How to Convert NTSC to BT 656

Stream DV in standard or high definition.

The ITU-R BT.656 standard, also known as BT 656, is a digital video protocol designed for high-definition DV streaming. BT 656 encoding is entirely hardware-based and requires a dedicated conversion box or hardware equipped with a BT 656-compatible DSP (Digital Signal Processing) module. Fortunately, once equipped with such a device, the BT 656 standard is designed for full compatibility with NTSC and PAL video streams, so NTSC video can be converted in real-time to the standard.

Things You'll Need

• NTSC video output file or device
• ITU-R BT.656-compatible streaming module
• Video recording or streaming device

Instructions

1. Prepare the device used to play back your NTSC video by loading the DVD, loading the file or tuning to the video stream you wish to convert.

2. Connect your output device to the HDMI, Y/Pb/Pr or serial port of a BT 656-compatible streaming module. Such modules include the Pixel Magic Xcard, Papier CD-20 or Cirrus CS12199.

3. Connect your encoder to the USB, IEEE-1394 or SDI port of the device you want to display, stream or record the video stream through, such as a DigiBeta recorder, DVD recorder or the input of your network's DV streaming pipeline.

4. Switch on your BT 656 encoding device and set "Input" to "NTSC" on the device's menu or switchbox. Many devices, such as the Altera CCIR-656 Encoder, will automatically detect the stream type and do not require switching.

5. Start your video input or streaming device recording or playing. Press "Play" on your NTSC video output device to begin converting video to BT 656 in real time. Press "Stop" on your output device to have the BT 656 conversion device automatically stop transmitting BT 656-encoded video.

References

• "User Manual: Pixel Magic Xcard Encoder;" Pixel Magic; 2004
• "Product Guide: CS92199;" Cirrus Logic; 2003
• "User Guide: Altera CCIR-656 Encoder;" Adaptive Micro-Ware; Not Dated