Page 1 User Guide Epiphan Pearl Release 3.14.0c September 12, 2014 UG100-002...
Page 2: Terms And Conditions
This document, the Epiphan web site, and the information contained therein, including but not limited to the text, videos and images as well as Epiphan System Inc.’s trademarks, trade names and logos are the property of Epiphan Systems Inc. and its affiliates and licensors, and are protected from unauthorized copying and dissemination by Canadian copyright law, United States copyright law, trademark law, international conventions and other intellectual property laws.
Page 3: Thank You For Choosing Epiphan
Go to the Broadcasters or Recorders page of the Epiphan website to get the most recent product specifications and additional information about Epiphan Pearl. Warranty All Epiphan Systems products are provided with a 100% return to depot warranty for one year from the date of purchase. Technical Support Epiphan’s products are backed by our professional support team.
Page 4 Hardware acceleration for H.264 encoding Part of what makes Pearl so special is its ability to do so much in such a small package. Its impressive encoding and streaming throughput are possible due to hardware-accelerated encoding. Hardware encoding is the default for all H.264 channels, but you may still use software encoding if needed for compatibility reasons.
Page 5 Release 3.14: Limitations and known issues This section includes known issues or limitations that affect functionality or usability and ways that you can work around these limitations. Affecting encoding Encoding with MPEG-4 sometimes results in poor quality. Workaround: From the channel's stream setup, increase the video bitrate to improve picture quality. ...
Page 6 Recording time and service status times are sometimes incorrect in the Web UI after very long uptime. When this happens, the counters are reset and show values lower than the acutal recording time or uptime. Workaround: View the list of recorded files to verify length of recordings. ...
Page 7: Table Of Contents
Control recording PART 1: Setup 1-1 Connect to the Admin Interface Connect via DNS-based Service Discovery Connect via the Epiphan Discovery Utility Connect via Persistent Static IP Address 1-1 Configure the Touch Screen Disable (and enable) the touch screen Hide (or show) channel previews on the touch screen...
Page 8 Changing the logged-in user 1-3 Configure Network Settings Verify IP Address and MAC address via the touch screen Verify IP Address and MAC address Configure a Static IP Address Configure DHCP Tether to a Mobile Network Perform Network Diagnostics 1-4 Configure Date and Time Verify Date and Time via the touch screen Verify Date and Time Settings Change the Time Zone...
Page 9 Rename a channel 3-2 Identify a channel 3-3 Preview a channel Preview a channel from the Info page Preview a channel from the Status page Preview all channels at once 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration Choose a codec to maximize your stream quality Codec and file format compatibility Adjust video quality Upscale or downscale your video image...
Page 10 5-2 Create Recordings Recording basics Control recording with the touch screen Record a channel via the web interface Record with a recorder via the web interface Configure the type and length of recording files Close the current recording file while recording Control recording with a mouse 5-3 File Maintenance View the List of Stored Files...
Page 11 Check disk storage space via the touch screen Schedule disk check Perform disk check 7-8 Control with RS-232 / Serial Port Connect and configure the RS-232 cable Control Pearl with RS-232 RS-232 / Serial port command examples 7-9 Control with HTTP Commands HTTP command syntax HTTP command examples 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs...
Page 12 7-11 Troubleshooting Software and Documentation License Environmental Information FCC & CE Compliance Statement Other Jurisdictional Issues Submissions to Epiphan and Affiliated Servers Third Parties and Links to Third-Party Web Sites Miscellaneous Enforcement of Terms and Conditions...
Page 13: Welcome
Pearl User Guide Welcome Welcome Welcome, and thank you for buying Epiphan’s Pearl™. This guide will help you configure your new system. To get started, review the Pearl Overview What's in the Box? sections. Next, a Quick Start guide walks you through the basic steps to get a single video (and optional audio) source configured as a streamable, recordable output from Pearl.
Page 14: About This Guide
Pearl User Guide Welcome About this Guide Warnings are depicted as follows. This is a warning. Tips and Notes are depicted as follows. This is a tip. Throughout this guide there are situations where more than one solution will complete a task. In those cases...
Page 15: Pearl Overview
The following table describes the types of inputs supported by Pearl. When using Pearl it is recommended you use a maximum of three channels and a maximum of two sources. For simplicity, keep one source plugged into Row A and the other plugged into Row B.
Page 16: Specifications
Pearl User Guide Pearl Overview Specifications The following table outlines specifications for the Pearl. Go to www.epiphan.com/pearl to get the most recent product specifications and additional information about Pearl. Table 2 Specifications for Pearl Video Inputs Connectors (2) SDI (2) HDMI / DVI¹...
Page 17 Pearl User Guide Pearl Overview Audio Encoding Audio Codecs Encoder Bitrate Sample Frequencies 32-192 kbps 22 kHz, 44 kHz 22 kHz, 44 kHz 32-192 kbps 16 kHz, 22 kHz, 44 kHz IP Network Interfaces Connector 10/100/1000 Ethernet RJ45 Streams MPEG-TS, FLV, ASF and MJPEG ...
Page 18 Pearl User Guide Pearl Overview Product Dimensions 10⅝" x 3¼" x 7⅜" (270mm x 82mm x 187mm) Product Weight 3.4 lbs (1.54kg) Country of Origin Made in North America (Canada) ¹Using HDMI port, with the supplied adapter ²Requires component to VGA adapter (not included) ³The Internal 1TB HDD provides approximately 900GB of space for recording.
Page 19: What's In The Box
What's in the Box? What's in the Box? Pearl is a compact, portable system weighing only 3.4 lbs ( 1.54 kg) and measuring 187 mm (D) × 270 mm (W) × 82 mm (H) (7.4” × 10.6” × 3.25”). In addition to the power cable, the following items are shipped with the system.
Page 20: Front And Back View
Connects the system to your network. Front and back view Pearl's front panel hosts a power light and touch screen display for confidence monitoring and simple configuration. The rear has an array of familiar computer connections. See below for a complete listing of...
Page 21 Connects balanced or unbalanced (line) left/right TRS audio to Pearl. Lock Allows Pearl to be locked to a desk or surface using a laptop lock cable. This manual and Pearl's web admin interface refer to row A and row B. Row A/B designators Ports above the line are part of row A, ports below form row B.
Page 22: Quick Start
To set up the auto channels: 1. Turn on your HD source and connect the output cable to a port in Row A on the back of Pearl (if needed, use an adapter such as the DVI to HDMI adapter).
Page 23 Pearl's front screen, if enabled (it is enabled by default), updates to show you previews of your channel(s) with audio meters so you can verify that both audio and video are being captured.
Page 24: Creating A New Custom Channel
1. Turn on your HD source and connect the output cable to the matching port on the back of Pearl (if needed, use an adapter such as the DVI to HDMI adapter). 2. (optional) Attach a set of left/right TRS audio cables from your audio source to the TRS audio input ports on the back of Pearl.
Page 25 Pearl User Guide Quick Start 6. Wait for Pearl to complete the power up sequence. The system is ready a few moments after the power LED illuminates. Step 2: Admin Discovery and Login Pearl is managed from a web interface. This interface acts as a configuration utility and system monitor. You can access the web interface via either the device's IP address on your network or via DNS-based discovery if you have Bonjour services installed.
Page 26 1. Find the system’s serial number. It is printed on a sticker on the back of the unit, and is also available on the system information page on the touch screen. 2. Type the following string into the address bar of your web browser on your admin computer (where <serial> is the serial number of your Pearl): http://<serial>.local/admin For example: http://95dd40d5.local/admin 3.
Page 27 Pearl User Guide Quick Start 4. Optionally, navigate to the Network link under the Configuration heading and note the IP address of the system. Step 3: Setup the Video Source The web interface has a pre-configured list of the system's video and audio inputs in the Sources section. The sources are conviniently labelled to indicate the type and the input row in which they are located.
Page 28 Pearl User Guide Quick Start 2. Click the video source for which you have connected a cable and check the video preview that appears on right side of the screen. 3. Make note of the name of the source, or optionally, change the source name to reflect the data it is capturing.
Page 29 Pearl User Guide Quick Start By default, when you add a channel, the system names it the same name as its source. If you changed the source name in previous steps, your new channel's name will reflect the new name.
Page 30 Pearl User Guide Quick Start 3. Select the audio source you wish to use. 4. Click Apply. 5. Click Encoding for your channel; the Encoding page is displayed. 6. Scroll to the bottom of the encoding page and click the Enable audio checkbox.
Page 31 Pearl User Guide Quick Start 3. Notice the Stream Info section has an item named Video that reflects four of the settings reviewed in prior steps (the frame rate is specified as <resolution size>@30 for 30 frames per second). It also provides an indication of the current actual frame rate.
Page 32: What's Next
Pearl User Guide Quick Start Step 6: Recording the Channel The channel is set up and streaming. This may be all you need, but if you like, you can also record the stream. You can choose to initiate and control channel recording from either the touch screen or the web interface.
Page 33 Pearl User Guide Quick Start File and Recording Transfer User Administration When you have completed system tuning, make sure to back up the system configuration using the procedure described in: Save and Restore Device Configuration Refer to the table of contents for a complete list of the topics covered.
Page 34: Using Pearl's Touch Screen
Control recording Overview While Pearl is booting, the following image appears on the touch screen (if the screen is enabled). After boot up is complete, Pearl displays a grid view providing an overview of all configured channels. If you have no sources plugged in, or if no plugged in source is sending a signal, the grid view shows the two...
Page 35: View System Information
View system information Useful when first setting up Pearl, for finding the system serial number or to check the installed firmware version, the touch screen shows you basic information about your Pearl. If desired, you can choose to hide this screen. See Configure the Touch Screen.
Page 36 Pearl User Guide Using Pearl's touch screen Label Description Device Information Serial number Firmware version Network Information IP Address MAC Address Device Status System date System time Uptime temperature Storage Information (when available) ...
Page 37: Channel Monitoring And Switching
Channel monitoring and switching Use Pearl's front-panel screen to have complete confidence about what you're capturing. View audio levels and a preview of the captured video for each channel. Change between channels or view a grid of all channels using on-screen navigation buttons.
Page 38 Pearl User Guide Using Pearl's touch screen Label Description Select next channel. Audio level indicator (semi-transparent bar). Displayed only if the channel has audio. Grid view button. Use to switch to grid view. System Information button. Use to switch to system information.
Page 39: Control Recording
3. Touch the grid view button; the screen displays the grid view Control recording Pearl's touch screen gives you freedom to start and stop recording without needing to log in to the web interface. Simply scroll to the channel you wish to control and press the start or stop recording button.
Page 40 Pearl User Guide Using Pearl's touch screen To stop recording: 1. If necessary, tap the screen once to turn it on. 2. If the grid view is showing, tap the channel for which you wish to control recording; the screen displays the channel.
Page 41: Part 1: Setup
If you followed through the quick start guide, you already have a basic configuration and possibly a recording of an input. Before you tweak the channel or configure more, this part of the manual helps you to get your Pearl properly configured for your network. Topics covered: ...
Page 42: Connect To The Admin Interface
1-1 Connect to the Admin Interface Connect to the Admin Interface Pearl is managed from a web interface. If you know the IP address of the system you may type it into the address bar of your web browser. http://<IP Address of Pearl>/admin The first time you access the web interface you may not know the IP address of the system.
Page 43: Connect Via Dns-Based Service Discovery
Connect via DNS-based Service Discovery Pearl uses DNS-based messages to advertise details about itself, including its domain name. With a compatible utility installed on your computer, you can access the system simply by typing its serial number and the suffix “.local”...
Page 44: Connect Via The Epiphan Discovery Utility
Connect via the Epiphan Discovery Utility Epiphan provides a utility for discovering Epiphan systems on your network. The Epiphan network discovery utility is a 32-bit Windows executable that works on most 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. Download and install the utility via the download link on this web page: http://www.epiphan.com/products/broadcasting/resources.
Page 45 1. Launch the discovery utility. 2. Click Search to find all the Epiphan systems on the network; a list similar to the following appears. 3. If more than one system appears, select the one you wish to configure by matching the serial number listed with the serial number marked on the back of the system.
Page 46: Connect Via Persistent Static Ip Address
b. Connect the system directly to the workstation’s Ethernet port using either a regular or a crossover Ethernet cable. 2. Record the network settings of the workstation being used to connect to Pearl so that they can be restored later.
Page 47: Configure The Touch Screen
Set touch screen timeout Disable (and enable) the touch screen You can prevent Pearl from displaying anything on the touch screen, or you can re-instate this feature by toggling the Enable display configuration option. The display is always touch-sensitive. This control indicates whether or not the display is on or off.
Page 48: Hide (Or Show) Channel Previews On The Touch Screen
5. Click Apply. Hide (or show) channel previews on the touch screen By default, Pearl shows previews of each configured channel. If this isn't suitable for your needs, you may disable channel preview. To hide (or show) the channel previews on the touch screen: 1.
Page 49: Disable (Or Enable) System Information On The Touch Screen
5. Click Apply. Disable (or enable) system information on the touch screen Once you've configured, Pearl its possible you may no longer wish to show the system information dispaly on the touch screen. . To hide (or show) system information on the touch screen: 1.
Page 50: Set Touch Screen Timeout
Pearl User Guide 1-1 Configure the Touch Screen 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface. 2. Login as admin. 3. Select the Touch Screenlink in the Configuration menu; the touch screen configuration page opens.
Page 51 Pearl User Guide 1-1 Configure the Touch Screen 4. Enter a value in the Timeout field. The values is in seconds. Use 0 to keep the screen on whenever the system is on. 5. Click Apply.
Page 52: User Administration
Changing the logged-in user Understanding User Privileges Pearl's three user accounts are admin, operator and viewer. The user account names cannot be changed and the accounts cannot be disabled. By default, none of the accounts have passwords. Admin The admin account is the main operator used for all system configuration. This user has access to all options in the web interface.
Page 53 Pearl User Guide 1-2 User Administration In addition to the global viewer account, each channel can set a viewer password that overrides the global value. See Restrict access to streams for viewers. Current User When logged in to the web interface, the current username is displayed at the top right corner of the screen.
Page 54 Pearl User Guide 1-2 User Administration Action or Menu Option viewer operator admin ü Rename Source ü ü Configure Source ü ü View Source Snapshot System Configuration Operations ü ü View System Configuration ü Configure Automatic File Upload ...
Page 55: Setting And Changing User Passwords
Pearl User Guide 1-2 User Administration Action or Menu Option viewer operator admin ü Configure Time Until Next Disk Check ü Perform Disk Check ü ü View Disk Information ü Upgrade Firmware ü ü View System Information ...
Page 56: Removing User Passwords
Pearl User Guide 1-2 User Administration 5. Highlight and delete the confirmation password for the selected user. 6. Select the user’s password field and type a new password for the user. The new password must have between 1-255 alpha-numeric characters or special characters with no spaces.
Page 57: Overcoming Lost Passwords
Epiphan support to request a remote password change. See Remote Support. If remote support is disabled, you will need to return the system to Epiphan for password recovery. Contact Epiphan support to discuss this option. Changing the logged-in user When you log in to the web interface as admin or operator, your browser remembers this configuration and automatically logs you in as the same user when you go back to the site.
Page 58: Configure Network Settings
1-3 Configure Network Settings Configure Network Settings By default Pearl uses DHCP to obtain an IP Address via an Ethernet-based network. If you want to change the network settings, or if you’re having network-related issues, this section covers the following related topics: ...
Page 59: Verify Ip Address And Mac Address
IP address. Pearl supports IPv4 addresses. It does not support IPv6 addresses. Configure a Static IP Address Your network administrator may require you to use a static IP address for your Pearl. To configure a static IP address: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 60 Pearl User Guide 1-3 Configure Network Settings 4. Select the radio button use static address, if not already selected. 5. Enter the desired IP Address and Network Mask. Only IPv4 addresses are supported. 6. Enter the Default Gateway address. If you do not have a default gateway for your network, enter the same static IP address as in the previous step.
Page 61: Configure Dhcp
Configure DHCP Occasionally, such as when moving your system to a new network, your Pearl must switch from static IP address allocation to dynamic allocation via DHCP. You can accomplish this three ways:...
Page 62 10. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface. 11. Log as admin and reload the Networking page to verify all changes were applied. The following table describes the fields applicable when configuring DHCP on Pearl. Table 10 DHCP Fields Label...
Page 63: Tether To A Mobile Network
1-3 Configure Network Settings Tether to a Mobile Network Pearl supports tethering to a mobile device via USB. Tethered networking can work side-by-side with Ethernet routing and either networking system can be a back-up for the other. When the system falls over to the backup network type (i.e. from Ethernet to mobile, or vice versa) all streaming sessions with clients or servers directly connected to the system are closed and the clients will need to reconnect.
Page 64: Perform Network Diagnostics
8. Click Apply. Perform Network Diagnostics If your Pearl has network trouble, you can perform basic network troubleshooting tasks from the Network configuration page. In addition to providing the system’s IP address and MAC address to your network administrator (See...
Page 65 Pearl User Guide 1-3 Configure Network Settings ...
Page 66: Configure Date And Time
Manually Configure the Date and Time Verify Date and Time via the touch screen Pearl's touch screen interface, if enabled, can quickly and easily show you the system's date and time settings. To show system information (including date and time) on the touch screen: 1.
Page 67: Verify Date And Time Settings
Verify Date and Time Settings The current date, time, time zone, and synchronized time protocol settings are shown when the Date and Time configuration page is loaded in the Pearl web interface. To view settings on the date and time configuration page: 1.
Page 68: Change The Time Zone
Configure Synchronized Time (NTP, PTP v1, and RDATE) By default Pearl uses the network time protocol server (NTP server) protocol and a time server from National Research Council Canada. You can continue to use this time server or configure a new server that is more appropriate for your network and location.
Page 69 Pearl User Guide 1-4 Configure Date and Time Table 13 Synchronized Time Options Label Description/Options Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used for clock synchronization over the internet. There are many publicly available NTP servers you can use, or your company may have its own NTP server.
Page 70: Configure A Local Ntp Server
Manually Configure the Date and Time By default Pearl uses NTP for time synchronization. If your system does not have access to a time synchronization server, or if you do not wish to use one, you can choose to manually set the date and time.
Page 71: Restrict Viewers By Ip Address
Restrict Viewers by IP Address Pearl permits you to restrict which computers can access broadcasts by building a list of allowed and/or denied IP addresses. You can do this at a global level for the system and can also override these settings on a per- channel basis.
Page 72: Examples
Pearl User Guide 1-5 Restrict Viewers by IP Address 3. Select the Streaming link for the desired channel; the streaming configuration page opens. 4. From the Access Control dropdown, select Use these Settings; local password and Allow/Deny IP lists are enabled.
Page 73 Pearl User Guide 1-5 Restrict Viewers by IP Address For example if your system is accessible on your local area network (LAN) and you want to make sure only the CEO’s specific desktop, laptop and tablet computers (with IP Addresses 192.168.1.50, 192.168.1.51, and 192.165.1.75, respectively) can connect to the broadcast, construct the following allow list:...
Page 74 Pearl User Guide 1-5 Restrict Viewers by IP Address Deny: 192.168.1.211 As with Allow lists, your deny list can specify a range of IP addresses, and can specify multiple ranges or distinct IP addresses in a comma-separated list. Allow List with a Range of IP Addresses, Distinct IP Addresses, and an Exception Building on the previous examples, consider the situation where you want the CEO’s computers (192.168.1.50,...
Page 75: Part 2: Sources
Now that you know how to connect to the admin interface, you are ready to configure your input sources. The following sections provide an overview of the types of sources you can connect to your Pearl and how to configure each source.
Page 76: Identify Sources
Previewing captured stream from sources Connecting sources You can connect sources to Pearl at any time, either before or after the system is powered on. Similarly you can disconnect a source from a port and even connect a different source at any time.
Page 77: Previewing Captured Stream From Sources
Pearl User Guide 2-1 Identify sources When a source is connected, the system automatically detects and adjusts the image capture settings at start up and continues to adjust every 60 seconds during operation (interval is configurable). The system’s goal is to produce the best quality captured image given the source equipment used.
Page 78: Configure A Video Source
Pearl User Guide 2-2 Configure a video source Configure a video source This section covers the following video source configuration topics: Configure the video source's frame grabber parameters Change a source name Configure the video source's frame grabber parameters Generally the captured stream doesn't require any additional configuration, but if needed, you can log into the web interface to make configuration changes.
Page 79 Pearl User Guide 2-2 Configure a video source 7. Make note of the name of the source, or optionally, change the source name to reflect the data it is capturing. You'll need to know this name to add the source to a channel. See Create a single source channel.
Page 80: Change A Source Name
Pearl User Guide 2-2 Configure a video source Value Description Aspect Ratio Sets the aspect ratio of the captured image. The default is 4:3. Set the value to Wide mode when capturing images that have a wide aspect ratio. Using the incorrect setting causes the image to be distorted or stretched.
Page 81 Pearl User Guide 2-2 Configure a video source 3. From the web interface, scroll to the Sources menu option. 4. Click the HDMI, SDI or VGA source link; the source configuration page opens. 5. Click the source name at the top of the page; the name turns red.
Page 82: Configure An Audio Source
Configure an audio source Pearl's web interface automatically discovers all input sources and displays them in the Sources section of the web interface. Audio sources are identified by the word audio in the source name. Audio input devices such as a microphone and portable music players can send audio signals to Pearl using the TRS audio input ports.
Page 83: Configure Audio Settings
Pearl User Guide 2-3 Configure an audio source 7. Select an audio source. 8. Click Apply. Configure audio settings To configure audio settings: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 84: Set Audio Volume
Pearl User Guide 2-3 Configure an audio source 6. Check Enable audio check box. 7. If the default audio format AAC 44KHz, 160Kbps is not desired, click the Audio format drop-down menu to elect an audio codec. See Fine-tune channel configuration for help choosing one of the supported audio codecs.
Page 85 Pearl User Guide 2-3 Configure an audio source 8. Click Apply. ...
Page 86: Fine-Tune Source Configuration
Pearl User Guide 2-4 Fine-tune source configuration Fine-tune source configuration In addition to fine tuning channel settings such as frame rate, resolution and bit rate to ensure optimal use of resources while streaming a quality video, there may be circumstance when you must fine tune the video input source.
Page 87: Video Is Too Bright, Too Dark Or Washed Out (Vga Sources Only)
Pearl User Guide 2-4 Fine-tune source configuration 3. From the web interface, scroll to the Sources menu option. 4. Click the desired video source ; the source configuration page opens. 5. To move the video horizontally to the left or right, scroll to Horizontal shift .
Page 88: Video Looks Squished (Vga Sources Only)
The image is squeezed horizontally on the screen. This distortion occurs when there's a mismatch between the aspect ratio Pearl detects and the aspect ratio that is sent from the source signal. To compare the two signal values, you must know the aspect ratio that the source is sending.
Page 89: Remove The Combing Effect On Images (Vga Sources Only)
Pearl User Guide 2-4 Fine-tune source configuration 4. Compare the aspect ratio from the source with the aspect ratio from the Pearl info window. Confirm if there is a mismatch. 5. If there is a mismatch, go to the Encoding page for the channel and change the frame size to match the frame size that is sent from the source.
Page 90 Pearl User Guide 2-4 Fine-tune source configuration 3. From the web interface, scroll to the Sources menu option. 4. Click on the desired video source ; the source configuration page opens. 5. Enable the Enable deinterlace setting. 6. Click Apply. View the output in the Snapshot preview below.
Page 91: Part 3: Channels
Pearl User Guide PART 3: Channels PART 3: Channels Channels organize and display content captured from DVI, VGA, HDMI, SDI, and audio. A channel can be set up to display the content from one input source, or may capture, stream and record content from multiple input sources.
Page 92: Configure Channels
Use the automatic channels Auto A and Auto B To get you started as quickly as possible, Pearl comes pre-configured with two channels: Auto A and Auto B. To use these channels, simply plug a source into one of the Row A inputs and, if desired, a second source into one of the Row B inputs.
Page 93 Pearl has video input sensing, meaning it knows when there is a video signal coming through from an attached source. If you attach more than one source to a row prior to powering on Pearl, the following priority is used: Priority Connector Type HDMI (with HDMI Audio)
Page 94 3. Note the video and audio sources listed for the auto channels. Configure auto channels Auto channels are included with Pearl to make setup quick and simple. However if you want to set custom encoding or streaming configuration for the channel, you can configure it like any other channel.
Page 95: Create A Single Source Channel
2. Login as admin. 3. Ensure a DVI, HDMI, VGA or SDI input source is connected to Row A or Row B inputs on the back of Pearl. Be sure you know the name of the source. See Identify sources for assistance.
Page 96 Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels 7. Choose a video source from the list; the name of the source is displayed. 8. Choose an audio source from the displayed list, if required. 9. Click Apply. The channel name is updated to display the source’s name.
Page 97 Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels 11. If you're not sure what Codec to pick, keep the default, H.264. For help selecting a codec, refer to Fine- tune channel configuration 12. Keep the default video encoding preset and video encoding profile for help selecting these values,...
Page 98: Merge/Include Multiple Video Sources Into A Single Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels 17. Increase or decrease image quality by increasing or decreasing the target Bitrate value when H.264 and MPEG4 codecs are used. Video with a high level of motion and high resolution, such as a sporting event, requires a high bitrate.
Page 99 Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels 8. Configure the following for each source: a. If needed (e.g. for all but the first source), click Add source to add a source to the layout. b. Click the Source drop-down menu for the source you're arranging. A list of configured sources appears.
Page 100 Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels To place sources side by side: 1. Add the source by clicking Add Source, then selecting the source from the drop down list. 2. Enter the size of the image based on the percent of the x and y axis the image will span.
Page 101 Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels To create a picture in picture layout: 1. Configure the following for the main source: a. Click the Source drop-down menu. A list of configured sources appears. b. Choose a source from the drop-down menu. The source’s image appears in the window.
Page 102: Delete A Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels Delete a channel From time to time you may want to clean up the list of channels, and remove channels that are no longer used. The following steps describe how to delete a channel. Deleting a channel does not delete the input source configuration, however it deletes any recorded files for the channel.
Page 103: Rename A Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-1 Configure channels Rename a channel By default, channels are automatically configured with the same name as their source, however there may be circumstances when you want to create a distinct name for the channel to reflect the source(s) it contains.
Page 104: Identify A Channel
3-2 Identify a channel Identify a channel Pearl captures video and audio signals from input sources. Sources are configured into channels with one or more video and audio sources. If not changed by the administrator, channels are labeled according to the input source type configured for the channel.
Page 105: Preview A Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-3 Preview a channel Preview a channel While configuring a channel, consider opening a live preview of the channel in another tab or browser window so you can see the changes as they are applied. Choose one of the following options to preview your channel: ...
Page 106: Preview All Channels At Once
Preview all channels at once Pearl has a special preview mode that lets you see all configured channels at once. The resulting web page can be very large. You may wish to be aware of your web browser's zoom hot keys.
Page 107: Fine-Tune Channel Configuration
Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration Fine-tune channel configuration In addition to adjusting typical features such as frame rate, resolution and bit rate to reduce bandwidth and system resource usage, choose the following settings to maximize your stream quality, while minimizing your processing requirements and bandwidth: ...
Page 108 Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration Once you select video and audio codecs a list of available video format and standards specific to the selected codec is generated and displayed. You can provide the URLs and files to participants to view the broadcast, see Stream your video.
Page 109: Codec And File Format Compatibility
Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration Value Description MP3 is the default value and provides a common audio format for audio storage. The 22 and 44KHz values define sound clarity. 44KHz provides higher sampling of the analog signal. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is a standard for digital audio in computer and other devices such as, digital telephone systems.
Page 110: Adjust Video Quality
Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration Video Codec selected Audio Codec selected MPEG-TS ü ü H.264 LPCM ü ü ü H.264 ü ü ü H.264 ü ü MPEG-4 No audio codec ü ü MPEG-4 LPCM ü...
Page 111 Choose this option when you are streaming medium to fast moving video and need X.264 encoding for compatibility reasons. Default (SW) This matches the default from previous generations of Epiphan products. Choose this only if you need software encoding or X.264 encoding for compatibility purposes.
Page 112: Upscale Or Downscale Your Video Image
By contrast you can also enlarge the image by selecting a value that is larger than the source resolution. Pearl conveniently provides a list of common aspect ratios and different frame sizes at each ratio on the Encoding page.
Page 113: Control The Matte (Black Bars) In The Video Output
Control the matte (black bars) in the video output By default, Pearl makes sure that the aspect ratio of input signals is preserved when the output is streamed. If an input video signal doesn't match the encoded frame aspect ratio, bars are added to the sides or top and bottom of the encoded stream when the output is streamed and recorded.
Page 114 Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration For example: Input signal resolution is 720×480 (a 3:2 aspect ratio) encoded resolution is 640×480 (a 4:3 aspect ratio that is narrower than the input resolution) Borders are added to the top and bottom of the image to preserve the wider ratio of the input.
Page 115 Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration 3. Select a channel; the menu expands. 4. Click Sources; the Sources page opens. 5. Find the name of the media source used for the channel. 6. Click this source under the Sources menu.
Page 116: Unstretch The Output Video
Unstretch the output video By default, Pearl makes sure that the aspect ratio of input signals is preserved when the output is streamed. If this default was overridden the image is stretched to match the output frame size. The effect may be subtle and may not be problematic for you, but if you want to resolve this it is very simple to do.
Page 117: Limit The Frame Rate
Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration 5. Click Apply. Unstretching the image causes a matte (black bars) to appear on the sides or top and bottom of the output. To remove these see Control the matte (black bars) in the video output.
Page 118: Adjust Key Frame Interval
Pearl User Guide 3-4 Fine-tune channel configuration 2. Login as admin. 3. From the web interface, select a channel; the menu expands. 4. Click Encoding; the Encoding page opens. 5. Enter a value in the Limit frame rate field. 6. Click Apply.
Page 119: Customize Your Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel Customize your channel Adding a corporate logo, company information, corporate color and time stamps are easy ways to identify your broadcast. This section describes the following topics for customizing your channel: Add your logo and company information to your channel ...
Page 120 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel To upload an image for use as a logo or no signal image on a channel: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 121 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 9. See below to learn how to apply the logo or no signal image to a channel as well as how to add metadata information such as presentation title, presenter’s name, and other corporate information.
Page 122 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 6. Click the Image drop-down menu; a list of files appears. These are the files that you uploaded earlier in an earlier procedure. 7. Choose a file. A sample of the image appears in the page.
Page 123 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 4. From the web interface, select a channel; the menu expands. 5. Click the Branding link for your channel; the Branding configuration page opens. 6. Choose a “No signal” image. This image is displayed for the channel when a signal is not detected.
Page 124: Add A Time Stamp To Your Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel To remove metadata from a channel 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface. 2. Login as admin. 3. From the web interface, select a channel; the menu expands.
Page 125: Select The Background Color For Your Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel Field Value Example month (Jan) month (January) January day of the month weekday (Thu) weekday (Thursday) Thursday time 08:40:45 hour minute second millisecond 8. Click Apply. Select the background color for your channel When you choose a multiple source layout, you can select the background color to fill the unused space.
Page 126: Add A Customized Background To A Multiple Source Channel
Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel Add a customized background to a multiple source channel The background feature on the Branding page allows you to apply a customized background for your multiple source channel. You can create a background that is consistent with your corporate branding or provide additional information to your viewer such as presenter’s name, company name etc.
Page 127 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 3. Click Choose File from the Upload files/templates heading. A browser dialog box opens. 4. Navigate to the folder on your admin computer that contains the PNG, TIFF, or JPEG file. 5. Click Open. The file is added to the File/template to upload field.
Page 128 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 3. Choose Branding; the Branding configuration page for the channel opens. 4. Scroll to the Background heading. 5. From the Image dropdown menu, select the file that you saved in the previous steps. The background image is displayed in the window.
Page 129 Pearl User Guide 3-5 Customize your channel 8. You may need to adjust the position and size for each source to fit within your customized background, refer to Merge multiple videos into a single channel. Ensure your background closely matches the aspect ratio and size of the display area, otherwise the background image may be squeezed, shrunk, grainy or may not cover the display area.
Page 130: Part 4: Stream
Pearl User Guide PART 4: Stream PART 4: Stream Streaming provides powerful and flexible approaches to delivering to your users. Offering an easy to use interface, users can stream video using multiple formats to multiple users and devices such as web browsers, media players, set-top-boxes, Smart TVs and Content Distribution Networks.
Page 131: Stream Your Video
Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video Stream your video After you have configured your media and channels, decided on the content and layout of your broadcast, it’s time to share your broadcast. The following sections provide a description of the available streaming options, insight into why you would choose each option, and procedures to stream your content using each option.
Page 132: Choose A Streaming Option
(multicast), or provide web-based streaming where multiple clients can access the broadcast (Content Distribution Network). Your Pearl can stream to individual viewers through HTTP, HTTP Live Streaming, UPnP and RTSP and can also simultaneously stream to a server such as a multicast server or CDN.
Page 133 There is approximately a 30 second delay when streaming using HLS. Stream to a server Your Pearl streams to a server when you want to use a CDN or Multicast. By default, this is not configured. See Stream content using a Content Distribution Network Stream content using multicast streaming details on configuring one of these two options.
Page 134 Network. The following options are available to stream video to a CDN: Epiphan TV - test your video stream using Epiphan’s portal using RTSP announce - stream live video to a content delivery network using RTMP push - stream live video to a content delivery network RTSP and RTMP streaming provides the following advantages:...
Page 135: Disable (And Enable) Streams For Viewers
Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video Publishing Options Use this option to... Multicast Streaming Stream content to a multicast IP address where it can be shared with multiple viewers within the same LAN. All viewers receive the same stream at the same time.
Page 136: Restrict Access To Streams For Viewers
3. Uncheck Enabled to disable streaming to viewers (or check to enable). 4. Click Apply at the bottom of the page. Restrict access to streams for viewers Pearl can restric access to all viewer streams using global viewer passwords and IP allow/deny lists. See Setting and Changing User Passwords Restrict Viewers by IP Address...
Page 137 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 3. From the web interface, click Streaming for the desired channel; the streaming page opens. 4. Scroll to the Stream access control section of the page. 3. Select Use these settings from the drop down list; the configuration fields are enabled.
Page 138: Stream Content Using Http Or Rtsp
Where serial is the serial number of the system and channel number is the provided from the GUI (see below). IP address http://<IP Address of Pearl>/preview.cgi?channel=2 rtps://<IP Address of Pearl>:<port>/dtream.sdp Where the IP address is the IP address of the system and the port and channel number informationis provided on the channel's status page.
Page 139: Configure Streaming Ports
Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 5. Jot down the either the Live Broadcast , RTSP stream or other web streaming address. This is the address you can send to viewers or to create a link to your broadcast.
Page 140: Stream Content Using Http Live Streaming (Hls)
Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 5. Set the HTTP Streaming port to specify the port used to stream the HTTP broadcast. This value along with the URL is used by viewers to access the FLV, ASF and MPEG-TS streams.
Page 141: Stream Content Using Upnp
8. Provide the HLS stream link to your viewers. Stream content using UPnP Using the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) networking protocol, your Pearl can be discovered and can stream to software and hardware media players, set-top-boxes and Smart TVs with ease. If UPnP is enabled, the system automatically establishes communication with media players on the network.
Page 142 Removing User Passwords to clear the viewer password. The topics in this chapter include how to enable and disable UPnP and how to control media players from Pearl. To choose recordings or live streams from your media player, see...
Page 143 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 4. Enter a name in the Server name field. If no name is provided the server name will be the system's serial number. 5. Select whether you want to share live video and recorded files.
Page 144 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video a. Click the Share via UPnP check box (if not checked). b. Click Apply 2. For channels (recorded files): a. Click the Recording for the desired channel; the channel's recording page opens. b. Click the word change next to the list of what is being recorded; the recording options expand.
Page 145 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video c. Click the Share via UPnP check box (if not checked). d. Click Apply. You can now browse for your server from your digital media player. See below. Disable UPnP By default, UPnP sharing is enabled for the device, but sharing is disabled for each channels and recorder. If you enabled UPnP sharing it for a particular broadcast, you may want to disable UPnP sharing after the broadcast is complete.
Page 146 4-1 Stream your video Play directly to a media player If your digital media player is UPnP enabled, Pearl can play direct the media player to play recorded files, without browsing through menus in the player. Recorded files must be in MPEG-TS format and use the supported codecs: H.264 with MP3 or AAC audio.
Page 147: Stream Content Using A Content Distribution Network
4-1 Stream your video Change UPnP device name You can configure the UPnP server name that appears for your Pearl. By default, if you left the server name field blank when enabling UPnP, the server name is the system's serial number.
Page 148 Epiphan’s preferred CDN provider at http://epiphan.tv/cdn- partners.php. To hear audio content from Epiphan TV ensure audio is set to MP3 in Encoding configuration. 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 149 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video a current browser; a current flash player; select the H.264 codec from the channel's Encoding page; and set the stream bitrate lower than 500 kbits/s in the channel's Encoding setup.
Page 150 3. Highlight and right-click on the code in the dialog box. A drop-down menu appears. 4. Choose Copy. 5. Paste the content into the HTML code for your website. A link to your broadcast on Epiphan TV is added to your web page.
Page 151 RTMP can be used for live streaming, however not all CDNs or media servers support both formats. Choose the streaming format that your CDN or media server supports. Epiphan has tested with the CDN providers listed here: http://epiphan.tv/cdn-partners.php. Contact your CDN for a list of supported audio codecs and ensure your Encoding configuration uses one of the supported codecs.
Page 152 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 3. Click Apply. To stream content to a CDN using RTSP announce 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface. 2. Login as admin.
Page 153 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 5. Enter the host name or IP address of the CDN or media server. 6. Enter the server's RTSP port number. Usually for RTSP streaming the value is 554. 7. Enter a value in the Mount Point field. This is the full path to the location of the live steam or the media server.
Page 154: Stream Content Using Multicast Streaming
Using MPEG-TS RTP/UDP push Pearl supports multicast streaming content to an IP TV or a set-top box playlist when the file format is MPEG- TS. The following procedures outline the steps to distribute your content using multicast streaming. Multicast streaming using RTP/UDP 1.
Page 155 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 5. Enter the destination multicast IP address. 6. Enter the port number through which the audio will stream. 7. Enter the port number through which the video will stream. Both audio and video use adjacent ports (port and port+1). The minimum distance between audio and video ports should 2.
Page 156 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 5. Click the Publish drop-down menu. 6. Choose using MPEG-TS UDP push. 7. Enter the destination multicast IP address where the broadcast can be viewed. A IPv4 multicast address range is an address between 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255. Contact your System Administrator for the specific address to use.
Page 157 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video When a channel number value is not specified, viewers cannot select a channel from the set- top box or Smart TV . 13. Enter a name for a group of streams in the text box next to Group name. Since media players simply...
Page 158 Pearl User Guide 4-1 Stream your video 8. Enter the destination port number through which the media will stream. 9. Perform one of the following: a. If you do not want to advertise your stream to a media player over a local network, go to the last step of this procedure;...
Page 159: Samples Of Stream Settings
Pearl User Guide 4-2 Samples of stream settings Samples of stream settings When choosing your stream settings it is important to consider the stream content. When streaming fast moving video it's best to choose a higher bitrate and frame rate versus streaming a slide presentation where you can save on bandwidth and system processing by lower the bitrate and frame rate.
Page 160: Streaming Slide Content
Pearl User Guide 4-2 Samples of stream settings Streaming slide content The table below provides suggested settings to maximize your stream quality while minimizing system resource usage when streaming slide content from a PC, Mac or tablet. Setting PC and Mac...
Page 161: Part 5: Record
PART 5: Record Your Pearl encodes the video and audio it captures. If you choose to record the resulting streams, it stores the recorded files on the system and provides a variety of automatic or manual mechanisms to download the files.
Page 162: Recorders
Pearl User Guide 5-1 Recorders Recorders Your Pearl can record the output from each channel and can also record multiple channels together in a single multi-track file. This section describes the following topics for creating and managing multi-channel recorders. ...
Page 163: Rename A Recorder
Pearl User Guide 5-1 Recorders Rename a recorder To rename a recorder: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface. 2. Login as admin. 3. Select the desired recorder link from the Recorders section; the recorder configuration page opens.
Page 164: Delete A Recorder
Pearl User Guide 5-1 Recorders 5. If the all channels box is selected, click it to deselect it; the other check boxes are enabled. 6. Click the check boxes for the desired channels. Channels with no active video source are displayed in italics. You can include these channels in your channel selections for the recorder.
Page 165 Pearl User Guide 5-1 Recorders 4. Click the Delete this recorder button at the top of the page; a confirmation dialog reminds you that deleting the recorder will delete all recorded files. 5. Click OK on the confirmation dialog; the recorder is removed from the list and all its related files are deleted from the system.
Page 166: Create Recordings
Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings Create Recordings Your Pearl can record the output from each channel and can also record multiple channels together in a single multi-track file. See Recorders for information on creating multi-track recorders using multiple channels.
Page 167: Control Recording With The Touch Screen
Configure the type and length of recording files to learn how to change the recorded file type. The MOV file type created by Pearl requires a relatively newer player for playback. Epiphan has tested with the following players. Operating System Tested Players Mac OS ...
Page 168: Record A Channel Via The Web Interface
Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings 4. Touch the red record button at the top right of the screen; recording starts and a timer is displayed to show the length of the recording. To stop recording: 1. If necessary, tap the screen once to turn it on.
Page 169 Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings 4. Click the Recording link for the channel; the Recording page appears. 5. To Start Recording: a. Click the Start button; the recording starts and a timer indicates how long it has been recording.
Page 170: Record With A Recorder Via The Web Interface
Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings c. The system continues to record this channel (and any concurrent recordings) until it is stopped. If the system runs out of storage space, the oldest recorded file is deleted to make room for the new recording.
Page 171 Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings 2. Login as admin or operator. 3. Click the name of the desired recorder; the recorder configuration page appears. 4. To Start Recording: a. Click the Start button; the recording starts and a timer indicates how long it has been recording.
Page 172: Configure The Type And Length Of Recording Files
Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings a. Click the Stop button on the given recorder's configuration page. The recorder number changes to black next time the web interface is refreshed (by clicking a link or refreshing the page). Configure the type and length of recording files By default, recorders and channels record to AVI files.
Page 173 Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings 6. Select a time limit for the recording from the Time limit drop down. 7. Select a file size limit from the Size limit drop down. Tip: If you don’t know what size to select, do some test recordings to get an idea of the file sizes you can expect.
Page 174: Close The Current Recording File While Recording
Pearl User Guide 5-2 Create Recordings Label Description / Options File type Specifies the recording file type. Select from AVI, MPEG-TS, or MOV. Choose MPEG-TS for UPnP playback. Filename prefix Specifies how the recordings are named. Recording files start with the given prefix followed by the date and time.
Page 175: Control Recording With A Mouse
6. Refresh the page to see the new recorded files list. Control recording with a mouse You can physically control recording start/stop by connecting a USB mouse to your Pearl. To control recordings with a mouse: 1. Power on the system.
Page 176: File Maintenance
File Maintenance Pearl has a finite amount of storage. Though this storage space holds a lot of recordings, it will eventually run out of space if recordings are added but never removed. When this happens, the system deletes the oldest recorded files to make room for new recordings.
Page 177: Rename Stored Files
Pearl User Guide 5-3 File Maintenance 6. Otherwise: a. All files for this channel are listed, sorted by date. Files that are part of the same recording session are listed one after another. Three dots appear between files of different recording sessions. The file currently being recorded (if applicable) is shown at the top of the list.
Page 178: Download Files Manually
Pearl User Guide 5-3 File Maintenance 5. Type the new file name and press enter when finished. The web interface keeps track of the filename extension (i.e. .avi) so you do not need to include it when renaming the file.
Page 179: Delete Files Manually
Pearl User Guide 5-3 File Maintenance 5. To download multiple files: a. Select the check box next to the recordings you wish to download from this channel or recorder. b. Click Download Selected to download a zip file containing the selected recordings.
Page 180: Pick Specific Tracks From A Multi-Track Recorder File
Pearl User Guide 5-3 File Maintenance c. Click OK on the confirmation dialog. The list may not update immediately. You can refresh the list by reloading the Recording page (for channels) or the recorder settings page (for recorders). 6. To delete all files for the current channel or recorder: a.
Page 181 Pearl User Guide 5-3 File Maintenance 5. Select the track(s) you want to extract. Tip: To deselect all tracks, click the check box for the top track, then hold SHIFT and click the check box for the bottom track. 6. Click Extract tracks; a duplicate of the recording is made with only the selected tracks.
Page 182: File And Recording Transfer
5-4 File and Recording Transfer File and Recording Transfer Your Pearl can be configured to automatically upload recordings from local storage to a network storage location or an attached USB drive. This section discusses the following generic automatic upload topic: ...
Page 183 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer 4. Select the Enable Automatic File Upload checkbox. 5. Specify how often automatic updates should happen. The first transfer occurs after the specified amount of time expires, or after the current file completes recording.
Page 184: Configure Automatic File Upload To An Ftp Server (Part 2 Of 2)
Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer 7. If desired, check Remove after upload to have the files deleted from local storage when upload completes. 8. If desired, check Mark file as downloaded to have the color of the file link in the recording list change to show the files are downloaded.
Page 185: Configure Automatic File Upload Using Rsync (Part 2 Of 2)
Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer 2. Specify the target Server address. If your system is configured with DHCP or has a valid DNS configuration (see Configure Network Settings), you can use the server’s fully qualified domain name instead of the IP address.
Page 186 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer 2. Specify the target Server address. If your system is configured with DHCP or has a valid DNS configuration (see Configure Network Settings), you can use the server’s fully qualified domain name instead of the IP address.
Page 187: Configure Automatic File Upload Using Cifs (Part 2 Of 2)
Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Configure Automatic File Upload using CIFS (Part 2 of 2) This procedure assumes you have completed the steps in Configure Automatic File Upload (Part 1 of 2) wish to continue with configuration of upload using CIFS (also known as SMB or samba).
Page 188: Upload To An External Usb Drive
Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Table 23 CIFS Automatic File Upload Configuration Options Name Description / Options Server Port The CIFS server port. Leave blank to use the default port, or enter the port used for your CIFS server.
Page 189 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Only one copy or move to USB operation is permitted at a time, even though the UI may appear to let you start a second one. Please wait until the first is complete before starting a new operation.
Page 190 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Using the fix link disables any other type of automatic file upload you have configured. When you are done with USB uploads, return to the Automatic File Upload configuration page and re-configure FTP, RSYNC, or CIFS.
Page 191 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer 5. Select the appropriate check boxes based on the descriptions provided in the following table. If your USB drive does not have activity indicators it is suggested you select either remove after copying or mark file as downloaded so you know when the transfer is complete.
Page 192 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Manually Copy Recorded Files to USB Drive You can manually copy recorder files to a USB drive connected to Pearl. This procedure is separate from automatic file upload and does not need any pre-configuration in the automatic file upload page.
Page 193 Safely Eject the USB Drive. View Available USB Storage Space When you insert a USB drive in an available port of Pearl, the total and free space are calculated and displayed in the Web Interface. To see the available USB storage space: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 194 Pearl User Guide 5-4 File and Recording Transfer Safely Eject the USB Drive When you have completed work with the USB drive you can safely eject it by using the link at the bottom of the Web Interface page. To safely eject the USB drive: 1.
Page 195: Use The Local Ftp Server
Use the Local FTP Server Pearl can act as an FTP server, allowing you to manually or automatically connect to the system and download recordings. Depending on configuration of the FTP server, you may also be able to remotely delete files after download, maximizing available system storage.
Page 196: Downloading Files From The Local Ftp Server
Pearl User Guide 5-5 Use the Local FTP Server c. Click Apply. 5. To allow the FTP user to delete files: a. Select the Enable FTP DELETE command check box. b. Click Apply. Any currently logged in ftp users must log out and back in again to have access to the command.
Page 197 The username and password for your FTP user (See Configure the Local FTP Server) In the example below, the IP address of Pearl is 192.168.1.210, the username is admin, there is no password, and the Windows command line ftp utility is used. To connect to the FTP server: 1.
Page 198 Pearl User Guide 5-5 Use the Local FTP Server 8. If enabled in the FTP configuration page, delete the file after downloading it by issuing the delete command, or using your tool’s delete mechanism. If the delete command is not enabled, attempting to delete a file will result in an Unknown...
Page 199: Part 6: View
Pearl User Guide PART 6: View PART 6: View Now that you have perfected your stream, identified the medium to publish your stream, it's time to view the video stream from a media player or a web browser. This section discusses the following topic related to viewing your content: ...
Page 200: View Your Video
Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video View your video This chapter describes factors to consider when choosing a streaming URL and steps to view the video stream from a media player or a web browser. Refer to the following sections: ...
Page 201 Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video 5. Copy the URL and provide to viewers. Based on their media player, viewers can access the broadcast using a URL specific to their media player. View your broadcast using the Live broadcast link on the Status page 1.
Page 202 Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video When HLS is enabled, viewers can accessing the stream using a tablet or smart phone device . 6. Click on the Live broadcast or HTTP Live Stream link, if it configured. The window opens displaying the live broadcast and broadcast URL.
Page 203: Viewing With A Web Browser
Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video 3. From the web interface, click the channel that you want to view; the menu expands. 4. Click Status; the Status page opens displaying the stream protocols supported based on the selected codecs. For more information on compatibility between codec and file formats, see View your video.
Page 204: Viewing With A Media Player
Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video Viewing with a media player If a viewer password is configured, provide participants with the password to log in, along with the IP address or the URL to be copied to the media player. For example purposes the following procedure describes the steps using a VLC media player.
Page 205: Viewing With Upnp
Removing User Passwords to clear the viewer password. When browsing via UPnP your Pearl is displayed by the server name you set, or it's product serial number. For example, when browsing from a Windows computer, you will see a list of media devices that includes Pearl:...
Page 206: Viewing With Session Announcement Protocol (Sap)
UPnP can also be used to directly play a recording to the digital media player, or to set a media player to automatically play a particular live stream after reboot of Pearl. See Stream content using UPnP...
Page 207 Pearl User Guide 6-1 View your video Your stream is advertised by the metadata title, if one was configured under Branding, otherwise it is identified by it's channel identifier. For a description of how to set the metadata, refer to...
Page 208: Part 7: Maintenance
PART 7: Maintenance PART 7: Maintenance This section covers topics that will keep your Pearl running smoothly. It also covers a new tablet operator interface and ways to configure and operate your system using third party tools via HTTP or RS-232.
Page 209: Mobile / Tablet Operator Interface
To get started with the tablet interface you can connect to it in one of the following ways. The device connecting to the tablet interface must be on the same network as the Pearl or must be physically connected to it via USB.
Page 210 Use the mobile version of Epiphan Connect Epiphan has iOS and Android versions of the Epiphan Connect discovery utility. The mobile versions of the discovery utility automatically open the tablet interface when connecting to the Pearl for administration.
Page 211: Confidence Monitoring Using The Tablet Interface
2. Launch Epiphan Connect; the application searches your network and shows you a list of available Epiphan systems. 3. Find your system in the list. If you have several Epiphan systems, look for the serial number of the one to which you'd like to connect.
Page 212 Pearl User Guide 7-1 Mobile / Tablet Operator Interface 4. For audio inputs without signal, nothing appears in the audio input bars. 5. For audio inputs with signal, the level is shown next to the source name in the audio input bar.
Page 213: Verify Disk Space Via The Tablet Interface
4. If disk space is low, the green bar will be nearly full. Control recording via the tablet interface The tablet interface provides a simple way to control recording for your Pearl. You can control recordings for both channels and recorders from the same interface.
Page 214: Switch To The Full Admin Interface
Pearl User Guide 7-1 Mobile / Tablet Operator Interface 1. Connect to the tablet interface. See Connect to the tablet interface. 2. Login as admin or operator. 3. Scroll to the CHANNELS section. 4. Find the channel or recorder from the list under CHANNELS. (The names of the channels and recorders match the names set in the full admin interface.)
Page 215: Power Down And System Restart
Shutting down the Device Manually Restarting the Device via the Web Interface Pearl's web interface allows you to reboot the system. To restart the system: 1. Connect to the admin interface using your preferred connection mechanism. See Connect to the Admin Interface.
Page 216: Shutting Down The Device Via The Web Interface
3. Select the Maintenance link in the Configuration menu; the maintenance page opens. 4. Click the Shutdown Now button; a confirmation dialog appears. 5. Click OK. Shutting down the Device Manually You can manually shut down the Pearl via the button physically located on the system. To shut down the system manually:...
Page 217 Pearl User Guide 7-2 Power Down and System Restart 1. Press and release the power button on the system to initiate a safe power down; the system shuts down. If the system is unresponsive, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to force an...
Page 218: Save And Restore Device Configuration
Save and Restore Device Configuration After completing configuration of your Pearl, it is good practice to save the system configuration so you may restore it at a later date (i.e. after a change that wasn’t wanted, or after a factory reset) or so you may load it onto another system to provision it with the same configuration.
Page 219: Load A Saved Device Configuration
After making changes to the system configuration, you may find that the results are not what you expected or that they serve a different need and you wish to return to a previous configuration. Via Pearl's web interface you can load a previously saved configuration file.
Page 220 Pearl User Guide 7-3 Save and Restore Device Configuration 7. Reboot the system by clicking the link in the message on the web page, or by using the power button on the system; when the system comes back up the restoration is complete.
Page 221: Restoring Factory Configuration
7-4 Restoring Factory Configuration Restoring Factory Configuration If you’ve been testing with your Pearl and are ready to restore back to the factory configuration to start again with a clean slate, you can do this through the web interface. This section covers the following topics: ...
Page 222 Pearl User Guide 7-4 Restoring Factory Configuration 5. Click OK on the warning dialog; the system applies the factory configuration and reboots. 6. Wait for the system to reboot and begin re-configuration.
Page 223: Firmware Upgrade
Firmware Upgrade Epiphan will from time to time issue an updated firmware revision to bring new features to your Pearl. To take advantage of these new features, you will need to install the new firmware on the system. This section covers: ...
Page 224 Install Firmware Directly from the Web Interface: If your Pearl has internet access, the easiest method of installing new firmware is to use the download link provided when you check for new firmware. To download new firmware directly: 1.
Page 225 Although unexpected, it is possible the firmware update fails. In this case, the touch screen reports the failure. Please collect system information such as device serial number and, if known, the previous firmware version along with the new firmware version and contact info@epiphan.com Install Firmware from a file...
Page 226 Although unexpected, it is possible the firmware update fails. In this case, the touch screen reports the failure. Please collect system information such as device serial number and, if known, the previous firmware version along with the new firmware version and contact info@epiphan.com...
Page 227 Pearl User Guide 7-5 Firmware Upgrade...
Page 228: Remote Support
Disable Remote Support Configure Remote Support Remote support is configured by default to connect to the Epiphan maintenance server with the domain name epiphany.epiphan.com. The system must be able to resolve this domain name to connect to the server and permit remote support.
Page 229 11. If the system reaches the maintenance server, ensure your firewall, if you have one, has port 30 open for the system. 12. Confirm with Epiphan support that they are able to access your Pearl for remote troubleshooting.
Page 230: Disable Remote Support
By default, remote support is on. If you want to turn it off, you may use the following procedure. Disabling remote support for Pearl removes the ability for Epiphan to reset a lost admin password. If you forget the admin password and remote support feature is off, you will need to return the system to Epiphan for reprogramming.
Page 231: Storage Disk Maintenance
Perform disk check Check disk storage space Pearl has a finite amount of storage This storage space holds a lot of recordings, but it can get full. It’s a good idea to monitor your current disk usage. If available storage is low, consider removing some unneeded recordings or setting up an automatic file transfer with deletion after transfer.
Page 232: Check Disk Storage Space Via The Touch Screen
7-7 Storage Disk Maintenance Check disk storage space via the touch screen Pearl's touch screen can show you the system's disk space on the system information screen. To show system information on the touch screen: 1. If the system information button does not appear on the screen, tap the screen once to turn on the control buttons.
Page 233: Perform Disk Check
4. Click the Check Now button; a new page opens showing you the progress of the disk check. Do not interrupt power to the system during the disk check. 5. When the disk check is complete, the main page returns and a summary is shown. 6. If any unrecoverable errors are detected, contact Epiphan support.
Page 234: Control With Rs-232 / Serial Port
Connect and configure the RS-232 cable To connect your control equipment to Pearl you will need a standard RS-232 null-modem cable and a USB to RS-232 serial adapter cable. Adapter cables are not included with Pearl. Only certain adapter chipsets are...
Page 235: Control Pearl With
5. Click Apply. Control Pearl with RS-232 You can use the null-modem cable and your control terminal software to issue commands to Pearl such as when to start or stop recording, or to retrieve or set the value for various settings.
Page 236 Channel and recorder numbers can also be seen in the web interface next to the channel or recorder name. For example, in the example below where channel 1 is recording, the red number 1 is the channel number. The table describes the RS-232 commands supported by Pearl. Table 27 Supported RS-232 Commands Command Name...
Page 237 Pearl User Guide 7-8 Control with RS-232 / Serial Port Command Name Description STOP.<channel> Stops recording for the provided channel or recorder. This can alternatively be accomplished with the following set commands: START.<recorder> SET.<channel>.rec_enabled="" SAVECFG STOP Stops recording for all channels and recorders.
Page 238: Rs-232 / Serial Port Command Examples
Pearl User Guide 7-8 Control with RS-232 / Serial Port Command Name Description RECTIME Reports the elapsed recording time for the current file on each channel. Additionally, the system reports its status changes back along the RS-232 connection using the following...
Page 239 Pearl User Guide 7-8 Control with RS-232 / Serial Port 5. To set the frame size (resolution) on channel 2, enclose the parameter in quotes to preserve the spaces: SET.2.framesize="640 x 480" SAVECFG 6. To enable broadcasting audio on channel 2: SET.2.audio=on...
Page 240: Control With Http Commands
7-9 Control with HTTP Commands Control with HTTP Commands Pearl has an HTTP API interface for configuration and control by a third party application or with a script that sends commands to the system as a series of URLs. This section covers the following topics: ...
Page 241: Http Command Examples
HTTP command examples Some configuration of Pearl can be done by non-interactive http commands. The following examples demonstrate how to use wget to exercise some of the HTTP commands supported by the system. For values with spaces, encode space as %20. i.e.: set_params.cgi?framesize=640%20x%20480 The examples assume a system IP address of 192.30.23.45 and admin password pass123.
Page 242 Pearl User Guide 7-9 Control with HTTP Commands wget --http-user=admin --http-passwd=pass123 http://192.30.23.45/admin/channel2/set_ params.cgi?rec_enabled=on 4. To stop recording on channel 2: wget --http-user=admin --http-passwd=pass123 http://192.30.23.45/admin/channel2/set_ params.cgi?rec_enabled=""...
Page 243: Configuration Keys For Third Party Apis
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Using HTTP or RS-232, you can send commands to the system to query or configure the system. For the RS-232 and HTTP syntax see Control with RS-232 / Serial Port Control with HTTP Commands.
Page 244: System-Level Settings Keys(Read-Only)
The value is read-only. vendor Epiphan Systems Inc. Name of the vendor. The value is always “Epiphan Systems Inc.”. The value is read-only. System-level Settings Key (Read/Write) The following read/write system-level setting keys are supported. The channel number can be omitted from the command when requesting the value for these keys.
Page 245: Recording Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Recording Configuration Keys The following recording settings are supported. Table 31 Supported Recording Configuration Keys Values Description rec_enabled Enables or disables recording. empty string ("") To enable recording, set to on. To disable recording, set to an empty string ("").
Page 246: Ip-Based Access Control Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs IP-Based Access Control Configuration Keys The following settings are supported for configuring allowed and denied IP addresses for the system. See Configure Network Settings for more information on Allow and Deny lists. Table 33...
Page 247: Broadcast Configuration Keys
Specifies ADC offset. 0 is brightest, 63 is darkest. phase 0...31 Specifies phase adjustments for VGA signals. Generally not used unless value is provided by Epiphan support. -999...999 Specifies PLL adjustment. Changes the number of pixels in the line. tune_interval 0...9999 Specifies the number of auto-adjustments in the interval.
Page 248: Channel Encoder Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Channel Encoder Configuration Keys The following channel encoder configuration settings are supported. For more information on individual items listed, see Configure channels. Table 37 Supported Channel Encoder Configuration Keys Values Description autoframesize Enables or disables use of the current signal’s resolution as the empty string ("")
Page 249: Channel Logo Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Values Description timelabel none (no date) Specifies the time label on the stream. date (date alone) To have no time label, set to ‘none’. hms (time alone) date_hms (date and time) hms_ms (time to ms)
Page 250: Audio Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Table 38 Supported Channel Logo Configuration Keys Values Description logo_margin_x 0…frame width Specifies the horizontal offset in pixels from the position in logo_position. To offset 10 pixels from the left (when using a top-left logo position), set to 10.
Page 251: Stream Publishing Configuration Keys
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Values Description audiopreset CODECS: Specifies an audio code preset in the format CODEC;RATE. pcm_s161e (PCM) i.e. libfaac;128 pcm_alaw (G.711 a-law) pcm_mulaw (G.711 u-law) libmp3lame (MP3) libfacc (AAC) RATES: Stream Publishing Configuration Keys The system supports the following stream publishing settings. For more information on publishing the stream, Stream your video.
Page 252: Rtp/Udp Configuration Keys (Publish Type 3)
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Table 41 Supported RTSP Announce Configuration Keys Values Description announce_by_tcp Enables or disable RTSP over TCP. To enable TCP transport, set empty string ("") to on. Otherwise, set to empty string (""). announce_host string Specifies the RTSP server address.
Page 253: Rtmp Push Configuration Keys (Publish Type 6)
Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Table 43 Supported MPEG-TS Configuration Keys Values Description unicast_address string (IP address) Specifies the unicast/multicast address. unicast_mport 1000...65535, Specifies the UDP port for MPEG-TS streaming. Note port 5557 is but not 5557 used for network discovery and cannot be used for streaming.
Page 254 Pearl User Guide 7-10 Configuration Keys for Third Party APIs Values Description comment string Specifies a comment for the broadcast video. Refer to description above on handling white space (spaces) in the string. copyright string Specifies the copyright for the broadcast video. Refer to description above on handling white space (spaces) in the string.
Page 255: Troubleshooting
Pearl User Guide 7-11 Troubleshooting 7-11 Troubleshooting Use the follow table for help if you are experiencing problems or unexpected behavior from your Pearl. Problem Action(s) to Resolve Not sure if the connected video inputs are Check each source's input from the source preview in the Web being captured.
Page 256 If you still cannot see the stream, try disabling your local computer firewall. If the issue is still not resolved, contact Epiphan Support at support@epiphan.com. The stream interrupts or the image The following tips can help diagnose image problems: breaks up.
Page 257 Pearl User Guide 7-11 Troubleshooting Problem Action(s) to Resolve Firmware upgrade fails. Reboot the system and try again. If the problem persists, contact Epiphan support at support@epiphan.com.
Page 258: Software And Documentation License
Agreement, (ii) are packaged with this Agreement, or (iii) pre-installed on Epiphan products, or (iv) embed this Agreement in their installer(s) and which are installed after acceptance of this Agreement, and which binary and/or bytecode software programs include any Documentation; and “You”...
Page 259 Software and Documentation are granted only for use in conjunction with Epiphan hardware. You shall not distribute, lease, rent, grant a security interest in, assign, or otherwise transfer the Software except as expressly provided in this Agreement. You shall not modify or create any derivatives works of the Software or merge all or any part of the Software with another program.
Page 260 PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THIS AGREEMENT, RELATING TO THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR RELATING TO ANY SERVICES PROVIDED TO YOU BY LICENSOR (INCLUDING ITS LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS, SUBCONTRACTORS AND/OR DISTRIBUTORS) IN RELATION TO THE SOFTWARE AND/OR DOCUMENTATION FOR ANY INDIRECT, RELIANCE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF REVENUE OR PROFIT, LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO DATA, BUSINESS INTERUPTION, LOSS OF DATA, REPLACEMENT OR RECOVERY COSTS, OR OTHER COMMERCIAL OR ECONOMIC LOSS, WHETHER...
Page 261 Agreement. For the purposes of any applicable government use, the Software and Documentation were developed exclusively at private expense, and are trade secrets of Epiphan Systems Inc. for the purpose of any Freedom of Information legislation or any other disclosure statute, regulation or provision.
Page 262: Environmental Information
Software. You may not assign this Agreement whether voluntarily, by operation of law, or otherwise without Licensor’s prior written consent. Licensor may assign this Agreement at any timewithout notice. The failure of a party to claim a breach of any term of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such breach or the right of such party to enforce any subsequent breach of such term.
Page 263: Other Jurisdictional Issues
Those who choose to access the Epiphan web site or use Epiphan products do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable...
Page 264: Enforcement Of Terms And Conditions
Enforcement of Terms and Conditions These Terms and Conditions for use of this document and the associated Epiphan Product are governed and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the province of Ontario, Canada, notwithstanding any principles of conflicts of law.

epiphan Pearl User Manual

Thank You for Choosing Epiphan

Welcome

Pearl Overview

What's in the Box

Quick Start

Using Pearl's Touch Screen

PART 1: Setup

Connect to the Admin Interface

Configure the Touch Screen

User Administration

Configure Network Settings

Configure Date and Time

Restrict Viewers by IP Address

PART 2: Sources

Identify Sources

Configure a Video Source

Configure an Audio Source

Fine-Tune Source Configuration

PART 3: Channels

Configure Channels

Identify a Channel

Preview a Channel

Fine-Tune Channel Configuration

Customize Your Channel

PART 4: Stream

Stream Your Video

Samples of Stream Settings

PART 5: Record

Recorders

Create Recordings

File Maintenance

File and Recording Transfer

Use the Local FTP Server

PART 6: View

View Your Video

PART 7: Maintenance

Mobile / Tablet Operator Interface

Power down and System Restart

Save and Restore Device Configuration

Restoring Factory Configuration

Firmware Upgrade

Remote Support

Storage Disk Maintenance

Control with RS-232 / Serial Port

Control with HTTP Commands

Configuration Keys for Third Party Apis

Troubleshooting

Software and Documentation License

Quick Links

Need help?

Questions and answers

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