[AG-TECH] broadcast quality video

[Osland, CD (Chris)]

There shouldn't be any real problem as long as the cameras have
composite or S-Video (Y-C) connections for video out.  I wouldn't
expect any visible improvement in image quality compared with
less expensive cameras (say down to the Sony xxx30/31/100 type)
because the H.261 QCIF encoding itself reduces quality so much that
the original quality is basically lost.  Once mangled by H.261, I
can't say I can tell the difference between a composite feed from
camera to capture card, or a Y-C feed from the same camera.

There is a different question which is how to get broadcast quality
video across the AG, and that has been discussed elsewhere.  From
cameras, that implies having capture cards that will take component
(YUV or YIQ) input and encoding schemes that preserve a decent
fraction of the original quality - composite, Y-C and component
feeds have roughly 5 MHz, 8 MHz and 15 MHz bandwidth respectively.

Of course, the alternative is to use digital cameras and (for instance)
FireWire, and so stay digital all the way ...

Cheers

Chris

____________________________________________________________________
Chris Osland                         Office tel: +44 (0) 1235 446565
Digital Media and Access Grid      Medialab tel: +44 (0) 1235 446459
BIT Department             Access Grid room tel: +44 (0) 1235 445666
e-mail:   C.D.Osland at rl.ac.uk               Fax: +44 (0) 1235 445597

CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Bldg. R18)
Chilton, DIDCOT, Oxon OX11 0QX, UK

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-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Hepburn [mailto:eric at mail.aces.utexas.edu]
Sent: 31 October 2002 16:45
To: Jonathan C. Humfrey
Cc: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
Subject: RE: [AG-TECH] broadcast quality video


We are using the following broadcast quality cameras in our facility:
CCU: Panasonic WVE590
Camera: Panasonic AWE 300
We are in the process of setting up an AG-PIG machine using these cameras
(by feeding an S-Video feed from the cameras to the Osprey Capture cards
through a video switcher).  We should have the installation completed within
the next week.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  If you'd like to get a
feel for our facility in general you can check out our website at
http://www.aces.utexas.edu
The cameras and video switching gear was originally installed for
videoconferencing, we are basically adding the AG-PIG system as an
alternative CODEC into our existing AV infrastructure, giving us AG access
in our 5 videoconference capable rooms.

Eric

PS  We are also using Microsoft's experimental ConferenceXP software on the
same system with the Osprey capture cards, so far so good...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Hepburn
Coordinator, Network Services
A.C.E.S. IT Group		
Applied Computational Engineering & Sciences Bldg.
The University of Texas at Austin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office: ACES 4.142
Ph: (512) 232-9089		Fax: (512) 232-9084
Mobile: (512) 413-9380
Email: eric at mail.aces.utexas.edu 
------------------------------------------------------------------------



-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan C. Humfrey [mailto:jch at cs.ucsb.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 3:58 PM
To: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
Subject: [AG-TECH] broadcast quality video




Does anyone have experience using broadcast quality cameras rather then 
the Sony DVIs?  We have a multi-use room and are looking to be able to 
produce a broadcast quality video from presentations in the room as well 
as participating in AG.

Thanks,
Jonathan Humfrey