Videonics MXPro User Manual

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MXPro

User Guide

Page 2

STATEMENT OF WARRANTY

Videonics, Inc. warrants this product against defects in materials or workmanship as follows:

For a period of TWO years from the date of purchase, Videonics Inc. will repair or replace the unit, at our option, without charge for parts or labor. After the period of TWO years you must pay all parts and labor charges.

The limited warranty is extended only to the original purchaser and is valid only to consumers in the United States and Canada. It does not cover damage or failure caused by or attributable to Acts of God, abuse, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, faulty installation, improper maintenance, lightning, or other incidences of excessive voltage, or any repairs or tampering by other than a Videonics-authorized repair facility. It does not cover replacement of batteries or other consumable parts, transportation costs, or damage in transit. This warranty will become void if the serial number or model number identiﬁcation has been wholly or partially removed or erased. Repair or replacement under the terms of this warranty do not extend the terms of this warranty. This warranty can not be modiﬁed by any agent of Videonics, Inc. unless in writing and signed by an ofﬁcer of Videonics, Inc.

Should this product prove defective in workmanship or material, the consumer's sole remedies shall be such repair or replacement as provided by the terms of this warranty. Under no circumstances shall Videonics, Inc. be liable for any loss or damage, direct, consequential, or incidental, arising out of the use of or inability to use this product. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusions or limitations of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you speciﬁc legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

To obtain warranty service, call or write Videonics HelpLine for a Return Authorization (RA) number. Please mark the RA number clearly on the outside of the package. Include a copy of your sales receipt, a brief description of the symptoms, your name, address, phone number and any special shipping instructions. Then deliver or ship the product, postage or shipping costs prepaid, to a Videonics-authorized repair facility. For the name of the nearest repair facility, Contact Videonics, Inc. HelpLine. See “Contacting Videonics” on page 8 for instructions.

DISCLAIMER

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

TRADEMARKS

MX-Pro, the Videonics logo, Thumbs Up, MX-1, and Videonics Video TitleMaker are trademarks or registered trademarks of Videonics, Inc. Hi8 is a trademark of Sony Corporation. VHS is a registered trademark of JVC. Other product and brand names might be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

FCC Statement

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

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Declaration of Conformity

Application of Council Directive(s) 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC

Standards to which conformity is declared EN60950, EN55022 Class A, EN50082-1

Manufacturer's Name Videonics Manufacturer's Address

Campbell, CA 95008, USA

1370 Dell Avenue

Importer's Name Importer's Address

Type of Equipment

Name of Equipment

Model No.

Serial No.

Year of Manufacture

Place

Date

Campbell, California, USA

Videonics GmbH

Industriestrasse 2

90765 Furth/Bay, Germany

Video Mixer

MXPro

MX-3000 PAL

1998

I, the undersinged, hereby declare that

the equipment specified above

conforms to the above

directive(s) and standard(s).

(Signature)

March 25, 1998

Parminder Gillon

(Full Name)

Test Engineer

(Position)

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Notes

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Contents

Introduction

Major Features • Common Uses for MXPro • MXPro Package Contents • About this User Guide • Contacting Videonics •

Quick Start

Quick Start Steps •

Setting Up The Preview Screen Running the Demo Cutting Between Sources Borders and Solid Color Backgrounds Setting up a Transition Running Transitions Using CUT Transitions Choosing Transitions Using Transition Categories Other Features

Installing MXPro

• 10

• 16

• 11

• 12

• 14

• 15

• 13

• 14

• 16

• 13

Basic Operations

Starting and Stopping MXPro •

Understanding the Keyboard •

Using the Preview Screen •

Changing the Display Configuration Input Source Previews Active Source Highlights Color Selector Transitions Menu Selected Transition

Using CURRENT and NEXT Sources •

Selecting Sources •

Using the Video/Audio Selector • Swapping Sources •

Simple Cuts Swapping Between Two Sources

Working with Colors •

Identifying Colors Using Color Backgrounds Changing Colors and Styles Creating Custom Colors

Using Borders •

Changing Border Styles

• 37

• 41

• 42

• 35

• 36

• 41

• 43

• 44

• 46

Sources and Output • Preview and Program Monitors •

Preview Monitor Program Monitor Number of Monitors

Understanding MXPro Connectors •

Power Connector

Cables and Adapters •

Installation Examples •

Correlating Input Sources to MXPro Jacks Using Headphones VCR Selector Switches General Notes Live Broadcast Configuration Post Production Configuration

Using a Microphone with MXPro •

• 19

• 19 20

• 22 23

• 25

• 26

• 28 30

• 25

Transitions

Basic Transition Concepts • Transition Categories and Menus •

Basic Transitions Category Edges Transitions Category Trailing Transitions Category Shapes Transitions Category User Transitions Category

Changing User Transitions Menu •

Selecting Sources to Use During Transitions •

Setting the CURRENT Source Setting the NEXT Source

Selecting Transitions •

Using the Transitions Menu Using Transition Numbers

Adjusting Transitions •

Changing Transition Speed Changing Transition Direction

Running Transitions •

Running Transitions Automatically Running Transitions Manually

• 53

• 55

• 56

• 57

• 58

• 59

• 61

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Videonics MXPro User Guide Contents

Input Effects

Input Effects Menu •

Special Key Combinations Using Input Effects • B&W •

B&W Neg • Posterize • Flip Horizontal • 67

Mosaic • 68

Color Correct • 68

Color Neg • 69

Chroma Key • 69 Flip Vertical • 69 Strobe • 69

7 Functions

Demo • 72

Running a Locked Demo • 72 Display • 73 Setup • 75

Force Field Freeze • 76

GPI Out Mode • 76

Comb Filter • 76

Black Level • 76 Route • 77

Configuring MXPro • 77

Re-directing Input Signals • 80

Routing Audio through Color Channel • 81

Navigating the Route Menu • 81 Learn • 82

Compose • 82 PIPs • 82 Audio Mix • 82

Freeze • 83

Field and Frame Freezes • 83

Major Freeze Functions • 83

Freeze Examples • 84

Freeze and Transitions • 86

8 PIPs

Single PIP • 88

Background Tile • 88

Foreground Tile • 88

Using Other Effects with Single PIPs • 90 Multi-PIP • 91

Using Freeze Effect with Multi-PIPs • 92

• 65

9 Compose

Basic Composition Steps • 94

Backgrounds • 94

Foreground Tiles • 95

Creating Color Tiles and Lines • 95 Creating Moving Video Tiles • 95 Creating Still Image Tiles • 95

Manipulating Tiles • 96

Positioning Tiles • 96

Sizing Tiles • 96 Composition Rules • 97 Creating a Composed Image • 98

Playing the Composition • 99

Exiting from Compose Mode • 100

10 Chroma Key

Preparing the Background Footage • 102

Preparing the Keyed Footage • 103

Preparing the Chroma Key Footage • 103

Performing the Chroma Key • 105

Fine-Tuning Key Colors • 105

Ending Chroma Key • 105

11 Learn Mode

Learned Environments • 108

Learned Scripts • 109

Using Learn Mode • 111 Other Useful Information • 112

Aborting a Playback Session • 112

12 Working with Audio

Audio Devices You Can Use • 114

Ways You Can Control Audio • 114 Controlling Audio Transitions • 114

VIDEO/AUDIO Selector • 114

Selecting Audio Sources • 115 Ways to Use Audio • 116

Audio Accompanies Video • 116

Continuous Audio • 117 Using the Audio Mixer • 118

Audio Mixer Controls • 119

Using Background Audio • 119 Using Headphones • 120

Advanced Audio Setups • 120

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Contents Videonics MXPro User Guide

iii

13 Advanced Operations

Using Titles • 122

Using Color Bars • 122

Performing Roll Edits • 123

Cutting Between Scenes • 123 A/A Roll Edits • 123 A/B Roll Edits • 124 Transitions TO and FROM Solid Colors • 125 Transitions to Modified Sources • 125

Operating in Live Environments • 126

Security Monitoring • 126 Using a GPI Device • 126

Instructions for Building a GPI Trigger • 127 Using a GPI Trigger Device • 128

Calibrating the T-BAR • 128

Resetting MXPro Factory Defaults • 129

APPENDIXES & BACK MATTER

A Transitions List

Basic Transitions • 132 Edge Transitions • 137 Trailing Transitions • 138 Shape Transitions • 139 Default User Transitions • 143

B Time Base Corrector

Dual TBC Mode • 145

Vertical Interval Data • 146

TBC Technical Information • 146

C Video Quality

Preview Image Quality • 147

Video Scaling Artifacts • 148

Freeze Quality • 148 Upside-Down Video • 148

Video Processing Artifacts • 149

D Technical Specifications

E Information for MX-1 Users

Glossary

Index

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Videonics MXPro User Guide Contents

LIST of TABLES

Table 1 User Guide Contents • 5 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8

Table 9 Table 10 Table 11 Table 12 Table 13 Table 14 Table 15 Table 16 Table 17 Table 18 Table 19

Videonics Contacts • 8 Default Colors and Numbers • 42 Border Styles (Defaults) • 45 Keys for Changing Border Attributes • 47 MX-1 Compatibility Hot Keys • 53 Input Effects Mode Key Combinations • 65 Main Mode Input Effects Key Combinations • 65 Setup Menu Navigation Keys • 75 Manipulating PIPs Tiles • 89 Manipulating PIPs Mask • 90 Multi-PIP Screen Configurations • 91 Selecting Mixer Channels • 119 Adjusting Audio Levels • 119 Descriptions of Basic Transitions • 133 Edge Transitions • 137 Trailing Transitions • 138 Shape Transitions • 139

MXPro Technical Specifications • 151

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Introduction

elcome to MXPro , and thank you for buying Videonics products.

This chapter contains:

• Brief descriptions of major MXPro features

• Typical uses for the MXPro

• How to contact Videonics

• An inventory of package contents

• Description of the contents of this User Guide

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

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AJOR

Chapter 1 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

EATURES

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

Superb Video Quality — To ensure highest video quality, MXPro uses 10-bit (4:2:2)

video technology for Y/C applications, and 8-bit 4:2:2 for Composite applications.

Four Input Synchronized Switcher — MXPro provides four input channels. This makes

MXPro useful in live production settings where up to four cameras or other sources might be in use. MXPro synchronizes the inputs, so picture disruptions do not occur when switching between sources. Each channel has a composite video input, a Y/C video input, and a set of stereo audio inputs.

Pictures-in-Pictures (PIPs) — PIP allows multiple pictures to share the screen in various

conﬁgurations. For example, one source might take the entire background while another image appears inside a separate, smaller window, both sharing the screen at the same time. You can use up to 16 images in a PIP conﬁguration.

Effects Generator — Use a variety of effects to enhance a source or transition between

sources. Select from over 500 effects, including natural shapes (diamonds, stars, and so forth), fancy edges, and borders. And, you can build your own custom menu for quick access to those effects you use most often.

Time Base Corrector (TBC) — MXPro automatically corrects the output’s time base.

MXPro stabilizes the output signal even when the input sources are not stable.

Chroma Key — Keying replaces

parts of one picture with another, based on their color. Here the solid background behind Kong keys out and subsequently gets replaced with the picture of the bridge. The chroma key version shows Kong contemplating the bridge.

Frame Synchronizer and Digital Video Mixer — Mix any two input sources together

using a variety of transitions — wipes, dissolves, ﬂips, and so forth. With the frame synchronizer you can mix independent video signals.

Compose — MXPro provides a video painting system you can use to combine video

stills, color shapes, and moving video on one screen. You can create a screen that contains a video still of a football coach (with a surrounding red border), combined with a moving video of the players in action on the ﬁeld.

Audio Mixer — MXPro provides basic audio control. You can change the sound along

with the video, or play a constant sound while the video plays. Audio can come from a video source or from external audio devices.

Connectivity — MXPro provides multiple video/audio outputs, including two Y/C Pro-

gram outputs, two composite Program outputs, one composite Preview output, one set of stereo audio outputs, and a Headphone output.

Joystick — The joystick gives you ﬁne control over color adjustments and positioning of

PIP (picture-in-picture), compose, and the chroma key cursor.

Color Correction — Apply true RGB color correction to any or all input sources. Color

correction parameters can be set separately for each channel.

Input Effects — Apply special effects such as ﬂips, mosaics, and others to the signals

coming in from any input source.

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Introduction Common Uses for MXPro

OMMON

SES

FOR

Multiple-Source Video Production — In a video production setup, you can connect one

or more video sources (VCR’s, camcorders, video disc players, cameras, title generators, computer graphics systems, and so forth) to MXPro’s four input channels. The Program output can then be sent to a VTR or directly to a monitor.

Single-Source Use — MXPro supports A/A roll, a method for creating interesting transi-

tions with a single source. Its digital effects (such as picture freeze, posterization, and zooms) give added life to productions. You can use MXPro with a titler to mix and superimpose titles. Time Base Correction improves the picture (especially when making multiple-generation copies) by removing the jitter common to most VCR’s.

Live Video — In live production setups, MXPro processes events as they occur. Good

coverage requires seeing the events from different vantage points—which means you need multiple input sources. MXPro gives you the ability to connect up to four sources simultaneously. For example, at a sporting event, camera one might focus on the playing ﬁeld, camera two on the team benches, camera three on the announcer, and camera four on the scoreboard. Using MXPro you can easily switch between the sources whenever necessary.

MXP

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

Note

MXPro is not an edit controller — that is, it does not control VCR’s, camcorders, and similar devices. You can control the sources manually, or use external edit controllers such as those manufactured by Videonics.

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MXP

Chapter 1 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

ACKAGE

ONTENTS

The MXPro package contains the items shown below. Check your package against the illustration. If anything is missing, contact the dealer where you purchased MXPro for the necessary replacements.

MXPro Unit

Power Adapter and Cord User Guide

Page 13

Introduction About this User Guide

BOUT

THIS

SER

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

Table 1: User Guide Contents

Chapter

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 2

Quick Start

Chapter 3

Installing MXPro

Chapter 4

Basic Operations

UIDE

Description

Basic overview of MXPro features, description of package contents, description of manual, and so forth.

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

Instructions for setting up MXPro to work with your video equipment.

Explains most common procedures and functions used with MXPro.

Chapter 5

Transitions

Chapter 6

Input Effects

Chapter 7

Functions

Chapter 8

PIPs

Chapter 9

Compose

Chapter 10

Chroma Key

Chapter 11

Learn Mode

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

How to use various effects with video input material.

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

Instructions for using the Picture-inPicture functions.

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

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

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

Chapter 12

Working with Audio

Chapter 13

Advanced Operations

How to use audio sources (tapes, CD’s, and so forth) with MXPro.

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

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Chapter 1 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Table 1: User Guide Contents (Continued)

Chapter

Appendix A

Transitions List

Appendix B

Time Base Corrector

Appendix C

Video Quality

Appendix D

Technical Speciﬁcations

Appendix E

MXPro | MX-1 Differences

Glossary

Description

Complete list of transitions available with MXPro, along with their assigned code numbers and descriptions.

Explains the time-base corrector feature built into MXPro.

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

MXPro product speciﬁcations.

Summarizes operational differences between MXPro and Videonics MX-1 Video Mixer.

Deﬁnitions of terms frequently used in conjunction with MXPro and video mixing procedures.

Index

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

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

Tip

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

Note

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

CAUTION

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

WARNING!

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

Standard index to topics in this manual.

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Introduction About this User Guide

MXPro Buttons When referencing the various buttons (or, keys) and other controls on the MXPro key-

board, they appear in uppercase, boldface characters. For example, the keyboard contains the PLAY button and T-BAR .

In some cases you use two buttons together to perform a function. This is normally done using the shift button in combination with some other button. A plus (+) symbol indicates this. For example, you might be asked to enter SHIFT+PIPS . This means press and hold down the SHIFT button, press the PIPs button, then release both.

PIPs

Sources, Channels, and

Outputs

SHIFT

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

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

A Channel is an internal MXPro component. The video and/or audio signal originating from a source travels along one of the channels.

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

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Chapter 1 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

CONTACTING VIDEONICS

Videonics provides technical and general support for all of its products. The following table provides information for contacting us with your suggestions, questions, and problems.

Table 2: Videonics Contacts

Department Contact Information

Corporate Headquarters 1370 Dell Avenue

Main Phone Number (408) 866-8300

Main Fax Number (408) 866-4859

Product Information (800) 338-3348

Information via E-Mail [email protected]

Technical Support (408) 370-9963

Support via E-Mail [email protected]

Campbell, CA 95008

Compuserve GO VIDEONICS

Compuserve ID 72662,3115

Internet World Wide Web http://www.videonics.com

International Ofﬁces Contact Videonics for your local distributor

Page 17

Quick Start

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

If you are upgrading from the Videonics MX-1, see Appendix E, Information for MX-1

Users , for helpful information in setting up your MXPro.

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

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UICK

Chapter 2 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Setting Up

Preview Monitor

TART

TEPS

PREVIEW OUT

Input

Source

OUT Jacks

IN 1

IN 2

00:00

Input

Source

VIDEO IN

AUDIO IN

00:00

Output Monitor

00:00

Output Device

Note

¨ Connect a COMPOSITE-type monitor to MXPro’s PREVIEW OUT jack.

¨ Connect an Input Source (such as a VCR or camcorder) to MXPro’s IN 1 jacks.

¨ Connect a second Input Source to MXPro’s IN 2 jacks.

MXPro is set up, by default, to expect S-Video (Y/C) devices to be connected to the IN 1, IN 2, IN 3, and IN 4 input jacks. If you connect Composite devices to any of the jacks, you must tell MXPro this fact. See “Using the Route Function” below after completing the following steps.

¨ Connect a VCR’s VIDEO IN and AUDIO IN jacks to the OUT jacks on the MXPro rear

panel. This is the device where you record the program.

¨ Connect a television or monitor to the recording VCR according to their instruc-

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

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

¨ Connect the MXPro power supply to the power supply jack on the rear panel.

¨ Connect the MXPro’s power cord to a suitable outlet.

¨ Turn on all devices (the MXPro power switch is located on the right end of the unit)

and let the tapes roll.

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Quick Start The Preview Screen

The Preview Screen

¨ You should see the following (with some slight differences) on the Preview screen.

NEXT Source

CURRENT Source

Transitions Menu

Note

MXPro displays small previews of the sources you have attached. The images are scaled down both in size and frame rate and, therefore, don’t play as smoothly as they would in a single-source video monitor image. This does not affect the quality of the video going to the output — it is always highest quality.

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

CURRENT Source — The signal currently playing on the Output monitor. MXPro

highlights the CURRENT source in Yellow (just above the preview images).

NEXT Source — The signal that will play on the Output monitor after the transition

runs. MXPro highlights the NEXT source in Green.

Transitions Menu — Rows and columns of icons representing some of the transitions

available. MXPro highlights the currently selected transition in Blue. The icons also show the speed and direction for the selected transition.

¨ Near the upper-right corner of the Preview screen is the Color Channel. The swatch

shows samples of the current background color, border color, and border style. The numbers represent the current selection of color codes and styles.

Page 20

Chapter 2 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Using the Route

Function

This display indicates the SVideo (Y/C) and R/L audio connections from IN 2 are routed to Channel B.

The Route functions ensures that MXPro understands where your input devices are connected on the rear panel. If you connect S-Video (Y/C) devices to the IN 1, IN 2, IN3, and/or IN 4 jacks, re-routing is not necessary. Go on to the next section, “Running the Demo”. Otherwise:

¨ After starting MXPro with all devices connected and turned on, press ROUTE to dis-

play the Route screen.

Press NEXT/X where X is the channel (A, B, C, or D) TO WHICH you want to route the signals. MXPro highlights the channel you select.

The following instructions explain how to change the video routing for

MUTE

channel B from the S-Video (Y/C) connection on IN 2 to the Composite connection on IN 2.

Running the Demo

¨ Press LEFT ARROW. Note that the S highlight (for S-Video, or Y/C) under IN 2

moves left to highlight the V (Composite Video) option.

¨ To route other inputs to different channels, press NEXT/X, where X is the channel

to which you want to route. Then repeat the preceding step.

¨ Press ROUTE again to exit from the Route screen.

The Demo gives you a quick look at some of MXPro’s important features and assortment of transitions.

¨ Press SHIFT+DEMO.

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

¨ Press any key to stop the Demo whenever you want.

Page 21

Quick Start Cutting Between Sources

Cutting Between Sources

¨ Press CUT/A.

A B C D COLOR

CUT

A B C D COLOR

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

¨ Press CUT/B.

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

When you press one of the cut buttons, the small light below the buttons glows steadily to indicate it is the CURRENT source.

When you press one of NEXT buttons, the small light above that buttons blinks to indicate it is the NEXT source.

¨ If you have anything plugged into IN 3 or IN 4, press CUT/C and CUT/D, respec-

tively, to display their signals.

Borders and Solid Color Backgrounds

¨ Press CUT/COLOR.

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

¨ To change the color, press BG COLOR.

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

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

and PIPs. Press BORDER COLOR and the color around the background color sample shows you the new choice. Press BORDER STYLE to select from different styles for the border.

Page 22

Chapter 2 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Setting up a Transition

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

¨ Press CUT/A to set A as the CURRENT source. MXPro shows a steadily glowing light

¨ Press NEXT/B to set B as the NEXT source (the one you want to see after the transi-

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

Selected Transition

below the CUT button you press.

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

shown in the following example.

Use LEFT and RIGHT ARROW s to move the selection horizontally. Use UP and

DOWN ARROW s to move the selection vertically: or, press 2 then OK to select the

transition by number.

Running Transitions

Automatic Transitions

PLAY

Speed

The screen shows: The CURRENT source (A), the NEXT source (B), and the desired effect (the horizontal wipe).

You can run transitions automatically or manually.

¨ Press PLAY. MXPro runs the transition at a pre-determined speed.

MXPro transitions between the two sources using the horizontal wipe transition. Both the Preview and Output screens show the results.

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

¨ To wipe back and forth between sources A and B, press PLAY repeatedly.

¨ To change the speed at which a transition runs, press the SPEED button. The Speed

indicator under the transition icon changes.

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

the fastest.

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

Page 23

Quick Start Using CUT Transitions

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

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

simply move the T-BAR.

The transition begins running as soon as you move the T-BAR . You can even move back and forth by moving the T-BAR in different directions. Give it a try!

Using CUT Transitions

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

There’s a quick way to cut back and forth between two sources (such as A to B to A to B) using just the PLAY button, instead of having to alternate between two CUT buttons:

¨ Press 0 to select transition 0, a simple cut.

¨ Press PLAY again and again.

¨ A solid color screen can be used as if it were a separate source. Press the NEXT/

COLOR button and run any transition, or press CUT/COLOR.

Choosing Transitions

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

¨ Select Transitions in the following ways:

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

NUMBER keys – MXPro assigns a unique number to every transition. The number

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

Transition Number 29

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

light the transition icon.

MXPro replaces the current Transitions Menu and shows the one that contains the transition you selected.

¨ Press PLAY.

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USER BASIC EDGES TRAILING SHAPES

Chapter 2 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Using Transition Categories

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

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

¨ Press the TRAILING button. The Transitions Menu display a completely different set

of transition icons.

¨ Use the ARROW keys to highlight a transition you’d like to see run, then press OK.

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

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

Other Features

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

¨ Using the DISPLAY button to change the content of the Preview screen.

¨ Freeze the picture.

¨ Separately control the sound.

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

¨ Use chroma key to combine parts of one picture with parts of another.

¨ Compose your own pictures, made up of several stills, color rectangles, and a mov-

ing picture.

¨ Rearrange the inputs so A, B, C, and D, and their audio channels come from differ-

ent rear panel jacks.

¨ Memorize a sequence of transitions and play them back.

Page 25

Installing MXPro

his chapter explains how to install (or, set up) MXPro to use with other equipment.

Major topics include:

• Understanding Sources and Output

• Understanding Preview and Program monitors

• Understanding the MXPro connectors

• Identifying Cables and Adapters you might need

• Installation Examples

• Installing a Microphone

If you are upgrading from the Videonics MX-1, see Appendix E, Information for MX-1

Users , for information that will be helpful setting up your equipment.

Page 26

OURCES

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

AND

UTPUT

Source and Output refer to the way you use devices with MXPro. You can simultaneously connect up to four source devices and two output devices to MXPro.

00:00

Source Source

Output Output

Source — A source is an input device. Each source provides a video signal, audio sig-

nal, or both. You use MXPro to combine and (optionally) animate these signals.

Output — An output is a device on which you record and/or broadcast a signal. The

signal might contain video, audio, or both. This signal is often a mix of signals coming into MXPro from one or more of the sources. The output device might be a VCR with an optional monitor attached, or it might be a live broadcast.

Page 27

Installing MXPro Preview and Program Monitors

REVIEW

AND

ROGRAM

MXPro designates monitors as either Preview or Program to indicate how a particular monitor may be used. This manual uses the following pictures to distinguish between the two monitors.

ONITORS

Preview Monitor Program Monitor

Preview Monitor

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

CAUTION

Program Monitor

Number of Monitors

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

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

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

Page 28

NDERSTANDING

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

MXP

To properly set up MXPro, you need to know how and where to connect external components – such as VCR’s, camcorders, and so forth. You use cables to connect video devices to MXPro’s rear panel. See “Cables and Adapters” on page 23.

Remove MXPro from its package and set it so you can see the rear panel. Refer to the panel and the illustration on page 21 while reading this section.

The MXPro rear panel has numerous connectors and they vary by type. You can connect input sources in any combination – up to a maximum of four. You can process just the video signal from a device, just the audio signal, or both.

You can connect two separate output devices to MXPro. You might, for example, direct one output to a recording device and the other to a live broadcast.

Note the labels associated with each and every connector on the MXPro rear panel.

POWER — An electrical power connector. Use the power cord and adapter in the

MXPro package to connect the unit to an electrical outlet.

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

VIDEO IN — Connect Composite sources to these connectors.

AUDIO IN — Connect audio devices to these connectors. Each set of connectors has

L (Left) and R (Right) jacks for stereo input. See“Audio Connectors” on page 24.

ONNECTORS

There are a total of six output connectors — one Preview, two Composite, two S-Video, and a Headphones jack.

PREVIEW OUT — Connect a Composite video monitor to this jack. You cannot use

an S-Video monitor as Preview. This monitor serves as your visual “interface” with MXPro: it’s where you do most of your work.

OUT Y/C — Connect an S-Video output device. You record productions on this

device, use it to display a live broadcast signal, or both.

OUT — Connect a Composite output device. Same as above, but use this connector

if your output device is composite-type.

AUDIO OUT — Connect a suitable audio cable from this jack to the audio input on

your output device.

CONTROL (GPI) — Connect a General Purpose Interface (GPI) device to this jack to

control the MXPro from an external device or remote location. See “Using a GPI Device” beginning on page 126.

HEADPHONES — See “Using Headphones” on page 25.

Page 29

Installing MXPro Understanding MXPro Connectors

VIDEO

IN (Y/C)

OUT

(Y/C)

OUT AUDIO OUT CONTROL

(GPI)

VIDEO

POWER

AUDIO

PREVIEW OUTDIGITAL VIDEO IN

(FUTURE

UPGRADE)

1 2

LRL

3 4

MXPro Rear Panel

POWER

OUT Y/C

S-Video

AUDIO OUT

Left and Right

VIDEO IN (Y/C)

S-Video

VIDEO IN

Composite

AUDIO IN

Left and Right

PREVIEW OUT

Composite

OUT

Composite

CONTROL (GPI)

Page 30

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Power Connector

WARNING!

The MXPro package contains the required Transformer and Power Cord for the unit.

Male Socket Female Plug

Power

Adapter

Plug

Transformer Power Cord

Use only the power cord and transformer provided in the package. Do not use this power cord and transformer with any other equipment. Failure to observe these conditions can damage your equipment and void your warranty.

Procedure

To connect the power cord and transformer:

Connect the Female Plug on the Power Cord into the Male Socket on the Trans-

former.

Connect the Male Plug on the Power Cord to a suitable power outlet.

Connect the Power Adapter Plug on the Transformer cord into the Power connec-

tor on the MXPro rear panel.

Turn the MXPro Power Switch (located on the right side of the unit) to the ON

position.

Male Plug

Page 31

Installing MXPro Cables and Adapters

ABLES

AND

WARNING!

DAPTERS

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

Look closely at the jacks on the MXPro rear panel and note that they accept RCA Composite or S-Video connectors.

RCA Composite S-Video (Y/C)

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

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

Microphones

OUT

You can connect a microphone to any MXPro input jack, but you need a special adapter to make the connection. The type of adapter needed varies depending on the type of microphone you want to use. If you do not have the adapter you need, take your microphone to a local electronics supply store to make sure you select the correct adapter.

Page 32

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Audio Connectors To connect a stereophonic audio device to MXPro, you need two separate audio cables

NSTALLATION

— one for the Left channel and one for the Right.

To connect a monaural audio device you need a Y-Adapter cable. Connect the single end of the adapter to the line input or output on the device. Connect the two remaining ends to the Left and Right channel inputs or outputs on the MXPro rear panel.

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

You can also connect a mono audio device using a single cable. Connect one end to the line in or out on the audio device, then connect the other end to either the Left or Right MXPro channel connector using the IN 3 set of inputs (only IN 3 can be conﬁgured for mono). Once connected, use the MXPro ROUTE function to specify which connector (Left or Right) you used. See “Route” beginning on page 77.

XAMPLES

This section shows examples of two common MXPro conﬁgurations, but does not describe every possibility.

Before proceeding, study the following diagram (MXPro Installation Concept) that shows overall conﬁguration concepts.

MXPro Installation Concept

SOURCES

Channel

MXPro

00:00

IN IN

Channel

OUT

Channel

FONT LETTER OUTLINE BORDERS BACKGROUND EFFECTS

POWER

FONT &

STYLE COLOR PATTERN COLOR PATTERNCOLOR STYLE COLOR PATTERN IN OUT copy move

DEMO

SIZE

!!@#$%^&*()_+

1234567890-=

¢£¥® • Œ «»©

tab

QWE RTY UI OP [] \

caps lock

ASDFGHJKL;

shift shift

ZXCVBNM,. /

cmd PLAY PLAY

™

§ ÖŸ Hun©Ÿ

‘’

“”

1 2

page

accent

new

index

page

HEADPHONES

{}|

{}

mark

start

end

delete

undo

posn

new

page

line

page down

Headphones

OUT

Program

Preview

Output

You can have up to four separate audio/video input sources. MXPro designates them as sources A, B, C, and D. You can use any mix of devices as necessary to complete your work so long as they are valid MXPro devices. For example, you can use VCR’s, VTR’s,

Page 33

Installing MXPro Correlating Input Sources to MXPro Jacks

camcorders, laserdisc players, satellite tuners, broadcast tuners/receivers, character generators (CG’s), video-equipped computers, and audio devices (such as a CD player or tape deck).

MXPro sends the output signal to a recording device (such as a VCR) and/or a Program monitor.

A second monitor, Preview, can be used to display preview images of all input sources. The Preview monitor also displays the on-screen controls you use to operate MXPro.

Correlating Input Sources to MXPro Jacks

IMPORTANT

INFORMATION

As stated above, MXPro designates your input sources as A, B, C, and D. However, if you examine the jacks on the MXPro rear panel you’ll see they are labeled 1, 2, 3, and

4. Initially, there is a direct correlation between the letter and number designations: jack 1 corresponds to source A, jack 2 corresponds to source B, jack 3 to source C, and jack 4 to source D. You can re-route inputs to other channels. For more information, see “Route” beginning on page 77.

Using Headphones

To use headphones, connect them to the Headphone jack, which is located on the right end of the unit, near the power switch. The jack accepts standard stereo headphones with a miniature plug — however, output is monaural (a mix of right and left channels), not stereo. If your headphones have a large plug, you need an adapter to switch it to a miniature plug.

VCR Selector Switches

General Notes

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

S-VHS TUNER

LINEAUX TUNERSC

SOURCE SELECT

TV / LINE

INPUT SELECT

CAMERA EXT TUNER AUDIO 2

If you have such a switch on a device, set the switch to Line.

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

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

Page 34

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Live Broadcast Conﬁguration

This conﬁguration is useful in a live broadcast environment.

1 Connect the VIDEO OUT from Camera 1 to VIDEO IN 1 on the MXPro rear panel.

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

2 Connect the VIDEO OUT from Camera 2 to VIDEO IN 2 on the MXPro rear panel.

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

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

AUDIO IN 4 on the MXPro rear panel.

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

5 OPTIONAL – Connect a GPI trigger device to the GPI CONTROL on the MXPro

rear panel.

6 OPTIONAL – Connect a Character Generator (CG) to the OUT Y/C jack on the

rear panel.

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

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

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

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

recorded.

9 Connect the Power Cord and Transformer to the MXPro rear panel. See “Power

Connector” on page 22 for instructions.

Use the Route function (see page 77) to make sure your devices are directed to the correct MXPro channels.

Page 35

Installing MXPro Live Broadcast Conﬁguration

VIDEO

IN (Y/C)

OUT (Y/C)

OUT AUDIO OUT CONTROL

(GPI)

VIDEO

POWER

AUDIO

PREVIEW OUTDIGITAL VIDEO IN

(FUTURE

UPGRADE)

1 2

LRL

3 4

Live Broadcast Conﬁguration

1 2 3

Program

Monitor

Preview Monitor

Page 36

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Post Production Conﬁguration

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

1 Connect the VIDEO OUT from VTR 1 to VIDEO IN 1 on the MXPro rear panel.

Connect the AUDIO OUTs from VTR 1 to AUDIO IN 1 on the rear panel.

2 Connect the VIDEO OUT from VTR 2 to VIDEO IN 2 on the MXPro rear panel.

Connect the AUDIO OUTs from VYR 2 to AUDIO IN 2 on the rear panel.

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

AUDIO IN 4 on the MXPro rear panel.

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

5 OPTIONAL – Connect a Character Generator (CG) to the OUT Y/C jack on the

rear panel.

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

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

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

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

recorded.

8 Connect the Power Cord and Transformer to the MXPro rear panel. See “Power

Connector” on page 22 for instructions.

Use the Route function (see page 77) to make sure your devices are directed to the correct MXPro channels.

Page 37

Installing MXPro Post Production Conﬁguration

VIDEO

IN (Y/C)

OUT

(Y/C)

OUT AUDIO OUT CONTROL

(GPI)

VIDEO

POWER

AUDIO

PREVIEW OUTDIGITAL VIDEO IN

(FUTURE

UPGRADE)

1 2

LRL

3 4

Post Production Conﬁguration

1 2

Program

Monitor

Preview Monitor

Page 38

Chapter 3 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

USING A MICROPHONE WITH MXPRO

This section explains how to connect a microphone to MXPro.

You need the following equipment:

• Professional quality microphone

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

• An audio Direct Box (which you can purchase from any professional audio equipment dealer)

• A 1/4 inch (Phone Jack) to RCA cable

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

Procedure

To connect a microphone:

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

Box.

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

Direct Box.

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

4 Plug the two male ends of the RCA “Y” Adapter into the Channel 4 R and L audio

inputs on the MXPro rear panel.

To control the volume of the microphone, use the Background Music slider on the Audio Mixer screen (see “Using the Audio Mixer” beginning on page 118).

Page 39

Basic Operations

his chapter describes several basic MXPro operations, including:

• Starting and stopping MXPro

• Using the MXPro keyboard

• Using the Preview screen

• Using CURRENT and NEXT sources

• Selecting Sources

• Using the VIDEO/AUDIO selector

• Cutting Between Sources

• Working with Color

• Using Backgrounds

• Using Borders

Page 40

TARTING

NDERSTANDING

Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

AND

TOPPING

Press the Power switch to start or stop MXPro. The switch, located on the right-end of the unit, is a rocker-type switch. Also power on or off all sources and output devices.

THE

Use the MXPro keyboard to control how the unit operates. The better you understand all of the functions available from the keyboard the better your results.

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

T-Bar (or, Take Bar) — Use to manually control the way transitions run. See

Chapter 5, Transitions .

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

DISPLAY , SETUP , ROUTE , LEARN , COMPOSE , PIPS , AUDIO MIX , and FREEZE .

You can also access the built-in demo using these buttons. See Chapter 7, Func-

tions , for details.

Source Selectors — Use to select the CURRENT (CUT) and NEXT sources for a pro-

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

T-BAR to instruct MXPro to play the transition. The CURRENT source becomes

the new NEXT source, and the old NEXT source becomes the new CURRENT source. (See “Using CURRENT and NEXT Sources” beginning on page 38.) Use the COLOR buttons to create solid colored backgrounds and other effects. (See “Working with Colors” beginning on page 42.)

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

AUDIO are affected when you run a transition. When set to VIDEO , the video changes but the audio does not. When set to AUDIO , the audio changes but the video does not. When set to both, the video and audio both change. See “Using the Video/Audio Selector” on page 40.

Joystick — Provides an easy way to make ﬁne adjustments to various compo-

nents. For example, when using PIPs the joystick positions the various picture elements on the screen — when using color correction, use the joystick to adjust the color. The joystick has other uses you’ll learn about in later chapters.

Power Switch and Headphone Jack — These two components are located on the

right-hand side of the unit, not on the top. The Power Switch is a rocker-type switch for turning the unit on and off. The Headphone Jack provides a means for connecting a set of headphones to the unit.

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

categories of transitions, including USER , BASIC , EDGES , TRAILING , and

SHAPES . All MXPro transitions fall into one of these categories. After pressing a

button, you can search through the transitions in that category to ﬁnd the one you want to use. See “Transition Categories and Menus” beginning on page 52.

MXP

EYBOARD

Page 41

Basic Operations Understanding the Keyboard

STROBE

COLOR NEG

COLOR CORRECT

VIDEO

INPUT EFFECTS

AUDIO

B&W

B&W NEG

FLIP

CHROMA KEY

FLIP

POSTERIZE

MOSAIC

SHIFT

COLORDCBA

MXPro Keyboard

CUT

SHIFT-DEMO

MX Pro

DIGITAL VIDEO MIXER - TBC

DISPLAY

SETUP

COLORDCBA

LEARN

ROUTE

SHAPES

EDGES

BASIC TRAILING

USER

COMPOSE

PIPs

123

REVERSE

AUDIO MIX

456

SPEED

FREEZE

789

BG COLOR

BORDER STYLE

BORDER COLOR

PLAY

10 11

Page 42

Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Play Button — Press to invoke the next command, complete with transition if

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

Control Buttons — Use these buttons to reverse transition direction, change tran-

sition speed, specify background and border colors, and set border styles.

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

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

OK Button — Generally used to indicate to MXPro that you have completed some

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

SHIFT Button — A modiﬁer key that invokes special functions when used in con-

junction with other keyboard keys.

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

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

INPUT EFFECTS Buttons — Provides access to effects you can apply to input

sources. The light below the INPUT EFFECTS button glows when MXPro is in Input Effects mode. See Chapter 6, Input Effects , for more information.

Page 43

Basic Operations Using the Preview Screen

SING

THE

Selected

Transition

REVIEW

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

Preview Monitor and STANDARD Preview Screen

CREEN

Active Source Highlights

Input Source Previews

Color

Selector

Note

MXPro always processes the output at the highest possible quality . The Input

Source Previews, however, appear in reduced quality because MXPro must reduce the images to ﬁt the smaller window. Playback of the images is also of reduced quality because MXPro must do a lot of additional work to play them. This becomes more evident when you display multiple moving images because MXPro must do even more work to handle all of the images simultaneously. What you see on the Preview screen is

not indicative of what gets recorded or displayed on the output.

Changing the Display Conﬁguration

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

Transition

Number

Transitions Menu

• STANDARD — as shown above ( SHIFT+1 ).

• TWO CHANNEL — Shows only enlarged CURRENT and NEXT Input Source Previews and the ﬁrst two rows of the Transitions Menu ( SHIFT+2 ).

Page 44

•

Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

• NEXT — Displays full-screen image of the NEXT input source. Transitions Menu

• CURRENT — Displays full-screen image of the CURRENT input source. Transitions

See “Display” beginning on page 73 for examples of these conﬁgurations. Unless stated otherwise, this guide assumes you are using the STANDARD preview.

Input Source Previews

A small, preview image from each input source appears in a separate window. Use the previews to direct the action, position cameras, ﬁnd a particular sequence on a video tape, and so forth. The preview images do not show Input Effects (see Chapter 6, Input

Effects ).

Active Source Highlights

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

FULL – Displays only the Input Source Preview windows, each in a larger size.

Transitions Menu not displayed ( SHIFT+3 ).

not displayed ( SHIFT+4 ).

Menu not displayed ( SHIFT+5 ).

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

Some sources provide audio only, others provide both video and audio. The speaker icon (rather than a colored highlight) indicates the CURRENT and NEXT audio selections.

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

In addition to the highlights described above, indicator lights between the CUT and NEXT buttons indicate the currently selected video sources.

A B C D COLOR

CUT

Indicator Lights

A steady light identiﬁes the CURRENT

A B C D COLOR

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

video source. A blinking light identiﬁes the NEXT video source.

Page 45

Basic Operations Color Selector

Color Selector

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

Transitions Menu

Background

Color

Border

Style

Border

Color

You can cycle through all available colors for each component using the BG COLOR, BORDER COLOR, and BORDER STYLE buttons. See “Working with Colors” beginning

on page 42.

The Transitions Menu shows up to 30 transitions at a time. MXPro groups the 500+ available transitions into distinct categories.

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

USER BASIC EDGES TRAILING SHAPES

See “Transition Categories and Menus” beginning on page 52 for more information.

Use the ARROW keys to navigate through the transitions in the current menu. If a category contains more transitions than can appear in the Transitions Menu at one time, continue pressing DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW to scroll the other transitions into the menu. When the transition you want appears in the Transitions Menu, use the ARROW Keys to select (or, highlight) it.

If you turn off the border (that is, set the border style to zero), the border color swatch and number do not appear in the Color Selector.

Selected Transition

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

You can change the speed at which a transition runs, and you can also change the direction in which it runs. See “Adjusting Transitions” beginning on page 58.

Page 46

Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

USING CURRENT AND NEXT SOURCES

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

Example…

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

CURRENT NEXT

Source A Source B Source C

Procedure

To identify the CURRENT and NEXT sources:

1 Begin with the footage of Kong staring thoughtfully upward. Press CUT/A to

make this (Source A) the CURRENT source.

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

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

such as a right-to-left wipe.

Use the ARROW keys to highlight the transition in the Transitions Menu. See “Selecting Transitions” beginning on page 56 for details.

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

PLAY.

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

Tip

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

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

Page 47

Basic Operations Selecting Sources

CURRENT NEXT

Source B

Source C

Source A

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

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

as a slow dissolve. The CURRENT source (the ﬁghter plane) continues running, and being sent to the output device.

7 To transition to Stonehenge, hold down the SHIFT button and move the T-BAR

to the top of its slot, then drag it down at whatever speed you want the dissolve to happen.

The T-BAR and the PLAY button run the same transition, except that the T-BAR lets you manually control the speed at which the transition runs.

SELECTING SOURCES

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

CUT

Use the CUT buttons to select the CURRENT source. The four buttons labeled A, B, C, and D correspond directly to the Input Source Previews on the Preview Screen (see page 36) and to MXPro’s four channels. Use the COLOR button to select a solid color background rather than an image coming from a source device (see “Using Color Backgrounds” on page 43). When you press any CUT button, the indicator light below that button glows steadily.

After selecting the CURRENT source, use the NEXT buttons to select the NEXT source. The buttons are labeled the same as the CUT buttons. When you press any NEXT button, the indicator light above that button ﬂashes.

A B C D COLOR

Use to select CURRENT source

Use to select NEXT source

A B C D COLOR

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Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

USING THE VIDEO/AUDIO SELECTOR

VIDEO

AUDIO

Example…

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

You can set the VIDEO/AUDIO selector to any of three positions — VIDEO only, AUDIO only, or both. Press the button as required to turn on the Video, Audio, or both lights.

VIDEO – Video changes, audio does not.

AUDIO – Audio changes, video does not.

BOTH – Audio and Video both change.

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

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

Procedure

To do this type of mixing:

1 Connect the VCR to one of the MXPro inputs on the rear panel – such as set num-

ber one.

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

3 Press CUT/A to select the VCR input.

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

5 Press CUT/B to select the audio deck input.

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

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

NEXT source.

8 Start both input devices rolling.

9 Press PLAY to begin outputting the program.

Note

To designate any part of a signal with the VIDEO/AUDIO selector, an input device must be set up accordingly. For example, to process only the audio signal from a video tape in a VCR, the VCR’s audio output must be connected to MXPro’s audio input jacks. See Chapter 3, Installing MXPro, and also see “Route” beginning on page 77.

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Basic Operations Swapping Sources

SWAPPING SOURCES

This section discusses common ways to switch between source devices.

Simple Cuts

To switch to a speciﬁc source, press the CUT button for that source. The CUT buttons cause the switch to occur almost immediately. For example, press CUT/A to immediately switch to that input. You don’t need to press PLAY or use the T-BAR when you use the CUT buttons.

To immediately switch to a colored background, press CUT/COLOR. MXPro displays the currently selected background color on the output. Set the background color to the color you want before pressing CUT/COLOR. See “Working with Colors” beginning on page 42 for further instructions.

When you perform a cut, the Preview screen shows the cut, then holds the picture for a moment so you can see the result on both the Preview and Program monitors. You don’t have to wait for the Preview screen to reappear — you can switch to a different source whenever you want.

Swapping Between Two Sources

To switch back and forth between two sources (for example, A to B to A to B, and so on), use the PLAY button to automatically switch between the two.

Tip

When using this back-and-forth switching process, you might ﬁnd it helpful to use the TWO CHANNEL mode for the Preview screen. See “Display” beginning on page 73.

Procedure

To switch sources using this method:

1 Press the CUT button for the source with which you want to begin — for exam-

ple, press CUT/A.

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

3 Use the ARROW keys to highlight and select a transition, or enter the transition

number on the numeric keypad.

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

4 Roll the input sources.

5 To run the transition, press PLAY. At this point, MXPro switches the sources —

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

6 To switch between sources A and B, press PLAY again.

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Back

Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

WORKING WITH COLORS

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

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

Table 3: Default Colors and Numbers

Code Color Code Color

Identifying Colors

0 Black

1 White 6 Bright Blue

2 Gray 7 Light Blue

3 Red 8 Purple

4 Yellow 9 Medium Blue-Green

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

The maximum number of colors in the MXPro palette is ten. You can change nine of the ten colors. You cannot change Black.

ground Color

Border Style

Border Color

5 Green

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

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

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Basic Operations Using Color Backgrounds

Using Color Backgrounds

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

Tip

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

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

Procedure

To make the selection:

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

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

To transition into the colored background, press NEXT/COLOR, then press PLAY or use the T-BAR to switch to the colored background.

Changing Colors and Styles

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

BG COLOR

BORDER COLOR

BORDER STYLE

Procedure

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

1 Press and hold either BG COLOR or BORDER COLOR, depending on which you

want to change.

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

COLOR, then press 6 to specify bright blue.

The following sections describe the BG COLOR, BORDER COLOR, and BORDER STYLE buttons.

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Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Creating Custom Colors

You can change any color other than Black (see Table 3 on page 42) to create custom colors. You cannot add more colors, but you can change the existing ones. Once you create a custom color, it stays permanently in the MXPro unit until and unless you change it again.

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

Procedure

To create a custom color:

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

2 Press LEARN+BG COLOR or LEARN+BORDER COLOR (depending on which

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

appears in the Color Selector.

one you want to change).

These key combinations activate Learn Color mode. MXPro blinks the VIDEO/ AUDIO selector lights to indicate you are in the proper mode.

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

b Move the JOYSTICK relative to its color ring to adjust chrominance (or, color

value).

Red

Yellow

Green

Cyan

Magenta

Blue

4 When the color you want appears in the Color Selector, press OK. You exit from

Learn Color mode and the VIDEO/AUDIO lights cease blinking.

If you decide you don’t want to change the color after manipulating the JOY- STICK and T-BAR, press SHIFT+0 (zero) to revert back to the original color. MXPro restores the original color and exits from Learn Color mode (the VIDEO/ AUDIO lights cease blinking).

Page 53

Basic Operations Using Borders

USING BORDERS

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

Note

Wipe Transition

No Border

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

For the two following procedures, note that not all border styles can be applied in all cases. Single PIPs as well as Edge and Shape transitions accept any border style. Basic transitions accept only color borders. You cannot apply border styles to Trailing transitions, nor can you use them in Compose or Multi-PIP modes.

Procedure

To specify border color:

¨ Repeatedly press BORDER COLOR to cycle through the available colors. The

Color Selector shows the current color.

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

Procedure

To specify border style:

Wipe Transition

White Border

¨ Repeatedly press BORDER STYLE to cycle through the available styles. The Bor-

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

Table 4: Border Styles (Defaults)

No. Result Notes

0 Border and Edges Off

1-3 Soft Edge Border Use LEARN+UP/DOWN ARROW keys to

soften and harden border edges.

4-6 Colored Border LEARN+RIGHT/LEFT ARROW keys adjust

border thickness. LEARN+UP/DOWN ARROW keys soften the border.

7-9 Drop Shadow Border LEARN+ARROW keys reposition drop shadow.

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Chapter 4 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Changing Border Styles

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

Tip

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

Tip

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

Procedure

To change a border style setting

1 While the Preview screen is displayed, enter BORDER STYLE+# — where # can

range from 1 to 9 (inclusive) and is the number of the border style you want to change, as shown in Table 4, Border Styles (Defaults), above.

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

ing an appropriate transition.

3 Move the T-BAR to its mid point.

4 Press LEARN+BORDER STYLE to select a soft edge, color border, or drop shadow

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

Attributes, below) to specify what you want to change – thickness, softness, or position.

6 Return the T-BAR to its full up or full down position.

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Basic Operations Changing Border Styles

MXPro automatically stores the border style so that it is available until and unless you change it again.

Table 5: Keys for Changing Border Attributes

Function Key Combination

Toggle through Soft Edges, Color Border, and Drop Shadow

Soft Edges

Increase Softness LEARN+UP ARROW

Decrease Softness LEARN+DOWN ARROW

Color Border

Increase border width LEARN+RIGHT ARROW

Decrease border width LEARN+LEFT ARROW

Increase border softness LEARN+UP ARROW

Decrease border softness LEARN+DOWN ARROW

Drop Shadow

Move shadow Right LEARN+RIGHT ARROW

Move shadow Left LEARN+LEFT ARROW

Move shadow Up LEARN+UP ARROW

Move shadow Down LEARN+DOWN ARROW

LEARN+BORDER STYLE

a. Drop Shadows created for edges do not translate well to shapes, and vice-versa. Therefore, you should specify one set of drop shadow styles for shapes and another for edges.

Page 56

Notes

Page 57

Using too many transitions of

varying styles can be like taking a

rollercoaster ride after eating

a nine-course meal —

messy and unpleasant.

Transitions

MXPro contains over 500 transitions from which you can choose. Furthermore, you

can manually control any transition to change the way it works, thereby creating your own versions of the supplied set.

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

In this chapter you’ll learn about:

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

• Transition Categories and Menus

• Selecting Sources to use during Transitions

• Selecting Transitions

• Adjusting Transitions

• Running Transitions

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Procedure

Transition

in Progress

CURRENT NEXT

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

ASIC

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

RANSITION

Note

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

When discussing transitions, we use the letters a and b to differentiate the beginning scene ( a ) from the ending scene ( b ). These letters often appear in the transition icons to indicate the direction in which the transition travels. These letter indicators have no

relationship to the A, B, C, and D letters used to differentiate between MXPro

channels.

ONCEPTS

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

To run a transition:

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

Select the NEXT source — the one you want to appear on the output following the transition. For example, press NEXT/B to make that the next source.

Select a transition to use. For example, press the BASIC Transition Category button, then select a wipe transition from the menu.

Prepare the sources (such as VCR’s and camcorders) and let them roll.

At the right moment, use either the T-BAR or the PLAY button to run the transition.

Page 59

CURRENT NEXT

NEXTCURRENT

Before

After

Transitions Basic Transition Concepts

As you can see, you ﬁrst set up the transition, then execute it. Nothing happens until you use the T-BAR or PLAY button to run the transition. So, you set everything up, then run the transition at the precise moment you want it to occur. As soon as one transition ﬁnishes, immediately set up the next one so that all you have to do is press

PLAY or use the T-BAR to proceed.

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

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

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

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

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

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USER BASIC EDGES TRAILING SHAPES

Transition Category Buttons

RANSITION

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

ATEGORIES

To help manage the 500+ transitions, MXPro separates them into ﬁve logical categories — User, Basic, Edges, Trailing, and Shapes. Use the Transition Category buttons to access the different categories.

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

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

AND

ENUS

Transitions

Note

* – The Transitions Menu does not appear when you work with the FULL, CURRENT, or NEXT Preview screen. See “Display” beginning on page 73 for more information.

Use the ARROW keys to navigate the Transitions Menu. If the category contains more transitions than can appear in the menu at one time, use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to scroll through them. You can scroll through only those transitions in the current category.

MXPro color codes the transition icons in the menu:

Basic White Edges Blue Trailing Yellow Shapes Red

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Transitions Basic Transitions Category

Basic Transitions Category

This category includes common transitions, such as wipes and dissolves. The transitions in this category are color coded White. See page 132 for samples of the icons in this category.

MX-1 Compatibility If you are upgrading to MXPro from the Videonics MX-1 Video Mixer, the transitions in

the Basic category are the same as the MX-1.

MXPro provides a set of hot keys that directly correspond to the MX-1 Effect buttons. Using the hot keys (in the following table) causes the MXPro Preview screen cursor to appear at the beginning of each section within the Basic (MX-1) category.

Table 6: MX-1 Compatibility Hot Keys

MX-1 Function

Fades and Dissolves (Positions cursor at transition 160)

Wipes (Positions cursor at transition 30)

Zooms (Positions cursor at transition 188)

MXPro Hot Key

SHIFT+BASIC

SHIFT+EDGES

SHIFT+TRAILING

Flips (Positions cursor at transition 210)

Edges Transitions Category

These transitions move a curved or jagged edge across the screen when transitioning to a different picture source. Transitions in this category are color coded Blue. See page 137 for samples.

Trailing Transitions Category

The transitions in this category leave a trail of images on the screen as a change occurs. The trailing images go away once the transition ﬁnishes. Transitions in this category are color coded Yellow. See page 138 for samples.

Shapes Transitions Category

These transitions occur as a wipe in the shape of a geometric object, such as a heart, a ﬁve-pointed star, a circle, and so forth. Transitions are color coded Red. See page 139 for samples.

User Transitions Category

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

SHIFT+SHAPES

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Procedure

HANGING

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Tip

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

SER

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

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

USER category actually exist in other categories (Basic, Edges, Trailing, and Shape).

Think of the USER category as a collection of references to other transitions.

You can change as many transitions in the USER menu as you want.

RANSITIONS

ENU

Restoring Default User

Transitions

To change a transition in the User menu:

Decide which transition you want to add to the USER category. Refer to Appendix A, Transitions List , for a list of valid numbers and their associated transitions.

If necessary, press DISPLAY to set the Preview screen to STANDARD or TWO CHANNEL mode.

In the other Preview modes (FULL, CURRENT, or NEXT), MXPro does not display the Transitions Menu. See “Display” beginning on page 73.

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

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

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

Press OK .

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

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

If necessary, press the USER Transition Category button to display that menu on the Preview screen.

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

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Transitions Selecting Sources to Use During Transitions

CUT

A B C D COLOR

The lights between the rows of CUT and NEXT buttons act as indicators. A steady

light identiﬁes the CURRENT source (A) – a ﬂashing light identiﬁes the NEXT source (C).

Selecting Sources and Getting Feedback

Yellow highlights the CURRENT source (A)

Green highlights the NEXT source (C)

SELECTING SOURCES TO USE DURING TRANSITIONS

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

MXPro identiﬁes the CURRENT source by a yellow highlight on the Preview screen and a steady light beneath the corresponding CUT button. It identiﬁes the NEXT source by a green highlight on the Preview screen and a ﬂashing light above the corresponding NEXT button.

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

Setting the CURRENT Source

In many cases you don’t need to select the CURRENT source because the ending source from the previous transition automatically becomes the new CURRENT source (see the diagram on page 51). However, if you want to change the CURRENT source, press the corresponding CUT button. For example, pressing CUT/D makes D the CURRENT source, and the Program monitor immediately displays D’s signal.

Setting the NEXT Source

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

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Preview Screen

Numeric Keypad

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

…enter the transition number on the keypad…

then press OK.

…

Blue highlights the selected transition

Each icon in the menu represents one transition.

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

SELECTING TRANSITIONS

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

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

• Enter the transition’s assigned number on the MXPro numeric keypad, then press OK.

Note

When selecting from the USER category, you must always use the ARROW keys to select a transition from the Transition Menu on the Preview screen. Entering a transition number

and pressing OK replaces the current transition with the one you select.

Using the Transitions Menu

The Transitions Menu appears just below the preview images on the Preview screen when you set the Preview to STANDARD or TWO CHANNEL mode (see “Display” beginning on page 73 for more information about Preview modes).

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Transitions Using Transition Numbers

Procedure

The transition number… in this example, number 14

Procedure

To select a transition from the Transitions Menu:

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

of transitions containing the one you want.

2 Use the ARROW keys to highlight the transition you want to use.

Blue highlights the currently selected transition. Use the LEFT and RIGHT ARROWS to move the highlight horizontally. Use the UP and DOWN ARROWS

to move the highlight vertically. When you reach the bottom row of icons in the current menu, press DOWN arrow to display additional transitions in the category, if present.

3 After highlighting the transition you want, press OK.

Using Transition Numbers

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

Note

To select a transition using transition numbers:

1 Enter the transition number on the keyboard.

2 Press OK.

To immediately play back the transition, press PLAY rather than OK.

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

If you make a mistake entering a number, press OK, enter the number correctly, then press OK again.

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

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Procedure

Transition Speed Transition Direction

Transition Icon

REVERSE

SPEED

BG COLOR

Transition Direction

Transition Speed

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

ADJUSTING TRANSITIONS

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

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

Note

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

the current transition to 4, all subsequent transitions run at this same speed until you again change the speed factor. This also applies to transition direction.

Changing Transition Speed

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

To change the transition’s speed:

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

decrease the speed by one unit.

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

Tip

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

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Transitions Changing Transition Direction

Procedure

Forward Reverse

Changing Transition Direction

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

Example…

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

To reverse a transition:

¨ Press REVERSE.

Remember, all transitions run in reverse until you press REVERSE again. Reverse

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

Note

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

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

Mosaic, dissolve, and trailing transitions work in only one direction at all times, including when you press FREEZE before running the transition.

You cannot run Trailing-type transitions in a reverse direction. If you select a Trailing-type transition, then move the T-BAR from its up or down position, MXPro per- forms a simple dissolve (transition 160).

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Procedure

Auto-Reverse Forward Auto-Reverse Backward

Chapter 5 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Using Auto-Reverse Auto-Reverse automatically reverses the direction of transitions each time they run. In

the previous building renovation example, you press REVERSE at the conclusion of each transition to alternate between left-to-right and right-to-left wipes. When you use Auto-Reverse, MXPro handles switching automatically. For example, if the transition is set to run from left-to-right, it automatically alternates between left-to-right and rightto-left each time it runs.

To invoke the Auto-Reverse feature:

¨ Enter SHIFT+REVERSE.

With Auto-Reverse activated, MXPro displays a distinct arrow below the transition’s icon in the Transitions Menu. To manually reverse the current direction even with Auto-Reverse activated, press REVERSE at any time.

Auto-Reverse remains active until you press SHIFT+REVERSE again to go back to oneway transitions. Auto-Reverse has no effect on dissolve and trailing transitions.

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Transitions Running Transitions

Procedure

RUNNING TRANSITIONS

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

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

• Use the T-BAR to run transitions manually, when you want ﬁne control over the way it runs. For example, you can make the transition speed up, slow down, or even reverse itself at any point.

Note

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

Note

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

Running Transitions Automatically

To run a transition automatically at a predetermined speed:

PLAY

Note

¨ Press PLAY.

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

Compare this procedure with FREEZE function (see “Freeze” on page 83), which freezes the entire picture, transition, and video image.

Running Transitions Manually

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

Operating the T-BAR The T-BAR operates as follows:

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

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

¨ Holding down the SHIFT button while moving the T-BAR disables T-BAR opera-

tion. Use this method to reposition the T-BAR without running a transition or effect.

Page 70

Notes

Page 71

Input Effects

Use Input Effects to alter the

signal coming into MXPro from

a source device. You can create

many different effects by

combining Input Effects.

Flip

his chapter describes MXPro Input Effects, which are available in the following but-

ton group on the MXPro keyboard.

INPUT EFFECTS

B&W COLOR CORRECT

B&W NEG COLOR NEG

POSTERIZE CHROMA KEY

FLIP FLIP

MOSAIC STROBE

You can use Input Effects in the following ways:

• Apply input effects to any source.

• Combine as many different input effects as you want to create entirely new effects.

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

You cannot use Input Effects:

• With trailing transitions.

• With Multi-PIPs.

• In Compose mode.

Page 72

NPUT

MXPro does NOT

update the preview

Chapter 6 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

FFECTS

images to show

Input Effects

ENU

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

EFFECTS button.

B&W

NEGATIVE

0 0

POSTERIZE

FLIP

VERTICAL

MOSIAC

Note

COLOR COLOR FLIP STROBE

CORRECT NEGATIVE

When you press one of the input effects buttons (such as POSTERIZE ), MXPro automatically selects that effect in the menu. When you press the INPUT EFFECTS button, MXPro selects the ﬁrst item in the menu — B&W .

The menu does not contain an icon or settings for the Chroma Key option. When you press the CHROMA KEY button, MXPro takes you directly to the Chroma Key screen. See Chapter 10, Chroma Key , for details.

HORIZONTAL

Page 73

Input Effects Special Key Combinations

Special Key Combinations

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

Table 7: Input Effects Mode Key Combinations

Key Combination

ARROW KEYS

Numeric Keypad Directly sets the parameter value for the highlighted

INPUT EFFECTS

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

SHIFT+0 (zero)

Result

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

effect.

Exits from Input Effects mode.

press POSTERIZE to highlight that effect: press

MOSAIC to highlight that effect: and so on.

If the selected effect matches the currently highlighted one on the Input Effects menu, pressing the EFFECTS button increments the effect’s parameter value by one.

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

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

Table 8: Main Mode Input Effects Key Combinations

Key Combination

SHIFT+EFFECTS button

SHIFT+INPUT EFFECTS Temporarily disables Input Effects from being sent to

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

When you use the SHIFT+INPUT EFFECTS key combination to disable Input Effects, MXPro turns off the LED light. It does not change any effects parameter values, but it does prevent the current Input Effects from being used. Press SHIFT+INPUT EFFECTS again to enable them.

Result

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

Program out. See the following paragraph.

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SING

Chapter 6 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

NPUT

FFECTS

Input effects aren’t visible in the small Preview thumbnails. To make them visible:

Make the channel to which the input effects are applied the NEXT source. That is, press NEXT/A , B , C , or D .

Press the DISPLAY button to display the NEXT Preview option (see “Display” beginning on page 73); or use the shortcut SHIFT+4.

Once you apply an input effect to a channel, it remains in effect at all times (even during transitions) until you speciﬁcally change it, with these exceptions:

• Some effects do not apply to the foreground image while using PIPs, Chroma Key, and Compose.

• MXPro Color Correction turns off during transitions if it is enabled on more than one channel. See “Color Correct” on page 68 for more information.

• MXPro turns off Strobe during transitions.

• MXPro turns off all Input Effects during Trailing transitions.

With the exception of Chroma Key, each input effect has associated with it a “parameter” value. In some cases, the value can be either 0 (zero) or 1. In others, it can range from 0 to 9. The Color Correction option also works a little differently: see “Color Correct” on page 68.

Procedure

To apply a parameter value:

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

If you haven’t already done so, use the ARROW keys or INPUT EFFECTS button to select the Input Effect to which you want to apply parameter values.

Set the parameter value to 0 (zero) to turn it off, or to 1 to turn it on.

Use one of the NEXT buttons to select the source to which you want to apply the effect. For example, press NEXT/B to apply the effect to channel B.

Type the parameter value on the MXPro numeric keypad, or continue pressing the corresponding effects key until the parameter value you want appears in the menu.

Press OK to exit from Input Effects mode.

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

Page 75

Input Effects B&W

B&W

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

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

= Off: 1 = On

B&W N

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

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

= Off: 1 = On

OSTERIZE

LIP

Note

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

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

Parameter Values — Zero through nine. Zero turns off

the effect.

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

ORIZONTAL

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

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

= Off: 1 = On

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OSAIC

Chapter 6 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

COLOR CORRECT

Divides picture into tiles.

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

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

Adjusts overall color values throughout the entire image. You cannot, however, apply Color Correction to PIP tiles.

You can set Color Correction values separately for each channel.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

CAUTION

Tip

Apply Color Correction BEFORE going live or rolling tape. Because of the way MXPro implements Color Correction, the Program Output might be affected temporarily.

Procedure

To use Color Correct:

1 Press COLOR CORRECT to display the Input Effects menu, or press INPUT

EFFECTS then use the ARROW keys to highlight the Color Correct icon.

2 Press the NEXT button that corresponds to the source you want to correct. For

example, to apply color correction to channel C, press NEXT/C.

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

COLOR CORRECT so the parameter value equals 1.

MXPro replaces the Input Effects menu with a preview of the color corrected image.

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

5 Use the T-BAR to adjust the luminance of the image.

6 When the image looks the way you want, press OK to exit from Input Effects

mode.

When you apply Color Correction to only one channel, it remains On during all transitions. When you apply it to more than one channel, it turns Off while the transition runs, then back On again when it ﬁnishes. Use Cut transitions only when applying Color Correction to more than one channel.

Page 77

Input Effects Color Neg

COLOR NEG

Inverts all colors in the image.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

CHROMA KEY

Chroma key replaces all occurrences of a color in an image with a different image. In this example, (1) the block of color in the ﬁrst image

(the area behind Kong’s head) gets replaced with the image of the Golden Gate Bridge (2). The resulting image (3) is Kong superimposed over the bridge. See Chapter 10, Chroma Key, for complete details.

FLIP VERTICAL

STROBE

Flips picture top-to-bottom.

Parameter Values — Zero or one.

0 = Off: 1 = On

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

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

Higher values increase the effect. Setting 1, for example, produces the look of ﬁlm: setting 2 makes video look like an old movie. All settings, except 1, temporarily disable strobe during transitions.

Page 78

Notes

Page 79

MUTE

Route Menu

Setup Menu

DISPLAY

SHIFT-DEMO

SETUP

ROUTE

LEARN

COMPOSE

PIPs

AUDIO MIX

FREEZE

Functions

his chapter describes the Function buttons, which give you access to MXPro’s built-in functions. The function button group contains eight buttons, but gives you access to more than eight functions.

Page 80

Procedure

EMO

Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

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

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

To run the demo:

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

To use a single source (such as channel A), press CUT/A and NEXT/A . To use two different sources (such as channels A and B), press CUT/A to make it the CURRENT source, then press NEXT/B to make it the NEXT source.

Press SHIFT+DEMO (or, SHIFT+DISPLAY ) to start the demo running.

To exit from the demo, press any key.

Tip

If you see a transition you like while the demo runs, immediately press any key to stop the Demo. When the Preview screen returns, the last transition run is highlighted in the Transitions Menu. Make note of the transition number then add it to your custom User Transitions Menu. See “Changing User Transitions Menu” beginning on page 54.

Running a Locked Demo

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

To run the demo in Locked mode:

Complete step 1 described above.

Press LEARN+DISPLAY to start the demo.

To exit from the locked demo, press LEARN+DISPLAY again.

Page 81

Functions Display

ISPLAY

To control what appears on the Preview monitor, use the DISPLAY function. Press DIS-

PLAY to cycle through the different display configurations. See samples of these config-

urations on the next page. The illustrations show the key combination you can use to directly access any display conﬁguration.

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

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

TWO CHANNEL – Displays preview images only for the CURRENT and NEXT

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

FULL – Divides preview screen into four sections. Each section shows a preview

image of the currently active input sources. The Transitions Menu is not available.

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

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

When you run a transition, the Preview screen shows a full-screen image, running at full frame-rate — the same as the signal going through the output channel.

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Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

STANDARD – SHIFT+1

Note

For all examples on this page, assume source A is CURRENT and source B is NEXT. Input sources C and D show up only when using STANDARD or FULL options.

TWO CHANNEL – SHIFT+2 FULL – SHIFT+3

Flashing white border indicates CURRENT source, unless that source is the COLOR channel.

CURRENT – SHIFT+5NEXT – SHIFT+4

Page 83

Functions Setup

ETUP

The Setup functions control various aspects of the way MXPro operates, including Force Field Freeze, GPI Out Mode, Comb Filter, and Black Level.

To access the Setup functions, press SETUP .

Force Field

Freeze

1011

Black Level

(NTSC only)

GPI Out Mode Comb Filter

Table 9: Setup Menu Navigation Keys

To do this function:

Select a menu option

Enter speciﬁc option value

Restore setup values to factory defaults.

Exit from Setup menu

Each channel’s setting can be different. Use the NEXT buttons to select the channel you want to affect. For example, to set options for channel C, press NEXT/C (MXPro highlights that channel on the Setup screen), then set the options as you want.

Enter Notes

LEFT or RIGHT ARROW Wraps through all

options

NUMBER keys If value entered is not

valid, MXPro sets to nearest valid value.

SHIFT+0

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Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Force Field Freeze

GPI Out Mode

The Force Field Freeze option lets you specify whether you want MXPro to perform a frame or ﬁeld freeze. This option works in conjunction with the Freeze feature (see “Freeze” on page 83).

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

Field Freeze – MXPro freezes only every other line of the image. This produces a fast

freeze, but image quality degrades somewhat. To use Field Freeze, set the Force Field Freeze option to 1.

Frame Freeze – MXPro freezes every line in the image. The freeze takes slightly longer,

but the image quality matches the original because it uses all of the video signal. To use Frame Freeze, set the Force Field Freeze option to 0 (zero).

This setting determines whether MXPro provides a GPI output to an external device, such as a character generator, thereby allowing you to trigger an external event based on an action from the MXPro. Set the value to 0 (zero) to use MXPro with an edit controller, such as the Videonics Edit Suite or Video ToolKit. Set the value to 1 to enable GPI output to trigger a Character Generator, such as the Videonics TitleMaker.

Comb Filter

Black Level

CAUTION

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

See “Using a GPI Device” beginning on page 126 for relevant information.

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

Video equipment commonly uses one of two black level settings:

• 7.5 IRE – The traditional black, which is the MXPro default setting.

• 0 IRE – A darker black level favored by a variety of modern equipment.

To use the darker black (0 IRE) for the MXPro background and border colors, set Black Level to 0 (zero).

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

Note

Black Level is not available on PAL versions of MXPro.

Page 85

Functions Route

OUTE

The Route function has the following, primary purposes:

• Conﬁgure MXPro to match your equipment.

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

• Split the audio input on IN 3.

Conﬁguring MXPro

MXPro ships from the factory with the following default options:

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

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

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

The audio inputs for Input 3 have a special feature. You can split the audio to two different channels. Then use the Route function to indicate which connector (Left or Right) you used.

• Source Input 4’s video and stereo audio are assigned to channel D and the Background Music channel, with the video signal routed through the S-Video connector. The Background Music channel is permanently assigned to Audio Input 4 and cannot be changed. See Chapter 12, Working with Audio , for additional information.

Unless you tell MXPro otherwise, it assumes your sources are connected exactly as described above and shown in the following diagram.

Page 86

Procedure

Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Default Settings for Route Function

IN 1 routes to Channel A

POWER

VIDEO

IN (Y/C)

1 2

VIDEO

3 4

IN 2 routes to Channel B

AUDIO

IN 3 routes to Channel C IN 4 routes to Channel D

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

To reconﬁgure Route settings:

Turn on both source devices and the Preview monitor. Start the source devices rolling.

Turn on MXPro.

The introduction screen appears on the Preview monitor and, after a moment or two, the Preview screen replaces the introduction.

Press ROUTE to display the Route menu.

Page 87

Functions Conﬁguring MXPro

MXPro highlights the currently selected NEXT channel – in this case, channel B.

To select a different channel, press the corresponding NEXT button. For example, to select channel C, press NEXT/C. MXPro then highlights that channel in the menu.

MUTE

MXPro highlights the appropriate R, L, V, and/or S connectors in the corresponding diagram showing the current conﬁguration for the current channel.

Channel A Selected

Channel A Settings

Note above that channel B is currently selected. The IN 2 diagram indicates that the audio signals route to the Right and Left jacks and the video signal routes through the S-Video jack. This is the correct conﬁguration for this source, so no change is necessary.

4 Press NEXT/A to select that channel.

5 Press LEFT ARROW to highlight the V (Composite Video) option in the IN 1

diagram.

MUTE

Page 88

Procedure

Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

6 Repeat this process (if required) for any and all devices in your conﬁguration.

7 When ﬁnished, press ROUTE to exit from the Route menu.

Note

If you do not see the proper image previews on the Preview screen, it might be that your conﬁguration is not set up correctly.

Re-directing Input Signals

Use the Route function to re-direct signals coming from source devices to different MXPro channels. This gives you the ability to create interesting special effects.

Example…

After routing a single input device (such as a VCR) into both the A and B channels on MXPro, you can change the image to black and white at various times to add drama to the production by assigning the B&W Input Effect to channel B. When you want the scene to change to black and white, press CUT/B. When you want to switch back to the original, color version of the scene, press CUT/A.

To carry this example further, suppose you also want to ﬂip the image upside down, or apply a red tint to a hot scene, or use any other effect. You can route the input VCR through channels A, B, and C. The procedure is the same as above: just assign whatever effect you want to channel C, then cut (or use any transition) to display the effect. And, of course, you can also include channel D the same way you include the others.

To re-direct a signal to multiple channels:

For this example, assume that the source device is properly set up for channel A — that is, an S-Video VCR with stereo sound is directed to that channel. Your objective here is to set channel B so that it also receives the same signal from the same VCR at the same time.

1 Make sure the VCR is turned on.

2 If necessary, turn on MXPro.

3 Press ROUTE to display the Route menu.

4 Press NEXT/B to select the B channel.

5 Press LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW as many times as necessary to highlight

the V (Composite Video connector) option under the IN 1 diagram. This routes the video signal from the input 1 video jack to the B channel.

6 Press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW as many times as necessary to high-

light the R and L (Right and Left Audio) options under the IN 1 diagram. This routes the audio signal from the input 1 audio jacks to the B channel.

The Route menu should look similar to the following when you complete these changes.

Page 89

Functions Routing Audio through Color Channel

Procedure

The P

review Image window for both the A and B channels should show the same source image.

The input signals (video and audio) connected to the MXPro inputs labeled 1 have now been directed through channel B.

MUTE

You can now apply whatever effects you want to the B channel. For example, to ﬂip the image horizontally, go to the Input Effects menu and activate the Flip effect for channel B. During playback, alternately pressing CUT/A and CUT/B ﬂips the image on the screen.

You can apply any of the other Input Effects to channel B, or to any channel for that matter.

Routing Audio through Color Channel

You can route an audio signal through the Color channel. This is useful, for example, if you want to fade to a solid color and would like to have a corresponding audio source.

To route audio through the color channel:

1 Press NEXT/COLOR to select the color channel.

2 Make the proper settings for the appropriate IN options (1, 2, 3, or 4) for the

audio source you want to use, the same way you select for the other channels.

Navigating the Route Menu

Use the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW keys to move the Video selector between the input diagrams – IN 1, IN 2, IN 3, and IN 4.

Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to move the Audio selector between the input diagrams. After cycling through all of the inputs, MXPro highlights the Mute option. With this option selected, MXPro mutes the audio for the selected channel.

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LEARN

Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

The Learn feature consists of one or more Learned Environments. Within each Learned

MXPro

Environment you can create a Learned Script.

COMPOSE

PIPS

Learned

Script

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

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

See Chapter 11, Learn Mode, for further information.

Use Compose to create screen images made up of several different graphic elements. For example, a composed screen might show two still images (polar bears in passionate embrace and Kong contemplating the meaning of the universe) placed atop solid colored rectangles and a solid colored background. With a character generator (or, titlemaker), you can also add text elements to composed screens and use the screen as subtitles or whatever need you might have. See Chapter 9, Compose.

AUDIO MIX

+6 +3

-3

-6

-10

-20

-30

-°

MIXCOLOR

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

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

Page 91

Functions Freeze

Procedure

FREEZE

The Freeze effect immediately freezes the selected video source. You can freeze up to two video sources, then transition between them while retaining the freeze – that is, the freeze stays in MXPro’s memory until you speciﬁcally release it.

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

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

Field and Frame Freezes

You can freeze either a video Field, or a full Frame.

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

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

MXPro captures using Field Freeze, by default. See “Force Field Freeze” on page 76 to learn how to change the default setting.

Major Freeze Functions

MXPro provides three major freeze functions: Freeze Current, Freeze Next, and Freeze During (Transitions).

Freeze Current Freezes the image on the Program Output device.

Freeze Next Freezes the video on the Next source. This is useful for freezing an image, then transi-

tioning to it.

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

¨ To unfreeze the video on the current source, press FREEZE again, or press the CUT

button that corresponds to the current source.

To use the Freeze Next function:

1 Enter SHIFT+4 to set your Preview monitor to Preview Next mode.

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

3 To unfreeze the video on the Next source, do one of the following:

Enter SHIFT+FREEZE, again.

Press the NEXT button that corresponds to the Next source – that is, the one below the ﬂashing LED indicator near the top of the keyboard.

4 To unfreeze the Next source in Preview modes other than Preview Next, press any

of the NEXT buttons – A, B, C, D, or COLOR.

Freeze During

(Transition)

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

¨ To restart the transition and unfreeze the Current and Next sources, press

FREEZE or PLAY.

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Procedure

Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Freeze Examples

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

Single Source (A/A)

Editing

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

To use Freeze with Single Source Editing:

1 Route a video source to Channel A.

2 Use the CUT/A and NEXT/A buttons to specify source A as both the Current and

Next source.

3 Press FREEZE to freeze the Current source.

MXPro freezes the Current source on the Program monitor, and the Next source (on the Preview monitor) continues moving even though there is only one source.

4 Enter 1+PLAY to run a simple dissolve transition. The frozen image dissolves to

moving video.

5 Press NEXT/A to release the freeze on the Next source.

If you want, repeat steps 3 through 5 to freeze and dissolve back and forth.

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

6 Enter SHIFT+4 to select Preview Next mode on the Preview monitor.

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

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

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

Page 93

Functions Freeze Examples

Procedure

Creating Still Montages You can use the Freeze function to transition between a series of still images to create a

“still montage.” You can use anywhere from one to four sources.

To create a still montage:

1 Route at least one video source to Channel A. Remember, you can use up to as

many as four sources for this procedure.

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

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

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

a black screen on the Program monitor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 Press any NEXT button to release the freeze on the Next source and select a new

source to freeze.

9 Enter SHIFT+FREEZE to freeze the Next image.

10 Enter 1+PLAY to dissolve to the Next image.

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

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Chapter 7 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Freeze and Transitions

The preceding examples used the dissolve transition to move between frozen images. You can use any MXPro transition to move between freezes, with the following exceptions:

• MXPro cannot perform a Trailing-type transition TO a frozen image. It releases the Next source prior to running the transition.

• MXPro can perform a Trailing-type transition FROM a frozen source to a moving source. However, it loses the freeze once the transition ﬁnishes.

• MXPro cannot compress frozen images. If you select a compression effect, MXPro automatically runs the selected effect without compressing the video; resulting in a wipe transition.

• To hold frame freezes, press SHIFT+4 (to set the Preview monitor to Preview Next mode) or SHIFT+5 (to set to Preview Current mode). In any other Preview mode, a Frame freeze reverts to a Field freeze once the transition begins to run.

Page 95

PIPs

Multi-PIPSingle PIP

PIPs ( P icture- I n- P icture) provides a way to combine images on the same screen. For

example, one image appears inside a small rectangle, and the other image ﬁlls the remainder of the screen, as shown by Single PIP , above.

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

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

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

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INGLE

Chapter 8 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

PIP

Background Tile

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

Background Tile

…from CURRENT Source

Foreground Tile and Mask

…from NEXT Source

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

Foreground Tile

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

• Position the tile anywhere on screen.

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

• Create a border around the tile.

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

Procedure

To create and apply a Single PIP:

Assume the background image originates on input source A. Press CUT/A to make source A the CURRENT source. It serves as the background tile.

If you want, instead, to make the background a solid color, press CUT/COLOR . See “Using Color Backgrounds” on page 43 to learn how to select colors.

Press PLAY to display the PIP on the Output.

Assume the image of the Star Fighter originates on input C. Press NEXT/C to make source C the NEXT source. It serves as the foreground tile.

Press PIPs to enter PIP mode. The Preview screen shows the background video with the foreground video inset in a small tile.

Press NEXT/A , NEXT/B , NEXT/C , NEXT/D , or NEXT/COLOR to change the image in the PIP window.

Press PLAY again to remove the PIP from the output.

To exit PIP mode, press PIPs .

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(

PIPs Foreground Tile

Manipulating the

Foreground Tile

This section explains how to change the position, size, shape, and so forth of the foreground tile. In each case, do the steps after pressing PIPS , as described in the preceding steps. You can do any of these steps while the PIP plays on the Output.

Table 10: Manipulating PIPs Tiles

To change tile… Use or press… Notes…

Position

JOYSTICK

SHIFT+

Size

Resizing the tile normally distorts the image it contains.)

T-BAR

Moves tile around screen.

Snaps PIP tile to correct aspect ratio, based on current horizontal dimensions.

Snaps PIP tile to correct aspect ratio, based on current vertical dimensions.

Dynamically resizes foreground tile and its mask. Use the T-BAR to manually zoom the image while maintaining correct aspect ratio.

Shape

UP ARROW

DOWN ARROW

RIGHT ARROW

LEFT ARROW

SHIFT+0 (zero)

SHAPES

SHIFT+SHAPES

Increases the height of the foreground tile and its mask.

Decreases the height of the foreground tile and its mask.

Increase the width of the foreground tile and its mask.

Decrease the width of the foreground tile and its mask.

Restore PIP tile to default size, shape, and position.

Cycles through available shapes for foreground tile.

Cycles backward through shapes.

Applies a speciﬁc shape to the tile, where n corresponds to the numbers shown in the shapes following this table.

Mosaic

SHIFT+OK+T-BAR Increases/decreases granularity of the

mosaic.

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Manipulating the Mask The mask changes shape, size, and position when you change the corresponding

Chapter 8 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

You can apply the following shapes to PIP tiles.

To select a shape, press the numeric key (0 through 9) that corresponds to the shape you want, as indicated below.

0 2 3 4

5 6 7 98

attribute of the foreground tile. You can, however, manipulate the mask independently, as described in this section.

Table 11: Manipulating PIPs Mask

To change mask…

Use or press… Notes…

Position

SHIFT+JOYSTICK

Style

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

BORDER COLOR

BORDER STYLE

Size

SHIFT+T-BAR

SHIFT+UP ARROW

SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Using Other Effects with Single PIPs

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

and/or foreground tile. Apply the input effect(s) you want prior to entering PIP mode.

The Freeze Effect You can apply the Freeze effect (see “Freeze” on page 83) to the background and/or

foreground tile.

Change mask position.

Change mask border color.

Change mask border style.

Change mask size.

Increase vertical size of mask.

Decrease vertical size of mask.

Increase horizontal size of mask.

Decrease horizontal size of mask.

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

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

SHIFT+FREEZE again to release the freeze effect.

When you exit PIPs mode, MXPro removes the freeze effect from the foreground source.

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PIPs Multi-PIP

ULTI

-PIP

In a Multi-PIP conﬁguration, as many as 16 separate images can share the screen at the same time, with each image inside a separate tile .

You can use any of the four input sources to provide the images that appear in the tiles. You might, for example, have the same image appear in eight of the tiles, and another image appear in the remaining eight tiles in a 16-tile conﬁguration.

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

Table 12: Multi-PIP Screen Conﬁgurations

No.

Conﬁguration No. Conﬁguration No. Conﬁguration

4 7

258

3 6 9

When using conﬁgurations 1 through 4, the background always appears as a solid color. When using conﬁgurations 5 through 9, the tiles ﬁll the entire screen, so there is no background.

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

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Chapter 8 Videonics MX-Pro User Guide

Procedure

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

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

source A the CURRENT source. It serves as the primary input.

If you want, instead, to make the background a solid color, press CUT/COLOR. See “Using Color Backgrounds” on page 43 to learn how to select colors.

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

make source C the NEXT source. It serves as secondary input.

3 Press SHIFT+PIPs to enter Multi-PIP mode. The Preview screen defaults to show

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

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

otherwise…

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

you want to use. (See Table 12, Multi-PIP Screen Conﬁgurations, at the beginning of this section.) MXPro displays the conﬁguration on the Preview screen.

5 Use the ARROW keys to move the ﬂashing border to a tile where you want to dis-

play the secondary input source: or, press SHIFT+ARROW KEY to move to the beginning or end of a row or column.

6 Press NEXT/C. Channel C, in this example, carries the video of the graphic word

“Kong.” That image appears in the tile you selected in the preceding step.

7 Repeat the two preceding steps for any other tile or tiles you want to carry the

secondary input signal.

You can direct any input signal (primary or secondary) to any tile.

8 When the Preview screen looks the way you want, press PLAY to cut to the

Multi-PIP on the output; or use the T-BAR to fade the Multi-PIP to the output.

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

Using Freeze Effect with Multi-PIPs

You can apply the Freeze effect (see “Freeze” on page 83) to any Multi-PIP tile.

Procedure

To use the Freeze effect with Multi-PIPs:

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

2 Press FREEZE.

3 Press FREEZE again to release the effect.