Determining if a video device
passes video cleanly
Setting up an SVGA card that
has video output
Providing an instant video
test pattern system from a portable PC or laptop
Producing "bars and
tone" for video tapes
Aligning SVGA monitor
convergence
Testing color purity
Tutoring new technicians that
have never worked with broadcast or NTSC video before
Testing PC based character
generators and other broadcast devices that use Windows to
do broadcast video
Producing audio tones for
testing your audio system
Providing a video countdown
Testing all display modes of
your SVGA display card be it ISA, PCI, or AGP
Testing all playback modes of
your sound card, including WAV and MIDI
Testing for monitor overscan
and underscan settings
Provide a Gen-Lock reference
signal or black burst signal using your PC.
Setting up external SVGA to
NTSC scan converters boxes.
Providing test signals on AVI,
MPEG, Quicktime or other video files you create to allow the
recipient to adjust their monitor for best quality.
Providing TV test patterns on
your home to to make your wife think the station has signed
off and its time to go to bed! ;-)
If you only buy one tool
for NTSC testing on PC's, buy this one!
The CALIBUG NTSC
Reference Tool has everything you'll ever need in tiny USB
Plug and Play Package! We packed ten years of experience and
thousands of dollars of test equipment into this program...
The CALIBUGTM
USB Video Calibrator, TV Test Pattern Generator,
and Multimedia Reference Tool
Click
for larger image
Click
for larger image
The CALIBUG turns any PC
or LAPTOP equipped with Composite/YC video output
into an NTSC Video Test Signal Generator rivaling those costing
thousands of dollars!
VIDEO SOFTWARE
Remember the CALIBAR by Newtek? It
was a great idea ahead of its time, but its no longer
manufactured....and it cost upwards to $600 ! We once sold this
product, and we keep getting requests for it. So we decided to
design our own low cost USB version!
NewTek
The Calibar by Newtek- A great tool but no longer
available
The CALIBUG
by ItWorks - Over 100 patterns and tests, in a Pocket USB
Tool! AVAILABLE NOW
Our CALIBUG is a
unique USB device and a dedicated custom application of our
popular NTSC Video Reference CD and DVD. We've taken the best
features of those programs, and combined it with USB flash memory
technology to create a pocket portable Video Test and Multimedia
Reference generator that will plug into any PC or Laptop and turn
it into a high quality Video Signal Reference and Multimedia
Tester. Like our CD ROM, The PC or Laptop used needs to have a
NTSC Composite or S-Video (Y/C) output for use with broadcast
video equipment and other professional video gear. Many PC's and
Laptops Today have this video output feature built right in. Of
course, if you need to add broadcast quality video to a PC or
Laptop, we have solutions for you!
Designed with input from a team of
Video Professionals including a former TV station Chief Engineer,
and a multimedia producer, the NTSC Reference Suite is a complete
set of Video Reference Tools, Measurement Aids, Video and Audio
Tests, and multimedia content designed to help you tune your NTSC
Composite Video System to its full potential. Our exclusive full
screen test pattern generator program turns any PC into a Video
Test System rivaling dedicated Test Pattern Generators/Sync
Generators costing thousands of Dollars!
Key Features of the CALIBUG USB Video Calibrator and
Reference Tool:
General Features:
No drivers required! - Windows
ME, 2000, and XP all detect the CALIBUG automatically! It
appears like another Hard Disk to your PC. USB 1.1 and 2.0
compliant. Windows 98 requires a driver, which is included on
the CD ROM. NOT
COMPATIBLE WITH WITH WINDOWS VISTA. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND WINDOWS
VISTA FOR ANY USE
Auto-Run - Included self
configuring software allows the CALIBUG to auto-run when you
plug it in, and auto-shutoff when you unplug it. No fussing with
typing commands or locating program files with Explorer.
Pocket Sized USB - No
smaller Video Test Generator exists on the planet! Easy to clip
to your shirt pocket, or hang it around your neck with the
included lanyard. Can also be attached to your key chain!
Industrial Orange Case -
High impact plastic case, water and dirt resistant. The color
ensures that it doesn't get easily lost in toolboxes or bench
clutter. Bright "industrial orange" color is easy to
see, even in dim light.
USB Extender Cable - A 6
foot USB cable is included to help you use or test PC's that
have rear panel or inaccessible USB ports.
Low Power, Lightweight - Only
15 grams, and draws < 300uA in Standby and 40mA Operating
Current -won't wear down your laptop battery!
CALIBUG Video Output Features:
NTSC Pattern Generator-
for resolutions including 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, and
1280x1024, menu selectable.
Modern NTSC Test Patterns-
every test pattern you need, what it looks like, what it does,
and how to use it, plus full screen broadcast quality output
using your NTSC enabled video card or scan converter. They are
all here, SMPTE, EIA, NTC7, Phillips, Pluge, Crosshatch, Raster,
Convergence, the works! Over 100 different styles and
resolutions are available on the CALIBUG.
LCD Monitor/LCD Video
Projector Test Patterns- have you ever had to setup a video
projector and had trouble getting the focus and contrast set
right? Our test patterns make it easy? Run them right off the
CALIBUG into your PC's SVGA port to drive full screen projector
tests.
Menu Driven Test Pattern
Generator- lets you choose and display all the patterns full
screen with no annoying "Windows" components like the
"Title bar" in the way. CALIBUG's video output is
always full screen no matter what resolution you choose.
Multimedia Test Program-
Check out the most important multimedia features of your PC to
ensure it can handle the job, check Color, Fonts, Audio
playback, Video Playback and much more.
Video Countdown Generator-
have you ever wanted a good animated 5,4,3,2,1 or 10-2
countdown? well we have several! All high quality some with
"beeps", some with labels, some with date/time. You
can type in your own custom screen ID. See samples below
including a really cool 3D cube and a Cyclops TV with the
Indianhead countdown, and the ability to put your name, station
ID, etc., on some countdowns along with date/time.
Audio Test Tone Generator-
create specific audio test tones with your sound card
Bars and Tone Generator-
Full Field or SMPTE color bars with the ability to Enter you
name, station ID or label as well as display time/date on
full-field as well as SMPTE bars with 1 khz tone.
Safe Title Area Generator-
make sure those graphics and titles are lined up within the safe
area of the TV screen
The Classic Test Patterns-
The "Indian Head" from the 50's, the EIA and SMPTE
patterns, all the great classics....just for fun or nostalgia.
You can output these classic video test patterns direct to video
from the CALIBUG!
CALIBUG Software on USB Features:
NTSC Glossary- what the
heck is differential video gain anyway? We tell you.
Samples of Waveforms as
seen on Waveform monitors and Vectorscopes to ensure you get it
right
NTSC Parameter Reference-
all those little waveform numbers in microseconds presented in a
graphical and tabular format
Video Formats- no we
don't have a SECAM VTR, but I can tell you why we don't even
want to think about owning one!
Component Formats- ever
wonder what those odd looking R-Y B-Y waveforms mean? Our
graphical presentation makes it easy.
Video Equations- I don't
get it chief....when I mix paint it doesn't work that way...how
come red and green make Yellow?
Several Additional Test
Patterns -now over 100 including DV and HDTV resolution
patterns. The original images reside on the USB drive and can be
used in other multimedia applications or non-linear video
editors.
Click
to see some of the Interactive Menus- fullsized
PatternGen
Countdowns
MultiMedia Test
Bars & Tone
Click for
Fullsize views of some of the Animated Countdowns
The "Cyclops"
SMPTE 3D Time
3D numbers
SMPTE Leader
AND on the Included CD ROM we have additional content!
Printable Test patterns-
in Ultra-high resolution TIFF and JPG to allow you to print
camera test charts
DV Test patterns- A
collection of DV (CCIR-601 720x480) resolution test patterns for
use in Firewire Video editing programs
HDTV Test Patterns- A
collection of HDTV 16:9 1920x1080 pixel test patterns
Test tone WAV files - 1
Kilohertz standard tones of varying lengths for use in editor
programs etc.
Video Test Files- Test
Bars and Tone AVI and MPEG 1 files for use in editor programs
etc.
An Atomic Clock
-automatic time synchronizer to NIST so that the Time Displayed
on test patterns, countdowns, etc is always correct to the
second
Some samples from the CALIBUG
TM
TEST PATTERN GENERATOR:
Yes we even have the
original "Indian Head" Test Pattern from the 50's and
60's! And even a rare color test photo of Spanish Dancer Carmen
Miranda wearing her famous "fruit salad" hat!.
There are many more not shown here...all full size, broadcast
quality signals. And, our exclusive
Pattern Generator will display them FULL SCREEN from your PC. We
also provide the original test
patterns as BMP and GIF files on the CD-Rom at resolutions from
NTSC 640x480 to HDTV 1920x1080!
PLUS-
An Interactive Video Reference for Windows:
CALIBUG's NTSC Reference is an interactive
program for use with Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. All screens are
fully detailed and many contain actual video and waveforms that
have been imported using computer video interfaces. It has an easy
to use browser that keeps track of where you've been as well as
provide complete support for contents, index and glossary.
Here are some sample screens from the
Windows version of the program:
This screen describes using a
waveform monitor to measure NTSC video Luminance and
Chrominance Levels. We provide you not only with the
definitions, but also example samples of how the signals
should look and what the different components mean.
This screen describes how Full Field
Color Bars test Pattern relates to the S-VHS component video
signal and compared to NTSC composite video signal. Our easy
to understand visuals help even the novice see how video
works.
This screen describes the "multiburst"
test signal and how it is use to measure NTSC bandwidth of a
composite video signal. This is one of dozens of tutorial
screens that show you how to measure NTSC Video with a
Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope.
The CALIBUGTM
Key Features of the CALIBUG USB Video Calibrator and
Reference Tool:
