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3
Capturing and Playing Back Video
This chapter provides tips for obtaining optimum video quality when capturing and playing
back video using StudioZ. For detailed information on capturing and playing video, see the
StudioZ Central Plus Quick-Start Guide.
Video Capture
The Capture command in StudioZ Central Plus lets you record audio and video data, and
save that data to an AVI or a raster file. For optimal capture results, you must manage two
parts of the capture process — the input video signal and the video data rate.
Managing the Video Digitizing Process
To manage the video digitizing process, follow these guidelines:
Set the Video Format Correctly
North America and Japan use the NTSC standard of 525 lines and 59.94 Hz. Almost all of
Western Europe (excluding France) uses the PAL standard of 625 lines and 50 Hz. If you
are unsure of your video standard, consult your video equipment engineer. You must capture
and play back video in one video format.
Ensure that the Video Source Supplies SDI
StudioZ accepts only SDI input. SDI provides video quality superior to S-video or
Composite/Component analog formats. If the video source does not supply SDI directly,
third-party converter boxes are available to convert from all other popular formats into SDI.
Contact Intergraph Computer Systems Support for information on these devices. See the
Preface for more information on customer support.
Managing the Video Data Rate
After recording video, you can compress it before transferring it to system memory and then
to hard disk. You can get optimal results by maintaining the compression rate at a level just
under the sustained rate at which the data can be written to disk.
Use Video Quality to Control the Compression Ratio
NOTE
Information on compression applies to the StudioZ for SOFTIMAGE|DS workstation, which is
designed for both compressed and uncompressed video capture and playback. StudioZ Pro
