Owner’s Manual
AB-PCU-100
PCU Control Unit for Phantom
www.abelcine.com
The PCU Control Unit for Phantom Cameras and
other Phantom Accessory Products are designed
and manufactured by AbelCine.
The PCU is a Non-Consumer, Industrial Product.
New York
609 Greenwich St
New York, NY 10014
t 888.223.1599
t 212.462.0100
f 212.462.0199
www.abelcine.com
Contents
1 Introduction
4
2 Basics of Operation
6
3 Record Mode
8
4 Playback Mode
13
5 Advanced Menu
15
6 3D Control
17
7 Connectors and Pin-Outs
18
8 Warranty
20
1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the PCU Control Unit
for Phantom Cameras.
The PCU is a controller that is compatible with
most high-speed Phantom cameras. In addition
to controlling a Phantom without a laptop, the
PCU can control two Phantoms simultaneously
in a stereo 3D configuration.
For handheld shooting the PCU will power a video
lens, as well as a low-power video recorder
such as the NanoFlash by Convergent Design.
4
5
2
Basics of Operation
The PCU has two main modes of operation,
Record Mode and Playback Mode.
Record Mode enables you to edit the
recording parameters and control
the recording process. The PCU starts
in Record Mode.
Playback Mode allows you to control video
playback and save clips to a CineMag.
For more details about Playback Mode,
see page 13.
6
Buttons
PREV
Goes to the previous
screen of parameters.
In Playback Mode, skips
to previous clip or to first
frame of current clip.
ADV
In Record Mode,
hold PREV to enter
Advanced Menu.
LOCK
Hold PREV and NEXT to
unlock/lock the PCU.
When the PCU is locked,
you can monitor the
camera’s state but
no parameters can be
changed and no functions
can be performed.
Soft Keys
NEXT
Goes to the next screen
of parameters. In Playback
Mode, skips to next clip or
to last frame of current clip.
Hold to view information
about the camera connected
to CAM 1.
Soft Keys
TRIG
Sends a trigger signal
to the camera(s).
EXIT
In Playback Mode, hold to
return to Record Mode.
BB
Performs a black balance.
WB
Performs a white balance.
REC
Starts recording. If there is
already a clip in the camera’s
RAM, hold for three seconds
to erase the clip and start a
new recording.
SAVE
In Playback Mode, saves
marked portion of current clip
in RAM to CineMag.
7
3
Record Mode
In Record Mode, the PCU will show up
to four parameters on the screen at once.
The parameters can be accessed for
editing by pressing the corresponding soft
keys to the left and right of the screen.
Soft Keys
Press to
edit value
The soft key for a parameter with a wide
range of values, such as frame rate,
will enter Edit Mode on a new screen
(see page 10). The soft key for a parameter
with very few potential values will toggle
through the options.
8
Soft Keys
Press to
edit value
The top line of the screen in Record
Mode displays the recording mode
(Loop or Run/Stop) and playback status
(Live or Playback). There are also
recording and HQ mode indicators.
Recording Mode
Loop or R/S
Playback Status L for live
(if camera is outputting live
image), or P for playback
REC shows while
camera is recording
Camera is in HQ mode
Clip length in frames
Clip length in seconds
(real time at current frame rate)
The maximum length of the current
shot in frames and real time are displayed
on the bottom of the screen.
9
Editing a Parameter
While in Record Mode, the PCU may enter
Edit Mode via the soft keys.
Many parameters have a series of preset
values that can be accessed by pressing
the PREV and NEXT buttons in Edit Mode.
PREV
Jump to
lower preset
–
Decrement value by 1
(hold for fast change)
NEXT
Jump to
higher preset
+
Increment value by 1
(hold for fast change)
Set
Set value and
exit Edit Mode
When the parameter is at the desired value,
press the soft key corresponding to Set,
and the PCU will exit Edit Mode.
10
Shooting parameters
Video output parameters
FPS: Edit frame rate in frames per second.
Sht: Edit shutter angle.
Resolution: To select a standard resolution
value, use PREV or NEXT to move the cursor
over the x and change the paired resolution
values with the soft keys corresponding to +
and –. To change the horizontal or vertical
pixel count separately, select with PREV or
NEXT and adjust with + and –.
Trg: Edit trigger point relative to the shot
length; 0% represents the tail of the shot,
100% the head.
Gain: Adjust the gain of the video signal,
between 1.0 and 5.0.
Gam: Adjust gamma from a range of 1.0 to
4.0. The default is 2.2.
Chr: Adjust chroma level between 0 and 3.0.
Hue: Shift the image color towards green or
magenta. The default is 0.
Note: On cameras with
a built-in capping shutter,
changing FPS, shutter
or resolution will cause the
PCU to trigger a black balance
after a 3 second delay.
Camera cooling parameters
CamTemp: Camera temperature
in Celsius. Press to edit target temp.
SnsTemp: Sensor temperature in Celsius.
Press to edit target temp.
Fan: Displays fan speed as a percentage
of total power.
TE%: Displays sensor cooler power.
11
Video output toggles
Other parameters
Zoom: Toggle video-out zoom state.
PA: Set frame lines (production area)
to a percentage of frame size.
VF/OSD: Toggle On Screen Display for
viewfinder.
SDI/OSD: Toggle On Screen Display for
SDI output.
PB: Toggle between Playback Mode and
Record Mode.
Mode: Toggle between
Q Loop
Q R/S (Run/Stop)
(To record directly to a CineMag.)
Q A.PL/R (Auto play & record)
(To record in Loop Mode and auto play
each clip once, automatically returning
to Record Mode and erasing the clip.)
Q CONT (Continuous record to mag)
(To record in Loop Mode and auto save
each clip to the CineMag, automatically
returning to Record Mode, and erasing
the clip from RAM.)
PTNS: Hold to partition RAM.
Partitioning RAM will instantly erase any
clips currently in RAM.
12
4
Playback Mode
To review or save footage, enter Playback
Mode by toggling the ‘PB’ parameter
from LIVE to PLAY. If the camera is already
playing back but the playback controls
aren’t visible on the PCU, press the soft
key corresponding to CTL.
PB
Toggles between
LIVE and PLAY
Last frame
of current clip
First frame
of current clip
Source of clip
(RAM or Mag)
Clip number
CTL
Access playback controls
Marked in point
Marked out point
Current frame
Once in Playback Mode, the first and last
frames of the current clip are displayed
on the top line. Marked frames appear
on the bottom line.
13
Playback Control
Clips can be played back from RAM or from
a CineMag. Clips in RAM can be trimmed
and saved to a CineMag.
PREV
Jumps to previous clip or first
frame of current clip (cycles
through RAM and CineMag)
Note: With cameras
set to record and play
simultaneously, the
playback controls will
always need to be manually
selected with the CTL
option. Likewise, exiting
the controls will not exit
Playback Mode – this
must be done by switching
from PLAY to LIVE.
NEXT
Jumps to next clip or last
frame of current clip (cycles
through RAM and CineMag)
<
Plays in reverse
or pauses
(hold to play fast)
>
Plays forward
or pauses
(hold to play fast)
[
Marks in point
]
Marks out point
SAVE
Saves the marked clip
in RAM to CineMag
14
EXIT
Hold to exit
Playback Mode
5
Advanced Menu
Parameters that need to be changed
less frequently are accessible in the
Advanced Menu.
Note: Only parameters
that pertain to the
currently used camera
model will be visible
in the Advanced Menu.
ADV
Hold PREV for several
seconds to access
Advanced Menu.
Switch to
next parameter
Edit parameter
15
Parameters in the Advanced Menu
Playback Rate
Video System
Press lower right soft key to toggle
through all video output formats supported
by the Phantom.
The Phantom will normally play at the video
system frame rate. Change the playback rate
with the two right soft keys. This setting is
persistent over power cycles.
Erase Mag
Video Mode
Hold the lower right soft key for five seconds
to initiate CineMag erasure.
For cameras with two SDI outputs, toggle
between video modes: 4:2:2, dual-link 4:4:4,
and 4:2:2 with simultaneous live and playback.
HQ Mode (for Flex only)
Toggle HQ mode.
16
6
3D Control
When two cameras are connected, the
PCU always sends all commands to both
cameras, enabling synchronized stereo
recording and playback. There are two
additional functions in the Advanced Menu
for setting up and breaking down dual
camera synchronization.
Setup 3D
Enables external frame sync on one camera,
genlock on both (if available), and copies all
camera settings from camera 1 to camera 2.
Disable 3D Sync
Note: For guaranteed
matching in and out points,
we recommend using a
trigger hard-wired to the
trigger ports of each camera.
For proper sync, FSYNC must
be connected between the
two cameras, and a
connection should be made
between timecode out of one
camera and timecode in on
the other.
Sets frame sync to internal and disables
genlock on both cameras.
17
7
Connectors and Pin-Outs
A
B
C
18
D
E
A
CAM 1
A single camera is connected to the CAM1 port.
The PCU receives power from the camera and will start
as soon as it is connected.
B
CAM 2
In 3D use, the master camera should be connected to
CAM1 and the slave camera should be connected to CAM2.
All commands will be sent simultaneously to both cameras.
C
12V OUT
The 12V Out Hirose-4 connector will supply up to 600mA
to an on-board recorder or other camera accessory.
D
TRIGGER
A trigger connected to the PCU trigger port
will also be passed over the 19-pin remote connection
on a V-series Phantom.
E
LENS
A video lens can be connected to the lens port.
This port will supply 12V DC power to operate the zoom servo.
If the PCU is connected to a V-series camera through the
Amphenol-19 connection, the trigger signal from the lens
will be passed through this connection. If connected to
the 5-pin Remote port, a coax cable can be run from the
‘Trigger’ BNC connection on the PCU to the ‘Trigger’ port
on the camera to pass the lens trigger signal.
19
8
Warranty
AbelCine warrants the PCU to be free of defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of one year
from the date of purchase. AbelCine will pay shipping
via UPS Ground within the United States to return
the unit after warranty repairs.
This warranty does NOT cover:
Q
Damage or malfunction resulting from accident,
misuse, abuse or neglect
Q
Failure to follow the supplied instructions
Q
Repair or attempted repair by a third party
Q
Adjustment, disassembly or modification
of the unit
In case of a warranty claim, contact
the AbelCine service department
888.223.1599 or service@abelcine.com.
www.abelcine.com
20
PCU Manual Addenda
The following changes have been made to the PCU since the
completion of this manual. Shown is the firmware revision in
which each change was introduced.
Rev 83: Added "Desqueeze" function to the Advanced menu.
This will appear only when connected to a Phantom HD or
Phantom Flex, and toggles the anamorphic de-squeeze function
on the SDI output.
Rev 81: Added "AutoBB" function to Advanced menu. This
persistently enables or disables the automatic black balance
function on cameras with a built-in capping shutter.
Rev 75: When connected to a Phantom 65, there is a an entry in
the Advanced menu called "Z3D Mode". This changes the
function of the Zoom function for use with the Zepar 3D lenses.
Choose "Right" or "Left" to view only the Right or Left eye in the
viewfinder or SDI output when zoomed, and "Stereo" to view a
line-interleaved stereo image.