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Skymicro Merlin 2003 User Manual

Dv and mpeg-2 recorder and dual stream decoder
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Merlin 2003
DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder
Users Manual
The Sky is the Limit

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Summary of Contents for Skymicro Merlin 2003

  • Page 1 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Users Manual The Sky is the Limit...
  • Page 2 Copyright © 2003 by Skymicro, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Skymicro, Inc. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Contents 1. Overview 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Features 1.2 Block Diagram 2. Getting Ready 2.0 System Requirements 2.1 Package Contents 2.2 Preparing Your System 3. Installing the Hardware 3.0 Computer Installation 4.
  • Page 4 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Appendix A. Video Play List File A.0 Video Play List File Format Appendix B. Audio Play List File B.0 Audio Play List File Format Appendix C. Writing your own Application C.0 Example Source Code Using Method 1...

  • Page 5: Overview

    1. Overview 1.0 Introduction Skymicro’s Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder board is a complete video capture and playback solution in a single half-sized PCI card. It is ideally suited for applications such as digital video broadcast, video distribution applications, authoring, and nonlinear editing.

  • Page 6: Features

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 1.1 Key Features Real Time DV and DVC-PRO50 Play and Record. Real Time MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and IMX Play and Record. Real Time 10 Bit Uncompressed Play and Record. MPEG-2 (4:2:0) and (4:2:2) Chroma sampling supported.

  • Page 7: Block Diagram

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 1.2 Block Diagram VIP Headers and General Purpose SDI Digital Video Video I/O Header Deserializer SDI Digital Video Audio Serializer 1 FPGA 2 SDI Digital Video (300K Gates) Serializer 2...

  • Page 8: System Requirements

    2. Getting Started 2.0 System Requirements Please make sure your system meets the following requirements before using the Merlin 2003 board. Pentium 600MHz CPU or a CPU with higher performance. Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, or Windows Me Operating System.

  • Page 9: Preparing Your System

    2.2 Preparing Your System Before you install your Merlin 2003 Board there are a few guidelines that will help you achieve optimum video performance. It is important to make sure that there are no other programs running while recording and playing back video.

  • Page 10: Installing The Hardware

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 3. Installing the Hardware 3.0 Computer Installation To install the Merlin 2003 Board in you computer follow the directions below: 1. Discharge any electrostatic charge that you may have accumulated by touching the metal case of your computer.
  • Page 11 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 7. Remove the Merlin 2003 board from its protective wrapper and orient the board as shown: Merlin 2003 Board 8. Holding the board by the top two corners, carefully slide the board into the desired slot and press on the top edge of the board until it is firmly seated.

  • Page 12: Installing The Software

    The first time Windows loads after installing a Merlin board a New Hardware Found dialog box should appear. When asked for the location of the driver, browse to the location of the Merlin.inf file on the Merlin 2003 CD or on your hard drive if you downloaded the driver from the web.
  • Page 13 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 4. If you are installing a single board in your system you can click the next button now, or if you are installing two boards you should click the “Install Two Boards” radio button and then click the “Next”...
  • Page 14 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6. If you want to change the location where the program icons are installed select a different folder or if the default is acceptable click the “Next” button. This will bring up the next dialog box.

  • Page 15: Quick Start

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 5. Quick Start 5.0 Running the Application Software To Run the Application software follow the directions below: 1. Find the Merlin1 shortcut icon in your start menu and double click on the icon. This should bring up one of the two application windows shown below.

  • Page 16: Recording To Files

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 5.1 Recording to files 1. Select a Video Source in the “Video Reference” group box. If “Video Control” has the “Ref.” box checked you should see the input video on your output video monitor.

  • Page 17: Playing From Files

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 5.2 Playing from files 1. Select a Video Source in the “Video Reference” group box. If “Video Control” has the “Ref.” box checked you should see the input video on your output video monitor.
  • Page 18 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6. In the “Audio Output When Playing” group box map “DEC 0” to an output that can be monitored. 7. Click on the “PLAY” button in the “Video A” group box. You should now see the “Frame Count”...

  • Page 19: Application Software

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6. Application Software 6.0 The Player Application Window Page 19...
  • Page 20 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application shows that you are in play mode and allows you to switch to the available record and transcode modes. The only available record modes on the Merlin board are “MPEG-2 (4:2:0)”, “MPEG-2 (4:2:2)”, and “MPEG-1”.
  • Page 21 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application allows you to control Video motion. Video A and B use similar controls. a) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select a video file.
  • Page 22 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application allows you to control Audio motion. a) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select an audio file or an Audio Play List file.
  • Page 23 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application allows you to control Alpha mixing between Video A and Video B. a) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select an alpha file.
  • Page 24 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application allows you to control the motion of Video Play List files. a) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select a Video Play List file. For a description of Video Play List files refer to Appendix A.
  • Page 25 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the player application allows you to control conversion to uncompressed files. a) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select a File name for Uncompressed Video.
  • Page 26 Panel Box Enable - This check box should be checked when the Merlin2003 is connected to a Skymicro Panel Box. Note AES 1 and 2 are not operational without a panel box connected.
  • Page 27 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 1) Toolbar – Turns on and off the toolbar 2) Status Bar – Turns on and off the Status Bar. d) Settings 1) Color Setting – Opens a dialog box that lets you set the color that is displayed when video is stopped and the reference check box is not checked.
  • Page 28 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Tools 1) Alpha File generator – Opens a dialog box that allows you to build custom alpha files. This dialog box lets you pick the type of alpha file and it lets you pick the field count of the alpha, which translates to how long the transition will last.
  • Page 29 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 3) File Split – Opens a dialog box that lets you create a new file that is a subsection of a larger file. File Selection Total frames in source file...
  • Page 30 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 4) File Merge – Opens a dialog box that lets you merge files together. File A is appended to file B. So if you want to keep the original file B you should make a copy of the file before this operation is executed.

  • Page 31: The Recorder Application Window

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6.1 The Recorder Application Window This section of the recorder application shows you that you are in record mode and allows you to switch to the available play, record and transcode modes. The only available record modes on the Merlin board are “MPEG-2 (4:2:0)”, “MPEG-2 (4:2:2)”, and “MPEG-1”.
  • Page 32 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the recorder application shows you the currently selected reference input and allows you to switch to other input references. The input reference is what will be recorded when the record button is pressed as well as what will be seen on your output video monitor if viewing reference video is selected.
  • Page 33 Sample Rate – These radio buttons let you select the sample rate that the audio Analog to Digital converter should use. h) Panel Box Enable - This check box should be checked when the Merlin2003 is connected to a Skymicro Panel Box. Note AES 1 and 2 are not operational without a panel box connected.
  • Page 34 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the recorder application allows you to control the bitrate of the recorded MPEG-2 file. a) Max Bitrate – This allows you to set the maximum instantaneous bitrate used during recording.
  • Page 35 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This section of the recorder application allows you to specify a script file. Merlin has many commands that can control the recording process. Rather than have a control for every setting only the most common ones have controls and the rest can be implemented in a script file.
  • Page 36 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 2) Audio Settings – Opens a dialog box that lets you adjust the input audio gain and output audio level. e) Tools Help – This Menu option displays the Merlin about box.

  • Page 37: The Play List Editor

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6.2 The Play List Editor 1) This list box shows all the video and alpha files currently in the play list file. Files can be added to or deleted from this list box by using the File menu or by right clicking in the list box. Multiple files can be selected and files can be moved by using the mouse inside the list box.
  • Page 38 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder b) Options 1) Hide Toolbar – Turns on and off the toolbar. 2) Show Hints – Turns on and off hints when the mouse passes over a control. c) Windows 1) Video Play Preview –...
  • Page 39 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder The Audio Play List Editor is very similar to the Video Play List Editor with the exception that there is no alpha file setting. Refer to the description of the Video Play List Editor for a description of the Audio Play List Editor controls.

  • Page 40: The Program Stream Generator

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6.3 The Program Stream Generator 1) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select an audio file. This file may be a WAVE audio file or an MPEG audio file. If a WAVE audio file is selected it will be converted to MPEG audio during the Stream Generation process.

  • Page 41: The Program Stream Splitter

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder 6.4 The Program Stream Splitter 1) File button – This button brings up a dialog box allowing you to select an MPEG Program File. 2) File name – This text box specifies the current program file and also lets you type a file name directly.

  • Page 42: The Batch Recorder Utility

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder The Batch Recorder Utility allows multiple video files to be capture automatically. The utility can control any VTR that has an RS422 control port. The scheduled recordings can be started and stopped by matching times with VITC, LTC, 9 PIN (RS422) or TOD (Time of Day).
  • Page 43 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder located. Once a start and end time is located the In or Out button can be used to transfer the timecode to the batch list. 6) Record Time – These 2 time specify the total amount of time of all the jobs in the list and the time remaining to complete the batch list.
  • Page 44 Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder This window shows the list of batch job that will be recorded. Each job specifies Filename, In time, Out time, Duration, File format (Codec to use for record), Type (for MPEG this is VBR or CBR), Video Bitrate, Horizontal and Vertical resolution, GOP structure, Audio Bitrate, and which audio input to capture.

  • Page 45: Appendix A. Video Play List File

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Appendix A Video Play List Files A.0 Video Play List File Format The format of a Video Play List File is as follows: <Video File> <Starting Frame #> <Ending Frame #> <Repeat Count> <Alpha File> <Start Alpha @ Frame #>...

  • Page 46: Appendix B. Audio Play List File

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Appendix B Audio Play List Files B.0 Audio Play List File Format The format of an Audio Play List File is as follows: <Audio File> <Starting Frame #> <Ending Frame #> <Repeat Count>...

  • Page 47: Example Source Code Using Method

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Appendix C Writing your own Applications There are 2 Methods of interfacing to the Merlin2003 hardware. The first is though a high level interface that handles all file I/O and buffer management. The second method is through a lower level interface. The higher level interface is good for simple play and capture applications that only need to create files in elementary formats.

  • Page 48: Command Line Examples Using Method

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder also a pair of radio buttons for switching between play and record mode. The starting application was generated by running the MFC App Wizard in MFC 6.0 and selecting a simple dialog application. Only five subroutines have been added to the application, and a few lines have been added to the OnInitDialog();...

  • Page 49: Appendix D. Cable Pinouts

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Appendix D Cable Pinouts D.0 Cables 1) Digital Cable 2) Analog Cable 3) RS422 Control Cable Page 49...

  • Page 50: Merlin2003 Digital Cable

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Merlin 2003 Digital Cable Blue SDI VIDEO IN Signal Female BNC Ground Label Green SDI VIDEO OUT1 Signal Female BNC Ground Label SDI VIDEO OUT2 Signal Female BNC Ground Label...

  • Page 51: Merlin2003 Analog Cable

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Merlin 2003 Analog Cable Black Signal Ground S-Video In Female Mini DIN Signal Ground Female Mini DIN Label Front View Yellow C-Video In Signal Female RCA Ground Label White Left Audio In...

  • Page 52: Batch Recorder Serial Cable

    Merlin 2003 DV and MPEG-2 Recorder and Dual Stream Decoder Batch Recorder Serial Cable Page 52...

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