Mastering and Ingesting

Video production process

Capture - Recording of audio and video to video tape.
Log - Transfer or encoding of the audio and video on to the computer harddrive.
Edit - Remove, rearrange, add title, music and make pretty.
Render - Creates all the broadcast resolution images and sound
Master - Records the final edited program to tape.
Ingest - Encodes audio and video into MPEG 2? that is used in our Media Server.

Preparing a vido for Mastering

1. Capture, log and edit your production in Vegas.

Preparing a video for the Media Server

Preparing a video playback on the Media Server requires the creation of three files per video:

1. The Audio & Video file ( MPG )
   A MPG file is the actual file the contains the audio and video for the program. We use MPEG-2 file format encoded at 5Mbs. This is the same format used in DVD's and Digital Satelite television.
2. The playback trim file ( CUT )
   A CUT file is a small text file that is used to trim of the beginning and edit of a program during playback on the Media Server. Often shows have extra content at the beginning and end that is not required for playback.
3. The program description file ( XML )
   The XML file is another small text file that describes the show. It is used by the Media Server in the sceduleing of playback and to pre-announce the show on the electronic bullitin board. It the near future it will also be used to automatically generate schedules for the website.

04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.mpg

04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.cut

04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.xml

How to prepare system

1. Go to MCTV 15's Studio 174 in Weed.
2. Power On ( Note the labels on the gear )
   • Firewire HD 1
     Switch is on the back right. Green light on front
   • Firewire HD 2 (MCTV15-2-Go)
     It just needs to be plugged into the firewire port on the front of the computer. It glows green when powered on.
   • Computer 1
     Switch is on front, middle, bottom. It's square and blue and glows when turned on.
   • Computer Monitor 1
     Switch on front right edge and glows green when on.
   • Master Out
     Switch on bottom right
   • VCR 1
     Power button on the left.
   • VCR 2
     Power button on the left. Ensure that it's rear input is set to S-Video. You will need the 'VCR Remote 1' to change the menu settings
   • Audio Mixer 2
     Switch on top-right. Things glow when turned on.
   • Broadcast Monitor
     Power on the right hand side and LED glows green.
   • MPEG-2 Encoder
     It should already be on - Green light
   • Proc Amp 2
     Button on left handside. Glows green.

How to create the 'mpg' video file

1. Follow procedure to prepare system
2. Click on 'Producers'
3. Click on 'MCTV15-2-Go'
4. Click on 'MediaServer Encoder'
5. Type in the 'Recording Filename'. Get the show number from the program director. Example: '04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.mpg'
6. Prepare the video feed.
   • From Tape: Put a miniDV, SVHS or VHS tape in 'VCR 1'. If necessary select DV or S-VHS depending on the type of tape used. Rewind tape.
7. Click on the 'Record Button'. It's the big red button in the 'Capture Wizard' on Computer1
8. Wait 5 seconds
9. Press the play button on VCR 1?
   Ensure there is a picture on the computer and sound coming out the computer speakers. Check that the computer speakers are.
   • Plugged in to the wall and powered on. Green Glowing light
   • Plugged in to the Computer 1. In the back speaker out.
   • Check Computer 1 output in not muted and the volume levels are .
10. Wait 5 seconds after the show finishes.
11. Click on the stop button in the Capture Wizard on Computer 1
12. Click the stop button on VCR 1?
13. Rewind the tape, remove and put it back in storage.

How to create the 'cut' file

1. Follow procedure to prepare system
2. Click on 'Producers'
3. Click on 'MCTV15-2-Go'
4. Click on 'video' within the newly opened file explorer.
5. Click on the 'mpg' that needs to have a cut file created or changed. The video will start playing in the 'Zoom Player'
6. Use the video transport and pause the video 2 secounds before it starts
7. Open the 'Cut Scene Editor' by press 'Shift+T'
8. Set 'Type:' to Jump and 'Jump To:" to click on 'Get Current Position'. Jump From: should remain blank or be set to 0:0:0:0
9. Click on Add
10. Play the video until 1 second after it ends.
11. Set 'Type:' to End and 'End playback at:' to click on 'Get Current Position".
12. Click on Add
13. Click on 'Save/Erase File & Apply'
14. Click on 'OK'
15. Close Zoom Player.

How to create the 'xml' file

1. Follow procedure to prepare system
2. Click on 'Producers'
3. Click on 'MCTV15-2-Go'
4. Click on 'video' within the newly opened file explorer.
5. Open 'Edit Pad? Lite' and create a new document.
6. Save file as your base name with the '.xml' extension. Example: '04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.xml'. Make sure the file is being saved to the same folder as the .MPG file. It needs to be in the video folder.
7. Create xml text in 'Edit Pad? Lite' as follows:

 <?xml version="1.0"?><item>
 <title>Mt. Shasta July 4 2004</title>
 <message>Witness the joy of celibration in Mt.Shasta
   during the 4th July 2004. 
   See Mt.Shasta from the air.</message>
 <slide>video\next.jpg</slide>
 <program>video\04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.mpg</program>
 </item>

1. Replace tags with information and references about your mpeg file.
2. Save completed xml document
3. Quit 'Edit Pad? Lite'

How to prepare a new schedule

1. Follow procedure to prepare system
2. Click on 'Producers'
3. Click on 'MCTV15-2-Go'
4. Find 'flashplay.xml' and click to open file in 'Edit Pad? Lite'
5. Create xml text in 'Edit Pad? Lite' as follows:

 <?xml version="1.0"?><flashplay>

 <play>
   <item>video\04-137 Mt Shasta July 4 2004.xml</item>
   <dates>01/01/2004-12/31/2004</dates>
   <times>06:00:00,14:00:00,20:00:00</times>
 </play>

 <play>
   <item>video\04-999 Another Video.xml</item>
   <dates>01/01/2004-12/31/2004</dates>
   <times>07:00:00</times>
 </play>

 </flashplay>

1. Update the information inside each <play> tag to represent your schedule
   The <play> tag indicts that a playback show is being described. There should be at least one <play> tag for each show. The <item> tag refers to the xml show description. Spelling is critial. <dates> tag indicts at range of dates for which the show will be shown. The <times> tag describes a comma separated list of times to broadcast the show.
2. Add a separate <page> tag for each show.
3. Double check complete schedule for errors.
4. Save file.
5. Close 'Edit Pad? Lite'

How to test a XML file

1. Open Internet Explorer (IE)
2. Drop a XML file onto the opened (IE)
3. If an error message is displayed in IE
   1. Open the XML file in 'Edit Pad? Lite'
   2. Locate line with error and correct.
   3. Save correct file
   4. Repeat step 2

How to test the new schedule file

1. Follow procedure to prepare system
2. Click on 'Producers'
3. Click on 'MCTV15-2-Go'
4. Find 'flashplay.xml' and click to open file in 'Edit Pad? Lite'
5. Add a new test <play> event and schedule it for one minute from now.
6. Save the file
7. In the Windows file explorer, locate and click on 'flashboard.exe' to run the Media Server?.
8. Wait until test event time. If the video appears on time, you most likely have a good 'flashplay.xml' file. Remove the test event from 'Edit Pad? Lite' and resave the file.
9. If it does not work then recheck the 'flashplay.xml' file and repeat process.

How to put online new content

1. Shut down the computer system
2. And turn off all the gear.
3. Remove 'Firewire HD 2' and silver cable. Leave the power cable.

1. Turn on television
2. Turn on computer monitor
3. Shut down the computer system. The close down menu will be displayed on the television screen.
4. Place the 'Firewire HD 2' on top of the computer
5. Plug the silver 'firewire' cable into the correct socket on the back of the computer. The silver cable also supplies the power to the harddrive
6. Turn on power to the computer.
7. Open 'My Computer' > 'MCTV15 2 Go' > 'video'
8. Select all the new mpg, cut and xml files. Sorting by name may help. Click on the 'Name' at the top of the column. A small triangle appears to indicate that it's sorting by name.
9. Copy the selection by pressing 'Ctrl+C' or by selecting Edit > Copy on the main menu.
10. From the desktop, click on the 'video' short cut.
11. In the newly opened explorer window, Paste the file selection by 'Ctrl+V' or by selecting Edit > Paste on the main menu.
12. Wait for all the files to be copied from the external 'Firewire HD 2' to the internal harddrive. This can take a lot of time
13. Close all the explorer windows
14. Open 'My Computer' > 'MCTV15 2 Go'
15. Find 'flashplay.xml', select and copy it.
16. From the desktop, click on the 'video' short cut.
17. In newly opened explorer window go up a directory. You can do this by clicking on the 'green up arrow on top of folder' button on the toolbar or by pressing the 'backspace' button.
18. Paste in the 'flashplay.xml' file and answer yes to the replace file dialog box.
19. Close all the explorer windows
20. On the television, pause the EBB and then hit reload, and un-pause.
21. Move mouse pointer back over to the computer monitor
22. Turn off computer monitor and television