For Your Amusement

New TriCaster Mini Announced

NewTek just announced the TriCaster Mini

In a nutshell it has the features of the TC410 but with HDMI I/O in a extremely compact form factor.

Here's a video I'll be posting more info ASAP.

New! NewTek TalkShow VS100

NewTek just revealed the TalkShow VS100 at IBC. It's a 'video calling production system'. With TalkShow any producer can easily connect with anyone able to make a Skype call and incorporate them into a live show with full-frame Skype video.

The NewTek TalkShow builds on the Skype TX software from Microsoft for managing video calls.
This being NewTek of course some of the technology from the TriCaster is included so you get a set of live production tools not available in other systems such as color correction (including automatic color balancing), aspect ratio adjustment along with audio compressor/limiter and EQ.

TalkShow is a complete turn-key system that connects directly with your production switcher via HD-SDI w/embedded audio or if you have a TriCaster you can use a network input without tying up an normal SDI input. It also has XLR ins and outs if you need to connect to an analog mixer.

The TalkShow separates the call management functions from the actual call content allowing the Skye remote to appear in your production without annoying pop-ups, ads or visual clutter. It also handles sending the program feed (audio and video) back to the remote caller. 

Save yourself the headaches and get a professional  turn-key system with these tools and deliver a high quality video/audio experience without piecing together some mickey mouse PC.

Until November 26th the TalkShow is available for an introductory price of $3995. Digital Arts will have a demo unit as soon as one is available. Give us a call at 1-800-692-6442 for more info.

New TriCaster Update(s)

TriCaster Update 2-3-140521 has been released for the TC410, 460, 860 and 8000:

• Audio follow now correctly follows M/E's.
• Fixed a fairly rare case where the streaming panel could unintentionally fall behind the main UI.
• When loading a session and there were multiple folders in the macro panel which contained many macros, the UI could sometimes fail to update the macro panel with some number of macros or folders. This never affected macro operation, and the invisible macros and folders would return upon user interaction with the panel. We've fixed this.
• ISO monitors for TriCasters TC410, TC460, and TC860 were unable to be set to M/E's. This was unintentional and this functionality has been added.
• Corrected an issue where the "Prepare for web" checkbox in the social media panel would uncheck if the account config window was opened multiple times in succession.
• Sending clips and stills to an empty mem presets now correctly updates the preset icon for that mem slot.
• Grab operations were not correctly sending grabbed stills to all mem presets specified in the "Add to" menu. This is now fixed.
• We've added extra logging of PTZ commands and responses in order to better troubleshoot and adjust our support of newer and more obscure models of VISCA PTZ cameras.
• Some minor UI tweaks to improve usability and correct the way certain feature settings are remembered for a session.
• The M/E preview could display the wrong source after changing delegates in some rare cases. This has been fixed.
• Corrected a rare issue where it was possible to create a text box of 0 size which would cause LiveText misbehave and even crash.
• Improved performance of the macro panel when there are a large number of macros and folders defined.
• Made some minor improvements to the operation of the UI to increase consistency when editing text and values in certain panels.
• Mouse-over tool tips for clips in the media bins, were in some cases were failing to fade when the mouse no longer hovered over a clip. This has been fixed.
• Playing a clip that is currently recording could cause what appeared to be a dropped frame once every 10 seconds. This has been fixed!
• Playing an SD PAL clip that was recorded as QT MOV 4:2:0 would not play correctly the first time it was loaded. This has also been fixed.
• iVGA PRO - Availability of an iVGA PRO source on the net input is now kept updated correctly.
• iVGA PRO - (and other sources connected on Net inputs) should now handle reconnecting to the TriCaster much more reliably.
• Additionally, updates to the TriCaster's Net inputs have been made to improve operation on congested networks resulting in more reliable Net input connection/disconnection.
•  ASC2 was not correctly supporting 16 bits per-pixel images. We have added support for 16bpp image sequences.
• LiveText on a TriCaster, was not correctly supporting output @ 480i from the TriCaster HDMI output. This has been fixed.
• LiveText on a TriCaster, when running for a PAL session, could cause the LiveText interface to respond very slowly. This has also been fixed.

This is on top of the recent Rev 2-3-140505 release:

• Frame synchronized recording. The new “Sync Frames for NLE” capture option leverages internal switcher capabilities to ensure all recordings share the exact same timing (without the need for additional hardware!).
•  Add active recordings to DDR and Publish Queue. Clips that are actively being captured, can be freely added to DDR playlists or the Publish queue. There they can be played or exported immediately, even while still recording.
•  We’ve also added the ability to quickly create a clip from the last 5 seconds of a recording that is in progress, making it easier than ever to capture and replay video.
• Improved network support. The TriCaster can now access storage devices on the network and shares drives.
• Updated Media Browser. The media browser has been updated to make session recordings and even the active recordings, easy to find and manage.
• TimeWarp™ Mark In and Mark Out functions now create clips without stopping the current recording. This allows for clip in and out points to be adjusted even outside the clips original boundaries.
• Social Media Publish. Clips can now be sent to the publish queue immediately, to be transferred to the configured social media destinations of your choice.
• Clip icons are now user-selectable – any frame in the clip can be designated as the icon for that clip.
•  Improved location of session media for cases such as when media drive letters have been changed.
• Greatly extended TriCaster/3Play integration.
•  TriCaster can now control many connected devices, such as playback and clip selection on a 3Play, through the use of powerful macros.
•  Added Vizrt Trio™ support, and new 3rd party extensions. Issue commands to Trio to select and display specific CG pages, perform animations, and more. Create macros that inter-mix TriCaster, Trio, and even 3Play functions.
• Third-party developers using our SDK can now add their products to the NewTek ecosystem in exciting and powerful ways.
• GPI support. Added support for the JL Cooper® eBOX GPI system, which can drive up to 2x24 different GPI signals. GPI commands can even be inserted into macros, adding control to attached devices.
•  Improved rendering engine. TriCaster 8000 has uniquely employed an advanced version of our switcher rendering engine, requiring as much as 4x more processing power, to perform per-pixel, weighted, 64-tap sampling in order to produce extremely high quality downscaling, and better warping for virtual sets. This feature has been significantly optimized, and extended to all product versions.
•  Blending Modes and Light Effects. The TriCaster now supports standard (Photoshop® style) blending mode effects in any M/E, adding endless possibilities for lighting effects, overlays, and title effects.
•  The Multiview display has been updated to allow for additional configuration with full support for selecting the sources and overlays that are assigned.
•  The Multiview display can now be configured to display a fixed graphic element, such as a company or team logo.
•  We’ve extended output options to all outputs. The secondary output channels now support not only “Follow 1 and 2” and camera inputs, but any of the available primary video sources, with full frame-rate, color space and scale processing on every output.
• All Pro Line TriCasters** now support four VGA monitors simultaneously with advanced scaling and frame-rate processing providing high resolution and frame-rate. (**Support for this feature on user upgraded TriCaster 455 and 855 machines may be limited.)

You can download the update here. You only need the latest version it contains all the previous patches.

TriCaster 410 Hands ON

A previous post pointed out the main differences between the new TC410 and the TC460 but let's take a more in depth look at the entry level 'Pro' TriCaster. A new update was released today which adds a few new features including ISOCorder.

The 410 is a four input 15 channel switcher with two DSKs. Video I/O is via SDI only there are no analog inputs. It will work with standard def cameras as long as they have SDI. The TC410 has two independent SDI outputs and an HDMI output.

Audio input is via one pair of balanced XLR mic/line inputs, one pair balanced 1/4" phone inputs and of course embedded audio on the four SDI inputs. Audio is output via 1 pair balanced XLRs and a pair of balanced 1/4" jacks for the aux plus a standard 1/4" headphone jack. Audio is also embedded in the SDI outputs.

The back panel also contains the outputs for the user interface (DVI) and multiview (HDMI) along with four USB ports, Ethernet, eSATA and OS/2 ports. The 15 pin tally port common to all Pro TriCasters is also found here.

The TriCaster 410 shares the user interface most of the features of the other more expensive Pro TriCasters including the new gen LiveSets and the new M/E configuration that replaced the Virtual Inputs. The M/Es allow you to output an M/E directly to the Aux output so you can actually perform two independent switches simultaneously. Record a full production while feeding fully produced (transitions, overlays and special effects) content to a large screen display etc.

In contrast to the TriCaster 40 you also get 15 still buffers, two DDRs for video playback the full macro and snapshot system.

The TriCaster 410 In Action

OK so how does it all work? Pretty well I'd say. If you currently are a TriCaster user the first thing you notice is everything looks different and the workflow is new. This takes a little getting used to but once you do you'll never want to go back.

The most striking difference is that the Virtual Input tabs are gone and replaced with a new M/E section above the main switcher controls. This section of the UI can be hidden if you aren't using it to help de-clutter the screen.

The M/E can work in two modes. The mix mode acts just like another video  switcher with two sources and a T-bar along with a keyer. This whole mix can be output via the aux out or even recorded to the hard drive. The Effects mode let's you set up green screen overlays, picture in picture effects and LiveSet effects. Another cool feature is that you can assign a M/E preview to one of the thumbnail preview slots in the upper left of the UI. This let's you actually see the talent in the virtual set on the preview.

The M/Es also have presets so you can expand the functionality by instantly switching from one configuration to another. In fact almost everything in the interface has user definable presets so you can manage even the most complicated show.

The main switcher and the two DSKs function pretty much like they always have with the exception that the utility/FX row has been consigned to the dustbin of history. That functionality is now all contained in the M/E.

Full Complement of Media Players

The lower part of the UI contains the displays of the various media players. The TC410 has two DDRs, two graphics players and a sound player. There is also a tab with the 15 still buffers. For those of you not familiar with the TriCaster the DDRs are simply modules that can play video clips or lists of clips. These come into the switcher on the inputs labeled DDR1 and DDR2 and can be set to play automatically when the source is selected on the program bus or an active (visible) M/E. The graphics and sound players work in a similar fashion.

Still Buffers

The still buffers are an expanded version of the buffers on the 455/855 machines. You assign a particular image to a buffer and then you can use that as a source in a DSK without using one of the graphics players. In fact buffer 1 can be used as a source directly in the main switcher and/or in an M/E. The buffer image files can actually be updated over a network connection while they're live for instant updates.

Social Media

The current Big Idea in broadcasting is the "Second Screen". The concept is to have content related to your production updated in real time on the web as it happens. Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and other sites can be used to provide interactions with your viewers and for promotional  efforts. Now with the TC410 and the other Pro TriCasters you can instantly initiate uploads of  video clips and still images to the various social media sites or your own FTP site. So you can, for example,  load a clip into a DDR, trim it using the tools in the DDR and with one click upload it directly to Youtube.

Complexity Reduction

The new TriCaster does so many things that it's pretty easy for the operator to get overwhelmed. Running two independent switcher, uploading to Facebook, managing a bunch of overlays and all the other functions that need to be done might be too much for the non-Super TDs out there so NewTek has taken steps to help us out.

Multiple operators can be involved. The TD (Technical Director) can be running the switch(es) using the CS controller while CG (character generation) is handled by an operator on a networked PC running LiveText (available separately). The social media end can then be done using the mouse and keyboard on the TriCaster. But dividing up the major jobs still may not be enough so the TC410 has a pretty extensive macro capability built in.

Macros are simply a sequence of actions that can be executed with a button push. Any series of switcher actions could be recorded as a macro and then assigned to any button on the CS controller or computer keyboard and then executed whenever the TD needs. An macro editor is also included to you can clean up, modify or even create from scratch any macro. You can also create 'snapshots' of the switcher at any time so a setup can be easily recalled.

This is an extremely powerful feature that can be combined with new MIDI support to use any number of external controllers like the Novation Launchpad to fire macros.
Macros can also be assigned to 'Hot Spots' on screen so that on-air talent can actually trigger macros just by touching a spot in the air. This was a feature originally seen on the TriCaster 8000. So now the TD doesn't have the excuse of only having two hands!

Audio

The TC410 has two mic/line XLRs and two 1/4" audio inputs. The mixer panel has channels for the inputs switchable between those analog connectors or embedded SDI audio. It also has controls for the media players and network inputs. You also get sliders for the main output, streaming output, recording level and the aux output. And all these ins and outs have multi-band EQ and compressors/limiters.


So where exactly does the TC410 fit into NewTek's product line?

Compared to the TC40 you gain:

• SDI inputs (but no analog) - Use pro cameras.
• IsoCorder - Record four streams of video. New Feature!
• 4 balanced audio mic/line audio inputs vs 1 unbalanced stereo and one mic input
• 2 pair balanced audio outs vs. 1 unbalanced
• Flexible and route-able M/Es vs VIs - Do a second switch to a second output and more.
• Macros/Snapshots - One button simplicity.
• Hotspots - Let the talent trigger macros.
• MIDI - Trigger macros from 3rd party controllers.
• Routable Audio - Makes it easier to do quad, SAP or a mix-minus.
• Adjustable audio delay - Compensate for upstream and downstream equipment latency.
• Multi-band EQ and Audio Compressors
• 2nd DDR - Manage your B-roll and commercials.
• Rugged Rackmount Chassis - Stands up to the rigors of the road.
• Bigger/Better Controller - Controls for almost every feature of the TriCaster.
• Social Media Support - Professional quality second screen content.
• Improved UI/Workflow - Get a handle on even the most complicated production
• Integrated PTZ Camera Control - Use the joystick on the CS to control your cameras.
• Improved Network Video Support - Use webcams as an input and send mpeg2 streams to other TriCasters and third party apps.

You lose these features from the TC460:

• Analog Video I/O - In addition to SDI video inputs and outputs the 460 has component, composite and S-Video ports.
• Removable Storage - The 460 has a removable drive bay which makes it easy to swap dives.
• Audio inputs - The 410 has two stereo audio inputs while the 460 has four.
• Genlock Input - The 410 lacks a genlock input. Most users won't care too much about this.
• Anim Buffers - Both machines have still buffers (the 460 has 10 while the 410 has 15) but the 460 also has five animation buffers so you can play looping animations without using a DDR.

The Bottom Line:
All in all if you don't need analog video inputs you should take a close look at the 410. If your budget can support the 460 it is a more flexible machine and is worth the difference in price.

NewTek's CTO Andrew Cross on Home Theater Geeks discussing the problems of 4K.

Post NAB Ennui

NAB last week was a little bit of a let down. On the surface there were some cool new bits of kit being shown but some of the things with huge buzz turned out to be not so buzz worthy.

Let's start with the bright spot. NewTek, as always, showed up with guns blazing. For the TriCaster Pro Line they announced a pretty big upgrade across the line with an even bigger boost to the TriCaster 410 which now will come with the Isocorder function. I'll detail the upgrade in a upcoming post.

NewTek's big news was on the instant replay front with the all new 3Play 440. It's a 4 input version of the top of the line 4800 and both models get major feature boosts like overlay capabilities and macros. The 3Play 425 remains in the line but has had it's price reduced to $10k (without a controller). This is a game changer for high schools who could never afford real instant replay.

3Play 440

Elsewhere on the show floor it was the year of the drone or maybe the 4k year. I didn't actually see any drones with 4k cameras but I bet there was one somewhere! 4k is definitely the Next-Big-Thing for high end productions but I'm not sure it's going to have a lot of impact for those doing standard TV and web productions for a while.

If 4k is good 6k or even 8k must be better. Red was showing there new 6k cameras but had to resort to IMAX to show their demo footage. Which points out a major problem with these beyond ultraHD formats--how are you going to deliver? I didn't even look closely at the 8k stuff.

Now a drone is something that I could see owning. Get those helicopter shots on the cheap. Beware the FAA doesn't allow drones to be used for commercial purposes so you may need to fly literally under the radar.

The aforementioned buzz surrounded the release of cameras by, well, everyone and their brother. Grass Valley showed their new LDX series cameras in standard speed, high speed and robotic variants. Priced between $60k and $100k these are all but irrelevant for the typical TriCaster user. And Red as usual has there various high-res offerings which are great for digital cinematography but impractical for live production.

Black Magic Designs Studio Camera

Blackmagic Designs had the biggest camera news with the announcement of their new Studio series of HD and 4K cameras. The Studio Camera HD starts at $2000 (without lens). It features SDI and fiber outputs and an integrated 10 inch viewfinder. Aimed squarely at live production this could eventually be a category killer.

Right now the big hang-up is the lack of appropriate lenses for live production. The Studio cams have a Micro 4/3 lens mount which is basically a still camera standard. What you really want for live production is a lens with a servo controlled zoom but there are no servo controlled Micro 4/3 lenses at this time. The Lanc control port on the camera may be able to zoom some Micro 4/3 lenses. But I think a lens good for sports production may be hard to find and is going to cost at least $1000.

You can add a Micro 4/3 to B4 adapter and use a standard ENG lens. The B4 mount is the broadcast standard but be aware you are looking at $10k+  lenses at that point. The camera doesn't have power outputs or any other integration with a B4 lens so again you'll be depending on the third party market for solutions. There are also technical issues with the size of the Studio camera's imager vs. B4 lenses that you'll have to deal with to prevent vignetting.

I'm sure that the market will solve the lens problem in time but I think I'd give the BMD Studio Camera a pass for a while at least.

Keep a look out for an in depth look at the New TriCaster and 3Play updates coming up.