During the app creation process, the user is presented with a range of options that define the fundamental functionality and streaming capability of the app.

The choices made here will determine the resources required to run the app: I/O bandwidth, CPU resources, etc.

These initial configuration options appear in the 'New App' dialog. To streamline the process, a set of default values are entered and so, in most cases, all you need to provide is a label for the app. 

The parameters can be edited later for a single app via the 'Edit App' dialog (in the General settings page), or for multiple apps using 'Edit Apps'. Note that this is only possible once the app is stopped. Further 'runtime controls' are available in the app's other settings pages: Senders, Receivers, etc.

Please note:

  • The initial configuration cannot be edited while an app is running and so, to make any changes, you will need to first stop the app.
  • Some of the menu items are dependent on previous settings. For example, the Video Compression ratio control is only displayed once the Video Transport is set to JPEG-XS. If a different video transport type is selected, then the Video Compression control is hidden.
  • Some of the parameters can also be edited during runtime from the app's settings pages. In this instance, the initial configuration values are overwritten by the runtime controls as the latest (runtime) value always wins. An example is described here.

Important: Options such as the number of I/O, the stream transport type, etc. determine how many licenses and/or credits are required to start the app, and also have a cost in terms of the CPU resources (in an app server) and streaming bandwidth (in the network). For this reason, it is best not to over specify an app, as this could use more resources than are actually required, and leave fewer resources for other apps.

Using the Controls

A HOME Graphic Inserter can be used to create an outgoing video stream from a HTML5 input source.

  • Start by entering the URL of the webpage to be converted into the 'Input' URL field.
  • Then use the 'Output' options to define the output video stream: transport type, resolution, etc.

Note that this app supports a single Video output sender only (TX 1); there are no input receivers or Audio/Meta streams.

Control Descriptions

The rest of this topic describes all possible options for the app configuration controls.

ControlDescription
Label

A text field allowing the user to name the app being created.

All app names in a system must be unique.

Input

URL

Enter the URL address (e.g. www.lawo.com) of the webpage which is to be converted to a video stream.

Output

Video Transport

Defines the output stream transport type of the app's video sender:
  • SMPTE 2110-20 (uncompressed)
  • SMPTE 2110-22 (JPEG-XS) up to 1080p
  • SMPTE 2110-22 (JPEG-XS) up to UHD
  • NDI
  • NDI HX2 (H.264)
  • NDI HX2 (H.265)
  • SRT (H.264)
  • SRT (H.265)
  • WebRTC

The choice made will affect the amount of resources required by the app and will also require the appropriate software licenses. See HOME Apps - Available License Options.

If the Output Video Transport is set to WebRTC, then further configuration controls are provided via the app's Advanced → WebRTC menu.
See HOME Graphic Inserter - Advanced -> WebRTC.

Video Compression

Not visible when the Output Video Transport is set to SMPTE 2110-20 (uncompressed) or NDI.

When the Output Video Transport is set to SMPTE 2110-22 (JPEG-XS)

When the app starts, an amount of output bandwidth is allocated (for the app) on the network interface. JPEG-XS allows the user to dynamically change the compression ratio while the app is running. This control can be used to prevent the app from over-allocating bandwidth unnecessarily.

The available options are:

  • At least 4:1
  • At least 8:1
  • At least 12:1
  • At least 16:1
  • At least 20:1

The choice made will affect the amount of resources required by the app and will also determine the list of actual compression ratios available.

When the Output Video Transport is set to NDI HX2, SRT or WebRTC

Provides a basic level of control of the compression ratio implemented by the chosen transport stream.

The available options are:

  • Normal
  • Low bit rate
  • Very low bit rate
  • High bit rate

Important: More advanced controls can be found in the app's 'Advanced → Senders → TX n' menu. Once used, the Advanced (runtime) controls will override this value.

Video Resolution

Sets the frame-size (resolution) and scan type (interlaced or progressive) of the video output; available options are:

  •  SD
  • 720p
  • 1080i
  • 1080p
  • UHD

Please note: No resizing of the HTLM5 source is performed by the Graphic Inserter app.

The format of the HTML5 page (height and width) must match the Output Video Resolution (defined here) to avoid unexpected results. e.g.

  • If the HTML source is set to 3840x2160, and the Graphic Inserter is set to 3G, then the resultant video output shows only the top left quadrant of the graphic.
  • If the HTML source is set to 600x400, and the Graphic Inserter is set to 3G, then the video output shows the whole graphic in the top left corner and the rest of the image is black. 
Scan Rate

Sets the frame rate (FPS) of the video output; available options are:

  • 50 Hz
  • 59.94 Hz
  • 60 Hz                                                                                                                                                
Colorimetry

Selects the colorimetry of the video output; available options are:

  • SDR, BT.709
  • SDR, BT.2020
  • HDR, HLG
  • HDR, PQ

Please note: No colorimetry conversion is applied by the Graphic Inserter app.

This control is used to inform downstream devices of the colorimetry parameters of the stream produced by the Graphic Inserter app. 

It should be set to match the colorimetry of the HTML5 source.