Overview
All settings related to the video system,, latency, system timing, hot keys and more are entered into the Virtual Placement Config Editor application. This application creates an XML file that is read only once as Virtual 1st launches. Any changes made in this application will not be applied until they are saved and Virtual 1st is launched or re-launched. A shortcut to this application is usually located on the desktop. It can also be launched via the Windows Start Orb > All Programs > Virtual Placement 7 > Config Editor. If the system has a single I/O card and the firmware has been configured for a single output, proceed to Single Output Configuration. If the system has two I/O cards and the firmware for both cards have been configured for two outputs, proceed to Three Output Configuration.
Single Output Configuration
As of the date of this writing, an Application Preset for Virtual 1st Single Output Configuration does not exist. Users can create one by altering an existing configuration and save it as new.
A: Launch the Config Editor, select the System tab, select Pitch Tracking with Main Camera only.
B: Select the Advanced tab. Edit the XML while maintaining the tag syntax, to enable the Left and Right cameras as illustrated the figure below. Recording should be disabled for all cameras. If a mistake has been made, close the application without saving and start over. When the edits are complete, select the Video tab. Clicking the Save button at this point will check the XML syntax and the I/O setting proposed in the file. Errors (if any) will appear at the bottom.
C:
- When Video Topology is correct
- Select Video Format from the dropdown list.
- Select Genlock Source (SDI captures sync from the Main camera input.)
D: Select the System tab. The Application Preset will now show “Custom settings” because the modifications applied up until now do not match any predefined set.
QUICK TIP Selecting a new Application Preset at this point will revert all the settings back to the Preset. This can be good if the video topology appears to be incorrect and reverting is the preferred method for correcting the problem.
This new configuration can be saved as the default by clicking the Save button at the bottom of the UI. The file name and location are hard coded, which is adequate for systems that are never reconfigured once they are installed. Location and file name are in the title bar of the Config Editor application:
C:\Users\ChyronHego\AppData\Roaming\ChyronHego\VirtualPlacement7\config.xml
E: For easier switching between configurations, users can create their own Application Presets. They too are stored in a predefined location:
C:\Users\ChyronHego\AppData\Roaming\ChyronHego\VirtualPlacement7\Presets
And have the benefit of user defined names. The following name is a suggestion for the 3i1o configuration: Pitch Tracking with 3 Cameras and Shared Output (One 3i1o).xml
IMPORTANT! Since Virtual 1st reads only the “config.xml” file once on launch, users must click the Save button at the bottom of the UI to save the settings entered in the interface which may or may not be different from the Application Preset file.
F: There is more to do, proceed toSystem Timing.
Three Output Configuration
A: Launch the Config Editor, select the System tab, select Pitch Tracking with 3 Parallel Cameras.
B: Select the System tab, 1. select Video Format from the dropdown list and 2. Select Genlock Source (SDI captures sync from the Main camera input).
C: Select the System tab. The Application Preset will now show “Custom settings” because the modifications applied up until now do not match any predefined set.
QUICK TIP Selecting a new Application Preset at this point will revert all the settings back to the Preset. This can be good if the video topology appears to be incorrect and reverting is the preferred method for correcting the problem.
This new configuration can be saved as the default by clicking the Save button at the bottom of the UI. The file name and location are hard coded, which is adequate for systems that are never reconfigured once they are installed. Location and file name are in the title bar of the Config Editor application:
C:\Users\ChyronHego\AppData\Roaming\ChyronHego\VirtualPlacement7\config.xml
D: For easier switching between configurations, users can create their own Application Presets. They too are stored in a predefined location:
C:\Users\ChyronHego\AppData\Roaming\ChyronHego\VirtualPlacement7\Presets
And have the benefit of user defined names.
IMPORTANT! Since Virtual 1st reads only the “config.xml” file once on launch, users must click the Save button at the bottom of the UI to save the settings entered in the interface which may or may not be different from the Application Preset file.
F: There is more to do, proceed to System Timing.
System Timing
On Bluefish card systems, a separate application written by Bluefish is used for temporarily adjusting system timing while Virtual 1st is running. After adjusting, users enter the temporary values into the Configuration Editor application, thereby making them more permanent.
A: Connect the cameras and reference to the back plane as illustrated at the end of the Single Output Firmware or Three Output Firmware sections. All cameras must be in time with reference. Reference must be applied to each crd present in the system.
B: Launch Virtual 1st from the shortcut usually located on the desktop. It can also be launched via the Windows Start Orb > All Programs > Virtual Placement 7 > Virtual Placement 7.
C: To verify the cameras on the UI, select between them by clicking the movie camera icon, selecting the Live Left, Live Main, Live Right cameras accordingly.
D: Launch the BlueProps.exe from Windows Explorer by navigating to the file location: C:\SETUP\bf5.11.0.15\bin\BlueProps.exe
When presented with a Windows Security Warning, click Run.
QUICK TIP Resist the urge to press the Enter key when working in the BlueProps application. Doing so will close it, usually unintentionally.
E:
1. Select only the first card to time.
2. Select the reference source (“Genlock BNC” for Analog or TriLevel sync, “SDI A Input” for camera signal reference).
3. Enter a starting point for Horizontal Phase (see Quick Tip below), then click the up arrow next to the number box.
4. Click the down arrow on the Vertical Phase (to backup one line). From there, walk phase into specification and make a note of the final numbers in the Phase entry boxes.
QUICK TIP For 1080i productions, a good starting point for Horizontal Phase is 3000 and Vertical Phase is 1125. For 720p productions, a good starting is Horizontal 1500, Vertical 750.
E: Open the Config Editor, select the Video tab, enter the Horizontal and Vertical Phase values, then click Save. Close BlueProps, relaunch Virtual 1st and verify timing is correct.