Introduction
Sync, Reference, Genlock, Black Burst. These terms are used for basically the same method, where the video output of one source (or a specific reference signal from a signal generator) is used to synchronize signal sources together. When hardware are synchronized this way, they are said to be generator-locked or genlocked.
In broadcast production, unsynced signals can cause noticeable issues for the viewers. One very noticeable example is if the tracking system's signal is not synced with the corresponding video signal, then the movement of the virtual environment is not going to properly align with the movement of the camera.
Which hardware should be connected to the Genlock system?
In connection with virtual production in Aximmetry, we connect the following hardware to the Genlock system:
- Cameras
- Tracking Systems
- Capture Cards
- GPU (with Quadro Sync)
Generally, any hardware that produces output should be connected.
How does syncing work?
It is important to note that only the outputs of all the connected hardware will be synchronized. This means the output of the upcoming frame will occur simultaneously for all hardware.
The sync/genlock signal originates from a Sync Generator (a separate piece of hardware) and connects to all hardware using an SDI cable.
IMPORTANT: You only have to connect the capture card to the genlock system, if you want to have SDI output from this card. The input synchronization will happen because all the signals arriving at the capture card are already synchronized from the different hardware outputs that are connected to the Genlock System.
Delays
A genlock system does not guarantee that there will be no delay between the signals coming from the different hardware, but the delay will always be whole frames and most importantly, it will be a constant value. This means, for example, that there might be a delay between a video signal coming from a camera and the tracking signal coming from the tracking device which is tracking the motion of the same camera. Also, there might be a delay between the video signal arriving at the capture card and after the rendering, the output video signal from the capture card.
NOTE: Even after syncing, the delay between the tracking signal and the video signal might be subject to further change, since these signals are buffered in different manners when entering your PC. The final delay can be addressed with the Tracking Delay setting.
NOTE: Some sync generators can also synchronize timecode. When this happens, Aximmetry will automatically sync according to the timecode if the Timecode Sync is on (by default, it is on). In such cases, you will likely not need to set a Tracking Delay.
Genlock Aximmetry Video Output
To genlock video output when using Aximmetry, connect your capture card to the genlock signal, and the video output of the capture card will be genlocked.
In most camera compounds, it is possible to see if the capture card is genlocked.
On the Camera control board, enable SDI on-screen information:
And if the letter G appears at the end of all the SDI information, then the capture card is genlocked:
IMPORTANT: This indicates that the video output of the capture card is genlocked. It does not mean that the inputs are genlocked. In fact, Aximmetry cannot automatically determine if an input is genlocked, as no such information is transmitted through common protocols and video signals.
