Production Switchers

Hello,

We own a crossover 12, is there any future plans to allow a second multiviewer with different sources on it? As of now i can have PV and PGM and then 8 sources, since i have PV/PGM/12 sources and 2 media's it would be nice to see them all.

Thanks,

Brad

Hi Bradford,

The CrossOver FPGA is only capable of supporting the single 10 window multiviewer that it has. You would have to look at upgrading from a CrossOver 12 to a Carbonite series switcher which has a much larger FPGA and has a dual MultiViewer.

Les

#Carbonite

Thanks, Also is there any guide to making targa animations and how to use them, the documentation is lacking a bit.

Thanks,

Brad

#Carbonite

Animations are built using Graphics programs like After Effects and Motion.

You can find tutorials about how to create animation graphics online. I have no personal experience making these as I am a switcher guy not a graphics guy. I only know how to use the TGA sequences that are supplied to me from a graphics person.

Les

#Carbonite

Hi Bradford,

I dont know about other programs but from After Effects you simply render your animation as a TGA sequence with channels set to RGB + Alpha and Premultiplied. Just be sure to create a directory for the sequence as it will generate numbered still for every frame of video.

Nigel

#Carbonite

Gents (Nigel & Les),

First, animations can also be built using XPression CG Designer, which could output a Targa sequence along the lines described in the Solo manual. What's _not_ so clear from the manual is how long an animation can be when loaded into a Media-Store. I would imagine, since they're essentially transitions, is that 60 frames might be a reasonable limit, but there's no indication in the manual. Also, as indicated in the manual, speeds could be cut down to 1/10 the original speed (600 frames??? (If the above assumption is correct.)) or sped up to 10x. Hooee!

Also sparse in the documentation is anything related to Media Wipes, Swish, and Swish+, other than to mention they can be done or selected. Any hints?

Sorry to post on the coattails of the OP, but I'll wait to see a response before I make it a new topic.

Last, my timing, as usual, is impeccable. Hope you get to this before IBC and, more importantly, I hope you have a great show. It was my first exposure to a broadcast convention and remains a fond memory (and, if I'm not mistaken, a bigger show than NAB).

Regards,

Geoff.

#Carbonite

Hi Geoff,

It is actually hard to define a maximum frame count as it all depends on the size of the animation. It is allowed to have smaller than frame size (bugs and lower thirds) and then you can set position information as to where you want it in the screen. Also size depends on the format that you are operating in. Yes you could use fewer frames and then speed it up, but then you have the issue that your just playing the frames out faster and at a certain point you will have jumpy video.

Swish mode locks Media 2 and 4 to only be available in the transition area. If you were to try and use it in a Bus it would not allow you too. Swish+ allows you to use it in a Bus and then also in the transition area. So the idea being if I had M2 on air for a still or logo and then decided to press Media Wipe trans then we would be loading the animation while the channel is basically on air.

So as you can see there is the ability as a user to prevent the use in the Bus and not accidentally get into that situation. However if you need to do back to back logos and transition with different keyers -- say Cam1+Lowerthird to DVD+Graphic I would need 2 keyers and both M1/3 and M2/4 for the graphics. However I know that I also do Media Wipes but as a user I will just have to be aware of where I am using those resources.

Les

#Carbonite

Les, thanks for the response. I'll have to ponder it some more, as my hair is starting to hurt. The more I learn about this littlle beastie, the more it amazes me how much power is in so small a package.

Regards,

Geoff.

#Carbonite

Are there any plans to add safe title and safe caption area markers to the Preview output please?

#Carbonite

Hi Peter,

No there is no more plans for added functions in CrossOver. It is full :)

Les

#Carbonite