Page 2 TriCaster BROADCAST, 3Play, SpeedEDIT, DataLink, LiveText, LiveControl, VT, VT[3], VT[4], VT[5], Video Toaster, Toaster, Inspire 3D, 3D Arsenal and Aura are trademarks of NEWTEK. LightWave and LightWave 3D are registered trademarks of NEWTEK. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Page 3 TRICASTER™ TCXD850...
Page 5: Table Of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS About This Manual ........................3 Introduction ..........................5 Overview ........................5 Startup Screen ........................5 Live Desktop ........................6 Features .........................7 2.4.1 Physical ........................7 2.4.2 A/V Input and Output .....................8 2.4.3 Monitoring ......................8 2.4.4 Video Processing ....................9 2.4.5 The Switcher ......................9 2.4.6 Transitions......................10 2.4.7 Overlay .........................10...
Page 6 Genlock Connection......................20 3.5.1 Genlock Connection ....................20 Output Connections .....................21 3.6.1 A/V Output ......................21 3.6.2 HD and SD ......................22 3.6.3 Connecting Devices ....................23 3.6.4 Supplemental Video Outputs ................24 Tally Lights ........................25 3.7.1 External Connections ....................25 Starting a Session ......................26 Configure Video Output ....................29 3.9.1 SD Analog Configuration ..................29 3.10...
Page 7 Network Sources ......................49 4.5.1 iVGA Clients......................49 4.5.2 LiveText™ ......................50 Switching ........................51 4.6.1 Switcher Rows ......................51 4.6.2 Transitions......................52 Record and Grab ......................53 4.7.1 Record ........................54 4.7.2 Grab ........................55 Media Players ......................56 4.8.1 DDR 1 and 2 ......................56 4.8.2 Stills ........................61 4.8.3 Titles ........................63 Overlay ........................65 4.10...
Page 8 5.2.3 Shutdown ......................95 5.2.4 Utilities .........................95 5.2.5 Help ........................97 5.2.6 Add-Ons .......................98 The Session Page ......................99 5.3.1 Live........................100 5.3.2 Graphics ......................102 5.3.3 Edit ........................103 5.3.4 Manage ......................104 Live Desktop: Overview ....................111 Display Requirements ....................111 Overview ........................
Page 9 Switcher Monitors Tab ....................123 Scopes Tab ......................... 123 I/O Configuration ......................125 Output Configuration ....................125 8.1.1 Output Controls ....................126 8.1.2 Proc Amp......................127 8.1.3 SD Analog Connections ..................129 8.1.4 Aux Output ......................130 8.1.5 Multiview Output ....................132 8.1.6 Genlock ......................
Page 10 10.2.4 Other Resources ....................160 10.3 Production and Capture Considerations ..............160 10.4 Configuration and Troubleshooting ................161 10.4.1 Testing your stream.................... 162 Record and Grab ......................171 11.1.1 Record ........................ 171 11.2 Grab ........................... 174 Switcher, Transitions and Overlay ................. 177 12.1 Switcher Rows ......................
Page 11 13.3 Frame Buffers......................197 13.3.1 Unique Advantages .................... 199 13.3.2 Network Sharing ....................199 13.4 Editing Title Pages ...................... 200 LiveMatte & Crop ......................205 14.1 Chromakeying ......................206 14.2 Matte ......................... 207 14.2.1 Color ........................207 14.2.2 Tolerance ......................208 14.2.3 Smoothness......................
Page 12 Audio ..........................225 16.1 External Audio ......................226 16.1.1 Mute ........................226 16.1.2 Connection Type ....................227 16.1.3 Microphone Specific Controls ................227 16.1.4 More Audio Controls ..................229 16.2 Internal Audio ......................233 16.2.1 Media Players ..................... 234 16.2.2 Output Controls ....................
Page 13 A.1.10 Connect LC-11 or TimeWarp?? ................253 A.1.11 Connect to a Network? ..................253 A.1.12 Enable Termination for Video Inputs? ..............253 Sessions ........................254 A.2.1 Start an SD Session? ................... 254 A.2.2 Start an HD Session?................... 254 A.2.3 Work on a Stored Session? ................. 255 A.2.4 Backup a Session? ....................
Page 14 A.4.6 Add an External File Location to the File Browser? ..........265 A.4.7 Remove a Location From the File Browser? ............266 A.4.8 Export files to an External Drive? ................ 266 A.4.9 Export files from TriCaster for use in Apple® Final Cut Pro? ........ 266 A.4.10 Import/Export Files Larger Than 4 Gigabytes? ............
Page 15 B.3.2 Latency and Your Audience ................281 B.3.3 Latency and Your TriCaster ................. 281 B.3.4 Other Sources of Latency..................282 Video Calibration ......................285 What (And Where) to Calibrate? ................285 Calibrating Video Sources ................... 286 C.2.1 Setting Black and White..................286 C.2.2 Adjusting Color ....................
Page 16 Reliability Testing ......................303 Index ............................305 Credits............................311...
Page 17 PART I (GETTING STARTED) Introducing TriCaster™ TCXD850 – connections and registration, a top-level overview of primary features, and a hands-on tour to get you started. Page | 1...
Page 19: About This Manual
ABOUT THIS MANUAL Hate reading manuals? If so, you are part of the majority (estimates are that between 60 and 97% of the human race concur). Most prefer to jump right in, maybe asking a friend for occasional help (and who can blame them)? This manual attempts to tell you what you need to know in a friendly, concise way, while also providing a deeper reference section you can turn to when you really need specifics.
Page 21: Introduction
Traditionally, producing live high definition television has been very costly, requiring very expensive equipment and a large crew. TriCaster TCXD850 (like its standard definition siblings) changes all that. In one compact system you have a complete toolset to create, broadcast, web stream and project your HD production.
Page 22: Live Desktop
Figure 1 The Home page of the Startup Screen allows you to define and open sessions, each of which can be customized for various productions or other purposes. Later, when you re-open a session, all of its assets and settings are remembered. After creating a session (or opening an existing one), you are taken to the Sessions page.
Page 23: Features
Monitoring Live Control Tabbed Modules Figure 2 The uppermost area is devoted to monitoring. The Switcher is centrally located, and is also home to the Transition and Overlay controls. The bottom-most section of the Live Desktop holds side-by-side tabbed panels featuring media players (DDR, Stills and Titles), Virtual Input setup, and the Audio Mixer.
Page 24: A/V Input And Output
Multiple Media Player modules allow you to insert pre-recorded video, music, sounds and imagery into your live presentations.  Select Microsoft Windows™ or Apple Macintosh™ computers on the same network ™ as Switcher inputs for your live productions using NewTek's iVGA client.  Mix internal and external audio sources. ...
Page 25: Video Processing
TriCaster’s Live Desktop includes a large Program output monitor with associated controls. Also, freely toggle between viewing:  All Monitors - onscreen monitors for all sources (Figure 3).  External Monitors – Live video sources supplied to TriCaster’s video inputs. ...
Page 26: Transitions
 Use FX (Effects) row selections as a source for use in Overlay channels, or as background for simple chromakey setups.  All Switcher sources can be renamed. 2.4.6 TRANSITIONS Figure 5  One-click FTB (Fade to Black), Take or Transition. ...
Page 27: Record And Stream
Alternatively, use the Frame Buffer feature to assign a specific title or image to any overlay channel, and even update it in realtime over a network using external graphics or titling software. Independent Crop, Position, 3D Rotation, and Scale controls for each overlay channel permit you (for example) to configure two live sources as ‘Picture in Picture’...
Page 28: Integrated Media Players
Adjust individual audio sources (internal and external) and introduce them into your program manually or automatically. Control output levels for program, headphones, auxiliary output and stream separately. Presets allow single-click access to prepared mixer setups. 2.4.10 INTEGRATED MEDIA PLAYERS TriCaster’s numerous specialized Media Players and title system serve up graphics, titles, video clips and audio files quickly and easily during your live productions.
Page 29: Keying, Virtual Sets And Virtual Inputs
 Apply independent LiveMatte settings to all video sources.  Achieve the look of a sophisticated studio setting in a very small space with NewTek’s astonishing LiveSet™ virtual set technology.  Zoom in/out on LiveSets during your live productions right from the Live Desktop.
Page 30: Graphics
2.4.13 GRAPHICS Also part of TriCaster’s integrated software suite is LiveText, NewTek’s professional titling and graphics application. LiveText allows you to create your own custom title pages and motion graphics, including scrolls and crawls. 2.4.14 EDIT The full version of NewTek’s popular and versatile non-linear video editing program SpeedEDIT™...
Page 31: Setting Up
 NewTek mouse and keyboard  TriCaster TCXD850 Quick Start Guide  NewTek 3PLAY™ brochure  TriCaster TCXD850 Get Started Training DVD with NewTek 3PLAY Overview  NewTek iVGA™ CD  NewTek TriCaster TCXD850 registration reminder card  Welcome letter COMMAND AND CONTROL 1.
Page 32: Activating & Authorizing Windows
5. Press the Power switch located on TriCaster’s faceplate. At this point, the blue Power LED will illuminate, and the adjacent hard drive activity light should flicker as the device boots up. (If this does not happen, check your connections and retry). Hint: Though not a requirement, we do strongly recommend that you connect TriCaster using an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), as for any ‘mission critical’...
Page 33: Tricaster License And Registration
This will take you to the Registration page (http://register.newtek.com) in the Customer Care section of NewTek’s website where you will find further directions. Hint: More information on connecting TriCaster to a network can be found in Section 3.14...
Page 34: Registering By Telephone
3.3.2 REGISTERING BY TELEPHONE NewTek’s Customer Care center can also handle registration requests by telephone, if that is more convenient (when opportunity permits, you should still visit the website as discussed above to gain access to software updates). Please have your Product ID (from the Registration dialog mentioned earlier) handy when you call.
Page 35 Figure 11 1. Connect video sources to the appropriate connectors in the VIDEO IN section (Figure 11), whether SDI, Component, Y/C (S-Video) or Composite (may require RCA to BNC adapter). – Attach the SDI source connectors to BNC connectors marked SDI in the Video In group.
Page 36: Genlock Connection
Figure 12 2. To input analog audio along with the video, connect the external audio sources to the XLR connectors in the Audio In group box (Figure 12). We’ll discuss audio Connection Type options a bit later, in Section 3.12. Digital Audio Note: To connect AES/EBU (a.k.a, AES3) audio source, use the BNC connectors in the Digital Audio (AES) section.
Page 37: Output Connections
Genlocking is commonplace in higher-end production environments, and genlock connections are usually found on professional gear. If your equipment allows you to do so, you should genlock all cameras supplying TriCaster, and TriCaster itself. To genlock TriCaster, supply the reference signal from the ‘house sync generator’ to TriCaster’s Genlock connector. IMPORTANT NOTE: Digital audio is less tolerant in certain respects than analog.
Page 38: Hd And Sd
 Simultaneously send program output to standard and/or high definition devices from HD sessions.  Simultaneously send program output to both analog and digital devices.  Send program output or other layouts to a secondary monitor or projector via the Multiview port. ...
Page 39: Connecting Devices
3.6.3 CONNECTING DEVICES Figure 15 1. Connect downstream video devices to the appropriate output connectors in the VIDEO OUT section, whether SDI, Component, Y/C (BNC) or Composite. Please note that the latter two formats may require RCA (cinch plug) or S-video (4 pin mini-DIN) to BNC adapters, and also that both of these connection options support output at SD resolution only.
Page 40: Supplemental Video Outputs
Figure 16 Analog audio – Connect external audio devices to the XLR connectors in the AUDIO OUT section. Note that there are two rows of four connectors; Connectors 1a-1d provide PGM (Program Output), while 2a-2d are designated AUX (Auxiliary Output). These two output sections are configured and controlled separately in the Live Desktop.
Page 41: Tally Lights
These typically provide a red LED for the video input that is currently selected on the Switcher’s Program row. (For Virtual Inputs, the LED will light up when the source assigned to Input A is selected.) 3.7.1 EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS Here is a pin-out listing for TriCaster TCXD850’s DB15 Tally connector: Page | 25...
Page 42: Starting A Session
 Pin1 – LED1  Pin2 – LED2  Pin3 – LED3  Pin4 – LED4  Pin5 – LED5  Pin6 – LED6  Pin7 – LED7  Pin8 – LED8  Pin9 – GND  Pin10 – GND ...
Page 43 THE HOME PAGE Figure 18 When no previously created sessions exist, the icon ring dominating the Home page defaults to New, inviting you to create a new session. A link labeled Enter Session Name is shown at the top of the right-hand pane when New is selected on the icon ring. Click in this area to modify the name using the keyboard if you like.
Page 44 THE SESSION PAGE Clicking Start Session will take you to the Session Page. As our intention is to configure our connections (done in TriCaster’s Live Desktop), click Live on the icon ring. Figure 19 We’ll discuss the Production Time options presented when you click the Live icon later on, in Section 5.3.1.
Page 45: Configure Video Output
Initially, as you have yet to configure input devices or add content, the Live Desktop will look a bit barren (Figure 20). Take a quick look around, but then let’s continue to configure your devices. We had a brief glimpse at the Live Desktop back in section 2.3, but we’ll examine it more closely in Chapter 4, Live Production –...
Page 46 *Note: Analog connections for SpeedEDIT™ and LiveText™ output are pre-defined, and cannot be user-modified. Please see Chapter 17 for details. Figure 22 1. Move your mouse pointer over the large Program Output monitor on the Live Desktop. 2. Click the Configure button (gear) that appears above its top-right corner (Figure 22) to open the Output Configuration panel.
Page 47: Configure Multiview Output
The SD Analog Connections settings group in the lower part of the Output tab provides options for the first two video outputs – designated as Hardware Row 1 and 2. The video formats for Row 1 and Row 2 output always conform to the session, but their connection types are independent of one another.
Page 48: Configure Video Input
3.11 CONFIGURE VIDEO INPUT Let’s continue by configuring the video sources you connected earlier (Section 3.4): 1. Click the All Monitors tab at upper-left on the Live Desktop. 2. Move your mouse back and forth over the preview monitors labeled Camera (1-8). 3.
Page 49: Configure Audio
5. Click the Connection Type button to reveal a drop-down menu listing a variety of connection types. Select the correct format, such as 720p (Component), or 1080i (SDI), etc., for the video source you plan to connect to this input. 6.
Page 50 There is a source Type selector drop-down at the top of the control panels for each Input. Clicking it opens the list of Connection Types (Figure 27). Figure 27 Options include Mic 1, 2 (with and without phantom power), Line, AES/EBU, SDI Embedded, and Line Quad.
Page 51: Configure Genlock
Some variation exists as respects the signal levels of low impedance sources. For Mic (and Mic + Phantom) connection types, the Trim controls (Figure 28) provide a preliminary adjustment to allow you to fine tune the input level. Use Trim to bring the levels for microphone and similar sources into a useful range on the VU meter.
Page 52: Networking
3.14 NETWORKING TriCaster is capable of displaying screens from networked computers running NewTek’s iVGA™ client software, or output from other supported applications (such as NewTek’s own LiveText™). Connecting TriCaster to a local area network (LAN) may require additional steps beyond those mentioned back when we discussed Microsoft Windows ™...
Page 53 3. Click Shutdown, then select Exit to Windows at right to access the operating system’s own desktop. 4. Right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties. 5. Scroll down in the right hand pane of the System panel that opens to find the Computer name, domain and workgroups settings area.
Page 55: Live Production Walkthrough
LIVE PRODUCTION WALKTHROUGH This chapter provides a quick hands-on tour of the major components and functions of your NewTek TriCaster. In a very short time, these basics will be second nature to you. More detailed reference material on all aspects of TriCaster follows in Part II (Reference).
Page 56: Importing Content
2. The Sessions page of the Startup Screen will appear when you click Start Session. 3. Click Manage on the icon ring (Figure 30). Figure 30 IMPORTING CONTENT Click the Import Media button at lower-right. 5. Navigate to C:\TriCaster\Documentation\Walkthrough Content. 6.
Page 57: Monitoring
8. Close the file windows, click Live on the icon ring, and then click Start Live Production at right. Although you might well never even notice, a two minute initialization period begins after you start (or re-start) TriCaster. This ‘warm-up’ period allows the system to stabilize, ensuring consistent performance of various components (for example, video clips playing in the DDR before the end of initialization could skip some frames).
Page 58: All Monitors
Situated beneath the monitor itself are Stream, Record and Grab buttons, their respective Configuration buttons and time/counter fields (we’ll look at those features later). Hint: Move your mouse over Program Output, then click the Configure button (gear) that appears above it to open a tabbed panel containing Proc Amp, Multiview and Genlock settings. 4.3.2 ALL MONITORS Click the All Monitors tab at upper left to view dedicated monitors for all camera inputs, along with an array of other previews.
Page 59: Switcher Monitors
And, as discussed in Section 3.11, the Camera 1-8, Effects and Preview monitors display a Configuration button allowing input type selection and more, including Proc Amp (see Section 8.2.3) and LiveMatte controls (see Section 4.10). Figure 33 Further, onscreen monitors provide popup contextual controls including things like Play or Stop (Freeze), and Network source selection (see Section 7.2.1).
Page 60: Audio Mixer
You can use these monitors to sample the video feed from any source by selecting them one at a time on Preview or FX (Effects), but they are handy in other ways too. Among other things, they provide a convenient view for adjusting LiveMatte settings or LiveSet effects. Hover the mouse over the Preview or Effects monitor, then click the Configure button (gear) above to display the settings for the current video source (i.e., the one selected on the corresponding Switcher row.) AUDIO MIXER...
Page 61 4. Find the icon named “3tone_quad.WAV” in the file pane. This is a four channel audio file, with a mid-range tone on channel 1, a higher tone on channel 2, while both channels 3 and 4 both carry a lower tone. 5.
Page 62 12. Next, drag the Balance slider all the way to the left. As you do so, observe that the level shown for channel 2 and channel 4 are gradually reduced. At the extreme left position, these two channels are completely silent. Only the mid-range tone (on channel 1) is heard (in a stereo environment), and only from the left speaker at that –...
Page 63: Pan
16. Click Stop in the Sound player. Note: the Mono switch has no effect on channels 3 and 4. These two channels are never blended with channels 1 and 2 on output. 4.4.2 PAN The Pan control looks much like the Balance slider, but has special abilities. Pan is uniquely available when the one of the two Mic input Types is chosen.
Page 64: Talk
4.4.3 TALK 17. Start the Sound player playing the audio tone file again. 18. Enable the Talk switch for Input 1, but watch the Sound player’s VU meter as you do so. Talk is an abbreviation of “Talk Over”. Enabling it causes the level for all other audio sources to drop off by 20dB, allowing Mic 1 and 2 to dominate output.
Page 65: Network Sources
3. Double-click the iVGA icon on the second computer. After agreeing to the NewTek license (and a moment or two for the network connection to be established) the name of the remote computer is added (along with “Black” and any other networked systems with iVGA running on them) to the iVGA client list.
Page 66: Livetext
TriCaster. The icon is animated when the iVGA source is selected as the active Network source in TriCaster. 4.5.2 LIVETEXT™ NewTek’s (optional) standalone LiveText™ application offers features that are very similar to TriCaster’s integrated LiveText (see Chapter 17), but installs separately on a compatible Microsoft Windows®...
Page 67: Switching
When running on the network connected computer, LiveText is listed in the Network selection drop-down menus (just as an iVGA source would be). When you select LiveText (and click the Live button in LiveText), the current title page is available via the Network buttons on TriCaster’s Switcher or in its Overlay panel.
Page 68: Transitions
Hint: By default, selecting a tabbed module (DDR1, Still, etc.) on the Preview row automatically shows the corresponding control panel in the tabbed panes below. Click the configuration (gear) button at extreme right on the screen just above the tabs to enable or disable this behavior. 1.
Page 69: Record And Grab
1. Click the button labeled Transition. Camera 1 is gradually removed from Program Out. b. Camera 2 (previously the Preview row selection) moves to Program output. The Camera 2 button is now lit up on the Program row. d. The Camera 1 button is lit up on the Preview row. e.
Page 70: Record
4.7.1 RECORD 1. Click the Configuration button (gear) next to Record. 2. The Record Configuration panel opens. 3. Click in the Base Name field, and enter a unique name for the captured file(s). Note that recorded clips are always stored in TriCaster’s default Clips folder. Hint: TriCaster stores recordings at D:\ Media\Clips\sessionname\Capture (replace “sessionname”...
Page 71: Grab
Hint: If you choose ‘Audio + Video’, selecting ‘Include Separate mp3 file’ is useful if your editing software doesn’t support the embedded audio in TriCaster’s MPEG2 files. 8. Make sure you have an active source playing on Program output. 9. Press the Record button – it will illuminate, and the neighboring timecode field will begin keeping track of the duration of your recording.
Page 72: Media Players
MEDIA PLAYERS 4.8.1 DDR 1 AND 2 TriCaster’s two DDRs (Digital Disk Recorders) are powerful media players, and can greatly enhance your live productions. DDRs have three siblings that we’ll discuss later – the Stills and Title players, and the Sound player.) 1.
Page 73 3. Click the name for your current TriCaster session (Practice Session, if you’ve been following along) beneath the Clips header in the left-hand column of the Media Browser. 4. The file pane at right displays icons for recordings made in the session. It should list the file you recorded earlier (in Section 4.7.1) under a group header labeled Capture –...
Page 74 9. Click Play again, and observe that playback is now in slow motion. 10. Adjust Speed again – notice that you can even modify Speed during playback. 11. Click Stop. TRIMMING AND SCRUBBING Let’s spend a moment learning how to trim a clip in the DDR. To do this you will use tools in the Scrub Bar immediately beneath the playlist pane (Figure 50).
Page 75 SINGLE AND AUTOPLAY Figure 51 15. Click the Single switch (Figure 51). 16. Double-click the first clip in the DDR playlist to play it (double-clicking is another way to engage Play). With Single mode engaged, playback automatically stops at the end of the current clip.
Page 76 23. With DDR 1 on Program, and Camera 1 on Preview, highlight a fairly long clip (say, a minute or more). 24. Click Play. 25. After a few seconds, perform a Take and watch what happens: Naturally, DDR 1 and Camera 1 are swapped on the Switcher. b.
Page 77: Stills
27. Click a different preset icon, and use the Add button to populate it. 28. Switch back and forth between presets, noting as you do how various attributes are retained. 29. Try copying and pasting playlist icons between two presets (right-click on an icon to access the context menu containing Cut, Copy and Paste).
Page 78 4. Add some image files (a dozen or more) to the Still playlist (you can use some of the images from the NewTek Content group under the Still heading for this example). 5. Click on one the icons about halfway through the playlist, highlighting it.
Page 79: Titles
Of course, as its name implies, the Title player is intended for preparing and displaying title pages. Let’s see how it works: 1. Click Add, and select a few of the prepared title pages from the NewTek location listed under the Title heading in the Location List (left column) of the Media Browser.
Page 80 Figure 53 6. Move the mouse over the default text shown in the Title Page Editor’s preview pane, and notice that a white bounding-box appears as you locate editable items. 7. Double-click inside the bounding-box for a line of text to open a text entry field; type something different, then press Enter on the keyboard to accept the changes.
Page 81: Overlay
10. Try changing the Font, Size and other attributes for a line of text, using the tools in the Title Page Editor’s titlebar (Figure 54). 11. Click the Close button. OVERLAY Having learned the basics of the DDRs, Title and Still players, let’s learn how to superimpose their content over Program Output.
Page 82 3. Click Add in DDR 1 tab to open the Media Browser we used earlier. 4. Click the NewTek location in the column at left. Select the icon named TriCaster Flare.avi (in the Logos group) in the pane at right, and click OK to add it to the playlist (this is the animation clip we will display with our title text).
Page 83 9. Click the Add button in the Title tab to open a Media Browser. 10. Click the Practice Session location under the Titles heading (in the Locations list at left), and add the title page named “Breaking News.cgxml” to the playlist. 11.
Page 84 While we’re considering these controls, let’s also look at the Position controls for Overlay sources. Two related buttons appear beside the Overlay source. One is labeled Position, and the other shows a gear icon (in TriCaster, these buttons always indicate configuration options are available).
Page 85 5. Judge the resulting position on your monitor, and tweak it to taste if necessary. (What we want is an upper-left position similar to what is shown in Figure 60.) Figure 60 6. Close the Overlay 2 Position panel. 7. Try switching the illuminated Position switch off and on – see how it toggles the adjustments you made above? 8.
Page 86: Livematte
1. If necessary, remove the Overlay channels from Program Out. 2. Click the DDR 1 tab, and select DDR 1 as the Program row source on the Switcher. 3. Add the video clip named Kiki 1 Center.mpg from the Green Screen group inside the Clips>NewTek location. Page | 70...
Page 87 4. Click the Still tab, and add the image named texas_weathermap.png (from Practice Session, under Stills in the Location list). 5. Select Still on the FX row in the Switcher (this defines what will appear behind our greenscreen shot in the result). 6.
Page 88: Virtual Inputs
11. The default LiveMatte settings (Tolerance and Smoothness) are close enough for this little demonstration, so you can close the Configuration panel now. We’ll look at the details of LiveMatte in more depth in Part II (the Reference section), but already your result should look very similar to Figure 61.
Page 89 5. Click Stills in the Input B row (Figure 63), designating that source as the background. At this point, the display on Program Output should be identical to the simple ‘weather map’ setup we created in the previous section (Figure 61); remember that LiveMatte is already enabled for the greenscreen shot from our previous exercise.
Page 90: Adding An Upstream Overlay
You can drag the mouse over the top buttons in each group to freely adjust Position, Rotation or Scale on multiple axes at once, or use the numeric sliders below to adjust just one property. As the V1 button is selected on the Switcher’s Program row, your Program Output displays the result of any changes you make in realtime.
Page 91 Just above the Position button for Input A there is a control group labeled Overlay. The Overlay feature in Virtual Input tabs is, of course, upstream of the Switcher. It works very much like the two downstream Overlay channels we discussed back in Section 4.9, but content in this channel will appear beneath anything you display in those two Overlay channels on Program Output.
Page 92: Liveset
As well, since the entire composition is now represented by a single button on the Switcher, it is very easy to Take or Transition directly to it with a single click – and it is just as easy to Transition from one Virtual Input to another.
Page 93 The name of the current LiveSet is shown above the Zoom Preset thumbnail icons at the top of the Virtual Input tab – in this case, we see “NewTek > Default > A over B”, identifying the specific LiveSet, a member of the “Default” group in the “NewTek” folder - Figure 69.
Page 94 Figure 70 The Zoom Preset icons in the Virtual Input tab and the name above will update, showing that the current LiveSet is now NewTek > World Update > Center (Figure 70). Figure 71 Assuming that you still have LiveMatte enabled for the DDR, V1’s Input A selector set to DDR and Input B set to Stills, a little adjustment in the Positioner for Input A is all that it should take to produce a result similar to Figure 71 on Preview.
Page 95 18. Click the Transition button in the Switcher. Both DDRs will begin running their currently selected clips simultaneously, thanks to Autoplay (of course normally your foreground shot would be supplied by a camera). Figure 72 19. Now, click the second Zoom Preset icon (Figure 72). Observe that the view on Program output has now zoomed in by 33% - the value shown in the adjustable zoom slider above Zoom Preset 2 (Figure 73).
Page 96: Frame Buffers
TriCaster TCXD850’s Frame Buffers provide an alternative workflow that not ensures there will be no ‘accidents’, and also offer other benefits.
Page 97 TriCaster TCXD850 provides ten separate Frame Buffers (one for each Virtual Input, which can be selected as Input A, Input B or Overlay source, and another for each of the main Overlay channels.
Page 98: Streaming
Hint: Frame Buffer files can even be individually updated across a network using any suitable application or method, when Share Frame Buffer on Network is enabled (in the Live Desktop Options menu, opened by the gear button at right beneath the Switcher’s Overlay section). See Section 13.3 for more information on Frame Buffers.
Page 99: Streaming Configuration
4.13.1 STREAMING CONFIGURAT ION Click the Configure button situated next to the Stream (on/off) button to view and modify settings related to streaming your production across a network connection (Figure 76). The Stream Type options allow you to select between Windows Media Pull, Windows Media Push, and Adobe Flash streaming protocols.
Page 100: Capturing The Stream
may be provided in house by your organization, or you may take advantage of a commercial (or ‘free’, advertising -sponsored) Content Delivery Network. (Arrangements and requirements of various external streaming hosts are diverse, but TriCaster’s Streaming Configuration panel adapts to provide the necessary input and information fields for the various types.) More detail on these matters, including connecting to a network and numerous useful tips on streaming strategies is found in Chapter 10.
Page 101 PART II (REFERENCE) A thorough examination of the various aspects of TriCaster; every button, menu item, feature and control is considered in this section, so you can take full advantage of your system. Page | 85...
Page 103: The Startup Screen
We’ll look into each of these in turn, but first let’s consider a fundamental TriCaster TCXD850 concept – the session. What is a session, and why are sessions both important and valuable to...
Page 104: Introduction To Sessions
INTRODUCTION TO SESSIONS Whenever you work with TriCaster, you provide certain information about the production environment:  What broadcast standard is used in your locale? Is it PAL, common in Europe among other places, or perhaps NTSC, standard throughout North American regions? ...
Page 105: The Home Page
When you re-open an existing session, it’s just as if you were continuing an earlier event. Thus, if you return to the same venue another day under more or less similar conditions, simply re-open your prior session and you are virtually ready to go. (Of course, it’s the course of wisdom to test everything before actually beginning the event.) Naturally, you can store multiple sessions and load any session freely.
Page 106: New (Session)
Also, when you choose an icon from the ring the right-hand pane of the Home page updates to provide more options related to your choice. Figure 79 For example, the first thing you will likely do on launching a new TriCaster is create a session. In anticipation of that, the New icon is automatically pre-selected whenever no sessions already exist on TriCaster.
Page 107 SESSION NAME You will see a suggested name for a new session listed above the options pane at right. You can click in this name field to modify the default name provided using your keyboard. VOLUME Figure 80 To the right of the Session name you will see a field labeled Volume. Here you can choose which hard drive the session (and its associated content) will be created and stored on.
Page 108: Open (Session)
 For 16:9 sessions (HD or SD 16:9), Row 1 and 2 outputs are consistently configured as 16:9 too, while for SD 4:3 sessions their output is of course formatted as 4:3. Aux (Row 3) video output is uniquely configurable, within certain limitations for different session formats.
Page 109 Sessions are listed separately under the name of the storage volume they are located on (Figure 82). The listing shows the Session Name and video Format and for each one. Let’s look at a few features of the Sessions List briefly before we open a session. Figure 82 EJECT Figure 83...
Page 110 CONTEXT MENU Right-click a session name to open a context menu with two items listed in it: Rename and Delete. The Delete function should be used thoughtfully, as it cannot be undone. All content stored in the named session’s folders will be deleted, including clips, images and titles, and even title and edit project files created within the session (unless you have deliberately saved the projects and all constituent files to locations outside the session folders).
Page 111: Shutdown
TriCaster can operate for 90 days before registration is mandatory, but we encourage you to register early. Among other reasons, doing so will serve to identify the unit to NewTek as yours in case of theft, and will also allow you to check for software updates that may have been recently released.
Page 112 NewTek. Use the login details you provided when registering your TriCaster to enter your personal product page, click the “my downloads” link at the top of the page, and install any new updates.
Page 113: Help
To make room for new additions, you decide to remove books you have finished with from the shelf. You remove a book here, another there, opening up gaps between the remaining books. This makes some shelf space available, but does so in the form of gaps separated by the remaining books.
Page 114: Add-Ons
Click the About link to lists software version information, credits and acknowledgments. 5.2.6 ADD-ONS As time goes on, NewTek will offer additional software to extend the power of your TriCaster. Figure 88 When such items are installed, an extra icon labeled Add-Ons appears on the ring in the Home page.
Page 115: The Session Page
THE SESSION PAGE Figure 89 Opening a session from the Home page (whether using Open or New) takes you to the Session Page, providing a new set of selections on the icon ring. Figure 90 The name of the current session is shown in the top-left corner of the screen. The current session is displayed in the form “Home/session name”.
Page 116: Live
Figure 91 The icon ring in the Sessions page offers four selections. These are discussed next. 5.3.1 LIVE The icon labeled Live represents the Live Desktop, TriCaster’s live production center. Selecting it (by clicking the icon or using the left/right arrow keys to bring it to the front), presents a Start Live Production link in the Session page’s right-hand pane –...
Page 117 Hint: You can set system time just as for any computer, by first exiting to the Windows™ desktop. OPTIONS As indicated by the label above, this time value is also used to embed timecode in video files captured during the session using TriCaster’s Record function. For this reason, a switch labeled Subtract 12 Hours From Time is provided.
Page 118: Graphics
5.3.2 GRAPHICS Figure 94 TriCaster TCXD850 includes an integrated version of LiveText, NewTek’s standalone titling and CG application. Selecting the Graphics icon displays a number of related items on the right-hand side of the Sessions page. Figure 95 When you first enter a new session, no LiveText projects are listed in the area under Project Name.
Page 119: Edit
Session Page. 5.3.3 EDIT Figure 96 TriCaster includes an integrated version of SpeedEDIT, NewTek’s popular standalone non-linear video editor. Selecting the Edit icon displays a number of related items on the right-hand side of the Sessions screen.
Page 120: Manage
Just as for LiveText, it is possible to use File>SaveAs to store an edit project in another location outside the session structure. Be aware that projects stored outside the session structure are not shown in the project list on the Sessions screen. To re-open them, you’ll need to navigate to the project file using File>Open in SpeedEDIT.
Page 121 BROWSE Figure 98 Under the label Browse, you will see direct links to the Clips, Stills, and other content associated with the current session. Clicking one of these links (or selecting it with the up/down arrow keys and pressing Enter) opens a system file explorer. You can use the familiar features and shortcut keystrokes in these windows (Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete and so-on) to manage the session content.
Page 122 IMPORT MEDIA Click the Import Media link to open a system file explorer, then select (or multi-select) suitable media files for import. Selected files will be copied (unchanged) into the current session on clicking Open. Imported files are automatically copied individually to the appropriate folder according to their file format (Stills, Clips, Titles, and so on).
Page 123 Figure 101 The file pane is much like a spreadsheet table, listing all files in the current export batch in its first column, then the current settings for each file in other columns. A Status column shows the current export status or progress for each file in the list. TOOLS Note that the Export file list pane supports multi-selection.
Page 124 TARGET, PRESET & DESTINATION Having prepared the file list, click the triangle button in the Target field to open a drop-down menu listing broad categories of export format presets you can choose. A similar Destination button opens a system file browser to let you designate (or create) a location for file output. Hint: It is possible to selected mapped network locations (with a Drive letter assigned) as the Destination, saving time later.
Page 125 Apple Final Cur Pro® (.mov) – very high quality M-JPEG encoding, full raster, 4:2:2 sub-sampling, high compatibility.  DV (*.avi) – moderate quality, SD only (NTSC 720x480, PAL 720x576), 25Mbit/s, 4:1:1 (NTSC) or 4:1:0 (PAL) sub-sampling, very broad compatibility. DVCPro 50 – high quality SD encoding (double-DV bitrate), 4:2:2 sub-sampling, NTSC 720x480 (PAL 720x576), high compatibility.
Page 126 Next, use the Destination field drop-down to designate a target folder for exported files to be sent. A progress gauge is shown during file processing. Click the Export button at the bottom of the dialogue to begin batch export processing. Hint: The time an export takes is affected by numerous factors –...
Page 127: Live Desktop: Overview
LIVE DESKTOP: OVERVIEW TriCaster’s Live Desktop is the control center for your live production. It provides control over switching, transitions and overlays, title, audio mixing, playback of digitized content, and so As well, streaming and recording features are located here, along with keying and virtual set tools.
Page 128: Overview
because an aspect mismatch causes either letterboxing or pillar-boxing of the onscreen monitors (to display video without stretching). OVERVIEW TriCaster’s Live Desktop provides visual feedback for operations, including monitoring, live switching, and so on. It is divided into three horizontal bands. From top to bottom, these are: Monitoring •...
Page 129: Customizing The Live Desktop
Control Type Type Examples Usage Slider (vertical Gain, Balance Drag in line with the control’s or horizontal, orientation to raise or lower the single-value) current value. Radial slider Position, Size Drag up-down to adjust one value, (two-value) left-right to adjust the other value, or diagonally to adjust two values simultaneously.
Page 130: Rename
Figure 106 Enable Tabs Follow Preview Row to cause a source selection on the Switcher’s Preview row to be automatically display the corresponding tabbed pane (when appropriate, as for Media Players or Virtual Inputs).  Alternatively, when Tabs Follow Preview for Virtual Input is checked, the tab shown is updated only when you select a Virtual Input.
Page 131: Dual Displays And Monitoring
To do so, simply right-click on any of the following items to open the Rename Input dialog (Figure 54):  Any monitor in the All Monitors pane (except Preview)  Any Switcher source button  Any Virtual Input tab The dialog has two editable text fields, Input Name and Button Label. The latter is a short name that will be shown on Switcher buttons, while the longer name is used where more room is available to display it.
Page 132: Status Bar
6.5.1 STATUS BAR An information display is conveniently located below the titlebar, just above the main Program monitor. From time to time this bar displays information pertaining to operations or system status, including any cautionary indications. Figure 108 For example, a brief initialization is required following a system start (or restart) for DDR video playback to stabilize.
Page 133: Desktop Monitors
DESKTOP MONITORS The word “monitor” comes from the Latin “monēre” – meaning ‘to warn’. The word has taken on additional meaning since Roman times. As a verb, these include such connotations as ‘keeping an eye’ on something, and ‘checking continually’, as when monitoring a process.
Page 134: Configuration Indicators
The Program Output monitor could hardly be more important. It shows what TriCaster is displaying to your viewing audience at any moment. This includes the combined output of the Switcher selections as well as any Overlay channels you have active. When you move your mouse pointer over the Program monitor, a Configure button (gear) appears above its upper-right corner.
Page 135: Contextual Tools
Click the All Monitors tab at upper-left to reveal a group of preview windows. These previews, often referred to as ISO (Isolation) monitors, display all primary video sources currently available for selection in the Switcher rows below. Monitors for all live Camera inputs are provided, along with previews of the Media Player content.
Page 136 This menu might list displays from other computers transmitted across the network via iVGA™, or perhaps the output from a companion NewTek LiveText™ workstation. (LiveText and iVGA are considered in more depth in Chapter 9.) Slide the mouse down the menu to the entry you wish to select and click the source you wish to assign as the current Network source.
Page 137: Interactive Control
7.2.2 INTERACTIVE CONTROL The onscreen monitors (with the exception of Preview) are actually interactive live production controls. You can click them to perform many Switcher operations. Here’s a list of things to try:  Click on an unselected monitor to place it on the Preview row. ...
Page 138: External Monitors Tab
EXTERNAL MONITORS TAB This tabbed pane supplies individual monitors for all eight camera inputs. 7.3.1 CONTEXTUAL TOOLS Just as we noted earlier (Section 7.2.1) when discussing the All Monitors view, rolling the mouse pointer over the preview panes in the Camera Monitors tab presents a context sensitive row of buttons to appear above.
Page 139: Switcher Monitors Tab
SWITCHER MONITORS T AB Figure 118 The next tab in the upper-left corner of the Live Desktop is labeled Switcher Monitors. This view is dominated by two large preview panes, showing respectively the video sources currently selected on the FX and Preview rows in the Switcher. Hint: These monitors do not feature interactive switching functions.
Page 140 A third monitoring tab option is Scopes. This alternative presents a Preview monitor (showing the current Preview row selection) along with Waveform and Vectorscope displays. These displays permit the user to judge the effect of Proc Amp and LiveMatte adjustments while making them.
Page 141: O Configuration
I/O CONFIGURATION TriCaster provides extensive control over your video signal at both input and output stages. Every video source has its own realtime Proc Amp and keyer (via LiveMatte). As well, TriCaster supports independent Proc Amp settings for its Program and Multiview outputs It is very useful to be able to adjust each source and also the output stream independently.
Page 142: Output Controls
Figure 121 NOTE: The format for TriCaster’s primary video outputs (including HDMI) is dictated by the session format. At the time of writing, certain less common formats are unlikely to be supported by typical downstream monitors and devices. The Aux video output provides more configuration options, and may provide an alternative in such situations.
Page 143: Proc Amp
 Multiview Proc Amp controls for Multiview output Multiview output display options  Genlock Genlock calibration controls Center Frequency setting This panel closes when you click the Close button or click outside the panel. 8.1.2 PROC AMP Proc Amp adjustments can be toggled on and off using the Enable Proc Amp switch at upper left in the Main and Multiview panes (note that the Multiview output Proc Amp affects only Program and Preview displays), or reset by clicking the Restore Defaults button.
Page 144 Figure 122 To serve as a visual reminder, small indicator lights appear at right above the Program monitor when either output has Proc Amp settings enabled (Figure 122). Click these to enable/disable the associated Proc Amps. Note: TriCaster’s input and output Proc Amps are very useful. However, please keep this important thought in mind: Whenever possible, it is best to perform color adjustments at the source or target device.
Page 145: Sd Analog Connections
Figure 123  To automatically white balance – click and hold the mouse button over the Color (eyedropper) button, and then slide the pointer on the monitor for the corresponding source. Release the mouse button over a part of the image that should be white. 8.1.3 SD ANALOG CONNECTIONS Figure 124 As discussed back in Section 3.6.2, TriCaster’s three VIDEO OUT connector rows can variously...
Page 146: Aux Output
 The sole analog video connection supporting HD is Component. Consequently, the analog Connection Type for Rows 1 and 2 for HD sessions is always Component (so the SD Analog Connection options below are ghosted).  For HD sessions, the four BNC connectors for output Rows 1 and 2 will be automatically configured as HD-SDI and HD Component (three connectors –...
Page 147 SOURCE The Aux video output is uniquely flexible as respects which sources can be displayed. While some of these mirror those presented as options for the Multiview output, others are not. Notably, the Input and Frame Buffer sub-menus support several exclusive displays. Here is the complete list of possibilities: ...
Page 148: Multiview Output
 1080i (SDI, Component)  1080/30p (SDI, Component)  720p (SDI, Component)  720/30p (SDI, Component)  480i, 16:9 (SDI, Component)  480i, 16:9 (SDI, Y/C + Composite)  480i, 4:3 (SDI, Component)  480i, 4:3 (SDI, Y/C + Composite) 8.1.5 MULTIVIEW OUTPUT TriCaster’s Multiview output fills several valuable purposes.
Page 149 NOTE: Changing Output options (Layout or Resolution) can cause frames to be dropped briefly. Changing these settings during live production is not recommended. Figure 127 Screen Layout offers a diverse list including numerous optional displays as follows:  All: this useful display is the default, and combines monitors for all Switcher sources plus Program and Preview and handy digital clocks.
Page 150: Genlock
8.1.6 GENLOCK TriCaster’s Genlock feature allows it to ‘lock’ its video output to a reference video signal (house sync, such as ‘black burst’) supplied to its Genlock input connector. This synchronizes TriCaster output to other external equipment locked to the same reference. Genlocking is not an absolute requirement, but it is very beneficial, and you should definitely use it if you have the capability.
Page 151 VERTICAL POSITION, HORIZONTAL POSITION AND PHASE Locking all devices to house sync is important, but this alone does not actually ensure a perfect downstream match. Consider an army marching along: each step the soldiers take occurs at precisely the same moment, so we could say their timing is synchronized.
Page 152: Center Frequency
(A discussion of these adjustments goes beyond the scope of this manual, but a quick online search for the keywords “genlock” and “adjust” turns up a number of excellent references). REFERENCE TYPE The ‘bi-level’ reference signal long used for standard definition television is often used for genlocking both SD and HD installations.
Page 153: Connection Type
Figure 131 8.2.1 CONNECTION TYPE The Configuration panel for the Camera 1-8 inputs features a Connection Type menu at the top of its Input Settings tab. Connection Type menu options vary depending on the Video Standard for the session. TriCaster Multi-standard provides PAL and NTSC-J session options, in addition to NTSC.
Page 154 The standard options are: 1080i (Component) • Analog source, high definition, interlaced • 1080/60i or 1080/50i • 1920x1080 pixels, 16:9 picture aspect • Connected to TriCaster by Y, Pr and Pb input connectors 1080i (SDI) • Digital source, standard definition, interlaced •...
Page 155 The standard definition options listed below are provided in both 4:3 and 16:9 versions: 480/30i (Component) • NTSC analog format, standard definition, interlaced • 720x480 pixels, 4:3 picture aspect or anamorphic 16:9 picture aspect • Connected to TriCaster by Y, Pr and Pb input connectors 480/30i (SDI) •...
Page 156: Act As Alpha
• 720x576 pixels, 4:3 picture aspect or anamorphic 16:9 picture aspect • Connected to TriCaster by Y input connector Multi-standard TriCaster TCXD850 PAL connection type. 8.2.2 ACT AS ALPHA TriCaster optionally allows one or more neighboring pairs of video inputs to be combined as a single ‘video + alpha’...
Page 157 Figure 132 To use this feature, select Act as Alpha Channel for Input (#) as the Connection Type in the Input Configuration panel for an even-numbered input. Note: The input configuration (video format and connection type) for the alpha input is automatically configured to match the fill source it is paired with.
Page 158: Proc Amp
8.2.3 PROC AMP Figure 133 The main portion of the Input Settings tab contains Proc Amp settings. These settings are identical to those discussed previously in Section 8.1.2. Of course, these settings are applied to the individual video inputs, thus before output Proc amp settings (which affect all sources equally).
Page 159 Figure 134 LiveMatte’s controls are deceptively simple, making a great deal of complex digital manipulations easy to use. Even so, much can be said about getting the best results. For that reason we’ve devoted a whole chapter in this manual to discussing it (please see Chapter 14). When LiveMatte is enabled for a specific source, a small green indicator is displayed in the upper-right corner above the corresponding monitor in any of the three main monitor tabs.
Page 161: Network Sources
NETWORK SOURCES The network source features of your TriCaster are very useful. TriCaster TCXD850 supports two simultaneous network sources, so you can live switch displays from networked computers as part of your productions. Connecting to a networked workstation or laptop computer running LiveText™, NewTek’s powerful realtime title and graphics...
Page 162: Ivga For Os X
Double-click the Zip file to decompress it, and then double-click the .dmg file to mount it.  The NewTek iVGA icon shown above will be placed on your Desktop. Open it (by double- clicking, and you will see two files in a Finder window –...
Page 163: Ivga For Windows
When iVGA is running, the icon in the (OS X) Dock has a menu you can access by right-clicking it:  Engaging Privacy Mode prevents the client display from appearing accidentally on the TriCaster display when you don’t want it to. ...
Page 164 Note: iVGA will run from anywhere you put it on the client hard drive, but you might wish to install it in the Program Files folder (Program Files (x86) for a 64bit version of Windows. Run iVGA on the client computer by double-clicking its icon. A smaller icon will be added to the Windows task tray.
Page 165: Livetext
zoomed view to move once set, you can lock zoom position with a hotkey — Right Ctrl + Numpad 9. The hotkey is a toggle – use it again to cause the display to track the cursor again (this is useful to re-position the display, too.) ...
Page 167: Streaming
10 STREAMING Live webcasting has dramatically altered the broadcast landscape. Information can now be shared among audiences around the world with very small transmission costs – and the future is bright! It seems certain that the live streaming market will continue to expand, providing many creative and profitable opportunities.
Page 168: Pull Profiles
All the settings you need to configure your streaming output are located in the Stream Configuration panel (Figure 140). To open it, click the Configure button (gear) beside the Stream button – beneath the Program Output monitor. 10.1.1 PULL PROFILES If you are streaming internally (to people in your building or inside your own corporate firewall), Pull streaming may well provide the easiest approach.
Page 169: Push Profiles
When a Push profile is chosen, the Stream Configuration interface changes to allow entry of the (pre-arranged) host web address (Location), Username and Password. Note: The publishing point is placed at the end of the URL, following a forward slash (i.e., http://225.21.1.4:8080/NewTek). Page | 153...
Page 170: Capturing The Stream
Enabling the Stream button then “pushes” the stream from your location, logging into the pre- arranged web address using the username and password you provided. The streaming service then re-transmits your stream for all to see. 10.1.3 CAPTURING THE STREAM TriCaster can archive your live stream file as it is created.
Page 171 Ideally, ‘on demand’ streaming video begins to play on request after a few moments (letting the stream get a bit ahead of the client playback device is called ‘buffering’, and helps ensure smooth playback). (This stands in contrast to other types of online video distribution which requires the viewer to completely download the video file before he can begin play.
Page 172  Some sources report that the Flash movies will have a larger file size and use greater bandwidth than Windows Media for a given stream quality. (This is hard to assess, and changes constantly as developers update their products).  Codecs for both types are updated with fair regularity, and when you choose the ‘latest, greatest’...
Page 173: Streaming Protocols
Also consider the expected download abilities of your viewers. Ideally, a safety margin 1.5 times the stream’s bitrate is desirable. This may mean you need to consider using a lower resolution, or lower framerate for your stream – but doing so when required will generally deliver a smooth result, and is the wise course.
Page 174 Requires significant bandwidth -- for example, with TriCaster connected to the Internet by a DSL or Cable Modem line, upload bandwidth is often less than 400kbits/second. Allowing for network overhead, at best a 320kbit steam can be accommodated. This bandwidth would be fully consumed by two viewers watching 160kbit streams, or a single viewer pulling a 170-320kbit stream.
Page 175: Streaming Media Providers
PUSH TO PROVIDER Windows 2003 Server introduced “Push” technology. With this method, the encoder sends the stream to downstream servers. This allows the encoder to establish a connection to the server on a specified port. Once this connection is established, additional network ports may be opened as required (since the Encoder established the connection, not the server.) ...
Page 176: Other Resources
10.2.4 OTHER RESOURCES If you’re still struggling with the differences between Push and Pull streaming methods, you can find lots of online resources (in addition to excellent information available in NewTek’s user forums!) The popular web resource Wikipedia® hosts many articles on the subject, notably these two: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_technology...
Page 177: Configuration And Troubleshooting
You can always convert these files to a streaming file format if you later decide you’d like to supply them for ‘on demand’ Internet viewing. This lets you retain best quality right through to final output. When you eventually encode for streaming, you can choose settings that best suit the intended audience and streaming environment.
Page 178: Testing Your Stream
10.4.1 TESTING YOUR STREAM When it comes to using your TriCaster in a professional live production environment (i.e., your bread and butter depends on getting it right, and now - not tomorrow), failure to test beforehand is not merely unwise - it can be professional suicide. You should already be aware of the need for redundancy in a professional environment (you didn’t bring just one camera, did you?) As reliable as any device may be, Murphy and his Law are alive and well.
Page 179 Note: If the connection to a server is lost after initial success, the encoder attempts to resume streaming automatically if the connection becomes available again during the session. TESTING WITH PING Before your stream can be seen - whether on a local intranet or the Internet - client computers (or your service provider) need to be able to establish a network connection with your TriCaster.
Page 180 For Windows Vista® (or later) 1. Type “run” (without the quotation marks) into the Search field, then press Enter on the keyboard. 2. Type “cmd” (without the quotation marks) into the dialog, and press Enter on the keyboard. 3. In the command shell that opens, type “ipconfig” (without the quotation marks) and press Enter again.
Page 181 Figure 142 3. Ping will go to work, and in a moment or two begin reporting results. A ping failure (indicating a network problem) will look like Figure 143. A success ping will display a report like Figure 144. Figure 143 Figure 144 Page | 165...
Page 182 Apple OS X For a system running Apple’s OS X®: 1. Double-click Terminal in the Applications\Utilities folder. 2. Type the following command into the Terminal (without quotations) and then add the IP number, and press Enter: “ping –c 4 ipnumber.” (So, for example, you might type: ping –c 4 192.168.1.101) The response will be similar to the Windows example described above.
Page 183 To enable port forwarding, you need three pieces of information:  The login information for the router. Your router’s manual will have this information, which typically involves entering a specific IP number into your web browsers URL field, and perhaps also a password you have set previously. ...
Page 184 Enter the Start and End port values – you can use the same port number in both fields, but of course it must be the one you set in TriCaster’s Port field. 5. IF possible, select Both for Protocol (or select UDP). 6.
Page 185 the website in your browser and read the IP number from the screen. Append a colon and the port number you are using to this number and you’ve got everything you need for your viewers to connect. SPEED TESTS Are you sure your upload bandwidth is adequate to the bitrate you’ve set for your stream? Why not test and make sure.
Page 187: Record And Grab
TriCaster TCXD850 offers the ability to capture the a/v stream from either Program out or Aux to hard disk. This can be useful as a method of archiving a live production for later use, or as a way to capture video clips for playback from the DDR during a live production.
Page 188 RECORD CONFIGURATION At upper left in the Record Configuration panel you will see a section labeled Output to record. By default, TriCaster records Program output. However, at times it may suit your purpose to record the a/v stream assigned to the Aux output instead (see Section 8.1.4). The A/V group in the panel has several options in it.
Page 189 Close the Record Configuration panel by clicking Close, or clicking anywhere outside the panel. When ready, click the Record button to capture program output to your hard drive. Let’s spend a moment on several other Record settings beforehand though. QUALITY TriCaster records video using a ‘double-rate’...
Page 190: Grab
DDR playlist, ready for immediate playback during the live production. USE TIMEWARP (OPTIONAL) TriCaster fully supports NewTek’s optional TimeWarp™ control surface, enabling it to serve as a convenient slow motion replay system along with all of its other capabilities.
Page 191 Click the Configure button (gear) next to Grab beneath the Program Output monitor to open the Grab Still Configuration panel. The options presented are similar to those of Record Configuration, though a bit simpler. Again, enter a Base Name. The name you supply which will be numerically incremented as required. Enable the Add to Stills Playlist switch to automatically include newly captured clips at the end of the current Stills tab playlist, ready for immediate playback during the live production.
Page 193: Switcher, Transitions And Overlay
12 SWITCHER, TRANSITIONS AND OV ERLAY TriCaster’s Live Desktop replicates traditional video switcher controls in easy to comprehend and use fashion. It provides numerous transitions that you can use to add interest when changing scenes, two independent downstream overlay channels, and some very useful automation.
Page 194 * An audio source may or may not be associated with a given video selection, and may or may not be affected by Switcher row activity – audio configuration is discussed in Chapter 16. The FX (Effects) row selection provides an auxiliary video stream which can serve in a variety of ways.
Page 195: Transitions
12.2 TRANSITIONS Immediately to the right of the Switcher rows is the Transitions section. With just one exception, this group of controls and settings provide many creative and flexible ways to swap the video streams selected on the Program row for that selected on the Preview Row. Figure 153 12.2.1 TAKE AND TRANSITION The simplest way to accomplish this Program ...
Page 196: Ftb
The small button immediately to the left of Reverse is Ping Pong (Figure 155). When Ping Pong is enabled, the Reverse button is toggled on or off each time a transition is performed. Using the previous example, if the last transition progressed from left-to-right, the next one will automatically be reversed and thus run right-to-left.
Page 197: Transition Selector
To use the T-bar, pull it downward by dragging it with the mouse pointer. When you drag it all the way to the bottom and release, the transition is completed. The T-Bar then pops back to the top position. Naturally, when the T-bar is dragged part way, a partial transition occurs. With certain transitions this can be useful for split screen effects.
Page 198: Overlay
12.3 OVERLAY Figure 158 The Overlay panel is the final component of the central Switcher section of the Live Desktop for us to discuss. You’ll find it at the right-hand end of the Switcher panel (beneath the Program Output monitor). This placement is quite appropriate, as the two Overlay channels configured and controlled in this section represent a final opportunity for you to superimpose imagery on the video stream prior to output.
Page 199: Sources And Transparency
The Source button at the top of each Overlay section (Figure 159) identifies the current source for that overlay channel. Clicking the Source button opens an input selector button row (Figure 160). Figure 160 Clicking a button in the input selector updates the Source button label, and closes the selector (clicking anywhere outside the selector closes it without changing the current selection).
Page 200: Position Options
TriCaster’s Overlay channels offer a lot of creative possibilities. You might use one channel to display a permanent station ID ‘bug’. Or, you might superimpose a company logo from Stills onto a title page, add a ‘spinning globe’ animation playing in the DDR to a lower-third, ‘frame’ a keyed source composed over a title (Figure 161), or set up many other elaborate effects in this manner.
Page 201: Effects
Hint: If you click a numeric field (or right-click it), you can type a value into the gadget using the keyboard – press Enter to complete the editing action, or Esc to cancel it). In similar fashion, drag the pointer over the Rotation button with the left mouse button pressed to turn the overlay source in 3D space, as follows: ...
Page 202: Link Overlays
located beside the Effect button to choose an effect. The drop-down menu lists the popular Fade and Cut first, then five recently used effects, followed finally by a Browse link. Clicking Browse opens a custom file browser to let you peruse the entire list of available effects. Hint: The duration for an effect is governed by the S|M|F buttons in the Transitions section of the Switcher.
Page 203: Media Players (Ddrs, Still, Title And Audio)
Switcher operations. 13.1 SPECIALIZED MEDIA PLAYERS TriCaster TCXD850 sports five Media Players, located in tabbed panes found in the bottom third of the Live Desktop. These are the DDR 1, DDR 2, Still, Title and Sounds players.
Page 204: Shared Features
third party applications). That said, if you found a reason to, you could use it as a ‘secondary’ media player for a playlist consisting of photographs (for example). Similarly, the Still player is meant for still images – photos, graphics, and the like; but you are not prevented from adding title pages to its playlist if you like (you can even edit a title page in Stills, just as you can in Titles).
Page 205 The playlist can even be altered during playback (of course, if the currently playing item is removed, playback stops immediately). The filename (with extension) of each item in the current playlist is displayed above the thumbnails, and its duration is shown below. Hint: The duration shown is the play time after any trimming operations, and thus may at times be less than the file length on disk for video clips or audio files.
Page 206 FILE OPERATIONS  Click the Add button beneath the playlist pane to open a custom Media Browser (see Section 13.2.2).  Newly-added files become selected items in the Playlist pane.  Drag (appropriate type) file(s) from one module’s playlist to another module. ...
Page 207: Media Browser
Figure 167 Initially, In and Out Point handles at opposite ends of the Scrub-Bar are at their extreme positions, marking the actual limits of the file on disk. Dragging these handles adjusts timing for the selected item (multi-selections are ignored for Scrub-Bar trimming). The duration (taking into account trimming operations) is displayed in a timecode field just to the right.
Page 208 The custom Media Browser is available anywhere in the Live Desktop interface that you might wish to select content, transitions or effects for use in your project (such as the media players, LiveSet and Transitions sections). Its layout is comprised of left and right panes we’ll refer to as the Location List and File Pane respectively.
Page 209 FILE PANE Icons appearing in the File Pane represent content located inside the sub-heading selected at left in the Locations List. These are grouped under horizontal dividers named for sub-folders, which allows related content to be organized conveniently. Figure 170 FILE FILTERS The File Pane view is filtered to show only relevant content.
Page 210: Controls
Right-click on a file icon in the right-hand pane to show a menu providing Rename and Delete options. Be aware that Delete really does remove content from your hard drive. This menu is not shown if the item clicked is write-protected. 13.2.3 CONTROLS Transport controls and playback settings are located directly below the Playlist and Scrub-Bar.
Page 211 SINGLE Figure 173 Media Player playback normally conforms to typical playlist practice – each item in the playlist playing back in orderly succession. When Single mode is enabled, playback stops when the Out Point of the current playlist item is reached (unless Loop is also enabled, in which case playback of the current item repeats until manually interrupted).
Page 212: Preset Bin
Secondly, the reverse Switcher transition occurs automatically as the end of play approaches (whether the Out Point of the current item for Single play, or the end of the playlist). In similar fashion, for a media player with Autoplay enabled, performing an Overlay Effect automatically begins playback.
Page 213: Speed
Hint: Press Shift while double-clicking Speed to quickly reset to the 100% default. 13.3 FRAME BUFFERS TriCaster TCXD850’s Frame Buffer system provides a very convenient and important alternative source system for Virtual Inputs (including their associated Overlay channels) and the Switcher’s two primary Overlay channels.
Page 214 Figure 177 Any still image or title page in the playlist of one of TriCaster’s Media Players can be assigned to any one (or more) of the ten available Frame Buffers. Right-click a playlist icon, and choose Send to Frame Buffer from the playlist context menu; select the specific Overlay channel or Virtual Input Overlay you wish to the file to be associated with from the hierarchical menu.
Page 215: Unique Advantages
13.3.1 UNIQUE ADVANTAGES Several characteristics differentiate Frame Buffer content from other sources (such as Media Player content): First, because the assigned files are actually copied into a new location, any possibility of accidentally displaying the wrong image or title (as might happen if the current playlist item was not the correct one) is eliminated.
Page 216: Editing Title
Hint: Frame buffer files are stored using the popular 32 bit PNG (Portable network Graphics) image format. The specific file associated with any Frame Buffer is easily identified by its unique name – overlay_1.png, virtual_input_1.png, etc This allows Frame Buffer files to be individually updated across a network using any suitable graphics application or method.
Page 217 Figure 179 A number of keystroke shortcuts are available to help you edit text quickly. Typing keystrokes as listed below will produce the result shown:  Any character(s) – text input box opens with the current string cleared and (only) the new character(s) entered.
Page 218 Hint: A red line under a character or word indicates the spell-checker is questioning its spelling. Right-click the word to open a menu showing various suggested alternatives. Click one of these if you wish to update the original. Figure 180 The titlebar of the Title Page Editor holds an assortment of text attribute controls.
Page 219 You can find out which, if any images are unlocked (stand-ins) and which are locked, and toggle the status of any image. Hold down the Shift key while rolling around inside the Title Page. With Shift depressed, a red border is shown around any locked image under the cursor. Stand-in (unlocked) images display a green border on roll-over when Shift is depressed.
Page 221: Livematte & Crop
14 LIVEMATTE & CROP Although its controls are deceptively simple, LiveMatte represents NewTek’s newest and most powerful chromakeying technology, and is capable of very high quality results. Whether you use it alone or in conjunction with TriCaster’s Overlay or LiveSet features, you will find LiveMatte can play an important role in your live productions.
Page 222: Chromakeying
Hint: Clicking Configure for a monitor in the Switcher Monitors tab likewise opens the Input Configuration panel for the corresponding Switcher row source. 14.1 CHROMAKEYING The method by which part of the image is defined as transparent is generically referred to as chromakeying, for its dependence on the color values (chrominance) of the video stream.
Page 223: Matte
14.2 MATTE Figure 184 The term Matte refers to a black and white representation defining transparent (background) and opaque (foreground) parts of the image during compositing. Portions of the matte that are grey are treated as semi-transparent, which is very useful in progressively smoothing edges between foreground source material and inserted background imagery.
Page 224: Tolerance
14.2.2 TOLERANCE No physical greenscreen is perfectly comprised of one color. Wrinkles, folds and shadows along with the seemingly inevitable uneven lighting result in difference. For this reason, TriCaster provides a numeric slider labeled Tolerance just beneath the Color picker. The Tolerance setting allows you to broaden the range considered as the key color, including more ‘near-neighbor’...
Page 225: Spill Suppression
the background color. In simplest terms, problem areas of this type can be decisively ‘pulled’ back into the foreground by pre-filtering the chromakey effect around a luminance threshold. Generally, try to set up the best key you can before raising the Luma Limit from its default value of zero (no effect).
Page 226: Compositing
Figure 186 Common examples include microphones or lighting fixtures dangling from above, or perhaps a harsh crease, blemish or tear in the background screen. Or, as is frequently the case, the source video itself may have a few pixels of black or video ‘noise’ along one or more of its edges. Cropping can be used to remove such unwanted ‘garbage’...
Page 227: Fine Tuning
14.6 FINE TUNING You’ll find LiveMatte easy to configure with a little experimentation – but a few handy workflow tips follow below. You may find it useful initially to turn Smoothness off or nearly so. Likewise begin with a low value for Tolerance –...
Page 228: Practical Staging For Livematte
14.7 PRACTICAL STAGING FOR LIVEMATTE We’d like to offer a few suggestions here to guide you in preparing, so you get the most out of LiveMatte. 14.7.1 LIGHTING The single most important aspect of ‘pulling a clean key’ is lighting. The lighting should be even and diffuse.
Page 229 according to the quality of video signal they provide (and as things go, in the reverse order of their cost, and the likelihood that you will have access to them): Composite – a two conductor design using the classic RCA connector (also referred to as a phono connector or CINCH/AV connector) Y/C –...
Page 231: Virtual Inputs
Switcher source. Virtual Inputs also provide TriCaster’s connection to LiveSet, NewTek’s astonishing realtime virtual set technology, investing it with great new capabilities. We illustrated the value of Virtual Inputs back in Section 4.11 of the Live Production Walkthrough chapter.
Page 232: Primary Video Sources
As you would expect, selecting one of the Virtual Input buttons on the Program row displays the output of the corresponding Virtual Input output to Program Output. Likewise, clicking V1-V5 on the Preview row cues up that Virtual Input’s output for an upcoming Take/Transition operation (and also displays the corresponding control panel in the tabbed area below).
Page 233: Position
15.2 POSITION Figure 189 Pos (Position) controls for both Input A and Input B appear to the right of their respective selector button rows (Figure 189). Click the neighboring Configure button (gear) to open the Position panel (Figure 190) for a given channel. Figure 190 At left is a group of controls labeled Crop Edges, which provide identical but independent functionality to that found in the LiveMatte &...
Page 234: Overlay
Hint: If you click a numeric field a second time (or right-click it), you can type a value into the gadget using the keyboard – press Enter to complete the editing action, or Esc to cancel it). In similar fashion, drag the pointer over the Rotation button with the left mouse button pressed to turn the source in 3D space, as follows: ...
Page 235: Liveset
This brings us to the LiveSet section of the Virtual Input tab. LiveSet allows you to achieve the look of a large, sophisticated studio setting (Figure 193) within a very small studio space (Figure 192) without the need for external equipment. TriCaster TCXD850 brings important new capabilities to NewTek’s revolutionary virtual set technology. Figure 192 Figure 193 15.4.1 LIVESET SELECTION...
Page 236: Video Sources
part of the image assigned to Input A is transparent, Input B will show through). To select a different LiveSet, click the Add button at the right-hand end of this field line, opening a custom Media Browser (Figure 194). Figure 194 The Location List of the Media Browser lists any installed LiveSet groups under the heading “LiveSets”.
Page 237: Zoom Presets
*Hint: One special case is when you select FX as a LiveSet input. Conveniently, this allows you to use the Switcher to change the input without either interfering with other common Switcher operations or accessing the corresponding Virtual Input tab. Figure 195 Virtual sets in the LiveSet system display video from either one or two different TriCaster sources.
Page 238: Zoom T-Bar
Notice that a numeric slider is provided above right for each preset. These work the same as other numeric sliders in TriCaster’s Live Desktop – drag to adjust the value, click to type directly into the field using the keyboard, or press (keyboard) Shift and then double-click to restore the default value for that preset.
Page 239: Animate Zoom
15.4.6 ANIMATE ZOOM Figure 198 You can use the Zoom T-Bar to manually zoom in on a LiveSet, even when it is displayed on Program Output. The Animate Zoom switch makes it possible to easily perform this realtime zoom automatically with a single click. With Animate Zoom enabled, simply clicking a preset automatically zooms from the current position to the virtual camera ‘distance’...
Page 241: Audio
16 AUDIO Less than 100 years ago, movies were silent. We’ve come a very long way since “The Jazz Singer” (1927, Warner Bros.) High quality audio and audio management tools are almost certainly a requirement for your live productions. When it comes to audio, TriCaster provides professional quality and convenience, which we’ll explore in this chapter.
Page 242: External Audio
Compact sub-panels in each tabbed pane provide configuration and control for one audio source or output stream. Figure 200 16.1 EXTERNAL AUDIO The sub-panels in the External tab are labeled for Input rows 1-8 on TriCaster’s backplate. You may choose to think of these audio sources as being associated with video inputs 1-8 in the nearby rows (see the sub-heading Follow, below) but you are completely free to use them in various other configurations.
Page 243: Connection Type
It’s important to note that the Solo switch setting (discussed shortly) affects Mute operation. When Solo is check-marked for a source, clicking Mute for the same source mutes the output for that source on Master output only. Otherwise (i.e., when Solo is un-checked for a source), clicking Mute for a source mutes it on all outputs.
Page 244 TALK It is often useful to reduce all other audio source levels so that an important announcement can be clearly understood by the audience. The Talk switch (also known as “Talk Over”) makes this a simple matter. Enabling Talk for a source (typically a microphone) reduces the output level of all other audio sources by 20dB.
Page 245: More Audio Controls
TRIM When the Connection Type is set to one of the Mic options, input controls also include Trim knobs for each microphone input. This is a variable gain setting, Figure 203 enabling you to adjust input gain to suit the level of a variety of audio sources.
Page 246 When Follow causes an audio source to be added to TriCaster’s output, the audio from this input is ramped up (or down, on removal) over 1 second. MONO Figure 206 A Mono switch appears in the control panel for sources set to any Connection Type other than Mic.
Page 247 Note that Aux output mimics Phones whenever Solo is selected in its Source option menu. Let’s consider some practical applications using these options. AUDITIONING AN AUDIO SOURCE It can be very useful to be able to preview one or more audio sources, doing so without allowing the test sound to be audible on Program output.
Page 248 that clean signal to your remote caller (and control its level), eliminating annoying echoing, feedback and the like. Meanwhile, both participants can be heard on the main Program output. BALANCE A Balance slider is likewise shown for all source types other than Mic. In a conventional stereo environment, centering the Balance knob will result in Gain being applied equally to the left and right channels.
Page 249: Internal Audio
Two VU Meters are displayed when an analog Connection Type is set to a Mic option, with individual knobs to control the Gain for each input channel (see Figure 207). When the Connection Type is Line, the VU meter displays the levels for the two analog input channels, controlled by a single Gain knob.
Page 250: Media Players
Figure 209 16.2.1 MEDIA PLAYERS Video and audio-only files in DDR 1 and 2 playlists, along with audio files in the Sounds player, may contain one or more audio channels. At most, Media Players output the first four audio channels of multiple channels – additional embedded streams are ignored. The options and controls in these sub-panels are similar to those in the input control panels, with the obvious exception that a Connection Type menu is unnecessary.
Page 251 Remember that both Aux and Phones outputs are affected by source Solo switches. When Solo is on for one or more sources, only those sources will be sent to Aux and Phones. Hint: Shift + double click Gain knobs to restore their default values (0dB). Figure 210 AUX AND STREAM The Stream sub-panel provides a method of independently adjusting (stereo) audio levels sent to...
Page 252: Preset Bin
 DDR 2 - The meters show the levels for audio (the first 4 channels) from DDR 2 output, which are individually sent to AUX output connectors (2a-2d).  Sounds – The meters show the levels for audio (the first 4 channels) from the Sounds player output, which are individually sent to AUX output connectors (2a-2d).
Page 253: Speededit And Livetext
17 SPEEDEDIT AND LIVETEXT LiveText™ is a powerful title and CG application, allowing you to create title pages for use in the Live Desktop’s Media Players. Title pages can be still or motion pages, including scrolls and crawls. SpeedEDIT™ provides a host of world-class editing tools for pre and post production purposes.
Page 254: Filebin Quicktabs
Likewise when the project is SD, the SDI outputs will all be SD. As there are multiple connection options for analog SD video, please refer to the following table in this case: Row Number Analog BNC 1 Analog BNC 2 Analog BNC 3 Composite Composite...
Page 255: Speededit Desktop
17.1.4 SPEEDEDIT DESKTOP TriCaster launches SpeedEDIT on a desktop of its own, spanning all connected monitors. You can exit SpeedEDIT by clicking the [x] button in the upper-right corner of the desktop, or by using the File men item Close. If you have a secondary monitor connected to TriCaster, you can drag SpeedEDIT’s Video Output window (opened from the Window menu) onto that screen, then maximize it by double-clicking inside the preview area (double-clicking a second time restores the standard floating window).
Page 256: Files/Filebin
Likewise when the project is SD, the SDI outputs will all be SD. As there are multiple connection options for analog SD video, please refer to the following table in this case: Row Number Analog BNC 1 Analog BNC 2 Analog BNC 3 Composite Composite...
Page 257: Naming Stand-In Images
When you select Send All Pages to Live, each page in the project is exported in turn to the appropriate format and location. This means they are readily accessible in the Live Desktop’s Media Browser afterward, for easy addition to a Media Player playlist. Title Page icons will appear grouped under their project names in the Media Browser’s File Pane when you select the session name in the Location List at left.
Page 259 PART III (APPENDICES) A time-saving question and answer section, followed by an extensive listing of Shortcut Keys, schematic diagram and keyword index … Page | 243...
Page 261: A How Do I
The headings that follow list related questions and answers together, along with cross-references and other helpful remarks. Hint: The NewTek website includes a comprehensive FAQ database containing a wealth of useful information on all of its products – please see http://www.newtek.com/faq/ How do I ...
Page 262 Start an SD session? ......................254 Start an HD session? ......................254 Supplement: What is the best session format for streaming? ..........255 Work on a stored session? ....................255 Backup a session? ......................255 Restore a session? ......................256 Delete a session (and its content)? ..................
Page 263 Add an external File Location to the File Browser? ............. 265 Remove a Location From the File Browser? ............... 266 Export Files to an external drive? ..................266 Export files from TriCaster for use in Apple® Final Cut Pro? ..........266 Supplement: Why does the ‘Renderless’...
Page 264: Connections
A.1 CONNECTIONS A.1.1 CONNECT CAMERAS? 1. Connect video sources to the appropriately labeled BNC input connectors on TriCaster’s backplate according to your camera’s video output connection type (see Section 3.4). (Because of the ‘busy’ nature of the backplate, you may find the BNC removal tool provided with TriCaster helpful for this purpose).
Page 265: Color Correct Mismatched Cameras
5. Click the All Monitors tab at the top of the Live Desktop, roll the mouse pointer over the camera monitor you want to set up, and click the Configure (gear) button that appears above it. 6. Choose the appropriate Connection Type for the source attached to the odd-numbered input in the Input Settings tab (see Sections 3.4 and 8.2.1).
Page 266 SECONDARY COMPUTER MONITOR (OR PROJECTOR) TriCaster supports the use of its secondary output connector by means of its Multiview output feature. This output can serve as a supplementary program output for projection, or for operational monitoring purposes (see Section 8.1.5). 1.
Page 267: Connect A Supported External Control Surface
3. Click the Live icon on the Sessions page of the Startup Screen, and press Enter (or click the Start Live Production link). 4. For SD display devices, you may need to adjust the connection options found in Output Configuration: Move the mouse over the Program monitor, and click the Configure button (gear) that appears above it to open Output Configuration.
Page 268: Supplement: What Hard Drives Are Recommended For Tricaster
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: Q: What hard drives are recommended for TriCaster’s removable drive bays? A: NewTek Sales offers additional hard drives for use in TriCaster’s removable bays. NewTek supplied storage media has been carefully tested to meet exacting specifications, and can be expected to provide optimal performance and reliability.
Page 269: Connect An External Hard Drive
A.1.7 CONNECT AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE? Connect a suitable USB cable from the external hard drive to one of TriCaster’s USB2.0 ports. Note that the hard drive should probably be formatted using the NTSF file system (the FAT file system chokes on exported files exceeding 4 Gigabytes, as will often be the case). A.1.8 EJECT A HARD DRIVE? 8.
Page 270: Sessions
A.2 SESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: Q: What is a session? A: Sessions can be thought of as ‘top-level presets’. They store all of the settings, playlists, device configurations, and so on for a given live productions. See Section 5.1. A.2.1 START AN SD SESSION? 1.
Page 271: Work On A Stored Session
3. Click the Start Session link (lower-right). SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: Q: What is the best session format for streaming? A: We strongly recommend that you use a progressive video format for sessions you intend primarily for streaming. Doing so eliminates fielding artifacts that might otherwise occur due to converting fielded video to progressive video for streaming.
Page 272: Restore A Session
A.2.5 RESTORE A SESSION? 1. Click the Restore Session Backup link on the Home page of the Startup Screen. 2. Navigate to and select the previously session backup file, and click Open. A.2.6 DELETE A SESSION (AND ITS CONTENT)? 1. Right-click the name of the session in Home page of the Startup Screen. 2.
Page 273: Live Production
1. Click the ellipsis button [...] to the right of the current LiveSet name to open the LiveSet Browser. 2. Click the NewTek heading beneath the LiveSets heading in the locations list at left. 3. Click the A over B in the Default group in the file pane at right. (See Section 15.4.1.) A.3.3 INITIATE STREAMING?
Page 274: Find My Captured Stream File
4. Choose your streaming settings (see Section 4.13.1). 5. Complete any blank fields in the lower part of this panel as required (passwords, username, etc.). 6. Close the panel, and – when ready – click the Stream button. (See Section 4.13 and Chapter 10 for full details.) A.3.4 FIND MY CAPTURED STREAM FILE? 1.
Page 275: Change Playback Speed For Clips In The Ddr (Media Player)
2. Click the name of the session you streamed at right. 3. Click the Manage icon on the Session page. 4. Under Browse at right, click the Clips link. A system file explorer will open. 5. Open the Capture folder in the file explorer. A.3.7 CHANGE PLAYBACK SPEED FOR CLIPS IN THE DDR (MEDIA PLAYER)? The DDR’s Speed control adjusts playback speed between 25-400%.
Page 276: Avi
For the sake of stability, if an AVI clip does not play well in the DDR, please consider converting it to a ‘friendlier’ format. We can recommend NewTek’s own SpeedHQ, or perhaps DV (for Standard Definition clips), M2T or MPG – please continue reading for more information on file conversion.
Page 277: Change Colors For An Entire Title Playlist At Once
FLASH (F4V) At the time of writing, F4V format files written by Adobe™ Flash Media Encoder are incompatible with most video playback applications (even those from Adobe). The developer has explained the situation as follows: “Adobe Flash Media Server version 3.5 and later and Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder 3 can record content in MPEG-4 (F4V) format using an industry-standard recording technology known as "fragments"...
Page 278: Get Live Title Pages (.Cgxml) To Respect All Livetext Font Attributes
A.3.11 GET LIVE TITLE PAGES (.CGXML) TO RESPECT ALL LIVETEXT FONT ATTRIBUTES? TriCaster’s Title Page file format (.cgxml) presently supports almost every attribute that LiveText offers – but there are a few exceptions. For example, multiple font styles on one text line are not supported, which means that different words on a single line cannot be different colors, or use different typefaces.
Page 279: Improve The Quality Of Multiview Output
A.3.13 IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MULTIVIEW OUTPUT? TriCaster’s Multiview video output is very high quality, but it is possible for you to manually choose certain settings that will have a negative effect on it. Avoiding these mistakes will ensure the best possible result. ®...
Page 280: Import Media Files
To change the setting: 1. Open a TriCaster session. 2. Access Record Configuration, by clicking the ‘gear’ icon just right of the Record button (beneath the Program monitor). 3. Click the radio switch for the Quality setting you wish to use. A.4.3 IMPORT MEDIA FILES? Importing files implies copying them into the TriCaster session folders, making them local (rather than external).
Page 281: Prepare Clips With Embedded Alpha Channel
Probably the best format to use for files with embedded alpha channel for use in TriCaster are those encoded using NewTek’s own SpeedHQ 4:2:2:4 codec. This format can serve for either SD or HD clips, and represents a high quality, moderately compressed alternative. (As a registered NewTek customer, you can download the NewTek Multi-Codec Pack from your personal Downloads page on the NewTek website.)
Page 282: Remove A Location From The File Browser
2. Click the Add button for a Media Player (DDR, Stills or Titles). 3. Click the Add Media Location button at bottom left in the File Browser. 4. Select the folder you wish to list as a location in TriCaster’s File Browser, and click OK. (See Add Media Location in Section 13.2.2) A.4.7 REMOVE A LOCATION FROM THE FILE BROWSER? 1.
Page 283 3. Click the Export Media button at lower right, and then click Add to open a Media Browser. 4. Add the files(s) you wish to export to the Export Media file list. 5. Use the Format drop-down to select MJPEG High Quality (.mov) for the files you add. 6.
Page 284: Import/Export Files Larger Than 4 Gigabytes
METHOD 3 1. Record your files with Quality set to Normal Profile (Compatibility Mode) – for more information, see the sub-heading entitled Quality in Section 11.1.1. 2. Export the files from TriCaster without format conversion. 3. Import the files into Final Cut. A red bar will indicate these clips need to be rendered within the editor.
Page 285: Free Up Space By Deleting The Demo Clips
highly recommend using NTFS formatted storage, as noted in Section A.4.10). The files will copy just fine regardless. TriCaster generates metadata attributes for media files for internal use. This metadata is only retained when you export to storage formatted as NTFS. That being said, the metadata is automatically regenerated if you use the files with TriCaster again later, so its loss poses no issue.
Page 286: Resolve Serious Instability Or Dropped Frames
A.5.2 RESOLVE SERIOUS INSTABILITY OR DROPPED FRAMES? If the system becomes seriously unstable or is dropping frames with ‘known compatible’ video files (after the warm-up period), consider a full System Restore – see item A.5.7. A.5.3 UPDATE TRICASTER? 1. Connect TriCaster to a valid Internet connection 2.
Page 287: Install My Favorite Software (Or Codec)
Anything that provides full-time protection will dramatically reduce memory and disk speed on your system, so you should disable those features. Then, only when you need to do so (perhaps on a daily or weekly schedule), perform a manual scan. Never let scanning continue into a live switching event, and do not assume that you can now omit pre-checking files and external media for nasty surprises.
Page 288: Restore Tricaster To Original 'As-Shipped' Condition
(possibly including optional TriCaster expansion packs) will be overwritten – so use this function only if you truly find it necessary (a call to NewTek’s excellent Tech Support first may often be fruitful – see Section A.6.2). When you do restore, remember to update the TriCaster software afterward.
Page 289: Registration And Tech Support
Visit the NewTek Website, at www.newtek.com and select Technical Support from the main Customer Care menu at the top of the page. This page always contains the latest support information for your NewTek products, including FAQs for all products. It also lists the Technical Support Department’s hours of operation and contact details.
Page 290: Find Tricaster's Hardware/Firmware Revision Numbers
3. Click the Exit to Windows link at right (and confirm this desire in the warning dialog). A.7.2 RETURN TO TRICASTER FROM THE WINDOWS™ DESKTOP Double-click the TriCaster TCXD850 icon on the Windows™ desktop to return to the TriCaster Startup Screen.
Page 291 Note: It is possible to create streaming profiles that place very high demands on system resources, or are impractical for streaming over most networks. The default profiles are suitable for most purposes, and should not interfere with other operations. Attention to these considerations when creating custom profiles is vital to ensure reliable performance, and we encourage you to perform real world testing beforehand.
Page 292: More Questions And Answers
3. Launch Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder from the Windows Start menu. 4. Select Open Profile from the File menu in the encoder application. 5. Navigate to C:\TriCaster\Streaming Profiles\FlashProfiles\. 6. Continue to identify a profile (.xml file) similar to the one you wish to create inside the appropriate sub-folder at that location, and click the Open button in the file explorer.
Page 293: Why Is My Power Supply Beeping
Figure 212 SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: Q: Where can I obtain replacement or spare Power Supply modules? A: Contact NewTek Sales for purchase information for spare TriCaster components. Page | 277...
Page 294: Why Do Some Thumbnail Icons Look Wrong
A.8.3 WHY DO SOME THUMBNAIL ICONS LOOK WRONG? Some file formats (notably AVI) do not provide embedded aspect ratio information. As a result, certain files (such as 1440x1080 files intended to be displayed as 16:9) the thumbnail image in Media Player icons for may not be properly proportioned. Generally the problem does not extend to playback (the DDR will ‘guess’...
Page 295: Bperformance Considerations
PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS Your TriCaster has been carefully designed to faithfully execute its duties under any reasonable circumstances. Still, your production environment – especially in remote locations – may impose limitations that you are wise to consider. This chapter discusses a few matters that may help you get optimal performance in less than ideal settings.
Page 296: Imag And Latency
B.3 IMAG AND LATENCY What’s IMAG? It’s a compression of the expression “image magnification.” Typically in modern IMAG applications, video cameras supply live imagery to projection systems, magnifying speakers and performers so that audience members further back in large venues can still see what’s going IMAG is a very tricky task at the best of times, one that calls for excellent planning, and where possible, testing.
Page 297: Latency And Your Audience
Still waiting for the promised mention of ‘relativity’? OK, here it is then: E=MC B.3.2 LATENCY AND YOUR AUDIENCE “Latency” - what’s that you ask? In this context, latency refers to the time it takes for the video signal to transit one part of the IMAG path, from camera lens to final display. Latency is usually expressed either in milliseconds or in video “frames”...
Page 298: Other Sources Of Latency
For example, suppose a ‘video frame’ supplied by a camera arrives at TriCaster’s inputs one millisecond after a different frame has been sent to the output. Obviously the new arrival must wait its turn; it can’t be transmitted until the correct duration for its predecessor has elapsed. Thus the newly arrived frame must ‘wait’...
Page 299  Some cameras include features that add more latency than you would expect. For instance, image stabilization (by definition) adds one field of latency and sometimes more. Disable anything of that sort that you can.  Latency may be slightly lower for progressive sessions, so for lowest latency, (genlocked) 720p cameras and session are theoretically ideal.
Page 301: Cvideo Calibration
VIDEO CALIBRATION An oft-heard expression is “Don’t worry – we’ll fix it in post”. Post-production techniques are invaluable, but they do not repeal another often repeated axiom – “Garbage in, garbage out.” And, in the case of live production, the results are immediately obvious to your audience, for good or for bad.
Page 302: Calibrating Video Sources
As a first step, cameras need to be properly calibrated. Ideally, this is done right at the camera. Corrective measures taken downstream never fully compensate for problems at the first link in the chain. Most cameras, even inexpensive consumer models, provide adequate controls for this purpose.
Page 303 white are boosted, eventually also becoming white. Meanwhile, black portions of the picture are tending towards gray. Since white cannot become whiter, and black has become gray, we could say that the dynamic range of the image has been narrowed. The net result is a less vibrant image.
Page 304: Adjusting Color
If not, you might try using your camera’s Auto White Balance feature with the white card – your camera manual will provide instructions. Afterwards, check the black level again. Some more professional cameras offer full manual controls for white balance and/or black level. Use these as instructed to ensure your camera is providing the correct white and black levels.
Page 305: Color Metrics
As it happens, from the vectorscope point of view, neither black nor white properly have any color saturation. Thus with the lens cap on (or with a white card filling the viewfinder), the vectorscope should show only a small fuzzy trace at its center. If the fuzzy dot is off-center horizontally or vertically, this would indicate that the camera is incorrectly calibrated, actually tinting gray areas.
Page 306 Figure 216 (NTSC) Figure 217 (PAL) You can use color bars in conjunction with TriCaster’s Waveform and Vectorscope to make sure the video supplied to the Switcher is consistent, accurate and broadcast legal. Most video cameras are capable of displaying color bars – check your camera manual to see how to display these (given a choice, use 75% bars).
Page 307: Calibrating Your Monitors
Figure 219 If the trace vectors do not line up as they should even after performing a white balance at the camera, you can use TriCaster’s Proc Amp controls to tweak the signal. Adjust the Hue control to rotate the vectors around the center point to line them up correctly on their respective targets.
Page 308: Computer Monitor
C.3.1 COMPUTER MONITOR This is a subject that could (and does) easily fill multiple volumes, but which we will sadly give short shrift. It may not be quite as important to achieve ‘spot-on’ color calibration for the monitor used for the user interface. Not surprisingly, video output color is best judged on larger downstream video monitors.
Page 309 respective color bar displays vary from one another. Likewise, we’ll treat calibrating for NTSC and PAL separately. NTSC NTSC color bars have a special group of grayscale bars designated as the “PLUGE” (the acronym stands for Picture Line-Up Generation Equipment) in the lower-right area. Figure 220 (The images in this section have been adjusted slightly to accentuate the subtle differences in the black bars making up this region.)
Page 310 Our criteria for adjusting black level takes advantage of the fact that nothing in NTSC should ever be ‘blacker’ than 7.5 IRE. This means that when the monitor’s black level is too bright, both the 7.5 IRE and 3.5 IRE bars will be distinct. Set properly, it will be impossible to distinguish them from one another.
Page 311: Color Adjustments
3. Slowly raise Brightness until the black bar just begins to lighten. 4. Adjust the Contrast until the bars seem to be evenly graduated (ignore the white bar). 5. Tweak the Contrast watching the white bar carefully. When it stops getting brighter in response, pull it back slightly to the point where it just starts to have a dimming effect again.
Page 312 3. Tweak the Color (or Saturation) knob until the small rectangular patches at very bottom of the tall upper bars on the extreme right and left of your screen merge with the tall bars above. 4. Tweak the monitor’s Hue control until the small rectangles beneath the third and fifth tall upper bars likewise blend into bar above.
Page 313: D Keystroke Shortcuts
D KEYSTROKE SHORTCUTS D.1 SWITCHER… Live Row, Inputs 1 to 22 F1 – F12 plus [Shift + F1-10] Preview Row, Inputs 1 to 22 1 – 0, plus -, =, [Shift + 1-0] FX Row, Inputs 1 to 14 Alt + (1 – 8, -, =) plus Alt + Shift + (1-2) Transition Overlay 1 On/Off Transition Overlay 2 On/Off...
Page 314: Virtual Inputs
Adjust T-Bar… Down/Up t / Shift + t (faster add Alt) Halfway T-Bar… Take D.3 VIRTUAL INPUTS Activate Zoom Preset 1 for Virtual Input selected on Program Alt + F1 Activate Zoom Preset 2 for Virtual Input selected on Program Alt + F2 Activate Zoom Preset 3 for Virtual Input selected on Program Alt + F3...
Page 315: Ddr 1
D.6 DDR 1 Stop Play l (lower case L) Go to previous playlist item Go to next playlist item ; (semi colon) Autoplay On/Off Loop On/Off ‘ (apostrophe) Single On/Off Navigate through Playlist items Up/Down/Left/Right Arrows Set In Point for current Playlist Item (Clip or Audio file) Set Out Point for current Playlist Item (Clip or Audio file) D.7 DDR 2 Stop...
Page 316: Titles
Single On/Off Shift + 1 (Q) D.9 TITLES Stop Ctrl + k Play Ctrl + l (lower case L) Go to previous playlist item Ctrl + j Go to next playlist item Ctrl +; (semi colon) Autoplay On/Off Ctrl + u Loop On/Off Ctrl + ‘...
Page 317: Misc
Next Item and Keep Current Selection Ctrl + (Right or Down) Arrow Select All Previous Items Shift + Home Select All Following Items Shift + End Playlist - select to top Shift + Home Playlist - select to bottom Shift + End Playlist –...
Page 319 For this reason, all NewTek products undergo rigorous reliability testing to ensure they meet our exacting test standards. For TriCaster TCXD850, the following standards are applicable:...
Page 321 INDEX AAC Encoding, 271 DDR. See Live Desktop: Media Player Act as Alpha. See I/O Configuration: Video Input Activate Windows. See Windows Add-Ons, 98 Alpha Channel, 77, 183 Edit. See SpeedEDIT Alpha Input. See I/O Configuration: Video Input Eject, 93, 116, 253 Apple®...
Page 322 Hard drive (external), 253 Balance, 44, 232 Home Page, 26 Connection Type, 227 Hotkeys. See Keyboard External Audio tab, 114, 226 Follow, 48, 229 Internal Audio tab, 233 Levels, 233 I/O Configuration Link Audio Mixer Tabs, 114 Audio, 33 Lock, 229 Genlock, 36, 134, 135, 136 Mono, 44, 230 Proc Amp, 9, 42, 43, 88, 124, 127, 128, 142,...
Page 323 Tabs Follow Preview Row for Virtual Input, All Monitors Tab, 42 Computer, 15, 249 Overlay, 10, 65, 118, 177, 180, 182, 183, 184 Dual Displays, 115 Crop Edges, 184 Output (external), 126, 250 Link, 186 Switcher Monitors Tab, 43 Position, 184 Multiview Output, 132 Transitions, 185 Broadcast Clocks, 101, 133...
Page 324 Storage (external), 253 Streaming, 151, 154, 155, 157 Quicktime, 259 AAC, 271 Bitrate, 156 Capture, 154, 258 Flash, 151, 152, 155, 162, 261, 270, 271 Record. See Live Desktop Port Forwarding, 166 Register. See TriCaster: Register Production Tips, 161 Rename Input, 114 Profile, 156, 271, 274 Restart.
Page 325 Flash. See Streaming:Flash Virtual Set Artisan, 98 Streaming. See Streaming Virus Checker, 270 Video Standard, 19 Virtual Input, 13, 72, 215, 262 LiveSet. See LiveSet Waveform Monitor. See Live Desktop Overlay, 74 Windows Media Encoder. See Streaming:WME Overlay, 219 Windows™ Position, 217 Activate, 16 Sources, 216...
Page 327 STUDIO, TriCaster BROADCAST, 3Play, SpeedEDIT, DataLink, LiveText, LiveControl, VT, VT[3], VT[4], VT[5], Video Toaster, Toaster, Inspire 3D, 3D Arsenal and Aura are trademarks of NEWTEK. LightWave and LightWave 3D are registered trademarks of NEWTEK. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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NewTek Tricaster TCXD850 User Manual

1 About this Manual

2 Introduction

3 Setting up

4 Live Production Walkthrough

5 The Startup Screen

6 Live Desktop: Overview

7 Desktop Monitors

8 O Configuration

9 Network Sources

10 Streaming

11 Record and Grab

12 Switcher, Transitions and Overlay

13 Media Players (Ddrs, Still, Title and Audio)

14 Livematte & Crop

15 Virtual Inputs

16 Audio

17 Speededit and Livetext

A How Do I

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Summary of Contents for NewTek Tricaster TCXD850