Production Switchers

Hello everyone.

I am new to Carbonite coming from the Tricaster switcher. I have a question about the file size of tga sequences loaded into Carbonite. I am currently playing a 2gb tga sequence as an animated bug on loop. Is this kind of file size an issue for Carbonite, or should it be ok? I am not experiencing any lag or anything yet.

Thanks, and looking forward to being a part of this awesome community!

Also after I have loaded this bug in once, will I have to wait the 15 or so minutes each time to load the sequence?

Thanks

#Carbonite

Isaac:

The initial loading of the tga sequences takes some time, depending on how many frames you are loading. NOTE - The storage capacity of the media players (392 frames HD 1080i "“ is what we determined was 4 gigs of information).

To answer your questions:

1.) About if a 2gb file is an issue to play? NO

2.) Waiting each time? NO --- If you do not turn the switcher off or load more than the allowed 4gigs of information into RAM. YES (total time to wait) - If you powered down the switcher. YES (modified time) - If you over wrote the ram a few frames, it will reload the needed frames.

#Carbonite

Thanks so much for the quick response!

My next question would be if I loaded in a different similar bug for a different show, would it clear out the other bug's info in ram, making the next time I load the original bug the same wait time.

Thanks

#Carbonite

If you do not turn off the switcher then you could load each sequence on the same pair of media players (assuming you are using a fill/key type of sequence), if the total is less than 392 HD frames. On the other hand if the total is more than 392 HD frames - Load one sequence on media players 1/3 and the other on media players 2/4 thus you would not have to REload either one, based on if you do not turn the switcher off.

In any case, if you power down the switcher you will have to reload each sequence back into the media players since they are ram based.

Take a look at the posting: MediaStore Usage

MediaStore Usage

#Carbonite

Isaac,

Another option by the way is to have the Bug built to be only the size of it's self. This will decrease the total size and loading of the file. Then you can use the Media Parameters to place it in the exact place you need it.

So normally what I do is have them Render me a single frame called BugTemp or BugGrid. This is a Full Frame image so it is 1920x1080. Then I have the Sequence rendered to the size needed by the graphic so depending on how big it is say 300x120 (again this is an example your bug will tell you the pixel size). I load the Bug Grid into the Media Store channels I will not be using it on. This I put in the Background bus so that I can see the exact placement that is needed.

Now load the Sequence. Use the Media Attributes to Move it into the correct X and y Location (this does not use DVE it is using the Media Store to locate it). make sure you save the parameters so that they will always load in the future to this location. Now you can eject the BugGrid or load what Item you did want on those other channels.

Les

#Carbonite

Thanks for all the help.

I have been playing the bug successfuly after this advice. I have one question regarding the opacity of the bug. We are currently using a tga sequence on alpha, but it seems that when the gfx gets keyed on, some of the image is a bit see through. I have the image set to self key. I have played with the settings within the key, but have not been able to fix the issue. I can get the image more solid with gain, but I also see some strange extra black on the parts of the image that were not see through and fine before. Any thoughts.

Thanks again!

#Carbonite

Use Auto Select instead of SELF Key

An Auto Select Key is a key in which two video signals

are required to make the key. The Alpha is used to cut

the hole in the video and the fill is used to fill the hole.

These signals often originate from external devices such

as character generators, external still stores, or other

graphics systems.

To Set Up an Auto Select Key

An auto select key is set up by selecting the keyer and

video source you want to use, and adjusting the key

parameters. The pairing of the video and alpha video

signals is done when configuring video inputs. Refer to

the Setup Guide that came with your switcher for

information on setting up Auto Keys.

Tip: You can return the clip and gain values to the default

settings by pressing the Make Linear knob.

1. Select the keyer that you want to set up an Auto

Select Key on.

2. Select the video signal on the key bus that you

want to use for the key.

3. Press AUTO SELECT.

4. Use the Clip knob to remove lower-saturated

colors from the video image.

5. Use the Gain knob to adjust the transition

between video image, and the parts of the video

image that are removed.

6. Use the Transp knob to adjust the transparency

of the key from opaque (0%) to fully transparent

(100%).

7. Press NEXT.

8. Use the Invert knob to reverse the polarity of

the key alpha (On) so that the holes in the

background are cut by dark areas of the key alpha

instead of bright areas.

9. Use the Mode knob to override the shaped

setting for the key.

"¢ Normal "” use the shaped/unshaped setting

from the key setup.

"¢ Addtve "” set to an additive keyer for a

shaped source.

"¢ Full "” set the alpha to fully opaque (white).

The Clip, Gain, Make Linear, and Key

Invert functions are disabled in this mode.

Note: The Mode is reset to Normal when a different

source is selected on the key bus, the alpha is

changed, or a memory is recalled.

10. Press NEXT.

11. Use the Mask knob to apply a mask to the key.

The Auto Select key uses the pre-assigned Auto Key

association to select the proper video and alpha. If you

want to temporarily select a different video source for

the alpha, press and hold the AUTO SELECT button

and select the video source you want to use as the new

fill.

#Carbonite