Data Video SE-500 User manual

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Table of Contents
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ........................................................................................3
WARRANTY ............................................................................................................................4
STANDARD WARRANTY ...........................................................................................................................4
TWO YEAR WARRANTY ...........................................................................................................................4
DISPOSAL .............................................................................................................................................4
RADIO AND TELEVISION INTERFERENCE........................................................................5
1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................6
1.1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW....................................................................................................................6
1.2 FEATURES...................................................................................................................................6
1.3 WHAT IS A SWITCHER?..................................................................................................................7
1.4 WHAT IS A FRAME SYNCHRONIZER? .................................................................................................7
1.5 POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................7
2. INSTALLATION, CONNECTIONS, SET UP......................................................................8
2.1 SOME GENERAL NOTES ON INSTALLATION.........................................................................................8
2.2 POWER UP STATE.........................................................................................................................8
2.3 CONNECTING VIDEO SOURCES ........................................................................................................9
2.4 CONNECTING AUDIO SOURCES .......................................................................................................9
2.5 OUTPUTS AND MONITORS .............................................................................................................9
2.6 AUDIO MIXER ...........................................................................................................................10
2.7 RS-232 CONTROL......................................................................................................................10
2.8 TALLY CONTROL .........................................................................................................................10
2.9 MIDI CONTROL .........................................................................................................................10
3. QUICK START...................................................................................................................11
3.1 SE-500 FRONT PANEL................................................................................................................11
3.2 SE-500 REAR PANEL..................................................................................................................14
3.3 SELECTING VIDEO INPUT FORMATS AND ADJUSTING AUDIO LEVELS........................................................16
3.4 USING VIDEO AND AUDIO MONITORS............................................................................................16
3.5 CUTTING BETWEEN SOURCES ........................................................................................................16
3.6 DISSOLVING BETWEEN SOURCES ....................................................................................................16
3.7 OTHER TRANSITIONS BETWEEN SOURCES.........................................................................................16
3.8 EFFECTS ...................................................................................................................................17
4. CONTROLS AND OPERATIONS.....................................................................................18
4.1 VIDEO SOURCE ..........................................................................................................................18
4.2 COLOR PROCESSOR ....................................................................................................................18
4.3 MENU....................................................................................................................................20
4.4 AUDIO INPUTS,LEVELS,AND METERS (FADERS,BUS SELECTORS,)........................................................20
5. USING TRANSITIONS......................................................................................................22
5.1 SELECTING A TRANSITION:FADE,WIPE...........................................................................................22
5.2 PLAYING A TRANSITION MANUALLY ................................................................................................22
5.3 PLAYING A TRANSITION AUTOMATICALLY.........................................................................................22
5.4 LIST OF TRANSITIONS AND PARAMETERS (SUITABLE FOR PHOTOCOPYING).....................................23

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6. USING EFFECTS .............................................................................................................. 25
6.1 EFFECTS:QUAD .........................................................................................................................25
6.2 EFFECTS:SPLIT ..........................................................................................................................25
6.3 EFFECTS:PICTURE IN PICTURE ...........................................................................................26
6.4 EFFECTS:FREEZE ................................................................................................................26
6.5 BORDER ................................................................................................................................26
6.6 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................26
7. SAMPLE APPLICATIONS................................................................................................ 27
7.1 FOUR CAMERA SHOOT:LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCE /SPORTING EVENT ...............................................27
7.2 LIVE CONFERENCE ......................................................................................................................28
7.3 LIVE EVENT MIXING:CLUB VJ /CONCERT ......................................................................................29
7.4 USING SE-500 WITH CG-100 FOR TITLES/GRAPHICS/LOGOS OVERLAY ...............................................30
8. TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................................................................................31
8.1 NO POWER ...............................................................................................................................31
8.2 NO IMAGE AT OUTPUT ................................................................................................................31
8.3 AUDIO CLIPPING ........................................................................................................................31
8.4 FROZEN IMAGE AT OUTPUT..........................................................................................................31
8.5 IMAGE DISTORTION ....................................................................................................................31
9. APPENDIX.........................................................................................................................32
GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................................................................32
TECH NOTES .......................................................................................................................................35
Video Standards, Formats, and Quality ......................................................................................35
Monitor Calibration (procedures, test patterns/bars) ................................................................36
SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................................................................................38
USEFUL ACCESSORIES FROM DATAVIDEO ..................................................................................................40
Datavideo CG- CG-100.................................................................................................................40
Datavideo VGA to DV converter- PPT-100 ..................................................................................40
Datavideo TLM-70D 7” TFT LCD ..................................................................................................41
Datavideo DAC-6 DV to Analog (One way converter) .................................................................41
Datavideo BAC-03 Balanced-Unbalanced Audio converter ........................................................42
Bi-Directional IEEE/1394 DV Format Repeater............................................................................42
SE500 RS-232 REMOTE CONTROL COMMAND ........................................................................................43
SE500 MIDI REMOTE CONTROL COMMAND............................................................................................48
SE500 TALLY PIN OUTS CROSS REFERENCE ..............................................................................................50
SERVICE AND SUPPORT....................................................................................................51

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Warnings and Precautions
1. Read all of these warnings and save them for later reference.
2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on this unit.
3. Unplug this unit from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use
a damp cloth for cleaning.
4. Do not use this unit in or near water.
5. Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The unit may fall, causing serious
damage.
6. Slots and openings on the cabinet top, back, and bottom are provided for ventilation. To
ensure safe and reliable operation of this unit, and to protect it from overheating, do not block
or cover these openings. Do not place this unit on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface, as the
ventilation openings on the bottom of the cabinet will be blocked. This unit should never be
placed near or over a heat register or radiator. This unit should not be placed in a built-in
installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
7. This product should only be operated from the type of power source indicated on the marking
label of the AC adapter. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your
Datavideo dealer or your local power company.
8. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this unit where the power cord
will be walked on, rolled over, or otherwise stressed.
9. If an extension cord must be used with this unit, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings
on the products plugged into the extension cord do not exceed the extension cord’s rating.
10. Make sure that the total amperes of all the units that are plugged into a single wall outlet do
not exceed 15 amperes.
11. Never push objects of any kind into this unit through the cabinet ventilation slots, as they may
touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in risk of fire or electric
shock. Never spill liquid of any kind onto or into this unit.
12. Except as specifically explained elsewhere in this manual, do not attempt to service this
product yourself. Opening or removing covers that are marked “Do Not Remove” may expose
you to dangerous voltage points or other risks, and will void your warranty. Refer all service
issues to qualified service personnel.
13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer to qualified service personnel under the
following conditions:
a. When the power cord is damaged or frayed;
b. When liquid has spilled into the unit;
c. When the product has been exposed to rain or water;
d. When the product does not operate normally under normal operating conditions.
Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions in this manual;
improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage to the unit and may often
require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the unit to normal operation;
e. When the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged;
f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for
service.
14. Due to the general consumer usage behavior, efficient power distribution on the field,
corporate environment responsibility by eliminating harmful substances such as carbon
dioxide, sculpture dioxide, etc., and other unexpected risks, this product does not provide
standby power option.

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Warranty
Standard Warranty
•Datavideo equipment is guaranteed against any manufacturing defects for one year from
the date of purchase.
•The original purchase invoice or other documentary evidence should be supplied at the
time of any request for repair under warranty.
•Damage caused by accident, misuse, unauthorized repairs, sand, grit or water is not
covered by this warranty.
•All mail or transportation costs including insurance are at the expense of the owner.
•All other claims of any nature are not covered.
•Cables & batteries are not covered under warranty.
•Warranty only valid within the country or region of purchase.
•Your statutory rights are not affected.
Two Year Warranty
•All Datavideo products purchased after 01-Oct.-2008 qualify for a
free one year extension to the standard Warranty, providing the
product is registered with Datavideo within 30 days of purchase.
For information on how to register please visit
www.datavideo.com or contact your local Datavideo office or
authorized Distributors
•Certain parts with limited lifetime expectancy such as LCD Panels, DVD Drives, Hard Drives
are only covered for the first 10,000 hours, or 1 year (whichever comes first).
Any second year warranty claims must be made to your local Datavideo office or one of its
authorized Distributors before the extended warranty expires.
Disposal
For EU Customers only - WEEE Marking
This symbol on the product indicates that it will not be treated as household
waste. It must be handed over to the applicable take back scheme for the
recy
cling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. For more detailed
information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local
Datavideo office.

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Radio and Television Interference
UNITED STATES: The equipment described in this manual generates and uses radio frequency
energy. If it is not installed and used in accordance with the instructions in this manual, it may
cause interference with radio and television reception.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with these instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver;
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
If necessary, consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help and/or additional
suggestions. You may find the following booklet helpful: How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV
Interference Problems, booklet number 004-000-00345-4, prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission. It is available from the United States Government Printing Office,
Washington D.C. 20402.
Note: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s right to operate this equipment.
Peripherals used in conjunction with this equipment must be connected via shielded interface
cables. Use of unshielded interface cables may result in interference to radio and TV reception,
and may void the user’s right to operate this equipment.

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1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Datavideo’s SE-500 Digital Video Switcher. We hope you will be pleased with your
purchase, and with what you can achieve with this advanced piece of technology. In order to get the most
out of your new switcher, we recommend that you spend some time getting familiar with this manual, as it will
describe in detail all the functions of this unit. In addition, you’ll find some useful background information on
video and audio, and some detailed examples of ways to use your new switcher.
If you are experienced in video production, you may want to immediately take a look at the Quick Start
section.
1.1 Product Overview
The Datavideo SE-500 is an analog input, digital processing video switcher. The SE-500 includes 4 groups
of video input (4 x composite & 4 x S-Video), a 3 channel audio mixer, 2 microphone inputs, color correction,
digital video transition effects, MIDI control interface, Tally out, RS-232 remote control interface…and many
more professional features.
A built in TBC in each channel with YUV 4:2:2 frame synchronizer for Composite, and S (Y/C) inputs and
outputs assures stable and high quality video from virtually any source. A built in R.G.B. Color Processor and
a Color Corrector for each video input, with settings that are saved, allow you to fine tune your video. The
SE-500 has 15 different digital effects, which include Quad, Split, PIP, Wipes, and Fade.
Additionally, the SE-500 includes a truly unique feature “Quad Preview.” This preview output displays both
tally light signals, and next video effects indicator. The operator can use one single monitor to observe four
video input sources, camera activities, and video transition effects. The SE-500 has all the popular features
of many more expensive mixers and it is extremely compact in size. Now you can shoot, mix, and edit, all
within this compact size digital switcher.
With the Datavideo DAC-6 (DV to Composite, Y/C, and Component converter), VP-314 (DV Repeater), and
10, 20, 40meter DV cables, you may use DV cameras to feed video from up to 200 meters away.
1.2 Features
Digital Processor, high image quality
Four inputs of S-Video (Y/C) and composite video
Quad video preview monitor output with tally & background indicators on screen
Optional YUV output – via breakout cable
Quad, Split, PIP, Wipe, and Fade digital video effects
T-Bar control of digital video effect transitions
Color processor for video correction
RS232 remote control
MIDI control interface
Tally output
Audio mixer with two microphone channels and one auxiliary input

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1.3 What is a switcher?
A switcher is something or someone that allows or facilitates switching. In this case, the switching that
happens is among 4 video and 3 audio sources. And if just switching were the only requirement, then this
piece of equipment would be like a row of light switches. But no: to be truly useful in a production
environment, a video switcher has to provide for numerous ways to go from one video source to another
(transitions), ways to adjust the look of the video (color processor and special effects), to deal with audio,
and to keep the whole thing synchronized, looking good.
1.4 What is a frame synchronizer?
A frame synchronizer is a digital device that stores a frame of video in its memory and releases it at a very
precise moment. These little devices are essential if you want to make a seamless switch from one video
source to another. If the sources you are switching between are not synchronized with each other, the video
image falls apart at the transition moment, and the result is not pretty.
The SE-500 has a full frame synchronizer (also known as a time base corrector or TBC) at its Main and Sub
Source inputs in each channel (4 Total) to insure switches without distortion and smooth, well-regulated
video at its output. In addition to its digital memory, a TBC also has controls that affect the look of the video
that passes through it. These controls are known as processing amplifiers, or proc amps; they control
brightness, contrast, color, and tint, though these may have different names in different applications.
For more information on some of these technical aspects, see the Appendix Tech Notes.
1.5 Possible applications
You may already have some uses in mind for the SE-500. There’s a real good chance that by browsing
through this manual, you will find some applications you didn’t think of or expect. Take a look at the Sample
Applications section; we describe 3 sample uses for the SE-500: Four Camera Shoot (Live Stage
Performance/Sporting Event), Live Conference, and Live Event Mixing (Club VJ/Convert).

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2. Installation, Connections, Set up
2.1 Some General Notes on Installation
There are a few other things to be aware of when you are installing and integrating the SE-500. Please make
sure you have read the Warnings and Precautions section.
The SE-500 sends and receives analog signals except the RS-232, MIDI, and Tally. You need to be aware
that cable lengths, impedance, crossing power cords, and adaptors might interfere with video transmission.
The cautions below, with the exception of physical damage, will give you the general idea about cabling for
analog video or audio.
It is quite possible these days to buy whatever cable length and connector you need for your set up. Not so
long ago, they had to be assembled individually with wire strippers and solder, but now you can easily find
them in most electronics and video supply stores. We strongly recommend you use analog video and audio
cables that are roughly the right length to connect between components. The longer the cable, the more
noise and deterioration of the video signal can be introduced. We strongly recommend that you check the
integrity of each analog cable before installation by using a continuity tester (available from most electronic
and video supply stores). Cables can go bad over time, with use, by someone walking on them, carts rolling
over them, or even for no apparently good reason. It will happen eventually. Have a continuity tester handy
and save yourself some troubleshooting headaches.
Make sure you don’t run video/audio cables and power lines together, on top of each other, or across each
other. This is another good way to introduce noise and signal degradation.
Cable connectors will eventually become dirty or oxidation will start. The dirt can cause a bad connection or
introduce noise in the signal. Get some electrical contact cleaning products, such as those made by Caig
Labs (www.caig.com), and use them regularly to avoid problems.
Use adaptors if you must, but keep in mind that each connector is one more accident waiting to happen, one
more place the signal can be degraded or broken.
Finally, for some interesting and entertaining examples of how to connect and integrate the SE-500 into a
variety of set ups, take a look at the brief Quick Start and the more in depth explanations in Sample
Applications.
2.2 Power up State
When you first power up the SE-500, you will need to check each channel’s connection and set the audio
levels. All the setting will be retained except color bar output, see “MENU”.
At power up, channel 1 will be the selected Main Video Source and channel 2 will be the selected Sub Video
Source.
Settings that are retained are: color correction settings; remote control setting; transition setting; video effect
setting and background color.

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2.3 Connecting Video Sources
There are two types of plugs used for video signals on the SE-500: BNC, and S-video.
BNC connectors look like this on the cable end. The connector slides over the connector on
the SE-500 and is locked in place with a push in and clockwise turn. The big virtue of these
connectors, which are the standard for almost all professional video applications, is that
they lock in place and cannot be accidentally dislodged.
S-video plugs (also known as Y/C) have 4 tiny pins in them, which carry a separated Y
(luminance) and C (chroma) video signal and provide a much better quality video signal
than composite. These plugs have a tiny bar in them to assure correct alignment in the
socket. They need to be pressed firmly in place, but very carefully, as the little pins can
bend easily. Align plug and socket and push straight in, firmly.
2.4 Connecting Audio Sources
The SE-500 uses 2 kinds of plugs for audio connections: RCA and 1/4 inch jack plugs. There are lots of
different names for these plugs. Fortunately for us all, they are not easily confused in the size and shape
departments, so we’ll show you some pictures.
RCA plugs (also sometimes known as phono plugs, cinch, or tulips) are used
for line level audio, such as the connections between a CD player and amp.
The SE-500 uses these in stereo pairs, white for left and red for right, at the
audio input and output sections.
1/4 inch jack plugs got their name, some say, because they used to be used to
manually patch together phone lines in the old central switchboard days. They
come in mono and stereo configurations: the mono has one dark band around
the plug, the stereo has two. The SE-500 uses a mono plug on MIC CH1 and mono
plugs for MIC CH2.
If you need to use balanced audio inputs or outputs, for low impedance
microphones or connections with other professional audio gear, you need to use
an impedance matching device to convert low to high impedance (and/or vice
versa). For example Datavideo BAC-03.
2.5 Outputs and Monitors
Your particular set up and application for the SE-500 will determine what video and audio devices you
connect to the outputs. Take a look at the Sample Applications for some examples. While all the outputs of
the SE-500 are very high quality, keep in mind that the video quality of the various formats, in descending
order, goes like this: SDI (serial digital), Y.U.V. (analog component), DV, Y/C (S-video), and composite.
Audio outputs are all line level, suitable for connecting to an amp, VCR, or video projector (for example).
BNC
S-Video
RCA
¼ Mono Jack
¼ Stereo Jack