Crystal Vision’s new black generator provides system timing

New from Crystal Vision is Refgen — a flexible black generator with the ability to output both analogue and digital reference signals at the same time. Refgen is ideal for creating offset timing references from the station master or for generating the master reference in applications that do not require a broadcast accurate reference.

Reference generators are vital in a system as you cannot combine two video signals unless the timing relationship between them is correct. By producing up to four analogue and four digital reference signals simultaneously, Refgen has the capability to send eight reference signals to a wide variety of broadcast equipment, including to those products that require a digital reference. The extensive number of outputs available also brings cost-savings by reducing the need for additional distribution amplifiers in the system.

Refgen’s reference signals are either free running or timed to an analogue input. When free running Refgen does not have a reference and provides the fundamental system timing signal, with the output reference timed to an on board clock generator. When locked to an analogue input, Refgen is used to either provide a digital reference or to provide a second analogue reference locked to the first but with a fixed delay of up to two fields. The delay is useful should the reference need to be aligned with delayed video, and is adjustable in lines and pixels.

While a black reference output is the industry standard and set as Refgen’s default, a blue output can alternatively be selected by those engineers who like the more obvious signal present indication given by a blue screen.

The quality of the SDI reference is excellent with virtually no output jitter when used both with and without an analogue reference. Refgen is a 100mm x 266mm board, which helps to save rack space by fitting in the standard frames alongside any other product from the Crystal Vision interface and keying range. The frames are available in four sizes to suit all applications and can house up to 24 boards in 4U, 12 in 2U, six in 1U and two in a desktop box.

Refgen can be used with four different frame rear modules (the RM01, RM02, RM18 and RM23), while an additional benefit of the RM23 is that it provides an external reference loop-through output which is not reliant on the Refgen board and will therefore still be present should Refgen be removed.

Control can be by board edge, an active frame front panel, a remote control panel or the Statesman PC software. Refgen is shipping now.

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