Harmony Series Board Encoding Parameters

User Manual
Visual Circuits Corporation

Trademarks
The Visual Circuits logo is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries. All other products, services or company names mentioned herein are claimed as trademarks and trade names by their respective companies. c Visual Circuits, 1999-2000. All rights reserved. No portion of this manual may be copied by any means without the prior consent of Visual Circuits. Visual Circuits 5155 East River Road, Suite 401 Minneapolis, MN 55421 http://www.visualcircuits.com Visual Circuits Publication Number: 813-0016a All specifications are subject to change without notice.

CONTENTS
Encoding Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Required Encoding Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Encoding Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Stuttering files during Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 "Latent Images" or "Flashing" during playback . . .6 SMPTE time codes are not recognized properly. . .6 On Screen (BMP) Overlay Information . . . . . . . . . 7 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Contents

ii

ENCODING PARAMETERS
Required Encoding Parameters
1. Files must be program stream MPEG2 files of audio/video, video only or audio only. 2. Use 4:2:0, not 4:2:2 encoding. 3. In MPEG-2, both audio and video fields should be encoded. This is the normal default. 4. All files should be encoded with either MPEG Layer 2 or AC3 audio. Files with audio and video tracks cannot be mixed with video only or audio only files on the same channel during playback. It is recommended to encode a blank audio track, if there is no audio is present on the original source tape. This will standardize all MPEG files and provide easy future management of video content. For seamless transitions between files, the two formats should not be mixed on the same channel of a card. 5. POPVideo Player Standard (IDE Hard Drive): Recommended bit rates for standard POPVideo Players are 4-6 mbps per channel. The total bit rate of a POPVideo Player must not exceed 24 mbps across four channels (i.e. averaging 6 mbps per channel). Channels may be encoded at different bit rates as long as 24 mbps is not exceeded across a single hard drive, 4-channel Player. 6. POPVideo Player Upgrade (SCSI Hard Drive): POPvideo Players upgraded with SCSI hard drives will play up to 8 channels at 6 mbps per channel. The total bit rate of a SCSI POPvideo Player must not exceed 48 mbps.

Encoding Parameters

7. Recommended DVP Server (SCSI): Recommended bit rates for standard DVP servers are 6-10 mbps per channel. DVP Servers can support up to 15 mbps per channel and 40 mbps across one 4-channel Visual Circuits MPEG-2 decoder board. Larger, custom servers of 20-24 channels can sustain a maximum bit rate of 6 mbps per channel, regardless of hard disk drive configuration.

Encoding Recommendations
1. Resolution: 720 X 480 or 704 X 480 in NTSC; 704 X 576 in PAL. 2. Closed GOP (Group of Pictures) with an I-frame every 15 frames is recommended. 3. The recommended audio bit rate is 384kbps and a sampling rate of 48khz. It is recommended to play back test files using the original source tapes to confirm audio levels prior to encoding an entire project. This will allow for calibration of the encoding system to obtain a standard audio level.

NOTE
All MPEG files decoded on the same Harmony card must have the same audio frequency.

4. The recommended bit rates are as follows: good quality or for scenes without much motion-- minimum 4 mega bits per second (mbps); for good quality with most content6 mbps; for good quality with high-motion scenes8 mbps; for demanding content10 - 15 mbps; and for the highest possible quality with demanding material20 mbps.

Encoding Parameters

5. When encoding files annotate and store notes on the audio levels of both the source tape and input settings of the encoder. It then will be possible to verify audio levels of later encoding sessions. Its desirable to maintain a baseline audio level across all files of a presentation whether at a single or multiple locations. If no encoding notes or data is available from previously encoded files, compare the files. When possible measure audio levels of the source tapes and of the encoded files. At a minimum, listen to and compare files. Even if encoding is done at the same production facility, variances between sessions may occur. Once MPEGs are encoded, the audio level of a file cannot be changed unless the file is reencoded or a new audio track is mixed. 6. MPEG files are constructed from intertwined (i.e. multiplexed) audio and video streams. The length of video and audio stream segments within MPEG files should be identical if possible. Ending the audio segment at a .5 second interval (i.e., at an Iframe) will ensure identical stream lengths, providing smooth and seamless looping playback. 7. When encoding SMPTE tracks it is recommended to encode these tracks "hot"--at approximately +6db. This adjustment can compensate for some SMPTE information that may be lost during compression. Not all encoders will respond in the same way. Sample testing should be done with all SMPTE tracks. 8. Standard color bars and audio test tones: MPEG files may be encoded along with the content or source files for reference and calibration. These encoded display test/tuning files should be separate files--not headers or footers of the presentation. 9. To playback still images or computer-based graphics, we recommend software encoders such as DVMPEG (www.darvision.com).

NOTE
Multiplexing a blank audio track on all MPEG files is highly recommended.

Encoding Parameters

TROUBLESHOOTING
Stuttering files during Playback
Irregular playback on single and multiple channels can be caused by a number of conditions: 1. Uneven audio to video track lengths: Confirm the length of the audio track to the length of the video track. The Visual Circuits VCC4PRO driver, standard with all Visual Circuits boards and digital servers, aggressively synchronizes the audio and video data of the MPEG file to maintain Audio/Visual (AV) Sync. If the MPEG files audio and video tracks are uneven in length, the drivers attempt to synchronize these uneven tracks will result in poor performance. Mismatched AV track lengths will result in overall degradation of system performance. Often a "bad" file will cause uneven or stuttering playback on other channels of the system as well. Through digital editing, MPEG 2 files can be "demultiplexed" (separating the audio from video information). The audio and video tracks can then be edited to match. The two tracks can then be "multiplexed" back together. Always test files individually if a file (or system) is suspected to have playback problems. 2. Mixed video only MPEG files with MPEG with video and audio data: Confirm that all files on a particular channel are either video only, audio only, or audio/video files. It is recommended to have a "blank" audio track encoded with all MPEG files-even if no audio is present on the source material. This will ensure compatibility, if MPEGs with audio/video information are introduced at a later date. 3. The bit rate of the MPEG files being played exceed the system capabilities: The Visual Circuit MPEG decoder boards and digital servers all have a maximum sustained bit rate that can be delivered. Refer to the system capabilities above for basic information. Always, consult your Visual Circuits representative prior to encoding or designing your installation if there are any questions.

Troubleshooting

"Latent Images" or "Flashing" during playback

1. Incorrect timecodes or improperly closed encoding session. If the incorrect timecode is given for a particular file it is possible to actually encode a frame or two of the trailer or header information from the source. Often this "extra" frame is seen only briefly and may appear as a "flash" on the screen. Review the original source of the encoding and determine if the timecodes are correct or if the encoding session was actually closed on the proper frame. 2. Playing MPEG 1 and MPEG2 files back to back: The resolution switch from MPEG 1 files (342X240) to MPEG2 files (720X480) causes a "latent image" or a "quadrant display" of the last played files image. The only way to perform seamless playback when using a playlist of files is to insert an encoded "black file" with blank audio track, between MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 files. The black MPEG file preceding the playback file should be of the same standard. In other words, prior to an MPEG 1 file the "black file"--again with a blank audio track--should be MPEG 1 and vice versa.

SMPTE time codes are not recognized properly

Some SMPTE tracks loose information during compression and may not "trigger" events as required. It is recommended to encode these tracks "hot"--adding approximately +6 db to the track while encoding. Again, testing is essential to account for variances in encoders and SMPTE devices involved. Note: Simple audio filters, used at the installation site, are also useful in eliminating "noise" and cleaning up the SMPTE signal.

ON SCREEN (BMP) OVERLAY INFORMATION

On Screen displays should be created using standard Microsoft Bitmap (BMP) format of either 16 or 256 colors.

NOTE
These guidelines serve only as recommendations and by no means represent technical data pertinent to any specific encoding device or process. It is recommended that prior to beginning any encoding project, sample files are played back on the systems to be used to ensure proper display quality.

Visual Circuits does provide encoding services. Visual Circuits cannot guarantee any third party encoding.

On Screen (BMP) Overlay Information

INDEX
A AC3 1 audio stream 3 audio test tones 3 B bit rate 2 BMP 7 C color bars 3 D DVMPEG 3 I IDE hard drive 1 M MPEG Layer 2 1 MPEG2 1 S SCSI 2 SCSI hard drive 1 SMPTE 3 still images 3 V video stream 3

Index

10

Revision History
813-0016a (December 2000)ECO#694 New Document.