Document Number: 40-03288-01-A Date: December 2010
© 2010 ViewCast Corporation. All rights reserved. ViewCast, GoStream, ViewCast logo, SimulStream, Niagara, SchedulStream, Niagara logo, Osprey, and Niagara SCX are trademarks or registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation or its subsidiaries. Microsoft, Windows XP, Windows, and Windows Media are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. QuickTime, iPhone, and iPod, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Contents About This Guide ............................................................................................................ 1 Product description............................................................................................................. 1 Audience ............................................................................................................................. 1 Conventions for this guide .......................................................
Contents Basic Operations ........................................................................................................... 29 Starting up......................................................................................................................... 29 Shutting down ................................................................................................................... 30 Starting an encoder......................................................................................
Niagara 4100 User Guide Viewing encoder groups ................................................................................................... 84 Creating encoder groups .................................................................................................. 85 Starting an encoder group ................................................................................................ 86 Stopping an encoder group ...................................................................................
Contents VBR – Action.................................................................................................................... 123 Settings ........................................................................................................................... 124 Other settings ................................................................................................................. 127 Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup ............................................................
Niagara 4100 User Guide About This Guide Thank you for purchasing the ViewCast Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance. This user guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing and using your new streaming media appliance. For the latest ViewCast product information and news, visit our website at www.viewcast.com.
About This Guide Conventions for this guide This guide uses the document conventions specified below to help you identify different types of information. Convention Bold text Description Characters to enter when referenced in a procedure. The name of fields or keys to press. Provides supplemental information. Note: The prompt may not display if … IMPORTANT! Provides important data that affects how the system or software responds.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Rack mount safety instructions Operating Temperature The operating ambient temperature of a rack environment may be greater than room ambient if installed in a closed or multi-unit rack assembly. Therefore, you should install the equipment in an environment compatible with the maximum ambient temperature of 40° C. Reduced Air Flow You must not compromise the airflow required for safe equipment operation when you install the equipment in a rack.
About This Guide FCC notice WARNING! You must connect this device and peripherals using shielded cables to comply with FCC radio emission limits. WARNING! Modifications to this device not approved by ViewCast Corporation could void the FCCgranted authority for you to operate the device. WARNING! The Niagara 4100 complies with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Environmental notices Product Disposal Information: Dispose of this product in accordance with local and national disposal regulations (if any) including those regulations governing the recovery and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
About This Guide Warnings Only trained and qualified personnel should install, replace, or service this equipment. Do not attempt to open the case of the appliance. If you do, you incur a high risk of electrical shock that may cause damage to the appliance or personal physical injury or death to you and/or others. No userserviceable parts exist inside the appliance. If you open the appliance case or make unauthorized changes to the case, ViewCast voids your warranty.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Refer all servicing to authorized service personnel. You must have authorized personnel only service any damaged appliance.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Overview Before you can use your Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance, you first need to set up and configure it. This chapter is dedicated to providing you with the details and step-by-step instructions you need to make your installation as quick and easy as possible.
Overview Install overview This section addresses the high-level actions you must perform to physically connect and set up your Niagara 4100 system. You must complete the following primary tasks to install the Niagara 4100: Address and comply with all prerequisites. Connect the Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance using its power source. Connect the video source (camera or video recorder) to the system. Connect the Niagara 4100 to an IP network. Configure the Niagara 4100 system.
Niagara 4100 User Guide If any components are missing or damaged, do not continue with the installation. Contact the ViewCast reseller from which you purchased your Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance for assistance in obtaining any missing parts or for parts replacement. System requirements Ensure your computer meets the following system requirements.
Overview Connecting to the Internet The Internet is a dangerous place. Never connect a Niagara appliance directly to the Internet. Always use a router. A basic router is sufficient to protect the appliance and you can configure the router as needed to forward specific ports to the appliance. The router’s bandwidth should match or exceed the speed of the appliance’s network card. The Shields Up test by Gibson Research (http://www.grc.com/intro.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Niagara 4100 front panel diagram You should familiarize yourself with the front panel controls for the Niagara 4100 (Figure 2). Besides the basic buttons for power, start/stop, up/down and menu access, there are indicator lights that are hidden until illuminated. Figure 2. Niagara 4100 front panel A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Press this button once to power up the appliance. When the appliance is powered up, press this button once will power it down.
Overview Niagara 4100 back panel diagram Refer to Figure 3 for all the connectors and other components of the Niagara 4100 back panel. Figure 3. Niagara 4100 back panel A Left/right XLR connector for balanced audio sources. XLR connectors are used by professional audio engineers and are found on high-end audio and video playback equipment. Note: A microphone preamplifier or mixer with XLR preamp functions is required to connect an XLR microphone to the balanced audio input.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Connecting the Niagara 4100 Follow the steps in below to configure all Niagara 4100 connections. The example uses SDI video and audio. The following steps refer to a direct connection to the Niagara 4100 only. To connect the Niagara 4100: 1. 2. Connect to the SDI digital input for video and audio (item B on Figure 3). Ensure you have a tight connection. Connect the power adaptor (item G on Figure 3). 3. Attach the Niagara 4100 to the network input (item J on Figure 3). 4.
Overview Niagara 4100 EASE menu The Niagara 4100 EASE menu (Figure 4) is located on the LCD panel on the front of the unit. The menu allows you to quickly and easily configure the Niagara 4100. You use the Up and Down arrow buttons to navigate through the different functions on the EASE menu. Figure 4. EASE menu Encode Access Health Setup System Export Files Shutdown System 16 Start an encoding session. Stop an encoding session.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Niagara 4100 home page The home page (Figure 5) is the first page that appears after you log into the Niagara SCX Remote Management Software. From this page, you can access the different windows for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the activities and alerts from the Niagara 4100. Figure 5. Niagara 4100 home page Menu bar commands The home page menu bar allows you to use the menu bar commands.
Overview Log Out 18 modify these properties. System Configuration – Modify the system configuration including setup for email alerts from Niagara 4100 whenever it encounters an operation error. View Activity Log – View all Niagara 4100 activities including the time and date for each event. View Alerts – View all alerts including the time and date for each alert. Log out of the Niagara 4100 and return to the website login screen.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Niagara 4100 browser windows flow Figure 6 shows the interrelationship and flow of the available windows you may use to configure the Niagara 4100. Figure 6.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Easy Setup You use two interfaces to operate your Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance. Niagara 4100 front panel LCD display and buttons Web interface through Niagara SCX remote management software Most of the basic operations can be performed from the front panel of the Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance.
Easy Setup Web interface The web interface presents a logical flow of configuration information for the encoding appliance.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Easy first time set up You should read all instructions, notices, and warnings in the About This Guide section prior to getting started with your new Niagara 4100 hardware for the first time. Also, ensure you have all required parts and meet all system requirements before installing this product. Do not continue with the installation if you find any components missing or damaged.
Easy Setup Performing the initial start up The first time you power up the Niagara 4100, a series of menus appear on the LCD display that will assist you in setting up the system clock, date, and video input format (NTSC (North America/Japan) or PAL). The steps below refer to a direct connection to the Niagara 4100 only. To perform the initial start up: 1. Ensure that you connect all devices (power cords, appliances, streaming devices, etc.) to the Niagara 4100. 2.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 11. Press Enter to set the format. The screen appears (Figure 10) confirming you have successfully set up your Niagara 4100. Figure 10. Confirmation screen 12. Press Enter to exit the setup menu and reboot the appliance. The following screen appears: Figure 11. Booting screen Connecting to an IP network The Niagara 4100 network settings for its network interfaces default to dynamically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server on the network.
Easy Setup 7. Press Enter. The settings screen appears (Figure 14). Figure 14. Settings screen 8. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to select Change Settings. 9. Press Enter. A screen appears that displays the various network settings. 10. Select the network setting you wish to change. Note: Once you modify the setting, the system saves the changes until you modify the settings again or until you restore the system back to its original factory settings. 11. Press Enter.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Figure 18. Subnet address screen 22. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to change the numeric value incrementally and enter the subnet address. 23. Press Enter. Note: To remove a static IP and/or Gateway address, follow steps 12 through 15 to enable DHCP. The system removes any previously entered static address.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Basic Operations You may customize your encoder settings and assign specific encoder profiles using the front panel. Starting up If this is the first time you are using the Niagara 4100, refer to the Performing the initial start up section before continuing. To start up: 1. Press Power . The LCD readout displays the initializing messages (Figure 19). Figure 19.
Basic Operations Shutting down Allow the Niagara 4100 to power down normally. If you force the system to shut down improperly, your data can be corrupted. If so, the next time you start the system it can take several minutes to complete startup. To shut down: 1. Press Menu. Tab down to Shutdown System (Figure 20). Figure 20. EASE menu 2. Press Enter. The shutdown screen appears (Figure 21). Figure 21. Shutdown screen 3. Tab to Power Off System. Press Enter. The Power Off System? screen appears.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Starting an encoder Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, which means you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time. However, you can stream the same audio and video at multiple data rates and multiple formats to provide the best user experience for different viewing audiences. For example, you can stream Windows Media at full resolution at 1500 kbps and at the same time stream Adobe Flash at CIF resolution at 500 kbps.
Basic Operations CPU usage section to understand the limitations. After the encoder session has successfully begun, the LCD display returns to the previous display of available encoders. The screen will indicate that the encoder profile you selected has begun encoding. The video detection light illuminates if horizontal video sync is detected on either the S-Video or Composite video input of the Niagara 4100.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Checking CPU usage When the Niagara 4100 is idle (no encoders are streaming), the CPU percentage is normally 4 % or less. If one or more encoders are streaming, the percentage is much higher and fluctuates in a range of +/- 10 %. If the system is using less than 70 %, you may start another encoder without adversely affecting system performance (depending on the complexity of the profile). To check CPU usage: 1. Press Menu. The EASE menu appears. 2.
Basic Operations Stopping an encoder To stop an encoder: 1. Press Menu. The EASE menu appears. 2. Press Enter. The encoder screen appears. 3. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to highlight the encoder you wish to stop. 4. Press Stop. The encoder screen appears (Figure 30) showing the status of each encoder. Figure 30. Encoder screen 5. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to select the encoder you want to terminate. 6. Press Stop. The stopping screen appears (Figure 31). Figure 31.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Connecting an external storage device The Niagara 4100 has one USB port on the front panel and one on the back panel. You can connect almost any standard USB memory device to one or both of these ports. You can then export any audiovisual files you may have created on Niagara 4100’s local storage drive. The local storage drive is drive D when you use the Save to File setting from the web interface.
Basic Operations 7. Press Enter. The select folder screen appears (Figure 35). Figure 35. Select Folder screen The select source screen appears (Figure 36). Figure 36. Select source screen 8. Use the Up and Down arrows to select the desired directory. 9. Press Enter. The filename screen appears (Figure 37). Figure 37. Filename screen 10. Use the Up and Down arrows to select the desired file to transfer. 11. Press Enter.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Advanced Operations The Niagara 4100 includes a web interface, which allows you to access the advanced system settings. The web interface also provides detailed settings and control over the encoder profiles installed on Niagara 4100.
Advanced Operations Figure 40. Serial number Or Type the IP address in the Address bar (Figure 41). Figure 41. IP address Note: The IP address appears on the system ready screen when the system is idle. The Admin Log In window appears (Figure 42). Figure 42. Admin Log In window 4. Type the User Name and Password. IMPORTANT! The setting to log in for the first time, defaults to the user name admin and the password admin.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Viewing all encoders The Encoders window (Figure 44) provides a list of all of the encoder profiles loaded on the Niagara 4100. On the home page click Encoders All Encoders. Figure 44. Encoders window A Displays the amount of CPU usage. B Click this link to create a new encoder. C Displays the total number of encoders. D Click this link to edit the encoder properties, streaming settings, and advanced streaming settings.
Advanced Operations Creating an encoder To create an encoder, on the home page click Encoders. To create an encoder: 1. Click the Create New Encoder link. The Create New Encoder window displays (Figure 45). Figure 45. Create New Encoder window 2. Select the Encoder Type from the drop-down list. 3. Enter the name of the encoder. Note: Valid characters are alphanumeric, space, dash, and dot. 40 4. To use the same properties from another encoder, enable Clone Properties From. 5.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Starting an encoder To start an encoder, on the home page click Encoders All Encoders. To start an encoder: 1. Click the red circle Stopped icon (Figure 46) in the Streaming column for the encoder you want to start streaming. Figure 46. Stopped icon Messages appear detailing the encoder start progress (Figure 47). Figure 47.
Advanced Operations Stopping an encoder To stop an encoder, on the home page click Encoders All Encoders. To stop an encoder: 1. Click the blue Started icon of the encoder you wish to stop streaming (Figure 49). Figure 49. Started icon Messages appear detailing the encoder stop progress (Figure 50). Figure 50. Encoder stopped The Encoders window appears with the encoder status updated to reflect the Stopped mode (Figure 51). Figure 51.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Editing an Adaptive Apple HTTP encoder When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical. You must configure the audio and video settings for each encoder type. Use the Video, Audio, Output, and Security tabs to edit the settings. Begin with configuring the video and audio settings, then the streaming properties.
Advanced Operations Video tab Figure 53. Video tab To configure video settings: 1. In the Source field, the default is Osprey-700 HD Video Device 1. Note: Because the Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time. However, you can encode the same audio and video at multiple data rates and multiple formats to provide the best user experience for different viewing audiences. 2. In the Input field, select the video input.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 5. Select the Frame Rate from the drop-down list. 6. Drag the sliders to adjust the Gamma, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 55). Figure 55. Video Filter Settings Note: Click the Restore button to the right of the filter to reset the settings to the default. 7. Click the De-Interlace setting you want to apply (Figure 56). Options include: None – Performs no de-interlacing of any kind. Bob0 – Applies inverse telecine de-interlacing to all telecine video.
Advanced Operations Audio tab Figure 57. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, click a device from the drop-down list.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Apple HTTP Live Streaming Output tab Figure 58. Apple HTTP Live Streaming Output tab To configure output settings: 1. In the Publisher field, click Apple HTTP Live Streaming. Note: Because the Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time. However, you can encode the same audio and video at multiple data rates and multiple formats to provide the best user experience for different viewing audiences. 2. 3.
Advanced Operations Note: By default, the system sets this folder to D:\AVFiles. See Exporting captured video files for instructions on saving video files to a USB device. WARNING! ViewCast strongly recommends you do not alter the default directory setting unless you fully understand the risk of saving your files to a directory not located on drive D.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Apple HTTP Live Streaming Security tab via FTP Figure 60. Apple HTTP Live Streaming Security tab via FTP To configure security settings: 1. Select the Authentication Type. Note: If http: is selected as the Host Address on the Output tab, the option is Akamai Token Authentication. 2. Enter the Query String. Note: You can enter a minimum of 5 characters and a maximum of 12 characters. 3. Enter the password in the Salt field. Note: You can enter a maximum of 20 characters. 4.
Advanced Operations Editing an Adaptive Adobe Flash encoder When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical. You must configure the audio and video settings for each encoder type. Use the Video, Audio, Output, and Security tabs to edit the settings. Begin with configuring the video and audio settings, then the streaming properties.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Video tab Flash adds some additional frame and bit rate controls. The frame rate changes the frames per second that the video will be encoded. You can use the audio format setting to modify the audio frequency and change stereo to mono. The bit rate settings pertain to the amount of data per second the audio and video are captured. Decreasing the bit rate for both or either decreases the playback viewing quality. Figure 62. Video tab To configure video settings: 1.
Advanced Operations Figure 63. Custom fields Note: Choosing a size larger than 1280 x 420 is not recommended due to the high data rates CPU usage required. 5. Select the Frame Rate from the dro-down list. 6. Drag the sliders to adjust the Gamma, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 64). Figure 64. Video Filter Settings Note: Click the Restore button to the right of the filter to reset the settings to the default. 7. 52 Click the De-Interlace setting you want to apply (Figure 65).
Niagara 4100 User Guide Figure 65. De-Interlace settings Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Auto and Inverse Telecine choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. 8. ViewCast Click Submit.
Advanced Operations Audio tab Figure 66. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Output tab Figure 67. Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Output tab To configure output settings: 1. In the Publisher field, select Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming. Note: Because the Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time.
Advanced Operations Only drive D on the Niagara 4100 has available storage to save your files. Check drive properties for available free space to determine your storage capacity. Use drives C, E, and F strictly for Niagara 4100 operational programs. Any modifications to these drives can permanently damage your system and void your warranty. A better practice would be to use a Flash Media server to save a file or to save it to a remote drive.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Security tab Figure 69. Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Security tab To configure security settings: 1. 2. Select the Authentication Type for transport type: Akamai Entry Point LimeLight Server Enter the Username. Note: You can enter a maximum of 80 characters. 3. Enter the Password. Note: You can enter a maximum of 20 characters.
Advanced Operations Editing an Adobe Flash H.264 encoder When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical. You must configure the audio and video settings for each encoder type. Use the Video, Audio, Output, and H.264 Presets tabs to edit the settings. Configure the video and audio settings, then the streaming properties.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Video tab Flash adds some additional frame and bit rate controls. The frame rate changes the frames per second that the video will be encoded. The bit rate settings pertain to the amount of data per second the audio and video are captured. Figure 71. Video tab To configure video input settings: 1. In the Source field, click a device from the drop-down list.
Advanced Operations Figure 72. Custom fields Note: Choosing a size larger than 1280 x 720 is not recommended due to the high data rate and CPU usage required. 5. Enter the frames per second in the Frame Rate field. 6. Enter the Bitrate. 7. Drag the sliders to adjust the Gamma, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 64). Figure 73. Video Filter Settings Note: Click Restore to the right of the filter to reset the settings to the default. 8.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Figure 74. De-Interlace Settings Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Bob0 and Bob1 choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. 9. ViewCast Click Submit.
Advanced Operations Audio tab Figure 75. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Output tab You need Adobe Flash Media Server 3.5 or greater to stream Flash H.264. Figure 76. Output tab To configure output settings: 1. Click the Enable Streaming checkbox to enable live Flash streaming. 2. Enter the proper IP address in the Server Address field. 3. Enter the Stream Name. 4. 5. Click the Server Type from the drop-down list. Options are available for streaming directly to Akamai and Limelight CDNs. Enter the User Name and Password. 6.
Advanced Operations Figure 77. Save to File Location WARNING! ViewCast strongly recommends you do not alter the default directory setting unless you fully understand the risk of saving your files to a directory not located on drive D. If you save your files to another drive on the Niagara 4100, the system could delete the files when you use the Restore to Niagara 4100 Factory Defaults feature. Only drive D on the Niagara 4100 has available storage to save your files.
Niagara 4100 User Guide H.264 Presets tab You can edit specific H.264 encoder settings or you can select a custom preset to use typical settings for your profile. These advanced settings affect the way the Encoder performs and if set incorrectly may lead to abnormal encoder operations (Figure 76). Refer to Appendix B for suggested values for the type of video you are streaming and a complete list of typical settings. Figure 78. H.264 Presets tab To configure H.264 settings: 1.
Advanced Operations Editing an MPEG-4 encoder When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical. You must configure the audio and video settings for each encoder type. Use the Video, Audio, Output, and H.264 Presets tabs to edit the settings. Begin with configuring the video and audio settings, then the streaming properties.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Video tab Figure 80. Video tab To configure video settings: 1. In the Source field, click a device from the drop-down list: Osprey-700 HD Video Device 1 Disabled Note: Because the Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time. However, you can stream the same audio and video at multiple data rates and multiple formats to provide the best user experience for different viewing audiences. 2.
Advanced Operations media files for other MPEG-4 compatible devices such as iPods according to the following Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) types (refer to Table 1 and Table 2). IMPORTANT! Choose the container type (MP4, 3G2, and 3GP) on the Output tab. 4. Enter the frames per second in the Frame Rate field. 5. Enter the kilobits per second in the Bitrate field. 6. In the Format field, indicate the color space format.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Figure 83. De-Interlace settings Note: Telecine and inverse telecine only apply to NTSC video. They are not used for PAL and SECAM video. The system disables Bob0 and Bob1 choices when you select either PAL or SECAM as the video standard. 9. Click Submit. Table 1. MPEG encoder and container descriptions MPEG4 – MP4 MPEG-4 Part 2 is for situations where low bit rate and low resolution are mandated by other conditions of the applications, such as network bandwidth or device size.
Advanced Operations Table 2. Valid output container selections for video encoder types Container MP4 3GP 3G2 70 H.263 Video N/A MPEG-4 Video H.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Audio tab Figure 84. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1. In the Source field, select an audio source from the drop-down list.
Advanced Operations compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. AAC achieves better audio quality than MP3. AAC and MP3 are MPEG standards. 72 5. Click the Bitrate from the drop-down menu. 6. Drag the slider to adjust the Volume. 7. (Optional) Click the Mute Audio checkbox to disable audio. 8. Click Submit.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Output tab Figure 85. Output tab To configure output settings: 1. Click the Enable Streaming checkbox to stream your audiovisual content via RTSP. 2. Set the appropriate streaming properties. Note: The default settings will enable multicast streaming. If you do not want this, change the IP address for Group to the IP address of the server to which you want to stream from the encoder. 3.
Advanced Operations Note: By default, the system sets this folder to D:\AVFiles\ with a default file name of capture.xxx. See Exporting captured video files for instructions on saving video files to a USB device. Figure 86. Select a folder WARNING! ViewCast strongly recommends you do not alter the default directory setting unless you fully understand the risk of saving your files to a directory not located on drive D.
Niagara 4100 User Guide H.264 Presets tab Figure 87. H.264 Settings Tab To configure H.264 settings: 1. Click Edit next to the setting you want to modify. IMPORTANT! These advanced settings affect the way the encoder performs and if set incorrectly may lead to abnormal encoder operations. Refer to the H.264 Advanced Settings section in Appendix B for suggested values for the type of video you are streaming. 2. Change the Value. 3. Click Update. 4.
Advanced Operations Editing a Windows Media encoder When you create a new encoder, the Encoder Properties window appears. The Encoder Properties windows for editing a new encoder or an existing encoder are identical. You must configure the video and audio settings for each encoder type. Use the Video, Audio, Output, and DRM tabs to edit the settings. If you plan to change the Windows Media capture profile, use the Output tab first. Changes on the Output tab can adjust other settings automatically.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Video tab Figure 89. Video tab To configure video settings: 1. In the Source field, select Disabled or Osprey-700 HD Video Device 1. Note: Because the Niagara 4100 is a single-channel encoder, you can only connect and stream one audio and video source at any given time. However, you can encode the same audio and video at multiple data rates and multiple formats to provide the best user experience for different viewing audiences. 2.
Advanced Operations 5. Drag the sliders to adjust the Gamma, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation (Figure 91). Figure 91. Video filter settings Note: Click Restore to the right of each filter to return the setting to the default. 6. Click the De-Interlace settings you want to apply (Figure 92). Options include: None – Performs no de-interlacing of any kind. Bob0 – Applies inverse telecine de-interlacing to all telecine video.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Audio tab Figure 93. Audio tab To configure audio settings: 1.
Advanced Operations Output tab Windows Media is both a storage format and a streaming format. In addition to the ability to output to a file, the Windows Media encoder can stream to a Windows Media Server. The settings for Windows Media encoder include the ability to set parameters for connecting and streaming to the server (Figure 94). Some Windows Media Capture Profiles have pre-defined video resolutions and input selections.
Niagara 4100 User Guide To configure output settings: 1. Click on a Windows Media Capture Profile. 2. Click the Enable Pull checkbox. 3. Enter a port number that the server will use to pull the stream from Niagara 4100. 4. Click the Enable Push checkbox. IMPORTANT! Be sure to enter a port number not already assigned to another encoder. If two encoders attempt to use the same port number, one or both encoders will fail to start. 5.
Advanced Operations Only drive D on the Niagara 4100 has available storage to save your files. Check drive properties for available free space to determine your storage capacity. Use drives C, E, and F strictly for Niagara 4100 operational programs. Any modifications to these drives can permanently damage your system and void your warranty. A better practice would be to use the streaming server to save a file or to save it to a remote drive.
Niagara 4100 User Guide DRM tab You can protect your content using a technology called Digital Rights Management (DRM). Niagara SCX allows you to encrypt your content with DRM technology while you are encoding. You can apply DRM while encoding to a file and when broadcasting a stream. Users are required to obtain a license to play to content. This license contains the key to unlock the content and the rights that govern its use (Figure 96). Refer to Appendix A on how to set up and import a DRM profile.
Advanced Operations Viewing encoder groups Encoder groups represent the cornerstone for streaming on the Niagara 4100. The Niagara 4100 comes with several default encoders and profiles. You must have at least one group assigned on the Niagara 4100 and one encoder profile assigned to that group. The Preset ABC buttons on the appliance remain unusable until you have this minimum configuration.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Creating encoder groups If two encoders try to use the same port number at the same time, an error will occur. Select the Create New Group link on the Encoder Groups window. The encoder groups fields display (Figure 98). Figure 98. Encoder Groups window To create encoder groups: 1. 2. 3. 4. Enter the name of the group. Click on the preset button you want to assign to this encoder group. Click on the encoders you want to assign to the group. Click Submit.
Advanced Operations Starting an encoder group To start an encoder group, click the Start link to the right in the Start column of the group you want to start. The encoder group will start in a few seconds. The system displays any errors on the Starting window while the group starts. Note: With each encoder started, more system resources (CPU cycles) are consumed. It is recommended that the total CPU threshold not exceed an average of 70 %. Refer to the Checking CPU usage section in Basic Operations.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Editing encoder groups Select the Edit link on the Encoder Groups window. The encoder groups field displays (Figure 99). Figure 99. Encoder Groups Window To edit encoder groups: 1. 2. 3. 4. ViewCast Enter the name of the group. Click on the preset button you want to assign to this encoder group. Click on the encoders you want to assign to the group. Click Submit.
Advanced Operations Configuring the Preset ABC buttons The Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance provides one-button streaming via the Preset ABC buttons located on the front panel of the system. By default, these buttons are not assigned. Use the web interface to configure or preset each button to a specific group of encoders. (A preset is a quick way to select and stream a group of encoder profiles.) Before you can configure the Preset ABC buttons, you need to configure groups.
Niagara 4100 User Guide To assign Preset A button: 1. 2. Click the drop-down list in the Select a Group field. A complete list of all groups available on the Niagara 4100 appears. Select a group. 3. Click Submit. The Encoder Preset A window updates with the encoder information (Figure 101). Figure 101. Select Encoder Note: The A button in the graphic is highlighted to show an encoder is assigned to this button. 4. ViewCast Repeat steps one through three to set an encoder for the B and C buttons.
Advanced Operations Using Preset ABC buttons to start an encoder group Use the Preset ABC buttons on the front panel to start the assigned encoder group. To use preset buttons to start encoding: 1. Press the A, B, or C button on the front panel. 2. Press Stream to start encoding. The indicator light next to the preset button displays to indicate a positive video stream and the audio meters display to indicate positive audio tracking.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 7. Use the Up and Down arrows to select the appropriate group. 8. Press Enter. A confirmation screen appears (Figure 106). Figure 106. Confirmation screen 9. Press Enter. A group is now assigned to the Preset button. Viewing all encoders After assigning encoders to the A, B, and C buttons, the system updates the Preset column on the Encoder Groups window to reflect these changes.
Advanced Operations Configuring machine properties The Niagara 4100 Machine Properties window (Figure 109) provides details on software versions, network name, serial number, and hard drive configurations. Click Configuration Surf Properties from the menu bar on the home page. Figure 109. Machine Properties window Most of the data on this window provides information only and users cannot alter it.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Changing the computer name The Computer Name field contains the current network name for the Niagara 4100. This name is the same name you typed into the web browser to access the Niagara SCX web interface. To change computer name: 1. Click the Edit link next to the Computer Name field (Figure 110). Figure 110. Computer Name field 2. 3. The screen refreshes and the Computer Name field becomes an editable text field. Type in a new name for the Niagara 4100.
Advanced Operations Changing the login password from the factory default The Niagara 4100 Properties section has two fields: User Name and Serial Number. Only the User Name field can be changed, which changes the User Password from the factory default (Figure 112). Figure 112. Properties section To change login password 1. Click the admin link in the User Name field. Note: The system displays a new window (Figure 113) that allows you to change your login password for the web interface. Figure 113.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Configuring Alerts Click Configuration Alerts from the menu bar on the home page. The Alerts Window (Figure 114) allows you to configure alerts for different situations that may occur during streaming or other operations. Figure 114. Alerts window A Click the Email address link to configure email settings on the System Configuration Settings window. B Click the Edit link next to the alert you want to change settings on.
Advanced Operations Configuring network properties The Network Properties window (Figure 115) provides detailed information on the current network settings for the Niagara 4100 Network Cards. Click Configuration Network Properties from the menu bar on the home page. Figure 115. Network Properties window Configuring network cards The Niagara 4100 has two 1 Gbit network connections available on the Network Properties window, Network Card(s) field).
Niagara 4100 User Guide Configuring the IP address Depending on your system configuration, you may need to configure the IP Address (Figure 117). Figure 117. IP Address To configure IP address: 1. Click the Use the following IP information checkbox. 2. Enter the appropriate information in the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, Preferred DNS Server and Alternate DNS Server fields. Click Submit. 3.
Advanced Operations The Active Network Link field uses one of two icons to indicate whether the network interface card selected has a network connected. The system detects the network link. The system does not detect the network link.
Niagara 4100 User Guide System configuration settings The System Configuration Settings window (Figure 119) allows you to modify your Niagara 4100 default system settings. You can configure email settings to enable Niagara 4100 to send an email to predefined email addresses any time the Niagara 4100 appliance encounters an alert condition. You can also customize the information the Niagara 4100 displays on its front panel when the system is in idle mode.
Advanced Operations Setting current system configuration You can set the current time, date, and the video standard for all encoders (Figure 120). Figure 120. Current System Configuration To set current system configuration: 100 1. Click the Hour in the drop-down list. 2. Click the Minutes in the drop-down list. 3. Click AM or PM in the drop-down list. 4. Click the Change Date link. A calendar appears. 5. Click the date on the calendar. 6.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Configuring email/SMTP settings Figure 121. Email/SMTP Settings fields To configure email settings: 2. Enter the email address you want the system to send the email. Separate multiple email addresses with a comma. Enter a valid originating email address. 3. Enter a subject line for your email alert. 1. To configure SMTP (mail) settings: 1. Enter the SMTP user name for server access.
Advanced Operations Configuring idle screen information You can modify the information displayed in the Niagara 4100 LCD display on the touch panel. The information you select cycles through the LCD display screen and alternates between status and encoder information (Figure 122). Figure 122. Idle Screen Information To configure idle screen information: 102 1. Click the checkboxes next to the information you wish the screen to display. 2. The default text for Line 1 is System is Ready.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Configuring default directory setting The Niagara 4100 stores AV files when you select the Save to File option in the Output tab of the encoder profile in the Default AV Folder field (Figure 123). Refer to the Save to File option under the Flash Encoder Properties sections for information on setting an encoder profile to create an AV file.
Advanced Operations Setting CPU thresholds You may set the CPU Threshold field (Figure 124) to accommodate optimal encoding capabilities. You also may set the time between repetitive intervals for checking the CPU threshold. Figure 124. Encoder Startup Settings Note: ViewCast recommends a CPU threshold setting of 70 % or lower. Restoring Niagara 4100 factory defaults The Restore Niagara 4100 Factory defaults link allows you to restore drive C to its original factory system defaults.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Figure 125. Restore Factory Defaults window The window provides you details regarding the process you are about to execute and allows you the opportunity to once again cancel the process by clicking Back to Home Page. Note: Restore to Factory Defaults rebuilds the Niagara 4100 primary disk drive C with the original system image. You lose all custom settings and any files saved to drive C. You cannot reverse this process.
Advanced Operations Viewing the activity log The Activity Log records the encoder Start and Stop events (Figure 126). The system updates the log for every event including the date and time. To view the activity log, on the home page click Status View Activity Log. Figure 126. Activity Log window A B C D E F G H 106 Select the types of activity you wish to view. Options include: Show All General Errors Warnings Click this link to clear all logged activities.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Viewing alerts Click Status View Alerts from the home page. The Alerts Window (Figure 127) updates with every alert event on the Niagara 4100. The alerts include any specific alert events for the encoder. Figure 127. Alerts window A B C D Click this icon to clear all alerts. Indicates the number of alerts. Displays the date and time the alert occurred. Displays the description for the alert.
Advanced Operations Connecting an external storage device The Niagara 4100 provides two USB ports, one on the front panel and one on the rear panel. You can connect almost any standard USB memory device to one or both of these ports. This allows you to export any AV files you created on the local storage drive of the Niagara 4100. The encoder defaults to set the local storage drive D when you use the Save to File setting with the Niagara 4100 web interface.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Appendix A: DRM for Windows Media You can protect your content using a technology called Digital Rights Management (DRM). Niagara SCX allows you to encrypt your content with DRM technology while you are encoding. You can apply DRM while encoding to a file and when broadcasting a stream. Users will be required to obtain a license to play the content. This license contains the key to unlock the content and the rights that govern its use.
Appendix A: DRM for Windows Media Importing a DRM profile If you have not already done so, set up an account with a licensed provider and create a DRM profile. Once you create the DRM profile, you must use Windows Media Encoder to import the profile on the encoding system. Windows Media Encoder is included in Niagara streaming media appliances that have Niagara SCX version 5.0 or later installed. To access the desktop of the Niagara 4100, attach a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor to the system.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 4. Under Remote computer sound, click Leave at remote computer option from the dropdown list (Figure 129). Figure 129. Local Resources tab 5. Click the General tab (Figure 130). Figure 130. General tab 6. In the User Name field, type niagara. 7. In the Password field, type password to connect the Niagara 4100 using remote desktop. WARNING! When exiting from Remote Desktop Connection, do not log off. Instead, exit/close the session from the Niagara 4100.
Appendix A: DRM for Windows Media 8. Copy the DRM profiles to a protected location on the encoding system to ensure they are not accidentally removed or erased (Figure 131). Note: ViewCast recommends you create a new directory on drive D on the Niagara 4100 and use this directory to store your DRM profiles. Figure 131. DRM Profiles 9. Start the Windows Media Encoder application on Niagara 4100 (Figure 132). Figure 132. Starting Windows Media Encoder 10.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 11. Click Properties under the top menu bar (Figure 134). Figure 134. Properties tab 12. Click the Security tab. 13. Click Import and browse to the location of the DRM profiles on the system’s hard drive. 14. Select the DRM profile you wish to import and click Open (Figure 135). Figure 135. DRM Profile 15. Repeat this process for each DRM profile you wish to import. 16. Exit from the Windows Media Encoder application when finished.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings In general, the default values for the H.264 encoder will meet your streaming requirements. For devices with restricted bandwidths and under certain conditions such as low bit rates, motion specific, or constant bit rate applications, you may need to adjust the advanced settings. This section includes several examples to assist you in the selection of advanced variables.
Appendix B: H.
Niagara 4100 User Guide CBR – Newscast Newscast type content has low motion and some scene changes.
Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings CBR – Sports A sports event sequence is a typical representation of a sports game.
Niagara 4100 User Guide CBR – Action An action movie sequence has a lot of lasers, explosions, bright lights flickering, dust, and scene changes.
Appendix B: H.
Niagara 4100 User Guide VBR – Newscast Setting BFramesBias BFramesMax BFramesStrategy BitRateTolerance BlurComplexity ChromaOffset CodecFlags CodecFlags2 CoderType ConstantRateFactor DirectMVPrediction GOPSize GOPSizeMin IFrameQuantFactor InLoopDeblockingFilterAlpha InLoopDeblockingFilterBeta Level MotionEstimationMethod MotionEstimationRange MotionEstimationSubPelQuality MotionEstimationSubPixelComparison NoiseReduction QuantizerMax QuantizerMaxDiffBetweenFrames QuantizerMin QuantizerScaleBlurOverTime Qua
Appendix B: H.
Niagara 4100 User Guide VBR – Action Setting BFramesBias BFramesMax BFramesStrategy BitRateTolerance BlurComplexity ChromaOffset CodecFlags CodecFlags2 CoderType ConstantRateFactor DirectMVPrediction GOPSize GOPSizeMin IFrameQuantFactor InLoopDeblockingFilterAlpha InLoopDeblockingFilterBeta Level MotionEstimationMethod MotionEstimationRange MotionEstimationSubPelQuality MotionEstimationSubPixelComparison NoiseReduction QuantizerMax QuantizerMaxDiffBetweenFrames QuantizerMin QuantizerScaleBlurOverTime Quant
Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings Settings Setting BitRateTolerance DirectMVPrediction GOPSize GOPSizeMin InLoopDeblockingFilterAlpha InLoopDeblockingFilterBeta MotionEstimationMethod 124 Explanation Setting the bit rate tolerance tells the encoder it must hit the target bit rate almost exactly. However, this value can have an adverse effect on quality because you are forcing the encoder to stay at a target bit rate.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Setting MotionEstimationRange MotionEstimationSubPelQuality QuantizerMax Explanation setting is the fastest. hex – (hexagon) is the default setting. It uses a similar strategy to dia, except it uses a range-2 search of 6 surrounding points. It is considerably more efficient than dia and hardly any slower. This setting is a good choice for general use. umh – (uneven multi-hex) is considerably slower than hex.
Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings Setting QuantizerMaxDiffBetweenFrames QuantizerMin Explanation recommended that you use the default setting of 51 and not 31. This value determines the maximum change quantizer between two frames. The purpose is to reduce the possibility of any large quality jumps in the output video. It is better to slow this change over a few frames rather than all at once.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Other settings Setting BlurComplexity BQuantFactor BQuantOffset ChromaOffset ConstantQuantizationRateControl Level MaxBFramesBetweenNonBFrames NoiseReduction ViewCast Explanation Apply a Gaussian blur with the given radius to the quantizer curve. This value means the quantizer assigned to each frame is blurred temporally with its neighbors to limit quantizer fluctuations. This value sets the targets average reduction in bit rate for Bframes as compared to P-frames.
Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings Setting TrellisRDQuantization Explanation quantization. (100 to 1000 for de-noising) This value performs Trellis quantization to increase efficiency. 0 = No quantization 1 = Quantization on final macroblock 2 = Always quantize This value requires CABAC.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup Setting up the network drive for the Niagara 4100 to export files, requires setting up two administrator accounts on a remote PC where the shared folder will be located: One account for the username N4100 One account for the username SCXUser The shared folder is created on the remote PC with full access for both Niagara 4100 and SCXUser.
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup 9. Enter viewcast for the Confirm password. 10. Disable User must change password at next logon. 11. Enable User cannot change password. 12. Enable Password never expires. Figure 138. New User window 13. Click Create. 14. Repeat steps 5 through 13 to create the user SCXUser using the password viewcast. 15. Click Close. 16. The two new users appear in the users list. Figure 139.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 17. In Computer Management, click Groups. Figure 140. Groups 18. Double-click on Administrators. 19. Click Add. Figure 141. Administrators Properties window 20. Click Add. The Select Users window displays. 21. Click Locations. 22. Select the PC, then click OK.
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup Figure 142. Locations window 23. Enter niagara4100 for the object name, then click OK. Figure 143.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 24. The user niagara4100 appears in the list of Administrators. Figure 144. Administrator Properties 25. Repeast steps 19 through 22 to add SCXUser as an administrator.
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup To create the shared folder: Note: The shared folder(s) must be created on the remote PC. 1. Open My Computer. 2. Open the drive where the shared folder will be created. 3. Right click, select New, then Folder. Figure 145. Create new folder 4. Enter a name for the folder (for example, N4Share). Figure 146.
Niagara 4100 User Guide 5. Right click on the folder, then select Properties. Figure 147. Folder Properties window 6. Click on the Sharing tab. 7. Click Share. The File Sharing window displays. 8. Type a name and then click Add, or click the arrow to select someone from the drop-down list.
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup 9. Use the drop-down list under permission level for this user and select Read/Write. Figure 148. Read/Write permissions 10. Click Share. 11. Repeat steps 2 through 9 to add SCXUser to the Share Permissions. 12. Click Done. Figure 149. File Sharing window 13. Click Close to close the share properties.
Niagara 4100 User Guide To map the network drive: Note: Create a mapped network drive to the remote shared folder that will reconnect at logon. Once the mapped drive is created and the Niagara 4100 is rebooted, the user will be able to export to the network drive. 1. On the Niagara 4100, open My Computer. 2. Under Tools, select Map Network Drive. 3. Select a drive. Figure 150. Map Network Drive window 5.
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup 7. Click Finish. Figure 151. Map Network Drive window 8. Enter SCXUser as the User name and viewcast as the Password. 9. Click OK. 10. Click Finish. After a few moments, the network share will open. 11. Close the window. The mapped drive will now appear inMy Computer under Network Drives. 12. Reboot the Niagara 4100.
Niagara 4100 User Guide Appendix D: EASE Menu This section provides the detail of the LCD menu tree. It is intended to be a complete reference to all levels and functions accessible using the Niagara 4100 front panel LCD display. It is designed to be a visual reference of the LCD screen including the front panel button action to move to the next screen.
Appendix D: EASE Menu Encoder menu Encoder start Encoder stop Encoder status 140 ViewCast
Niagara 4100 User Guide Access Health menu CPU status Memory available ViewCast 141
Appendix D: EASE Menu Setup system menu Network link status Network MAC address 142 ViewCast
Niagara 4100 User Guide View network settings Enable DHCP ViewCast 143
Appendix D: EASE Menu Set static IP addresses x3 x4 x6 x5 x3 x4 144 ViewCast
Niagara 4100 User Guide Set gateway address x2 x5 x5 x2 x5 x5 x2 x5 x5 ViewCast 145
Appendix D: EASE Menu Set date and time x5 x 15 x2 x 16 x 25 Set video standard x3 146 ViewCast
Niagara 4100 User Guide Factory restore x3 x4 Note: This process actually takes ~10 minutes, be patient.
Appendix D: EASE Menu Export files menu Export to USB drive Shutdown Niagara 4100 x4 Or 148 ViewCast
Niagara 4100 User Guide Index Access menu, 33 Connecting to the Internet, 12 Active Network Link field, 98 Conventions For This Guide, 2 Activity Log window, 106 CPU cycles screen, 33 Adaptive Adobe Flash Encoder Properties, 50 CPU Threshold field, 104 Adaptive Encoder Properties, 43 Create New Encoder window, 40 Added Users, 130 Create new folder, 134 Admin Log In window, 37 Current System Configuration, 100 Administrator Properties, 133 Custom fields, 44, 51, 59, 67, 77 Administrators Pro
Appendix D: EASE Menu Email/SMTP Settings fields, 101 IP Address, 97 Enable DHCP screen, 26 IP address screen, 26 Encoder Groups window, 85 Local Resources tab, 111 Encoder Groups window, 84 Locations window, 131 Encoder Groups Window, 87 Machine Properties window, 92 Encoder Preset A window, 88 Map Network Drive window, 137, 138 Encoder screen, 31, 34 Media Appliance Functions, 9 Encoder Startup Settings, 104 Menu Bar Commands, 17 Encoder Stopped, 42 MPEG4 Encoder Properties, 66 Encoders
Power off screen, 30 Stopped icon, 41 Prerequisites, 10 Stopping screen, 34 product description, 1 Subnet address screen, 26 Properties Section, 94 System Configuration Settings window, 99 Properties tab, 113 System Ready screen, 37 Rack Mount Safety Instructions, 3 System Requirements, 11 Read/Write permissions, 136 System stopping messages, 30 Reboot message, 93 Time screen, 24 Remote Desktop Connection, 110 To assign Preset A button, 89 Restore Factory Defaults window, 105 To change co
Appendix D: EASE Menu To open a remote desktop connection, 110 Users, 129 To perform first start up, 29 Video filter settings, 78 To perform the initial start up, 24 Video Filter Settings, 45, 52, 60, 68 To set current system configuration, 100 Video tab, 44, 51, 59, 67, 77 To set up user accounts on a remote PC, 129 View Alerts, 107 To shut down, 30 View All Encoders, 91 To start an encoder, 31, 41 View the list of encoder groups, 84 To stop an encoder, 34, 42 ViewCast Niagara 4100, Picture
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