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NewTek Talkshow VS-100 User Manual

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Revised – May 13, 2015
Trademarks: NewTek, TalkShow, TalkShow VS100, TriCaster, TriCaster XD, TriCaster 8000, TriCaster TCXD8000, TCXD8000, TriCaster 860, TriCaster TCXD860, TCXD860, TriCaster 460, TriCaster TCXD460, TCXD460, TriCaster 410, TriCaster TCXD410, TCXD410, TriCaster Mini, TriCaster 40, TriCaster TCXD40, TCXD40, TriCaster 855, TriCaster TCXD855, TCXD855, TriCaster 455, TriCaster TCXD455, TCXD455, TriCaster EXTREME, TriCaster 850 EXTREME, TriCaster TCXD850 EXTREME, TCXD850 EXTREME, TriCaster 450 EXTREME, TriCaster TCXD450 EXTREME, TCXD450 EXTREME, TriCaster 850, TriCaster TCXD850, TCXD850, TriCaster 450, TriCaster TCXD450, TCXD450, TriCaster 300, TriCaster TCXD300, TCXD300, TriCaster PRO, TriCaster STUDIO, TriCaster BROADCAST, TriCaster DUO, 3PLAY, 3Play, 3Play 4800, 3PXD4800, 3Play 440, 3PXD440, 3Play Mini, 3Play 820, 3PXD820, 3Play 425, 3PXD425 3Play 330, 3PXD330, ProTek, ProTek Care, ProTek Elite, iVGA, SpeedEDIT, IsoCorder, LiveText, DataLink, LiveSet, TriCaster Virtual Set Editor, TriCaster VSE, LiveMatte, TimeWarp, VT, VT[3], VT[4], V[T5], Video Toaster, Toaster, Inspire 3D, 3D Arsenal, Aura, LightWave, LightWave 3D and LightWave CORE are trademarks, service marks, and registered trademarks of NewTek. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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About This Manual ........................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3
SECTION 2.1 SKYPE TX™ AND TALKSHOW™ ........................................................................................... 3
2.1.1 Skype TX™ Client and Control – Overview ....................................................................... 3
2.1.2 TalkShow™ ...................................................................................................................... 4
SECTION 2.2 FEATURES ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.2.1 Physical............................................................................................................................ 4
2.2.2 Multi-Tier Failsafe ........................................................................................................... 5
2.2.3 A/V Features.................................................................................................................... 5
2.2.4 Call Management ............................................................................................................ 6
Setting Up ......................................................................................................................... 7
SECTION 3.1 COMMAND AND CONTROL ................................................................................................ 7
SECTION 3.2 CONFIGURING WINDOWS™ .............................................................................................. 9
SECTION 3.3 TALKSHOW™ LICENSE AND REGISTRATION ......................................................................... 10
3.3.1 Online Registration ........................................................................................................ 11
3.3.2 Registering by Telephone .............................................................................................. 11
SECTION 3.4 RACK MOUNTING TALKSHOW ......................................................................................... 12
SECTION 3.5 INPUT CONNECTIONS ..................................................................................................... 12
3.5.1 Internet Connectivity ..................................................................................................... 12
3.5.2 Return to Caller ............................................................................................................. 13
3.5.3 Reference Signal (Genlock) ............................................................................................ 15
SECTION 3.6 SKYPE CALL OUTPUT ...................................................................................................... 15
3.6.1 Network Connection ...................................................................................................... 16
3.6.2 SDI Output ..................................................................................................................... 16
3.6.3 Analog Audio ................................................................................................................. 16
SECTION 3.7 TALLY (ON AIR) ............................................................................................................ 17
3.7.1 Tally Port Details ........................................................................................................... 17
SECTION 3.8 FIRST LAUNCH AND CONFIGURATION ................................................................................ 17
3.8.1 Signing In ....................................................................................................................... 19
3.8.2 Choosing PAL or NTSC Video Standards ........................................................................ 20
3.8.3 Configure Return to Caller ............................................................................................. 22
SECTION 3.9 CONFIGURE GENLOCK .................................................................................................... 24
Live Production Walkthrough ........................................................................................ 27
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SECTION 4.1 MAKING A CALL ............................................................................................................ 27
4.1.1 The Contacts List ........................................................................................................... 27
4.1.2 Skype Calling ................................................................................................................. 31
4.1.3 Talk Back ....................................................................................................................... 32
4.1.4 Disconnecting ................................................................................................................ 33
SECTION 4.2 RECORDING CALLS ......................................................................................................... 34
SECTION 4.3 CALLER SNAPSHOT ......................................................................................................... 35
The TalkShow™ Desktop ................................................................................................ 39
I/O Configuration ........................................................................................................... 41
SECTION 6.1 A/V RETURN TO CALLER (INPUT) ..................................................................................... 41
6.1.1 Video ............................................................................................................................. 42
6.1.2 Audio ............................................................................................................................. 48
SECTION 6.2 CALL A/V (OUTPUT) ...................................................................................................... 56
6.2.1 Video ............................................................................................................................. 57
6.2.2 Audio ............................................................................................................................. 62
6.2.3 No call options ............................................................................................................... 64
SECTION 6.3 REFERENCE (GENLOCK) .................................................................................................. 65
6.3.1 Vertical Position, Horizontal Position and Phase .......................................................... 66
6.3.2 Reference Type .............................................................................................................. 68
6.3.3 Center Frequency .......................................................................................................... 68
6.3.4 Tally (On Air) ................................................................................................................. 68
Monitoring and Call Status ............................................................................................. 69
SECTION 7.1 THE CONTACT LIST ........................................................................................................ 69
7.1.1 Status Stripe .................................................................................................................. 70
SECTION 7.2 CALL MONITORING ........................................................................................................ 70
SECTION 7.3 CALL STATUS ................................................................................................................ 71
SECTION 7.4 CALL TECHNICAL INFO .................................................................................................... 73
Skype TX Control ............................................................................................................ 79
SECTION 8.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND INSTALLATION ....................................................................... 80
SECTION 8.2 SETTING UP SKYPE TX CONTROL ....................................................................................... 80
SECTION 8.3 USER INTERFACE ........................................................................................................... 81
SECTION 8.4 INITIAL START UP ........................................................................................................... 88
SECTION 8.5 SETTINGS ..................................................................................................................... 90
8.5.1 Incoming Settings .......................................................................................................... 90
8.5.2 Channel Settings ............................................................................................................ 91
8.5.3 API Settings ................................................................................................................... 92
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8.5.4 Workflow Settings ......................................................................................................... 93
SECTION 8.6 ADDING MACHINES ....................................................................................................... 94
SECTION 8.7 MAKING A CALL ............................................................................................................ 96
8.7.1 Adding a Contact ........................................................................................................... 97
8.7.2 Making Multiple Calls.................................................................................................. 105
SECTION 8.8 TAKING A SNAPSHOT .................................................................................................... 105
SECTION 8.9 MANAGING A CALL ...................................................................................................... 107
SECTION 8.10 MONITORING A CALL ................................................................................................. 108
SECTION 8.11 ENDING A CALL ......................................................................................................... 109
SECTION 8.12 SHUTTING DOWN SKYPE TX CONTROL ........................................................................... 110
A How Do I … (?) ...................................................................................................................... 111
A.1 CONNECTIONS ................................................................................................................. 113
A.1.1 Connect the Video Return Source? .......................................................................... 113
A.1.2 Connect tally lights? ................................................................................................ 113
A.1.3 Connect to a network? ............................................................................................ 113
A.1.4 Resolve A Network Source Issue? ............................................................................ 113
A.1.5 Enable Termination for video inputs? ..................................................................... 115
A.2 LIVE PRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 115
A.2.1 Record my Program? ............................................................................................... 115
A.3 FILES .............................................................................................................................. 116
A.4 SOFTWARE, MAINTENANCE AND UPDATES ............................................................................ 116
A.4.1 Resolve Serious Instability or Dropped frames? ...................................................... 116
A.4.2 Update TalkShow Software? ................................................................................... 116
A.4.3 Install Virus Protection? .......................................................................................... 116
A.4.4 Install My Favorite Software (or Codec)? ................................................................ 117
A.4.5 Create a ‘User Backup’ Drive ................................................................................... 117
A.4.6 Restore Talkshow Software ..................................................................................... 117
A.5 REGISTRATION AND TECH SUPPORT ..................................................................................... 119
A.5.1 Register TalkShow? ................................................................................................. 119
A.5.2 Contact Customer Support? .................................................................................... 119
A.5.3 Find Talkshow’s Hardware/Firmware Revision Numbers? ...................................... 119
B Dimensions and Mounting ................................................................................................... 121
C Reliability Testing ................................................................................................................. 122
Index ............................................................................................................................................. 123
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P ART I ( G E T T I N G S T A R T E D )
Introducing TalkShow – connections and registration, a top-level overview of primary features, and a quick hands-on tour to get you started.
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This manual tells you everything you need to know to use your TalkShow™ system. It attempts to convey essential information in a friendly, concise way, while also deeper reference information you can turn to when you really need all of the relevant details.
Even if you are the hands-on, never-ask-directions type, please peruse this page. If any questions about your TalkShow system arise later, you may find the information here allows you to jump directly to the details you need with a minimum of reading.
PART I – GETTIN G STARTED
Introduction to TalkShow™ and Skype TX™, network and device connections, registration details, including basic operation.
PART II – REFERENCE
This section covers every arcane detail related to using TalkShow (for those who need it, and those who just like to know everything).
PART III – APPENDICES
Leads off with a handy section titled “How do I …?“, a helpful question and answer section with its own brief index. When you have a specific need, you may well find a quick answer here, along with cross references to more detailed information when appropriate.
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NewTek is extremely proud of its record of innovation and commitment to excellence in design, manufacture, and product support. This chapter provides a quick tour of the major components of your new TalkShow live production system, and explains how to perform initial connection and configuration.
Thank you for purchasing this NewTek system. TalkShow® is a proud member of our talented family of video production and broadcast systems. Its sleek profile conceals a robust system that has been lovingly crafted to fill an important role in your studio.
If your production pipeline includes other NewTek products, you may enjoy added benefits; but rest assured, TalkShow’s professional design and high-end feature set allow it to be easily integrated into any broadcast workflow.
The Skype TX™ platform is at the core of you TalkShow™ system’s capabilities.
Skype TX™ is a unique Skype® based system developed by Microsoft® to present the video
and audio of any Skype call seamlessly to the television broadcast chain. The Skype TX platform includes several primary applications, described next.
Most familiar, of course, is the ubiquitous Skype™ Client enjoyed by hundreds of millions of users around the world on various platforms, including mobile devices. The Skype TX™ Client software leverages that global communication network, bringing its astonishing two way video
communication capabilities into the video broadcast environment in more traditional forms, and with visual quality and features suited to studio workflows and requirements. (Of course, these same abilities can be very useful for many other applications as well).
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A single Skype TX Client supports both ends of one Skype call, referred to in the Skype TX workflow as a “channel”. You may wonder, though, how multiple channels can be managed. A second application called Skype TX™ Control provides tools to manage multiple Skype TX channels.
Skype TX Control manages multiple Skype TX Clients (channels), and lets you initiate calls to any contact in the central Contacts database. Physical access to the Skype TX unit or the Skype TX software is not required in this case.
TalkShow™ is the brand name of NewTek live production systems purpose-designed to support the Skype TX™ platform, as well as the identity of the software suite running on the system.
The Skype TX Client software, described previously, is hosted within the TalkShow application. This integrated approach presents the user with a seamless experience combining the awesome power of the Skype TX platform with high-end professional audio and video features provided by TalkShow. The end result is an unparalleled Skype TX experience that eliminates any need for a number of expensive external audio and video devices that might otherwise be considered mandatory.
Let’s take time for a brief review of the key features of your new TalkShow unit.
Rugged yet very compact (1RU) rack-mount case. Audio and video, monitoring and network connectors are easily accessible from
the rear for convenient installation in standard 19” rack-mount configurations.
Industry standard connectors (XLR, ¼” audio jack, and BNC) ensure broad
compatibility and secure connections.
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NewTek’s ‘Always on Air’ failsafe system provides multi-tier redundancy. Software processes continually monitor and safeguard the live performance. Recoverable error conditions are quickly and unobtrusively dealt with. The system can automatically display a still image of the remote caller while maintaining audio transmission, should unforeseen bandwidth constraints occur below specified values.
TalkShow also has a comprehensive integrated system restore feature. Operators can quickly and easily restore to factory defaults, or create a restore image on an external drive, then restore from it should a complete hard drive failure ever occur.
A studio-grade production source, TalkShow delivers HD-SDI video to the
switcher, with automatic aspect ratio handling.
Full 4:4:4:4 32-bit floating point internal processing of all video sources. Proc Amp, White Balance, and Auto Color features ensure responsive,
professional quality live color correction. Adjust video output to compensate for environmental variations automatically, manually, or both.
SDI-embedded or (balanced) analog audio input and output, with quality
enhancement features including integrated graphic equalizer and compressor/limiter to enhance quality, maintain consistent levels, and prevent clipping or overdriving.
Record incoming call audio and video (and optional return audio on isolated
channels for post-production) to local or networked storage.
Supports NewTek’s unique AirSend™ technology that can transmit all required
a/v signals between Talkshow and a TriCaster™ live production system across a network, without any other cabling or using up precious switcher input and output connections.
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Call management is handled separately from a/v output, resulting in a feed that
is free of pop-ups, advertisements and notifications.
Tally notification tells operator and caller when they are ‘live to air’. Included SkypeTX™ Control application permits multiple TalkShow systems and
Skype™ calls to be managed from a single interface.
The unique Talk Back button on the TalkShow Dashboard makes it easy for the
TalkShow operator or ‘call screener’ to communicate directly with the remote Skype™ caller using an inexpensive headset, without potentially complicated and
expensive external audio routing systems.
The included Skype TX™ Control application, installed on an external computer
system, provides the possibility of managing multiple TalkShow units (and Skype™ channels) centrally. See Chapter 8, Skype TX Control.
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This chapter explains how to connect and configure your NewTek TalkShow™ system. It also reviews the registration process, and explains how to connect to external video production devices.
After completing this short section, you’ll be all set to continue into
the Live Production Walkthrough chapter that follows it.
To begin, let’s review the contents of the box:
NewTek Talkshow™ A/C power cord NewTek mouse and keyboard Quick Start Guide NewTek TalkShow registration reminder card New product letter
FI GURE 1
1. Connect an external computer monitor to a port labeled either DVI or HDMI, as
appropriate for your device.
Hint: TalkShow’s interface requires a resolution of at least 1600x1050.
2. Connect the mouse and keyboard to USB ports on TalkShow.
3. Connect the power cord between Talkshow and an external power receptacle.
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4. Connect a suitable cable to the one of the RJ-45 ports marked ETHERNET, and
connect that to a network with Internet access.
NOTE: It is recommended that your Internet service should support at least 2.5 megabit speeds in both directions for a single, reliable, high definition Skype call.
FI GURE 2
5. Turn on the computer monitor.
6. Press the large round On/Off
switch at left on TalkShow’s faceplate.
At this point, the blue ring surrounding the On/Off will illuminate, as will the NewTek logo at right, and the unit will boot up. (If this does not happen, check your connections and retry).
Though not a requirement, we do strongly recommend that you connect TalkShow using an uninterruptable
power supply (UPS), as for any ‘mission critical’ system. Likewise, consider A/C “power conditioning”, especially in
situations where local power is unreliable or ‘noisy’.
Surge protection is especially important in some locales. Power conditioners can reduce wear on
A word about UPS devices:
‘Modified sine wave’ UPS devices are
popular due to low manufacturing costs. However, such units should generally be
viewed as being of low quality and
possibly inadequate to fully protect the
system from abnormal power events..
For a modest added cost, consider a
"pure sine wave" UPS. These units can
be relied on to supply very clean power,
eliminating potential problems, and are
recommended for applications
demanding high reliability.
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TalkShow’s power supply and other electronics, and provide a further measure of protection from surges, spikes, lightning and high voltage.
Hint: Power saving settings such as ‘sleep’, etc., that could negatively imact TalkShow functionality are off by default.
You will want to take time to ensure that your system is configured correctly for your own locale.
1. Exit the TalkShow application, if necessary, and press the Windows key on your
keyboard (usually between CTRL and ALT) to reveal the Windows Start screen.
FI GURE 3
2. Near the bottom left corner of the Start screen, click the arrow icon (Figure 3) to
display the Apps screen, showing all installed applications.
FI GURE 4
3. Click the Control Panel icon under the Windows System heading.
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FI GURE 5
4. In the Windows™ Control Panel, click Clock, Language, and Region (Figure 5), and
make appropriate selections as required.
On first launch, TalkShow presents an End User License Agreement dialog. After you accept this, the Registration dialog shown in Figure 6 is presented. If necessary, enter the unique Serial Number and Product ID for your system.
Important note: The TalkShow software will not launch until the system is registered and unlocked.
You can register and obtain your registration code online (directly from TalkShow, or from another system connected to the Internet) or by telephone.
Hint: If the Serial number doesn’t appear automatically, and you can’t find it on your unit,
you can obtain it from the registration webpage mentioned in the next section, or by calling Customer Support Desk (open seven days a week).
For later convenience, you may wish to record the registration code for your TalkShow on the sticker affixed on the chassis of the unit expressly for this purpose.
FI GURE 6
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If you have connected your TalkShow to the Internet, simply click the button under Step 2 in the registration dialog. This will take you to the Registration page (http://register.newtek.com) on NewTek’s website, where you will find further directions.
Hint: Information on connecting TalkShow to a network can be found in 3.6.1 .
Otherwise, you can visit the registration webpage from another system with Internet access. In either case, after registering on the website, enter the resulting registration code into the field provided in the Registration dialog.
NewTek’s Customer Support center can also handle registration requests by telephone, if that is more convenient (when opportunity permits, you should still visit the website as discussed above to gain access to software updates).
Please have your Product ID (from the Registration dialog mentioned earlier) handy when you call. The phone numbers for Customer Support follow:
Telephone:
(US) 1-800-862-7837 (Outside US) +1-210-370-8452 (Europe) +33 (0) 557-262-262
Hint: It’s a good idea to record the login name and password you choose when creating your
website profile, and keep them in a safe place. Jot down the registration code too; it could come in very handy if you ever need to restore the TalkShow software to its as-shipped state when you don’t have access to the Internet.
UPDATES
It’s a great idea to check for recent free software updates for your system at this time, too – see Section A.4.2 for more on this.
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ENHANCED SUPPORT (PROTEK)
NewTek’s optional ProTekSM service programs offer renewable (and transferable)
coverage and enhanced support service features extending well beyond the standard warranty period. Please see http://www.newtek.com/support/protek.html or your local authorized NewTek reseller for more details regarding ProTek plan options.
TalkShow is designed for convenient mounting in standard 19” racks (side rails are available from NewTek, if desired). Please keep in mind that adequate cooling is a very important requirement for virtually all electronic and digital equipment, and this is true of Talkshow as well.
When designing enclosures or mounting the unit, supplying good free air movement around the chassis should be viewed as an important design consideration. This is especially true in fixed installations where Talkshow might be installed inside furniture­style enclosures.
In particular, you must provide adequate space above the unit (1RU is recommended as a minimum). We also suggest leaving 1.5 to 2 inches of space on all sides to allow cool (i.e., comfortable ‘room temperature’) air to circulate around the chassis.
Hint: If you operate TalkShow in a ‘road case’ for mobile production, it’s best to do so with both the front and back covers (of the road case) removed.
Please refer to the notes under in Section 3.1, Command and Control. TalkShow’s dual network ports provide a great deal of flexibility to ensure that you can integrate the system into your own network environment without compromising the bandwidth required for all-important audio and video transmission.
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During Skype calls, Talkshow requires an audio and video Return source to send to the remote caller:
The audio return lets the caller hear the opposite end of the dialog (it’s
customary to return a ‘mix-minus’ feed, to avoid a nasty echo effect; more on
that topic later).
Although the video return really could be almost anything, it typically consists
of a program feed from the video switcher.
The audio and video Return feeds can be supplied in several ways:
FI GURE 7
SDI
The Return video signal can be connected to the BNC connector marked SDI IN on TalkShow’s rear panel (shown at left in Figure 7). If this SDI signal contains embedded audio, you will not need a separate analog audio connection for the Skype Return.
TRICASTER™ NETWORK OUTPUT
NewTek’s TriCaster™ live production system has both an integrated audio mixer and the
ability to transmit a user-selected a/v program across a standard *network by means of NewTek’s AirSend™ technology. TalkShow provides native support for this very convenient alternative. * See note below.
Note: TriCaster 40 models do not support network output.
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FI GURE 8
In this instance, no incoming (or outgoing) SDI or XLR connection is even required. All you need to do is connect both TalkShow to the same network that hosts the TriCaster.
Ideally, this will be a local network that is not in heavy use for purposes unrelated to your production, as opposed to a busy corporate network. Since TalkShow has two network connectors, you have a great deal of flexibility in routing network traffic to best advantage.
Note: The TalkShow and TriCaster systems must be on the same subnet.
ANALOG AUDIO
Often, though, you may wish to supply the audio for the Skype Return from an external audio mixer using traditional analog cabling. In this case, you should connect your Return audio source to one or both of the XLR connectors on TalkShow’s rear panel marked
AUDIO IN (shown at right in Figure 7).
Note: Regardless of the means you use to supply audio to be returned to the remote caller, you will want to take steps to ensure you use an audio feed that does not include the caller’s own contribution to the audio mix, in order to avoid a confusing echo problem at the remote location. This special type of mix is commonly referred to as a ‘mix-minus’, since it consists of ‘program audio’ minus ‘caller audio’.
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TALK BACK CONNE CTIONS
FI GURE 9
The Talk Back feature, discussed in Section 4.1.3, provides a convenient means for the TalkShow operator to communicate directly with a remote caller, without a complicated or expensive external audio solution. Simply connect the mic and headphone connectors of a headset to the pink and green audio jacks on TalkShow’s rear panel.
The Genlock input on TalkShows’s backplate is for connection of a ‘house sync’ or reference signal.
Many studios use this method to synchronize equipment in the video chain. Genlocking is commonplace in higher-end production environments, and genlock connections are typically provided on professional gear.
To connect a genlock source, supply the signal from the ‘house sync generator’ to the Genlock connector (Figure 10). See Section 3.9 for genlock configuration information.
Next we’ll discuss audio and video output to downstream production devices. As was the case for the Return signals, TalkShow’s ‘Skype call’ output for in-studio use can also take several forms.
FI GURE 10
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As discussed under “TriCaster™ Network Output” back in Section 3.5.1, in a studio pipeline including a NewTek *TriCaster, TalkShow can both send and receive all necessary audio and video across a local network via AirSend™. * See note below.
1. This includes:
o The Skype™ video call traffic to and from the remote caller o The Return a/v stream to be sent to the remote caller, as discussed
earlier, and …
o The audio and video from the remote caller to be transmitted to the video
switcher for inclusion in the program and, ultimately, for broadcast.
So - if you have connected your TalkShow and TriCaster to a network for the Return a/v transmission, the same connection can carry audio and video from the remote Skype caller back to TriCaster.
The source menus for TriCaster’s ‘Net ‘ inputs will list the output channel from TalkShow,
just as it does any other valid network video source. (See your TriCaster documentation for more details on working with network sources.)
Note: TriCaster 40 models do not support network output.
The BNC connector labeled SDI OUT supplies the audio and video from the remote Skype caller as either an SD or HD-SDI a/v stream (configured in software) to downstream devices.
Many will find it more useful to supply audio from the remote call to the program mix using conventional analog audio connections send from TalkShow to a downstream mixer. Simply connect audio devices to the XLR connectors in the AUDIO OUT section.
FI GURE 11
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Tally (On Air) notification can be enabled for TalkShow’s front panel LCD screen, as well as being displayed on the Return video stream sent back to the remote Skype™ caller.
Tally notification can be sent from a NewTek TriCaster™ live production system across a network connection, as described in Section 3.6.1. Otherwise, it can be triggered by a GPI signal presented to the Tally connector on TalkShow’s rear panel.
Here is a ‘pin-out’ for TalkShow’s HD15 Tally connector:
Pin7 – GPI 3 Input Pin8 – GPI 4 Input Pin9 – GND Pin10 – GND Pin11 – GPI 1/Tally Input Pin12 – Talk Back (GPI 2) Input Pin14 – 3.3V (with 20 Ohms current limit)
ENGINEERING NOTES
GPI stands for General Purpose Interface, a long-serving control protocol used in
broadcast environments.
To prevent damage to TriCaster’s components when making external connections to
the tally light jacks, care should be taken that connection to Pins designated GND (Ground) are always at ground potential.
If TalkShow is not already running, power it up now. After logging in if necessary, the TalkShow™ Desktop is displayed (Figure 12). We’ll limit ourselves here to configuring input and output, and move on to discuss connecting to Skype™ and handling calls in Chapter 4, Live Production Walkthrough.
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Note: On first launching TalkShow™, you will also be asked to accept the Skype TX™ End User
License Agreement.
FI GURE 12
TalkShow’s Desktop (Figure 12) consists of two primary sections contained in a unified application window, with each section identified by a wide white header at its top.
The upper portion of the TalkShow Desktop always contains the Skype TX™ Client controls. This area hosts the primary call management features and settings, along with various preview monitors. Across the bottom you will see the NewTek TalkShow™ Dashboard, which provides quick access to advanced settings and features.
Hint: Clicking the Return, Call, or Setup buttons expands the TalkShow™ Dashboard to display the
corresponding control pane. Alternatively, click anywhere in the wide white Dashboard area to toggle the TalkShow control panel open or closed.
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Although you can configure some settings of your Talkshow system before signing in, you will need to do so before long anyway, so let’s review this part of the process now.
1. When you first launch, your screen will look much like Figure 12. The familiar
Skype™ login screen is displayed at upper right.
FI GURE 13
2. This dialog allows you to use an existing Skype ID or Microsoft account to sign in,
or create a new account for this purpose.
3. After you make a selection, the Sign In dialog refreshes to show expanded login
options, including a check box a lower right allowing you to opt to sign in automatically on launch.
4. Enter sign-in credentials for the desired account.
5. Skype TX will connect you to the desired account, and the screen will update to
show the full interface. Notice that the account you used to sign in is identified at upper right, in the white TalkShow header (Figure 14).
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FI GURE 14
Having connected, let’s continue to configure audio and video settings.
Hint: Once signed in to a Skype account, a Sign Out button is available at upper right (Figure 14).
At this point, let’s configure Talkshow for either PAL or NTSC video standard, according to
your locale.
6. Click the large gear at upper (Figure 15) left to expand the Skype TX settings panel
to occupy the left side of the TalkShow Desktop.
FI GURE 15
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7. Locate and click the Video (camera) icon at the top of the Skype TX settings pane
(Figure 16) to populate the settings panel with video options.
FI GURE 16
Notice that there is an SDI frame rate menu in the settings group labeled Output. This important setting determines whether TalkShow’s video hardware runs in PAL or NTSC mode, and other options will update as required based on your selection here.
FI GURE 17
8. Select either 29.97, 59.94 or 30 fps for NTSC, or alternatively, 25 or 50 for PAL.
Note: If SDI video input or output does not seem to be working, check this setting. If incorrect, all you will see is black.
We’ll discuss other settings in this pane later, but for now let’s continue by setting up the video signal we will return to the remote Skype™ caller.
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FI GURE 18
9. Click the large blue Return button centrally located in the TalkShow™ Dashboard
at the bottom of the TalkShow Desktop (Figure 18).
FI GURE 19
This maximizes the TalkShow™ Dashboard and displays the Return Settings pane (Figure 19). Controls and settings related to the signals you wish to send back to the remote Skype caller are all configured here.
FI GURE 20
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10. In the Video group at left (Figure 20), choose the appropriate option in the Input
Connection drop-down menu.
(You’ll see a number of popular video formats listed there; as well, if your
workflow includes a TriCaster live production system (other than TriCaster 40)
connected to the same network as Talkshow, you’ll be able to choose the TriCaster’s network output listed – see the sub-heading TriCaster™ Network
Output in Section 3.5.2 for more detail.)
At this point, if your designated return (‘input’) connection is supplying video, you should be able to see the video on the monitor in the TalkShow Return settings pane (as well as the smaller Return Video monitor above in the Skype TX™ monitor group above).
FI GURE 21
11. Repeat this process to choose the correct audio source using the Connection
menu in the Audio settings group at right (Figure 21).
Again, if the audio source is supplying sound, you should see activity on the VU meters in the Audio group. Feel free to adjust the Gain knob below at this time, as well.
Hint: By default, TalkShow’s VU meter scale is calibrated in XXX. Click the gray triangle below the
scale to select between dBFS, dBVU or dBu options.
We’ll discuss the other features hosted in TalkShow’s Return panel later but let’s move on to complete our basic setup by configuring the Genlock (or ‘reference signal’) input.
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(Optional) As mentioned earlier, the Genlock input on TalkShow’s backplate is for connection of a ‘house sync’ or reference signal.
FI GURE 22
While not an absolute requirement for Talkshow, genlocking is standard procedure in high-end production environments, and genlock connections are typically provided on professional gear. To configure TalkShow’s genlock settings, proceed as follows:
12. Access the Setup panel by clicking the blue button by that name in the Talkshow
Dashboard (Figure 22).
FI GURE 23
13. The default Reference Type in the Genlock settings group is SD (Bi-level), as is
currently this remains the most reference signal type in use.
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However, if you supply an HD reference signal to the Genlock input, you may want to change the setting to HD (Tri-level).
14. With the aid of downstream Waveform and Vector Scopes, adjust TriCaster’s
Horizontal Position, Vertical Position, and Phase settings. For a deeper discussion of Genlock settings, see Section Section 6.3 in Chapter 5).
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This chapter provides a quick hands-on tour of the major components and functions of your NewTek TalkShow™. In a very short time, these basics will be second nature to you. (More detailed reference material on all aspects of TalkShow follows in Part II.)
In the previous section, you made the necessary device connections to TalkShow™, and configured basic settings. We’ll get to the details of more advanced options in Part 2 (Reference), but at this point let’s jump right into using the system.
Skype TX™ occupies the upper section of TalkShow’s unified interface. Among other things, this area provides all of the tools you need to make and manage Skype calls for use in your broadcast.
Depending on how you configure it, Skype TX™ can both make and receive Skype™ calls. By default, incoming calls are ignored unless they already exist in the local Contact list.
Likewise, before calling someone, you must add them to the Contact list. So our first step in this section is going to be adding a contact.
Skype TX makes it easy to add and manage your contacts, even organizing them into groups for convenience.
Since you signed in to Skype when you launched TalkShow, you might expect the Contacts list to be automatically populated. After all, this is the way the standard Skype client would work on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Note, then, that Skype TX did not do this. Rather, contacts are added individually by the operator.
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It’s useful to know that TalkShow’s Contact List is local to the unit, not the Skype account you use to sign in. This is very convenient, since the contacts you add persist, regardless of which Skype™ account you log in with.
Thus, no matter which account you use to sign in on your TalkShow system, you will have access to this contact list (even when the same Skype client account, which has its own contact list associated with it, is used for other purposes or modified).
Caution: Contact List details are visible from the application window even when you are not signed in. This being so, we recommend securing the system with a password to ensure privacy.
ADDING CO NTACTS
The Contacts List is located in the Skype TX pane, above the TalkShow Dashboard (you may want to minimize the Dashboard before beginning this section).
FI GURE 24
Figure 24 shows how the TalkShow Desktop looks with the Return video source already connected and configured – before initiating a Skype™ call.
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The left side of the screen is a large, mostly-empty gray pane. This is where your Skype TX contacts will appear once added.
FI GURE 25
(If you see a pane showing other options and settings instead of the blank gray Contacts List, as in Figure 25, simply click the blue ‘gear’ button at upper-left to minimize it.)
FI GURE 26
1. Click the + button (Add Contact) at upper-right in the Contacts area (Figure 26) to
display the new contact dialogue in the middle of the contacts area.
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FI GURE 27
2. Fill in the various fields (Figure 27) with the details of the new contact you wish to
create as follows.
o Display Name – The name of the remote caller. (This name is for Contact
use reference only, and is not displayed on the video output.
o Location – The remote caller’s location. Again, this information is for
reference in the Contact list only.
o User Name – The user name that identifies the contact. This can be either
a Skype user name, or a "Microsoft account" name (formerly referred to
as a "Windows Live ID."
Microsoft accounts should be entered in the format live:(username),
where (username) is replaced by the correct account name.
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3. Select a group for the new contact. Four different groups are available, allowing
you to organize your contacts conveniently for many different purposes.
4. Click the checkmark (Apply) button to complete the process of adding the contact.
FI GURE 28
Your newly created ‘contact card’ now appears in the Contacts List (Figure 28), ready to be called. (If the contact is actually online and accepting calls, the vertical bar running up the left border of the contact card is green.)
Hint: To modify an existing entry in the Contacts panel, click the pencil (Edit) button shown at right beside the contact details. This will re-open the contact dialog (Figure 27). To delete the contact, click the trashcan (Delete) button in this dialogue – or click the X to cancel changes.
1. Click the green ‘phone’ button at right in the Contact card to make a call. Skype TX
will then attempt to initialize the call.
Hint: You can monitor the progress of the connection request by watching the Call Status text box and Connection Status indicators. These occupy the top central area of the screen, just beneath the wide white Skype TX header (Figure 29).
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FI GURE 29
A successful Skype call relies, of course, on the remote caller being both signed in and available for calls. Additionally, the contact must either a) list the account you sign into TalkShow with as a contact, or b) configure their local Skype client settings to allow calls from users that are not included among their personal Contacts.
Your Skype call is now active. TalkShow automatically presents audio and video from the remote caller to its outputs for use in your production, including:
Video
o The SDI OUT port (Section 3.6.2) o AirSend™ network output (Section 3.6.1) o The Incoming and SDI Out preview monitors in the upper part of the
interface.
o The large preview monitor in the Call pane opened from the TalkShow
Dashboard.
Audio
o The XLR connectors in the AUDIO OUT group (Section 3.6.3) o The ¼” (6.35 mm) phone jack labeled Monitor (located beside the
Genlock input). (This output also carries the return audio, allowing you to monitor the entire conversation.) Note that level control for this output is provided in the Setup tab.
Previously (in Sections 3.5.2 and 3.8.3), you connected and configured audio and video return feeds to TalkShow. During the course of a call, these are normally returned to the remote caller. Of course, before taking a Skype call ‘live to air’ in a production setting,
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you will often want to communicate directly with the remote caller apart from the program.
In most call-in production pipelines, a secondary audio return path is provided to allow in-studio personnel (such as a ‘call-screener’) to converse with the remote caller. This secondary audio return is typically configured so that it can interrupt the program audio feed normally returned to the caller.
FI GURE 30
TalkShow’s unique Talk Back feature provides similar functionality, but does so without requiring you to provide a switchable external audio solution. Having connected a headset as directed in Section 3.5.2, you need simply press the Talk Back button at right in the TalkShow Dashboard.
The Talk Back button lights when you press and hold it, interrupting the normal return audio feed, and replacing it with sound from your headset microphone – just as if you were using a local Skype client to communicate.
Releasing the Talk Back button restores normal audio flow. (With Talk Back disabled, your headset will let you monitor both call and return audio.) While Talk Back is active, the remote caller continues to see the Return video feed you connected and configured.
Hint: Talk Back volume is control in Talkshow’s Setup tab.
To disconnect an active call, simply click the red phone icon in the Call Status area above the Skype TX preview monitors.
FI GURE 31
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TalkShow makes recording incoming Skype™ calls very easy. Once configured and enabled, capture starts and stops automatically at the beginning and end of each call.
FI GURE 32
Begin by selecting a destination for the captured files using the Record Path menu under the Record Skype Calls label in the TalkShow Setup pane (Figure 32). You can choose an
external drive you have connected to one of TalkShow’s USB3 ports, or a suitably fast
network volume.
FI GURE 33
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You may also want to go into the Return pane and enable the switch labeled Copy to Ch. 3 and 4 in the Audio settings group (Figure 33). When this feature is enabled, the return audio feed from the studio is also stored in the file.
FI GURE 34
Finally, click the Record button in TalkShow’s Dashboard (Figure 34). If a call is active, TalkShow will begin recording. When the call ends, the current file is closed; beginning a new call will automatically generate a new file.
You can take a snapshot of the remote caller at any point during an active Skype™ video call. To do so, click the camera icon beneath the upper-right preview monitor, which will subsequently display the still image you grab.
This image can serve as a fallback video display should the incoming Skype video signal either be lost completely, or fall below a specified minimum video resolution due to poor network conditions or other factors
You can update the grabbed still image at any time by clicking the ‘camera’ again.
Note: The snapshot image persists only for the duration of the current call. If you call the same contact again, you will need to take a new snapshot.
FI GURE 35
P A R T 2 ( R E F E R E N C E )
A thorough examination of the various aspects of TalkShow: every button, menu item, feature and control is considered in this section, so you can take full advantage of your system.
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The TalkShow™ Desktop is the control center for your Skype TX ™ live production work. Naturally it provides call management features such as a Contact List, preview monitors, and more.
As well, you will find configuration controls and settings for audio and video here, both for output to studio systems (such as video and audio mixers) along with signals you wish to return to the remote caller. Other system features such as Genlock, Tally, and Record are all hosted in the TalkShow Desktop. This chapter will provide an overview of the Desktop layout.
The TalkShow™ Desktop is launched automatically on starting the system. In Figure 36, we see the Desktop as it might appear during a typical Skype™ call when the TalkShow Dashboard is maximized.
FI GURE 36
The Desktop can be initially divided into four zones.
1. Skype TX Header
2. Skype TX Client
4. Talkshow Settings
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1. The two upper zones contain the controls and settings of TalkShow’s embedded
Skype TX™ Client application. The white header is home to a few key Skype™ controls.
2. Just beneath the Skype TX™ header, a larger gray area hosts the Skype TX Client
features, and is subdivided into three segments from left to right (we’ll discuss each
in much more detail soon).
3. A second broad white horizontal band (initially appearing across the bottom of the
screen) comprises the TalkShow Dashboard. Here, Talkshow provides easy and prominent access to key Talkshow features.
FI GURE 37
4. Clicking one of the large central buttons in the Dashboard causes the TalkShow
Settings pane below to expand, revealing the corresponding settings and controls.
Every feature in each of these four main zones is discussed in detail in the next few chapters.
Hint: Generally, we will explain related features (wherever they may be appear in the TalkShow
Desktop) in the context of TalkShow operations, rather than following a strict a ‘panel by panel’
approach.
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TalkShow™ provides extensive control over video sources for both
the Skype™ Call and Return audio and video signals. Both the Call channel output and Skype™ Return source have their own settings,
including Proc Amp, as well as resolution, aspect control, and other options.
TalkShow’s extensive audio control and monitoring features are also explained in this section, along with a detailed look at TalkShow’s
Setup tab, which hosts Tally and Genlock options and settings, as well as Audio Monitor output control.
Naturally, TalkShow™ supports two-way communication between your local Talkshow unit and the remote Skype caller. The audio and video traffic can be categorized as either
associated with “Return” (the signals you send to the remote caller) or the Skype™ “Call”
((incoming sound and video from the remote caller).
An alternate way to think of these a/v signals is to view them “Input” (local feeds you wish to return to the remote Skype caller) and “Output” (Skype call audio and video for
distribution to the studio for production purposes).
The configuration of these signal pairs is largely similar, but does vary in certain respects as discussed in the following sections.
Configuring the A/V Return you intend to send the remote caller involves setting up the system to receive the corresponding audio and video input sources, making any desired adjustments, and also – for Return video in particular – giving thought to the bandwidth consideration affecting output over the Internet to the remote Skype™ client.
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BASIC
To view the basic configuration options affecting Return video, click the Skype TX™ Settings button (gear) at upper-left, just below the Skype TX header label (Figure 38), and then click the Video Settings button (which looks like a camera) at right.
FI GURE 38
Notice the Input control group just beneath the Video pane label. This refers to the video signal you are supplying to TalkShow for return to the remote Skype™ caller.
FI GURE 39
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Note: After making changes to settings, click the Apply button (the large chack-mark at upper right in the settings pane – see Figure 39) to ‘lock them in’. Some settings can be changed dynamically, while certain others will notify you that a software restart is required before they will take effect.
DE VICE
This video feed may come from any of a variety of sources. Examples include: an output of the studio’s mixer (or video router); an ISO (isolated) camera used exclusively for this purpose; or, in a studio featuring a NewTek live production system, a video feed delivered
from a TriCaster™ (or 3Play™) across the local network.
We’ll discuss these alternatives momentarily. For now, simply note that the Device menu selection is already set to “NewTek Video Source”, and we’ll move on to discuss the next
item.
MA X RETURN RE S OLUTIO N
This setting governs the maximum video resolution that is exposed to Skype, and is independent of the Return source resolution.
FI GURE 40
You can use this option to limit the amount of bandwidth required to send video to the remote Skype™ caller. This lets you ensure you the caller’s network connection isn’t overloaded, as well as allowing you to take best advantage of local network resources so as to give priority to video coming from the caller.
Hint: It’s best to choose a resolution that matches the image aspect ratio of your Return source.
Changes to the max return resolution require a software restart.
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AS P ECT RA T IO CORRECTION METHOD
FI GURE 41
This setting affects how the Return image is scaled to fit the resolution selected above. The picture can either be scaled to fit the width or the height of the requested resolution.
TREAT SD AS A NAMORPHIC
FI GURE 42
When checked, this features causes all Return video supplied in standard definition as 16:9. This is the only way Skype TX knows whether your SD source is 4:3 or 16:9.
Note: Return video supplied in high definition (16:9) is never treated as anamorphic.
ADVANCED OPTIONS
Further Return video controls are provided in the TalkShow Settings pane.
FI GURE 43
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Click the Return button in the TalkShow Dashboard (Figure 43) to reveal the Return Settings pane.
IN PUT CONNECTIO N
FI GURE 44
The key setting in the Video control group is Input Connection. This selection determines which input connection will supply the Return video feed, and for SDI connections, what the format is for that signal.
Note: It’s important to remember that the options listed in the Input Connection menu are limited to PAL or NTSC format depending on the Output SDI Frame Rate setting discussed back in Section
3.8.2, Choosing PAL or NTSC Video Standards.
Also, be aware that while Skype TX does permit you to configure a true 60hZ output, doing so also affects input clocking. AS NTSC video sources that run at 60hZ (as opposed to 59.94 hZ) are exceedingly rare, this framerate option is not recommended. If you use it, most common broadcast sources will not be recognized at TalkShow’s video Return input.
An interesting and valuable alternative source is available in studios that include NewTek live production systems that can supply one (or more) a/v stream across a network. NewTek systems, including *TriCaster™ and 3Play™systems, that are properly connected (to the network) and configured to supply network output, will appear as options in the Input Connection menu. *See note below.
Note that such network connections, being bi-directional, can supply both Call and Return video (and audio) if desired, along with Tally (On Air) notification. Otherwise, if you prefer, you can mix network
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Note: TriCaster 40 models do not support network output.
AU TO COLOR
Lighting conditions can vary dramatically, affecting the color of video imagery quite dramatically. Especially in some settings, color balance can even change over time during a call.
FI GURE 45
TalkShow’s unique Auto Color feature can remove all of the worry and any need to manually monitor color balance using potentially expensive equipment and manpower to account for the associated problems. Unless the video signal is wildly off balance, all you need to do is check-mark the Auto Color switch and take all the credit.
PR OC AMP
FI GURE 46
The Video group in the Return panel also contains Proc Amp (processing amplifier) controls. Proc Amp adjustments are applied after Auto Color is processed, which can help when you wish to establish a custom color balance that is stable even under changing conditions.
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A switch at the top of the Proc Amp control group toggles the feature on/off. Other controls operate as follows:
Brightness: Adjustment range from -50 to +50 IRE (the default being 0). As reference,
the full luminance range of the visible portion of a video signal can be thought of as ‘100 IRE units’ (named for the Institute of Radio Engineers) – ignoring minor regional variations.
Contrast – Adjustment range from 25 - 400% (default 100%). Hue – Adjustment range between -180° and +180°. Adjusts the master color of the
video signal from the attached source, swinging the entire image through the color wheel’s spectrum.
Saturation – Adjustment range from 0-500%. Zero saturation results in a ‘black and
white’ picture; increased saturation results in richer colors. High saturation values
can exaggerate the color portion of the signal.
(Note that over-saturated colors are considered illegal for broadcast transmission, and may result in display problems on some devices.)
FI GURE 47
White Balance – This secondary control group adds U Offset and V Offset controls to
the Proc Amp.
o The U portion of the video signal carries blue and yellow color information.
Rotating the U Offset knob clockwise shifts the signal toward blue, while a counter-clockwise twist shifts the signal toward yellow.
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o The V portion of the video signal carries red and green color information. Rotate
V Offset clockwise to shift the signal toward red and counter-clockwise to shift the signal toward green.
To automatically white balance – click and hold the mouse button over the Color (eyedropper) button, and then slide the pointer onto the monitor for the corresponding source. Release the mouse button over a part of the image that should appear as white after processing.
Advanced group – Click the expand gadget (triangle) beside the Advanced label to
expose even deeper color control options (Figure 48), allowing you to tweak individual color channels independently.
FI GURE 48
BASIC
To view the basic configuration options affecting Return audio, click the Skype TX™ Settings button (gear) at upper-left (if necessary), and then click the Audio Settings button (which looks like a speaker – Figure 49) at right.
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FI GURE 49
IN PUT
The Input control group (Figure 50) has several optional features intended to provide some basic automated signal quality benefits, as follows.
FI GURE 50
IN PUT DEV I CE
The Input Device can always be left set to the NewTek audio driver option, as shown in Figure 50.
Note: Further configuration and more advanced control over of Return audio sources connected to TalkShow is provided in the Return Settings pane below the TalkShow Dashboard.
DI SABLE AGC
AGC stands for Automatic Gain Control, a system that automatically adjusts audio gain to keep the level consistent. AGC is normally on, somewhat relieving you of the need to
carefully monitor audio levels during Skype™ calls. In studio settings where more precise
control is desired, you can enable this switch (to disable AGC.).
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DI SABLE NOISE SU P PRESSO R
The noise suppressor provides a means to reduce or eliminate unwanted audio artifacts such as computer fan noise, hiss and hum.
DI SABLE AEC
Similarly, AEC (Automatic Echo Cancellation) helps prevent audio from the remote caller’s microphone being sent back to his or her own headphones or speakers as part of the
Return audio feed, which can be very disconcerting.
Hint: A much better way to avoid this problem is to supply a mix-minus Return audio feed.
ADVANCED OPTIONS
FI GURE 51
Click the Return button in the TalkShow Dashboard (Figure 51) to open the Return Settings pane, which offers additional Audio settings and features.
FI GURE 52
CONNECT I ON
Use the Connection menu to select the source you want to supply the Return audio feed you will send to the remote Skype™ caller.
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Many different source types are supported. The options you see can here depend on the
Input Connection selected at left in the Video group.
For example, when the Video source is an SDI feed, the Connection menu in the Audio group allows you to choose between SDI
Embedded (channels 1 and 2), or SDI Embedded 3, 4.
In effect, this flexibility lets two TalkShow units share a common Return a/v feed over SDI from upstream studio equipment, while permitting each to return a unique audio mix to its respective remote caller (see the box, “What’s a Mix-Minus”).
The same option (to choose Return sound from channels 1 and 2, or 3 and 4) is provided when you employ Net Input audio from a NewTek live production system featuring network a/v output.
Hint: A single network connecting TalkShow to both a NewTek system and the Internet can actually handle all Return and Call audio and video data transfer, along with Tally notification, without any need for additional a/v cabling.
TalkShow’s fully integrated support for Dante™, the popular networking protocol from Audinate®, provides a particularly powerful network audio solution for TalkShow’s Return
audio. Many different unique mix-minuses or other sources can be set up using the Dante control software to target individual TalkShow devices on the network. Afterward, all you need to do is select Dante DVS Receive in the Connection menu on TalkShow and you’re ready to go.
What’s a Mix-Minus?
Specialized audio sub-mixes in which one
or more sources are deliberately subtracted from the main program are often referred to as a ‘mix-minus’.
Mix-minus capabilities can be invaluable
for productions like ‘call-in’ shows. The
remote caller needs to be able to hear the interviewer; but if he is forced to endure a late-arriving echo of his own voice this would be confusing and undesirable.
A mix minus setup can supply a clean output consisting of just the
interviewer’s voice (or the interviewer
plus other program participants),
without sound from the individual
remote caller.
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COPY TO CH. 3 AN D 4
FI GURE 53
Enable this switch to copy the selected sound from the Return channel onto Channel’s 3
and 4 of the Call audio output.
This allows you to pass the ‘studio’ portion of the Skype call to be included on discrete channels (separate from the incoming Skype call audio) with system output to studio equipment, and also captured by TalkShow’s Record feature for post-production use.
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GA IN AND VU METERS
FI GURE 54
Use the Gain knob to adjust the level of sound returned to your remote caller.
VU (Volume Unit) meters, located right above the Gain control knob, will guide you as you make adjustments.
Note that TalkShow allows you to easily jump to default values for most numeric controls:
Simply hold down the keyboard Shift key while double- clicking a knob or slider in Talkshow to return it to its default setting (in this case, unity, or 0dB Gain.)
TalkShow Audio Specifications
TalkShow’s analog audio
conforms to SMPTE RP-155. The maximum input/output level is +24 dBu. Nominal input
level is +4 dBu (-20dBFS), and
the sample rate is 96 kHz.
Levels above 0dBVU are shown in colored orange, to caution you that overly high levels can result in clipping in your
recordings or output.
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The calibration of the units shown for VU Meter can be changed to suit your preference. Click the small triangle gadget at left, below the scale, to open a menu offering three options as follows:
• dBFS (a.k.a., dB ‘Full Scale’) – The modern digital standard.
• dBVU – Familiar to users of typical analog audio mixers.
• dBu – based on a voltage of 0.775 VRMS (a shy scale rarely seen in public, supplied
for completeness, comparison, and the amusement of audiophiles).
EQ UALIZE R
TalkShow also provides a full-blown seven-band equalizer in the Return Settings pane, allowing you to ‘shape’ sound to taste, accommodate sources with different acoustic characteristics, minimize feedback, or ‘roll off’ unwanted parts of the audio spectrum.
FI GURE 55
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Enable or disable the Equalizer using the switch beside its label. The vertical sliders attenuate or boost the tonal range centered on the frequency shown at the top. The effect applied falls off gradually as sound draws closer to neighboring frequencies on either side. Click Reset to return all sliders to 0dB.
Hint: Naturally, reducing or increasing the level of one or more tonal bands affects the overall output level as well. This may call for you to trim the main Gain setting for the affected input or output.
COMPRES S OR LIMI T ER
The Compressor/Limiter (Figure 55) is able to preventing clipping caused by unexpected peaks or transients, and of making talent sound better than they do in real life. It does this by bringing the levels of audio sources into an optimal dynamic range.
TH RESHOL D
Sound above the set Threshold level will be compressed; the amount of compression and the manner in which it is applied are both dictated by the other settings.
RA T IO
A Ratio of 4:1 means that if input level is 4 dB over the threshold, the output signal level after compression will be just 1 dB over the threshold. The gain (level) is reduced by 3dB.
Very high ratio settings are the reason for the word “limiter” is part of the title for this
feature.
Compressor, Limiter – what’s the
difference, anyway?
Compression and limiting are not really different processes, but more a matter of ‘degree’. Compression, ideally, takes the form of a subtle, almost imperceptible modulation of the sound level to achieve a more pleasing and convenient range. A limiter is applied more for the
purpose of ‘crushing’ unwanted
spikes and transients.
That distinction aside, a limiter is
essentially just a compressor set to a
high ratio and, generally, a fast attack time. Audio engineers
typically consider ‘compression’ with
a ratio of 10:1 or more as ‘limiting’.
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The highest ratio setting will effectively reduce any signal that would rise above the threshold all the way down to the threshold level (with the exception of a brief period during a sudden increase in source loudness, as dictated by the Attack setting).
AT T ACK
Attack (like Release) is labeled in milliseconds. The setting represents the amount of time it takes for the gain to change by a specified amount.
It would not be grossly incorrect to think of this setting as changing the slope of a graph depicting how aggressively the compressor pursues the target value (defined by applying the Ratio setting to the amount the signal surpasses the Threshold). Shorter values are more aggressive, while longer values are more subtle (and tend to be less noticeable to the audience).
RE LEASE
Release is similar to Attack in many ways, but refers instead to the speed with which the compression effect is removed as a source signal falls back on its own so that it no longer exceeds the Threshold.
GA IN
Naturally, compression impacts the overall output level of the source or output. The Gain control allows you to compensate, bringing the post-compressor/limiter signal back to a comfortable nominal range.
Let’s now consider the configuration and control options TalkShow provides to govern audio and video from your remote Skype caller.
You may think of these signals as either associated with the Call or, with its ultimate utilization in your studio in mind, as TalkShow’s Output – i.e., incoming call audio and video that will be distributed to outboard studio production equipment.
In many cases, the controls and settings we are going to consider are similar to those just discussed in connection with Return audio and video, but there are some unique items to review together.
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BASIC
As before, basic settings native to the embedded Skype TX™ client are found by clicking
the Skype TX Settings button (gear) at upper left, just below the broad white Skype TX header. For Video settings, click the ‘camera’ icon.
FI GURE 56
The Output control group on this panel (Figure 56) is where you will configure the video signal containing the Skype video that you want to send to your studio.
Note: Talkshow always delivers Call video output to both the SDI Out connector on the system’s
rear panel, as well as Network output for use by NewTek live production systems that are part of the studio pipeline.
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WA T ERMARK POSIT I ON
When the Watermark Enabled switch is checked, two numeric sliders are shown beneath. These settings govern the location where the Skype™ watermark appears on the screen.
SDI RE S OLUTIO N
This menu controls the resolution and format of the outgoing video stream. Changes to the SDI resolution setting require a software restart.
Supported HD resolutions follow:
1080i 1080i (4:3 anamorphic) – transmits a 4:3 image aspect picture as 1080i, without
having to resort to lower resolutions or cropping again downstream. This may be useful when assembling a ‘picture in picture’ layout (two 4:3 images are easier to arrange in a 16:9 frame than two 16:9 images are).
1080p 720p – Recommended for Skype TX to Skype TX calls. 720p provides a better
vertical resolution than a de-interlaced 1080i picture, since Skype does not inherently support interlacing).
720p (4:3 anamorphic) – See above.
Standard definition SDI Out alternatives are listed below:
PAL 16:9 PAL 4:3 NTSC 16:9 NTSC 4:3
SDI F RAME RA T E
In similar fashion, this setting governs the framerate for the Skype™ Call video stream sent to TalkShow’s outputs. The options shown vary to match the SDI resolution selection.
As discussed earlier (Section 3.8.2), this key setting also affects whether or not the Input Connection menu in TalkShow’s Return Settings pane lists PAL or NTSC formats.
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Note: Output when either 1080p24 or 1080p23.97 is chosen is actually in PsF (Progressive segmented Frame) format.
AS P ECT RA T IO COR RECTION METH O D
The selection in this menu determines how the incoming Skype Call video is scaled to fit the SDI output resolution (when necessary).
Supported scaling includes:
Center Cut Scale To Width Scale To Height
MI NIMUM RESOLUT I ON
The standard Skype client, as used by remote callers, automatically modulates video resolution as required by network bandwidth limitations. The Minimum resolution setting establishes a minimum video quality considered acceptable for TalkShow output.
This limit is determines when an automatic ‘no video’ fall back option (discussed in Chapter 7) if it is enabled. Should the incoming Skype Call video fall below this resolution, and automatic fallback is selected, Call output reverts to the ’no video’ option you choose just below.
The following is a list of all supported resolutions with their aspect ratio:
1920 × 1080 (16:9) 1280 × 720 (16:9) 960 × 540 (16:9) 848 × 480 (16:9) 640 × 480 (4:3) 640 × 360 (16:9) 424 × 240 (16:9)
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320 × 240 (4:3) 320 × 180 (16:9) 160 × 120 (4:3) 160 × 90 (16:9)
NO CA LL OPTIO N
FI GURE 57
This menu setting controls what is seen on TalkShow’s Call output when no call is active. The default option is Testcard, with the nearby Logo and Clock switched both checked (Figure 57).
The complete options list includes the following:
Testcard – Shows broadcast color bars with the channel identification and, if
enabled, the current time of day.
Hint: the clock shows the time of the local computer. This is not a synchronized external time code.
Still – Any image can be used to act as a channel identifier or holding page for the
user’s channel. The system uses the PNG image named ‘NoCall’ located at the
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path shown below (you can replace this file with a custom one with the same resolution):
‘%USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ Skype TX\Client\
Black
ADVANCED OPTIONS
The features in TalkShow’s Call Settings pane (opened by clicking the Call button in the white horizontal TalkShow Dashboard - Figure 36) are virtually identical to those previously considered when discussing Return Settings – see Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.
FI GURE 58
Here you’ll find Auto Color and Proc Amp control groups, along with Audio Gain, EQ and Compressor/Limiter controls and a large full motion preview monitor displaying the
Skype™ Call output video stream - Figure 59.
FI GURE 59
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It doesn’t seem necessary to slay another virtual tree and waste pixels to reiterate the foregoing, so let’s do the ‘green’ thing and move on, shall we?
Just as incoming Skype™ Call video is simultaneously supplied to TalkShow’s SDI Out and
Network outputs, likewise audio output goes to all outputs at the same time. This includes, then, the following:
SDI embedded audio TalkShow Network output XLR audio outputs
AUDIO BA SIC
To view the basic configuration options affecting Call audio, click the Skype TX™ Settings button (gear) at upper-left (if necessary), and then click the Audio Settings button (which looks like a speaker – Figure 60) at right.
FI GURE 60
For most purposes, the Preview device and Delayed Device settings should be configured as shown in Figure 61. (The alternative audio devices are intended for other Skype TX use, and not appropriate for TalkShow applications.)
Disable AGC works as explained previously, in Section 6.1.2.
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FI GURE 61
ADVANCED OPTIONS
As for video, advanced Return (output) channel audio options are found in the Call
Settings pane, opened by clicking the Call button in the center of the TalkShow Dashboard.
FI GURE 62
Here you will find Gain, VU, EQ and Compressor/Limiter features you can use to control and enhance the quality of the Call audio received from a remote Skype™ caller before it is sent to outboard studio equipment.
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The workings of these features are identical to those described in Section 6.1.2, so again, we will not bore you by repeating them here.
We’ll skip ahead at this point to discuss one configuration control that uniquely located in the central Skype TX Preview pane (Figure 63).
FI GURE 63
As discussed back in Section 6.2.1, TalkShow can automatically handle matters should the incoming Call video fall below a preset resolution (or drop out completely). Whether it does so or not depends on a button selection in the Preview pane.
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FI GURE 64
Notice that there are three buttons nested just below the Video Output monitor in this pane. At any time, these buttons control what is sent to the video output.
Hint: The first and third buttons are actually action buttons, and clicking them immediately sends the corresponding selection to output. The center button is a mode button, enabling automic control over video output.
The buttons, in order, select the following Call video output source (or mode):
Caller Video – always sends Call video, if available; otherwise, it sends the
grabbed still image, or the ‘NoCall’ image (see Section 6.2.1).
Automatic – display Call video unless resolution falls below the minimum (see
Section 6.2.1), in which case the source selected in the No call option menu is displayed.
Snapshot – immediately displays the snapshot, regardless of the status of
incoming Call video.
TalkShow’s Genlock feature allows it to ‘lock’ its video output to a reference video signal supplied to its Genlock input connector.
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This synchronizes TalkShow’s output to other external equipment locked to the same reference.
Miniscule local timing differences between video sources in a studio environment can delay switching operations very slightly, or even cause glitches in downstream video. Genlocking is not a requirement, but it is very beneficial, and you should definitely use it if you have the capability.
Thus, serving i) TalkShow’s Genlock input and ii) other video devices in the chain with a single reference is the best approach.
You could think of it this way:
Genlocking your cameras has the effect of
locking their output together, ensuring optimal synchronization for live switching. This may result in throughput latency benefits.
Supplying the same sync source to TalkShow’s Genlock
input ensures a match between its output and any downstream video devices required to handle both it and other (genlocked) sources.
Locking all devices to house sync is important, but this alone does not actually ensure a perfect downstream match. Consider an army marching along: each step the soldiers take occurs at precisely the same moment, so we could say their timing is synchronized. Even so – problems result if one soldier leads with the left foot while everyone else is on the right. Or perhaps everyone is evenly spaced and perfectly aligned but for one misfit who ‘tailgates’ the soldier ahead of him and keeps stepping on his heels.
What’s “Genlocking” All About?
The term “genlock” refers to
“generator locking”.
Professional video devices often
provide a “genlock input”, which
allows an external reference signal (often referred to as ‘house sync’)
to control its video timing.
The output of video devices connected in this manner is synchronized to the reference signal, and they are referred to as ‘genlocked’.
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FI GURE 65
This is essentially why TalkShow provides several Genlock settings in its Setup pane (Figure
65).
The Horizontal and Vertical Position settings pin the image in the proper space in the frame, and in doing so could be likened to making sure each marching soldier is in position relative to his fellows (as viewed from above). The Phase setting ensures proper color alignment, corresponding to making sure everyone is on the left or right foot at the same time.
Thus, altogether, the Vert Position, Horiz Position and Phase settings allow you to tweak synchronization to arrive at an optimum match between devices.
Typically, these settings are fine-tuned with the aid of a downstream ‘vectorscope’ and
‘waveform monitor’. (A discussion of these adjustments goes beyond the scope of this manual, but a quick online search for the keywords “genlock” and “adjust” turns up a
number of excellent references).
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The ‘bi-level’ reference signal long used for standard definition television is often used for genlocking both SD and HD installations. However, if you are supplying an HD reference signal to TalkShow’s Genlock input (and your other equipment), select the HD (Tri-level) switch in the Reference Type area of the Genlock settings group.
This setting is applied when a genlock reference signal is not in use. To adjust the setting, supply color bars to an input and pass TalkShow’s video output to a downstream vectorscope. The vectorscope display is completely stable when Center Frequency is properly adjusted.
TalkShow can optionally show Tally (On Air) indication to the remote Skype caller. This feature is also enabled in the Setup pane.
FI GURE 66
Hint: The “Tally Overlay” menu in this control group allows you to use a custom On Air image if you
wish.
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Naturally, TalkShow™ provides easy to use Skype TX™ call
management features. It also provides a great deal of valuable
feedback regarding the status of your Skype™ call and video signals.
This chapter delves into these matters.
We introduced the Skype TX™ Contact List back in Section 4.1.1. There, we discussed how to add (and group) contacts, and how to initiate and terminate a call.
FI GURE 67
Without being tedious by repeating that information, we do want to remind you that TalkShow’s Contact List is local to the unit, not the Skype account you use to sign in. Thus the contacts you add persist on the system, regardless of which Skype™ account you log in with.
Reminder: Contact List details are visible from the application window even when you are not signed in. This being so, we recommend securing the system with a password to ensure privacy.
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We might also mention that you can edit existing contacts if you like, by clicking the little blue pencil icon at right in the contact card, beneath the green Call button (phone).
Another feature worth mentioning is that the vertical stripe at left on the contact card, which can provide useful feedback about each contact.
If the contact is also a validated contact for the user account used to sign into Skype TX, the color of the stripe indicates whether the contact is ‘Online’, ‘Away’, etc. (a white stripe is shown when the contact is offline or invisible).
Otherwise, a grey stripe means the contact is “unknown”. This happens when the contact you created isn’t listed as a Skype contact for the current Skype TX user account (or if a contact request was rejected).
It would be hard to overlook the fact a large, central part of TalkShow’s upper Desktop is devoted to video preview monitors, along with a plethora of call and video status indicators (Figure 69).
Enumerated from top-left in a clockwise direction, the video preview monitors include the following:
Received Skype Video – displays the incoming Skype™ Call video. Snapshot – displays the currently stored snapshot; note the blue Grab button
immediately below.
FI GURE 68
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Return Video – displays the video
stream that will be sent back to the
remote Skype™ caller (after TalkShow
processing).
Video Output – displays the Skype™
Call video after processing by the
embedded Skype TX™ client (but
before processing by the features housed in the Talkshow Call Settings features, such as Auto Color and the
Proc Amp).
Hint: Snapshots are not stored once the call is terminated.
FI GURE 70
As seen in Figure 70, information about the active call is provided at the top of the Video Preview pane. The Connection Status Box, centered at the top, provides a useful feedback about the progress of a call and its status (Figure 71).
FI GURE 69
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FI GURE 71
Similarly, the icons ()Figure 72 in the Call Status Box, just left of the Connection Status Box, are drawn in either green or red colors to signify the status of the connection.
A green silhouette indicates a connection has been
established.
A green arrow leading to the silhouette indicates video successfully being
returned to the remote Skype(tm0 caller.
Likewise, a green arrow at right indicates video is being received from the from
the caller.
Hint: The TalkShow Dashboard also features ‘Call in Progress’ notification. When a caller is connected, an orange stripe is shown across the top of the Dashboard.
FI GURE 73
In addition, you’ll notice video signal details posted in the labels just below each preview
monitor (Figure 73), and VU meters as appropriate at right.
FI GURE 72
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When you really want to burrow down into connection detail at a ‘molecular’ level, you
can refer to the Call Technical Info pane, at upper-right (Figure 74).
It would be hard to overstate the level of arcane detail provided, including excruciating data on the Network connection, System resource usage
(for both TalkShow™ and the remote
caller), as well as both audio and video streams.
Below you will find a breakdown of the various individual datum provided.
Network – Describes the network
connection to Skype TX.
o Jitter – The difference between the minimum and maximum ping times,
expressed in milliseconds (lower is better).
o Round Trip –The time it takes, in milliseconds, for a signal to be sent from Skype
TX to the remote caller and back (lower is better).
o Transport – Possible values are (from best to worst): UDP, UDP with Relay, TCP,
TCP with Relay. UDP and TCP are IP protocols, with UDP providing the best performance. Relaying is required where a direct connection cannot be made,
FI GURE 74
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but this limits performance. In this case, lower performance might mean a lower resolution and a less reliable connection.
o UDP Status – A value of ‘good’ indicates the UDP connectivity is possible in the
relevant direction. A value of ‘bad’ indicates that there is a problem, such as a router configuration issue. Good is best.
o Packet Count – The number of media packets which have been transported. o Packet Loss – The percentage of pure packet loss (lower is better). o Packet Loss Burst – The percentage of the consecutive squared packet loss of sent
packets.
System – Technical information related to the local and remote caller’s
computer.
o CPU Total – The total CPU load being used across all cores of the CPU. Lower is
better.
o CPU Skype – The percentage of current CPU load being consumed by Skype.
Lower is better.
o CPU Hiccups – The number of instances where Skype takes more time than
expected to perform an operation. For example, updating the Skype database on a hard drive. Lower is better.
o Skype Version – Shows the Skype client version, if available.
Audio – Shows the technical information of the audio to and from the remote
caller.
o Sample Rate – The sampling rates for the audio streams. Higher is better. o Audio Codec – Shows what audio codec is being used. The host negotiates codec
selection with the other participants as part of setting up the call.
o Audio Packet Loss – The number of voice data packets lost. Lower is better.
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o Audio Packet Loss % – The percentage of voice data packets being lost. Lower is
better.
o Audio Cap – The maximum audio bandwidth achievable, according to the network
bandwidth monitor. Higher is better.
o Audio Packet Length – Indicates the length of each audio data packet sent.
Video Capture - Shows the technical information about the video being
supplied to Skype from Skype TX after its initial resizing and cropping of the SDI input.
o Width – The width of the video being supplied to Skype. Higher is better. o Height – The height of the video being supplied to Skype. Higher is better. o Rotation – Indicates the rotation angel of the captured video which must be
corrected by the receiver.
o Colorspace – A string representing the colorspace of the received video. o Camera Frame Rate – The actual frame rate of the camera being used as the
capture device. Higher is better.
o Requested Frame Rate – The user-defined frame rate of the camera being used
as the capture device. Higher is better.
Video Stream – The technical information about the video being streamed to
the remote caller, after resizing and cropping by Skype TX and Skype. Data about the received video is listed in the separate ‘Video Receive’ section.
o Width – The width of the video being streamed. Higher is better. o Height – The height of the video being streamed. Higher is better. o Upswitch Allowed – Does the receiver give the sender permission to upswitch or
would it be overloaded?
o Codec – Indicates which video codec is being used to stream the video.
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o Profile – Indicates which H264 profile is in use. o Encoder Type – Indicates which H264 encoder type is in use. o Target Frame Rate – User-defined frame rate being negotiated by the client and
the remote caller. Higher is better.
o Bitrate – A measure of the bandwidth being used by the video stream. Higher is
better.
o Bitrate Cap – The maximum bitrate achievable, according to the network
bandwidth monitor. Higher is better.
o Video Cap – The maximum bandwidth achievable, according to the network
bandwidth monitor. Higher is better.
o MTU – Maximum Transmission Unit. The largest size video frame that can be sent.
Higher is better.
o Complexity – The measure, in levels, of the processing power needed to
reconstruct the compressed data from the video steam.
o Low Light Enabled – SLIQ encoder only: Indicates whether Low Light
Enhancement feature is enabled.
o Face Detection – SLIQ encoder only: Indicates whether face detection feature is
enabled.
o Face Count – SLIQ encoder only: Indicates how many faces are detected in current
stream.
o Thread Count – SLIQ encoder: Indicates how many threads are doing the encoding
work.
o Max Threads – SLIQ encoder only: Indicates the maximum number of threads
Skype TX can also save technical information about the call to a file, so you can analyze the technical details of the call. At any point during a call, you can simply Scroll to the
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bottom of the Call Technical Info pane until you see the Export technical diagnostics file button. Click this button when you want to save the information.
The exported file can be viewed by pressing the Show diagnostics files button, or by navigating to: %APPDATA%/Skype TX/Client/TechInfo.
Hint: The file is saved with the date and time of capture in its name.
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Skype TX Control™ is a management solution for Skype TX included with your TalkShow system™.
Using this software, it is possible to manage multiple Skype TX Channels. Calls can be initiated to any contact in the central contacts database using any Skype TX Channel. Physical access to the Skype TX unit or the Skype TX software is not required.
Skype TX Control™ facilitates the use of a multi-channel system, making it easy for you to manage multiple TalkShow™ units and Skype™ calls. Calls can be monitored using the Call Technical Info and Multi-Channel Status and Preview space.
FI GURE 75
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Skype TX Control uses the features and settings of each Skype TX™ Client. Features include:
Manage multiple Skype calls
o Skype TX Control can (within reason), manage any number of HD quality,
broadcast ready calls.
Receive incoming calls Receive calls by taking advantage of the Allow Incoming Calls feature of Skype TX
Client.
Monitor call quality
o See technical information about the call which can help troubleshoot local or
remote network issues.
Manage calls
o Take a snapshot from the incoming video and manually switch to the snapshot as
required.
The SkypeTX Control host system requires a 1 GHz processor or better, and at least 512 MB of RAM, and needs to be running Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1.
Locate the Skype TX Control application installer (.msi file) located on your Talkshow system in the folder C:\TalkShow\Extras\Skype TX Control. Transfer this file to the system you wish to control your TalkShow systems, and double-click it to run it.
A typical multi-channel system would involve multiple TalkShow™ units running the latest version of Skype TX Client, and a computer running Skype TX Control.
The minimum requirement for Skype TX Control to work with a TalkShow channel is that it must be able to connect to TCP port 8000. This makes it possible to have Skype TX machines on a different subnet and/or behind a firewall.
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This allows you, for example, to apply less restrictive internet access policies to Skype TX machines (potentially improving call quality), yet keep Skype TX Control within a more strictly controlled network.
Hint: Consult your network administrator, IT manager, or Internet provider for questions about your network.
In the examples provided in this section, four TalkShow units are under the control of Skype TX Control. (In this context, “Skype TX Client” refers to the software on the TalkShow unit, and should not be confused with the ‘Skype™ client’ software your remote callers use). ‘Skype TX Control’ refers to the control software used to manage the various TalkShow channels.
The user interface of Skype TX Control is divided into sections for ease of use.
1. Master Controls and version information – Buttons control the behavior of all
channels. Includes, Sign in All, Sign out All, End all calls and Quit all. Also includes the software version number (Figure 76).
FI GURE 76
Sign in all – signs into every Skype TX Channel.
Sign out all – logs out of every Skype TX Channel.
End all calls – hangs up every active call on every Skype TX Channel.
Note: Use this with carem, as no confirmation will be requested.
Quit all – closes the Skype TX Client on each unit.
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Note: You can’t reopen Skype TX Client from Skype TX Control.
2. Multi-Channel status and preview – Each row represents a Skype TX Channel. The
current details of each channel are arranged into columns. The background color of each row indicates the channels current state as shown below.
FI GURE 77 - CHANNE L NOT FOUND ST ATE
FI GURE 78 - CHANN E L FOU ND STA T E
FI GURE 79 - CHANN E L ON A CALL S T A T E
As shown in the Figure 80, the multi-channel status and preview screen enables you to see if a channel is signed in, how long a call has been active, monitor input and output audio levels for each TalkShow channel, and verify whether video is being sent and received.
FI GURE 80
Here is a detailed look at each item displayed for a channel:
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Channel Number – Used to access technical information for that channel.
User Name – The account username of the remote caller. (This information is
from the contacts space under Identity).
Machine – The name of the TalkShow machine.
Local Username – The username for the account used to sign into Skype TX
Client on the machine.
Remote Display Name – The name of the remote caller. (This information is
from the contacts space, under Display Name.)
Video fallback – A way of managing what is broadcast on each channel. For
more information, see Section 8.9 Managing a Call.
o Login – Shows the sign in status of the channel.
Red means the channel is not signed in. Yellow means the channel is in the process of signing in.
Green mean the channel is signed in.
o Ringing – Indicates whether a channel is being called by way of the
‘Allow Incoming Calls’ setting. Shows the number of remote callers
trying to call the channel.
o Call – Shows the status of the Skype call.
Red means a call is not connected. Yellow means a call is in the process of being connected.
Green light mean the call is connected.
Duration – Shows the amount of time the call has been active.
Audio Out – Shows the status of audio being sent to the remote participant.
o Red means audio is not connected.
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o Yellow means audio is in the process of being connected. o Green mean audio output is connected.
Level – Shows the level of the audio being set to the remote caller.
Audio In – Shows the status of the audio being received from the remote
participant.
o Red means audio is not connected. o Yellow means audio is in the process of being connected.
o Green mean audio is connected.
Video out – Shows the status of the video being sent to the remote participant.
o Red means video is not connected. o Yellow means video is in the process of being connected.
o Green mean video is connected.
Video In – Shows the status of the video being received from the remote
participant.
o Red means video is not connected. o Yellow means video is in the process of being connected.
o Green means video is connected.
Version – Shows the version number of the Skype TX Client.
Each channel also contains the following control buttons. They only apply to the channel they were accessed on.
/ – When a call is active, this button shows End
call. This ends the current Skype Call. When receiving a call, this button shows Decline. This declines the incoming call. Inactive when no active call.
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/ – When a call is active or inactive, this button
shows Not Ringing. When receiving a call, this button shows the username of the remote caller. Clicking this button accepts the incoming call on this channel and becomes the active call.
– Clicking this button Flags the current active caller. A check
mark is placed against their contact details in the contacts space and the call is ended.
– Clicking this button takes a snapshot of the remote caller in their
current state on this channel. Note that this snapshot is only available to this channel for the duration of the call. Once complete, the snapshot clears and a new snapshot must be taken.
Settings – Accessed by choosing the settings symbol on the left side of the
software. This opens four categories:
Incoming
Channels
API
Workflow
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Settings changes are confirmed by clicking the Apply button at the end of the settings categories. This enables you to apply several changes at once.
3. Central Contacts Space – This is a list of contacts to which calls can be made from
any Skype TX Channel. Contains Identity (account username), Display Name and Location. Next to each contact is a check box that states whether the contact has been ‘flagged’.
FI GURE 81
Identity – This is the user account of the remote caller. Please specify the Skype
Name of the contact you are calling to. If your contact uses a Microsoft account to sign into Skype™, a user name must be entered with ‘live:’ prefix, such as:
‘live:skypename’.
Display Name – This is used to name the contact. This is only for reference; the
information used here won’t appear anywhere on the Skype™ call. This information can be accessed via the Skype TX API. For more information, see Section 8.5.3, API Settings.
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Location – This is the location of the remote caller. This is only for reference; the
information won’t appear anywhere on the Skype call. This information can be
accessed via the Skype TX API.
Flag – Shows if the contact has been flagged by way of a check box. Flagged callers
may be prevented from making calls to Skype TX, depending on other settings in Skype TX Control.
Call – Begins a call to the desired contact on the chosen channel.
4. Channel detail panel– Information regarding the video, audio and network of the
selected channel is found in this panel. This area includes the technical information of the call and the call queue and status information.
FI GURE 82
Call Technical Info – Shows the technical information of the current call on the
selected TalkShow channel. A description of what each item means can be found in Section 8.10, Monitoring a Call, or by hovering over an item and waiting for a tooltip.
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Live calls – A list of all current calls on the selected channel including ongoing calls,
incoming calls which have not yet been accepted and outgoing calls which have not yet connected. Incoming calls may be accepted or declined with the Join and Leave buttons. Connected calls may be ended.
When you first try to run Skype TX Control, the message seen in Figure 83 is displayed.
FI GURE 83
As no contacts have been found, an initial empty list will appear. (This message may also appear if the contacts list is deleted or becomes unreadable.) You can, of course, add contacts later.
FI GURE 84
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A further dialog (Figure 84) informs you that no settings have been found, so default settings will be applied (you can update these settings later).
These messages only appear on the first attempt to run the software. Once these messages have been cleared, the Skype TX Control interface is shown (Figure 85).
FI GURE 85
This is the default state of Skype TX Control. It won’t have any contacts, it will have just
two un-configured channels.
FI GURE 86
In the default state, two channels are shown in dark grey (Figure 86). This means that Skype TX Control has not located any TalkShow channels.
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Most settings in Skype TX Control can be configured by accessing the Settings tab, accessed by clicking the ‘gear’ button.
Skype TX Control provides the most useful settings through the Settings tab; more advanced settings are found in the ‘settings.xml’ file.
Skype TX Control can be set up to behave a certain way should any Skype TX Clients receive an incoming call. This behavior must first be set up in the Skype TX Client software.
The following settings affect incoming call behavior:
FI GURE 87
Auto Answer All – Whenever an incoming call is received by a Skype TX Client, if
checked, it will automatically be answered.
Auto-answer NonFlagged – If an incoming call is being received and the incoming
caller has not been flagged, they will be automatically answered. If checked, this setting will only automatically answer incoming callers that have not been flagged.
Prioritize non-flagged – If checked, calls from non-flagged incoming callers will be
prioritized. This means that they will be answered before a flagged incoming caller if there is more than one incoming call.
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Auto-decline non-flagged – If checked, calls from non-flagged incoming callers will
be declined. This means that only flagged incoming callers will be able to call into the Skype TX Client.
Settings changes are confirmed by clicking the Apply (checkmark) button at the end of the settings categories. Take caution when using these settings as they affect the overall behavior of all incoming calls.
Skype TX Control can support a large number of TalkShow units. You can use the Channel settings in Skype TX Control to define how many units you want to control, and to disable transport security.
Note: You must have as many Skype TX units for each channel you define.
In our example, the channel count is set at “4” – because there are four TalkShow units.
FI GURE 88
Channel count – This is a number input box that determines how many channels
should be listed in the Multi-Channel status and preview panel. Once set, you will need to restart Skype TX Control for the new channel lines to appear.
Enable security – This will show a list of the TalkShow units that you have added
and whether transport security is enabled.
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The transport security setting works in conjunction with the Enable transport security setting on Skype TX Client. For more information on adding a Skype TX unit, see Section 8.6 Adding Machines.
Skype TX Control has a public API so that certain features can be externally controlled. The settings that can be configured in the API settings section are discussed next.
FI GURE 89
Enable API – This check box with enable the Skype TX API to allow outside
applications to control this application. You should not enable this unless you intend to allow access to Skype TX functionality from third party applications. When enabled, Skype TX Control will begin listening for connections at startup on the given host and port.
Note: You are likely to see a warning message when you enable this setting until you have set Windows security settings appropriately. For more details, see the API documentation.
API Host – This is the host name on which Skype TX Control should listen for
incoming connections to the API. This could be an IP address, machine name or host name which is present on the local machine.
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