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In Vicon Shogun Live 1.2 and later, you can display and capture video from SDI video cameras. This enables you to use a huge range of third-party, professional-quality video cameras to overlay and capture calibrated reference video. 

The following recommendations are based on what the software supports for calibration and what has been tested with this version of the software. They are provided to help you to choose the most suitable SDI hardware.

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recommendedVideoCams
recommendedVideoCams
Recommended cameras for calibrated video

For a camera to work well with Vicon Shogun it must:

  • Have a global shutter sensor.
  • Be able to output progressive video (eg, 720p, 1080p). Interlaced video (eg, 625i/PAL, 525i/NTSC, 1080i) is not supported.
  • Support a genlock/reference/sync input.
  • Have a timecode input and support embedding timecode in the video, or else you will need a separate timecode embedder.
  • Produce output that is compatible with a Blackmagic DeckLink capture card. 
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Following testing, Vicon recommends these cameras for calibrated reference video:

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CameraSDI
outputs 		Global
shutter 		Genlock/
Reference
sync		Timecode
input		Timecode
embedded
in output		Highest supported video standard

RED Komodo 6K11 x 12G (tick) (tick) (tick) (tick) 2160p/60
Blackmagic
URSA Mini 4K (discontinued)2 		1 x 12G
1 x 3G		 (tick) (tick) (tick) (tick) 2160p/60
ARRI Alexa Mini LF1 x 6G (error) 4 (tick) (tick) (tick) 2160p/30
IO Systems
Flare 2KMSDI-B3 		2 x 3G (tick) (tick) (error) (error) 1080p/30

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RedKomodo
RedKomodo
1. For timecode and genlock, the Komodo Expander Module is required.

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BlackMagic
BlackMagic
2. Only LTC timecode is supported. When LTC timecode is used, only the SDI reference signal can be used (ie, not tri-sync).
Set Reference Input on camera to Program and check for REF and EXT on screen overlay.

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IO_Sys
IO_Sys
3. This is a grayscale sensor. A timecode embedder is required.

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ARRI
ARRI
4. Rolling shutter, but tested and found to be fast enough in most cases. 

Note
Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K
The Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K uses a different sensor that is not global shutter, so is not recommended.

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suitableReferenceVideoCams
suitableReferenceVideoCams
Suitable cameras for uncalibrated reference video

The following camera has been used for capturing reference video in Shogun Live, but because it has a rolling shutter sensor, it can't be used for calibration:

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CameraSDI
outputs		Global
shutter		Genlock/
Ref.
sync		Timecode
input		Timecode
embedded
in output
Blackmagic
Micro Studio 4K (discontinued)1 		1 x 6G (error) (tick) (error) (error)

1. SDI reference is supported. A timecode embedder is required.

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recommendedCaptureCards
recommendedCaptureCards
Recommended capture cards

Shogun Live supports capturing from Blackmagic DeckLink cards using the DeckLink API, thus any DeckLink card should work with it. In addition, Shogun Live 1.6 and later includes support for the two Bluefish444 SDI video capture cards listed at the bottom of the following table. 

Vicon has tested Shogun Live with the following cards:

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ManufacturerModelNo. of inputsNotes
Blackmagic Design
Decklink 8K Pro

4 x 12GRecommended for 12G and multi-camera captures. The host PC must be powerful enough to support multi-camera capture. In particular, it must have enough fast drives.
Decklink Mini Recorder 4K

1 x 6GRecommended as a cost effective option for setups where 12G is not required.
Decklink 4K Pro

1 x 12G
Decklink 4K Extreme 12G

1 x 12G
DeckLink SDI 4K

1 x 6G
DeckLink 4K Extreme

1 x 6G
Bluefish444
Kronos K8

8 x 3GSupported as either 8 independent 3G inputs or 4 x 3G inputs for quad-link video.
8 x small-size BNC ports.
Epoch | 4K Neutron

3 x 3GSupported as 3 x 3G inputs.
An optional LTC expansion module is available.

Recommended timecode embedder

We have tested the following timecode embedder:

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Timecode embedderNumber of channelsNotes
Blackmagic Teranex Mini Audio to SDI1 x 12GUse right XLR audio input to insert LTC timecode, and select Timecode mode in control software.

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recommendedTimecodeGen
recommendedTimecodeGen
Recommended master clock/SPG/timecode generators

We have tested the following timecode generators:

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Timecode generatorNotes
Evertz 5601

If the camera requires SDI sync (eg. Blackmagic URSA) then the Evertz 5601 must have a suitable HD or 3G SDI TG (Test Generator) option. The options are known as +HDTG and 3GTG. The presence of the options is not apparent from the number of connectors (ie, the connectors can be present even if the option is not included). To determine which options are enabled, go to the Status tab in VistaLink. In the Options group, ensure that the TG option is present, ie, it displays HD Present or 3G Present rather than Not Valid.
Typically the following connections are required:

  • LTC 1, 2 (XLR): Provide LTC for SDI camera or timecode inserter.
  • TG 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync if SDI camera accepts this, or
  • Sync 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (BNC): Provide Tri-Sync or Blackburst if camera accepts this.
  • Sync 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (BNC): Can be configured to supply PAL/NTSC sync with VITC to Lock/Lock+, or
  • TG 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync to Lock Studio.
Courtyard CY440
  • LTC/Wordclock: May be configured to provide LTC output.
  • SDI 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync to camera, or
  • Tri/Black 2, 3, 4: Provide tri-sync to camera
  • Composite (BNC): Provides PAL/NTSC sync with VITC to Lock/Lock+, or
  • SDI 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync to Lock Studio
Courtyard CY460Typically the following connections are required:
  • Balanced Audio/AES/LTC (Molex): May be configured to provide LTC output. Custom cable required.
  • SDI 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync to camera, or
  • Tri/Black 2, 3, 4: Provide Tri-sync to camera
  • Composite (BNC): Provides PAL/NTSC sync with VITC to Lock/Lock+, or
  • SDI 1, 2 (BNC): Provide SDI sync to Lock Studio

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recommendedCabling
recommendedCabling
Recommended cabling

SDI video uses co-ax cable with 75Ω characteristic impedance.  Cables labeled RG-59U will be 75Ω, but may not be of sufficient quality for 3G video.  Good quality cables with low return-loss are very important, and become even more crucial over longer distances and at higher standards, such as 6G and 12G. SDI sync also requires good quality video cable because it is also an SDI video signal.  Analog blackburst, tri-sync and LTC signals are likely to be more forgiving.

We have tested the following cable types:

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CableNotes
Belden 1694AThis is sometimes said to be industry-standard video cable. This was used for testing up to a range of 30 m for 3G and 20 m for 6G.
Van Damme 278-175-000 LSZH 20 m lengths of this were used for 3G and 6G.