Capture function

The Reckeen 3D Studio system uses Intel Quick Sync Video technology, built into some of the Intel processors. This allows for hardware acceleration of a video stream encoding.

Capture function allows you to use the Reckeen 3D Studio system as a Video Recorder. It allows you to record the signal broadcasted by the system on the internal hard drive. The produced program on the air can simultaneously be saved to a file on the disk in *.mp4 format (codec H.264) or *.mpeg format (codec MPEG-2). The resolution and frame rate is chosen depending on the mode, in which the system output operates. On the right side of the Capture button, you can see an icon with gears for configuration of this function, a light indicating the recording, a recording timer (hours/minutes/seconds) and the amount of free disk space (in GB). When you start recording, the red light lights up and the Capture button is highlighted.

The Reckeen 3D Studio system supports the following image formats (codecs):

  • H.264 video / AAC audio
  • MPEG-2 video / mp3 Layer 2 audio

The list of formats supported by the aforementioned codecs:

  • 2160p30 / 29,97 / 25
  • 1080i60 / 59.94 / 50
  • 1080p60 / 59.94 / 50/30 / 29.97 / 25
  • 720p60 / 59.94 / 50

FX – VKEY-100 keyboard

We have prepared suitable buttons on the Vkey-100 keyboard. Their purpose is to indicate the transition’s type. It is possible to perform a transition in several ways using the Vkey-100 keyboard.

  • Manually using a T-bar handle.
  • By pressing TAKE button – starting an immediate transition.
  • By pressing AUTO button having MIX option button selected – starting a smooth transition with a programmed time.
  • By pressing AUTO button having FX option button selected – starting a smooth transition with a programmed time and an effect selected in the Production module.

If you press and hold FX button, 10 keys will light up in the PREVIEW section of the Vkey-100 keyboard. If, at the same time, you press one of those buttons, an effect from FAVORITES category will be selected.

FX – effect’s trigger

For your convenience, we have prepared a special trigger which allows you to choose your favorite effect without the need to search the database. Going to OPTIONS and CONFIGURATION menus, you come across TRIGGERS tab. It is possible to program 10 keys in the advanced mode there, e.g. F1 key. In the settings’ parameters you have to select whether a transition should be carried out in MIX mode (smoothly) or with FX effects. Choose a category of your interest and indicate a specific effect in the fields below.

You have to remember that this function’s purpose is to set a given effect in the Production module. After its execution, a corresponding effect’s thumbnail appears in the Production module, ready for use. In order to program both selection of the effect and immediately calling upon this transition effect, a second function under the name OUTPUT TRANSITION AUTO has to be added to the list. As a parameter, time of transition should be given, in seconds or in frames that depend on the system’s output format.

10 favorite buttons can be programmed this way. Then, by pressing one of them in the Production module, you can execute a transition between the Preview and the Program channel. Such programmed Trigger can be stored in the Production module’s session file.

FX – output transition

The Reckeen system’s production module comes with the main mixer that has buttons corresponding to full-screen views of the virtual studio VC (from 1 to 4), video content or graphic materials. Program channel is used for full-screen display of live material ready to be streamed to the end user. Preview channel serves as an aid in production and in preparation of materials before displaying them on the air. Two methods for changing these channels have been described so far, one via TAKE function – immediately – and the other
via AUTO with MIX function, which means smoothly. The following section introduces a new function called AUTO FX, that is special effects. The Reckeen system has a large database of ready-to-use effects divided into appropriate categories.

To select the desired effect, select FX button instead of MIX button in the Production module window, it will then light up in blue as in the image.

In fact, when you press AUTO button, you can execute a default transition effect displayed in the thumbnail above. The effect is depicted with two letters. Capital letter A represents a full-screen view before the start of transition, while capital letter B stands for the view after the transition is completed. To make identification of the effect easier, the thumbnails have been created for the moment the transition is halfway through. This effect can be seen when the transition’s T-bar is located half-way up its value.

In such moment, in the Program channel you can see a reflection of the currently set effect, e.g. Wipe 1.

After hovering the cursor over the thumbnail, the thumbnail’s animation starts showing an example of how the switch between the main mixer’s PROGRAM and PREVIEW channels will look like.

The effect’s reference number is displayed below the thumbnail, and its name comes after a colon. Each group of effects has its appropriate individual number range assigned. For example, WIPE effects start at 1, while SLIDE effects go from 100 and so on.

Here, you can also set a transition time between channel A and B using controls in TIME TRANSITION section. A transition time can be adjusted in seconds from 0 to 99 or in image frames that depend on the output format.

You can change the currently selected effect in several ways. The first one is by pressing a downward arrow which results in opening a new window.

After pressing the button, a new window opens showing the available database of transition effects. The last selected category opens as a first one. By default, this is FAVORITES category. You can find 10 items there that can be modified by assigning other effects at any time. As mentioned earlier, when you hover the mouse cursor over any thumbnail, an animation will start showing how the transition will behave, but not only that. After a while, a tooltip appears with a number and, after a colon, a name of the effect. With
a single click of the left mouse button you select an effect which will immediately replace the one in the Production module. All you need now is to press CLOSE button and close the window. Another way to choose an effect is simply to double click on the effect’s icon. The window will close automatically then.

Each effect has its own unique number, which can also be used for selecting the effect without the need to search the list. You need to enter the appropriate number (e.g. 258) in the EFFECT INDEX control field,
and press Enter to confirm the choice. Entering a value “000258” will confirm selection of the effect with a number 258.

In the Group drop-down list you can find a database of categories corresponding to individual effects (WIPES, SLIDES, ALPHA WIPES, ALPHA SLIDES, etc.). To select an effect, just press the left mouse button.
To add the selected effect to FAVORITES group, you have to bring up a menu with a right-click and indicate a target position in the category.

In the Reckeen 3D Studio system, you can adjust the following input channels:

  • Cam 1 Input, the signal received from the first card input,
  • Cam 2 Input, the signal received from the second card input,
  • Cam 3 Input, the signal received from the third card input,
  • Cam 4 Input, the signal received from the fourth card input,
  • Line In 1 (XLR); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Line In 2 ( Jack 6,3 mm); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • MIC – signal from microphone ( Jack 6,3mm ) the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Media 1 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray – Media 1 tab
  • Media 2 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray -Media 2 tab
  • Sound – input channel coming from sound files played back by a virtual player and being placed in the Sound tab,
  • Master Out – adjusting the main signal level for audio output. For better operation, the Master Out indicator is also included in the audio input tab.

Sound mixer – sound tab

In the Sound tab, you can store shortcuts to audio files previously added to the hard drive, just as in the media tray.

Click on the icon Add (with small plus sign) to browse your local hard drive and add sound files.

Supported audio file formats: .wav and .mp3

In the mixer, you can add music played in the player to an audio track and adjust its volume with a Soundslider.

Sound mixer – AUDIO BOX ADB-100

If you connect an additional ADB-100 device to Audio Link connector, you can expand the Reckeen system adding additional inputs and outputs:

  • two digital inputs on XLR connector (AB Digital 1, AB Digital 2)
  • two analog inputs on XLR connector (AB Line In 1 stereo, AB Line In 2 stereo)
  • microphone input for dynamic and condenser microphone
  • two digital outputs on XLR connector
  • two analog outputs on XLR connector (stereo output 1, stereo output 2)
  • stereo headphone output

Warning ! It is recommended not to connect or disconnect a microphone to the ADB-100 during the time the red LED is lit up. You can safely connect a microphone only in None mode.

An additional ADB-100 tab appears automatically after connecting the device to power supply and communication cable.

A sound from system’s MASTER OUT is always supported on the digital outputs: AB Digital 1 and AB Digital 2 and on the analogue outputs: AB Line 1 and AB Line 1.

When you set a headphone source with a drop down list, you set it jointly for AUDIO Panel and AUDIO BOX headphone outputs.

You can adjust the sound in the range of -40 to +10 dB, where the 0 level (AB Line In 1, AB Line In 2) corresponds to -10 dBV (-7.8 dBu or 0.316 V RMS) in the case of a consumer level, or 4dBu (1.78 dBV or =1.23 volts RMS) in the case of a professional level analog inputs/outputs on ADB -100 panel. It depends on audio level settings in Configuration Window: Audio Tab.

In the case of digital Audio input /output (AB Digital 1,2), 0 level corresponds to -20dBFs.

Sound mixer – configuration window: audio tab – microphone

You can find two Microphone settings below the AUDIO Level settings. The first for the microphone connector located on AUDIO PANEL on the front of the Reckeen workstation, and the second for the microphone connected to external AUDIO BOX panel (ADB -100). There are two operating modes: a None mode with a dynamic microphone, for which you can set the Gain value with a slider, and a Phantom mode with a condenser microphone. When you switch to the Phantom mode, you will be warned that a voltage of 48 V will be applied to the speech insert. A red LED lights up on the AUDIO Panel located at the front of the Reckeen workstation.

Warning ! It is recommended not to connect or disconnect a microphone to the AUDIO Panel during the time the red LED is lit up. You can safely connect a microphone only in None mode.

At the right you can see the settings options of Motherboard AUDIO Output. The available outputs are shown in the drop-down list.

On the drop down list, you can select the audio output from your graphics card or motherboard. They will vary depending on the system configuration and the type and number of connected monitors.

The list of monitors attached to the system will appear in the drop down list. (Item # 1 in the list in the image above). If you select this monitor from the list then the sound can be played through this monitor (you can connect, for example, headphones to this monitor).

Digital Display Audio – output sound from the graphics card (you can select the sound output on different connectors of the card, such as HDMI, DVI, DP), In the picture above, points 2, 3 and 4 in the list.

  • Realtek Digital Output – is a digital output from the motherboard.
  • Realtek Digital Output (optical) – digital (optical) output from the motherboard.
  • Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) – mini Jack output from motherboard. If you choose this option, a signal from Master Out will go to the output on the rear panel of the Reckeen workstation.

Adjust the audio delay relative to the video output for proper synchronization. With the slider Delay you can set the delay (in ms) for the audio signal going out of the system and with slider Gain – the volume.

Sound mixer – configuration window: audio tab

When you open Configuration Window in 3DProduction Module or LITE Production Module: Menu>Options>Configurations. In the AUDIO Tab – you can find settings of the system’s sound. There are two levels of the line signal to choose from:

  • The first one – Pro, – is a professional one, where level 0 has a value of +4 dBu. This signal level is the most common for the XLR connector, commonly known as Cannon, and for the TRS connector, that is 6.3 mm stereo Jack. You may also find it on the TS connector.
  • The second signal level – Consumer – has the 0 level for the value of – 10 dBV and it is most common for the RCA connector, commonly known as Cinch. The difference between them, are described below.

Different voltage reference levels have been chosen for Pro and Consumer levels.

  • Professional level:4 dBu, then we get level 0 on analog inputs and outputs. This equals 1.23 V.
  • When working with Consumer signal, in order to get 0 value on the output and on the input, a signal with a value of 0.32 V has to be connected. These principles apply to the AUDIO Panel connectors at
    the front of the Reckeen workstation and analog connectors in external AUDIO BOX panel(ADB-100). In the case of digital inputs and outputs, such as a camera, level 0 is a level of – 20 dBFS. Level 0 for the Media file means the maximum digital value of the signal.

Sound mixer – audio out tab

You can adjust the following output channels:

  • Capture – setting a volume of a video file recorded from the Program window level. The file being recorded is automatically placed in the tab 5 of Media 1 and Media 2 trays.
  • Streaming – setting the volume of a live broadcast streaming from the Program window level.
  • Headphone – (Jack 6,3 mm) when connecting headphones, you can select from the drop-down list which channel you want to hear on the headphones.
  • NOTE: The Mute function works for each input source and the master output. Selected sources are mixed, and create a Master Out signal. On the Headphones you can hear the signal from any input or Master Out output. In this case, the Mute function will not work for the Headphones, despite the checkboxes are on. You can listen any channel on the Headphones with Mute function enabled .
  • Master Out – adjusting the main signal level for audio output.

For each channel, you can adjust the signal level using a slider located next to the signal level column. In addition, you can set the output level with a separate slider – Master Out. You can adjust the sound in the range of -40 to +10 dB, where the 0 level (Line In 1,2) corresponds to -10 dBV (-7.8 dBu or 0.316 V RMS) in case on consumer level , or 4dBu (1.78 dBV or =1.23 vlts RMS) in case professional level analog inputs/outputs on audio panel. It depends on audio level setting in Configuration Window: Audio Tab.

In case digital Audio input /output (Camera Input) 0 level corresponds to -20dBFs. Level 0 for the Media file means the maximum digital value of the signal. In addition, you can enable for the channels the following:

  • Follow – this feature allows you to mute the sound of a chosen channel up until a video signal associated with the given sound source appears on the vision. This applies to the sources: Media 1, Media 2, and CAM associated with the Line In (Line in 1 when CAM1 appears on the vision and Line in 2 when CAM2 appears on the vision). Enabling this feature for a chosen channel mutes a given sound source, when the source is not used (displayed) on the PRG output.
  • Solo – a feature that enables sending a selected signal individually to the output. Enabling this feature for the chosen channel mutes all the other input channels. Only the signal for which the Solo feature has been enabled is sent to the outputs.
  • Mute – checking this feature completely mutes the signal of the given source.

Sound mixer – audio in tab

In the Reckeen 3D Studio system, you can adjust the following input channels:

  • Cam 1 Input, the signal received from the first card input,
  • Cam 2 Input, the signal received from the second card input,
  • Cam 3 Input, the signal received from the third card input,
  • Cam 4 Input, the signal received from the fourth card input,
  • Line In 1 (XLR); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Line In 2 ( Jack 6,3 mm); the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • MIC – signal from microphone ( Jack 6,3mm ) the signal received from the front audio panel,
  • Media 1 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray – Media 1 tab
  • Media 2 – input channel of video files played back by a virtual player supported by a media tray – Media 2 tab
  • Sound – input channel coming from sound files played back by a virtual player and being placed in the Sound tab,
  • Master Out – adjusting the main signal level for audio output. For better operation, the Master Out indicator is also included in the audio input tab.
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