Venus 7000: How do I set up the Daktronics Video Image Processors or VIP’s for Overlay Mode?

Connect to the Video Source.

• Connect the Video source to the VIP. Connections are located on the rear. Refer to: VIP-4500: How do I find the input/output connections

Find the Viewable Area for Video Input.

1.  On the DMP 7000 machine connected to the VIP, open the Venus 7000 shell.
2. Click the VLink Button to open the VLink (VIP) control panel. 
3. Pick the sign attached to the VIP/VLink.
   1. Note: If you are not sure what sign it is attached to, you will need to go to V7000 Shell > Configuration > Signs > scroll over to the VLink column. The signs that have com ports listed in that column have VLink assigned to them.
   2.  
   3.  Select the Get Status button on the VLink/VIP control panel. A VLink Status window will pop up with information on the video inputs. If an error message pops up, verify connections between DMP 7000 and the VIP.
   4. Verify inputs that are locked. These are your connected video inputs. They should be listed in the Status window as "LOCKED" and "ACTIVE". The size of the video feed will be listed. The example shows that Input 1 is SDI with a 720P signal.

Compare the video format with the resolution or active size.

• 720p = 720 rows x 1280 columns
• NTSC = 480 rows x 640 columns
• PAL = 576 rows x 720 columns
• 1080i = 1080 rows x 1920 column
• Note the size of the input. This will be your viewable area when configuring your VIP channels.

Configure Channel 1

1. Select the VLink button the Venus 7000 shell. The V7 VLink Control Panel will open.
2. Select the host sign that is attached to the VIP.
3. Select the Channel and Index. Most cases would leave the index at 1. You would change that number to configure multiple daisy chained VIP's. To configure channel 1, VLink channel should be set to 1.
4.  
5. The Video Format should be AUTO, and select the appropriate Input from the drop down.
6.  
   1. To verify the inputs, select Get Status and look for the active inputs.
7.  Enter the Viewable Area for the display. For most cases, Channel 1 should be capture a full video signal. In most cases, the video should begin at Top 0 and Left 0. DVI and VGA sources will require a Top and Left setting to properly align the image on the display. The Height and Width should match the size of the video input.
8.  
9. Enter the Window Area. For most cases, Channel 1 should be designated for full screen. The video should begin at Top 0 and Left 0. The Height and Width should match the size of the display.
10.  
11. Enter the Key Color for Channel 1. The recommended key color is below. 
12. • Red: 0
    • Green: 247
    • Blue: 0
13. When a message with Green 247 color is played, the VIP will use Channel 1 settings.
14. Data Source should be Overlayed.
15. Keep the remainder of the default settings in order to complete the configuration for Channel 1.

Configure the Window and Viewable Area 

1. Enter the Window Area. For most cases, Channel 1 should be designated for full screen. The video should begin at Top 0 and Left 0. The Height and Width should match the size of the display.
2.  Determine the Viewable Area- This would be the portion of the incoming video that appears on the display.
   1. Displays may have very different height to width ratio's compared to the video size may require custom settings.  Use the VLink Calculator to determine the settings you will need.
3. Data Source should be Overlayed.

Configure Channels 2-4

Channel 1 is used for full screen video. If a different layout or video input is required, they should be configured on channels 2, 3, and 4.

1. Select the VLink button the Venus 7000 shell. The V7 VLink Control Panel will open.
2. Select the host sign that is attached to the VIP.
3. Select the Channel and Index. Most cases would leave the index at 1. You would change that number to configure VIP's that might be daisy chained. To configure channel 2, VLink channel should be set to 2, 3, 4 etc.
4. The Video Format should be AUTO, and select the appropriate Input from the drop down
   1. Note: To verify the inputs, select Get Status and look for the active inputs.
5. Enter the Viewable area for the display. For most cases, Channel 2-4 should be used for moving and resizing the video for the various layouts. The first channels should have the largest video zones and the last channel (4), should be reserved for smaller or no video zones.
   1. Viewable Area - The Height and Width should match or be close to the incoming video size.
   2. Windowed Area - The top and left settings should be adjusted to move the video section to the left or down from the top left corner.
   3. Data source should be Overlayed.
   4. Configure the key colors:
   • Channel 1 - Red 0, Green 247, Blue 0
   • Channel 2 - Red 247, Green 0, Blue 0
   • Channel 3 - Red 0, Green 0, Blue 247
   • Channel 4 - Green 247, Red 247, Blue 0

When a message with the Green 247 color is played, the VIP will use the channel 1 settings.
When a message with the Red 247 color is played, the VIP will use the channel 2 settings.
When a message with the Blue 247 color is played, the VIP will use the channel 3 settings.
When a message with the Green 247, Red 247 color is played, the VIP will use the channel 4 settings.
Other colors can be used as a key color. When selecting a color, avoid using team colors or content colors.

Save Settings for Each Channel

1. Save Configuration Settings button. A Save As window will pop up.
2. Navigate to the VLink Config folder. If there is not one created, create a new folder for this purpose in the V7000 folder.
4. Title the VLC file so users can identify the channel, description and date. Ch1Full Program 10_29_12 will let users know that this file is for channel one, and was created October 29, 2012.
5. Delete any old or unused .VLC files to prevent confusion. A VLC file will need to be created for each channel in use. Repeat for each channel by changing the VLink channel and repeating steps 1-3.

Save the Channels in the Debugger

1. Locate the V7 VLink Debugger. Go to the DMP 7000 machine connected to the VLink. Start/All Programs/Venus 7000/Venus 7000 Tools/VL Link Debug.
2. Select the appropriate sign from the drop down. Most scenarios will be using a VLink index of 1. Multiple indexes are used when VIP's are daisy chained together. The Channel number can be 1.

 
​​​​​​​Get Status of the VIP. To do this type GS and Send command.

1. Verify the connection is made. Data should populate in the window.
2. Scroll down and locate the channel settings. Verify that they are accurate. If they are not, re-enter them in the VLink configuration window or they can be added in the debugger.
3. Type CF S. This should save the configuration setting for the VIP's.
4. Create Color Messages for Each of the Channels

•  Venus 7000: How do I create background colors for overlay mode

Play out Each Key Color to Test
Test the layouts by playing the different key color messages.

Resources

• • Venus 7000: How do I layer zones or windows
  • DMP-7000: How to Initialize Overlay Mode through Display Studio

Videos

• • Introduction to Display Zoning
  • Introduction to DMP-7000 Player
  • DMP-7000 Signal Flow