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Blackmagic Studio Card Testing Results

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Overview We purchased the BM Studio 4K to ingest videos.  The card worked great.  When setting up the second rack of equipment we decide to save some money as we didn't need the 4K features and the Studio 2 looked like it would do the job as all of our captures were analogue or low end digital.  The Studio 2 had some issues in our flow.

Studio 2 Issues

When testing we found that captures using the Studio 2 contained black frames "randomly" throughout the capture.  The same tape captured using the Studio 4K worked fine.  We used ffmpeg's blackframe option to test the files.  One file had over 400 black frames and the same file had 4 using the 4K.  During our testing we would replace the capture card, driver, and software in Rack#2 so that no other hardware was suspect.

I talked to Peter B for the Austrian archive and he mentioned that he recalled issues like that with the Studio 2 card.

The conclusion was that both Studio cards are designed for the broadcast field and both expect reasonably clean signals.  If the signal drops below the tolerance level then the frame if made black!  Obviously, Studio 2 has much lower tolerance than Studio 4K.

Solution

We bought a Blackmagic mini Analogue to SDI converter.  In Rack#2 we feed the component from the TBC into the A/D convertor along with the audio.  The A/D converter outputs the clean signal to the Studio 2 SDI input.

Rack#1 versus Rack#2 Setup

Overview We currently have two equipment racks that contain more or less similar video equipment.  The goal is to have two racks so that we can ingest two streams of video.

Flow to DVD recorder

Connections need to be set up between the VCR and the Toshiba DVD recorder.

Flow to PC

Each rack has basically four capture flows:

1)  IEEE 1394 or firewire to PC

Generally this applies only to the DVcam and miniDV decks.  The firewwire directly connects from the deck to the PC.  The PC can also control the deck.  Capture can be done using Vegas or Virtualdub (DV NTSC batch).

2)  Canopus and firewire to PC

Any of the consumer decks can be routed to the Canopus via RCA or RCA and S-Video.  Vegas DV capture is used to capture the footage.

3)  TBC and component to PC

Any consumer deck and the Umatic deck can be connected to the TBC via s-video or composite or Umatic dub.  The TBC (DPS-295) outputs via the component cables.  In Rack#1 the component plugs into the Blackmagic Studio 4K  capture card.  In Rack#2 the component and the audio plug into the Blackmagic mini Analogue to SDI and that via SDI to the Blackmagic Studio 2 capture card.  On the PC capture can be do via Vegas (HD capture) or Virtualdub or BM Media Express.

4)  SDI to PC

Some of the professional decks such as the Digibeta and the DVcam decks can output SDI directly into the BM Studio capture card.  Capture on the PC can be done via Vegas (HD capture) or Virtualdub or BM Media Express.

Nikon 5000 Film and Slide Scanner - not working on Apollo2

Overview It appears that the Nikon film scanner is no longer working properly on Apollo2 (new Dell with Win10).

Problem

Slide scanning works fine.  Scanning negatives works fine IF you do not use ICE!  If you scan negatives normally (with ICE) you get an scanner error pop up after the first negative of the strip is scanned.  If you check the log is says:

ERROR: Acquisition Failure.
The image was not saved.
Occasionally, the first negative will scan and it will error out on the next negative.
After doing some research online it appears that the driver is having a problem with PC's that have a fast CPU and etc.  I thought it maight be an issue with a damaged (outer shell was a bit broken) USB cable....but I tested with a new cable and it still had the same problem.
Solution
We know that it worked fine with Win7 and Apollo (old PC).  So, for now we've moved the scanner to Flag which is still running on WinXP.

ERROR: Acquisition Failure.The image was not saved.

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File Sharing With Customers

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Overview Our goal is to efficiently send files to customers.  The challenge has been to send these large files in a timely manner.

We upgraded our internet from Shaw's 5/50 to Telus' 20/100Mbps in order to send files faster to our customers.

We tried sending a 1GB file using DropBox and Paul's LicketyLink (Amazon backend) and they both show speeds of about 1.4Mbps.  Google Drive showed about 17Mbps.  When I checked the route trace it show 3 hops for Drive and about 13 or 14 for the other two.

Now we have a Synology NAS set up and we just tried the file sharing using a 1.56GB video file.

Hans had some trouble with Chrome and Edge hanging and got it to work with Firefox....took more than 1 hour.  Han's download speed with Shaw is 7Mbps.  Assuming 1 hour for Hans...his speed was less than 3.5Mpbs (and this was during a busy internet time...afternoon).

Doug also tried the same file and downloaded it in about 15 minutes using Chrome.  Doug has Telus and 25Mbps download.  Assuming 15 minutes, Doug's speed was about 14Mbps.

Conclusion

We will now start using the NAS file sharing capability to send files to our customers.

How

Log into the NAS.  Browse to the file you want to share  on U or R.  Right click the file and select the share option at the bottom of the list.  Place a password on the file, leave the default of valid for 1 week, and capture the link.  Past the link into an email to the customer.

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Print DVD or CD

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Overview Using the Epson Print CD program to print on watershield discs I've noticed that a number of times the pictures have a green tint to them.

Setup

Xavier has the printer directly connected to it.  Apollo2 goes through the network to print to Xavier.

Tried

1) Tried printing from Apollo2 and no matter what I change the green tint remains.

2) Tried printing directly from Xavier and there I could change the tint to acceptable.

Solution - What Worked

On Xavier I printed the DVD watershield surface and it looked better.  Here's what I did:

1)  Opened the Epson Print CD program and loaded the background image that I wanted to print.

2) Select the Print button.

3) Print window should have:  Media Type:  CD/DVD;  Print Color Correction:  +1

4) Click the "Manual Print" button / printer properties / shortcuts tab

5) Select custom printing preset:  "DVD minus green tint"

To Setup Custom Color Control

1) Click the "Manual Print" button / printer properties / advanced tab

a) settings should be "color controls" and "Epson vivid"

b) click the "settings" button and make sure  settings are (or something similar):

saturation: +7

cyan:  -13;  magneta:  +11;  yellow: +2

c) save as "custom settings"

Retro Scanner Changing

Overview Sometimes you find you need to change the Retro scanner.  Here are a collection of hints and changes:

Putting software in diag mode:

In the software's window, push the following to go into diag mode, and push again to exit:   <ctrl><alt><shft>A

This will show the window with sprockets and an 'A' in the window.

Lens on LED

The lens on the LED cluster focuses the beam of light and makes the beam brighter.  The issue we found with the lens is that the beam of light did not get completely diffused.  This caused an uneven cast of light which showed up badly on B&W negative with night time shots (the film looks almost clear....but when inverted in post, the black scene has light leaking in from the right).

Changing the aperature on the lens

After removing the LED lens the light dropped off to the point where we needed to crank the exposure to the top...but we do now have the light diffused!   We need to open the aperature of the lens:

  • unscrew the lens from the mount
  • find the 3 philips screws on the aperature ring and loose them
  • move the aperature ring to the lowest number ... 2.8
  • place lens back
  • now go to focus.....because aperature has lowered, the focus has become more narrow and more critical to be bang on

Now adjust the focus

  • loosen the thumb screw while the lens is not mounted
  • mount lens back in the socket
  • put the retro software into diag mode
  • on the Retro board, flip the 5th dip switch (this disables the motors from running during testing)
  • get a good focused film clip in the gate
  • make sure that the film clip is flat down on the gate
    • it helps to lock both the take-up and the feed reels and tighten the film between both reels
  • adjust the focus ring until the software screen shows sharp
  • BTW (in the diag mode, the screen will seem brighter)
  • hold the focus ring and tighten the thumb screw (while tightening make sure the focus ring does not slip).
    • This action is not simple.  The thumb screw cannot be tightened while the lens is mounted.  This means that you need to remove the lens while not changing the focus ring!  Then you can tighten the thumb screw and remount the lens.
  • Double check the focus and make sure it has not changed.
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Installing Nikon Scan 4.0.3 in Windows 10 Pro 64bit

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Managed to install the Nikon driver and software into Win10 using the following article: http://blog.controlspace.org/2010/05/nikon-scan-on-windows-7-and-vista-64.html

Here it is:

Last Updated 8/23/2015 (adds mention of Windows 8 & 10 support)

There are various instructions around the internet that describe how to get Nikon Scan working on a 64-bit system.  My instructions are slightly different and use only modified installation files from Nikon (nothing from Vuescan is used).  Before I list the instructions, this will only work with and has only been tested with the following devices and operating systems:

  • Devices
    • Nikon Coolscan IV ED
    • Nikon Coolscan V ED
    • Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED
  • 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10
Here are the instructions to get this setup working:
  1. The driver included with Nikon Scan is an older 'unsigned' driver. Newer versions of Windows will only allow you to install 'signed' drivers but there is an option to enable installation of 'unsigned' drivers. Before you can install the Nikon scanner driver as detailed in the next steps, you will need to look for instructions specific to your operating system version for how to enable installation of 'unsigned' drivers. After you have done this, proceed to the next step.
  2. Install Nikon Scan 4.0.3 Vista 32-bit software. This was the last version of Nikon Scan that Nikon released before they ended support for the software. Windows will probably want to reboot after this step.
  3. At this point the scanner will not work so you will have to update the driver for the scanner with a modified version of Nikon's Setup Information File (.INF file) that works on 64-bit systems.  Create the file 'NikonUSBScanner.inf' with the contents shown below and save it somewhere like C:\Temp\Nikon (or just download NikonUSBScanner.inf):
    ; NikonUSBScanner.INF -- Windows Still Image Setup File of ; Nikon USB Scanners for Windows Vista/7/8/10 64-bit ; Manufacturer: Original by Nikon, Modifications for 64-bit by Chris Rawlings

    [Version] Signature="$CHICAGO$" Class=Image ClassGUID={6bdd1fc6-810f-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f} Provider=%ProviderStr% DriverVer=08/22/2009,1.0

    ;[ControlFlags] ;ExcludeFromSelect=*

    [Manufacturer] %Mfg%=DeviceModels,ntamd64

    [DeviceModels.ntamd64] %DeviceDescLS0040%=USBScanner,USB\VID_04B0&PID_4000 %DeviceDescLS0050%=USBScanner,USB\VID_04B0&PID_4001 %DeviceDescLS5000%=USBScanner,USB\VID_04B0&PID_4002

    ;///// USBSCANInstallSection ///// ;** Windows Vista/7/8/10 section ** [USBScanner.ntamd64] Include=sti.inf Needs=STI.USBSection SubClass=StillImage DeviceType=1 DeviceSubType=0x4000 Capabilities=0 AddReg=NKUSBSCN.AddReg CopyFiles=NKUSBSCN.CopyUSDFiles

    [USBScanner.ntamd64.Services] Include=sti.inf Needs=STI.USBSection.Services

    [NKUSBSCN.AddReg] HKR,,HardwareConfig,1,4 HKR,,DevLoader,,*NTKERN HKR,,NTMPDriver,,usbscan.sys HKR,DeviceData,ICMProfile,1,0,0 HKR,,USDClass,,"{07C71AC0-FA90-11d3-B409-00C04F87578E}" HKCR,CLSID\{07C71AC0-FA90-11d3-B409-00C04F87578E},,,"Nikon STI USD" HKCR,CLSID\{07C71AC0-FA90-11d3-B409-00C04F87578E}\InProcServer32,,,%11%\NKSCNUSD.dll HKCR,CLSID\{07C71AC0-FA90-11d3-B409-00C04F87578E}\InProcServer32,ThreadingModel,,"Both"

    [SourceDisksNames] 1=%DiskName%,,

    [SourceDisksFiles] NKSCNUSD.dll=1

    [DestinationDirs] NKUSBSCN.CopyUSDFiles=11 ;NKUSBSCN.CopyUSBFiles=10,system32\drivers

    [NKUSBSCN.CopyUSDFiles] NKSCNUSD.dll,,,32

    ;[NKUSBSCN.CopyUSBFiles] ;usbscan.sys,,,32

    [Strings] ProviderStr="rawc@live.com" Mfg="Chris Rawlings" DiskName="Nikon Scan 4 CD-ROM" DeviceDescLS0040="Nikon COOLSCAN IV ED" DeviceDescLS0050="Nikon COOLSCAN V ED" DeviceDescLS5000="Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED"

  4. In the same place you saved the custom INF file, you will also need the file 'NKScnUSD.dll'.  This file can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nikon\Driver\ScanUSB, so just copy if from there into C:\Temp\Nikon.  This file was installed to your system when you installed Nikon Scan 4.0.3.
  5. Install the modified driver files for your slide scanner:
    • Now that both installation files are in place in C:\Temp\Nikon, turn the scanner on and navigate to the device in the device manager (right click 'Computer' in the start menu or on the desktop --> Manage --> Device Manager).
    • Right-click on the scanner device and choose 'Update Driver Software'.
    • Next, choose 'Browse my computer for driver software' and browse to C:\Temp\Nikon where you saved the driver installation files.
    • Give Windows permission to install the driver and you should be all set to start scanning with Nikon Scan on your 64-bit Windows system.

NOTE...extra issue with Win10:

.....So many thanks. Using my Coolscan 5000 ED with 64-bit Windows 10! The only thing I had to do differently was force Windows to install the unsigned driver. Hold the shift key while pressing "restart", then follow the advanced options to start the next session with "disable driver signature enforcement". Everything else is just as described.

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Dropped Frames During Capture

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Problem We were experiencing lots of dropped frames during a SVHS tape capture (about 10 tapes from one customer).  We were using Sony Vegas' vidcap and the ADVC300 canopus box on the win10 PC.

We tried:

  • different system harddrives
  • confirming defrag had been run
  • CPU was not busy
  • system was not busy
  • cleaned tape

In all cases the dropped frame count did not really change.

Even tried the following DV capture programs:

  • WinDV
  • Scenalyzer

WinDV resulted in the same large number of dropped frames and Scenalyzer kept stopping before the drop frame "source".

Find

All of the tapes had gaps between the clips of a few seconds or more.  These gaps were pure snow....ie. nothing recorded.  When one of the capture programs hit the gap it immediately clocked up about 100 or more dropped frames.

Seems that there is nothing wrong with vidcap...I thought that there may have been an issue with Win10.

Recording Audio At Wrong Speed

Overview We were switching back and forth between recording DAT tapes and audio cassettes.  In the process one needs to change the Echo Console to to use a different clock timing source.  For the DAT tapes the clock needs to be set to "S/PDIF" and for the analogue inputs (audio cassette, etc) the clock needs to be "internal".

When recording analogue we forgot to change the "clock" back to internal and this resulted in all the analogue (audio cassette, reel-to-reel) captures being to fast!

Solution

Adjust the speed of the audio by adjusting the "Time stretch / pitch shift".  This can be found on the Vegas audio track properties (right click on the audio track in Vegas and select properties).  Change the method to "classic".  Check the "Lock to stretch" box and enter  -8.15

Capturing DAT Tapes

Overview DAT tapes look very similar to miniDV tapes.  The thickness of the tapes are pretty much the same as 8mm video and miniDV tapes.  The tapes are 3-4mm larger than the miniDV tapes in both width and length.  DAT tapes existed for a short period of time before CDs really took off.  DAT's were used for high quality digital audio recordings.

Our Setup

We use the TASCAM DA-30 MkII that is connected to the Echo Layla 24 via a S/PDIF black coax cable with RCA connectors (one at each end).  We capture using Vegas on MUSIC.  In the RAW folder on MUSIC is a template Vegas file called "Stereo DAT...".

Hardware

Make sure the S/PDIF black coax cable is plugged into the S/PDIF RCA connection at the back of the Echo box and the other end is plugged into the Digital RCA connection at the back of the DAT player.

Prepare to capture:

1)  Open Stereo DAT veg file

2)  Create capture folder in RAW

3)  Go to the Echo console (see in system tray or check under program files).

4)  Use the saved settings for DAT.

5)  Play DAT and test system.

6)   Restore the Echo console settings to analogue - use saved "standard analogue settings".

Echo Console Settings

The primary setting for DAT or analogue (everything else) is the INPUT CLOCK setting.

For DAT this must be set to S/PDIF and for everything else this must be INTERNAL.

Under the DIGITAL MODE settings, for DAT (for analogue this setting has no impact so does not need to be changed), this needs to be set to S/PDIF RCA.

Scanning Long Strips of 35mm Negatives

Overview Generally with the Nikon film scanner and the SA-21 film adaptor you can only scan 2 to 6 negative strips.  The SA-30 is a bulk film holder that can handle strips of up to 40 negatives.  The SA-21 can be "modified" to flake a SA-30.

Solution

This is taken from a blog: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.periphs.scanners/-LdJf3r23h4  by Kennedy McEwan Apr 25, 2005:

Incidentally, for those who do not want to take the risk of opening their SA-21 up and making a permanent solder link modification, there is an alternative temporary fix, albeit a little less reliable.

The two contacts of the link in question connect directly to pins 16 and 17 of the blue rear connector on the SA-21. Looking into the rear of the SA-21 with the adapter the correct way up, pin 13 is on the middle row on the left of the connector, so just count 4 and 5 pins across and you get to the two pins in question. These can be shorted together using some very fine wire (I/John used a strand of copper wire from speaker wire ....length of about 14 mm) - thin enough so that the operation of the connector contact is not interfered with. Then hold the link wire in place with some adhesive tape - Scotch Magic tape works quite well for this.

Before pushing the SA-21 back into the scanner, make sure that you pierce the adhesive tape over each contact in the connector block with a pin. This will prevent the corresponding pins in the scanner being subjected to additional pressure as the adapter is pushed home in the scanner.

NOTE:

I took a black sharpie and highlighted the area around pins 16 and 17.

Mbps, Internet Speed, etc

Overview What is the internet speed and how do you measure it.  Internet speed is measured as Mbps which is Mega bits per second.  Often Mbps is confused with MBps whic is Mega bytes per second.  As there are 8 bits in a byte, MBps would be 1/8 of Mbps.  When we measure data size we usually talk about MB or GB which is Mega bytes or Giga bytes.

Our current internet speed is:

download:   100 Mbps      Upload:    20 Mbps

If we have a 1GB file and it takes 45 minutes to upload, the speed is calculated as:

1GB x 1024 = 1024 MB x 8 = 8192Mb

45 minutes x 60 = 2700 seconds

8192 / 2700 = 3.03 Mbps

If the same file took 8 minutes to upload, the speed is calculated as:

8 minutes x 60 = 480 seconds

8192 / 480 = 17.07 Mbps

 

Some Extra Calculations

1 gb=1024 MB (mega bytes) 1 mb=1024 KB(kilobytes) 1 KB=1024 bytes

1 GB=1024*1024*1024 bytes =1073741824 bytes

Umatic Cassette Repair

Overview Need to repair a Umatic tape.

Note

Use the scotch tape from the dispenser.  Just make sure that no sticky surface is "showing".

References:

Great photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ubarchives/sets/72157646823472698/with/14952658907/

Good video (same video on youtube....but the audio is very poor):

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2t8rti

Is The Video PAL

Overview Had a Umatic tape and the label said "PAL?".  How can I tell if it is PAL?  The tape played with mostly snow.

Had another tape and this one was created in Australia so we suspected PAL.  The audio sounded fine but the video showed black & white and in 6 columns across the screen.

Image1

Image2

The vcr's "servo led" was also blinking green.  Normally the servo should be solid green.

Solution

Very simple method.  The Umatic machine has a running timecode (so does the Sony SVHS).  The last two digits of the timecode are frames.  PAL tapes should never get higher than 25 and NTSC tapes will go as high as 29.  So, plug in the tape and watch the timecodes.  This could be a RED HERRING.

In the case of the second tape, the frame count did go up to 29.  The frame count is more accurate with Betacam or VHS machines.  Sometimes the frame count is machine based and not tape....as is with this Umatic.

The sound on the latest tape did not seem odd, but then the sound would only be off by 4.1% and therefore the pitch change is probably unnoticeable.

The image was definitely wrong and this may be due to the 625 versus 525 line difference between PAL and NTSC.

And the servo light was blinking green instead of solid.

Epson Film Holders

Overview An article on film holders, film sizes, etc.

Holders

Film Name Common Name Image (mm) Image (inches) Film Width (mm) Support Holder
110 Pocket instamatics 13x17 16 120
116/616 63 2.5 69 120
117/120 Medium format  57x41 to 83  2.25x1.625 to 3.25 OEM
122/124/125  83x108/140 3.25x4.25/5.5 120
123 4x5 100x126 4x5 OEM
126 26.5x26.5 35 120
127 41.3 1 5/8 46 120
135 35mm film strips 25 35 OEM

 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_format

http://www.negative-solutions.com/index.html

http://filmscanusa.net/main.sc

 

Create ProRes file from avi or mxf or mp4

Overview Need to be able to create a ProRes file from a standard PC video file....such as AVI, Mp4, MXF.

ProRes

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7pfwX8j1Sk

1)            Download Avanti, ffmpeg, avisynth  - use 32bit versions

http://www.avanti.arrozcru.org/

2)            setup prores profile on the GUI

- make sure aspect is set correctly

- make sure audio is set correctly - usually "copy"

3)            add "-profile:v 3"  for 422HQ otherwise it would be 422HD for option 2?