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ViewCast Niagara Pro II User Manual

Streaming media system
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Summary of Contents for ViewCast Niagara Pro II

  • Page 2 ViewCast Corporation is not responsible for any third-party license fees that may occur with the use of our products by an end user including but not limited to creating or distributing content. The user is responsible for any fees the Multimedia Patent Trust may apply for creating and distributing MPEG content.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Connecting the system ........................15 System menu ..........................16 Home page ............................. 17 Menu bar commands ........................17 Niagara Pro II browser windows flow .................... 19 Easy Setup ......................... 21 Web interface ..........................22 Easy first time set up ........................23 Connecting to an electrical power source ....................
  • Page 4 Video tab ..............................89 Audio tab ..............................93 Output tab .............................. 95 H.264 Presets tab ........................... 97 MPEG-4 Presets tab ..........................98 ® Editing a Microsoft Windows Media encoder ................99 Video tab .............................. 100 Audio tab .............................. 103 ViewCast...
  • Page 5 Niagara Pro II User Guide Output tab ............................104 DRM tab ............................... 107 Viewing encoder groups ......................108 Creating encoder groups......................109 Starting an encoder group ......................110 Stopping an encoder group ......................110 Editing encoder groups ........................ 111 Configuring the Preset ABC buttons .................... 112 Using Preset ABC buttons to start an encoder group ..............
  • Page 6 Set gateway address ..........................161 Set date and time ..........................162 Set video standard ..........................162 Factory restore ............................. 163 Export files menu ......................... 164 Export to USB drive ..........................164 Shutdown Niagara Pro II ........................164 Index ..........................165 ViewCast...

  • Page 7: Before You Begin

    3GPP and 3GPP2. You can configure and use the Niagara Pro II right out of the box for most streaming uses. For more advanced settings or to control your Niagara Pro II from another computer on the same network, use the client interface for the Niagara SCX remote management software.

  • Page 8: Conventions For This Guide

    CAUTION! Use case sensitive commands to avoid possible damage to keep from destroying… hardware or a system crash (without data loss). Provides information to ensure WARNING! WARNING! Do not touch you avoid potential injury, exposed wires. death, or permanent system damage. ViewCast...

  • Page 9: Rack Mount Safety Instructions

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Rack mount safety instructions Operating Temperature The operating ambient temperature of a rack environment may be greater than room ambient if installed in a closed or multi-unit rack assembly. Therefore, you should install the equipment in an environment compatible with the maximum ambient temperature of 40°...

  • Page 10: Fcc Notice

    WARNING! Modifications to this device not approved by ViewCast Corporation could void the FCC-granted authority for you to operate the device. WARNING! The Niagara Pro II complies with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when you operate the equipment in a commercial environment.

  • Page 11: Environmental Notices

    Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Directive 2002/95/EC, the RoHS directive. This product supplied to the European Union does comply with the RoHS directive. ViewCast certifies that this equipment shipped to the European Union conforms to the 2002/95/EC directive.

  • Page 12: Warnings

    These conditions can damage the system thereby voiding the limited warranty. Note: You may stack multiple Niagara Pro II units as these appliances accommodate stacking. Do not install the system in any area where the temperature is less than 5°C or more than 40°C.
  • Page 13  A dropped system ViewCast assumes no liability or responsibility for any damaged system that clients continue using. Use only attachments, accessories, or equipment specified by the manufacturer with the system. Using accessories or attachments not recommended by the encoder manufacturer voids the Limited Warranty.

  • Page 14: Installing Additional Software

    ViewCast Support can provide assistance should the system fail to start. In most cases, you can restore a system to operation without returning it to ViewCast. There is a fee in the event a user returns a system due to applications the user installed or if the system failed because the primary partition (drive C) is full.

  • Page 15: Overview

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Overview Before you can use your Niagara Pro II streaming media system, you first need to set up and configure it. This chapter is dedicated to providing you with the details and step-by-step instructions you need to make your installation as quick and easy as possible.

  • Page 16: Install Overview

    This section addresses the high-level actions you must perform to physically connect and set up your system. You must complete the following primary tasks to install the Niagara Pro II: 1. Address and comply with all prerequisites. 2. Connect the Niagara Pro II streaming media system using its power source.

  • Page 17: System Requirements

    Registration card If any components are missing or damaged, do not continue with the installation. Contact the ViewCast reseller from which you purchased your Niagara streaming media system for assistance in obtaining any missing parts or for parts replacement. System requirements Ensure your computer meets the following system requirements.

  • Page 18: Niagara Pro Ii Front Panel

    Overview Niagara Pro II front panel You should familiarize yourself with the front panel controls for the Niagara Pro II. Besides the basic buttons for power, start/stop, and audio volume control, several indicator lights also exist. Figure 2 and the table below illustrate the buttons and lights that constitute the front panel functions and interfaces.
  • Page 19 Press Enter to clear alarms from the log.  The LCD display shows the status and system menu and allows you to perform functions for the Niagara Pro II.  Press the Power button once to start the system. ...

  • Page 20: Niagara Pro Ii Back Panel

    Overview Niagara Pro II back panel The connectors and other components are on the Niagara Pro II back panel (Figure 3). Figure 3. Back Panel Using the reference chart below, you can connect the appropriate device and power to the Niagara Pro II.

  • Page 21: Connecting The System

    Connecting the system Complete the following steps to configure all Niagara Pro II connections. The example uses composite video input and unbalanced audio. The following steps refer to a direct connection to the Niagara Pro II only.

  • Page 22: System Menu

    The system menu (Figure 4) is located on the LCD panel on the front of the unit. The menu allows you to configure the Niagara Pro II quickly and easily. See Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) for a complete reference guide to the function available through the menu. You use the Up and Down arrow buttons to navigate through the different functions on the menu.

  • Page 23: Home Page

    The home page (Figure 5) is the first page presented after you log into the Niagara SCX remote management software. From this page, you can access the different pages for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the activities and alerts from Niagara Pro II. Figure 5. Niagara Pro II Home Page Menu bar commands The home page menu bar allows you to use Niagara SCX commands.
  • Page 24  View Alerts – View all alerts including the time and date for each alert.  Log Out Log out of the system and return to the web site login screen. ViewCast...

  • Page 25: Niagara Pro Ii Browser Windows Flow

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Niagara Pro II browser windows flow Figure 6 shows the interrelationship and flow of the available configuration windows you may use to configure the Niagara system. Figure 6. Niagara Pro II Browser Windows ViewCast...

  • Page 27: Easy Setup

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Easy Setup You use two interfaces to operate your Niagara Pro II streaming media system.  Front panel LCD display and buttons  Web interface through Niagara SCX remote management software You can perform most of the basic operations from the front panel.

  • Page 28: Web Interface

    All Encoders including Encoder Properties o Presets A, B, and C o Groups  Configuration o Machine Properties o Alerts including Settings o Network Properties o System Configuration  Status o Activity Log o Alerts  Log Out ViewCast...

  • Page 29: Easy First Time Set Up

    You should read all instructions, notices, and warnings in the Before You Begin section before getting started with your new Niagara Pro II hardware for the first time. Also, ensure you have all required parts and meet all system requirements before installing this product.

  • Page 30: Performing The Initial Startup

    Press Stop to move to the right. Press Stream to move to the left. Once you are satisfied with your settings, press Enter to accept the settings and move to the next screen to set the system clock (Figure 9). Niagara Pro II uses a 24-hour clock format for its system clock entries.

  • Page 31: Connecting To An Ip Network

    Figure 13. Booting screen Connecting to an IP network The Niagara Pro II network settings for its two 1,000 megabit network interfaces default to dynamically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server on the network. Note: If you are not familiar with network protocols, contact your network administrator for assistance.

  • Page 32: Changing The Network Settings

    Press Enter. The network settings screen appears (Figure 17). Figure 17. Network settings screen Note: Once you modify the setting, the system saves the changes until you modify the settings again or until you restore the system back to its original factory settings. 10. Select DHCP On/Off. ViewCast...
  • Page 33 Niagara Pro II User Guide 11. Press Enter. The enable DHCP screen appears (Figure 18). Figure 18. Enable DHCP screen Note: Press Menu to cancel this action and exit. 12. Select No. 13. Press Enter. The confirmation screen appears. Figure 19. Confirmation screen 14.
  • Page 34 Easy Setup Figure 22. Gateway Address screen 26. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to change the numeric value. 27. Press Stream to move to the next field. 28. Press Enter. The network settings screen appears. ViewCast...

  • Page 35: Basic Operations

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Basic Operations You may customize your encoder settings and assign specific encoder profiles using the front panel. Starting up If this is the first time you are using the system, refer to the First Start Setup section before continuing.

  • Page 36: Shutting Down

    Figure 27. Shutdown screens The system shuts down. You can also shut down the system using the following steps: Briefly press Power. The system stopping messages appear (Figure 28). Figure 28. System Stopping Messages After a few seconds, the system powers off. ViewCast...

  • Page 37: Starting An Encoder

    For example, you can stream Windows Media at full resolution (1 Mbps) and at the same time stream video at CIF resolution (300 kbps). The Niagara Pro II LCD displays a list of available encoder profiles you can use and the status of each. To start an encoder: Press Menu.
  • Page 38 10. Press Enter. A screen with the list of available groups appears (Figure 34). Figure 34. Group screen 11. Select the appropriate group. 12. Press Enter. A confirmation screen appears (Figure 35). Figure 35. Confirmation screen 13. Press Enter. A group is now assigned to the Preset button. ViewCast...

  • Page 39: Checking Cpu Usage

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Checking CPU usage When the system is idle (no encoders are streaming), the CPU percentage is normally 4 % or less. If one or more encoders are streaming, the percentage is much higher and fluctuates in a range of +/- 10 %.

  • Page 40: Stopping An Encoder

    When you insert a USB storage device in one of the USB ports on the system, it automatically detects the removable storage device, and assigns a drive letter to the device. This device can capture files directly or you can use the Export File function on the front panel menu. ViewCast...

  • Page 41: Exporting Captured Video Files

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Exporting captured video files You can export captured video files to an external USB storage device, but first you must set a default location through the web interface. Refer to Configuring default directory setting before completing the steps below.
  • Page 42 8. Select the desired file for export. Note: You can only select the USB root as a destination. 9. Press Enter. The exporting screens appear (Figure 45). Figure 45. Exporting Screens Note: When the system is finished exporting the file, remove the USB device. ViewCast...

  • Page 43: Advanced Operations

    The web interface works with any computer that has a current web browser and operating system. For the best experience, ViewCast recommends Internet Explorer or FireFox. The Niagara system must either reside on a shared IP network with the computer or can be directly connected to a Windows computer using an Ethernet cable (RJ45).
  • Page 44 Note: System administrators should previously configure all user names and passwords for those who they allow to log on to the system. 5. Press Login. The Welcome window and Menu Bar appear (Figure 50). Figure 50. Welcome Window ViewCast...

  • Page 45: Viewing All Encoders

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Viewing all encoders The Encoders window provides a list of all of the encoder profiles loaded on the Niagara Pro II. On the home page, click Encoders  All Encoders. Figure 51. Encoders Window Click this link to edit the encoder properties, streaming settings, and advanced streaming settings.

  • Page 46: Creating An Encoder

    4. Select the Publisher from the drop-down list. Note: This field is only valid for an Adaptive Live Streaming Encoder. 5. To use the same properties from another encoder, enable Clone Properties From. 6. Select the encoder from the drop-down list. 7. Click Create New Encoder. ViewCast...

  • Page 47: Starting An Encoder

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Starting an encoder To start an encoder, on the home page click Encoders  All Encoders. To start an encoder: 1. Click the red circle Stopped icon (Figure 53) in the Streaming column for the encoder you want to start streaming.

  • Page 48: Stopping An Encoder

    Note: If the encoder was saving to file, stopping can take longer than if that encoder was only streaming to the network. The Encoders window appears with the encoder status updated to reflect the Stopped mode and the streaming indicator changes to a red circle Stopped icon (Figure 58). Figure 58. Encoders Window ViewCast...

  • Page 49: Editing An Adaptive Apple Http Encoder

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Editing an Adaptive Apple HTTP encoder To create an adaptive encoder, Encoders  All Encoders  Create New Encoder link  Encoder Name field  Publisher drop-down list. When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical.

  • Page 50: Video Tab

    Osprey-5X0 Video Device 2.3  Osprey-5X0 Video Device 2.4 In the Input field, select the video input. IMPORTANT! The video input must match the connectors on the back of the system and your video source.  Composite  SVideo ViewCast...
  • Page 51 Niagara Pro II User Guide  SerialDigital  1394 Select the Proportions setting from the drop-down list.  Standard – Square pixels for a VGA monitor  CCIR601 – Elongated pixels for a TV monitor In the Input Size field, select the pre-determined size of the encoded video from the drop- down list.
  • Page 52 Select Add Statistics to overlay video statistics within the video stream for diagnostic purposes. Note: This feature is uses to add testing information to the stream and is not recommended for long term streaming sessions. 10. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 53: Adaptive Encoder Video Stream Table

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Adaptive encoder video stream table The adaptive encoder video stream table (Figure 64) contains five default streams. You can add a new stream, edit, delete, disable, and set which stream the player will use first. You can sort each column by clicking on the column heading.
  • Page 54 Click this link to disable this stream. The settings are still visible but appear to be “crossed out.” Note: If the setting is disabled, an Enable link displays here. Initial Click this link to have the player use this stream first. The settings for the initial stream appear in bold. ViewCast...

  • Page 55: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 66. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list. Options include:  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 AES/EBU  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 Balanced ...

  • Page 56: Output Tab

    Enter the name of the Subfolder used in the network destination and/or the local file system full filename. Enter the name of the variant playlist file in the Filename field. Enter the Number of Segments Per Folder. Select Stream to File System to enable archiving content to the file system. ViewCast...
  • Page 57 Niagara Pro II User Guide 10. Accept the default location that displays in the Folder field or choose your own location for the file. To choose your own personal location, select the link (horizontal ellipses or … ) to the right of the Folder field to display the options.

  • Page 58: Editing An Adaptive Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Encoder

    Start Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Encoder link in the top right corner of the window. IMPORTANT! If you make any changes to the Encoder Properties window, you must click Save Settings. Otherwise, all your changes will be lost. Figure 69. Adobe Flash Dynamic streaming encoder ViewCast...

  • Page 59: Video Tab

    To configure video settings: Select the video input Source from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 60 Adaptive encoder video stream table). Drag the sliders to adjust the Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 72). Figure 72. Video Filter Settings Note: Click the Restore button to the right of the filter to reset the settings to the default. ViewCast...
  • Page 61 Niagara Pro II User Guide Click the De-Interlace setting you want to apply (Figure 73). Options include:  None – Performs no de-interlacing of any kind.  Auto – Applies inverse telecine de-interlacing to all telecine video. – Applies motion adaptive de-interlacing to all video that is not telecine.
  • Page 62 Advanced Operations ViewCast...
  • Page 63 Niagara Pro II User Guide Encoder video stream table The adaptive encoder video stream table (Figure 74) contains five default streams. You can add a new stream, edit, delete, disable, and set which stream the player will use first. You can sort each column by clicking on the column heading.
  • Page 64 Note: Click Cancel to stop this action. Click this link to delete the stream. Disable Click this link to disable this stream. The settings are still visible but appear to be “crossed out.” Note: If the stream is disabled, the Enable link displays here. ViewCast...

  • Page 65: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 76. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list:  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 AES/EBU  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 Balanced  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 DV-1394 ...

  • Page 66: Output Tab

    Folder field and display the options (Figure 78). Note: By default, the system sets this folder to D:\AVFiles. See Connecting an external storage device for instructions on saving video files to a USB storage device. Figure 78. Select a folder ViewCast...
  • Page 67 Niagara Pro II User Guide WARNING! You can save media files only to drive D. Check drive properties for available free space to determine your storage capacity. A better practice would be to use a Flash Media server to save a file or to save it to a remote drive.

  • Page 68: Editing An Microsoft Adaptive Smooth Streaming Encoder

    Start Microsoft Smooth Streaming Encoder link in the top right corner of the window. IMPORTANT! If you make any changes to the Encoder Properties window, you must click Save Settings. Otherwise, all your changes will be lost. Figure 79. Microsoft Smooth Streaming encoder ViewCast...

  • Page 69: Video Tab

    To configure video settings: Select the video input Source from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 70 In the adaptive encoder video stream table, indicate which stream the player will use first (see Adaptive encoder video stream table). Drag the sliders to adjust the Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 82). Figure 82. Video Filter Settings ViewCast...
  • Page 71 Niagara Pro II User Guide Note: Click the Restore button to the right of the filter to reset the settings to the default. Click the De-Interlace setting you want to apply. Options include:  None – Performs no de-interlacing of any kind.

  • Page 72: Adaptive Encoder Video Stream Table

    The profile field has two settings:  Base – This profile is typically for video conferencing and mobile applications and has the lowest demands on CPU load and memory usage, but lowest resulting quality.  Main – This profile is targeted at standard-definition TV. ViewCast...
  • Page 73 Niagara Pro II User Guide When you hover your cursor over a stream setting, additional functions display (Figure 85). Figure 85. Additional functions Edit Click this link to change the settings for a particular stream. Click Update to accept the changes.

  • Page 74: Audio Tab

    IMPORTANT! The audio input must match the connectors on the back of the system and your audio source. Drag the sliders to adjust the Left Volume and Right Volume. (Optional) Select Mute Audio to silence the audio. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 75: Output Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Output tab Figure 87. Output tab To configure output settings: Select Publish to IIS Host. Enter the destination Host Address. Note: The Stream Path that displays is a combination of the host address and the publish point.
  • Page 76 Video On Demand services. Enter the Username. Note: You can enter a maximum of 80 characters. IIS authentication types supported are Basic and Digest. Enter the Password. Note: You can enter a maximum of 20 characters. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 77: Editing An Avi Encoder

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Editing an AVI Encoder To create an encoder, Encoders  All Encoders  Create New Encoder link  Encoder Name field. When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical.

  • Page 78: Video Tab

    To configure video settings: 1. Select the video input Source from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 79 Niagara Pro II User Guide 2. In the Input field, select the video input.  Composite  SVideo  SerialDigital  1394 IMPORTANT! The video input must match the connectors on the back of the system and your video source.
  • Page 80 Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Auto and Inverse Telecine choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. 9. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 81: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 94. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list.  Disabled  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 AES/EBU  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 Balanced ...
  • Page 82 Advanced Operations 4. (Optional) Select Mute Audio to silence the audio. 5. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 83: Output Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Output tab You can only save an AVI output to a file. Enter a unique name and location for this file or use the default name and location (Figure 95). Figure 95. Output Tab To configure output settings: You can either: ...
  • Page 84 If you inadvertently fill all available space, you risk losing your stream during a streaming event. IMPORTANT: The Niagara Pro II is designed for live streaming. Be careful saving AVI files. AVI files are uncompressed and large video sizes may require a greater transfer rate than the system can handle.

  • Page 85: Editing An Adobe Flash H.264 Encoder

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Editing an Adobe Flash H.264 encoder To create an encoder, Encoders  All Encoders  Create New Encoder link  Encoder Name field. When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical.

  • Page 86: Video Tab

    To configure video input settings: Select the video input Source from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 87 Niagara Pro II User Guide In the Input field, select the video input.  Composite  SVideo  SerialDigital  1394 IMPORTANT! The video input must match the connectors on the back of the system and your video source. The Proportions field has two settings: ...
  • Page 88 Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Auto and Inverse Telecine choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. 10. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 89: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 102. Audio tab To configure audio settings: In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list. IMPORTANT! The audio input must match the source connected on the back of the system and your audio source.
  • Page 90 Advanced Operations Drag the sliders to change the Left Volume and Right Volume. (Optional) Select Mute Audio to silence the audio. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 91: Output Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Output tab Figure 103. Output tab To configure output settings: Select Enable Streaming to enable live Flash streaming. Enter the proper IP address or Hostname in the Server Address field. Enter the Stream Name. Click the Authentication Type from the drop-down list. Options are available for streaming directly to Adobe, Akamai, and Limelight CDNs.
  • Page 92 A better practice would be to use the streaming server to save a file or to save it to a remote drive. If you fill all available space, you risk losing your stream during a streaming event. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 93: H.264 Presets Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide H.264 Presets tab These advanced presets affect the way the encoder performs and if set incorrectly may lead to abnormal encoder operations (Figure 105). Each preset (listed in the drop-down listcontains properties that you can modify. Refer to Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings for the type of video you are streaming.

  • Page 94: Editing An Mpeg-4 Encoder

    The system displays the Encoder Properties window for the selected encoder. IMPORTANT! If you make any changes to the Encoder Properties window, you must click Submit. Otherwise, all your changes will be lost. Figure 106. MPEG-4 Encoder Properties ViewCast...

  • Page 95: Video Tab

    To configure video settings: In the Source field, click a device from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 96 Click the type of Video Encoder for Internet video, mobile phones, set top boxes, and create media files for other MPEG-4 compatible devices according to the Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) types (refer to Table 1 and Table 2). IMPORTANT! Select the container type (MP4, 3GP, or 3G2) on the Output tab. ViewCast...
  • Page 97 Niagara Pro II User Guide Enter the frames per second in the Frame Rate field. Enter the kilobits per second in the Bitrate field. In the Format field, indicate the color space format. Drag the sliders to adjust the Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 109).
  • Page 98 Table 2. Valid output container selections for video encoder types Container H.263 Video MPEG-4 Video H.264 Video         IMPORTANT! You must select container type 3GP or 3G2 on the Output tab before video encoder H263 will appear on video tab. ViewCast...

  • Page 99: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 111. Audio tab To configure audio settings: In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list:  Disabled  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 AES/EBU  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 Balanced ...
  • Page 100 AAC achieves better audio quality than MP3. AAC and MP3 are MPEG standards. Click the Bitrate from the drop-down list. Drag the sliders to change the Left Volume and Right Volume. (Optional) Select Mute Audio to silence the audio. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 101: Output Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Output tab Figure 112. Output tab To configure output settings: Click the Enable Streaming checkbox to stream your audiovisual content via RTSP. Set the appropriate streaming properties. Note: The default settings will enable multicast streaming. If you do not want this, change the IP address for Group to the IP address of the server to which you want to stream from the encoder.
  • Page 102 Click the Container Type (Table 2). Select the Enable Injection check box to inject an SDP file onto your server. Enter the username and password. 10. Enter the Server SDP File Name. 11. Enter the Server Port Number. 12. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 103: H.264 Presets Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide H.264 Presets tab Figure 114. H.264 Presets tab To configure H.264 presets: Click the Custom Preset from the drop-down list. Click Edit next to the setting you want to modify. IMPORTANT! These advanced settings affect the way the encoder performs and if set incorrectly may lead to abnormal encoder operations.

  • Page 104: Mpeg-4 Presets Tab

    Click the Restore Defaults link at the bottom of the window to return the settings to the default. Note: The database has seven profiles. Clicking Restore Defaults for one profile will change all profiles back to the default settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 105: Editing A Microsoft Windows Media Encoder

    Niagara Pro II User Guide ® Editing a Microsoft Windows Media encoder To create an encoder, Encoders  All Encoders  Create New Encoder link  Encoder Name field. When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical.

  • Page 106: Video Tab

    To configure video settings: In the Source field, select a device from the drop-down list. Note: Because the Niagara Pro II is a two-channel encoder, you can capture from two independent audio and video sources at any given time. However, you can also capture multiple streaming formats and resolutions simultaneously from the same video source.
  • Page 107 Niagara Pro II User Guide In the Input field, select the video input:  Composite  SVideo  SerialDigital  1394 IMPORTANT! The video input must match the source connected on the back of the system and your video source.
  • Page 108 Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Auto and Inverse Telecine choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 109: Audio Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Audio tab Figure 121. Audio tab To configure audio settings: In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list.  Disabled  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 AES/EBU  Osprey-5X0 Audio 1 Balanced ...

  • Page 110: Output Tab

    Note: The more direct connections to the system, the more system resources are required. ViewCast does not recommend directly connecting players to the system. Streaming servers should connect to the system and, in turn, players should connect to the servers.
  • Page 111 Niagara Pro II User Guide Figure 122. Output tab To configure output settings: Click on a Windows Media Capture Profile. Select Enable Pull. Enter a port number that the server will use to pull the stream. Select Enable Push. IMPORTANT! Be sure to enter a port number not already assigned to another encoder.
  • Page 112 A better practice would be to use the streaming server to save a file or to save it to a remote drive. If you inadvertently fill all available space, you risk losing your stream during a streaming event. 12. Click Save Settings. ViewCast...

  • Page 113: Drm Tab

    Niagara Pro II User Guide DRM tab You can protect your content using a technology called Digital Rights Management (DRM). Niagara SCX allows you to encrypt your content with DRM technology while you are encoding. You can apply DRM while encoding to a file and when broadcasting a stream. Users are required to obtain a license to play to content.

  • Page 114: Viewing Encoder Groups

    The Encoder Groups window (Figure 125), a subset of Encoders (on the Encoders window), allows you to view the list of encoder groups available for assignment to the Niagara Pro II. Click Encoders  Groups from the menu bar on the home page.

  • Page 115: Creating Encoder Groups

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Creating encoder groups If two encoders try to use the same port number at the same time, an error will occur. Select the Create New Group link on the Encoder Groups window. The encoder groups fields display (Figure 126).

  • Page 116: Starting An Encoder Group

    To stop an encoder group, click the Stop link to the right in the Stop column of the group you want to stop. The encoder group will stop in a few seconds. The system displays any errors on the Stopping window while the group stops. ViewCast...

  • Page 117: Editing Encoder Groups

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Editing encoder groups Select the Edit link on the Encoder Groups window. The encoder group fields display (Figure 127). Figure 127. Encoder Groups To edit encoder groups: Enter the name of the group. Click on the preset button you want to assign to this encoder group.

  • Page 118: Configuring The Preset Abc Buttons

    If you previously assigned an encoder to a letter and you attempt to assign it to another letter, the Niagara Pro II will remove the association to the previous button in favor of the most current request. An Edit Encoder link appears next to the View All Encoders link at the bottom of the window if an encoder is assigned to this button.
  • Page 119 Niagara Pro II User Guide To assign Preset A: Click the drop-down list in the Select a Group field. A complete list of all groups available appears. Select a group. Click Submit. The Encoder Preset A window updates with the encoder information.

  • Page 120: Using Preset Abc Buttons To Start An Encoder Group

    Figure 131. Assign an Encoders Screen Note: You must define encoder groups before you can assign them to a Preset button. Use the Up and Down arrows to select Yes. Press Enter. The select group screen appears (Figure 132). Figure 132. Select Group Screen ViewCast...

  • Page 121: Viewing All Encoders

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Press Enter. A screen with the list of available groups appears (Figure 133). Figure 133. Group Screen Use the Up and Down arrows to select the appropriate group. Press Enter. A confirmation screen appears (Figure 134).

  • Page 122: Configuring Machine Properties

    Configuring machine properties The Machine Properties window (Figure 137) provides details on software versions, network name, serial number, and hard drive configurations. Click Configuration  Niagara Pro II Properties from the menu bar on the home page. Figure 137. Machine Properties Most of the data on this window provides information only and users cannot alter it.

  • Page 123: Changing Computer Name

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Changing computer name The Computer Name field contains the current network name for the Niagara system. This name is the same name you typed into the web browser to access the Niagara SCX web interface.

  • Page 124: Changing The Login Password From The Factory Default

    Changing the login password from the factory default The Niagara Pro II Properties section has two fields: User Name and Serial Number. Only the User Name field can be changed, which changes the User Password from the factory default (Figure 140).

  • Page 125: Configuring Alerts

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Configuring alerts Click Configuration  Alerts from the menu bar on the home page. The Alerts Window (Figure 142) allows you to configure alerts for different situations that may occur during streaming or other operations.

  • Page 126: Configuring Network Properties

    Configuring network properties The Network Properties window (Figure 143) provides detailed information on the current network settings for the Niagara Pro II Network Cards. Click Configuration  Network Properties from the menu bar on the home page. Figure 143. Network Properties Window...

  • Page 127: Configuring Ip Address

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Configuring IP address Depending on your system configuration, you may need to configure the IP Address (Figure 145). Figure 145. IP Address To configure IP Address: Click the Use the following IP information checkbox. Enter the appropriate information in the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, Preferred DNS Server and Alternate DNS Server fields.

  • Page 128: System Configuration Settings

    This window also allows you to restore your system to its original factory disk image and return all the system settings to their original states. Using the Restore Niagara Pro II Factory defaults option removes all custom settings. It takes approximately 15 to 40 minutes to complete.

  • Page 129: Setting Current System Configuration

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Setting current system configuration You can set the current time, date, and the video standard for all encoders (Figure 148). Figure 148. Current System Configuration To set current time: Click the Hour in the drop-down list.

  • Page 130: Configuring Email/Smtp Settings

    Enter the password if required. Note: For security purposes, the password for your account does not display once the system enters it into the Niagara Pro II settings. Although this field appears blank after you click Submit, the system retains the password information.

  • Page 131: Configuring Idle Screen Information

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Configuring idle screen information You can modify the information displayed in the LCD display on the front panel. The information you select cycles through the LCD display screen and alternates between status and encoder information (Figure 150).

  • Page 132: Configuring Default Directory Setting

    Configuring default directory setting The Niagara Pro II stores AV files when you select the Save to File option in the encoder profile in the Default AV Folder field (Figure 151). Refer to the Save to File option under the Flash Encoder Properties sections for information on setting an encoder profile to create an AV file.

  • Page 133: Setting Cpu Thresholds

    You also may set the time between repetitive intervals for checking the CPU threshold. Figure 152. Encoder Startup Settings Note: ViewCast recommends a CPU threshold setting of 80 % or lower. Setting SimulStream filters You may indicate the number of SimulStream filters per video device using the SimulStream Settings field (Figure 153).

  • Page 134: Restore Factory Defaults

    You may then use the web interface tool to reset the time, date, and video format. Click the Restore Niagara Pro II Factory defaults link on the Configuration  System Configuration Settings window to start the process. The resulting window (Figure 154) allows you to return to the Home Page, thereby cancelling this action, or continue with the restore action.

  • Page 135: Viewing The Activity Log

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Viewing the activity log The Activity Log records the encoder Start and Stop events (Figure 155). The system updates the log for every event including the date and time. To view the activity log, on the home page click Status ...
  • Page 136 Advanced Operations  Warnings Displays a description of the activity. Click this link to clear all logged activities. Displays the total number of records for the selected view type. Click the printer icon for a printer ViewCast...

  • Page 137: Viewing Alerts

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Viewing alerts Click Status  View Alerts from the home page. The system records the encoder events that register as alerts (Figure 156). The Alerts Window updates with every alert event on the system. The alerts include any specific alert events for the encoder.

  • Page 138: Connecting An External Storage Device

    Connecting an external storage device The Niagara Pro II has three USB ports, one on the front panel and two on the rear panel. You can connect almost any standard USB device to one or both of these ports. This allows you to export any audiovisual files you created on the local storage drive of the Niagara Pro II.

  • Page 139: Appendix A: Drm For Windows Media

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Appendix A: DRM for Windows Media You can protect your content using a technology called Digital Rights Management (DRM). Niagara SCX allows you to encrypt your content with DRM technology while you are encoding. You can apply DRM while encoding to a file and when broadcasting a stream.
  • Page 140 Open the Remote Desktop Connection (Figure 157). Figure 157. Remote Desktop Connection Click Options. The setting tabs display. Click the Local Resources tab. Under Remote computer sound, click Leave at remote computer option from the drop- down list (Figure 158). Figure 158. Local Resources Tab ViewCast...
  • Page 141 Copy the DRM profiles to a protected location on the encoding system to ensure they are not removed or erased accidentally (Figure 160). Note: ViewCast recommends you create a new directory on drive D and use this directory to store your DRM profiles.
  • Page 142 Figure 162. New Session Wizard Click Properties under the top menu bar ( Figure 163 Figure 163. Properties Tab 12. Click the Security tab. 13. Click Import and browse to the location of the DRM profiles on the system’s hard drive. ViewCast...
  • Page 143 Note: If the system prompts if you want to save your encoding session, click No option. 17. Disconnect Remote Desktop Connection from Niagara Pro II (Figure 165). Do not log out. Figure 165. Disconnect Remote Desktop 18. Restart the system.

  • Page 145: Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings H.264 Presets In general, the Main Profile Default presets for the H.264 encoder Custom Presets will meet your streaming requirements. For devices with restricted bandwidths and under certain conditions such as low bit rates, motion specific, or constant bit rate applications, you may need to adjust the Advanced Encoder Settings values in each line.

  • Page 146: Settings

    This value determines whether something in a block is a detail or not when deblocking is applied to it. Lower values apply less deblocking to more flat blocks with detail present and more deblocking to blocks without detail. Higher values cause more ViewCast...
  • Page 147 Niagara Pro II User Guide Setting Explanation deblocking to be applied to less flat blocks with details present. Raising the value of Beta deblocking is a good way to get rid of ringing artifacts by applying more aggressive filtering to blocks that are not very flat. Lowering the value of Beta deblocking is a good way to reduce the amount of DCT blocks without blurring the entire picture.
  • Page 148 CPU load. This value can also improve visual quality at lower bit rates. However, settings above 0 are applicable for Main or High Profile in the Custom Presets. ViewCast...

  • Page 149: Mpeg-4 Presets

    Niagara Pro II User Guide MPEG-4 Presets In general, the Main Profile Default presets for the H.264 encoder Custom Presets will meet your streaming requirements. For devices with restricted bandwidths and under certain conditions such as low bit rates, motion specific, or constant bit rate applications, you may need to adjust the Advanced Encoder Settings values in each line.

  • Page 150: Settings

    Setting this value causes the encoder to select what motion estimation method to use. 5 is the default for MPEG4 encoding. You can use higher values but they can increase CPU and memory usage, sometimes with no significant gain in quality. ViewCast...
  • Page 151 Niagara Pro II User Guide Setting Explanation MotionEstimationPenaltyCompensation Setting this value causes the encoder to apply a compensation for any errors that arise in the motion estimation while encoding the video. The actual value of 256 corresponds to a value of 1.0 and is set to maximum as the default.
  • Page 152 This value performs Trellis quantization to increase the visual quality of the encoded video by determining the optimal encoding: the higher the value, the better the video quality but the higher the CPU usage. This value can also improve visual quality at lower bit rates. ViewCast...

  • Page 153: Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup

    One account for the username SCXUser The shared folder is created on the remote PC with full access for both Niagara Pro II and SCXUser. On the Niagara Pro II, the mapped network drive is created to reconnect at logon using the SCXUser username.
  • Page 154 Enable Password never expires. Figure 167. New User window Click Create. Repeat steps 5 through 13 to create the user SCXUser using the password viewcast. Click Close. The two new users appear in the users list. Figure 168. Added Users...
  • Page 155 Niagara Pro II User Guide In Computer Management, click Groups. Figure 169. Groups Double-click on Administrators. Click Add. Figure 170. Administrators Properties window Click Add. The Select Users window displays. Click Locations. ViewCast...
  • Page 156 Select the PC, then click OK. Figure 171. Locations window Enter niagarapro2 for the object name, and then click OK. The user niagarapro2 appears in the list of Administrators. Figure 172. Administrator Properties Repeat steps 19 through 22 to add SCXUser as an administrator. ViewCast...
  • Page 157 Niagara Pro II User Guide To create the shared folder: Note: The shared folder(s) must be created on the remote PC. Open Computer. Open the drive where the shared folder will be created. Right click, select New, then Folder. Figure 173. Create new folder Enter a name for the folder (for example, NPShare).
  • Page 158 Right click on the folder, and then select Properties. Figure 175. Folder Properties window Click on the Sharing tab. Click Share. The File Sharing window displays. Type a name and then click Add, or click the arrow to select someone from the drop-down list. ViewCast...
  • Page 159 Note: Create a mapped network drive to the remote shared folder that will reconnect at logon. Once the mapped drive is created and the Niagara Pro II is rebooted, the user will be able to export to the network drive.
  • Page 160 Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup Click OK. Click Finish. After a few moments, the network share will open. Close the window. The mapped drive will now appear in My Computer under Network Drives. Reboot the Niagara Pro II. ViewCast...

  • Page 161: Appendix D: System Menu (Lcd Display)

    This section provides the detail of the LCD menu tree. It is intended to be a complete reference to all levels and functions accessible using the Niagara Pro II front panel LCD display. It is designed to be a visual reference of the LCD screen including the front panel button action to move to the next screen.

  • Page 162: Encoder Menu

    Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Encoder menu Encoder start Encoder stop Encoder status ViewCast...

  • Page 163: Access Health Menu

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Access health menu CPU status Memory available ViewCast...

  • Page 164: Setup System Menu

    Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Setup system menu Network link status Network MAC address ViewCast...

  • Page 165: View Network Settings

    Niagara Pro II User Guide View network settings Enable DHCP ViewCast...

  • Page 166: Set Static Ip Addresses

    Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Set static IP addresses ViewCast...

  • Page 167: Set Gateway Address

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Set gateway address ViewCast...

  • Page 168: Set Date And Time

    Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Set date and time Set video standard ViewCast...

  • Page 169: Factory Restore

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Factory restore Note: This process takes approximately 10 minutes, please be patient. ViewCast...

  • Page 170: Export Files Menu

    Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Export files menu Export to USB drive Shutdown Niagara Pro II ViewCast...

  • Page 171: Index

    Niagara Pro II User Guide Index audience for publication, 1 Access Health, 33 Audio tab, 74 Output Tab, 76 Access health menu, 33 Video tab, 71 Active Network Link field, 120 AVI Encoder Properties, 70 Activity Log fields, 128 Adaptive Apple...
  • Page 172 Confirmation screen, 25, 27, 32 Confirmation Screen, 114 Easy First Time Set Up, 23 Connecting Easy Setup, 21 the Niagara Pro II, 15 Editing the power source, 23 encoder groups, 110 to an electrical power source, 23 Encoder Groups, 110...
  • Page 173 Niagara Pro II User Guide Environmental Notices, 5 Export File, 34 Local Resources Tab, 134 Export files, 35 Locations window, 150 Exporting captured video files, 35 Logging in, 37 Exporting Screens, 36 Machine Properties, 115 FCC Notice, 4 Mapping the network drive, 153...
  • Page 174 Appendix D: System Menu (LCD Display) Niagara Pro II Browser Window, Flow of, 19 Select a Group, 112 Niagara Pro II Browser Windows Flow, 19 Select group screen, 32 Niagara Pro II Front Panel diagram, 12 Select Group Screen, 113...
  • Page 175 View Alerts, 130 System Requirements, 11 View All Encoders, 114 System Stopping Messages, 30 View the list of encoder groups, 107 ViewCast Niagara Pro II, Picture of, 1 Time Screen, 24 Warnings, 6 Warranties, 9 USB Device screen, 35 Web interface, 22...
  • Page 176 ©2012 ViewCast Corporatioon. ViewCast®, Niagara® (and design)™ are registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Product specifications and availability may change without notice. 40-03230-06-A...

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