This chapter describes the Channel Settings for the Just In Mac Lite NDI application and how to enable a Channel for Recording, once it has been configured.

What is a Channel?

A Channel is a virtual representation of an NDI® Source within the network. Depending on the number of inputs, you can configure one or multiple Channels.

Enable a Channel for Recording

After configuring a Channel, you have to enable it by clicking on the checkbox next to the Channel name. The Channel can now be used by the Just In Mac lite NDI application. When quitting and relaunching Just In Mac lite NDI, previously activated Channels will still be active, so there is no need to open the Just In Mac lite NDI Configuration panel and activate the Channels again.

Open

Change a Channel Name

The name of a Channel can only be changed when the Channel is disabled. First, make sure that the Channel is not enabled, and then click on the Channel Name (next to the Channel checkbox), adjust the name, and press the “Enter” key to confirm.

Open

Channel Settings

Video Mode: Select the Video mode and ensure that it matches the NDI® Source. If it does not match, a warning will be shown (“No Signal”).

File Overwrite Strategy:

• Append Counter (Default): When using this option, the Just In Mac lite NDI application will add “_2” to the actual file name to avoid overwriting an already existing file.

• Replace: By choosing this option, the Just In Mac lite NDI application will overwrite a file with the same name at the target location.

Chunk Length: Defines the maximum length of the recorded Video. The maximum Chunk Length is 12 hours, the default option is “2” hours.

• If the Recording does not reach the entered Chunk Length, the recorded clips will be automatically truncated to the expected recorded length.

• Recording exceeds the entered Chunk Length: A new Recording (generating a new clip) will automatically be started.

Start Timecode: Enabling this option overrides the local time or incoming timecode and makes every new clip start with the defined timecode value.

MXF Write Buffer (Bytes in binary): This setting can be used to tune MXF writing for specific storage requirements, but should only be changed with care as it may lead to unexpected results including write errors. Recommended value: “Block size of storage”.

Restart On No Signal if Not Recording: If this option is enabled, the Channel will automatically restart after a signal loss (only in Idle Mode). Available options are:

• Close container, write to new: Recording to the current file will be stopped and as soon as there is a valid signal again the recording will start into a new file.

• Close container and stop: Recording will be stopped when the Channel detects a signal loss.

Dropped Frames Strategy (NEW in v.6.5):

• Duplicate last valid frame: In case of a dropped frame, the channel adds a duplicate of the last valid frame available.

• Add black frame: This option adds black frames for every occurring dropped frame.

Preview

You can manually override the resolution, frame rate, and quality of the Video Previews within Just Mac lite NDI. This may be helpful to increase performance when displaying many Channels in Just In Mac lite NDI. Please refer to the Channel Preview Options below for more information.

Resolution: Two resolution options are available:

• High: 640×360px

• Low: 480×270px 

Frame rate: The preview frame rate can be changed between “0” (=native frame rate) and “30” (if the channel frame rate is higher than “30”, then the preview will be limited to 30fps).

Quality: The “Preview Quality” setting can be changed between “10%” and “100%”.