Tascam CG-2000 Video Sync Master Clock Generator

The TASCAM CG-2000 is a Video Sync/Master Clock Generator that is designed for the needs of broadcasting and post production. The crystal oscillator is the heart of the clock generator. In the CG-2000, an OCXO (oven-controlled crystal oscillator) is used for its high precision and is not influenced by the temperature of the environment. Boasting a clock frequency precision of 0.01 ppm, which exceeds that of a TCXO (temperature-compensated crystal oscillator), this unit is key in the creation of high-precision synchronization systems - with word output frequency stability of ±0.005ppm or less per day.

The CG-2000 is equipped with an external input connector that supports a 10MHz signal.  This allows it to be connected to a rubidium clock or GPS clock for even higher precision.

External clock jitter is reduced using an original TASCAM circuit design that incorporates a high-performance video clock generator engineered with an FPGA and a PLL (phase-locked loop) circuit with a discrete filter. This enables a stable clock signal to be provided to the video/word outputs - improving system stability. The glitch-free relock circuit prevents noise and skipping sounds caused by master clock dropouts.

In addition to (12) word clock outputs and (4) video outputs, the digital outputs include (2) AES3/AES11 and (2) S/PDIF outputs, making this unit useful for large-scale audio/video synchronization systems, and a wide variety of other applications. Of the (12) word outputs, two also support x2Fs, x4Fs, and 256Fs output - enabling them to be used in systems with ProTools and other DAW software.

The analyzer function measures output device termination, input level measurement, and the measurement of input frequencies. These built-in features enable the device to provide troubleshooting support. Additionally, a logging function enables issues to be listed and saved to a CSV file format on a USB flash drive.

Since crystal oscillators change over time, regular calibration is necessary. In order to avoid possible sync problems, timely inspections – along with regular maintenance is required. The CG Series has a self-correction function, enabling users to conduct maintenance using an external signal input and simple operations.