Video Tower User's Guide


Remember! If your need to recable the video tower, your are obviously doing something wrong!

Introduction

This guide contains information on the following topics:

  • Using Video Lab
  • Recording VHS from Video Lab
  • Recording Betacam from Video Lab
  • Editing VHS Video
  • Editing Betacam Video
  • Recording VHS from Betacam
  • Changing Input Source for Betacam

    Using Video Lab

    Video Lab lets you record the contents of a computer screen on a video. To use the Video Lab, log on to iris.vis and start up the video panel (executable is in /usr/video/vli/bin/vlipanel). The program will display a window on your screen that should look like this:
    VIDEO LAB PANEL

    To select the area of the screen that you want to record on the video click the 'Set Output Area' button on the panel. By default the video grabbing window has dimensions 640x480. You can double the size of the window by by changing the output signal from 'Passthru(1:1)' to '525/60 2X2 (2:1)'

    To record from the Video Lab you also need to connect the video signal cables leaving the computer to the video signal cables coming to the video tower. There are 4 video signal cables on both sides and they need to be connected differently for different application. For instruction on how to connect the cable for your application, refer either to Recording VHS from Video Lab, or to Recording Betacam from Video Lab.

    Recording VHS from Video Lab


    Recording Betacam from Video Lab


    Editing VHS Video


    Editing Betacam Video

    Betacam Editor
    By default, the Betacams are controlled using the editor. It enables frame accurate editing. At this point there are no instructions on how to use the editor. Please consult the manual.

    Recording VHS from Betacam


    Changing Input Source for Betacam

    Betacam recorder is set up to receive signal from two sources. The first source, called COMPONENT1, comes from the Betacam player. The second source, called COMPONENT2, comes from the Video Lab. Switching between these two sources is, unfortunately quite inconvenient. There is a little switch at the back of the of the Betacam recorder. To access it, open the right panel at the back of the video tower. The switch is located slightly below the panel, right at the center of the recorder's back panel. Select COMPONENT1 if you want to record from the Betacam player, select COMPONENT2 if you want to record from the Video Lab.

    If you have any comments/ideas or queries, please mail me at: radek@vis.toronto.edu
    Last Updated June 24th, 1996.