HDS ViewStation System Administrator's Guide

A Hypertext Document


HDS Video Client Manual Page

This page describes the ViewStation's HDS Video client manual page.

HDS Video Manual Page

NAME
hdsvid - view multiple live video windows.

SYNOPSIS
hdsvid [ -windows (0 to 4) ] [ -playvol (0 to 100) ] [ -invol (1 to 100) ] [ -inport connector ] [ -informat format ] [ -hires ] [ -lores ] [ -resolution resolution ] [ -brightness (-30 to 30) ] [ -contrast (-30 to 30) ] [ -saturation (-30 to 30) ] [ -tint (-30 to 30) ] [ -audio (Mono or Stereo) ] [ -indev audioinputdevice ] [ -outdev audiooutputdevice ] [ -forceaspect ] [ -noaspect ] [ -nobuttons ] [ -noaudio ] [ -toolkitOption ... ]

DESCRIPTION
hdsvid can display high-quality live video in up to four simultaneous windows. Windows can be independently resized and overlapped. Still-frame snapshots of each window can be taken and the contents of these snapshot windows can be easily saved to a file using common X Window System tools.

The live video sources can include the line-level output of a video camera, a VCR, television receiver monitor output, optional HDS Tuner TV Receiver output, or other video- producing device. The video source should be connected to the VIDEO connector on the ViewStation.

To use audio, an audio input device should be connected to the ViewStation's AUDIO IN connector. This could be the HDS ViewCam's audio cable, the HDS Headset, the echo-suppressing CallPort Speaker/Microphone, the HDS Tuner, VCR audio output, or some other audio device. An alternate audio output device can also be used.

Once the audio devices are attached, the ViewStation must be configured to recognize them. The audio device types should be set in the HDS Setup menu. See the descriptions of the audio Input Device and Output Device below for more information.

By default, the client will create two windows. The first is the main driver panel, HDS Video. The second is the initial video window, Window 1. The initial video window offers several buttons and a volume slider.

The Freeze button can be used to freeze the current image. It affects only the video window in which it is pressed. Other video windows will not be affected. Pressing the button again cancels the freeze.

The Mute button will mute the ViewStation audio output. Pressing the Mute button on one video window affects the others. Pressing the button again cancels the mute.

The SnapShot button will create a new window containing a still of the current image. The snapshot window contents can be easily captured to a file using com mon X image manipulations tools such as xwd(1) and xv. Note that if there are not enough free color entries available in the ViewStation's colormap, the snapshot window may not appear to have the correct colors. If this occurs, select the snapshot window with the window manager to see the correct colors. This can generally be avoided if at least 128 colors are available when the first snapshot is taken.

The Done button terminates the video window. Other video windows (and the main HDS Video panel) are not affected. (To terminate the hdsvid session, exit the main HDS Video window.

The Play Volume slider controls the output volume of the ViewStation. Note that the settings of other items in the Audio Controls panel can also have an important affect on the overall audio volume. Changes to this slider are reflected in all the hdsvid windows.

The HDS Video panel contains a Start New Window button and two volume con trol sliders.

The Start New Window button creates a new video window. The window will be either HighResolution or LowResolution based on the setting of the New Window Type item in the Video Controls panel. Two HighResolution windows can be displayed at one time. Four LowResolution windows can be displayed at one time. When the maximum number of windows are in use, the Start New Window button will be grayed out. It will be active again when a video window has been closed.

The Input Volume slider adjusts the amount of gain applied to the Audio In Device. This volume should not normally need to be adjusted, except by very small amounts. When it is adjusted properly, the Audio meter level should generally stay in the safe green level, occasionally straying into the red zone for louder sounds.

The Audio meter indicates the level of the current Audio Input Device attached to the AUDIO IN connector. If the level is not registering green for most sounds, make sure the Audio In Device is set properly, the device is properly connected, and the Input Volume slider is properly adjusted.

The HDS Video panel contains an Options menu which offers access to two other control dialogs, Video Controls and Audio Controls.

The Video Controls panel contains the following items.

The Input Connector item selects which type of video signal is attached to the ViewStation. The default is the Composite signal which is a single-plug jack. Another option is the S-Video connector which has multiple pins and which separates color information from luminance information. If set incorrectly, the ViewStation video display may appear black-and-white or otherwise incorrect.

The Input Format item indicates which type of video signal format is being used. The default is NTSC which is the standard for North America and several other regions. Other options are PAL which is dominant in Europe, and SECAM which is dominant in France. Once you determine the standard for your equipment, you will usually use one setting exclusively.

The New Window Type can be set to HighResolution or LowResolution. This affects the amount of vertical resolution for the image. If HighResolution is specified the video signal is deinterlaced and both fields are displayed.

The Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Tint sliders control the video characteristics of all the video windows.

The Audio Controls panel contains the following items.

The Input Device item indicates the type of device attached to the ViewStation's AUDIO IN connector. This value must be set properly or the ViewStation's audio will not operate correctly. The initial value for the input device comes from the ViewStation's Setup client. It is better to make any changes to this value in the Setup client menu "Setup Options/User Preferences/Audio Device Settings/ Audio In Device" and save the value for the future. NOTE: It is important to change this value whenever you change the audio device attached to the ViewStation. Otherwise, the ViewStation will not know what type of device is attached and severe audio quality problems will result. The input device can be set to "Unspecified", "HDS ViewCam", "HDS Headset", "CallPort Spkr/Mic", "HDS Microphone", "HDS Tuner", "VCR", or "Line Level Audio". The "Line Level Audio" category refers to the output level of many common home audio devices, such as CD players and cassette decks.

The Audio Type item indicates whether the input is Mono or Stereo. If the default value of Mono is in effect, the left channel is used.

The Output Device item indicates the type of device attached to the ViewStation's AUDIO OUT connector. This value must be set properly or the ViewStation's audio will not operate correctly. As with the Input Device, the initial value for the output device comes from the ViewStation's Setup client. It is better to make any changes to this value in the Setup menu "Setup Options/User Preferences/Audio Device Settings/Audio Out Device" and save the value for the future. NOTE: It is important to change this value whenever you change the audio device attached to the ViewStation. Otherwise, the ViewStation will not know what type of device is attached and severe audio quality problems will result. The output device can be set to "HDS Internal Speaker", "External Speakers", "HDS Headset", or "CallPort Spkr/Mic".

The Play Volume and Input Volume sliders are duplicates of those found on other control panels. Modifications to these sliders automatically adjust the other sliders.

OPTIONS
In addition to the usual Xt and Motif options, hdsvid supports the following application-specific options.

-windows (0 to 4)
Indicate the number of video windows displayed at startup. The default is 1. Only two widows can be displayed initially unless -lores is used.

-playvol (0 to 100)
Set the initial play volume.

-invol (1 to 100)
Set the initial amplification volume for the AUDIO IN source.

-inport connector
Select the video input connector. connector can be either Composite or SVideo.

-informat format

Select the video input signal format. format can be NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.

-hires
Indicate that the default window type should be HighResolution.

-lores
Indicate that the default window type should be LowResolution.

-resolution resolution
Set the default resolution. resolution can be either HighResolution (the default) or LowResolution.

-brightness (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window brightness.

-contrast (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window contrast.

-saturation (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window saturation.

-tint (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window tint.

-audio Mono | Stereo
Select either Mono or Stereo audio processing.

-indev audioinputdevice
Indicate the type of audio device attached to the ViewStation's AUDIO IN con nector. It is better to save this value in the ViewStation's Setup client or to set it in the ViewStation's Configuration File. The audioinputdevice can be "Unspecified", "HDS ViewCam", "HDS Headset", "CallPort Spkr/Mic", "HDS Microphone", "HDS Tuner", "VCR", or "Line Level Audio". See the DESCRIPTION section for more information.

-outdev audiooutputdevice
Indicate the type of audio device attached to the ViewStation's AUDIO OUT con nector. It is better to save this value in the ViewStation's Setup client or to set it in the ViewStation's Configuration File. The audiooutputdevice can be "HDS Inter nal Speaker", "External Speakers", "HDS Headset", or "CallPort Spkr/Mic". See the DESCRIPTION section for more information.

-forceaspect
This option requires that video windows maintain the normal 4x3 aspect ratio. This is the default.

-noaspect
This option allows video windows to have any aspect ratio selected by the user. This will cause the video contents to stretch & shrink in the vertical and horizontal directions. This can distort the image, but will fill the window.

-nobuttons
This option removes the control panels from the video windows.

-noaudio
This option brings up hdsvid without using the ViewStation audio capabilities. This allows other programs to control the audio and avoids conflicts with other audio programs.

X RESOURCES
In addition to the usual Xt and Motif resources, the hdsvid supports the following application specific resources. The values and defaults are the same as the corresponding command line options.

HDSvid.windows: (0 to 4)
HDSvid.playVolume: (0 to 100)
HDSvid.inputVolume: (1 to 100)
HDSvid.inputPort: connector
HDSvid.inputFormat: format
HDSvid.resolution: resolution
HDSvid.brightness: (-30 to 30)
HDSvid.contrast: (-30 to 30)
HDSvid.saturation: (-30 to 30)
HDSvid.tint: (-30 to 30)
HDSvid.audioType: Mono | Stereo
HDSSimulcast.inputDevice: audioinputdevice
HDSSimulcast.outputDevice: audiooutputdevice
HDSvid.forceAspect: Yes | No
HDSvid.showButtons: Yes | No
HDSvid.doAudio: Yes | No
HDSvid*Win1*width: width
HDSvid*Win1*height: height
HDSvid*Win2*width: width
HDSvid*Win2*height: height
HDSvid*Win3*width: width
HDSvid*Win3*height: height
HDSvid*Win4*width: width
HDSvid*Win4*height: height

Sets the width and height of the actual video image. The surrounding window will size itself to fit around it. The default width is 640 pixels and the default height is 480 pixels.

HDSvid*Window 1*geometry: geometry
HDSvid*Window 2*geometry: geometry
HDSvid*Window 3*geometry: geometry
HDSvid*Window 4*geometry: geometry

Sets the location and size of the video window. The size includes the control buttons and other framing. The default size is based on the size of the incorporated video image.

COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1995, HDS Network Systems, Inc.

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© 1996 by HDS Network Systems Inc.