VT4 and LIVE Switching

[dougt]

Hi there all. We are looking to possibly use our VT4 for LIVE-to-tape shows shortly and just wondering how I would set something like this up? For instance, have an open run with music and effects, then dissolve into our camera input and key our guest before taking over the switcher. I was using "timelines" with our current Trinity system which worked GREAT but just having an issue with dissolving a DDR into a switcher input and keying people with a lower third and having music fading out. And the same goes for the closing with credits rolling over a camera input and/or a roll in during the production. We do alot of LIVE-to-tape productions.

Thanks and hope you all can understand what I am trying to accomplish.

Doug Taber Jr
West Hartford Community Television
:help:

[Jim Capillo]

Have you tried having multiple DDR's loaded, Doug? I don't use my VT for live stuff, but I think it would work in that way.

[PIZAZZ]

Hi there all. We are looking to possibly use our VT4 for LIVE-to-tape shows shortly and just wondering how I would set something like this up? For instance, have an open run with music and effects, then dissolve into our camera input and key our guest before taking over the switcher. I was using "timelines" with our current Trinity system which worked GREAT but just having an issue with dissolving a DDR into a switcher input and keying people with a lower third and having music fading out. And the same goes for the closing with credits rolling over a camera input and/or a roll in during the production. We do alot of LIVE-to-tape productions.

Thanks and hope you all can understand what I am trying to accomplish.

Doug Taber Jr
West Hartford Community Television
:help:


Doug you can use 'timelines' in VT also to do some of the leg work for you. Open VTEdit and go into the Utilities folder to choose and setup the Main and Preview row triggers. Once the timeline is set in order and all then you can save the timeline out as a .vtp file. Load this .vtp file in your DDR and play it. It will start your opening and automatically switch to your camera setup as you programmed it in VTEdit.

3 things to keep in mind:

1. The Utility croutons trigger on the timeline when it hits the beginning of the utility. It does not last for the duration of the utility even though you can stretch the length of them out. So every time you want to change something on the switcher you need to put a Utility Crouton in the timeline and set it to do what you want to.
2. Read the manual. The chapter is pretty understandable on this.
3. Email me directly if you have any other questions. We use it like this all the time in our live productions.

[Ivan]

Hi Jef,

I know you have way more experience than I do on this but I don't understand the remark "It does not last for the duration of the utility even though you can stretch the length of them out." Could you elaborate? If you are saying what I think you are, there may be an easy solution. Instead of stretching the length try extending the out point. Stretching changes the speed where setting the out point will actually extend the clip. This may seem like splitting hairs but the two will result in dramatically different experiences in many of the effects or utilities.

Ivan

[PIZAZZ]

Hi Jef,

I know you have way more experience than I do on this but I don't understand the remark "It does not last for the duration of the utility even though you can stretch the length of them out." Could you elaborate? If you are saying what I think you are, there may be an easy solution. Instead of stretching the length try extending the out point. Stretching changes the speed where setting the out point will actually extend the clip. This may seem like splitting hairs but the two will result in dramatically different experiences in many of the effects or utilities.

Ivan

Ivan I am talking about the length of the Utility Croutons not actual video or audio clips. You can stretch out or extend the length of the Utility Croutons but it does not do much for you if you are switching inputs. You need to put a Crouton down every place you need to switch inputs.

[dougt]

Doug you can use 'timelines' in VT also to do some of the leg work for you. Open VTEdit and go into the Utilities folder to choose and setup the Main and Preview row triggers. Once the timeline is set in order and all then you can save the timeline out as a .vtp file. Load this .vtp file in your DDR and play it. It will start your opening and automatically switch to your camera setup as you programmed it in VTEdit.

3 things to keep in mind:

1. The Utility croutons trigger on the timeline when it hits the beginning of the utility. It does not last for the duration of the utility even though you can stretch the length of them out. So every time you want to change something on the switcher you need to put a Utility Crouton in the timeline and set it to do what you want to.
2. Read the manual. The chapter is pretty understandable on this.
3. Email me directly if you have any other questions. We use it like this all the time in our live productions.
Hi there Jef. Do you have a number that I can call you? I would like to ask you a few questions that might be easier to explain over the phone but basically, I wish to have a DDR go to an input on the switcher by dissolving and then putting a key over that input. Is there an easy way to do this and make it a file that can be loaded in the DDR?

Thanks

Doug
dougt@westhartford.org

[PIZAZZ]

Sure thing Doug. You can call me at 409-860-9283 anytime you like.

I believe I have a solution to do what you ask.

[iMusicast]

Can someone enlighten me about the advantages of the [VT4] system over my old Trinity? A sales guy at Global Streams would like to chat me up tomorrow, and he plans on convincing me that I should pay them $5500 to upgrade the Trinity, vs a new [VT4] at about the same price. Doesn't seem to make sense to me, but I wanted to get some other opinions.

Bryan

[Jim Capillo]

Can someone enlighten me about the advantages of the [VT4] system over my old Trinity? A sales guy at Global Streams would like to chat me up tomorrow, and he plans on convincing me that I should pay them $5500 to upgrade the Trinity, vs a new [VT4] at about the same price. Doesn't seem to make sense to me, but I wanted to get some other opinions.

Bryan

Oh boy, here I go again - the pain is just below the surface.... :bangwall:

Disclaimer: The following is my opinion only, formed by my years of experience owning Trinity and dealing with Play and GS.

Well, first of all will be the cost. The $5500 is just the tip of the iceberg. Every input, warp engine, memory & DSK card, and any other "accessory" that they sell you will cost you $$$ THOUSANDS $$$. Their big "switcher" add on is $10,000.00. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS..... and it is of "suspect" quality, with a lot of problems that are clearly documented on their forum.

Second is the $$$ thousands $$$ it will cost you for tech support and upgrades. They are FAR from free, and the "free" support that they'll tell you you may get from the forum is rarely answered by a tech person, but actually an administrator/moderator. With the exception of a half-dozen former employees and die-hard users, there are few user postings.

Third is the "old technology" argument. Their original electronic design is over ten years old. The basic system architecture is hardware locked and requires an expensive board/chip redesign/swapout for every problem they try to circumvent. Ask about the "match frame edit" that the system has to perform in order to play most timelines all they way thru. In other words, the system has to stop the timeline playback, flush the memory, recue the record deck to the last frame, load the second half of the timeline (or it may be even divided into thirds or fourths, depending on the length and complexity of the project), roll the deck and then restart the timeline. They'll sell you a 1GB memory board that allegedly "fixes" that problem, but it STILL can run out of memory and require a match frame edit...... and that board will cost you $$$ THOUSANDS $$$. Simply put, their NLE is old technology.

Panamation ? No contest vs. Aura/Mirage. Panamation is buggy, unwieldly and has a ton of "hidden features" and menus that make the simplest task hard to perform.

CG ? The only part of their suite that I liked.

Need 3-D ? Well, their spin-off, Electric Image is a weak comparison to Lightwave, and guess what ? It will cost you $$$ THOUSANDS $$$. Lightwave is free with VT.... and used professionally more than just about any other program.

They might try to sell you on the "stability" of a hardware based switcher. Don't believe it. I had more crashes and lockups with that box than I EVER have had with VT. Many times, just to get the da mn thing started required I open the box and reseat the cards. What is up with THAT ?

Another reality is the frequency and feature sets of the upgrades. You may see one major upgrade a year..... and did I mention that you have to PAY for the upgrades? How many free ones have you received from Newtek ?

And then there are the intangibles. Try getting the email address for the lead programmer over there, if there even is one. Dr. Cross is just an email away here - and not to speak for him or Newtek, but chances are you'll get a prompt answer to your question from him.

Long term company survivability ? Check out the "dealers" they list on their site and then go to those dealer sites. Very few even list GS anymore in their line sheets. Looks like a very old dealer list to me. Wanna give them $5500+ (emphasize the plus) and watch them go under?

I could go on and on..... but I have to admit, I've NEVER been a fan of GS since the "takeover" from Play. They first told me they weren't going to support us (Trinity owners) anymore and then when that scheme didn't work, they did an abrupt about face and "announced" that they would now be the nice and caring company and now support the Trinity folks, albeit for HUGE price increases. And I mean HUGE. I've been a thorn in their side since then.

My final advice to you would be to call that salesperson and cancel the appointment, keep that $5500+ in the bank or use it to upgrade your computer for the VT. Salespeople will tell you ANYTHING to separate your money from you. Listen to the users who actually use the tools to make a living. I've had both and Trinity/GC comes nowhere near the capabilities/features/value of the VT.

JMHO.....and the facts :deal:

[ted]

How do you really feel Jimmy? :hey:
There are pro's and cons to both.
The primary reason for me moving from the GlobeCaster to the VT was the difference between the two companies. NewTek wins with no grey areas. NewTek is always putting technology and customers first. Heck, I dont know of anyone who's paid for a VT card repair. You won't get that from Globalstreams.

I still have both in my control room. I like GlobeCaster's CG better, but VT's catching up. There are some good things about the GC Switcher, but the VT Switcher wins for our needs.
We mostly live in a post environment. Just the other day I opened the GC timeline and was reminded HOW GLAD I AM that my days are spent with TED and not GC. VT's the hands down winner!!!

I would talk with the salesman if you have time. But I'm not so sure I would trust most of the folks at GlobalStreams anymore.

I was told that when GC 3.0 came out I would get it free because I bought the GC upgrade. 2 in fact. Well, it took GS more then a year, so they said I would have to buy another years warranty to qualify. What the $%@& ?
It wasn't my fault they spent over a year getting the software out!!!
However there are still some good guys over there.

Gotta go. Always listen and do your homework. Good luck.

[Jim Capillo]

Can someone enlighten me about the advantages of the [VT4] system over my old Trinity? A sales guy at Global Streams would like to chat me up tomorrow, and he plans on convincing me that I should pay them $5500 to upgrade the Trinity, vs a new [VT4] at about the same price. Doesn't seem to make sense to me, but I wanted to get some other opinions.

Bryan

Hey Bryan,

What happened ?