PCIe-TC User Guide Page 10 April 2012
INSTALLATION
(continued)
VIDEO/VITC/L21 INPUT CONNECTION (J3):
Refer to the board outline on page 6. BNC(f) connector J3 is the VIDEO/
VITC/L21 input connector. For the remainder of this page, this connector
will just be referred to as the VIDEO input, because L21 data and VITC
data are specialized parts of the associated video signal. On some board
models (if you look carefully) you should be able to see the text “VIDEO
IN” stamped onto the bracket next to this connector. This input expects to
see a 1Vpp analog composite video signal (including sync pulses). It should
be connected to the VTR’s “VIDEO OUT” connector or some other analog
video source. You can skip the rest of this section if your board does not
have a VIDEO input installed.
The VIDEO input is terminated internally with a 75ohm load, which can-
not be removed. No external termination is necessary. This differential
input will reject at least 60dB of common mode noise from 50Hz to 4MHz.
The input is designed to handle signals which have no more than +1V of
DC offset, and which have an amplitude of 0.65Vpp (the double termi-
nated case) to 2.0Vpp. The speeds at which VITC data and L21 data can
be read are highly dependent upon the type of tape machine and the video
tape (video signal) quality.
For some board models, such as for PCIe-LTC/RGA boards, this input serves
only as a video reference input. The LTC generator can synchronize itself
to this video signal, so a standard “color black” reference signal is often a
good choice. If any VITC or L21 data is present, it gets ignored.
For other board models, such as for PCIe-VLTC/RDA boards, this input
serves as the L21 data input and/or VITC data input in addition to being
a video reference input.
This VIDEO input automatically adapts itself to whatever analog video
standard is present, including 480i(NTSC), 576i(PAL/SECAM), 480p, 576p,
720p, 1080i, and some 1080p video reference signals (14 standards total).
No setup work needs to be done.
PCIe-TC User Guide Page 11 April 2012
INSTALLATION
(continued)
EXTERNAL MINI-XLR CONNECTOR WIRING:
If your PCIe-TC board has one or more optional Mini-XLR audio connec-
tors installed, you should have received one mating connector for each on-
board Mini-XLR connector received. The following steps explain how to
properly install the mating connectors:
1) Unscrew the black plastic hood from the back of the connector, then slip
it over the end of the audio cable you will be using. Make sure that the
threaded end of the hood is closest to the end of the cable.
2) Pull the 4-fingered cable clamp assembly out of the Mini-XLR connec-
tor body, then slip it over the end of the audio cable. Make sure that the
black plastic end of the cable clamp assembly is closest to the cable end.
3) Gently tap or push the pin block out of the Mini-XLR connector shell,
then carefully fill each of the three solder cup pins with solder.
4) Being careful not to cut any of the soft copper conductors, prepare the
end of your audio cable by cutting back the outer insulation and shield
by 11mm (7/16”), then stripping the end of each wire back by 3mm (1/
8”), then tinning the end of each wire. If this is to be an “LTC output”
cable (from our board’s viewpoint), and you want to ground the cable
shield at the signal source (i.e. our board), strip back the outer insula-
tion to a total of 22mm (7/8”) from the cable’s end. This is usually not
needed for LTC input cables.
5) Note the tiny pin numbers molded into the pin block face.
6) Sweat solder your ground wire to the pin 1 solder cup. Note that this
pin is recessed slightly with respect to the other two pins (will always
make the ground connection first).
7) Sweat solder your “LTC+” (red?) wire to the pin 2 solder cup (this is the
pin farthest away from the flat side of the pin block).
8) Sweat solder your “LTC-” (black?) wire to the pin 3 solder cup (the only
one left).
9) Push the pin block back into the Mini-XLR connector shell, then slide
the cable clamp assembly firmly into place, then use pliers to clamp the
four fingers around the cable (this keeps it from pulling out), optionally
solder the four fingers to the cable shield (if this is an “LTC output”
cable), then screw the black plastic hood onto the Mini-XLR connector.
10) Use a continuity tester to verify that everything is properly connected
from end to end, and that there are no unintended shorts between any
of the conductors (including the connector body).
