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Back in Chapter 3 (Setting Up), you connected cameras to inputs on TriCaster’s backplate and configured them. If you haven’t already done so, let’s explore basic Switcher operations.
The main Switcher features 2 rows of buttons labeled Program and Preview. Each button on a Switcher row represents one of the many and varied video sources available.
FIGURE 50
The first button group at left on any row represents Cameras, while others represent various other sources (discussed soon).
FIGURE 51 (8-INPUT VERSION SHOWN)
Clicking a button in any row selects the active source for that row. Program and Preview row selections determine the content of the BKGD (Background) video layer, before the application of any overlays (DSKs).
VIDEO LAYERS
TriCaster video output often consists of multiple sources of imagery, added together layer on layer to form a composite. The Switcher and Transition controls allow you to manage these video layers to show the viewer just what you want him to see.
Background layer (and FTB) | DSK 1 | DSK 2 | DSK 3 | DSK 4 |
The BKGD (Background) video layer constitutes the base of the video composition ultimately sent to Program Output.
Based on your selections, as many as five more primary video layers may be superimposed above the BKGD layer on output:
DSK video layers are most commonly used to apply graphics or titles to the BKGD layer (DSK stands for ‘Down Stream Keyer’). The number of DSK layers varies by model.
FTB (Fade to Black) constitutes a final video layer prior to output – one that can obscure all others when called upon to do so.
Again, the Program and Preview row selections determine the content of the BKGD (Background) video layer. The Preview row selection is normally cued up for the next Take (cut) or Transition operation. Either operation, once completed, results in the original Program and Preview row selections exchanging places. Of course
during a transition, portions of both the Program and Preview row selections can be seen in varying amounts.
The BKGD layer composition can include other content as well, as we’ll see later in Section 4.10 (LiveMatte) and Section 4.11 (More About M/ES).
Hint: It can be useful to have the tab for a Media Player you select on the Preview row shown automatically. To employ this behavior, enable either of the “Tabs follow Preview … “ items listed in the Options menu of TriCaster’s Live Desktop (at left in the Dashboard).
CONFIGURING CAMERAS
Let’s try out some of these concepts, shall we? (If you previously configured some cameras, feel free to skip ahead to the next sub-heading).
1. First, confirm that the Connection Type selected for your video sources is correct.
a. Double-click an Input monitor to open the Configuration panel for that input.
b. Choose a Connection setting appropriate for your camera (if necessary), and close the Configuration panel.
2. Repeat the steps above for all connected cameras.
3. Use the Workspace menu to show “All” primary Switcher sources.
4. Click the Switcher button labeled ‘1’ on the Program row to send Camera 1 to TriCaster’s BKGD layer (the PGM row button turns red).
(For experimental purposes, feel free to use internal sources such as Media Players rather than live cameras if you like.)
5. Click to select Camera 2 on the Preview row (the button will light up in green).
6. Note that the monitor labels for the corresponding sources are now also tinted red and green, respectively.
DSK SOURCES
Let’s assign sources to a couple of the DSKs (Downstream Keyers) now (we’ll be using these shortly):
1. Add a title to the GFX 1 (or simply GFX, for TriCasters with just one Graphics
player) playlist as follows:
a. Click the Graphics tab, then click the large + (Add Media) button at left in the footer of the GFX 1 player to open a custom Media Browser (Figure 52).
b. Click the NewTek location at left (under the Titles heading) in the
Media Browser.
2. In the same manner, add a different second title to the playlist.
3. Right-click the playlist icon for this second title, and select Send to Buffer 1
from the icon menu.
Hint: This introduces the TriCaster’s Buffers, discussed more fully later. For now, think of them as it will suffice to think of buffers as dedicated ‘instant-recall’ memory slots allocated to hold media for instant display.
We’re ready to configure the DSKs we want to use now.
FIGURE 53 | The DSK controls are located to the right of the Transition control group (T-bar) in the central (Switcher) area of the Live Desktop. The name tag for the source currently assigned to each DSK channel is displayed below the DSK’s own label. |
4. Click the source labels for DSK 1 and 2, and assign GFX 1 and Buffer 1 as their respective sources.
Now we’re ready now to try out the features in the Transition section, just left of the DSK section in the onscreen Switcher. Let’s begin our exploration of switching with the BKGD (Background) layer.
1. Select Camera 1 on the Switcher’s Program row.
2. Select Camera 2 on the Preview row.
3. Notice that the red and green highlighted monitor labels conform to the selections you just made.
4. Click the BKGD button above the T-bar in the Transition group – Figure 54 (this dedicates the T-bar to control the BKGD video layer exclusively).
5. Click the Take button below the T-bar.
a. Camera 1 is instantly removed from Program Out.
b. Camera 2 (previously the Preview row selection) moves to Program
output.
c. The Camera 2 button is now lit up on the Program row.
d. The Camera 1 button is lit up on the Preview row.
e. The red and green monitor label highlights have been swapped.
6. Now click the local Auto button. The Program and Preview row selections swap again, but this time, rather than a simple (and instant) Cut, the change employs the currently selected transition – by default, a Fade.
Hint: By default, the keystroke shortcuts Enter and spacebar perform the (main Switcher) Take and Auto operations, respectively.
7. To replace the current transition with a different one, follow these steps:
a. Click the large Fade thumbnail icon to open the Transition Bin.
b. Slide the mouse pointer down and click a different transition effect. Test it, by clicking Auto.
The Transition Bin provides quick access to a number of transitions, but TriCaster includes many others.
To replace an entry in the Transition Bin with a completely new effect, proceed as follows:
8. Open the Transition Bin again, and hover the mouse pointer over any thumbnail icon.
9. Click the Browser button (+ sign) that
appears above the icon to open the custom Media
Browser.
FIGURE 55
NOTE: Four input TriCaster models, having a little more space on the Desktop, provide a second, larger, selector type for primary video effects in both the main Switcher and M/E controls. For all intents and purposes, though, effect selection in either selector type is essentially the same.
10. The Media Browser is context sensitive. It will show transition headings in the Location list at left. Choose a new transition to replace the current entry.
11. The current transition duration is shown beneath the thumbnail icon (shown as seconds: frames).
Hint: notice that the BKGD effect menu also offers Reverse and Ping Pong options, which control transition direction.
DSK TRANSITIONS
Having mastered the basic Background transition, let’s take another look at the DSKs. Notice that each DSK channel has its own control group located to the right of the main T-bar (Figure 57).
| Hint: DSK 2 appears ‘in front of’ DSK 1 (from the viewer’s perspective). DSKs can each have their own transitions, and these can be set to different durations as well if you like. 12. Click the local Auto button for DSK 1. Since GFX 1 is assigned to DSK 1, the currently selected item in that Media Player transitions in to appear above the BKGD layer. |
13. Click Auto for DSK 2. DSK channel content can be individually displayed or removed from view in this manner.
Hint: DSK (and M/E Key channel) transitions are always in Ping Pong mode. If you fly a DSK on with one operation, the next transition will always fly it back off again.
That’s all useful, as far as it goes, but what if you want to remove one graphic and display another simultaneously?
14. Click Take for DSK 2 to remove that video layer from view (DSK 1 should still be on screen).
15. In the main Transition control group (Figure 57), click the label of the DSK 1 control. It will turn blue. The main transition controls, including the T-bar, will now affect the DSK 1 video layer only.
16. Try it out by pressing the main Auto button; then press it again to re-display
DSK 1.
Hint: Note that the progress gauge beneath DSK 1’s Take button shows that DSK 1 is fully displayed.
17. With the DSK 1 delegate button lit up, press Ctrl on your keyboard, and keep it pressed while you click the button for DSK 2 – then release it.
Two Transition delegate buttons are now ‘lit’ – DSK 1 and DSK 2.
18. Click the main Auto button again.
DSK 1 (which was displayed above the BKGD layer) is removed from view, and DSK 2 is displayed using its own transition.
Let’s up the ante just slightly.
19. Press Ctrl on your keyboard while you click the BKGD delegate button.
Your Transition Delegate buttons should now resemble Figure 58, showing that three delegates are currently active.
20. Press the main Auto button again.
Let’s analyze what happened using the images below, which show the before and after displays on the Preview and Program monitors (from left to right).
In Figure 59, the Program monitor shows the composite result of DSK 1 over the BKGD layer, the current Program row selection.
In obedience to the current Transition delegate multi-selection, one click of the main
Auto button resulted in all of the following operations:
A BKGD layer transition occurred, swapping the Program and Preview row selections.
DSK 1, which had been displayed on output, transitioned out of view.
DSK 2, which was previously unseen before the auto, was transitioned in above the BKGD layer on Program output.
LOOK AHEAD PREVIEW
Let’s pause here to consider TriCaster’s Look Ahead Preview monitor. Cast your eyes over the Preview monitor, and consider how it relates to the state of the Transition Delegate controls.
In Figure 60, the Preview monitor shows DSK 2 (assigned to Buffer 1) overlaid on the current Preview row selection. The Look Ahead Preview monitor (or simply, Preview) always shows us the composition that would result if a Take or Transition operation was performed respecting the current transition delegate(s) –a look into the future, if you will.
21. Hold down Ctrl on the keyboard again, and click the BKGD Delegate button (de-selecting it).
Note that, after de-selecting the BKGD delegate button, the Preview monitor no longer shows the Switcher’s Preview row selection. Instead, it shows DSK 1 over the current Program row selection.
Why is that?
Since only the DSK 1 and DSK 2 delegate buttons are active, only those two video layers will be affected by a main Take or Auto operation. In this state, the result of an Auto operation will be as follows:
DSK 2, currently seen on Program out, will be removed from view
DSK 1 will be overlaid above Program instead.
The BKGD layer – not being delegated – will not change in this case. Hence Preview correctly depicts the outcome of a Take or Auto, just as we’ve mentioned.
The Look Ahead Preview allows you to switch with real confidence; the Transition delegate features provide flexible and convenient video layer management, and thus enhanced control over your ultimate Program output composition.
