Preview to initiate the view following a buffer delay. Select Stop Preview to stop displaying the video immediately. Playback stops automatically if you select another encoder. The system provides two options, Copy LAN URL and Copy Internet URL, to copy two addresses to the Windows copy buffer. • Launch URL allows the system to launch the Windows Media Player to view the stream (Figure 68). Figure 68.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 6: DRM for Windows Media You can protect your content using Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Niagara SCX allows you to encrypt your content with DRM technology while you encode. You can apply DRM while encoding to a file and when broadcasting a stream. Users must obtain a license to play the content. This license contains the key to unlock the content and the rights that govern its use. NOTE: A third-party license provider issues licenses.
Chapter 6: DRM for Windows Media Step Action 4. Start the Windows Media Encoder application (Figure 71) on the encoder system. 5. Click Cancel when the New Session Wizard (Figure 72) displays. Figure 71. Encoder Start Up Figure 72. New Session 6. Click Properties under the top menu bar. Figure 73. Properties Option 7. Click the Security tab (Figure 74). Figure 74.
Niagara SCX User Guide Step Action 8. Click Import and browse to the location of the DRM profiles on the system’s hard drive. 9. Select (highlight) the DRM profile (Figure 75) you wish to import and click the Open option. Figure 75. Input DRM Profile ViewCast 10. Repeat this process for each DRM profile you wish to import. 11. Exit from the Windows Media Encoder application when you finish. 12. Select the No option if the system asks if you want to save your encoding session. 13.
Chapter 6: DRM for Windows Media 44 ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Table 14 and Table 15 explain the encoder and streaming options tabs available when using RealProducer as the encoding option. RealProducer Encoder Tabs Table 14 describes the configuration options available on the tabs accessible from the RealProducer encoder windows. Table 14.
Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Live Encoding Description • • • File Conversion/File Transcode • • • Select the Live radio button. Select the video capture device in the Video field and select the audio device in the Audio field for live encoding. The system lists all known video and audio devices in the drop-down menus. Select the File Conversion/File Transcode radio button to encode a previously recorded file (such as .avi or .wav files) into streaming format.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • Unicast communication applies to a piece of information that users send from one point to another point. — In this case, there is just one sender and one receiver. — Unicast transmission refers to users sending a packet from a single source to a specified destination. — Unicast represents the predominant form of transmission on LANs and within the Internet. — All LANs (such as Ethernet) and IP networks support the unicast transfer mode.
Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description — Uncheck the Gamma checkbox • • • When you enable gamma correction, the text box and graphic show the factor applied. If you run preview video while adjusting the filter, you see your adjustment effects interactively. You can use one of three methods to adjust the gamma correction value: (1) Directly enter text in the numeric text box. (2) Click [+] and [-]. (3) Select Signal field (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM) from the list of options.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • • • • • running SCX Explorer. When Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer reside on different computers, always start your browse for files at My Network Places and work down or enter the entire file pathname beginning with the system name. If you simply enter a file name, you may inadvertently browse your local computer when the media file resides on the remote computer.
Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description • • Filters Use (optionally) to enable SimulStream® and deinterlacing (Figure 82). Refer to Filters on page 88 for more information about this topic. Figure 82. RealProducer Filters NOTE: Refer to Chapter 12: Tuning Utilities for additional diagnostics information. Options • • Allows you to insert the Frame Rate you wish to use to run the video.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • From these settings, you can set a custom cropping size (Figure 84). Figure 84. RealProducer Video Cropping Settings Watermarking • • Provides options for placing a watermarked graphic over video output. You can adjust the graphic color balance, size, and opacity (Figure 85). NOTE: You can only watermark a 24-bit bmp. The system does not accept any other image formats. Figure 85.
Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Identity Address Description Provides the Address Type (type of encoder being used), the Network Address, and the Computer Name of the machine performing the encoding (Figure 87). Figure 87. RealProducer Identity Address Settings Operations • • Use Start, Stop, and Reset on the Operations tab to control the encoder (Figure 88). Once you select all the other options: — Select Start to begin encoding. — Select Stop to end the session.
Niagara SCX User Guide RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs Table 15 explains the RealProducer streaming options tabs including statistics (Stats – Target, Video, and Audio) and view. Table 15. RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs Tab Statistics Description • Reports on the current status (Figure 89) of the encoder to include: — — — — Input Output Audio Format Video Quality — File Type — Duration — Total bit rate • • The CPU Utilization field reports the current CPU load.
Chapter 7: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description • Audio Stats Reports on current audio statistics (Figure 92). Figure 92. RealProducer Audio Stats Settings • • • • • View Allows users to monitor the encoder output. Select Start Preview to initiate the view following a buffer delay. Select Stop Preview to stop displaying the video immediately. Playback stops automatically if you select another encoder.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 8: AVI Capture Options and Settings Table 16 and Table 17 explain the options available when using the AVI Capture features of Niagara SCX. NOTE: When capturing uncompressed AVI files, be sure that your system’s hard drive speed can keep up with the data you capture. If not, the capture file drops frames and loses quality. Developers recommend a 10,000-RPM IDE hard disk or above for full resolution uncompressed SD capture.
Chapter 8: AVI Capture Options and Settings Tab Input Description Allows the user to set the input sources to use (Figure 96). Figure 96. AVI Input Sources Video Settings • • • • • • • • Gamma Corrections • • • • 56 Control the capture properties for the selected video device (Figure 97). The Input field lists all input connectors available for capture device. Signal field lists various video standards the capture device supports.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description — monitor. • To enable: — Check the enable field. — When the setting equals 1.00, you make the response characteristics and the bandwidth identical to the original picture. • When you disable the gamma correction filters: — Set the gamma correction value to exactly 1.00 — The software-based gamma filter works in pass-through mode with no effect on the video and no processing bandwidth use.
Chapter 8: AVI Capture Options and Settings Tab Output Description • • Allows users to set the output frame rate, format, and destination. Note that Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer reside on different computers. — Always start your browse for files at My Network Places and work down or enter the entire file pathname beginning with the system name (Figure 99). — If you simply enter a file name, you may inadvertently browse your local computer when the media file resides on the remote computer. Figure 99.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Closed Caption Description Allows you to adjust the position of any closed-captioned text you want to add if you use the Osprey 3.X or a later version of the driver for video capturing (Figure 102). Figure 102. AVI Closed Caption Settings Identity Address Provides the Address Type (type of encoder being used), the Network Address, and the Computer Name of the machine performing the encoding (Figure 103). Figure 103.
Chapter 8: AVI Capture Options and Settings AVI Capture Streaming Options Tabs This section of the manual explains the following options available when utilizing the AVI Capture Streaming Options Tabs. Table 17 explains the AVI streaming options tabs including: • • • • • Statistics (Stats) Target Stats Audio Stats View Video Stats Table 17.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Preview while Encoding ViewCast Description • • • If you want to watch the incoming video or see the output video, you must have installed Osprey® SimulStream for the capture card. Osprey SimulStream enables a single card to produce multiple outputs. For more information or to purchase SimulStream for your Osprey capture card, visit http://viewcast.com/product_SimulStream.asp.
Chapter 8: AVI Capture Options and Settings 62 ViewCast
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 9: Flash Options and Settings Flash formats only allow users to capture to a file and does NOT include live streaming. NOTE: Users who purchase the Niagara Pro, Niagara Pro II or GoStream Surf may license live streaming capabilities with the Flash option on these encoders. Table 18 and Table 19 describe Flash tab options and Flash streaming tab options available when you use Flash encoding features of Niagara SCX. This encoder applies only to Flash files.
Chapter 9: Flash Options and Settings Tab Description File Encoding • • • • device in the Audio field for live encoding. The system lists all known video and audio devices in drop-down menus. Select the File Conversion/File Transcode radio button to encode a previously recorded file (such as .avi files) into streaming format. Click the box to right of Input File field to browse for file name to insert.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • (2) It matches the response characteristics of TV sets and monitors. The calibration specified in video standards matches the requirements of cameras and TV sets in broadcast use. — This usually, however, does not match the needs of computer-based applications or the response curves of computer monitors. — Therefore, you often need a correction inverse to the original bias and you may want to tune for the characteristics of a particular monitor.
Chapter 9: Flash Options and Settings Tab Description • • • Output • • Filters Use (optionally) to enable SimulStream® and deinterlacing (Figure 112). Deinterlace Filter • • You can select deinterlace options. The system accepts settings for inverse telecine and motion adaptations/thresholds. • Removes artifacts that the system can introduce when encoding NTSC, PAL, or SECAM formatted video. These artifacts usually manifest as jaggedness around a moving object.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Video Cropping Description • • • Provides options to set size and aspect ratio of chosen video output. When you enable cropping, the system automatically switches the video size to FULL and the cropping measurements default to the FULL size. From these settings, you can set a custom cropping size (Figure 113). Figure 113. Flash Video Cropping Settings Watermarking • • Provides options for placing watermarked graphic over your video output.
Chapter 9: Flash Options and Settings Tab Identity Address Description Provides the Address Type (type of encoder used), the Network Address and the Computer Name of the machine performing the encoding (Figure 116). Figure 116. Flash Identity Address Settings Operations • • Use Start, Stop, and Reset on the Operations tab to control the encoder. Once you select all the other options: — Select Start to begin encoding. — Select Stop to end the session.
Niagara SCX User Guide Flash Streaming Options Tabs Table 19 explains the Flash streaming options tabs including: Statistics (Stats) and View Table 19. Flash Streaming Options Tabs Tab Description • • • Statistics Reports on the current CPU load and audio level encoder status. The CPU Load field reports the current CPU load. The last field addresses the audio level on the encoder (Figure 118). Figure 118.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings This section of the guide explains the options and settings available when using the MPEG-4 Encoding features of Niagara SCX Pro. NOTE: Niagara SCX Pro contains MPEG-4. Niagara SCX Standard does not. Therefore, this chapter of the manual refers only to Niagara SCX Pro and not Niagara SCX Standard.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings You must first select from the Insert option, then select Encoder (Figure 122) to create an encoder. Figure 122. Insert, Encoder Option The system provides you a set of options (Figure 123) for the type of encoder you want to create. Select MPEG4 Encoder Driver. Then, click OK. Figure 123. Encoder Options List The window in Figure 124 displays after you select the MPEG4 Encoder Driver. Figure 124. MPEG4 Encoder Driver Selection Table 20.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 125. MPEG-4 Properties Figure 126. MPEG-4 Encoder Name Input Allows the user to set the input sources to use for Live or File Conversion/File Transcode (Figure 77). Figure 127. MPEG-4 Input Sources Live Encoding File Conversion/File ViewCast • • • • Select the Live radio button. Select the video capture device in the Video field and select the audio device in the Audio field for live encoding.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description Transcode • Next, choose from the Input File dropdown menu by clicking the box to the right of the field for a file name to insert. NOTE: The Niagara SCX video and audio settings remain inactive when you use File Encoding. • Remember the file name applies to the encoder system and not the system currently running SCX Explorer.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • The calibration specified in video standards matches the requirements of cameras and TV sets in broadcast use. — This usually, however, does not match the needs of computer-based applications or the response curves of computer monitors. — Therefore, you often need a correction inverse to the original bias and you may want to tune for the characteristics of a particular monitor.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description • Fields remain available whether device runs or remains idle (Figure 130). Figure 130. MPEG-4 Audio Settings Output • • • • • • • • • Allows users to set output options (Figure 131). Check Save to File if you want to save the encoded content to a file. Enter a file destination in the provided field. Remember the encoder system references the file name and not the system running SCX Explorer.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description for the saved SDP file. Remember to disable multicasting by entering the IP address of the computer where you want to send the stream in the Destination field. • • • • For example, save the SDP file to a shared folder on the local drive if you want another computer to view the stream. The other computer can open the SDP file and play the stream in Quicktime or other MPEG-4-compatible streaming player.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description — Crop • • • • You can have multiple video capture streams in a single application, or you can have multiple applications each with one or more capture streams. For details about purchasing and installing SimulStream, refer to Chapter 11. The base AVStream driver includes a free evaluation version for you to try. When you install SimulStream, the controls in this group affect the fully licensed SimulStream mode.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description • • • • • • Filters, Background Motion Adaptive Deinterlace • • • • • Encode Settings When you view video at 24 fps, you see the exact timing and sequence on the original film. When you view video at 30 fps, the system repeats every fifth frame and eliminates de-interlacing artifacts Only applies to NTSC video Not used for PAL and SECAM video. If you select PAL or SECAM as the video standard, you disable inverse telecine.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description H.264, MPEG-4, Part 10 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC) maintaining better quality than its predecessor. — Created to address a broad range of applications from low bit rate to high bit rate and from low resolution such as cell phones to high resolution such as broadcast. — The Niagara SCX H.264 is baseline profile. — MPEG-4, Part 2, or H.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 134. MPEG-4 Type Options • • • You can set the frame rate and bit rate under the Video settings (Figure 135). The Enable B Frame option turns on or off the insertion of B frames in the video stream. If you enable B frames and set the MPEG type to MPEG-4, the resulting H.263 file uses Advanced Simple Profile when you encode it. NOTE: Some players, such as Quicktime player, become incompatible with streams that include B frames.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description — AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) A standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. AAC achieves better audio quality than MP3, a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. — AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) An audio data compression scheme optimized for speech coding. 3GPP adopted AMR as the standard speech codec; it is widely used in GSM. You can either AMR narrow band (AMR-NB) or AMR wide band (AMRWB).
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 138. MPEG-4 Audio Type Options Video Cropping • The Audio Bitrate settings provide a drop-down box with choices shown in (Figure 139). Figure 139. MPEG-4 Audio Bitrate Options • Provides options for setting the size and aspect ratio of your chosen video output (Figure 140). When you enable cropping, the system automatically switches the video size to FULL and the cropping measurements default to the FULL size.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 141. MPEG-4 Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption • • Allows you to adjust the position of closed caption text, if applicable, on your video feed (Figure 142). You can choose to overlay the closed caption text on the video stream and define the position of the overlaid text Figure 142. MPEG-4 Closed Caption Settings Identity Address Provides the Address Type (type of encoder) performing the encoding (Figure 143). Figure 143.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 144. MPEG-4 Operations Settings NOTE: Progress reports (Starting Encoder, Encoder started, Stopped) and error messages appear in the Status section of this window. MPEG-4 Streaming Options Tabs Table 15 explains the MPEG-4 streaming options tabs including: • • • Statistics (Stats) – Capture, Video, and Audio View Call Info Table 21.
Chapter 10: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 145. MPEG-4 Streaming Options Select • • • The Streaming Options tab also provides a Statistics tab (Figure 146) that reports on the encoder’s current statistics – Capture, Video, Audio, and CPU load. The CPU Utilization field reports the current CPU load. The last field addresses the audio level on the encoder. Figure 146. MPEG-4 Streaming Statistics Options • If you choose the View tab, you can preview the video.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 11: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Niagara SCX and SimulStream represent the perfect team of tools for maximizing resources for encoding purposes. That means with just one capture card, you can encode a single source into multiple outputs. Examples include using a single video that you can encode in RealNetworks, Flash, MPEG-4 (Niagara SCX Pro only), and Windows Media. You can encode these simultaneously by using SimulStream.
Chapter 11: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Step Action NOTE: This could also be a file requiring conversion to a streaming format. Use the same video input for each output. If you have multiple boards in the system, select the same board for each output desired. 5. Configure the video and audio settings, if needed, on the Video and Audio Settings tab. 6. Select the output on the Output tab. NOTE: RealProducer requires two output settings.
Niagara SCX User Guide • Standard applications can access a particular filter without any custom programming specialized for Osprey devices. 2. Each filter has independent settings for cropping, default output size, watermarks, and captions that you can store between sessions. NOTE: Compared to the previous pin-based method, no requirements exist for a particular startup order, to associate settings with instantiations.
Chapter 11: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Show N Filters per Device With the Show N filters per device control (Figure 149) you can set up the driver to expose 1 to 10 filters per device for applications to specify and select. If, for example, you choose 4 filters per device, device lists in applications show four entries for the current device. For device 1, the system designates them as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4. Figure 149.
Niagara SCX User Guide corresponds to the saved one – it overwrites settings that you might previously have saved from another application. This global setting affects all the Osprey-2XX, -300, -400 or -530/540/560 devices as a group. When you apply this change, a message box prompts you to restart the system. This change does not work correctly until you do so. Deinterlace, inverse telecine and gamma correction when set, affect all SimulStream instances on that specific Osprey card.
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Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 12: Tuning Utilities Some electrical signals convey television pictures. Cables then carry this video signal from one place to another. Along the way, the signal may pass through various pieces of equipment such as video tape machines, switchers, character generators, special effects generators, and transmitters. Any of this equipment can change or distort the signal in undesirable ways.
Chapter 12: Tuning Utilities The processing within a vectorscope and the display of the processed signals readily detects and evaluates both phase and gain distortions of the chrominance. Understand the Display There are two parts to a vectorscope display: the graticule and the trace. Table 25. Vectorscope Display Parts Part Graticule Trace Description • A scale you use to quantify the parameters of the signal under examination. • Work with a color bar signal.
Niagara SCX User Guide Figure 152. Vectorscope Adjustments (Saturation) Waveform Monitor Vectorscopes and waveform monitors (Figure 153) complement one another and provide a full representation of all information about the video signal. Figure 153. Waveform Monitor Display The nominal video signal level for television studios and production facilities equates to one volt (1 V) peak-to-peak. NOTE: The term peak-to-peak means from the bottom of the signal to the top. You often see it abbreviated as p-p.
Chapter 12: Tuning Utilities Understanding the Display The waveform consists primarily of a brightness signal (called luminance) and a high-frequency color signal (called chrominance). The luminance and chrominance added together form the overall waveform. The luminance signal, a series of voltages or levels, determines brightness and variations across the picture.
Niagara SCX User Guide Appendix A: An Introduction to Streaming Media Media that users read, hear or view represents streaming media. Streaming refers more to the property of the delivery system than the media itself. The distinction usually applies to media distributed over computer networks. Most other delivery systems represent either inherently streaming (radio, television, Internet TV) or inherently non-streaming (books, video cassettes, audio CDs).
Appendix A: An Introduction to Streaming Media Each category has its unique set of requirements that also dictate different user interfaces, functionality and experiences. The Niagara encoders deliver live video capture, processing, and delivery. Figure 155 illustrates the video path starting with the source, like a camera or video player. This source goes through the Niagara encoders, to the server, across an IP network, to a software player and displays on a monitor for audience viewing. Figure 155.
Niagara SCX User Guide Adobe® Flash® File-based Internet video In choosing the right streaming format for your needs, you should first consider the audience for your content. What common player will they use to watch your content? This determines the format of the stream you create for your audience. To determine the data rate you need for streaming your content; you must determine the IP bandwidth for your audience access.
Niagara SCX User Guide Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms The following terms apply to related information contained in this publication. Figure 157. Terms, Acronyms, and Definitions Term Acronym Audio-Video Interleaved AVI • • Common Intermediate Format CIF • • A standard video format used in video conferencing. Define CIF formats by their resolution, and standards both above and below the original resolution established. • The original CIF is also known as Full CIF (FCIF).
Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms Term Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Acronym DHCP Definition • • Encoder • • • Flash Frame rate A hardware device or software that changes a signal (such as a bitstream) or data into a code.
Niagara SCX User Guide Term Media Access Control Address Acronym MAC Definition • • • Moving Picture Experts Group – 4 MPEG-4 Multicast National Television System Committee NTSC • Defines how you transmit multimedia streams – video, audio, text, data – as individual objects. • A compression/decompression technology that strives to achieve interactivity, efficiency, and stability in narrow-band transmissions.
Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms Term Acronym Definition • Niagara SCX • • • • Niagara SCX Explorer • • • • • Phase Alternation Line PAL Pixel Real-time video Sequential Color with Memory 104 A streaming media management software that installs on any user client device. It lets users manage live video broadcasting over the Internet and to mobile devices.
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Niagara SCX User Guide Publication Index AVI Audio Settings, 63 About This Guide, 1 AVI Capture Encoder Tabs, 61 Access Permission window, 16 Add Program window, 19 Allow Multiple Instances of Each Filter, 98 AVI Capture Options and Settings, 61 AVI Closed Caption Settings, 65 AVI General Properties Settings, 61 allow the SCX clients to communicate with the server, 15 AVI Identity Address Settings, 65 An Introduction to Streaming Media, 105 AVI Input Sources Settings, 62 Application Links, 20 AVI Op
Index Closed Caption (Windows Media) Tab, 40 DRM Profiles Location, 45 Common Intermediate Format, 109 DRM, definition, 109 Computer Name Display on Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer window, 78 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Conditions for SimulStream, 97 Configure Niagara SCX for Firewall and DCOM settings, 15 Definition of and acronym, 110 Edit menu, 26 Edit Menu Options, 26 configure the Niagara SCX, 15 Enable checkbox, 97 Confirm Installation window, 9, 14 enable the DRM function in Niagara
Niagara SCX User Guide Filters, deinterlace (Flash) Tab, 72 Identity Address (AVI) Tab, 65 Filters, Deinterlace Filter (MPEG-4) Tab, 85 Identity Address (Flash) Tab, 74 Filters, Inverse Telecine (Flash) Tab, 72 Identity Address (MPEG-4) Tab, 91 Filters, Inverse Telecine (MPEG-4) Tab, 85 Identity Address (RealProducer) Tab, 56 Filters, SimulStream (MPEG-4) Tab, 84 Identity Address (Windows Media) Tab, 41 Flash Audio Settings, 72 Input (AVI) Tab, 62 Flash Closed Caption Settings, 74 Input (Flash
Index Install Niagara SCX, 7 MPEG-4 Audio Bitrate Options, 90 Installation Complete window, 14 MPEG-4 Audio Encoder Options, 89 Installing Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer window, 14 MPEG-4 Audio Format Options, 88 MPEG-4 Audio Settings, 82 Installing ViewCast Niagara SCX window, 10 MPEG-4 Audio Type Options, 89 Inverse Telecine (MPEG-4) Tab, 85 MPEG-4 Basic Settings, 88 IP Video Compression for Streaming in Full & Lower Resolutions, 106 MPEG-4 Closed Caption Settings, 91 Key Frame, definition, 111 MP
Niagara SCX User Guide MPEG-4 View (URL) Tab, 93 Niagara SCX Splash Screen window, 7 MPEG-4, definition, 111 Niagara SCX Splash window, 13 Multicast, definition of, 111 Niagara SCX window, 23 My Computer ¾ COM Security options, 16 Niagara SCX, definition of, 112 Name Encoder window, 29 Niagara SCX, Description of, 1 National Television System Committee, definition of and acronym, 112 NIC, definition, 112 NTSC acronym definition, 112 Network Interface Card, definition of and acronym, 112 Open w
Index picture quality, 101 RealProducer Input Sources Settings, 49 Pixel, definition of, 113 RealProducer Operations Settings, 57 Prerequisites, 5 RealProducer Options and Settings, 49 Preview the AVI Video, 66 RealProducer Output Settings, 53 Preview the Flash Video while Encoding Display, 75 RealProducer Output(2) Settings, 54 Preview the RealProducer Video while Encoding Display, 59 RealProducer Streaming Options Authoring Information, 60 RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs, 58 Preview the V
Niagara SCX User Guide Sequential Color with Memory, definition of, 113 Streaming, Statistics (Flash) Tab, 75 Service Login Update window, 11 Streaming, Statistics (Windows Media) Tab, 42 set the firewall and DCOM configurations, 15 Streaming, View (Flash) Tab, 75 Set the SCX Server Firewall, 18 Streaming, View (Windows Media) Tab, 42 Set Up SimulStream Session with Niagara SCX, 95 Set Up the Niagara SCX Environment, 21 Streaming, View, Preview while Encoding (Flash) Tab, 75 Show Filters per Device O
Index Video Settings (RealProducer) Tab, 50 VOD, definition, 114 Video Settings (Windows Media) Tab, 36 Warranties, iv Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (AVI) Tab, 62 Watermarking (AVI) Tab, 64 Watermarking (Flash) Tab, 73 Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (Flash) Tab, 70 Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (MPEG-4) Tab, 81 Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (RealProducer) Tab, 51 Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (Windows Media) Tab, 37 Video Settings, Tuning Utilities (AVI) Tab, 63 Video Settings, Tun
Niagara SCX User Guide Windows Media Profile Settings, 39 Windows Media Streaming Statistics Settings, 42 Windows Media Sample Encoder View (Two Encoders+Add Encoder), 30 Windows Media Video Cropping Settings, 40 Windows Media Video Settings, 36 Windows Media Streaming Options Authoring Information, 43 Windows Media Video Watermarking Settings, 40 Windows Media Streaming Options Tabs, 42 Windows Security Alert options, 19 Part #: 40-03240-03A ViewCast 115
