The first revision of the TCXD850 software is available for download now from NewTek.
To say this is a major update is to understate the wholesale change in work flow involved. The original release was very similar to the interface of the TCXD300 but with this new release NewTek has adopted a more industry standard work flow. This is mostly to accommodate the 850CS control surface by allowing the user to 'delegate' certain functions to various controls.
I'm in the process of re-writing my detailed hands on review where I'll go into more detail. Suffice it to say that do not install this update an hour before a live event 'cause your gonna want to study up a little before using it. All in all it's a good upgrade and if you plan on using the 850CS you'll need to get it installed.
TriCaster™ TCXD850 CS is a hardware control surface mapped directly to the TriCaster TCXD850 Live Desktop, source for source, and function for function. Giving you a true, hands-on connection to the award-winning TriCaster system. The TriCaster TCXD850 CS is a powerful addition that fits seamlessly into your live production setup, and can be used for fixed or portable installation to meet your most demanding HD live production needs.
Been busy and there hasn't been much to blog about.
But we finally got our demo TCXD 850! Months late but it's finally here. NewTek is having the machines built by an outside vendor and there have apparently been teething pains in working out that relationship so machine are rolling out slowly.
I shot my first basketball game with it Friday night and I liked it a lot. The TCXD300 was never my favorite for this because we like to use three cameras plus one for the scoreboard clock so three inputs was too few. We made good use of the positionable, rotatable, scalable, crop-able DSK for our clock camera which was very cool.
Many people are having trouble using the MPEG files recorded in the TriCaster with Final Cut Pro. Dr. Andrew Cross of NewTek engineering posted the following on the NewTek forum Friday:
The following outlines why this happens and what you can do about it :
In order to play MPEG-2 files on FinalCutPro, or with the Mac in general you need to have the "QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X" installed on your system. This component ships with FinalCutPro as standard and so from a clean install you should be able to work with NewTek MPEG-2 files. Unfortunately, if you download a QuickTime update from the web, it will replace your entire QuickTime install and so the MPEG-2 playback component is no longer available and files will not play. The solution that Apple recommend for this problem is to use your account on the Apple store to download the plugin for the new version of QuickTime and install it manually.
There are three limitations of the "QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X" that one should be aware of:
Unfortunately QuickTime does not support high profile MPEG-2 files; as such you will need to use the "normal profile" files as the recording format inside the TriCaster. For all normal use there will be almost no perceptible difference between normal and high profile MPEG-2 files. Both far exceed the quality of competing formats (e.g. DV).
Embedded audio. It is a limitation of FinalCutPro support that it cannot read the audio embedded within an MPEG-2 file. For this reason, TriCaster writes out an MP3 file that you can lock to the video file for editing purposes.
Unfortunately FinalCutPro does not tag MPEG-2 files as "an optimized file format" and so for areas of your time-line where there are transitions of effects you might need to render before you can get perfect playback.
In another post a user posted a small AppleScript that re-wraps the Xd300 HQ MPEGS for use directly in FCP. It is available here. He's considering it beta so if you find it useful keep an eye out for updates.
At IBC NewTek announced TriCaster™ Virtual Set Editor (originally known as Artisan), which enables TriCaster TCXD850 and TriCaster TCXD300 users to customize their high definition (HD) live virtual sets. Each NewTek TriCaster comes with network-style virtual sets developed using proprietary NewTek LiveSet™ technology. With TriCaster VSE, these network HD virtual sets can be customized with logos, color schemes, furniture options, talent placement and more
TriCaster VSE is accessed from the HD TriCaster control panel, using functions familiar to TriCaster users such as position, scale, rotation, color correction (brightness, hue, contrast and saturation), media browser for image selection, and the T-bar to set custom start and end points for zooms. Once a TriCaster HD virtual set has been customized, it is automatically saved for use in your live production.
"TriCaster users are creating and delivering extraordinary live content. Our goal is to make it even easier for them to customize their programming," said NewTek Executive Vice President of Engineering, Andrew Cross. "By adding NewTek TriCaster Virtual Set Editor to our HD TriCaster line, schools, broadcasters and independent producers can personalize their productions - easily and affordably."
NewTek TriCaster Virtual Set Editor provides the ability to:
Change or insert logos
Customize the "beginning" and "end" zoom, and pan positions
Change the color of selected elements
Change background images
Switch background monitors on and off
Switch furniture (including desks and other furniture options) on and off, allowing easy creation of standing sets
Position and scale green screen area to accommodate multiple people whether sitting or standing
This doesn't have anything to do with anything but I thought it was a nice video. Brings back memories of my first Anchor Steam. I had it in a restaurant overlooking the Pacific in Northern California.
NewTek is offering a $10k trade in for your old VT[5] towards a new TriCaster TCXD850. Unfortunately there is now an expiration date November 19.
VT[4] owners get $7500 while VT[3], VT[2] and VTNT owners get $5000
Log on to your NewTek registration profile to download the voucher then call us at 1-800-692-6442 to place your order. We have a special agreement in place with NewTek so that you don't have to turn in your VT card until your TCXD850 arrives so you won't be shut down while you wait.
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