OB and live broadcast monitoring
Set up Nobe OmniScope for SDI monitoring, camera shading and camera matching in OB trucks, studios and flypacks.
Use Nobe OmniScope as a software scope station for camera shading and camera matching in outside broadcast (OB) trucks and vans, studios, and flypack systems. Keep the selected camera picture, waveform and vectorscope together in a layout suited to your production.
This guide covers a practical SDI monitoring workflow. Start with system requirements and qualify your computer, capture hardware, drivers and signal format together before using the station on a show.
Connect an SDI feed
Route the camera, router or production switcher output you want to inspect to a supported capture device on the OmniScope computer. See DeckLink and UltraStudio, AJA or DeltaCast for setup details.
Open Input > Connect to... and select the capture source. Confirm that the picture is the intended feed and the capture device supports the incoming format.
Check the input's signal range against the upstream source. Confirm how your scopes display Video or Full range before judging levels.
A dedicated scope computer needs a capture input for an existing SDI feed. The separate output device described in that guide is needed when sending a signal from a grading computer; it is not an extra requirement when your camera or router already provides SDI.
Build a camera shading layout
Combine the picture with a waveform for exposure and channel balance, and a vectorscope for color comparisons. Save the arrangement as a layout for the next production. Use consistent source settings and scope scales when comparing cameras.
For several connected feeds, enable View > Input Strip. Assign each scope to its intended source using the scope's Input Device menu. The multiple input sources guide explains assignment and the color-coded source indicators. Verify these assignments after changing the layout or routing.
Compare cameras with a reference
Capture a snapshot of your reference camera to compare exposure, neutral balance and color while adjusting another camera. Use a comparable scene, lighting and framing so differences in the picture do not obscure the comparison.
With Live Pack, you can also use a snapshot as a source or arrange feeds in a composite input. A composite overview is useful for orientation; keep individual scope assignments clear when judging a particular camera.
Choose the tools your production needs
OmniScope provides the scope workspace and supported input sources. Live Pack is an add-on for OmniScope Pro that adds tools such as composite views, SDI output, recording, focus peaking and loudness metering. See the Live Pack overview for the available features and license options.
For an SDR/HDR setup, establish the incoming signal, any transforms and the intended measurement point before comparing readings. The HDR and SDR monitoring example describes one hardware configuration.
Check the station before a show
Confirm the incoming format, signal range, scope scales and source assignments with known test material.
Exercise the router or switcher changes you expect during production. Check picture recovery and source identification after a feed change or interruption.
Run the intended inputs, scopes, recording and outputs together for a representative session. Check responsiveness and end-to-end delay on the actual hardware.
Review the live processing rate. In OmniScope 1.11.55 and later, adaptive or reduced analysis rates can omit frames; live QC and recordings use the sampled video. Use file analysis when every frame must be checked.
Verify license activation, including offline activation if the production computer will not have internet access.
Keep the tested hardware, driver versions, signal formats and saved layout with your production setup notes so the station can be reproduced.
Last updated