SSP17 or SSP10 & QStart 17” or 10” Starter Series Prompter Installation and Operation Guide
Installation and Operation Guide Contents Latest additions ...................................................................................................................................................................3 Getting started .....................................................................................................................................................................4 Prepare and connect the prompting hardware .............................................................
Installation and Operation Guide Latest additions This document was written for build 2006 of the QStart software, released on 4 March 2011. Any changes since that point have been referenced below. These changes have not been reflected in the rest of the document. Revision history Build number Release date Changes 2006 4 March 2011 New button mapping for the ShuttleXpress SSP-QStartUserManual.docx 2011-06-15 3 © 2003-2011 Autocue Group Ltd.
Getting started - Prepare and connect the prompting hardware Getting started This section is designed to get your Starter Series Prompter setup as quickly as possible so that you can start writing and prompting your scripts. Prepare and connect the prompting hardware It is strongly recommended that you view the demonstration video showing the preparation of an Autocue starter series prompter. Click “Play Demonstration Video” on the main menu of the installation CD.
Getting started - Prepare and connect the prompting hardware 3. Carefully turn your SSP unit over and place on a smooth padded surface to protect the mirror and monitor screen. 4. Use the screws of the camera mounting plate to attach it to the underside of your SSP unit. 5. Secure the whole assembly onto your chosen tripod. Note: It is likely that the position of the unit will have to be adjusted after you have mounted your camera so that it is balanced on the tripod.
Getting started - Prepare and connect the prompting hardware Position hood 6. Loosen the four thumbscrews of the hood assembly. 7. Raise the hood to the vertical position. 8. Secure in place by tightening the four thumbscrews. Prepare camera mount 9. Remove the camera mounting plate. Adjust camera mount height Depending on the size of your camera you may need to use the supplied pillars to raise the camera mounting plate. The smallest cameras will most likely need the longest pillars.
Getting started - Prepare and connect the prompting hardware 10. Screw in the appropriate length pillars that raise the plate to the required height for your camera. 11. Adjust the position of the pillars to align with the screw holes of the camera mounting plate. 12.
Getting started - Install the QStart software Attach camera to mounting plate 13. Use either the supplied ⅜ " or ¼" mounting screw to attach your camera to the mounting plate. You can place the screw through any of the slots in the camera mounting plate depending on the camera you are using. Ideally the camera lens should be close to the mirrored glass. Connect power and video cables 14.
Getting started - Using your Starter Series Prompter Note: If you are re-installing or upgrading your software, refer to “Upgrading Starter Series Prompter components” for further information. 4. Read and accept the licence agreement and click Install. 5. On the next dialog box click OK to use the default installation folder. 6. When installation has finished, click OK on the dialog box.
Getting started - Using your Starter Series Prompter Prompt output You can configure a secondary output monitor by changing the Windows display properties. The most important property to change is the option to extend your computer desktop across both screens. Refer to the user manuals for your computer or graphics card for guidance on changing the display settings. QStart provides a button to access the standard operating system display controls for your computer if required.
Getting started - Using your Starter Series Prompter Change the position Click in a different quadrant of the screen in the Position of Monitor panel. The red rectangle will move to this location. Note: You should not need to change any parameters on the other tabs of the QStart Options interface. If required, there is detailed information in the “Make the most of your prompter” section later in this manual.
Getting started - Using your Starter Series Prompter When you have finished typing your script you should save the file so that you do not lose your work. It is good practice to regularly save your work. 2. Click the Save button. 3. If your script has not previously been saved you will have to give it a name and save it to a folder on your computer. Prompt your script When you have finished preparing your script you can display it on your Starter Series Prompter so that a presenter may read it. 4.
Make the most of your prompter - Import, edit and prompt scripts Make the most of your prompter QStart allows you to quickly and simply create, edit, format and prompt the scripts you write. The QStart user interface is illustrated below. Import, edit and prompt scripts New File Open File Import File Save File Export File Begin Prompting Prepare your text Create a new script QStart opens with a blank script already open in the Editor window. You can start typing directly into this area.
Make the most of your prompter - Import, edit and prompt scripts 2. Navigate to select the required file 3. If requested, select the appropriate file format 4. The text is inserted at the position of the cursor. Don’t lose your work Save file Click the Save button to save any changes you have made to the current script. If the file has not been saved before, the standard Windows save file dialog will be displayed.
Make the most of your prompter - Format your scripts Use your selected scroll control device to prompt your script. To stop prompting, press the ESC key on your computer keyboard. Format your scripts If no text is selected, changes made using the Format All interface will apply to the entire script. Most of the buttons of the Format All interface have three states. Leave: retain formatting already applied to the selected text. On: apply the formatting to the selected text.
Make the most of your prompter - Dividing long scripts or using multiple presenters Extra line spacing The default value for text line spacing is 0. Use the up/down arrows or type the required spacing in directly. The space between each line of text of the prompt output will be increased. The distance added by each increment is proportional to the size of the text in your script. For example, if your text is set to 100 and you set the extra spacing value to 0.
Make the most of your prompter - Dividing long scripts or using multiple presenters 4. Click the Add button 5. Enter a description or name for the marker in the Comment field 6. Enter a sequence of keystrokes that you can use to jump to this marker position while the script is being prompted Note: If an inappropriate key sequence is selected, the dialog box will show this. 7. When you have entered a comment and valid shortcut click OK and the marker will be added to the list.
Make the most of your prompter - Dividing long scripts or using multiple presenters Delete markers You can remove markers by highlighting a marker symbol in the script and deleting it. This will automatically remove the entry from the Markers list. You can also remove them using the controls of the Markers dialog. 1. Click the Marker button 2. The Markers list window is displayed. 3. Select an entry 4. Click the Delete button The entry is removed from the list and deleted from the script.
Make the most of your prompter - Different ways to control scrolling Different ways to control scrolling When prompting a script, movement of the text on the screen is controlled by a scroll control device. The default device is a standard computer mouse. QStart supports a range of other dedicated scroll control devices that you can connect to your computer. Select an alternative scroll controller 1. Click on the System Options button to access the configuration interface. 2. Click on the Controller tab.
Make the most of your prompter - Different ways to control scrolling Keyboard arrow keys The Up arrow key increases the speed each time it is pressed and the down arrow key decrease the scroll rate. Press the left arrow key to change direction and the right arrow key to stop scrolling. Use the Home key to jump to the top of your script and the End key to jump to the bottom of the script. Mouse Move the mouse forward to increase the scroll speed. Move the mouse backwards to decrease the speed.
Make the most of your prompter - Improve the performance of your prompter Improve the performance of your prompter 1. Click on the System Options button to access the configuration interface. 2. Click on the Display Sensitivity tab. Display Sensitivity compensates for the performance capabilities of different computers when controlling both the main prompt output and the prompt monitor window. This is usually shown by movement of the text in the prompt output halting as the CPU is made to work harder.
Make the most of your prompter - Using a single monitor Prompt output If required you can configure your computer by clicking the “OS Display Properties” button to access the standard operating system display controls. Use the controls of the Prompt Output Configuration panel to select the orientation of the prompted text on your computer screen.
Make the most of your prompter - Alternative operating systems you may use Alternative operating systems you may use Your QStart software will run on computers using the following operating systems: Windows XP Pro SP3 Windows Vista Special requirement. You must first download and install winhlp32.dll from the Microsoft web site http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148 (For legal reasons Autocue cannot distribute this with its software.
Use your prompter in different situations Use your prompter in different situations You may not always need to use your prompter with a camera. The Starter Series hardware is designed to give you five alternative mounting arrangements depending on how you wish to use your system. Note: When altering the position of the different components of your Starter Series Prompter, always handle with care to avoid damaging them, especially the mirrored glass.
Use your prompter in different situations 2. Remove the thumb screws 3. Carefully take the frame off 4. Change the monitor mounting plate 1. Remove the monitor 2. Lay the monitor face down on a smooth, flat surface 3. Remove the four screws securing the standard mounting plate to the back of the monitor 4. Remove the standard mounting plate 5. Align the supplied wide mounting plate over the correct holes on the rear of the monitor 6.
Use your prompter in different situations when rearranging the components of your prompter into the different configurations described in the following sections. SSP-QStartUserManual.docx 2011-06-15 26 © 2003-2011 Autocue Group Ltd.
Use your prompter in different situations Straight read (Monitor above the camera with no mirror) The most common situation for using a straight read monitor is in conjunction with a light-ring for chromakey filming. 1. Mount the prompter unit to the tripod head. 2. Remove the hood and mirrored glass. 3. Remove the monitor. 4. Change the monitor mounting plate 5. Align the holes in the edge of the mounting plate with the slide nuts in the edge of the vertical frame 6.
Use your prompter in different situations Straight read (Monitor below the camera with no mirror) The most common situation for using a straight read monitor is in conjunction with a light-ring for chromakey filming. Note: This is not a recommended configuration for the SSP17 monitor. 1. Mount the prompter unit to the tripod head. 2. Remove the hood and mirrored glass. 3. Remove the monitor. 4. Move a slide nut to the end of the frame and align these with the middle screw holes on the monitor assembly 5.
Use your prompter in different situations 4. Change the monitor mounting plate 5. Screw your tripod head mounting plate into the threaded hole at the bottom of the vertical frame 6. Mount the vertical frame onto your chosen tripod and fasten securely 7. Align the holes in the edge of the mounting plate with the slide nuts in the edge of the vertical frame 8. Loosely screw in four thumb screws 9. Adjust the position of the monitor by sliding it up and down the vertical frame 10.
Use your prompter in different situations Floor standing The floor standing arrangement is designed for events where a speaker is addressing small groups in an office or larger audiences from a stage. The monitor can be positioned unobtrusively low down so that the presenter can simply lance down at the screen to see the script. 1. Remove the hood and mirrored glass. 2. Remove the monitor. 3. Re-attach the monitor assembly to the underside of the prompter base. 4.
Use your prompter in different situations Conference stand An optional add-on manual conference stand is also available. The conference stand is designed for corporate conferences or other events where a speaker is addressing an audience. The stand height and angle of the prompting glass are adjustable to match the eye-line of the presenter. 1. Remove the hood and mirrored glass. 2. Remove the monitor. 3. Remove the vertical frame. 4. Change the monitor mounting plate. 5.
Use your prompter in different situations 10. Insert glass into the glass holder at the top of the conference stand and adjust the height. (Ensure the blue dot on the glass faces the presenter.) SSP-QStartUserManual.docx 2011-06-15 32 © 2003-2011 Autocue Group Ltd.
Upgrading Starter Series Prompter components Upgrading Starter Series Prompter components Upgrade software Contact the Autocue technical support team to request the link to download the latest version of the software and the password to extract the files. 1. Use the supplied password to extract the files from the downloaded .ZIP file to your computer 2. Double-click on the SetupQS.exe icon 3. Select Upgrade Software from the installation dialog 4.
If you need to contact Autocue or QTV Support Our hardware and software support is provided by in-house teams of experienced and dedicated staff. We provide free telephone support for prompting customers during UK office hours (9am till 6pm GMT) and US office hours (9am till 5pm EST). When contacting the technical support teams, please provide as much detail as possible. Check the FAQ section of the web site to see if the answer you need has already been provided: http://www.autocue-qtv.
