NCast Presentation Recorder, PR-HD-Basic-M, PR-HD-Basic-P Reference Manual
NCast Presentation Recorder Reference Manual
NCast Product Documentation
Presentation Recorder
Reference Manual
Revision 2.2
May 29th, 2014
PR-HD Software Release 8.0.13
NCast Corporation Revision 2.2
Copyright © NCast Corporation, 2014
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NCast Presentation Recorder Reference Manual
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Purpose .................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.2. Document Overview ............................................................................................................................... 6
1.3. Presentation Recorders – Basic Models ................................................................................................ 6
1.4. Presentation Recorders – Extreme Models ............................................................................................ 7
1.5. Presentation Recorders – Ultra Models ................................................................................................. 7
1.6. Presentation Recorders – Connector Options ........................................................................................ 8
1.7. Presentation Recorders – Generation 1 vs. Generation 2 .................................................................... 10
1.8. Presentation Recorders – Phoenix Connector Wiring .......................................................................... 10
1.9. Presentation Recorders – Installation .................................................................................................. 11
2. Quick Start .................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.1. Startup ................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.2. Presentation Recorder Modes of Operation ......................................................................................... 14
3. Theory of Operation .................................................................................................................................... 17
3.1. Presentation Recorder Component Block Diagram ............................................................................. 17
3.2. Capture Module Function ..................................................................................................................... 17
3.3. Compression ........................................................................................................................................ 18
3.4. Transmission ........................................................................................................................................ 18
3.5. Decompression .................................................................................................................................... 18
3.6. Display Function ................................................................................................................................... 18
3.7. Audio Subsystem ................................................................................................................................. 18
3.8. Archive Flash Disk ............................................................................................................................... 18
4. Quick Start Configuration and Setup .......................................................................................................... 19
4.1. Quick Start Page Organization ............................................................................................................. 19
4.2. Channel Selection ................................................................................................................................ 20
4.3. Source Selection .................................................................................................................................. 21
4.4. Streaming Start/Stop ............................................................................................................................ 22
4.5. Recording ............................................................................................................................................. 23
4.6. Status Bar ............................................................................................................................................ 23
4.7. Control Icons ........................................................................................................................................ 23
5. The Channel Table ..................................................................................................................................... 26
5.1. Channel Settings .................................................................................................................................. 26
5.2. Edit Channel – General ........................................................................................................................ 27
5.3. Edit Channel – Frame Size .................................................................................................................. 29
5.4. Edit Channel – Layout .......................................................................................................................... 30
5.5. Edit Channel – Profile .......................................................................................................................... 33
5.6. Edit Channel – Customized Profile Settings ......................................................................................... 34
5.7. Edit Channel – Network ....................................................................................................................... 37
5.8. Edit Channel – RTMP Streaming ......................................................................................................... 39
5.9. Edit Channel – Automatic Unicast ........................................................................................................ 40
5.10. Edit Channel – Recording .................................................................................................................. 42
5.11. Edit Channel – Upload ....................................................................................................................... 45
5.12. Edit Channel – Notifications ............................................................................................................... 51
6. Archives ...................................................................................................................................................... 53
6.1. Archive Settings ................................................................................................................................... 53
7. Configuration .............................................................................................................................................. 57
7.1. Personal ............................................................................................................................................... 57
7.2. Time ..................................................................................................................................................... 58
7.3. Network ................................................................................................................................................ 59
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7.4. Web ...................................................................................................................................................... 63
7.5. Display ................................................................................................................................................. 64
7.6. Telnet Settings ..................................................................................................................................... 66
7.7. Scheduler ............................................................................................................................................. 67
7.8. Presentation Server ............................................................................................................................. 72
7.9. Notifications .......................................................................................................................................... 74
7.10. Custom ............................................................................................................................................... 76
8. Status ......................................................................................................................................................... 79
8.1. System ................................................................................................................................................. 79
8.2. Network ................................................................................................................................................ 80
8.3. Event Logs ........................................................................................................................................... 80
8.4. Serial logs ............................................................................................................................................ 81
9. Sources ...................................................................................................................................................... 82
9.1. Video .................................................................................................................................................... 82
9.2. Audio .................................................................................................................................................... 83
9.3. Advanced ............................................................................................................................................. 84
9.4. Overlays ............................................................................................................................................... 86
9.5. Previews ............................................................................................................................................... 86
10. Viewer Interface and Media Players ......................................................................................................... 87
10.1. View Stream ....................................................................................................................................... 87
10.2. VLC Media Player .............................................................................................................................. 88
10.3. Media Players .................................................................................................................................... 89
10.4. Closed-Caption Support ..................................................................................................................... 90
11. Custom Layouts ........................................................................................................................................ 93
11.1. Frame Layouts and Presets ............................................................................................................... 93
12. Presentation Recorder Interfaces ............................................................................................................. 99
12.1. Serial Interface ................................................................................................................................... 99
12.2. Telnet Interface .................................................................................................................................. 99
12.3. REST Interface – Archive Download ................................................................................................ 100
12.4. REST Interface – Image and Thumbnail Capture ............................................................................ 100
12.5. REST Interface – Graphics Overlay Upload ..................................................................................... 100
12.6. REST Interface – Reference Manual ............................................................................................... 101
13. Techniques for Presentation Capture .................................................................................................. 102
13.1. Webcasting, Podcasting and Archiving ............................................................................................ 102
13.2. Capturing Graphics, Video and Audio .............................................................................................. 102
13.3. Conference Day Problems and Issues ............................................................................................. 104
13.4. Video Post-Production ..................................................................................................................... 106
14. PR-HD First Generation .......................................................................................................................... 108
14.1. Backpanel Connectors ..................................................................................................................... 108
14.2. Main/PIP Input Compatibility Chart .................................................................................................. 109
15. Terms and Definitions ............................................................................................................................. 110
15.1. Audio and Video Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................... 110
16. References ............................................................................................................................................. 112
16.1. MPEG Compression ........................................................................................................................ 112
16.2. Packet Transmission ........................................................................................................................ 112
16.3. Multicast ........................................................................................................................................... 112
17. Revision History ...................................................................................................................................... 113
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Regulatory Compliance Information
Equipment Label
The Presentation Recorder meets all applicable FCC, CE and ICAN radiation and emission
standards:
Report 3054-1
Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Report
47 CFR Part 2 Subpart J Paragraph 2.906
Report 3054-2
44366 S. Grimmer Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538
Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Report
ECD 2004/108/EC, LVD 2006/95/EC
(510) 490-4307 (510) 490-3441 Fax
(1) Connections between peripherals of this equipment may be made with low voltage non-
shielded computer data cables.
(2) Network connections may consist of non-shielded CAT 5 cable.
Warnings
(1) A non-shielded power cord may be used to connect AC power to every component and
peripheral of the system.
FCC NOTICE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FCC NOTICE – INFORMATION FOR THE USER
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A 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 the 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 receiver.
(3)Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
(4)Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The user may find the following publication prepared by the Federal Communications Commission
helpful:
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems”
Stock Number 004-000-00345-4, available exclusively from the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (telephone +1-202-512-1800).
FCC WARNING
Changes or modification not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance to Part
15 of the FCC Rules could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
CE NOTICE – INFORMATION FOR THE USER
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This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to EN 55022 Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used
in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at the expense of
the user.
The user may find the following publication prepared by the Federal Communication Commission
helpful:
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems”
Stock Number 004-000-00345-4, available exclusively from the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (telephone +1-202-512-1800).
WARNING
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance to EN
55022 Rules could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
ICAN Class A Digital Equipment
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing
Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigencies due Réglement sur le
matériel brouilleur du Canada.
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1. Introduction
1.1. PURPOSE
The NCast Presentation Recorder Reference Manual is intended for the Audio/Video or Network engineer
who will be tasked with the job of installing and setting up a Presentation Recorder or a system of multiple
Presentation Recorders. This guide is designed to cover topics in depth and to assist in optimizing the
performance of a Presentation Recorder.
1.2. DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document is divided into two major sections: the theory of operation and a discussion of parameter
settings.
1.3. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – BASIC MODELS
The Presentation Recorder is a stand-alone network communications appliance which captures RGB (VGA),
Composite, Component, DVI, HDMI, Displayport and optionally 3G-SDI signals from a desktop or laptop,
compresses the image with an industry standard compression algorithm, records the capture to a file,
packetizes and transmits the imagery as an internet media stream, receives a media stream from the
internet, decompresses the imagery, and presents the received information to a viewing audience through
use of a large-screen monitor or via a room projector. Presentation Recorders are able to archive the media
stream in real-time while simultaneously webcasting, allowing for playback by the recipient at a later date.
The following Presentation Recorder models are covered by this documentation:
PR-HD-Basic-R – A rack-mounted unit with streaming and archiving capabilities. The PR-HD-Basic-R
introduces support for up to WUXGA (1920x1200) input resolutions with up to 1080p (1920x1080) capture
resolutions and PiP (Picture In Picture) video and graphics overlay.
PR-HD-Basic-D – A rack-mounted unit with streaming and archiving capabilities. The PR-HD-Basic-D
introduces support for up to WUXGA (1920x1200) input resolutions with up to 1080p (1920x1080) capture
resolutions and PiP (Picture In Picture) video and graphics overlay. This unit has two independent and
identical encoders in a single 1U rack-mount chassis (each encoder and its power supply occupy ½ rack).
The dual-encoding capabilities of this model enables many different applications, for example:
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• Two independent HD encoders – With identical inputs, one encoder may be setup to stream and record a
high-bandwidth, high-resolution stream and the second encoder provides for a reduced resolution,
reduced bandwidth stream.
• Dual wide-screen delivery – One encoder transmits a hi-def camera stream, and the second transmits a
wide-screen presentation. Telepresence at a budget price!
• Synchronized Encoders – Two HD wide-screens side by side, giving a dual-HD panorama, or a 3D left-right
image.
• Two-way Interactive – One encoder is configured for streaming send, and the second is setup for
streaming receive.
• Fail-Safe System – Each encoder independently transmitting the same material. Should one fail, the
receivers can switch to the other.
• Hot Standby – A spare unit for critical applications.
PR-HD-Basic-P - A flange-mounted unit with streaming and archiving capabilities. This is a very
small form-factor chassis suitable for mounting on the walls of a podium, on top of or underneath a
podium shelf, in a mobile cart, or on a wall in an equipment room.
PR-HD-Basic-M - A desktop unit with streaming and archiving capabilities. This is a very small
form-factor case suitable for desktop or mobile cart applications.
All PR-HD Series units share a core operating system and base set of features. The mainboard and
connector set is similar for all units. Please review the product spec sheets for further details.
1.4. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – EXTREME MODELS
The Presentation Recorder Extreme has all the features of the Basic model but in addition will record in 1080
definition, stream in 1080 (but simultaneous recording and streaming at this resolution is not allowed). There
is also an HDMI output connector for an all-digital connection to a display monitor.
1.5. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – ULTRA MODELS
The Presentation Recorder Ultra has all the features of the Extreme (except HDMI Out) and in addition
supports 3G-SDI digital input.
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1.6. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – CONNECTOR OPTIONS
The following diagram describes the back-panel connectors available:
Backpanel for PR-HD-Basic-M, PR-HD-Basic-P
• Serial Control – Wired control from a touch panel, such as Crestron or AMX
• Ethernet – Connection to the Internet
• XLR Audio – Balanced XLR input connector and additionally a balanced 0.25” connector
• VGA – Input from the presenter's PC
• VGA Loopback – VGA output, usually to the room projector
• VGA/Component Out – RGBHV or Y-Pb-Pr output to the local display
• USB – For specifying a static IP connection with a USB drive or saving an archive file
• Line-In, Line-Out, Mic-In - Unbalanced 3.5 mm. audio connections. Stereo for Line-In, Line-Out
• HDMI – Video input from cameras or computers, audio not supported
• DVI-D – Digital input
• DVI-A – Analog RGBHV input or Y-Pb-Pr component from a camera source
• Displayport – Input from the Displayport output of a computer
• SDI – 3G-SDI Serial Digital Input
• Composite – NTSC or PAL input
Note: Conversion of HDMI or DVI signals to Displayport requires an active (not passive) adapter.
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Backpanel for PR-HD-Basic-R, PR-HD-Basic-D
Backpanel for PR-HD-Extreme-M, PR-HD-Extreme-P
Backpanel for PR-HD-Extreme-R, PR-HD-Extreme-D
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Backpanel for PR-HD-Ultra-M, PR-HD-Ultra-P
Backpanel for PR-HD-Ultra-R, PR-HD-Ultra-D
1.7. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – GENERATION 1 VS. GENERATION 2
Earlier versions of the PR-720 and PR-HD Presentation Recorders had a different backpanel and connector
lineup. Documentation on these first generation units is found in Chapter 14.
1.8. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – PHOENIX CONNECTOR WIRING
The Presentation Recorder rack mount models come with a Phoenix balanced audio connector.
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1.9. PRESENTATION RECORDERS – INSTALLATION
The diagram below shows a typical room installation:
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2. Quick Start
2.1. STARTUP
2.1.1. A Really Short Start
Here’s a very short description on how to get started:
1. Plug the unit into a network with DHCP, plug in a display to the VGA Out, plug your laptop into the
VGA In, a camera (if you have one) into a video connector and turn on the power.
2. When you see the bootup screen with the IP network address, log into the unit at
http://ipaddress using “admin” as the user and “ncast” as the password.
3. On the Quick Start page select your Channel Layout, your Video Sources, your Audio
Sources and then press Streaming Start.
4. Click on the Streaming View button, press “Launch Quicktime Player in Window” and you’re
done!
2.1.2. Mini Start
This is a short introduction on how to get started with a Presentation Recorder:
1. Plug the unit into a network, plug in a display to the VGA Out, plug your laptop into the VGA In, a
camera (if you have one) into a video connector and turn on the power. If you aren’t using DHCP
and need to enter static IP addresses, edit a “ntwkconf.txt” file onto a USB stick and plug it into a
USB port. See the Configuration → Network tab (7.3.16.) for details on this file.
2. When you see the bootup screen with the IP network address, log into the unit at
http://ipaddress using “admin” as the user and “ncast” as the password.
3. Go to the Configuration → Personal tab and fill in all the information required.
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4. On the Quick Start page select the Channel Layout you desire. The icons represent the composition
of the frame which will be recorded and allow for many different combinations of video inputs,
graphics inputs and graphical overlays.
5. The dialog box allows you to choose one of the unit's standard video profiles and permits you to
upload a custom graphical overlay to replace the factory default.
6. Select the Video and Audio sources you have connected to the recorder. The “Main” input is
normally associated with graphics capture and the PIP input usually contains the video camera. You
should see your captured graphics and video on the local display screen. Check your audio levels on
the meter.
7. Press the Streaming Start button to activate the stream.
8. Click on the Streaming View button, press “Launch Quicktime Player in Window”. This dialog box
allows you to connect different media desktop players using multicast protocol. If your network is not
multicast enabled you must be on the same LAN segment as the encoder. Your client player should
launch and you should see your captured graphics and video. For other client players, try clicking on
the “SDP” link.
9. You’re done!
2.1.3. Long Start
Read this whole manual from cover to cover (RTFM). There are hundreds of different configuration
options for a Presentation Recorder, allowing the setup and composition of many different formats,
resolutions, PIP options, layouts, bit-rates, frame-rates, start and stop and scheduling options and the
like. You can automatically upload your archives to a video server. You can tag your archives
automatically with course numbers and notes. You can add your own customized graphic overlays to
the captured graphics and video. Transmission can be automated so that all that is required is to
press the power-on button.
Please feel free to contact NCast Corporation if you have any questions about the use or
configuration of the Presentation Recorder.
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2.2. PRESENTATION RECORDER MODES OF OPERATION
The Presentation Recorders have eight major modes of operation:
Record to File – The Presentation Recorder only records the file to storage. Once the
Session has ended the file may be automatically uploaded to a video-on-demand server for
later playback by client PCs or mobile devices.
Send a Unicast or Multicast Stream – In this mode of operation one of the Presentation
Recorders is designated as the “Sender” and all of the other units are designated as
“Receivers”. The media streams originate from the Sender and are decoded by one or more
Receivers or desktop client media players. The transmission is strictly one-way, and no
feedback or interactivity is provided for. The one-to-many operation is enabled via use of
multicast connected networks. The unit is able to stream and record simultaneously.
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Send a Unicast or Multicast Stream and Record to File – This mode of operation is the
same as “Send a Unicast or Multicast Stream” with the addition of simultaneous recording
an archiving of the captured Session. The archive is first stored internally in local storage and
once the Session is finished the archive may be uploaded to a distribution server or to a locally
attached USB drive.
Send a Stream to an RTMP Server – For live streaming the Presentation Recorder sends an
RTMP protocol stream to a streaming server, CDN or Presentation Server where fanout
occurs and the media is distributed to multiple receiving PC's or mobile devices. The server
MUST be located at a high-bandwidth point on the network to provide for multiple outbound
unicast streams, one for each attached receiver.
Send a Stream to an RTMP Server and Record to File – Supports live streaming using the
RTMP streaming protocol and in addition simultaneously records to create a local archive. See
the diagram and description above.
Send a Stream to an RTSP Server – For live streaming the Presentation Recorder sends an
RTSP protocol stream to a streaming server, CDN or Presentation Server where fanout occurs
and the media is distributed to multiple receiving PC's or mobile devices. The server MUST be
located at a high-bandwidth point on the network to provide for multiple outbound unicast
streams, one for each attached receiver. See diagram above. The RTSP protocol has been
displaced by RTMP for most content distribution networks.
Send a Stream to an RTSP Server and Record to File – Supports live streaming using the
RTSP streaming protocol and in addition simultaneously records to create a local archive. See
the diagram and description above. The RTSP protocol has been displaced by RTMP for most
content distribution networks.
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Receive a Unicast or Multicast Stream – In this mode of operation the Presentation
Recorder is configured to receive a stream from another unit acting as a sender. The receiving
unit decodes and renders the composite image created by the sender and displays it on the
attached monitor. This configuration is frequently used to supply a display to an overflow room
or satellite classrom.
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3. Theory of Operation
3.1. PRESENTATION RECORDER COMPONENT BLOCK DIAGRAM
The Presentation Recorder consists of these main hardware functions:
Capture Hardware – A custom designed, high-performance module is used to grab and digitize the RGB
or video signals created by the presenter or media source. This module accepts VGA, Y-Pr-Pb, DVI-I, HDMI,
PAL/NTSC composite or PAL/NTSC S-Video connections and converts those signals to YUV digital format.
Two of these inputs may be active simultaneously for generation of a picture-in-picture (PIP) display.
Central CPU – A general-purpose ARM processor is used to compress and decompress audio streams,
to encapsulate and decapsulate outgoing and incoming packets streams, to enable the web interface, serial
interface and telnet interface, and to prepare data for display on the attached monitor. A highly secure opensource operating system underlies and supports all of this functionality.
DSP – A custom DSP is used to compress and decompress YUV video and graphics images to H.264
streams.
Display Output Sub-system – Media streams, which are received and decoded, are presented on the
attached display for viewing. Both RGBHV and component output (Y-Pb-Pr) are supported.
Audio Sub-system – A sound system with stereo input-output capabilities and with support for
microphone and line-level inputs and line-level outputs is used to create the AAC audio streams transmitted
in conjunction with the associated graphics or video imagery. Balanced XLR inputs are also supported
Ethernet Interface – Industry-standard ethernet connectors are used to connect the Presentation
Recorder with the Internet network used for communications.
3.2. CAPTURE MODULE FUNCTION
The capture module selects one of the available six inputs (VGA, DVI-D, DVI-A, HDMI, Composite, S-Video)
and locks onto the signal. The signal is converted into the appropriate digital formats, and each pixel in the
image is stored in a local memory buffer on the module. Any required sizing and re-scaling is done in the
module. At an appropriate time the pixels in module are transferred to the DSP where they are processed
and compressed.
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If PIP mode is enabled, two signals may be selected (exceptions: Composite and S-video share one video
decoding chip and are the same signal, VGA and DVI-A share one input chip and are the same signal).
3.3. COMPRESSION
The digitized RGB signals are converted in format from an {R,G,B} representation to {Y,U,V}. Industrystandard compression algorithms implemented in the DSP are then used to reduce the source data to a
more manageable size, and to generate sequences of I-P-B frames found in MPEG-4 media streams.
3.4. TRANSMISSION
The MPEG media stream is split into segments, which are then encapsulated into RTP packets according to
the protocol standards set forth in IETF RFC 3016 or RFC 3984 (H.264). These packets are presented to the
Ethernet hardware interface for subsequent transmission on the attached IP network.
3.5. DECOMPRESSION
The received packet stream is decompressed and the resulting image is placed into a video frame buffer. At
that instant it will become visible to the receiving viewers.
3.6. DISPLAY FUNCTION
The display will output imagery from two different sources. If the unit is configured as the sending unit, a
local copy of the captured image (prior to compression, but after capture and conversion to digital format) will
be displayed. If the unit is a receiving unit, the displayed image will be from the remote sender.
3.7. AUDIO SUBSYSTEM
Each Presentation Recorder supports an audio subsystem consisting of an high-quality codec and
associated input/output connectors. The unit has microphone and line-level input signals, and a line-level
output signal. Each line-level connector supports stereo signals. An XLR connector provides for mono
balanced audio input. Audio input via the HDMI connector is not currently supported.
3.8. ARCHIVE FLASH DISK
A flash memory card in the Presentation Recorder is available for recording transmitted sessions. The file
format is standard MPEG-4 Part 10 (H.264, .mp4), which can be played on a variety of desktop client
players, or these same files can be installed on a video-streaming server for on-demand playback over the
Internet. All unit come with 32 GB of storage standard, and an additional 32 GB of storage may be
purchased as an option.
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4. Quick Start Configuration and Setup
4.1. QUICK START PAGE ORGANIZATION
The Quick Start page is the primary control page for the Presentation Recorder and has six distinct
functional areas:
• Channel Selection – A Channel is a preset or template containing all layout and startup parameters
• Source Selection – Input connectors are assigned to the active windows in a video frame
• Streaming Control – Streaming session activity on a Channel is started or stopped
• Recording Control – Recording of a session on a Channel is started, paused or stopped
• Status Bar – A real-time display of session activity and input signal status
• Control Icons – Special controls to power-off the unit, reboot and several other functions
Control Icons
Channel Presets/Templates
Video/Audio Source Selection
Streaming Controls
Recording Controls
Status Bar
With the Quick Start page the sequence of operations required to activate a streaming/recording session
may be summarized as follow:
1. Select a Channel layout.
2. Select the appropriate video and audio sources.
3. Start a streaming session.
4. Start recording.
5. Stop recording.
6. Stop the streaming session.
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4.2. CHANNEL SELECTION
A Channel is a preset containing all the layout and startup parameters needed for a streaming or recording
session. There are seven categories of channel parameters:
• General – The Channel name and the type of Channel operation desired.
• Layout – The frame size, aspect ratio, position of the Main and PIP windows and graphical overlays.
• Quality – The video and audio quality desired and respective bit-rates.
• Network – The Channel's multicast or unicast addresses.
• Recording – Archive filenames and other recording parameters.
• Upload – Disposition of the archive file once the recording has completed.
• Notifications – Email messages to the administrator of the Channel.
The Quick Start page allows for a limited selection of factory default settings. More comprehensive
modifications to a Channel are done from the Channels tab.
The first dialog box allows selection of a number of standard bit-rates and the upload of custom graphics for
overlay.
Select the lower speeds for material that is mainly graphics and the higher bit-rates for video material.
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Graphical overlays are JPEG, GIF or PNG images that may be used to fill in or overlay areas of the frame
being captured. Create a custom graphic in your favorite photo editing program and upload it to the Channel
by selecting “Customize Overlays”. Make sure the dimensions are correct as the Recorder does not do any
scaling of the incoming picture.
When all selections have been made the new Channel will be ready for use and the new layout will appear
on the locally attached monitor.
4.3. SOURCE SELECTION
The selection of which input signal (connector) to use for the Main and the PIP windows is accomplished by
clicking the Video button in the Sources area. This selection may be changed at any time during a recording.
The Swap button will exchange the Main and PIP window settings. The “Main Full” or “PIP Full” will expand
the Main or PIP window to fullscreen.
Similarly, the audio inputs are selected by the audio button. Choices include:
• Mic – Microphone jack input
• Line-in – Line jack input
• XLR – Balanced audio input
• Input gain – Input level adjustment for the above inputs
• Output gain – Speaker output level
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• Loopback gain – Controls the feed from the input signal to the output. Watchout for feedback!
The other buttons on this line control these functions:
• Advanced – Fine adjustment and positioning of the images.
• Overlays – Shows or hides the graphical or text overlays, allows edit of text overlays.
• Preview – Creates a static image of the frame being captured.
4.4. STREAMING START/STOP
The Streaming Start button activates a streaming/recording session based on the Channel parameters and
the selected video and audio sources.
Once activated the View button allows reception of the transmitted stream using an appropriate media
player.
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4.5. RECORDING
The Recording button starts the recording and archiving of the video/graphics/audio media being presented.
A recording may be Paused and Resumed, and if Stopped and then Started a second file will be created.
The Title button allows entry of metadata for the recorded file (Title, Presenter, Description).
4.6. STATUS BAR
The Status Bar at the bottom of the page creates a real-time report of the activity underway and has
indicators for Streaming and Recording operations and the state of the selected Main and PIP input signals.
Clicking the righthand grey panel collapses the Bar and hides it from view.
4.7. CONTROL ICONS
The upper righthand corner of the page contains two Control Icons:
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Clicking the green arrow expands the slider to reveal an additional set of Icons:
The function of these Icons (left to right) is listed below.
4.7.1. Reboot
Restarts the unit and reinitializes all processes. This operation may be needed to clear problems after a
power brownout or other unexpected glitch
4.7.2. Shutdown
Powers down the encoder. It is HIGHLY recommended to power off the equipment with this Icon rather than
simply pulling the plug. All operating parameters will be properly saved and restored.
4.7.3. Factory Defaults
Restores all Channels and other settings to their factory default. All configuration information will be lost.
Nothing is saved and the reset is irreversible.
4.7.4. Export Settings
Once a recorder has been setup and configured, it's highly recommended to export all settings to save the
configuration of the unit for easy restore or repair.
Clicking the Export button will create and download a .zip file with all of the checked information.
4.7.5. Import Settings
To restore an encoder to a previously configured state, press Import Settings and locate the previously
exported .zip file.
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4.7.6. Software Update
NCast regularly releases new software revisions for its encoders with many updated features, new
functionality and bug fixes. The Software Update Icon brings up a dialog box with these choices:
• Network – The update will use the Internet to reach NCast's update server.
• USB Disk – The encoder is “off net” and a USB thumb drive will supply the required files.
The Network option is normally used to update the encoder, and in the case of a closed or secure network
requiring USB drive files, please contact a customer support person at NCast for assistance in doing a USB
update.
To do an Update, first use the Status tab to determine what release the encoder is currently using. Then
click on the Software Update Control Icon and select “Network”.
After the Network selection is made, the dialog panel displays the update revision levels available:
If the encoder is not on the latest release, select the desired revision and click “Update”. All necessary
update files will be downloaded over the net and the encoder will reboot once the new firmware has been
installed.
The Support section on NCast's website contains Release Notes outlining what features or fixes have been
implemented in the latest firmware.
The Software Update dialog box lists the current release(s) of software available for this Presentation
Recorder. If no information is listed then there is a problem reaching the update server. The network Update
Tool requires HTTP access to the external Internet to function correctly. If this access is fire-walled or if the
HTTP proxy settings are not correctly employed, then update listings and software updates are not available.
There may also be a problem with the settings for the DNS servers as well.
Once the “Update” button is pressed the Presentation Recorder downloads a list of required files and their
timestamps. Files which are missing or out-of-date are downloaded and installed. The unit will then reboot
and becomes ready for service again with the new software release.
Configuration files are not altered during this process. All Unit, Channel, Source and other settings should
remain intact through this update.
File system verification and new file download may take some time, so allow the unit to reboot on its own
and do not prematurely hit the reset switch as that could damage the filesystem and cause the unit to fail to
restart.
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5. The Channel Table
5.1. CHANNEL SETTINGS
A “Channel” is a preset or template, a collection of parameter settings that defines the operating
characteristics for a streaming webcast or a recording session. Just as Channel 2 on your TV defines the
video carrier to be “55.25 MHz.”, Channel 2 on a Presentation Recorder might define the graphics multicast
address to be “239.192.0.1”. There are many parameters associated with a Channel, items like the video
and audio multicast or unicast addresses, port numbers, MTU’s, codecs, bit rates, layouts, overlays and
modes of operation. Think of a Channel as a type of “preset” for all of those parameters. There are 25
Channels allowed, so 25 different presets are available for definition.
By default, the encoder comes with 25 factory-defined Channel layouts for the most commonly used inputs
and compositions. These layouts are not “fixed” permanently, but simply examples of commonly used
arrangements. Any Channel may be completely customized by the customer simply by overriding the factory
default settings.
Once the Channel settings have been established, typically by the administrator of the Presentation
Recorder, or maybe the IT or Network department within an organization, they will not be changed by
ordinary users of the Presentation Recorder. The user is instructed to “Use Channel 2” and no further
detailed instructions are required.
When a Channel is started the Presentation Recorder begins its broadcast or recording Session. All of the
many Channel parameters are transferred to the working Session parameters and the encoding and layout
parameters defined by the Channel become the current encoding mode and layout of the Presentation
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Recorder. Any changes or updates to the Channel Table have no effect on the Session until the next
Session start.
Session parameters which may be changed or updated appear on the Quick Start page and on the Custom
page. Windows and Overlays may be altered during a Session, but the initial Frame size and aspect ratio
may not change. The Frame size MUST remain fixed during a Session.
5.1.1. Channel Initiation
At the left edge of each channel icon is a Start button. Pressing this button activates all the parameters for
the Channel and a new Session based on these settings is started.
5.1.2. Channel Modification
Setup of a Channel, started by pressing the “Edit” key, is divided into seven parts:
• General – Channel name, description and the type of operation
• Layout – Frame size and placement of the Main and PIP windows
• Profile – Bit-rate, frame-rate and quality settings
• Network – Setup of multicast and unicast addresses, MTU's and TTL
• Recording – Recording filename, title and description
• Upload – FTP or Secure FTP server names and passwords, USB or Presentation Server
• Notifications – E-mail reports of important Channel events
The paragraphs which follow describe in detail each of these parts.
5.1.3. Channel Export/Import
A Channel's setup with all required parameters and settings may be exported to a .zip file. This provides for
off-line backup. Use of the Import button allows restoration of the channel, or copying of the parameters from
one channel to another.
5.2. EDIT CHANNEL – GENERAL
5.2.1. Set Channel Name
Each channel can be assigned a name, and these names can reflect the functional use of the channel. The
factory default settings name the channels in correspondence with their layout properties. Another example
might be “International Sales Team Update” for corporate usage, “Engineering Collaboration” in the case of
departmental usage, “San Francisco” designating some geographical assignments, or “Chemistry 101”
designating course related usage. Additional descriptive text may be added in the “description” field.
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As a specific example, a Presentation Recorder might set up the following 3 channel assignments:
Channel 1 – The PR-HD unit transmits using multicast address 239.192.0.0
Channel 2 – The PR-HD unit receives using multicast address 239.192.0.0
Channel 3 – The PR-HD unit initiates an Automatic Unicast to the required CDN.
Enter a descriptive name for the channel that makes sense to the administrators or users.
5.2.2. Select Channel Scenario
The PR-HD has eight basic modes of operation:
• Recording – The unit is placed into record-only mode. No stream for internet use is generated.
This mode enables the highest quality capture at the highest frame rates.
• Streaming Send – The unit will be transmitting in a one-way, one-to-many (multicast only)
session to other units or remote desktops.
• Streaming Send with Recording – The unit will be transmitting in a one-way, one-to-many
(multicast only) session to other units or remote desktops. Simultaneous recording is enabled.
• Streaming with RTMP - The unit will utilize the services of a streaming server for rebroadcast
(reflection) of the incoming stream. Through use of the RTMP protocol live streaming to CDN's,
Adobe FMS, Wowza, Evostream and other reflecting servers becomes possible.
• Streaming with RTMP and Recording – Same as above but simultaneous recording is enabled.
• Automatic Unicast using RTSP – The unit will utilize the services of a streaming server for
rebroadcast (reflection) of the incoming stream. Through use of the RTSP protocol an
announcement is sent to the server indicating a new streaming session is starting.
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• Automatic Unicast using RTSP and Recording – Same as above but simultaneous recording is
enabled.
• Streaming Receive – The unit will be receiving a transmission from some other source on this
network.
5.2.3. Select Media
The media choices:
◦ Video & Audio – Record with all media, video and sound
◦ Video – Create a video recording with no sound
◦ Audio – Create an audio recording with no video
5.2.4. Auto Start Session
If the “Auto-Start” checkbox is enabled on a Channel, then Session activity for that Channel will automatically
resume when the unit is rebooted or restarted after a power failure.
5.2.5. Auto Start Recording
Recording starts and stops when the Session starts and stops.
5.3. EDIT CHANNEL – FRAME SIZE
5.3.1. Set Frame Size
The Frame Size defines the dimensions of the Frame, a surface (capture surface or “the canvas”) which is
the primary imaging surface on which the composite image (Main window + PIP window + Overlays) is
drawn. The resolution and aspect ratio of the transmitted or archived media stream aligns exactly with the
resolution and aspect ratio of the Frame. Consequently, selection of one of the default frame sizes and
aspect ratios, or definition of a custom Frame Size and possibly a custom Aspect Ratio is the first step in
defining the format of the media stream which will be produced by the Presentation Recorder. The Frame
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can have any dimension or aspect ratio, with the limitation that the maximum dimensions are 1280 x 720 for
the PR-HD-Basic model.
Once the frame is defined, the next step is the (X,Y) placement and (W,H) sizing of the primary or “Main”
image window/stream. Typically the “Main” stream is sized at “Full-screen” which means that the primary
stream is scaled to the full dimensions of the frame. It is useful to note, however, that the primary stream can
be dimensioned to a smaller size than the full frame size. The unused space might then be reserved for the
secondary image stream (the PIP image, but placed outside the boundaries of the Main image) and possibly
an overlay graphic. A “Main” and “PIP” side-by-side composition would also dictate that the Main image only
occupies one-half of the capture surface area.
5.3.2. Set Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of an image is the visual width divided by the visual height. For most computer systems
“square pixels” are displayed, so the aspect ratio of the image is the pixel width divided by the pixel height. In
video systems, however, often “non-square’ pixels are displayed and the aspect ratio differs from the pixel
width to height ratio. The Frame Size (see 5.3.1. above) only determines the pixel dimensions of an image.
For proper display the aspect ratio must be specified and used to render the final image.
5.4. EDIT CHANNEL – LAYOUT
5.4.1. PIP
If the “PIP” window is enabled, its (X,Y) placement and (W,H) dimensions are overlaid on the frame.
Typically this might be in the upper-right or lower-right corner of the frame. The PR-HD Series user has the
option of determining if the PIP window obscures any portion of the Main window. It can be placed on top of
or outside of the Main image.
5.4.2. PIP Border
If this control is selected a small border is drawn around the PIP window.
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