Display posts from previous
Sort by

CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#1 by TheYouth
Hello everybody,

for upcoming projects I want to build an Caspar Rack Server.

Here are the needs:
- It should be able to play 2x synchronized Key/Fill OR 1x FullHD synchronized Key/Fill + 2x FullHD Output OR 4x FUllHD Output with the the later option by changing the Decklink card to play 8x FullHD (but then no Key/Fill)
- Decklink card could be swapped with one or two Quadro P2000, for 8-12x DisplayPort Output for another usage
- max. Chassis length 480mm
- Budget 3-4k€

So here are my thoughts so far....
- Decklink Duo 2 for the beginning .... or should I go directly on the Decklink Quad 2? (but will then loose the SYNCED Ked+Fill?)
- Intel Core i7 5390K
- Nvidia Quadro P2000
- Raid 0 with 6-8x Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
- 1x Samsung M.2 128GB
- 1x IcyDock MB998SP
- Mainboard Asus X99-E WS
- 4x 16GB DDR4-2400 RAM (later upgradeable
- Chassis with one 5,25" like: Logic Case SC-32380

So what do you think? Where´s the bottleneck? Or is it a little bit oversized?

Thanks in advance!

Andreas
Last edited by TheYouth on 22 Jul 2017, 19:51, edited 1 time in total.

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#3 by didikunz
I quicly googled the CPU and motherboard. From this it should work as a Caspar CG machine. What is not easy to make a statement for, is, how it will perform, when you try to play 8 HD videoas at the same time. From the specs it could work, but if it does in reality is not sure. It's a bit a pitty that the motherboard only has x16 and x1 PCIe slots, so you end up using a x16 slot for the Decklink, as the Duo2 is x4 (Ouad2 x8). So that's what I can tell you from my experiance.
Didi Kunz
CasparCG Client-Programmer, Template Maker & Live CG-Operator
Media Support, CH-5722 Gränichen, Switzerland http://mediasupport.ch/
Problems? Guide to posting Bug reports & Feature requests

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#7 by julusian
peteraellig wrote: ↑
15 Jul 2017, 14:37
 I have a duo2 and a quad2, both seem to be the same, except for the amount of outputs, same settings in the utility, "connector mapping, sdi1 & sdi2" gives fill and key in caspar on output one.
Are you sure on that? I dont have one on hand to check, but all of the documentation I can find says that the connector mapping is to choose between full-duplex and half-duplex channels, to maintain compatibility with the original duo.

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#8 by peteraellig
in this computer i have a quad2, i can either choose between 4 x fill and key, then the BM utility says NONE to port 5-8, or other combinations.
the card runs in a supermicro mainboard. i have no clue what half or fullduplex means in this case :-)
if caspar runs with a config of 2 x FILL/KEY and the BM utility is set to SDI1&2 / SDI3&4, Media express from BM sees the remaining 4 channels only.
please tell me, if i can help you, to test what you mean or need.
Attachments
2017-07-16 00_25_59-Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup.png
2017-07-16 00_25_40-Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup.png
2017-07-16 00_25_23-Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup.png

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#10 by peteraellig
Yes, when i start caspar it gives 2 x Fill and Key.
with a single SDI setting in the BM Utility, caspar generates an error for the key channel.
all this is exactly the same with DUO2

Code: Select all

         <channel>
      		<video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
      			<consumers>
        			<decklink>
	          			<device>1</device>
					<embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
	                	    	<channel-layout>stereo</channel-layout>
	                	    	<latency>low</latency>
	                	   	 <buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
	                	    	<custom-allocator>true</custom-allocator>
        			</decklink>
      			</consumers>
    	</channel>

       <channel>
      		<video-mode>1080i5000</video-mode>
      			<consumers>
        			<decklink>
                			<device>2</device>
                     			 <embedded-audio>true</embedded-audio>
                      			<channel-layout>stereo</channel-layout>
                      			<latency>low</latency>
                      			<buffer-depth>3</buffer-depth>
                      			<custom-allocator>true</custom-allocator>
        			</decklink>
      			</consumers>
    	</channel>

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#14 by TheYouth
Well....
something to be discussed.... Got this reply from BMD Support asking for Key+Fill Support before Peter showed up here:

"The DeckLink Quad 2 and DeckLink Duo 2 can both output an internal Key using our LiveKey software. It is possible to output a Synchronized Key/Fill using software like Casper, but you would need a reference input in the card, If no reference signal was present then the Key and Fill would not be synchronised."

Ref needed or not?

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#15 by didikunz
Well in a broadcast environment you always use reference input. So I never tried without. It always better to have a reference as, for instance, vision mixers don't need to stroe frames on input and so the latency of the whole video path goes down, or at least is reproductable.
Didi Kunz
CasparCG Client-Programmer, Template Maker & Live CG-Operator
Media Support, CH-5722 Gränichen, Switzerland http://mediasupport.ch/
Problems? Guide to posting Bug reports & Feature requests

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#18 by TheYouth
So.... project is nearly finished....

Here´s my final configuration:
- Intel Core i7 5390K
- 4x 16GB DDR4-2400 RAM
- Nvidia Quadro P2000
- 1x IcyDock MB998SP with:
6x Samsung 850 Evo 256GB in Raid 0 configuration
- 1x Samsung M.2 128GB for System
- Mainboard Asus X99-E WS
- Decklink Quad 2
- Logic Case SC-32380

Upgrade to come:
1x LSI MegaRAID Raid Controller, cause the throughput of the OnBoard controller is really bad...
1x Blackmagic 12x12 Cleanswitch

Thanks for all the help and tipps :)
Last edited by TheYouth on 09 Aug 2017, 17:36, edited 1 time in total.
Attachments
Foto 09.08.17, 17 14 02.jpg
Foto 09.08.17, 17 18 06.jpg
Foto 09.08.17, 17 18 41.jpg

Re: CasparCG Rack Config - will it fit the needs?

#20 by Vojsooo
Dears,
We are using the supermicro servers. You can see it here on this topic:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4349&sid=dc793b5fb0 ... 9a10668329
In that supermicro you can use more powerful CPU and RAM etc... We tried use there quad 2 and the machine was able to work properly. But, no more tests, maybe just one day :)

Vojsooo
https://youtu.be/s7rj9TJpFvw - Our system integration in CzechTV Brno
Broadcast technology, on-air graphics systems, SQL databases, visual basic, C#
Expert in Grassvalley products: K2, Stratus
LAWO VSM
Orad: Morpho3D, 3DPlay
Avid: Avid MC
Post Reply

Return to “Community”

cron