What's New in VFC 2xx0 Software Version 146.35 Copyright (c) 2000 by Folsom Research, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Thank you for using the VFC-2xx0 product. This What's New file contains important information regarding this release. Folsom Research strongly recommends that you read the entire document. Folsom Research welcomes your comments and suggestions. Please use the information provided in this file to contact Customer Service or Technical Support. Note: When printing this document, choose Landscape for page orientation. ___________________ WHAT'S IN THIS FILE - New Features - Improved Functionality - Installation - Contacting Folsom Research ******************** Version 146.35 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - Additional timing issue concerning a random occurrence of Auto Transition not fully completing has been resolved. ******************** Version 146.34 *************************** ____________ NEW FEATURES - This release now supports the Screen Master II 3216 by Vista Control Systems. ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - Issue with a random occurrence of Auto Transition not fully completing has been resolved. - Ouput Window size limits have been increased to 400%. - When exiting test pattern mode, the Mixer is properly initialized now to show the correct scaler on Program. ******************** Version 144.34 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - When deleting an Input file on a VFC-2050, the unit would exhibit a bus error. This issue has been resolved. ******************** Version 143.34 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - While in PIP mode, a hit on Program would occur when changing the transition effect through the remote control port. This issue has been resolved. ******************** Version 142.34 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - Input Saturation adjustment now defaults to 125.0% - Output Gamma Correction now defaults to 0.80 ******************** Version 141.34 *************************** ____________ NEW FEATURES - New RS-232 Commands T nnn where n=[0-256] T=0 equates to all of Input B being shown on program output T=256 equates to all of Input A being shown on program output This command is used to execute manual (T-Bar) transitions between Input A and Input B. For this command to work, the VFC must be placed into Manual Mixing mode. This is done with the TRN command as shown below: Command Format: TRN dst dn n.n wm Example: TRN B 1 9 (This will place the VFC into Manual Mixing Mode.) When using the TRN command to place the VFC into Manual Mixing Mode, the dst parameter is ignored but it must be present in the command string. The dn option will specify the transition effect used during Manual Mixing. When the n.n parameter is 9, the VFC places itself into Manual Mixing Mode. The wm parameter is completely optional and the current setting will be used if it is not specified. During operation of the VFC in manual mode, should the transition effect need to be changed, you can issue the TRN command without the n.n or wm parameters. If for example this is done while a partial mix is being shown on the output, then the new effect chosen will appear as only being through part of its transition. The front panel Mixer menu will also allow changes to the transition effect while in manual mixing mode. To take the VFC out of Manual Mixing mode, use the TRN command as normal making sure the n.n parameter is between 0 and 5.0. Be sure to note that the dst parameter is now used by the command and the VFC will transition to the destination specified. If a dissolve is issued from the front panel Mixer menu or Main menu, the VFC will also be taken out of Manual Mixing Mode. IARR op n.nnn sclr where op=[I|D] (Increment or Decrement) n.nnn=[0 - 5.000] (Amount to Inc. or Dec. relative to the current Aspect Ratio setting.) sclr=[A|B] This command allows the Aspect Ratio to be adjusted relative to its current setting. For example, if the current setting for Input A is 1.250, then the command "IARR I .083 A" will will change the Aspect Ratio to 1.333 on Input A. The VFC still maintains an absolute range for the Aspect Ratio between 0 and 5.000. This command will not allow attempts to go beyond this range. ______________ Window Command Use this command to control the windowing functionality of the VFC system. Format: WIN ss hs vs hc vc rr mode hcx vcx hsx vsx modex where, ss = Scaler A or B [A|B] hs = Horizontal Size as % of Output Raster with respect to the Aspect Ratio [0 - 200.0]% vs = Vertical Size as % of Output Raster with respect to the Aspect Ratio [0 - 200.0]% hc = Horizontal Center as % of Output Raster [-200.0 - 200.0]% vc = Vertical Center as % of Output Raster [-200.0 - 200.0]% rr = Rate at which a Window at the current size/pos takes to get to the size/pos specified using the above parameters. [0 - 5.0]sec mode = Disable/Enable Window Mode [F|W] where F = Full Mode and W = Window Mode hsx, vsx, hcx, vcx and modex are optional parameters and perform the operations specified above for the other scaler with respect to the ss parameter. Example: WIN A 50 50 -50 -50 0 F This will size the image to half of its original size and place the center of the image (Provided by Scaler A) in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. The change will happen instantly since rr = 0. Visual Example regarding the use of the "mode" parameter: __________ Example #1 ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- | | | | | ---------------- | | ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | Scaler A | | | | Scaler A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- | Trans to | | |------------ | | | | | | A | | | | | | | | | | ----------> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------| | | | ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Scaler B | | | | Scaler B | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- | | --------------------- | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Scaler A = Window Mode Scaler A = Window Mode Scaler B = Window Mode Scaler B = Window Mode VFC considers PGM = Scaler B VFC considers PGM = Scaler A __________ Example #2 ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- | | | | | ---------------- | | ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | Scaler A | | | | Scaler A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- | Trans to | | | | | | | | | A | | | | | | | | | ----------> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------| | | | ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Scaler B | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Scaler A = Full Mode Scaler A = Full Mode Scaler B = Window Mode Scaler B = Window Mode VFC considers PGM = Scaler B VFC considers PGM = Scaler A ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - RS232 commands modified: TRN dst dn n.n wm New options [A and B] for the wm parameter. When wm = A, Scaler A will be placed in Window Mode Scaler B will be placed in Full Mode wm = B, Scaler A will be placed in Full Mode Scaler B will be placed in Window Mode IRSP op nnn1 sclr nnn2 New op codes [Y and Z] where Y adjusts Top/Left Z adjusts Bottom/Right nnn2 used only with op codes Y and Z. The new operators in the IRSP command allow relative offsets to be specified for either Top/Left or Bottom/Right in one command operation. When using op code Y, nnn1 is the relative offset for the Top side adjustment and nnn2 is the relative offset for the Left side adjustment. When using op code Z, nnn1 is the relative offset for the Bottom side adjustment and nnn2 is the relative offset for the Right side adjustment. sclr must be specified when op codes Y or Z are used. ICSP n sclr When n=254 the command will tell the VFC to increment to the next Color Space option. When n=255 the command will tell the VFC to decrement to the previous Color Space option. IBRT op nnn sclr ICNT op nnn sclr New op codes [I and D] for Increment and Decrement. When I or D are used, nnn is the relative number to Increment or Decrement by. For example, suppose the Brightness for Input A is currently 100.0%. The command "IBRT I 10.5 A" will change the Brightness to 110.5% on Input A. ICREC nn sclr op The new "op" parameter, when specified as "F" will force a file to be recalled into the scaler specified. This functionality was added as a result of the changes made to this command specified in Version 128.27. Ex. ICREC 2 a f --> This will force file 2 to be recalled on scaler A. - If ICREC receives a file number that is not in the user library, the VFC will perform an Autosync Once operation. - The black border that would always show on the side of an image when in Window Mode has been eliminated. - When using RS-485 mode, a transmitting VFC unit will relinquish control of the Transmit lines approximately 1ms after the last data is sent out. Previous versions of the software had a delay of approximately 100ms before control was released. - Software was modified to output serrations at H intervals for noninterlaced outputs and at 1/2 H intervals for interlaced outputs. - Fixed Sync problem with 720p output. - Corrected the output window initialization issue that would occur when the timing parameters were changed within the Edit Output Menu. - When the RESET command is issued via the Serial Communication port, the Serial Mode and Serial Settings will not change. - Corrected the computer timing specifications in the Factory Output library in order to reduce judder artifacts when scaling camera and other input video sources containing motion. ******************** Version 128.27 *************************** ____________ NEW FEATURES - New RS-232 Commands ATRN dn n.n wm This is an automatic transition command. Its operation is identical to the TRN command except that it does not require a destination parameter. The other parameters are completely optional and current settings will be used if they are not specified. OPED nnn where nnn=[0-500]mv This command allows the output pedestal to be adjusted. ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - The ICREC command is ignored if the file is already loaded and has not been modified since it was loaded. - When test pattern was ON, certain conditions would cause the patterns to become discolored. This issue has been resolved. - Factory Output configuration 720p_60 now correctly reports Non-interlaced in the Edit Output menu. - Bottom right quadrant of color bar test pattern is no longer flipped. - Pedestal adjustments are no longer accepted when in Non-RGB color space. ******************** Version 125.25 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - The VFC exhibited a LCD display problem when changing the H-CENTER or V-CENTER within the ZOOM/PAN menu. This display bug did not affect the performance of the VFC and the issue has been corrected with this release. ******************** Version 124.24 *************************** ____________ NEW FEATURES - New RS-232 Commands ISYNC n sclr where n=[0-3] for SOG|CSYN|H&V|AUTO sclr=[a or b], Defaults to Scaler A if not specified This command allows the user to manually select the input sync type provided that Autosync is OFF. ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - BOX IN/OUT transition effect now correctly starts or ends at the center of the image. - Resolutions below 640 x 480 are now correctly detected when Autosync is On. - Output user library has been reduced from 96 saved configurations to 16. - Improved operation when VFC configured to output interlaced formats. - New output formats added: SVGA-50, SXGA-50, VGA-50, XGA-50, 1080i_50, 720p_59, 720p_60 - Improved scaling hardware. - Genlock menu now correctly displays information for both GENLOCK and H-PHASE fields. - Genlock operation now correctly re-initializes when Output format changes. - RS-232 commands AOIWN & AOIWD now properly report their values when queried. - RS-232 commands AOIxx limits now correspond to the limits in the ZOOM/PAN menu. - RS-232 commands AOIWD, GLHPH, IAR, IBRT, OBRT, ICNT, OCNT now function correctly. In addition, OBRT and OCNT have added another argument. The formats are as follows: OBRT op nnn # where op=[CRGB] nnn=[-25 - 125] #=[1-3] which specifies Outputs 1, 2 or 3 OCNT op nnn # where op=[CRGB] nnn=[-25 - 125] #=[1-3] which specifies Outputs 1, 2 or 3 - Zoom/Pan functionality improved to exhibit smoother operation. - Main Menu displays NO SYNC on appropriate input display channel when Autosync is On and the VFC looses lock. - SYNC TYPE option added to Output Config menu. This allows the user to change the Output Sync between, +H+V, +H-V, -H+V, -H-V, 3LEV, GR or -C in real time without entering the Edit Output menu. - When output sync set to GR, 3LEV or -C the VFC will continue to provide CSYNC and VSYNC. - Within the SPEC. FUNCTIONS menu, TECH SUPPORT has been moved to the last item in the list. - Vertical and Horizontal Frequencies within the Edit Output menu increment and decrement by true amounts. - In the Edit Output menu, H TOTAL now increments/decrements by 4 pixels. - Horizontal Front Porch [H FP] in both the Input and Output Edit menu has a range of [-200 to (H Total - H Active)]. - VFC now remembers the last item selected in a menu while the user moves around within the menu structure. - The VFC-2100 will now detect video that has Field Extend. This will occur only if the Field Extend option is enabled from the SPEC. FUNCTIONS menu. ******************** Version 115.17 *************************** ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - Hardware was modified to improve sync processing on the front end of the VFC unit. In particular, certain BetaCam sources would exhibit a "hooking" effect at the top of the image. This issue has been resolved. ******************** Version 115.16 *************************** ____________ NEW FEATURES - Manual Sync Select Software and Hardware was modified to allow the operator to override the sync selection hardware. When the VFC has autosync disabled, the operator can program each scaler to only look at SOG, CSYNC or H&V. The operator can also select AUTO which allows the hardware to select which sync to use. When AUTOSYNC is enabled, the manual sync select is always set to AUTO. APPLICATION The capability to override the auto sync select is useful in situations where routers have cross talk coupling into the unused sync channels. Sometimes this cross talk can look like sync and fool the VFC's sync selection circuits. In these cases, the operator should follow these steps: 1) Goto the SYNC SUBMENU under the SPEC. FUNCTIONS menu and disable AUTOSYNC. 2) Goto the INPUT CFG. SCLR menu for the scaler in question and select the correct sync within the SYNC SELECT field. 3) Move the brackets down to the AUTO SYNC ONCE field and press the ON/+ key. 4) Make all necessary adjustments: Size, Position, Colorspace, etc... 5) Save the configuration. When this file is recalled during show time, it will use the sync selected in step number two above and ignore any cross talk/noise on the unused sync channels. *** IMPORTANT *** AUTOSYNC has to be disabled for the sync override to work. - The number of configurations a user can save has been increased from 32 to 96. This applies to both Input and Output configuration locations. - A factory reset can now be performed without erasing the user configurations stored in memory. - Standard RS-485 communication is now supported. This option can be selected in the SERIAL MODE field within the SPEC. FUNCTIONS menu. - A Grid test pattern has been added. Goto the TEST PATTERN submenu under the OUTPUT CONFIG. menu to access this feature. - 11 new transition types have been added. They can be accessed in the MIXER menu within the CURR field. The new choices are: WIPE R(IGHT), WIPE L(EFT), WIPE D(OWN), WIPE U(P), CRTN OPN (curtain open), CRTN CLS (curtain close), BOX IN, BOX OUT, GRID IN, GRID OUT, RND CUBE (Random Cube) - The software version number is now displayed in the TECH. SUPPORT menu. - New Serial Commands: 1) TRN sclr dn n.n wn Transition Command: sclr is the scaler to transition to [A/B] dn is the transition preset number [1 - 12] n.n is the transition time in seconds [0 - 5.0] wn is the option to turn window mode off or on [0/1] dn parameter translates as follows: 1 = Dissolve 2 = Wipe Right 3 = Wipe Left 4 = Wipe Down 5 = Wipe Up 6 = Curtain Open 7 = Curtain Close 8 = Box In 9 = Box Out 10 = Grid In 11 = Grid Out 12 = Random Cube 2) WAI sclr Who Am I Command: sclr is the Input the operator wishes to query [A/B] This command will return the name of the video on the scaler and the configuration number where the video is saved. ______________________ IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY - Sync processing was improved by modifying the hardware to provide more intelligent sync selection and more reliable auto-sync. - When converting from YUV to RGB through the VFC, the VFC saturation control would change the hue and not just the saturation of the colors. There was an error in the equations that would cause the gain and offset on the front-end to be off calibration. This bug sometimes caused a greenish hue to some Betacam sources. This error has been corrected. - With some inputs, the video could not be sized to fill the entire raster. There was always a black border on the right side. This release eliminates this problem and the operator should now be able to fill the entire raster. - Within the OUTPUT MODES menu, the field OUT#3 PREV now defaults to [B/A]. - The main menu now shows that a configuration has been modified if items are changed in the EDIT INPUT menu. - Matching input videos with the factory defaults stored in the VFC has been improved. - In previous versions if the user performed a RESET within the IN RSTR SIZE/POS menu, Scaler B would be reset to Scaler A. This bug has been fixed. - When trying to perform a cut transition with the DSLV serial command, the VFC would ignore the 0.0 time parameter. This command now works properly. - If SYNC MESSAGES was turned off and the operator changed video sources on a scaler input, the main menu would not update to reflect the change. The main menu now properly updates this information regardless of SYNC MESSAGES current state. - New optional parameters added to the OTPM (Output Test Pattern) serial command. Command format is as follows: OTPM m typ inv bx gr New optional parameters are "bx" and "gr" where, bx = [0/1] to turn the raster box On and Off gr = [0/1] to turn the grid On and Off. - Various software changes were made to improve functionality with the VFC-2100. ____________ INSTALLATION Refer to the readme.txt file contained in the ldr#####.exe file for instructions on upgrading your VFC system to this release of software. __________________________ CONTACTING FOLSOM RESEARCH Should you have any comments or questions about this release or any other product, please contact the factory using one of the following methods: Toll Free: 1-888-414-SCAN (7226) Phone Number: (916) 859-2500 FAX: (916) 859-2515 EMAIL: support@folsom.com