Pinnacle Systems DS - 5.0 Setup Guide

5.0

WORKSTATION SETUP GUIDE

© 1999–2001 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Avid, the Avid|DS Logo, and SOFTIMAGE are registered trademarks, and Avid Unity, MEDIArray, MediaDock, and Equinox are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the properties of their respective owners.

The Avid|DS application uses JScript and Visual Basic Scripting Edition from Microsoft Corporation. The Avid|DS application contains portions of imaging code owned and copyrighted by Pegasus Imaging Corporation, Tamp a , FL .

This document is protected under copyright law. The contents of this document may not be copied, duplicated or distributed in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of Avid Technology, Inc. This document is supplied as a guide for the Avid|DS product. Reasonable care has been taken in preparing the information it contains. However, this document may contain omissions, technical inaccuracies, or typographical errors. Product specifications are subject to change without notice and should not be considered commitments by Avid Technology, Inc. Avid Technology, Inc. does not accept responsibility of any kind for customers’ losses due to the use of this document.

This document may contain confidential and proprietary information of Avid Technology, Inc. and Softimage Co. and/or other third parties which is protected by copyright, trade secret and trademark Law and may not be provided or otherwise made available without prior written authorization.

Warranties and Liabilities

NEITHER SOFTIMAGE CO. NOR AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC. MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IN THIS DOCUMENT WITH RESPECT TO THIRD PARTY PRODUCT(S) CERTIFIED OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE FOR USE WITH SOFTIMAGE PRODUCTS. ALL WARRANTIES ARE PROVIDED BY THE ORIGINAL SUPPLIER(S) OF SUCH THIRD PARTY PRODUCT(S).

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.

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

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 when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed 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 his own expense.

Canadian ICES-003

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 exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

European Union Notice

Declaration of Conformity (According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014)

Application of Council Directives:

Standards to which Conformity is Declared:

Manufacturer’s Name: Avid Technology, Inc.

European Contact: Nearest Avid Sales and Service Office or

Type of Equipment: Information Technology Equipment

Product Name: Products for the Windows NT and Windows

Base Model Numbers: None

Product Options: All

Year of Manufacture: 2001

Products for the Windows NT and Windows 2000 Operating Systems: products were tested in a typical Avid|DS configuration.

73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC.

EN60950:1992 + A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 + A11 CISPR 22:1985 / EN55022:1988 Class A EN55024:1998 + A1

1925 Andover Street Tewksbury, MA 01876, USA

Avid Technology Sales Ltd. Sandyford Business Center Unit 3, Dublin 18, Ireland

2000 Operating Systems: Avid|DS

I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the equipment specified above conforms to the above Directives and Standards.

George R. Smith, Director of Hardware Design and Development

Australia and New Zealand EMC Regulations

John Kells, Australian Operations Manager Avid Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd. Unit B 5 Skyline Place French Forest NSW 2086 Australia Phone: 61-2-8977-4800

Taiwan EMC Regulations BSMI Class A EMC Warning

Warnings

To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not attempt to open the equipment unless instructed. Do not use a tool for purpose other than instructed.

Cast and Crew: Patrick Bayne, Sylvain Labrosse, Luc Langevin, Marianne Rodrigues and Liven Tam.

Document No. 0130-05116-01 1101

Printed in Canada.

Contents

Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Where to Find Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Document Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Avid|DS Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Licensing Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Training Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Hotline Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Corporate Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Avid|DS Mailing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Web Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Chapter 1 Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Package Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Chapter 2 Site Preparation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Site Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Environmental Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Electrical Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Space Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Additional Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Chapter 3 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

System Inputs and Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

House Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Tri-level Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Sync Topology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Back Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Workstation Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Card Placement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Disk Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Workstation Setup Guide • 5

Contents

Chapter 4 Assembling the System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Before Assembling the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

The Keyboard, Mouse, and Graphic Tablet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

The Computer Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

The Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

The Avid MediaDock LVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Single-Enclosure Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Two-Enclosure Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Three-Enclosure Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Avid Unity MediaNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Installing the Emulex Fibre Channel Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

The Avid MEDIArray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Connecting the Copper Cables to the Fibre Channel

Controller Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

The Machine Control Cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Peripheral Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Video Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Audio Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

The Software Protection Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

6 • Workstation Setup Guide

Before You Start

Workstation Setup Guide • 7

Before You Start

Where to Find Information

The Avid Roadmap, you’ll know where to find the information you need to get up and running quickly and effectively.

Start with the Workstation Setup Guide to prepare your site for Avid|DS and assemble your workstation. Use the Installation & Administration Guide should you need to reinstall and license any of the components, or for tips on the daily maintenance of your system.

Use the Drivers CD if you need to reinstall or update the drivers for any of the components, or troubleshoot problems with Avid|DS. This CD also contains PDF versions of all the documentation and a few utilites you may find useful.

Note: In order to view the documentation on the CD, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 and QuickTime version 5.0 or later installed. Acrobat Reader is included on the Drivers CD. QuickTime can be downloaded from the Apple website.

|DS package includes a comprehensive set of learning materials. With this

Comments?

We’d appreciate any comments or suggestions you may have about this guide or any other piece of our documentation. Just send them to: dsdocs@avid.com.

8 • Workstation Setup Guide

Refer to the Release Notes for feature limitations and workarounds.

You can join the Avid|DS Discussion Group, a worldwide network of Avid|DS users exchanging ideas and techniques by e-mail. To subscribe, send an e-mail to

majordomo@softimage.com with the following text in the body of your message: subscribe ds.

About This Guide

This guide provides information on:

• The components of the workstation

• Proper assembly of the workstation

• Necessary additional peripherals

Document Conventions

• Troubleshooting

Following these guidelines can help ensure the successful installation of your workstation, and avoid delays in getting your workstation up and running.

This guide is intended for anyone who is installing an Avid|DS 5.0 HD (high definition) or standard definition workstation for the first time, moving a workstation, or attempting to solve problems that can arise with the hardware.

This guide uses the following symbols and conventions:

Bold

Italics

> The greater than (>) sign indicates menu commands (and

Bold is used for menu commands, dialog box and property editor options, and file/folder names.

Italics place emphasis on certain words.

subcommands) in the order that you choose them. For example, File > Import means to open the File menu and then choose the Import command. This applies to menus from the main menu bar and pop-up menus that appear when you right-click on the interface.

Notes are reminders or contain important information.

Tips are useful bits of information, workarounds, and shortcuts that you may find helpful in a particular situation.

Warnings are used when you can lose or damage information or equipment, such as deleting data or not being able to easily undo an action. Warnings always appear before you attempt a task!

Workstation Setup Guide • 9

Before You Start

Mouse, Pen and Keyboard

In Avid|DS, you can use a two-button mouse (with wheel) or a pen and tablet. The left and right mouse buttons perform different operations. Unless otherwise stated, use the left mouse button.

The mouse and pen operate slightly differently. All the procedures in this guide are documented for the mouse. You can, however, easily use a pen or the keyboard. The following table shows the terms relating to the mouse, pen, and keyboard.

This term Means this with a mouse Means this with a pen

Click Quickly press and release the

Double-click Click the left mouse button

Right-click Quickly press and release the

Drag Hold down the left mouse

Alt+

key,

Ctrl+

key,

Shift+

key,

etc.

left mouse button. Always use the left mouse button unless otherwise stated.

twice rapidly.

right mouse button.

button or the wheel while you move the mouse.

Hold down the first key while you press the second key. For example, “Press Alt+F1” means to hold down the Alt key while you press the F1 key.

Tap the tablet once with the tip of the pen, or touch the pen to the tablet with enough pressure to click.

Quickly tap the tablet twice in the same screen pixel or press the F5 key to go from single to double-click.

Press the top portion of the switch on the side of the pen or press the F6 key to go from left to right-click.

Press the pen to the tablet while moving the pen.

Customizing the Pen or Mouse

By customizing the pen, you can adjust the click pressure, switch functions, and other features. For information on customizing the pen, refer to the WACOM ArtZII documentation provided with your Avid|DS system.

You can also customize the mouse. For example, you can select left-handed configuration or change the double-click speed.

10 • Workstation Setup Guide

For information on customizing the mouse, refer to the Windows NT or Windows 2000 online help.

Avid|DS Support

Technical support for Avid|DS is provided by your Avid reseller working together with Avid|DS Customer Service. Immediate assistance for any technical issue is available through our hotline, e-mail, and web support services.

Licensing Support You must contact your reseller to request a license for your Avid|DS system.

You can do this through your reseller or through the license request form under Licensing at http://softimage.com/avidds.

Training Support If you’re interested in Avid|DS training, you’ll find a complete overview of

courses, education centers, and training programs under Education at http://softimage.com/avidds.

Hotline Support Avid resellers provide first line support for Avid|DS according to their specific

geographical area and time zone. Working as an extension of Avid|DS Customer Service, these fully trained agents provide the most efficient and effective support possible to all our customers.

Contact information for your Avid reseller is available through the Avid Reseller Locator at http://avid.com/cgi/locator/index.asp.

You can reach Avid|DS Customer Service at the following:

Avid|DS Customer Service

North America

tel: 1 800 387-2559 fax: 1 514 845 8252

Wo r l d w i d e

tel: 1 514 845-2199 fax: 1 514 845 8252

9:00 am to 9:00 pm (Eastern) 2:00 pm to 2:00 am (GMT)

Hotline assistance is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for an additional fee.

Europe

tel: 44 175 365 0670 fax: 44 175 365 8503

9:00 am to 6:00 pm (GMT) 4:00 am to 1:00 pm (Eastern)

E-mail & Web

e-mail: dssupport@avid.com web: avid.com

Workstation Setup Guide • 11

Before You Start

Corporate Addresses You can reach Avid Technology, Inc. at the following addresses:

Corporate Headquarters

Avid Technol ogy, Inc. Avid Technol ogy Park One Park West Tewksbury, MA 01876 tel: 800 949-AVID or 978 640-6789

fax: 978 640 1366 web: avid.com

European Headquarters

Avid Technology Europe Ltd. Westside Complex Pinewood Studios Pinewood Road Iver, Buckinghamshire SLO ONH United Kingdom tel: 44 175 365 5999 fax: 44 175 365 4999

Asian Headquarters

Avid Technology (S.E. Asia) Pte. Ltd. 315 Alexandra Road #03-01 Performance Center Singapore 159944 Republic of Singapore tel: 65 476 7666 fax: 65 475 7666

Avid|DS Mailing List If you have an e-mail account, you can join the worldwide network of Avid|DS

users exchanging ideas. The mailing list has proven to be quite useful for users, with a constant stream of new subscribers.

To subscribe, send an e-mail to majordomo@softimage.com with the following text in the body of your message: subscribe ds. You can get further information on using the automated list server by e-mailing majordomo@softimage.com with “help” as your message.

Web Support The Avid|DS Support and Download sections at http://softimage.com/avidds

provide quick access to a wide range of resources from the Avid|DS teams and user community. Downloads, including presets, drivers, and Quick Fix Engineering (QFE), provide the latest solutions for your Avid|DS system. Online documentation, tutorials, and Knowledge Base articles ensure you get the most out of your work with Avid|DS. It's like having a dedicated Avid|DS Customer Service engineer sitting at your desk!

12 • Workstation Setup Guide

Chapter 1 Package Contents

Workstation Setup Guide • 13

Chapter 1 • Package Contents

In This Chapter...

This chapter provides an overview of the hardware, software, and documentation included with your Avid|DS workstation.

Package Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

14 • Workstation Setup Guide

Package Contents

Your Avid|DS workstation contains hardware, software, and documentation.

Hardware After carefully unpacking the hardware, verify all of the items on the packing

slip before setting up your workstation. And, make sure that you write down the serial number of all the devices.

Your workstation contains the following hardware:

Device Device, cables, and accessories

IBM IntelliStation Z Pro • Base unit

21-inch IBM P260 monitors • 2 21-inch monitors

Avid MediaDock™ LV D storage system

Avid MEDIArray™ Fibre Channel storage system

(only available with the standard definition version of Avid|DS)

Avid Equinox™ Break-Out-Box

WACOM tablet •Tablet

DUA II audio convertor (standard with HD systems)

DataMate/Rosetta Stone (RS-232 to RS-422 convertor for deck control)

•Keyboard

•IBM mouse

•2 optical cables (for Mykerinos audio card)

•Power cable

•Rackmount kit (optional)

•2 monitor cables with inputs

•2 power cables

•MediaDock LVD enclosure

•8 MediaDock LVD shuttles (for HD systems)

•4 MediaDock LVD shuttles (for SD systems)

•Power cable

•LVD cab le s

•Fibre Channel Drive Enclosure (FCDE)

•8 Fibre Channel drives

•2 power cords

•Copper Fibre Channel cable

•Rack mount rails, clip nuts, mounting clips,

and screws (for the rackmount FCDE)

•Breakout box

•Digital tether cable

•USB and BNC cables

•Power cable

•Pen and stand

•RS-232 cable

•Power transformer cable with AC adapter

•4D mouse

•Convertor

•2 optical cables

•Power cable

•Convertor

•RS-232 cable

•RS-422 cable

If you purchased the standard definition version of Avid|DS, you can choose between an Avid MediaDock LVD storage or an Avid MEDIArray Fibre Channel storage.

Workstation Setup Guide • 15

Chapter 1 • Package Contents

Software Most of the software that you receive on CD is also installed on your

workstation's hard drive. You should keep the Software, Drivers, and Recovery CDs in a safe place in case you need to reinstall the software or any of the drivers.

The Avid|DS version 5 software package contains:

• Avid|DS Software CD

• Avid|DS Drivers C D

• Avid|DS Recover y CD

• Software protection key (dongle)

Your workstation comes with the following software components preinstalled on your workstation:

• Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 software and documentation

• Merging Technologies Mykerinos documentation

• WACOM software and documentation

• 3Dlabs Wildcat 4210 software and documentation

16 • Workstation Setup Guide

Documentation The complete Avid|DS documentation set includes:

Document Format Version Description

Release Notes Print 5 Describes known problems and provides workarounds.

Package Contents

Workstation Setup Guide Print 5 Shows you how to prepare for and set up your

Installation & Administration Guide

Remote Processing Guide Print 5 Provides instructions on how to install and configure remote

New Features Tour and Guide

Online Help Online 5 Contains reference information on:

Quick Reference Card Online 5 Contains a list of editing tips.

Shortcut Card Online 5 Contains all the Avid|DS keyboard shortcuts. You can slide

Tutorial Print 5 Contains basic step-by-step lessons with specific

User’s Guide Print 5 Describes the work processes of Avid|DS and shows you

Compositing & Effects Guide

Print 5 Provides instructions on how to reinstall the current version

Online/

Print 5 Describes the basic types of effects in Avid|DS and shows

workstation hardware.

of Avid|DS, and perform workstation administration tasks.

processing stations.

5 Provides an interactive multimedia overview of the new

features in Avid|DS.

•Layouts and views

•Parameters in property editors and dialog boxes

•Commands in toolbars and pop-up menus.

it under the cover sheet of your graphic tablet.

examples, so you can start working with Avid|DS.

how to perform basic and advanced tasks in every phase of post production, from capturing material to outputting a finished sequence.

you how to apply them to your media. There’s also information on when and how to process effects.

Vendor documentation Print -- Guides from the vendors of the various hardware

components that comprise your Avid|DS workstation. Note: For details on setting up, handling and maintaining

these components, refer to the documentation included with each of them.

Workstation Setup Guide • 17

Chapter 1 • Package Contents

18 • Workstation Setup Guide

Chapter 2 Site Preparation

Workstation Setup Guide • 19

Chapter 2 • Site Preparation

In This Chapter...

This chapter describes how to prepare your site for an Avid|DS workstation.

Site Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Additional Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

20 • Workstation Setup Guide

Site Planning

When preparing your site, you must consider the environmental, electrical, and space requirements for your Avid|DS workstation, as well as any additional equipment that you may need to purchase and its requirements.

Environmental Requirements

Electrical Requirements

The site you choose for your Avid|DS workstation should meet the following environmental requirements:

• Clean and dust free

• Free from significant temperature or humidity changes

• Sturdy, level, and not subject to vibration

• Away from high-traffic or high-noise areas

• Provides adequate space in front of and behind the workstation

components, so that you can connect cables and service your workstation. This also provides adequate air flow for cooling.

• A minimum clearance of 3 inches (7.6 cm) for the side and back panels of the desk side base unit

• A table (or other surface) that is at least 60 inches wide by 48 inches deep (150 cm × 120 cm) for the editing workstation

Your site should meet the following electrical requirements:

• Adequate power for each workstation component, so that extension cords are not needed.

• At least two 15-amp circuits available; one for the workstation and one for the Avid MediaDock LVD storage(s).

• Site is away from major electrical equipment, such as motors, air conditioners, or elevators.

• Site is not subject to static electrical buildup.

• Uses an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect your workstation

from sudden power surges or losses, and save you from the resulting loss of work.

Plug only your Avid|DS equipment into the power strip. Do not plug in coffee makers, radios, lights, or other such devices.

Workstation Setup Guide • 21

Chapter 2 • Site Preparation

In addition, make sure your site meets the following electrical specifications:

Component Voltage Frequency

IBM IntelliStation Z Pro workstation

21-inch IBM P260 monitors 100 to 240 V AC 50 to 60 Hz

100 to 127 V AC (NA) 200 to 240 V AC (Intl)

47 to 63 Hz

Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box 100 to 240 V AC 50 to 60 Hz

Avid MediaDock LVD storage system

Avid MEDIArray Fibre Channel storage (standard definition version of Avid|DS only)

Merging DUA II audio convertor (included with HD systems only)

WACOM tablet 120 V AC (NA)

Space Requirements Your workstation includes either a tower or rack mount base unit, the video

storage array, and two 21-inch monitors. You can place the workstation base unit and the video storage chassis next to your work area. The following illustration shows a typical tower configuration:

HD or NTSC

video monitor

Speaker Speaker

Left monitor Right monitor

90 to 264 V AC (fully configured)

400 VA maximum (fully configured)

100 to 240 V AC 50 to 60 Hz

220 V AC (Intl)

IBM Z Pro

workstation

50 to 60 Hz

50 to 70 Hz

60 Hz

Avid MediaDock LVD

or MEDIArray storage

Graphic tablet Keyboard Mouse

22 • Workstation Setup Guide

Intellistation Z Pro

The speakers and video monitor are purchased separately. The video monitor and the computer monitor(s) should be placed at least 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Placing them closer together may cause synchronization interference on the computer monitor(s).

Site Planning

If you purchase the optional rack mount kit for the base unit, it mounts in a standard 19-inch equipment rack. The Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box, MEDIArray, MediaDock LVD storage system, and DUA II audio convertor can also be mounted in the same or another equipment rack.

The following table lists the dimensions of the major hardware components:

Hardware component

Base unit (tower) Height: 17.3

Base unit (rack mount) -- --

21-inch monitor(s) Height: 19.8

Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box (rack mountable)

Avid MediaDock LVD (tower) Height: 18.8

Avid MediaDock LVD (rack mount)

Avid MEDIArray (tower) (standard definition version of Avid|DS only)

Avid MEDIArray (rackmount) (standard definition version of Avid|DS only)

DUA II (rack mountable) (included with HD systems only)

WACOM tablet Width: 9

Dimensions (inches)

Depth: 8.5 Width: 23.9

Width: 19.6 Depth: 20.0

Height: 5.3 Width: 17.6 Depth: 7.5

Width: 10.5 Depth: 17.6

Height: 5.3 Width: 17.6 Depth: 17.4

Height: 26.8 Width: 9.8 Depth: 29.4

Height: 6.1 Width: 17.5 Depth: 24.0

Height: 1.7 Width: 17.6 Depth: 6.9

Depth: 12

Dimensions (centimeters)

Height: 44.0 Depth: 21.6 Width: 60.6

Height: 50.3 Width: 49.8 Depth: 50.8

Height: 13.3 Width: 44.6 Depth: 19.5

Height: 47.7 Width: 26.7 Depth: 44.8

Height: 13.3 Width: 44.6 Depth: 44.2

Height: 68.0 Width: 24.8 Depth: 74.7

Height: 15.4 Width: 44.5 Depth: 60.9

Height: 4.3 Width: 44.6 Depth: 17.5

Width: 22.9 Depth: 30.0

Workstation Setup Guide • 23

Chapter 2 • Site Preparation

Additional Equipment

A typical Avid|DS workstation requires the following additional peripherals and cables:

Device Description

House sync generator

Video monitor HD or NTSC/PAL

Video tape recorder (VTR)

Digital waveform monitor

Speakers and amplifier

Cables Video: Use high quality 75-ohm coaxial cables with

Standards convertors

The house sync must have the same video format as your video equipment, as well as the project that you create in Avid|DS.

You will need a tri-level sync generator for HD projects.

VTRs connect to the base unit through an RS-422 cable. (Contact your Avid|DS reseller for a list of approved HD VTRs)

Measures the luminance and chrominance video signals

Analog and/or digital audio equipment and converters for converting audio signals

75-ohm BNC coaxial connectors. Audio: Balanced cables

Lets you convert between HD and other (NTSC and PAL for example) standards in order to accommodate archival footage coming from other formats or standards

24 • Workstation Setup Guide

Chapter 3 System Overview

Workstation Setup Guide • 25

Chapter 3 • System Overview

In This Chapter...

This chapter gives you an overview of the hardware included with your Avid|DS workstation.

System Inputs and Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

House Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Back Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Disk Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

26 • Workstation Setup Guide

System Inputs and Outputs

The following table describes the system inputs and outputs:

Input/output Description

Video In HD via BNC connector

System Inputs and Outputs

Video Out HD via BNC connector

Composite via BNC connector S-video via S-video connectors

Optical Digital Input ADAT and S/PDIF multichannel optical digital interface (ODI)

Optical Digital Output ADAT and S/PDIF multichannel optical digital interface (ODI)

USB Provides a communications link between the workstation

and the Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box

Genlock Input BNC connector for sync input

RS-232 Remote DB-9 connector that connects the RS-232 to RS-422

convertor. Use the supplied cable only.

Adaptec 39160 VHDCI connectors for the Avid MediaDock LVD

storage system

MIDI out 15-pin game port that enables MIDI control for the

JLCooper MCS-3800 external controller

The MIDI/game port on the lower-right corner of the workstation gives you MIDI control of external controllers, such as the JLCooper MCS-3800. MIDI control requires a separately purchased breakout cable and the proper MIDI driver.

A recommended breakout cable is the Creative Labs MIDI adapter (part number 1013251001), which provides MIDI in, MIDI out, and a joystick port.

For instructions on connecting peripherals and various video equipment to your workstation, see Assembling the System on page 35.

Avoid using adapters as they may cause signal degradation. If you must use them, use only high-quality, tight-fitting adapters.

Workstation Setup Guide • 27

Chapter 3 • System Overview

Signal Flow

The following provides an overview of the signal flow during capture and playback. The Avid|DS software controls the process.

Capture

Capture mode lets you use Avid|DS to capture or play back video and audio from the VTR.

• The video output of the VTR goes through the Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box to the Avid Equinox PCI card, and from there to the video storage array.

• The audio output of the VTR goes through the DUA II convertor to the Mykerinos audio card, and is stored on the audio storage area.

• The video output of the Avid Equinox PCI card goes to the Wildcat card and then to the workstation monitors, where it is displayed as video-in-a-window.

• The control signal from the COM 1 port goes to the VTR to control device operation (the supplied RS-232/RS-422 convertor and cable must be connected to the workstation).

• The sync signal from the house sync goes through the Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box to the Avid Equinox PCI card, and then internally to the Mykerinos audio card.

28 • Workstation Setup Guide

Playback

Playback mode allows you to use Avid|DS to record video on the VTR.

• The video stored on the video storage array goes through the Avid Equinox PCI card to the Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box, and then goes to the VTR and video monitor.

• The audio stored on the audio disk goes to the Mykerinos audio card, through the DUA II convertor, and then to the VTR.

• The video output of the Avid Equinox PCI card goes to the Wildcat card and then to the workstation monitors, where it displays as video-in-a-window.

• The control signal from the COM 1 port goes to the VTR to control device operation.

• The sync signal from the house sync goes through the Avid Equinox Break-Out-Box to the Avid Equinox PCI card and then internally to the Mykerinos audio card.

House Sync

Whenever you use more than one video device, you need to have video synchronization. If the devices are not in sync, a monitor will show rolling, tearing, or incorrect colors in the picture whenever you transfer the video between devices.

A sync generator or house sync provides the synchronizing composite signal to all other devices (video and audio) that must lock to the main video program. This analog composite reference video signal, called “color black” or “black-burst” video, is a timing pulse that is added to a composite video signal and contains horizontal, vertical, and color synchronizing information.

Tri-level Sync In the case of HD video devices, you need a tri-level sync. Tri-level sync could

be considered synonymous to black-burst in that it is simply the reference synchronizing information from the facility's master generator.

Each HD format needs a specific tri-level sync. You must use the proper trilevel sync to synchronize your VTR and the Equinox video subsystem for all the HD formats supported by Avid|DS.

The following table lists the HD formats currently supported by Avid|DS and their relevant frame rates.

HD format Supported frame rates (fps)

1080i Interlaced 30.00 fps, 29.97 fps, 25.00 fps

1080Psf Progressive 30.00 fps, 29.97 fps, 25.00 fps, 24.00 fps, 23.976 fps

Sync Topology When syncing analog and digital video/audio devices, it is always preferable to

feed every component with a separate black-burst or tri-level sync signal in a star pattern. Some drifting or jittering problems can be caused by the video reference being looped from one machine to another.

Workstation Setup Guide • 29

Chapter 3 • System Overview

Master house sync

generator

To a n a l o g

Reference In

NTSC/PAL

black-burst

generator

Video

Distr. Amp

Analog video routing

switcher or video patch

To Genlock Input

Avid|DS Equinox

Break-Out-Box

SD VTR HD VTR

Tri-level sync

generator

Video

Distr. Amp

To H D Reference In

A typical star pattern sync topology

You also need to verify the following to make sure your topology is correct:

• Quality of the Distribution Amp (DA)—If your DA feeds multiple machines that are far apart, the stability and strength of the signal it sends will be crucial.

• Distance between devices—A good DA in a star pattern topology will be necessary to ensure that every device is properly referenced.

30 • Workstation Setup Guide

• Video converters—Some converters won't need to be fed a sync signal, as they will reference themselves on the incoming digital video signal from a device that will itself sync on a central color black sync signal. This is possible because digital video is much steadier than its analog counterpart, and the converter will always see the right frame size when converting the signal.

• Routing switchers—Since the Equinox Break-Out-Box only has one REF In you may want to consider using an analog routing switcher to select between tri-level and black-burst sync signals.

Back Panel Overview

On the back panel of your base unit, four expansion cards are installed for use with Avid|DS. The back panel also contains ports for connecting the mouse, keyboard, monitors, and software protection key (dongle).

Workstation Cards The following table describes the function of each expansion card installed in

the workstation. Expansion cards are installed in the workstation’s PCI and AGP slots. For details on card specifications and configuration, refer to the vendor documentation.

Slot Card Function

AGP Wildcat 4210 Processes input from the Avid

PCI 1 Empty None (space used by Wildcat 4210)

PCI 2 Empty None (space used by Wildcat 4210)

PCI 3

PCI 4 Mykerinos audio card Processes and routes audio to optional

PCI 5 Avid Equinox PCI card Processes video capture and playback

PCI 6

•Empty on Avid|DS HD, or on standard definition versions of Avid|DS with Avid MediaDock LVD storage system

•Emulex card on standard definition systems with fibre channel storage

•Adaptec 39160 on Avid|DS HD, or on standard definition versions of Avid|DS with Avid MediaDock LVD storage

•Empty on standard definition systems with Fibre Channel storage system

Equinox PCI card, handles OGL processing, and outputs video signal to workstation monitor(s)

Processes input and output to the Fibre Channel storage on standard definition versions of Avid|DS.

devices

I/O for the VTR and routes video to the Wildcat 4210 graphics card

Processes input and output to the Avid MediaDock LVD storage system

For more information on a specific expansion card, refer to the vendor documentation.

Workstation Setup Guide • 31

Chapter 3 • System Overview

Card Placement The following illustration shows the placement of cards in the expansion slots

of a deskside workstation.

AGP slot: Wildcat video

PCI slot 1: Used by the Wildcat 4210. These connectors are not used in Avid|DS.

PCI slot 2: Used by the Wildcat 4210

PCI slot 3: Empty, or used by the Emulex card on standard definition systems with Fibre Channel storage or connected to Avid Unity™ MediaNet

PCI slot 4: Mykerinos audio card

PCI slot 5: Avid Equinox PCI card

PCI slot 6: Adaptec 39160

On a rack mount workstation, the AGP slot is to the left, and the PCI slot 6 is to the right when viewing the back of the workstation base unit.

Mykerinos Audio Card Connections

The following illustration shows the connections on the Mykerinos audio card. For more information on the Mykerinos audio card, refer to the vendor documentation.

Reference signal in

from Avid Equinox

Break-Out-Box

32 • Workstation Setup Guide

Output B

(optical)

Line out

Output A

(optical)

Input B (ADAT)

Input A (S/PDIF)

The optical outputs on the card are red.

Avid Equinox PCI Card Connections

The following illustration shows the connections on the Avid Equinox PCI card. For information on connecting your video and audio equipment to the Avid Equinox PCI card, see Per ipheral Dev ices on page 51.

Digital Tether (Video I/O)

Back Panel Overview

Adaptec Card Connections

The following illustration shows the connections on the Adaptec 39160 card. This is the storage adapter included with HD systems and with standard definition versions of Avid|DS that use the Avid MediaDock LVD storage. For more information on the Adaptec card, refer to the vendor documentation.

Very high density connectors

Channel 2/B Channel 1/A

Emulex Card Connections

The following illustration shows the connections on the Emulex Fibre Channel controller. This is the storage adapter included with standard definition versions of Avid|DS that use the Avid MEDIArray Fibre Channel storage. For more information on the Emulex card, refer to the vendor documentation.

DB-9 connector

Workstation Setup Guide • 33

Chapter 3 • System Overview

Disk Subsystem

Drive Label Description Contents Format

In a standard configuration, one Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) SCSI disk drive is installed in the base unit, and eight LVDS disk drives are installed in the Avid MediaDock LVD. The system disk drive is formatted with three partitions for storing operating system files, project files, and audio files. The Avid MediaDock LVD drives are formatted as a striped volume for video file storage.

Disk striping is a hardware capability that speeds up data I/O from disk storage. The workstation divides the data into pieces, and spreads the pieces across the disks in the striped volume. Because the workstation transfers data to multiple drives in smaller chunks than would be transferred to a single drive, the data transfer rate is accelerated. The Adaptec 39160 adapter handles data I/O for the video storage drives.

The following table summarizes disk drive information for a standard configuration:

C: System A partition of the primary system disk Operating system

D: Video storage

F: Projects A partition of the primary system disk Audio and

Z: DVD-ROM - - -

•8 disk drives striped (HD systems)

•4 disk drives striped (standard

definition versions of Avid|DS with Avid MediaDock LVD storage)

•8 disk drives striped (standard definition versions of Avid|DS with Fibre Channel storage)

software

Video files NTFS

project-related files

NT File System (NTFS)

NTFS

34 • Workstation Setup Guide

Chapter 4 Assembling the System

Workstation Setup Guide • 35

Chapter 4 • Assembling the System

In This Chapter...

This chapter gives you detailed instructions for connecting an Avid|DS workstation base unit to the peripheral devices.