Cisco TC Console v.6 Customizing layouts and audio connections for an enhanced video experience Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 1 Sources of inspiration The term layouts can be used to describe the various ways a video conversation appear on screen. Different types of meetings will require different layouts.
Cisco TC Console v.6 What’s in this user guide? Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Sources of inspiration Cisco TC Console........................................................... 3 Video Compositor..................................................... 3 Audio Console.......................................................... 3 Starting the TC Console........................................... 4 Defining a new project.............................................
Cisco TC Console Customizing layouts and audio connections for an enhanced video experience Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 3 Sources of inspiration Remote presenter New York Local presenter London The Cisco TC Console Video Compositor Audio Console The term layouts can be used to describe the various ways a video conversation appear on screen. Different types of meetings would require different layouts.
TC Console Getting started Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Starting the TC Console The Cisco TC Console can be downloaded for free from developer.cisco.com. Once started, the welcome screen will look as shown to the right. There is no need to have the codec connected while you do the setup. You can if you wish, but you don’t have to. Your settings can be uploaded to the codec when everything is set and ready.
TC Console Working off-line (no codec connected) Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Defining a new project The first time you run the TC Console utility you will start by clicking on File > New and select which codec you are going to create this for. Select between Codec C90, C60 and C40. The template you now choose will be based on factory default settings. Later you will be able to base a new profile on any existing profile. You will then use Open instead of New.
TC Console Working on-line (with codec connected) Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 6 Sources of inspiration Synchronizing with the codec When the TC Console utility is connected to a codec, synchronization will take place automatically. This means that any changes made in the Video Compositor or the Audio Console will immediately be uploaded to the codec through the synchronization process.
TC Console Allowing the codec to make use of your settings Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 7 Sources of inspiration Settings must be modified Before the codec can make use of your uploaded settings, you must make sure that the codec is allowed to use any of your specified settings by setting the Local and Remote layout families to Auto. Any other setting will force the use of a single layout family only, which probably will contradict the behavior you want.
The Video Compositor Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console D14778.02 TC Console version 6 User Guide | © 2013 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Video Compositor the concept Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 9 Sources of inspiration Base it on existing or create new Video meeting situations The scenarios If you work off-line, you will start by specifying which type of codec you are going to configure. The first time you do this you will start out from the default factory settings and modify these.
Video Compositor the concept Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 10 Sources of inspiration The layout matrix The layout matrix can be entirely defined by you, as will be shown later. Calling an MCU (Multipoint Conference Unit) to participate in larger meetings will be similar to a pointto-point call, same as when you are in a video meeting with one other person only.
Video Compositor How many monitors will you be using? Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 11 Sources of inspiration Specify your monitor setup The codecs C90, C60 and C40 all support more than one monitor. While the C90 supports a maximum of four monitors, the C60 and C40 each supports a maximum of two monitors. Specify the monitor configuration When using more than one monitor, you will be able to specify the layout of each monitor independently of the other(s).
Video Compositor Where are you heading? Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Sources of inspiration Clarify your needs The first thing you should do is to consider which layouts you are going to need. A lecture with a remote speaker has other requirements than a meeting with three participants and a presentation. Start by specifying the number of monitors...
Video Compositor Start creating your own layouts Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Edit the layout families When you click the Edit layout families for the first time, the four factory default layout families will appear. When editing a layout family for the first time you will always be working on a copy of one the default layout families. You will therefore need to create a new family. To do so, click New family...
Video compositor Modifying layouts Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 14 Sources of inspiration Example As an example, let us consider the scenario where you are in a video meeting with three other persons (four altogether) and there is no second video stream (no presentation). Your system uses a single monitor only. ... and then click on Local or Remote How to deal with multiple monitor setups is explained later in this booklet.
Video compositor A quick look at the toolbox Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 15 Sources of inspiration The editing tools available By now you should have figured out where you are heading, which means that you should have a clear idea of the number of frames to be used for each scenario. The maximum number of frames is listed in the table. Adding a frame.
Video compositor Advanced tools Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 16 Sources of inspiration Using presets to generate layouts As an example let us consider a selection among the Presets (3), i.e. the presets all with 3 frames. Selecting this... Selecting the preset outlined here will produce a stage as shown. ...will produce this screen As can be seen from the Fig. the frames have yet to be populated, which means that nothing has been assigned to any of them.
Video compositor Deciding what to put where Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 17 Sources of inspiration Populating the frames To populate a frame just click on it. This will produce a drop-down list as shown. Make your selection. The options are as follows: • Local inputs 3, 4 or 5 refers to external sources connected to the codec, for example a DVD player. • Local presentation can be introduced even if you started out with no presentation. • Presentation.
Video compositor User controlled design Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 18 Sources of inspiration Customizing frames on the stage You may want to customize the frame appearance. This includes the options to: • Change position, size and aspect ratio, freely, by means of a grid or by keying in exact positions. If Snap to grid is activated, the grid wil be shown visible Drag in a corner to resize maintaining aspect ratio • Make frames overlap. You may choose stacking order.
Video compositor Position accuracy Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 19 Sources of inspiration Specifying exact frame size and position If you need to comply with certain layout requirements you may use the Advanced option to specify the positions and sizes of some or all of the frames numerically. The Advanced position and size settings Just click on Advanced to produce the dialog box.
Video compositor More than one monitor Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 20 Sources of inspiration Layout families for multiple monitors If you are going to create solutions involving more than a single monitor, you must specify the number of monitors before you start to design your Layout families. The example shown here is taken from a C90 setup using four monitors. This will produce four substages for all the layout scenarios, all of which can be edited separately.
Video compositor If the other end cannot handle dual video streams Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Presentations for non-dual video streams Some video endpoints cannot handle dual video streams. Presentation layouts must then be designed to cope with that.
Video compositor Defining the initial user experience Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 22 Sources of inspiration Default layout vs. call scenario Now that all the layout families have been defined, the next step will be to define the default layouts applying to each call scenario. This you do by specifying from which family the applicable default layout shall be fetched. You may shop freely among all the existing families.
The Audio Console Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console D14778.02 TC Console version 6 User Guide | © 2013 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Audio Console An overview Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 24 Sources of inspiration Introduction The Audio Console lets you configure local audio connections without the need for programming the codec. As can be seen from the Fig., the Audio Console is a visual representation of audio chains showing how audio input sources are connected to audio output sources.
Assigning physical sockets to virtual modules Reassigning a physical input source to another module Contents Introduction Video compositor About virtual and physical modules An input module, such as the PC input module, is a virtual input module in the sense that is a non-physical module that is used to specify what shall to be done to the signal passing through.
Modifying existing modules Using microphone input module as an example Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Introduction Mute, which is either On or Off. We are going to use the Microphone settings as an example, but the procedure is valid for all inputs. AGC (Automatic Gain Control) which is either On or Off. The AGC will adjust the gain continuously to maintain a constant sound level.
Modifying existing modules the equalizer functionality Contents Introduction Video compositor 27 Sources of inspiration Audio Console About the equalizer functionality The system has 8 user-definable equalizers, each made up of 6 second order IIR filter sections. These 6 filter sections can be modified independently of each other by setting the four parameters: • Filter types. The filter types available are Peaking (band pass / band stop), low shelf, high shelf, low pass and high pass. • Gain.
Modifying existing modules Introducing the graphical equalizer editor Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 28 Sources of inspiration A tour of the equalizer editor To begin editing a frequency response, either click on Equalizer along the top menu bar (see below), or click on the icon (see right). This will launch the Equalizer editor. Click on the pencil icon to start the equalizer editor You have 8 independent equalizers to choose between. Select which to edit.
Modifying existing modules Creating a simple frequency response Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 29 Sources of inspiration Creating a simple peaking filter As an introductory example we shall run through the process of creating a simple peaking (band pass) filter. Click on this point and drag Such a filter is characterized by the center frequency fc, the gain and the Q-value. Do as follows: 1. Click and drag on any of the six points along the frequency axis.
Modifying existing modules Setting up a more complex frequency response Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 30 Sources of inspiration Adding another peaking filter By clicking on any of the five remaining unused points along the frequency axis, you may add another peaking filter. The procedure is identical to the one described on the previous page. The currently selected filter Note how the new filters is shown along with the combined response.
Modifying existing modules Advanced equalizer features Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Sources of inspiration Using the numerical settings Initially, all 6 filters are set to peaking (band pass / band stop). You may, however, transform any filter to a high pass, low pass, high shelf or low shelf filter instead. In addition you may control each filter’s settings numerically. To do this access the numerical settings by clicking on the button. The editor will now look as shown.
Modifying existing modules Connecting an input to an output Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console About outputs Remember that the Audio Console lets you set up local audio connections only, it has no influence on what is sent to the other side. 32 Sources of inspiration Drag and drop the connection onto the output Initially, the Audio Console has two default output sections; Loudspeaker and Recorder. If you want to use others, you may add them any time.
Modifying existing modules Adding gain between input and output Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console 33 Sources of inspiration About the gain setting You may add gain to any connection between input and output. Note that gain can also be negative, i.e. attenuation. The gain range is –54 dB to +15 dB. To expand the Gain setting menu, click on it. To contract it, click on the header again. There is one gain setting for each connection.
Adding or reassigning input modules Adding an input module Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Sources of inspiration Add new modules or rename existing? If you are going to reconfigure the current system rather than expanding it to add functionality, there is no need to add new input modules. You may then just as well rename an existing one and use that as your new module. Add a new input...
Adding or reassigning output modules Adding an output module Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console Add new modules or rename existing? Assign physical outputs to the module If you are going to reconfigure the current system rather than expanding it to add functionality, there is no need to add new output modules. You may then just as well rename an existing one and use that as your new module.
General purpose input/output Configuring the GPIO functions Contents Introduction Video compositor About GPIO The GPIO Console allows you to configure and view the state of the GPIO connectors found in the Codec C90 and Codec C60. To access this setup, click GPIO on the menu bar. The GPIO socket is designed for 6-pin Phoenix plugs with +12 V, GND and 4 ports for On/Off control. Initially, a GPIO port is high (2–12 Vdc) until a certain condition occurs, on which it will go low (0–1 Vdc).
Sources of inspiration Get inspired! Contents Introduction Video compositor Audio Console The Cisco Codec C90 and C60 introduce a paradigm shift within the field of visual communication. Through its extreme flexibility and power it allows integrators to build a complete new set of applications that radically improves natural communication. The codecs are designed to deliver the Telepresence experience into custom integrated environments.
MultiSite™ with 4 monitors Contents Introduction Video compositor A MultiSite™ conference with four participant locations discussing contents from two sources—a document camera and a PC. At the host site (the local site), each remote location is displayed on a separate monitor. To ensure perfect eye contact, each monitor is equipped with a camera on top. These three cameras each capture their own image of the local room.
Collaboration room Contents Introduction Video compositor This scenario shows a multisource collaborative environment with three locations participating. Three content sources are active and visible simultaneously for both local and remote participants (document camera, PC, whiteboard). In the local room, all content sources and the remote participants are displayed on separate monitors. To ensure good eye contact, each of the monitors showing remote participants are equipped with a camera on top.
Basic auditorium Contents Introduction Video compositor This scenario shows an auditorium solution where you have both a remote and a local presenter. Audio Console 40 Sources of inspiration Remote To help people sitting in the back of the auditorium follow the presentation, additional monitors are placed half-way to the back of the room showing a composite image of both the local and remote presenter + the content.
Advanced auditorium Contents Introduction Video compositor This scenario shows an auditorium solution with both a remote and a local presenter, and both remote and local audiences. The remote presenter monitor is placed in front of the auditorium at the same height as the local presenter. The remote audience monitors are placed along the sides of the auditorium, giving a natural experience of having the people in the same room.
Large group discussion Contents Introduction Video compositor This scenario shows a large group discussing content from two separate sources (document camera and PC). Due to many participants in the local room, two cameras are used to capture them all. The two cameras cover different sections of the room, which are then stitched together into a large panoramic view before sending to the remote sites.
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