Focus MX-4 User Manual

MX-4

User Guide

DISCLAIMER

Television screens are simulated and subject to change without
notice. This device is not to be used for the unauthorized copying of
copyrighted material.

TRADEMARKS

MX-4, the FOCUS Enhancements logo, and MX-4 DV are trade­marks or registered trademarks of FOCUS Enhancements Hi8 and
i.LINK are trademarks of Sony Corporation. FireWire is a regis­tered trademark of Apple Computer. VHS is a registered trademark
of JVC. Other product and brand names might be trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby
acknowledged.

FOCUS Enhancements MX-4 User Guide, © 2004. No part of this
book may be reproduced in hard copy, electronically, or by any
other means without the expressed, written permission of FOCUS
Enhancements

FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commer­cial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, might cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user
must correct the interference at his/her own expense.

MANL-0957-02

CONTENTS

DISCLAIMER • 2
TRADEMARKS • 2
FCC Statement • 2

1INTRODUCTION

Major Features • 2
Common Uses for MX-4 • 4
MX-4 Package Contents • 5
About this User Guide • 6

2QUICK START

Quick Start Steps • 10

Setting Up • 10
The Preview Screen • 11
Running the Demo • 12
Cutting Between Sources • 13
Borders and Solid Color Backgrounds • 13
Setting up a Transition • 13
Running Transitions • 14
Using CUT Transitions • 14
Choosing Transitions • 15
Using Transition Categories • 15
Other Features • 15

3INSTALLING THE MX-4

Sources and Output • 18
Preview and Program Monitors • 18

Preview Monitor • 19
Program Monitor • 19
Number of Monitors • 19

Understanding MX-4 Connectors • 20

Power Connector • 22
Cables and Adapters • 22
Installation Examples • 24

Correlating Input Sources to MX-4 Jacks • 24

Using Headphones • 25

VCR Selector Switches • 25

General Notes • 25

Post Production Configuration • 26

Live Broadcast Configuration • 28
Using a Microphone with MX-4 • 30

4BASIC OPERATIONS

Starting and Stopping the MX-4 • 32
Understanding the Keyboard • 32
Using the Preview Screen • 35

Changing the Display Configuration • 35

Input Source Previews • 36

Active Source Highlights • 36

Color Selector • 37

Transitions Menu • 37

Selected Transition • 37

Using CURRENT and NEXT Sources • 38
Selecting Sources • 39
Using the Video/Audio Selector • 39
Swapping Sources • 40

Simple Cuts • 40

Swapping Between Two Sources • 40

Working with Colors • 41

Identifying Colors • 42
Using Color Backgrounds • 42
Changing Colors and Styles • 42
Creating Custom Colors • 43

Using Borders • 43

Changing Border Styles • 44

5TRANSITIONS

Basic Transition Concepts • 48
Transition Categories and Menus • 50

Basic Transitions Category • 51
Edges Transitions Category • 51
Misc. Transitions Category • 51
Shapes Transitions Category • 51

User Transitions Category • 51
Changing User Transitions Menu • 52
Selecting Transition Sources • 53

Setting the CURRENT Source • 53

Setting the NEXT Source • 53
Selecting Transitions • 54

Using the Transitions Menu • 54

Using Transition Numbers • 55
Adjusting Transitions • 56

Changing Transition Speed • 56

Changing Transition Direction • 56
Running Transitions • 58

Running Transitions Automatically • 58

Running Transitions Manually • 58

6INPUT EFFECTS

Input Effects Menu • 60

Special Key Combinations • 61
Using Input Effects • 62
B&W • 63
B&W Neg • 63
Posterize • 63
Flip Horizontal • 63
Mosaic • 64
Color Correct • 64
Color Neg • 64
Video Adjustment • 65
Chromakey • 65
Flip Vertical • 65
Strobe • 65

7FUNCTIONS

Demo • 68

Running a Locked Demo • 68
Display • 69
Setup • 71

Force Field Freeze • 72

GPI Out Mode • 72

Comb Filter • 72

Dual Monitor Mode • 72

7.5 IRE Pedestal • 72
FTP • 73
Route • 73

Configuring the MX-4 • 73
Changing the Routing • 73

CONTENTS

Example: Changing the Routing • 75
Routing Audio Through Color or Background Channels • 75

Sub-Route Menus • 76
Learn • 77
Compose • 78
PIPs • 78
Audio Mix • 78
Freeze • 78

Field and Frame Freezes • 78

Major Freeze Functions • 79

Freeze Examples • 79

8PIPS

Single PIP • 82

Background Tile • 82

Foreground Tile • 82

Using Other Effects with Single PIPs • 84
Multi-PIP • 85

Using Freeze Effect with Multi-PIPs • 86

9COMPOSE

Basic Composition Steps • 88
Backgrounds • 88
Foreground Tiles • 89

Creating Color Tiles and Lines • 89

Creating Moving Video Tiles • 89

Creating Still Image Tiles • 89
Manipulating Tiles • 89

Positioning Tiles • 89

Sizing Tiles • 90
Composition Rules • 90
Creating a Composed Image • 91
Playing the Composition • 92
Exiting from Compose Mode • 92

10 CHROMAKEY

Preparing the Background Footage • 94
Preparing the Keyed Footage • 95
Preparing the Chromakey Footage • 95
Performing the Chroma key • 97

Fine-Tuning Key Colors • 97

Ending Chroma Key • 97

11 LEARN MODE

Learned Environments • 100
Learned Scripts • 101
Using Learn Mode • 102
Other Useful Information • 103
Aborting a Playback Session • 103

12 WORKING WITH AUDIO

Audio Devices You Can Use • 106
Ways You Can Control Audio • 106
Controlling Audio Transitions • 106

VIDEO/AUDIO Selector • 106

Selecting Audio Sources • 107
Ways to Use Audio • 107

Audio Accompanies Video • 107

Continuous Audio • 108
Using the Audio Mixer • 109

Audio Mixer Controls • 110

Using Background Audio • 110
Using Headphones • 111
Advanced Audio Steps • 111

Using the Analog Audio Adjustments Function • 111

Selecting Manual Levels • 112
Selecting Audio Delay • 112

13 ADVANCED OPERATIONS

Using Titles • 114
Using Color Bars • 114
Performing Roll Edits • 115

Cutting Between Scenes • 115
A/A Roll Edits • 115
A/B Roll Edits • 116
Transitions TO and FROM Solid Colors • 116

Transitions to Modified Sources • 117
Operating in Live Environments • 117
Security Monitoring • 117
Using a GPI Device • 118
Instructions for Building a GPI Trigger • 119

Using a GPI Trigger Device • 120
Resetting the MX-4 Factory Defaults • 120
Connecting with Ethernet • 121

IP Setup for a Computer or Laptop • 122

Transferring Files TO or FROM the MX-4 • 128

Updating System Software • 129

Information About FTP Clients • 130

ATRANSITIONS LIST 133

Basic Transitions • 134
Edge Transitions • 142
Misc. Transitions • 143
Shape Transitions • 144
Default User Transitions • 149

BTIME BASE CORRECTOR 151

Dual TBC Mode • 151
Vertical Interval Data • 151
TBC Technical Information • 152

CVIDEO QUALITY 153

Preview Image Quality • 153
Video Scaling Artifacts • 154
Freeze Quality • 154
Video Processing Artifacts • 154

DTECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 155

EHELP FOR MXPRO USERS 157

MX-4 Defaults to S-Video on All 4-Channels • 157

Transitions Organized Differently • 157

Glossary

Index

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to MX-4, and thank you for buying FOCUS Enhancements products.

This chapter contains:

• Brief descriptions of major MX-4 features

• Typical uses for the MX-4

• How to contact FOCUS Enhancements

• An inventory of package contents

• Description of the contents of this User Guide

Please take a few moments to read the material so you can take full advantage of all MX-4
benefits.

2

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 1

MAJOR FEATURES

MX-4 contains features found on most video mixers. In addition, it contains the special features
described in this section.

Superb Video Quality — To ensure the highest video quality, the MX-4 uses 10-bit (4:2:2) video
technology for Y/C applications, and 8-bit 4:2:2 for composite applications.

Four Input Synchronized Switcher — MX-4 provides four input channels that mix analog
sources. This makes MX-4 useful in live production settings where up to four cameras or other
sources might be in use. MX-4 synchronizes the inputs, so picture disruptions do not occur when
switching between sources.

Effects Generator — Use a variety of effects to enhance a source or transition between sources.
Select from over 700 effects, including natural shapes (diamonds, three leaf clover, and so forth),
fancy edges, and borders. You can also build your own custom menu for quick access to those
effects you use most often. Take advantage of FOCUS Enhancements downloadable subscription
site which provides additional new transitions and natural shapes to better serve your production
needs.

Picture-in-Picture (PIPs) — PIP allows mul­tiple pictures to share the screen in various
configurations. For example, one source might
take the entire background while another
image appears inside a separate, smaller win­dow, both sharing the screen at the same time.
You can use up to 4 images in a PIP configura­tion.

Time Base Corrector (TBC) — MX-4 automatically corrects the output’s time base. MX-4 stabi­lizes the output signal even when the input sources are not stable.

Chromakey — Keying replaces
parts of one picture with another,
based on their color. Here the solid
background behind Kong is replaced
by the picture of the bridge. The
chromakey version shows Kong con­templating the bridge.

Frame Synchronizer and Digital Video Mixer — Mix any two input sources together using a
variety of transitions — wipes, dissolves, flips, and so forth. With the frame synchronizer you can
mix independent video signals.

Compose — MX-4 provides a video painting
system you can use to combine video stills,
color shapes, and moving video on one screen.
You can create a screen that contains a video
still of a football coach (with a surrounding
red border), combined with a moving video of
the players in action on the field.

Audio Mixer — MX-4 provides sophisticated audio control. You can change the sound along with
the video, or play a constant sound while the video plays. Audio can come from a video source or
from external audio devices.

INTRODUCTION MAJOR F EATURES

Connectivity — MX-4 provides multiple video/audio outputs, including two Y/C Program out­puts, two composite Program outputs, one composite Preview output, two sets of stereo audio out­puts, and a Headphone output.

Joystick — The joystick gives you fine control over color adjustments and positioning of PIP (pic­ture-in-picture), compose, and the chromakey cursor.

Color Correction — Apply true RGB color correction to any or all input sources. Color correction
parameters can be set separately for each channel.

Input Effects — Apply special effects such as flips, mosaics, and others to the signals coming in
from any input source. You now have the ability to adjust the brightness, contrast, color saturation
and hue on your input sources and thumbnails.

Still Frame Jpeg Images — For the ultimate in creative expression, let the MX-4 allow you to
trigger a stand-alone jpeg clip for background, input, or foreground use in your live video produc­tion. You can import and store up to 100 jpeg images (50 background and 50 foreground) using the
Ethernet connection on the back of your unit.

Ethernet — You can network your MX-4 to a Mac or PC using an Ethernet (10Base-T) connector.
You can import backgrounds, bugs and still frame jpegs to or from your unit.

Gradients — You can access eight gradients using the graphics menu.

3

4

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 1

COMMON USES FOR MX-4

Multiple-Source Video Production — In a video production setup, you can connect one or more
video sources (VCRs, camcorders, video disc players, cameras, title generators, computer graphics
systems, and so forth) to MX-4’s four input channels. The Program output can then be sent to a
VCR or directly to a monitor.

You can determine what is sent to the output. While the original inputs play, you can switch
between any of the MX-4’s channels. Use dissolves or other transitions to go from one channel
to another. Add special effects to any channel, and use advanced features such as compose and
chromakey to enhance the production.

Single-Source Use — MX-4 supports A/A roll, a method for creating interesting transitions with a
single source. Its digital effects (such as picture freeze, posterization, and mosaic) give added life
to productions. You can use MX-4 with a titler to mix and superimpose titles. Time base correction
improves the picture (especially when making multiple-generation copies) by removing the jitter
common to most VCRs.

Live Video — In live production setups, MX-4 processes events as they occur. Good coverage
requires seeing the events from different vantage points—which means you need multiple input
sources. MX-4 gives you the ability to connect up to four sources simultaneously. For example, at
a sporting event, camera one might focus on the playing field, camera two on the team benches,
camera three on the announcer, and camera four on the scoreboard. Using MX-4 you can easily
switch between the sources whenever necessary.

NOTE

MX-4 is not an edit controller — that is, it does not control VCRs, camcorders, and similar devices.
You can control the sources manually, or use external edit controllers such as those manufactured
by FOCUS Enhancements.

INTRODUCTION MX-4 PACKAGE CONTENTS

MX-4 PACKAGE CONTENTS

The MX-4 package contains the items shown below. Check your package against the illustration.

MX-4 Unit

5

POWER ADAPTER AND CORD

If your package doesn’t

contain all of the items

shown here, contact the

dealer where you purchased

the MX-4 for the necessary

replacements.

USER GUIDE

Product registration card

and other information

6

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 1

ABOUT THIS USER GUIDE

This User Guide contains the chapters, appendixes, and other sections shown in the following
table.

Table 1: User Guide Contents

CHAPTER DESCRIPTION

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 2

Quick Start

Chapter 3

Installing MX-4

Chapter 4

Basic Operations

Chapter 5

Transitions

Chapter 6

Input Effects

Chapter 7

Functions

Chapter 8

PIPs

Chapter 9

Compose

Basic overview of MX-4 features, description of pack­age contents, description of manual.

Brief steps to setting up MX-4 with your equipment.
Provided for people quite familiar with connecting
video equipment.

Instructions for setting up MX-4 to work with your
video equipment.

Explains most common procedures and functions used
with MX-4.

Complete description of and instructions for using
MX-4 transitions. Also see Appendix A, Transitions
List.

How to use various effects with video input material.

Descriptions of and instructions for using MX-4’s
built-in functions.

Instructions for using the picture-in-picture functions.

How to create composed images consisting of rectan­gles, lines, still images, and/or moving images.

Chapter 10

Chromakey

Chapter 11

Learn Mode

Chapter 12

Working with Audio

Chapter 13

Advanced Operations

Appendix A

Transitions List

Appendix B

Time Base Corrector

Appendix C

Video Quality

Instructions for creating chromakey images where spe­cific colors (such as a blue screen) can be keyed out
and replaced with a video sequence or other image.

How to use MX-4’s Learn Mode for “recording” your
mixing steps then playing them back.

How to use audio sources (tapes, CDs, and so forth)
with MX-4.

Descriptions of operations used infrequently, but still
of substantial use for mixing video programs.

Complete list of transitions available with MX-4,
along with their assigned code numbers and descrip­tions.

Explains the time-base corrector feature built into
MX-4.

Discusses issues concerning the level of quality in vid­eos — that is, what to expect and what you can do to
improve quality.

INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS USER GUIDE

Table 1: User Guide Contents (continued)

CHAPTER DESCRIPTION

7

Appendix D

MX-4 product specifications.

Technical Specifications

Appendix E

Help for MXPro Users

Summarizes operational differences between MX-4
and FOCUS Enhancements’s Video Mixers.

Glossary Definitions of terms frequently used in conjunction

with MX-4 and video mixing procedures.

Index Standard index to topics in this manual.

Conventions The User Guide employs the conventions described in this section.

Tips, Notes, Cautions, and Warnings use the following formats.

TIP

A tip provides useful information for doing various tasks and procedures.

NOTE

Notes contain information to supplement the other information contained throughout the guide.

CAUTION

Cautions warn that if you continue with what you are doing there is a danger of losing information.

WARNING

Warnings mean stop what you are doing because there is danger of losing information and,
possibly, damaging your equipment.

MX-4 Buttons When referencing the various buttons (keys) and other controls on the MX-4 keyboard, they

appear in uppercase, boldface characters. For example, the keyboard contains the

T-BAR.

In some cases you use two buttons together to perform a function. This is normally done using the
shift button in combination with some other button. A plus (+) symbol indicates this. For example,

SHIFT+PIPS to start MultiPIP mode. This means press and hold down

PIPs

Sources, Channels,

and Outputs

you might be asked to enter

SHIFT button, press the PIPS button, then release both.

the

SHIFT

The terms Source, Channel, and Output appear extensively throughout this guide. It’s important to
understand the differences between them.

A Source is a physical device, such as a VCR, that provides a video and/or audio signal.

A Channel is an internal MX-4 video signal path. The video and/or audio signal originating from a
source travels along one of the channels.

PLAY button and

8

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 1

An Output displays or records a mixed signal (such as the video on one channel, a transition, and
the video on another channel) on an output device. The output device might be a recording VCR or
a live broadcast signal.

CHAPTER 2

QUICK START

This chapter contains brief instructions for setting up MX-4 with basic equipment. The
instructions do not go into detail. If you feel comfortable connecting video and audio equip­ment, you can probably get started quickly using these instructions.

If you are upgrading from the Videonics MXPro, refer to Appendix APPENDIX E, Help for
MXPro Users, for helpful information in setting up your MX-4.

Skim the instructions in this chapter. If you have any questions about any of the steps, turn to
Chapter 3, Installing the MX-4, and follow the detailed instructions for setting up your
equipment.

10

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 2

QUICK START STEPS

Setting Up

Input Source Input Source

Preview Monitor

IN 1

IN 2

OUT 1

Output Monitor

PREVIEW OUT

Output Device

• Connect a COMPOSITE-type monitor to MX-4’s PREVIEW OUT jack.

• Connect an Input Source (such as a VCR or camcorder) to the MX-4’s S-Video IN 1 jack.

• Connect a second Input Source to the MX-4’s S-Video IN 2 jack.

The MX-4 is set up, by default, to expect S-Video (Y/C) devices to be connected to the IN 1,
IN 2, IN 3, and IN 4 input jacks. If you connect Composite devices to any of your jacks, you
must tell the MX-4 this fact. Refer to “Route” beginning on page 73 after completing the fol­lowing steps.

• Connect an output device to the OUT jacks on the MX-4 rear panel. This is the device

where you record the program.

Remember, a VCR’s VIDEO IN and AUDIO IN jacks connect to the OUT jacks on the MX-4
rear panel. This is the device from which you record the program.

• Connect a television or monitor to the recording VCR according to their instructions.

Having this monitor available lets you see exactly what is being recorded (or, output).

NOTE

These instructions assume there is a two-monitor setup. If you are using only one monitor, connect
it to PREVIEW OUT.

QUICK START THE PREVIEW SCREEN

• Connect the MX-4 power supply to the power supply jack on the rear panel.

• Connect the MX-4’s power cord to a suitable outlet.

• Turn on all devices (the MX-4 power switch is located on the right end of the unit) and let

the tapes roll.

For more detailed information about setting up your equipment, refer to Chapter 3, Installing the
MX-4.

The Preview Screen

NEXT Source

CURRENT Source

You should see a Preview
screen similar to this on
your Preview monitor.

Previews

11

Transitions Menu

NOTE

In the user interface, the MX-4 provides a small preview with the sources you have connected. The
images are scaled down in size, therefore, don’t play as smoothly as they would in a single-source
video monitor image. This does not affect the quality of the video going to the output — it is always
highest quality. In addition you will be able to view beforehand your source images before running
your transitions. Take advantage of the ability to adjust the Brightness, Color Saturation, Contrast
and Hue while viewing it on your preview screens. Refer to the video adjustment menu section in
Chapter 4 for these adjustments.

The PREVIEW screen contains the elements you need to run transitions:

CURRENT Source — The signal currently playing on your Output monitor. The MX-4 high­lights the CURRENT source in yellow (just above the preview images).

NEXT Source — The signal that will play on the Output monitor after the transition runs. The
MX-4 highlights the NEXT source in green.

Transitions Menu — Rows and columns of icons representing some of the transitions avail­able. The MX-4 highlights the currently selected transition in blue. The icons also show the
speed and direction for the selected transition.

Near the upper-right corner of the Preview screen is the color channel. The swatch uses numbers to
indicate the current background color, border color, and border style.

For more detailed information about controlling the content of the Preview screen, see “Using the
Preview Screen” beginning on page 35.

12

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 2

Using the Route

Function

The Route function ensures that the MX-4 understands where your input devices are connected on
the rear panel. If you connect S-Video (Y/C) devices to the IN1, IN2, IN3, and/or IN4 jacks, re­routing is not necessary. Go on to the next section, “Running the Demo”.

• After starting the MX-4 with all devices connected and turned on, press ROUTE to display the
Route screen.

Running the Demo

• Press the

LEFT ARROW or the RIGHT ARROW to select the appropriate input S

(S-Video) or V (Composite).

• To route other inputs to different channels, press NEXT/X, where X represents the chan­nel to which you want to route. Then repeat the preceding step.

• Press ROUTE again to exit from the Route screen.

The demo gives you a quick look at some of the MX-4’s important features and assortment of tran­sitions.

•

Press the SHIFT+DEMO/DISPLAY buttons at the same time.

You should see the two sources alternating, with a variety of transition effects in between.

• Press any key to stop the demo at any time.

QUICK START CUTTING BETWEEN SOURCES

Cutting Between Sources

• Press CUT/A.

When you press a CUT button, the
small light below the button glows
steadily to indicate it is the CURRENT
source.

When you press a NEXT button, the
small light above the button blinks to
indicate it is the NEXT source.

The light below the A button comes on and the Output monitor displays the signal from what­ever device is plugged into the inputs labeled IN 1. The yellow highlight above preview image
A tells you it is the currently active input.

Press CUT/B.

•

13

The light below the B button begins flashing (indicating B is both the CURRENT and NEXT
source) and the Output monitor displays the signal from whatever device is plugged into the
inputs labeled IN 2. The yellow highlight above preview image B tells you it is the currently
active input.

• If you have anything plugged into IN 3 or IN 4, press CUT/C and CUT/D, respectively, to

display their signals.

Borders and Solid Color Backgrounds

• Press CUT/BACKGROUND.

The MX-4 highlights the speaker, headphone, or color block above the channel indicator, but
does not show the channel letter. The Output monitor shows a solid color screen.

• To change the color, press

Each time you press the button the color changes in the background color sample and at the
Output. Continue pressing the button until you see a color you like.

• You can also define a border color and style to use at the edge of most transitions and

PIPs. Press

BORDER COLOR and the color around the background color sample shows

you the new choice. Press

Setting up a Transition

To set up a transition you need to select the sources you want to use and the transition you want to
use when switching between them. Here’s how to transition from source A to source B using a hor­izontal wipe.

• Press

• Press

• Use the

CUT/A to set A as the CURRENT source. The MX-4 shows a steadily glowing light

below the

CUT button you press.

NEXT/B to set B as the NEXT source (the one you want to see after the transition

finishes running). The LED light above the button you press flashes to indicate it is the
NEXT source.

ARROW keys to highlight the Wipe transition in the Transitions Menu, as shown

in the following example.

BG COLOR.

BORDER STYLE to select from different styles for the border.

14

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 2

The MX-4 transitions between the two sources using the horizontal wipe transition with the Output
screen showing the results.

Running Transitions

You can run transitions automatically or manually.

Use the LEFT and RIGHT ARROWS to move the selection horizontally. Use the UP and DOWN

ARROWS to move the selection vertically: or, press 2 then OK to select the transition by num-

ber.

Selected Transition

Automatic

Transitions

• Press PLAY. The MX-4 runs the transition at a pre-determined speed.

The MX-4 transitions between the two sources using the horizontal wipe transition with the

Output screen showing the results.

At the end of the wipe, B is on the OUTPUT monitor — it has become the CURRENT source. The
yellow highlight above the preview images has changed to reflect that. Furthermore, A is now the
NEXT source and the green highlight has been changed to A.

• To wipe back and forth between sources A and B, press

Speed

• To change the speed at which a transition runs, press the

cator under the transition icon changes.

• Press the button again until the desired speed appears. 0 is the slowest speed, 9 is the fast­est.

• Try this with various speeds: Change the speed and press PLAY.

Manual

Transitions

Use the TAKE BAR to run transitions and control their speed and direction.

•

Set up the transition as you would normally. However, instead of pressing PLAY, simply move
the

The transition begins running as soon as you move the
forth by moving the

Using CUT Transitions

PLAY repeatedly.

SPEED button. The Speed indi-

T-BAR.

T-BAR. You can even move back and

T-BAR in different directions. Give it a try!

Most video productions use simple cuts a majority of the time. To cut between any two sources (for
example, you could cut from A to C to BACKGROUND to D), use the

There’s a quick way to cut back and forth between two sources using just the
of having to alternate between two

•

Press 0 and then OK to select transition 0, a simple cut.

• Press PLAY again and again.

•

A solid color screen can be used as if it were a separate source. Press the NEXT/BACKGROUND
button and run any transition, or press CUT/BACKGROUND.

CUT buttons.

PLAY button, instead

CUT buttons:

QUICK START CHOOSING T RANSITIONS

Choosing Transitions

The Preview screen contains the Transitions Menu. This menu contains icons and other informa­tion for all MX-4 transitions. A blue highlight indicates the transition selected for the next transi­tion.

Select Transitions in the following ways:

•

ARROW keys – Simply use the arrow keys to highlight the desired transition.

NUMBER keys – The MX-4 assigns a unique number to every transition. The number appears

below the transition icon on the PREVIEW screen (in the following example, the checker­board transition is number 29). You can use the number to select a transition. (When you
select/highlight a transition in the menu, the MX-4 shows the transition’s speed and direction.
At this point, the transition number is no longer visible.)

Transition Number 29

15

Enter 106 using the number keys (press 1, then 0, then 6), then press OK to highlight the tran-

•

sition icon.

The MX-4 replaces the current Transitions Menu and shows the one that contains the transition
you selected.

•

Press PLAY.

Using Transition Categories

The MX-4 categorizes transitions into five major groups — User, Basic, Edges, Shapes, and
Misc. You can access any category at any time by pressing one of the Transition Category buttons.

When you press one of the buttons, the content of the Transitions Menu (see “The Preview Screen”
on page 11) changes.

• Press the

tion icons.

• Use the

• Press

The USER transition category is slightly different from the others. It originally contains a default
set of transitions, each of which also exists in the other categories. You can “tailor” the content of
the USER category to your specific needs and preferences. You’ll learn more about this in later
chapters.

PLAY or use the T-BAR to run the transition.

MISC. button. The Transitions Menu display a completely different set of transi-

ARROW keys to highlight a transition you’d like to see run.

Other Features

Refer to the rest of this User Guide to learn about the many additional MX-4 features, including:

• Using the

DEMO/DISPLAY button to change the content of the Preview screen.

16

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 2

• Freeze the picture, and compress it.

• Separately control the sound.

• Apply input effects, such as mosaic, paint (posterization), negative, and more.

• Use chromakey to combine parts of one picture with parts of another.

• Compose your own pictures, made up of several stills, color rectangles, and a moving picture.

• Rearrange the inputs so A, B, C, and D, and their audio channels come from different rear
panel jacks.

• Memorize a sequence of transitions and play them back.

CHAPTER 3

INSTALLING THE MX-4

This chapter explains how to install (or, set up) MX-4 to use with other equipment. Major
topics include:

• Understanding Sources and Output

• Understanding Preview and Program monitors

• Understanding the MX-4 connectors

• Identifying Cables and Adapters you might need

• Installation examples

• Installing a Microphone

If you have experience with the Videonics MXPro, refer to APPENDIX E, Help for MXPro
Users, for information that will be helpful setting up your equipment.

18

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

SOURCES AND OUTPUT

Source and Output refer to the way you use devices with MX-4.

Source

Source

Source

Source

MX-4

Output

Output

Source — A source is an input device. Each source provides a video signal, audio signal, or both.
You use the MX-4 to combine and (optionally) animate these signals.

Output — An output is a device on which you record and/or broadcast a signal. The signal might
contain video, audio, or both. This signal is often a mix of signals coming into MX-4 from one or
more sources. The output device might be a VCR with an optional monitor attached, or it might be
a live broadcast.

PREVIEW AND PROGRAM MONITORS

The MX-4 designates monitors as either Preview or Program to indicate how a particular monitor
may be used. This manual uses the following picture to distinguish between the two monitors.

INSTALLING THE MX-4 PREVIEW M ONITOR

Preview Monitor Program Monitor

Preview Monitor

The Preview monitor is your “working” monitor. Most of the time it contains controls for manag­ing Source and Output devices. For example, it shows miniature versions of images coming from
the attached VCRs and camcorders. The Preview monitor also shows a menu of transitions and
other effects from which you can choose. Refer to “Using the Preview Screen” beginning on
page 35.

19

Program Monitor

The Program monitor shows the production exactly as recorded on the output device or displayed
in a live video environment. The Program monitor shows the program complete with transitions
and other effects. You normally connect the Program monitor to the output device. The Program
monitor can be either a Composite, or S-Video device.

Number of Monitors

You can operate the MX-4 with only one monitor connected to the Preview out. However, to
greatly simplify your work you should have at least two monitors — one Preview and one Pro­gram. Instructions in this manual assume you have separate Preview and Program monitors.

CAUTION

The preview monitor must be a Composite device. Do not attempt to connect any other type
of monitor to the PREVIEW OUT jack on the MX-4 rear panel.

20

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

UNDERSTANDING MX-4 CONNECTORS

To properly setup the MX-4, you need to know how and where to connect external components –
such as VCRs, camcorders, and so forth. Use cables to connect video devices to the MX-4’s rear
panel. Refer to “Cables and Adapters” on page 22.

Remove the MX-4 from its package and set it so you can see the rear panel. Refer to the panel and
the illustration on the next page while reading this section.

The MX-4 rear panel has numerous connectors and they vary by type. You can connect input
sources in any combination – up to a maximum of eight – but you can use a maximum of four
devices at any given time. You can process just the video signal from a device, just the audio sig­nal, or both.

You can connect two separate output devices to the MX-4. You might, for example, direct one out­put to a recording device and another to a live broadcast.

Note the labels associated with each connector on the MX-4 rear panel.

POWER — An electrical power connector. Use the power cord and adapter in the MX-4
package to connect the unit to an electrical outlet.

Y/C IN— Connect S-Video sources to these connectors.

RCA IN — Connect composite sources to these connectors.

AUDIO IN — Connect audio devices to these connectors. Each set of connectors has L (Left)

and R (Right) jacks for stereo input. Refer to “Audio Connectors” on page 23.

HB IN — Connect a composite source such as a camera to lock on to and synchronize the
MX-4 with it.

GPI CONTROL — Connect a General Purpose Interface (GPI) device to this jack to control
the MX-4 from an external device or remote location. Refer to “Using a GPI Device” begin­ning on page 118.

There are a total of ten output connectors — one Preview, two composite, two S-Video, four audio,
and a Headphone jack.

PREVIEW OUT — Connect a composite video monitor to this jack. You cannot use an S­Video monitor as Preview. This monitor serves as your visual “interface” with the MX-4. It’s
where you do most of your work.

Y/C OUT— Connect an S-Video output device. You record productions on this device, use it
to display a live broadcast signal, or both.

RCA OUT — Connect a composite output device. Same as above, but use this connector if
your output device is composite format.

AUDIO OUT — Connect a suitable audio cable or cables from these jacks to the audio inputs
on your output device. Refer to Chapter 12, Wor k in g wit h Au d io , for a discussion of the dual
audio output features.

HEADPHONES — Refer to “Using Headphones” on page 25.

INSTALLING THE MX-4 UNDERSTANDING MX-4 CONNECTORS

ETHERNET

CONTROL (GPI)

OUT

Composite

S–Video

OUT Y/C

21

familiarize yourself with the

Please take a few moments to

before you begin setting up your

connections on the MX-4 Rear Panel

Composite

PREVIEW OUT

AUDIO IN

HOUSEBLACK IN

AUDIO OUT

Left and Right

Left and Right

HEADPHONES

equipment.

Composite

VIDEO IN

MX-4 REAR PANEL

S–Video

VIDEO IN (Y/C)

POWER

22

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

Power Connector

The MX-4 package contains the required transformer and power cord for the unit.

Male Socket Female Plug

Power

Adapter

Plug

Transformer Power Cord

WARNING

USE ONLY THE POWER CORD AND TRANSFORMER PROVIDED IN THE PACKAGE. DO NOT

USE THIS POWER CORD AND TRANSFORMER WITH ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT. FAILURE TO
OBSERVE THESE CONDITIONS CAN DAMAGE YOUR EQUIPMENT AND VOID YOUR
WARRANTY.

To connect the power cord and transformer:

1 Connect the female plug on the power cord into the male socket on the transformer.

2 Connect the male plug on the power cord to a suitable power outlet.

Male
Plug

3 Connect the power adapter plug on the transformer cord into the power connector on the MX-

4 rear panel.

4 Turn the MX-4 power switch (located on the right side of the unit) to the ON position.

CABLES AND ADAPTERS

To connect video devices to the MX-4 you need specific types of cables. You might also need one
or more adapters, depending on your equipment.

Look closely at the jacks on the MX-4 rear panel and note that they accept RCA Composite or S­Video cables.

RCA S-Video

Composite (Y/C)

Before connecting any device to the MX-4, make sure the cable you are using has the right type of
fitting for the jack you intend to use.

INSTALLING THE MX-4 CABLES AND ADAPTERS

CAUTION

When making connections, always connect the OUT from one device to the IN on the other
device. NEVER connect OUT to OUT or IN to IN

GOOD!

BAD!

Microphones You can connect a microphone to any MX-4 input jack, but you may need a special

adapter to make the connection. The type of adapter needed varies depending on the
type of microphone you want to use. If you do not have the adapter you need, take
your microphone to a local electronics supply store to make sure you select the cor­rect adapter.

23

Audio Connectors To connect a stereophonic audio device to the MX-4, you need two separate audio cables — one

for the left channel and one for the right.

To connect a monaural audio device you need a Y-adapter cable (like the one shown
at the left). Connect the single end of the adapter to the line input or output on the
device. Connect the two remaining ends to the left and right channel inputs or out­puts on the MX-4 rear panel.

The Y-adapter cable does not provide stereophonic audio. It simply directs the mono
signal to or from both MX-4 channels.

You can also connect a mono audio device, then connect the other end to either the
left or right connector on any MX-4 audio input. Once connected, use the MX-4
ROUTE function to specify which connector (left or right you used. Refer to
“Route” beginning on page 73.

24

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

INSTALLATION EXAMPLES

This section shows examples of two common MX-4 configurations, but does not describe every
possibility. Before proceeding, study the following diagram (MX-4 Installation Concept) that
shows overall configuration concepts.

MX-4 Installation Concept

This diagram illustrates

the overall concept for

installing equipment with

MX-4. Please study it

before you begin

installing your own

equipment.

Channel

A

Preview

Headphones

Channel

B

SOURCES

Channel

C

Channel

D

Program

You can have up to four separate audio/video input sources active at any given time. The MX-4
designates them as sources A, B, C, and D. You can use any mix of devices as necessary to com­plete your work so long as they are valid MX-4 devices. For example, you can use VCRs, VTR’s,
camcorders, laserdisc players, satellite tuners, broadcast tuners/receivers, character generators
(CG’s), video-equipped computers, and audio devices (such as a CD player or tape deck).

The MX-4 sends the output signal to a recording device (such as a VCR) and/or a Program moni­tor.

Use a second monitor, Preview, to display preview images of all input sources. The Preview moni­tor also displays the on-screen controls you use to operate MX-4.

Correlating Input Sources to MX-4 Jacks

As stated above, the MX-4 designates your input sources as A, B, C, and D. However, if you exam­ine the jacks on the MX-4 rear panel, you’ll see they are labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4. Initially, there is a
direct correlation between the letter and the number designations: jack 1 corresponds to source A,
jack 2 corresponds to source B, jack 3 corresponds to source C, and jack 4 to source D. You can re­route inputs to other channels. For more information, refer to “Route” beginning on page 73.

Output

INSTALLING THE MX-4 USING H EADPHONES

Using Headphones

To use headphones, connect them to the Headphone jack, which is located on the middle of the
unit. The jack accepts standard stereo headphones with a miniature plug. If your headphones have
a large plug, you need an adapter to switch it to a miniature plug.

VCR Selector Switches

Many VCRs have an input selector switch that routes between Line (or AUX, EXT, A/V, or S) and
Tuner. Here are some examples.

If a device has a switch

similar to one of these,

set the switch to the

LINE position.

25

General Notes

Some VCRs have more than one VIDEO IN jack (for example, one might be Composite and the
other S-Video). Set the switch to match the jack you are using as the connector to the MX-4.

When connecting video and audio outputs from source devices, most of the time you’ll probably
connect to corresponding jacks on the MX-4 rear panel. For example, if you connect the video to
the VIDEO IN jack labeled “1,” you’ll most likely connect the audio to the AUDIO IN jack also
labeled “1.” However, this is not a requirement. You might use non-corresponding jacks — for
example, you might connect the video from one source to VIDEO IN 1 but connect the audio from
the same source to AUDIO IN 2 if you want to control the audio and video separately.

26

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

Post Production Configuration

This configuration is useful in a Post-Production environment—where you mix two or more pro­grams together.

1 Connect the VIDEO OUT from a VTR 1 to VIDEO IN 1 on the MX-4 rear panel.

Connect the AUDIO OUTs from a VTR 1 to AUDIO IN 1 on the MX-4 rear panel.

2 Connect the VIDEO OUT from a VTR 2 to VIDEO IN 2 on the MX-4 rear panel.

Connect the AUDIO OUTs from a VTR 2 to AUDIO IN 2 on the MX-4 rear panel.

3 OPTIONAL – Connect an audio source (CD player, tape deck, or microphone) to AUDIO IN

4 on the MX-4 rear panel.

4 Connect a Composite-type monitor to the PREVIEW OUT jack on the rear panel.

5 OPTIONAL - Connect a Character Generator (CG) to the OUT Y/C jack on the rear panel.

With this configuration you can superimpose titles from the CG atop the output signal.

6 Connect a recording VTR to the OUT Y/C jack on the rear panel.

If you are using the optional Character Generator (described above), connect the output from
the CG to the VTR input.

7 Connect an Output Monitor to the recording VTR so you can see the signal being recorded.

8 Connect the power cord and transformer to the MX-4 rear panel. Refer to “Power Connector”

on page 22 for instructions.

Use the Route function (“Route” beginning on page 73) to make sure your devices are directed to
the correct MX-4 channels.

INSTALLING THE MX-4 POST PRODUCTION CONFIGURATION

Preview

Monitor

5

4

27

3

2

6

7

Monitor

Program

1

POST PRODUCTION CONFIGURATION

8

28

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

Live Broadcast Configuration

This configuration is useful in a Live Broadcast environment.

1 Connect the VIDEO OUT from Camera 1 to VIDEO IN 1 (Y/C) on the MX-4 rear panel. Con-

nect the AUDIO OUTs from Camera 1 to AUDIO IN 1 on the rear panel.

2 Connect the VIDEO OUT from Camera 2 to VIDEO IN 2 on the MX-4 rear panel. Connect

the AUDIO OUTs from Camera 2 to AUDIO IN 2 on the rear panel.

3 OPTIONAL – Connect an audio source (CD player, tape deck, or microphone) to AUDIO IN

4 on the MX-4 rear panel.

4 Connect a Composite MV-4 -type monitor to the PREVIEW OUT jack on the rear panel.

5 OPTIONAL – Connect a GPI trigger device to the GPI CONTROL on the MX-4 rear panel.

6 OPTIONAL – Connect a character generator (CG) to the OUT Y/C jack on the rear panel.

With this configuration you can superimpose titles from the CG atop the output signal.

7 Connect a recording VTR to the OUT Y/C jack on the rear panel.

If you are using the optional Character Generator (described above), connect the output from
the CG to the VTR input.

8 Connect the Output Monitor to the recording VTR so you can see the signal being recorded.

9 Connect the Power Cord and Transformer to the MX-4 rear panel. Refer to “Power Connector”

on page 22 for instructions.

Use the Route function (refer to page 73) to make sure your devices are directed to the correct MX­4 channels.

INSTALLING THE MX-4 LIVE BROADCAST CONFIGURATION

5

6

Preview

Monitor

7

4

29

Program

8

Monitor

1 2 3

LIVE BROADCAST CONFIGURATION

9

30

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 3

USING A MICROPHONE WITH MX-4

This section explains how to

connect a microphone to

MX-4. You’ll need the

equipment listed below…

• Professional quality microphone

• Microphone cable (male-XLR to female-XLR connectors)

• An audio direct box (which you can purchase from any professional audio equipment dealer)

• A 1/4 inch (phone jack) to RCA cable

• A female RCA to dual-male RCA “Y” Adapter

To connect a microphone:

1 Using the microphone cable, connect it to the XLR (balanced) input on the Direct Box.

2 Plug the 1/4-inch-to-RCA cable into the 1/4-inch (unbalanced) output on the Direct Box.

3 Attach the RCA “Y” adapter to the 1/4-inch-to-RCA cable.

4 Plug the two male ends of the RCA “Y” Adapter into the R and L audio inputs on the MX-4

rear panel. You can plug the microphone into any audio input and route it like any other
source.

BASIC OPERATIONS

This chapter describes several basic MX-4 operations, including:

• Starting and stopping the MX-4

• Using the MX-4 keyboard

• Using the Preview screen

• Using CURRENT and NEXT sources

• Selecting Sources

• Using the VIDEO/AUDIO selector

• Cutting Between Sources

• Working with Color

• Using Backgrounds

•Using Borders

CHAPTER 4

32

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

STARTING AND STOPPING THE MX-4

Press the Power switch to start or stop the MX-4. The switch, located on the right-end of the unit, is
a rocker-type switch.

UNDERSTANDING THE KEYBOARD

Use the MX-4 keyboard to control how the unit operates.

This section briefly describes the button groups and, in some cases, individual buttons and con­trols. Additional information appears throughout this User Guide. Some of the following descrip­tions provide a reference to the page where you can find details. Refer to the illustration on the next
page while reading this material.

1 T-Bar (or, Take Bar) — Use to manually control the way transitions run, tile size in PIP

mode, and audio levels in the Audio Mixer. See Chapter 5, Transitions, Chapter 8, PIPs, and
Chapter 12, Work i ng w i th A u dio , respectively.

2 Function Buttons — Provide immediate access to built-in functions, including

SETUP, FTP, ROUTE, LEARN, COMPOSE, PIPS, AUDIO MIX, and FREEZE. You can also access

the built-in demo using the

SHIFT+DEMO/DISPLAY buttons. Refer to Chapter 7, Functions, for

DISPLAY,

details.

3 Source Selectors — Use to select the CURRENT (

CUT) and NEXT sources for a production.

Normally, you select the CURRENT and NEXT sources, select a transition to use between the
two, then run it. For example, you might select a camcorder as one input source (CURRENT)
and a VCR as the other (NEXT). You then select a transition, such as a dissolve or wipe. When
you reach the point in the CURRENT source where you want to change to the NEXT source,

PLAY or use the T-BAR to instruct the MX-4 to play the transition. The CURRENT

press
source becomes the new NEXT source, and the old NEXT source becomes the new CUR­RENT source. (See “Using CURRENT and NEXT Sources” beginning on page 38.) Use the

COLOR buttons to create solid colored backgrounds and other effects. (Refer to “Working with

Colors” beginning on page 41.)

4 Video/Audio Selector — Determines whether VIDEO, AUDIO, or both VIDEO and AUDIO

are affected when you run a transition. When set to
does not. When set to

AUDIO, the audio changes but the video does not. When set to both, the

VIDEO, the video changes but the audio

video and audio both change. Refer to “Using the Video/Audio Selector” on page 39.

5Joystick — Provides an easy way to make fine adjustments to various components. For exam-

ple, when using PIPs, the joystick positions the various picture elements on the screen. When
using color correction, the joystick adjusts the color. The joystick has other uses you’ll learn
about in later chapters.

6 Power Switch and Headphone Jack — The Power switch is a rocker-type switch for turning

the unit on and off. The headphones jack provides a means for connecting a set of headphones
to the unit.

7 Transition Category Buttons — Gives you immediate access to the five, major categories of

transitions, including
one of these categories. After pressing a button, you can search through the transitions in that
category to find the one you want to use. Refer to “Transition Categories and Menus” begin­ning on page 50.

8 Play Button — Press to invoke the next command and complete a transition you have set up.

In other words, set up your CURRENT and NEXT sources, select a transition, then press
at the moment you want the MX-4 to perform the step.

USER, BASIC, EDGES, SHAPES, and MISC. All MX-4 transitions fall into

PLAY

BASIC OPERATIONS UNDERSTANDING THE K EYBOARD

6

33

MX-4 KEYBOARD

5

4

13

14

12

11

3

10

9

7

8

2

1

34

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

9 Control Buttons — Use these buttons to reverse transition direction, change transition speed,

specify background and border colors, and set border styles.

10 Numeric Keypad — Use for various functions, such as entering the number of a transition

you want to use, setting a precise speed for a transition, and so forth.

11 OK Button — Generally used to indicate to the MX-4 that you have completed some opera-

tion and want the unit to prepare for or perform it accordingly.

12 SHIFT Button — A modifier key that invokes special functions when used in conjunction

with other keyboard keys.

13 Arrow Keys — Primarily used for selecting effects and functions. For example, use the arrow

keys to highlight a transition you want to use in the Transitions menu.

14 EFFECTS Buttons — Provides access to effects you can apply to input sources. The light

below the

EFFECTS button glows when the MX-4 is in Input Effects mode. Refer to Chapter 6,

Input Effects, for more information.

BASIC OPERATIONS USING THE PREVIEW SCREEN

n

USING THE PREVIEW SCREEN

The Preview Screen is your control center for the MX-4 operations. This section describes individ­ual items on the Preview screen. The Preview screen appears on the monitor attached to the MX-4
PREVIEW OUT jack.

PREVIEW MONITOR AND STANDARD PREVIEW SCREEN

35

Active Source Highlights

Input Source Previews

Color

Selector

Select

Transition

Transition

Number

The MX-4 always processes the output at the highest possible quality. The Input Source Pre­views, however, appear in reduced quality because the MX-4 must reduce the images to fit the
smaller window. What you see on the Preview screen is not indicative of what gets recorded or dis­played on the output.

Changing the Display Configuration

Press the DISPLAY button to repeatedly cycle through five different configurations for the Preview
screen, or use the shortcut key indicated for each:

• Standard — (SHIFT+1) Shows preview images for all four input sources and up to 30 different
transition options (as shown above).

• Two Channel — (
views and two rows of the Transitions menu.

• Full – (

SHIFT+3) Displays only the input source Preview windows, each in a larger size. Tran-

sitions menu not displayed.

SHIFT+2) Shows only enlarged CURRENT and NEXT input source Pre-

Transitions Menu

36

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

• Next — (SHIFT+4) Displays full-screen image of the NEXT input source. Transitions menu
not displayed.

• Current — (
menu not displayed.

Refer to “Display” beginning on page 69 for more information. Unless stated otherwise, this guide
assumes you are using the Standard preview.

Input Source Previews

A small, preview image from each input source appears in a separate window. Use the previews to
direct the action, position cameras, find a particular sequence on a video tape, and so forth. Input
effects can be viewed in the preview thumbnail images.

Active Source Highlights

You can have up to four input sources. The MX-4 labels the sources A, B, C, and D. (There is also
a fifth, built-in source — the mixer’s own background color generator.) All transitions start with
one source, called the CURRENT source, and end with another, called the NEXT source.

Colored highlights help identify one video source from another. Yellow highlights the CURRENT
video source (above the preview image), and green highlights the NEXT video source (below it).

SHIFT+5) Displays full-screen image of the CURRENT input source. Transitions

The speaker icon (rather than a colored highlight) indicates the CURRENT and NEXT
audio selections.

The headphones icon identifies the channel to which the headphone output is currently
directed.

In addition to the highlights described above, indicator lights between the

CUT and NEXT

buttons indicate the currently selected video sources.

A steady light identifies

the CURRENT video

source. A blinking light

identifies the NEXT video

source.

Brief descriptions of the Transitions Menu, Highlights, and Indicators follow. For more detailed
information, refer to Chapter 5, Transitions.

BASIC OPERATIONS COLOR S ELECTOR

Color Selector

The Color Selector shows current choices for background color, border color, and border style. The
selector shows the actual colors, and the numeric values associated with each. This example shows
a background color 5, border color 7, and border style 5.

Background

Color

If you turn off the border (that is, set the

Border

Style

Border

Color

border style to zero), the border color
swatch and number do not appear in the
Color Selector. However, the border style
number (which is 0) is shown.

37

You can cycle through all available colors for each component using the

COLOR, and BORDER STYLE buttons. Refer to “Working with Colors” beginning on page 41.

Transitions Menu

The Transitions menu shows up to 30 transitions at a time. The MX-4 groups the 700+ available
transitions into categories.

To access any transition category, press the appropriate transition category button.

Refer to “Transition Categories and Menus” beginning on page 50 and Appendix A, Transitions
List, for detailed information.

Use the
more transitions than can appear in the Transitions menu at one time, continue pressing

ARROW or UP ARROW to scroll the other transitions into the menu. When the transition you want

appears in the Transitions menu, use the

Selected Transition

When you select a transition in the menu, the MX-4 highlights it in blue. It also shows the current
speed and direction for the transition. In this example, speed is 5 and the direction is forward (as
indicated by the arrow).

BG COLOR, BORDER

ARROW keys to navigate through the transitions in the current menu. If a category contains

DOWN

ARROW keys to select (or, highlight) it.

You can change the speed at which a transition runs, and you can also change the direction in
which it runs. Refer to “Adjusting Transitions” beginning on page 56.

38

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

Using CURRENT and NEXT Sources

The concept of CURRENT and NEXT sources is fundamental to MX-4 operations. As you go
about creating productions, you always have a CURRENT and NEXT source.

Example…

Suppose you want to create a sequence of transitions from Kong’s thoughtful gaze to footage of
a fighter plane contemplating take off and, finally, a shot of Stonehenge for a mystic closing.

CURRENT NEXT

Source A Source B Source C

To identify the CURRENT and NEXT sources:

1 Begin with the footage of Kong. Press CUT/A to make this (Source A) the CURRENT source.

2 Press

NEXT/B to make the fighter plane (Source B) the NEXT source.

3 Select a transition to use when switching from the CURRENT to NEXT source, such as a

right-to-left wipe.

Use the

ARROW keys to highlight the transition in the Transitions Menu. Refer to “Selecting

Transitions” beginning on page 54 for additional methods of selecting transitions.

Roll the CURRENT source to the spot where the transition should run, then press PLAY.

4

Immediately upon completion of the transition, the MX-4 makes the CURRENT source
(Kong) the NEXT source, and makes the NEXT source (the fighter plane) the CURRENT
source.

TIP

You can use this automatic swapping of CURRENT to NEXT and vice versa to your advantage.
When you want to cut back and forth between only two sources, the automatic swapping always
selects the next source for you.

For this procedure, however, you need to make Stonehenge the NEXT source so that when
transitioning out of the fighter plane, Stonehenge comes on screen.

Press NEXT/C to select Stonehenge as the NEXT input source.

5

CURRENT NEXT

Source A

Source B

Source C

BASIC OPERATIONS SELECTING S OURCES

6 Select a transition to use this time to switch from CURRENT to NEXT source, such as a slow

dissolve. The CURRENT source (the fighter plane) continues running, and continues to appear
on the output device.

39

7 To transition to Stonehenge, hold down the

its slot, release the
dissolve to happen.

T-BAR and the PLAY button run the same transition, except that the T-BAR lets you manu-

The
ally control the speed at which the transition runs.

SELECTING SOURCES

Now that you understand the distinction between the CURRENT and NEXT source, you need to
know how to select sources for each. Use the
select sources.

SHIFT button and move the T-BAR to the bottom of

SHIFT key, then swing the T-BAR upwards at whatever speed you want the

CUT and NEXT buttons on the MX-4 keyboard to

Use to change the CURRENT source

Use to select NEXT source

Use the

CUT buttons to select the CURRENT source. The four buttons labeled A, B, C, and D corre-

spond directly to the Input Source Previews on the Preview Screen (refer to page 36) and to the
MX-4’s four channels. Use the

BACKGROUND button to select a solid color background rather than

an image coming from a source device (refer to “Using Color Backgrounds” on page 42). When
you press any

CUT button glows steadily.

CUT button, the output video cuts to the new source and the indicator light below the

After selecting the CURRENT source, use the
tons are labeled the same as the

CUT buttons. When you press any NEXT button, the indicator light

above that button flashes.

USING THE VIDEO/AUDIO SELECTOR

The VIDEO/AUDIO selector controls which parts of the input signal get used from any given source.

You can set the
both. Press the button as required to turn on the Video, Audio, or both lights.

VIDEO – Video changes, audio does not. Video light only is illuminated.

AUDIO – Audio changes, video does not. Audio light only is illuminated.

BOTH – Audio and Video both change. Both the video and audio lights are illuminated.

Many sources (such as pre-recorded video tapes) carry both video and audio signals. Other input
sources (such as a compact disc player) carry only audio signals, and some sources carry only
video signals.

VIDEO/AUDIO selector to any of three positions — VIDEO only, AUDIO only, or

NEXT buttons to select the NEXT source. The but-

40

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

Example…

You are producing a documentary on hot air ballooning. You want to over-dub the video
footage of hot air balloons with a narrative audio track. Using the
can process only the video from the VCR and combine it with the audio from an audio tape
containing the voice-over material.

VIDEO/AUDIO selector you

To do this type of mixing:

1 Connect the VCR to one of the MX-4 inputs on the rear panel, such as set number one.

2 Connect the audio tape deck to a different set of inputs, such as set number two.

3 Press

4 Press the VIDEO/AUDIO selector until only the VIDEO light is on

5 Press

6 Press the VIDEO/AUDIO selector until only the AUDIO light is on.

7 Press CUT/A to make it the CURRENT source, then press NEXT/B to make it the NEXT source.

8 Start both input devices rolling.

9 Press

NOTE

To designate any part of a signal with the video/audio selector, an input device must be set up
accordingly. For example, to process only the audio signal from a video tape in a VCR, the VCR’s
audio output must be connected to the MX-4’s audio input jacks. Refer to Chapter 3, Installing the
MX-4 and also refer to “Route” on page 73.

SWAPPING SOURCES

This section discusses common ways to switch between source devices.

Simple Cuts

CUT/A to select the VCR input.

CUT/B to select the audio deck input.

PLAY to begin outputting the program.

To switch to a specific source, press the CUT button for that source. The CUT buttons cause the
switch to occur almost immediately. For example, press
You don’t need to press

To immediately switch to a colored background, press
currently selected background color on the output. Set the background color to the color you want
before pressing
ther instructions.

Swapping Between Two Sources

To switch back and forth between two sources, use the PLAY button to automatically switch
between the two.

TIP

When using this back-and-forth switching process, you might find it helpful to use the TWO
CHANNEL mode (SHIFT+2) for the Preview screen. Refer to “Display” beginning on page 69.

CUT/A to immediately switch to that input.

PLAY or use the T-BAR when you use the CUT buttons.

CUT/BACKGROUND. The MX-4 displays the

CUT/BACKGROUND. Refer to “Working with Colors” beginning on page 41 for fur-

BASIC OPERATIONS WORKING WITH COLORS

To switch sources using this method:

1 Press the CUT button for the source with which you want to begin — for example, press CUT/A.

2 Press the NEXT button for the other source — for example, press NEXT/B.

41

3 Use the

4 Roll the input sources.

5 To run the transition, press

6 To switch between sources A and B, press

Working with Colors

Common uses for color include solid colored backgrounds and colored borders around objects. So,
you need to know how to choose colors and identify those you’ve chosen.

The MX-4 gives each color a unique number ranging from 0 (zero) to 9. The following table
defines these colors and their code numbers.

Table 2: Default Colors and Numbers

CODE COLOR CODE COLOR

0

1 White 6 Bright Blue

ARROW keys to highlight and select a transition, or enter the transition number on the

numeric keypad. Press

OK.

When you need a very quick switch between sources — such as when doing a live broadcast of
two individuals debating — use the Cut transition (zero).

PLAY. At this point, the MX-4 switches the sources — source A

becomes the NEXT source, and source B becomes the CURRENT source.

PLAY again.

Black

a

5 Green

2 Gray 7 Light Blue

3 Red 8 Purple

4 Yellow 9 Medium Blue-Green

a. You cannot modify Black (color code 0).

The maximum number of colors in the MX-4 palette is ten. You can change nine of the ten colors.
You cannot change color 0 (black).

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

Identifying Colors

Using Color Backgrounds

Colored backgrounds have many uses. For example, to dissolve to a solid black background when
transitioning out of the CURRENT source, hold the black for a moment or two, then dissolve from
the black background into the NEXT source.

TIP

Use the solid color background to lay down ten seconds of black at the beginning of your video.

Transition into and out of solid colored backgrounds basically the same way as transitioning
between sources. The difference is that you must select the background color you want to use
before running the transition.

Background Color

Border Style

Border Color

The Color Selector appears in the upper-right corner of the
Preview screen. It indicates colors selected for the back­ground and borders as well as border style.

The inner-most rectangle shows a sample of color assigned
to the background as well as the color number. The border
around the rectangle shows both the current border style
and color and their associated color and style codes.

To make the selection:

1 Press BG COLOR until the color you want appears in the Color Selector.

2 To immediately cut to the colored background, press CUT/BACKGROUND.

To transition into the colored background, press NEXT/BACKGROUND, then press PLAY or use

T-BAR to switch to the colored background.

the

Changing Colors and Styles

Use the BG COLOR, BORDER COLOR, and BORDER STYLE buttons to change colors and styles. In
each case, press the button repeatedly to cycle through all of the available options for that particu­lar setting.

If you already know the color number of the color you want to assign:

The following sections

describe the

COLOR, BORDER

COLOR, and BORDER

STYLE buttons.

BG

1 Press and hold either BG COLOR or BORDER COLOR, depending on which you want to change.

2 Enter the color number on the numeric keypad. For example, press and hold

press 6 to specify bright blue.

BG COLOR, then

BASIC OPERATIONS CREATING CUSTOM COLORS

Creating Custom Colors

You can change any color other than color 0 (black) (refer to Table 2 on page 41) to create custom
colors. You cannot add more colors, but you can change the existing ones. Once you create a cus­tom color, it stays permanently in the MX-4 unit until and unless you change it again.

BG COLOR and BORDER COLOR share the color palette. Therefore, changing any color affects both

the background and border colors.

To create a custom color:

1 Press BG COLOR or BORDER COLOR until the color you want to change appears in the Color

Selector.

43

2 Press

LEARN+BG COLOR or LEARN+BORDER COLOR (depending on which one you want to

change).

These key combinations activate Learn Color mode. The MX-4 blinks the

VIDEO/AUDIO selec-

tor lights to indicate you are in the proper mode.

3 Use the

aMove the

JOYSTICK and T-BAR in combination to define the new color.

T-BAR up and down its slot to adjust luminance.

b You can use the SHIFT+ARROW KEYS for fine adjustment to luminance.

c Move the JOYSTICK relative to its color ring to adjust chrominance (or color value).

d You can use the arrow keys for fine adjustments to chrominance.

4 When the color you want appears in the Color Selector, press

mode and the

VIDEO/AUDIO lights cease blinking.

If you decide you don’t want to change the color after manipulating the

SHIFT+0 (zero) to revert back to the original color. The MX-4 restores the original color

press
and exits from Learn Color mode (the

VIDEO/AUDIO lights cease blinking).

OK. You exit from Learn Color

JOYSTICK and T-BAR,

USING BORDERS

Borders have many uses, such as providing a distinct separation between two sources while run­ning a transition.

Wipe Transition

No Border

Wipe Transition

White Border

44

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 4

You can also use borders to frame images in a picture-in-picture (PIP) image, and so forth. What­ever purpose you use a border for, you can specify the color and style for the border.

To specify border color:

• Repeatedly press

BORDER COLOR to cycle through the available colors. The Color Selector

shows the current color.

BORDER STYLE+0 (zero) to immediately turn off the border.

Press

To specify border style:

• Repeatedly press

BORDER STYLE to cycle through the available styles. The Border Style indi-

cator in the Color Selector increments by one each time you press the button. You can specify
ten different styles (0 through 9).

Table 3: Border Styles (Defaults)

NO. RESULT NOTES

0 Border and Edges Off

1-3 Soft Edge Border

4-6 Colored Border

7-9 Drop Shadow Border

Changing Border Styles

This section explains how to specify different edges, color borders, and drop shadows to use in
conjunction with border styles.

To change a border style setting

1 While the Preview screen is displayed, enter

to 9 (inclusive) and is the number of the border style you want to change, as shown in the pre­ceding table.

2 Select the shape or edge to which you want to add a border or shadow by selecting an appro-

priate transition.

TIP

Try using transitions 300-305 for edges and 554-562 for shapes.

Use LEARN+UP/DOWN ARROW keys to soften and harden bor­der edges.

LEARN+RIGHT/LEFT ARROW keys adjust border width.
LEARN+UP/DOWN ARROW keys soften the border.

LEARN+ARROW keys reposition drop shadow.

BORDER STYLE+# — where # can range from 1

3 Move the T-BAR to its mid point.

4 Press

LEARN+BORDER STYLE to cycle between soft edge, color border or drop shadow.

TIP

Make note of the border style number you are changing for future reference.
You can also use PIP to select and modify border styles for shapes.

5 Use LEARN+ARROW KEYS (as indicated in Table 4, “Keys for Changing Border Attributes,”

on page 45, below) to specify what you want to change – width, softness, or position.

6 Return the

T-BAR to its full up or full down position.

BASIC OPERATIONS CHANGING B ORDER STYLES

The MX-4 automatically stores the border style so that it is available until and unless you change it
again.

Table 4: Keys for Changing Border Attributes

FUNCTION KEY COMBINATION

45

Toggle through Soft Edges, Color Border,
and Drop Shadow

Soft Edges

Increase Softness

Decrease Softness

Color Border

Increase border thickness

Decrease border thickness

Increase border softness

Decrease border softness

Drop Shadow

a

Move shadow right

Move shadow left

Move shadow up

Move shadow down

LEARN+BORDER STYLE

LEARN+UP ARROW

LEARN+DOWN ARROW

LEARN+RIGHT ARROW

LEARN+LEFT ARROW

LEARN+UP ARROW

LEARN+DOWN ARROW

LEARN+RIGHT ARROW

LEARN+LEFT ARROW

LEARN+UP ARROW

LEARN+DOWN ARROW

a. Drop Shadows created for edges do not translate well to shapes, and vice-versa. Therefore, you should

specify one set of drop shadow styles for shapes and another for edges.

NOTES

CHAPTER 5

TRANSITIONS

The MX-4 contains over 700 transitions from which you can choose. Furthermore, you can
manually control any transition to change the way it works, thereby creating your own ver­sions of the supplied set.

Transitions artistically switch from one scene to the next in a production. The MX-4 transi­tions range from simple cuts, dissolves, and wipes to sophisticated zooms, fly-ins, and flips.
You can change the speed (either manually or automatically) at which transitions run, and
run them in reverse. Combine these features for many different variations.

In this chapter you’ll learn about:

• Basic transition concepts – what is a transition and how to use it

• Transition Categories and Menus

• Selecting Sources to use during Transitions

• Selecting Transitions

• Adjusting Transitions

• Running Transitions

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

BASIC TRANSITION CONCEPTS

Transitions create on-screen effects used when switching from one source to another (that is, one
scene to another). The most basic type of transition is the cut, where the first frame from the NEXT
source immediately replaces the last frame from the CURRENT source. Cuts produce abrupt
changes. Other types of transitions use special effects to produce a smoother, more artistic change
from one source to the next. The following illustration shows a horizontal wipe transition.

CURRENT NEXT

NOTE

When discussing transitions, we use the letters a and b to differentiate the beginning scene (a) from
the ending scene (b). These letters often appear in the transition icons to indicate the direction in
which the transition travels. These letter indicators have no relationship to the A, B, C, and D
letters used to differentiate between the MX-4 channels.

Transition
in Progress

ab

The following basic steps explain how to run a transition with the MX-4. Each step is described in
more detail later in this chapter.

To run a transition:

1 Display the CURRENT source on the output screen. For example, press CUT/A to make A the

current source.

2 Select the NEXT source — the one you want to appear on the output following the transition.

For example, press

3 Select a transition to use. For example, press the

NEXT/B to make that the next source.

Highlights above and below the source previews
indicate CURRENT and NEXT sources, respectively.

BASIC Transition Category button, then select

a wipe transition from the menu.

4 Prepare the sources (such as VCRs and camcorders) and let them roll.

5 At the right moment, use either the

T-BAR or the PLAY button to run the transition.

As you can see, you first set up the transition, then execute it. Nothing happens until you use the

T-BAR or PLAY button to run the transition. So, you set everything up, then run the transition at the

precise moment you want it to occur. As soon as one transition finishes, immediately set up the
next one so that all you have to do is press

PLAY or use the T-BAR to proceed.

TRANSITIONS BASIC T RANSITION CONCEPTS

You can select the CURRENT source, the NEXT source, and the transition in any order, and
change them as many times as necessary before actually running the transition.

At the completion of the transition, the CURRENT and NEXT sources swap places — that is,
CURRENT becomes NEXT, and NEXT becomes CURRENT.

49

At this point, you can do one of the following:

• Leave the CURRENT and NEXT sources as they are and switch back and forth between them;
or,

• Select a new NEXT source and, optionally, a new transition, then repeat the process.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

TRANSITION CATEGORIES AND MENUS

To help manage the 700+ transitions, the MX-4 separates them into five logical categories — User,
Basic, Edges, Shapes, and Misc. Use the Transition Category buttons to access the different cate­gories.

Transition Category Buttons

When you press a Transition Category button, MX-4 displays the transitions available in that cate­gory in the Transitions Menu. The content of the menu differs depending on which category you
select. However, the menus have a common structure and always appear in the same place.

The content of the Transitions Menu differs depending on the Category selected.

Transitions

Menu

NOTE

The Transitions Menu does not appear when you work with the Full, Current, or Next Preview
screen. Refer to “Display” beginning on page 69 for more information.

Use the ARROW keys to navigate the Transitions Menu. If the category contains more transitions
than can appear in the menu at one time, use the

UP and DOWN ARROW keys to scroll through

them. You can scroll through only those transitions in the current category.

TRANSITIONS BASIC TRANSITIONS C ATEGORY

The MX-4 color codes the transition icons in the menu:

Basic White
Edges Blue
Misc. Yellow
Shapes Red

Basic Transitions Category

This category includes common transitions, such as wipes and dissolves. The transitions in this cat­egory are color coded white. Refer to page 134 for samples.

51

MXPro

Compatibility

If you are upgrading to the MX-4 from the Videonics MXPro Video Mixer, the transitions in the
basic category are the same as the MXPro except for 60 new transitions.

The MX-4 provides a set of hot keys that directly correspond to the MXPro buttons. Using the hot
keys (in the following table) causes the MX-4 Preview screen cursor to appear at the beginning of
each section within the basic category.

Table 5: MX-4 Compatibility Hot Keys

FUNCTION MX-4 HOT KEY

Fades and Dissolves

Wipes

Zooms

Flips

Edges Transitions Category

These transitions move a curved or jagged edge across the screen when transitioning to a different
picture source. Transitions in this category are color coded blue. Refer to page 142 for samples.

Misc. Transitions Category

SHIFT+BASIC

SHIFT+EDGES

SHIFT+MISC.

SHIFT+SHAPES

The transitions in this category move cutout and compression images across the screen as a change
occurs. The cutout and compression images go away once the transition finishes. Transitions in
this category are color coded yellow. Refer to page 143 for samples.

Shapes Transitions Category

These transitions occur as a wipe in the shape of a geometric object, such as a heart, a five-pointed
star, and so forth. Transitions are color coded red. Refer to page 144.

User Transitions Category

It’s unlikely you’ll use all of the available transitions — but it is likely that you’ll have a limited set
you use most of the time. With this in mind, the MX-4 makes it easy for you to access your favorite
transitions by creating your own personal menu — the User menu. The MX-4 comes with a default
set, but you can change them to tailor the User menu to your preferences and needs.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

TIP

During production planning, determine which transitions you want to use, then set up the User
category to contain those transitions. This gives you quick, immediate access to the transitions
without having to search through the other categories. See the following section (“Changing User
Transitions Menu”) to learn how to tailor the menu to your preferences.

CHANGING USER TRANSITIONS MENU

The first time you power up the MX-4 and press the USER Transitions Category button, the default
transitions appear in the menu. The default set contains a variety of transitions from the other four
categories, as defined by FOCUS Enhancements at the factory. If you are satisfied with the default
set, there is no need to change them.

USER category does not contain distinct transitions – that is, all transitions in the USER

The
category actually exist in other categories (basic, edges, shapes, and misc.). Think of the
category as a collection of references to other transitions.

USER

Restoring Default

User Transitions

You can change as many transitions in the

USER menu as you want.

To change a transition in the User menu:

1 Decide which transition you want to add to the

USER category. Refer to Appendix A, Tra nsi-

tions List, for a list of valid numbers and their associated transitions.

2 If necessary, press

DISPLAY to set the Preview screen to Standard or Two Channel mode.

In the other Preview modes (Full, Current, or Next), the MX-4 does not display the Transitions
Menu. Refer to “Display” beginning on page 73.

3 Press the

4 Use the

USER Transition Category button to display the menu on the Preview screen.

ARROW keys to highlight the transition you want to replace in the USER category.

5 Enter the number of the transition you selected in step 1, above. You can enter the number of

any transition from any category.

6 Press

OK.

You can easily restore the default set of transitions in the User category.

To restore the default set of transition to the User menu:

1 If necessary, press the

USER Transition Category button to display that menu on the Preview

screen.

2 Enter

SHIFT+0 (zero). This restores the default set of transitions for this category.

TRANSITIONS SELECTING T RANSITION SOURCES

SELECTING TRANSITION SOURCES

An important step in setting up a transition is to identify the CURRENT and NEXT sources. Use
CUT and NEXT to choose the two sources. The MX-4 provides feedback in a couple of different
ways to confirm your choices.

Selecting Sources and Getting Feedback

The lights between the rows of
CUT and NEXT buttons act as
indicators. A steady light identifies
the CURRENT source (A) – a
flashing light identifies the NEXT
source (C).

Yellow highlights the CURRENT source (A)

53

The MX-4 identifies the CURRENT source by a yellow highlight on the Preview screen and a
steady light beneath the corresponding
highlight on the Preview screen and a flashing light above the corresponding

If you make CURRENT and NEXT the same source, the source light (between the two rows of
buttons) flashes as though it were just the NEXT source.

Setting the CURRENT Source

In many cases you don’t need to select the CURRENT source because the ending source from the
previous transition automatically becomes the new CURRENT source (refer to the diagram on
page 49). However, if you want to change the CURRENT source, press the corresponding cut but­ton. For example, pressing
immediately displays D’s signal.

Setting the NEXT Source

To specify the NEXT source, press the corresponding NEXT button. For example, to make D the
next source, press

Green highlights the NEXT source (C)

CUT button. It identifies the NEXT source by a green

NEXT button.

CUT/D makes D the CURRENT source, and the Program monitor

NEXT/D.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

SELECTING TRANSITIONS

To select a transition to use between the CURRENT and NEXT sources, do one of the following:

•Use the

• Enter the transition’s assigned number on the MX-4 numeric keypad, then press

NOTE

When selecting from the user category, you must always use the arrow keys to select a transition
from the Transition Menu on the Preview screen. Entering a transition number and pressing ok
replaces the current transition with the one you select.

ARROW keys to select from the Transitions Menu on the Preview screen; or,

Preview
Screen

Use ARROW keys to select a
transition from the Transition
Menu on the Preview
Screen…

or

…enter the transition number
on the keypad…

then press

OK.

OK.

…

Numeric
Keypad

Using the Transitions Menu

The Transitions menu appears just below the preview images on the Preview screen when you set
the Preview to Standard or Two Channel mode (refer to “Display” beginning on page 69 for more
information about Preview modes).

To select a transition from the Transitions Menu:

1 If necessary, press the appropriate Transition Category button to display the set of transitions

containing the one you want.

2 Use the

Blue highlights the currently selected transition. Use the

the highlight horizontally. Use the
When you reach the bottom row of icons in the current menu, press
additional transitions in the category, if present.

Blue highlights the selected transition

Each icon in the
menu represents
one transition.

ARROW keys to highlight the transition you want to use.

LEFT and RIGHT ARROWS to move

UP and DOWN ARROWS to move the highlight vertically.

DOWN arrow to display

TRANSITIONS USING TRANSITION N UMBERS

Using Transition Numbers

Every transition has a number assigned for reference and identification. The number appears in the
Transitions Menu just below each transition icon.

The transition number…
in this example, number 14

To select a transition using transition numbers:

1 Enter the transition number on the keyboard.

55

2 Press

OK.

To immediately play back the transition, press

PLAY rather than OK.

Refer to Appendix A, Transitions List, for a complete listing of transitions and their assigned num­bers.

If you make a mistake entering a number, press

OK, enter the number correctly, then press OK

again.

NOTE

When you highlight a transition in a Transitions menu, the highlighting obscures the transition
number. The number below the transition icon represents the speed at which the transition plays.
The following section, “Adjusting Transitions” discusses this.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

ADJUSTING TRANSITIONS

Every transition runs at a pre-set speed and direction. Symbols appear below the transition icon in
the Transitions Menu indicating the current speed and direction.

Transition Icon

Use the

Transition Direction

SPEED and REVERSE buttons to change the speed and/or direction of a transition.

NOTE

When you change a transition’s speed and/or direction, the change applies to all other transitions
until you specifically change it. For example, if you set the speed of the current transition to 4, all

subsequent transitions run at this same speed until you again change the speed factor. This also
applies to transition direction.

Changing Transition Speed

Transition speed values can range from 0 (slowest) to 9 (fastest).

To change the transition’s speed:

• Press

SPEED. Each press increases the speed by one unit. Press SHIFT+SPEED to decrease the

speed by one unit.

Transition Speed

Transition Direction

Transition Speed

The MX-4 changes the Transition Speed indicator below the transition icon to the currently
selected value. You can change the speed any time either prior to running the transition, or while it
runs (which allows you to make adjustments “on the fly.”)

TIP

To directly set the speed to a specific value, press and hold the SPEED button while entering a value
from 0 to 9 on the numeric keypad.

Changing Transition Direction

Transitions can run in two directions — forward and reverse. If you use the PLAY button, transi-
tions run, by default, in the forward direction. If you use the
forward; moving it down runs it in reverse. For example, a simple wipe transition might move a
vertical border across the screen from right-to-left or left-to-right, replacing scene a with scene b.

Example…

Suppose you’re producing a video showing renovations to a building. Occasionally you want
to go back and show how the building looked originally. When going back in time, use a wipe
transition that moves from left-to-right. When going forward in time (to show the new
modifications), reverse the wipe so that it moves from right-to-left.

T-BAR, moving it up runs the transition

TRANSITIONS CHANGING T RANSITION DIRECTION

To reverse a transition:

• Press

REVERSE.

Remember, all transitions run in reverse until you press

REVERSE again. Reverse has no effect

on a simple Cut or Dissolve transition because reversing those transitions produces no visible
result.

MX-4 changes the Transition Direction indicator below the transition icon to the currently selected
direction. When the arrow points right, the transition runs in its normal direction. When the arrow
points left, the transition runs in reverse.

Forward Reverse

The Reverse function does not change the relationship between the sources. For example, a vertical
wipe from source A to B moves from the top of the screen to the bottom, replacing source A with
B. If you apply the Reverse function, source B still replaces A, but the transition wipes from the
bottom of the screen to the top.

NOTE

Mosaic, dissolve, and trailing transitions work in only one direction at all times, including when
you press

FREEZE before running the transition.

57

Using

Auto-Reverse

You cannot run Trailing-type transitions in a reverse direction. If you select a Trailing-type
transition, then move the

T-BAR from its up position to the down position, the MX-4 performs a

simple dissolve (transition 160).

Auto-Reverse automatically reverses the direction of transitions each time they run. In the previous
building renovation example, you press

REVERSE at the conclusion of each transition to alternate

between left-to-right and right-to-left wipes. When you use Auto-Reverse, the MX-4 handles
switching automatically. For example, if the transition is set to run from left-to-right, it automati­cally alternates between left-to-right and right-to-left each time it runs.

To invoke the Auto-Reverse feature:

•Enter

SHIFT+REVERSE.

With Auto-Reverse activated, the MX-4 displays a distinct arrow below the transition’s icon in the
Transitions Menu. To manually reverse the current direction even with Auto-Reverse activated,

REVERSE at any time.

press

Auto-Reverse Forward Auto-Reverse Backward

Auto-Reverse remains active until you press

SHIFT+REVERSE again to go back to one-way transi-

tions. Auto-Reverse has no effect on dissolve and trailing transitions.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 5

RUNNING TRANSITIONS

After selecting the CURRENT and NEXT sources and the transition to use, you can run the transi­tion either automatically or manually.

•Use PLAY to run transitions automatically, when you want them to run smoothly and always
the same way.

•Use the
For example, you can make the transition speed up, slow down, or even reverse itself at any
point.

NOTE

If you apply the strobe effect to a source, the MX-4 automatically turns it off while the transition
runs (refer to “Strobe” on page 69).

Running a Trailing-type transition to either the Background channel or a channel with no video
source executes a simple dissolve (transition 160).

Running Transitions Automatically

T-BAR to run transitions manually, when you want fine control over the way it runs.

To run a transition automatically at a predetermined speed:

• Press

PLAY.

You can pause an automatic transition by pressing
transition alternately stops and starts until you finally allow it to finish. Although the transition
pauses, the video continues to play.

Running Transitions Manually

Use the T-BAR to manually control transitions. You can change a transition’s speed and reverse its
direction.

Operating the

T-BAR

The

T-BAR operates as follows:

•Moving the

•Moving the

• Holding down the
method to reposition the

PLAY again. Each time you press the button, the

T-BAR from the DOWN to UP position runs the transition forward.

T-BAR from the UP to DOWN position runs the transition in reverse.

SHIFT button while moving the T-BAR disables T-BAR operation. Use this

T-BAR without running a transition or effect.

CHAPTER 6

INPUT EFFECTS

This chapter describes MX-4 Input Effects, that are available in the following button group
on the MX-4 keyboard.

Use Input Effects in the following ways:

• Apply input effects to any source.

• Combine many different input effects to create entirely new effects.

• Apply input effects to some, none, or all sources, in any combination.

• With trailing transitions.

• With multi-PIPs.

• In compose mode.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 6

INPUT EFFECTS MENU

Press any input effects button to display the Input Effects Menu — or, press the EFFECTS button.

MX-4 updates the

preview images to show

Input Effects.

B&W

B&W

NEGATIVE

POSTERIZE

FLIP

HORIZONTAL

MOSAIC

COLOR

CORRECT

When you press one of the input effects buttons (such as
selects that effect in the menu. When you press the
first item in the menu —

COLOR

NEGATIVE

NOTE

VIDEO

ADJUSTMENT

POSTERIZE), the MX-4 automatically

INPUT EFFECTS button, the MX-4 selects the

B&W.

FLIP

VERTICAL

STROBE

The menu does not contain an icon or settings for the chromakey option. When you press the

CHROMAKEY button, the MX-4 takes you directly to the chromakey screen. Refer to Chapter 10,

Chromakey, for details.

INPUT EFFECTS SPECIAL KEY COMBINATIONS

Special Key Combinations

Use the following key combinations while working with the Input Effects menu.

Table 6: Input Effects Mode Key Combinations

KEY COMBINATION RESULT

61

ARROW keys

Moves cursor (or, highlight) between the different Input Effects.

Numeric Keypad Directly sets the parameter value for the highlighted effect.

EFFECTS or OK

EFFECTS buttons Moves the cursor directly to that effect – for example, press POS-

Exits from Input Effects mode.

TERIZE to highlight that effect: press MOSAIC to highlight that

effect: and so on.
If the selected effect matches the currently highlighted one on the
Input Effects menu, pressing the

EFFECTS button increments the

effect’s parameter value by one.

SHIFT+0 (zero)

Resets all effects to 0 (off) for the selected channel.

When you are not working at the Input Effects menu, use the following key combinations.

Table 7: Main Mode Input Effects Key Combinations

KEY COMBINATION RESULT

SHIFT+EFFECTS button

Increments the parameter value by one for the selected effect and
applies it to the CURRENT source.

SHIFT+EFFECTS

Temporarily disables and re-enables Input Effects from being
sent to Program out. Refer to the following paragraph.

When the Effects LED light is lit, Input Effects are enabled. The MX-4 applies the effects accord­ing to the parameter values for each effect.

When you use the

SHIFT+EFFECTS key combination to disable Input Effects, the MX-4 turns off

the LED light. It does not change any effects parameter values, but it does prevent the current Input
Effects from being used. Press

SHIFT+EFFECTS again to enable them.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 6

USING INPUT EFFECTS

To apply a parameter value:

1 Press EFFECTS or one of the input effects buttons to display the Input Effects menu.

2 If you haven’t already done so, use the

ARROW keys or EFFECTS button to select the desired

Input Effect to which you want to apply parameter values.

3 Set the parameter value to 0 (zero) to turn it OFF, or to 1 to turn it ON.

4 Use one of the

example, press

NEXT buttons to select the source to which you want to apply the effect. For

NEXT/B to apply the effect to channel B.

5 Type the parameter value on the MX-4 numeric keypad, or continue pressing the correspond-

ing effects key until the parameter value you want appears in the menu.

6 Press

OK to exit from Input Effects mode.

7 You can also use the Input Effects Menu to access the Video Adjustment Menu for Brightness,

Contrast, Color Saturation, and Hue. Use one of the
you want to apply the adjustments. Use the
option. Press

OK to go to the Video Adjustment Menu. You can also press SHIFT+PLAY to go

ARROW keys to select the Video Adjustment

NEXT buttons to select the source to which

straight to the Video Adjustment Menu from any other menu. To reset the unit to the original
factory settings, press the

SHIFT button, then the OK button.

8 Inside the Video Adjustment menu, select the proper video adjustment (Brightness, Contrast,

Color Saturation, and Hue) with the
video adjustment, make the proper adjustments with the

T-BAR until you have achieved the desired effect. You can view all adjustments on the Preview

screen.

The MX-4 stores the most recent set of input effects. Therefore, when you turn the unit off, then
turn it back on again, the most recent selection of input effects is still active.

LEFT/RIGHT ARROW keys. Once you have selected the

UP/DOWN ARROW keys or with the

INPUT EFFECTS B&W

B&W

Changes the input picture to black and white. Removes all
color from the image.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

B&W NEG

Reverses all black and white values in the image. If applied to
a color image, reverses all black and white values but does
not change any color values in the image.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

63

POSTERIZE

FLIP HORIZONTAL

TIP

To create a black and white negative effect, also turn on the B&W effect.

Reduces picture’s continuous tones to fewer levels. Creates a
“painted” look.

Parameter Values — Zero through nine. Zero turns off the
effect.

High values produce an extreme paint effect: low values cre­ate a subtle effect.

Flips picture left-to-right, creating a mirror image.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 6

MOSAIC

COLOR CORRECT

Divides picture into tiles.

Parameter Values — Zero through nine. Zero turns off the
effect.

Low values create numerous, small tiles. High values create
fewer, larger tiles. Highest values might make image difficult
to recognize.

Adjusts overall color values throughout the entire image.

You can set Color Correction values separately for each channel.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

COLOR NEG

CAUTION

Apply color correction BEFORE going live or rolling tape. Because of the way the MX-4
implements color correction, the program output might be affected temporarily.

To use Color Correct:

1 Press COLOR CORRECT to display the Input Effects menu, or press EFFECTS then use the

ARROW keys to highlight the Color Correct icon.

2 Press the

apply color correction to channel C, press

NEXT button that corresponds to the source you want to correct. For example, to

NEXT/C.

3 Turn on the Color Correct option. That is, either press 1 on the keyboard, or press COLOR

CORRECT so the parameter value equals 1.

The MX-4 replaces the Input Effects menu with a preview of the color corrected image.

4 Use the

5 Use the

JOYSTICK to adjust the RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) values in the image.

T-BAR to adjust the luminance of the image. You can do fine-grained adjustment with

the arrow keys (and shift arrow keys), just like in the Learn color mode.

6 When the image looks the way you want, press

OK to exit from Input Effects mode.

Inverts all colors in the image.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

INPUT EFFECTS VIDEO A DJUSTMENT

VIDEO ADJUSTMENT

Allows you to access the Brightness, Color Saturation, Contrast, and Hue adjustment
menu. Use the
guides you to the video adjustment menu. Parameter valuers are 0 (zero) or 1 (one).
0=OFF, 1=+
on page 60, for complete details.

ARROW keys to select this option, then press OK. The MX-4 then

OK activates the video adjustment menu. Refer to “Input Effects Menu”

CHROMAKEY

Chromakey replaces all occurrences of a
color in an image with a different image.
In this example, (1) the block of color in
the first image (the area behind Kong’s

12

3

head) gets replaced with the image of the
Golden Gate Bridge (2). The resulting
image (3) is Kong superimposed over the
bridge. Refer to Chapter 10, Chromakey,
for complete details.

65

FLIP VERTICAL

STROBE

Flips picture top-to-bottom.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

Slows down the picture’s video frame rate. Motion appears halting, or jerky — like
that produced by a strobe light. The strobe effect stays on during a transition.

Parameter Values — Zero through nine. Zero turns off the effect.

Higher values increase the effect. Setting 1, for example, produces the look of film:
setting 2 makes video look like an old movie.

NOTES

CHAPTER 7

FUNCTIONS

This chapter describes the Function buttons, that give you access to the MX-4’s built-in
functions. The function button group contains eight buttons, but gives you access to more
than eight functions.

68

DEMO

MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

Press SHIFT+DEMO/DISPLAY to run a demonstration of several MX-4 transitions and other effects.
Demo works in conjunction with the CURRENT and NEXT sources. (If you have one source
selected as CURRENT and NEXT, the demo works with that source only.) The demo shows many
of the effects you can produce with the MX-4.

The demo runs automatically and, upon reaching the end, starts over from the beginning.

To run the demo:

1 Select the CURRENT and NEXT sources to use for input to the demo.

To use a single source (such as channel A), press CUT/A and NEXT/A. To use two different
sources (such as channels A and B), press

NEXT/B to make it the NEXT source.

CUT/A to make it the CURRENT source, then press

2 Press SHIFT+DEMO/DISPLAY to start the demo running.

3 To exit from the demo, press any key.

TIP

If you see a transition you like while the demo runs, immediately press any key to stop the Demo.
When the Preview screen returns, the last transition run is highlighted in the Transitions Menu.
Make a note of the transition number, then add it to your custom User Transitions Menu. Refer to
“Changing User Transitions Menu” on page 52.

Running a Locked Demo

You can run the demo in locked mode, which prevents it being stopped by pressing any key on the
keyboard. This might be useful for running the demo in a kiosk, a trade show, or anyplace where
someone might interrupt it.

To run the demo in Locked mode:

1 Select the CURRENT and NEXT sources to use for input to the demo.

To use a single source (such as channel A), press
sources (such as channels A and B), press

NEXT/B to make it the NEXT source.

2 Press

3 To exit from the locked demo, press

CUT/A and NEXT/A. To use two different

CUT/A to make it the CURRENT source, then press

LEARN+DEMO/DISPLAY to start the demo.

LEARN+DEMO/DISPLAY again.

FUNCTIONS DISPLAY

DISPLAY

To control what appears on the Preview monitor, use the DISPLAY function. Press DEMO/DISPLAY
to cycle through the different display configurations. Refer to samples of these configurations on
the next page. The illustrations show the key combination you can use to directly access any
display configuration.

TANDARD – Provides most extensive display. Shows preview images of all active input

S

sources and a menu of up to 30 different transitions from which you can choose.

T

WO CHANNEL – Displays preview images for the CURRENT and NEXT sources. Preview

images increase in size, but the Transitions Menu shows only 20 transitions.

F

ULL – Divides preview screen into four sections. Each section shows a preview image of the

currently active input sources. The Transitions Menu is not available.

N

EXT – Displays only a full-screen preview image of the NEXT source.

C

URRENT – Displays only a full-screen preview image of the CURRENT source.

69

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

DISPLAY CONFIGURATIONS

Standard – SHIFT+1 Two Channel – SHIFT+2

Flashing white border indicates

Full – SHIFT+3

CURRENT source, unless that
source is the COLOR channel.

For all examples on this page,

assume source A is CURRENT and

source B is NEXT. Input sources C

and D show up only when using

Standard or Full options.

Current – SHIFT+5Next – SHIFT+4

Use the shortcut keys or press

DISPLAY to cycle through the

display options.

FUNCTIONS SETUP

SETUP

The Setup functions control various aspects of the way the MX-4 operates, including Force Field
Freeze, GPI Out Mode, Comb Filter, Dual Monitor Mode and 7.5 IRE Pedestal.

71

Force Field

Freeze

To access the Setup functions, press

SETUP.

7.5 IRE
Pedestal

GPI Out Mode

Dual Monitor Mode

Comb Filter

Table 8: Setup Menu Navigation Keys

TO DO THIS FUNCTION: ENTER NOTES

Select a menu option

Enter specific option value

LEFT or RIGHT ARROW

NUMBER keys

Wraps through all options

If value entered is not
valid, the MX-4 sets to the
nearest valid value.

Restore setup values to factory

SHIFT+0

defaults.

Exit from Setup menu

OK

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

Force Field Freeze

GPI Out Mode

The Force Field Freeze option lets you specify whether you want the MX-4 to perform a frame or
field freeze. This option works in conjunction with the Freeze feature (refer to “Freeze” on
page 78).

Frame Freeze produces best quality, but it might produce a jittering effect when trying to freeze
objects in motion. In such cases, use a Field Freeze.

Field Freeze – The MX-4 freezes only every other line of the image. This produces a fast
freeze, but image quality degrades somewhat. To use Field Freeze, set the Force Field Freeze
option to 1.

Frame Freeze – The MX-4 freezes every line in the image. The freeze takes slightly longer,
but the image quality matches the original because it uses all of the video signal. To use Frame
Freeze, set the Force Field Freeze option to 0 (zero).

This setting determines whether the MX-4 provides a GPI output to an external device, such as a
character generator, thereby allowing you to trigger an external event based on an action from the
MX-4. Set the value to 0 (zero) to use the MX-4 with an edit controller. Set the value to 1 to enable
GPI output to trigger a character generator, such as the Videonics TitleMaker.

Refer to “Using a GPI Device” beginning on page 118 for relevant information.

Comb Filter

This option can be used in some cases to affect the quality of the video coming from an input
source. Normally, you should leave this set at the default – 1 or On. Change it only if asked to do so
by a FOCUS Enhancements Customer Support Representative.

Dual Monitor Mode

This lets you specify whether you want the MX-4 to run the selected transition on both the preview
and program monitor at the same time with a setting at 0. As an alternative, you can keep the pre­view screen constant while the transition takes place on the program monitor only with a setting at

1.

7.5 IRE Pedestal

NTSC Video equipment commonly uses one of two black level settings:

• 7.5 IRE – The traditional black, which is the MX-4 default setting.

• 0 IRE – A darker black level used in Japan.

CAUTION

The MX-4 also accepts values 2 through 4 for this option. However, using any of these values
might cause your equipment to malfunction and should not be used.

To use the darker black (0 IRE) for the MX-4 background and border colors, set Pedestal to 0
(zero).

If you are working with equipment that requires 7.5 IRE, set Pedestal to 1.

NOTE

This option is not available on PAL versions of the MX-4.

FUNCTIONS FTP

FTP

The FTP function lets you network your MX-4 to a PC or MAC using the Ethernet connector on
the back of you unit. You can import background, foregrounds, and still frame jpeg images to or
from your unit. Refer to “Ethernet Connection” in Chapter 13 for complete information.

ROUTE

The Route function has the following primary purposes:

• Configure the MX-4 to match your equipment.

• Re-direct signals coming from an input device to different or multiple MX-4 channels.

Configuring the MX-4

The MX-4 ships from the factory with the following default options:

• Source Input 1’s video and stereo audio are assigned to Channel A, with the video signal
routed through the S-Video connector.

• Source Input 2’s video and stereo audio are assigned to Channel B, with the video signal
routed through the S-Video connector.

• Source Input 3’s video and stereo audio are assigned to Channel C, with the video signal
routed through the S-Video connector.

• Source Input 4’s video and stereo audio are assigned to Channel D and the Background Music
channel, with the video signal routed through the S-Video connector.

• Color Source defaults to MUTE.

• BKGD MUSIC Source defaults to MUTE.

• BACKGROUND and FOREGROUND graphics default to OFF.

73

Unless you tell the MX-4 otherwise, it assumes your sources are connected exactly as described
above.

Default Settings for

Route Functions

If your set up does not match the default options, you need to change the Route settings. For exam­ple, assume you have an S-Video VCR attached to the input jacks marked 1 (IN1), and a Compos­ite VCR attached to the input jacks marked 2 (IN2). You don’t need to change anything for the first
input because it matches the default setting. however, because the second source is a Composite
device (rather than S-Video) you need to notify the MX-4 of this fact.

Changing the Routing

To change the routing,

1 Press

The MX-4 has four internal channels: A, B, C and D. The route menu lets you select which of
the eight inputs are connected to each of the four channels.

Audio sources can be routed to the same four channels (A, B, C and D) and in addition, can be
routed to the color channel or the background audio channel (BKGD). Refer to Chapter 12,
Working with Audio, for more information.

ROUTE to display the Route menu.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

2 Select the channel (A,B,C or D) you want to change by pressing NEXT/A, NEXT/B, NEXT/C,

NEXT/D, NEXT/BACKGROUND, or SHIFT+NEXT/BACKGROUND (for Background Audio). Once

selected, the channel is highlighted.

3 Select the video source you want to display for this channel. Use the

ARROW keys to move to the Video row, then use the LEFT ARROW/RIGHT ARROW keys to

UP ARROW/DOWN

select a video source.

a The first choices in each Video Input selection (IN1-4) are composite (V) and Y/C (S)

sources.

b The remaining choice to the right consists of a graphics/gradients input selection. Once

you select this feature and press

OK, a sub menu appears providing the option to select

graphics/gradients or a solid color as an input. Refer to “Sub-Route Menus” on page 76
for more information.

2

3

4

5

4 Select the Audio source to use for this channel. Use the

Audio row, then use the

LEFT ARROW/RIGHT ARROW keys to select an audio source.

DOWN ARROW key to highlight the

FUNCTIONS EXAMPLE: CHANGING THE ROUTING

a IN1, IN2, IN3 and IN4 can be either mono or stereo sources: you can select the left chan-

nel, the right channel, or both.

75

b Select

MUTE if you do not want audio routed to this channel.

c Press SHIFT+NEXT/BACKGROUND to route to the Background Audio channel.

d Press

OK or ROUTE to exit the Route Menu.

5 You can select a foreground or background graphic. Once you select this feature, press

the MX-4 will guide you into either the foreground or background graphics menu to select the
imported graphic of your choice. When you make the selection, press
Route menu.

Example: Changing the Routing

In this example, you will change the Routing for Channel C, make video come from IN1: (S), and
make Audio come from IN1: (R+L).

1 Press

2 Select the channel by pressing

ROUTE to display the Route menu.

NEXT/C. Verify that channel C is highlighted.

3 Select the Video. Use the UP ARROW/DOWN ARROW keys to move the red highlight bar to the

Video row, then use the

4 Select the Audio channel. Use the

then use the

LEFT ARROW/RIGHT ARROW keys to select IN 1: (R+L).

LEFT ARROW/RIGHT ARROW keys to select IN1: (S).

UP ARROW/DOWN ARROW keys to move to the Audio row,

Routing Audio Through Color or Background Channels

OK and

ROUTE to return to the

Don’t forget that you can route audio through the Color and Background Channels. These are use­ful for fading to colors while maintaining the same audio source or mixing words with a music
background.

To route audio through the Color or Background Channels:

1 Press

NEXT/BACKGROUND or SHIFT+NEXT/BACKGROUND to select the Color or Background

channel. Refer to “Using the Audio Mixer” on page 109.

2 Use the

LEFT ARROW/RIGHT ARROW keys to select the audio of your choice.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

Sub-Route Menus

You can select Sub-Route menus for the following:

• Input graphics

• Foreground graphics

• Background graphics

Input Graphics and

Background

Graphics Menu

Once you highlight the selection on the Route menu, press

OK to continue into the selected sub-

menu.

Once you chosen either a graphic as an input or apply a background graphic from the main router
menu, you will be directed to the menu referenced below. The menu provides eight gradients, and
a possible 50 background jpegs to add to your unit.

Use the

COLOR button. To create a custom gradient colors, press LEARN+BG COLOR, and then use the joy-

stick and

ARROW keys to select a graphic. You can change the gradient colors by using the BG

T-BAR to create a new color. When you’re done creating a custom color, press OK.

Background Graphics Menu

Solid Color

and Gradients

Gradients

Importing Graphics
into the Foreground

and Background

Menus

0-3

4-49

In order to import a jpeg graphic into the Foreground or Background menu, you must first assign a
proper file name. It must include the specified menu (background or foreground) and placement
within the selected menu (0-49 foregrounds, 0-49 backgrounds). For example:

Back_08.jpg

Once you complete your file name configuration, you can then import the jpeg files using the
Ethernet port on the back of the unit and by using the standard FTP software. Refer to “Transfer­ring Files TO or FROM the MX-4” on page 128 for complete details.

NOTE

The MX-4 comes with the following twelve inch design background and foreground jpeg images:

Background_00.jpeg through Background_49.jpeg
Foreground_00.jpeg through Foreground_49.jpeg

Importing jpegs for background, input, or foreground use will automatically replace what currently

FUNCTIONS LEARN

exists on your MX-4. A factory reset will not restore the original 12 inches design jpegs that are
included on the MX-4. Refer to the included CD or our website to re-import the original jpegs if
desired.

77

Foreground

Graphics Menu

Once you have selected a foreground graphics form the main router menu, you, are directed to this
menu. It allows you to select various jpeg images. They can be imported and stored using the
Ethernet port located on the back of the MX-4.

To make a selection from the Foreground Menu, use the following steps.

1 Use the ARROW keys to select a graphic.

2 Once you have selected a graphic, press ROUTE to return to the Router menu, or OK to return

to the Preview screen.

3 Use the joystick to position the graphic on the program side before presenting it as a live feed.

4 Use the

T-BAR to adjust on the program side how transparent you would like the logo before

presenting it as a live feed. The number keypad can also adjust the transparency of the fore­ground logo as well.

The foreground is now ready to be included in a live application.

Foreground Graphics Menu

Corresponding
Foreground
Slots

LEARN

0-3

4-7

8-11

12-49

The Learn feature consists of one or more Learned Environments. Within each Learned Environ-
ment you can create a Learned Script.

In a Learned Script you teach the MX-4 about a series of transitions and edits you want to include
in a production. This is similar to using an Edit Decision List (EDL), though not as flexible or
powerful.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

COMPOSE

PIPS

Once you activate the Learn feature, the MX-4 remembers each step you go through in preparing a
production — including all transitions, input effects, and other operations. You can play back this
Learned Script to automatically perform all of the steps and functions it contains.

Refer to Chapter 11, Learn Mode, for complete information.

Use Compose to create screen images made up of several different graphic
elements. For example, a composed screen might show two still images
(polar bears and Kong) placed atop solid colored rectangles and a solid
colored background. With a character generator (such as the Videonics
TitleMaker), you can also add text elements to composed screens. Refer to
Chapter 9, Compose.

PIPs (Picture-In-Picture) let you combine images from separate sources
and place them on the screen at the same time in separate windows (or,
tiles). You have many options for arranging the PIP windows on the
screen. Refer to Chapter 8, PIPs.

AUDIO MIX

FREEZE

The Freeze effect immediately freezes the selected video source.

This section describes the types of freeze effects you can produce with MX-4 and how to use
Freeze with transitions.

You can also use the Freeze effect with the MX-4 PIP and Compose features. Refer to Chapter 8,
PIPs, and Chapter 9, Compose, for further information.

Field and Frame Freezes

You can freeze either a video field, or a full frame.

Field Freeze – Captures every other horizontal line of the video. This is ideal for capturing
anything in motion.

Use Audio Mix to adjust audio levels for any channel. Refer to Chapter
12, Working with Audio.

FUNCTIONS MAJOR F REEZE FUNCTIONS

Frame Freeze – Captures all horizontal lines, thereby producing a higher resolution (better
quality) image. Use Frame Freeze when working with still images, such as photographs. Using
Frame Freeze with images in motion normally produces jitter in the movie.

The MX-4 captures using Frame Freeze, by default. Refer to “Force Field Freeze” on page 72 to
learn how to change the default setting.

Major Freeze Functions

The MX-4 provides three major freeze functions: Freeze Current, Freeze Next, and Freeze Dur­ing (Transitions).

Freeze Current Freezes the image on the Program Output device.

•

To freeze the video on the current source, press FREEZE.

•

To unfreeze the video on the current source, press FREEZE again.

Freeze Next Freezes the video on the Next source. This is useful for freezing an image, then transitioning to it.

•

To freeze the video on the Next source, enter SHIFT+FREEZE.

• To unfreeze the video on the Next source, e

nter SHIFT+FREEZE, again.

79

Freeze During

(Transition)

Freeze Examples

Single Source
(A/A) Editing

Stops the current transition and freezes both the Current and Next video sources.

• Freeze during transition works the same as Freeze Current and Freeze Next. FREEZE toggles the
freeze state of the current source and

•

FREEZE no longer pauses or unpauses the transition.

SHIFT+FREEZE toggles the freeze state of the NEXT source.

This section discusses some common uses for the Freeze function. As you use the MX-4 over time,
you’ll probably create many others ways to use this function.

When working with a single source, use the Freeze function to transition to or from the second
image.

To use Freeze with Single Source Editing:

1 Route the same video source to Channel A and Channel B.

Use the CUT/A and NEXT/B buttons to specify source A as the Current source and Source B as the

2

Next source.

3 Enter

SHIFT+4 to select Preview NEXT mode on the Preview Monitor.

4 Press FREEZE to freeze the Current source.

The MX-4 freezes the Current source on the Program monitor, and the Next source (on the
Preview monitor) continues moving even though there is only one source (routed to two chan­nels).

Enter 1, OK, PLAY to run a simple dissolve transition. The frozen image dissolves to moving video.

5

6 Press SHIFT+FREEZE to release the freeze on the Next source.

To freeze and dissolve back and forth, repeat steps 3 through 5.

The following steps explain how to transition from moving video to a still image.

Enter SHIFT+FREEZE to create a still frame on the Next source.

7

8 Enter 1, OK, PLAY to dissolve from the Current moving video to the Next still image.

9 Press FREEZE to release the freeze on the Current source.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 7

Creating Still

Montages

You can use the Freeze function to transition between a series of still images to create a “still mon­tage.” You can use from one to four sources.

To create a still montage:

1 Route a video source to Channel A. Remember, you can use up to as many as four sources for

this procedure.

This example starts from a black screen, then transitions to a still image.

2 Enter

BG COLOR+0 (zero) to set the background color to black.

3 Press CUT/BACKGROUND to set the Color Channel as the Current source. You now have a

black screen on the Program monitor.

4 Press

NEXT/A to set Channel A as the Next source.

5 Enter SHIFT+4 to set the Preview monitor to Preview Next mode.

You’re now ready to create and transition to the first still image.

6 Enter SHIFT+FREEZE to create a frozen image on the Next channel.

7 Enter 1, OK, PLAY to dissolve from black to the first frozen image.

The NEXT and CURRENT sources swap positions. You’re now ready to select the second still
image.

8 Press any

NEXT button to select a new source to freeze.

9 Enter SHIFT+FREEZE to freeze the NEXT image.

10 Enter 1,

OK, PLAY to dissolve to the NEXT image.

To transition to other still images, repeat steps 8 through 10.

With the MX-4 you can

easily produce single

and multiple

Picture-in-Picture

displays.

CHAPTER 8

PIPS

PIP (Picture-In-Picture) provides a way to combine images on the same screen. For exam­ple, one image appears inside a small rectangle, and the other image fills the remainder of
the screen as shown by Single PIP, above.

You can freeze the background or foreground, or make either one a solid color.

You can create Single PIP configurations where two images appear on the screen at the
same time. You can also create Multi-PIP configurations where up to four images appear on
the screen at the same time. Single PIP and Multi-PIP work differently.

PIP images consist of a tile (the video image) and a mask (the window or shape through
which the tile shows).

Multi-PIPSingle PIP

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 8

SINGLE PIP

Background Tile

In a single PIP configuration, one tile fills the background while another tile and its mask float atop
the background. The CURRENT source always serves as the background tile; the NEXT source
always serves as the PIP image.

Foreground Tile and Mask

…from NEXT Source

Background Tile

…from CURRENT Source

The background tile always fills the entire screen. You can apply Input Effects (Strobe, Freeze, and
so forth) to the background tile, or make the tile a solid color. You cannot otherwise change the
background tile in any way.

Foreground Tile

You can manipulate the foreground tile and mask in different ways, such as:

• Position the tile anywhere on screen.

• Change the size and shape of the tile and its mask.

• Create a border around the tile.

• Reposition, resize, and otherwise change the mask without changing its corresponding tile.

To create and apply a single PIP:

1 Assume the background image originates on input source A. Press CUT/A to make source A the

CURRENT source. It serves as the background tile.

If you want, instead, to make the background a solid color, press

CUT/BACKGROUND. Refer to

“Using Color Backgrounds” on page 42 to learn how to select colors.

2 Assume the image of the gorilla originates on input C. Press

NEXT/C to make source C the

NEXT source. It serves as the foreground tile.

3 Press

PIPS to enter PIP mode. The Preview screen shows the background video with the fore-

ground video inset in a small tile.

4 Press

NEXT/A, NEXT/B, NEXT/C, NEXT/D, or NEXT/BACKGROUND to change the image in the

PIP window.

5 Press

PLAY to display the PIP on the Output.

6 To exit PIP mode, press

PIPS.

PIPS FOREGROUND T ILE

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Manipulating the

Foreground Tile

This section explains how to change the position, size, shape, and so forth of the foreground tile. In
each case, do the steps after pressing

PIPS, as described in the preceding steps. You can do any of

these steps while the PIP plays on the Output.

Table 9: Manipulating PIPs Tiles

TO CHANGE TILE… USE OR PRESS… NOTES…

Position

JOYSTICK

OK+JOYSTICK

Moves the tile and its mask around the screen.

Moves the tile around the screen.

Size (Resizing the tile normally distorts the image it contains.)

T-BAR

OK+T-BAR

UP ARROW

Resizes the foreground tile and its mask. Use

T-BAR to manually zoom the image.

the

Resizes the foreground tile.

Increases the height of the foreground tile and
its mask.

DOWN ARROW

Decreases the height of the foreground tile and
its mask.

Shape

RIGHT ARROW

Increase the width of the foreground tile and its
mask.

LEFT ARROW

Decrease the width of the foreground tile and its
mask.

SHIFT+FLIP ▲

Snaps the PIP tile and its mask to the normal
aspect ratio base on the current horizontal
dimensions.

SHIFT+FLIP ▼

Snaps the PIP tile and its mask to the normal
aspect ratio base on the current vertical dimen­sions.

SHIFT+0 (zero)

Restores the PIP tile to the default size, shape,
and position.

SHAPES

Cycles through available shapes for foreground
tile.

SHIFT+SHAPES

Cycles backward through shapes.

n Applies a specific shape to the tile, where n cor-

responds to the numbers shown in the shapes
following this table.

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You can apply the following shapes to PIP tiles. To select a shape, press the numeric key (0 through

9) that corresponds to the shape you want, as indicated below.

Manipulating the

Mask

Additional shapes can be selected for PIP mode using the

SHAPES button.

The mask changes shape, size, and position when you change the corresponding attribute of the
foreground tile. You can, however, manipulate the mask independently, as discussed in this section.

Table 10: Manipulating PIPs Mask

TO

CHANGE
MASK…

USE OR PRESS… NOTES…

Position

SHIFT+JOYSTICK

Change mask position.

Style (Press keys repeatedly to cycle through available colors and styles.)

BORDER COLOR

BORDER STYLE

Change mask border color.

Change mask border style.

Size

SHIFT+T-BAR

SHIFT+UP ARROW

SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

Change mask size.

Increase vertical size of mask.

Decrease vertical size of mask.

Using Other Effects with Single PIPs

Input Effects You can apply any of the input effects (refer to Chapter 6, Input Effects) to the background and

foreground tiles. Apply the input effect(s) you want prior to entering PIP mode.

The Freeze Effect You can apply the Freeze effect (refer to “Freeze” on page 78) to the background and/or fore-

ground tile.

Press

FREEZE while in PIPs mode to freeze the background. Press FREEZE again to release the

freeze effect.

Press

SHIFT+FREEZE while in PIPs mode to freeze the foreground tile. Press SHIFT+FREEZE again

to release the freeze effect.

SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Increase horizontal size of mask.

Decrease horizontal size of mask.

PIPS MULTI-PIP

MULTI-PIP

In Multi-PIP, as many as 4 separate images can share the screen at the same time. Each image appears inside
a separate tile.

You can use any of the four input sources to provide the images that appear in the tiles.

You can choose from 9 different multi-PIP configurations by pressing the number keys shown in
the following table.

Table 11: Multi-PIP Screen Configurations

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NO. CONFIGURATION NO. CONFIGURATION NO. CONFIGURATION

147

2 5 8

369

The following procedure explains when to specify which configuration you want to use.

To create a multi-PIP image such as the one shown above:

1 Assume the image of Kong originates on input source A. Press

CURRENT source.

If you want, instead, to make the background a solid color, press
“Using Color Backgrounds” on page 42 to learn how to select colors.

2 Assume the graphic of the word “Kong” originates on input C. Press

the NEXT source.

3 Press

SHIFT+PIPS to enter Multi-PIP mode. The Preview screen defaults to show configuration

1 (two horizontal tiles). One of the tiles has a flashing border to indicate it is the current tile.
One tile shows the primary input – Kong’s head.

CUT/A to make source A the

CUT/BACKGROUND. Refer to

NEXT/C to make source C

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4 If this is the Multi-PIP configuration you want to use, move on to the next step: otherwise…

a Press the number on the keyboard that corresponds to the PIP configuration you want to

use. (Refer to Table 11, “Multi-PIP Screen Configurations,” on page 85, at the beginning
of this section.) MX-4 displays the configuration on the Preview screen.

5 Use the

ARROW keys to move the flashing border to a tile where you want to display the sec-

ondary input source: or, press
column.

6 Press

NEXT/C. Channel C, in this example, carries the video of the graphic word “Kong.” That

image appears in the tile you selected in the preceding step.

7 Repeat the two preceding steps for any other tile or tiles you want. You can direct any input

signal to any tile by using one of the

8 When the Preview screen looks the way you want, press PLAY to cut to the Multi-PIP on the

output; or use the

9 Press SHIFT+PIPS to return to the Preview screen.

Using Freeze Effect with Multi-PIPs

You can apply the Freeze effect (refer to “Freeze” on page 78) to any Multi-PIP tile.

To use the Freeze effect with Multi-PIPs:

1 Use the ARROW keys to select a Multi-PIP tile.

2 Press FREEZE.

3 Press

FREEZE again to release the effect.

SHIFT+ARROW KEY to move to the beginning or end of a row or

NEXT keys.

T-BAR to fade the Multi-PIP to the output.

A composition can contain up to four

moving (or still) video tiles, an

unlimited amount of solid color tiles,

and one background.

CHAPTER 9

COMPOSE

Compose provides a way to create screens containing picture elements, solid colors, and
rectangles.

A composed screen consists of a background and one or more objects (called tiles) placed
atop the background. The background fills the entire screen. Tiles can vary in size and
appear anywhere on the screen.

You cannot save composed screens. Therefore, once you set up the composed screen the
way you want it, you must immediately record or display it on the output device. If you
move on to other functions without recording or displaying the composed screen, it is lost
and cannot be recovered.

The MX-4 provides a limited set of “drawing tools” in compose mode to help you create
backgrounds and tiles.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 9

BASIC COMPOSITION STEPS

This sequence shows how the composition at the beginning of this chapter was produced. More detailed
descriptions of the steps follow.

1

Select the background. This example uses a still image
of a mountain range. You can use imported still jpeg
images, gradients, solid color backgrounds, or color
bars.

2

Create a solid color tile. This rectangle serves as a
background for the next element and separates it
from the main background image.

3

Create the next tile, which is a moving video of two
polar bears jousting.

4

Create another solid colored tile. You might eventually
use this tile as a background for a text title.

5

BACKGROUNDS

The background for a composition can be any of the following:

• A moving video sequence

• A still image (that is, a frozen frame from a video sequence)

• A solid color

• A set of color bars

•A gradient

• An imported still frame jpeg image

Create one last solid color tile, but make it long and thin
so that it looks like a simple, wide line.

COMPOSE FOREGROUND T ILES

As you’ll learn later in this chapter (under “Creating a Composed Image”), you must establish the
background before entering Compose mode.

FOREGROUND TILES

Creating Color Tiles and Lines

Color tiles can be rectangles of any size and shape.

Colored lines are simply thin rectangles. You can create horizontal and vertical lines, but not diag­onal ones.

When you place a color tile on the screen, it can overlap other tiles. If the other tile is a color tile,
the new tile obscures the previous one wherever they overlap. However, if the other tile is a mov­ing video, the color tile does not cover any portion of the moving video.

89

Once you create a color tile you can use

Creating Moving Video Tiles

A tile can contain video originating from any of the MX-4 input sources.

The tile can be a rectangle of any size. The MX-4 scales the incoming video to fit within the tile, it
does not crop the image.

Creating Still Image Tiles

Still image tiles can contain a frozen image from any of the input sources.

MANIPULATING TILES

You can place foreground tiles anywhere you want on the screen. You can set their size, fill them
with color or images, and set their border characteristics.

TIP

Remember, once you place and define a foreground tile you cannot change it. Placing the tile
occurs once you move the Compose Cursor (or, rectangle) to any other position on the screen.
You’ll learn about the Compose Cursor in this section.

BG COLOR to change its fill color.

Positioning Tiles

When you press the COMPOSE button to enter Compose mode, the MX-4 shows your choice of
background on both the Preview and Output monitors. The MX-4 also displays a flashing rectangle
at the center of the Preview screen. This flashing rectangle is called the Compose Cursor.

The Compose Cursor (a flashing
rectangle) appears on the Preview
screen when you enter Compose
mode.

Use the
the

JOYSTICK to move the Compose cursor where you want it on the screen. You can also use

ARROW keys to make fine adjustments.

JOYSTICK positions Compose Cursor

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Sizing Tiles

You can make foreground tiles any size you want, from covering the entire screen to a thin hori­zontal or vertical line.

Always establish the size of the tile before filling it with a solid color, moving video, gradient, or
jpeg image.

Use the

SHIFT key in conjunction with one of the ARROW keys to adjust tile size. Enter SHIFT+0

(zero) to restore the tile to its default size.

SHIFT+FLIP to reproportion the tile based on its current width. Enter SHIFT+FLIP to

Enter
reproportion the tile based on its current height.

COMPOSITION RULES

Observe the following rules when creating compositions.

• Select and define the image you want to use as the background before entering Compose
mode.

• A composition can contain one background and anywhere from one to four video foreground
tiles with many colors.

• When you create a foreground tile that overlaps an existing solid color rectangle or still image,
the overlapping portion erases whatever it overlaps.

• Reducing the size of a still or moving video image normally introduces minor pixel artifacts,
thus reducing quality.

• Once you place (or, stamp) a foreground tile into place, you cannot move or change it.

• To use a composed image, you must record or display it on the output. There is no other way to
save the composition.

• You cannot use composed screens in conjunction with Learn mode.

The larger tile is drawn first. When the
second tile is drawn, it overlaps part of the
larger one. The overlapping portion of the
smaller tile erases that portion of the
larger tile where the two overlap.

COMPOSE CREATING A COMPOSED IMAGE

CREATING A COMPOSED IMAGE

To create a composition:

1 Create or choose the background, foreground, gradient, or still frame jpeg image on the Route

screen. Do this before entering Compose mode because the CURRENT source at the time you
enter compose mode automatically becomes the background for the composition.

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a Solid Color Background – Use the

CUT/BACKGROUND or use a transition to make BACKGROUND the CURRENT

press

BG COLOR button to select the color you want. Then

source.

b Moving Video Sequence – Use the appropriate

CUT button to make the desired input

source the CURRENT one. For example, to use a moving video sequence from source C
as the background, press

CUT/C.

c Still Image – Use the appropriate CUT button to make the desired input source the CUR-

RENT one. For example, to use a frame from source B as the background, press
When the frame you want to use as the still image appears on the Preview screen, press

FREEZE to create the still image.

d Color Bars – Press SHIFT+NEXT/BACKGROUND while in Compose mode to display color

bars in the background.

e Input Effects – Apply any Input Effects you want to the background source before enter-

ing Compose mode.

f Gradient or Jpeg – Use the Route menu to choose a gradient or jpeg and then route it to a

source. Next press the

CUT key associated with that source to make the gradient or jpeg

the background.

2 Press

COMPOSE to enter Compose mode.

A full screen image of the CURRENT source (the one on the Output) replaces the Preview
screen. The Compose Cursor appears on the Preview screen.

CUT/B.

TIP

To use color bars as the background, enter SHIFT+NEXT/BACKGROUND now – before creating
foreground tiles.

3 Use the JOYSTICK or ARROW KEYS to position the Compose Cursor where you want it on the

screen.

4 Size the Compose Cursor to the size you want for the foreground tile.

You can do the two preceding steps in either order.

5 Press one of the

a Solid Color Background – Press

NEXT buttons to fill the tile with whatever color or image you want.

NEXT/BACKGROUND to fill the tile with the currently

selected color.

To specify a different color from the one currently selected, press

BG COLOR until the

color you want fills the tile.

To create a custom color for the tile, press

T-BAR to create a new color. Press OK when the tile color is the one you want.

b Moving Video Sequence – Press the appropriate

LEARN+BG COLOR, then use the JOYSTICK and

NEXT button to select source A, B, C, or

D. If the dimensions of the tile and video do not match, the video appears distorted.

c Frozen Image – Fill the moving video tile with the image you want, then press

FREEZE.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 9

6 Repeat steps 3 through 5 until your composition is complete.

7 Use the

PLAY button or T-BAR to send your composition to the program output.

PLAYING THE COMPOSITION

To play a composition on the output device:

• Press

Pressing

T-BAR produces a dissolve. Pressing PLAY or using the T-BAR again lets you switch back and forth

between the CURRENT source and the composed image.

To reposition the
rarily disables the

PLAY or use the T-BAR.

Moving the T-BAR from the bottom-to-top in its slot transitions the composition to Program.
Moving it from top-to-bottom dissolves it out.

PLAY produces a cut from the CURRENT source to the composed screen — using the

T-BAR, hold down SHIFT while moving it. Holding down the SHIFT button tempo-

T-BAR.

NOTE

If you cut to any source or exit from Compose mode, your composed screen will be lost and cannot
be recovered.

EXITING FROM COMPOSE MODE

Remember, if you do not record your composed image to the output device before exiting Com­pose mode, your composed image will be lost and cannot be recovered.

To exit from Compose mode, press

COMPOSE.

CHAPTER 10

CHROMAKEY

Using Chromakey you can

combine two completely
separate images to create a
composite image that might

be impossible to create any

other way.

You’ve probably seen the chromakey effect used in television weather reports. The weather
person stands in front of a “blue screen” (a solid blue background) and the weather map then
keys onto the background from some other source.

Chromakey combines two sources to create a composite image.

One source has a

1 2

solid colored
background, such as
a blue screen.

The chromakey effect replaces the solid colored

3

background in the first image with the video
signal from the second image. The second image
replaces the background only where the
designated color appears.

Chromakey requires careful preparation of the input sources to achieve the desired effect.
Keep the following points in mind:

The other source
can be any video
image.

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MX-4 USER GUIDE CHAPTER 10

• The color used for the background must not appear elsewhere in the image. For example, if
Kong’s head (in the example above) contains colors close to the chromakey background, the
picture of the bridge would appear in those areas. (Professionals often use a special “blue
screen” paint for the backdrop when filming the image.)

• The color of the background must be evenly distributed. Glare from camera lights and shad­ows of the subject can alter the background color. MX-4’s chromakey circuitry might not be
able to handle the different values, thereby spoiling the illusion.

This chapter explains how to prepare footage for use with the chromakey feature. Of course, screen
images appear in grayscale in this book.

Background

Footage

Chromakey

Footage

The Background footage shows traffic moving along a freeway or highway.

The Keyed footage, specially prepared, shows our intrepid hero flying against a solid colored
background.

The Chromakey footage is the result of combining the background footage and keyed footage
using the MX-4 chromakey feature.

PREPARING THE BACKGROUND FOOTAGE

Preparation of the background footage does not require anything special. It might be footage of
automobile traffic taken from a bridge.

TIP

The more unusual or dramatic the Background footage the greater the final effect of the chromakey.

Keyed

Footage

CHROMAKEY PREPARING THE KEYED FOOTAGE

PREPARING THE KEYED FOOTAGE

Preparation of the keyed footage presents a challenge. It is the most important and most difficult
step, because the solid colored background is so crucial to the success of the illusion. To achieve
the required background requires, in most cases, special props, lighting, and other materials.

In this example, we placed our flying hero atop a platform centered on the set.

Here’s how the footage used in this example was prepared:

• Uniquely colored fabric was draped over the back, sides, and bottom of the set. The same fab­ric was used to wrap completely around the platform on which we posed our flying hero.

When choosing the fabric color, it was important to try and select a fabric that did not contain
any of the colors in our flying hero’s wardrobe. Professional studios generally use a bright
green or blue screen in place of the colored fabric.

• Key lights and fill lights were positioned so as to minimize glare and shadows during filming.

Light bouncing off an area produces different shades of the background color. Likewise, shad­ows also produce varying shades. The key to successful chromakeys is to reduce as much as
possible the colors in the background.

The use of lighting filters, umbrellas, lighting stands, and similar tools can make a tremendous
difference in the quality of the chromakey as well as the amount of “post production” work
you must do to produce the exact illusion you want.

• Several test shots were made, then lighting was adjusted, the actor was repositioned, and so
forth, until the optimum results were produced.

• Final footage was then shot.

95

PREPARING THE CHROMAKEY FOOTAGE

With the background footage and keyed footage recorded and available, you’re ready to combine
them into the chromakey effect. The following steps assume that source A is the background foot­age (the traffic sequence) and source C is the keyed footage (the flying hero).

To prepare the chromakey footage:

1 If necessary, turn on the MX-4 and all sources.

2 Start both sources (A and C) rolling.

3 Select the background footage as the CURRENT source — that is, press

appears on the program monitor.

4 Select the keyed footage as the NEXT source — that is, press

5 Press

CHROMAKEY or SHIFT+CHROMAKEY to activate the effect. CHROMAKEY starts it and

uses the last chromakey setting you created;
setting.

CUT/A. The image

NEXT/C.

SHIFT+CHROMAKEY starts with a new chromakey

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The Preview screen displays a full-screen picture of the keyed footage from source C. A cursor
(a small flashing circle) appears atop the image.

Chroma Key

Cursor

Once you activate the Chroma Key, it stays in effect until you specifically deactivate it (which
you’ll learn to do later in this procedure).To change the selected color or colors for the Chroma
Key, press

SHIFT+CHROMAKEY. This instructs the MX-4 to discard the current set of colors so

you can specify different ones.

Cancelling the

Selections

6 Use the

JOYSTICK or ARROW keys to move the cursor so that it is directly over the area that

contains the color to key out — that is, to specify the area in which the other video source is
going to play.

7 Press

OK. Those areas in the picture that match the color under the cursor get replaced by the

background source.

a If you need to include other colors in the keyed-out area, repeat steps 6 and 7. You can

repeat the steps as many times as necessary to key-out the entire background.

b To remove the last keyed color change, enter

SHIFT+0 (zero).

c To fine-tune the keyed color, use SHIFT+ARROW KEY.

If you aren’t able to successfully isolate the background from the subject, you might have to re­shoot the scene using a background of a different color — or, you might just need to change the
lighting to eliminate glare and shadows.

If you need to start over, you can cancel all of the chromakey selections made thus far by pressing

SHIFT+CHROMAKEY, as explained above.