Building a Livegrade setup
A Livegrade setup most commonly consists of a log-encoded camera signal, an external image processing unit – the so-called “LUT box” – and a computer running Livegrade. But it can also be as simple as just a computer with a webcam or as complex as a 27-camera live production.
Depending on the individual situation, Livegrade offers the needed device integrations and allows for easy adaptation and flexible scaling as needed.
In this article, you will get a brief overview of the most common configurations and then examine two exemplary setups to learn how to set them up in Livegrade using “Input Slots” and “Outputs”.
Basic device vocabulary#
Before going into the details, let’s cover some basic vocabulary first:
LUT box#
- A LUT box is an external device that applies a lookup table (LUT) to a video signal that is passing through.
- The device is usually connected via Ethernet or USB to the computer running Livegrade, which controls the LUT and thus controls the appearance of the live image.
- Usually, a LUT box offers one SDI input and one SDI output.
- Some LUT box devices also offer multiple channels, the possibility to provide a frame grab, and camera metadata.
For more detailed information about specific devices, please take a look at our all device integrations list.
Video I/O device#
- A video I/O device is able to capture input video signals and/or output video signals.
- The device is usually connected via Thunderbolt or PCIe to the computer running Livegrade, which accesses input ports for recording and output ports for feeding reference monitors.
- Usually, a video i/o device offers one or more SDI ports which can be used as input, output, or bi-directional ports.
- For more detailed information about specific devices, please take a look at the reference article.
Slot#
- A slot in Livegrade can be seen as a working bench for an image signal, be it live or stored in the library.
- Adding and deleting an input slot can be done via the slot manager.
Output#
- An output can be seen as the final stage where the image signal—made up of one or more slots—can be adjusted before it is sent to its destination, most commonly an SDI monitor fed by a video output device.
- Adding and deleting an output can be done via the slot manager.
Possible Livegrade setups#
The following list is intended to provide an initial overview of possible live-grading setups, with two of these setups being discussed in more detail in the following “Exemplar setups” chapter.
- Live-grading via LUT box: Livegrade is connected via Ethernet or USB to one or more LUT boxes, which take over the color processing.
- Live-grading via LUT box and video I/O device: Livegrade is connected via Ethernet or USB to one or more LUT boxes, which take over the color processing. In addition, a video i/o device enables the capture of image signals and the output of references, multi-views, and playback.
- Live-grading via camera integration: Livegrade is connected to a camera via Ethernet and accesses its look live.
- Live-grading via monitor integration: Livegrade is connected via Ethernet to one or more monitors, which take over the color processing directly without the need for a dedicated LUT box.
Exemplary setups#
In this section, we want to go through two exemplary setups.
The first setup will show a traditional live-grading setup in which two camera signals are displayed graded on two separate reference monitors, using LUT boxes as external hardware devices for the image processing.
In the second setup, we want to go one step further: Here, not only the graded image will be displayed on the monitors, but also references and flexible multi-view configurations. In addition, a graded signal from both cameras will be forwarded to the “video village” – a synonym for the audience outside the camera department, which will most commonly be managed by the video operator.
Setup 1: Live-grading two camera signals with LUT boxes#
The first setup uses two LUT boxes to image process log-encoded signals coming from two cameras. As Livegrade will be connected to those LUT boxes permanently via Ethernet, the applied grading can be adjusted live.
Live-grading two cameras using LUT boxes
Signal path#
- The log encoded SDI signals coming from the cameras feed the inputs of both LUT boxes.
- The graded output of the LUT boxes are connected via SDI to reference monitors, which show the graded image.
- Livegrade is connected permanently to the LUT boxes via Ethernet.
Add LUT boxes to slots#
After setting up the hardware and the physical signal routing, add the LUT boxes to the input slots, so that Livegrade is able to send the look to the LUT boxes.
To do so, open the slot manager and add the LUT boxes to the slots.
Each input slot usually refers to one single camera, so add the LUT box that processes the A camera signal to slot A and the other LUT box to slot B.
This can be done by using the + Add Device button and selecting a certain model of LUT box.
Add LUT box as device
Besides the needed IP address, there are also other options depending on the LUT box device.
Please check the corresponding reference article for further information:
Configure Image and Metadata Source#
After adding the LUT box to the slot, select the ”Image and Metadata source” for the slot. As the name already tells, the selection of this source will define which image will be used for the slot and where the slot metadata will be read out.
As this example uses LUT boxes only, the only available source for this selection will probably be the frame grab provided by the LUT box.
Live grading#
Now, everything is set up to start live-grading. Close the slot manager, adjust the look of your slot, and you will see the changes on the reference monitors.
Extending the setup with a video output device#
In order to view collected references and multi-view configurations on your reference monitor, introducing a video output device offering one output port would already do the job.
A video output device can be assigned to one of your outputs within the slot manager and will then display Livegrade’s viewer image on a connected monitor.
Live-grading using LUT boxes and a video output device
Setup 2: Live-grading two camera signals with LUT boxes and video I/O devices#
The second setup uses a video I/O device in combination with LUT boxes to display a graded image, references, and flexible multi-view configurations on the reference monitors while simultaneously passing a graded image for each camera to the video village via SDI.
Live-grading two cameras using LUT boxes and video I/O devices
Signal path#
- The log encoded SDI signals coming from the cameras feed the inputs of both LUT boxes and two input ports of the video I/O device.
- Two output ports of the video I/O device are connected to the reference monitors, whilst the graded outputs of the LUT boxes are used to provide a graded signal for each camera for the video village.
- Livegrade is connected permanently to the video I/O device via Thunderbolt or PCIe and to the LUT boxes via Ethernet
Add LUT boxes to slots#
As in the first example, adding the LUT boxes to the input slots can be done as soon as the physical signal routing is set up. Livegrade is then able to send the look in the corresponding slot to the LUT boxes.
To add LUT boxes to input slots, open the “Slot Manager” and add the LUT boxes to the slots.Each input slot usually refers to one single camera, so add the LUT box that is processing the A camera signal to slot A and the other LUT box to slot B.
This can be done by using the + Add Device button and selecting a certain model of LUT box.Besides the needed IP address, there are also other options depending on the used LUT box device. Please check the corresponding reference article for further information on a certain device.
Configure Image and Metadata Source#
As two video input ports should be used in this setup to capture each camera signal, select the corresponding port as ”Image and Metadata source” for the slot. As the name already tells, the selection of this source will define which image will be used for the slot and where the slot metadata will be read out.
After selecting the video device’s input port, a fluid image should appear within the slot preview.
Assign video output ports to Livegrade’s outputs#
In this setup, two video output ports should be used to provide fluid, graded image streams on the reference monitors.
To do so, each of Livegrade’s outputs can be assigned to one port of your video output device.
Each output can then be used flexibly for many use cases. Here are some examples if you are using two reference monitors:
- Use each output to display one graded camera signal full screen
- Use one output to show all live-cameras in a grid and the other output to show the main camera full screen
- Use one output to show a reference and the other output to show the main camera full screen
- Use one output to show a bunch of references in a grid, and the other output to show all live cameras in a grid
- …and many more.
To assign Livegrade’s outputs to output ports of the video device, open the slot manager and select the “Outputs” tab.
There, you will get an overview and device options for Livegrade’s outputs. Clicking on the dedicated output gives all configuration options.
As in this exemplary setup, two reference monitors are used; the first output can be named MON LEFT and the second one MON RIGHT. Within the device selector, choose the corresponding port of the attached output device.
As the third output is not necessary in this setup, select and remove it.
After selecting the video device’s output port, close the slot manager. The monitors should now show the same image that is shown in the viewer. To switch between the outputs, use the provided buttons in the viewer’s header or dedicated menu items, Stream Deck, or Tangent controller actions.
Live grading#
Now, everything is set up to start live-grading. Adjust the look of your slot, and you will see the changes on the reference monitors, and also the video village will get the graded signals via the LUT boxes’ graded outputs.
Note: Latency on video outputs#
When using video output devices to display the graded image on reference monitors, there is a delay of 2-3 frames compared to an image that is output via a LUT box. If this latency is too much for live camera signals, a possible waywould be to use the graded outputs of the LUT boxes for monitoring live images and video output devices for showingreferences, playback, or multi-view configurations. A possible solution for that, to make this advanced signal routing as handy as possible, is to extend your setup with an SDI router.
Extending the setup with an SDI router#
An SDI router can help if advanced signal routing on your DIT cart is necessary. It enables the possibility to quickly switch between physical signal routing configurations. For example, it can be used to switch between the two following signal routing configurations:
- Configuration 1: Route the video devices’ output to the reference monitor’s SDI input.
- Configuration 2: Route the graded output of the LUT box to the reference monitor’s SDI input.
Switching between these configurations allows for quick switching between the LUT box and the video device, depending on the current need on the DIT cart.
As shown in the graphic below, the SDI router is used to collect all incoming log-encoded camera signals and to distribute them to all devices and monitors. Depending on the used router configuration, the SDI connections feeding the SDI monitors (blue) will provide either the output from the LUT box or from the video output device.
Within Livegrade, it is easily possible to configure the signal routing using the interactive router panel and switching between router configurations. Switching between router configurations can be done via menu items, Stream Deck, and Tangent actions, as well as via the automations mechanism.
Live-grading using LUT boxes, video I/O devices and an SDI router