Turbo FAQ

Turbo Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1.	VTRs are application-specific, mono-channel devices. Does the Turbo iDDR support multiple applications and channels?
2.	What type of SD- and HD-"wrapped" content material can the Turbo iDDR work with?
3.	How is the product externally controlled by companies such as AMX or Crestron, or any other third party for that matter?
4.	What types of video output connections are there?
5.	If the Hi-Res signals only come out through the DVI connector, how do I get them to BNCs to hook up to products like Seamless Switchers?
6.	What about HD-SDI output connection?
7.	What types of video and audio input connections are there?
8.	Can Turbo record from a DVD?
9.	What is the compression format used by Turbo?
10.	What is the storage capacity for the Turbo iDDR?
11.	What type of hard disk storage is used in a Turbo?
12.	Can the two output channels be synchronized frame-accurately for playout?

1. VTRs are application-specific, mono-channel devices. Does the Turbo iDDR support multiple applications and channels?
Yes. The Turbo iDDR has a single SD Recorder input (Standard Input types) and two SD or HD playout channels. You can record on one channel while playing out on the other two; you can also play out SD and HD on the same timeline. All have simultaneous and exclusive access to the shared disk drive set. Additionally, you can transfer files while playing out and recording.

2. What type of SD- and HD-"wrapped" content material can the Turbo iDDR work with?
Media types supported include: QuickTime, AVI, MPEG-2, Windows Media Video (WMV), WMV HD. Graphic stills supported include: TIF, GIF, BMP, TGA (Targa), and JPG files.

The Turbo iDDR can also import sequenced still files from animation programs such as Adobe After Effects to create high resolution (HD) clips.

For more detailed information about file import and export, view the Import/Export How-to Document (PDF).

3. How is the product externally controlled by companies such as AMX or Crestron, or any other third party for that matter?
The Turbo iDDR has an industry standard RS-422 Serial port for every channel It uses industry standard VTR type protocol – BVW, which allow for standard transport control which enables VTR-like control over the Turbo systems. Compatibility between the Turbo iDDR and Crestron and AMX software modules (drivers) is achieved through a RS-422 or Ethernet connection.

It should be noted that many of our third-party developers can also run the Turbo iDDR through the AMP (Advanced Media Protocol), which runs over the RS-422 Serial ports or Ethernet. This protocol allows for more advanced “Video Server” operation such as loading clips, trimming clips, creating playlists and transferring content between machines. This is the way that the Indigo AV Mixer controls Turbo to do clip loading and playback from a single E-MEM® recall. AMP is being used for these purposes in the Broadcast industries and the Pro AV community will benefit form this type of power as well.

4. What types of video output connections are there?
The Turbo iDDR has two output channels that incorporate the DVI-I connection, which allows for both analog component and digital (SD or HD). It also incorporates SDI (standard SD), composite, and S-Video connectors.

HD content is played out as full-resolution 1920x1080i (50i or 59.94i) on the DVI-I output at the same time down-converted SD is played out of the SDI, composite and S-Video outputs. These are used for monitoring or regular playout — a downconverter for free!

In addition to supporting multiple SD and HD configurations, the Turbo can also output PC-type signal formats, for a 1024x768 resolution. This is available on the DVI-I output connector only.

5. If the Hi-Res signals only come out through the DVI connector, how do I get them to BNCs to hook up to products like Seamless Switchers?
There are many off-the-shelf adaptors available from Pro AV resellers. Grass Valley offers the DVI-to-BNC cable as a Turbo iDDR accessory.

6. What about HD-SDI output connection?
Turbo is the first of the iDDR line. HD-SDI connectors may feature in future iDDR models. In the meantime there are DVI-to-HD-SDI converter units available on the market.

7. What types of video and audio input connections are there?
BNC component (Y, Pb, Pr), S-Video, and composite for analog video, SD-SDI for digital video. S/PDIF for digital audio and XLRs for analog audio.

8. Can Turbo record from a DVD?
Yes, there are two methods of importing rights-free material:

For analog recording from a standalone DVD player's output, use Y, Pb, Pr input, S-Video or composite and choose the appropriate audio input type
For file import from a DVD, use the .VOB files from within the DVD's file structure. Turbo will import protection-free .VOB files that include AC-3 (i.e. Dolby Digital Audio for Surround Sound) data. Turbo preserves the encoded audio for playback but, the digital output on the analog or S/PDIF outputs has to be decoded by an external device for playout to speakers or an audio system.

9. What is the compression format used by Turbo?
All material stored on Turbo's hard disk array in MPEG-2 format with 4:2:0 color sampling, using the Long Group of Pictures (Long GOP) sequence structure.

10. What is the storage capacity for the Turbo iDDR?
All HD material is transcoded and stored at a maximum setting of 25Mbps MPEG-2 Long GOP (Long Group of Pictures). There is approximately 10 hours of storage available if all material is 25Mbps, which is the maximum rate used for HD.

If the Turbo iDDR's recording bit rate is set at its lowest MPEG-2 setting, 4Mbps, the storage capacity is about 40 hours.

From this, the resulting capacity for a mixture of HD and SD material can be anywhere between 10 and 40 hours.

11. What type of hard disk storage is used in a Turbo?
Each Turbo iDDR uses high-performance, enterprise-class SATA disk sets (two drives, 74GB capacity each). This is how Turbo can have the bandwidth and performance to support multi-channel operation.

12. Can the two output channels be synchronized frame-accurately for playout?
Yes. Currently it is achieved with the GPI inputs telling both output channels to playback in sync. This can be accomplished for one or many Turbo units. Most customers use their external control equipment via RS-422 or Ethernet control.

Get Turbo iDDR

How to Buy

View the Turbo-R Datasheet (PDF)

Turbo in Action

Works with Indigo AV Mixer

Indigo

Indigo AV Mixer sold separately.