Grrr.... Cue VCR in TC Pro

[chuckd]

We're running an automated show for TVs on our campus. The show is basically PowerPoint fed to the TC via iVGA intersperced with video segments and/or promos for our upcoming programming. We're using Scheduler Pro to run the show (which is a very, very simple show).

In the VCR we have all the spots that we want to run for a particular week. What I want to do (and what was working for us until today) is have a promo play, transition back to the Ppt when it's done, and then cue up the next promo and have it fire off at the appropriate time.

As I understand it, this is what the CUE mode on the VCR is supposed to do. But today, for some reason, it will play the promo I start with, transition out, and then just stop. No going on the next clip, no staying in "pause/play" mode ready for the next transition.

As I said, this has worked for us the previous two weeks but not today. The main thing is that it's not advancing to the next clip and not staying in the "play/pause" mode for that clip. Is there some secret decoder ring way that I am supposed to set the VCR so that it will do what I want?

I've read the manual and it seems like I'm doing it right but I'm wondering if there's something like, "oh, yeah and make sure you click on the switcher portion of the screen otherwise it won't work" that's at the root of this. It's extremely nerve-wracking....

TIA,

[PIZAZZ]

simple fix should be to make sure you are in selection mode NOT Project Mode in the DDR.

Check that first.

[chuckd]

If you mean "selection" rather than "list" then I've checked that.

I'll try again when I'm not totally wiped out mentally.

Thanks Jef!

[PIZAZZ]

If you mean "selection" rather than "list" then I've checked that.

I'll try again when I'm not totally wiped out mentally.

Thanks Jef!


Sorry I spend most of my time on the VT. Make sure selection is checked either way.

Did you happen to do a reboot and reset the configs also?

Good luck!

[chuckd]

I haven't done a reboot and reset. How do you reset the configs on the TC?

[Paul Lara]

How do you reset the configs on the TC?

After TriCaster starts up, click the close gadget upper right and choose 'Admin' to get to the desktop. It's right there.

[chuckd]

Good deal! Thanks Paul.

[Cineman]

Did that get it Chuck? If not, come back and I believe I have your answer.

I could remember reporting a bug on this, and then finding that it was just me. Finally remembered what I found.

Nes Gurley

[chuckd]

Good news! The reset and reboot seems to have fixed it.

Just out of curiosity, Nes, what is your other answer?

[Cineman]

Good news! The reset and reboot seems to have fixed it.
Good. Yep. Knew that if it was what I was thinking, "Reset Configs" would fix. By the way, a reboot is not required after reset configs. Just Restart TC-Pro.


Just out of curiosity, Nes, what is your other answer?
No more posted than I realized that I just needed to post what I think it was and quick way to fix for next time. Will save you having to rebuild your modules and such. Little embarrassed about my doing, not finding myself, and having erroneously bugged it. Been in all fired rush, and as above, if what I think it was, knew that reset configs would have rid you of it.

Here is the only thing that I know of that will do what you described. Were you, or did you notice, long transitions running when you had the bug? Someone could have decided them sexy, or inadvertently hit "Shift+Z"

If the total transitions (in/out) exceed the clip length, it will cause exactly what you describe. Look at the transition speed meter (a feature missing on TriCaster STUDIO) just to the right of the T-bar. If you used that transition into and out from the clip, then double it. If that exceeds the length of your clip, then it will fail just as you describe, every time. If you used two different, you will need to get the total of both, and compare.

(Another thing you might note is that the play bar is still showing on the clip that didn't step. It is at the right, one frame from the end.)

May seem to be an odd thing to happen. But from a production stand point, it is really a good thing. That little virtual VCR player tries very hard to do your tasking. Even though you have asked him to do the impossible, he will do it for you, then protest so that you can fix by not stepping the clip, and turning off Pause. If you insist by stepping the clip and hitting "p", he will do it again and then flag you again (if this clip is too long for the transitions also).

I normally fix it by dialing the transitions speed back to less than the clip length. Thus you can test to see this phenomenon. One caveat though: I did this many times while writing this post. Once of many, my TC-Pro hung and wouldn't stop doing the anomaly. I had to reset configs. I did it dozens of times more after that and never failed to get it to fix by speed changing the transition.

Who knows the magic why? Anyway, you have a general quick fix with this, and another if you ever hang.

Nes Gurley

[chuckd]

Interesting! Thanks for the reply, Nes.