Niagara SCX® and Niagara SCX Explorer User Guide Document Number: 40-03240-05-A Date: November 2009 Niagara SCX Release: 6 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.
Niagara SCX Guide COPYRIGHTS Copyright© 2009 ViewCast Corporation. All rights reserved. Trademarks or registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation or its subsidiaries include: ViewCast The ViewCast logo Niagara The Niagara logo Osprey Niagara SCX SimulStream GoStream Trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation include: Microsoft Windows Windows Vista Windows Media Windows Server Trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
Contents DISCLAIMERS The information in this publication remains the property of ViewCast Corporation. Users may not use, reproduce, or disclose this information without the implied consent and written approval of the company. 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 Guide Contents About This Guide ......................................................................................... 1 Conventions for This Guide.......................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Welcome to Niagara SCX ............................................................ 3 System Features .......................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Quick Start ...........................................
Contents Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings .......................................... 31 RealProducer Encoder Tabs ....................................................................... 31 RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs ....................................................... 40 Chapter 7: AVI Capture Options and Settings ............................................. 43 AVI Capture Encoder Tabs .........................................................................
Niagara SCX User Guide About This Guide This ViewCast Niagara® SCX Guide provides set up and configuration information for anyone who uses or administers the Niagara SCX client software. Users should have a basic technical understanding of their media-encoding environment and some basic experience with streaming media principles and practices. Users should also understand and use Microsoft Windows.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 1: Welcome to Niagara SCX The exclusive ViewCast 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, monitor, and control multiple, remote, or distributed Niagara SCX streaming encoder systems positioned throughout your enterprise or anywhere in the world – all from your desktop. Niagara SCX is included on all ViewCast encoding appliances.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics explains the MPEG-4 features, available only in Niagara SCX Pro. The MPEG-4 implementation in SCX follows the guidelines of ISO/IEC 14496-2 specifications that make the system compatible with the most popular third-party MPEG-4 implementations that use the MPEG-4, Simple Profile, and/or Advanced Simple Profile. Appendix A: An Introduction to Streaming Media provides a complete overview on streaming audio and video over an IP network. Access http://www.viewcast.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 2: Quick Start A quick start for Niagara SCX includes configuring the environment then starting and using Niagara SCX. Set Niagara SCX Environment Table 2. Set Up the Niagara SCX Environment Step Action 1. Open Niagara SCX Explorer on the ViewCast encoding appliance you plan to control. You may use remote desktop to connect to the encoding appliance. 2. To connect to the Niagara SCX Client, double-click the Niagara SCX shortcut from the encoding appliance desktop.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Step 3. Action Enter a name to identify the encoder and press Enter. The system displays the name in the Codec Name field in the General Properties area of the Auto/Name tab. NOTE: Encoder types vary on each appliance. 4. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each encoder. You can start and stop the encoders on an as-needed basis. 5. Click the Video and Audio input source for the encoder from the drop-down box on the Input tab.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 3: 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 — Toolbar — Menu bar — Creating a new Niagara SCX view Starting and stopping the Niagara SCX service Niagara SCX Window Design The Niagara SCX functions like Windows Explorer.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Figure 3. Niagara SCX Explorer Toolbar Table 4. Toolbar Elements Element New Description Create a new Niagara SCX Encoder Manager connection. Group and save different SCX views for monitoring the status of multiple encoders. Connect to and use existing Niagara SCX encoders. Open Save Connect The system opens a prompt for you to enter the computer name or IP address and connect to a system running Niagara SCX.
Niagara SCX Guide Menu Bar The Menu bar contains some commands not available on the Niagara SCX toolbar. File Figure 4. File Menu Commands Table 5. Menu Bar File Commands Command Description New Open Connect to and use existing Niagara SCX encoders. This command displays the Open window (Figure 5). Figure 5. Open Create a new Niagara SCX Encoder Manager connection. Group and save different SCX views for monitoring the status of multiple encoders. Click the file you want to open; click Open.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Command Description Save As Save changes to an existing encoder and apply a different name. Recent File The system stores and displays your last four saved encoders thereby allowing you to load a Niagara SCX encoder quickly. Exit Exits Niagara SCX. Edit Menu Figure 7. Edit Menu Commands Table 6. Menu Bar Edit Commands Command Description Delete Delete an encoder connection from Niagara SCX. Rename Rename the encoder connection.
Niagara SCX Guide Command Description Toolbar View the toolbar on the SCX window. You must check (click) this option. Status Bar View the status bar on the SCX window. You must check (click) this option. Insert Menu Figure 9. Insert Menu Commands Table 8. Menu Bar Insert Commands Command ViewCast Description Niagara SCX Encoder Manager Select encoder system you wish to view. Encoder Insert a new encoder.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics Create a New Niagara SCX Explorer Connection Niagara SCX Explorer views allow you to save and view a list of encoder systems. You save time by recalling a saved view instead of manually connecting to each individual Niagara SCX. Views act like bookmarks. They do not contain any in-depth information about your managers (such as the types of encoders you connected). Table 9. Create New Niagara SCX Explorer Connection Step 1. Action Click File; then New.
Niagara SCX Guide Step Action Figure 12. Niagara SCX Encoder Insert Selection 6. To insert encoders, select Insert Encoder... The system displays the New Encoder dialog box. 7. Select from the drop-down menu of available encoders and click OK. The system displays the encoder with the default name New Encoder highlighted. The tab changes to Auto/Name. 8. Rename the encoder for easy identification (Figure 13) and press Enter.
Chapter 3: 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. Start this procedure from the Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer window showing the encoder system you wish to add encoders. Table 10. Configure Connections Step 1. Action Go to the Insert menu and select Encoder. The system displays the New Encoder dialog box (Figure 15). Figure 15.
Niagara SCX Guide Encoder Menu Figure 17. Encoder Menu Commands Table 11. Menu Bar Encoder Commands Command Description Encoder Start Start an encoder. Encoder Stop Stop an encoder. Encoder Reset Reset an encoder. Start an Encoder 1. Click on the encoder in the left side of the Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer window. 2. Click the Encoder menu. 3. Click Start. The system starts the encoder. NOTE: You can also start an encoder by selecting the encoder, right-clicking, and selecting Start Encoder.
Chapter 3: Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics 2. Click the Encoder menu. 3. Click Reset. The system resets the encoder. NOTE: You can also restart an encoder by clicking the right-mouse button and selecting Restart Encoder while you have the specific item selected. Help Menu Table 12. Menu Bar Help Commands Command Description Help Contents View the contents in the help file. About Niagara Encoder Explorer View information about the installed Niagara SCX software (including version release).
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Table 13 and Table 14 explain the encoder and streaming options tabs available when using Windows Media as the encoding option. Windows Media Encoder Tabs Table 13 describes the configuration options available on the tabs accessible from the Windows Media Encoder windows. Table 13.
Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 19. Windows Media Input Sources Live Encoding File Encoding 1. Click the Live radio button. 2. Click the video capture device in the Video field. 3. Click the audio device in the Audio field for live encoding. The system lists all known video and audio devices in the drop-down menus. 1. Click the File Conversion/File Transcode radio button to encode a previously recorded file (such as .avi or .wav files) into streaming format. 2.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 20. Windows Media Video Settings Gamma Correction Adjust the gamma of the incoming video : Gamma refers to the response curve of video cameras/CRTs.
Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description NOTE: The value represents the inverses of the gamma bias you applied at the video source per the video standard so the resulting video becomes gamma-neutral. 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. Gamma correction applies to all filters and all output pins on each device.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Remember the encoder system references the file name and not the system running SCX Explorer. When Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer reside on different computers, always start to browse for files at My Network Places and work down or enter entire file pathname starting 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. Create unique file. Figure 22.
Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 24. Windows Media Profile Settings NOTE: The system allows Enable DRM check box to give DRM protection for this encoder if you imported a DRM Profile (Chapter 6). Video Cropping Set the 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.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 26. Windows Media Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption Adjust the positioning of closed caption text if applicable, on your video feed. You can overlay the closed caption text on the video stream or embed the text so it displays in a specialized space below the video display in Windows Media Player. Alternatively, you can capture the closed caption text into a SAMI file (Figure 27).
Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 28.
Niagara SCX User Guide Windows Media Streaming Options Tabs Table 14. Windows Media Streaming Options Tabs Tab Statistics Description View the current encoder status (Figure 29). In the first section: — The Current column displays the cumulative packets and bytes transferred since the encoder started. — The Dropped column displays the number of dropped packets/bytes. In the next panel see Current and Average bit rate and FPS.
Chapter 4: Windows Media Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 30. Preview the Video while Encoding Preview while Encoding Niagara SCX Encoder Manager To watch the incoming video or see the output video standards, you must have installed Osprey® SimulStream for the capture. Osprey SimulStream lets a single card produce multiple outputs. For more information or to purchase SimulStream for your Osprey capture card, visit http://viewcast.com/product_SimulStream.asp.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 5: 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.
Step Action Figure 33. Encoder Start Up 5. Click Cancel when the New Session Wizard (Figure 34) displays. Figure 34. New Session 6. Click Properties under the top menu bar. Figure 35. Properties Option 7. Click the Security tab (Figure 36). Figure 36. Security Tab 8. 28 Click Import and browse to the location of the DRM profiles on the system’s hard drive.
Niagara SCX User Guide Step 9. Action Click the DRM profile (Figure 37) you wish to import and click the Open option. Figure 37. 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. Restart the system.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Table 16 and Table 17 explain the encoder and streaming options tabs available when using RealProducer as the encoding option. RealProducer Encoder Tabs Table 16 describes the configuration options available on the tabs accessible from the RealProducer encoder windows. Table 16.
Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab File Conversion/File Transcode Description device in the Audio field for live encoding. The system lists all known video and audio devices in the drop-down menus. 1. Select the File Conversion/File Transcode radio button to encode a previously recorded file (such as .avi or .wav files) into streaming format. 2. Click a file name to insert from the Input File drop-down.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description 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 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description monitor. 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. — Uncheck the Gamma checkbox. When you enable gamma correction, the text box, and graphic show the factor applied.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 41. RealProducer Audio Settings Output Select the encoder profile based on the expected audience for the created content (Figure 42). Use the drop-down box to select the broadcast method. RealProducer only allows Push Output and Save to file. Check Save to file if you want to save the content to a file. Remember the encoder system references the file name and not the system running SCX Explorer.
Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description You must designate a target audience on this window. You may make more than one target audience selection if you select SureStream. Lists the Input Source options for the selected Audio/Content. Makes these fields available whether the encoder starts or remains idle. NOTE: You cannot use SureStream if you designate one of your selected audiences as the type VBR. Figure 43.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 45. RealProducer Encoder Options Inverse Telecine Deinterlace Filter Video Cropping You generally photograph movie film at 24 frames per second (fps). When you convert a film into digital video at 30 fps, the system adds extra frames by merging frames together or copying entire frames. The film-to-video conversion process is telecine. The inverse-telecine filter looks for frames added during a telecine process and removes them.
Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description formats. Figure 47. RealProducer Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption Adjust the positioning of closed caption text, if applicable, on your video feed. You can overlay the closed caption text on the video stream or embed the text so it displays in a specialized space below the video display in RealProducer Player. Alternatively, you can capture closed caption text into a SAMI file (Figure 48).
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description appear in the Status section of this window. Figure 49.
Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs Table 17 explains the RealProducer streaming options tabs including statistics (Stats – Target, Video, and Audio) and view. Table 17. RealProducer Streaming Options Tabs Tab Statistics Description View the current status (Figure 50) of the encoder including: Input File type Output Duration Audio Format Total bit rate Video Quality The CPU Utilization field reports the current CPU load.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 52. RealProducer Video Stats Settings Audio Stats View current audio statistics (Figure 53). Figure 53. RealProducer Audio Stats Settings View ViewCast 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.
Chapter 6: RealProducer Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 54. Preview the RealProducer Video while Encoding Preview while Encoding Authoring Information 42 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.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 7: AVI Capture Options and Settings When capturing uncompressed AVI files, ensure 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. You should also defragment your hard drive regularly. AVI Capture Encoder Tabs Table 18.
Chapter 7: AVI Capture Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 57. AVI Input Sources Video Settings Control the capture properties for the selected video device (Figure 58): The Input field lists all input connectors available for capture device. Signal field lists various video standards the capture device supports. You can adjust capture properties such as proportion, video size, and width/height using the provided fields.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description 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. 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.
Chapter 7: AVI Capture Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 59. AVI Audio Settings Output 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 60).
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 61. AVI Video Cropping Settings Watermarking Place a watermarked graphic over your video output (Figure 62). You can adjust the color balance, size, and opacity of the graphic. NOTE: You can only watermark a 24-bit bmp. The system does not accept any other image formats. Figure 62. AVI Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption Adjust the position of any closed-captioned text you want to add if you use the Osprey 3.
Chapter 7: AVI Capture Options and Settings Tab Description NOTE: Progress reports (Starting Encoder, Encoder started, Stopped) and error messages appear in Status section of window. Figure 64. AVI Operations Settings AVI Capture Streaming Options Tabs Table 19 explains the AVI streaming options tabs including: Statistics (Stats) Target Stats Audio Stats View Video Stats Table 19.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 65. AVI Streaming Statistics Options View Monitor the encoder output (Figure 66): 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. System provides Copy URL to copy the addresses to Windows buffer. Launch URL allows you to launch the AVI Player to view the stream. Figure 66.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 8: Flash Options and Settings Flash format is only available on select encoding appliances. Flash Encoder Tabs Table 20. Flash Encoder Tabs Tab Auto/Name Description Set the name for the encoder and select the option to Automatically Start Device at Service Startup (Figure 67). The encoder starts when Niagara SCX starts if you select auto start option. The Located On field provides machine name where the encoder resides. Figure 67.
Chapter 8: Flash Options and Settings Tab Description IMPORTANT! When Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer reside on different computers, always start your browse search for files at My Network Places. Then work down or enter the entire file pathname beginning with the system name (such as \\fileserver\c\videos). If you simply enter a file name, you may inadvertently browse your local computer when the media file resides on the remote computer.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description of cameras and TV sets in broadcast use. — This usually, however, does not match the needs of computerbased 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. When you disable the gamma correction filters: — Set the gamma correction value to exactly 1.00.
Chapter 8: Flash Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 70. Flash Audio Settings Output Set the output destination (Figure 71). Check Save to file if you want to save the content to a file. Remember the encoder system references the file name and not the system running SCX Explorer. When Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer exist 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.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description process and removes them. This eliminates redundant encoding and improves the quality of the encoded frames. Figure 72. Flash Encoder Filters Video Cropping View 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 73). Figure 73.
Chapter 8: Flash Options and Settings Tab Description Figure 74. Flash Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption Adjust position of closed caption text, if applicable, on video. You can choose to overlay the closed caption text on the video stream and define its position (Figure 75). Alternatively, you can capture the closed caption text into a SAMI file. NOTE: The SAMI File path you enter must include a shared directory, partition, or drive. Figure 75.
Niagara SCX User Guide Flash Streaming Options Tabs Table 21. Flash Streaming Options Tabs Tab Statistics Description The CPU Load field reports the current CPU load. The Audio Lvl field reports the audio level on the encoder (Figure 77). Figure 77. Flash Streaming Statistics Options View Monitor the encoder output (Figure 78). — Select Start Preview to initiate the view following a buffer delay. — Select Stop Preview to stop displaying the video immediately.
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Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Niagara SCX Pro contains MPEG-4. Niagara SCX Standard does not. This chapter refers only to Niagara SCX Pro. MPEG-4 Encoder Tabs Table 22 and Table 23 describe the configuration options available on the tabs accessible from MPEG-4 encoder windows and the corresponding streaming options windows. 1. On the Niagara SCX window (Figure 79), click Insert, then Niagara SCX Encoder Manager. Figure 79.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Figure 81. Insert, Encoder Option The system displays a set of options (Figure 82) for the type of encoder you want to create. Figure 82. Encoder Options List 3. Click MPEG4 Encoder Driver. Then, click OK. The system displays the New Encoder window Figure 83. Figure 83. MPEG4 Encoder Driver Selection Table 22.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 84. MPEG-4 Properties Input Set the input sources to use for Live or File Conversion/File Transcode (Figure 85). Figure 85. MPEG-4 Input Sources Live Encoding File Conversion/File Transcode 1. Click the Live radio button. 2. 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.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description computer when the media file resides on the remote computer. Video Settings Control the capture properties for the selected video device (Figure 86): The Input field lists all input connectors available for the capture device. The Signal field lists the various video standards the capture device supports. You can adjust capture properties such as proportion, video size, and width/height using the provided fields.
Niagara SCX User Guide 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 options list.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description Enter a file destination in the provided field. Remember the encoder system references the file name and not the system running SCX Explorer. Always start your browse for files at My Network Places and work down or enter the entire file pathname beginning with the system name when Niagara SCX and SCX Explorer reside on different computers.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description encode system failure. Figure 89. MPEG-4 Output Settings Filters Use (optionally) to enable SimulStream® and deinterlacing (Figure 90). Figure 90. MPEG-4 Filters SimulStream SimulStream, a purchased software option, applies to Osprey Video capture cards. It makes a single hardware device appear as several separate devices while capturing the same input stream.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description work. Filters, Deinterlace Filter If you set up a custom watermark, the evaluation watermark preempts it as long as you have evaluation mode turned on. Removes artifacts that the system can introduce when encoding NTSC, PAL, or SECAM formatted video. These artifacts usually manifest as a jaggedness surrounding a moving object. Apply and store these filters per each device. Applies to all filters and pins associated with a specific device.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Filters, Background Motion Adaptive Deinterlace Encode Settings 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. The inverse-telecine filter looks for frames added during a telecine process and removes them. This eliminates redundant encoding and improves the quality of encoded frames. The reverse of telecine.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description Part 10 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC) — 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.263 — Applies to situations where other conditions of the applications, like network bandwidth or device size, mandate low bit rate and low resolution.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description 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. If your resulting stream has quality issues on playback, try disabling B frames to ensure compatibility with most players.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings Tab Description The simplest and most widely used and supported AAC audio format. — Main Profile (MAIN) The same format as LC (above) with an added backward prediction. NOTE: Depending on the player where you intend to hear the resulting stream, either choice uses a specific set of tools to encode the audio stream. You should make your choice based on the requirement of the playback software or device. The most widely supported format is LC profile.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 94. MPEG-4 Video Watermarking Settings Closed Caption Allows you to adjust the position of closed caption text, if applicable, on your video feed (Figure 95). You can choose to overlay the closed caption text on the video stream and define the position of the overlaid text. Figure 95. MPEG-4 Closed Caption Settings Operations Select Start to begin encoding. Select Stop to end the session.
Chapter 9: MPEG-4 Options and Settings MPEG-4 Streaming Options Tabs Table 23. MPEG-4 Streaming Options Tabs Tab Statistics Description View the current status of the encoder and includes: — — — — Input Output Audio Format Video Quality — File Type — Duration — Total bitrate Click + next to the MPEG-4 option on the left pane to see Streaming Options as a subcategory of the MPEG-4 profile. You have two tab options – Statistics and View.
Niagara SCX User Guide Tab Description Figure 98.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 10: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Niagara SCX and SimulStream represent the perfect team of tools for maximizing resources for encoding purposes. 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 10: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Step Action Select the output on the Output tab. 6. NOTE: RealProducer requires two output settings. Is the output a live broadcast, being saved for future use, or both? On the second Output tab, establish the target audience. Windows Media Encoder has only one output tab. It contains both the target audience and information for saving the video to a file. 7.
Niagara SCX User Guide 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. If you are familiar with GraphEdit, you can best visualize SimulStream filters where you: Construct a multifilter graph with GraphEdit.
Chapter 10: Niagara SCX and SimulStream Show N Filters per Device With the Show N filters per device control (Figure 100) 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 100.
Niagara SCX User Guide might confuse and interfere with each other. The most recent crop, watermark, or caption setting 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.
Niagara SCX User Guide Chapter 11: 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 11: Tuning Utilities Parameter Description on the video. 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 The vectorscope display has two parts: the graticule and the trace. Table 27. Vectorscope Display Parts Part Graticule Description Trace A scale you use to quantify the parameters of the signal under examination. Work with a color bar signal.
Niagara SCX User Guide To adjust the source, adjust the saturation on the capture card until you have it positioned inside the targets. Refer to Figure 103 to see an example. Figure 103. Vectorscope Adjustments (Saturation) Waveform Monitor Vectorscopes and waveform monitors (Figure 104) complement one another and provide a full representation of all information about the video signal. Figure 104.
Chapter 11: 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 106 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 106.
Niagara SCX User Guide 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 108. Terms, Acronyms, and Definitions Term Acronym Definition Audio-Video Interleaved AVI Format for digital video and audio under Windows. The .AVI file format is cross-platform compatible and it allows you to play AVI files under Windows and other operating systems. Common Intermediate Format CIF A standard video format used in video conferencing.
Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms Term Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Acronym DHCP Definition Encoder A protocol network devices (clients) use to obtain the parameters necessary for operation in an Internet protocol (IP) network. It reduces system administration workload by allowing users to add devices to the network with little or no manual configuration. A hardware device or software that changes a signal (such as a bitstream) or data into a code.
Niagara SCX User Guide Term Acronym Definition Lossy Compression Media Access Control Address MAC Moving Picture Experts Group – 4 MPEG-4 Multicast 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 narrowband transmissions.
Appendix B: Terms and Acronyms Term Acronym Definition Niagara SCX Niagara SCX Explorer A streaming media management software that installs on a user-encoding device connected with remote SCX Explorer workstations.
Niagara SCX User Guide Term Acronym Unicast Video-ondemand ViewCast Definition Unicast communication applies to a piece of information that users send from one point to another point. VOD Unicast transmission refers to users sending a packet from a single source to a specified destination. Video stored in a file for playing later. Also, known as Compress Once and Play Many Times.
Niagara SCX User Guide Publication Index AVI Operations Settings, 48 About This Guide, 1 AVI Output Capture Settings, 46 Allow Multiple Instances of Each Filter, 78 AVI Streaming Options Tabs, 48 An Introduction to Streaming Media, 85 AVI Streaming Statistics Options, 49 Audio Settings (AVI) Tab, 45 AVI Video Cropping Settings, 47 Audio Settings (Flash) Tab, 53 AVI Video Settings, 44 Audio Settings (RealProducer) Tab, 34, 63 AVI Video Watermarking Settings, 47 Audio Settings (Windows Media) Tab, 20 AVI, de
Conventions Used in This Guide, 1 Encoder Options List, 60 Create a New Niagara SCX Explorer View, 12 Encoder Options, Deinterlace Filter (RealProducer) Tab, 37 Create New Niagara SCX Explorer Connection, 12 Encoder Options, Inverse Telecine (RealProducer) Tab, 37 Data rate, 89 Encoder Start Up, 27 DCOM, definition, 89 Encoding Steps, 5 Deblock, definition, 89 File Menu Commands, 9 Deblocking Filter, 89 filters, 76 Delay buffer Filters (Flash) Tab, 54 Definition of, 89 Filters (MPEG-4) Tab, 65 DHCP, d
Niagara SCX User Guide Flash Input Sources Settings, 51 Input, Live Encoding (MPEG-4) Tab, 61 Flash Operations Settings, 56 Input, Live Encoding (RealProducer) Tab, 31 Flash Output Settings, 54 Input, Live Encoding (Windows Media) Tab, 18 Flash Streaming Options Tabs, 57 insert an encoder, 14 Flash Streaming Statistics Options, 57 Insert Menu Commands, 11 Flash Video Cropping Settings, 55 Insert, Encoder Option, 60 Flash Video Settings, 52 Inverse Telecine (MPEG-4) Tab, 66 Flash Video Waterma
MPEG-4 Closed Caption Settings, 71 New Session window, 28 MPEG-4 Encode Settings Tab, 67 Niagara SCX and Explorer Basics, 7 MPEG4 Encoder Driver Selection, 60 Niagara SCX Desktop Shortcut, 5 MPEG-4 Encoder Tabs, 60 Niagara SCX Encoder Explorer window, 7, 9, 59 MPEG-4 Filter Settings, 65 Niagara SCX Encoder Insert Selection, 12 MPEG-4 General Properties Settings, 61 Niagara SCX Explorer Display, 12 MPEG-4 Input Sources Settings, 61 Niagara SCX Explorer Toolbar, 8 MPEG-4 Operations Settings, 71
Niagara SCX User Guide Output (Windows Media) Tab, 20 RealProducer Filter Settings, 36 Output2 (RealProducer) Tab, 35 RealProducer General Properties Settings, 31 PAL acronym, definition, 92 RealProducer Input Sources Settings, 31 Phase Alternation Line, definition of and acronym, 92 RealProducer Operations Settings, 39 RealProducer Options and Settings, 31 picture brightness, 81 RealProducer Output Settings, 35 picture quality, 81 RealProducer Output(2) Settings, 36 Pixel, definition of, 92 Previe
Show N filters per device, 78 Tuning Utilities (Diagnostics), 81 signal distortions, 81 Unicast, definition of, 93 SimulStream Checkbox, 77 vectorscope, 81 start an encoder, 15 Vectorscope Adjustments (Saturation), 83 Statistics (AVI) Tab, 48 Vectorscope Display, 81 Statistics (MPEG-4) Streaming Tab, 72 Vectorscope Display Parts, 82 Statistics (RealProducer) Streaming Tab, 40 Vectorscope with Color Outside the Targets, 82 Statistics, Audio (RealProducer) Streaming Tab, 41 Vectorscope with Set
Niagara SCX User Guide Video Settings, Gamma Corrections (Windows Media) Tab, 19 waveform monitor, 81 Waveform Monitor Display, 83 Video Settings, Tuning Utilities (AVI) Tab, 45 Windows Media Audio Settings, 20 Video Settings, Tuning Utilities (Flash) Tab, 53 Windows Media Closed Caption Settings, 23 Video Settings, Tuning Utilities (MPEG-4) Tab, 63 Video Settings, Tuning Utilities (RealProducer) Tab, 34 Windows Media Encoder Menu Commands, 15 Windows Media Encoder Tabs, 17 Windows Media Filter Settings
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