Frequently Asked Questions

 FAQ

Can I buy just the ClearView Software? ClearView is a combination of hardware acceleration and software.
How do I simultaneously Play and Record? Note 1: This only works with the Broadcast I/O modules

Note 2: The Output resolution/rate must be the same as the Input resolution/rate

Playout must be connected to SDI OUT #1 or one of the Analog Outputs (Component, Composite or S-Video)
Input must be connected to SDI IN #2

Note 3: Dual-link will not work in this configuration. We cannot play and record 1080/60P.

  • Select the Output resolution/rate
  • Change the Record Input Source to Broadcast Input
  • Change the Record Video Format to Genlock free run or SDI #1
  • Choose a Sequence Name
  • Choose the number of frames to record (if desired)
  • Select Output Enabled
  • Drop the Video Sequence to be Played Out onto the desktop (or assign the video to a Viewport A)
  • If you are using a ClearView Shuttle Broadcast, change the active library to the other disk array (what are G: H: drives detailed below).
  • Select Preview
  • Select Record
Note 4: Your device may have a startup delay so record for the duration + the startup delay. Alternatively, record for 2x the time, and use clip alignment to adjust the video sequences (clip alignment is detailed below).

Note 5: Flash Video help files are located at http://www.videoclarity.com/support.html
Can I control ClearView remotely? ClearView can be controlled either through its interactive GUI or through its Command Line Interface. The Command Line Interface works via a socket interface. The GUI requires a graphic connection either through a VGA monitor or through a WebEx-like Interface
What are the Full Reference Metrics?
  • PSNR
  • PSNR with Color/Brightness Normalization
  • Sarnoff JND
What are the No Reference Metrics?
  • Color Level (PSNR Chroma)
  • Brightness Level (PSNR Chroma unchecked)
  • Spatial Activity (Sobel Filter)
  • Temporal Activity (Frame to Frame Activity)
How do I turn on Audio and what formats are allowed?
How do I align 2 video sequences? Video Sequences can have 3 different issues associated with them:
  • Temporally they may start at different frames
  • Spatially they may have moved X pixels down and Y pixels across
  • The Color/Brightness can be linearly different, which requires color/brightness Normalization

Note 1: Using the Objective Metric Adjust Pane, ClearView can automatically control the Normalization and Spatial Alignment.

Note 2: Using the Clip Alignment Pane, ClearView can automatically control the Temporal Alignment.
How do change the resolution of a video sequence?
How do I import a file? Instructions on how to import a file can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the File Import Pane
How do I record from Analog Broadcast sources? You must have the CV-Broadcast-AD module or Broadcast-IO module with an analog/SDI adapter (for example: AJA). Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Record Pane.
How do I record from Digital Broadcast sources? You must have the CV-Broadcast-AD module or Broadcast-IO module . Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Record Pane.
How do I record from DVI, VGA, or HDMI sources? You must have the DVI/VGA Input module. Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Record Pane.
How to I export a video sequence? Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Sequence Manager Pane. By setting the first and last frame to export, you can break up a large video sequence into smaller pieces.
How do I record my video sequences in side-by-side modes? Set the record option to ClearView Output and it will record the side-by-side, seamless split, split mirror, or A-B modes. Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Record Pane.
How do I change the resolution during Import? While importing a file, the File Import Pane shows the resolution, bit-depth, etc. of the file. ClearView imports this file onto a canvas as specified by the Video Output Pane.

Note 1: If the imported file is larger than the canvas, then clipping will occur.
Note 2: If the imported file is smaller than the canvas, then matting will occur.
How do I change color space? While importing a file, the File Import Pane shows the resolution, bit-depth, etc. of the file. ClearView imports this file onto a canvas as specified by the Memory/Disk Pane.

Note 1: RGB is 4:4:4 data and Y'CbCr is 4:2:2 data so a loss of color fidelity will occur.
How do I record just a portion of the video sequence? Zoom and Pan to the area, in which you want to record. Select the AOI check box in the Record Pane. Set the record option to ClearView Output and it will record just the portion that you can view without the pixel replicated zoom. Instructions on how to record can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Record Pane.
How do I change the colors? Instructions on how to create a color LUT can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Color Space Pane. When using the A-B modes, the differences are probably very small. It is a good idea to set the low end pixel magnitudes to higher luminance so that they can be seen. An example low-end LUT table for Y'CbCr space can be found under Miscellaneous Support Files
Can I change the resolution of video sequence on disk or in memory? You will need to re-import the file with a different video-format, bit-depth, and image-format set. The easiest way to do this is as follows:
  • Export the video sequence to a file (see the export a video sequence question)
  • Change the Image Format and Video Format (see the change video resolution and color space questions)
  • Import the file (see the import a file question)
I imported a file that I want to play at slower/faster than full frame rate. How do I do this? ClearView uncompresses the video sequences at stores them on disk as frames. We play the uncompressed video sequences at the rate that you choose in the Output Pane .
  • To play at a different, rate choose a different Clip Alignment Speed . Note: you may need to Unlock A/B Speed (deselect the check box) if you are playing 2 video sequences at 2 different rates
  • To play at 3fps and the original video sequence is 30fps, then set the Clip Alignment Speed to 3.0/30.0 = 0.1.
Why can I not import from SDI, while I can see the output on my external display? HD-SDI can be single or dual-link. Do you have ClearView set for RGBA 8-bit, 10-bit? If yes, then you are asking us to switch to dual link. Either set both inputs or set the image format to Y'CbCr.
I am trying to do simultaneous output/input, and it is not working right. Why? Given that you have the I/O connected correctly, and you are using the Broadcast-IO module
  • Playout must be connected to SDI out #1
  • Input must be connected to SDI in #2
  • Genlock will free run unless you connect a Genlock device

    • Note: Dual Link will not work
    Note: Input is connected to SDI In #2
    Note: This does not work with the Broadcast-AD module

    Most likely our Broadcast I/O module is set as your Windows Audio device. Please turn this off.
  • Go to Start -> Control Panel.
  • Select the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
  • Select the Sound and Audio Devices this will make a the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties pop up.
  • Select the Hardware tab.
  • Select AJA Xena2 SDI I/O.
  • Select Properties.
  • Select the Properties tab.
  • Select the "+" next to Audio Devices.
  • Select AJA Xena2 Digital Audio.
  • Select Properties.
  • Choose Do not use audio features on this device.
  • Close all windows and restart Windows.
    		•
    Why does my machine have J (Red), K (Green), and L (Blue) drives? You have purchased the 1080P DVI Capture Module. This module splits the Red, Green, and Blue signals and saves them separately while inputting. The J, K & L drives are scratched drives which temporarily hold the data. Once the input is complete, the signals are combined, and the temporary information is deleted.
    Why can I not record more than 9000 frames of 1080P DVI video? The J,K, & L scratch drives have limited capacity so you cannot record more than about 9000 frames (150 seconds).
    Why does my machine have G (ViewPort A) & H (ViewPort B) drives? You have purchased one of the shuttle product ClearView Shuttle Broadcast DL/AD or ClearView Shuttle DVI. Due to the limited seek time of the disk array, we have split the array so that you can do side-by-side analysis. Please load one video sequence from the G: array, and one from the H: array. The performance is sufficient to playback up to 160MB/s, which allows up to 720P. Please see the drive bandwidth chart
    How do I do an automatic alignment with 4.0 software? Instructions on how to align clips can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Clip Alignment Pane.

    Note: Please remember that alignment is with respect to the currently displayed frame in Viewport B. The auto align will find the closest frame in Viewport A, which is greater than the thrshld. If you set thrshld to 0, then it will find the best fit.
    How do I enable the objective metrics? Instructions on how to enable the objective metrics can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Objective Metric Pane.

    Note: Please remember that it takes time to calculate the metrics. ClearView plays the video sequences while doing the calculations and during this time the video sequences may play slow.
    Why do the objective metrics run slow sometimes? The objective metrics are calculated the first time that the video sequences are played. They are recorded and displayed everytime thereafter.

    Note: If you log the objective metrics and restore them, then you never need to calculate the values again.
    How do I save/restore a log file? Instructions on how to save the objective metrics can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Objective Metric Pane. Instructions on how to restore the objective metrics can be found by looking at the Detailed Online User Interface Documentation specifically under the Import Log Pane.

    Note 1: Restoring a Log file will also load the video sequences into Viewport A & B and reset the clip alignment parameter.
    Note 2: PSNR, SPATIAL, and TEMPORAL metrics are saved in 3 different log files so you need to save and restore 3 times if you want all of the data.
    There is a test pattern clip on my ClearView. What are the Y'CbCr/RGB values?
  • Y'CbCr 8-bit Test Pattern Values
  • Y'CbCr 10-bit Test Pattern Values
  • RGB 8-bit Test Pattern Values


    • Note: There are 84 test patterns available, which are preloaded on new ClearView machines. Existing customers can get a pointer to the test patterns by sending a request to support@videoclarity.com
    What does this error message mean? CNVT2 Wind Driver Interface: Configure Subscription Failed Please restart your ClearView machine. Windows has conflicted with our Broadcast Module.