NewTek TriCaster 2 Elite (3 RU) User Manual
Page 109
P a g e | 91
You could think of it this way:
❖
Genlocking your
cameras
has the effect of locking their output together, ensuring optimal
synchronization for live switching. This may result in throughput latency benefits.
❖
Supplying the same sync source to the
Genlock
input ensures a
match between
the system’s video
output and any downstream
video devices required to handle both it
and
other (genlocked)
sources.
Note: Digital audio is less tolerant in certain respects than analog.
Some devices require SDI sources to be genlocked when mixing
digital audio (whether for recording or live production).
NewTek systems, however, include dynamic audio re-sampling for
each input. Genlocking SDI audio/video sources is not a
requirement. Still, genlocking sources and other production
devices to a single house reference signal, or genlocking the
cameras directly to the Ne
wTek live production system’s output
is
encouraged (to genlock cameras, see your camera manual).
Genlock
settings are hosted in a tab by the same name in the
Output
Configuration
V
ERTICAL
P
OSITION
,
H
ORIZONTAL
P
OSITION AND
P
HASE
FIGURE 100
Locking all devices to house sync is important, but this alone does not actually ensure a perfect downstream
match. Consider an army marching along: each step the soldiers take occurs at precisely the same moment,
so we could say their timing is synchronized. Even so
–
problems result if one soldier leads with the left foot
while everyone else is on the right. Or perhaps everyone is evenly spaced and perfectly aligned but for one
misfit who ‘tailgates’ the soldier ahead of him and keeps stepping on his heels.
Hint: The term
“
g
enlock” refers to
“generator locking”.
Professional video devices often
provide a “genlock input”, which
allows an external reference signal
(often referred to as ‘house sync’
)
to control its video timing.
The output of video devices
connected in this manner is
synchronized to the reference
signal, and they are referred to as
‘genlocked’.