Blackmagicdesign Pocket UltraScope, Operation Manual

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Blackmagic UltraScope
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5. Audio Metering Display
Audio Metering Display shows you the audio levels in the embedded audio of the SDI video signal. Up
to 8 channels of embedded audio are de-embedded and then displayed in either dBFS or VU format.
The VU button switches between dBFS and VU audio metering standards.
dBFS is essentially a meter of the overall digital audio signal and is common on modern digital equipment.
The VU meter shows average signal levels, is easy to use and very common on older equipment. VU is
calibrated to the SMPTE recommendation of a 1 kHz tone test signal set to -20 dBFS.
The right hand audio scope can monitor two channels of audio, which are selected from the audio
channel buttons: CH 1 & 2, CH 3 & 4, CH 5 & 6 and CH 7 & 8. The audio scope presents audio in an X-Y
view so you can see audio balance issues, out of phase conditions and whether an audio track is mono
or stereo. Mono audio should appear as a single, vertical, “in phase” line. If the line is horizontal, then
your audio is “out of phase” and could cancel out (i.e. loss of audio) when received by downstream
equipment. Audio phase is one of the most common audio faults in large facilities, where cables can be
incorrectly connected.
When monitoring stereo audio, the Audio Metering Display will puff out a little like a flower, which
represents the difference between the left and right audio channels. The more stereo sound is contained
in the audio track, the more circular the display will appear. If the audio contains minimal stereo content,
then the display will appear more concentrated around the vertical axis.
While spoken dialog tends to appear as a vertical line, music with plenty of stereo content will puff out.
This is because mono audio is L+R, and will display on the vertical axis, whereas stereo content is L-R,
and will display on the horizontal axis to show the stereo difference.