Forward™
Versatile A/V toolkit for broadcast professionals
· Basic Innovative Capture/Editing/Playback hardware and software
· Titling Multi-layer, multi-region titling with ad, logo and clock insertion
· OnAir Multi-format scheduled content playout foron schedule and studio automation
· PostPlay Continuous capture, real- time editing and instant re-play capabilities
· Keying Flexible chroma keying software and 2D virtual studio
· Streaming Advanced A/V streaming for Broadcasters and Internet content providers
Optimized for system integration and OEM applications, Variety of comprehensive SDKs are available upon request
Forward Basic™ Basic > Titling > OnAir > PostPlay
Multi-format A/V Capture/Editing/Playback Kit
Forward Basic kit comes standard with innovative Forward Capture™ application, for capturingtaking video and audio in as AVI files. A wide variety of AVI formats are available from uncompressed to DV, DVCPRO, MJPEG, and I-frame MPEG2 as well as several popular third-party formats. Users can quickly and easily capture clips of any duration, size and selected formats in either manual, scheduled or remote VTR-control modes. Low compression or uncompressed video capture is essential when utilizingesting the highest quality A/V content for editing and post-production.
Great audio is the secret behind any successful video production. With Forward AV Studio™, editing engineers can choose from up to 32 high quality audio tracks to create outstanding video productions. Included are plenty of audio effects for added dimension. Two tracks of video enable users to quickly create mark in and out points to cut and join different clips and their segments. Instant pPlayback eitherof the whole clip or a selected portion of the project to a video monitor can be commenced immediately with a single commandby pushing a button without rendering or recompression. Non-destructive editing technology leaves source audio and video files intact, enabling users to save results of their editing in a separate timeline file or export them into industry standard AVI formats.
The Basic kit can maybe integrated with third-party multimedia software for Windows® 2000 and later platforms via industry standard video capture and sound recording/playback drivers. A special Video and Audio DSP plug-ins for Windows® Media Player 9 and later enables users to output any type file typess to video monitor and other studio equipment.
Forward Titling™ Basic > Titling > OnAir > PostPlay
Flexible multi-layer title and CG creation kit
Forward Titling kit allows users to explore and utilize thea powerful multi-layered, multi-region titling engine of the Forward hardware. The Forward Title application enables graphic designers to create a virtually unlimited number of text styles, using any fonts supported by Windows® OS, including Asian. Title text can be arranged for crawling and rolling appearance on the screen. Any type and shape of 2D graphics elements with 255 transparency levels of transparency can be created easilyhere and integrated with text. Results can be previewed on the video monitor with a push of a button and exported to graphic files for composing the final on-screen layout.
The applicationprovided software may also be used in non-interactive mode for automatic updates of text and images on the screen.
A powerful Forward Title Designer program provides CG specialists to tools to produce a realistic layout of all graphic elements, as they would be seen on the video screen. It is possible to insert static images, animated logos, sequence of banner ads, special effect clips, analog or digital clocks usingand multiple areasinstances of horizontal or vertical text. Various onscreen elements can be overlapping each other eachand provide designer with with a number of properties to adjustments, such as speed, direction and Z order. The results can be previewed on PC screen in real- time and then mixed with any live or recorded video content using the FD300 hardware and Forward Title Player as well as the OnAir software.
Forward OnAir™ Basic > Titling > OnAir > PostPlay
Scheduled and interactive program playout and broadcast automation
Whatever the video content type, format or playbackand schedule, may be the Forward OnAir™ software will make it easy to organize the productionit and ensure perfect sequence and execution timing of execution. The OnAir kit can handle up to 3 live A/V sources, AVI and MPEG2 clips in a multitude of formats, still images, separate audio tracks, multi-layer titles, animated CG with transparency and specially designed onscreen clocks. The program editor canmay define the desired duration for specific items, trim existing video clips and enable soft fade in/out transitions. Special features include two separate scheduling panels for independent program editing and playout by either scheduletimer, operator control or GPI trigger. In case of unplanned events, the operator may use manual program override controls to enable live A/V pass-through, bring up an emergency still image with the ability to, show or hide graphics/titles.
These capabilities position the Forward OnAir server as a likely replacement for multiple VTR players, still storages and titling systems in small or medium-size studios. In addition, the server can be easily integrated into existing broadcast studio computer and storage networks via Ethernet and GPI interfaces, including remote control. In a networked environment, it supports easy schedule, playout log and content sharing as well as data export into an Excel spreadsheet. Scalable and highly optimized hardware and software design permits doubling the number of playout channels per OnAir server node by simply installing a new FD300 interface card.
Forward PostPlay™ Basic > Titling > OnAir > PostPlay
Replay and time-shift effects for sports and entertainment programs
An optional addition to the OnAir server, the Forward PostPlay™ software provides users with a new concept of live A/V content processing. The live feed from a satellite or terrestrial channel is continuously recorded into a local or network disk storage of desired capacity. The storage canmay contain anywhere from several minutes to several days worth of recorded A/V data, depending on the quality/compression and type of hard disk used (IDE, SCSI or NAS). As soon as recording begins, the stored data is available for rea-l time mark-in/mark-out editing. Then, each segment is available for immediate or scheduled (delayed) playback using the Forward OnAir software. The maximum duration of this replay delay is defined by the storage capacity. A single FD300 interface kit is sufficient to handle full replay operation cycle from A/V captureingest to delayed playout. High-end systems may be equipped with additional interface card/kit to handle two independent replay channels simultaneously.
The amazing features of the OnAir/PostPlay server create a new range of cost-effective solutions for instant replay applications. The economical solutions aremay be economical, designed to fit all in one box or multi-tier distributed over high-speed Gigabit or fiber optic networks with separate systems handling live content captuingesrting, editing, schedule creation and playout of the programs.
Forward Keying™ Basic > Keying > Video Mixing
Professional color keying and real- time 2D video effects
One of the special featuresapplications of the versatile family of Forward kits is chroma keying and 2D video/CG mixing associated with this. The Forward Keying software package boastsfeatures one of the simplest and effective chroma keying algorithm in the industry! It combines scores of advanced keying setup parameters with simple one-click automatic configuration! In addition, the Forward Keying works with wide range of video cameras, from consumer camcorders (over S-Video connection) to broadcast studio (SDI is recommended). In fact, users canmay have two cameras connected to the system and switch their input as desired.
The results of chroma keying can be obtained from the output with live video (real time video + key) or mixed with one of the supported backgrounds. Depending on the selection, it can be a live video from the second input of the system, still image or AVI/MPEG2 clips. The input video or the mixing results can be automatically saved to hard disk for editing and post-production purposes.
The Forward Keying kit may be bundled with high backdrop quality fabric and other accessories that help to setup cost-effective and high quality color keying environment suitable for fixed or mobile installations. Contact the nearest Darim Sales office for more details.
Forward Streaming™ Streaming WM9 > Streaming H.264
Highest quality A/V streaming hardware for broadcasting and webcasting
With a wWide range of supported video and audio inputs and specialized video processing the makes Forward Streaming kit is a desirable part of any multimedia encoder system. The encoder will convert live video and audio feed into one of the leading compression formats and send it over the network, satellite channel or the Internet. The most important distinction from the competition is the video source de-interlacing and adaptive 3D noise reduction filters implemented inside the Forward hardware.
The Forward Streaming kit is available in two versions, depending on the encoding formats: Microsoft Windows Media 9 (WM9) format and H.264/Advanced Video Coding (H.264/AVC) format. The WM9 format is currently used for live webcasting and VOD over the Internet. It provides very good compression ratio and quality acceptable for most consumers. WhileOn the other hand, the H.264 (AVC) format is new and not widely available yet,. However, it does allows squeezing broadcast quality D1 resolution video to bitrates of 1500 Kbps and lower! This makes it ideal for professional applications to transmit video and audio over great distances using inexpensive communication links. Lower resolution video for Internet users canmay yield compression ratio 30-50% higher than that of WM9 at the same or better video quality.
The two versions of the Forward Streaming kit each come with innovative and user-friendly software that enables users to perform encoding and streaming manually or automatically on specified schedule. Users can select, modify and create new encoding and streaming profiles depending on the available network bandwidth, application target audience and other factors. The A/V data encoded in real- time and available for streaming can be automatically saved to hard disk as well. Additionally, a special non-real time, two-pass video encoding can be used to achieve an even better quality and smaller file sizes for VOD applications.
The encoded WM9 content can be played by Window®s Media Player 9 or later software readily available in most Windows systems and even in Mac OS X. However, the H.264/AVC player is subject to licensing and may have limited availability and/or cost associated with it.
NOTE: the Forward Streaming kit is incompatible with certain other Forward software applications.
Hardware Specifications
Input Video Formats:
NTSC, PAL or SECAM software selectable
NTSC: 720x480 or 352x480 at 29.97 fps
PAL/SECAM: 720x576 or 352x576 at 25 fps
Output Video Formats:
NTSC, PAL or SECAM (optional) software selectable
NTSC: 720x480 at 29.97 fps
PAL, SECAM: 720x576 at 25 fps
Internal Video Processing:
YUV 4:2:2 or YUVα 4:2:2:4, 8 bit
Video Inputs:
Composite (BNC): up to 12 (1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm)
S-Video (4-pin mini-DIN): up to 6 (Y: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm; C: 0.286 or 0.3 Vp-p at burst level, 75 Ohm)
Component RGB (BNC): up to 3 (R/G/B: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm) with Int. or Ext. sync
Component YUV (BNC): up to 3 (Y: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm; U/V: 0.7 Vp-p, 75 Ohm) with Int. or Ext. sync
SDI (BNC): (SMPTE 259M-C, 270 Mbps) – optional via add-on card
The maximum possible number of inputs is shown, certain inputs are mutually exclusive. Some connectors may not be available in all cables/break-out boxes. Inputs are software selectable except certain RGB/YUV ext. sync selections
Video Outputs:
Composite (BNC) (1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm)
S-Video (4-pin mini-DIN) (Y: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm; C: 0.286 or 0.3 Vp-p at burst level, 75 Ohm)
Component RGB (BNC) (R/G/B: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm) with Ext. sync
Component YUV (BNC) (Y: 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohm; U/V: 0.7 Vp-p, 75 Ohm) with Int. or Ext. sync,
SDI (BNC) (SMPTE 259M-C, 270 Mbps) – optional via add-on card
Outputs are software selectable; only selected combinations are available simultaneously. Some connectors may not be available in all cables/break-out boxes
Audio Input/Output:
Analog Inputs (XLR balanced or unbalanced): microphone-level or line-level; up to 6 mono/3 stereo channels
Analog Outputs (XLR balanced or unbalanced): line-level; up to 6 mono/3 stereo channels
Digital Inputs/Outputs: SPDIF (RCA)
or AES/EBU (XLR) digital audio -- optional
All inputs maybe mixed into selected outputs with programmable delay (up to 1000 ms) for proper A/V synchronization.
Certain types of I/O connections may require optional cables or break-out boxes
Time Base Correction:
Individual Time Base Correction (TBC) for each video input and common Frame Sync Buffer allow for real time switching between 2 asynchronous analog/digital video sources without dropped frames or distortions
Color Keying/Alpha channel:
(optional in Keying package)
Automatically generated or custom table-based color keying with color correction, key-mask filtering and clipping
Real time alpha channel/key output (analog only)
Video Processing/Filtering:
(optional in Streaming package)
Motion-adaptive 3D noise reduction filter
Selectable de-interlacing filter
Genlock:
All analog and/or digital video outputs can be synchronized to selected external reference video signal (analog only)
Physical and Electrical:
Form Factor: 2/3 size PCI 2.2 card (32-bit, 5V/3.3V universal)
Uses 62-pin DSUB connector for most input/output connections
Power requirements: 12V/0.3A, 5V/1.1A or 3.3V/1.8A
System Requirements
Package Name
/Required
/Recommended
CPU
/RAM
/HDD
/Network
/CPU
/RAM
/HDD
/Network
Basic / Keying / Pentium III1 GHz / 256MB / 20 GB / - / Pentium 4
3.0 GHz / 512MB / 40 GB ATA / 100 Mbps
Titling / OnAir / Pentium 4
2.4 GHz / 512MB / 40 GB / - / Pentium 4
3.0 GHz / 512MB / 100+ GB S-ATA RAID / 1 Gbps
PostPlay / Pentium 4
2.4 GHz / 512MB / 100 GB / - / Pentium 4
3.2 GHz / 1GB / 200+ GB S-ATA RAID/NAS / 1 Gbps
Streaming / Pentium 4
3.0 GHz / 512MB / 20 GB / 100 Mbps / Dual Xeon
3.0 GHz / 1GB / 120 GB + NAS / 1 Gbps
Software: / Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4
DirectX 8.1b / Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2003 Server
DirectX 9.0c, .NET Framework 1.1 SP1
/ Darim Vision Corp.
4511 Willow Rd., Suite 4
Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
Phone: 1-888-GET-MPEG
(925) 251-0178
Fax: (925) 251-0184
E-mail: / Darim Vision Co., Ltd.
3F Visual Tech Bldg.,
3-1 Doryong-Dong, Yusung-Gu
Daejeon 305-340, South Korea
Phone: +82-42-862-4172
Fax: +82-42-861-2484
E-mail: / All proprietary information within is subject to change without notice.
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Contains portions developed for Darim Vision Corp. by Softlab NSK Ltd.
All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
www.darim.com
Specifications and system requirements subject to change without notice