Vinten Radamec Control User Manual

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VRC

Vinten Radamec Control System v1.3.3

VRC Vinten Radamec Control System v1.3.3

Operators Guide

Part No. V4009-8001

www

.vintenradamec.com

Vinten Radamec

Control (VRC) System

User Guide

Version 1.3.3

Publication No. V4009-4980 Issue 6

Original Instructions: English

All rights reserved throughout the world. No part of this document may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, copied or reproduced in any way, including, but not limited to, photocopy, photograph, magnetic or other record without the prior agreement and permission in writing of the Vitec Group plc.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing. Vitec Videocom Ltd reserves the right to make changes to the information or specifications without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Changes will be incorporated in new versions of the publication.

We are making every effort to ensure that our manuals are updated on a regular basis to reflect changes to product specifications and features. Should this manual not contain information on the core functionality of your product, please let us know. You may be able to access the latest revision of this manual from our website.

Vitec Videocom Ltd. reserves the right to make changes to product design and functionality without notification.

Trademarks

All product trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the Vitec Group plc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

Published by:

Vitec Videocom Ltd Supports Technical Publications Department Western Way Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 3TB United Kingdom Email: technical.publications@vitecgroup.com

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

System overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Starting the VRC software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Starting the VRC EPI server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Starting the VRC Client application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Calibrating the touch screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Automation Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

VRC Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Switching on the panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Configuring the operation of the control panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Tally Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Locking the control panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Controlling a camera unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Selecting a camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Button mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Pan/Tilt/Zoom joystick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Focus control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Black level and Iris CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Wash wipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

X4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Remote pedestal operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Pedestal orientation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Joystick enable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

XY/Height joystick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pan follow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Bumper disable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

RP2A control functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

VRC Client User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Client workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Title bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Primary Panel Groups bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Preview Panel Groups bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Stored shot editing grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Camera selection and status bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Function buttons and menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Toolbar Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Edit menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Fade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Fade or Cut multiple shots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Focus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Virtual joystick controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Opts menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

VRC System User Guide

Shots and Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Show management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Creating a new show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Loading a show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Listing all shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Deleting a show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Creating Home or Target shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Adding shots to a show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Managing shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Latched Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Latched Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Resave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Swap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Running a Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Cueing shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Shot control sequence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Shot status colour codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Changing between shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Trimming shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Focus function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Tracking shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

CCU Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Displaying the CCU control screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 camera functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Sony camera functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Sony CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Ikegami camera functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Ikegami CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Hitachi camera functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Hitachi CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Panasonic camera functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Panasonic CCU controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Grid display options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Setting up the grid size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Stick settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Panel options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Shot options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Camera control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Shot preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Group display preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

CCU recall preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Database Replication and Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Backup databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Restoring databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

VRC controller checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

EPI switchover with redundant EPI servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Head checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

FP-145 or FP-188 pedestal checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Targeting the pedestals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Fusion pedestal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Pedestal orientation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Targeting the pedestal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

SP-2000 pedestal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

RP2A pedestal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

VRC System User Guide

Getting Started

This manual is a guide to how to operate the Vinten Radamec Control (VRC) system. It is aimed at television camera operators with a working knowledge of broadcast robotic equipment and systems.

This manual describes how to use the VRC control panel to remotely control camera units (camera, pan/tilt heads and pedestals) and the PC-based VRC client software, that is designed to be operated from a touch screen monitor to create and manage shots and shows.

System overview

The Vinten Radamec Control (VRC) system enables an operator to remotely control a number of cameras, pedestals and pan/tilt heads. There are a number of VRC system variants, including the HDVRC, that are designed to ensure compatibility with current Fusion, Radamec and Autocam robotic products, and selected products from other manufacturers.

In this user guide, unless noted, all references to the VRC also apply to the HDVRC.

WARNING! The VRC system should only be used by experienced

television camera operators with a working knowledge of broadcast robotic equipment and systems.

A VRC system comprises a Windows XP computer with keyboard and mouse, touch screen monitor and a VRC control panel. In most applications a video switcher and tally interface are also attached to the system.

VRC System User Guide

Ethernet Switch

Fusion Pedestals & Heads

(or Heads only)

EPL

Gateways

EPL

Master Nodes

Ethernet

RS-232 RS-422

USB

VGA Video Other

Colour Code

Preview

Monitor

Tally Lines

From

Production

Switcher

Joystick Panel

VRC/HDVRC Controller

Inputs From Cameras

Video Router

- - -

Out

Tally Interface

VRC CSI Computer

Touchscreen

A VRC system can be supplied with a number of different control panel options and is configured to suit each customers specific requirements. Therefore, this guide may

Fig. 1 Typical single-controller VRC system

include references to functions that are not available on your system.

For information on system installation, configuration, technical support and troubleshooting please refer to the VRC Technical Guide (publication no. V4009-4990).

Starting the VRC software

During normal operation the controller is left powered on. However, if the server has been powered down you will need to restart the system.

1. Turn on power at the controller and the touch screen monitor.

Getting Started

The controller will perform a standard Windows XP boot up and display the start-up screen showing the VRC shortcut icons on the desktop.

Fig. 2 VRC desktop icons

Starting the VRC EPI server

The VRC EPI server application is the communications interface to the pedestals, heads and cameras in the system and must be running at all times. You must start the EPI server before starting the VRC client application.

1. Double-click the VRC EPI Server icon.

Verify that the server commands scroll through the window continuously.

Fig. 3 VRC EPI Server window

NOTE: When the VRC system is initialised, the lights on the pedestal will flash, if

the pedestals are in Auto mode (robotic control) and any heads that were in manual mode will switch to Auto mode.

The VRC EPI window can be minimised or left running in the background.

VRC System User Guide

Starting the VRC Client application

The client window provides all the functions to select and control the robotic heads and pedestals, allowing you to create shows using pre-programmed shots and movements.

All users must have their own user account and password to be able to log on to the VDC system. Refer to the VRC Technical Guide (publication no. V4009-4990) for instructions on adding, modifying and deleting user accounts.

NOTE: The software usage instructions in this user guide tell you to “touch” the

control or required item on the touch-sensitive monitor. You can also click on that item using the mouse.

To launch the VRC client application:

1. Double-click the VRC Client icon on the desktop, to open the User Selection

dialog displaying a list of all user accounts on the system.

Fig. 4 VRC EPI Server window

2. Use the Up/Down arrows to find your username in the list.

3. Touch your username in the list to select it and then touch OK.

The Enter Password dialog is displayed (see page 11).

Getting Started

Fig. 5 VRC EPI Server window

4. Type in your password and then touch Enter to launch the VRC Client

application.

For a detailed description of using the client application – See VRC Client User

Interface on page 21.

Calibrating the touch screen

All VRC system monitors are touch screen enabled, allowing on-screen options to be selected by touching the relevant graphic with your finger. You can also select these options by clicking on them with the mouse. The touch screen system closely resembles the Radamec TCPi system and can control multiple camera units.

The location that you touch and the “button” on the screen are physically separated by the thickness of the touch screen glass. Therefore, depending on how you sit and your angle of view, the touch screen may need calibrating. If you find the on-screen pointer no longer matches the position of your finger on the screen you should recalibrate the touch screen.

Sitting in your normal position, locate and run the touch screen calibration utility provided by the screen manufacturer in Start > All Programs. Follow the screen instructions to calibrate the screen for your use.

Refer to the documentation provided with your screen for information on regular maintenance, cleaning and setting up your touch screen.

VRC System User Guide

Automation Interface

If the optional Automation Interface is installed, it operates as an additional controller. When a shot is selected at the automation system, the camera select button on the VRC controller screen will turn blue, indicating that the camera is under the control of another networked controller.

VRC Control Panel

The VRC system is consists of a computer with a touch screen that runs the VRC application software and a hardware control panel. These two control systems are designed to provide a logical and easy-to-use interface enabling you to control all aspects of the VRC and the attached camera systems.

The VRC control panel enables you to select and control connected camera units (incl. camera, pan/tilt head and optional pedestal) to obtain the correct views for the required shots.

Overview

The VRC control panel is designed to integrate with the Vinten Radamec Control (VRC) software, providing control of robotic heads and pedestals. Control panels can be supplied to control either 8 or 16 camera units and with either one (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) or two (Pan/Tilt/Zoom and XY/Height) joysticks:

• The right-hand joystick (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) controls the pan and tilt movements of the robotic head and the zoom functions on the camera lens.

• The optional left-hand joystick (XY/Height) controls the steering, travel and height of the robotic pedestals.

The VRC firmware allows up to 8 axes of movement to be operated at the same time.

There are also options that can control the camera Iris and Black CCU functions.

This guide details the use of all control panel variations, and therefore some functions may not be present on your control panel. If a button or control described in the text or illustrations is not present on your control panel, then your model does not support that function. It is also possible that the installation engineer may customise the functionality of the system function buttons affecting functions available and their precise location on the panel.

Whilst these control panels are designed to control Fusion and SP2000 robotic products, there is also an option to support the functionality of the RP2A pedestal.

BLACK

IRIS

FADE

TIME

HEIGHT

FOCUS

CUT

FADE

STOP

wash

wipe

over

ride

joystick

enable

infrared

disable

bumper

disable

pan

target

disable

backup

link

panel

disable

on air

cam1

cam9

cam5

cam13

cam3

cam11

cam7

cam15

cam2

cam10

cam6

cam14

cam4

cam12

cam8

cam16

ZOOM

TILT

PAN

camera preview

11 12

20 19 18

16 15

VRC System User Guide

Fig. 6 Dual Joystick VRC control panel

VRC Control Panel

[1] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CCU black level (option)

[2] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CCU iris (option)

[3] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wash/Wipe (option)

[4] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Override

[5] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joystick enable

[6] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Infrared disable

[7] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bumper disable

[8] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pan follow

[9] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Target disable

[10] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Backup link

[11] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X4

[12] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panel disable

[13] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pan/Tilt/Zoom joystick

[14] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On air tally indicator

[15] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Camera select buttons 1–16

[16] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cut

[17] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fade

[18] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stop

[19] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fade time

[20] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Focus

[21] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X/Y/Height joystick

Switching on the panel

When power is initially connected to the control panel, all push buttons will sequentially illuminate and then extinguish after a period of approximately 3 seconds.

Configuring the operation of the control panel

The default mode of some of the control panel functions and the sense of joystick controls can be set in the system Configuration – See Configuration on page 65.

Tally Indicators

The On Air (Tally) [14] indicators show which camera’s video signal is currently live on air.

Locking the control panel

The Panel Disable [12] button locks all other controls on the panel to prevent accidental operation.

VRC System User Guide

Disabling the Panel Disable button

The DIP switch in the control panel can be used to disable the Panel Disable button. If the switch is set to ‘ON’ the button is disabled, if the switch is set to ‘OFF’ the button will operate normally.

Controlling a camera unit

Most of the controls (buttons, joysticks and rotary knobs) only act on the currently selected camera unit. If no unit is selected the controls will have no effect.

If the selected camera unit is not mounted on a pedestal, a number of the controls will have no effect, including: Joystick enable, XY/Height joystick, Pan Follow and Bumper Disable. In addition, Override, Target Disable, Backup Link and Infrared Disable controls are only available if the camera unit is mounted on a RP2A pedestal.

The Cut/Fade/Stop and Fade Time controls parallel controls in the VRC client application software, affecting how the software moves between stored shots.

Selecting a camera

The Camera Select buttons [15] allow selection of individual camera units (camera, pan and tilt head and pedestal – where fitted). Once selected, the depressed push button illuminates and the camera unit can be controlled by the joysticks.

If the optional video switcher and preview monitor are installed, the video from the selected camera is displayed on the video monitor enabling you to set up the shot.

NOTE: If a selected camera unit is not available (e.g. because it is in Manual

mode), the camera cannot be selected and the select button will not light.

Button mapping

The default order in which cameras appear on the control panel and touch screen Camera Select buttons is determined by the system configuration files.

The Button Mapping utility (see VRC Technical Guide, publication no. V4009-4990) can be used to map any camera to any button (or multiple buttons) on the control panel and touch screen as part of a Button Map group.

You can define multiple button map groups to match your workflows. These groups are displayed in the workspace screen above the shots frames and can be selected by touching the button on the screen.

VRC Control Panel

Pan/Tilt/Zoom joystick

This joystick [13] controls the pan and tilt movements of the head and the lens Zoom function. By default:

• Moving the joystick left and right will pan the camera left and right.

• Moving the joystick forward and back will tilt the camera down and up, respectively.

• Rotating the joystick clockwise will zoom out the camera lens.

• Rotating the joystick counter-clockwise will zoom in.

If required, the direction of camera and zoom movement relative to joystick movement can be customised in the Configuration Screen - See Configuration on page 65.

Focus control

Rotating the Focus knob [20] adjusts the camera lens focus.

Black level and Iris CCU controls

If the optional CCU interface is installed, the CCU Black level [1] and Iris [2] functions can be controlled by rotary knobs on the left hand side of the control panel in addition to the VRC user interface – See CCU Interfaces on page 53.

Wash wipe

The Wash Wipe button [3] activates the wash wipe on the selected externally mounted environmental camera unit.

During normal operation, the X4 button [11] is off (zoom proportional mode is on) so that the speed of the pan and tilt movements are proportional to the zoom angle of the camera lens. Pan and tilt move slowly when you are zoomed in and quickly when you are zoomed out.

When X4 is on (zoom proportional mode is off), the pan and tilt movements are more sensitive when zoomed in.

NOTE: For the FHR-120 head, X4 is always off (zoom proportional mode is ON).

VRC System User Guide

South side

West side

East side

North side

Remote pedestal operation

The following functions are used to remotely operate a robotic pedestal. There are additional functions on the control panel that are used only when operating an RP2A pedestal – See RP2A control functions on page 20.

Pedestal orientation

The sides of the pedestal are referred to as North, South, East and West.

Joystick enable

The Joystick Enable button [5] must be on and illuminated before you can move the pedestal around the studio floor (in X and Y axes) using the XY/Height joystick.

When the Joystick Enable button is off, the XY/Height joystick only allows robotic height movement. This prevents accidental pedestal travel while rotating the joystick to adjust camera height.

Fig. 7 Fusion FP-145/FP-188 – Pedestal orientation

VRC Control Panel

XY/Height joystick

The XY/Height joystick [21] is on the left-hand side of the control panel and is used to operate a pedestal. By default:

• Moving the joystick left and right will cause the pedestal to travel West and East, respectively, relative to the target.

• Moving the joystick forward and back will cause the pedestal to move North and South, respectively. North is the direction away from the side of the pedestal that has the cable connection panel – See Pedestal orientation on page 18.

• Rotating the joystick clockwise will lower the camera and rotating it counterclockwise will raise the camera.

If required, the direction of camera movement relative to joystick movement can be customised in the Configuration Screen – See Configuration on page 65.

NOTE: Before the pedestal can travel across the studio floor, the Joystick

Enable button must be depressed and illuminated.

Pan follow

When Pan Follow [8] is off, pushing the XY/Height joystick forwards and backwards on the Y axis causes the pedestal to travel North and South as defined by the target placement. North is the direction away from the side of the pedestal with the cable connections – See Pedestal orientation on page 95.

When Pan Follow is on, pushing the XY/Height joystick forwards and backwards on the Y axis causes the pedestal to travel forwards and backwards in the direction that the camera is pointing.

Bumper disable

The Bumper Disable button [7] turns off the pedestal bumper protection which arrests the SP-2000 and RP2A pedestal travel on contact with an obstacle.

Warning!

Risk of personal injury or damage to equipment when the Bumper Disable button is depressed.

VRC System User Guide

RP2A control functions

The following functions are only applicable when operating the RP2A pedestal. These functions are additional to the other pedestal functions listed above.

Override

The Override button [4] allows the selected RP2A pedestal to continue moving at quarter speed after the detection of an infrared proximity warning or collision with an obstacle. Override will have no effect on proximity detection if Infrared Disable is ON. Override will have no effect on collision with an obstacle if Bumper Disable is ON.

Target disable

The Target Disable button [9] prevents the RP2A pedestal from using the optical studio targets. The selected pedestal will continue to only use the dead reckoning positional system.

Backup link

The Backup Link button [10] gives priority control to the control panel in the unlikely event of the VRC system failing. This allows the robotic camera units to remain in operation.

Infrared disable

Where fitted, the Infrared Disable button [6] turns off the selected Radamec RP2A pedestal infrared proximity protection (which arrests pedestal travel before contact with an obstacle).

Warning!

Risk of personal injury or damage to equipment when the Infrared Disable button is depressed.

NOTE: If ALWAYS DISBLE IR is enabled in the Configuration – See Panel

options on page 70, the control panel will have the INFRARED DISABLE

function activated by default.

VRC Client User Interface

Fusion-5

FHR120-2

FP-188

FP-145-2

Fusion-7

FP-188/2

FP-188 FP-188

Viewing shots for FP-188

100 Head Fusion-2

Camera 9 FP-145

Fusion-6

FP-188/3

Fusion-4

FHR120

Fusion-8

Alternate

Camera Selection and Status

Edit

Stop

Cut

Fade

Store

Focus

Sequence

Virtual

Stick

Page Up

Page Down

Opts

DEF

Primary Panel Groups

Show A HD Trial Evening TEST DTest Script Studio 1 MIDDAY Test 4

Fusion-TCPI (V0.0.29.0) User: XXX Show: Test

FP-188

Client workspace

The VRC Client application is a GUI-driven, MS Windows-based program.

The VRC system is consists of a computer with a touch screen that runs the VRC application software and a hardware control panel. These two control systems are designed to provide a logical and easy-to-use interface enabling you to select and control connected camera systems. The VRC client application enables you to set up, store, manage and select the shots for shows.

Fig. 8 The VRC Client window

VRC System User Guide

Primary Panel Groups

Show A HD Trial Evening TEST DTest Script Studio 1 MIDDAY Test 4

The VRC user interface window works in the same way as other application windows, allowing you to reposition the window on your computer desktop by dragging it with the mouse, minimise the window (so that it appears only as an icon on your task bar), maximise the window (so that it appears full screen) and close the application using the Close button.

The window comprises:

• Title bar

• Primary Panel Groups bar

• Stored shot grid, comprising a grid of cells displaying thumbnails of stored shots

• Camera selection and status bar showing up to 16 cameras

• Toolbar containing function and menu buttons.

In addition, a Preview Panel Groups bar can be displayed directly below the Primary Panel Groups bar.

The Primary and Preview Panel Groups bars are only displayed if they are enabled in the configuration. The bars can be positioned either above or below the stored shot grid – see Group display preferences on page 75.

Title bar

The title bar displays the current user logon name (e.g. “XXX” in Fig. 8) and the name of the current show (e.g. “Test” in Fig. 8), if one has been loaded.

Primary Panel Groups bar

This optional bar shows any configured Camera Map groups that are defined. If more than eight groups are defined, arrows at the ends of the bar become active, enabling you to move back and fore along the groups.

Fig. 9 Primary Panel Groups bar

Selecting one of the groups will map the cameras to the selection buttons defined in that group.

VRC Client User Interface

Preview Panel Groups bar

This optional bar displays the same groups as the Primary Panel Groups bar and enables the operator to select a second camera mapping group (possibly for a different studio) to setup the initial shots for another show while the current show is still running.

The Preview Panel Groups function would normally only be used if there were fewer than eight cameras in each show. The camera mapping would be setup with:

• The cameras for the current show (selected Primary Panel Group) on the top row of the Camera Selection and Status bar.

• The cameras for the next show (selected Preview Panel Group) on the bottom row of the Camera Selection and Status bar.

This would enable you to control the cameras in both the Primary and Preview groups simultaneously.

NOTE: The Display Full Panel configuration option needs to be enabled before

using the Preview Panel Groups. If only eight cameras are being shown in the Camera Selection and Status bar, these will be the first 8 cameras for the Primary Panel Group and you will be unable to see the camera buttons for the preview group.

Once the production moves to this other studio, the operator simply selects the group that was selected in the preview mapping group in the Primary Panel Groups bar and runs that show.

This enables a single operator to control multiple studios from a single control panel.

Stored shot editing grid

This grid of cells is used to display the shots that have been created and stored for each camera in the current show, or the shots stored for the currently selected camera depending on the setting of the Per Camera configuration option. The grid size (number of shots that are visible on a single page can be selected using the Grid Size option on the Configuration Screen – see Grid display options on page 66.

Every time a shot is stored, a thumbnail image is captured from the camera and saved into the selected cell. These thumbnails allow you to quickly identify the shots without requiring long descriptive names. Depending on the number of shots stored in the current show and the grid size selected, the shots may span several pages.

After shots are stored they can be moved, edited or deleted using the options on the Edit menu – see Edit menu on page 31.

VRC System User Guide

Camera Name

Shot Name

Shot Time

Shot thumbnails

When a shot is stored a thumbnail image is captured and displayed in the selected cell. This thumbnail will be surrounded by a frame and has the camera name superimposed across the top of the thumbnail.

Fig. 10 Shot thumbnail annotations

Optionally, if selected in the Shot Options – see Shot options on page 72, the name of the shot and the shot time will also be superimposed across the thumbnail (see Fig. 10).

Shot status colour codes

The frames around the shots and the background of the text bars stored in the editing pane are colour coded to indicate the shot status.

Fig. 11 Shot status colour codes

VRC Client User Interface

Fusion-5

FHR120-2

FP-188

FP-145-2

Fusion-7

FP-188/2

100 Head Fusion-2

Camera 9 FP-145

Fusion-6

FP-188/3

Fusion-4

FHR120

Fusion-8

Alternate

Camera Selection and Status

Frame Colour Description

Red Indicates that the camera is moving (via Cut or Fade) to

the shot. See shot A1, above.

Yellow banner across frame corner

Indicates that this was the last shot selected. See shot A1, above.

Green Indicates that this shot is cued and the camera will

move to this shot when you select Cut or Fade. See shot F7, above.

Dark blue Indicates that the camera is exactly on shot as stored in

the show file. See shot E5, above.

Light blue Indicates that the camera has been trimmed off the

shot stored in the show file. See shot C4, above.

Grey Indicates shots that are available for selection.

Camera selection and status bar

The robotic pedestals and heads can be selected from the workspace or the control panel. The Camera selection and status bar is located immediately below the editing pane and displays the available cameras.

The number of camera units displayed in this bar depends on a number of configuration functions:

• If button mapping is not enabled, this bar can be used to display either 8 or 16

• If Primary Panel Groups are enabled, this bar will display up to 16 cameras

Fig. 12 Camera selection and status bar

camera units, depending on the setting of the Display Full Panel configuration option – see Panel options on page 70. If more than the 8 or 16 camera units are connected on the system, the arrow buttons can be used to page to the other cameras.

units.

VRC System User Guide

• If Preview Panel Groups are also enabled, this bar will display the first 8 camera units for the primary group across the top and the first 8 camera units for the preview group across the bottom of the bar.

NOTE: The camera buttons on the control panel are always the same as the

buttons currently displayed on the touch screen.

Camera unit status colour code

The colour of the camera button indicates the current status of the camera.

Button Colour

Green Camera currently selected and controlled by the control panel.

White Camera available for immediate selection and control.

Black Camera is offline and unavailable. see Troubleshooting on

page 85 for guidance.

Blue Camera is currently under the control of another networked

control panel. Depending on your user account privileges, you may be able to take control of that camera unit.

Brown Pedestal is in Local/Manual mode. Switch the pedestal to Auto

mode and then bring it online by selecting Opts > Enable and the button will turn white when the camera is enabled. see Opts menu on page 35 for more information.

Grey Head is in Local/Manual mode. Bring the head online by

selecting Opts > Enable. See Opts menu on page 35 for more information.

Selecting Camera Units

Only camera buttons that are white or blue can be selected from the touch screen (a green button indicates that camera is currently selected).

Depending on your user account privileges, if a camera unit is under control of another networked control panel (button coloured Blue) you may be able to take control of that camera using the take rudely function – see Camera control on page 73.

Description

If you have permission to ‘take rudely’, selecting the camera displays a confirmation dialog (‘Device is being used by another operator, continue?’). Selecting ‘Yes’ will transfer control of the camera to your control panel and the button turns Green.

VRC Client User Interface

Once selected, any camera can be controlled from the joystick control panel, or using the virtual joystick and controls on the touch screen.

When a camera is selected, you can elect to only display the shots stored for that camera in the Stored Shot Pane, if the Per Camera configuration option is selected – see Grid display options on page 66.

A text field indicating the selected camera is displayed above the grid of shots.

Button mapping

The default order in which cameras appear on the touch screen Camera Selection and Status buttons and the control panel camera select buttons is determined by the system configuration files. The Button Mapping utility program (refer to the VRC Technical Guide, publication no. V4009-4990) can be used to map any camera to any button (or to multiple buttons) on the control panel and touch screen as part of a Button Map group.

You can define multiple button map groups of cameras to match your workflow. Button map groups are displayed above the grid on the touch screen, if they are enabled in the Configuration screen – see Group display preferences on page 75.

Typical workspaces for two button map groups called Studio A and Studio B were configured using the assignments listed below:

Studio A Studio B

Button # Device Button # Device

1 FP145 (pedestal) 1 PED (SP-2000)

2 PED (SP-2000) 2 HEIGHT (FBH175)

3 Not assigned 3 2010 (HS-2010)

4 Not assigned 4 Not assigned

5 Not assigned 5 Not assigned

6 Not assigned 6 Not assigned

7 HS105 7 Not assigned

8 HEIGHT (FBH175) 8 Not assigned

VRC System User Guide

The workspace with Studio A selected is shown below:

Fig. 13 The VRC workspace

NOTE: The mapping of the camera select buttons on the control panel follows the

touch screen mapping.

Function buttons and menus

The toolbar containing the function and menu buttons is displayed at the bottom of the workspace. The buttons and menus enable you to:

• Create and manage shows

• Create and edit shots

• Target and stop pedestals

• Configure the VRC system

The function and menu buttons are:

Button Function Description

Menu Displays the Menu dialog enabling you to: manage

shows, access the configuration utility and clear all the shots from the current show.

Edit Displays the Edit menu enabling you to: rename a

shot, delete a shot, edit the shot time, replace a stored shot with a new one and move shots to different positions in the grid.

Stop Stops all pedestal and head movement during a cut

or fade operation.

Cut Cuts from the current shot to the selected shot.

This function can be latched to immediately Cut to a shot when it is selected.

Fade Fades from the current shot to the selected shot.

This function can be latched to immediately Fade to a shot when it is selected.

Store Stores the shot set-up on the currently selected

camera unit into the selected cell in the grid.

VRC Client User Interface

Focus Zooms the lens of the current on Shot camera unit

(thumbnail coloured dark blue) all the way in tight and displays the Focus menu.

Sequence Not available in this version of the VRC control

software.

Virtual Stick

Page Up/ Page Down

Displays the Virtual Joystick window, providing a method of manually controlling pedestals and heads from the touch screen when a control panel is not available.

Enables you to scroll up and down through the pages of stored shots.

VRC System User Guide

Button Function Description

Opts menu

Displays the Opts menu which enables you to: target pedestals; enable cameras (pedestals, height drives and/or heads); turn X4 mode on/off; rotate/straighten pedestal wheels and select CCU menus for compatible cameras.

Toolbar Menu

Touching or clicking on the Menu button displays the Menu dialog.

Fig. 14 The Menu dialog

The Menu options are described in the following table.

Menu option Description

Show Management Displays the Show Management functions, enabling you to

create, load, list and delete shows – see Show management on page 37.

Configuration Displays the Configuration screen, enabling you to

configure: editing grid display options, joystick settings, etc. see Configuration on page 65.

VRC Client User Interface

Menu option Description

Unload Show This will PERMANENTLY DELETE all shots from the

current show and there is no undo function. The shots can only be recovered if they were stored before

the last backup, either the automatic weekly backup of the database or if the database has been explicitly backed up to an external device.

Exit Closes the Menu dialog.

Edit menu

Touch Edit to display the Edit menu. This has options that let you rename shots, modify the fade time, delete shots, resave a shot or swap shot positions on the grid. The Return option can be used to exit from the Edit menu and return to the client application workspace – see Managing shots on page 41.

Fig. 15 Edit menu

Stop

Stop can be used to halt the movement of a head or pedestal during the Fade or Cut to a stored shot. Typically, the Stop button is used when there is a risk of damage to the equipment or injury to personnel, if the robotic movement were allowed to continue.

There are two stopping options selectable in the Configuration screen:

• The standard Stop option provides a ‘gentle’ synchronised stop that stops the pedestal in approximately two seconds and is recommended for on-air use.

• The other stop option provides a ‘fast’ abrupt stop that is not synchronised and may produce a small amount of instability on the pedestal, and therefore should not be used on air. See Panel Options – Always stop fast on page 96.

When a cut or fade command is activated, both of these buttons extinguish on the control panel and the Stop button illuminates indicating that this function is available to halt robotic movement. When the camera unit arrives on-shot or when the stop is selected, the Stop button will extinguish.

VRC System User Guide

After using Stop to halt a robotic transition, you can:

• Complete that move by selecting the shot again and touching Fade or Cut.

• Make another move, by selecting the required shot and touching Fade or Cut.

Cut

After a shot is selected on the touch screen, Cut becomes available to move the camera unit from the current shot to the selected shot as fast as possible, ignoring the stored shot time.

Latched Cut

If Latched Cut is selected on the Edit menu, the camera unit will automatically move to a new shot as soon as it is selected on the touch screen, with no need to press the Cut button.

Fade

After a shot is selected on the touch screen, Fade becomes available to move the camera unit from its current shot to the selected shot with the duration of the transition determined by the stored time in the shot.

NOTE: If the shot cannot be reached within the stored time, the transition is as

fast as possible. In addition, the fade time can be modified in real-time using the Fade Time bar on the control panel – see Fade Time control on page 48.

Latched Fade

If Latched Fade is selected on the Edit menu, the camera unit will automatically fade to a new shot as soon as it is selected, with no need to press the Fade button.

Fade or Cut multiple shots

If Single Select mode in the Configuration is OFF (see Shot preferences on page 74), you can select shots on more than one camera. If you then you select Fade or Cut, all of the cameras will start moving at the same time.

CAUTION! Before initiating a multi-camera move, make sure that the area

around all of the relevant cameras is clear and that the cameras will not collide with each other.

VRC Client User Interface

If Single Select mode in the Configuration screen is ON, you can only select one shot on one camera at a time. Selecting a shot on a second camera will deselect the shot on the first camera.

Store

Touching Store will save the current position of the selected camera as a shot in the current show for future use – see Adding shots to a show on page 41. You can select where the shot is stored in the stored shot grid.

Focus

When you are on Shot (thumbnail coloured dark blue), selecting Focus will zoom the lens all the way in tight. You can then:

• Use pan and tilt, if necessary, to frame the person or object that you want to set focus on.

• Adjust the focus.

• Select one of the Focus menu options described below.

Focus Menu Option Description

Keep Camera After the focus has been adjusted, touch Keep Camera

to return the camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt and zoom settings and keep the adjusted focus setting. The shot stored in the show database is not updated, so the next time you recall the shot it will have the original focus, not the adjusted focus.

Keep Shot After the focus has been adjusted, touch Keep Shot to

return the camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt and zoom settings, keep the adjusted focus setting and store the adjusted focus in the show database. The next time you recall the shot it will have the adjusted focus.

Cancel Touch Cancel to abandon the adjusted focus setting and

return the camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt, zoom and focus settings.

Return Touch Return to return to the workspace leaving the

lens zoomed in tight and with pan, tilt and focus as you left them.

VRC System User Guide

Virtual joystick controls

The Virtual Joystick window provides a convenient method of manually controlling camera units (incl. cameras, heads and pedestals, where fitted) from the touch screen when a control panel is not available.

1. Touch Virtual Stick to launch the Virtual Joystick window.

Fig. 16 Virtual Joystick window

The Virtual Joystick window contains the following controls:

• Pan/Tilt and X/Y joysticks

• Height, Time, Zoom and Focus sliders.

Using the virtual joystick

Dragging your finger (or clicking and dragging the mouse) across or along any of the controls on the touch screen will operate that control in a similar way to how the controls on the control panel operate.

• The direction you drag your finger (or mouse) controls the direction of movement.

• The distance you drag your finger (or mouse) controls the speed of movement.

• Removing your finger from the touch screen (or releasing the mouse button) stops the movement.

VRC Client User Interface

Opts menu

The Opts menu contains context-sensitive options to:

• Target pedestals

• Enable camera units (incl. pedestals, height drives and/or heads)

• Turn X4 mode on and off

• Rotate/straighten pedestal wheels

• Select CCU menus for compatible cameras.

Target (pedestals only)

This button is only displayed if the currently selected camera unit includes a pedestal. See Targeting the pedestals on page 95 for information on using this function to target the pedestals.

Enable

If a camera select button on the workspace is green or white, it is already online and available for selection/control.

If a camera is offline (black camera select button), refer to the troubleshooting checklists for heads and pedestals.

If a head is in Manual mode (grey camera select button), it must be enabled from the controller before the camera can be controlled. Select the camera on the touch screen or control panel and then touch Opts > Enable to bring the camera unit online.

• An FHR-120 or FHR-120 VR (robotic head) will come online.

• An FH-100 head will automatically switch from Manual to Auto (robotic) mode and come online.

• If an FH-100 VR head is in VR manual mode, the VR mode switch (on the rear of the head) must be switched back to Auto before the head can be enabled.

If a pedestal is in Manual mode (brown camera select button) it must be switched to Auto (robotic) mode at the pedestal and then enabled from the controller before it can be controlled.

1. Make sure that the pedestal is powered ON and switched to Auto mode.

2. Select that camera unit on the touch screen or control panel.

3. Select Opts > Enable to bring the camera online.

VRC System User Guide

If you cannot enable a pedestal, refer to the pedestal troubleshooting checklist.

NOTE: After switching a pedestal from manual to automatic mode and enabling it,

the pedestal must be retargeted. See Targeting the pedestals on page 95.

Rotate/Straighten Wheels (SP-2000 only)

These two buttons are only displayed, if the currently selected camera unit has an SP2000 pedestal. They simplify the process of positioning the pedestal over the target prior to targeting:

1. Select Rotate Wheels and use the left-hand joystick to rotate the pedestal until it is aligned at the correct angle to the target.

2. Select Straighten Wheels for normal XY operation and use the left-hand joystick to position the pedestal directly over the target.

The default zoom mode (Zoom Proportional) ensures that the speed of the pan and tilt movements are proportional to the zoom angle of the camera lens. This means that pan and tilt move slowly when you are zoomed in and quickly when you are zoomed out.

If X4 mode is switched on (Zoom Proportional mode is off), the pan and tilt movements are more sensitive when zoomed in.

1. Select X4 to turn the X4 (Zoom Proportional) mode on or off.

NOTE: For the FHR-120 head, X4 is always off (i.e. Zoom Proportional mode is

always on).

CCU

This button is only displayed if the currently selected camera has a CCU interface installed.

1. Touch CCU to display the CCU menus for the selected camera – see CCU

Interfaces on page 53.

Return

Touch Return in the Opts menu to close the menu and return to the main screen.

Shots and Shows

Shows are created by storing collections of camera shots from one or more camera units.

This section covers the creation and management of show files and the creation and management of the shots in the show.

Show management

A show is a collection of stored shots from one or more camera systems saved in a file. To store shots in the grid display, either a new show must be created or an existing show must be loaded.

To access the Show Management functions:

1. Touch Menu > Show Management to display the Show Management dialog.

Fig. 17 Show Management functions

VRC System User Guide

Creating a new show

To create a new show:

1. Select New Show on the Show Management dialog.

2. Use either the keyboard or the touch screen keyboard to enter a name for the new show.

3. Select Enter to return to the workspace, which is now ready to store shots in this new show.

The new show name is displayed in the title bar of the workspace.

Loading a show

To load an existing show:

1. Select Load Show on the Show Management dialog.

2. Select the desired show from the scroll list.

3. Select OK to return to the workspace showing the first page of shots in the loaded show, or select Cancel to return to the workspace without loading a show.

The name of the loaded show appears in the title bar of the workspace.

Listing all shows

To view a list of all stored shows:

1. Select List Shows on the Show Management dialog.

2. View the stored shows on the scroll list.

3. Select Cancel and OK to return to the workspace.

Deleting a show

NOTE: There is NO undo option to recover a deleted a show.

A show that was saved in the last automatic weekly backup or in a recent manual backup can be recovered. See Restoring databases on page 82.

To delete a show:

1. Select Delete Show on the Show Management dialog.

Shots and Shows

2. Select the desired show from the scroll list.

3. Touch OK to delete the show or touch Cancel to return to the workspace without deleting a show.

Creating Home or Target shots

Before creating shots for a new show you should create a shot called HOME or TARGET for each camera unit mounted on a pedestal. These shots should position each pedestal at the correct location for targeting.

At the end of every show it is good practice to send each pedestal to its HOME or TARGET shot. Then, before the next show, you can quickly target each pedestal to ensure that all of the shots for each show will be exactly as they were stored.

To store a Home or Target shot for a camera unit:

1. Set the required configuration options, by selecting Menu>Configuration and making sure that:

• Require Shot Name is ON

• Require Shot Time is OFF (to use the default fade time).

• Then touch Return to close the Configuration screen.

2. Select a camera unit mounted on a pedestal on the touch screen or the joystick panel.

3. Use the XY/Height joystick to move the pedestal to the correct starting position for targeting. (See Targeting the pedestals on page 95).

4. Select Store on the touch screen and touch a position on the grid to store the shot.

The shot Name dialog is displayed.

5. Type in a name (e.g. HOME) and touch Enter.

NOTE: The shot name can be a maximum of 16 characters long.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for the remaining pedestal mounted camera units in the system.

For SP-2000 pedestals, the TARGET or HOME shot is centred over the target. Therefore, the pedestal will protect the targets from any damage which may be caused by people walking on them, scenery being moved over them, floor cleaning and so on.

VRC System User Guide

Fusion-5

FHR120-2

Fusion-3

FP-145-2

Fusion-7

FP-188/2

Viewing shots for Fusion-1

Fusion -1 Fusion-2

Camera 9 FP-145

Fusion-6

FP-188/3

Fusion-4

FHR120

Fusion-8

Alternate

Camera Selection and Status

Edit

Stop

Cut

Fade

Store

Focus

Sequence

Virtual

Stick

Page Up

Page Down

Opts

DEF

Primary Panel Groups

Show A HDTrial Evening TEST DTest Script Studio 1 MIDDAY Test 4

Fusion TCPI (V0.0.29.0) User: XXX Show: Test

For Fusion pedestals, since the TARGET or HOME shot is located behind the target it does not offer the same protection. You may want to create an additional shot called OVER TARGET to protect the target from damage between shows.

The workspace should now have one target or home shot for each camera unit mounted on a pedestal. The show is now ready to have additional shots added.

Adding shots to a show

To add a shot to a show:

Make sure that the required show with its target (home) shots is loaded.

1. Select Menu > Configuration and make sure that Require Shot Name is ON and Require Shot Time is OFF. Touch Return.

2. Select the required camera on the touch screen or the control panel.

Fig. 18 Workspace displaying HOME shots

Shots and Shows

Only shots stored for that camera are displayed in the stored shot editing grid if the Per Camera configuration option has been selected. A text field informing the user what camera is currently being viewed is displayed above the grid.

NOTE: The video signal for the selected camera can be viewed on a preview

monitor, if fitted.

3. Use the joysticks and controls to move the camera into position for the shot, and then frame and focus the shot.

4. Touch Store on the touch screen and touch a position on the editing pane to store the shot.

5. Type the shot name (e.g. OPEN) into the shot name dialog and touch Enter.

The shot will be saved with the default fade time and its thumbnail displayed on the editing pane.

6. Repeat steps 2–5 for each required shot.

Managing shots

The Edit menu provides options that let you:

• Rename, delete or resave shots

• Modify the shot fade time

• Swap shot positions on the grid.

The Return option closes the Edit menu and return you to the client workspace.

1. From the workspace touch Edit.

Fig. 19 Edit menu

NOTE: Only the Latched Delete, Latched Time and Return buttons are

available from the Edit menu until you select a shot on the grid.

VRC System User Guide

Latched Delete

Use Latched Delete when you want to delete multiple shots. The normal Delete mode deletes a single shot and then returns you to the workspace. Latched Delete keeps you in the Edit menu after each deletion.

1. Touch Latched Delete.

2. Touch a shot and confirm the deletion.

3. Touch another shot and confirm the deletion.

4. Repeat until all of the desired shots have been deleted.

5. Touch Latched Delete again to exit this mode.

Latched Time

Use Latched Time when you want to modify the time of several shots. The normal Time mode modifies a single shot and then returns you to the workspace. Latched Time keeps you in the Edit menu after each shot is modified.

1. Touch Latched Time.

2. Touch the required shot and modify its time.

3. Touch another shot and modify its time.

4. Repeat until all of the desired shots have been modified.

5. Touch Latched Time again to exit this mode.

Name

To edit a shot name:

1. Touch the shot you wish to edit the name of in the grid display.

2. Touch Name.

3. Type in the desired shot name and touch Enter (on the touch screen or the keyboard) to return to the workspace.

The shot name can be a maximum of 16 characters long.

Time

To modify the time of a shot:

1. Touch the shot you wish to modify the time of in the grid display.

Shots and Shows

2. Touch Time.

3. Type in the desired shot time (in seconds) and touch Enter to return to the workspace.

Delete

To delete a single shot:

1. Touch the shot you want to delete from the grid display.

2. Touch Delete and Yes to delete the shot and return to the workspace.

Resave

Resave allows you to save a changed version of an existing shot position in the same cell in the stored shot grid.

1. Touch the shot you wish to change in the grid display.

2. Use the controls on the control panel to reposition and refocus the camera as required.

3. Touch Resave to save the newly positioned shot and return to the workspace.

Swap

Allows you to rearrange the position of the shots in the stored shot grid by exchanging pairs of shots or exchanging a shot with an unused position.

1. Touch the shot on the grid display that you want to move.

2. Touch Swap.

3. Touch a second shot or an unused location to swap the shots (or move the shot to an empty cell) on the editing pane and return to the workspace.

Return

Touch Return to go back to the workspace.

VRC System User Guide

Running a Show

While a show is being aired, the VRC operator will be occupied with three primary tasks – cueing, trimming and tracking shots.

Cueing shots

Cueing is the process of setting up the shots before they are used on air. It is important that the VRC operator stays ahead of the show’s rundown by cueing shots as early as possible.

As time permits (especially during remote feeds and commercial breaks) the operator can have two or three shots cued ahead of the rundown.

The Cut, Fade and Stop function buttons on the touch screen (and control panel) are used to start and stop the movements of the head and pedestal when cueing shots.

Shot control sequence

The current shot for each camera is shown on the touch screen in a Blue frame. Dark Blue if the shot is exactly as stored or light Blue if the shot has been trimmed.

1. When a shot is selected on the touch screen:

• Surround of the shot on the screen turns Green.

• Cut and Fade buttons on the control panel illuminate, indicating that

these functions are available for selection.

2. Once a cut or fade command is activated, either from the touch screen or the control panel:

• Surround of the shot on the screen goes Red, to indicate that camera unit

is moving.

• Cut and Fade buttons extinguish on the control panel.

• Stop button illuminates, as it is available to halt robotic movement.

3. When the camera unit arrives on shot:

• The shot’s surround turns dark Blue.

• The Stop button extinguishes.

4. If Stop is selected, all robotic movement is halted and the surround of the shot goes back to Grey.

VRC System User Guide

Shot status colour codes

Shots stored on the workspace are colour coded to indicate the shot status.

Fig. 20 Shot status colour codes

Frame Colour Description

Red Indicates that the camera is moving (via Cut or Fade) to

the shot. See shot A1 in Fig. 20.

Yellow banner across frame corner

Green Indicates that this shot is cued and the camera will

Dark blue Indicates that the camera is exactly on shot as stored in

Light blue Indicates that the camera has been trimmed off the

Grey Indicates shots that are available for selection.

Indicates that this is the last shot selected. See shot A1 in Fig. 20.

move to this shot when you select Cut or Fade. See shot F7 in Fig. 20.

the show file. See shot E5 in Fig. 20.

shot stored in the show file. See shot C4 in Fig. 20.

Running a Show

Changing between shots

The functions on the workspace menu bar and the Edit menu enable you to cut or fade between shots and alter the fade time.

Cutting between shots

Cut moves the camera unit between its current shot position and the selected shot

position as quickly as possible (ignoring the stored Fade Time for that shot).

1. Select the required shot on the touch screen:

2. Touch Cut to move from the current position to the selected shot, as fast as possible.

Latched Cut

The Cut function can be latched to speed up system operation. Latched Cut immediately cuts between the current and selected shots as soon as a new shot is selected, i.e. you do not need to explicitly touch Cut to start the transition.

Note: The Fade function is not available when Latched Cut is enabled.

1. Make sure that no shots are currently cued (no shot thumbnails have a green background).

2. Touch Cut on the touch screen – the button turns red to denote Latched Cut mode.

3. Check that the operating area around the cameras is clear.

4. When a shot is selected on the touch screen, the thumbnail immediately turns red and the camera unit moves to the selected shot position.

5. Select other shots as required. In each case the thumbnail immediately turns red and the camera moves to the selected shot.

6. Touch Cut again on the touch screen to return to the normal control mode with Cut and Fade available.

Fading between shots

Fade moves the camera unit between its current shot position and the selected shot

position with the duration of the transition determined by the stored time for the selected shot. However, if the shot cannot be reached within the stored time, the transition is as fast as possible.

1. Select the required shot on the touch screen.

2. Touch Fade to move from the current position to the selected shot with the duration of the transition determined by the stored time.

VRC System User Guide

The stored fade time can always be modified on air (in realtime) using the:

• Fade Time bar on the control panel – See Fade Time control on page 48.

• Time slider on the virtual joystick.

The shot will be stored with the default fade time (e.g. 4 seconds) that specifies the number of seconds that the robotic system will take to move the camera from its current position to the selected shot position when FADE is selected on the touch screen or the control panel.

NOTE: The maximum fade time is 120 seconds.

The default fade time is set in the Configuration Screen – See Shot preferences on page 74. Or you can manually enter a fade time for each shot as it is saved (see Camera control on page 87).

Latched Fade

The Fade function can be latched to speed up system operation. Latched Fade immediately fades between the current and selected shots as soon as the new shot is selected, i.e. you do not need to explicitly touch Fade to start the transition.

Note: The Cut function is not available when Latched Fade is enabled.

1. Ensure that no shots are currently cued (no shot thumbnails have a green background).

2. Touch Fade on the touch screen – the button turns red to denote Latched Fade mode.

3. Check that the operating area around the cameras is clear.

4. Select a shot on the touch screen. The thumbnail immediately turns red and the camera moves to the selected shot.

5. Select other shots as required. In each case the thumbnail immediately turns red and the camera moves to the selected shot.

6. Touch Fade again on the touch screen to return to the normal control mode with Cut and Fade available.

Fade Time control

The Fade Time control lever on the control panel (or Time slider on the virtual joystick control) enables the VRC operator to change the fade time between shots in realtime. When fading to a shot:

• Pushing the bar forwards increases the fade time (slowing down the movement).

Running a Show

• Pulling the bar backwards decreases the fade time (speeding up the movement).

Fading or Cutting multiple shots

The number of shots that can be selected at one time is controlled by the Single Select mode in the Configuration screen – See Shot preferences on page 74.

• If Single Select mode is ON (button illuminated), you can only select one shot on one camera at a time. If you select another shot, the previously selected shot is automatically deselected.

• If Single Select mode is OFF, you can select a shot on more than one camera. When you then select Fade or Cut, all of the cameras will start moving at the same time.

Warning!

Before initiating a multi-camera move make sure that the area around all of the relevant cameras is clear of people and that the cameras will not collide with each other.

Stopping a Cut or Fade movement

Touch Stop to halt the movement of a head or pedestal that is moving during the Fade or Cut to a selected shot.

Typically, the Stop button is used when there is a risk of damage to the equipment or injury to personnel, if the robotic movement were allowed to continue.

There are two stopping options that can be selected in the Configuration screen:

• The first Stop option provides a ‘gentle’ synchronised stop that stops the pedestal in approximately two seconds and is recommended for on-air use.

• The other stop option provides a ‘fast’ abrupt stop that is not synchronised and may produce a small amount of instability on the pedestal and therefore should not be used on air – See Panel options on page 70.

After using Stop to halt a robotic transition, the original move can be completed or the camera unit moved to a different shot, by selecting the required shot on the touch screen and selecting Fade or Cut.

VRC System User Guide

Trimming shots

After a camera arrives “on shot” and before it is on air, the VRC operator will want to take control at the joystick panel and check the framing and focus of the shot and trim the shot as needed. This lets the operator correct for things like: a different anchor than when the shot was created, or the talent not being exactly on their mark.

The Focus function, available from the touch screen can be used for this purpose.

After trimming a shot the surround of its thumbnail will turn light Blue. The operator can replace the existing shot with the trimmed shot by storing it (touch Store and then touch the shot), ensuring the shot is correctly framed for the rest of the current show. The thumbnail will then turn dark blue.

Focus function

When a camera unit is on Shot, you can use the Focus function on touch screen to zoom in on the talent and then fine tune the alignment and focus of the shot.

1. Touch Focus to zoom the lens all the way in tight.

2. Use pan and tilt if necessary to frame the talent or object that you want to set focus on.

3. Adjust the focus.

4. Then select the required Focus menu option.

Focus Menu

Option

Keep Camera After the focus has been adjusted, touch Keep Camera to return

the camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt and zoom settings and keep the adjusted focus setting. The shot stored in the show database is not updated, so the next time you recall the shot it will have the original focus, not the adjusted focus.

Keep Shot After the focus has been adjusted, touch Keep Shot to return the

camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt and zoom settings, keep the adjusted focus setting and store the adjusted focus in the show database. The next time you recall the shot it will have the adjusted focus.

Cancel Touch Cancel to abandon the adjusted focus setting and return

the camera to the shot’s original pan, tilt, zoom and focus settings.

Description

Running a Show

Focus Menu

Option

Return Touch Return to return to the workspace leaving the lens

zoomed in tight and with pan, tilt and focus as you left them.

5. If required, store the amended shot by touching Store and then touching the shot on the touch screen.

Description

Tracking shots

When a shot is on air you can track the talent if they shift in the frame, slide behind an over the shoulder box, etc.

Select the on-air camera at the control panel and track the shot as needed.

VRC System User Guide

CCU Interfaces

If the CCU interface option is installed for compatible camera models, you can control camera functions and CCU controls from the VRC user interface. All of the CCU parameters are saved with each shot. When a shot is recalled, the CCU parameters can be recalled if required.

Displaying the CCU control screen

To display the functions and CCU control screens for a camera:

1. Touch Opts > CCU to display the Functions and CCU control screens for the selected camera.

Each camera has a tabbed menu screen for camera functions and CCU controls. Buttons with a green background are functions that are ON. Buttons with a black background on the screen (a white background in this user guide) are OFF.

2. Touch Return to close the CCU screen and return to the VRC workspace.

VRC system user guide

Aux 1

Aux 3

Aux 2

Aux 4

Power with

Home

Wiper

Washer

Bars

Auto White

Balance

Auto Focus

Image Stabilizer

Auto Shooting

Mode

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 camera functions

Fig. 21 Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 camera functions

Menu Button Description

Power with Home Touch Power With Home to turn the camera on and

initialize pan and tilt to the Home position – straight ahead and level. Touch Power With Home again to turn the camera off.

Home Touch Home to initialize pan and tilt to the Home position

– straight ahead and level. The button will turn off when the camera reaches the Home position.

Wiper Touch Wiper to perform a single wipe of the wiper on the

front of the camera housing.

Washer Touch Washer to activate the washer on the camera

housing. Four wiper cycles will be performed with the washer on during the first two cycles.

Bars Touch Bars to toggle the camera output between colour

bars and normal camera video.

Auto white balance Turns the Automatic white balance mode on or off. Image stabilizer Turn the Image stabilizer on or off. Auto focus Touch Auto Focus to select auto focus or manual focus

mode. When auto focus mode is on, adjusting the focus control on the control panel will have no effect.

CCU Interfaces

Red Gain Camera Gain

Blue Gain

Genlock Phase

M Ped

Iris

50 0

ND Off

ND 1/6

ND 1/32

1/60 or 1/50 1/100

Neutral Density Filter

Shutter Speed

Menu Button Description

Auto shooting mode Touch Auto Shooting Mode to select auto or manual

shooting mode. In Auto shooting mode, the controls for Iris setting, Shutter speed and Camera gain are disabled.

Aux 1, 2, 3, 4 Touch Aux 1, Aux 2, Aux 3, Aux 4 to enable or disable the

respective auxiliary outputs at the camera. Refer to the camera documentation for instructions on using these outputs to control external devices.

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 CCU controls

Fig. 22 Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 CCU controls

Menu Button Description

Red gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s red channel.

Blue gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s blue channel.

M ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s master

pedestal level.

VRC system user guide

Menu Button Description

Iris Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the iris setting. If Auto

shooting mode is on, the Iris control has no effect.

Camera gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera gain to

0dB, +6dB, +12dB, +18dB, +36dB. If Auto shooting mode is on, the Camera gain control has no effect.

Genlock phase Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the genlock phase of

the camera output video to time the camera into your system.

Neutral density filter Touch ND Off to operate without a neutral density filter.

Touch ND 1/6 to operate with the 1/6 neutral density filter which is equivalent to a reduction of approx. 2.5 f-stops.

Touch ND 1/32 to operate with the 1/32 neutral density filter which is equivalent to a reduction of 5 f-stops.

Shutter speed For 50Hz frame-rate cameras the default shutter speed

is 1/50 of a second. For 60Hz frame-rate cameras the default shutter speed is 1/60 of a second.

Touch 1/60 or 1/50 to select the default shutter speed. Touch 1/100 to select a shutter speed of 1/100 of a

second. If Auto shooting mode is on, the Shutter speed control

has no effect.

CCU Interfaces

Camera Colour Bars

Iris Closed

AWB ABB

Sony camera functions

The Sony 700, 1500, Ex3 and PMW-350 use the same camera functions and CCU controls.

Fig. 23 Sony camera functions

The PMW-350 uses the same camera functions and CCU controls as the Ex3.

Menu Button Description

Camera color bars Touch Camera color bars to toggle the camera output

between colour bars and normal camera video.

Iris closed Touch Iris closed to toggle between iris closed and iris

open.

AWB Touch AWB to turn the Auto white balance mode on or

off.

ABB Touch ABB to turn the Auto Black Balance mode on or

off.

VRC system user guide

Red Gain M Ped

Iris

Blue Gain

Red Ped

Blue Ped

Sony CCU controls

Fig. 24 Sony CCU controls

Menu Button Description

Red gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s red channel.

Red ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s red

pedestal level.

Blue gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s blue channel.

Blue ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s blue

pedestal level.

M ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the master pedestal

level of the camera.

Iris Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the iris of the camera.

CCU Interfaces

Colour Bars

Iris Closed

AWB ABB

Ikegami camera functions

Fig. 25 Ikegami camera functions

Menu Button Description

Color bars Touch Color bars to toggle the camera output between

colour bars and normal camera video.

Iris closed Touch Iris closed to toggle between iris closed and iris

open.

AWB Touch AWB to enable the Auto white balance mode of

the camera.

ABB Touch ABB to enable the Auto Black Balance mode of

the camera.

VRC system user guide

Red Gain M Ped

Iris

Blue Gain

Red Ped

Blue Ped

Ikegami CCU controls

Fig. 26 Ikegami CCU controls

Menu Button Description

Red gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s red channel.

Red ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s red

pedestal level.

Blue gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s blue channel.

Blue ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s blue

pedestal level.

M ped (Black) Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the master pedestal

level of the camera.

Iris Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the iris of the camera.

CCU Interfaces

Colour Bars

Iris Closed

AWB ABB

Hitachi camera functions

Fig. 27 Hitachi camera functions

Menu Button Description

Color bars Touch Color bars to toggle the camera output between

colour bars and normal camera video.

Iris closed Touch Iris closed to toggle between iris closed and iris

open.

AWB Touch AWB to enable the Auto White Balance mode of

the camera.

ABB Touch ABB to enable the Auto Black Balance mode of

the camera.

VRC system user guide

Red Gain M Ped

Iris

Blue Gain

Red Ped

Blue Ped

Hitachi CCU controls

Fig. 28 Hitachi CCU controls

Menu Button Description

Red gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s red channel.

Red ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s red

pedestal level.

Blue gain Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the

camera’s blue channel.

Blue ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s blue

pedestal level.

M ped Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the master pedestal

level of the camera.

Iris Touch the up/down arrow to adjust the iris of the camera.

CCU Interfaces

Camera Colour Bars

Iris Closed

Lens Extender

AWB ABB

CLR

1/16

1/4

1/64

Panasonic camera functions

Version 1.3.2 of the VRC software supports the AW-HE870 and AK-HC1800 HD Panasonic cameras.

The camera has a special connector cable (available directly from Panasonic) that needs to be used in conjunction with a null modem cable and out device master unit. This needs to be configured in the UTBconfig.XML file.

These cameras are supported on Fusion, Radamec and Autocam heads; but the SP2000 does not receive feedback status from the Panasonic devices.

Fig. 29 Panasonic camera functions

Menu Button Description

Camera Colour Bars Touch Camera Colour Bars to toggle the camera output

between colour bars and normal camera video.

Iris closed Touch Iris closed to toggle between iris closed and iris

open.

Lens extender (Not on AW-HE870)

AWB Enables the Auto White Balance mode of the camera.

ABB Enables the Auto Black Balance mode of the camera.

CLR, 1/4, 1/16 and 1/64 (Not on AW-HE870)

Enabling this function increases the focal length of the Panasonic lens.

This light filter can be set to cut the light input to the camera by 1/4, 1/16 or 1/64.

The CLR setting does not reduce the light input.

VRC system user guide

Red Gain M Ped

Iris

Blue Gain

Red Ped

Blue Ped

Panasonic CCU controls

Fig. 30 Panasonic CCU controls

Menu Button Description

Red gain Use the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the camera’s

red channel.

Red ped Use the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s red

pedestal level.

Blue gain Use the up/down arrow to adjust the gain of the camera’s

blue channel.

Blue ped Use the up/down arrow to adjust the camera’s blue

pedestal level.

M ped Use the up/down arrow to adjust the master pedestal

level of the camera.

Iris Use the up/down arrow to adjust the iris of the camera.

Configuration

Stick Settings

Panel Options Group Display Preferences

CCU Recall Preferences

Shot Preferences

Camera Control

Shot Options

Stick

Preferences

Always Enable

Drive

Display Shot

Name

Require Shot

Name

Display Shot

Time

Require Shot

Time

Return

Always

Override

Always Disable

Bumpers

Always

Disable IR

Always

Enable Pan

Grid Display Options

Grid Size

Display Headers Per Camera

Show

Preview

Panel

Groups

Dock On

Top

Master

Pedestal

Single

Selection

Always

Take

Rudely

Default

Time: 9.50

All

Delete

Warning

Always

Stop Fast

Allow

Deselect

Show Main

Panel

Groups

Iris

Take

Camera

Deselect

The Configuration screen provides default settings for various operating parameters.

• On the User Interface window touch Menu > Configuration to display the Configuration screen.

Fig. 31 Configuration screen

Buttons with a blue background mean that the parameter or mode is ON. Buttons with a black background on the screen (white background in this user guide) indicate that the parameter or mode is OFF.

After making the required changes on this screen touch Return to go back to the workspace.

VRC system user guide

Grid Display Options

Grid Size

Display Headers Per Camera

Grid display options

These configuration options are used to control how the editing grid is displayed and what shot thumbnails are displayed.

Fig. 32 Configuration screen – Grid display options

Option Description

Grid size The number of rows and columns of shots that can be seen

on a single page in the editing pane is user selectable. The minimum grid size is 2 rows by 3 columns per page. The maximum grid size is 10 rows by 12 columns per page. A show can extend over multiple pages that are viewed by using the Page Down/Up buttons in the Function Buttons and Menus bar.

Display headers Turns the column and row headers (ABC/123) on or off. The

headers are particularly useful when a show extends over multiple pages.

Per Camera When this option is enabled and a camera is selected, the

editing grid will only show thumbnails for shots stored for that camera. All other shots in the grid will be shown as Grey boxes.

Setting up the grid size

To select the required editing pane grid display:

1. Touch Grid Size to display the Grid Size Selection dialog.

Configuration

Fig. 33 Grid size selection dialog

2. Select the required grid size (Rows x Columns) from the list on the left of the dialog.

The preview panel displays the selected layout.

3. Touch OK to accept the new Grid Size or touch Cancel return to the Configuration Screen without making a change.

Reducing the number of rows and columns makes the shot thumbnails larger and easier to identify. But:

• If you select a grid size with fewer rows, you may have to scroll through more pages of shots in a single show.

• If you select fewer columns in the grid after creating a show, the shots in the higher columns (e.g. E, F, G and H) will be off the screen to the right and cannot be viewed or selected. Shots in higher numbered rows can always be viewed by using the page up/down buttons.

VRC system user guide

Stick Settings

Stick

Preferences

Pan Normal Tilt Normal Zoom Normal

Defaults

Zoom Normal

CancelStop

Z Normal

Gain Gain Gain Gain

50 75 50 60

Deadband Deadband Deadband Deadband

10 10 15 8

Profile Profile Profile Profile

Compound Compound Compound Compound

Stick settings

Fig. 34 Configuration screen – Stick settings

Touch Stick Preferences to display the Stick Preferences screen, allowing you to tailor the operation of the control panel joysticks.

Fig. 35 Stick preferences

Option Description

Normal/Reverse parameters

These parameters select the behaviour of the controls on the control panel to suit the operator’s preference. For example, pushing the joystick away from you can cause the head/camera to tilt up or down. Or you can choose clockwise on the Zoom knob to reverse zoom in and zoom out. Select Normal (button is blue) or Reverse (button is black on the screen, white is this user guide) to adapt pan; tilt; zoom; focus and elevation.

Option Description

Configuration

Compound/Linear/ Exponential

Gain/Deadband The gain is used to set the velocity of the movement of

This adapts the behaviour of each joystick to suit the operator’s preference. Compound (a combination of linear for small movements and compound for larger movements) is the most common choice.

A separate selection for the tilt joystick is not provided, because the pan and tilt settings are synchronised. Any change to the pan joystick selection will be replicated for the tilt joystick.

ALWAYS turn off X4 on the control panel before adjusting the Zoom profile.

the head, pedestal or camera lens, with the gain setting of 100 being the fastest speed of movement. The deadband setting is used to adjust the amount of play that is felt in the joystick before the pedestal, head or camera lens starts to move.

Separate gain and deadband adjustments for the tilt joystick are not provided, because the pan and tilt settings are synchronised. Any change to the pan gain or deadband will be replicated in the tilt joystick.

ALWAYS turn off X4 on the control panel before adjusting the Zoom profile.

Before changing the Gain and Deadband settings for the joysticks, you should select the desired profile (Compound, Linear or Exponential).

Use the up/down arrows to adjust the gain and deadband settings.

Defaults Defaults restores the factory default settings for the Stick

Preferences.

Save Save stores the current settings of Stick Preferences in

the profile of the currently logged in user.

Cancel Cancel return you to the Configuration screen without

making any changes.

VRC system user guide

Panel Options

Always Enable

Drive

Always

Override

Always Disable

Bumpers

Always

Disable IR

Always

Enable Pan

Panel options

Fig. 36 Configuration screen - Panel options

Each of these functions can be toggled ON (the button is blue) or OFF (the button is black on the screen – white in this user guide). The selections are stored for each username that has been created. These settings determine the state of the control panel buttons after a user login.

WARNING!

Risk of personal injury or damage to equipment when one or more of the Always Override, Always Disable Bumpers, Always Disable IR functions are activated. Activating these functions will allow pedestals to be used in close proximity.

The ALWAYS OVERRIDE function will have no effect on Radamec RP2A pedestal proximity detection, if the Infrared Disable button on the control panel is ON.

The ALWAYS OVERRIDE Radamec RP2A pedestal function will have no effect on collision with an obstacle, if the Bumper Disable button on the control panel is ON.

Option ON OFF

Always Enable Drive

The Joystick Enable button on the control panel will be On after user login.

The Joystick Enable button on the control panel will be Off after user login.

Option ON OFF

Configuration

Always Override (RP2A pedestal only)

Always Disable Bumpers (SP2000 and RP2A only)

Always Disable IR (RP2A pedestal only)

The Override button on the joystick control panel will be On after user login.

The selected pedestal will continue moving at quarter speed after detection of an infrared proximity warning or a collision with an obstacle See Bumper disable on page 19.

The Bumper Disable button on the control panel will be On after user login - See Bumper disable on page 19. Bumper protection which normally stops pedestal movement after a collision with an obstacle is switched Off for all SP-2000 and RP2A pedestals.

If Always Disable IR is On, the Infrared Disable button on the joystick control panel will be On after user login See Infrared disable on page 20. The infrared proximity protection (which stops pedestal movement before contact with an obstacle) is Off for all RP2A pedestals in the system.

The Override button on the joystick control panel will be Off after user login.

The Bumper Disable button on the control panel will be Off after user login and the bumper protection is enabled.

If Always Disable IR is On, the Infrared Disable button on the joystick control panel will be Off after user login.

Always Enable Pan Follow

The Pan Follow button on the joystick control panel is On after user login.

When selected the X-Y orientation relates to the direction that the camera is pointing - that is, the pan orientation.

The Pan Follow button on the joystick control panel is Off after user login.

The X-Y orientation will follow the default North South, East - West convention.

VRC system user guide

Shot Options

Display Shot

Name

Require Shot

Name

Display Shot

Time

Require Shot

Time

Shot options

Information that is required and displayed for each saved shot is user selectable.

Fig. 37 Configuration screen - Shot options

Option ON OFF

Display Shot Name

Require Shot Name

Display Shot Time

Require Shot Time

The name of each shot is superimposed on the shot thumbnail.

You will be prompted to type in a name when you store a new shot. This is the most common mode of operation.

The time of each shot is superimposed on the shot thumbnail.

You will be prompted to enter a time when you store a shot.

The shot name is not displayed.

The system will automatically assign a number to each saved shot. This can save time but the shot names are no longer descriptive.

The time is not displayed.

The default shot time is used for each stored shot. This is the most common mode of operation since it is faster than entering times each time you store a new shot.

Camera control

Camera Control

Always

Take

Rudely

Always

Stop Fast

Deselect

Fig. 38 Configuration screen - Camera Control options

Option ON OFF

Configuration

Deselect A camera that has been

selected can be deselected by touching it on the screen.

Always Take Rudely

Selecting a camera at one controller immediately takes control away from a second controller that may have been using the camera.

Always Stop Fast For a pedestal that is in

motion during a Cut or Fade between shots, selecting STOP on the touchscreen or on the control panel will immediately stop the pedestal movement.

This abrupt change of motion is not desirable for a camera that is on air, but does ensure an immediate stop to avoid a collision.

The position of the pedestal is remembered by the control system, so that you can Cut or Fade to another shot without needing to target the pedestal.

A camera can only be deselected by selecting a different camera.

A dialog appears requesting you to confirm that you want to take control of the camera from the other controller.

For a pedestal that is in motion during a Cut or Fade between shots, selecting STOP on the touchscreen or on the control panel will cause the pedestal to decelerate and coast to a stop.

This smooth change of motion is desirable if the camera is on air. However, to avoid a collision, you must take into account the amount of pedestal travel after selecting STOP.

The position of the pedestal is remembered by the control system so that you can Cut or Fade to another shot without needing to retarget the pedestal.

VRC system user guide

Shot Preferences

Single

Selection

Default

Time: 9.50

Delete

Warning

Allow

Deselect

Take

Camera

Shot preferences

Fig. 39 Configuration screen - Shot Preferences

Option ON OFF

Take Camera When you select a shot on

the touchscreen, the Camera Preview selection on the joystick control panel automatically follows and the joysticks will control the camera for the selected shot.

Single Selection Allows you to select a shot

on one camera at a time and then Cut or Fade to that shot. Selecting a second shot on a different camera automatically deselects the first shot.

Delete Warning Every time you delete or

replace a shot a warning dialog appears and requires you to confirm the deletion or replacement.

Default time Allows you to enter a default

time that will be used when you store shots if the Require Shot Time function is Off.

The shot selection on the touchscreen and the Camera Preview selection are decoupled. So, let’s say that camera #1 is on air and being trimmed with the joysticks. You can select the next shot on camera #3 and Fade or Cut to it while continuing to trim camera #1 with the joysticks.

Allows you to select shots on multiple cameras and then Cut or Fade to all of the shots at the same time.

Shots will be deleted or replaced immediately. This mode should be used with caution, because there is no undo feature to restore a deleted shot.

Option ON OFF

Group Display Preferences

Show

Preview

Panel

Groups

Dock On

To p

Show Main

Panel

Groups

Configuration

Allow deselect When you select a shot on

the touchscreen, you can deselect that shot by touching it a second time.

When you select a shot on the touchscreen, you can only deselect that shot by selecting a different shot on the same camera. Touching a selected shot a second time has no effect.

Group display preferences

Fig. 40 Configuration screen – Group display preferences

The default order in which cameras appear on the control panel buttons and touchscreen buttons is determined by the system configuration files at installation. The button mapping utility program (refer to the VRC Technical Guide, publication no. V4009-4990) can be used to map any camera to any button (or multiple buttons) as part of a button map group. You can define multiple button map groups of cameras to match your workflow.

If button mapping groups have been defined, the Group display preferences determine if the group names will be displayed on the touchscreen and be available for selection by the operator.

Option ON OFF

Show Main Panel Groups

Displays the Primary Panel Groups bar showing the camera mapping groups.

The height of each row of thumbnails in the editing pane is reduced slightly.

The Primary Panel Groups bar is not displayed and cameras are assigned to their default buttons.

VRC system user guide

Fusion-5

FHR120-2

Fusion-3

FP-145-2

Fusion-7

FP-188/2

Viewing shots for Fusion-1

Fusion -1 Fusion-2

Camera 9 FP-145

Fusion-6

FP-188/3

Fusion-4

FHR120

Fusion-8

Alternate

Camera Selection and Status

Edit

Stop

Cut

Fade

Store

Focus

Sequence

Virtual

Stick

Page Up

Page Down

Opts

DEF

Primary Panel Groups

Show A HD Trial Evening TEST DTest Script Studio 1 MIDDAY Test 4

Preview Panel Groups

Show A HD Trial Evening TEST DTest Script Studio 1 MIDDAY Test 4

Fusion-TCPI (V0.0.29.0) User: XXX Show: Test

Option ON OFF

Show Preview Panel

Can only be selected if Show Main Panel Groups is On.

Dock On Top Displays the Primary Panel

Displays the Preview Panel Groups bar showing the camera mapping groups, below the Primary Panel Groups bar.

The height of each row of thumbnails in the editing pane is reduced slightly.

Groups and Preview Panel Groups bars, if enabled, above the Stored Shot Editing grid.

The Preview Panel Groups bar is not displayed.

Displays the Primary and Preview Panel Groups bars between the Stored Shot Editing grid and the Camera Selection and Status bar.

Fig. 41 Primary and Preview Panel Groups display – Dock On Top enabled

Configuration

CCU Recall Preferences

Master

Pedestal

All

Iris

CCU recall preferences

Fig. 42 Configuration screen – CCU Recall Preferences

If the optional CCU interface is installed for one or more cameras, the camera functions and CCU parameters are stored for each shot. These functions and parameters can be selectively recalled.

Option Description

Iris Touch Iris to recall only the Iris setting with the shot. Iris

recall can be selected with or without Master pedestal recall. If All is selected, the setting of Iris is ignored.

Master pedestal Touch Master pedestal to recall only the Master pedestal

setting with the shot.Master pedestal recall can be selected with or without iris recall. If All is selected, the setting of Master pedestal is ignored.

All Touch All to recall all stored camera functions and CCU

parameters with the shot. This will override the Iris and Master Pedestal selections.

VRC system user guide

Database Replication and Backup

For VRC systems with two or more controllers, database replication between the controllers is configured during installation and is continuous and automatic. Database backup is not required.

Backup databases

For VRC systems with a single controller (user interface), it is suggested that you create periodic (e.g. monthly) backups and copy them to an external device such as a CD/DVD or USB drive. This will allow you to restore the databases in the event of loss or damage to the databases on the VRC controller hard drive.

1. Close the VRC Client application.

2. Select Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > SQL Server

Management Studio to display the Connect to Server dialog.

Fig. 43 Connect to Server dialog

3. Click Connect in the Connect to Server dialog to display the SQL Server Management Studio dialog.

VRC system user guide

4. In the left pane of the dialog, click the + symbol to expand Databases as shown below.

Fig. 44 Database objects

5. To backup the VrcsReplicatedConfiguration5 database, right-click it and select Tasks > Backup from the context menus, as shown below.

Fig. 45 Selecting Backup from the context menus

This displays the Back Up Database dialog for that database.

Database Replication and Backup

6. In the Back Up Database dialog, select OK to create the backup or select Cancel to exit without creating a backup.

Fig. 46 Back Up Database dialog

7. When the backup is complete, select OK to return to the SQL Server Management Studio workspace (see Fig. 44).

8. To create a backup of the VrcsReplicatedCore5 database:

• Right-click on the database,

• Select Tasks > Backup from the displayed menus,

• Click OK in the Back Up Database dialog.

9. When this backup is complete, click OK to return to the SQL Server Management Studio workspace.

10. Exit the SQL Server Management Studio.

11. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\Backup

VRC system user guide

12. Copy the two backup files (VrcsReplicatedConfiguration5.bak and VrcsReplicatedCore5.bak) to an external device (e.g. a USB drive or a writeable CD/DVD).

Restoring databases

1. Close the VRC Client application.

2. Connect the external device (e.g. USB drive) containing the most recent backup files to the VRC controller. Or insert the CD/DVD containing the backup files into the VRC controller drive.

3. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder on the external device containing the backup files.

4. Copy the two backup files (VrcsReplicatedConfiguration5.bak and VrcsReplicatedCore5.bak) to the folder:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\Backup

5. Select Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > SQL Server Management Studio to display the Connect to Server dialog.

Fig. 47 Connect to Server dialog

6. Click Connect in the Connect to Server dialog to display the SQL Server Management Studio workspace.

Database Replication and Backup

7. In the left pane of the workspace, click the + symbol to expand the Databases as shown below.

Fig. 48 Database objects

8. Right-click on VrcsReplicatedConfiguration5 and select Tasks > Restore > Database from the context menus, as shown below.

Fig. 49 Selecting Restore from the context menus

VRC system user guide

9. In the Restore Database dialog, select OK to restore the database or select Cancel to exit without restoring the database.

Fig. 50 Back Up Database dialog

10. When the database is restored, select OK to return to the SQL Server Management Studio workspace.

11. To restore the VrcsReplicatedCore5 database:

• Right-click on the database.

• Select Tasks > Restore > Database from the context menus.

• Click OK in the Restore Database dialog.

12. When this restore is complete, click OK to return to the SQL Server Management Studio workspace.

13. Exit the SQL Server Management Studio.

14. Remove the external storage device (USB drive or CD/DVD) from the VRC controller.

Troubleshooting

Joystick Enable

Panel Disable

OFF

If you cannot control one or more heads and/or pedestals, use the following checklists to locate and correct the problem.

VRC controller checklist

At the joystick control panel:

Fig. 51 Joystick control panel

1. Make sure that the Joystick panel power is ON.

2. Make sure that Panel Disable is OFF (button is not illuminated).

3. Make sure that Joystick Enable is ON (button is illuminated).

VRC system user guide

At the VRC controller desktop:

Make sure that the VRC EPI Server is running with commands scrolling through the window. The VRC EPI Server window may be behind a window or be minimised.

Fig. 52 VRC EPI server window

4. If the server is not running, double-click the VRC EPI Server icon on the desktop to start it.

5. If the server is frozen (i.e. commands are not scrolling), close the VRC EPI Server and restart it using the icon on the desktop.

Troubleshooting

Fusion-5

FHR120-2

FP-188

FP-145-2

Fusion-7

FP-188/2

100 Head Fusion-2

Camera 9 FP-145

Fusion-6

FP-188/3

Fusion-4

FHR120

Fusion-8

Alternate

Camera Selection and Status

Pedestal in

Manual

Head in Manual

Camera is

offline

Camera is online and

selected

Camera is online and

available

Camera is controlled

remotely

At the VRC user interface:

6. Check the status colour of each camera:

Fig. 53 Camera selection and status bar

• If a camera is brown - the pedestal is in Manual mode. Switch the pedes-

tal to Auto mode (see FP-145 Pedestal checklist below) and enable it with Opts > Enable. Then, target the pedestal.

• If a camera is grey – the head is in Manual mode. Use Opts > Enable to

switch the head to Auto mode and enable it.

• If a camera is black – it is unavailable to the system. Continue with Head

and Pedestal checklists below.

VRC system user guide

Camera 1 online

and selected

Cameras 2 - 8 online

and available

Network OKCameras 1 - 8 offline

EPI switchover with redundant EPI servers

Use this section if the Fusion system includes Autocam heads with more than one EPI server to provide EPI server redundancy.

1. During normal operation, all of the Autocam heads will be online and available (white buttons) and the currently selected head will be green.

Fig. 54 Camera selection – Normal operation

2. If all of the Autocam heads are offline (black buttons) at the same time, the EPI server may have failed.

Fig. 55 Camera selection – Heads offline

3. Check the network indicator (bottom right of screen). If displaying an error, check and correct network connectivity before attempting an EPI switchover.

Troubleshooting

EPI Refresh

If the EPI server has failed:

4. Switch the server AB changeover switch to the backup position.

5. Power down the failed EPI server.

6. Power up the backup EPI server.

7. Double click EPI Refresh on each Fusion VRC or HDVRC computer in the Fusion system that will connect to this EPI server.

Fig. 56 EPI refresh

NOTE: Refer to the VRC Technical Guide (publication no. V4009-4990) for

instructions on creating the EPI Refresh shortcut, if it is not on the VRC desktop.

After a few seconds delay while the EPI server boots up and establishes connections, all Autocam heads should be online and available (white buttons).

VRC system user guide

AC power cable

Power switch ON

Network cable

Head checklist

Fig. 57 Head connections

1. Make sure that the network cable is connected and fully seated.

2. Make sure that AC power cable is connected and fully seated.

3. Make sure that the power switch is ON.

4. If the head’s network cable is connected to a Fusion pedestal, make sure that the cable is connected and fully seated at the pedestal.

Troubleshooting

Tilt in AUTO

Pan in AUTO

Centre lock

disengaged

5. For Manual/Robotic heads, make sure that both pan and tilt are in Auto mode.

Fig. 58 Head switches

6. If necessary, select the camera at the VRC Controller and selet

Opts > Enable to switch the head to Auto mode.

CAUTION! DO NOT attempt to move the Auto/Manual switches on the head

to Auto (robotic) mode – you will damage the head.

7. For all heads, make sure that the tilt centre lock is disengaged.

VRC system user guide

Power switch

is ON

Network

cables

Power cables

FP-145 or FP-188 pedestal checklist

On the South side of the pedestal:

Fig. 59 Pedestal connections

1. Make sure that the network cables are connected and fully seated.

2. Make sure that AC power cables are connected and fully seated.

3. Make sure that the power switch is ON.

4. Make sure that Crab (x4) mode is selected.

CRAB (x4)

mode

Parking

brake OFF

AUTO

mode

Column in AUTO

Cable hooked to column

Fig. 60 Pedestal switches

5. Make sure that Auto mode is selected.

6. Make sure that the parking brake is OFF.

On the West side of the pedestal column:

Troubleshooting

Fig. 61 Pedestal column requirements

7. Make sure that the column is in Auto mode.

8. Make sure that the robotic height cable is hooked to the moving column.

VRC system user guide

Emergency Stop buttons UP

On the North side of the pedestal:

Fig. 62 Pedestal stop buttons

9. Make sure that both of the Emergency Stop buttons are UP.

10. If necessary, twist the button clockwise and allow it to pop up to restore power to the pedestal. Then, from the VRC controller enable the pedestal with

Opts > Enable.

Targeting the pedestals

South side

West side

East side

North side

Before shots can be created and stored, all robotic pedestal movements must reference a target. The target for each pedestal is either permanently adhered to the studio floor (Fusion and SP-2000 pedestals) or mounted at the edge of the studio as a vertical barcode (RP2A pedestals). Robotic heads mounted on tripods or fixed mounts, or height drive units do not require targeting. Studio configurations without pedestals do not need to reference a target.

Installations with pedestals that are used in multiple studios will have targets installed in each studio and named separately – for example, Studio A:Camera 1, Studio B:Camera 1 and so on.

Fusion pedestal

Pedestal orientation

For simplicity, the sides of the pedestal are referred to as North, South, East or West, as shown in Fig. 63.

Fig. 63 Fusion FP-145/FP-188 – Pedestal orientation

VRC System User Guide

Pedestal with 3-line target

Pedestal with L-shaped

target

Targeting the pedestal

1. Select the camera unit to be targeted on the touch screen or the control panel.

2. Installations may use either a 3-line target or an L-shaped target as shown in Fig. 64. Use the XY/Height joystick on the control panel to position the pedestal so that its north side (with the Emergency Stop switches) is positioned over the edge of the relevant target type as shown in Fig. 64.

Fig. 64 Fusion pedestal targeting start positions

3. If the edge of the pedestal and the edge of the target are not parallel, switch the pedestal from Auto to Manual and from Crab to Steer, rotate the pedestal to align it with the target. Switch from Steer to Crab and switch from Manual to Automatic mode. Touch Opts > Enable to enable the pedestal.

4. Touch Opts > Target to display a list of all available targets in the system.

NOTE: If you have targets installed in multiple studios, make sure that you select

the correct target for the pedestal being targeted in the studio that you are currently working in – for example, select Studio 1 : Target 1 to target camera #1 in studio #1 or select Studio 2 : Target 1 to target camera #1 in studio #2. Stored shows and shots can only be recalled correctly, if you use the same target that was used when the shows and shots were created.

Targeting the pedestals

Pedestal with 3-line

target - Finishing position

Pedestal with L-shaped

target - Finishing position

5. Select the relevant target from the list and touch OK.

The Fusion pedestal will drive itself across the target while optically scanning the floor to determine the datum target position. When the pedestal stops moving, a dialog appears, either confirming that targeting was completed successfully or that targeting failed.

6. Touch OK to clear the alert dialog and if targeting failed, repeat steps 1 through 5.

NOTE: Make sure that the pedestal stops in the position shown in Fig. 65 when

it finishes targeting. The correct end position is different for 3-line and L-shaped targets. If the pedestal stops before reaching the correct end position (even if the pop-up window indicates targeting was successful), repeat steps 1 through 5.

Fig. 65 Fusion pedestal correct positioning after targeting

SP-2000 pedestal

1. Select the camera to be targeted on the touch screen or the control panel.

2. Touch Opts and use Rotate Wheels and Straighten Wheels with the XY/ Height joystick on the control panel to position the pedestal so that it is over the target as shown in Fig. 66.

VRC System User Guide

3. When the pedestal is correctly positioned touch Target to display the list of available targets.

NOTE: If you have targets installed in multiple studios, make sure that you select

the correct target for the pedestal being targeted in the studio that you are currently working in - for example, select Studio 1 : Target 1 to target camera #1 in studio #1 or select Studio 2 : Target 1 to target camera #1 in studio #2. Stored shows and shots can only be recalled correctly if you use the same target that was used when the shows and shots were created.

4. Select the relevant target from the list and touch OK. The SP-2000 pedestal will reposition and align itself to the target. When the pedestal stops moving, a pop-up window will confirm that targeting was completed successful.

Fig. 66 SP-2000 pedestal targeting start position

RP2A pedestal

RP2A pedestals will automatically reference their target – manual targeting is not required.

Publication No. V4009-4980/6

Vinten Radamec

A Vitec Group brand

Vinten Radamec Control User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Getting Started

System overview

Starting the VRC software

VRC Control Panel

Overview

Controlling a camera unit

Remote pedestal operation

VRC Client User Interface

Client workspace

Function buttons and menus

Shots and Shows

Show management

Creating Home or Target shots

Adding shots to a show

Managing shots

Running a Show

Cueing shots

Trimming shots

Tracking shots

CCU Interfaces

Displaying the CCU control screen

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 camera functions

Canon BU-45, BU-46, BU-50 CCU controls

Sony camera functions

Sony CCU controls

Ikegami camera functions

Ikegami CCU controls

Hitachi camera functions

Hitachi CCU controls

Panasonic camera functions

Panasonic CCU controls

Configuration

Grid Display Options

Stick Settings

Panel Options

Shot Options

Camera control

Shot Preferences

Group Display Preferences

CCU Recall Preferences

Database Replication and Backup

Backup databases

Restoring databases

Troubleshooting

VRC controller checklist

EPI switchover with redundant EPI servers

Head checklist

FP-145 or FP-188 pedestal checklist

Targeting the pedestals

Fusion pedestal

SP-2000 pedestal

RP2A pedestal