GVG to ATEM Controller
By Baz Leffler
Official web page
Turn your precious Grass Valley Switcher panel into a fully functional
ATEM control surface and stop using a mouse to do time critical productions.
*** PLEASE NOTE - GVG1000 PANEL
WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS INTERFACE. ONLY GVG100 and GVG110 ***
(it requires different panel modifications and software
considerations)
WANT TO BUY A GVG PANEL READY TO GO? CONTACT ME NOW – or
-
I currently have some GVG panels that
are going through the system and are for sale as completely working for use
with any ATEM.
*** Email me for more
details ***
Product Links –
New *** > LINK TO CCU
CONTROLLERS < *** new
(NOW includes ATEM CCU
control including zoom and focus for up to 20 cameras)
VIDEOS
INTRODUCTION
This is a
Grass Valley 110 panel (only) controlling an ATEM production Switcher. Its combining '80's technology with todays
gadgetry.
It requires
a slight modification to the GVG110 panel that involves removing the controller
IC and connecting a header cable to an already existing connecter inside the
panel.
I have
chosen to replace all the lamps with LEDs because the LAMP version needs 9
volts and 14 volts but the LED version only needs 9 volts. For LED use, there is also 3 jumper wires that need to be installed, and 2
tracks to be cut; so easy my 3 year old cat can do it.
Every
button, knob and light is functional and the biggest challenge is how to
'logically' configure the panel for the various usages with an ATEM.
Because it
needs network connection to talk to the ATEM, I have also implemented a telnet
interface to allow crosspoint mapping, effects, keyers
control mapping etc so you will be able to select any
portion of the ATEM to be controlled by any portion of the GVG110 controls.
Telnet is also used for system configurations such as ip
addresses, load and save setups etc.
I will also
be including the external rs422 control for use with my previously shown
'editor control' which uses the standard GVG100 protocol.
I can sell
the complete software installed Arduino Mega and interface cables with a
comprehensive 'how to' for the GVG110 modifications.
Updates will
be available from time to time via a HEX file uploader. Just contact me if you
are interested.
You have got
to admit, the GVG110 is a nice piece of kit and if you can get your hands on
one it can save you a bundle. (I know of one organisation
here in Aus that tossed out 44 of them not so long
ago!..... I have 2 and would love some more)
(sorry, shot one handed with my iPhone but maybe a better
(edited) version to follow)
When first connecting
the GVG110 panel to an ATEM using my interface, the local and ATEM ip addresses need to be set to suit your own circumstance.
This only needs to be done once as the values are permanently stored in EEPROM
when set.
At any stage
the settings can be altered, either using the technique shown in this video (at
bootup), or from within normal control panel
operation by using the 'SHIFT' command (Editor Enable) and pressing 'wipe
pattern 9' for local ip address, and 'wipe pattern 10' for ATEM ip address.
When either ip address is altered the interface will reboot for the
changes to take effect.
(Apologies
for the 'right finger, wrong button' problems, but multitasking is not my
strongest point; and given that I am doing it all in one shot (to show there is
no trickery) I really don't want to go back and do a take 2.)
This is the third in a
series of 'one shot' tutorials when using my software to control an ATEM using
a GVG110 modified control panel.
This video is part 1 of
the AUTO TRANSITION panel which focuses on the SELECT button and its 4
functions.
Function 1 is for
displaying and setting the Auto trans rate.
Function 2 is for
displaying and setting the DSK mix rate.
Function 3 is for
displaying and setting the Fade to Black rate.
Function 4 is for
displaying and setting the AUX BUSSES (ATEM 1 and 2 only)
The operation is not as
clumsy as it appears as I was demonstrating one handed while holding the iPhone
with the other; you have to use your imagination!
(this
GVG110/ATEM controller is a demonstration of what can be achieved if you want
try it yourself. It is much easier undertaking a project knowing that it can
work. If you need it and are unable to DIY then I can sell you my finished
system. Just contact me for more info)
The GVG110 panel has 3
rows of input selection and each row has only 10 inputs. The 'program' and
'preset' rows share the same inputs, and the 'key' row can have its own
separate assignment. Key row programming will be discussed at another time.
By using the SHIFT key
(editor enable), each of the 10 input buttons can be assigned two different
input thus allowing 20 separate inputs.
When inputs 1 to 10 are
selected on any of the input busses, the button light will display normally,
and when inputs 11 to 20 are selected, the associated button light will flash.
On a 2me ATEM, 37
individual sources are available for mapping, and any of those sources can be
mapped into the 20 programmable input buttons on the GVG110 panel.
As each button is
assigned, the user selectable input also changes the multiviewers
input; so if the GVG110 panels 'IN button 1' is assigned "ATEM input 6",
then the ATEM multiviewer input 1 is also assigned
input 6.
Obviously what ever is assigned to buttons 17 to 20 (SHIFT 7 to SHIFT
10) will not show up on a multiviewer input as there
are only 16 available multiviewer windows on a 2me.
If you are a
little confused don't be, it will all make sense when you give it a little
thought.
(incidently, I will also be making
a 'tally TTL output' available to connect to relays etc
and that tally output will also reflect the assigned inputs as you would
expect)
In this
video I show the GVG110 control panel in 'Deck Control Mode' controlling 2
video decks using RS422 9 pin connectors.
The first
deck is a Hyperdeck Studio (sorry, in the video I
called it a Shuttle, and we all know shuttles do not have RS422) and the second
deck is a Panasonic AJHD1200.
This video runs way too long so I will make a part B soon.
This part
covers all the basic transport controls and entering cue points.
In the
second part I will show the use of RECORD and cue marking as can be used in
sporting events. Then I will go on to show how to set up AUTO PLAY/SLO MO and
how to assign decks to crosspoints to enable the feature.
I will be
adding features such as manually entering timecode cue points, loading and
saving cue registers and 'pre-emptive AUTO PLAY';
Because the
AUTO PLAY feature uses the switcher tally data to play or commence slo-mo there is a small latency involved if you do a direct
'switch' to the deck.
This is
usually alleviated by doing a 'stinger' or a 'wipe' to the deck to hide the 1 -
2 frames of 'freeze' before it plays. 'Pre-emptive' means being able to CUT to
a deck and not see any freeze.
The way that
is accomplished is by 'doing the cut' which will play the deck, but the actual
'cut' will not occur until the deck is actually 'playing' (1 - 2 frames later).
This mode does not use the tally data so it can only be used locally; eg if another panel selects the deck input it will not play
like it would using non pre-emptive play. Whew!
This is part 2 of what
possibly will be a 4 part introduction of the GVG110 control panel with an ATEM
connected and controlling 2 RS422 decks. Here I show recording, marking and queing for instant replays. Entering still points are also
discussed.
Also shown is the ability
to manually enter que and still timecodes for each of the decks 5 registers
using a TELNET ip connection.
TELNET examples -
Set Deck 1 cue 1 to a
specified timecode -
d1 q1 10300000
Set Deck 2 cue register 1
to 34:00:00 and
Set Deck 2 still register 1 to 34:04:00 -
d2 q1 340000
d2 s1 340400
These can be cut and
pasted or manually typed into the TELNET window connected to the controller.
Typing
'd' in the TELNET window also
displays -
Deck 1 [Hyperdeck] mode = Slo-mo on
button 1 (10)
Deck 2 [AJHD1200] mode = Play on button 2 (13)
Deck/reg CUE STILL
1 1
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
1 2
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
1 3
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
1 4
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
1 5
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
2 1
10:42:02:12 10:42:12:07
2 2
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
2 3
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
2 4
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
2 5
00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00
**EDIT: One thing that
wasn't mentioned in this video it that manually entering 'still points' can
also be achieved by parking the deck at the required still point and press and
hold 'SHIFT + the required CUE REGISTER. (end EDIT)
Next video I will be
showing setting auto play/auto slo-mo/auto still
modes and hopefully make them a little shorter.
ALSO NOTE: all my videos
showing the GVG110 functionality are all 'one take/one shot' no trickery
involved; its not the way I
normally make videos!
The more I show of this
system, the more the TELNET connection gets referred to so here I explain the
use of TELNET in the configuration.
As the GVG110 to ATEM
controller needs a network connection, and as most setups are using network
routers, a TELNET connection can also get added to the mix and communicate to
the controller using its existing interface with the ATEM.
This interface can extend
to either a PC (using PuTTY) or a MAC (using
Terminal) or even a mobile device like an iPad (using Mocha Telnet Lite). All
these applications are free.
The TELNET command can be
'line by line' entered or 'scripts typed up' and sent.
Eventually, given time,
maybe even a HTML GUI can be made to make the use far more user friendly.
The use and features of
the TELNET connection are covered in the 'ON LINE users guide' and is also
included in the help menu by using the '?' key.
Want to use the ATEM Multiviewer's "program" and "preview"
displays to show the current source names.
Just use a Telnet command
on the GVG to ATEM controller to re-configure using the 'multiviewer
mode command.
The source naming works
locally, or from any panel you have that's controlling the ATEM.
(In this video I
inadvertently called the Telnet window a terminal but you will get my meaning.
Another one take wonder!)
Here I show the GVG to ATEM
controller running tally relays in Mode 1.
With the GVG to ATEM kits, the interface connector has 8 pins allocated for
tallies.
In tally mode 1 (simple mode) these pins can connect directly to 8 channel Relay
Cards to drive tally systems.
In tally mode 2 (advanced mode) these pins are used to drive an optional
circuit board that can provide 16 relay controls for program (red tallies) and
16 relay controls for preview (green tallies).
Of course the tally information is sent from the ATEM so even controlling an
ATEM from another panel will still display the tallies.
This video is a little different; it is actually showing the GVG control panel
controlling an ATEM TVS; AND the video is very short!
Just
demonstrating a button controlling the GVG to ATEM to create a GPI function.
This is an example of the
auto trans trigger using 'gpi0 67' telnet command.
It seems to work even
using a 30 year old button that surely must have some form of contact closure
bounce, but my anti-bouncing software is cleaning it up.
If you have come by this
video by accident you would have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what I am talking about! (no fault of yours)
How do you get an infinite
range of numbers out of knob that has a start and a finish?
Watch this video and see
how.
It would have been great
if the GVG panel used rotary encoders but back in their day I suppose they
hadn't even been thought of.
If you thought using a GVG
control panel to control an ATEM Production Switcher was an 'interesting
concept', then here is a video of TWO GVG control
panels controlling the SAME ATEM. Yep... TWO!
One control panel is
controlling Mix Effects 1 and the other control panel is controlling Mix
Effects 2.
AND, as each panel has its
own microprocessor controller they can have their own assignments of inputs.
Can you imagine going out
to cover a football match. You can do two separate
coverages; one favouring team A
being produced on ME 1 with panel 1 and the other one favouring
team B being produced on ME 2 with panel 2. The panels don't even need to be in
the same room!
If this was ever a
requirement I could even write the code to amalgamate the tallies so either ME
1 or ME 2 would turn on the required tallies.
Am I thinking outside the
box? Yeah, maybe....
(ps.
this was actually a test I did to see if the same MAC address can be used on
both panels. Result: NO.
So now I have to add yet
another parameter that has to be adjustable; MAC address)
Example of a little
diagnostics routine to check all the analog pots, joystick and fader on the
GVG110 panel
The optional Configuration
panel is an extension to the existing GVG control panel enabling easier access
to some of the set up parameters.
It also includes some
enhancements to the normal operation, showing buss crosspoints, deck control
timecodes and status, including cue and cue marking capabilities.
It is early days for the
software and will be continually enhanced over the coming months.
It interfaces to the
Micro-Controller using 'I2C' communication allowing a convenient thin cable and
6 pin minidin connectors.
Once I determine there is
an interest in using this interface with my 'GVG to ATEM controller' I will get
the cases fabricated and the circuit boards assembled.
Previously I showed the 8
tally controls using the expansion cable that comes with the GVG to ATEM
controller kit.
Here I explain the
optional 'extended tally system'. This uses an add on
card to the controller that provides 12 PROGRAM tally controls and 12 PREVIEW
tally controls.
Also shown is the
technique to change the modes using the Telnet interface.
This can also be controlled using the optional Configuration Panel shown in a
previous video.
Incidentally, the small
Extended Tally Interface module was never featured in this video but you can
see it on the right corner on the end frame.
They will be available
once they come back from fabrication.
Here I show the way the
GVG panel can be used to control all the audio features of an ATEM production
switcher. These features include Fader and Pan values,
AFV and ON AIR toggles for all inputs, Media players, external inputs and
finally the MASTER.
ATEM control via GVG100 protocol
Using one of my little
BAZBOX's, I can use the ATEM production switcher in a Linear
edit suite.
This is a quick example of
a Panasonic AG-A850 edit controller talking to an ATEM 2me doing cuts,
dissolves and wipes.
This protocol has since
been opened up to be able to control much more than what is shown here.
I am currently using the
same method to control the ATEM using a GVG110 control panel which has the
ability to control keys, emem, etc
I did a similar thing a while
back based on the old Ampex protocol and using an Ampex Century control panel.
I tried to explain to some
colleagues that "here is an Ampex HD Century
production switcher" which sucked them in big time seeing as Ampex closed down almost 20 years ago!
I have an ATEM 2me and a ATEM TVS and 2 GVG110 control panels, 1 for each.
I am going to allow the
BAZBOX to be set up using telnet so varios settings
can be made eg controlled me, what keyer is used and DSK functions.
Message me if you want to
know more and what it costs.
GVG ATEM using stillstore
directly
Here is a nifty little
trick you can do with a GVG 100/110 control panel + my controller + ANY ATEM
production switcher.
This uses the program and
preview rows to directly select and switch any 20 stills loaded in the media
pool.
By using the 'ENTER'
button in conjunction with program buttons, you can cut Stills 1 to 10 on air,
and in conjunction with the preview buttons, you can cut Stills 1 to 10 to
preview. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with the 'SHIFT' button, you can
cut Stills 11 to 20 on air, and in conjunction with the preview buttons, you
can cut Stills 11 to 20 to preview.
As an example, you can cut
camera 1 on the program buss and still 1 ('1+ENTER') on the preview buss and do
a dissolve. Then cut still 2 on the preview buss ('2+ENTER') and do another
dissolve. Then cut camera 2 on the preview buss and dissolve again.
|
button |
NO
SHIFT |
SHIFT |
NO
SHIFT |
SHIFT |
|
NO
ENTER |
NO
ENTER |
ENTER |
ENTER |
|
|
1 |
i/p 1 |
i/p11 |
STILL
1 |
STILL
11 |
|
2 |
i/p 2 |
i/p12 |
STILL
2 |
STILL
12 |
|
3 |
i/p 3 |
i/p13 |
STILL
3 |
STILL
13 |
|
4 |
i/p 4 |
i/p14 |
STILL
4 |
STILL
14 |
|
5 |
i/p 5 |
i/p15 |
STILL
5 |
STILL
15 |
|
6 |
i/p 6 |
i/p16 |
STILL
6 |
STILL 16 |
|
7 |
i/p 7 |
i/p17 |
STILL
7 |
STILL
17 |
|
8 |
i/p 8 |
i/p18 |
STILL
8 |
STILL
18 |
|
9 |
i/p 9 |
i/p19 |
STILL
9 |
STILL
19 |
|
10 |
i/p 10 |
i/p20 |
STILL
10 |
STILL
20 |
You can use a footswitch
connected to any of the 9 gpi inputs to easily switch
the different modes. You can also use another footswitch connected to any other
of the 9 gpi inputs to easily switch the 11 to 20
inputs. Pretty soon you will have more footswitches than Slash!
Thanks to Rob Ashard for the suggestion.
Previously discussed here
was the basic AUDIO CONTROL of the ATEM using a modified GVG 100/110 Control Panel.
This video shows the
method used to MONITOR the audio levels on both the TELNET display and the
PATTERN LED's on the panel.
Later in development, this
monitoring will also be extended to the optional LCD panel.
When monitoring the audio
from the ATEM, it uses the data that the ATEM sends to the controller. While in
AUDIO MODE, this data is continuous and very large, so it is recommended to
turn off the AUDIO MODE during normal operation and only use it when setting up
levels etc
This is an example of a
GVG100 panel that has a dirty T-Bar pot.
You can either replace it
or clean it but here I show diagnostics on how to evaluate its performance.
See the document showing
how to fix the T-Bar pots as they are field repairable (to some extent).
This video demonstrates
switching 4 camera's in CHROMAKEY with totally different settings and
backgrounds using just the ATEM TVS's single chromakeyer!
I am using still images I
made up to simulate a 4 camera studio shoot. These images are coming off 3
separate sources connected to 3 inputs on the ATEM TVS and the 4th image is
coming off media player 1 but it too could have been a separate input. These
would normally be live studio cameras generating moving images.
As each camera input is
selected its associated background is also selected, along with all the
chromakey parameters such as HUE, GAIN, Y SUPPRESS, LIFT, NARROW, MASKS LEFT,
RIGHT, TOP and BOTTOM.
When a media player is
selected as a background, you can use the GVG panels 'DISPLAY' and 'up/down'
buttons to select the STILL IMAGE to associate to the required input.
So in this example I have
all 4 chromakey cameras selected to background switch to only Media Player 2,
and then the STILL image for Media Player 2 switches with the camera selection.
In the past this could
only be achieved using 4 separate chroma keyers and 4 separate background generators.
For an ATEM TVS you could
use all 6 inputs for live chromakey sources, and have 6 totally different backgounds for each camera all coming from just one of the
media players.
On a
ATEM 2 ME you could have all 16 inputs doing the same thing!
It is still work in
progress and I am using it as a 'proof of concept'.
(ps.
there is also an autosave function built in to allow
FULL setup recall of ALL inputs)
EMEM - GVG panel saving/recalling all ATEM settings
I have done
the last of the standard feature set for the GVG panel control of the ATEM
production switcher.
EMEM - an '80's term for storing panel settings in memory; 'Electronic MEMory'.
This feature allows you to save EVERY aspect of the ATEM settings in 256
separate registers. Each register contains 4000 individual values.
When in SAVE mode, it will save all 4000 values, and when in LOAD mode it will
allow selective recall of up to 23 different parameter values. Recalling
sends the commands directly to the ATEM to take immediate effect.
Each of the 256 registers can also be write protected.
I use this EMEM feature often when moving between my different ATEM models.
I have setups 1 to 99 for my ATEM 2me and setups 100 to 199 for my TVS.
Also useful is using Auto Increment mode where I have a sequence of
panel setups I need to recall in fast succession. With auto increment on, each
time I do a recall it steps to the next waiting for recall.
I have often
been asked how can AUX busses be switched in a live
event. The AUX buss switching comes under the category of 'miscellaneous
crosspoint switching' and is accessible using the AUTO TRANSITION RATE panel.
With this
panel you can select 20 different miscellaneous items of which the first 6 are
AUX BUSSES 1 to 6.
But using
the up down keys on this panel will switch each available input numerically,
which can select some undesirable sources on the way thru.
As it is
with the prog/prev buss and
key buss, you can also allocate individual inputs to the aux buss for all 20
selections.
This allows
you to CUT to specific inputs rather than stepping through them. (when in miscellaneous crosspoint mode, the key buss buttons become the aux
buss buttons 1 to 20).
Also, rather
than switching the AUX buss inputs blindly (not having a monitor to view the
aux buss output) it will select the aux buss selected on the preview monitor
for 2 seconds.
If you need
to switch multiple aux busses at different times you just need to select the
desired aux buss on the AUTO TRANSITION RATE panel.
This shows the first 2
stages of the CasparCG SERVER implementation for the GVG control panel
controlling an ATEM.
If you do not know what a
CasparCG Server is, then look it up, but basically is an all
round media player (free), compatible with some hardware cards like
Blackmagic and Bluefish. It can also work with HDMI notebook computers, but is
better used with only graphics. Servers with SDI cards and raid arrays can play
realtime HD.
Stage 1 of the
implementation was the initialisation of parameters
such as ip address, Server channel, layer, autoplay settings etc.
Stage 2 was basic
operation including media file lists, loading files and playing media.
Future videos will show
stage 3; autoplay and then further stages which will
include setting playlists etc.
I am hoping users will
throw ideas at me for further implementation.
There are plans for a 'stand alone CasparCG client' to allow a separate operator
to control it all.
Thanks to all the Caspar
team for putting together a great package.
This video shows the basic
control of ALL the ATEM available CCU parameters. It can control up to 20 camera's.
The JOYSTICK is mainly
used for IRIS (up/down) and PEDESTAL LEVEL (left/right).
When used in conjunction
with PATTERN BUTTONS 1 to 3 the JOYSTICK is used to control the COLORWHEEL for
BLACKS, GAMMAS and GAINS.
PATTERN 1 selects BLACKS
as the primary adjustment, PATTERN 2 selects GAMMAS as the primary adjustment
and PATTERN 3 selects GAINS as the primary adjustment.
BEVEL adjusts ALL PARAMETERS
of the selected primary adjustment.
The AUDIO/CLEAR BUTTON
steps the GAIN and KELVIN settings.
With REVERSE OFF it will
step the GAIN through 0db, 6db, 12db and 18db.
With REVERSE ON it will
step the KELVIN value through 3200K, 4500K, 5000K, 5600K, 6500K and 7500K.
SYMMETRY knob adjusts the
SHUTTER value through 1/50, 1/60, 1/75, 1/90, 1/100, 1/120, 1/150, 1/180,
1/250, 1/360, 1/500, 1/725, 1/1000, 1/1450 and 1/2000.
SOFTNESS adjusts the
FOCUS. When used with the SHIFT button it selects AUTO FOCUS.
BORDER adjusts the
RGB/YRGB value in the COLOR CORRECTION panel of the ATEM.
Currently I am designing a
standalone CCU controller as individual modules that can control up to 20 camera's.
These modules have
dedicated knobs and buttons to control the individual parameters.
Also, I am finalising the design of a remote Camera control to allow
basic functions such as IRIS on 3rd party cameras.
Studio Tech TV review the product
Rob Ashard,
Mark Johnson and Vance Willis talk a little about the GVG to ATEM controller.
To see the whole video see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hoWfLcQbA
These guys are having way
too much fun!