Deltacast Cards

Reading time ~3 minutes

Unlike "older" Deltacast cards that have a fixed number of inputs and outputs (e.g. DELTA-hd-elp-d 60 (6-input, 2-output) or DELTA-hd-elp-d 80 (8-input, 0-output)) and are only 1.5G, there appeared new 3G Deltacast cards – the so-called "versatile", bidirectional cards (e.g. DELTA-3G-elp-d 8c). Such cards are recognized by letter "c" at the end of their names. These versatile cards should be pre-configured in bidirectional mode that allows you to define the desired combination of inputs-outputs.

This can be performed via a free Deltacast application – dCARE, which can be downloaded from the official Deltacast website.

Bidirectional configuration

Alternatively, versatile cards may be configured in the Cinegy Playout instance configuration dialog - the "Total input channels for bi-directional board" option:

Cinegy Playout instance configuration dialog
Note
 Select the "Do not change" option to use the input-output mapping scheme preconfigured via the dCARE application without changes.

In previous versions of Cinegy products these versatile cards can also be used. However, prior to their usage, bidirectional configuration is to be performed via the dCARE application. This configuration will be saved and stored even after rebooting or on PC shutdown. No further configuration changes are required except for modifying bidirectional parameters.

Tip
 Currently Cinegy supports all SDI cards from the list given on the official Deltacast website. The exception is the cards that are marked with key and keyer card in their names (e.g. DELTA-hd-e-key 22 (Dual input, dual output, SDI keyer card) is not supported).

Configuration Specifications

Unlike multichannel and configurable AJA cards, such as Corvid 44 and Corvid 88, where all channels are equivalent and can be easily reassigned, those of Deltacast SDI cards can also be reassigned, but only following preliminary bidirectional mode that allows you to "split" the card into two halves: one with inputs and the other one with outputs. Please keep in mind that in Deltacast the output count starts with 0.

Here are some examples of SDI boards reconfiguration.

For AJA Corvid 88 card:

  • When used in the 4 IN – 4 OUT mode, the configuration is as follows:
    Board: "X"
    Channel numbers (inputs): 0, 1, 2, 3
    Channel numbers (outputs): 4, 5, 6, 7

  • When used in the 6 IN – 2 OUT mode, the configuration is as follows:
    Board: "X"
    Channel numbers (inputs): 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Channel numbers (outputs): 6, 7

For DELTA-3G-elp-d 8c card:

  • When used in the 4 IN – 4 OUT mode (BIDIR_44), the configuration is as follows:
    Board: "X"
    Channel numbers (inputs): 0, 1, 2, 3
    Channel numbers (outputs): 0, 1, 2, 3

  • When used in the 6 IN – 2 OUT mode (BIDIR_62), the configuration is as follows:
    Board: "X"
    Channel numbers (inputs): 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Channel numbers (outputs): 0, 1

There is a limitation in the DeltaCast driver - by default it doesn’t allow to use the same card for Windows Service (Cinegy Capture) and Windows Application (Cinegy Air and Cinegy MultiViewer). Deltacast suggests the following workaround allowing your processes to communicate with each other if they are in the different terminal server sessions.

In order to enable the global sharing between sessions, you can set up the "GlobalSharedMemory" registry key (DWORD 32-bit key register value).

For 64-bit process it can be found in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Deltacast\VideoMasterHD

For 32-bit process - in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Deltacast\VideoMasterHD

Set "GlobalSharedMemory" to "1" to enable, and "0" to disable global sharing.

Note
 Playout Dashboard must be started with the "Run as Administrator" option. In case it is started under a standard user, this user must have the corresponding privileges (in the Local Security Policy panel select Local Policies ⇒ User Rights Assignment ⇒ Create global objects and allow it for the service and the user).