Church Install Questions

[nevmoor]

Hey People!!

I have been using Toaster on the job occasionally and despite having problems with the system, ( some were just from being new), I think that VT3 is a great system.

Here's the question: I work at my church as the production manager. I would like other church users to give me their best and worst VT3 stories so I can recommend the system with full confidence to my church board to see if they'll go for it.
My only real problem has been the CG which I guess isn't that uncommon.
So hit me with suggetions please.

BTW, right now we are using:

2 Panasonic DVC200s
PC w/comp. video out for Powerpoint
Kron Editor (YUUKK!!!)
Full sized/mini DV recorder, forgot model
DVD recorder (as master)

MX30 switcher (to tape)
a vertical interval switcher to choose between MX30/PPT/Cam1 iso/Kron to projectors (via video in)
Plus more misc. stuff

[Demon8]

We use the VT3 at my church for post production and live switching. I'm the production editor for The City of life Christian Church. Give us a call 314-995-9797 and I'll be happy to talk about VT3 for church use.

[pnelson]

If you are the ability to buy this month, you can save over $1800.00 on the VT[3] Live system.

http://www.newtek.com/products/vt/index.php

See ya,

[jeaston]

It might be helpful to get a list of what you want to do with the VT3. Obviously live swtiching and editing but what are your specific requirements and what VT3 features do you think you might want to utilize.

The list might help the community focus their responses.

[videopro]

I'm new to this forum and not sure how to post a new thread. I'm wanting to get general user info on the VT3 as I'm looking into it for my church.

Thank you, Jeff

[Paul Lara]

I'm not sure how to post a new thread.

Look on the top of the General Support page. There you'll find the New Thread button.

[nevmoor]

It might be helpful to get a list of what you want to do with the VT3. Obviously live swtiching and editing but what are your specific requirements and what VT3 features do you think you might want to utilize.

The list might help the community focus their responses.


Okay here are a few things I hope to be able to do with VT3:

live switch, duh
1 record direct to HD for editting later in TED. BTW I think I read in a post you can record the output from the MAIN out and not record any DSK. TED would be for adding lower 3rds and such for our broadcast.
2 can I also do an ISO cam record in a seperate DDR while recording Program or main out???
3 Lightwave, hello!!! cool 3D animations etc..
4 live roll in intros, commercial style announcements etc...

I know that VT3 will pretty much do all I need but I guess I need that extra vote of confidence to really go for the approval. I have to put together a killer presentation so that everyone gets as hype as me about doing this.
I know that our production value will SOAR compared to what we have now. I am the only tech head around and VT is much more user freindly than the current set up.

Thanks for your input everyone :D

[Jim_C]

a - duh ;)
1-Yes to main out
2-You can record 2 sources yes. But it would be main out and preview out, so you could record whatever is in your preview, which would probably be more than your iso. Or maybe, if you ran a separate firewire line from one camera, you may be able to put DV on preview and record that camera only, not sure.Seems like yes.
3-:)
4-check this thread http://vbulletin.newtek.com/showthread.php?t=27597
should boost your buying confidence level.

Welcome aboard
Jim

[jeaston]

Second to Jim_C and you could probably save yourself some editing time by prebuilding your lower thirds and loading them into a DDR for play/record during the program.

- John

[nevmoor]

Second to Jim_C and you could probably save yourself some editing time by prebuilding your lower thirds and loading them into a DDR for play/record during the program.

- John


I know but since we will probably use PPT to display scripture live during service I wanted to put a cooler looking 3rd in later. We dont always know where the Pastor/speaker is going next, so I dont want to try to live input 3rds due to experience with CG crashing the system.

These forums are great. If you don't know you can ask somebody!!!
THX :)

[tbonekel]

We really love our VT3. When I ordered it, I ordered the standard tower computer. My vendor called me later and said that they accidentally ordered the rack computer instead. He gave me the option to keep it and thinking it would save some space, I agreed. I do like the rack, but the fans are really loud and I think the tower system would be less noisy.

The RS-8 in a live production setup is a must (imho). It is really nice to be able to have 2 people switching and calling up graphics. If you are never going to add graphics live, maybe you don't need it, but I think it's worth it.

They fact that VT3 doesn't have a preview out for an external monitor is somewhat surprising, especially when you can plug umpteen inputs into it. I will never have a use for 1/3 of the available inputs, but I would pay some money right now for an external preview monitor output.

[audiojr]

I've been using VT[3] since version 2 {which was actually version 1, but that's another story). We do a 3 camera live switch with powerpoint, and multiple DDRs each Sunday for two services.

First the good - you can't beat it for the money and it does 90% of what I want to do. The switcher is rock solid. Quality of image is excellent and you can input just about anything, but be aware of the limitations of interfacing with the outside world.
1. Even though you can connect about anything with the SX-8; only two signals can come from the SX-8 to the VT[3] board at a time. These are normally the signals on the main and preview busses. VT[3] can only output one signal at a time to the outside world. This is normally the program out which is post DSK.
2. You have to get creative inside VT[3] for special effects, masks, etc. (usually by using a DDR on the key buss), but you can accomplish most tasks with no problem (exceptions would be, for instance, you can't have a 1/2 screen split image up and dissolve to a full screen image of a third source - that would require three signals from the SX-8 at one time.
3. TED is FANTASTIC! (Yes, a quirk or two, but its amazing what you can do with it)

The bad:
1. Yes, the CG is still a bit unstable at times, but I just pre-render everything I'll need for the service to PNG files and run them from a DDR or two.
2. Sound has always been a problem (especially trying to figure out where some reference "0" is, but the quality is now good. Pre-mix audio and just feed VT[3] the mix.
3. There is a two frame delay for video to pass through VT[3] (actually its about 2.6 frames on my system). All digital systems have a delay. Most video projectors add another 1-2 frame delay to do their thing, so the final screen image is 3-5 frames behind. This is noticable, but if the congregation is some distance from the screen, it gets less objectionable because it takes sound some time to travel.
4. Although I currently run everything with the keyboard and mouse, you really should get the RX-8 Swicher. As a previous post said, you can then have one person switching, while another calls up DDR settings etc.
5. No way to directly run Powerpoint, therefore you have to bring it in as an external signal from another computer. (COME ON NEWTEK - let's make a "Powerpoint" DDR!). This also means you can't put it on the DSK (also too bad!).

The Ugly:
Plan on buying some third party soft edge effects. Most of the effects supplied are really cheesy and not worth using (leftover toaster effects). If you are ambitious, you can make them yourself, but I've never tried.

Contact me at audiojr@aol.com if you have questions.