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
- NEW!
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
- NEW!
Key Features of the CALIBUG USB Video Calibrator and Reference Tool:
