In order to keep all the studio settings (selected sources, virtual camera V/C positions and settings, and others) and be able to use them for the next production, there is a possibility to save them in a session file. To open such saved settings, you have to load an appropriate session file at the start of 3D Production module.
When you have a file with the news ticker previously prepared in the STILL EDITOR, load it to the Text 1 or the Text 2 tray. Then, turn the DSK on by choosing the Text source from the drop-down list. The news ticker with the text will appear on the Preview screen. See the image below.
You can put your file on the air (Program) with DSK function. Image below.
Any changes made to the *.recStill files are permanently saved overwriting the file, therefore you have to create a clone to avoid this situation. Right-click on the news ticker file’s icon, and then select the Clone option from the drop-down list. For each new file clone, the filename copy with #1, #2, … index is created. This way, you can avoid making unplanned changes to the original file.
Let’s change the text in the clone #1 to show it on the air next. Right-click on the cloned file and select Edit.
A window with a preview of the news ticker opens, as shown below. Now, move the cursor over the text you wish to modify and double-click the right mouse button.
A window opens with a field for entering the text. The current text is displayed there.
Enter the new text and click OK button at the bottom of the window.
After clicking, you will return to the window with the news ticker’s preview. Now you can check, whether the entered message is not too long – it does not “protrude” beyond the screen. If everything is in order, click OK button.
On the air, in the DSK tray you have the original file selected, so all you need is to select your newly created and edited clone from the tray. Double-click it with the left mouse button.
In this way, you have prepared the news ticker changing on the air, without changing the graphics. Image below.
If you clone a couple of news tickers, you can run them in the LOOP by enabling the Autoplay function. Then, the whole sequence of texts shown on the screen with DSK will be playing non-stop (Image below). For more information see: Preparing media for broadcast section.
In order to use the DSK, you need to enable one of the buttons: DSK1 or DSK2 and select the source. Then, you have to adjust the location on the screen with Placement function. Entering on the air may occur smoothly (MIX button) or abruptly (Cut button). They operate independently of Take button on the switcher.
Example of the DSK layer usage: in order to use the DSK, one of the DSK buttons has to be enabled, then a source from a drop-down list has to be selected
Both DSK 1 and DSK 2 layers are handled exactly in the same way. This enables using common MIX and Cut buttons to support DSK 1 and DSK 2 layers, which allows you to show both DSK layers on the air in a synchronous manner, and to switch the caption from DSK 1 with the one from DSK 2. In this way, one caption will appear, while the second will be removed from the vision. To fully understand the principle of using the DSK function, you should perform several dry-runs with Cut and MIX buttons. A PREVIEW window, where the entered texts appear, should be watched simultaneously.
The MIX function’s delay (length of transition run-time) can be set in seconds or in frames next to this function’s button.
Click Placement button below the selected DSK 1 or DSK 2 button in order to configure position and size of the object inserted with DSK, a logo for instance. A window shown below will open then
Joystick: used to change the object’s positions on a screen through rough manipulation (joystick hooks and steers the cursor) or accurate one by pressing 4 directional arrows around the joystick. On the other hand, a very accurate positioning is possible through pressing the up/down arrows displayed beside the fields with numerical values.
Central vertical controller : used to change the inserted object’s size, – you can move it with the cursor
Right rotary knob: used to rotate the inserted object on the screen- you can move it with cursor.
On the right side of the vision mixer (main switcher) block is an area with DSK functions. The Switcher allows you to decide which source or which image from the inside of a virtual studio V/C is aired. However, no program can go without graphics and text panels. They are put into the broadcasted signal in the final step, on separate layers, in the form of overlays on the main signal. They are commonly referred to as DSK (Downstream Key).
The Reckeen 3D Studio system allows you to place on the aired image up to two DSK signals at the same time. The source of such signal may be: Media (1 and 2), Still image (1 and 2), or Text (1 and 2). It can also be an image from a camera or laptop sent to CAM input. In order for the DSK function to operate correctly, the media sent to DSK must contain transparent areas. In this manner, they will be placed ‘above’ the main signal. Media without transparent areas used with DSK will completely cover the aired image with their content, which is not advisable (unless the program’s creator desired so).
Usually, panels with captions, still graphics or short computer animations are used on DSK layers. For their preparation, video formats or graphic files with a definition of transparency (i.e. alpha channel/alpha) should be used. In the case where a signal from a camera is used as DSK, its use should be connected with keying. The Reckeen 3D Studio system is equipped with its own text panels editor – Still Text. With the editor, you can easily prepare subtitles to be used on DSK layers. An additional advantage of such created panels is the possibility of modifying their content from the broadcasting program level. Swapping the text content already on the air is also possible.
This block consists of several components, the most important of which is a Take button. Clicking it causes immediate switch between PVW and PGM signals. What was planned to be broadcast is broadcasted and the signal “removed” from the vision goes to PVW display. FTB (Fade To Black) button allows for a gradual transition of the broadcasted signal to black. This function is used for taking down the broadcasted image from the air and replacing it with black, for example in an emergency or at the end of a broadcast. Using this button cause a total quiet on the master audio output.
The same effect as with the Take button can be achieved by using the Auto button, with only difference being that the change of PVW and PGM signals does not occur at once, but smoothly, on a down-mix of both images and slow transition from one image to the other. You can set the time of this transition in seconds or in frames using the arrows located next the Auto button.
It is possible to control the Auto function directly from the production screen. You can operate the T-Bar slider displayed on the screen with a cursor. The same result can be achieved by using the T-bar handle on the VKEY-100 control panel.
An executive area – a Vision Mixer (production switcher), – occupies the middle part of 3D Production module screen. The mixer’s panel is composed of two rows of buttons with executive keys block on the right side of the screen. It is used to direct the chosen content on the air and to prepare the next materials for broadcast. See the image below.
Mixer buttons are located on Program and Preview lines. You can switch between different sources of signals on PGM and PVW by clicking the corresponding buttons.
The top line of buttons – PGM – indicates the image the source of which is sent directly on the air. The selected source button directed to be broadcast at the moment is highlighted in red.
The bottom line of buttons – PVW – allows you to indicate which image source will be aired next. An active button is marked in green. The chosen material is visible in the PREVIEW window.
After selecting and editing the sources for the broadcasted program, the next step concerns using the function buttons: online streaming, transition effects, inserting a logo or an animation during the production process with the help of DSK and others. Descriptions of the individual functions are presented below.