Ross Video Community

Last week I had the pleasure of spending 3 days with an extremely talented group of production operations experts. Before you wonder what conference invitation got caught in your spam filter or what training session reminder didn’t include you, I should clarify that this was an internal Ross event that included only OverDrive Product Management and the trainers who share their knowledge with OverDrive users, both new and experienced day-in and day-out.

We discussed a vast number of topics, both OverDrive related and otherwise, but one that kept cropping up was communication. It was unanimously believed that we can do a better job communicating with one another and with the OverDrive user group at large. It was also discussed that the OverDrive community forum is the best place to do this. As a group, we have recommitted to staying on top of the forum and using it as a repository for all things OverDrive. We encourage you, the OverDrive user community to actively participate in the forum as well.

Going forward, the trainers with whom you share your questions and concerns will be sharing those issues and their solutions in this space. We also encourage you, as members of this community, to chime in with your experiences, solutions to problems that you have discovered and tips and tricks to make the OverDrive experience better for all. Please feel free to answer questions posted by other users. Nothing makes us happier than seeing the knowledge we have shared get put to good use.

As my predecessor previously posted, “the answers are out there”. This will be the best place to find them.

We look forward to reading about your experiences with OverDrive.

Sincerely,
Scott Bowditch
Marketing Product Manager – OverDrive, Inception

Social Media Management is not only a new market space for Ross Video, but a new space for our industry. Ross and the Inception team are working hard to build the product in a fashion that reflects the needs of our existing clientele, but also allows a push into new vertical markets. While integrated with other Ross products, Inception is a complete, stand-alone system that can integrate with your existing workflow.

Inception Version 5 was released on April 30th and is now available to any customer who wishes to upgrade their system. This is a MASSIVE release that brings Inception into the technical lead among social tools for broadcasters.

Version 5 Improvements:

• Social Polling Engine – Provides support for polling based on logic based conditions for Twitter, and for producing graph-based output formats readable by XPression.
• One-Time Twitter Search Engine allows users to perform one-time searches on Twitter and save the results to a persistent search without going through the configuration menus.
• New story editor for broadcast stories offers support for rich markup and various tools (find/replace, spell checking, etc.).
• Support for removing avatars from playlists and adding editable geocode locations to the playlist RSS output for use in on-air graphics.
• Support for filtering retweets from a Twitter feed view.
• Support for the Facebook link type with automatically generated link previews and thumbnails.

For those who are new to the product, here’s a little history and a short list of some of the major features of Inception:

• Version 1 – Launched at NAB 2012 – Publishing of content to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Brightcove – Scheduled or immediate publishing – Ingest of NRCS content through MOS for repurposing content – Integration with OverDrive QuickTurn Plug-in
• Version 2 – Released August 3, 2012 – Inception Playlist allows ingest of social content and publication to Graphics Engines for production – Ingest of RSS feeds – Unicode support
• Version 3 – Released October 26, 2012 – Mobile Workflows – support for Apple iPad Tablet devices – e-mail story creation and approval
• Version 4 – Released February 18, 2013 – Publication of content directly to web sites using BIM or WordPress CMS – Smart windowing manager and perspectives – Embedded upgrade manager – Twitter image support

With every Inception release, we are pushing the envelope in Social Media Management with an intentional focus on the needs of our existing Broadcast and Production clientele. While we have a roadmap that we believe in, it is you, our customer, who can have the greatest impact on what Inception looks like in the coming years. We value your feedback. Please do not hesitate to contact me or your regional sales manager for more information.

Thank you for your interest and support of Ross products.

Sincerely,
Scott Bowditch
Marketing Product Manager – OverDrive, Inception

Version 7.2 is released!!

First thing we should point out is that this really is not a DOT release!!

Wow what a plethora of features and functionality that has been added to the Carbonite series!  As always this is a free release and is available for download at the following link:

http://www.rossvideo.com/production-switchers/carbonite/software.html

Okay so tell us Les what are we going to get with this new Release?  Well let me tell you it is anything but small.  So hold on to your mouse and let’s see where this ride is going to take us next!!

Version 7.2 Features include:

MediaStore Improvements:
Alpha channels now use half the memory!!  Before when you loaded frames with alpha the Video frame and the alpha frame would consume a full 20 bits per pixel each.  Now the Alpha will only consume 10bits.  This will increase the overall number of frames with Alpha that you can load.  Though not an exact number that I can give you but you can see that before – a 100 frame animation used up 200 frames of capacity.  So now it will only be 150 Frames of capacity.  So this should be a nice bump for your wipes and effects

MediaWipe Channel Selector:
You can now select which Channel you would like to have for the MediaWipe.  On the fly you hold down the MediaWipe button, or select the channel in the LiveAssist Dashboard GUI, and you will now be accessing and using that channel.  You can use either Channel 1 or Channel 2.

Note that we have also added the ability in the MultiViewer to select the Ancilliary source to be the MLE Media Wipe now – ie for MLE 2 it will be labled M2MW as the source name.  This way when you change what Channel your using in the MLE the MultiViewer that you are using will now be able to switch at the same time so that your audio will always show up on the same De-Embedder.

All of the above will record in your custom controls, as you would expect.

MultiViewer Timeclock:
There is now a Digital Clock available for use in either (or both independently) MultiViewer head.  The clock is on top of all the video so you can still maintain all of the layouts and place it anywhere you like.

It has full X/Y and Size controls along with the ability to set the background colour and foreground colour.  You can also pick from either the LTC input for it’s data or use the Internal System Clock that is now available.

Internal System Clock:
Found in the Config Menu you can now setup the internal real time clock.  This will allow you to set the time of day and either run in 24-Hour modes or 12-hour mode.

This will help with logs but is primarily for the use of the MultiViewer Clock listed above.

Transition Preview:
It is now possible to define a transition and preview it before using it live on air.

Just hold down the transition Type Button and them move the fader bar or press the Auto transition button!!!

Additional Video Formats:
pSF or Progressive Segmented Frame is a popular format to be used with Film and programming that would like the Film look.  Many of the popular Drama shows that are shot for TV and DVD/BluRay distribution throughout the world are shot at 1080pSF23.98 and Carbonite already had this.  However in many parts of the world there is a preference for 29.97 and 25 hz versions of the 1080pSF format.  Those have been added and you can now set the switcher to use them.

RossTalk Input Commands added:
There are now additional RossTalk commands that can be sent to the switcher.  If you would like to review the document it is now on the website under the individual cutsheets or is in the download package when you download the software update as well.

DashBoard Integration Improvements:
As Carbonite progresses with it’s development and feature releases we are also committed to making additional improvements inside of the DashBoard Control System.

Additions to the LiveAssist menu includes the following features – in Keyer Control you now have the ability to select the source of the keyer.  This is to the left of the key type selection.

New LiveAssist Tabs include Memory Attributes for the Store and Recall selections of all Memory System Attributes.  Note that when recording a Custom Control and inserting State the Attributes are defined from the Store Side Memory Attributes.  This should make is a lot easier to not only define your Memories but to also view what you had stored with each one.

New Buses LiveAssist Tab.  Three rows that can delegate to any bus in the switcher and then allow for direct selection and delegation of sources to that bus.

All New Configuration Node Menus with ability to define production Video format and Reference.

Input and Internal Bus Mnemonic naming

Output delegation assignment for all 9 configurable outputs

MultiViewer Configuration for both Heads

Carbonite + and Carbonite MultiMedia Only Features

Colour Correctors and Proc Amps on each input:
The input processing board now includes a Proc Amp and Colour Corrector for each input in addition to the Frame Sync and Format Converter that was already present.  Proc Amps work in the YUV space while the Colour Correctors are full RGB space.

As you can see from the above list we have packed the Carbonite full of new Features.  This is one great software release and it is sure to add to the production value and capability of the product.  We hope you have fun using this on your productions.  Don’t worry – more is still coming J

Les O’Reilly

Marketing Product Manager – Technical, Switchers

NAB 2013 was incredible, and we launched a lot of new stuff! If you missed it, here’s the recap: openGear 3.0 was a huge hit, with more power, more speed and more function. This beautiful new frame is released and shipping today! We also launched new openGear 3G video DAs, new fiber ethernet tranceivers, new GearLite products including fiber, audio mux/dmx and 3G DAs, and a new 2RU audio monitoring bridge. The MC1 Master Control System shocked the industry by adding SqueezeBack and Voice Over for free via a simple software upgrade! At $3495 the MC1 is by far the most cost-effective solution on the market.

DashBoard v6.0 was truly the highlight of the show. DashBoard 6 takes openGear control to the next level with many new features including the revolutionary PanelBuilder^TM.  PanelBuilder makes building complex custom control panels for openGear systems as easy as click-drag-drop.  Control buttons, signal presence indicators, audio meters and other openGear controls from any card anywhere in the openGear network and monitoring widgets can be arranged on a screen and overlay backgrounds of a map or facility flow diagram.  DashBoard 6 really cranks open the possibilities for tailored operator or engineer user control and monitoring panels for unique requirements.

What an awesome NAB, the Ross booth was crazy this year. Visitors from all over the world came and saw the huge range of products we had to show them and everyone seemed truly impressed by the fact that we are able to integrate all of them into our DashBoard control system.

For me the biggest hit was Carbonite eXtreme (of course – I’m part of the switcher team). eXtreme was not only a huge hit once folks got to grips with the fact its not just an awesome switcher, but a real signal management & production system combined. It also won awards from TV Technology, Broadcast Engineering and Church Production Magazines. I’m stoked and I know the whole development team is proud to have their efforts recognized.

If you want to know more about Carbonite eXtreme – the worlds’ only production and signal managent system – please check out our website. It’s a real game changer that may make you rethink your production system design.

Ross Video presents the latest addition to the BlackStorm Playout Server family, with the all-new 4 channel playout server. The new 4 channel BlackStorm Playout Server is available with 3 different storage options, including a 4TB HDD model, an 8TB HDD model, and for the ultra-performance seekers, a 400GB solid state drive model. This new high density playout server is the perfect fit for any production environment, and starting at under twenty thousand dollars, a perfect fit for any budget!

If you’ve tuned into any of the award shows in the first few months of 2013, you’ve probably seen XPression.  Most of the majors are now done with XPression, including the biggest of them all.  Some of the Red Carpet shows also use XPression in various capacities, including for social media.  Coming soon is a video showing behind the scenes glimpses of XPression in action and interviews with the operators who make up the L.A. XPression community.  Stay tuned…

For those looking to stay current with the latest software revisions, XPression Version 4.1 is now available to users in their first year of XPression ownership or those with a valid software maintenance contract.  Contact Ross Tech Support (techsupport@rossvideo.com) for a download.

Highlights of Version 4.1 include:

• OBJ file import
• XML export for the Take Item list in Sequence
• Datalinq support for basketball feeds from Daktronics and White Way scoreboards
• The XPression Rundown Selector – a free utility to select rundowns and Styles without the Remote Sequencer
• The XPression Desktop Preview Server – a new software application (available for purchase) that allows previews of an unlimited number of XPressions on the network from any PC

For a complete list of all of the new 4.1 enhancements and features go to:

http://www.rossvideo.com/graphics-system/xpression/release-notes/version-4-1.html

It is that time again!! Time to upgrade your Vision and get some new features to implement in your productions.

So Version 16.0a is out and ready to go.  We added quite a few things in this release and we hope there able to help you make your switcher and even more versatile tool in the the production workflow.

So what did we add? Here it is:

Custom Control Enhancements:

First off we increased the number of Custom Control Macros to allow you to have 24 Banks of 48 Custom Controls — that is 1152 by the way per show file!!

Added even more Quick Function buttons to the Custom Control Row that you can Assign.  These include BANK, STOP, RUN HELD, RUN HELD GROUP, HOLD for RUN and HOLD For GROUP RUN.

BANK — BANK will allow you to assign a single button to the panel row now that you hold down.  When held the Row will delegate from Left to right and show you the Bank Name (if assigned) or number.  Now press the desired bank and the panel will delegate just like that!!  Now need to tie up multiple buttons simply for Bank Assignment buttons!!

Stop CC — Hold this button down and press and running CC to cancel it.  Double press to STOP ALL running Custom Controls.

HOLD for RUN — ability to insert a HOLD command that can only be resumed by pressing the RUN HELD button.

HOLD for GROUP x — Insert a HOLD command that can be resumed locally like a standard HOLD or by a RUN x command.  The x can be assigned from A-Z.  This will allow users to have CC be held but resume on a group command.  I could have 3 items i need to cue up but want them to all continue at the same time.

You know have the ability to Run Custom Controls form the Global Memory Keypad.  There is a personality to swap the Recall Clip for a Recall CC function.  This will delegate the panel to the Custom Control Mode.  Use Bank to input the bank number 1-24 and then press enter now enter the CC number 1-48 and press enter to “cue” the macro and use the +/- key as a “RUN” button.

Additions of Custom Control Insert Commands for the RossTalk Protocol.

Hard Drive Backup and Restore:

You can now plug a USB Hard Drive into the Vision Panel (Note this will be formatted to a Linux file system drive) and allow the system to perform backups of the frame based HDD to this panel connected drive.  Note that when you do this you can not operate the switcher.  We are using the entire connection to transfer the data.  This is a incremental backup so if you have to cancel out that is okay it will pickup again where it left off.  Future backups will also continue from where it left off.

MultiViewer Enhancements:

Well the MultiViewer is just getting better all the time!!!  So we added a few more requested layouts to the system.

Oh and we added a second layout head choice to each MultiViewer as well — WHAT????  Yes that is correct there is now an A and B output to every MultiViewer.  Each MultiViewer still only has 10 sources that input into it but now you can have 2 different layouts which can be assigned any of those 10 inputs.  Great for adding additional sub monitoring or for those that really needed to use a layout that took away additional inputs now you have a way to put those to use!

Vision SoftPanel:

The Vision GUI can now be run on a remote computer and act like a Satellite panel with the ability to have permission for making adjustments to the live frame.  Always wanted to have a second GUI control of your chassis (or multiples) now you can.  The Vision SoftPanel will run on a Windows PC as it installs a VirtualBox VM machine and the Linux OS into this application to run as a Virtual Machine.

Device Control Additions:

Camera Invert Controls on a Camera by Camera and Control by Control basis!!

RossAutomation Protocol — Ethernet based protocol to control the production switcher from Automation systems and Applications

RossTalk Protocol — Support for the RossTalk Protocol has been added.

Hope you like what Vision has for you!!  Contact Tech Support at 613-652-4886 to schedule an upgrade and get download links to the files.

Les O’Reilly

Hey it’s that time again — Time to upgrade your Carbonite and add some new features and functionality!!!!

As it always is with Ross Video Production switchers this is a free upgrade that you can download from the website:

http://www.rossvideo.com/production-switchers/carbonite/software/

Now what is new you ask??  Well here is the highlights of what is in version 7.1:

TSL UMD “Serial Tally” Protocol. You can now setup external destinations to send the Tally information from Carbonite to a Tally system that supports the TSL UMD 3.1 Protocol.  This will send not only the Tally 1 and Tally 2 triggers but will also send the Source Mnemonics as well — Great Feature that we have wanted to get into the the product line from the beginning!

Alternate Resource selection on Standard Carbonite frame! With the introduction of the Plus and MultiMedia Frame versions we added input based Frame Syncs and Format Converters.  With this we no longer needed to have these resources in the main processing FPGA.  We decided to add additional DVEs to give those systems 8 channels of DVE.  In Version 7.1 you can now decide to either have 4 channels of DVE with 6 FSFC (what you have now) or instead load the alternate Main FPGA and have 8 channels of DVE and 0 FSFC.  This is great for all of you who do not use any of the FSFC but could leverage the extra DVE channels.

Auto Remove Key has been added. There was a feature called Auto-Restore Key that was in the system before.  This was not completely like what is in Vision and an extremely popular feature.  Now with the change to Auto Remove Key when this is enabled (personality setting) you will see that if you transition a keyer OFF air it will remove it from the next transition area for you automatically.  However when you put the key to air manually it will not remove it from the transition area.  This is a power user mode of operation that ensures you never mis font on a quick transition.

Custom Control Enhancements. We have added the ability to copy and paste custom controls.  So if you build a Custom Control that you want to have the exact same effect but with some differences — or additions you can now copy the CC and then select another button and Paste it there.  Now you can edit that Custom Control and modify it how you like.  This will save you time as you no longer need to rebuild all those steps each time.  Resume held Custom Control in another Custom Control.  So you were always able to run multiple Customer Controls at the same time — and also embed those (Launch) in other Custom Controls.  However there was no way to have a custom control “resume” another custom control.  Well now you can!!  So if you have a multi stage effect that has Holds (requires user to resume with a button press) and you wanted to embed that in another Custom Control you are now able to !!

Hope you enjoy this quick release that we put out there since the release of version 7.0!  There is more on the way and we can’t wait to share it with you once we have it ready.

Les

Its that time of year when the Elves are hard at work building new toys and just in time for the holidays our Ross Elves have been incredibly busy inventing yet more cool Carbonite Switchers. It is amazing the speed at which we are adding new features and hardware to this highly successful product line.

We recently introduced the fantastic C2X panel together with the new PLUS and MultiMedia frames, but our Elves are restless and simply couldn’t stop there.

Today (Dec 7th) we have released the Carbonite 2, a truly cool new 2MLE switcher at a fantastic price point. Please check this out on our site, it is not only great value but also one of the coolest looking compact 2MLE panels I have ever seen.

Even better, the new Carbonite 2 configured as a Studio System with our BlackStorm Server and awesome XPression Graphic packages makes a complete state of the art production system with network quality performance at a ridiculously affordable price.

I dont know how our Elves do it

Nigel