The Technical Director (TD) is responsible for the video transitions of the production. Following the guidance by the Director (if any), the TD selects and mixes the video sources (cameras, tape roll-ins, etc.) on the switcher.
Other responsibilities of the TD include:
• Setting up the AJA Ki-PRO HD Video File Recorder in order to properly record both the audio and video
• Tracking time code during the production for creating an EDL (if necessary)
• Monitoring audio input to the AJA Ki-PRO recorder
• Organising clean-up and striking at the conclusion of a production
• Supervising the adherence to AIM Studio safety guidelines and policies by crew and guests of the production
• Managing the technical quality of all video sources during a production
• Administering both studio and control room production crew responsibilities
The TD may wish to ask the following questions of the Producer prior to a studio production:
• How many guests will participate in the production?
• Is the producer planning any special effect shots such as a two shot or using a chroma key?
• Will the show include b-roll?
• Will character generator (CG) elements be used during the production?
Further suggestions for the Technical Director:
• request studio cameras be white balanced by an AIM production staff member after the lighting and set are set up
• If provided with a rundown sheet or a shot list...
• during the production add notes explaining good vs. bad takes
• make note of the length of each segment (if possible)
• reference notes help an editor when reviewing the raw footage if the production does not go live to file
• Prior to officially starting the production, have the crew to do a final check to ensure all recording devices are capturing the video and sound correctly.
• conducting a test recording and review can be helpful if time allows
The Crossover switcher combines professional switcher quality with an easy to use and mobile design. The switcher integrates easily into almost any workflow to create professional style studio productions. This document contains step by step instructions, tips, and recommendations from the Arlington Independent Media staff for member usage of the Hammond Studio control room switcher.
The video switcher in the Hammond Studio control room consists of rows of buttons called buses Each bus serves a particular function when switching between sources during a TV studio recording.
The Preset Bus is where video sources are previewed before being taken into a recording.
This is where you are going to.
This is positioned on the very bottom of the three main buses.
The Program Bus shows what is “live” or being sent from the switcher output to the record deck
This is where you are.
This is the center positioned bus above the Preset bus and below the Key/Aux bus.
The Key/Aux Bus is where video sources are selected to overlay over other video sources. AIM’s video switcher allows for up to 3 extra layers of video to be added for things such as graphics, chroma key effects, news boxes, or for creating split screen effects.
This bus is positioned at the very top of the three main buses.
In between the Key/Aux bus and the Program bus is a series of small LED screens. This is where the various sources of video you will switching to and from are assigned. These screens are NOT buttons and can be easily damaged if pressed down on.
Key/Aux Bus
Source Assignment LEDs
Program Bus
Preset Bus
Switching from one source to the next is done using the buttons in the Transition Area.
Use either the CUT or the AUTO TRANS buttons to switch between video sources.
The AUTO TRANS button defaults to a cross dissolve, but you can chose from a variety of other transitions.
REMEMBER:
The Preset bus is where you’re going to and the Program bus is where you are
Fader Bar - T Bar - the fader is used to manually control the rate of a transition from one video source to the next.
Fader Bar - T Bar - The fader is used to manually control the rate of a transition from one source to the next.
Use the T-Bar to transition between video sources on the switcher or use it to superimpose or “super” one video source (A) over another video source (B) in an artistic manner (super).
Staff recomends using straight cuts when switching between cameras during an interview or panel discussion.
Adjusting Menu Options
The control panel has three continuously rotatable push-button knobs located below the display screen. The knobs are used to select and alter menu options.
Use these knobs to adjust:
• transitions - time (seconds), direction (Fwd or Rev)
• media - source image
• background - hue, satuation and luminosity
• DVE Key - X position, Y Position, Size
• rotate the knobs to adjust the corresponding value
To default a value using the knobs:
• double-press a knob to default the value currently associated with that knob
Transitions
Tranisitions replace one video source with another between the Preset (preview) and Program buses. During the transition, the source in the Program bus switches places with that of the one in the Preset bus.
The following types of transitions are possible:
• Cuts - instantly switch from one source to the next
• Dissolves - gradually fade from one source to the next
• Wipes - source in the Preset bus wipes over the source in the Program bus using a specified pattern and direction
How to perform a Transition
• Select the sources you wish to take on and off air (Source 1 and Source 2)
A Source 1 - Program bus
B Source 2 - Preset bus
• Select the transition type from the Transition area of the switcher
- Cut (technically not a transition, but...)
- Dissolve
- Wipe
- DVE - digital video effect
• Perform the transition by pressing one of two buttons in the Transition Area of the Switcher
- Cut - to immediately swap the sources
- Auto Trans - to have the switcher perform the transition based on the parameters set with the control knobs
• Use the fader bar to manually perform the transition
Configuring the Auto Trans Rate
The TD can control the amount of time a dissolve or wipe transition takes to complete when you press the AUTO TRANS button.
NOTE : Transitions performed with the Fader are not affected. Prepare a transition using DISS, WIPE, or DVE as the transition type, but do not perform the transition.
(To make sure the transition type is selected check to see the appropriate button is lit.)
Use the Time knob to change the transition duration.
Press AUTO TRANS to perform the transition.
NOTE : The TD can set different transition rates for the dedicated KEY TRANS buttons.
DVE Transitions
DVE stands for Digital Video Effects. A DVE Transition is a gradual transition where one video signal is replaced with another according to a 2D DVE pattern.
The TD can select from a number of pre-defined patterns and control the amount of time a DVE transition takes to complete.
To Perform a DVE Transition
Prepare a transition using DVE as the type of transition, but do not perform the transition.
Use the Time knob to change the duration of the transition.
Use the Effect knob to select the desired DVE effect to use for the transition OR press a Wipe Pattern button
Hand Placement
The TD should place three fingers on their left hand on the three camera positions listed in the Preset bus. The TD should have one finger on their right hand on either the CUT or the Auto Trans button in the Transition Area.
LEFT RIGHT
The TD (Technical Director) should only be touching the Preset bus during a production.
The TD should only cut directly from the Program bus. Pressing buttons directly on the Program bus can lead to mistakes.
The TD should always load their next shot into the Preset bus and then use the buttons in the Transition Section to bring the source onto the Program bus or “take it to air”.
Keying allows you to insert portions of one source into another. Keys appear as overlays over the background image/video signal (active source in the program bus).
Keys are made up of two basic components:
1. an alpha channel, that cuts the hole in the background video
2. a fill channel, that fills the hole with different video
TYPES
There are four (4) types of keys that are availble to the TD. They are:
Self Key - AKA Luma Key - a key in which the luminance, or brightness, values of the key source are used as the alpha channel for the key. In other words, this key replaces the dark or light areas of one video source with video from another. This key type is created when you do not specify an input for the key alpha channel.
Auto-Select Key - a key in which two video signals are required to make the key. The alpha channel is used to cut the hole in the video and the fill is used to fill the hole. These signals often originate from external devices such as character generators, external still stores, or other graphics systems.
Chroma Key - a key in which the hole is cut based on a color value, or hue, rather than a luminance value or alpha channel signal. The color is removed and replaced with background video from another source.
DVE Key - allows the TD to apply Digital Video Effects, such as scale, crop, aspect ratio, position, and border to video image.
Video Layering
Keys are layered onto the background video signal from the lowest numbered key to the highest.
Program (background video signal)
BEFORE BEFORE
Self Key Example
AFTER
Auto-Select Key Example
Chroma Key Example
AFTER AFTER
Process for setting up a Self Key
In the Key Transition Shortcut Buttons area , press the button marked KEY1 CUT
In the Key Select Buttons area (B, press the button marked KEY1 SEL (select)
In the Key Type Buttons area (C, press the button marked SELF KEY
In the Key Aux/Custom Control bus (D, press the button assigned to the source of the key
During the production, to bring the key to air, press either the KEY1 CUT or KEY1 AUTO buttons in the Key Transition Shortcut Buttons area (E)
NOTE: This set up should be done during pre-production process on the day of the studio production and never attempted while the production is in progress.
Setting up an Auto Select Key
Repeat the process for setting up a Self Key as they are virtually identical. The main difference between the two is the Auto-Select Key replaces the empty space around an object (the ALPHA CHANNEL) with a video source designated by the TD where as the Self Key replaces the dark or light areas in an image.
Setting up a Chroma Key
Properly light the green wall in the Hammond TV Studio
In the Key Select Buttons area, press the button marked KEY2 SEL (select)
In the Key Type Buttons area, press the button marked CHR KEY
In the Key Aux/Custom Control bus, press the button assigned to the camera used for the key (the foreground that will remain in front of the green wall in the studio)
In the Program bus, press the button assigned to the source of the key (the background that will replace the green wall in the studio)
8 During the production, to bring the key to air, press either the KEY2 CUT or KEY2 AUTO buttons in the Key Transition Shortcut Buttons area (E) 8
Previewing a Key before bringing it On-Air
During pre-production, camera angles are set but may be adjusted during the production should the talent shift up or down in their seats. These adjustments can result in lower-third graphics being too low or high on screen.
Using the preview method for Keys allows the TD to call for new camera adjustments if needed. This avoids situations such as a lower-third graphic resting on someone’s chin, contact or additional information covering up talent in a wide shot, etc.
Here’s how:
In the area above the transition types, the background (BKGD) button will be lit by default
Press both the background (BKGD) button AND the KEY1, or KEY2, or KEY3 buttons at the same time. (depending which key you are attempting to preview)
The Key will appear in the Preview monitor on the multiviewer, where the TD will determine if any camera adjustments are needed before the Key is “taken to air”
To take a key to air after previewing it, press either the KEY CUT or KEY AUTO buttons in the Key Transition Shortcut Buttons area (E)
Mattes
A matte is a solid color video signal that can be applied to backgrounds and keys, and borders.
Mattes can be applied to the following:
• Background — Select the matte generator (BG) on a background or key bus. The full region of the background or key is filled with the selected color.
• Border — Assign a border to a WIPE transition or a key. The wipe border is filled with the selected color.
Color selection can be done by adjusting hue, saturation, and luminance to create a custom color. Use the push button control knobs under the display screen to make adjustments.
The TD can select a preset color for a matte. To choose one of the preset colors:
• Select BGND as the video source in the Preset bus
• doing this gives the TD a visual representation of the matte colors on the Preview Screen in the multiviewer
• Press the NEXT button in the Menu and Memory Control Buttons area
• Scan through the preset colors by using the center push button control knob under the menu screen
• Press the control knob once to load the preset color into the switcher memory
The TD can select a custom color for a matte.
To choose a custom color:
• In the Preset Bus, select BGND for the video source
• Use the push button control knobs to adjust the hue, saturation, and luminance of the matte
