OpalFAQ - The Amiga OpalVision Genlock FAQ

Welcome to the Amiga OpalVision Genlock FAQ

Version:   1.1,   7 July 1997. Updates since then are cosmetic only.
Author:   Julian Knight

1. Introduction
2. What's New
3. Genlock List
4. Problems, Hints and Tips
5. Contacts and Other Resources
6. Suppliers

1. Introduction

[Editors Note, 23/May/2003] I have now been using a PC at home as well as at work for some years. Indeed it seems that my trusty A4000 has given up the ghost and no longer works <snif>. Thankfully, things have changed massively since those heady days and the advent of digital video camera's has totally changed the face of DTV. The genlock has had its day. Now I can pull video at full resolution from a firewire port in real time, once on my >100GB hard drives I can do just about anything that in the Opal days we were just starting to dream of. So I waited in vain for the extra modules for the Opal card but still had lots of fun which was really the whole point. I do not expect to ever need to update this page again but I intend to keep it active for the sake of nostalgia and for the occasional visitor who is still using this equipment. If that is you and you want me to add something, don't hesitate to get in touch.
All the best, Julian.
 

I am compiling this list because although I've had an OpalVision card for a long time, I never have got round to getting the S-VGA Genlock I wanted - I was always waiting for the rest of the Opal suite to appear! Yes I know - a mug!

Well, as the OpalVision mailing list started to go quiet for a while, I thought I had better try and capture peoples experiences with Genlocks and the OpalVision and this FAQ is the result.

Happily, as I thought of doing this FAQ, I also received 5MB of WWW space from my ISP so I will make the latest version of the FAQ (in HTML format) always available there (see "4. Contacts").

Please understand that this is currently version 1 of the FAQ and there is not a lot of information here yet! However, I thought I would publish it anyway in order to drum up a bit more info from yourselves.

As you can see, the information is rather hit and miss and has been extracted from postings to the OpalVision mailing list (see "4. Contacts") and replies to myself asking for more information.

If you see any mistakes or could add to the FAQ, please do send an email to me.

Finally in this section, I would like to thank all of those people who have already responded to my call for information. I will not list those peoples email addresses unless they tell me too, however, I am sure that they would not mind the occasional question from others so if you do want more information, please get in touch with me and I will try and pass the questions on (and include the answers in the FAQ of course!).

2. What's New

3. Genlock List

I now have information on the following genlocks:

1. Electronic-Design Y-C-Genlock (S-590)
2. Rocgen+
3. Supergen
4. G2 - VC3
5. Electrocraft Amiga Pro-Titler, APT-91
6. Lola 1500 7) GVP GLock

3.1 Electronic-Design Y-C-Genlock (S-590)

There is also a "composite video only" version of this genlock.

Can also act as RGB splitter for digitisers like Digi-View etc.

I have used it with OpalVision v1.0 board with both v1.0 and v2.0 ROMs, as well as a OpalVision v2.0 board using ROM v2.1.

It only has a video S/N of about 50db I think, but it looks good, and has always provided a stable video signal that all my other equipment agrees with (including the A3000T itself, JVC BR-S series SVHS VTR's, VLAB Motion, Panasonic WJ-MX12 vision mixer, TBCPlus).

Thanks go to Mark Allen of Australia for this excelent, detailed information.

3.2 Rocgen+

R T Dhami reported in the mailing list that this unit gives a "very poor signal".

3.3 Supergen

Wayne Haufler writes on this one:

I bought a used Supergen genlock, external, not the S-VHS version, some years ago, and use it for amateur purposes quite satifactorily. Can't comment on the best genlock, though.

Alan Lloyd also has some experiences:

I use two SuperGens with two Opal cards at work and they're both hal and hearty. Good RGB encoding makes for really nice NTSC video.

We have two A3000's in two edit suites, one has 18 MB RAM, the other 24 MB. They are both set up with identical paths for all partitions and software assignments (so that it's possible to take files from one to the other without problems, especially things like SCALA scripts) and very similar hardware sets: SuperGen referenced from "system black" and feeding Sony BVS-3100 switchers as both prime source and DSK key/fill. One room also has an old Laird 1500 CG in a second graphics channel on the upstream key bus. (I'm thinking of redoing that one into the DSK instead - makes more sense!) Both 3000's run 52 MB Quantum (original) HD's and 540 MB second SCSI drives, 1084 monitors, stock Amiga mouse and keyboard. We had the RGB of one of them run into the chromakey ins of the BVS-3100 as well but that custom fab cable is now elsewhere. That did quite nicely, though, for custom mattes with motion fill from the key bus. Both rooms run Hi8 and 3/4" SP to BetaSP.

Software: ADPro, OpalPaint, SCALA, DPaint IV, AZ (text editor), a few other things as needed.

We have had no trouble as far as hardware or software with the exception of the one A3000 with 24 MB: It had been set up by an utter idiot before the offices were merged and I had a great load of work to do in getting functionality up when I did the upgrade. BTW, installed both cards myself, the drives, the RAM (pain in the ass, that!) and the SuperGen in one edit room.

Alan Lloyd

3.4 G2 - VC3

Thanks go to Dave Barnard for this snippet:

If you're looking for the best quality, the G2 VC3 wins hands down. It has YUV component , S-video and composite outputs at broadcast quality. It costs about UKP 2 grand though... they are on (UK) 01252 813706

3.5 Electrocraft Amiga Pro-Titler, APT-91

Thought you might like to know about the stand-alone Genlock with built-in SPG that I have been using since 1991.

Price at that time 575UKP plus VAT. It is of UK origin made by Electrocraft who are now part of Snell & Wilcox, manufacturers of high-end broadcast equipment. I think that most of the Electrocraft engineers are still there.

It is called Amiga Pro-Titler, APT-91. Unfortunately they no longer make the unit and strangely enough I have not yet come across anyone else that has even heard of it but I know they sold quite a number to video-professional Amiga users.

Apart from a few funnies I experienced at the beginning (no doubt my fault) it has behaved flawlessly ever since and they were always very willing to provide knowledgeable support.

In my opinion it is truly a professional tool giving immaculate genlocking of the highest professional quality equal to similar-spec.versions of G2.

Specs. as follows:-

Monitor Loop-Through provides output to be viewed in all resolution modes, also allows A520 modulator to be used RGB of combined unit output thru` 9-pin D-connector Interface is via supplied 23 to 25 way cable (into the Opalvision board if installed)

Key mode switches for Background and Foregrounds 1 & 2. Switch selection of Picture, Caption or both.

Individual faders for Caption, Picture and Master.

Individual signal faders for Colour-level, Black-level, Video-level and Y/C delay.

Like your own genlock, this was made for the A500/1500/2000/3000. They believe there should be no problem using it with an AGA 1200/4000 but you would probably have to ensure your monitor has 15Khz. refresh rate.

I have used it with WB 1.3, 2.05 and now 3.1. No problems.

If anyone is looking for a high-quality unit and they come across one of these at a good price, I would recommend it.

-- Thanks to Maurice R. Fleisher MBKS, High Wycombe UK for this detailed overview --

3.6 Lola 1500

Hi, I saw your newsgroup message and thought that I'd let you know of problems with an A4000/030, early Opalcard and Lola 1500 genlock.

I took the whole lot to Lola at Mkt. Harboro and they diagnosed a timing mismatch caused by the Opalcard. The Opalcard used to work fine with the genlock in my A2000 but as I was also having problems with the Opalcard and MUI I've put the card into storage (in the 2000). The genlock seems ok without the Opalcard. I haven't retried the 2000/Opalcard/ lola combination recently because I sold the accelerator to buy the A4000.

As an aside, the earlier Lola genlock wouldn't work with Video Director.

Hope that this is useful.

regards Derek Clark Wolverhampton (UK)

Many thanks Derek for this info.

3.7 GVP GLock

This is the Genlock that I use and although it is (I think) no longer made, I can strongly recommend it for use with or without an Opal card.

I had no problems at all setting it up. It is an external unit that plugs in to the Amiga standard video output plug or the Opal cards video output port. The only minor gripe I have with the unit is that the connector between the Amiga and the unit is rather short so it is difficult to position it anywhere useful.

One hint, if you do manage to get hold of one - make sure that it has ALL of the cables. It seems that a couple of people (including myself) who have brought this unit (in the UK) have recieved it without the Amiga/Genlock cable.

There are two connections to the Amiga - the video connector and a mouse port connector (for controlling the unit) - this latter does NOT have a mouse/joystick passthrough. The unit also has three video inputs (2 composite & 1 s-video) as well as twp video outputs (composite and s-video). Finally, there are two audio inputs (mono only) and 1 audio out - the two inputs can be stiched between or mixed (50/50 only) by the software.

The software is easy to set up and use and has comprehensive REXX support - this, and a special EX module also make the unit ideal for use with Scala. The software allows good control over the unit and you can fade/switch in/out the various signals, enhance the video, set the timebase for direct camera use, switch between straight through/Amiga only/Amiga over video/Inverse modes. Advanced modes in the software provide close control of all aspects of the video signals and also allow the keying colour to be altered (on ECS/AGA Amigas only) using Bitplane or Chroma keying modes.

The GLock is able to work with PAL, NTSC and SECAM video input signals. It is able to output PAL and NTSC video.

Here are the main Video performance figures:

and the Audio performance figures:

The software requires an Amiga (PAL or NTSC) with 512MB memory and OS1.3 or above (works fine for me with OS3.0 & lots of utilities such as MCP). The software will also work happily when your Workbench screen in NOT genlockable - it generates a warning and then still starts up on its own screen. This means that it works happily along side graphics cards (I am using a PicassoII with CyberGFX software).

I have successfully output:

• Video titling (Scala over recorded video from a camera)
• Slide shows (Scala/Multiview, etc.)
• Amiga animations (from Imagine and other packages)
• All with high quality sound (I don't use the mono GLock inputs for this)

Verdict? Get it if you can! It was still available (new) in the UK late last year (1996) - Techno were selling their remaining units off for UKP99.

-- Julian Knight  --

4. Problems, Hints and Tips

The main problem using a genlock with an Opal card seems to happen with early model cards.

On some cards it seems that the output level is too low to provide a stable signal to the genlock.

I have seen mention of a fix, if anyone has a definitive fix, please let me know and I will include it in the FAQ.

Short of a fix, it seems that the Electronic Design genlock may handle the deficiency better than most genlocks - is this true?

Again, please let me know your experiences.

5. Contacts and Other Resources

OpalVision Genlock FAQ - SORRY, HAD TO REMOVE THE MAILTO LINK BECAUSE OF SPAM BOTS, USE THIS PAGE TO GET IN TOUCH INSTEAD

Please send any information, corrections, flames, etc about the FAQ to this address (please put "Genlock FAQ" somewhere in the title)

HTML version of the FAQ - http://www.knightnet.org.uk/IT/OpalFAQ.htm

You are looking at it!

The OpalVision Mailing List - opalvision@oak.oakland.edu

To subscribe: mail majordomo@oak.oakland.edu
In the message body put:
    subscribe opalvision
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In the message body put:
    unsubscribe opalvision

Relevant newsgroups:

news://comp.sys.amiga.multimedia
news://comp.sys.amiga.graphics
news://comp.sys.amiga.hardware

6. Suppliers

This section is intended to make life easier for Opal users, enabling you to attempt to find suppliers of suitable equipment. I will list both good and bad suppliers here if you send me suitable information.

Please note that this list will be added to from YOUR recommendations not my own.

Inclusion in this section in no way implies an endorsement of any supplier. Purchases from any supplier are undertaken at your own risk.

No suppliers listed yet! Send that info in.