Abekas A60 User manual

A Carlton c.o mp any
Cop yri ght Ja nuary 1988
Video Systems,
In c
digital disk recorder A60
A60
Operations
Manual

Abekas A60 DIGITAL DISK RECORDER
Operation Manual
Installation Guide
(REV 1.2)
copyright March 1988
Abekas Video Systems, Inc.
101 Galveston Drive
Redwood City
California 94063
[phone]

Table of Contents
Section 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1
1.1 Description ....................••................ 1.1
1.2 Physical Description ..........•.••................ 1.2
1.2.1 Control Panel ....................... 1.2
1.2.2 Main Electronics Chassis .............. 1.2
1.2.3 Additional Disk Drive Chassis (optional) .. 1.2
Section 2: SYSTEM SET-UP 2.1
2.1 Initial System Connections ......................... 2.1
2.2 Configuring the Analog Outputs ............•........ 2.2
2.3 Power-Up Procedure .............................. 2.2
2.4 Power-Down Procedure .............•.......•...•.. 2.4
2.5 System Timing ................................... 2.5
Section 3: FAMILIARIZATION 3.1
3.1 Controls and the Display ........................... 3.1
3.2 Description of Keys ............................... 3.1
3.2.1 FUNCTION KEYS ................... 3.1
3.2.2 TRANSPORT KEYS ................. 3.3
3.2.3 SEGMENT AND LOOP KEYS .......... 3.3
3.2.4 NUMERIC KEYPAD .................. 3.4
3.3 Menu Monitor .................................... 3.5
3.3.1 THE HOME MENU .................. 3.6
3.3.2 HOME MENU LINES ................. 3.7
3.3.3 SETUP MENU ...................... 3.9
A60 OperationsManual Rev 1.2

3.3.4 SETUP MENU LINES ................ 3.9
3.3.5 MACROS MENU
.................... 3.11
3.3.6 MACROS MENU LINES
.............. 3.11
3.3.7 REMOTE MENU
.................... 3.13
3.3.8 REMOTE MENU LINES
............... 3.13
3.3.9 DIAGNOSTICS MENU
................ 3.15
3.3.10 DIAGNOSTICS MENU LINES ......... 3.15
3.3.11 GPI MENU
........................ 3.17
3.3.12 GPI MENU LINES
.................. 3.17
3.3.13 RECORD LOCKOUT MENU
.......... 3.18
3.3.14 RECORD LOCKOUT MENU LINES
.... 3.18
3.3.15 MISCELLANEOUS MENU
............ 3.19
3.3.16 MISC MENU LINES
................. 3.19
3.3.17 SEGMENTS PLAYMENU
............ 3.21
3.3.18 Segs Play Menu Lines ............... 3.21
3.4 The Tlmecode and Frame Numbers •••.•....•..•..... 3.23
3.4.1 The Control
Panel Display ............ 3.23
3.4.2 The
Menu Monitor Display ............ 3.23
3.4.3 The Preview Monitor Display
........... 3.23
Section 4: OPERATION 4.1
4.1 Playback Functions ••••.•••••.••.••••.•••...••...• 4.1
4.1.1 OUTPUTMONITORING .............. 4.1
4.1.2 FIELD OR FRAME OUTPUT ........... 4.1
4.1.3 INTERPOLATOR MODES ............ 4.2
4.1.4 PLAY MODES
...................... 4.2
4.1.5 THE VAR PLAY
KEy ................ 4.3
II A60
Operations Manual Rev 1.2

4.1.6 THE JOG KEYS .................... 4.3
4.1.7 THE GOTO KEY
.................... 4.3
4.1.8 THE LOOP KEY
.................... 4.3
4.1.9 TRIMMING LOOPS
.................. 4.4
4.2
Recording Functions ........•................•.•.. 4.6
4.2.1 VIDEO INPUT SELECTION
........... 4.6
4.2.2 SIMPLE RECORDING
............... 4.6
4.2.3 FIELD AND FRAME RECORD LENGTHS 4.6
4.2.4 CALCULATE RECORD LENGTH
MODE. 4.7
4.3 RECORD LOCKOUT
Mode •.•.•.••.•..••.......•... 4.8
4.3.1 RECORD LOCKOUT SEGMENTS
...... 4.8
4.3.2 CREATING A LOCKOUTSEGMENT
.... 4.9
4.3.3 DELETING A LOCKOUT SEGMENT
.... 4.9
4.4 SEGMENT PLAY
Mode ....•....•....•.•........... 4.10
4.4.1 SEGMENT LIMITS ................... 4.10
4.4.2 DEFINING.SEGMENTS .............. 4.10
4.4.3 THE SEGMENTS PLAY MENU ........ 4.10
4.4.4 THE GOTO KEY AND SEGMENTS ..... 4.11
4.4.5 LOOPING SEGMENTS .............. 4.11
4.4.6 USING THE SEGMENTS PLAYMENU .. 4.11
4.4.7 SEGMENT EXAMPLES ............... 4.13
4.4.8 DELETING AND MOVING SEGMENTS
.. 4.13
4.4.9 COPYING SEGMENTS
............... 4.14
4.4.10 SEGMENTSPEED ................. 4.14
4.4.11 SEGMENT PAUSE
................. 4.14
4.4.12TRIMMING A SEGMENT
............ 4.15
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2 III

4.5 MACROS •.........•.••.••..•.•.••••.•.•••.•••... 4.16
4.5.1 MACROS MENU LINES
.............. 4.16
4.5.2 CREATING A
MACRO ................ 4.17
4.5.3 FRAME RECORD MACRO EXAMPLE
... 4.18
4.5.4 RUNNING A MACRO
................ 4.18
Section 5: REMOTE OPERATION
5.1
5.1 REMOTE MENU SELECTIONS ••.•.•.•.•••..••....•.• 5.1
5.2 SERIAL REMOTE CONTROL .•.•.•.•.••••.•.•.••.... 5.4
5.3 ETHERNET
•.....•...••••.....•.•....•....•.•..•• 5.5
5.4 COMPUTER 232
CONTROL .......•....••.....•..... 5.7
5.5 THE TIMECODE TRIGGER MODE •.•.•.•.....•....•.. 5.8
5.6 GPI
CONTROL ....•....•.•........••.............. 5.9
Section 7: INDEX
7.1
Section 8: INSTALLATION GUIDE 8.1
8.1 Physical Mounting ....•.•.•.•.....•....••.•••..... 8.1
8.2 System Interconnects ..•...•..••.•.•..•..•••....... 8.1
8.2.1 Signal System to DiskDrive Connections .
8.1
8.2.2 RIBBON CABLE CONNECTION TABLE .. 8.1
8.2.3 Control Panel to Signal System Connection8.3
8.2.4 Control Panelto Menu MonitorConnection 8.3
8.3 Video Connections ..........•.........•........... 8.4
8.3.1 Reference
......................... 8.4
8.3.2 Video Inputs
........................ 8.4
Iv
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

8.3.3 Video Outputs ...................... 8.4
8.3.4 Analog SyncOutputs
................. 8.4
8.3.5 Early Output Syncs
.................. 8.4
8.4 Detailed Pin-Out
Information ........................ 8.5
8.4.1 Keyboard Interconnections
............ 8.5
8.4.2 KEYBOARD CABLE PIN LISTING
...... 8.5
8.4.3 The SMPTE and AUX RS422 Connections 8.6
8.4.4 SMPTE CONNECTOR PIN-OUT
........ 8.6
8.4.5 The RS232 Connections
.............. 8.7
8.4.6 RS232 PIN LISTING
................. 8.7
8.5
Editor Interfacing ................................. 8.8
8.5.1 CMX Editors/RS232 .................. 8.8
8.5.2 CMX Editors/RS422
.................. 8.8
8.5.3 SMPTE Editors/RS422
............... 8.9
8.6 A53D
Interfacing .................................. 8.10
8.7 GPI Connections .................................. 8.11
8.7.1 GPIINPUTS
........................ 8.11
8.7.1.1 The "Dry" Method .................. 8.11
8.7.1.2 The External Voltage Method ......... 8.12
8.7.2GPIOUTPUTS ...................... 8.13
8.8 ANALOG OUTPUT CONFIGURATION
............•... 8.14
8.8.1 INTRODUCTION
.................... 8.14
8.8.2 Y,R-Y,B-YWITH SYNC
ON Y .......... 8.15
8.8.3 Y,R-Y,B-YWITH NO
SyNC ............ 8.17
8.8.4 R,G,B WITH SYNC ON GREEN
........ 8.19
8.8.5 R,G,B WITH NO SYNC
............... 8.22
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2 v

Section 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Description The
A60 is areal-time component digital recotding device, providing real-time playback in
forward orreverse, variable playback speeds and random access to recorded material.
The
A60 conforms to the 4:2:2 component digital standard and provides CCIR 601 input and
output ports for interface to other CClR 601 equipment, making it ideal to use in various
graphics environments.
Functionally,
the A60 will perform like a playback or a record VTR, configured in one of
two capacities; the standard configuration ofeither 25 seconds for the 525 version or 30
seconds for the 625 version, and the optional configuration of 50 seconds for the 525 ver-
sion or 60 seconds for the 625 version.
The
A60 has two CCIR 601 video inputports, eitherone may be selectedfor recordingpur-
poses. The Abekas A20 digital video encoder should be used if the input is to be originat-
ing
from an analog component source, such as an RGB camera or a component VTR.
The A60 has several video output configurations present. Theprogram output is available
both in
the digital CCIR 601 format, and as an analog signal that is either RGB or Y, R- Y,
B- Y. Sync is available as a seperate output and may be added to the G or Y output. The
preview output is available in either of the analog formats, and will only differ from the
program output by the presence of the time code and frame positioninfonnationplacedover
it.
The A60 may also have digital video transfer and remote machine control acomplished by
using eitherthe Ethernet orthe SCSI ports. The Ethernetport follows the TCP/IP standard,
and supports remote log in,
FrP and TELNET. The SCSI port is used typically for offline
storage of
video using standard 9-track magnetic streamertape.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2
1.1

1.2 Physical Description
1.2
Ina 25 (or30 if 625) second version, the A60 consists of a mainelectronics chassis with an
integral Winchester disk drive assembly, and a control panel. A 50 (or 60
if 625) second
version requires
an additional disk drive assembly to be mounted nearthe main electronics
chassis.
1.2.1 Control Panel
The compact control panel (4.5"H x 1l.75"Wx 3.5"D) consists of a 5 digit frame number
or timecode display, a trackball, control keys and a numeric keypad. There is also a
monochrome analog video output
from the control panel to be fed to a black and white
monitorfor displaying system status and allowing access to the various features
of the A60.
The 5 digit display will show the current position of the disks either as a frame number or
as a timecode number.
The trackball
may be used for browsing through the material onthe disks, as well as for sys-
tem timing operations.
The numeric keypad allows instant access
to a frame/field number, as well as providing a
means to precisely set system set-up values.
The control keys consist
of; disk control keys using normal transport command terminol-
ogy, segment control keys for defining in and out points ofa segment or a loop, and func-
tion keys for system set-up, configuration and access to the menu monitor functions.
1.2.2 Main ElectroniCS Chassis
The systems main electronics chassis (12.25"H rackmount) contains the printed circuit
boards that control the various aspects
of the A60, as well as a Winchester disk drive as-
sembly that will provide 25 seconds (or30 if 625) of time for the A60 system.
1.2.3 Additional Disk Drive Chassis(optional)
The optional disk drive chassis (7
1t
H rackmount) will provide an additional 25 seconds (or
30 if 625) of time for the A60 system, making a total of 50seconds (or60 if 625) possible.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

Section 2: SYSTEM SET-UP
2.1 Initial System Connections
75nCOAX
(BNC) \
Below is a simplified system interconnect drawing of the A60. The component analog
program
and previewoutputs of thesystemdifferonly in thatthepreview monitor will have
the currentdiskpositionplaced on it. These component analog outputs may be configured
for eitherR, G, B
or Y, R-Y, B- Y. See section 2.2 on the next page for more infonnation
on this.
The control panel will have two connections made to it; the serial communications cable
from the main chassis and a
BNC cable to a monochrome menu monitor. To make these
connections,
it will be necessary to remove the rear cover of the controlpanel.
For more detailed infonnation on system connections, see the INSTALLAnON GUIDE
found
in the back of this manual.
MENU
MONITOR
PROGRAM
Component
---- Analog ---
I
Control Panel
Communications
and Power
(750 BNC)
A60 Main Chassis
E::I CCIR
601 Digital
Inputs and Outputs
-7 Abekas Supplied
Ribbon Cables
Optional Additional
Disk Chassis
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2
2.1

2.2 Configuring the Analog Outputs
The Preview and Program analog outputs may be configured for either R, G, B, or Y, R- Y,
B-Yby setting the following jumpers on the A60's Computer board as shown. The unit is
shipped
as R, G, B with no sync on the G output.
NOTE: To change from the current configuration to a new one, even to
just add sync, will require some level adjustments to be made. See
section 8 of the INSTALLATION GUIDE for the procedeures to follow.
For R, G, B outputs ...
Remove jumpers W1, W2, W8, W10
Install jumpersW3, W4,
W5, W7, W9
For V, R· V, B-V outputs ...
Remove jumpersW3, W4, W5, W7, W9
Install jumpers W1, W2, W8, W10
Forsync to be placed on the GorYoutput, jumper W6 should be installed, in addition W5
should be installed for sync on the Y component There are two spare jumpers included
with
the board extractorthat may be used if needed. The INSTALLATION GUIDE in the
back
of this manual should be consulted for more infonnation on connections to the A60.
2.3 Power-Up Procedure
2.2
A 25 or30 second version of the A60 will have one powerswitch for the whole signal sys-
tem chassis, locatedon the front lowerright hand side ofthe unit. The additional diskdrive
chassis ofa
50 or60 second version will have its own power switch, located on the rear of
its chassis. Ensure that both switches are in theiroffpositions before plugging in the power
cords.
The signalsystem chassis requires
an outlet with arating of 8 amps, the additional diskdrive
chassis requires
an outlet of5 amps. Plug the power cord from each unit into a properly
grounded
110V AC outlet.
Locate
the computer board in the A60 chassis, board 3, and note the position of the switch
on the front edge. This switch must
be set to its down position before applying power.
IMPORTANT
Before power Is applied, Insurethat eithera reference video signal Is
connected to the rear of the A60, and the reference select switch on
the front left of the 1/0 board (board 4) Is set to the left (external), or
that the switch is set to Internal (to the right). This will ensure that
there will be
no problemsduring the power up process.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

POWERING UP THE SYSTEM.
Step 1 Setthe computer board switch to the DN position (to the left).
Step 2 Apply power to the optional diskdrive chassis (ifpresent).
Step 3 Apply power to the signal system chassis.
Step 4 Set the computer board switch to the UP position (to the right).
The
disk drivesrequire approximately 45 secondsto "sequenceup", thatis, to come to work-
ingspeed. Itis possible to have the menu monitordisplay thestatus ofthe diskdrivesduring
this locking up process,
by following the steps on the next page.
MONITORING THE DRIVE STATUS
Step 1 Press the NORM PLAY key. This should get the HOME menu to be
displayed on the screen. See page 2.3.
Step 2 Press the MENU key until the cursor is sitting on the line 4) Diagnos-
tics, and press the ENTER key. This should bring up the DIAGNOS-
TICSmenu, which contains adisplay at the bottom with diskdrive
status infonnation.
The names"drY OY" and" drY ~C' referto the diskdrives supplying the first 25 or 30 seconds
(depending on whether this
A60 is a 525 or a 625 system) of video. The names "drv 1Y"
and "drv 1C' refer to the disk drives supplying the second 25 or30 seconds ofvideo. Fol-
lowing each
of these drive names will be the status ofthat drive.
UP
Indicates that the drive is running and ready to use.
DOWN
Indicates that the drive is notrunning (oris notpresent), orthat itis stillcoming up to speed.
UNLOCKED
Indicates that the drive speed is getting close to full speed, and the locking up process is
beginning.
LOCKING
Indicates that the drive is up to speed and is in the final stages ofattaining the UP status.
The A60 will not try to start both drive OY and drive OC at the same
time, due
to the amount of Initial drivestart-up power required.
A60 OperationsManual Rev 1.2 2.3

2.4 Power-Down Procedure
Ideally, the A60 should remain powered up at all times. If it is necessary to power down
the system, the following procedure should be followed.
IMPORTANT
The disk drives should not be moved orjarred while powered up.
Before undenaklnganyactivity which would cause excessive
vibration, such as the Installation
of equipment In the A60's rack,
followthe powerdown procedure described below.
POWERING DOWN THE SYSTEM.
Step 1 Set the computerboard switch to the DN position.
Step 2 Wait approximately 20 seconds, until there is a "clunk" soundfrom the
diskdrives.
Step 3 Tum off power at the optional disk drive chassis (if present).
Step 4 Tum off power at the signal system chassis.
2.4 A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

2.5 System Timing
Once the systemispowered up, the menu monitershoulddisplay the HOME menu as shown
below.
If not,press the NORMPLAYkeyto getthecorrect menu display. Press the MENU
key until the cursor is sitting on 1) Setup, and pressthe ENTERkey on the numerickeypad.
The display should appear similar to the SETUP menu.
HOME MENU
NOTE: USING WITH ENCODERS
The A60 has the ability to provide early output syncs for use withencoders that have a one
linevideo delay, such as the Faroudja NTSC encoder. Theselectionofearly ornormal syncs
is providedbyDIP switch18Klocated on
the computerboard. Section3ofthatDIPswitch
should
be normally set to the OFF position for nonnal output sync timing, and set to the
ON position to provide syncs that are one line early with respect to reference. The status of
this
mode may be checked by selecting the Miscellaneous menu, and looking at line 5.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2
2.5

2.6
SETUP MENU
The MENU button will allow the cursor to be positioned on one of the nine items current-
lyondisplay.
SETTING THE A60'S SYSTEM PHASE.
Step 1 Select 1) COARSEHPHASE, and press ENTER at the numeric
keypad. The entire line now becomes reverse video, and the output
timing
may be adjusted with regards to reference in 2pixel steps (148ns
steps), by using eitherthe trackball or the numeric keypad to alter the
current
value. This adjustment has arange of+/-50 pixels (+/-7.4 J.lS).
Step 2 Select 2) FINEHPHASE, as above. This will allow a fine adjustment
in Ins steps, with a range of
+/-lOOns, once again using the trackball or
numeric keypad.
This completes the system timing requirements for
the A60. For more information on the
SETUPmenu, see the FAMILIARIZA TION section.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

Section 3: FAMI LIARIZA liON
3.1 Controls and the Display
The control panel consists of a 5 digit frame number or timecode display, a trackball, con-
trol keys and a numerickeypad.
The control panel will also feed a menu monitor that will
display system status information.
The 5 digit display will show the currentposition of the disks either as a frame number or
as a timecode number.
The trackball may be usedforbrowsingthrough thematerial on thedisks, as well as forsys-
tem timing operations.
The numeric keypad allows instant access to a frame/field number, as well as providing a
means to precisely key in system set-up values.
The control keys consist of; disk control keys using normal transport command terminol-
ogy, segment control
keys for defining in and out points of a segment or a loop, and func-
tion
keys for system set-up, configuration and access to the menu monitor functions.
3.2 Description of Keys
3.2.1 FUNCTION KEYS
This is the group of 5keysalongthe upper left of thecontrolpanel. The fourth key is reserved
for future use and is currently blank.
NORMPLAV
Performs two functions; when lit, indicates that the NORMAL PLAY modeis active, when
not lit, the SEGMENT PLAY mode is active. Selecting this key will also display the
HOME menu on the menu moniter, regardless of what menu is currently being displayed.
A segment
may be defined only in this mode.
FREEZE
A toggle function that, when lit, will cause the output of the A60 to be frozen, even if the
disk is still playing. The freeze will be either a field or a frame, based on the status of line
4
in the SETUP menu.
VIDEO IN
A toggle function that, when lit, will allow the selected video input to pass through the
electronics
and be presented directly at the output of the A60.
MENU
Has two operating levels, both affecting the position of the cursor on the menu monitor.
Pressing the
MENU key directly will cause the cursor to drop down to the next menu line
being displayed.
The MENU key may be held down to create a repeating action, causing
the
cursor to scroll down the screen until the key is released. The cursor wi11loop back to
the top
of the display once the bottom is reached. A desired menu line may be specified by
selecting that lines number on the numeric keypad and then pressing the MENU button.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2
3.1

3.2
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2

3.2.2 TRANSPORT KEYS
This is the group of seven keys located at the lower left of the controlpanel.
VAR PLAY
Will playthedisksat either a speed selected on the keypad or at the last speed used. A value
of 0.500 would result in a speed that is half the play speed, a value of -5.000 indicating a
speed of 5 times play speed in the reverse direction. The speed value will be displayed at
the top
of the menu monitor, once this mode is selected.
RECORD
Will "ann" the system for a recording to take place. Pressing the PLAY~ key actually
startsthesystemrecording.
The length of the recordingshouldbespecified with thenumeric
keypad before the RECORD button is pressed. The record length that was last used will
be used if none is specified.
+-JOG and JOG~
Willprovidea field or a frame step function throughtherecordedmaterial, based on the set-
ting of menu line 5 in the SETUPsection.
+-PLA V and PLA V ~
Will playback a recording in either the forward or the reverse direction, normally at play
speed.
An alternate speed may be selected at the numeric keypad prior to pressing one of
these keys. These keys will also initiate the playback of a segment or a loop.
STOP
Is used to halt the playback or record process, as well as to regain local control of the sys-
tem when under external computer control.
3.2.3 SEGMENT AND LOOP KEYS
This is the group of six keys located to the right of the transport controlkeys.
SEGS PLAY
Will bring up the SEGMENTS menu on the menu monitor, which will then allow the edit-
ing of the segments present.
TRIM
Can be used in all modes to trim a number that had previously been entered. When using
this function, the sign
key (+/.key), must be pressed to select the polarity of the trim value.
Should the sign key not be pressed, the value will be treated as an absolute and not a trim.
IN and OUT
Used to specify boundries for segments and loops.
LOOP
May be used to getthe system to eitherplaybacka portion of thediskrepeatedly as specified
by the IN and OUT keys, or to establisha loop in a series of segments. In both cases,press-
ing either the V AR PLAY or a PLAY key will start the LOOP playback.
SEG
Used while in the NORM PLAY mode. It should be pressed after in and out points have
been established, if those points are to define a segment.
A60 Operations Manual Rev 1.2 3.3