Amiga Video Toaster
/ Flyer FAQs
Amiga Video Toaster
Calibration and Maintenance
Autohue Procedures
Product: Toaster
Platforms: 2000 3000 3000T 4000 4000T
Autohue Procedures:
The Toaster software includes a routine called Autohue,
which performs the function of making the output of
the digital channel match the original input video.
The user inputs source video into input 1, and the
Autohue routine runs the video through the digital
channels, compares the output to the original input,
and determines what compensations must be applied to
the digital channel to make the output best match the
original source. These parameters are then stored in
a file named "HS", for Hardware Settings".
Any calibration is best done when the equipment is
fully warmed up. Thirty minutes after power-up should
be fine.
Video Source: Must be a directly generated video source,
such as live camera output, or color bars from an NTSC
color bar generator; the video must be coming direct,
not through a TBC, switcher, or any other device.
VT2000 (original model) Toaster Hookup: Video source
on Input 1, short cable recommended; loop cable less
than three feet long from program output to Input 4;
remove cables from all other BNC connectors on the
Toaster.
VT2000 with Flyer: The loop cable goes to Input 2
instead of Input 4. You will also need to use this
configuration for FlyerCalibrate.
VT4000 Toaster Hookup: Video source on Input 1; remove
cables from all other BNC input connectors on the Toaster.
The same arrangement applies in Flyer-equipped systems.
The output monitors should be attached in Flyer-equipped
systems, but in systems which do not have a Flyer attached
to the Toaster, if Autohue does not seem to be correctly
calibrating the Toaster, try running Autohue with the
output monitors detached. This will often produce a
good Autohue, and most likely is working around a termination
level or ground problem in the output devices.
Before You Run Autohue: For VT 3.5 and earlier, locate
and delete the file named "HS" in the drawer "Toaster".
Do not delete the file named "HS.default".
For the Flyer software, HS is in NewTek/Programs/Switcher_Support.
Autohue will write a new "HS" when calibration
of the Toaster is complete.
Once these are done, run the Autohue Program.
Note: If you are using VT/Flyer software version 4.1
and below, and you use a directory utility to delete
HS, you may also notice that the file size of Autohue
is 0. That is correct, as running Autohue actually
calls the main Toaster program with instructions just
to do the calibration routine. The 4.2 version of the
software uses a dummy file rather than a file of 0
bytes, as some CD-ROM device handlers, such as the
one included in Amiga OS 3.1, failed to complete installation
of the software if a 0-byte file is encountered.
FlyerCalibrate Notes: FlyerCalibrate may ask for an
Autohue each time it is run, but once you have done
a proper Autohue you do not need to repeat the procedure
each time FlyerCalibrate is run. Just ignore the request.
FlyerCalibrate, however, may need to be run several
times in order to achieve matched calibration in the
two Flyer output channels. If a clip does not look
identical in luma and chroma each time it is played,
when played repeatedly, then the channels are not matched.
Run FlyerCalibrate repeatedly, checking after each
run to see if the channels are matched. Quit when they
match. If calibration is not maintained through reboots
and at later power ups, you should consult your vendor
to have the Flyer checked out.
AmiFileSafe Note: This file system can conflict with
Autohue, preventing the Autohue from running to completion.
If you find this to be the case on your system, you
will need to reformat your hard drives as standard
Amiga OS FastFileSystem drives.
