- Network Connections
The switcher requires a network connection for the DashBoard interface as well as any control panel you want to use.
- Video Reference
The flexible reference system in the switcher allows you to use an Interlaced video format as the reference to operate the switcher in a video format of the same frequency.
- Switcher Modes
The switcher mode allows you to set the features and resources that you want to have available on your switcher. Some feature and resources are not compatible with all switcher modes.
- Video Inputs
External video sources come into the switcher through the input BNCs, and internal sources are generated internally from the switcher. Depending on how you want to use these video sources, or where they come from, you may want the switcher to pair them together, or associate an external device with them. Pairing two video sources together is usually used for an auto select key where an external device, such as a character generator, outputs both a key video and key alpha. Associating a video source with an external device allows special control over that device to become active when you select the source on a bus.
- Video Outputs
The BNC outputs can have any video source in the switcher, including Media-Store channels, aux bus, and clean feed assigned to them.
- MultiViewer
The MultiViewer allows you to view multiple video sources from a single output BNC. Video inputs or outputs on the switcher, including Program, Preview, and Media-Store channels, can be assigned to any box on the MultiViewer.
- MultiScreen / MiniME
The MultiScreen allows you to output multiple video signals that can be combined into a single scene. The switcher treats the multiple outputs as a single background and translates the keys across the multiple backgrounds.
- Frame Sync and Format Conversion
The switcher has multiple input frame synchronizer / format converter (FSFC) and input de-interlacers that can be used to convert video input signals to the format that the switcher is operating in, as well as correct mistimed, or drifting, video input signal. The frame synchronizers cannot completely correct badly formatted video, mistimed switches, signal drops, or similar issues.
- System Real-Time Clock/Date
The switcher uses an internal clock to generate the time for the clock overlay for the MultiViewer.
- AES Audio Output
Audio sources from the audio mixer, clip player, and Media-Store can be sent out the AES outputs of the frame.
- Color Correction (Carbonite Black+ Only)
Color correction in the switcher is performed by either Processing Amplifiers (Proc Amps) in the HSL (Y-Cr-Cb) color space or by RGB Color Correctors in the RGB color space.
- Personality
Personality settings allow you to configure how you interact with the control panel and switcher, as well as how the buttons on the control panel appear. All of these settings are stored in the Personality register.
- GPI Control
General Purpose Interface (GPI) is a high/low voltage signalling protocol that allows the switcher to send simple commands to an external device, or receive commands from a device. Each pin on the GPI is set as either high (+5 Volts), or low (0 Volts), and it is the switching between high and low that sends commands to the external device, or to the switcher.
- Live Edit Decision Lists (LiveEDL)
Edit Decision Lists are files used by non-linear editing (NLE) suites to aid in post-production. Your switcher can capture EDL data in a file that you load into your NLE suite.
- ViewControl (HD Only)
The ViewControl interface through DashBoard allows you to coordinate the control over the Carbonite switcher, XPression Live Graphics System, and the BlackStorm Playout Server all through a touchscreen interface. Through ViewControl you can select sources, perform transitions, and run custom controls.
- MultiPanel
Each frame supports up to 4 independent control connections (Main, Satellite 1, Satellite 2, and Satellite 3/SoftPanel). Each connection can be from a control panel, DashBoard, or a combination of the two. Add devices on the same control connection mirror each other.