Burst Electronics SG-3 User manual

The SG-3
and SG-7Color Bar & Black Burst Generator
(SMPTE Bars & Black Burst)
With ID Option
Manual Version 2.12
BURST ELECTRONICS INC
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109 USA
[phone] VOICE
[phone] Tech Support
[phone] FAX
www.burstelectronics.com
Hardware, software and manual copyright by Burst Electronics. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproducedor distributed in any form or by any means without the
written permission of Burst Electronics.
Made in USA

Color Bar & Black Burst Generator
(SMPTE Bars & Black Burst)
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Burst
Electronics Model SG-3 or SG-7 Color Bar/Black
Burst Generator. The SG-3 is a low cost Color Bar/
Black Burst Generator that produces the SMPTE
Color Bar pattern or Black Burst signal. A front
panel switch is installed to allow you to select either
pattern. The SG-7 is a low cost Color Bar/Black
Burst Generator that produces the SMPTE Color
Bar pattern and six (6) outputs of Black Burst.
These units may be used as a genlock reference, to
“lay down” bars on tape, or to correctly set the color
and brightness of video monitors. They may also be
used as a video source for testing cables and
equipment. The rear panel of the SG-3 has a single
BNC connector that is selectable between SMPTE
Color Bars and Black Burst. The rear panel of the
SG-7 has seven (7) BNC connectors, 1 SMPTE
Color Bars, and six (6) Composite Black Bursts.
Both units operate on 12 volts DC from an AC
adapter (included). The output is a standard NTSC
video signal (1 Vpp @ 75 Ohms). The SMPTE Color
Bar output signal includes 75% color bars, reverse
Blue bars, 100% White, Black,-I & +Q signals, and
the pluge (pronounced “plooj”) pulse signal.
Monitor Adjustment
To adjust a monitor using either the SG-3 or SG-7
SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator2

SMPTE Color Bars, connect the Bars output to your
monitor. If your monitor has a BLUE ONLY switch,
set this switch to the BLUE ONLY position. If your
monitor does not have a BLUE ONLY switch, you can
still make the adjustments by looking at the monitor
through a blue filter. Two suitable filters are: Kodak
Wratten Blue 47B Gelatin filter and the Congo Blue
#181 filter from Lee Colortran Inc. (phone#: 201-256-
7666 or 818-843-1200). Looking at your monitor, you
will see alternating blue bars in the positions of the
75% bars (upper) and the reverse blue bars (lower).
Adjust the color intensity (saturation) so that the outer
left and outer right bars are the same brightness as
the corresponding bars just below them.
Chroma phase (tint or hue) is adjusted by matching
the brightness of the two center bars with the bars
just below, while rotating the tint control.
Return the BLUE ONLY switch to its normal position
(if you are using the blue filter it will no longer be
needed). Turn up the monitor brightness control. In
the lower right corner you will notice three gray bars
(the pluge pulse signal). These bars from left to right
are called BLACKER THAN BLACK (Black –4),
BLACK (Black), and WHITER THAN BLACK (Black
+4). To set brightness, adjust the brightness control
so that the WHITER THAN BLACK bar is visible and
that the BLACK bar and the BLACKER THAN BLACK
bar are not visible.
Note that the monitor should be viewed, and the
brightness adjusted, with the room lights somewhat
dimmed so that the colors won’t seem washed out.
The monitor might seem dimmer than you may be
used to, however, the colors will be more accurate at
SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator 3

this brightness level.
The above is based on the SMPTE
recommendation for adjusting color monitors with
SMPTE color bars. Moredetail may be found in
SMPTE recommendation ECR 1-1978.
Bars on Tape
The purpose for recording bars on tape is to provide
a standard color signal that has the same color and
brightness levels as the rest of the recording (your
equipment must be properly calibrated). This way, if
color or brightness needs correction on playback,
you will have a stable signal (color bars) to work
with. This may also be used as a confirmation that
your VTR is working correctly. In addition, putting
bars at the beginning of the tape gives it a more
professional look.
As a Genlock Source
The SG-7 may be used as a genlock source to feed
as many as 6separate pieces of equipment. Each
of the six black burst outputs is able to drive a 75
Ohm input. All outputs are synchronous. These
outputs may be used to genlock VCR’s, Edit
Controllers, SEG’s, Switchers, etc. Take care with
cable lengths to assure correct timing to all
equipment.
ID Option
Both the SG-3 and SG-7 may be factory
programmed with an ID. An example would be
SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator4

“WABC” or “REMOTE TRUCK 2”, or even a full color
picture. The normal location of this ID would be in the
upper center of the screen, although the ID can be
located almost anywhere.
The ID can be written either as a small box of text (or
picture) or as a full screen of text (or picture). These
IDs are stored within a non-volatile RAM that can only
be accessed by the factory. If you plan on changing
the ID at a later date, you will need to send the unit in
for reprogramming. The BG3 and BG7 generators
have the added feature of field programmable IDs, as
well as, 10 selectable test patterns.
SMPTE Color Bars
SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator 5

Specifications:
Input: 120Vac via wall module (12 Vdc 280mA)
Output: NTSC video, 1 Vpp into 75 Ohm, may be
open or shorted indefinitely without harm
Video Signal: SMPTE Color Bars / Black Burst, consisting
of the following;
Color Bars:
Sync at –40 IRE
Burst at +/-20 IRE
Setup at 7.5 IRE
Fully saturated 75% bars (white, yellow,
cyan, green, magenta, red, blue)
Reverse blue bars (blue, black, magenta
black, cyan, black, white)
100 IRE whiter than white
-I and +Q signals
Pluge pulse signal:
Whiter than black at 11.5 IRE
Black at 7.5 IRE
Blacker than black at 3.5 IRE
Black Burst:
Black at 7.5 IRE
SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator6

NOTES
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SG-3/7 Color Bar Generator8