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<< Training Syllabus | General Operations | Camera Set Up >>

Control Room

Live Production Equipment

Titles

Laptop using Newtek's 'Live Text' and the Newtek's TriCaster form the core of our titling needs. This includes show opening, frame stores, lower thirds and closing credits.

Inserts

The Newtek TriCaster, a DVD player, computer output, copy-stand and direct output from our editing computer are all options for inserting video material into a live show.

Switcher

Both the Newtek TriCaster and our Datavideo switcher can be using to select which video source is used in the live production. The Datavideo is used exclusively for selection of the camera's coming in from the Studio.

Lighting

The DMX-512 lighting system is used to control the brightness of 24 banks of lights. Some banks have two lights connected to them.

Quality

Serious Magic 'DV Rack' is used to measure video and audio qualities. The two most important instruments are the waveform monitor and the audio monitor. The brightness levels of the video signal are measured by the waveform monitor. It's expessed as a percentage with 0% being black and 100% being white.

Mixer

The Behringer audio mixer takes up to eight microphones and a few line level sources and mixes them together for recording, control room and studio monitoring.

Audio Processors

The rack has several audio processors to help shape the audio before recording. Limiting and compression are the two most important features to ensure cable cast signal quality.

Recording

Two Panasonic DVD recorders are used to record the live productions.

Copy Stand

Print copy can be used directly in a production using our copy stand camera. This feed goes into the TriCaster on input one.

Teleprompter

A laptop used to drive the teleprompter display on the sound stage.

Notes

  • The live production equipment in the control room has been designed for zero rewiring. Nothing needs to be plugged in or dis-connected. Do not mess with the wiring unless you know what you are doing and are prepared to put it back to it's original condition.

  • All the production equipment needs to be turned on.

  • Live productions are recorded simultaneiously on to two dvd recorders. Ensure that the picture is visual on the Master Record Monitor and that you hear sound from the control room speakers.

  • Audio from the control room speakers should be considered the reference standard. That sound is what is being recorded. If it sounds clipped, destorted, weak, muffled, noisy, scratchy or plain bad than it is. The headphones plugged into the mixer do not reflect what is exactly being recorded.

  • Maintaining average record levels near the zero dB mark on the mixer will ensure a good recording level providing that microphones are placed near the sound source.

  • Use the computer based DV-Rack for visual monitoring of the audio. This can help fine tune your riding of the audio levels.

Procedures

Preparing control room

Power up live production equipment
  • At the production rack:
    • Master power switch;
    • Both DVD recorders;
    • DVD player;
    • Both 9' monitors; and
    • Sure all the audio processing equipment is turned on.

  • At the work stations:
    • Audio Mixer - Two buttons located at the back-right;
    • CD Player - front;
    • Quality control monitor - front-bottom-right;
    • Light board - Blue button - top-right;
    • Switcher - Rocker switch located back-left;
    • Switcher and master monitor - Use remote control and push the power button. Blue lights on monitors will turn red and
    • TriCaster monitor - front-bottom-right.

Preparing DVD's for recording.

Blank DVD's need to be prepared / formated before they can be used to record video.
  • At the production rack for DVD master recorder:
    • Ensure production equipment is powered up;
    • Hit the eject button to open the DVD trays;
    • Place a blank DVD+R on the tray;
    • Press the eject button again to close the tray;
    • Wait for on screen prompt to format the disk;
    • Using the remote ( green ) control;
      • Use the left arrow to select yes and press the 'return' button;
      • Yes and 'return';
      • Start and 'return';
      • Wait for formating to compete;
      • Press the 'return' button twice to finish, and
  • Repeat this process to prepare a DVD in the DVD backup recorder. Remembering to use the red remote control for the backup recorder.

Finalizing DVD's after recording.

Recorded DVD's need to be finalized in order to be able to use them in all DVD players.
  • At the production rack for DVD master recorder after the recording has been stopped;
    • Press the 'Open/Close' button on the DVD recorder;
    • At the on screen prompt, press the 'Rec' button to start the finialization process;
    • At the completion of the process, press the 'open/close' button to eject the finalized disc.
    • Clearly label the disc with a sharpie pen, and
  • Repeat this process for the DVD backup recorder.


Mountain Community Television-Channel 15, Inc. edit
Studio COS / LRC 2 | 800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094 | Phone: 530-471-5910 | info[at]mctv15.org