DVSDK for C6A816x EVM?

New one is out on April 30th.

Ralph

Thanks Ralph, but is there one available now?.

If not, what are my options?. Can I use the VPSS stuff in the EZSDK/psp directory?.

As far as I know, no. Have a look at this thread:

http://e2e.ti.com/support/dsp/integra_dsparm/f/625/t/96100.aspx

I assume they are still working on the new SDK right now. The current one is an "engineering release" which to me and from what I've encountered so far, makes it an "alpha" release. We really could do with a proper "production" release.

And I think the VPSS stuff is more to do with fundamental video control than codecs/DSP.

Ralph

Is the DVSDK a replacement for the EZSDK or is it an addition?.

Does the EZSDK offer video capture and compression facilities?.

Don't know, sorry. I found this page linked to from a link given in the thread I mentioned:

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/linuxezsdk-davinci.html

That's as much as I know.

Ralph

Hi David,

The C6A816x isn't really tuned for the usecases you mentioned. However, there is a Pin compatible DaVinci device - DM816x that is just announced. We are working on getting an EZSDK readied for this device. The current EZSDK will be software compatible (Linux drivers, DSP software), and so you could start prototyping right away and migrate to the newer release once that's available.

--Sid

Siddharth Heroor said:

Hi David,

The C6A816x isn't really tuned for the usecases you mentioned. However, there is a Pin compatible DaVinci device - DM816x that is just announced. We are working on getting an EZSDK readied for this device. The current EZSDK will be software compatible (Linux drivers, DSP software), and so you could start prototyping right away and migrate to the newer release once that's available.

Thanks Sid. But presumably video capture and compression can be achieved with the C6A816x otherwise there would be no point in having the video inputs on the EVM. Presumbly, this is true?. What you seem to be saying is that this EVM won't ever support DVSDK. If this is true, what is the best mechanism for video capture using this EVM?. My guess is that it is to use VPSS maybe in combination with Video4Linux. Do you have any thoughts on this?.

Dave

There are no video inputs on the C6A816x EVM (at least not on rev C which I have) :'-( 

Ralph

Hi Dave,

David Moore said:

But presumably video capture and compression can be achieved with the C6A816x otherwise there would be no point in having the video inputs on the EVM. Presumbly, this is true?.

We can use video capture with C6A816x for usecases such as Machine Vision, Video tracking and measurement where video compression isn't needed. Vision and signal processing algorithms on the DSP can be written for these usecases. However, if you need codecs, then the DM816x is the right device because that has 3 HDVICP2 engines that support H.264, MPEG4 etc.

David Moore said:

What you seem to be saying is that this EVM won't ever support DVSDK. If this is true, what is the best mechanism for video capture using this EVM?. My guess is that it is to use VPSS maybe in combination with Video4Linux. Do you have any thoughts on this?.

We plan to keep the EVM the same across AM389x, C6A816x and the DM816x. So, what you have today should be good for any video related prototyping you would like to do. As Ralph pointed out in his comment, this EVM doesn't support capture directly, but we are looking at options to include video capture. That's still part of the roadmap at this point of time and the details are being worked on.

From a software perspective, we are developing V4L2 drivers. These will be available over the next few months and will be integrated into a future EZSDK release. The drivers would be the same for all the three devices and so, it will be software compatible. The EZSDK for all the three parts will be supporting this EVM.

--Sid

Hi Ralph,

As I mentioned in a reply to Dave, we are looking at options for capture in the roadmap. Once the details are finalized, we will share them.

--Sid

Siddharth Heroor said:

Hi Dave,

But presumably video capture and compression can be achieved with the C6A816x otherwise there would be no point in having the video inputs on the EVM. Presumbly, this is true?.

We can use video capture with C6A816x for usecases such as Machine Vision, Video tracking and measurement where video compression isn't needed. Vision and signal processing algorithms on the DSP can be written for these usecases. However, if you need codecs, then the DM816x is the right device because that has 3 HDVICP2 engines that support H.264, MPEG4 etc.

David Moore said:

What you seem to be saying is that this EVM won't ever support DVSDK. If this is true, what is the best mechanism for video capture using this EVM?. My guess is that it is to use VPSS maybe in combination with Video4Linux. Do you have any thoughts on this?.

We plan to keep the EVM the same across AM389x, C6A816x and the DM816x. So, what you have today should be good for any video related prototyping you would like to do. As Ralph pointed out in his comment, this EVM doesn't support capture directly, but we are looking at options to include video capture. That's still part of the roadmap at this point of time and the details are being worked on.

From a software perspective, we are developing V4L2 drivers. These will be available over the next few months and will be integrated into a future EZSDK release. The drivers would be the same for all the three devices and so, it will be software compatible. The EZSDK for all the three parts will be supporting this EVM.

--Sid

[/quote]

Thanks Sid and Ralph,

I have a few further clarifying questions you'll hopefully be able be able to help with. I'm a bit of newbie in this area so please stick with me - Ta.

1). It seems to me (based on your comments) that we have the wrong chipset EVM. ie. for video capture and compression we should be using a DM816x populated EVM. 

2). At closer inspection, the EVM board we have (ie, the C6A816x EVM) doesn't have any obvious input video ports. Given that the you've said that you intend to use the same EVM for all three chip variants, how do you intend to support video input on these if there are no physical video inputs?.

3). You say that 'So, what you have today should be good for any video related prototyping you would like to do', but presumably as there's no way of getting video in and the compression codecs will be accessed differently (via the dedicated quoted 'dedicated HW video accelerators' abscent from the C6A816x), I would assume that little portable prototyping could be achieved would you agree (other than general familiarisation)?. Incidentally, there's an interesting discussion on the differences between C6A816x and DM816x

http://e2e.ti.com/support/dsp/integra_dsparm/f/625/t/86707.aspx

4). I'm guess that the DM816x EVM isn't currently available. When would this be available?. Also, when would the appropriate video capture and codecs be available for this board?. ie. when could we put it to good use for our application (of HD video capture and codec compression)?.

Finally, we were advised to buy the C6A816x because of it's ability to manage HD video input, intending to use the associated DSP for running a codec. Therefore, it's been a bit of a surprise to find that the associated EVM doesn't support video capture. Looks like we should be pursuing the DM816x EVM.

Any comments or suggestions gratefully received,

Dave

Hi Dave,

1) As I understand it, wherever you see the word Davinci in relation to TI's products it means video encoding and decoding "out of the box". The Integra doesn't come with any video codecs. The old Davinci DM6467 did H264 encoding and decoding for example.

4) Confused about that one myself. This webpage http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/tmdxevm8168.html says the Davinci EVM is available since yesterday, and also seems to imply that the EVM contains all 3 Sitara/Integra/Davinci chips but then further down the page in the "What's Included" section it only states Sitara and Integra. Then on this older webpage http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/tmdxevm8168ddr2.html it only ever mentions Sitara/Integra. I have this one and it only has 1 chip on (presumed to be Integra).

Ralph

Ralph said:

4) Confused about that one myself. This webpage http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/tmdxevm8168.html says the Davinci EVM is available since yesterday, and also seems to imply that the EVM contains all 3 Sitara/Integra/Davinci chips but then further down the page in the "What's Included" section it only states Sitara and Integra. Then on this older webpage http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/tmdxevm8168ddr2.html it only ever mentions Sitara/Integra. I have this one and it only has 1 chip on (presumed to be Integra).

Yeah, I noticed that on the 2nd of your pages it has this:

•  
  • LINUXEZSDK-AM389X,Linux EZ Software Development Kit (EZ SDK) for AM389x Microprocessors
  • LINUXEZSDK-C6A816X,Linux EZ Software Development Kit (EZ SDK) for C6A816x Microprocessors

What's Included

which suggested to me that EZSDK is available for the C6A816x and AM389X but not the Davinci equivalent, ie. the DM816x, is not yet.

I also came across this from the above page:

http://focus.ti.com/graphics/tool/dm8168evm.jpg

which might explain where the physical video inputs come from for the DM816x. ie. a second board. The top boards looks the same as mine (ie. the C6A816x/AM389x EVM.

I shall await confirmation (or not) from the TI support guys on these (and previous) queries,

Ta,

Dave

The following device families are pin-for-pin compatible:

• AM389x (Sitara, ARM-only)
• TMS320C6A816x (C6-Integra, ARM+DSP)
• DM816x (Davinci, ARM+DSP+accelerators)

If you purchase the DM8168 EVM it will come populated with the DM8168.  The DM8168 is the super-set device in the above collection of devices, i.e. all possible hardware and capabilities are present in this device.  Therefore regardless of whether you ultimately decide to use the AM389x, TMS320C6A816x, or the DM816x you will be able to do all your evaluation on the DM8168 EVM.  For example, you can download and run the AM389x EZSDK and that software will run with no hiccups on the DM8168.  It simply won't take advantage of the DSP or video accelerators.