Ensemble Designs BrightEye 24 User Manual

This user guide provides detailed information for using the BrightEye™24 SDI
to Analog Converter and Disembedder unit.

The information is organized into the following sections:

• Product Overview

• Functional Description

• Applications

• Rear Connectors

• Operation

• Front Panel Controls Indicators

• BrightEye PC

• Warranty and Factory Service

• Specifications

• Glossary

BrightEye-1

SDI to Analog Converter

and Disembedder

User Guide

Revision 3.0 SW v1.0.8

ENSEMBLE

DESIGNS

TM

BrightEye 24

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

BrightEye™ 24 is both a digital to analog video converter as well as an audio dis­embedder. The incoming serial digital video signal is converted to an analog
composite signal, while digital audio signals embedded in the digital video signal
are extracted and converted to analog outputs.

Front panel controls select analog reference level, AES group for disembedding,
and provide gain adjustment. Input presence and output VU information are
indicated as well. The BrightEye PC Control application is provided to allow more
detailed control of the unit from a PC with USB support.

A glossary of commonly used video terms is provided at the end of this manual.

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

BrightEye 24 combines a video digital to analog converter with an audio dis­embedder (demux) and audio digital to analog converter.

The input to the module is a standard definition 601 digital signal (SDI) at either
525 (NTSC) or 625 (PAL) line rate.

The SDI input is digitally encoded to composite video and then converted to
analog form for output on the Cpst Out BNC connector. The encoder will switch
automatically between NTSC and PAL to follow the line standard detected on the
SDI input. When operating in the NTSC standard, setup can be enabled/disabled
using the BrightEye PC interface.

In parallel to the video processing, one group (four channels) of embedded audio is
demultiplexed from the input SDI signal. The disembedder can be targeted at any
of the four possible embedded groups, both from the front panel as well as
through BrightEye PC. Audio levels for the four channels can be adjusted and the
assignment of input channels to output channels (channel swap and shuffle) con­trolled from BrightEye PC. The audio processing chain also provides audio level
and peak indication. The reference level of the digital processing chain can be set
to either -18 or -20 dBFS.

After the digital audio processing, the four channels are converted to analog form
and output as low impedance, balanced signals. The analog reference level of the
outputs can be set to either -10dBu (pro-sumer) or +4dBu (professional).

Both the analog video and audio outputs will mute to no signal when the input
signal is lost or removed.

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BrightEye 24 SDI to Analog Converter and Disembedder

BrightEye 24 Functional Block Diagram

SDI Input

Composite Output

Balanced

Audio

Outputs

Ch 1

Ch 2

Ch 3

Ch 4

Audio

Disembedder

Composite

Encoder

Ch 1/2

Ch 3/4

Mixer

Shuffler

DAC

D
A
C

APPLICATIONS

The BrightEye 24 is well suited to a range of signal conversion applications. It is
particularly useful in desktop, mobile and monitoring applications where the
unit’s small size makes it convenient.

Broadcast Application

BrightEye 24 is useful in broadcast facilities for taking embedded SDI signals
from a router or server and providing analog video and audio outputs for
monitors and VTRs. The diagram below illustrates one such application.

Desktop and Mobile Applications

BrightEye 24 can be used in post and desktop applications as well as in fly packs.
With BrightEye 24, and embedded SDI signal from a camera or workstation can
be converted to analog video and audio to feed a VTR.

BrightEye-3

BrightEye 24 Broadcast Application

BrightEye 24 Desktop and Mobile Application

Router

SDI/Embed

BrightEye 24

DAC &

Disembedder

BrightEye 24

Analog

Monitor

TM

SDI/Embed

Camera

BrightEye 24

DAC &

Disembedder

Audio Amp

Analog Audio

and Video

Analog VTR

REAR CONNECTORS

All connections to the BrightEye 24 converter are made on the rear of the unit.
Refer to the illustration below.

Power Connection

A modular power supply is supplied with the product. Connect it to the 12 volt
DC power input connection on the far left. Use the locking ring to secure it.

USB Connector

The USB connector is used to provide more comprehensive control, diagnostics,
and upgrades from a PC. Use the BrightEye PC application included on CD-ROM
with every unit to make adjustments as described in the OPERATION section of
this user guide.

Composite Out

The Composite Out is a BNC connector that presents either NTSC or PAL
composite output. NTSC or PAL output is determined automatically based upon
the standard presented on the SDI Input.

Analog Audio Out

The Analog Audio Out is a HD15 connector that outputs 4 channels of analog
audio. Analog reference level and the AES to be disembedded can be set from the
front panel. Channel mixing, and other settings can be made from the BrightEye
PC application. An audio connector kit is provided with the unit. See the diagram
below for pinout information.

SDI In

The SDI In is a BNC connector that requires a serial digital component input,
which can also contain embedded digital audio signals. This input must conform
to the ITU-R 601 standard for serial digital video, with SMPTE 259M serializa­tion at 270 Mb/s.

More technical details about these connections can be found in the SPECIFICATIONS
section of this manual.

BrightEye-4

BrightEye 24 SDI to Analog Converter and Disembedder

BrightEye 24 Rear Connectors

Analog Audio Pinouts

Signal Pins Output

Aud 1 +, –, G 1, 2, 7 Output 1

Aud 2 +, –, G 5, 4, 3 Output 2

Aud 3 +, –, G 11, 12, 6 Output 3

Aud 4 +, –, G 15, 14, 13 Output 4

NOTE:

AUD 2 AUD 1

---

+

+

-

AUD 4

AUD 3

+

1

6

11

+

BrightEye-5

OPERATION

Control and operation of the BrightEye 24 is performed from the front panel or
with the BrightEye PC Control application.

Some control settings are only available with BrightEye PC. These parameters cannot
be monitored or controlled with the front panel.

Front Panel Controls and Indicators

The front panel, as shown in the figure below, provides status indicators and
control over video and audio output.

Status Indicators

The following status indicators are provided on the front panel:

In

This indicator illuminates green when a valid SDI signal is detected.

Analog Reference Level

The currently selected analog reference level (-10 dBu or +4 dBu) illuminates
green.

Group

The AES group (1, 2, 3, or 4) currently selected for disembedding and digital to
analog conversion illuminates green when the selected group contains audio, and
illuminates red when the selected group does not contain audio.

Ch 1/2 and Ch 3/4
VU output level and the status of the Gain adjustment for each of these channel

pairs is indicated by the state the VU and Gain indicators. The VU indicator illu­minates red when the audio level exceeds the headroom level set by the user
(with the Peak Indicator control in BrightEye PC.) Additionally, the VU
indicator illuminates orange when the output is above 0 VU, illuminates green
when the output is above -20 VU, and doesn’t illuminate when the output is
below -20 VU. The Gain indicator illuminates red when the gain level has been
adjusted off from unity by the user. The 0 VU point corresponds in the digital
domain to the digital reference level (-18 or -20 dBFS) and in the analog domain
to the analog reference level (-10 or +4 dBu.)

Pwr (Power)

Illuminates green when power is applied to the converter and the internal voltage
regulator is functioning correctly.

BrightEye 24 Front Panel

NOTE:

BrightEye 24

TM

BrightEye-6

Controls

Adjustable parameters are controlled from the front panel using the three push­buttons on the right hand side of the control panel.

The control system has the following modes:

Idle – all indicators apart from the VU meters are steady-state (no
blinking)

Analog Ref Level Select – currently selected analog reference output level
blinks

Group select – currently selected AES group blinks

Ch 1/2 or 3/4 Gain – blinks quickly when gain adjustments are made,

slowly when selected for adjustment but still at default

The normal state of the control panel is Idle. The panel state is changed by
pressing the Mode button. Each press will advance to the next state. If no button
presses are detected for 15 seconds, the state will automatically switch to Idle.

When one of the adjustable controls is blinking, its value can be changed by
pressing the Right or Left arrow button.

Adjustments made to the controls are stored in non-volatile memory, so the
converter will “wake up” in the correct state when power is interrupted and then
restored.

The control values are not saved until the 15 second time out has occurred. If power is
removed before the time out period, the new state will not be saved.

The controls and their indicators are described below:

Analog Reference Level

This control selects the output level of the analog output with these choices:

-10 dB – Analog reference level of -10 decibels

+4 dB – Analog reference level of +4 decibels

Group Select

This control selects the AES group for disembedding with the following choices:

1 – AES Group 1

2 – AES Group 2

3 – AES Group 3

4 – AES Group 4

Ch 1/2 and Ch 3/4 VU Indicators

These indicators provide information about the level of the analog outputs on
these channels. More detailed indicators are available through the BrightEye PC
application.

Ch 1/2 and Ch 3/4 Gain Adjustment Indicators

These controls allow for quick adjustment of Gain level for these two channel
pairs. For independent channel adjustment, and other controls, use
BrightEye PC.

BrightEye 24 SDI to Analog Converter and Disembedder

NOTE: