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HD-SDI vs. 3G-SDI: What’s the Difference?

November 28, 2024/in Learn

In professional and military-grade video systems, HD-SDI (High-Definition Serial Digital Interface) and 3G-SDI (3 Gigabit Serial Digital Interface) are popular standards for transmitting high-quality video.

Understanding the differences between these two formats is important when choosing video recorders, especially for applications that require rugged and reliable performance in challenging environments.

Critical Differences Between HD-SDI and 3G-SDI

Transmission Bandwidth

One of the primary distinctions between HD-SDI and 3G-SDI lies in their transmission bandwidths. HD-SDI transmits video at a rate of 1.485 Gbps, supporting HD resolutions up to 1080i or 720p at a frame rate of 30 fps.

This lower data rate is beneficial in applications that prioritize bandwidth efficiency. For example, Datatoys’ Corsair™ DVR, an industry-proven solution for aviation and naval use, utilizes HD-SDI for recording in HD. This ensures stable video output without overwhelming data strain on the system, making it suitable for operations where moderate frame rates are sufficient but durability and stability are non-negotiable.

On the other hand, 3G-SDI doubles the transmission rate to 2.97 Gbps, allowing for 1080p resolution at up to 60 fps. This higher data throughput supports applications that require high frame rates and detailed imagery, such as Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR from Datatoys is compatible with HD-SDI and 3G-SDI inputs, offering flexibility for high-demand environments. With its advanced low-latency capabilities, this DVR can record and stream simultaneously, ensuring critical footage is captured in real time—a feature essential for fast-paced, mission-critical operations where every frame counts.

Resolution and Frame Rate Support

While both standards support HD video, the difference in frame rate capabilities distinguishes HD-SDI and 3G-SDI for specific use cases. HD-SDI handles resolutions up to 1080i or 720p at 30 fps, which is ideal for applications with high resolution without requiring extremely high frame rates.

The HD Mini Bullet Camera from Datatoys provides 1080p HD-SDI output at 30 fps, perfect for capturing clear cockpit views, surveillance footage, or static scenes where clarity is critical but movement is limited. This compact camera’s rugged design allows it to withstand harsh environments, making it an effective solution for applications in aviation and controlled monitoring scenarios.

3G-SDI, by contrast, can support full HD resolution at 60 fps, making it better suited for high-motion environments. Datatoys’ HD Mini Cube Camera is designed for 3G-SDI output, providing 1080p video at high frame rates. This capability is invaluable for ISR and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) applications that require smooth, high-definition video for navigation, tracking, or real-time analysis.

High frame rates are essential in these contexts to ensure footage remains clear and responsive and to capture details that may be missed with lower frame rates.

Compatibility and System Integration

An advantage of the 3G-SDI standard is its backward compatibility with HD-SDI, which makes it feasible to use both formats within the same system. This feature is especially beneficial for systems gradually transitioning to higher resolutions and frame rates.

Many of Datatoys’ recording devices, such as the Corsair™ DVR and Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR, support both HD-SDI and 3G-SDI inputs. This makes them highly versatile solutions that allow organizations to integrate newer 3G-SDI devices alongside existing HD-SDI infrastructure without requiring extensive equipment upgrades.

This flexibility simplifies the adoption of enhanced video quality while maintaining compatibility with current assets.

Practical Applications and Use Cases

Military and Defense

In military and defense applications, 3G-SDI is preferred for systems that rely on fast, high-resolution video, especially where real-time visuals can influence decisions. For instance, ISR missions and UAV surveillance demand high frame rates to capture fine details in fast-moving scenarios.

Datatoys’ Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR, with its military-grade durability and low-latency streaming capabilities, meets the stringent requirements of these environments. It allows for crisp video capture and instant playback, ensuring decision-makers receive accurate, actionable intelligence as events unfold.

In contrast, for applications where moderate frame rates suffice, Datatoys’ HD Mini Bullet Camera provides HD-SDI output at 30 fps. This camera is well-suited for controlled surveillance environments, such as facility monitoring or cockpit video capture, where reliable, high-quality video is necessary, but high frame rates are not as critical.

Aerospace and Aviation

In aerospace, HD-SDI systems are often preferred for capturing cockpit or cabin views due to their lower bandwidth requirements. Datatoys’ Corsair™ DVR, with its robust design, is engineered for aviation use, providing dependable video capture even in extreme conditions like high altitudes and temperature fluctuations. This makes it ideal for installations where efficient data rates are necessary for steady video recording without overwhelming onboard systems.

3G-SDI-enabled devices, such as the HD Mini Cube Camera, are valuable in UAV and real-time aerial reconnaissance applications. The higher frame rates and resolution capability of 3G-SDI allow for accurate, detailed footage in dynamic situations, providing essential visual data for UAV pilots and mission analysts who require clear visuals for navigation or decision-making in real-time.

Broadcast and Production

Broadcast and production environments often benefit from HD-SDI and 3G-SDI standards, as these systems require durable and adaptable recording equipment for outdoor and mobile production. Datatoys’ Corsair™ DVR and Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR both support HD-SDI and 3G-SDI, providing flexibility for broadcast setups that need to adapt to changing demands.

For high-speed sports and event coverage, 3G-SDI’s 60 fps capability offers smooth, high-quality footage, while HD-SDI can efficiently handle standard broadcast settings without adding unnecessary data load. These rugged devices are built to withstand the elements, making them well-suited to remote production where reliability is paramount.

Advantages of Each Standard with Datatoys Products

HD-SDI Advantages: The Corsair™ DVR is designed to provide stable HD-SDI recording in rugged conditions, making it ideal for aerial and shipborne video capture where bandwidth and stability are important. Likewise, the HD Mini Bullet Camera supports HD-SDI output at 1080p and 30 fps, an excellent choice for environments that don’t require high frame rates but need consistent video quality.
3G-SDI Advantages: For applications where high motion and clarity are essential, the Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR and HD Mini Cube Camera provide 1080p at 60 fps, making them suitable for ISR, UAV, and other mission-critical scenarios. These products withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations, offering resilient performance in demanding conditions.

Understanding HD-SDI Cabling and Signal Loss

HD-SDI signals are commonly transmitted over RG6-style coaxial cables, ideal for preserving signal integrity over extended distances. However, cable type, diameter, and quality significantly affect signal quality and maximum transmission distance. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors to consider for HD-SDI transmission over coaxial cables.

1. Cable Type and Maximum Distance

Standard RG6 Cable: Capable of transmitting HD-SDI signals up to approximately 100 meters.
Thinner RG179 Cable: While more compact, RG179 experiences higher signal loss due to its smaller diameter. This limits HD-SDI transmission to around 100 feet.
Impact of Cable Diameter: Thicker cables like RG6 have a larger conductor, reducing signal attenuation due to the “skin effect.” Thinner cables like RG179, with less conductor surface area, experience greater attenuation.

2. Choosing the Right Cable for Frequency and Bandwidth

Frequency Testing: Select cables rated for the highest frequency to ensure optimal performance.
MIL-SPEC RG179: Known for a robust jacket, the MIL-C-17/94F version of RG179 supports up to 3GHz with a 21dB loss per 100 feet at 0.4 GHz.
Belden RG179DT (Digital Truck): An alternative rated for up to 4.5GHz, better suited for higher frequency applications.

3. Jitter and Signal Degradation

Understanding Jitter: Digital signals degrade as distance increases, introducing “jitter” or timing errors that can hinder the receiver’s ability to interpret bit transitions accurately.
Distance Limits: When HD-SDI signals weaken beyond a certain point, even high-grade receivers may struggle. In ideal conditions, receivers can still interpret HD-SDI signals as low as 0.080 volts or 80mV, though some premium receivers can operate as low as 70mV.

4. Calculating Cable Loss

Cable Loss Formula: To calculate signal loss, consult the cable’s specification sheet to find attenuation at 743 MHz (half of the HD-SDI data rate of 1.485 GHz).
Example Calculation: For a 300-foot cable run, divide by 100 and multiply by the attenuation value in dB/100 ft to estimate total loss.
Safety Margin: SMPTE recommends factoring in a 10% shorter cable length than calculated to account for margin, ensuring reliable signal reception.

5. Fiber Optic Alternatives for Long-Distance Applications

Fiber Optic Transmission: For applications requiring distances beyond coaxial cable limits, fiber optic cabling provides a virtually unlimited range, depending on system setup.
Conversion Requirements: HD-SDI signals are converted to light for transmission via fiber, then back to an electrical signal at the receiving end. Fiber optic cables minimize loss and jitter, ideal for extensive cable runs in large venues or remote setups.

Choosing Between HD-SDI and 3G-SDI with Datatoys Solutions

Selecting between HD-SDI and 3G-SDI depends on the specific needs of the application. HD-SDI products like the Corsair™ DVR and HD Mini Bullet Camera deliver robust performance with lower data demands for situations prioritizing bandwidth efficiency and steady video quality. For high-speed, mission-critical environments, 3G-SDI solutions like the Dr.I Parabellum™ DVR and HD Mini Cube Camera ensure every detail is captured precisely.

Datatoys’ video solutions stand out for their resilience and reliability in extreme conditions, making them essential tools for professionals who depend on uninterrupted video quality. Explore the full range of Datatoys’ products to enhance your mission-critical applications with video systems that endure the harshest environments.

Cube Cameras vs. Bullet Cameras: Choosing the Best for Rugged Use

November 26, 2024/in Aviation

In harsh environments where reliable, high-definition video capture is critical, selecting the correct type of camera is vital. Cube cameras and bullet cameras are popular choices, each with unique advantages. Understanding how they differ can help you make an informed choice for applications ranging from UAV surveillance to cockpit monitoring.

What Are Cube Cameras and Bullet Cameras?

Both cube and bullet cameras are compact, durable video cameras designed for specialized uses. The primary difference lies in their shape, mounting versatility, and specific design features that make each suitable for different applications. Let’s look at each type’s core characteristics and see how they fit into rugged environments.

What Is a Cube Camera?

A cube camera, like the HD Mini Cube Camera from Datatoys, is a small, box-shaped camera often used in tight spaces or environments where a discreet, compact design is essential. Cube cameras are commonly found in drones, helicopters, and other aerospace applications because their size and shape allow easy integration into tight areas while still providing high-quality imaging.

Key Features of Cube Cameras

Compact and Lightweight: Cube cameras are designed to be small and easy to install. This makes them ideal for mounting in compact spaces or on drones where weight and size are critical.
High-Resolution Video: Many cube cameras, like Datatoys’ HD Mini Cube Camera, support HD or even 4K video, capturing clear, detailed footage that’s crucial for missions that require precise visual data.
Durable Housing: Built to withstand harsh conditions, Datatoys cube cameras are often rated for extreme temperatures and high vibrations, ensuring they operate reliably in challenging environments.

Use Cases for Cube Cameras

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Cube cameras are popular on drones and UAVs due to their lightweight design and ability to record high-definition video. They provide real-time situational awareness in ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) applications.
Mission-Critical Environments: Because of their durability, cube cameras are often used in applications where they need to function under high temperatures, dust, or vibrations, such as combat vehicle monitoring or border patrol.

What Is a Bullet Camera?

A bullet camera, such as the HD Mini Bullet Camera from Datatoys, is a cylindrical camera designed for high-definition video capture over longer distances. The “bullet” shape helps with directional focus, making it ideal for fixed mounting positions where the camera must point in a specific direction.

Key Features of Bullet Cameras

Directional Field of View: Bullet cameras often have a narrow, more focused field of view than cube cameras, making them great for long-range monitoring.
Weatherproofing and Durability: Many bullet cameras, like Datatoys’ HD Mini Bullet Camera, are weather-resistant and ruggedized, ideal for outdoor or exposed installations.
Higher Versatility in Mounting: Bullet cameras can be positioned easily on walls or fixed structures with specialized mounts, making them suitable for stable, long-term installations.

Use Cases for Bullet Cameras

Aircraft and Cockpit Monitoring: Bullet cameras are often used in aviation for cockpit and cabin monitoring, where they can be mounted securely in a specific direction to capture high-definition video.
Perimeter and Surveillance Monitoring: The directional nature of bullet cameras is also helpful for surveillance applications, where a focused view is needed to monitor specific areas.
Marine Camera Systems: Bullet cameras are perfect marine purposes due to their directional nature for surveillance applications.

Key Comparison Points Between Cube Cameras and Bullet Cameras

Field of View and Flexibility

Cube Cameras: These generally offer a wider field of view, meaning they capture a broader area in one shot. This feature is valuable in dynamic applications, like drones, where the camera captures more of the surroundings.
Bullet Cameras: Bullet cameras usually offer a narrower, focused view, ideal for applications that need a concentrated field, such as security or surveillance of a fixed area.

Mounting Options and Discreteness

Cube Cameras: Due to their box shape, cube cameras are more versatile for mounting in tight spaces or hidden locations. Their compact size also makes them less obtrusive.
Bullet Cameras: Bullet cameras are designed for stable mounting on walls, brackets, or other fixed structures. While they aren’t as discreet as cube cameras, their shape is highly functional for directed monitoring.

Video Quality and Resolution

Both cube and bullet cameras are available in high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (4K) options, making them suitable for capturing clear, detailed images.

Cube Cameras: Often have enhanced resolution settings to capture details in broader views. For instance, Datatoys’ HD Mini Cube Camera offers crisp 1080p video at high frame rates, ensuring high-quality output even in high-motion applications like UAV flights.
Bullet Cameras: These cameras excel in capturing long-distance or specific area footage in HD. The HD Mini Bullet Camera provides reliable 1080p video, ideal for stationary surveillance applications where detailed monitoring of a defined space is essential.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Both camera types are built to withstand extreme conditions, but they handle environmental challenges differently.

Cube Cameras: Cube cameras from Datatoys are engineered to withstand vibrations, extreme temperatures, and rapid movements, making them ideal for UAVs and moving vehicles.
Bullet Cameras: Bullet cameras are often weatherproof and dust-resistant, suitable for exterior or exposed environments, making them optimal for outdoor installations where they’ll face the elements continuously.

Choosing the Right Camera for Your Needs

When deciding between a cube camera and a bullet camera, consider the specific needs of your application.

For Dynamic Environments: Cube cameras are ideal if you need a compact, lightweight camera that can capture wide-angle footage in a moving or confined space. UAVs, ISR applications, and tight cockpit setups benefit from cube cameras’ flexibility and compact design.
For Fixed and Long-Range Monitoring: Bullet cameras are optimal if you need a camera for fixed-point, directional monitoring, particularly in outdoor or large indoor spaces. Cockpit and cabin views, perimeter surveillance, or specific area monitoring are where bullet cameras excel.

Datatoys Camera Options

Datatoys offers high-quality, rugged cameras in cube and bullet formats designed to deliver reliable performance in extreme environments. Explore Datatoys’ HD Mini Cube Camera for applications that require flexibility and a wide field of view, or consider the HD Mini Bullet Camera for directional, long-term monitoring needs.

Both camera types are engineered with military-grade durability to withstand extreme temperatures, dust, and vibrations, ensuring they operate reliably in the harshest conditions. Datatoys’ solutions are trusted by professionals across aerospace, defense, and surveillance industries, meeting stringent standards for mission-critical applications.

A photo of a GoPro camera shooting video of a body of water

Best Go Pro Alternative For Pilots

September 24, 2024/in Aviation

When it comes to capturing the highest-quality content for pilots in the cockpit, the GO-Pro has been discussed many times over the years. At Datatoys, we manufacture what we believe are two of the best alternatives to the Go Pro currently on the market: our AV HD Pro and AV HD Pro 2.

We’ve created this article to bring you the best alternative to the Go Pro for pilots.

Key Takeaways

High-resolution video capabilities like 4K or 5K are essential for capturing detailed footage in the cockpit
Rugged design and reliable stabilization features are crucial for ensuring smooth recordings in challenging aviation environments
While the Go-Pro is a fantastic action camera, we believe the AV HD Pro is currently the best action cameras for aviation.
Specialized aviation features and data integration capabilities are key advantages of using data toys as GoPro alternatives
Prioritizing reliability, performance, and user-friendly features is important when choosing a cockpit camera for enhancing the aviation experience
Two of the highest-quality alternatives to the Go Pro are the AV HD Pro and the AV HD Pro 2.

What’s The Best Go-Pro Alternative Money Can Buy?

Below are two of the proprietary products that we consider to be the highest quality for pilot cameras.

AV HD Pro – Best Action Camera For Pilots

av hd pro alternative to go pro for pilots

Get A Quote Today

Unlike GoPro and other similar cameras, the AV-HD Pro is purpose-built for aviation enthusiasts. It features specialized capabilities like propeller filtering, headset audio recording, and 3D flight path tracking, making it ideal for capturing the unique aspects of flight. With its 16-megapixel image sensor, the camera delivers breathtaking Full 1080p video, ensuring every moment is captured in crystal-clear detail. The 2-inch Chroma Display provides an intuitive interface for viewing live feeds, adjusting settings, and effortlessly playing back footage. Additionally, the AV-HD Pro is designed with the smallest camera head on the market, significantly reducing buffeting and drag during flight, resulting in a smoother recording experience.

Versatile Wide-Angle Camera with 6X Optical Zoom

Capture every detail, whether close or distant! Choose from various fields of view, offering up to 170° in 720p mode and 120° in 1080p mode. The camera also features a full 6x zoom in 720p, perfect for getting detailed shots of the ground. Thanks to a unique electro-optical zoom, you’ll maintain full resolution and video quality even at maximum zoom. Spot something that would make a fantastic photo? No worries—simply press a single button to capture a still image while recording, making it easy to document every moment.

Why Choose The AV HD Pro

The AV-HD Pro stands out as the best alternative to GoPro for pilots due to its specialized features designed specifically for aviation enthusiasts. Unlike general action cameras, the AV-HD Pro includes propeller filtering, which reduces visual distortion from rotating blades, ensuring clearer footage during flight. Its ability to record headset audio captures critical communications between pilots and air traffic control, providing a comprehensive view of the flying experience.

Check out some of our aviation video recorders here.

AV HD Pro2 Dual Camera Recorder

This camera is coming soon and this will be updated accordingly.

What To Look For In A Go-Pro Alternative?

When considering a GoPro alternative for your cockpit camera needs, zero in on key features that align with your aviation requirements. Look for cameras that offer high-resolution video capabilities, like 4K or 5K, to ensure clear footage of your flights.

Stabilization is crucial for smooth recordings, especially in the air, so prioritize models with reliable stabilization features. Also, consider the camera’s durability and build quality, as aviation environments can be challenging.

Additionally, features such as GPS, external sensors, and data-capturing abilities can enhance your flying experience by providing valuable information about your flights.

Why DataToys Makes The Best Go-Pro Alternative For Pilots

DataToys offers pilots a superior alternative to GoPro for cockpit cameras. When creating our cameras, we kept in mindadditional features that pilots would find useful and built a state-of-the-art product.

The rugged design ensures reliable performance even in challenging flight conditions, giving you peace of mind during your aerial adventures.

Why Trust Datatoys?

At Datatoys, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. Our mission goes beyond the norm, aiming to excel in effort, quality, performance, and, most importantly, customer service. We reject mediocrity and strive to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This dedication fuels our relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction and high service standards. Our customers are our top priority, which is why we are available before, during, and after business hours. We are fully devoted to delivering outstanding service and support at all times.

Looking To Take Your Cockpit Videography To The Next Level? Give Us A Call Today

Looking to capture footage for training purposes? We highly recommend checking out the AV HD Pro today. Looking for more information, head over to our contact page here.

Drone Terrorism?

October 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Uncategorized

Drones are a popular topic in the news today. More and more, drones are being used by people in cities and rural areas across the country. On October 23, 2016, Law enforcement officials fired at an unmanned aircraft and a large group of opponents of the Dakota Access pipeline blocked a North Dakota state highway Sunday, capping a weekend of protests.

A helicopter helping monitor a protest against the four-state pipeline Sunday morning was approached by a drone in a “threatening manner,” the Morton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. An officer in the helicopter told law enforcement on the ground that the pilot and passengers were “in fear of their lives” and that the unmanned aircraft was going after them. Less-than-lethal ammunition damaged the drone, which was then landed by its operator.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said drones flying near protests and near the area where hundreds have been camping out are not being operated according to federal regulations.

“Reports of drones not being operated within the (Federal Aviation Administration) guidelines or in a reckless and unsafe manner are being investigated and forwarded to the Morton County States Attorney’s office for prosecution,” Kirchmeier said in a statement. Two people operating drones during the protests have already been charged.

Sunday afternoon, the large group of protesters had blocked the highway with hay bales, rocks, tree stumps and other items to create a roadblock north of the encampments, to where at times thousands of people have flocked. The North Dakota Department of Transportation closed the highway down.

Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is building the $3.8 billion pipeline, which crosses through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. Opponents worry about potential effects on drinking water on the reservation and farther downstream because the pipeline will cross the Missouri River, as well as destruction of cultural artifacts.

Sunday’s demonstrations come after more than 80 people were arrested Saturday during a large protest at a pipeline construction site. More than 220 people have now been arrested since demonstrations began in August.

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pipeline-733083-dakota-people.html

Now a solution to bring that intrusive drone down

September 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Ask the Doctor

Dones are increasing in numbers every day. While this is good news for the drone industry, it causes significant concerns to several agencies that need to protect their resources. Locations like prisons, for instance, require their airspaces to be free of drones to prevent any sort of malpractice.

Authorities around the world have tried different measures for this. The Dutch police, for instance, has trained eagles to tackle intrusive drones. Other measures include shooting a net to capture the drone, or even the conventional firearms to shoot the drone down.

However, none of these measures are perfect. Using eagles is not agreeable to animal rights activists, nets are not viable in the long distance and firearms come with their own challenges.

Now, a Taiwanese startup has come up with a solution that can bring a drone down or send it back to its spot of origin. DronesVision’s HiGH + MiGHTY SKYNET looks like an oversized rifle with a viewfinder and a trigger to activate it. It is light at 5.7kg and works on lithium ion battery that has to be carried separately in a backpack.

How does it work?
Consumer drones mainly use two bands in while in operation. One is the GPS/GLONASS for satellite position at 1.45-1.65GHz and the other is the remote control uplink and video transmission downlink, both of which use 2.4 GHz band.

“Our product HiGH + MiGHTY SKYNET anti-drone system is designed to jam/block these two bands when drones are flying into unauthorized areas,” said Kason Shih, Founder and CEO of DronesVision. “HiGH + MiGHTY SKYNET can block GPS navigation positioning, force rogue drones fly back to original take-off points, or to land onto the ground where they hovered.”

The solution can work in three modes. In the first mode, it can cut off the global positioning system alone, causing the drone to drift in the air, making it harder to control. Usually, when this happens, the owner gets nervous and stops flying around. In the second mode it can jam the remote transmission link, cutting off the video connectivity, and it will send the drone back to its owner, allowing authorities to track down the culprit. In the third mode, the solution can force the drone to land on the spot where it hovered and got jammed, enabling authorities to access the footages it has recorded.

The target market

SKYNET can be useful in a range of situations, but currently, the company is targeting government, critical infrastructure and other large-scale deployments. It sells mainly to systems integrators and arms dealers.

“At the moment, our target customers are government-related units such as military, police and law enforcement, fire department, power plants, prisons, airports,” Shih said. “In the near future, it might be deployed to protect stadiums or sports events, amusement parks, national parks.

Outlook

The drone market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. According to a report from MarketsandMarkets, the global UAV market for commercial application is expected to reach US$5.59 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 32.22 percent between 2015 and 2020.

With such growth, the concerns associated with it could also increase, and hence there could be a strong market for a solution like SKYNET in the coming years. DronesVision is looking to capitalize on this and is currently working on a second solution called Dronedar that would integrate a radar-based drone detection system with the anti-drone facility.

This article originally appeared on August 23, 2016 on www.asmag.com, written by Prasanth Aby Thomas.

Source: http://www.asmag.com/showpost/21033.aspx

What are the differences between the 1080p version and the 720p version of the same media?

August 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Ask the Doctor

Differences in video probably won’t be noticeable for untrained eye. 1080p video would have to be downscaled anyway.

Let’s assume the original video was 1080p. In this case the 720p video was first scaled, then compressed. On the other hand, 1080p clip was first compressed server-side, then scaled on your machine. 1080p file will obviously be bigger. (otherwise it would offer higher resolution, but at lower quality, ruining the visual experience and invalidating the point of using higher resolution1)

Lossy compression usually causes visual artifacts that appear as square blocks with noticeable edges when video is paused, but aren’t visible when you play it with normal framerate. 1080p file will contain more square blocks (caused by compression) than 720p video, but those blocks will be of approximately the same size in both videos.

Doing simple math we can calculate that 1080p video will contain 2,25 times more such blocks, so after scaling it down to 720p those blocks will be 2.25 times smaller than in actual 720p video. The smaller those blocks are, the better quality of the final video is, so 1080p video will look better than 720p video, even on 720p screen. Resized 1080p video will appear slightly sharper than actual 720 clip.

Things get a bit more complicated if source material was bigger than 1080p. The 1080p clip is first scaled to 1080p and compressed before you play it and then scaled once again while playing. The 720p clip is scaled only once and then compressed. The intermediate scaling step which is present in 1080p video case will make its quality slightly worse. The compression will make 720p even worse, though, so 1080p wins anyway.

Audio

It’s not only video that is compressed, but audio too. When people decide to use higher bitrate for video compression, they often do the same with audio. 1080p version of the same video may offer better sound quality than 720p video.

Do you have questions about video and recording? Ask the Doctor! We will answer all your questions on our blog. Submit your questions today…

AirKnight HD Video Formats

August 17, 2016/0 Comments/in Ask the Doctor

The AirKnight HD is the key to HD-SDI Solid State Airborne system.

Record Audio and Video in full high definition, 3G-SDI at 1080p60/30 with the Datatoys AirKnight HD single channel solid state airborne video recorder. Full 1080p60/30 HD 3G-SDI solid state airborne video recorder designed for professional aircraft operations. Record 3G-SDI, HD-SDI, HDMI or CVBS (NTSC & PAL) video input streams to USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 flash media, USB External storage such as SSD or HDD, or SD solid state media.

Available Video Formats:

Composite PAL, NTSC
SD-SDI PAL, NTSC
HD-SDI 720p30, p50, p60
HD-SDI 1080p25, p29.97, p30, i50, i59.94, i60
3G-SDI 1080p50, p60, p59.94
HDMI 640x480p60
HDMI 480p30, i60
HDMI 576i50
HDMI 720p50, p60
HDMI 1080i50, i59.94, i60
HDMI 1080p25, p30, p50, p60
HDMI 800X600p60, p75, p85
HDMI 1152x864p60
HDMI 1280x768p60, p75, p85
HDMI 1280x960p30, p60
HDMI 1280x1024p30, p60, p75
HDMI 1360x768p60
HDMI 1400x1050p60
HDMI 1440x900p60
HDMI 1600x1200p60
HDMI 1680x1050p60
HDMI 1920x1200p50, p60
HDMI 2048x2048p30

Learn more about the AirKnight HD. Contact us today for a quote!

July 2016 Photography Contest winner….

August 3, 2016/0 Comments/in Uncategorized

We are proud the announce our July monthly winner in Bad Wolf Technologies 2016 Photography Contest. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo in July. We have some great pictures so far but keep submitting your favorite aviation pictures for a chance to win monthly prizes and the grand prize!

The winner with 9 votes in July is….

off to the wild but yonder, but really loud

Congratulations to Kathi Taylor! Kathi will receive a $50 gift card, Bad Wolf Technologies T-shirt and be featured for the month of July in our 2017 calendar.

The contest isn’t over yet! Even if your photo didn’t win for July, you can submit a new photo for June and still win at the end of the year for our grand prize. The photo with the most votes at the end of the year will win an IPad and be the featured cover image on the 2017 Bad Wolf Technology Calendar.

Submit your next photo for August!

Visit www.datatoys.com/photocontest or our Facebook page to upload your next photo and encourage your friends and co-workers to vote. Good luck!

The Difference Between Gain, Volume, Level, and Loudness

July 21, 2016/0 Comments/in Uncategorized

This article originally appeared at http://www.offbeatband.com/2009/08/the-difference-between-gain-volume-level-and-loudness/

When working with sound amplification equipment, we often misuse these terms. Probably because you’ll see them often, and two or three on the same piece of equipment! That can seriously make your brain want to go flip upside-down and jump into a pool of boiling acoustic particle velocity soup. On top of that, you might have channel volume, master volume, guitar volume, fader levels, guitar amp gain, mixer board gain … etc. But, it’s pretty important stuff to understand if you want to get a good sound from your equipment.

Gain
Gain is one of the harder terms to define, mainly because its used in a lot more places than just the audio world. Quite simply it means an increase in some kind of value. So for example, you can have a power gain, voltage gain, or current gain; and they all increase those respective values. Typically when referring to gain, we refer to transmission gain, which is the increase in the power of the signal. This increase is almost always expressed in dB (decibels). This could be the increase in the raw signal from your guitar or microphone before it goes into any of the other electronic components. For the curious, here’s the equation to calculate gain:

Gain = 10 x log (Power out/Power in)

expressed in dB.

Practical Use of Gain
For all non-rocket scientist purposes, you’re probably going to see a gain control in two places. One of them is on your mixer board or PA, and the other is on a guitar amp. These both mean the same thing as far as electronics go, but serve different purposes in each.

On the mixer board, you’ll see the gain at the top of the board. It’s the first control that the raw mic signal sees, and it will boost the signal to a sufficient level for the rest of the controls to work properly. You’ll want to set this gain level high enough to bring up the level of the signal, but not so high that you’ll get clipping or distortion in the signal. For this purpose, many boards come with a PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) button. This button will let you see the actual signal strength by looking at the LEDs on the board. Use the mic at normal sound levels and set the gain knob so that the peaks in sound don’t send the signal into the red, and you’re good to go.

On a guitar amp, the gain’s main intention is to create distortion (as my blood tingles with ground shaking delight). You already know what it does, so there’s no point in telling you, but I do have a small tip – turn your gain down! Yes, I also love the gut wrenching melodies of face-meltifying solos, but you seriously don’t need your gain sitting on 10 all the time. Novices will go into the recording studio thinking their sound is redonkulously awesome, only to have the sound engineer take their distortion down to a 5 or 6 cause they sound terrible. The distortion shouldn’t hide your skills, but accentuate them.

Volume
Besides defining three dimensional space, volume can also be used to describe the power level of a signal. So when you turn up the “master volume” knob on your amp, it simply means you’re increasing the amount of power used by the amp to increase the signal. This term is quite ambiguous since it’s used in so many different places, mainly to mean the actual sound you perceive in your ears, which is not exactly true. Use with caution.

Level
This term is used to describe the magnitude of the sound in reference to some arbitrary reference. More specifically we use SPL (sound pressure level) to describe sound waves. SPL is a term calculated from the log of the rms sound pressure of a measured sound related to a reference value. Basically meaning we create a measurement scale with zero starting at the lowest threshold of human hearing. The SPL scale is shown in dB and goes up to 130 dB (well, infinity, but whatever), which is the threshold of pain for the human ear. Now I just need to find a way to rock as loud as Krakatoa (180 dB standing 100 miles away).

Loudness
Loudness, even though similar to volume and level, is another monster. Since human ears are not able to hear each frequency at the same level, perceived loudness is different as we move up and down in frequency. The following graph shows the level that a human ear “thinks” its hearing, which as you can see is not correct most of the time. The lower frequencies, like the bass guitar at 40-220 Hz, need more sound pressure for us to believe it’s equally as loud as a sound at 1 kHz.

Source: http://www.offbeatband.com/2009/08/the-difference-between-gain-volume-level-and-loudness/

Equal Loudness Contours

Here we introduce a term called a “phon“, which is used to describe loudness. You can see on the graph that the phon contour is different for each dB level. The 120 phon contour requires less boost in the low frequencies than the 10 phon contour. Mostly because of the shape of the ear, you can also see from the graph that we hear the 3-4 kHz range the best, which happens to be on the slightly higher end of human speech. If you lost it, you’d have a hard time understanding people.

Source: http://www.offbeatband.com/2009/08/the-difference-between-gain-volume-level-and-loudness/

What to do at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016

July 20, 2016/0 Comments/in Uncategorized

EAA AirVenture 2016 in Oshkosh is just around the corner. As always, this year features some great events all week long.

1. Bad Wolf Technologies photography contest
If you’ve been to AirVenture before, you know there are plenty of opportunities to take some amazing pictures of aircrafts. This year, make sure to enter our 2016 photography contest. We are giving away great monthly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the year. Show off your photography skill and if you win, you’ll be features in our 2017 calendar.

Enter the photo contest today

2. Third Eye Blind EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Opening Day Concert on July 25
Third Eye Blind, the San Francisco-based band that has sold more than 12 million records with a string of Top 20 hits, will get EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 off to an energetic start when it headlines the fly-in’s popular opening night concert on Monday, July 25.

The concert, presented by Ford Motor Company, is free to all AirVenture opening-day attendees and will be held on Boeing Centennial Plaza immediately following the afternoon air show.

3. Canadian Forces Snowbirds
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, one of the most popular military aerial demonstration teams in the world, announced EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 as part of its schedule, which would be the first time the team would be back at Oshkosh in more than 30 years.

Snowbirds Air Show Schedule: First performance is a “practice show” – basically, a full dress rehearsal for the weekend – on Friday, July 29, at the end of the regular afternoon air show. On Saturday, July 30, the Snowbirds will again fly as the final performers in the afternoon air show. The Snowbirds will wrap up their Oshkosh performances on Sunday, July 31, as the closing act in the last air show of AirVenture 2016. Learn more…

4. World’s Largest Flying Water Bomber
The gigantic Martin Mars aircraft, the world’s largest flying water bomber and the last of its kind, will make its first trip to Wisconsin to participate at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.

During the event, the massive airplane will be parked near the EAA Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago, just a few miles east of the main fly-in grounds. It will also fly several demonstrations throughout the week during the daily afternoon air shows.

Martin Mars Air Show Schedule: July 25, July 27, July 29, July 30 evening

The Martin Mars is the largest flying boat ever flown operationally, with a height of 38 feet, a length of 120 feet, and a wingspan of 200 feet (approximately the wingspan of a Boeing 747). Only six of the massive aircraft were built, with Coulson Flying Tankers of Port Alberni, British Columbia, owning the two remaining examples since 2007 and using them as water bombers on forest fires throughout the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Learn more…

5. Aircraft of Desert Storm Gather 25 Years Later
The aircraft of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield, which formed one of the largest air power operations in history, will return to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2016 for a look back 25 years after this massive undertaking.

The commemoration at Oshkosh this year will feature many of the aircraft that were highlighted at the 1991 EAA Fly-In Convention, which attracted many of the aircraft used during Operation Desert Storm. In addition, military commanders of that operation will recall their experiences during that multi-national operation, which began after Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The aircraft already confirmed for this year’s AirVenture gathering include fighter jets such as the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, A-10 Warthog, and F-18 Hornet. It also includes such support aircraft as the KC-135, EA-6B, and C-5M. Many of the aircraft used during those operations remain valuable assets for the U.S. military today. In addition, the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team will fly as part of the afternoon air shows on Friday through Sunday, July 29-31.

On Friday, July 29, Gen. Chuck Horner – who commanded U.S. and Allied air operations in Desert Storm and Desert Shield – will be the guest of honor at an evening “Salute to Veterans” Day program at Theater in the Woods. Horner will be joined by Gen. Gilmary Hostage, who flew combat missions during Desert Storm. Other special guests are likely to join the lineup prior to AirVenture. Learn more…

These are just a handful of the wonderful activities taking place at EAA AirVenture 2016. Visit http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure for all the details.