Index ............................................................................................................................................... 89
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P A RT I (GETTING 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.
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 – GETTING STAR TED
Introduction to TalkShow and Skype TX™, network and device connections,
registration details, including basic operation.
PART II – RE FERENCE
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 – A PPENDICES
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 controller provides tools to manage
multiple Skype TX channels.
Skype TX controller 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 Skype TX™ 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 controller application, installed on an external computer
system, provides the possibility of managing multiple TalkShow units (and
Skype™ channels) centrally. Documentation for the Skype TX controller
application can be found on your TalkShow in the folder at
C:\Talkshow\Documentation\, or on the system you install the controller
software on.
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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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popular due to low manufacturing costs.
However, such units should generally be
system from abnormal power events..
be relied on to supply very clean power,
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.
A word about UPS devices:
‘Modified sine wave’ UPS devices are
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
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viewed as being of low quality and
possibly inadequate to fully protect the
For a modest added cost, consider a
"pure sine wave" UPS. These units can
eliminating potential problems, and are
recommended for applications
demanding high reliability.
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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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
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.
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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:
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.3.2 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™NE TWORK OUTP UT
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.
ANAL OG 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 itconsists of ‘program audio’ minus ‘caller audio’.
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FI GURE 10
TALK BACK CONN ECT IONS
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.
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FI GURE 11
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.
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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 Returnvideo 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.
* Requires TriCaster Advanced Edition.
Here is a ‘pin-out’ for TalkShow’s HD15 Tally connector:
GPI stands for General Purpose Interface, a long-serving control protocol.
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’sDesktop (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 Desktopalways 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
DA SHBOA RD AT TH E BOTT OM O F TH E TA LKS HOW ™ D ESK TOP (
10. Figure 18).
FI GURE 19
This maximizes the TalkShow Dashboard and displays the ReturnSettings 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
11. 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
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