Archive of the Test and Measurement Category

Ensemble Designs has assembled a useful instruction booklet. Called, “How to choose the best signal sync pulse generator for your facility,” it explains what SPG/SPGs do and how to connect them.

Granted it is a product-specific tutorial and you will see only Ensemble Designs solutions discussed. However, the booklet is especially useful for those less familiar with TSG/SPG use and operation. And, it provides good background on video signals, tri-level sync issues and 3Gb/s. It’s definitely worth a read. You can find the booklet at www.ensembledesigns.com.

Sometimes companies cooperate to create innovative solutions. That’s the case with Network Electronics and Skyline Communications. Rather than reinvent the world, Network Electronics has integrated Skyline’s DataMiner Network Management System (NMS) with its Flashlink, VikinX and Ventura products. The resulting combination enables customers to monitor and control a variety of video transport solutions from a single consolidated user interface. Behind the scenes, DataMiner NMS is a comprehensive open platform solution that can support the integration of third-party products. Through the addition of an advance feature set, Network’s GYDA control system and AEMS (Advanced Element Monitoring System) can now be accessed from the DataMiner NMS.

This allows Network’s customers to deploy an umbrella network monitoring approach and provides broadcasters, telcos and other video transporters with a simplified consolidated overview of their entire network activities through DataMiner. more

Cindy Zuelsdorf demonstrated several of Ensemble Designs nine new products for IBC2008. One was the BrightEye 57, a test signal and sync pulse generator for HD, SD and 3Gb/s apps. The new generator measures is portable or with a kit, rack mountable, and comes with programmable outputs; trilevel sync, HD-SDI, SD-SDI, 3G, composite, AES and LTC.

The test gen can provide more than 30 different test patterns, including bars and pathogenic. Control takes place either from the front panel or via a PC. Users can even load custom test patterns and audio clips into the BrightEye 57.

Ensemble Designs is at stand 8.C90.

Watch a demo of the BrightEye 57 on Broadcast Engineering TV.

Related article: New BrightPak takes Ensemble Design BrightEye gear into the field

I got an in-booth demo of Wohler’s HDMon-260, a production-grade 26in widescreen TFT display for HD field and studio monitoring applications. The monitor accepts video signals up to 1920 x 1080/60p and enabling the monitoring of digital HD-SDI, SD-SDI and DVI signals; analog composite, component and RGBHV video; and CGI images up to WUXGA resolution without the need for optional cards. Sure would make my PC look great!

With the monitor’s built-in noise reduction, motion interpolation and motion-adaptive processing the user always sees crisp, clear display of images, regardless of their native resolution. The monitor can be used as either a desktop monitor or in a rack-mount configuration, the HDMon-260 display offers HD resolution, a choice of 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios, user-adjustable scaling, and up to 176 degrees of off-axis viewing without the image and color distortions. You can see the monitor at stand 9.E40.

Related articles: Wohler adds 26in HD monitor to HDMon family; Wohler unveils new widescreen TFT display

Harris has added a new, low-cost, HD signal monitor to its Videotek TVM series of test instruments. The Videotek TVM-4DG multiformat waveform monitor/vectorscope is an easy-to-operate tool for monitoring HD-SDI (1080 and 720) and SD-SDI (525 and 625) signals in a convenient half-rack scope package. The TVM-4DG enables a precision presentation of any one of waveform, vector, picture or Videotek-patented timing screens.

For the rapidly-developing 3Gb/s needs, Harris is showing a 3Gb/s video input module for its Videotek TVM and VTM products. This allows monitoring of the new progressively scanned, high frame-rate HD formats, including 1080p. When the new OPT-3GB module is inserted into existing TVM and VTM products, engineers can high-bandwidth 1080p signals. With the inclusion of a 3Gb/s signal source, the module offers an affordable, field-upgradeable solution, and includes a color-bar generator for verifying 1080p signal paths. more

Genelec showed its 6010A active loudspeaker optimized for close proximity listening applications. Its small size, sound quality and rugged construction make it ideal for a traveling professional user.

The unit contains power amplifiers, active crossover filters and automatic protection circuitry. It does not require external amplifiers.

RCA connectors provide direct connection to a computer sound card, portable MP3 player or preamp.

Check out a demo of the Genelec 6010 on Broadcast Engineering TV.