Instruction manual

Blackmagic Software
17
Setting Blackmagic Preferences
Video Levels
A video processing amplifier (Video Proc Amp) is provided for use with analog video and chroma levels
and ideally should always be used in conjunction with a waveform monitor. By contrast to digital video,
analog video can suffer from inconsistencies even between identical analog devices such as two analog
tape decks. The video level controls can be used to correct inconsistencies in analog video input and
output. The option to
Calibrate Analog Video In will only be available if the Set Input option in
the
Settings are set to an analog video option. If a digital input is being used, such as SDI or HDMI, or if
your Blackmagic capture device does not include analog input, the option to
Calibrate Analog Video
In
will remain grayed out and unavailable. The Reset Gain button resets the video levels back to their
original settings.
By default, Blackmagic products use SMPTE component analog levels as almost all analog video monitors
and modern video equipment use SMPTE levels. Sony Betacam SP decks can use Betacam levels and you
may need to enable the checkbox
Use Betacam Y,B-Y,R-Y Levels with these analog decks. Sony CRT
monitors support Betacam and SMPTE levels to allow direct monitoring from a Betacam SP deck. These
monitors include a switch so you can choose between Betacam and SMPTE and you also need to choose
the corresponding SMPTE/Betacam setting in the Blackmagic Video Levels. If in doubt, try a test capture
and you should see a very noticeable brightness shift if you choose the wrong levels.
Audio Levels
An audio processing amplifier (Audio Proc Amp) is provided for use with analog audio. It can be used to raise
or lower an audio signal. By contrast to digital audio, analog audio can suffer from inconsistencies between
audio channels and so analog audio channels can be adjusted independently from each other. AES/EBU
audio is digital and does not suffer from level inconsistencies between audio channels. Accordingly all AES/
EBU audio channels are raised or lowered together. The
Reset Gain button resets the audio levels back
to their original settings.
Professional analog audio levels and XLR audio connectors are standard on DeckLink and Multibridge
products. If you need to connect to consumer audio equipment with analog RCA inputs, enable the option
to
Use HiFi Audio Levels and use an inexpensive XLR to RCA adapter for each audio connection.
Video levels
Audio levels