Avid MediaCentral | UX User’s Guide Version 2.
Legal Notices Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc. This product is subject to the terms and conditions of a software license agreement provided with the software. The product may only be used in accordance with the license agreement. This product may be protected by one or more U.S. and non-U.S patents. Details are available at www.avid.com/patents. This document is protected under copyright law.
Copyright 1996 Daniel Dardailler. Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation, and that the name of Daniel Dardailler not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission.
This product includes software that is based in part of the work of the FreeType Team. This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. This product includes libjpeg-turbo, which is covered by the wxWindows Library License, Version 3.1. Portions copyright 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Funded under Grant P41-RR02188 by the National Institutes of Health. Portions copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Boutell.
Manager, DS-StorageCalc, DV Toolkit, DVD Complete, D-Verb, Eleven, EM, Euphonix, EUCON, EveryPhase, Expander, ExpertRender, Fader Pack, Fairchild, FastBreak, Fast Track, Film Cutter, FilmScribe, Flexevent, FluidMotion, Frame Chase, FXDeko, HD Core, HD Process, HDpack, Home-to-Hollywood, HYBRID, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, iKnowledge, Image Independence, Impact, Improv, iNEWS, iNEWS Assign, iNEWS ControlAir, InGame, Instantwrite, Instinct, Intelligent Content Management, Intelligent Digital Actor Technolog
Contents Using This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 If You Need Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Avid Training Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Moving or Copying Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Duplicating Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Renaming Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Creating a New Folder . . . . .
Writing Stories in Right-to-Left Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Using Annotation to Dictate a Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Editing a Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Formatting a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating an Interplay | MAM Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Audio-Only Basic Sequences (Interplay | MAM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Saving a Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Saving a Version of a Sequence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Recovering Automatically Saved Sequences . . . . . . . . . .
Enabling Audio Scrubbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Modifying the Start Timecode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Chapter 6 Working with Video Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 The Media Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Media Pane: Asset Mode . . . . . . . .
Viewing and Editing a Clip During Ingest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Saving a Frame as an Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Chapter 7 Using Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 The Audio Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 9 Searching for Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Search and the Central Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Federated Search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Media | Index and Indexed Search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 The Search Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Locking a Stratum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314 Working with Segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Creating Segments (Gaps Not Allowed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Creating Segment (Gaps Allowed). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Resizing Segments (Gaps Not Allowed Mode) . . .
Chapter 13 iNEWS Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Sending Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Viewing and Replying to Received Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 Chapter 14 Sending to Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Roles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388 Accessing the iNEWS Database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389 Viewing Video Associated with a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 Editing Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396 Ways of Saving Stories . .
Adding Machine Control Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434 Working with Links in Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435 Approving Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436 Entering Presenter Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436 Working with Favorites . . . . . . .
Appendix A User Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469 Appendix B Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472 Queue/Story Pane Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473 Assets Pane Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using This Guide This guide is intended for all users of an Avid MediaCentral | UX system (formerly Interplay Central). This guide describes product features and basic user procedures, such as user settings and story or asset creation. For initial installation and configuration, see the Avid MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide. For administrative information, see the Avid MediaCentral | UX Administration Guide.
If You Need Help Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action Monospace font Monospace font identifies text that you view and type from the operating system command line. Ctrl+key or mouse action Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the mouse action. For example, Command+Option+C or Ctrl+drag. | (pipe character) The pipe character is used in some Avid product names, such as Interplay | Production.
1 Getting Started The following main topics describe basic user tasks as well as various concepts and features you might encounter when working with MediaCentral | UX. • About MediaCentral | UX • Signing In to MediaCentral | UX • Understanding the Application Layouts • Using Plug-ins and MOS Integration • Support for iNEWS Communities • Viewing MediaCentral | UX Help About MediaCentral | UX MediaCentral UX delivers workflow tools for media professionals through both Web and mobile applications.
Signing In to MediaCentral | UX Interplay | Production The Avid Interplay Production system combines an asset database with workflow management software, both of which are integrated with Avid shared storage and Avid archive solutions. Interplay Production provides tools that let journalists and producers add rich media to stories and send the assembled video sequence to a playout server. Interplay | MAM The Avid Interplay MAM system helps to archive and manage media in a shared storage environment.
Understanding the Application Layouts To sign in to MediaCentral UX: 1. Open a supported browser and type the URL of your MediaCentral server. The URL is the computer name of the server. 2. At the sign-in screen, type your user name and password. 3. Click Sign In, or press Enter or Return (Macintosh). After a few moments, the MediaCentral UX application opens and displays the last layout that you used.
Understanding the Application Layouts Icon Pane Description Refer to... Assets A pane that displays assets. These assets can result from a search or from browsing. Assets are displayed in a folder hierarchy, if applicable to the assets displayed. “The Assets Pane” on page 39 Audio A pane that displays the controls for adjusting “Working with Audio Tracks in the audio settings for media assets. Advanced Sequences” on page 222 Help A pane that displays the help system.
Understanding the Application Layouts Icon Pane Description Refer to... Packages A pane for Media Distribute users that you can Avid Media | Distribute User’s use to review and approve packages submitted Guide. for publication. The pane also displays a history of packages ready for publication and already published, which allows you to search all submitted and published packages.
Understanding the Application Layouts In addition to the panes, the application layouts also feature bars that offer additional information, options, and functionality. q q w w e e The following table describes these bars. Bar Description Refer to... 1 Menu A section of the application that provides numerous menu options. “The Menu Bar” on page 34 2 Message A section of the application in which you can send and receive messages.
Understanding the Application Layouts The following table lists the layouts and which users have access to them. Layout Description Available To Cut Journalists, media loggers, and editors use this layout to create sequences. By default the Sequence pane is displayed horizontally. All users, based on role. Media | Distribute Advance Journalists and Media Distribute Producers use All users, based on this layout to publish media packages to multiple delivery role, if Media platforms and services.
Understanding the Application Layouts To change to a different predefined layout: t n Choose the layout from the Layout selector. Changes that you make to a predefined layout are saved when you change to a different layout or when you sign out. To close a pane: t Click the X on the pane’s tab. To open additional panes: 1. Select the Panes menu. 2. Select the menu option corresponding to the pane you want to open. The pane you select opens in the active area.
Understanding the Application Layouts Working with Areas and Panes You can customize MediaCentral UX by adjusting a layout’s areas and panes. A single area can contain one or more panes. When an area contains more than one pane, the panes are displayed in a tabular format, with one pane on top of the others. The following illustration shows a typical Story layout. This layout is composed of six different areas and seven different panes. The area in the lower right contains two panes.
Understanding the Application Layouts One way to customize this layout is to combine two or more panes into one area, thus reducing the number of areas and allowing more space for the remaining areas. In the following illustration, the layout is composed of four areas and seven panes. The area on the left contains the Queue/Story pane, the Launch pane, and an Assets pane.
Understanding the Application Layouts You can also move a pane to create a new area. In the following illustration, the Assets pane was moved to the left to create a new area. 4 1 1 2 3 5 If the number of tabbed panes within an area exceeds the area’s space within the browser window, Right and Left Arrow buttons appear next to the Pane Menu button, enabling you to navigate through all of the panes. You can move panes to save screen space and reconfigure panes in a way that best suits your needs.
Understanding the Application Layouts n Do not click the X in the pane’s tab unless you want to close the pane. The drop zone is highlighted in orange to help you identify where the pane will be positioned within the window when you release the mouse button. The following illustrations demonstrate the process of dragging the Media pane to each drop zone. In the illustrations, the Audio pane is already located in the area to which the Media pane is being moved.
Understanding the Application Layouts Drop Zone Position Result Bottom Left Right 32
Understanding the Application Layouts Active Panes An active pane (the pane with user focus) is outlined in orange.This feature helps you to know which keyboard shortcuts are available, because some shortcuts are available only if a pane has focus. For example, pressing the space bar controls playback only when the Media pane has focus. The following illustration shows the Media pane outlined in orange to indicate focus. Some panes have global shortcuts that work if another pane has focus.
Understanding the Application Layouts The Menu Bar The application’s menu bar includes the following menus: • • Home Option Description User Settings Opens the Settings dialog box with configuration options available for modification to non-administrative users. For more information, see “User Settings” on page 469. About Opens a screen with information about the product Panes This menu lists the panes that you can open in the selected layout.
Understanding the Application Layouts Icon Description Connected Interplay Production system Disconnected Interplay Production system Connected Interplay MAM system Connected iNEWS system Disconnected iNEWS system Project in the iNEWS database iNEWS Project (not started) iNEWS Project (expired) Opening a system, such as an iNEWS newsroom computer system, Interplay MAM system, or Interplay Production system, lets you view the contents of that system’s database in the Assets pane.
Using Plug-ins and MOS Integration Using Plug-ins and MOS Integration MediaCentral UX provides support for MOS Active-X plug-ins. For example, Deko Select is a plug-in for a newsroom computer system’s interface that allows a user, such as a reporter, to drag and drop graphic templates directly into the story, as well as alter replaceable text or graphics in the selected template. You can also use the Avid Deko Select plug-in to add graphics to the video for a story sequence.
Support for iNEWS Communities In the following illustration, MUCINEWS is the local system and KIEV-JEN and KIEV-MOB are the remote systems. Any projects listed are associated with your local system. You cannot show projects that are associated with remote systems. In MediaCentral UX, you can perform the following tasks on iNEWS remote systems: n • Browse stories in the Assets pane. • Load queues in the Queue/Story pane. • Display stories in the Queue/Story pane. • Create and edit stories.
Viewing MediaCentral | UX Help c Do not edit a story after you receive the message that the mob ID cannot be resolved. There is a risk of data loss if you remove or modify the existing attached mob ID information • Float stories so that they remain in the queue but do not appear in the rundown. Limitation for MOS Placeholder and Project Bucket Features MediaCentral UX checks if the iNEWS server supports the MOS placeholder and project bucket features. These features were added in iNEWS 4.0.
2 Working with Assets The following main topics describe the Assets pane and how you can work with various assets in MediaCentral UX. • The Assets Pane • Working with News Assets • Working with Interplay | Production Assets • Working with Interplay | MAM Assets See also “Working with Remote Assets” on page 195. The Assets Pane Assets are items that are stored in a database, such as stories, scripts, video clips, and audio clips.
The Assets Pane The following illustration shows the Interplay Production database selected in the Launch pane and its contents opened in the Assets pane below. The name of the highlighted system appears in the Asset pane’s tab. To open an additional Assets pane, do one of the following: t Select Panes > Assets. t Right-click an item in the Launch pane and select Open in New Assets Tab. The new pane is displayed next to a previously opened Assets pane.
The Assets Pane Navigating in the Assets Pane As you browse through a database, the history of your navigation is retained in views, and you can go backward and forward to display those views. The name that appears in the Assets pane’s tab also changes to reflect your location within the database you are viewing. The following table lists the navigation buttons in the Assets pane. Button Description Back button toggles the current view to the previous view in the pane.
Working with News Assets Working with News Assets The following topics describe the iNEWS database as it is displayed in the Assets pane: • Identifying iNEWS Directories, Queues, Projects, and Facets • Navigating the iNEWS Database Identifying iNEWS Directories, Queues, Projects, and Facets The iNEWS database is a file structure that is organized by directories that contain subfolders or queues, which in turn contain stories.
Working with News Assets Different icons are used to identify queues, directories and facets in the Assets pane, as listed in the following table.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Navigating the iNEWS Database This topic provides procedures for viewing the database file structure by opening directories and queues. For information about projects and facets, see “Working with Projects” on page 72. The contents of directories are displayed in the Assets pane. The contents of queues are viewed in the Queue/Story pane. For more information, see “The Queue/Story Pane” on page 77.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets • “Viewing Interplay | Production Thumbnails” on page 52 • “Working with Remote Assets” on page 195 Identifying Interplay | Production Systems and Media Assets Different icons are used to identify Interplay Production assets and indicate status in the Assets pane. Icon Description Column Audio asset Name Video asset: master clip.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets To open an Interplay Production folder: t Double-click the folder in the Assets pane. This action opens the folder's contents in the same pane. To return to the previous view of the database file structure, click the Back button. t Click the turn-down arrow to the left of the folder in the Assets pane. This action expands the directory to show its contents while still retaining a view of the rest of the database file structure.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets 2. Select the columns you want to add or deselect the columns you want to remove. You can use the search box to find a particular column. 3. Click the Close box or click anywhere outside the window to save your settings. Resizing Columns You can adjust the column width of any column displayed in the Assets pane. To resize a column: 1. Position your mouse pointer over the dividing line between two columns.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Moving or Copying Assets You can move or copy assets in the Interplay Production database by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands. To move an asset to another folder: 1. Select one or more assets. 2. Right-click and select Cut. 3. Select the folder into which you want to move the asset, right-click, and select Paste. To copy an asset to another folder: 1. Select one or more assets. 2. Right-click and select Copy. 3.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Creating a New Folder You can create a new folder in the Interplay Production database. Your ability to create a new folder depends on Interplay Production rules. For example, the credentials you use to sign in to the Interplay Production database must allow creation of folders. For more information, see the Interplay | Access User’s Guide or your Interplay Production administrator. To create a new folder in the Interplay Production database: 1.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Viewing and Editing Interplay | Production Metadata The Metadata pane displays properties that are associated with a selected asset in the Interplay Production database, such as Comments or Creation date. Some properties are created automatically and others you can create or edit manually. In the Metadata pane, if a property is editable, a text box or drop-down menu is displayed.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets For information on system and custom properties, and assigning permissions, see the Interplay | Engine and Interplay | Archive Engine Administration Guide. Note the following: • You can cut, copy, and paste text between the Metadata pane and other applications. • You can use the Tab key to move to the next editable text box or use Shift+Tab to move to the previous text box. • Text is limited to 32,000 characters.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Viewing Interplay | Production Thumbnails The Thumbnails pane lets you display a series of small images of an asset (thumbnails). Viewing and double-clicking thumbnails can help you navigate through source clips and markers more quickly. You can view thumbnails in the following arrangements: • Time-based: Shows the first frame, a frame every ten seconds, and the last frame.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets • n You can view thumbnails for a clip that is ingesting (edit-while-capture) after it is checked into the Interplay Production database (approximately every two minutes). Click the Refresh button to update the display. Support for edit-while-capture (EWC) is qualified only for Avid AirSpeed Multi Stream and AS5000 systems. • Click the Refresh button to update the display for changes to the asset, for example, if you add or delete a marker. To view thumbnails: 1.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets The Assets pane gives you access to the Workspace of any connected Interplay MAM system. You can see all folders that are released to you and browse and edit the folder structure in the Assets pane. You can add, rename, and delete asset references, view and edit asset metadata, and create basic sequences and initiate processes for assets in the Assets pane.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets To open an asset: t Double-click the asset. The asset opens in the Media pane. If the panes are open, the asset opens also in the Logging and Metadata pane. If the asset is a basic sequence and the Sequence pane is open, the asset is loaded in the Sequence Timeline. For more information, see “Working with Video Media” on page 175 and “Using the Sequence Pane” on page 108.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Icon Description Column Video or Rushes asset Name Audio asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image Thumbnail is assigned as a thumbnail. Basic Sequence asset placeholder icon. Thumbnail Commercial or Commercial Version asset placeholder icon. Is Thumbnail shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail. Document asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Icon Description Column Video or Rushes asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail. Thumbnail Usage right “Free for use” Rights Usage right “Not evaluated so far” Rights Usage right “Parts need to be licensed” Rights Usage right “Contains restricted parts” Rights Creating a New Folder You can create new folders in the Interplay MAM Workspace. Your ability to create a new folder depends on Interplay MAM rules.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Renaming a Folder You can rename Interplay MAM Workspace folders in the Assets pane. To rename a folder, do one of the following: t Select the folder, click the name of the folder, and type the new name. t Select the folder, press F2 (Windows) or Enter (Macintosh), and type the new name. Moving a Folder You can move folders with their contents in the Interplay MAM Workspace by using the Cut and Paste commands or drag and drop.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets To delete folders: 1. Select one or more folders. 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click and select Delete. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Delete. A security prompt opens. 3. Click Yes. If your credentials allow deleting folders the folders are deleted. If you are not authorized to delete some of the selected folders or folders at all a message opens. After closing the message the folders that are released for deletion are deleted.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Triggering the Rights Evaluation for a Basic Sequence A set of property columns is shown when viewing MAM assets in the Assets pane. The Rights column displays the value of the usage rights property — symbolized by a Rights Indicator icon — that is associated with assets in the Interplay MAM database.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Selecting Assets Clicking an item (basic sequence, other asset, or folder) in a folder selects and highlights it. Multiple items can be selected in different ways. Note that you can select items in different folders at the same time. To select several nonconsecutive items: t Ctrl+click the items you want to select, regardless of order or arrangement. The items are selected and highlighted.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets The folder expands to show its contents and a green icon indicates if dropping is possible. 3. Release the mouse button. Valid assets are pasted into the folder, and assets that are not allowed as contents of the folder are not pasted. If there is already an asset with the same identifier in the folder, a message is displayed, and the asset is not pasted.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Viewing and Editing Interplay | MAM Metadata The Metadata pane displays properties that are associated with a selected asset in the Interplay MAM database, such as Comments or Creation date. Some properties are created automatically and others you can create or edit manually. In the Metadata pane, if a property is editable, a text box, drop-down menu, or other input control is displayed.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets For information on properties and assigning permissions, see the Interplay | MAM Datamodel Administrator User’s Guide and Interplay | MAM User Manager User’s Guide. Property Types and Input Controls The fields in the Metadata pane are linked to properties that describe an asset. Interplay MAM and MediaCentral UX support different property types and input controls.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Input Controls Depending on the configuration of the metadata template in Interplay MAM, you might encounter the following input fields when entering data: Display Field type Description Text Text fields accept all characters. Input might be limited to a certain number of characters by the property configuration in Interplay MAM. Date Date fields are preformatted. The display format depends on the locale of your account.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Display Field type Description Master data Master data, for example, data records about producers, actors, and so on, consists of multiple distinct values. These multiple values are represented by one master data value, when used for annotation. When you open a property of type master data, the input control initially shows an empty search box. Thesaurus Thesauri are mostly used to provide larger sets of invariant terms that can be assigned as values to a property.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets To open the Metadata pane: t Select Metadata from the Panes menu. To view properties of an asset: t Double-click an asset in the Assets or Search pane. To manually lock metadata: t Click the Lock button. When the metadata is locked, the Lock button turns orange. The metadata remains locked until you end editing, load another asset, or close the Metadata pane. You can manually unlock the metadata by clicking the Lock button.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 6. To edit a date, time, or date-time property: t Highlight the figures you want to change and type in the new figures. t Click the field’s Down Arrow button and select the date from the calendar that opens. 7. To edit a timecode or duration property, click in the field and do one of the following: t Type in the figures, including “0”, from right to left. t Highlight the timecode and press Ctrl+V to paste a copied timecode. 8.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 5. To remove a property, click the Minus button to the right of the value. 6. Click the Save button, or click the Pane menu and select Save. To discard your changes, click the Refresh button, load a different asset, or close the Metadata pane. To edit compound properties of an asset: 1. To add a new row to a compound property, do one of the following: t To add a new row below the last row, click the plus button.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Viewing Interplay | MAM Thumbnails The Thumbnails pane lets you display a series of small images of an asset. In an Interplay MAM context, these are referred to as “keyframes” that are displayed in Interplay MAM Desktop’s Lighttable view. In MediaCentral UX they are referred to as “thumbnails.” Viewing and double-clicking thumbnails can help you navigate through video assets more quickly.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets • Click the Refresh button to update the display for changes to the asset, for example, if a user has extracted new thumbnails in Interplay MAM Cataloger. • If the entire keyframes set is deleted in Interplay MAM Desktop, you can only show time-based thumbnails in the Thumbnails pane. To view thumbnails: 1. Select Panes > Thumbnails. If an asset is already loaded in Asset mode in the Media pane, thumbnails are displayed in the Thumbnails pane. 2.
3 Working with Projects The following main topics describe the Project/Story pane and how to use projects and facets in news production: • Opening Projects or Facets • The Project/Story Pane • Associating Stories with Projects or Facets • Opening a Project or Facet Associated with a Story Opening Projects or Facets Using projects is a feature of the iNEWS newsroom computer system that provides a way of categorizing stories by topic so that news teams working on a particular topic can find everything
The Project/Story Pane Every project has an ALL queue that displays in the Queue panel all stories associated with the project and its facets. Any indexed story can be associated with a project or facet. Stories associated with a project retain their original source queue location in the iNEWS database; they do not actually reside in the ALL queue. Stories associated with a project also retain their original source permissions.
The Project/Story Pane The Project/Story pane functions similarly to the Queue/Story pane. It can display either a project’s facet or a news story associated with that project’s facet. It can also display both at the same time, as shown in the following illustration: n The title that appears on the pane’s tab changes based on what is selected in the Project/Story pane. Two buttons, Project and Story, are located at the top of the pane.
Associating Stories with Projects or Facets When only the facet or one of the project’s queues (ALL, QUERY, or BUCKET) is shown, the display is called a grid view. When only the story is shown in the pane, the display is called a story view. And when both are visible, the display is called a split view. You can use the horizontal dividing line between the grid and story sections of the pane to adjust the ratio of the split view display within the pane.
4 Building a Script The following main topics describe the Queue/Story pane and basic techniques of script building.
The Queue/Story Pane The Queue/Story Pane In MediaCentral UX, you can create iNEWS stories, edit them in the Queue/Story pane, and save them on an iNEWS server. The Queue/Story pane can display either an iNEWS queue, such as a show's rundown, or a story in that queue.
The Queue/Story Pane When only the queue is displayed in the pane, the display is called a grid view. When only the story is shown in the pane, the display is called a story view. When both are visible, the display is called a split view. You can use the horizontal dividing line between the queue and story sections of the pane to adjust the ratio of the split view within the pane. When you position your mouse pointer over the dividing line, the mouse pointer changes to a double arrow.
The Queue/Story Pane Display or Control Description 6 Normal Sets text as normal. See “Formatting a Script” on page 87 7 Presenter Sets text as presenter instructions. 8 Closed Caption Sets text as closed-captioning. 9 Template Inserts an iNEWS script template. See “Inserting Script Templates” on page 97 10 Open Sequence Opens the associated sequence. Use this button to create a new script sequence or to open one previously created. See “Adding Media to a Story” on page 98.
The Queue/Story Pane q q r e w w e e 1 Story Form 3 Story (text area) 2 Cue List 4 Timing display At the top of every story is the Story Form, which provides story information in fields that are predetermined by the iNEWSsystem administrator for each queue in the database. For example, a form can contain the story’s title (slug), page number, and status. Wire queues usually show different fields than rundown queues.
Creating a Story The Story is the section of the Script Editor in which you write your story or view the text of an existing story. As you type, your text automatically wraps to the next line when you reach the end of the current line. A scroll bar at the right side of this area appears when text extends beyond the bounds of the text area. The timing display on the right side of the story segment header shows the duration of the text in the story segment.
Segmenting Stories To create a new story: 1. Navigate to the row in which you want the new story to be inserted in the queue. 2. Click the Pane Menu button located at the top right corner of the Queue/Story pane. 3. Select Create Story. The existing row is pushed down, and a new row is inserted in the queue at that location. If you are in split view, you can begin writing your story; if not, open the new story by double-clicking on the new row. 4.
Segmenting Stories You can use segments to time the text and integrate it with video, audio, and production cues. See “Adding Media to a Story” on page 98. Multiple timed segments are combined to form the overall story. The following illustration shows the same story as the one in the previous example, but written as a segmented story. You can add or delete segments, split a segment in two, and rearrange segments within a story.
Writing Stories in Right-to-Left Languages To add a segment to a story: t Click in the segment marked NEW located at the bottom of the story and begin typing. See the previous illustration for an example. To split a segment in two: 1. Position the cursor in the story where you want to split the text into two segments. 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click and select Split Segment. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Split Segment. t Press Ctrl+] (Windows) or Command+] (Macintosh).
Using Annotation to Dictate a Story - • Queue grid cells switch to right-to-left and right-aligned if the first character in the cell is a right-to-left character. If the cell is center-aligned by default, it will remain center-aligned regardless of cell content. Manual switching - If focus is in any segment, alignment of all segments will be switched. Reloading the story will return the segment alignment to the default.
Editing a Story 3. Speak clearly. If you want sentence punctuation in your text, you can type it in later, or you can say what punctuation is needed as you speak. For example, if you want the text to be Hello, I’m Jane Doe., then you would need to say, “Hello comma I’m Jane Doe period.” The system punctuates contractions for you. For best results, conduct your dictation in a location without much background noise.
Editing a Story To paste text: t n Select the text and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Macintosh). To immediately undo the previous editing change, press Ctrl+Z. On a Macintosh, press Command+Z. To undo the previous edit, do one of the following: t Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Macintosh). t Right-click and select Undo. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Undo. To redo the previous edit, do one of the following: t Press Ctrl+Y (Windows) or Command+Y (Macintosh).
Editing a Story Closed captioning is most often used for “sound-bite verbatims.” The text for closed captioning appears green in the script and is sent to a closed caption encoder if your station uses such a device to broadcast scripts for the hearing-impaired. Closed captioning text does not appear in the teleprompter, and it is not included in the calculations of a script’s read time. n The default normal text style is sent to both the teleprompter and to any closed caption encoder used at the station.
Editing a Story When selected, the production cue marker is colored orange, and the information in the production cue is visible in the Cue List. You can copy one or more production cues from one story to another. To insert a production cue in a script: 1. Position your cursor in the story where you want to insert the production cue marker. 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click and select Insert Production Cue. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Insert Production Cue.
Editing a Story To copy one or more production cues to another story: 1. Open two stories. 2. Click and hold the mouse and select the production cue or cues, or text that includes the production cues. 3. Press Ctrl+C. 4. Position the insert cursor where you want to insert the production cue or cues. 5. Press Ctrl+V. If necessary, the production cues are renumbered to fit sequentially into the target story. You can also drag and drop the production cues from one story to another.
Deleting or Recovering a Deleted Story Adding a Primary Machine Control Instruction The machine control event associated with the Story Form, by default, takes precedence over other machine control commands put into a script, when the event list is generated by the iNEWS monitor server. If you want the machine control event associated with the Story Form to appear in a position other than first in the event list, you can insert a placeholder in the Story.
Grouping Stories Grouping Stories You can group stories within a queue to link them together. For example, a producer might want to link a presenter’s intro and tag before and after a reporter’s package as a story group within a rundown. When stories in a queue can be grouped, a Story Group column appears as the second column in the Queue panel located next to first column of selector buttons. n You can only create groups from contiguous stories.
Ordering a Queue t If the story you want to add is located in the row directly above or below the group to which you want to add it, select it along with the story group, then right-click and select Create Story Group. To remove a story from a story group, do the following: t Select the story, and then drag it to a new location in the queue. To move a story group: 1. In the Queue/Story panel, click any square within the Story Group column to select the group. 2.
Copying Stories A line indicator shows the intended new order, and the repositioned stories appear in their new place within the queue when you release the mouse pointer. Copying Stories You can copy stories from one location in a queue to another or from one queue to a second queue, including different queues within an iNEWS Community configuration. If you run a search of iNEWS stories, you can copy stories from the search results to an open queue.
Locking and Unlocking a Story another user, you can still navigate to that story and view it, but a warning message appears if you attempt to edit the story. The warning message states: Unable to obtain edit lock. Story is currently locked by another user. Segmented edit locking allows for one user to change Story Form data while another user has a lock on the story’s text and cue list.
Floating Stories n If you click the Unlock button, a confirmation dialog box appears stating the following: Story has been modified. Do you want to save it before unlocking? Choose Yes to save it and then unlock the story, No to unlock the story without saving modifications, or Cancel to return to the story with the edit lock still in place. Navigating between the Story Form section of the Script Editor to the Story or Cue List sections releases any segmented edit lock you have on the Story Form.
Inserting Script Templates 4. To add the story time back to the rundown, click the Float button again or right+click and select Unfloat. Inserting Script Templates Script templates are templates created by an administrator for you to use to quickly insert predefined text and segments into stories.
Adding Media to a Story 2. Click the Pane Menu button and select Insert Placeholder. The Create MOS Object Placeholder dialog box opens. 3. Select a device name and enter a title. Optionally, enter a description. 4. Press OK. The new MOS object placeholder appears as a production cue in the Story editor and the Cue List, or in the MOS-Title field. The MOS device user can later update the placeholder with a real ID and object by turning on or loading the monitor server.
Associating a Sequence with a Story n Saving a story does not save a sequence associated with a story. You must save the sequence in the Sequence pane. See “Saving a Sequence” on page 126 Associating a Sequence with a Story In addition to using MediaCentral UX to create a new sequence for a story (see “Creating an Interplay | Production Sequence” on page 120), you can associate an existing sequence with an iNEWS story.
Associating a Sequence with a Story If you associate a sequence with a story that already has a sequence associated with it, you can overwrite the existing association with the new sequence. You can update the timing field for a story when you associate a sequence with it so that the duration of a story matches the duration of the sequence. If you unassociate a sequence from a story, the duration of the story returns to its original value.
Associating a Sequence with a Story 4. To specify how the timing field is updated, click the Timing field menu in the Details pane and select one of the following: AUDIO-TIME This field displays the estimated read time for a story. Unless specified manually, the estimated time is based on the length of the story and presenter’s read rate. If there is also a TAPE-TIME field in the story form, the system adds the TAPE-TIME to the AUDIO-TIME to calculate the story’s total time.
Associating a Sequence with a Story To associate a sequence with a story: 1. Open your story in the Queue/Story pane. 2. Open the sequence in the Interplay database that you want to associate with your story. 3. Drag the sequence from the Media pane, the Asset pane, or the results list in the Search pane, and then drop it on your iNEWS story. n You cannot undo this action. If you want to associate a different sequence with your story, select a new sequence and repeat the procedure.
Creating a Text-Only Story Segment 3. Drag the sequence from the Media pane, the Asset pane, or the results list in the Search pane, and then drop it on your iNEWS story. A dialog box opens and asks if you want to override the existing associated sequence with the new one. 4. Click Yes. The new sequence replaces the old associated sequence. To remove the associated sequence from a story, do one of the following: t Right-click the story in the queue, and then select Unassociate Sequence.
Copying and Sending iNEWS Links The timing block is removed from the sequence. If you extend a video or audio segment into a timing block that was removed, the timing block is displayed. To reconnect text-only story segments: t Click the Sequence Pane menu button and select “Reconnect Story Segments.” This action displays any timing blocks that were previously removed. Any changes you make to the sequence are saved with the sequence.
Recovering Automatically Saved Stories To create a URL for an iNEWS link from the Asset pane, do one of the following: t In an iNEWS list, right-click an item and select Copy Link. t In an iNEWS list, select an item, click the Pane Menu button, and select Copy Link or Copy Container Link. To create a URL for an iNEWS link from the Queue/Story pane or the Project/Story pane, do one of the following: t Right-click an item and select Copy Link.
Recovering Automatically Saved Stories Click the name of the asset to open the last saved version. If the asset is a story, the Queue/Story pane displays three additional buttons: - Recovered: Click this button to open the recovery file (from the local system). - Last Saved: Click this button to open the last saved file (from the Interplay Production database). - Keep This: Click this button to save the version that you display and delete the other version.
Recovering Automatically Saved Stories You can switch back and forth between versions to compare them, and click the Keep This button when you decide which version to keep. • n n If you close the Auto Recovery dialog box without selecting an asset, you can select Auto-Recovered Assets from the Queue/Story pane menu to display the Auto Recovery dialog. This option appears only if auto-recovered assets are available. This feature works similarly for stories and sequences.
5 Using the Sequence Pane The following main topics describe the Sequence pane and how to use it: • Displaying the Sequence Pane • The Sequence Pane • Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences • Selecting a Horizontal or Vertical Timeline • Using the Sequence Zoom Bar • Viewing Sequence Information • Creating a Sequence • Saving a Sequence • Saving a Version of a Sequence • Recovering Automatically Saved Sequences • Opening and Editing an Existing Sequence in the Sequence Pane • Open
The Sequence Pane The Sequence Pane The Sequence pane includes the Sequence Timeline and controls that let you edit a sequence. You can work with one of two Sequence Timelines: basic or advanced. See “Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences” on page 112. You can display the Sequence pane with a vertical timeline or a horizontal timeline. The following illustration shows the two timelines and two orientations and identifies the controls.
The Sequence Pane Control Description 4 Overwrite button Performs an overwrite edit. See “Performing an Overwrite Edit in a Basic Sequence” on page 147 and “Performing an Overwrite Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 149. 5 Replace button Performs a replace edit. See “Performing a Replace Edit” on page 153. 6 Delete Segment button Deletes the selected segment from the sequence. See “Moving or Deleting Segments in the Timeline” on page 159.
The Sequence Pane Control Description 14 Timing block header (Script sequence only) Displays the duration of the media currently contained in the timing block and the duration of the text in the associated story segment. See “Working with Timing Displays” on page 134. 15 Pane Menu button Provides options for working with sequences. 16 Position indicator Lets you scrub through a clip or sequence.
Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences n Menu Item Description Sequence Mixdown Sends a sequence to mixdown. See “Transcoding Assets” on page 210. Audio Scrubbing Enables or disables audio scrubbing. A check mark shows that audio scrubbing is enabled. See “Enabling Audio Scrubbing” on page 173. Orientation Lets you select the orientation of the timeline and toolbar: horizontal or vertical. See “Selecting a Horizontal or Vertical Timeline” on page 114.
Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences A basic sequence consists of cuts only. It is sometimes referred to as a shotlist or a cut list, or, in an Interplay MAM context, as an EDL (Edit Decision List). You cannot add video dissolves or audio dissolves to a basic sequence. All source audio tracks in the clips that compose a sequence are monitored in a single audio meter. You can select which channels are monitored. See “Audio Monitoring for Assets and Basic Sequences” on page 219.
Selecting a Horizontal or Vertical Timeline An administrator can rename the audio track labels. An administrator also determines the audio track mapping, which you can change. For information on renaming, mapping, and configuring audio tracks, and adding audio dissolves, see “Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences” on page 222. You can add video dissolves to an advanced sequence. See “Inserting Video Dissolves (Advanced Sequences Only)” on page 171. Audio dissolves are added automatically.
Using the Sequence Zoom Bar Using the Sequence Zoom Bar The Sequence zoom bar is located below the Sequence Timeline for horizontal orientation or to the left of the timeline for vertical orientation. You can use the zoom bar to enlarge a section of the Sequence Timeline so that you can work more easily with long sequences or make precise edit decisions. n The Sequence zoom bar is similar to the Media zoom bar, but the two zoom bars operate independently.
Using the Sequence Zoom Bar The zoom bar includes a position indicator that matches the position indicator in the Sequence Timeline and the Media Timeline. This position indicator is always visible in the zoom bar, which is useful when you are zoomed in to a section of the timeline that does not include the timeline position indicator. Position indicator in zoom bar but not in zoom region. You can click the position indicator in the zoom bar and jump to its counterpart in the timeline.
Viewing Sequence Information The zoom bar displays colored bars that match the content of the tracks in the sequence. To zoom in to or out from a section of the Sequence Timeline, do one of the following: t Drag a zoom slider handle in or out. The mouse pointer changes to a double-headed arrow when you hover over a zoom slider handle and select it. Zoom slider handles, right handle selected. The zoom region moves in or out symmetrically unless one end reaches the end of the sequence.
Viewing Sequence Information Item Description Name The asset name as listed in the Interplay Production database. Format 30i NTSC 25i PAL, 25p PAL 720p/25, 720p/29.97, 720p/50, 720p/59.94 1080i/59.94, 1080i/50 1080p/25, 1080p/29.97 Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9 Raster Dimensions: 720x486 720x592 1280x720 1920x1080 The following table describes the information you can viewfor Interplay MAM basic sequences. Item Description Name The basic sequence name as listed in the Interplay MAM database.
Creating a Sequence Item Description Duration Calculated automatically when you add or remove segments, or change the segment length. No of Segments Calculated automatically when you add or remove segments. Note Is shown when you open a read-only basic sequence; informs you why the sequence is read-only: due to Interplay MAM access rules or because it represents an external sequence.
Creating a Sequence See the following topics: • “Creating an Interplay | Production Sequence” on page 120 • “Rules for Creating a Script Sequence (Interplay | Production)” on page 122 • “Sequences Associated with Stories in Instinct and NewsCutter” on page 123 • “Audio-Only and Video-Only Advanced Sequences (Interplay | Production)” on page 123 • “Creating an Interplay | MAM Sequence” on page 123 • “Audio-Only Basic Sequences (Interplay | MAM)” on page 125 Creating an Interplay | Production Seq
Creating a Sequence You can later edit the sequence by opening the Sequence pane and double-clicking the sequence. To create a sequence in the Interplay Production database, edit it, and save it: 1. Select Panes > Sequence to open the Sequence pane. 2. In the Assets tab, navigate to the folder in which you want to create the sequence. n Selecting a folder does not create a sequence in the folder. 3. Click the Assets Pane Menu button and select Create Basic Sequence or Create Advanced Sequence.
Creating a Sequence The name of the sequence in the Sequence pane tab and in the Media pane displays the name of the opened story. Clicking the Open Sequence button automatically opens the Media pane if it is closed. If you later change the name of the story and you want to change the name of the sequence, you must rename the sequence in the Assets pane.
Creating a Sequence n • You cannot create a sequence for a story unless the story has a title (labeled Slug). • If the Autoload Sequence option is enabled, you can create a sequence by opening the Sequence pane and either clicking the Open Sequence button or navigating to a story that already has a title. • If the Autoload Sequence option is disabled, you must create a sequence by opening the Sequence pane and clicking the Open Sequence button.
Creating a Sequence 3. Do one of the following: t Right-click and select Create Basic Sequence or Create Basic Sequence (audio-only). t Click the Pane Menu button and select Create Basic Sequence or Create Basic Sequence (audio only). The Sequence Details dialog box opens. If you selected “Create Basic Sequence” the dialog box includes a Frame Rate menu and a Sample Rate menu. If you selected “Create Basic Sequence (audio-only)” the Frame Rate menu is not displayed.
Creating a Sequence 11. Save the sequence by doing one of the following: t Click the Save button in the Sequence pane toolbar. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Save Sequence. t With focus in the Sequence pane, press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Macintosh). Audio-Only Basic Sequences (Interplay | MAM) You can create and save an audio-only basic sequence in the Interplay MAM database. An audio-only basic sequence is a basic sequence without video track, but with one audio track.
Saving a Sequence Saving a Sequence If you save a sequence that is not associated with a story, the sequence is saved in the location you selected when you created the sequence in the Assets pane. To save another version of the sequence with a different name or in a different location, use the Save As feature. See “Saving a Version of a Sequence” on page 126. If you are working with a sequence associated with a story, and you save the sequence through the Sequence pane, the story is automatically saved.
Recovering Automatically Saved Sequences To save a version of a sequence: 1. In the Sequence pane, click the Pane Menu button and select Save As. The Select Interplay Folder dialog box opens. 2. Select the folder in which you want to save the sequence. 3. Rename the sequence. If the sequence has the same name as a sequence in the selected folder, the Save button is grayed out. You need to rename the sequence or save it to a different folder. 4. Click Save. The sequence is saved with the new name.
Recovering Automatically Saved Sequences Click the name of the asset to open the last saved version. If the asset is a sequence, the Sequence pane displays three additional buttons: - Recovered: Click this button to open the recovery file (from the local system). - Last Saved: Click this button to open the last saved file (from the Interplay Production or Interplay MAM database). - Keep This: Click this button to save the version that you display and delete the other version.
Opening and Editing an Existing Sequence in the Sequence Pane Opening and Editing an Existing Sequence in the Sequence Pane MediaCentral UX lets you open and edit sequences that you created in MediaCentral UX, Avid editing applications, Interplay Assist, and Avid Instinct, and Interplay MAM Desktop. You are limited in the types of sequences you can play and edit.
Opening a Sequence Associated with a Story • Interplay MAM sequences that are edited in Interplay MAM Desktop might contain comments for individual segments. These comments are also displayed in the Sequence pane timeline. • For more information about playback of sequences, see “Playback of Simple and Complex Sequences” on page 189. To open an existing sequence in the Sequence pane: t Double-click a sequence in the Assets pane, the Search pane, the Quick Search pane, or the Tasks pane.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story To manually open a script sequence: 1. Open a story in the Queue/Story pane. 2. Open the Sequence pane. 3. Click the Open Sequence button. The associated sequence opens in the Sequence pane and Media pane. n After you associate a script sequence with a story, you cannot disassociate it. However, you can completely revise the sequence and rename it if necessary.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story The following illustration shows a story with four story segments (including the default New segment) and a sequence with four corresponding timing blocks. The sequence does not yet contain any media, which is shown as 0:00 in the timing displays. n The previous illustration shows the Sequence pane in the horizontal orientation. You can change the orientation by clicking the Pane Menu button and selecting from the Orientation submenu.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story n Timing blocks are shown only for sequences associated with a story. Working with Story Segments and Timing Blocks As you work, MediaCentral UX maintains synchronization between the story segments in your script and the timing blocks in your script sequence. As you create new story segments, new timing blocks are created. As you expand your script, or add media, the timing displays are updated.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story n • If you are working on a script and a sequence together, the same set of Undo/Redo actions applies to both the Story pane and the Sequence pane. If you load a new sequence or close the Sequence pane, the Undo actions are lost in the Story pane. • For some news stories, you might need to create a story segment that is not associated with video in the story. For example, a story might include presenter text before the video starts.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story • If you insert a clip that is 10 seconds long, it fills 10 seconds of the timing block and the timing display changes to 0:10/0:16. Again, the media duration is red, because more media is needed. To fill this 6 second gap, you can lengthen the clip or add another clip.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story • If you insert a clip that is 20 seconds long, it extends the timing block 4 seconds. The timing display changes to 0:20/0:16. The media duration is black, indicating that there is enough media to match the length of the text. However, there is now a 4 second gap at the end of the text. You can either trim the video to 16 seconds, or add some text.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story Adding text or removing text changes the text duration of a story segment, which automatically changes the duration of the timing block to match.You can manually adjust the duration of the timing block. See “Manually Adjusting Timing Blocks” on page 141. Editing Media into Timing Blocks Editing media into a timing block is similar to editing media into the sequence (see “Editing a Sequence” on page 143).
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story Extending a Segment into Another Timing Block By default, video and audio edits do not cross timing block boundaries. If you try to extend a media segment beyond the boundary of a timing block, the timing block enlarges to match the duration of the segment. If you want to extend a segment beyond the timing block, for example, to create an L-cut, you need to use the extend segment feature.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story You can return the extended segments to their original duration by clicking the Extract/Retract button to retract the segment. To extend a segment: 1. Move the position indicator to the location to which you want to extend the video segment. 2. Select the segment. You can select only a video segment and its associated audio segments (if available). Video, NAT, and SOT are selected, but only video and NAT will be extended.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story Showing and Hiding Empty Timing Blocks If a story segment does not contain any text, and its corresponding timing block does not contain media, the timing is displayed as 0:00/0:00. Because the timing block does not contain media, it is considered empty, and by default it is not shown in the sequence.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story Note the following: • If you extend a segment over a hidden timing block and into the next timing block, the hidden timing block is displayed and the segment is extended into it. • If you take any actions to change a timing block, such as manually adjusting its duration, the block will always be shown. • You can create a text-only story segment that does not have a corresponding timing block. See “Creating a Text-Only Story Segment” on page 103.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story After you manually adjust a timing block, the timing display (media duration and text duration) will continue to automatically update. However, the size of the timing block will no longer be affected by the text duration. Also, a manually adjusted timing block cannot be hidden. To manually adjust a timing block: 1. Move the mouse pointer to the outside border of a timing block header so that a two-headed arrow appears. 2. Click the border of the header.
Editing a Sequence If you would like to adjust the timing block to a duration that is shorter than a media segment, you must first trim the media to the desired duration. Then drag the border of the timing block to the end of the media segment. Editing a Sequence You can work with one of two sequences: a basic sequence or an advanced sequence (see “Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences” on page 112).
Editing a Sequence Locking a Basic Sequence (Interplay | MAM) If you are editing an Interplay MAM sequence, the sequence is locked to prevent other users from editing the sequence at the same time. The lock is automatically set when you begin editing the sequence. You can manually set a lock before beginning editing by clicking the Lock button.
Editing a Sequence For Interplay Production sequences, the video format is determined by the first clip that you add to the sequence. Any additional clips must match the initial video format. For Interplay MAM sequences, the target frame rate is defined when the basic sequence is created but you can add clips with a differing frame rate. To insert an asset into the timeline for a basic sequence: 1. Click a video or audio asset in the Media viewer in the Media pane. 2.
Editing a Sequence For information about colors in the timeline and other sequence information, see “Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences” on page 112 and “Selecting a Horizontal or Vertical Timeline” on page 114. If you are editing an advanced sequence, you can drag a clip from the Media viewer to the Sequence Timeline as either an insert or an overwrite edit (see “Performing an Overwrite Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 149).
Editing a Sequence 3. Drag the clip from the Media viewer to a location in the video track or an audio track. Make sure the mouse pointer is below the guideline. The timeline shows where the insert will take place and how it will affect the other clips in the timeline. 4. Release the mouse button. The selected material is inserted into the timeline.
Editing a Sequence - You can drag only when the Media pane is in Asset mode. The following illustration shows how an overwrite edit is displayed when you drag a clip to the timeline. A thin guideline is displayed through the video track. If you release the mouse button above the guideline, you perform an overwrite edit, as indicated by the red arrow and red overlay. The resulting edit is also shown. n The examples in this topic use a horizontal timeline.
Editing a Sequence Note the following: • If you use the drag and drop method, and you drop your clip in the Sequence Timeline before the guideline appears (approximately 0.5 second), you perform an insert edit instead of an overwrite edit. To perform an overwrite edit using the Overwrite button or B key: 1. Load a clip in the Media pane and mark In and Out points. The amount of material that you overwrite is determined by the In-to-Out duration marked on the clip.
Editing a Sequence The following illustration shows the Overwrite button circled. The NAT track is enabled, so that audio in the source clip will overwrite audio in the NAT track. • Drag a clip from the Media viewer and drop it on the Sequence Timeline. This method is a quick way to build a sequence but has fewer options. - You can overwrite only from the beginning of a video segment. - You can drag only when the Media pane is in Asset mode.
Editing a Sequence n The examples in this topic use a horizontal timeline. If you are editing a sequence in a vertical timeline, the guideline is also vertical, and the edits are determined by dragging to the left or to the right of the guideline. If you have both NAT and SOT segments associated with the video, you can enable both tracks to overwrite the video segment and both audio segments. You can enable the VO track, but only VO audio will be overwritten.
Editing a Sequence To perform an overwrite edit using the Overwrite button or B key: 1. Load a clip in the Media pane and mark In and Out points. The amount of material that you overwrite is determined by the In-to-Out duration marked on the clip. When you use this method, the Media pane can be in either Asset mode or Output mode 2. In the Sequence Timeline, move the position indicator to the location where you want to start the overwrite. 3.
Editing a Sequence - If the selected material is the same length or longer than the segment that you are overwriting, and you are overwriting only video, the audio of the overwritten segment remains in the sequence. The audio is not associated with any video in the timeline. For more information, see “Creating an Audio-Only NAT or SOT Segment” on page 161.
Editing a Sequence Note the following: • If the sequence contains L-cuts (where an audio segment starts before the video segment or extends beyond it), there must be enough audio before and after the In point to replace the audio segment. For example, if video and NAT are selected for a segment, and the NAT starts 10 frames before the video, there must be 10 frames of source audio available before the In point.
Editing a Sequence To replace only video in an advanced sequence: 1. Load a clip in Asset mode and mark an IN point. 2. In the sequence, select the segment that you want to replace. To replace video only, make sure the NAT and SOT track buttons are not selected. 3. Click the Replace button. The selected video is replaced. In the following illustration, the replaced video segment is colored dark blue to indicate there is no corresponding audio in the sequence. The NAT video remains green.
Editing a Sequence The selected video and audio is replaced. In the following illustration, the NAT track is selected, and after the edit the Video and NAT tracks are green, to indicate video plus NAT. In the following illustration, both the NAT track and the SOT track are selected. After the edit the video segment and SOT audio segment are colored light blue, to indicate video plus SOT. Light blue is also used for video plus NAT and SOT. To replace voice-over audio in an advanced sequence: 1.
Editing a Sequence The selected audio is replaced. Enabling an Audio Track When editing an advanced sequence, you can enable audio tracks in the following combinations: • Video and NAT track • Video and SOT track • Video and NAT and SOT tracks • VO track Enabling an audio track provides options for the following operations: • Splitting a segment. See “Splitting a Segment” on page 169. • Performing an insert edit. See “Performing an Insert Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 145.
Editing a Sequence To enable or disable an audio track: t In an advanced sequence, click the track indicator button. The track indicator is colored orange if enabled. The following illustration shows that the NAT and SOT tracks are enabled. Note the following: - Enabling the VO track disables NAT and SOT tracks. - Enabling either the NAT or the SOT track disables the VO track - If both the NAT and SOT tracks are enabled, Alt-click a track to disable both tracks.
Editing a Sequence 4. Edit the material you want into your sequence. Undoing and Redoing an Action in the Sequence Pane You can undo or redo an action in the Sequence pane, such as restoring a clip that you deleted. You can undo or redo up to 100 actions. The undo/redo list is not saved after you sign out of a session. If an action affects a marker (Interplay Production assets only), the change is also shown in the Logging pane.
Editing a Sequence To move a segment in a sequence: 1. Click the segment you want to move. 2. Drag the segment and drop it in a new location in the timeline. In a long sequence, moving a segment to the viewable edge of the sequence (top or bottom for a vertical timeline, left or right for a horizontal timeline) scrolls the sequence in that direction. To delete a segment from a sequence, do one of the following: t Right-click the segment you want to delete and select Delete.
Editing a Sequence This feature applies only to the segment you select. It does not affect the audio in other segments of the sequence. n Enabling the track selector for NAT or SOT does not affect this feature. To add a NAT or SOT segment: t Right-click a segment in the Sequence pane and select one of the following: - Add audio segment > NAT - Add audio segment > SOT A check mark indicates if an audio segment is included in the sequence.
Editing a Sequence If you enable both NAT and SOT for a segment (as described in “Adding and Removing Audio Segments” on page 160), you can overwrite the original video and keep both NAT and SOT segments.The following illustration shows NAT and SOT tracks that are not associated with a video segment. The video segment above the selected NAT track is colored purple to indicate there is no associated audio.
Editing a Sequence If an edit can be made to any timecode location, snap points can help you accurately align your edit. This can be particularly useful when aligning audio and video.
Editing a Sequence The following topics describe trimming segments: • “Trimming a Basic Sequence” on page 164 • “Trimming an Advanced Sequence” on page 165 • “Trimming from the Top or the Tail of a Segment” on page 166 • “Using Double-Sided Trim” on page 167 Trimming a Basic Sequence When trimming a basic sequence, video and audio are trimmed together. You cannot trim only video or only audio.
Editing a Sequence Trimming an Advanced Sequence For an advanced sequence, you can trim the video track, the audio track, or both video and audio. To trim a segment using the mouse, do one of the following: t To trim both video and audio, click one end of the video segment and drag the trim indicator. The following illustration shows both video and audio segments that can be trimmed from the end of the segment. t To trim only audio, click one end of the audio segment and drag the trim indicator.
Editing a Sequence Trimming from the Top or the Tail of a Segment You can use a command or keyboard shortcut to trim a segment from the beginning (top) or end (tail) to the current position of the position indicator. To trim from the beginning of a segment: 1. Position the position indicator on the frame to which you want to trim. You can trim a selected segment or segments that overlap at the position indicator. To trim overlapping segments, do not select any segments.
Editing a Sequence Using Double-Sided Trim Double-sided trim refers to a trimming operation in which one video segment is extended into another video segment and overwrites the material in the trimmed segment. (This feature is referred to as dual-roller trim in Media Composer and NewsCutter.) The combined duration of both clips remains the same. • In a basic sequence, double-sided trim applies to video and to the synced audio track. • In an advanced sequence, double-sided trim applies to video only.
Editing a Sequence Using L-Cuts in the Timeline An L-cut is a split edit between two segments in which the video transition does not occur simultaneously with the audio transition. In some cases, the audio transition happens before the video, while in other cases the reverse is true. The following illustration shows an L-cut near the 20-second mark in the timeline. The SOT segment in the sequence (light blue) extends beyond its corresponding video. To create an L-cut: 1.
Editing a Sequence Splitting a Segment You can use a button, a menu item, or a shortcut key to split segments at a selected timecode location, and then use the resulting split to edit the sequence. For example, you can split a video segment and its related audio, then delete one of the new segments. This feature is similar to the Avid editing system “Add Edit” feature.
Editing a Sequence To split one or more segments: 1. Move the position indicator to the location where you want to split the segment. 2. For an advanced sequence, enable the audio tracks that include segments that you want to split. 3. Do one of the following: t Click the Split button. t Press Ctrl+E (Windows) or Command+E (Macintosh). t Position the mouse pointer on the timecode bar, right-click the timecode bar, and select Split. t Select Split from the Sequence pane menu.
Editing a Sequence Adding a clip that contains markers: Any markers that are contained within the In and Out marks are copied to the sequence when you edit the clip into the sequence. Copying markers with a clip is a “one-time copy.” If you lengthen a clip by trimming, markers that are included in the added part of the clip are not copied. If you shorten a clip by trimming, you remove any markers that are included in the trimmed portion. They are not restored if you lengthen the clip.
Editing a Sequence 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Add Video Dissolve button in the Sequence pane toolbar. t Press the Backslash key (\). t Click the Pane Menu button and select Insert Dissolve. The following illustration shows a dissolve between the two segments of a sequence, which is indicated by the square Dissolve icon located just to the right of the position indicator. n The icon is a static size and does not change with dissolves of varying durations. 3.
Editing a Sequence If altered, any new dissolve added to the sequence afterwards will have the altered setting for its duration. n You can change the default duration by changing the Dissolve Duration in the Sequence User Settings. 4. You can view the dissolve by positioning the position indicator in the Sequence Timeline at any point in the leading segment and then playing the output in the viewer of the Media pane.
Editing a Sequence Modifying the Start Timecode In some cases you might need to change the timecode for the first frame of a sequence. This feature applies only to Interplay Production sequences. To modify the start timecode of a sequence: 1. Load a sequence in the Media pane. 2. Click the Sequence Pane Menu button and select Modify Start Timecode. 3. Position the insert bar in front of the digit you want to change and type a new digit. In the following example, the first digit is changed from 0 to 1.
6 Working with Video Media The following main topics describe how to work with the Media pane to view and edit your video assets: • The Media Pane • Playing Assets • Working with Remote Assets • Marking In and Out Points • Working with Markers and Restrictions • Displaying Captions and Segments • Using the Timecode Displays • Entering Timecode to Cue a Frame • Working in the Media Timeline • Using the Media Zoom Bar • Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution • Playing Back at the Highes
The Media Pane The Media Pane The Media pane provides you with the controls you need to play, cue, and mark video clips as you build your story. You can set the Media pane to one of two modes: • Click the Asset button to work in Asset mode. Use Asset mode to view master clips, subclips, and sequences, and to edit media into your sequence. You can also send a sequence to a playback device or add a MAM asset to a process.
The Media Pane Media Pane: Asset Mode The following illustration shows the Media pane in Asset mode. Displays and controls are described in the accompanying table. q w e i o r 1) t y u 1! Display or Control Description 1 Title Displays the name of an asset loaded from the Interplay Production database or the title of an asset loaded from the Interplay MAM database. The title of an Interplay MAM asset might not match the name in the Assets pane.
The Media Pane 3 4 Display or Control Description Video format display Displays the tracks associated with the asset. If the display is red, the asset does not have online media that matches the target resolution of the selected Send to Playback profile. If you move the mouse pointer over the display, you see what video and audio formats are associated with the asset, in addition to the tracks.
The Media Pane Display or Control Description 8 Pane Menu button Provides options for controlling the display and sending to playback. For more information, see “Media Pane Menu Options (Asset Mode)” on page 179. 9 Timecode displays Provides timecode information for the loaded asset or sequence. For more information, see “Using the Timecode Displays” on page 200. 10 Marker overlay Captions overlay Displays the contents of a selected marker for a loaded Interplay Production asset.
The Media Pane Menu Option Description Captions See “Displaying Captions and Segments” on page 199. Interplay MAM only Overlay Text Displays the contents of a selected marker (Interplay Production) or the annotation of a selected stratum (Interplay MAM). Playback Statistics Provides performance information about the media playback. Audio Scrubbing See “Enabling Audio Scrubbing” on page 173 Send to Playback (profile name) See “Sending to Playback” on page 347.
The Media Pane Media Pane: Group Clip When a group clip is loaded in the Media pane, two additional buttons are displayed. qq q w 1 2 Control Description Multi-Angle View button Determines whether the clip is displayed in multi-angle view: Active Angle button • Single-angle • 2x2 • 3x3 Displays the active angle. The number indicates the number of the angle in the display, from left to right and top to bottom and across banks. Click to change the video angle from context menu.
The Media Pane i o q w e r t y u 1) 1! Display or Control Description 1 Title Displays the name of a sequence loaded from the Interplay Production database or the title of a sequence loaded from the Interplay MAM database. The title of an Interplay MAM sequence might not match the name in the Assets pane. For more information, see “Renaming Asset References” on page 62. 2 Asset and Output buttons Lets you switch views between an asset loaded in Asset mode and a sequence loaded in Output mode.
The Media Pane 4 Display or Control Description Media viewer Displays and plays media for the sequence loaded in the script editor. Error messages concerning media appear at the top of the Media viewer. The speed display for J-K-L play is shown in the upper right. For more information, see “Using the J-K-L Keys for Playback” on page 186. 5 Media Timeline and Media zoom bar • The Media Timeline is a graphical representation of the length and time span of an asset or sequence.
The Media Pane Menu Option Description Match Frame See “Using Match Frame” on page 208. Recently Viewed Assets See “Playing Recently Viewed Assets” on page 188. Open Enclosing Folder See “Opening an Enclosing Folder” on page 209. Interplay Production only Update Media Status See “Updating the Media Status” on page 189. Aspect Ratio See “Selecting the Aspect Ratio” on page 189. MultiAngle View See “Loading a Group Clip and Changing the Angle View” on page 239.
Playing Assets Menu Option Description Transcode See “Transcoding Assets” on page 210. Interplay Production only See “Creating Subclips” on page 298. Create Subclip Interplay Production only Save as Image See “Saving a Frame as an Image” on page 213. Help Displays information about the audio pane. Use the Help control buttons to access other Help topics. Playing Assets You can play a video asset or audio asset in the Media pane. The following illustration shows the play buttons in the Media pane.
Playing Assets t In the Search pane, double-click the asset you want to view or play. t In the Tasks pane, double-click the asset you want to view or play. 2. To play video or audio, do one of the following: t In the Media pane, click the Play/Pause button. While video or audio is playing, the Pause icon is displayed. To pause play, click the Play/Pause button again. t On your keyboard, press the L key or the space bar. To pause play, press the K key or press the space bar again.
Playing Assets t n Press the L key multiple times to move forward through the footage at faster speeds, as described in the following table: Press the L Key To Play Media At 2 times 2x normal speed 3 times 3x normal speed 4 times 4x normal speed An administrator can change the speed associated with the number of key presses. For more information, see the Media | Central Administration Guide. t Press the J key to move backward at the same shuttle speed increments.
Playing Assets q w e r t y 1 10 Seconds Back 4 1 Frame Forward 2 1 Second Back 5 1 Second Forward 3 1 Frame Back 6 10 Seconds Forward For audio-only clips, stepping 1 frame is the equivalent of stepping .01second. You can also step through by In and Out points, markers, or timecode. See “Marking In and Out Points” on page 196, “Working with Markers and Restrictions” on page 198, and “Entering Timecode to Cue a Frame” on page 201.
Playing Assets Selecting the Aspect Ratio MediaCentral UX automatically sizes the Media viewer for the asset you select to play. If necessary, you can change the aspect ratio. To select the aspect ratio of the Media viewer: 1. Click the Pane Menu button. 2. Click Aspect Ratio > 4x3 or Aspect Ratio > 16x9. Changing the Maximum Size of the Proxy Video An administrator can change the default pixel dimensions of the image displayed in the Media viewer.
Playing Assets n The State column is not displayed by default. For information about how to display it, see “Adding or Removing Property Columns” on page 46. Simple Sequences and Complex Sequences MediaCentral UX can play simple sequences that are checked into the Interplay Production database or the Interplay MAM database.
Playing Assets 5. Restore the Dynamic Relink working resolution settings. 6. Continue working on the original sequence. Mixing Down Complex Sequences If a sequence is not playable in the Media viewer, and you do not want to render it, you can use the MediaCentral UX Mixdown feature to create a playable master clip. See “Transcoding Assets” on page 210. Selecting the Playback Quality When you play media in MediaCentral UX, you are viewing media that is compressed for optimum viewing over a network.
Playing Assets To adjust for playback latency: t Click the Pane Menu button, select Playback Latency, and select the level you want. - Auto: The player automatically adjusts the buffer size (the default). - Low: The player uses a small buffer (200 ms). - Medium: The player uses a medium-sized buffer (800 ms). - High: The player uses a large buffer (2 seconds). Selecting Frame-Based Playback or File-Based Playback Earlier versions of MediaCentral UX used only frame-based playback.
Playing Assets If you select file-based playback, you have an option for how to scrub an asset in the Media viewer: n • Server: This setting is a frame-by-frame scrub that retrieves additional media from the server. It provides a complete scrub by allowing you to accurately drag the position indicator to every frame of a video. However, this type of scrub might not work well in low-bandwidth situations.
Playing Assets • - No progress bar or line indicates a portion of the asset that has not yet begun to load. This might happen if you are editing, and media in a sequence before or after the position indicator does not need to be loaded. If you click or drag in the unloaded area, loading begins. - Breaks in the green line indicate segment boundaries in a sequence (the start and end points of clips in the timeline). You might need to zoom in to see them.
Working with Remote Assets To select the scrubbing mode: 1. Click the Media Pane Menu button and highlight File Scrubbing Mode. The option shows that either Server or Local is selected. 2. To change the scrubbing mode, select either Server or Local from the sub-menu. Working with Remote Assets If you are working in a multi-zone MediaCentral environment, you can search for assets in any of the systems that are configured to work with the system you signed into.
Marking In and Out Points Note the following: • If you do not have the appropriate access permissions on the asset in the Interplay Production database, you cannot play the asset. Access permissions are checked based on the shared user identity in the MediaCentral User Management system. A users needs to have credentials linked to an Interplay Production user for any Media Central UX systems the user accesses. • You can play a remote asset, but you cannot add it to a sequence or create subclips.
Marking In and Out Points To mark an In point: 1. Load a clip in the Media pane and navigate to the frame where you want to set the In point. 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Mark In button. t Press I or E on the keyboard. The In point is moved to the frame you marked. If the clip is playing, marking an In point does not stop playback. You can change an In point’s location by dragging it along the Media Timeline. To mark an Out point: 1.
Working with Markers and Restrictions Working with Markers and Restrictions Markers are frame-specific indicators that a user can add when logging media with MediaCentral UX, Interplay Assist, or Interplay Access. A MediaCentral UX user can add markers in the Logging pane. For more information about adding markers, see “Logging Interplay | Production Assets and Creating Subclips” on page 277. n In Media Composer v6.0, Avid Symphony v6.0, and NewsCutter v10.
Displaying Captions and Segments A restriction is a set of two markers that indicate clips whose use is limited in some way, such as through intellectual property rights management. Restrictions are marked in light red in the timeline in the Media pane, as shown in the following illustration. For more information, see “Understanding Markers and Restrictions” on page 279.
Using the Timecode Displays To show captions and segments of an asset: 1. Load an Interplay MAM video asset in the Media pane in Asset mode. 2. Click the Pane Menu button and select Overlay Text. 3. Click the Pane Menu button, select Captions and select the stratum from which annotation shall be displayed as captions. If the stratum contains sub-properties of type “text”, select the desired sub-property. The Media viewer shows the annotation of the current segment as an overlay.
Entering Timecode to Cue a Frame q w e r Display 1 Master, Absolute, Remain t Description Master: In Asset mode, displays timecode for the selected frame that corresponds to the original timecode for the asset. In Output mode, displays timecode for the selected frame that corresponds to the timecode of the sequence. Absolute: Displays timecode for the selected frame that is offset from the first frame of the asset or sequence (time elapsed).
Entering Timecode to Cue a Frame The timecode is displayed with a green background. 2. Using the standard number keys or the numeric keypad, type the timecode for the frame you want to display, then press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh). If you are using a numeric keypad, make sure the Num Lock key is on. You can use the period key (.) as a shortcut for entering 00. To find a timecode that starts at the same hour, minute, or second as the current timecode, type only the last digits.
Working in the Media Timeline To clear the overlay without cueing, press the Esc key. You can use the period key (.) as a shortcut for entering 00. If you type a number that is beyond the limit of the clip or sequence, the first or last frame of the clip or sequence is displayed. While you are entering a forward value, you can type a plus sign (+) again to switch to direct-entry mode. While you are entering a backward value, you can type a minus sign (-) to switch to direct-entry mode.
Using the Media Zoom Bar Marks in the Media Timeline indicate various time spans. The time spans indicated depend on the length of the asset or sequence and the settings in the zoom bar. Timing marks indicate the following: • 1 second • 10 seconds • 1 minute (60 seconds) • 5 minutes (300 seconds) • 1 hour (3600 seconds) These timing marks are intended for general navigation, not navigation to a specific timecode.
Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution You can click the position indicator in the zoom bar and jump to the position indicator in the timeline. The zoom region moves to include both position indicators and to enlarge the section of the timeline that includes the position indicator. You can click anywhere in the zoom bar to move the zoom region left or right.
Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution Use the MultiRez button, in the lower right of the Media pane, to review media in the STP target resolution. There are two different ways the button can be displayed: • A button with a single function. This is the default button. It is available in Output mode only. • A multi-function button. This button is enabled by the MediaCentral administrator as a system setting. It is available in both Asset and Output mode.
Playing Back at the Highest Resolution The button turns orange. The top half of the icon is black. A tool tip shows the target resolution. 2. Play the sequence. To return to normal playback, click the MultiRez button again. Playing Back at the Highest Resolution When you play media in MediaCentral UX in a multi-resolution environment, the media server plays the most compressed available media. You can choose to play back video at the highest available resolution.
Using Match Frame To play back at the highest available resolution: 1. Click the arrow next to the MultiRez button, select Highest Resolution, then click the MultiRez button. The button turns orange. The bottom half of the icon is black. A tool tip shows you which option you selected. 2. Play the asset. To return to normal playback, click the MultiRez button again. n You can select STP Target Resolution from the same button. See “Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution” on page 205.
Opening an Enclosing Folder 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Pane Menu button and select Match Frame. t Click the Match Frame button. The master clip that contains the frame is loaded in the Media pane, with the matching frame displayed. In and Out marks are set to match the segment in the sequence. Opening an Enclosing Folder You can use the “Open Enclosing Folder” command to open an Assets pane for a folder that contains a selected asset.
Transcoding Assets If the setting “Show only one representation for each asset found” is enabled in the Interplay Production User Settings, the results are the same as when you select the command for an asset loaded in the Media pane. n If the asset is contained in a folder that contains more objects than can be displayed in an Assets tab, and the asset is not displayed in the first group, it is not highlighted.
Transcoding Assets A common use of the Transcode option is to mix down a sequence. For example: • n Creating a master clip that is playable in the Media viewer. If a sequence created in an Avid editing system is too complex to play correctly in the Media pane, you can use the Mixdown feature to create a new master clip. All master clips are playable. After mixing down the sequence, you can load the new master clip, mark In and Out points, and add the segment to your sequence.
Viewing and Editing a Clip During Ingest 2. Select a mode from the Mode menu. 3. Select a Transcode profile from the Name menu. Transcode profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator in the Production Services and Transfer Status tool. The Transcode dialog box displays the parameters of the profiles, but you cannot edit them in MediaCentral. 4. Click Transcode. The Transcode process uses the selected Transcode profile and begins the operation.
Saving a Frame as an Image If you view an in-progress clip in the Media pane, the ends of the Media Timeline pulse with a purple glow while the capture is in progress. During the capture, the visible region of the Media Timeline (the zoom region) remains constant to make the viewing and editing easier. The zoom bar shrinks as the duration of the clip grows. You can use the zoom bar to change the zoom region during the capture. You can reduce the zoom region and view new material as it becomes available.
7 Using Audio The following main topics describe how to add audio to the Sequence Timeline and adjust audio levels to produce your final story: • The Audio Pane • Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences • Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences • Setting the Audio Mix • Setting the Reference Level • Recording a Voice-over The Audio Pane The Audio pane provides you with controls for monitoring and adjusting audio levels. The Audio pane is displayed in the Cut, Log, and Story layouts.
The Audio Pane it ut t o qw q we e r r Control t r r y Description 1 Solo and Mute buttons Click the S (Solo) button to monitor only the selected track. Click the M (mute) button to mute only the selected stereo track. Gray buttons indicate audio is enabled. See “Audio Monitoring for Assets and Basic Sequences” on page 219. 2 Track identifiers Identifies 24 audio tracks, numbered A01 to A24. Use the scroll bar to display tracks not currently displayed.
The Audio Pane Control Description 8 Audio meters Display the audio level for the mix of all tracks in the clip or sequence. There are two meters. For stereo output, each meter displays a separate level. For mono output, both meters display the same level. See “Setting the Audio Mix” on page 229. 9 Pane Menu button Provides the following options: • Mix Mode: Select Stereo or Mono to specify the audio output. See “Setting the Audio Mix” on page 229.
The Audio Pane yt t ut i q w e r t Control Description 1 Panning knob Controls the panning for each track. Click the green tip of the indicator and drag it left or right so that the indicator points to the desired level of panning. Dragging the indicator all the way to the L or the R pans all audio to the left or right channels. Double-click a knob for center panning. See “Panning for Advanced Sequences” on page 228. Panning is active only if Mix Mode is set for Stereo.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences Control 5 Track identifier Description Identifies the track associated with the audio controls. By default, mono tracks are labeled NAT, SOT, and VO. For stereo tracks, labels by default are NAT 1, NAT 2, SOT 1, and SOT 2. The identifier for the master slider shows which tracks are currently monitored.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences You can perform the following tasks to edit audio for clips, subclips, or a basic sequence: • You can select which tracks to monitor. See “Audio Monitoring for Assets and Basic Sequences” on page 219. • You can override the default panning for each track. See “Panning for Assets and Basic Sequences” on page 221. • You can set the mix as mono or stereo. See “Setting the Audio Mix” on page 229.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences The following illustration shows the Audio pane for a master clip (left) and a basic sequence (right). These displays are very similar. For a master clip, audio tracks are labeled with the name of the master clip (in this example, Cam1_A1A14). For a sequence, audio tracks are labeled with the name of the sequence (in this example, Basic Sequence). The label beneath the audio meters shows which mode is selected in the Media pane.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences To mute or enable all but a selected track: t Alt+click an M button for a specific track. If one track is muted (the M button is colored orange), Alt-click the button to enable the track and mute all other tracks. To mute the single track again and enable all other tracks, Alt+click the M button again. To solo a track: t Click the S button. M buttons for other tracks are automatically colored dull orange. You can solo more than one track.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences If Mix Mode is set for Mono, panning is ignored and all tracks are mixed into a single track, which is played back in both output monitors (left and right). This setting applies only to sequences played in MediaCentral UX and is not saved with the sequence. Default panning is used for mixdown and send to playback (STP). To override the default panning: t Click the panning drop-down list for the track that you want to set and select L, C, or R.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences The following illustration shows, from left to right, Video with NAT and SOT, VO, Video with NAT, and Video only. A video segment without associated audio is colored dark blue. An Interplay Production administrator can change the labels that identify each track by changing the settings in the Interplay Administrator Application Database Settings.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences Automatic Adjustment of Audio Gain Levels The application automatically sets audio gain levels to ensure the clearest sound for the master audio track of your story. This provides default volume levels for separate tracks so that you do not need to manually adjust audio gain levels.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences To mute a track: t Click the M button. The button turns orange. Audio controls for the track are grayed out and the track identifier under the audio meters does not show the muted tracked.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences Overriding the Default Audio Track Patching An Interplay Production administrator sets the default source patching for NAT, SOT, and Voice audio on the Editing Settings tab of the Application Database Settings view. By default, track A1 is mapped to NAT audio, A2 is mapped to SOT audio, and A3 is mapped to Voice. If dual-channel support is enabled, A1 and A4 are mapped to NAT audio, and A2 and A5 are mapped to SOT audio.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences 2. From the submenu, select the source track you want to use. For example, to swap the default NAT and SOT tracks: - Select NAT A1 > A2. - Select SOT A2 > A1. The menu shows the new patching. Adjusting Audio Levels for Advanced Sequences You can adjust audio levels for segments in each track in an advanced sequence. These adjustments are saved with the sequence and preserved when sending to playback.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences To adjust audio levels for a track in a sequence: t Drag the audio slider for the track you want to adjust. The change in audio level is shown in the volume level display below the slider. The following illustration shows volume lowered to -2.5 dB for NAT track 1. For more information about audio controls, see “The Audio Pane” on page 214. To adjust the master volume for a sequence: t Drag the master volume slider.
Setting the Audio Mix These settings are saved in the sequence and are used for mixdown and send-to-playback (STP). If Mix Mode is set for Mono, panning is ignored and all tracks are mixed into a single track for monitoring, which is played back in both output monitors (left and right). This setting is not saved with the sequence. Panning as set in the Interplay Administrator is used for mixdown and send-to-playback.
Setting the Reference Level To set the audio mix, do one of the following: t Select Mix Mode > Mono from the Audio Pane menu. MediaCentral UX maps all audio tracks to a center pan, which creates a mono mixdown of all tracks. It outputs the resulting track to two identical channels. t Select Mix Mode > Stereo from the Audio Pane menu. MediaCentral UX maps all audio tracks to two channels. The mix depends on your panning settings.
Recording a Voice-over n If you open a sequence created in Avid Instinct, you cannot add a voice-over or markers until you save the sequence in MediaCentral. The Save button is enabled for this purpose, even if you did not make any changes to the file. For Interplay Production sequences, the video format is usually determined by the first clip that you add to the sequence.
Recording a Voice-over 2. Click the Voice-over button. The voice-over controls are displayed. 3. Click the Media Pane Menu button, select Input Source, and select the device you want to use for recording. 4. Turn the power on the recording device, if necessary, and use the volume slider to set the desired volume level. 5. Set the start point for the recording by doing one of the following: t Drag the position indicator to a location in the Media Timeline or the Sequence Timeline.
8 Working with Group Clips The following topics describe working with group clips and multicamera workflows in MediaCentral UX: n • Group Clips and Multicamera Workflows • Working with Group Clips • Creating a Basic Sequence with Group Clips • Sending a Sequence with Group Clips to a Playback Device Subclips created from group clips, group clips composed of subclips, and multigroup clips are not currently supported by MediaCentral UX.
Group Clips and Multicamera Workflows Avid Editing Applications MediaCentral UX is qualified with group clips created by the following Avid editing applications: • Media Composer v5.0 and later • Avid Symphony v5.0 and later • NewsCutter v9.0 and later MediaCentral UX supports editing of sequences created in these applications that contain group clips, if the sequence consists of cuts only (for example, a shotlist).
Working with Group Clips n Subclips created from group clips, group clips composed of subclips, and multigroup clips are not currently supported by Interplay Transfer or Interplay Production Services. Working with Group Clips You open a group clip in the same way you open other assets: select the group clip in the Assets pane, load it in the Media Pane, and the clip opens in Asset mode.
Working with Group Clips Control Description 1 Active angle indicator An orange bounding box that indicates which master clip in a group clip is active. 2 Swap banks overlay arrows Switches the display from one group of multiple angles to another. If a group clip has more angles than fill a single grid (either 2x2 or 3x3), the angles are displayed in banks.
Working with Group Clips The following illustration shows the same group clip in a 2x2 grid and in a 3x3 grid. In both cases, angle 2 is selected as the active angle. In multi-angle view, if the last bank of a group clip contains fewer than the number of angles in the grid, the remaining angles are displayed as empty slots. Black filler is used as padding in master clips that have different start or end points from other master clips in the group clip.
Working with Group Clips The following illustration shows an empty slot in the lower right and above it padding for a clip that ends before the end of the master clip. The filler is slightly lighter than the empty slot. You can create an image from a group clip displayed in single-angle view or multi-angle view. In multi-angle view, all angles are combined as a single image. For more information, see “Saving a Frame as an Image” on page 213. n n You cannot currently create a subclip from a group clip.
Working with Group Clips Loading a Group Clip and Changing the Angle View When you load a group clip, the Media viewer displays it in single-angle view. You can also display angles of the group clip in either a 2x2 grid or a 3x3 grid. You can use the 2x2 grid for a group clip with more than four angles; the additional angles are displayed in additional banks. You can use the same controls in either grid layout. To load a group clip: 1. In the Assets pane, navigate to the group clip you want to open.
Working with Group Clips To change the bank displayed, do one of the following: t For the next bank, press the right Swap Banks overlay arrow. t For the previous bank, press the left Swap Banks overlay arrow. t For the next bank, press Alt+. (period). t For the previous bank, press Alt+, (comma). t Select an active angle that is in a bank not currently displayed, for example, by typing Alt+number. The Media viewer changes to the bank that contains the new active angle.
Working with Group Clips To change the active angle displayed in Asset mode, do one of the following: t Click the Active Angle button and select an angle from the menu. The following illustration shows angle 1 selected from the 10 angles that make up the group clip. In this example, the group clip is displayed in a 2x2 grid, so lines divide the list into two banks of four angles and one bank of two angles. For a 3x3 grid, the list is divided into banks of nine angles.
Working with Group Clips Playing a Group Clip You can play a single angle of a group clip in single-angle view, or multiple angles in multi-angle view. In multi-angle view, all angles play simultaneously. You can change the active angle while the clip is playing and the clip continues to play. To play a single-angle of a group clip, do one of the following: t In single-angle view, click the Play button.
Working with Group Clips Selecting Audio Monitoring Preferences in Asset Mode The Audio pane includes special controls for audio monitoring of group clips. When you load a group clip in the Media pane and select Asset mode, the Audio pane displays audio tracks for the group clip and controls to set your monitoring preferences. The following controls are displayed only for group clips: • A track selector for each track in the group clip.
Working with Group Clips Audio Follows Video In the previous illustration, angle 1 is the active angle for the group clip. The master clip for this angle is named “0209U11 Kitchen RED,” which matches the names of the audio tracks that are selected. This is an example of “audio follows video,” which is indicated by the link icon on the track selector drop-down menu. Enabling and Disabling Tracks By default, all tracks are enabled for monitoring, as shown by gray S (solo) and M (mute) icons.
Working with Group Clips Mapping From Other Clips You can use the drop-down menu for each audio track to select audio from the corresponding audio track in any other clip in the group clip. The following illustration shows that Audio Follows Video is set for track A01, with a choice of audio from all angles in the group clip. n The order of the angles in the drop-down menu matches the order of the group clip as it was created in the Avid editing application.
Working with Group Clips The following illustration shows a customized mix in which angle 1 is associated with audio follows video and audio from a different angle on alternating tracks. The monitoring selections that you set are retained when you switch angles in the master clip. Custom monitoring is a user setting that is retained from session to session. Markers and Restrictions for Group Clips Markers and restrictions are supported for each master clip in a group clip.
Working with Group Clips You can edit existing markers and restrictions or you can add new ones. You can add a new marker or restriction to a master clip by selecting it as the active angle, either in single-angle view or multi-angle view. Master clips and group clips are linked, so that restrictions added or changed in a master clip are added or changed in the group clip. You cannot add a restriction to a group clip itself.
Creating a Basic Sequence with Group Clips Creating a Basic Sequence with Group Clips Complete editing support for group clips is available only in basic sequences. You can create a basic sequence exclusively of group clips, or combine group clips with master clips. You can select the camera angle and audio mapping for group clips in the sequence.
Creating a Basic Sequence with Group Clips The following illustration shows a group clip with 10 available angles. You can change the active angle while the sequence is playing. - If you use the mouse to select the angle, playback stops. - If you use keyboard shortcuts to select the angle, playback continues.
Adding an Active Angle of a Group Clip to an Advanced Sequence Adding an Active Angle of a Group Clip to an Advanced Sequence Complete editing support for group clips is available only in basic sequences. However, you can now add the active angle of a group clip to an advanced sequence. The result is that the original master clip is used in the sequence, along with its original audio tracks.
9 Searching for Assets The following main topics describe how to use the Search feature with Interplay Production, Interplay MAM, and iNEWS databases: • Search and the Central Index • The Search Bar • The Search Pane • Conducting a Search • The Search Results List Search and the Central Index MediaCentral UX provides two methods of searching your asset database.
Search and the Central Index There currently are some limitations in using an indexed search with iNEWS: • You cannot use the indexed search with iNEWS in a multi-zone environment. If your configuration includes multiple zones, the indexed search works only on the iNEWS system connected to the local zone. • You cannot search the content of any custom fields of your iNEWS stories. Media Index cannot search fields that have customized field names.
Search and the Central Index Indexed search maps Interplay Production properties to Media Index criterion fields.
The Search Bar If your MediaCentral Platform configuration includes Media Index, indexed search is the default search method. You can change this by selecting federated search from the Pane Menu. The Search Bar The Search bar in the top right corner of the application window has a menu that you use to select the type of asset, a text field in which you can enter search criteria, and a Search button you click to conduct the search.
The Search Pane To display search results in a pane, do one of the following: t Click the Detach Search icon and drag the bar into any area in the MediaCentral UX window. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Detach Search. The Search Pane The Search pane provides advanced search criteria for federated and indexed search that let you conduct a more precise and faster search. You can open a Search pane directly, or you can open a Search pane by dragging the Search bar into the MediaCentral UX window.
The Search Pane The following illustration identifies the elements in the Search pane used for a federated search. y u i o q w e r t 1 Assets menu 6 Pane Menu button 2 Advanced Criteria (Modified Date selected) 7 Search text field 3 Add Criteria button 8 Minus button to remove search criteria 4 Sort arrow 9 Search button 5 Search results To open a Search pane: t Select Panes > Search. This opens a blank Search pane in which you can conduct your search.
Conducting a Search Conducting a Search You can search for assets by using the Search bar or the Search pane, using either the indexed search or the federated search. The Search pane provides advanced search criteria that let you conduct a more precise and faster search. You can also add filter criteria to your search to narrow your search results. n Indexed search requires Media Index to be installed and configured in your MediaCentral Platform environment.
Conducting a Search n • Boolean prefixes — You can use a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign as a prefix to force the search to either include or exclude a term. For example, typing quick brown +fox -news causes the search to return results that must contain “fox” and must exclude “news.” In this example, “quick” and “brown” are optional, but their presence improves the relevance of the result.
Conducting a Search n • Russian • Spanish Your MediaCentral administrator can limit the number of languages to use for the indexed search during the Media Index configuration. Your administrator can also set default languages for search across multiple zones if you work with a multi-zone configuration. Your indexed search can also return assets containing timecode-based metadata, such as assets where the text within markers matches your search query.
Conducting a Search 6. If you select criteria that require a date or span of dates, click the date field. The date picker window opens. q w e r 1 Shortcut date buttons 3 Scope menu 2 Date slider 4 Date picker 7. If you want to define a date range, click the Scope menu and select one of the following to define your search: - Between - After - Before - Not restricted 8.
Conducting a Search 9. Click the Search button. The system returns assets that match the criteria in the search results list. If the asset exists in multiple locations in the MediaCentral databases, the search might list all instances. 10. To view the results found in a time-based metadata text field — for example, in marker text — click the Display Type menu and select Card, and then expand the Time-Based Metadata section.
Conducting a Search You can search for text of one or more characters. The more characters you provide, the faster the search will provide results. When you enter two or more words, separated by spaces, the system conducts a search for anything that matches all words entered. - For an Interplay Production search, typing White House returns items containing that exact phrase.
Conducting a Search n The Interplay Production settings include two settings that can help improve search performance: “Show only one representation for each asset found” and “Select a time range for your search.” The Advanced Search criterion Modified Date overrides the Interplay Production time range setting. For more information, see “User Settings” on page 469.
Conducting a Search Search Criterion Description Modified Searches for assets that have been modified in the time range you specify. You can use the shortcut date buttons, the date slider, or the date picker to modify any range for your search, Move the date slider all the way to the left or select Not Restricted from the scope menu if you want to specify an unlimited time period. Description Searches the text entered in the description or comments field of media assets.
Conducting a Search • Multiple values: You can select multiple values for some options. • Removing a value: Click the x on the value. Advanced Search with the Federated Search Option You do not need to include text in your search criteria for Modified Date, Reg. Date & Time, Video Resolution, Category, Type, Asset Type, or Rights. Using advanced search filters in the Search pane results in a faster and more precise search.
Conducting a Search Search Criterion Description Folder (Interplay Production, iNEWS only) Searches only the selected folders and their subfolders. Click Browse to navigate to and select a folder. To select multiple locations for your search, hold the Control key (Windows) or Command key (Macintosh) down while clicking the locations in which you want to conduct your search. If your local iNEWS system is part of an iNEWS community, you can select a folder in any available iNEWS server.
Conducting a Search Search Criterion Description Type (Interplay Production only) Searches the Interplay Production database for assets of a particular object type. Click the field and a list appears. Select one or more objects from the list. Asset Type (Interplay MAM only) Searches the Interplay MAM database for assets of a particular asset or basic sequence type. In Interplay MAM asset types are referred to as “object classes” and “EDL classes”. Click the field and a list appears.
Conducting a Search • Removing a value: Click the x on the value. Indexed Search Examples The Media Index search engine uses language analysis and fuzzy matching to help find content even if the actual text is slightly different. This allows you to find words with incorrect spelling and word variations. n Indexed search requires Media Index to be installed and configured in your MediaCentral Platform environment.
Conducting a Search Advanced Search Syntax The advanced syntax exposes more features but by default it is not as tolerant as the simple syntax. For example, it does not automatically compensate for spelling mistakes but instead expects exact matches. You can use different operators to improve your search requests, and you can combine the operators to create powerful search expressions. For a description of the operators available for the advanced search syntax, see “Conducting a Search” on page 257.
Conducting a Search Comparison of Simple and Advanced Search Syntax Simple search syntax uses fuzzy search by default. This means that it finds all variations of a search term that differ by one character. Advanced search syntax using one wildcard only finds terms that vary the single character represented by the wildcard.
Conducting a Search Option Example Result Operator OR Operator character | White OR House White | House Returns assets that contain the search term “White” or the search term “House,” or both. Operator AND Operator character & Terms separated by spaces White AND House White & House White House Returns assets that contain the search terms “White” and “House” in a single metadata field, or the search term “White” in one metadata field and the search term “House” in a different metadata field.
The Search Results List The Search Results List The system returns assets that match the criteria of your search in the search results list. Above the result list, the “Search Results for” field repeats the key word or words you typed the Search text field; additionally the number of items found is shown. The search result list shows metadata for all found items in an overview table with configurable columns.
The Search Results List Search results displayed in Card view Search results displayed in Grid view 273
The Search Results List To change the view of the results list of an indexed search: t Click the Display Type menu and select one of the following: - Grid, to view a column-based results list. - Card, to view a summary of search categories for each result. You can also view time-based metadata search results in Card view. To sort search results, do one of the following: t n For indexed searches, click the Sort By menu and select a category to sort your results.
The Search Results List To add or remove columns from the Search pane: 1. Click the pane menu and select Add or Remove Columns. The Add or Remove Columns dialog box opens. 2. Select the columns you want to add or deselect the columns you want to remove. You can use the search box to find a particular column. 3. Click the Close box or click anywhere outside the window to save your settings. The Search pane displays the selected columns.
The Search Results List t If the search results include matches for time-based metadata, expand the Time-Based Metadata area in Card view, and click the timecode link. The asset opens in the Media pane at the location of the timecode. If the asset is a sequence and the Sequence pane is open, the asset is loaded in the Sequence Timeline. To copy an item from a federated search result list to another folder: t Click the item you want to copy, and then drag it to a new folder.
10 Logging Interplay | Production Assets and Creating Subclips The following main topics describe features you use when logging your material.
Workflows for Logging MediaCentral UX enables fast, flexible logging. A special layout for logging, called the Log layout, provides a Logging pane for viewing and editing markers. Keyboard shortcuts give you a quick way to work with markers while controlling media playback. Example Workflows Following are three typical logging workflows. • Logging a video feed: A media logger logs content at the same time that the media is being ingested.
Understanding Markers and Restrictions Multiple Loggers Working on the Same Sequence Two or more media loggers can add markers to the same sequence. However, the loggers must limit their edits to the Logging pane and make sure no one else is editing the sequence. Any edits to the sequence (such as L cuts or trims) that are saved and checked in will overwrite the previously checked-in sequence, including markers not included in the edited sequence. Closing the Sequence pane can help avoid this problem.
Understanding Markers and Restrictions Markers and Avid Applications Users can add, view, and edit markers in several different Avid applications: • Avid Media Composer, including NewsCutter and Symphony options • Interplay Assist • Interplay Access • MediaCentral UX Markers added in any of these products can be viewed and edited by any of the other products in an Interplay Production environment. n In Media Composer v6.0, Avid Symphony v6.0, and NewsCutter v10.
Understanding Markers and Restrictions Permissions To create and modify markers, a MediaCentral UX user’s Interplay Production account must be configured with the following permissions: Setting Description Can create locators Create markers (formerly called “locators” in Avid editing products) Can modify locators Modify and delete markers Can create restrictions Create restrictions Can modify restrictions Modify and delete restrictions If a user does not have these permissions, the Create Marker
The Log Layout The Log Layout The Log layout provides you with an arrangement of panes defined for use in logging, which you can customize. The following illustration shows the Launch pane, the Media pane, and the Logging pane. The Logging pane tab displays the name of the loaded clip or sequence.
The Logging Pane for Interplay | Production Assets The Logging Pane for Interplay | Production Assets You create and view markers and marker text in the Logging pane. You can also view restrictions, if the clip or sequence contains them. n Prior to MediaCentral v2.1, this pane was called the Markers pane. The following illustration shows a series of markers in the Logging pane. Displays and controls are described in the accompanying table.
The Logging Pane for Interplay | Production Assets Display or Control Description 4 Create Restriction button Creates a restriction for the segment marked by In and Out points in the Media pane. See “Working with Restrictions” on page 288. 5 Refresh button Updates the display of markers saved for the selected clip or sequence.
The Logging Pane for Interplay | Production Assets 12 Display or Control Description Columns The Logging pane has six or seven available columns: • (no label): Displays orange for the selected marker or markers. • IN: Displays the timecode in the clip or sequence that corresponds to the location of the marker or restriction. • OUT: Displays the timecode in the clip or sequence that corresponds to the end of a restriction. • Notes: Displays the text associated with the marker.
Adding, Saving, and Deleting Markers To open the Logging pane: t Select Panes > Logging. Adding, Saving, and Deleting Markers How you add markers depends on your workflow. You can add a marker to a clip, subclip, or sequence. You can add markers while video plays or you can scrub through the video and add markers at appropriate locations. You can control the video, add markers, and delete markers by using the mouse or the keyboard.
Adding, Saving, and Deleting Markers To add a marker, do one of the following: t Click the Create Marker button. t Press Ctrl+M. t Press Ctrl plus a key on the numeric keypad that is associated with the color you want to use for the marker icon. You can also press Ctrl plus a number key from the top row of the keyboard. For example, press Ctrl+3 to create a marker with a red icon. See “Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts” on page 478.
Working with Restrictions Working with Restrictions A restriction is a span of an asset that indicates a clip, or a portion of a clip, whose use is limited in some way, such as through intellectual property rights management or content compliance.
Working with Restrictions Restrictions are also marked in light red in the timeline in the Media pane, as shown in the following illustration. You can create a restriction within another restriction, or add a restriction that overlaps another restriction. In this case, the enclosed restriction or the overlapping area is indicated by a darker shade of red in the Media Timeline. Text for the restriction is shown on top of the Media viewer, preceded by a red triangle that indicates a restriction.
Working with Restrictions The following illustration shows the same master clip listed in the Assets pane. An orange triangle in the State column indicates that the clip contains a restriction. n The restriction icon in the State column is displayed only for master clips that include a restriction, not subclips or sequences. This icon is also displayed in the DRM column, if the column is selected for display.
Working with Restrictions Master Clips and Subclips You can add restrictions to master clips or subclips. Master clips and subclips are linked, so that restrictions added or changed in a master clip are added or changed in the corresponding subclip. Similarly, any restrictions added or changed in a subclip are added or changed in the master clip. Group Clips You can view and edit restrictions for a master clip that is included in a group clip.
Working with Restrictions If the Media pane is in Output mode, any restrictions in the sequence are shown in the Logging pane, along with any markers included in the sequence. The restriction remains displayed if you trim away part of the restricted area and remains until there is no part of the restriction remaining in the sequence. You cannot edit restrictions on sequence level. You cannot add a restriction directly to a sequence. The Create Restriction button is inactive.
Working with Restrictions 4. (Optional) Type text for the restriction in the Notes column, then press Ctrl+Enter. The following illustration shows a restriction that was created by setting In and Out points, and is labeled “restriction.” To enter edit mode and edit restriction text: t Double-click the Notes field. n Edit mode refers to the state in which the cursor appears in the Notes field and you can enter text. n You cannot edit the start and end of a restriction.
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text You can use standard keyboard shortcuts to cut text or copy text to the system clipboard, or paste text from the system clipboard. This includes the ability to copy text from external sources such as documents or Web pages and to paste the text as marker notes. The text is pasted without formatting. You can also do the reverse: copy marker text and paste it into an external source, such as Notepad.
Filtering the Markers List To navigate to the next marker, do one of the following: n t With the focus in the Logging pane, press the Down Arrow key. t With the focus in the Media pane, press Shift+Right Arrow. In the Story layout, use Shift+Left Arrow and Shift+Right Arrow to navigate by markers. Filtering the Markers List You can use the filtering feature to display only markers created by specific users or that are marked with specific colors. Filtering does not apply to restrictions.
Exporting Markers Exporting Markers You can export a list of markers in one of the following formats: • Plain text file (.txt) that lists the timecode and text for each marker. • A tab-delimited text file (.txt) that you can import into Media Composer or another Avid editing application. For more information, see the documentation for the Avid editing application. • CSV (comma-separated value) file that you can open as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. • XML file for use in other applications.
Entering Marker Text in Right-to-Left Languages To copy one or more markers as text to the clipboard: t Select one or more markers and press Ctrl+C. You can use the mouse or keyboard to select multiple markers: - Select a marker, then press Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Arrow to select a range. - Select a marker, then press Shift+click to select a range or Ctrl+click to select individual markers. You can then use Ctrl+V to paste the timecode and text to another document or application.
Unicode Support for Marker Text n Overlay text in the Media viewer is displayed only as left-to-right. To manually change text direction for all marker text: t Press Ctrl+Shift+D If the direction is left-to-right, pressing the keyboard shortcut changes direction to right-to-left. If the direction is right-to-left, pressing the keyboard shortcut changes direction to left-to-right. Unicode Support for Marker Text MediaCentral UX v1.
Creating Subclips To create a subclip by dragging and dropping: 1. Set an In point and an Out point for a clip that is loaded in Asset mode. 2. In the Assets pane, display the folder in which you want to store the subclip. 3. Click anywhere in the Media viewer and drag the thumbnail from the Media pane to the folder, or to the line in the Assets pane that holds the folder. Use the mouse pointer to precisely indicate the target location. If you hover over a folder, the folder opens.
Creating Subclips To create a subclip by using a dialog box: 1. Set an In point and an Out point for a clip that is loaded in Asset mode. 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Media Pane menu button and select Create Subclip. t With focus in the Media pane, press the S key. The Select Folder for Subclip dialog box opens. The subclip is added to the database, with the extension .Sub.01 added to the clip name.
11 Logging Interplay | MAM Assets The following main topics describe features you use when logging Interplay MAM assets.
Understanding Strata Interplay MAM and MediaCentral allow you to layer any number of such annotations on top of the timeline, where each layer is dedicated to annotations of a specific kind. These layers are called strata. Strata Types Interplay MAM provides three types of strata that can be displayed and edited in MediaCentral UX. These differ from each other as follows: • Simple strata: Simple strata have only one property assigned to them.
Logging Overview (Interplay | MAM Assets) Logging Overview (Interplay | MAM Assets) In MediaCentral UX, logging Interplay MAM assets refers to the process of segmenting strata and adding information to them. This information includes text and other properties, which you can use for reference during story creation and media editing. MediaCentral UX enables fast, flexible logging. Keyboard shortcuts give you a quick way to create segments and controlling media playback while logging.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) An Interplay MAM administrator defines expressions and sets permissions on the property level in Interplay MAM Datamodel Administrator and sets permissions on the strata level in the Interplay MAM User Manager. For more information, see the Interplay | MAM Datamodel Administrator User’s Guide and the Interplay | MAM User Manager User’s Guide. Configuration Logging can be processed in two modes: Gaps Allowed and Gaps Not Allowed.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) The following illustration shows a series of segments for an Interplay MAM asset in the Logging pane. Displays and controls are described in the accompanying table. q q w e w e r r r yr u tr i r o r a r 1! r Display or Control Description 1 Strata list Contains the strata and strata groups configured for editing. The name of the selected stratum or strata group is shown on the collapsed list.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) 3 Display or Control Description Refresh button Updates the display of segments saved for the selected stratum. This control is especially useful when you switch to a stratum that is currently edited by another user who is adding segments to the same clip. If the focus is in the Logging pane, you can also press F5 to update the display. 4 Export button Displays options for exporting strata information. See “Exporting Strata” on page 336.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) 8 Display or Control Description Pane Menu button The Pane menu for the Logging pane contains the following options. • Undo. Undoes segment operations. • Redo. Redoes segment operations. • Add Or Remove Columns. Shows or hides columns in the Segment List area. • Split at current playhead position. Splits the current segment into two adjacent segments. The timecode selected in the Media pane is set as the In mark of the new segment.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) 9 Display or Control Description Segment List columns The Logging pane shows the following columns: • Start: Displays the start timecode of the segment. • End: Displays the end timecode of the segment. • Text (“Comment” in the illustration): Displays the text associated with the segment. A separate column is shown for each property of type “text” assigned to the selected stratum or strata group. You can cut, copy, and paste this text.
Understanding Segmentation Principles Understanding Segmentation Principles In Interplay MAM an entire video clip is considered one segment. A segment can be any size, from one frame to all frames of a video. You can create segments in all available strata. For all strata types, Interplay MAM can be customized to allow or exclude gaps between segments. The default setting excludes gaps between segments. Segments can be created or changed in a stratum, but not deleted.
Understanding Segmentation Principles Segmentation - Gaps Allowed Interplay MAM by default does not allow gaps between segments. The Out mark and In mark of adjacent segments are always adjacent frames. When the setting is changed to allow gaps between segments, you can still segment in a stratum as if gaps were not allowed, but the major purpose is to be able to create segments with gaps between them.
Understanding Segmentation Principles The Logging pane provides the following segmentation functions when gaps are allowed. You can apply them to simple strata and structured strata: • Creating segments: You can use the “New Segment” control to create a new segment. See “Creating Segment (Gaps Allowed)” on page 316. • Resizing segments: You can use the “Set In” function to move the start of a segment to the left or right; the Out mark of the previous segment is not affected.
Understanding Segmentation Principles Overlapping Segmentation Independently from Gaps Allowed and Gaps Not Allowed mode, each stratum can be configured individually to allow “overlapping segments” — segments that share one or more frames in a stratum. When such a stratum is selected in the Logging pane, gaps are automatically allowed. This means that the “overlapping segments” setting overwrites the Gaps Not Allowed configuration mode.
Understanding Segmentation Principles The following illustration shows five overlapping segments on the Logging pane and the Media Timeline. The timeline in the Media pane shows alternating orange and blue sections that represent the individual segments of the selected stratum. Overlapping segments are represented by a darker shade of the same color. Segmenting in Strata Groups In the Logging pane, you segment in a strata group the same way you segment in a single stratum.
Locking a Stratum Locking a Stratum If you are logging an Interplay MAM asset, the stratum is locked to prevent other users from editing the stratum at the same time. The lock is automatically set when you begin editing the stratum. You can manually set a lock before beginning editing by clicking the Lock button. If another user opens the stratum while it is locked, and clicks the Lock button or tries to edit the stratum, the tool tip for the Lock button reads “Cannot lock.
Working with Segments Working with Segments Segmenting strata and editing segmentation are the primary tasks when logging assets in the Logging pane.
Working with Segments 5. To create segments by splitting the virtual segment, do one of the following in the Logging pane: t Click the Pane menu and select Split at current playhead position. t Right-click and select Split at current playhead position from the context menu. t With the focus in the Logging pane, press Ctrl+E. The stratum is locked. The virtual segment is split into two segments.
Working with Segments When you are creating segments in a stratum that allows overlapping segments, you automatically have all Gaps Allowed options. Additionally you can create new segments within already existing segments. To create segments: 1. Load an asset in the Logging pane and Media pane. 2. In the Logging pane, select the stratum in which you want to segment. 3. In the Media pane, select the same stratum to be displayed on the Media Timeline. 4.
Working with Segments 8. To create a segment at the current playhead position, do one of the following: t Press Ctrl+Shift+M. t In the New Segment control, select Playhead position and click the control. A segment with the given In mark but without Out mark is created and shown in the Logging pane’s Segment List. 9. (Option) Annotate the segment. 10.
Working with Segments Resizing Segments (Gaps Allowed Mode) When you want to resize segments in Gaps Allowed mode, select the frames you want to use as the new In or Out mark from the Media pane. You can extend the segment into a gap but you cannot extend the segment into another segment. This is only possible for strata that allow overlapping segments. See “Resizing Overlapping Segments” on page 319. To resize a segment: 1. Load an asset in the Logging pane and Media pane. 2.
Working with Segments To resize an overlapping segment: 1. Load an asset in the Logging pane and Media pane. 2. In the Media pane, select the stratum to be displayed on the Media Timeline. 3. In the Logging pane, select the same stratum. 4. Select the segment to be resized. The segment is highlighted in the Logging pane. In the Media pane the position indicator is set to the first frame of the segment. 5. To move the segment’s In mark, set the position indicator to the desired position.
Working with Segments 6. In the Logging pane, do one of the following: t Right-click the segment and select Set In. t Click the Pane Menu and select Set In. The segment’s In mark is moved to the current position. 7. To move the segment’s Out mark, select the segment in the Logging pane and and set the position indicator to the desired position in the Media pane. 8. In the Logging pane, do one of the following: t Right-click the segment and select Set Out. t Click the Pane Menu and select Set Out.
Working with Segments 6. To set the split, do one of the following in the Logging pane,: t Click the Pane menu and select Split at playhead position. t Right-click and select Split at playhead position. t Press Ctrl+E. The segment is split into two segments. The former In mark remains the In mark of the new left segment, and the former Out mark remains the Out mark of the right segment.
Working with Segments • If the segment ends at the end of the video and is preceded by a gap, the gap is resized and ends at the last frame of the video. • If the segment has adjacent segments to its left and right, you create a gap between the segments. • If the segment is preceded or followed by a gap, the corresponding gap is resized. To delete segments: t Select one or several segments you want to delete and do one of the following: - Click the Pane menu and select Delete.
Navigating by Segments The following illustrations show two examples for segments on the Media Timeline created in edit while capture mode: overlapping segments and segments with gaps. Navigating by Segments You can use the mouse or keyboard to navigate by segment borders through a clip. • When you select a segment in the Logging pane, the same segment is selected in the Media Timeline and the Media Viewer displays the segment’s start frame.
Annotating Text Fields Annotating Text Fields When editing text fields of a segment, most common features of text editing tools are available, such as inserting text at a selected position, marking text you want to overwrite, copying, pasting, and deleting, and so on. You can use standard keyboard shortcuts to cut text or copy text to the system clipboard, or paste text from the system clipboard.
Entering Segment Text in Right-to-Left Languages Entering Segment Text in Right-to-Left Languages You can enter, display, and edit segment text in right-to-left languages (for example, Arabic or Hebrew). MediaCentral UX recognizes right-to-left characters (RTL).
Annotating Using Tags Adding, Replacing, and Deleting Tags You can add, replace, and delete tags from a segment at any time. Note that you can only add one tag of the same type to a segment at a given time; adding a second tag of the same type replaces the original tag. When you work with segments of a strata group, you can add a tag of the same type for each stratum pooled in the group.
Annotating Using Tags To add a tag to several segments at the same time: 1. To select several segments, done of the following: t Click a segment and use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to select a series of segments. t Shift+click the two segments that begin and end the series of segments you want to select. t Ctrl+click the segments you want to select, regardless of order or arrangement. t Press Ctrl+A to select all segments. 2. Open the Tags selector window. 3.
Annotating Using Tags Editing Integer or Floating Point Values Figures are the only values that can be entered into integer fields. Figures and decimal points can be entered into floating point fields. When these fields are preformatted, the periods (such as in 2.3) are set automatically. To enter an integer or floating point value: t Type the figures, and if necessary, the decimal point. t Press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to increase or decrease the figures.
Annotating Using Tags Editing Time Values By default, the time fields are preformatted. The display format depends on the locale of your account. To enter a time: t Highlight the figures you want to change and type in the new figures. Editing Date and Date/Time Values By default, the Date and Date/Time fields are preformatted. The display format depends on the locale of your account. You can enter the entire Date or Date/Time values manually, or select the date value from a calender tool.
Annotating Using Tags 2. Do one of the following: t Click the outlined number. t Click the Today button. t Press the spacebar. The Calendar control is closed and the current date is entered in the date or date/time field. To assign another date using the calendar control: 1. Open the Calendar control. 2. To select a year: t Press Ctrl+Up key (previous year) or Ctrl+Down key (next year). t Click the calendar’s Month/Year indicator, select the year, and click OK. 3.
Annotating Using Tags To assign a value from a list, do one of the following: t Double-click the value. t Navigate down the list using the Down Arrow key until you reach the desired value and press Enter. t Start typing the name of the value in the search box to filter the list, select the value, and press Enter. Assigning a Master Data Value Master data, for example, data records about producers, actors, and so on, consist of multiple distinct values.
Annotating Using Tags Assigning the Term of a Thesaurus Thesauri are mostly used to provide larger sets of invariant terms that can be assigned as values to a property. When you open a property of type thesaurus, the Tags selector window shows a search box and the name of the thesaurus. To assign a thesaurus term: 1.
Defining Merge Rules for Annotated Segments 2. Do one of the following: t Double-click the term. t Navigate down the list using the Down Arrow key until you reach the desired term and press Enter. Defining Merge Rules for Annotated Segments The Logging pane provides rules to deal with annotation when you merge annotated segments. These rules apply to the properties provided in a Merge Rules dialog box.
Defining Merge Rules for Annotated Segments • When you select Use Right, the annotation of the right segment is assigned to the merged segment. You can also apply property type specific rules: Property type Rule Result Text Concatenate The annotation of both segments is assigned to the merged segment. Boolean AND “True” is only assigned to the merged segment if it was set in both original segments. OR “True” is assigned to the merged segment if it was set in one of the original segments.
Exporting Strata Exporting Strata You can export strata annotation together with the metadata of an asset as an Attribute Exchange Format (AXF) file. You have the following options: • Normal: All strata and metadata information are written to the AXF file. For data types that use internal references (for example, thesauri), the IDs are exported. • Localized: Instead of IDs, the localized labels are exported for data types that use internal references. To export strata as a file: 1.
12 Sharing MediaCentral | UX Messages The following topics describe how to use the Messages pane to send messages to MediaCentral UX users and how to send messages to users logged in to MediaCentral UX and using an Avid editing application.
Using the Messages Pane Messages sent by you display in the message list with a blue background, while messages received by you display with a green background. Messages pane (top to bottom): address text box, asset area, message text box, Send button, message list To display the Messages pane and read messages, do the following: t Select Panes > Messages. The Messages pane opens in the mode and orientation in which it was set when you signed out of the application.
Using the Messages Pane Viewing Messages and Linked Assets When you receive messages sent by other MediaCentral UX users, the Messages pane displays a notification at the top of the message list indicating unread messages. Clicking the notification or scrolling up loads the messages, with the most recent ones at the top of the message list. To view messages: 1. Open the Messages pane. 2. If you received messages since the last time you logged in to MediaCentral UX, click the notification bar or scroll up.
Using the Messages Pane Left to right: Asset pane with the linked clip highlighted, head frame of the linked clip in the asset area of the message, and the linked clip viewed in the Media pane. If you open the asset in an enclosing folder, a new Asset pane opens and highlights the asset. n You must have the appropriate privileges to view media checked in to Interplay Production or Interplay MAM. 4.
Using the Messages Pane If you open the Messages pane, an address text box appears at the top of the pane. If you just want to share an asset, an address text box opens. 2. In the address text box, start typing the name of the recipient for your message. A list of MediaCentral UX users displays as you type. n If you type an invalid name, the name changes to red and you receive an error message. You can only send messages to recipients on the MediaCentral UX user list. 3.
Using the Messages Pane 6. Click Send. The message is sent to the MediaCentral UX users listed in the address test box and displays as a sent message at the top of your message list. Messages sent by you display with a blue background. To reply to a message: 1. Position the mouse pointer over the address line of the message to which you want to reply. The Reply button displays on the right side of the address line. 2. Click Reply.
Configuring E-Mail Forwarding Configuring E-Mail Forwarding E-mail forwarding requires an administrator to enable e-mail forwarding and to assign a valid SMTP server. When your MediaCentral UX administrator enables e-mail forwarding in the System Settings, you can then use the User settings to enable e-mail forwarding for your account and specify an e-mail address to which you want your messages sent when you are not logged in to MediaCentral UX.
Using E-Mail Forwarding 3. Select Enabled. 4. In the Email Address text box, type the e-mail address from which you want your e-mails forwarded. 5. Click Apply. Using E-Mail Forwarding If e-mail forwarding has been enabled for your workgroup and you have enabled e-mail forwarding to your personal e-mail account, you can receive messages sent from MediaCentral UX users when you are not logged in to MediaCentral UX.
13 iNEWS Messaging The following main topics describe how to use the iNEWS messaging feature. • Sending Messages • Viewing and Replying to Received Messages Sending Messages MediaCentral UX provides you with two messaging features for communicating with other users working on iNEWS and MediaCentral UX. You can use the Messages pane to send messages and media assets to other MediaCentral UX users and to Avid editing applications connected to MediaCentral UX.
Viewing and Replying to Received Messages 3. Click Send. After the message is sent, the bar turns pale blue. Viewing and Replying to Received Messages When messages are received, the Message bar turns a pale green, and a numerical value appears near the right end of the bar to show you how many unread messages you have. The following illustration shows 10 unread messages.
14 Sending to Playback The following main topics provide information about sending a sequence to a playback device: • Specifying Send to Playback Settings • Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device • The Progress Pane • Interplay Services in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool Specifying Send to Playback Settings When you are finished editing a sequence, you can transfer it to a playback device or playout server for broadcast. This process is called send to playback, or STP.
Specifying Send to Playback Settings To specify send-to-playback settings: 1. Click the Pane Menu button and select Send to Playback Settings. 2. Supply the following information: Setting Description Name Automatically supplied when you select a sequence for send to playback. Video ID Required to send a sequence to playback. • Script sequences: Automatically supplied when you select a script sequence if the video ID is already assigned to the story.
Specifying Send to Playback Settings Setting Description Overwrite (Optional) Select Overwrite if you want to automatically overwrite any sequence with the same Tape ID already sent to the playback device. n High Priority n If you try to send a sequence with the same Tape ID as one already sent to the playback device, you receive an error message. Select the Overwrite option only if you are sure you want to overwrite any sequences with the same Tape ID.
Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device The selected profile is also displayed in the Send to Playback option in the Media Pane menu. Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device You can send a sequence to a playback device if the sequence fulfills the following requirements: • The media format of the sequence must match the media format specified in the selected send-to-playback profile. The format for the currently selected STP profile is displayed in the Video Format display.
Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device If the media format of the sequence does not match the media format specified in the profile, the Video Format display is red. To send the sequence to playback, select a different profile or replace the media in the sequence. For more information, see “Specifying Send to Playback Settings” on page 347. You can preview a sequence before sending it to playback. For more information, see “Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution” on page 205.
Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device There are limitations on the types of media you can add to a sequence for a successful send-to-playback operation. In most cases, all media used in the sequence must be available in the target resolution to start an STP operation. However, when you select a Long GOP resolution as a target resolution, you can mix media of different resolutions if the frame rates match.
The Progress Pane c For target resolutions other than Long GOP, all objects in the sequence must be available in the target resolution before an STP operation can begin. The Progress Pane The Progress pane is used to monitor sequence mixdowns and send to playback processes as they happen. If necessary, you can also cancel a process that is underway or restart a job directly from the pane.
The Progress Pane In the case a problem occurs, the Details link displays the error message that is reported from the MediaCentral UX system. In case of Sequence Mixdown, this is the same error message displayed for the failed transcode job in the Interplay Production Services and Transfer Status tool. For send to playback (STP) this is the error message that is passed by the MediaCentral Distribution Service.
Interplay Services in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool Interplay Services in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool A Send to Playback (STP) job might use Interplay Transcode and STP Encode to prepare the STP job for transfer. When this occurs, the Transcode and STP Encode jobs are listed in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool while processing, but are removed from the jobs list after processing is complete.
15 Delivering Assets and Media The following main topics describe how to deliver assets and media from one Interplay Production workgroup to another: • Understanding MediaCentral Delivery • Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup • Delivering Assets and Media to a Local Workgroup Understanding MediaCentral Delivery MediaCentral UX has two options for delivering assets and media: • Deliver to a remote workgroup.
Understanding MediaCentral Delivery Interplay Delivery Service and Delivery Receiver Service MediaCentral UX uses the Interplay Delivery service to perform workgroup-to-workgroup transfers of master clips, subclips, cuts-only sequences, and their media files. The Interplay Delivery Receiver service must be running on a server in the workgroup to which you are delivering the assets and media. These services are installed and configured as Interplay Production Services in an Interplay Production workgroup.
Understanding MediaCentral Delivery The following illustration shows the Deliver To dialog box, with parameters taken from the Delivery profile and the Consolidate profile.
Understanding MediaCentral Delivery The following illustration shows two Deliver To dialog boxes: n • The dialog box on the left is using the Delivery profile “wg1 full highest” for its information. The highest resolution associated with the selected clip will be delivered. • The dialog box on the right is using the same Delivery profile but has the option “Deliver from Mark In to Mark Out” selected. The target resolution (DV25 420) is taken from the default Consolidate profile.
Understanding MediaCentral Delivery Deliver from Mark In to Mark Out Workflows If you select “Deliver from Mark In to Mark Out,” the Consolidate service creates new clips and new assets, using information in the Consolidate profile. The following table describes several different workflows. Delivery Profile Media Status Consolidate Output The Delivery profile includes a specific Target Video Quality. Media exists in the specified resolution.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup If your organization is configured to include multiple Interplay Production workgroups, you can use MediaCentral UX to transfer assets and media from your current workgroup to another workgroup. You can transfer assets and media from the Media pane, the Assets pane, or the Search pane. • In the Media pane, you can transfer from Asset mode or from Output mode.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup 3. Click the Pane Menu button and select Deliver To. The Deliver To dialog box opens and displays the parameters of the selected profile. 4. From the Name list, select the Delivery profile that you want to use for the transfer. Profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator. The video format that will be delivered is displayed as Target Video Quality at the bottom of the dialog box. 5.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Local Workgroup 3. From the Name list, select the Delivery profile that you want to use for the transfer. Profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator. The video format that will be delivered is displayed as Target Video Quality at the bottom of the dialog box. 4. Click Deliver To. The job is submitted. To view the status of the delivery: t n In the Progress pane, click the Pane Menu button and select Show Job Groups > Delivery.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Local Workgroup 4. Click the Pane Menu button and select Deliver To Me. The Deliver To Me dialog box opens and displays the parameters of the selected profile. 5. From the Name list, select the Delivery profile that you want to use for the transfer. Profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator. The video format that will be delivered is displayed as Target Video Quality at the bottom of the dialog box. 6.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Local Workgroup 3. Do one of the following: t Right-click a selected asset and select Deliver To Me. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Deliver To Me. The Deliver To Me dialog box opens and displays the parameters of the selected profile. 4. From the Name list, select the Delivery profile that you want to use for the transfer. Profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator.
16 Working with Interplay | MAM Processes and Tasks The following main topics provide information about working with processes that you created in Interplay MAM Desktop or MediaCentral UX and the individual user tasks that are part of MAM processes: • Understanding Processes, Tasks, and Actions • Creating Processes • Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane • Working with Tasks Understanding Processes, Tasks, and Actions Processes allow flexible user activities and automated workflows to be used in
Creating Processes Creating Processes Your ability to create and initiate processes depends on Interplay MAM rules. For example, the credentials you use to sign in to the Interplay MAM database must allow creation of processes. Beyond that, the configuration of the process in Interplay MAM determines which action can be applied and the number and type of assets that can be attached to a process (for example basic sequence, video or audio, or mixed attachments).
Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane 6. Supply the required information in the process dialog box and click OK. The process is created and shown in the Progress pane. If the process requires you to take additional user actions, the corresponding task is shown in the Tasks pane. To create a process from the Media pane: 1. Load an asset in Asset mode or a or basic sequence in Output mode. 2. Click the Pane Menu button, select Actions and select the process type. 3.
Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane n If your user account also allows you to work with Interplay Production processes, such as Sequence Mixdown and Send To Playback, Interplay MAM and Interplay Production processes can be displayed in the Progress pane at the same time. For more information, see “The Progress Pane” on page 353. Processes are grouped according to the group property set in Interplay MAM Desktop.
Working with Tasks Working with Tasks The Tasks pane shows you all user tasks that require you to complete an action. These tasks can be part of processes that you created or have been created by other users and delegated to you. All options for working with tasks depend on Interplay MAM rules: the configuration of the corresponding processes in Interplay MAM must allow delegating and applying actions to user tasks.
Working with Tasks q w q we er r t r y r i r r o a r 1r! d r 1 u r Display or Control Description List and Task button Toggles display of the Task List and Task Details on or off. When toggled on the button is colored orange. n You can have both the List and Task buttons simultaneously toggled on but not toggled off. When only one is on and you click that button, the system automatically toggles that display off and the other display on.
Working with Tasks Display or Control Description The task cannot be edited because it is already locked — for example, because another user is already editing the task. In this case you see a message when you hover the mouse pointer over the Lock Indicator icon. The lock is released after you successfully applied an action or delegated the task, when you select another task, or close the Tasks pane. 4 Save button Saves the task data without leaving the edit field.
Working with Tasks Display or Control Description 7 Task Details Displays details of the task selected in the Task List. Depending on the task type, the Task Details can be split into the Task Information and Task Attachments areas. If you select several tasks in the Task List, the Task Details area does not show information or is cleared. 8 Breadcrumbs Show the names of the current and preceding tasks of the process to give context information. The current task is the last (right-most) in the list.
Working with Tasks Working in the Tasks Pane The Tasks pane is divided into the Task List and Task Details areas, which can be shown separately or both at the same time. To open the Tasks pane: t Select Panes > Tasks. To show and hide the Task List and Task Details areas: t Click the List button. The Task List area is shown. t Click the Task button. The Task Details area is shown displaying the details of the task selected in the Task List area. t To hide an area, click the button again.
Working with Tasks To filter the tasks displayed in the Task List: 1. Click the Pane Menu button. 2. Select Filter. 3. Do one of the following: t To apply a status- and time-based filter, select “Active,” “Active and last 7 days,” or “Active and last 30 days.” Active is selected by default and therefore only tasks that still require an action are shown. The two other options show completed user tasks: finished tasks that cannot be edited any longer.
Working with Tasks 3. Select Delegate To. The list shows all users and groups to which the selected tasks can be delegated. 4. Select the user or group to which you want to delegate the task. After the delegation is successfully completed for at least one task, the Task List is refreshed. Depending on the process configuration, delegated tasks are still displayed in or removed from the Task List.
Working with Tasks 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click the selected task in the Task List and select the action that you want to apply. t Click the button of the action you want to apply at the bottom of the Task Details area. While the action is applied, the task is locked and all action controls are disabled. After the action is successfully applied, the lock is released and the Task List and Task Details areas are refreshed.
Working with Tasks 2. Click in a metadata field and type or edit the value; for example, type a reject reason as shown in the following illustration. For information on the different metadata fields, see “Viewing and Editing Interplay | Production Metadata” on page 50. 3. To save your changes, do one of the following: t Click the Save button. t Press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (Macintosh). t Click outside the metadata field.
Working with Tasks To add media to a task and edit the task attachments: 1. Select a task in the Task List. The Task Details area shows the number of attached assets in the header area, and attached assets as “asset cards” in the assets area. 2. If want to view an media asset attached to the task, double-click the head frame in the asset area. The asset (video or audio clip, or basic sequence) opens in the Media pane. 3.
17 MediaCentral | UX Mobile Application for the iPhone The MediaCentral UX mobile app provides a native user interface designed to run on your iPhone and enable direct, secure access to your station’s iNEWS newsroom computer system and the Interplay Production database. The following main topics describe basic user information about the device and mobile app.
Connection Basics Connection Basics You can use the MediaCentral UX mobile application to perform many actions supported by MediaCentral UX: n • Create, edit and approve news stories. • Navigate the news directory. • Play video sequences associated with scripts. • Navigate the Interplay Production directory. • View and play media assets from the Interplay Production database.
Connection Basics Gestures for the Mobile Application Applications for touchscreen mobile devices let users accomplish certain tasks utilizing various gestures like fingertip swipes or taps. What these gestures do can differ from one application to another. The following table describes what certain gestures do depending on where you use the gesture within the MediaCentral UX mobile application. Location Gesture Description Sidebar Swipe Right Displays the sidebar.
Installing MediaCentral | UX on the iPhone Installing MediaCentral | UX on the iPhone The following procedure assumes licensing, setup, and configuration of the MediaCentral and iNEWS servers have already been completed. To install MediaCentral UX on the iPhone: 1. Open iTunes (the Apple market). 2. Locate the MediaCentral UX application. 3. Tap Download.
Starting MediaCentral | UX on the iPhone You can also choose to work offline. This allows you to view queues and stories listed in the Favorites list that you have cached locally on your device. If you select ‘Work Offline” in the sign in screen, MediaCentral UX uses the credentials last used to sign in to MediaCentral UX. For more information, see “Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories” on page 405.
The Sidebar To view the help system: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Select Help. To sign out: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Select Sign Out. To exit the application: 1. Press the Home button. 2. Select Close. The Sidebar After you sign in to the MediaCentral UX mobile application on an iPhone, you can view the sidebar, located along the left side of the screen when displayed.
Buttons of the User Interface n The look of this button changes depending on the display status of the sidebar. Button Description Tap this button to display a list of available roles and to select a different role from the menu. Tap this button to display the sidebar. Tap this button to hide the sidebar. Tap the Refresh button to refresh the list of queues, stories, and media assets.
Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings Button Description The Open Sequence button opens the sequence for viewing in full-screen size. The button becomes enabled when a video sequence has been associated with a script. The Actions button opens a menu of options that include: Reload, Send Log, Help, and Sign Out. The Send Log option displays only if you enable logging in the MediaCentral UX settings. For more information, see “Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings” on page 387.
Changing Roles The following table provides information about the settings for editing. Editing Settings Description Autosave Stories If set to On, MediaCentral UX automatically saves a story if you navigate away from the modified story to other assets in the system. If set to Off, MediaCentral UX prompts you to save your modifications. The default setting is On. To send log files to Avid: 1. Connect your device to a Macintosh computer. 2. Open iTunes and navigate to Device > Apps. 3.
Accessing the iNEWS Database Accessing the iNEWS Database The iNEWS database is the backbone of your iNEWS system. You save the data created in your newsroom — stories, scripts, and rundowns — in the database on the iNEWS Server. Queues contain stories, and directories (also known as folders) store the queues. When viewed with the mobile application, available iNEWS systems appear in the sidebar, along with any of their directories and queues. For MediaCentral UX v1.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The application uses different icons to distinguish between directories, queues, and stories. Icon Description Directories hold queues or other subdirectories. Unlike queues, directories do not directly contain stories. For example, the Wires folder contains queues with incoming wire stories. Queues let you organize stories in detailed categories. A show’s rundown is one example of a queue.
Accessing the iNEWS Database You can open directories, queues, and stories from the MediaCentral UX mobile application. Directories and queues open within the sidebar. Stories open to the right of the sidebar in the Script Editor. n If you want to open an iNEWS story that has a key lock applied to it, you must type in the appropriate password for the story. To open a directory: 1. Navigate to the directory. 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a queue: 1. Navigate to the queue inside a directory. 2. Tap the queue to open it. The following illustration shows an example of a rundown queue. To open an existing story: 1. Navigate to the story in a queue. n A story icon with a check mark indicates that the story has been “approved.” You can approve stories from an iNEWS workstation or from MediaCentral UX.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 2. Tap the story to open it. The story opens in the Script Editor, which has two sections: - The Story, which contains the text of the story, any presenter instructions, and production cue markers. - The Cue List, which contains any production cues or machine control instructions. The following illustration shows the Script Editor open with the Story section displayed containing a story with production cue markers identified numerically.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 3. While viewing the story, swipe left to view the Cue List. The numerical production cue markers within the story align with production cues and machine control instructions displayed in the Cue List to the right of the story. Black text indicates production cues. Blue text indicates machine control instructions (if any). n Because of limited screen size on the iPhone, the mobile application does not display the sidebar with the Script Editor.
Accessing the iNEWS Database Viewing Video Associated with a Script When sequences have been associated with stories in the MediaCentral UX Web application, you can preview the stories in the media viewer in MediaCentral UX. n If your MediaCentral UX system is licensed for an iNEWS- only configuration, you cannot preview or play sequences or other media assets. When you associate video with a script, you use the Open Sequence button to open the viewer full screen and preview sequences.
Editing Stories To regenerate the sequence video proxy for playback: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Reload. Editing Stories Using the mobile application, you can create a new story or edit an existing one. You can also change the title of story. The system obtains an edit lock when you edit a story, which prevents other users from altering a story while you work on it.
Editing Stories To edit an existing story: 1. Navigate to the existing story in the queue and open it. 2. Tap the Edit Story button. When the color of the icon on the Edit Story button changes from white to orange, edit mode becomes active and you can edit the story. An edit lock prevents others from changing the story while you edit. 3. Tap in the story to begin editing the text. 4. After you complete your modifications, save the story. For more information, see “Ways of Saving Stories” on page 398.
Editing Stories To edit the title (slug) of a story: 1. Tap the Edit button in the sidebar. 2. From the queue in the sidebar, tap and hold the story title you want to edit. 3. When cursor appears, you can change the name of the story. 4. Tap Done. Ways of Saving Stories You can save newly created stories or change existing stories by tapping the Edit Story button after modifying a story while in edit mode. A message appears asking you to confirm whether to save the changes.
Editing Stories Formatting a Script When you write a story, text appears in the default text style. However, you can alter the look of the text, such as changing the default font to bold. When formatting a story as a script for a news broadcast, you often distinguish certain text by using various specialized styles of text, such as instructions for presenters or closed captioning. You use presenter instructions commonly as brief, special instructions to news presenters (also known as news anchors).
Editing Stories Adding Production Cues When you format a story as a script for a news broadcast, you can add production cues to provide valuable information to technical staff as well as machine control commands for devices, such as character generators. In the mobile application on an iPhone, the menu provides a the Plus (+) button that lets you add this information to scripts. You add production cues to scripts from the Story area and edit them in the Cue List area of the Script Editor.
Editing Stories To move a production cue in a script: t Select the production cue marker, and then cut it and paste it in another location within the script. To delete a production cue from a script, do one of the following: t Position cursor to the right of the production cue marker and press the Delete key. t Select the production cue marker and tap the Delete key.
Editing Stories Working with Links in Stories A story can contain more than simple text. It can contain a URL to a Web page or an e-mail address to a contact you might need. When Web links or e-mail addresses are included in stories, they become dynamic links. You can use them to open your device’s browser or to open an e-mail window. To open a Web link from a story: t Tap the link in the story. The device’s Web browser opens and loads the Web page. To call a phone number from a story: 1.
Approving Stories Approving Stories Endorsing or approving stories allows news producers to identify which scripts in a show have been reviewed prior to broadcast. You can approve stories from an iNEWS workstation or from the MediaCentral UX application on an iPad or an iPhone. n The ability to approve stories requires write access to the queue for the selected story. To approve a story from the mobile application: 1. Open the story you want to approve. 2.
Working with Favorites Working with Favorites To make navigation easier, you can designate certain locations in the newsroom system or Interplay Production as Favorites, which appear in a list on the Launch pane. From the mobile application, you can use your Favorites list to navigate quickly to your most often used assets, directories, queues, or stories. You can edit your Favorites list by creating new ones, editing their names, or deleting existing ones from the list. To create a Favorite: 1.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories For example, if you plan to have multiple rundown queues in your Favorites list, some might share the same queue name. You can edit each one in the list to distinguish which rundown applies to the morning show, midday show, and evening newscast. 4. Tap the Done button. The name of the Favorite changes. This does not affect the name of the asset, story, queue, or rundown in iNEWS or Interplay Production. To delete a Favorite: 1. Tap the Edit button. 2.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories The following notes apply to caching queues and stories: • You can work in presenter mode from a cached queue in offline mode. • Caching a queue might take some time, depending on the length of the queue. You can manually cancel a cache operation. For more information, see “Caching Queues and Stories” on page 406. • If you manually cancel a cache operation, no part of the queue or story is saved. • You can cache a queue of up to 1000 stories.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories When the caching completes, a dialog box appears with the results of the operation. 3. Click OK. To remove a cache from your device: 1. In the Launch pane, tap the Edit button, and then select the queue or story in the Favorites list you want to delete. The queue or story displays a check mark next to the title. 2. Tap the Trash button. The queue or story is removed from the Favorites list and the cache is deleted.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production MediaCentral UX displays the Launch pane, with all cached queues and stories in the Favorites list. 2. Tap a queue or story to open it. MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production You can access media assets stored in an Interplay Production database, such as video clips, audio clips, and graphics. When viewed with the mobile application, available Interplay Production systems appear in the sidebar, along with any of their directories and media assets.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production Viewing Media Assets with MediaCentral | UX You can open directories and media assets stored in the Interplay Production database using MediaCentral UX. Directories and a list of assets open within the sidebar. You can view and play assets in the Media viewer. Asset list and Media viewer — left screen: selected directory, Show/Hide button, selected asset; right screen: Action button, Media player, media controls To open a directory: 1.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production The following illustration shows the Scuba Diver directory opened to view one subdirectory and multiple media assets. Scuba Diver directory on the Interplay Production server, with the back button at the top of the list indicating the parent directory To back out of a directory: t n Tap the Back button. The Back button does not display the word “Back” on it, but rather the name on the button changes as a user navigates further into the directory.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To open and play a media asset: 1. Navigate to the asset in a directory. 2. Tap the video or audio asset. The asset opens in the Media viewer, which replaces the asset list in the sidebar. Media controls: Play button, position indicator, Full Screen button 3. Tap the Play button to play the asset. 4.
18 MediaCentral | UX Tablet Application for the iPad The MediaCentral UX tablet app provides a native user interface designed to run on your iPad tablet and enable direct, secure access to your station’s iNEWS newsroom computer system and the Interplay Production database. The following main topics describe basic user information about the device and tablet app.
Connection Basics Connection Basics You can use the MediaCentral UX tablet app to perform many actions supported by the MediaCentral UX Web application: n • Create, edit and approve news stories. • Navigate the news directory. • Play video sequences associated with scripts. • View a show's scripts in presenter mode while signed in to your station’s iNEWS newsroom computer system. • Navigate the Interplay Production directory. • View and play media assets from the Interplay Production database.
Connection Basics Gestures for the Tablet App Apps for touchscreen tablets let users accomplish certain tasks utilizing various gestures like fingertip swipes or taps. What these gestures do can differ from one app to another. The following table describes what certain gestures do depending on where you use the gesture within the MediaCentral UX mobile app. Location Gesture Description Sidebar Two Finger Swipe to the Right Displays or hides the sidebar.
Installing MediaCentral | UX on the iPad Location Gesture Description Media Viewer Pinch in on full screen viewer Minimizes viewer back to original size and position within the Script Editor. Presenter Mode Swipe left or tap on right edge Navigates to next page. of screen Presenter Mode Swipe right or tap on left edge Navigates to previous page. of screen Presenter Mode Pinch in on full screen Exits full screen presenter mode.
Starting MediaCentral | UX on the Tablet For more information on iNEWS Community, see “Support for iNEWS Communities” on page 36. If you lose your connection to MediaCentral UX after you have signed in, a dialog box asks you if you want to reconnect to the server, to sign out of MediaCentral UX, or to work offline. If you want to work offline, you can view cached queues or stories listed in the Favorites list. For more detail, see “Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories” on page 440.
The Sidebar n If your MediaCentral UX credentials are incorrect or missing in your MediaCentral UX account, you receive a message: “Authentication Failed: The user name or password you entered is incorrect.” When you click OK, the sign-in screen appears and allows you to enter valid credentials. t Tap the Work Offline button. MediaCentral UX uses the credentials you used the last time you signed in, and it displays any cached queues and stories in the Favorites list. To view the help system: 1.
The Sidebar From the Launch pane, you can navigate through the file structure and open assets. You can hide the sidebar at any time to increase the screen real estate for viewing assets on the tablet. You can also use the Show/Hide button to toggle the display of the sidebar. n The look of this button changes depending on the display status of the sidebar. Button Description Tap this button to display a list of available roles and to select a different role from the menu.
Buttons of the User Interface Buttons of the User Interface When you browse or edit stories in MediaCentral UX, a small toolbar of buttons displays in the top right corner area of the user interface. The following table describes these buttons and describes their uses. Button Description The Approve Story button lets a user approve stories within that queue. The user must have write access to the queue.
Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings The following table provides information about general settings. General Settings Description Version For display purposes only, this value shows the currently installed version of the tablet app. Logging If set to On, MediaCentral UX keeps logs on session activities, which you can use to troubleshoot issues. If you tap the Actions button, a Send Log option appears that lets you e-mail the logs directly to Avid.
Changing Roles Presenter Mode Settings Description Skip Blank Stories If set to On, presenter mode skips any stories that have no text or production cues. To send log files to Avid: 1. Connect your device to a Macintosh computer. 2. Open iTunes and navigate to Device > Apps. 3. In the Apps list, select MediaCentral UX. 4. In the MediaCentral UX Documents list, select the Logs folder. 5. Click “Save to” or drag the folder to a location on your computer. 6.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To change your role, do the following: t Tap the Roles button, and then select a new role from the menu. Accessing the iNEWS Database The iNEWS database is the backbone of your iNEWS system. You save the data created in your newsroom — stories, scripts, and rundowns — in the database on the iNEWS server. Queues contain stories, and directories (also known as folders) store the queues.
Accessing the iNEWS Database Icon Description Directories hold queues or other subdirectories. Unlike queues, directories do not directly contain stories. For example, the Wires folder contains queues with incoming wire stories. Queues let you organize stories in detailed categories. A show's rundown is one example of a queue. Stories — for example, wire stories — contain text, such as contact information or a description of a news event. Any story can become a script for a show.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a directory: 1. Navigate to the directory. 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it. n As you navigate the system’s directory structure, the app displays your path or location within the database at the top of the screen. The following illustration shows the Wires directory opened to view numerous queues containing incoming wire stories.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a queue: 1. Navigate to the queue inside a directory. 2. Tap the queue to open it. The following illustration shows an example of a rundown queue. To open an existing story: 1. Navigate to the story in a queue. n A story icon with a check mark indicates that the story has been “approved.” You can approve stories from an iNEWS workstation or from MediaCentral UX. 2. Tap the story to open it.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The story opens in the Script Editor, which has two sections: - The Cue List, located on the left side, which contains any production cues or machine control instructions. - The Story, located on the right side, which contains the text of the story, any presenter instructions, and production cue markers. You can hide the sidebar to expand the view and show only the Script Editor.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To reload a story: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Reload. To add a new story: 1. Tap the Edit button in the sidebar. 2. Tap the story in the queue below which you want to insert the new story. 3. Tap the Add Story button, located at the bottom of the sidebar. 4. Modify the story title in the sidebar. For more information, see the procedure for editing the story title in “Editing Stories” on page 429. 5. Tap Done.
Accessing the iNEWS Database You can view video sequences created in the following way: n • You created and modified the sequence in MediaCentral UX. • You created the sequence in MediaCentral UX and modified it in Avid NewsCutter or Avid Media Composer. In this case, you might not see some effects in the media viewer. • You created the sequence in Instinct and modified it in MediaCentral UX.
Editing Stories To regenerate the sequence video proxy for playback: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Reload. Editing Stories Using the tablet app, you can create a new story or edit an existing one. You can also change the title of story. The system obtains an edit lock when you edit a story, which prevents other users from altering a story while you work on it.
Editing Stories To edit text: 1. Tap and hold in the story, and then tap either Select or Select All. 2. Select one of the following: t Select Cut. t Select Copy. t Select Paste. To add a new story: 1. Tap the Edit button in the sidebar. 2. Tap the Add Story button, located at the bottom of the sidebar. n The Add Story button only appears in the sidebar after you tap the Edit button in the sidebar. A blank story is added to the current queue with edit mode already activated for the story.
Editing Stories 3. Type the title of your story. 4. (Optional) Enter any production cues or machine control instructions. 5. Save the story. For more information, see “Ways of Saving Stories” on page 431. To edit the title (slug) of a story: 1. Tap the Edit button in the sidebar. 2. From the queue in the sidebar, tap and hold the story title you want to edit. 3. When cursor appears, you can change the name of the story.
Editing Stories • The app automatically saves a modified story when you change your role from Launch pane. • The app automatically saves a modified story when you sign out of the app. Formatting a Script When you write a story, text appears in the default text style. However, you can alter the look of the text, such as changing the default font to bold.
Editing Stories n t To mark text as a closed captioning text, tap and hold, and then select CC for closed captioned. t To mark text as a normal text, tap and hold, and then select N for normal. You can choose the format before typing your text as well. Any new text you type appears in the format you selected. To change the format of the text you type at any time, select another format.
Editing Stories To insert a production cue into a script: 1. Position your cursor in the story where you want to insert the production cue marker. 2. Tap the Plus button. 3. Enter the production cue information — for example, Take VO, On Camera, Take SOT, or Take Live. n The app automatically saves information in the newly inserted production cue when you navigate elsewhere within the app.
Editing Stories To add machine control instructions for a CG event: 1. Add or open a production cue in the script. 2. (Optional) With your cursor in the production cue area, tap the fourth formatting button in the Edit toolbar and select MC (machine control). n Typing an asterisk (*) automatically switches the text you type from Normal to Machine Control format, which appears as blue font. 3. Type your machine control command — for example, *CG 2line — and then press Return. 4.
Approving Stories To e-mail a contact from a story: 1. Tap the e-mail address in the story. The tablet opens an e-mail window, using your tablet’s default e-mail application. 2. Write your e-mail. 3. Tap Send. Approving Stories Endorsing or approving stories allows news producers to identify which scripts in a show have been reviewed prior to broadcast. You can approve stories from an iNEWS workstation or from the MediaCentral UX app on an iPad or an iPhone.
Entering Presenter Mode Also, MediaCentral UX caches stories locally on the tablet for offline use while you work in presenter mode. This allows you to continue working if you lose your connection to the server as long as you remain in presenter mode. However, if you lose the connection to your server, updates do not occur. To enter presenter mode: 1. Open a show's rundown. 2. Tap the Presenter Mode button. Presenter mode opens on the story selected by the user in the sidebar.
Working with Favorites Working with Favorites To make navigation easier, you can designate certain locations in the newsroom system or Interplay Production as Favorites, which appear in a list on the Launch pane. From the tablet app, you can use your Favorites list to navigate quickly to your most often used assets, directories, queues, or stories. You can edit your Favorites list by creating new ones, editing their names, or deleting existing ones from the list. To create a Favorite: 1.
Working with Favorites To edit the name of a Favorite: 1. Tap the Edit button. 2. Tap the name in the list you want to edit. 3. When the cursor appears, you can change the name. For example, if you plan to have multiple rundown queues in your Favorites list, some might share the same queue name. You can edit each one in the list to distinguish which rundown applies to the morning show, midday show, and evening newscast. 4. Tap the Done button. The name of the Favorite changes.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories You can use the MediaCentral UX mobile app to view queues and stories cached locally to your mobile device without being connected to your station’s iNEWS newsroom computer system. The Launch panel displays cached queues and stories in the Favorites list when you work in offline mode. The following notes apply to caching queues and stories: • You can work in presenter mode from a cached queue in offline mode.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories To cache a queue or story in the Favorites list: 1. In the Launch pane, tap the Edit button, and tap to the left of the queue or story in the Favorites list you want to cache. You can select more than one queue or story at a time. The queue or story displays a check mark next to the title. 2. Tap the Cache button. A progress bar indicates the status of the cache operation. To stop the cache operation, tap the Cancel button.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To view cached queues and stories after your lose your connection to MediaCentral UX: 1. In the Connection Failure dialog box, tap Work Offline. MediaCentral UX displays the Launch pane, with all cached queues and stories in the Favorites list. 2. Tap a queue or story to open it. MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production You can access media assets stored in an Interplay Production database, such as video clips, audio clips, and graphics.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production Icon Description A group clip contains two or more grouped clips, strung together sequentially according to common timecodes. Destinations in the Interplay Production system directory selected for the Favorites list have a gold star on their icons. n While viewing the top level of an asset directory in the sidebar, the Back button displays the word Launch, which means you can tap it to return to the previous view of the Launch pane.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To open a directory: 1. Navigate to the directory. 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it. n As you navigate the system’s directory structure, the app displays your path or location within the database at the top of the screen. The following illustration shows the Scuba Diver directory opened to view one subdirectory and multiple media assets.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To open and play a media asset: 1. Navigate to the asset in a directory. 2. Tap the video or audio asset. The asset opens in the Media viewer. Media controls: Play button, position indicator, Full Screen button 3. Tap the Play button to play the asset. 4. If you want to scrub through the media asset, or if you want to jump to a specific position in the clip, tap and hold the position indicator and drag it to a new location. 5.
19 MediaCentral | UX for Android Devices MediaCentral UX provides a native user interface designed to run on your Android device and enable direct, secure access to your station’s iNEWS newsroom computer system. The following main topics describe basic user information about the device and mobile application.
Connection Basics Android Devices Android devices usually include very few exterior buttons. You navigate content with touch gestures — for example, tapping an icon to start an application. Some gestures perform standard functions, such as displaying different menu icons, and some perform functions specific to an application. n Remember, the more applications that you have running, the more memory and battery power your device uses.
Installing MediaCentral | UX on Your Android Device Location Gesture Description Body or Production Cues tab Tap the Up button. Displays the navigation drawer. You can swipe left to hide the navigation drawer. Navigation drawer Tap the Back button on your Android device. Closes the MediaCentral mobile app. Script Editor Swipe Left Displays the Cue List. Script Editor Tap and hold Selects the word you tap and allows you to select text and modify text formats.
Starting MediaCentral | UX on the Android Device These systems are considered your remote systems. In the MediaCentral UX navigation drawer, your local iNEWS system is listed first, followed by the remote systems. To connect to a remote system, tap the system name. For more information on iNEWS Community, see “Support for iNEWS Communities” on page 36.
The Navigation Drawer and Directory Panel To view the help system: 1. Tap the Action overflow button. 2. Select Help. To sign out: 1. Tap the Action overflow button. 2. Select Sign Out. To exit the application, do the following: t Tap the Home button on your Android device. The Navigation Drawer and Directory Panel After you sign in to MediaCentral on your Android device, you can view the navigation drawer, located along the left side of the screen when displayed.
Buttons of the User Interface From the navigation drawer, you can open the Directory panel to navigate through the directory structure and open assets. After opening assets, you can view the navigation drawer at any time by swiping your finger across the screen to the right or by tapping the Up button. You can tap the Action overflow button and select Reload to update the queues and stories displayed in the iNEWS database. This allows you to view any changes made to stories or any new iNEWS assets.
Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings You can modify some settings in the MediaCentral mobile application. To modify MediaCentral UX settings on an Android device: 1. Start MediaCentral UX. 2. Tap the Action overflow button, and then select Settings. 3. Select the appropriate settings option. The following table provides information about general settings.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The app opens on your Android device. 3. Depending on the app, you can add a note or comment, and then send the log to Avid. Accessing the iNEWS Database The iNEWS database is the backbone of your iNEWS system. You save the data created in your newsroom — stories, scripts, and rundowns — in the database on the iNEWS server. Queues contain stories, and directories (also known as folders) store the queues.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The following illustration shows an example of the iNEWS Directory panel with queues and folders displayed. n While viewing an iNEWS system directory in the Directory panel, you can tap the Up button to display to the navigation drawer. You can also tap the Back button to navigate back through the directory. You can open directories, queues, and stories from the MediaCentral mobile application. Directories and queues open within the Directory panel.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a directory: 1. Navigate to the directory. 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it. The following illustration shows the Wires directory opened to view numerous queues containing incoming wire stories. To back out of a directory or queue: t Tap the Back button on your Android device.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a queue: 1. Navigate to the queue inside a directory. 2. Tap the queue to open it. The following illustration shows an example of a rundown queue. To open an existing story: 1. Navigate to the story in a queue. n A story icon with a check mark indicates that the story has been “approved.” You can approve stories from an iNEWS workstation. 2. Tap the story to open it. The story opens in Story view in the Body tab.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The following illustration shows the Body tab containing a story with production cue markers identified numerically. Presenter instructions appear as red text in the body of the story.
Viewing Video Associated with a Script 3. While viewing the story, do one of the following to view the Production Cues tab. t Tap the Production Cues tab. t Swipe Left. The numerical production cue markers within the story align with production cues and machine control instructions displayed in the Production Cues tab. Black text indicates production cues. Blue text indicates machine control instructions (if any).
Viewing Video Associated with a Script n If your MediaCentral system is licensed for an iNEWS- only configuration, you cannot preview or play sequences or other media assets. When you open a story with an associated video with a script, you use the Sequence tab to open the viewer and preview the sequence. The Sequence tab displays only for stories that have an associated sequence. Button Description The Play button plays the sequence so you can preview the video associated with the story.
Viewing Video Associated with a Script You can view video sequences created in the following way: n • A sequence created and modified the sequence in MediaCentral UX. • A sequence created in MediaCentral UX and modified it in NewsCutter or Media Composer. In this case, you might not see some effects in the media viewer. • A sequence created in Instinct and modified it in MediaCentral UX.
Working with Stories To regenerate the sequence video proxy for playback: 1. Tap the Action overflow button. 2. Tap Reload. Working with Stories Using the mobile application, you can create a new story or edit an existing one. You can also change the title of story. The system obtains an edit lock when you edit a story, which prevents other users from altering a story while you work on it.
Working with Stories The story opens in edit mode. An edit lock prevents others from changing the story while you edit. 3. Tap in the story to begin editing the text. 4. If you want to cut, copy, or paste text, do the following: a. Tap and hold in the story where you want to edit the text. The selection arrows and the edit toolbar display. Edit mode, with the edit toolbar with Select All, Cut, Copy, and Paste buttons.
Working with Stories b. Tap and hold the selection arrows, and then drag them to highlight the text you want to edit or to place them at the location in the text where you want to perform an edit. You can cut, copy, and paste any text in the story, including production cues and segment breaks. c. Tap the appropriate button in the edit toolbar. 5. After you complete your modifications, tap the Edit Story button to save the story. For more information, see “Ways of Saving Stories” on page 464.
Working with Stories The Edit Slug dialog box opens, and the application displays a virtual keyboard. 4. Edit the story title, and then tap OK. n You can also edit the story title while in Edit mode. Ways of Saving Stories You can save newly created stories or change existing stories by tapping the Back button or the Up button after modifying a story while in edit mode.
Working with Stories If you enable Autosave Stories in the MediaCentral UX Settings, you can save newly created stories or change existing stories in multiple ways: • The application automatically saves a modified story when you tap the Edit Story button or the Back button. • The application automatically saves a modified story when you change to another app or send the MediaCentral mobile application to the background by pressing the Home button.
Working with Stories To format text, tap and hold to select the appropriate text and do one of the following: n t To bold text, and then select the B button. t To italicize test, and then select the I button. t To underline text, and then select the U button. t To mark text as a normal text, and then select N for normal. t To mark text as a presenter instruction, and then select P for presenter. t To mark text as a closed captioning text, and then select CC for closed captioned.
Working with Stories 4. Enter the production cue information — for example, Take VO, On Camera, Take SOT, or Take Live. The application automatically saves information in the newly inserted production cue when you navigate elsewhere within the application. If you attempt to sign out or close the application, a message appears prompting you to either save or discard your changes.
Working with Stories Working with Links in Stories A story can contain more than simple text. It can contain a URL to a Web page. When Web links are included in stories, they become dynamic links. You can use them to open your device’s browser. n You cannot add a link to a Web page using the MediaCentral mobile app. To open a Web link from a story: t Tap the link in the story. The device’s Web browser opens and loads the Web page.
A User Settings You can access and modify user settings in the User Settings dialog box. To open the User Settings dialog box, select Home > User Settings.After you change a user setting, click Apply to save your changes. The following table describes these user settings. Settings Group Setting Description General Language Controls the language used for the Web application user interface. Select the language you want from the drop-down menu.
Settings Group Setting Description Time Zone Controls the display of dates and times. This setting is used by the indexed search in MediaCentral UX to display dates and other formatted data according to your selection. Select the time zone you want from the drop-down menu. n Date Format Works with the time zone setting to display dates and times according to your selection. Select the format you want from the drop-down menu.
Settings Group Setting Description Search Criteria: Time Range Sets the time range for an asset’s created or modified date when you perform a search of the Interplay Production database. The default setting is “Last 14 days.” A small time range can improve the search response time. This setting is used for a search unless you specify a range using the search criteria Modified Date. For more information, see “Conducting a Search” on page 257.
B Keyboard Shortcuts The following main topics provide information about keyboard shortcuts: n n • Queue/Story Pane Shortcuts • Assets Pane Shortcuts • Media Pane Shortcuts • Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts • Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts • Sequence Pane Shortcuts These keyboard shortcuts can be used on Windows systems or Macintosh systems, unless otherwise noted.
Queue/Story Pane Shortcuts Queue/Story Pane Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts available when working in the Queue/Story pane are listed in the following table. Some keystroke combinations only work when the cursor is located in a certain section of the pane; the Focus column in the table specifies the section of the pane when that is the case. For more information on the pane and its sections, see “The Queue/Story Pane” on page 77.
Assets Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+Alt+G Create a Story Group Queue/Story pane Ctrl+Alt+V Dissolve a Story Group Queue/Story pane Tab Move to next form field Story Form Shift+Tab Move to previous form field Story Form Assets Pane Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts available when working with the Assets pane are listed in the following table. For more information on the pane and its sections, see “Working with Assets” on page 39.
Media Pane Shortcuts Media Pane Shortcuts Shortcuts with Focus in the Media Pane The following table lists shortcuts you can use when the focus is in the Media pane. Shortcut Description Focus Space bar Play or pause play. Media pane Home fn+Left Arrow (MacBook) Move to the beginning of a clip or sequence. Media pane End Move to the end of a clip or sequence. fn+ Right Arrow (MacBook) Media pane I E Insert an In point. Media pane O R Insert an Out point.
Media Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Enter (Windows) Return (Macintosh) Select the timecode display to enable keyboard entries. Media pane S Open the Select Folder for Subclip dialog box. Media pane Select the active angle of a group clip. These keystrokes apply only to camera angles 1 through 9. Media pane Group clip shortcuts Alt+1 through Alt+9 n In a multi-angle view, camera angles are numbered from upper left and left to right.
Media Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+O Insert an Out point. Global Ctrl+Left Arrow Move 1 frame back Global n n Ctrl+Right Arrow On Macintosh systems, to use Ctrl+Left Arrow or Ctrl+Right Arrow to move 1 frame, you need to deselect the Mission Control option in System Settings > Keyboard. By default, Ctrl+ arrow key will switch you one space in the direction of the arrow key selected. This shortcut does not work when you are typing text into a marker (edit mode).
Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts For shortcuts that you can use to control playback while logging, see “Shortcuts with Focus Outside the Media Pane” on page 476. Shortcuts for Working with Markers Some of the following keystroke combinations work when the cursor is anywhere in the application and others work only when the cursor is located in the Logging pane.
Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+Enter (Windows and Macintosh) Command+Enter (Macintosh) Exit edit mode and save Logging pane Esc Exit edit mode without saving Logging pane Ctrl+S (Windows and Macintosh) Command+S (Macintosh) Save markers and text without exiting edit mode Logging pane F5 Reload the content of the Logging pane Logging pane Shortcuts for Working with Marker Text The following table lists keyboard shortcuts that you use while wor
Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Shift+Left Arrow Select text one character at a time moving backward Logging pane Shift+Right Arrow Select text one character at a time moving forward Logging pane Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow (Windows) Alt+Shift+Left Arrow (Macintosh) Select text one word at a time moving backward Logging pane Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow (Windows) Alt+Shift+Right Arrow (Macintosh) Select text one word at a time moving forward Logging pane Shift+
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts For shortcuts that you can use to control playback while logging, see “Media Pane Shortcuts” on page 475. Shortcuts for Working with Segments Some of the following keystroke combinations work when the cursor is anywhere in the application and others work only when the cursor is located in the Logging pane. The Focus column in the table describes the focus required for each keystroke combination.
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Right Arrow If the segment contains several properties, move to the next property field Logging pane If the segment contains only one property field, move to and select next segment Enter Enter edit mode (text field) or open Tags selector window (tags field) Logging pane Ctrl+Enter (Windows and Macintosh) Command+Enter (Macintosh) Exit edit mode and save (when the focus is in a text field) Logging pane Esc Exit edit mode or cl
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Ctrl+Shift+Home (Windows) Ctrl+Shift+Pos1 (Windows) Command+Shift+Up Arrow (Macintosh) Select text from the beginning to the current position Logging pane Ctrl+Shift+End (Windows) Command+Shift+Down Arrow (Macintosh) Select text from the current position to the end Logging pane Shift+Left Arrow Select text one character at a time moving backward Logging pane Shift+Right Arrow Select text one character at a time moving forward Logging
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcuts for Working with Segment Tags The following table lists keyboard shortcuts that you use while working with segment tags.
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+Up Arrow Go to previous year Calendar Ctrl+Down Arrow Go to next year Calendar Ctrl+Left Arrow Go to previous month Calendar Ctrl+Right Arrow Go to next month Calendar Up Arrow Select the highlighted day a week ago Calendar Down Arrow Select the highlighted day next week Calendar Left Arrow Select previous day Calendar Right Arrow Select next day Calendar Up Arrow Increase the figures by one unit Integer o
Sequence Pane Shortcuts Sequence Pane Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts available when working with the Sequence pane are listed in the following table. For more information on the pane and its sections, see “Using the Sequence Pane” on page 108. Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+S (Windows) Command+S (Macintosh) Save the sequence. Sequence pane Delete Backspace (Windows) Delete the selected segment. Sequence pane backslash (\) Insert a video dissolve.
Sequence Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus comma (,) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame earlier. Sequence pane period (.) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame later. Sequence pane slash (/) Trim the segment’s selected end 10 frames later. Sequence pane Shift+[ Trim from start of segment to the position indicator (trim top). Sequence pane Shift+] Trim from the position indicator to the end of a segment (trim tail).
C Icons This topic provides a quick reference guide to icons or buttons you might encounter when using MediaCentral UX.
Pane Type Icons Icon Description Launch pane Logging pane Media pane Messages pane Metadata pane Progress pane Project/Story pane Queue/Story pane Search pane Sequence pane Social Messages pane (Media Distribute) Tasks pane Thumbnails pane Web Story pane (Media Distribute) 489
Launch Pane Icons Launch Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Launch pane. Icon Description Connected Interplay Production system Disconnected Interplay Production system Connected Interplay MAM system Connected iNEWS system Disconnected iNEWS system Project in the iNEWS database iNEWS Project (not started) iNEWS Project (expired) Assets Pane Icons Various icons are used distinguish between the different types of assets accessible via MediaCentral UX.
Assets Pane Icons Icon Description Column Video asset: sequence Name Video asset: in-progress clip (Edit While Capture) Name Video asset: group clip Name Video asset: effect Name Remote asset: downward-pointing arrow for each asset type Name Supported State Reservation State Restriction State iNEWS Assets All icons for iNEWS assets appear in the Name column.
Assets Pane Icons Icon Description Facet (expired) QUERY Search Queue Interplay | MAM Assets Icons for Interplay MAM assets appear in the Name, Thumbnail, and Rights columns.
Assets Pane Icons Icon Description Column Basic Sequence asset placeholder icon. Thumbnail Commercial or Commercial Version asset placeholder icon. Is Thumbnail shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail. Document asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail. Thumbnail Episode or Episode Version asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail. Thumbnail Feature or Feature Version asset placeholder icon.
Media Pane Icons Icon Description Column Usage right “Parts need to be licensed” Rights Usage right “Contains restricted parts” Rights Media Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Media pane. Buttons Description The Asset and Output buttons let you switch between a loaded asset and a loaded sequence. Plays the asset or the story sequence. The Play button changes to a Pause button while the asset or story sequence is being played. Plays from an In point to an Out point.
Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | Production Assets) Buttons Description Steps forward 10 seconds Displays the Audio pane Displays the voice-over controls Displays the selected sequence to review for playback in the target resolution Loads a master clip that contains a selected frame of a sequence or subclip (Match Frame). Displays a group clip in single-angle view (1x1) Displays a group clip in a 2x2 grid. Displays a group clip in a 3x3 grid.
Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | MAM Assets) Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | MAM Assets) The following icons are used in the Logging pane. Button Description Lets you select the stratum for editing Creates a new segment (Gaps Allowed mode only) Refresh Indicates the lock status of the stratum and lets you manually lock and unlock the stratum Exports stratified annotation and all other metadata Progress Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Progress pane.
Sequence Pane Icons Sequence Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Sequence pane. Icon Description Adds a dissolve Divides a segment into two segments at the position indicator. Performs an Overwrite edit. Performs a Replace edit. Deletes the segment Shows Audio pane Saves the sequence Extends or retracts a segment. Shows or hides empty timing blocks Tasks Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Tasks pane. Icon Description Toggles display of the Task List and Task Details on or off.
Media | Distribute Icons Media | Distribute Icons The following icons are used in Media Distribute: Icon Description Shows the Social Messages pane. Shows the Web Story pane. Shows the Combined Messages pane. Indicates a system profile, which contains credentials for a target — for example, a corporate Twitter account — associated with a corporate or group house account and accessible by multiple users.
MediaCentral Glossary A Administrators group A default group used for MediaCentral UX user management that contains users with administrative privileges. active angle In a group clip, the camera angle selected for single-angle view and the angle displayed when you add the clip to a sequence. advanced sequence A sequence you create in MediaCentral UX that includes a timeline with one video track and user-specified audio tracks.
Assets pane A pane in the client application that displays assets. These assets can result from a search or from browsing. Assets are displayed in a folder hierarchy, if applicable to the assets displayed. audio follows video An audio setting that allows the audio mapping for a track in a group clip to automatically “follow” any active angle change and use the audio from the new active angle.
drop zone The part of an area into which you can move a pane. Each area has five drop zones: center, top, bottom, left, and right. E Edit Decision List (EDL) Basic sequence created in Interplay MAM Desktop. See basic sequence. edit while capture (EWC) See Frame Chase editing. F facet A subtopic of an iNEWS project that provides additional granularity. Any stories associated to a facet are automatically associated to that facet’s parent project. See also project.
G group clip A master clip created in Media Composer or another Avid editing application by syncing a group of clips based on common source timecode, auxiliary timecode, or marks placed in the footage. I indexed search A search that queries a central index synced with multiple databases and finds anything stored in the index. It does not directly search Interplay Production databases.
locator See marker. Log layout A layout that a media logger or journalist uses to view and create markers. logging 1. Interplay Production: Adding information to clips, subclips, and sequences. This information includes markers, restrictions, and text, which can be used for reference during story creation and media editing. 2. Interplay MAM: Segmenting strata and adding information to them. This information includes text and other properties.
MediaCentral Platform The software infrastructure that supports MediaCentral products and services MediaCentral User Management Service (UMS) One of the MediaCentral Platform services. It provides the ability to create and manage users and groups and authenticate users across multiple systems.
Media Timeline In the Media pane, a graphical representation of the length and time spans of an asset or sequence. Media zoom bar In the Media pane, a control located below the Media Timeline that lets you enlarge a section of the Media Timeline so you can work more easily with long clips. See also Sequence zoom bar. Message bar A section of the client application in which you can send and receive messages. The Message bar consists of the To field, the Message field, and the Send button.
N NAT (natural sound) Audio recorded at the same time as the video, often by a microphone built in to a camera. Compare with the definition of SOT (sound on tape). O Output mode If you click the Output button in the Media pane, you can view media for the currently loaded sequence and use controls that apply specifically to sequences, such as voice-over controls. Compare with the definition of Asset mode.
position indicator A vertical bar in the Media Timeline that indicates the location of the frame displayed in the Media viewer. The Sequence Timeline also includes a position indicator, which can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the orientation of the Sequence pane. You can drag the position indicator to scrub through a clip or sequence.
queue A subfolder in an iNEWS database that contains stories. R read-only sequence 1. A sequence that you open from an Interplay Production folder but cannot edit or save because you do not have a read/write role for the folder. 2. A sequence that you open from an Interplay MAM database for which you do not have write permission or that represents an external sequence. You can play the sequence but you cannot edit or save it. See also uneditable sequence.
Script Editor A section of the Queue/Story pane in which a journalist creates and organizes the elements of a story. There are four sub-sections of the Script Editor: Story Form, Cue List, Story, and Sequence Timeline. script sequence A series of video, audio, and images that you compose in the Sequence pane and play in the Media pane. Script sequences are saved in the Interplay Production database and can be sent to a playback device.
Sequence pane A pane in which you can work with video and audio clips to create or edit a sequence. You can associate the sequence with a new story as a script sequence or store it as an independent asset in an Interplay Production database. Sequence Timeline The area of the Sequence pane that hold the video and audio clips. The Sequence Timeline includes a video track, one or three audio tracks, and a timing track.
source clip A video clip or audio clip that is used as part of a sequence. story A compilation of elements that includes the script that is sent to the teleprompter and read on air, any video and audio that is broadcast with the script, as well as production cues and machine control instructions associated with the queue. A story can also be created as a feature that uses the script to organize the feature.
Tasks pane A pane in which a user can view and edit user tasks of Interplay MAM processes created by him or user tasks that have been assigned to him by other users. Thumbnails pane A pane that displays small images of an asset that is loaded in the Asset mode of the Media pane. Images are displayed by timecode, marker, or both. Timecode displays In the Media pane, displays that provide timecode information for the loaded asset or sequence.
user task A task that requires a user action and is completed by a user action. See task. User Tree pane A pane in the Users layout that displays groups and users in a hierarchical layout. Users layout A layout for MediaCentral UX user management that a MediaCentral UX administrator uses to import, create, and manage users and group. V Voice-over controls Controls that let you record a voice-over and adjust its volume.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Index A About menu option 34 Actions applying to tasks 376 Active-X plug-ins 36 Adding attachments to tasks 378 Advanced sequence described 112 group clips 250 Android application for MediaCentral UX 446 Annotating segments 325 segments using tags 327 Annotation speech-to-text 85 Applying actions to tasks 376 Approve stories MediaCentral mobile app 436 MediaCentral UX mobile app 403 Areas 28 Aspect ratio 189 Asset mode described 176 displays and controls 177 Assets adding to fol
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Audio-only sequences 123, 125 Auto-Save sequences 127 stories 105 Avid online support 19 training services 19 Avid Central adding machine control instructions 467 adding production cues 466 formatting a script 465 saving stories 464 working with links 468 Avid iNEWS described 20 Avid Instinct associated sequences 123 B Banks for group clips 239 Basic sequence described 112 group clips 248 C Captions displaying in Media pane 199 Clips moving and deleting 159 transcoding a
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ F Facet associating story with 75 described 42 opening 72 opening a facet associated with a story 75 Favorites 404, 438 File-based playback 192 Floating a Story 96 Folder adding asset 59 creating Interplay | MAM 57 creating Interplay | Production 49 deleting 58 moving and copying 58 opening for an asset 209 renaming 58 Frame-based playback 192 G General user settings 469 Group clips audio monitoring 243 banks 239 changing angle 239 creating basic sequence 248 described 233 for a
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ renaming folders 58 viewing thumbnails 70 Interplay | Production asset types 45 described 20 duplicating assets 48 moving and copying assets 48 navigating database 45 property columns 46 renaming assets 48 user settings 469 Interplay MAM editing metadata 63, 66 property types and input controls 64 Interplay Production MediaCentral mobile app 443 MediaCentral UX mobile app 409 iPad custom settings 419 gestures 414 Home button 413 MediaCentral mobile app 412 J J-K-L playbac
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ exporting 296 group clips 246 navigating by 294 saving 286 text in right-to-left languages 297 Unicode support 298 Match Frame 208 Match frame group clips 247 Media adding to a basic sequence 144 adding to an advanced sequence 145 playback quality 191 updating status 189 viewing in mobile app 395 viewing in mobile application 458 viewing in tablet app 427 Media | Distribute list of icons 498 Media pane Asset mode 177 group clip 181 keyboard shortcuts 475 list of icons 494 menu opt
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ MediaCentral UX mobile appn viewing queues and stories offline 405 Menu bar described 34 Merge rules for segments 334 Merging segments 322 Messages e-mail forwarding 343 forwarding messages 344 Media Central | UX messages 337 Messages pane 337, 340 sending 345 sending messages with the Message pane 340 sending messages with the Messages pane 340 using the Message pane 337 viewing and replying to 346 viewing messages in the Messages pane 339 Metadata pane property types and
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Playback quality 191 Plug-ins working with 36 PNG file creating from a video frame 213 Position indicator described 79 Presenter mode 436 custom settings 387, 419 Procedures using story groups 92 Processes creating 367 monitoring 368 understanding 366 Production cue adding 88 adding in Avid Central 466 adding in the MediaCentral mobile app 433 adding in the MediaCentral UX mobile app 400 Progress pane described 353, 368 list of icons 496 Project associating story with 75 described
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Script templates 97 Scrubbing enabling audio 173 Search bar 254 Search pane 255 Searching advanced criteria 263 advanced syntax 268 for assets 257 indexed search examples 268 simple syntax 268 Segment described 112 Segmentation understanding 309 Segmented edit locks 94 Segments annotating tags 327 annotating text 325 creating (gaps allowed) 315, 316 deleting 322 described 82, 303 displaying in Media pane 199 merge rules 334 merging 322 moving and deleting in timeline 159 n
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Speech-to-Text 85 Split edit 168 Splitting segments 321 Start timecode modifying 174 Stories Floating 96 grouping 92 Story approving from iPad 436 approving from iPhone 403 caching 406, 440 creating 81 deleting 91 described 79 editing 86 inserting script templates 97 locking and unlocking 94 opening sequence 130 recovering 91, 105 right-to-left languages 84 saving from tablet app 398, 431 saving from tablet application 464 segments 82 text-only segments 103 timing 98 viewing offli
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ U Understanding processes and tasks 366 strata 301 Undoing in the Sequence pane 159 Unicode support for marker text 298 Unlocking story 94 Unrstanding segmentation principles 309 Update Media Status command 189 User Settings 469 V V column 145 Vertical sequence selecting 114 Video dissolves 171 Video sequences view from Android mobile application 458 view from mobile app 395 view from tablet app 427 Video-only sequences 123 Voice tracks described 222 Voice-over recording
Avid Technical Support (USA) Product Information 75 Network Drive Burlington, MA 01803-2756 USA Visit the Online Support Center at www.avid.com/support For company and product information, visit us on the web at www.avid.
