PRISM Datasheet

PRISM provides flexible options and field-installable upgrades to provide a monitoring solution that best fits each user application. With options supporting 4K video formats and a production tool set, PRISM becomes a comprehensive production tool solution for 4K, Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) content creation. PRISM allows camera shading engineers / operators, who are shooting live sports broadcasting or episodic dramas, to quickly calibrate and balance multiple cameras with a variety of output signal characteristics. PRISM is the ideal HDR and WCG solution for camera acquisition in OB Vans and production studios.

Features and benefits

• A comprehensive production tool set supporting 4K / WCG / HDR content creation
• SDI / IP hybrid interface supporting up to 4K resolution, up to 2160p60 format support with 12G-SDI / Quad 3G-SDI interface, and up to 1080p60 format with SMPTE 2022-6/7 and ST2110-20 
• Integrated 9-inch 1920×1080 display (MPI)
• Waveform conversion to light in camera stops relative to 18% mid-tones to provide a common, high dynamic range waveform over a wide range of HDR / SDR and camera log transfer functions
• HDR graticules (Nits, Stop, Reflectance %) in waveform display
• Integrated transfer function / color space converter available in the Waveform, Vector, Diamond, and Picture display, allowing users to use their familiar displays in ITU BT.709 for HDR / WCG content creation
• Flexible display configuration with Full / Quad / Vertical extended tile modes
• 12G-SDI physical layer measurements to check SDI signal quality and integrity
• All-in-one instrument using a 3RU half-rack platform (MPI) or a 1RU full-rack platform (MPX) that can be used for either portable or rack mount applications

Simplify camera shading/matching operation among cameras with different Optical to Electrical Transfer Functions (OETF)

One of the challenges in creating HDR content is the need to understand the new reference white/grey levels required for each transfer function used in HDR content acquisition, which requires the camera operator to adjust the cameras exposure accordingly for the specific OETF.

However, operators may need to use a variety different cameras and need to match the exposure of each or work on multiple projects with different transfer functions. Also, a project using different types of cameras may require operators to match exposures among cameras with different transfer functions. In either case, the operators have to pay special attention to the various reference levels for each camera OETF used in the project.

The Tektronix patented Stop Display application allows operators to adjust camera exposure in a consistent manner without worrying about the transfer function (OETF) of a camera. The Stop Display reverses the OETF to convert the video signal from the camera to linear scene light with internal integrated look up table, and then represents the light level as log2 (stops) waveform with over 16 stops of range in one display.

The vertical axis on the Stop Display is either "Stops" referring to scene light or "Nits" referring to display light. The reference levels in the graticule are consistent regardless of which transfer function is selected. The selection of scene reference or display reference is available in the application menu.

Provides consistent reference levels regardless of the transfer function being selected.

Benefits of using the Stop Display:

• The operator can adjust the camera exposure in a consistent manner regardless of camera's transfer function.
• The Stop Display makes balancing/matching cameras easier when using multiple cameras in a project. The operator can simply set the average exposure to the same relative light level by matching the traces on the stop scale while monitoring the full dynamic range of each camera's OETF.
• The logarithmic processing of the Stop Display means that when the camera's exposure is changed, the trace height (dynamic range) is not affected. Only a vertical shift is observed, which corresponds to the number of stops the camera's exposure is changed. This makes the camera balancing operation more predictable since the vertical trace shift amount is consistent regardless of the transfer function selected.
• The Stop Display increases the effective gain in dark regions of the image, allowing precise black balance without vertical magnification.
• For live field sports you can easily optimize camera gain/exposure by monitoring at any point in production chain. Simply set the ball field grass to 0-stop (18% gray) on the Stop Display regardless of shadows, cloudy or direct sunlight for all camera types, HDR or SDR signal formats.
• When on location shooting episodic dramas, scene and subject lighting is very important since it is typically done with multiple light sources. Cinematographer can use the Stop Waveform display as a "real-time multipoint relative reflectance light meter" to quickly create the scene or subject lighting that a director of photographer (DP) wants in familiar units of stops.

Familiar operation in skin tone matching among signals with different color primaries

ITU-R BT.2020 color and many custom camera color primaries have a wider color coverage than the traditional ITU-R BT.709 color gamut. Because of differences in both color primaries and gamma, the trace presentation in a typical color difference vector display is different from the familiar BT.709 vector display, which forces the camera operators to interpret the colors differently depending on the color format used.

The integrated transfer function / color space converter converts a HDR / WCG signal to SDR / 709 gamut signal. This feature is available in the Waveform, Vector, Diamond, and Picture applications for camera operators to confidently monitor the color of the scene they are shooting and for colorists to use their familiar displays in ITU BT.709 to check mid tones in HDR / WCG content creation. It also ensures a consistent look between content in simultaneous SDR / HDR content creation.

Macbeth chart in HLG / RP2020, Picture display and Vector display

Macbeth chart in HLG / RP2020, Picture display and Vector display enabling integrated converter.

Simplify gamut monitoring and camera setup with Tektronix patented displays

The Tektronix-patented Diamond and Split Diamond displays simplify the process of identifying and correcting RGB gamut errors in digital video signals. Since the Diamond display has the traces on G/R and G/B planes, the trace position moves linearly as a response to R,G,B adjustment by the color editor. This allows editors to quickly identify and correct gamut issues. With the integrated transfer function / color space converter, the operator can check 709 color gamut error of WCG signals. During camera setup, the operator can quickly adjust BW balance by monitoring linearity in the center of the display.

Left : Macbeth chart in HLG / RP2020, Diamond display. Right : Macbeth chart in HLG / RP2020, Diamond display enabling integrated converter

Flexible display layout to quickly see what you want to see

A combination of Full / Quad / Vertical extended tile configuration provides more flexibility in how an operator views the application displays. As a vertical extended tile, the 9 inch, 16:9 display panel can show the Vector display in an equivalent size to a 6.5 inch, 4:3 display panel. This provides a practical single-box solution with the Waveform and Vector displays shown side-by-side for camera shading applications.

Waveform and Vector displays in vertical extended tiles.

Most advanced SDI physical layer measurement solutions

In an SDI video system, checking SDI signal quality and integrity is one of the most important tasks before starting to shoot a show. PRISM provides unique capabilities such as providing various jitter filters from 10 Hz to 100 kHz for SD/HD/3G/12G-SDI signals.

In addition, PRISM can also perform automated eye amplitude, automated rise/fall time, and automated overshoot/undershoot measurements. All of these capabilities, along with the integrated SDI signal generation feature, help broadcasters and network operators detect and diagnose signal quality problems quickly and efficiently.

12G-SDI Eye pattern display with Automatic measurements.

12G-SDI Jitter display.

Integrated SDI signal generator.

Flexible installation options

PRISM offers two platform options: 3RU half-rack width (MPI) and 1RU full-rack width (MPX). The MPI platform with the optional portable cabinet allows users to move the unit between different locations. The MPI platform with the optional rack mount kits allows users to install the unit in an equipment rack.

The MPX platform is intended for applications where space in an equipment rack needs to be minimized, for applications where an external touch panel display is going to be used, for KVM operation or for applications where remote monitoring is preferred.

Supported formats

¹No AUX SDI output is available for this format.

²12G-SDI support is available in SDI 1 and SDI 3 inputs. 12G-SDI loop through outputs are available through the 12G-SDI SFP modules installed in the SDI SFP slots.