Tektronix SPG 422 Component Digital Sync Generator

Tektronix SPG 422 Component Digital Sync Generator

The SPG422 is a master sync generator designed to meet the transitional and long term needs of the serial component digital post production and operational environments. While component digital is gaining momentum, many facilities will still be largely analog with digital islands and virtually all will output materials in analog form. The SPG422 provides the basic timing and test signals needed to operate these mixed format environments.

Single or Dual Standard Operation

The SPG422 provides front panel selection of single or dual standard operation. In the single standard mode, the black burst outputs follow the line and field rate selection for the digital outputs, i.e., NTSC for 525/60 operation and PAL for 625/50 operation. In the dual standard mode, each serial digital video and analog black output is individually configurable.

In the dual standard mode, the SPG422 is ideally suited for use as the house master providing simultaneous NTSC and PAL black burst outputs and a clock locked AES/EBU digital audio output. The SPG422 is also the perfect companion for dual standard telecines in film to tape transfer operations.

Analog black burst outputs

The base SPG422 provides two independently timeable PAL or NTSC blackburst outputs with over two fields of advance and delay range. In this configuration, the SPG422 is ideally suited for use as a slave sync generator in a serial digital island or as a system master in a small serial digital facility. Sub-nanosecond timing adjustment resolution facilitates timing of the digital island's analog output into the house analog system.

For larger, more complex systems, the SPG422 may be fitted with four additional independently timeable black burst outputs that differ only in adjustment resolution (clock cycle vs. sub-nanosecond) from those provided in the base unit. These outputs are intended for use as a timing reference for equipment with serial digital video outputs connected into a destination with auto timed inputs, e.g., a digital production switcher. As in the base unit configuration, the SPG422 is well suited for either house master or slave applications.

High stability internal reference and genlock

The SPG422 has a high accuracy 13.5 MHz internal reference with less than 1 ppm per year long term drift. This level of performance makes the SPG422 suitable for use as a master SPG for virtually all applications. The genlock is a burst lock implementation that provides the low jitter performance required when the SPG is the timing reference for digital in/analog out devices such as encoders, synchronizers, and the like.

Serial digital outputs

The SPG422 provides one output each of serial digital black and serial digital color bars. In the 525/60 mode, SMPTE color bars or 100% full field color bars are available. In the 625/50 mode, 100% color bars over red and full field color bars are provided. One of four user programmable text strings of up to ten characters may be selected for display in the serial digital color bars signal. All color bar selections are made from the front panel. Four channels of AES/EBU digital audio with front panel control of level and frequency are provided on BNC and XLR connector outputs. A click may be added to the right audio channels of the AES/EBU audio outputs to identify them from the left channels. The click is on the separate AES/EBU outputs only. If desired, the user may embed digital audio in the serial digital color bars and black signals. Separate selection of silence or tone is provided on the serial digital black output. The serial digital color bars and black and AES/EBU digital audio outputs provide the signals needed for tape preparation and for general plant routing.

A serial digital test signal generator, with test signals chosen to facilitate operations and first line maintenance, is available as an option. The test signal complement includes color bars, full field pluge, crosshatch, bowtie, active picture markers, multiburst, pulse and bar, ramp, and the SDI check field signals. Test signals may be selected from the front panel or via RS-232 remote control. Two BNC outputs are provided.

User presets with nonvolatile storage

The SPG422 has nonvolatile storage for four complete instrument setups (presets). This provides a quick and easy means for saving and recalling timing, test signal, and audio setups in applications where the SPG422 outputs are delegated to more than one piece of equipment. Presets may be recalled from the front panel or via remote control.

Full remote control

RS-232 or ground closure remote control are provided on the SPG422. All front panel controls are duplicated under RS-232 control. Ground closure control provides access to major instrument functions such as internal or external reference select, test signal select, and recall of user presets.