Avid MediaCentral | UX User’s Guide Version 2.
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Contents Using This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 If You Need Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Avid Training Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displaying or Hiding Referenced Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Viewing and Editing Interplay | Production Metadata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Viewing Interplay | Production Thumbnails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Restoring an Asset from an Interplay Production Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Working with Interplay | MAM Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting Script Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Inserting MOS Placeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Adding Media to a Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Associating a Sequence with a Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extending a Segment into Another Timing Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Showing and Hiding Empty Timing Blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Manually Adjusting Timing Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Editing a Sequence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Playback of Simple and Complex Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Selecting the Playback Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Adjusting for Playback Latency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Selecting Frame-Based Playback or File-Based Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Working with Remote Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 8 Working with Group Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Group Clips and Multicamera Workflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Working with Group Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Loading a Group Clip and Changing the Angle View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Working with Banks . . . . . .
Filtering the Markers List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Exporting Markers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Entering Marker Text in Right-to-Left Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Unicode Support for Marker Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing Associated Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 Opening Associated Assets in Other Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Reusing Associated Assets in Other Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 17 Sending to Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 Specifying Send to Playback Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362 Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accessing the iNEWS Database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406 Viewing Video Associated with a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412 Editing Stories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413 Ways of Saving Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing Media Assets with MediaCentral | UX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456 Troubleshooting Video Playback Problems on the iPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458 Chapter 22 MediaCentral | UX for Android Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461 Connection Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461 Android Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix C Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 Pane Type Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 Launch Pane Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504 Assets Pane Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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 If You Need Help If you are having trouble using your Avid product: 1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in this guide. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow. 2. Check the latest information that might have become available after the documentation was published. You should always check online for the most up-to-date release notes or ReadMe because the online version is updated whenever new information becomes available.
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.
Signing In to MediaCentral | UX that let archivists, journalist, editors, and producers assign metadata to assets; search, access, and preview assets; arrange assets in sequences and transfer them to the edit bay; and overview and manage business processes. Signing In to MediaCentral | UX Use a supported browser to connect to and sign in to your MediaCentral server. See the Avid MediaCentral ReadMe for a list of supported browsers.
Understanding Layouts and Panes 4. (Optional) If the layout you want is not displayed, select the one you want from the Layout selector. Left: Sign Out button. Right: Layout selector. n Each MediaCentral UX user is assigned one or more roles by the MediaCentral UX administrator. Each role is associated with one or more layouts. For more information about available layouts, see “Working with Layouts” on page 23. For more information about roles, see the Avid MediaCentral | UX Administration Guide.
Understanding Layouts and Panes Icon Pane Description Refer to... Launch A pane from which you navigate to various “The Launch Pane” on page 30 locations. This pane displays remote file systems, local file systems, and other locations for assets. Logging A pane in which you can add metadata to media. The functionality of the pane depends on the type of asset loaded.
Understanding Layouts and Panes Icon Pane Description Refer to... Sequence A pane that includes the Sequence Timeline “The Sequence Pane” on page 102 and other controls that let you create and edit a sequence. Social Messages A pane for Media Distribute users that lets you Avid Media | Distribute User’s create packages for publication to social media Guide. sites.
Understanding Layouts and Panes Working with Layouts The MediaCentral UX Web application is installed with predefined layouts. Not all available panes are included in each layout, but you can open additional panes when you need them. You select a layout from the Layout selector, located near the upper right corner of the window. The menu shows the name of the layout that is currently displayed.
Understanding Layouts and Panes Layout Description Available To Users Administrators use this layout to import, create, and manage MediaCentral UX users. Administrators only For more information, see “Avid MediaCentral | UX User Management” in the Avid MediaCentral | UX Administration Guide. 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.
Understanding Layouts and Panes 1 5 3 4 2 6 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 Layouts and Panes 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 Layouts and Panes Drop Zone Position Result Center Top Bottom 28
Understanding Layouts and Panes Drop Zone Position Result Left Right 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.
Understanding Layouts and Panes 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 487. About Opens a screen with information about the product Panes This menu lists the panes that you can open in the selected layout.
Using Plug-ins and MOS Integration Systems and projects are identified by the following icons.
Support for iNEWS Communities The following procedures apply only if you are using Chrome v44 or earlier. Enabling MOS To use plug-ins, you need to enable MOS in MediaCentral UX. • If you are using a Chrome browser, the first time you sign in to MediaCentral, a dialog box asks if you want to use MOS plug-ins. Click Yes. • If you click No, you can later enable MOS through a user setting. Select Home > User Settings > MOS and then select “MOS enabled.
Showing Desktop Notifications from Panes n • Display stories in the Queue/Story pane. • Create and edit stories. • Copy production cues from a story on one iNEWS system to a story on another. • Search a selected remote system. When searching an iNEWS database, you can simultaneously search multiple indexed queues. However, you can only choose one non-indexed queue path at a time. Attempts to choose more than one result in an invalid selection error message.
Showing Desktop Notifications from Panes • Tasks listed in the Tasks pane (Interplay MAM): If the signed-in user has new tasks in his task list and the Tasks pane is open but hidden, a notification is shown. • Messages received in the Messages pane. Click the notification to display the Messages pane. The first time you start MediaCentral UX after the initial installation, you see a message box that asks you if you want to allow or block notifications from the MCS server. Click Allow or Block.
Viewing MediaCentral | UX Help To allow or block notifications in Safari: 1. Select Preferences from the Safari menu. 2. Click Notifications. 3. For the MCS server, select Allow or Deny. An administrator can disable this feature for all users of an MCS server by adding the following line to the application.properties file: system.client.desktopNotifications.enabled=false For information about the application.properties file, see the MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide.
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 177. The Assets Pane Assets are items that are stored in a database, such as stories, scripts, video clips, and audio clips.
The Assets Pane To display assets in an Assets pane: t Double-click an item in the Launch 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 Assets Pane The following table lists the navigation buttons in the Assets pane. Button Description Up button displays the contents of the next folder up in the database hierarchy. The button is inactive at the highest level of the hierarchy. Back button toggles the current view to the previous view in the pane. Forward button toggles the current view to the next view in the pane. Refresh button refreshes the current view in the pane. Close button closes the pane.
Working with News Assets To create a shortcut to an asset, folder, or queue: t In the Assets pane or the Search results list, right-click an item and select Create Shortcut. A link to the item is displayed in the Shortcuts section of the Launch pane. To rename the shortcut, do one of the following: t Right-click the shortcut, select Rename Shortcut, type the new name, and press Enter. t Select the shortcut, press F2, type the new name, and press Enter.
Working with News Assets Projects are a way of categorizing stories by topic so that news teams working on a particular topic can find everything related to it in a single place, without moving or copying original source information within the database. Facets are sub-topics of projects that provide additional granularity. Any stories associated to a facet are automatically associated to that facet’s parent project.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets In addition to facets, each project also contains the following queues in the Assets pane: Icon Description ALL queue - shows all stories associated with the project and its facets. These stories do not actually reside in the ALL queue. Instead, they retain their original source queue location and permissions. QUERY Search Queue - shows results of a search conducted with criteria predefined for the project in iNEWS. Each project can have only one search queue.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets • “Renaming Assets” on page 45 • “Displaying or Hiding Referenced Assets” on page 45 • “Viewing and Editing Interplay | Production Metadata” on page 46 • “Viewing Interplay | Production Thumbnails” on page 47 • “Restoring an Asset from an Interplay Production Archive” on page 49 • “Working with Remote Assets” on page 177 Identifying Interplay | Production Systems and Media Assets Different icons are used to identify Interplay Production assets and indi
Working with Interplay | Production Assets 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. To close the folder, click the turn-down arrow again. To open an asset: t Double-click the asset. The asset opens in the Media pane. If the asset is a sequence and the Sequence pane is open, the asset is loaded in the Sequence Timeline.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets 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. The pointer changes to a bi-directional arrow when it hovers over the correct location. 2. Click and drag it right or left to adjust column width. Moving Columns You can rearrange the order of columns displayed in the Assets pane. To move a column: 1.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets Renaming Assets You can rename clips and other assets in the Interplay Production database. To rename an asset, do one of the following: t Select the asset, click the name of the asset, and type the new name. t Select the asset, press F2 (Windows) or Enter (Macintosh), and type the new name. 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.
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 • Text is limited to 32,000 characters. • The following characters are not valid for text in the Metadata pane: - Interplay Production asset names: / \ | Enter - Interplay Production folder names: * ? : / \ " < > | Enter If you try to save information that includes an invalid character, an error message is displayed. n You can also display database properties in an Assets tab (see “Adding or Removing Property Columns” on page 43).
Working with Interplay | Production Assets This setting persists from one session to another. The exact frame displayed depends on the type of timecode (drop-frame, non-drop frame, 24 fps, and so on). Timecodes are displayed beneath each thumbnail, reflecting the timecode display that is set in the Media pane: Master, Absolute, or Remain. • Marker-based: Shows any frame with one or more markers. A frame with a marker is indicated by a marker in the upper right corner of the thumbnail.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets 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. In the Assets pane, do one of the following: t Double-click a master clip or subclip. t Right-click a sequence and select Load in Asset Mode. The asset is loaded in the Media viewer and thumbnails are displayed in the Thumbnail pane, with timecode for each thumbnail below it.
Working with Interplay | Production Assets The following illustration shows the result of a search of both a local Interplay Production system and an Interplay Production Archive system. The highlighted asset is stored on the archive system. You can right-click the asset, and select Restore From Archive. If you try to play an archived asset that does not have media on the local Interplay Production server, the following error message is displayed: “Asset not found in Interplay database.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 3. Select a profile from the Name menu. Profiles are created by an Interplay Production administrator. 4. Click Restore From Archive. The job request is sent. You can check the status of the job in the Progress pane. 5. When the job is complete, you can play the asset in the Media viewer. Working with Interplay | MAM Assets An Interplay MAM database holds media assets such as video and audio assets, basic sequences, and graphics.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets • “Creating an Interplay | MAM Sequence” on page 116 • “Working with Associations (Interplay | MAM)” on page 308 • “Creating Processes” on page 378 Navigating the Interplay | MAM Workspace The contents of released folders in an Interplay MAM Workspace are displayed in the Assets pane. You can double-click an asset to open it in any pane that supports displaying aspects of that asset. To open an Interplay MAM folder: t Double-click the folder in the Assets pane.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Icon Description Column Graphics asset Name Image asset Name Season asset Name Sequence asset (audio or video) Name Series asset Name Stock Footage asset Name Trailer asset Name 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.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Icon Description Column Trailer asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image Thumbnail is assigned as a thumbnail Video or Rushes asset placeholder icon. Is shown until a specific image is assigned as a thumbnail.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 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. Note that you can move but cannot copy folders. Your ability to move a folder depends on Interplay MAM rules: The folder permissions in Interplay MAM Workspace must allow moving the selected folder and adding it to the target folder. To move a folder to another folder by using commands: 1. Select one or more folders. 2.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Adding Assets to a Folder You can add assets to a folder from the Search pane’s search results list after you have conducted a search, from the Tasks pane’s attachments area or from the Associations pane’s associations list. This action does not save or copy the asset to the folder. You are creating and saving only a reference to the asset. Each folder can have only one reference that points to the same asset.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets To trigger the rights evaluation for a basic sequence: t Select the basic sequence in the Assets pane. The rights evaluation starts. During this time a busy indicator is shown in the Rights column. When the rights evaluation is finished the calculated usage right of the basic sequence is indicated by the corresponding Rights Indicator icon. For more information, see “Identifying Interplay | MAM Media Assets” on page 52.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Moving or Copying Assets You can move or copy basic sequences and other assets in the Interplay MAM Workspace by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands, or drag and drop. To move or copy an asset to another folder by using commands: 1. Select one or more assets. 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Pane Menu button and select Cut, or right-click and select Cut. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Copy, or right-click and select Copy. 3.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Removing Asset References You can remove basic sequences and other assets in the Interplay MAM Workspace. Note that this action removes the reference in the folder but does not delete the basic sequence or the asset itself. To remove asset references from folders: 1. Select one or more assets. 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click and select Delete. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Delete. A security prompt is displayed. 3. Click Yes.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Pane Menu button and select Actions. t (Assets and Search pane only) Right-click and select Actions. 3. (Option) Select the MAM system on which the Delete process is to be created. This must be the system from which the asset was opened. 4. Select the Delete Assets and Sequences process type. The Delete Assets and Sequences process dialog box opens and shows the assets that are to be deleted as attachments. 5.
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 Property Types In Interplay MAM, the following three property types are distinguished: • Single-value property: When you edit metadata that is allocated to a single-value property, there is only one field available in which to enter data, so only one value can be entered for this asset property. For more information, see “Editing Metadata” on page 64.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Display Field type Description Date/Time Date/Time fields are preformatted. The display format depends on the locale of your account. You can enter the entire Date/Time values manually, or select the date value from a calendar tool. Timecode Timecode and Duration fields are preformatted for different timecode types (PAL, NTSC). They also support pasting copied timecodes. Duration Integer Integer fields require figures.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets Editing Metadata In the Metadata pane, if a property is editable, a text box, drop-down menu, or other input control is displayed. Depending on the configuration of the asset template in Interplay MAM, the metadata might be distributed in several sections on the Metadata pane. Note the following: • If you are editing an Interplay MAM asset, metadata is locked to prevent other users from editing the metadata at the same time.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 3. To edit a legal list property, click in the field and do one of the following: t Double-click the value or check its check box. 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. 4.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 3. Press the Tab key to move to the next property within the compound property or use Shift+Tab to move to the previous property. 4. To change the position of a value, click the drag icon to the right of the value, drag it and drop it between other values or at the beginning or end of the property’s value list. 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.
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 doubleclicking thumbnails can help you navigate through video assets more quickly.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 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. In the Assets pane, double-click a video asset. The asset is loaded in the Media viewer and thumbnails are displayed in the Thumbnail pane, with timecode for each thumbnail below it. 3. To show only time-based thumbnails, click the Marker button so that it is inactive.
Working with Interplay | MAM Assets 3. Select the filter you want to apply or deselect the filter you want to cancel: - All: Shows all marker-based thumbnails. Includes all other filter criteria. - User: Shows the thumbnails that are extracted by a user in Interplay MAM Cataloger. - Shot Boundaries: Shows the thumbnails that are extracted by the Video Analysis for shot boundaries. - Low: Shows the thumbnails that are extracted by the Video Analysis already for small changes in image content.
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 The Project/Story Pane The contents of a project include an ALL queue, a QUERY queue, a BUCKET queue, and any subtopics, known as facets. For example, the following illustration shows the Hurricane Earl project has facets for topics like Damage and Evacuation. 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.
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 Associating Stories with Projects or Facets Any indexed story can be associated with a project or facet. To associate an indexed story with a project or facet. 1. Navigate to and open the indexed queue in which the story resides. 2. Right-click the story in the Queue/Story pane and select Associate Story to Project. 3. In the dialog box, select the projects or facets to which you want the story associated. 4. Click Apply.
4 Building a Script The following main topics describe the Queue/Story pane, basic techniques of script building, and some typical production tasks.
The Queue/Story Pane q q w w 1 The Queue section 2 The Story section, also called the Script Editor. For more information, see “The Script Editor” on page 77. The name on the tab of a Queue/Story pane changes based on the story you select in the pane. You can move the mouse pointer over the tab to view the entire path name. 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.
The Queue/Story Pane n If you change queue attributes in iNEWS while you are working in MediaCentral UX, you need to sign out of MediaCentral UX and sign in again to view your changes.” The Queue/Story Toolbar The Queue/Story pane includes a toolbar that has buttons that toggle the display within the pane and provide functions for editing your story. q q w q e q q r q tq y q uq iq o q 1) q 1! q 1@ q 1# q ggq 1% q 1^ Display or Control Description 1 Queue Toggles display of the queue on or off.
The Queue/Story Pane The Script Editor The section of the pane in which the story appears is called the Script Editor. There are three subsections of the Script Editor: Story Form, Cue List, and Story. The following illustration identifies these areas, along with where a story’s timing is displayed.
Creating a Story To hide the Story Form, do one of the following: t Click the Pane Menu button located at the top right corner of the Queue/Story pane and select Hide Story Form. t Right-click in the Story Form and select Hide Story Form. To show the Story Form: t Click the Pane Menu button located at the top right corner of the Queue/Story pane and select Show Story Form. The Story is the sub-section of the Script Editor in which you write your story or view the text of an existing story.
Creating a Story 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 doubleclicking on the new row. 4.
Segmenting Stories Segmenting Stories You can write a story in a single segment or divide it into multiple segments. The following illustration shows a story in a single segment. 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 90. 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.
Writing Stories in Right-to-Left Languages 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). To rearrange segments in a story: t n Click the header bar of the segment you want to move and drag it up or down into its new location.
Using Annotation to Dictate a Story To manually switch alignment of the segment that has focus, do one of the following: t Press Ctrl+Shift. t Select “Switch to RTL” from the Queue/Story Pane menu. If the story is RTL, select “Switch to LTR.” t Right-click and select “Switch to RTL.” If the story is RTL, select “Switch to LTR.” Using Annotation to Dictate a Story The Annotation feature allows users to dictate their stories, using the Chrome browser's Speech-toText technology.
Editing a Story Editing a Story When you modify a story, changes you make in MediaCentral UX are automatically updated in the iNEWS newsroom computer system. The reverse is also true: changes made to a story at an iNEWS workstation are automatically updated if you open the story in MediaCentral UX. If you edit a story that is transmitted to a destination queue marked as an update queue, the edited story replaces the older version in the update queue.
Editing a Story To set text to bold, do one of the following: t Select the text and click the B button. t Select the text and press Ctrl+B (Windows) or Command+B (Macintosh). To italicize text, do one of the following: t Select the text and click the I button. t Select the text and press Ctrl+I (Windows) or Command+I (Macintosh). To underline text, do one of the following: t Select the text and click the U button. t Select the text and press Ctrl+U (Windows) or Command+U (Macintosh).
Editing a Story The following procedures use the toolbar buttons circled in red in the following illustration. To mark text as a normal text: t Select the text and click the N button or press Ctrl+Alt+N (Windows). To mark text as a presenter instruction: t Select the text and click the P button or press Ctrl+Alt+P (Windows). To mark text as a closed captioning text: t n Select the text and click the CC button or press Ctrl+Alt+C (Windows).
Editing a Story 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. t Press Alt+Insert (Windows). 3. Enter the production cue information, such as Take VO, On Camera, Take SOT, or Take Live. The information is automatically saved when you click someplace else in the story.
Copying Stories To add machine control instructions for a CG event: 1. Insert a production cue in the script. 2. In the production cue text box (in the Cue List), type *CG 2line and press Enter. 3. Type the first line of text that should appear on the 2-line CG graphic, such as Mayor Joe Smith. Press Enter. 4. Type the second line of text that should appear on the 2-line CG graphic, such as Pleasantville. Your CG machine control instruction will appear in blue font.
Locking and Unlocking a Story t Select a story from the search results in the Search pane, and drag it to another location in an open queue. A copied story appears in the new place in the queue or in a new queue. If you copy a story from one queue to another, and the preferences were set in your iNEWS client or configuration to provide a confirmation of the action, MediaCentral UX displays a message asking you to confirm the copy operation.
Inserting Script Templates 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.
Adding Media to a Story 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. The MOS Gateway will then return data back to iNEWS and MediaCentral UX in the production cue.
Associating a Sequence with a Story 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 113), you can associate an existing sequence with an iNEWS story. This lets you create a video sequence in MediaCentral UX or in Media Composer, and then later associate it with a story in the iNEWS database.
Associating a Sequence with a Story To set options for associating sequences with stories: 1. Sign in to MediaCentral UX as an administrator. 2. Select System Settings from the Layout selector. The System Settings layout opens. 3. In the Settings pane select iNEWS. The Details pane displays the iNEWS settings. 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.
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 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. t Select the story in the queue, click the Pane Menu button, and select Unassociate Sequence. Creating a Text-Only Story Segment 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.
Copying and Sending iNEWS Links Any changes you make to the sequence are saved with the sequence. If you disconnect a story segment and save the sequence, the next time you open the sequence the story segment will still be disconnected. Copying and Sending iNEWS Links You can copy and send links to stories, queues, iNEWS folders, iNEWS facets, and iNEWS projects. These links are in URL format and can be shared through e-mail, wikis, documents, or chat messages.
Recovering Stories In Case of Disconnect You can recover your unsaved changes in several different ways: • If a disconnection or failure occurs and you remain signed in, the editing functions of the Queue/ Story pane are deactivated, and the Auto Recovery dialog box is displayed, as described below. • If the disconnection or failure results in the need to sign in again, a dialog box is displayed that lists assets with unsaved changes. Click the name of the asset to open the last saved version.
Deleting or Recovering a Deleted Story n n This feature works similarly for stories and sequences. For specific information about auto-save for sequences, see “Recovering Sequences” on page 119. If your browser crashes, but the MediaCentral UX session and iNEWS session are still active, iNEWS stories are locked for five minutes. You will not be able to edit or restore the story unless the lock is released or the MediaCentral UX and iNEWS sessions end.
Production Tasks The following illustration shows two story groups: the first with three stories about a gun ban, and the second with two stories about education. After you create a group, you can move the group together within a queue. You can also create stories within an existing group or remove them from a story group. To create a group from existing stories: 1. In the Queue/Story pane, shift+click to select two or more consecutive stories. 2.
Production Tasks Ordering a Queue As the stories in a rundown queue develop, the order in which they are presented in the newscast can change. Only individuals with the proper permissions to order queues (usually a member of the production staff) can do so. Users with ordering privileges can select and move stories to change their sequence within a queue. You can select one or multiple stories, and you can reorder the rundown by dragging the stories to a new position and dropping them in the new location.
Production Tasks Floating Stories When you are unsure where in a rundown you want to place a story or whether you want to keep it in the rundown at all, you can float the story. Floating a story keeps it in the queue but removes the story’s time from the show timing, causing it to be ignored by machine control and the network prompters. To float a story: 1. Open the queue containing the story with which you want to work. For more information, see “Editing a Story” on page 83. 2.
Production Tasks n Turning on the monitor server from MediaCentral UX does not “load” the monitor server. That is done from an Avid iNEWS workstation; once loaded, the monitor server sends its playlist to a specified device automation system, such as iNEWS | Command. Displaying iNEWS Timing Clocks MediaCentral UX can display the iNEWS show timing clocks, which provide up-to-the-second information related to an on-air show. To view the show timing clocks: 1.
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 Sequences • Opening and Editing an Existing Sequence in the Sequence Pane • Opening a Sequence Assoc
The Sequence Pane The following illustration shows the two timelines and two orientations and identifies the controls. 1! 1@ 1& 1# 1$1% q q w w e e r e t e y e u e i e o e 1) e 1^ Left: Vertical timeline for an advanced sequence. Right: Horizontal timeline for a basic sequence. Control Description 1 Sequence Pane tab Move the mouse pointer over the tab to display information about the sequence. See “Viewing Sequence Information” on page 110.
The Sequence Pane Control Description 10 Show/Hide Empty Timing Blocks (Script sequence only) Shows or hides empty timing blocks. See “Showing and Hiding Empty Timing Blocks” on page 130. 11 Sequence zoom bar Lets you enlarge a section of the timeline. Displays segments, tracks, and other sequence information. See “Using the Sequence Zoom Bar” on page 108. 12 Track selectors Lets you select the track for an insert edit, an overwrite edit, or a split segment operation (advanced sequence only).
The Sequence Pane The following table describes the items in the Pane menu. n Menu Item Description Undo Undoes the previous edit. See “Undoing and Redoing an Action in the Sequence Pane” on page 147. Redo Redoes the next previously undone edit. Save As Lets you rename and save a sequence in a different location. See “Saving a Version of a Sequence” on page 118. Save Sequence Saves the sequence in its current location in the Interplay Production or Interplay MAM database.
Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences Understanding Basic and Advanced Sequences When you create a sequence from the Assets pane, you can choose whether to create a basic sequence or an advanced sequence. Interplay Production supports basic sequences and advanced sequences. Interplay MAM supports only basic sequences. • A basic sequence includes a timeline with one video track and one audio track. The single audio track represents all source audio tracks.
Selecting a Horizontal or Vertical Timeline The following illustration shows, from left to right, Video with NAT and SOT, VO, Video with NAT, and Video only. 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 201. You can add video dissolves to an advanced sequence.
Using the Sequence Zoom Bar To select the orientation of the timeline: t Click the Sequence Pane Menu button, select Orientation, and select Auto, Horizontal, or Vertical. 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.
Using the Sequence Zoom Bar 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. The zoom region moves to and enlarges the section of the timeline that includes the position indicator. Position indicator in the zoom bar and in the zoom region. You can click anywhere in the zoom bar to move the zoom region left or right.
Timeline Paging During Playback The zoom region moves in or out symmetrically unless one end reaches the end of the sequence. If you want to drag only one end, Alt+click the handle and drag it. t With the Sequence pane active, press the Down Arrow key to zoom in by 50 percent or press the Up Arrow key to zoom out by 50 percent. Press Shift+Up Arrow to reset the zoom level to show the entire sequence. Timeline Paging During Playback Starting with MediaCentral UX v2.
Viewing Sequence Information The following table describes the information you can view for Interplay Production sequences. 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.
Creating a Sequence Item Description 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 readonly: due to Interplay MAM access rules or because it represents an external sequence. Creating a Sequence You can create a sequence in MediaCentral UX and save it as an asset in the Interplay Production or Interplay MAM database. You can also create a sequence and associate it with an iNEWS story.
Creating a Sequence Creating an Interplay | Production Sequence There are several ways to create an Interplay Production sequence: n • Create a sequence in the Interplay Production database without loading it in the Sequence pane, or with the Sequence pane closed. Use this procedure to create a “placeholder” sequence for later editing. • Create a sequence, edit it in the Sequence pane, and save it. Use this procedure to create a sequence independently from an iNEWS story.
Creating a Sequence 4. Rename the sequence in the Assets pane by doing one of the following: t Select the sequence, click the name of the sequence, and type the new name, t Select the sequence, press F2 (Windows) or Enter (Macintosh), and type the new name. 5. Edit the sequence. See “Editing a Sequence” on page 132. 6. 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.
Creating a Sequence Rules for Creating a Script Sequence (Interplay | Production) Keep in mind the following rules when creating a sequence that you want to associate with a story (referred to as a script sequence): • When creating a new sequence that you want to associate with a story, first open the Sequence pane, then click the Open Sequence button to associate the sequence with the story.
Creating a Sequence Creating an Interplay | MAM Sequence For Interplay MAM sequences, you define the target frame rate when you create the basic sequence. By default, you can add clips with a differing frame rate. Note that mixed frame rate editing might be disabled by configuration in Interplay MAM. To create a basic sequence in the Interplay MAM database, edit it, and save it: 1. Select Panes > Sequence to open the Sequence pane. 2.
Saving 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 audioonly basic sequence is a basic sequence without video track, but with one audio track.
Saving a Version of a Sequence n You can move or copy a sequence in the Assets pane by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands. To save a sequence, do 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) If you try to close a modified sequence without saving it, the Save Changes dialog box opens and asks if you want to save your changes.
Recovering Sequences To export an Interplay MAM basic sequence: 1. Do one of the following: t Open a basic sequence in the Media pane. t In the Assets pane, navigate to the desired folder and select the basic sequence. t In the Search pane, conduct a search and select the basic sequence in the results list. 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Pane Menu button and select Actions. t (Assets and Search pane only) Right-click and select Actions. 3.
Recovering Sequences Each edit you make is stored, so that the state of the sequence after the last edit can be restored in case of a crash or timeout, and no edits are lost. n For information about recovering stories, see “Recovering Stories In Case of Disconnect” on page 95.
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 172. 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 Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story If you are a journalist working on a sequence associated with a story (a script sequence), you need to edit the clips in your sequence to match the script in your story. In MediaCentral UX, both the story segments and the Sequence pane include timing information to help you edit your script and your sequence. In the Story pane, a script is divided into story segments.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story As you edit the text in your script and the media in your sequence, the story segments in the Story pane and the timing blocks in the Sequence pane remain synchronized to help you edit media to match your script.
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. • 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.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story • If you insert a clip that is 16 seconds long, or you trim a clip to 16 seconds, the text duration and the media duration match. The timing display changes to 0:16/0:16. 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 131.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story • You can create an L-cut within a timing block using the standard procedure for creating an L cut (see “Using L-Cuts in the Timeline” on page 154). To create an L-cut beyond a timing block boundary, you need to use the extend segment feature. See “Extending a Segment into Another Timing Block” on page 128. • You can create a new timing block and corresponding story segment by dragging a clip to the “New” timing block or past it.
Editing a Sequence Associated with a Story After you click the Extend/Retract button, the video and NAT for the selected segment extend into the second timing block. The selected video and NAT overwrite the video and NAT in the second timing block, without affecting the SOT. The Extend/Retract button turns orange and its tool tip changes to “Retract.
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 94.
Editing a Sequence n The timing block does not need to include media. Media does not need to be selected. 3. Drag the border to shorten or lengthen the duration of the timing block. The following illustration shows a timing block duration shortened to match the duration of the video. Note that the media duration (0:13) does not match the text timing (0:16).
Editing a Sequence n • “Inserting Video Dissolves (Advanced Sequences Only)” on page 157 • “Enabling Audio Scrubbing” on page 158 • “Modifying the Start Timecode” on page 158 Ancillary data that is contained in a clip is preserved when you edit the clip into 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.
Editing a Sequence For Interplay MAM sequences, the target frame rate is defined when the basic sequence is created. By default, you can add clips with a differing frame rate but mixed frame rate editing might be disabled by configuration in Interplay MAM. 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 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 138). 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.
Editing a Sequence Performing an Overwrite Edit in a Basic Sequence If you are editing a basic sequence (Interplay Production or Interplay MAM), you can use the Overwrite feature to replace a portion of the sequence with a clip that is loaded in Asset mode. There are two ways to perform an overwrite edit: • Click the Overwrite button or press the B key. This method provides you with more options: - You can use the position indicator as an In point for the overwrite.
Editing a Sequence If you release the mouse button below the guideline, you perform an insert edit, as indicated by the yellow arrow and yellow overlay. 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.
Editing a Sequence Performing an Overwrite Edit in an Advanced Sequence If you are editing an advanced sequence, you can use the Overwrite feature to replace a portion of the sequence with a clip that is loaded in Asset mode. There are two ways to perform an overwrite edit: • Click the Overwrite button or press the B key. This method provides you with more options: - You can use the position indicator as an In point for the overwrite.
Editing a Sequence The following illustration shows how a video and NAT overwrite edit is displayed when you drag a clip to the timeline. The NAT track indicator is enabled. 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.
Editing a Sequence 3. (Optional) Click a track selector to enable the audio track or tracks on which you want to overwrite the audio. If you do not enable an audio track, only video is overwritten. n The Video track is always enabled. You can overwrite video only, but you cannot overwrite audio only. 4. Click the Overwrite button or press the B key. The selected material overwrites the material in the timeline and the position indicator moves to the first frame of the next segment.
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 149.
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 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. To replace video and audio 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. 3. Select the NAT or SOT track, or both. 4. Click the Replace button. The selected video and audio is replaced.
Editing a Sequence 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. Load a clip in Asset mode and mark an IN point. 2. In the sequence, select the voice-over audio segment you want to replace. 3. Click the VO button. 4. Click the Replace button.
Editing a Sequence Enabling an audio track provides options for the following operations: • Splitting a segment. See “Splitting a Segment” on page 155. • Performing an insert edit. See “Performing an Insert Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 134. • Performing an overwrite edit. See “Performing an Overwrite Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 138. • Performing a replace edit. See “Performing a Replace Edit” on page 141. See the appropriate procedure for more information.
Editing a Sequence You can perform an insert edit or an overwrite edit. Replace editing is supported only when using a basic sequence as a source for a basic sequence. Note the following: • If the segment that you edit from the source includes more than one segment, all segments are added individually to the timeline. The last segment is selected. • Restrictions in the source sequence are copied to the output sequence.
Editing a 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 t Click the segment you want to delete and select Delete from the Sequence pane menu. t Click the segment you want to delete and press Delete or Backspace (Windows). Deleting a segment from the sequence does not remove the original source media from the server. Adding and Removing Audio Segments If a video clip is associated with one or more audio tracks, and you add the video clip in the Sequence Timeline, you can add or remove its associated audio segments.
Editing a Sequence Creating an Audio-Only NAT or SOT Segment When editing a sequence, you might need to replace an unneeded video segment, such as an oncamera stand up, while keeping the audio. If you want to replace the video but keep the audio, you can perform a video-only overwrite edit. The audio segment remains in the timeline, without associated video, and you can edit the audio segment independently.
Editing a Sequence 4. Perform an overwrite edit. For more information, see “Performing an Overwrite Edit in an Advanced Sequence” on page 138. 5. If necessary, trim the transitions to align audio and video. Snapping in the Timeline In some cases, edits that you make in the Sequence Timeline are limited to particular timecode locations. In other cases, you can make an edit to any timecode location. For example, dragging a video segment is limited to the start or end of another video segment.
Editing a Sequence Trimming Segments in the Timeline You can trim a segment from either end, lengthening or shortening the segment frame-by-frame or by larger increments. You can also perform a double-sided trim, in which the combined duration of both segments remains the same.
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 n To deselect a segment, click in an unused part of the timeline. 2. Do one of the following: n t Right-click and select Trim Top. t Press Shift+[. This keyboard shortcut is designed for an American keyboard; it might not work with another keyboard layout. To trim from the end of a segment: 1. Position the position indicator on the frame to which you want to trim. You can trim a selected segment or all segments that overlap at the position indicator.
Editing a Sequence Shift+M Trim the segment’s selected end by 10 frames earlier. Shift+ comma (,) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame earlier. Shift+period (.) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame later. Shift+slash (/) Trim the segment’s selected end 10 frames later. n This keyboard shortcut is designed for an American keyboard; it may not work with another keyboard layout.
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 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. The following illustration shows a video segment with associated NAT and SOT tracks enabled for splitting, and the results of the split operation. Left: Before splitting the segments; Right: After splitting the segments You can now edit the split segments, for example, by deleting one of the new segments or inserting a new clip at the split.
Editing a Sequence n If you set the Logging pane to display only those markers created by you, only your markers are visible in the Sequence pane. For more information, see “The Logging Pane for Interplay | Production Assets” on page 264. Inserting Video Dissolves (Advanced Sequences Only) You can insert a video dissolve to transition on center between segments in an advanced sequence.
Editing a Sequence 3. By default the duration of dissolves is set to 20 frames, divided evenly at 10 frames in the leading segment and 10 frames in the trailing segment. This can be changed, however, by doubleclicking on the Dissolve icon or by right-clicking on the icon and selecting Modify Duration. If altered, any new dissolve added to the sequence afterwards will have the altered setting for its duration.
Editing a Sequence In the following example, the first digit is changed from 0 to 1. To restore the original digits of the timecode, press the Backspace key or the Delete key. 4. Click OK. To switch between drop-frame and non-drop frame for NTSC sequences: t Type a semicolon (;) or colon (:) at any time.
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 11 MultiRez button Description If this option is enabled, lets you choose to play back at the highest resolution. See “Playing Back at the Highest Resolution” on page 187. Media Pane Menu Options (Asset Mode) The following table lists options in the Media Pane menu when an asset is loaded in Asset mode. For more information, see the appropriate topic. Menu Option Description Match Frame See “Using Match Frame” on page 188.
The Media Pane Menu Option Description Send to Playback Settings See “Specifying Send to Playback Settings” on page 360. Interplay Production only Actions See “Creating Processes” on page 378. Interplay MAM only Quick Send See “Using the Quick Send Feature” on page 384. Interplay MAM only Deliver to Me See “Delivering Assets and Media to a Local Workgroup” on page 373. Interplay Production only Deliver To See “Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup” on page 371.
The Media Pane Media Pane: Output Mode The following illustration shows the Media pane in Output mode. Displays and controls are described in the accompanying table. 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.
The Media Pane 5 Display or Control Description 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 Timeline includes timing marks, a position indicator, and other controls. For more information, see “Working in the Media Timeline” on page 184. • The Media zoom bar lets you enlarge a section of the Media Timeline. For more information, see “Using the Media Zoom Bar” on page 185.
The Media Pane Menu Option Description MultiAngle View See “Loading a Group Clip and Changing the Angle View” on page 218. Interplay Production only Playback Quality See “Selecting the Playback Quality” on page 174. Playback Latency See “Adjusting for Playback Latency” on page 174. Playback Mode (Frame or File) See “Selecting Frame-Based Playback or File-Based Playback” on page 175. Basic sequences only. Overlay Text Displays the contents of a selected marker.
Playing Assets 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. q w 1 Play In to Out 2 Play/Pause e 3 Review Out You can also use keyboard controls, including the J, K, and L keys. For more information, see “Using the J-K-L Keys for Playback” on page 170. For information about stepping through media, see “Stepping Through Assets” on page 171.
Playing Assets Using the J-K-L Keys for Playback The J-K-L keys on the keyboard allow you to play and shuttle through media at varying speeds. This feature, also referred to as three-button play or variable-speed play, allows you to use three fingers to manipulate the speed of playback for greater control. The playback speed is displayed in the upper right corner of the Media viewer. For backward play, the display includes a left-pointing arrow.
Playing Assets To slow or change play direction one speed at a time: t Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) while you tap the J or L key. Play slows or changes direction one speed at a time from the speed at which you are currently playing. -4x -3x -2x -1x 0 1x 2x 3x 4x For example, you are shuttling backward with the J key at 2x normal speed. Press and hold Alt and tap the L key once. Play slows to backward at normal speed (1x speed). Hold Alt and tap L once again. Play stops.
Playing Assets Playing Recently Viewed Assets MediaCentral UX keeps a history of the last 10 assets that you loaded in the Asset mode of the Media pane. You select any of these assets to play, rather than selecting them from the Interplay Production database tree. To play one of the last 10 assets loaded in Asset mode: 1. Click the Pane Menu button. 2. Click Recently Viewed Assets > asset_name.
Playing Assets Sequences that are fully supported for playback in MediaCentral UX are marked by a green triangle in the State column in the Assets pane. These sequences play as the editor intended, with all effects rendered. n The State column is not displayed by default. For information about how to display it, see “Adding or Removing Property Columns” on page 43.
Playing Assets 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 189. 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 Selecting Frame-Based Playback or File-Based Playback Earlier versions of MediaCentral UX used only frame-based playback. Starting with v2.1, MediaCentral UX includes an option to use file-based playback. The following sections compare the two types of playback and provide recommendations for when to use them. • Frame-based playback: Media is encoded as a series of JPEG files that are streamed directly from the server for playback.
Playing Assets Note the following: • You can select the type of playback for assets loaded in Asset mode or for basic sequences loaded in Output mode. • You cannot select file-based playback for advanced sequences. • Variable-speed play (J-K-L play) is not available for file-based playback. • When you load an asset for file-based playback, the Media Timeline displays additional information. • - A progress bar indicates that an asset is loading.
Working with Remote Assets If you select file-based playback, the File Scrubbing Mode menu option is displayed. 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.
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.
Working with Markers and Restrictions You can change an In point’s location by dragging it along the Media Timeline. To mark an Out point: 1. Load a clip in the Media pane and navigate to the location where you want to set the Out point. 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Mark Out button. t Press O or R on the keyboard. The Out point is moved to the location you marked. If the clip is playing, marking an Out point does not stop playback.
Displaying Captions and Segments Marker icons are displayed in the Media timeline. If you park the position indicator on a marker that includes text, and you select Overlay Text from the Pane menu, the text is displayed as an overlay in the Media viewer. You can click a marker to jump to it and display its text. w q 1 Marker indicators in the Media Timeline 2 Marker indicator and marker text You can use keyboard shortcuts to step to the next marker or to the previous marker.
Displaying Captions and Segments When you play an Interplay MAM video asset that was annotated in the Logging pane or Interplay MAM Cataloger, you can display stratum annotations of type “text” as an overlay in the Media viewer. You can select the stratum from which the annotations are displayed. The timeline in the Media pane shows alternating orange and blue sections that represent the individual segments of the selected stratum.
Using the Timecode Displays Using the Timecode Displays There are four timecode displays in the top-right corner of the Media pane. The information displayed depends on whether you are in Asset mode or Output mode, and the options you select. If you are playing an Interplay MAM audio asset, the timecode displays milliseconds instead of frames (for example, 00:01:05:243).
Entering Timecode to Cue a Frame 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. Starting with MediaCentral UX v2.6, existing timecode digits are changed to hyphens. Hyphens are replaced by the digits you type.
Working in the Media Timeline While you are entering a forward value, you can type a plus sign (+) again to switch to directentry mode. While you are entering a backward value, you can type a minus sign (-) to switch to direct-entry mode. Any numbers you type are preserved. Working in the Media Timeline The Media Timeline is a graphical representation of the length and time spans of an asset or sequence. The Media Timeline includes timing marks, a position indicator, and other controls.
Using the Media Zoom Bar Using the Media Zoom Bar The Media zoom bar is located below the Media Timeline. You can use the zoom bar to enlarge a section of the Media Timeline so that you can work more easily with long clips. By default, the zoom bar is set to display the entire clip in the Media Timeline. n The Media zoom bar is similar to the Sequence zoom bar (in the Sequence pane), but the two zoom bars operate independently.
Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution w q q q 1. Area in which the mouse wheel controls the zoom region. 2. The zoom region within the zoom bar. Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution When you play media in MediaCentral UX in a multi-resolution environment (Interplay Production only), the media server plays the most compressed available media. For a send-to-playback operation, the send-to-playback profile specifies a high-resolution target resolution.
Playing Back at the Highest Resolution 2. Play the sequence. To review an asset in the STP target resolution (multi-function button): 1. In Asset mode or Output mode, click the arrow next to the MultiRez button, select STP Target Resolution, then click the MultiRez button. 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.
Using Match Frame 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 186. Using Match Frame The Match Frame feature lets you load a master clip that contains a specific frame of a sequence. This clip is called the source clip.
Transcoding Assets If the asset is stored in more than one folder, the Open Enclosing Folder window opens and displays a list of folders that contain the asset. Double-click one of the listed folders and the folder opens in a new Assets pane, with the selected asset highlighted. You can use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate through the list, and the Enter key to open the enclosing folder for a selected clip. Use the Esc key to cancel and close the window.
Transcoding Assets Mode Description Available for... CROSSRATE Creates a master clip in a project format different from the Master clips project format of the original clip. An Interplay Production administrator needs to create profiles for each of these modes. This topic describes using the Mixdown feature in MediaCentral. For information about other modes, see the Interplay | Production Services Setup and User’s Guide. A common use of the Transcode option is to mix down a 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 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. When you are playing close to the end of an in-progress clip, the position indicator can reach the end of the currently ingested media before a new chunk of media is ingested. Playback then stops without a message.
Exporting an MP4 File To view an image: 1. Do one of the following: t In the Assets pane, double-click the image asset or drag the image from the pane and drop it on the Media viewer. t In the Search pane, double-click the image asset or drag the image from the pane and drop it on the Media viewer. t In the Messages pane, double-click the image asset or drag the image from the pane and drop it on the Media viewer.
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 • Recording an Audio Clip The Audio Pane The Audio pane provides you with controls for monitoring and adjusting audio levels.
The Audio Pane The Audio Pane for Asset Mode and Basic Sequences The Audio pane displays the same controls when you load an asset in Asset mode and when you load a basic sequence in Output mode. In both cases, the Audio pane shows the audio tracks that are available for monitoring and lets you select which tracks to monitor. You can monitor the audio level in the audio meters, and use the audio slider to adjust the level.
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 207. 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 207.
The Audio Pane The following illustration identifies controls in the Audio pane when an advanced sequence is open in Output mode, Mix Mode is set for Stereo, and the position indicator spans all three tracks. yt t ut i q w e r t Control Description 1 Panning knob Controls the panning for each track. In the current release, the panning buttons are inactive. See “Panning for Advanced Sequences” on page 206.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences Control 8 Pane Menu button Description Provides the following options: • Mix Mode: Select Stereo or Mono to specify the audio output. See “Setting the Audio Mix” on page 207. • Set Reference Level: Lets you set the reference level for audio monitoring. See “Setting the Reference Level” on page 208. The default is -20. • Help: Displays information about the audio pane. Use the Help control buttons to access other Help topics.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences Audio Monitoring for Assets and Basic Sequences You can use controls in the Audio pane to select which tracks to monitor for assets and basic sequences. Assets and basic sequences can include up to 24 tracks of audio, and you can select any combination of tracks for monitoring. You can adjust the level of enabled tracks by using the volume slider next to the audio meters.
Working with Audio Tracks in Basic Sequences To disable monitoring of a track: t Click the M button so that it is colored orange. You can mute more than one track. To enable monitoring of a track: t Click the M button so that it is colored gray. To disable monitoring for all tracks: t Click the Mute All button. To enable monitoring for all tracks: t Click the Enable All button. To mute or enable all but a selected track: t Alt+click an M button for a specific track.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences Panning for Assets and Basic Sequences The default panning for clips, subclips, and basic sequences (left, right or center) is set in the Interplay Administrator (the Application Defaults tab in the Application Database Settings view). These settings include tracks 1 through 16. MediaCentral assigns odd tracks=left and even tracks=right for tracks 17 through 24.
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 Creation of Audio Dissolves By default, MediaCentral UX creates an audio dissolve between each clip in your sequence. Because the dissolve requires at least one frame to fade out or fade in, you should not mark your In point at the first frame of your clip or your Out point at the last frame of your clip. Instead, use the Video monitor controls to step in a few frames from the beginning or end of your clip before marking your In and Out points.
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. 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.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences To override the default source audio patching: 1. Right-click an audio clip in the Sequence pane and select the track you want to change. The menu shows the currently selected audio patching. The following illustration shows a clip with two audio tracks that uses the default mapping. A check mark shows the selected source track. Bold text indicates the default audio patching. 2. From the submenu, select the source track you want to use.
Working with Audio Tracks in Advanced Sequences 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. You can also adjust the master volume for the overall audio mix. Master volume adjustments are not saved. To adjust audio levels for a track in a sequence: t Drag the audio slider for the track you want to adjust.
Setting the Audio Mix 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-toplayback. In the current release, the panning buttons are inactive, as shown in the following illustration. n n For a procedure to override these defaults by using the application.
Setting the Reference Level Setting the Reference Level You can set the reference level for the master volume output. By default the reference level is -20 dB, which means a tone of -20dB is displayed as -20dB. If you change the reference level to -10, a tone of -20dB is displayed as -10dB. To set the reference level: 1. Click the pane menu button and select Set Reference Level. The Reference Level dialog box is displayed. 2. Type a dB (decibel) level from -50 through -1. 3. Click OK.
Recording a Voice-Over For Interplay Production sequences, the video format is usually determined by the first clip that you add to the sequence. However, if you record a voice-over before inserting a video clip, the video format and frame rate are determined by the Video Format setting in the Interplay Administrator. More specifically, the setting is found on the Editing Settings tab of the Application Database Settings view. This setting applies at the folder level.
Recording an Audio Clip 6. When you are ready to record, press the Record button. A three-second countdown is displayed in the viewer, audio pops mark each second, and the Record button flashes red. At the end of the countdown, the Record button remains red and you can begin recording. You can monitor the recording level in the audio meter and adjust it as needed while recording. Click Cancel to stop recording without saving the file. 7. When you are finished the recording, press the Record button again.
Recording an Audio Clip Interplay Administrator Settings When you create a recording, the format is determined by two settings in the Interplay Administrator. • Video Format setting on the Editing Settings tab of the Application Database Settings view. This setting determines the frame rate. If the setting is Any, MediaCentral UX uses NTSC 29.97 as the default format. The following illustration shows the Video Format for the root folder set for PAL 25i.
Recording an Audio Clip 2. Click the Voice-Over button. The Select Audio Clip Name and Folder dialog box is displayed. 3. Select the folder and clip name: a. Select the folder in which you want to save the recorded clip. Selection is limited to subfolders of the top-level folders. b. Type a file name or accept the default (the current date and time). c. Click Set Recording Target.
Recording an Audio Clip 4. Click the Media Pane Menu button, select Input Source, and select the device you want to use for recording. 5. Adjust the recording device parameters to your preference, and use the volume slider to set the desired volume level. 6. When you are ready to record, press the Record button. A three-second countdown is displayed in the viewer, audio pops mark each second, and the Record button flashes red.
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.
Working with Group Clips Interplay | Production Interplay Production v3.0 and later is required for complete support of group clips and multicamera workflows. A user working in an Avid editing application can check group clips in to and out from an Interplay Production database. Interplay Access users can view information about group clips, including master clip relatives. Group clips and sequences that contain group clips are supported by Interplay Transfer v3.
Working with Group Clips q q 1 2 3 w q 4 5 6 7 8 9 w e r w n The numbers shown in the multi-angle view illustration are for reference only and do not appear in the user interface. 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.
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 n MediaCentral UX supports group clips that include audio-only source clips (angles). However, at least one source clip must include video. If you select a video angle in the Media viewer, all clips with audio tracks are available for track mapping.
Working with Group Clips Working with Banks If a group clip contains more than nine camera angles, MediaCentral UX divides the angles into two banks, each containing either four or nine angles. If the last bank of a group clip has fewer than nine angles, the remaining angles are displayed as empty slots. 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.
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 To play all angles of a group clip: t In multi-angle view, click the Play button. All displayed angles play simultaneously. Timecode and Group Clips A group clip has its own timecode, which depends on the sync point and how the group clip was synced when created. The group clip takes its timecode from the first master clip in the bin when the group clip was created.
Working with Group Clips The following illustration shows controls in the Audio pane when a group clip is loaded. There are four track selectors, representing four audio tracks in the group clip. q q w q 1 n Audio Follows Video button 2 Audio Track Selectors The number of track selectors shown represents the maximum number of tracks in any of the clips that compose the group clip.
Working with Group Clips Controls for monitoring include the following: • Click the S button to solo one or more tracks. • Click the M button to mute one or more tracks. • Click the Mute All button to disable all tracks for monitoring. • Click the Enable All button to enable all tracks for monitoring. For more information on monitoring in the Audio pane, see “Using Audio” on page 194.
Working with Group Clips 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. This list can include audio-only clips if at least one source clip includes video. Audio-only clips are not displayed in the Media viewer. You can map audio for a specific track by selecting an angle from the drop-down menu. To map all tracks to the same angle, Alt+click the desired angle.
Working with Group Clips When you load a group clip in Asset mode, the Logging pane displays any markers or restrictions for master clips in the group clip. A resizable column labeled Angle displays the name of the master clip for each restriction, as shown in the following illustration. n Markers applied to angles of a group clip prior to version 2.4 show the name of the master clip in the Angle column. You can edit existing markers and restrictions or you can add new ones.
Creating a Basic Sequence with Group Clips To load the source group clip for a segment in a sequence: 1. In Output mode, navigate to the frame for which you want to load the group clip. 2. Click the Pane Menu button and select Match Frame. The group clip for the selected segment is loaded in the Media pane, in single-angle view. If you want, you can then use Match Frame to load the source master clip for the matching frame of the group clip.
Adding an Active Angle of a Group Clip to an Advanced Sequence 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. To change the audio selected for a group clip in a sequence: t Right-click the group clip or segment of a group clip, select Audio Mapping, select the audio track you want to map, and select the angle for the audio.
Sending a Sequence with Group Clips to a Playback Device To add an active angle of a group clip to an advanced sequence: 1. Load a group clip into the Media pane. 2. Select the active angle. 3. (Optional) Mark In and Out points. 4. Drag the clip to the Sequence Timeline of an advanced sequence. 5. (Optional) Change the audio mapping by right-clicking the clip in the timeline, selecting Audio mapping 1 or Audio mapping 2, then selecting the desired audio track.
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 • Search Criteria • 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 • Searching the central index returns all items that meet the criteria specified in the search, regardless of read permissions set in iNEWS. You cannot open an iNEWS story listed in the search results that you do not have the appropriate permissions to view. • The default search type for the Search bar is the federated search. The following limitations apply when using an indexed search with Interplay Production assets: • No per asset/per user permission.
Search and the Central Index The value of searching the central index lies in how it indexes databases in multiple zones and gives you quick access to all of the media stored in distributed systems for your organization, including both local and remote assets. You can focus your search by adding filters for any metadata included in the index.
Search and the Central Index The following table describes how Media Index categorizes Interplay MAM base information: Interplay MAM Information Media Index Field Prefix.ClassName. Type The prefix is “sequence” for EDL classes and “asset” for object classes — for example, sequence.EDL and asset.VIDEO.
The Search Bar In MCS v2.6 and later, you can search for Interplay MAM assets that include multi-value metadata. Multi-value metadata contain several keywords assigned to a single media object that are combined as a multi-value attribute. For more information, see the Avid Interplay MAM Desktop User’s Guide.
The Search Pane 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. You can open more than one Search pane. The following illustration identifies the elements in the Search pane used for an indexed search.
Search Criteria 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.
Search Criteria When you type your search term, Media Index provides search suggestions to aid in your search. A drop-down list appears with search suggestions built from the index appears when you type three or more characters. Your indexed search can return assets containing timecode-based metadata, such as assets where the text within markers matches your search query.
Search Criteria n 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. Search Prefixes Depending on the type of field, criteria offer different prefix options. n • any — All criteria can be set to a neutral mode called “any” where the criteria do not affect the search results.
Search Criteria 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 The search criteria menus provide the following search prefixes: • is — Matches the string exactly, including spaces. For example, “blue” matches “blue” but not “blueberry.” • is not — The opposite of “is.” This matches anything that is not the search expression. • contains — Matches substrings, including spaces. For example, “blues” matches both “blue” and “blueberry.” • does not contain — Only matches where the string does not occur.
Conducting a Search 5. If you select criteria that allow Boolean operators, click the search field for a criterion and select the appropriate operator: n Boolean fields only allow for selection of one of two states: true or false. For most systems, “false” is not the same as “not set.” 6. If you select criteria that require a date or span of dates, click the date field. The date picker window opens.
Conducting a Search 8. To specify a date range, do the following: n t Click one of the shortcut date buttons to set your search for one of the common time spans. The shortcut date buttons indicate the time from the present. t Use the date slider to specify a time span for your search. The date slider indicates the time from the present. t Use the calendar to select the appropriate dates for your search.
Conducting a Search To conduct a federated search: 1. Click the Pane Menu button and select Federated Search. 2. Click the Assets menu and select the type of asset: - All Assets: Select All Assets to search iNEWS, Interplay MAM, and Interplay Production databases for stories and media that match the search criteria. - Stories: Select Stories to search iNEWS databases for stories that match the search criteria.
Conducting a Search 4. (Search pane only) Click the Add Criteria button to add one or more additional search criteria. For information about the criteria, see “Advanced Search Filters” on page 248. To remove the added criteria, click the Minus button at the right of the pane above the Search button. 5. 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 6.
Conducting a Search 8. If you want to modify the time values to specify an exact time in hours, minutes, and seconds, do the following: a. Click a time value displayed in the criterion text box. The time value — hours, minutes, or seconds — is selected. b. Type a new value. When you type a legal value, the next value is automatically selected.
Conducting a Search 3. Click the menu for the list of terms for your criterion, and select one or more appropriate terms. 4. Enter your search terms and select any other criteria you want to use for your search. 5. 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.
Conducting a Search Saved searches are specific to the user. If you log in as an Administrator, you can share a saved search with other users by making it public. You can also make a public search the default search that displays when users open the Search pane when they do not have a previously saved search. To save a search: 1. Search for assets using one of the procedures described in “Conducting a Search” on page 239. 2. Click Save As. The Save As dialog box opens. 3.
Conducting a Search 3. Click the Search button. The system returns assets that match the modified criteria in the search results list. 4. Click Save. The modified saved search appears in the Launch pane. To share a saved search: 1. Log in to MediaCentral UX as a user with Administrator credentials. 2. Right-click a saved search, and then select Create Public Search. The saved search appears in the Public Search area of the Launch pane and is available to all users.
Conducting a Search Advanced Search Filters In addition to the basic criteria described in “Conducting a Search” on page 239, you can select from the criteria filters listed in the following tables. The filters available depend on whether you select the indexed search or the federated search. Advanced Search with Media Index Indexed search uses metadata categories set up by your MediaCentral administrator when Media Index is configured.
Conducting a Search You can use the following features with the advanced search filters in an indexed search: • n Selecting criteria: You can filter the results by one or more specific criteria. If you select a criterion that is specific to a system or system type, then all other systems and system types appear disabled in the dialog box because the system-specific filter you select excludes them.
Conducting a Search 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. 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.
Conducting a Search Search Criterion Description 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. It shows all object and EDL classes that are configured in the connected Interplay MAM systems. Select one or more asset types from the list.
Conducting a Search Indexed Search Examples The Media Index search engine uses language analysis and, if specified with the appropriate operator, 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 Wild Card Characters and Operators Supported for Federated Searches in Interplay | MAM Databases In addition to the basic criteria described in “Conducting a Search” on page 239, you can use different wild cards and operators to specify your query when conducting a federated search in Interplay MAM databases. Option Example Result Single character I Returns assets that contain the single search character “i” in one of their metadata fields.
The Search Results List Option Example Result Brackets () and Operators (house AND (white OR blair)) NOT visitors If you create complex search queries — queries that use more than one Boolean operator — consider the priorities with which the operators are processed: NOT takes priority over AND, and AND takes priority over OR. In addition, you can use brackets in complex search queries to give structure to your query. In this case, the innermost bracket takes priority over the next bracket, and so on.
The Search Results List If the number of items found exceeds the configured maximum number of items that can be displayed at a time in Grid view or for federated searches, the Show More Results button is displayed at the bottom of the search results list. In Card view, you can view additional results by scrolling down the results list. For indexed searches, you can view your results in Card view or in Grid view.
The Search Results List Indexed search results using criteria that include time-based values display a timestamp for the default time zone selected in the System Settings and appended by a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) offset. For example, a timestamp of 04:30:00 AM -4:00 appearing in the search results list on a New York City system indicates that the time zone difference between New York (EDT) and UTC is four hours.
The Search Results List 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. To open an item from the search result list, do one of the following: t For federated searches or indexed searches, double-click the item. The asset opens in the Media pane.
The Search Results List n You can only drag assets in the search result list that are stored on the local Interplay Production server to a folder in the Assets pane. To export markers for one or more assets as an .xlsx file: 1. In the search results list (federated search only), select one or more assets that include markers. 2. Right-click and select Export Logs. A Microsoft Excel file named logs.xlsx is saved to your default download folder. For more information, see “Exporting Markers” on page 275.
10 Logging Interplay | Production Assets and Creating Subclips The following main topics describe features you use when logging your material.
Workflows for Logging 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.The media logger can add markers to specify particular video or audio frames and add comments to the markers as required. A journalist can then open a specific clip or clips in MediaCentral UX, view the markers and comments, and copy text if necessary, even while the recording is in progress.
Understanding Markers and Restrictions Keyboard Shortcuts You can accomplish many functions for logging and controlling playback using keyboard shortcuts, such as • Ctrl+M to add a marker. • Ctrl plus a key on the numeric keypad to add a marker of a specific color. For example, press Ctrl+3 to create a marker with a red icon. • Ctrl+Enter to save text. • Up Arrow to move to previous marker, Down Arrow to move to next marker.
Understanding Markers and Restrictions 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.
The Log Layout Number of Characters in Marker Text In MediaCentral UX, marker text has a limit of 32,000 characters for each marker. If marker text exceeds 32,000 characters, a warning message tells you that the text exceeds the maximum number of characters and that you cannot save the text until the reduce the number of characters. The Save status message shows you the character count until it is reduced to 32,000, at which point the message changes to “Unsaved changes” and you can save the text.
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 5 Display or Control Description Refresh button Updates the display of markers saved for the selected clip or sequence. This control is especially useful when multiple loggers are adding markers to the same clip or sequence, or when a journalist wants to see the latest information added by the loggers. If the focus is in the Logging pane, you can also press F5 to update the display.
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 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. For example, while in the Log layout, you can use Ctrl+J, Ctrl+K, or Ctrl+L keys to control video while you type marker text.
Working with Restrictions To enter edit mode and edit marker text, do one of the following: t Double-click the Notes field. t Select a marker and press Enter. To save marker text, do one of the following: t Click the Save button. Text is saved and you exit edit mode. t Press Ctrl+S. Text is saved and you remain in edit mode. t Press Ctrl+Enter to exit edit mode. t Use the mouse to select a different marker. t Add a new marker.
Working with Restrictions Understanding Restrictions in MediaCentral | UX In MediaCentral UX, you can add, modify, save, and delete restrictions in the Logging pane, similarly to the way you work with markers. The following illustration shows a restriction labeled “Footage restriction” that includes two markers. Note the following: • The restriction is displayed at the timecode where it starts. The far left column is colored dark orange. The IN and OUT columns show the span of the restriction.
Working with Restrictions The following illustration shows the Logging pane and the Media pane for a clip named “Discovery Straight On.new.01.” This clip includes markers and two restrictions, labeled “Restriction 1” and “Restriction 2.” These restrictions overlap briefly; the overlap area is indicated in the Media Timeline by a darker shade of red. The position indicator is parked on a marker that is enclosed by the first restriction.
Working with Restrictions To delete restrictions, the user’s Interplay Production account must be configured with the following permission: • Can modify restrictions An Interplay Production administrator sets these permissions in the Instinct/Assist User Settings view of the Interplay Administrator. For more information, see the Interplay | Engine and Interplay | Archive Engine Administration Guide or the Interplay | Production Help. Adding and Editing Text Adding text in the Notes column is optional.
Working with Restrictions Sequences If you edit a master clip or subclip with a restriction into a sequence, the restriction is carried over to the sequence. Information in the source clip remains linked to the clip in the sequence, so that if there is any change to a restriction in the source clip, the information is changed in the sequence. 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.
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text To enter edit mode and edit restriction text: t n n Double-click the Notes field. Edit mode refers to the state in which the cursor appears in the Notes field and you can enter text. You cannot edit the start and end of a restriction. To change the start or end point, delete the restriction and create it again. To save restriction text, do one of the following: t Click the Save button. Text is saved and you exit edit mode. t Press Ctrl+S.
Navigating by Markers in the Log Layout Navigating by Markers in the Log Layout You can use the mouse or keyboard to navigate by marker through a clip or sequence. A marker selected in the timeline is also selected in the Logging pane. When you select a marker in the Logging pane, the same marker is selected in the timeline and the Media viewer displays the corresponding frame. To navigate to the previous marker, do one of the following: t With the focus in the Logging pane, press the Up Arrow key.
Exporting Markers To remove a criterion, do one of the following: t Click the x on the criterion button. t Click the down arrow in the Filter Criteria list and deselect the criterion. The list is filtered according to the new criteria. 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 (.
Entering Marker Text in Right-to-Left Languages The dialog box remembers the format you selected. This format is automatically selected the next time you open the dialog box. To export markers for one or more assets as an .xlsx file: 1. In the Assets pane or in the search results list, select one or more assets that include markers. 2. Right-click and select Export Logs. A file named logs.xlsx is saved to your default download folder.
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 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. If a folder is already open in the Assets pane, drag the thumbnail anywhere in the Assets pane (except to a subfolder) to add it to the folder. A green plus sign indicates a valid location for the subclip.
Creating Subclips The subclip is added to the database, with the extension .Sub.01 added to the clip name. Any other subclips you create from the same clip include an incremented extension, for example, .Sub.02. 3. Select the folder or subfolder in which you want to save the subclip. By default, the folder that holds the master clip is selected. 4. A default name is supplied, with the extension .Sub added to the clip name.
11 Logging Interplay | MAM Assets The following main topics describe features you use when logging Interplay MAM assets.
Logging Overview (Interplay | MAM Assets) 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. The property can be any data type used throughout Interplay MAM, such as “text,” “timecode,” “date,” “legal list (selection list),” and so on. • Structured strata: Structured strata can have multiple properties assigned to them.
Logging Overview (Interplay | MAM Assets) Strata and Avid Applications Users can view and edit strata and segments in the following Avid applications: • Interplay MAM Cataloger (view strata contents and edit segmentation) • MediaCentral UX (view strata contents and edit segmentation) Segments and annotation added to strata in either of these products can be searched and viewed in Interplay MAM Desktop.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Keyboard Shortcuts When logging Interplay MAM assets you work with the Logging pane and Media pane. Both panes are synchronized: 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. And a segment selected in the Media Timeline is also selected in the Logging pane. You can accomplish most functions for logging and controlling playback using keyboard shortcuts.
The Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Display or Control Description • Playhead position mode: Sets the In mark at the current playhead position but does not define an Out mark. You see the selected mode when you hover the mouse pointer over the New Segment control. See “Creating Segment (Gaps Allowed)” on page 292. 3 Export button Displays options for exporting strata information. See “Exporting Strata” on page 307. 4 Refresh button Updates the display of segments saved for the selected stratum.
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.
Understanding Segmentation Principles 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 Segmentation - No Gaps Allowed You can create, resize, or merge segments when gaps are not allowed. Segments cannot be deleted from a stratum. • Creating segments: As gaps between segments are not allowed, “Split” is the only method you can use to create segments. To create segments, start by splitting the entire stratum into two segments. Then, split one of the two segments into another two, and so on. See “Creating Segments (Gaps Not Allowed)” on page 291.
Understanding Segmentation Principles When you segment in a stratum you can have a gap before the first segment, after the last segment, or between any two segments after the first or before the last segment, as illustrated: Instead of starting or ending with a gap, you can also start or end with a segment. The Logging pane provides the following segmentation functions when gaps are allowed.
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.
Locking a Stratum In the Media pane, you can only select an individual stratum to be displayed on the Media Timeline. In the example, only the strata SG_Subtitle and SG_Description can be selected but not Stratagroup_Demo. It is sufficient to display only one stratum since the segmentation across the strata within that group is synchronized. 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.
Working with Segments • “Deleting Segments” on page 296 • “Segmenting During Ingest” on page 297 Creating Segments (Gaps Not Allowed) Since only splitting segments from the very beginning is possible in No Gaps Allowed mode, a virtual segment that spans the entire stratum is created when you start editing a stratum for the first time. 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.
Working with Segments 7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to create new segments by applying the split function. Creating Segment (Gaps Allowed) In Gaps Allowed mode you can explicitly define In and Out marks of new segments. Therefore you do not need a virtual segment to split when you segment a stratum in Gaps Allowed mode for the first time. When you are creating segments in a stratum that allows overlapping segments, you automatically have all Gaps Allowed options.
Working with Segments 7. In the Media pane, navigate through the asset and stop at a position where you want to start a new segment. 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 mode 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 To resize a segment: 1. Load an asset in the Logging pane and Media pane. 2. In the Logging pane, select the stratum in which you want to resize segments. 3. In the Media pane, select the same stratum to be displayed on the Media Timeline. 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.
Working with Segments 5. To move the segment’s In mark, set the position indicator to the desired position. Even if another segment is reached in the Media Timeline, the originally selected segment stays selected in the Logging pane. 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.
Working with Segments 4. In the Logging pane, select the segment which you want to split. 5. Move through the segment in the Media pane to select the frame at which you want to split the segment. 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.
Navigating by Segments 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. - Right-click a segment and select Delete. - Press the Delete key. Segmenting During Ingest MediaCentral UX lets you view and edit a clip while it is still being captured through an ingest device. The process of working with it is called edit while capture (EWC).
Annotating Text Fields To navigate to the previous segment, do one of the following: t With the focus in the Logging pane, press the Up Arrow key. t With the focus in the Media pane, press Shift+Left Arrow. To navigate to the next segment, do one of the following: 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.
Entering Segment Text in Right-to-Left Languages For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, see “Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts” on page 497. 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 3. Do one of the following: t Double-click a recently used tag. t Double-click a property, type or select the value, and press Enter. The tag is added to all selected segments. To replace tags: 1. Select one or several segments. 2. Open the Tags selector window. 3. Do one of the following: t Double-click a recently used tag. t Double-click a property, type or select the value, and press Enter. The original tag is replaced by the new tag in all selected segments.
Annotating Using Tags t Highlight the timecode and press Ctrl+V to paste a copied timecode. If you paste an invalid timecode, the field shows a zero timecode. Selecting Boolean Values Boolean values are “True” or “False.” You can select them from a drop-down list. To set a Boolean value: t Click the value in the list that opens. t Press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to select a value and press Enter. Editing Time Values By default, the time fields are preformatted.
Annotating Using Tags To assign the current day using the calendar control: 1. To open the Calendar control, do one of the following: t Click the field’s Down Arrow button. t With the focus in the field press the Down Arrow key. 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.
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 To assign a thesaurus term: 1. Do one of the following: t Navigate the thesaurus using the Arrow keys: Press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to move up and down, press the Right Arrow or Left Arrow key to expand or collapse a node. t Start typing the name of the term in the search box. MediaCentral UX searches the terms starting with that letter. As you continue to type, MediaCentral UX continues to filter the list according to the letter you type.
Defining Merge Rules for Annotated Segments 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. The Use Left and Use Right rules are the same for all property types: • When you select Use Left, the annotation of the left segment is assigned to the merged segment.
Exporting Strata To define merge rules: 1. Click the Pane menu and select Merge Rules. The Merge Rules dialog box opens. 2. Select the merge rule for each property type you want to change. 3. Click outside the dialog box or click the X button to close the Merge Rules dialog box. The merge rules are saved in your user settings and are automatically applied when you merge annotated segments. For more information on how to merge segments, see “Merging Segments” on page 296.
12 Working with Associations (Interplay | MAM) The following main topics provide information about working with associations between Interplay MAM assets in MediaCentral UX: • Understanding Associations • The Associations Pane • Working in the Associations Pane • Viewing Associated Assets • Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types • Opening Associated Assets in Other Panes • Reusing Associated Assets in Other Panes • Switching Between Associated Assets • Creating Associations • Dele
The Associations Pane Associations can be created automatically by the system or manually in Interplay MAM Desktop and MediaCentral UX. Which associations can be edited and created manually depends on the system configuration. Once set, the references can be used in MediaCentral UX to navigate between associated assets.
The Associations Pane Display or Control Description 4 Filter button Toggles the filter for associated asset types on or off. When toggled on, the button is colored orange, and the configured filter is applied. When toggled off, the button is colored gray, and all associated assets types of the asset that is open in the pane are shown. See “Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types” on page 313. 5 Pin button Toggles pinning of the current asset on or off.
Working in the Associations Pane 11 12 Display or Control Description Association Types Each association type that can be set for the current asset is shown as a separate group. For each association type, the following are shown: Associations • An association type icon • The association type name followed by the number of associations in brackets • An Expand/Collapse toggle button. Use the button to show and hide the associations of the associations type.
Viewing Associated Assets To show and hide associations: t Click the Expand All button to expand all association types and show all associations in the Associations List. t Click the Collapse All button to collapse all association types and hide all associations from the Associations List. To select several associations: t Ctrl+click the associations you want to select, regardless of order or arrangement.
Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types The Associations pane lets you see all associations of the asset currently open in the pane. By default, the pane shows all associated asset types that can be set for the asset.
Filtering the Displayed Associated Asset Types 3. Select Add or Remove Filters. The Add Or Remove Filter window opens. It shows the name of the system from which the source asset was opened. The filter list is divided in Association Types and Content. 4. Select the filter you want to apply or deselect the filter you want to cancel: t To apply an associated-asset-type filter, expand Association Types and select the associated asset types you want to show.
Opening Associated Assets in Other Panes Opening Associated Assets in Other Panes You can use the existing associations to directly open connected assets. As a result, you do not have to search for them again and again. Pinning the source asset has no effect on how associated assets are opened in other panes. Note that you can also open the source asset in other panes. To open associated assets in other panes: 1. (Option) Open all panes you want to use for the associated asset.
Switching Between Associated Assets Switching Between Associated Assets You can use the Associations pane to switch between the source asset and an associated asset directly within the Associations pane. Pinning the source asset has no effect on whether it is replaced by the associated asset. If the asset is included in a hierarchical association, you can directly open the parent asset in the Associations pane. The Parent button is enabled only if the asset open in the pane has one parent asset.
Deleting Associations 5. Do one of the following: t Click one or several assets in the Assets pane and drag them to the associations of the desired association type in the Associations pane. t Click one or several assets in the Search pane and drag them to the associations of the desired association type in the Associations pane. t Click the asset displayed in the Media viewer in Asset mode and drag it to the associations of the desired association type in the Associations pane.
Deleting Associations To delete associations: 1. Open the asset from which you want to delete an association in the Associations pane. 2. Expand the association types in the Associations List. 3. Select the associations you want to delete. 4. Do one of the following: t Click the Associations Pane Delete button. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Delete. The associations are deleted. The Associations pane is updated and the associations are no longer displayed.
13 Working with the File Info Pane (Interplay | MAM) The following main topics provide information about working with essences of Interplay MAM assets in MediaCentral UX: • Understanding Essences and Essence Packages • The File Info Pane • Working in the File Info Pane • Editing the Properties of an Essence Package • Cleaning Up Essence Packages • Editing the Properties of an Essence • Displaying Locations Details for an Essence Understanding Essences and Essence Packages The File Info pane pr
Understanding Essences and Essence Packages Representative Essence Package One essence package is defined as the representative essence package of the asset. The representative essence package contains the essences that represent the purpose of the asset. The essences in this package are opened by default when an essence or essence package is requested by an other component. The representative essence package can be changed manually or by workflow.
The File Info Pane The File Info Pane The File Info pane displays all essences that are managed for the selected asset and how they are organized. You can display detail information, inspect properties, and edit properties. The following illustration shows several examples of what you might encounter when displaying essences in the File Info pane. r r qw q w e e t t y q u i o q a w Display or Control Description 1 Refresh button Refreshes the current view in the pane.
The File Info Pane 4 Display or Control Description Pane Menu button The Pane menu for the File Info pane contains the following options: • Actions. Creates a process in the MAM system and attaches the asset that is open in the File Info pane to the process. See “Creating Processes” on page 378. Use the Actions menu item if you want to clean up essence packages. See “Cleaning Up Essence Packages” on page 328. • Help. Displays a Help topic describing controls in the File Info pane.
The File Info Pane Information in the Essence Packages area The Essence Packages area shows the following information for all essence packages of the open asset in read-only mode: q q w w e e r r t t Display Description 1 Name The name of the essence package. It is set automatically to “Main package” when the essence package is created by a workflow. You can change the name.
The File Info Pane Information in the Essences area The Essences area shows the following information for the essence package that is selected in the Essence Packages area in read-only mode: q q w w e e r r t t Display Description 1 Name Shows the original name of the essence file. This is the name of the essence when it was imported or created in Interplay MAM.
The File Info Pane 4 5 Display Description Stream Class The stream class of the essence. It is assigned to an essence when it is imported or created in Interplay MAM. It gives a top level indication of the primary content of the essence and is detailed by the stream type.
Working in the File Info Pane Information in the Locations area The Locations area shows the following information for the essence that is selected in the Essences area in read-only mode: q q w w e e r r Display Description 1 Name Shows the file name of the essence’s copy on that location. 2 HSM State Hierarchical Storage Management state.
Editing the Properties of an Essence Package To show and hide details: t Click the Expand All button to expand all details and show all information in the Essence Package Details, Essence Details, and Location Details areas. t Click the Collapse All button to collapse all details and hide all detail information from the Essence Package Details, Essence Details, and Location Details areas. t Click the Expand/Collapse toggle button of an individual Details area to show or hide its details.
Cleaning Up Essence Packages t Click in the EOC field, enter the desired value for the end timecode by typing the first digit, and continue typing until you have typed 8 digits. To save changed properties: t Click the Save button. The save status message changes from “Unsaved changes” to “All changes are saved.” If you have unsaved changes and select another essence package, load another asset, or close the File Info pane, you are prompted to save the changes.
Editing the Properties of an Essence 4. Select the Cleanup Essence Packages process type. The Cleanup Essence Packages process dialog box opens and shows the selected assets as attachments. 5. Provide a main title and a cleanup reason. 6. Click the Essence Package to Clear list and select one of the following: t Representative: Clean up the representative essence package. t Collateral: Clean up all essence packages that are not marked as representative. t All: Clean up all essence packages. 7.
Editing the Properties of an Essence pane, if a property is editable, a text box, drop-down menu, or other input control is displayed. For information on the different metadata fields and input controls, see “Viewing and Editing Interplay | MAM Metadata” on page 61. To edit the properties of an essence: 1. Open the asset for which you want to edit essence properties in the File Info pane. 2. Select the essence package in the Essence Packages area. 3. Select the essence in the Essences area. 4.
Displaying Locations Details for an Essence Displaying Locations Details for an Essence In the File Info pane, for the essence package selected in the Essence Packages area, all essences are shown in the Essences area, and for the essence selected in the Essences area, the locations where it has been saved are shown in the Locations area. For the location selected in the Locations area, you can display technical data in the Location Details area; by default the Location Details area is collapsed.
Displaying Locations Details for an Essence - Near Online State: Indicates the near online status of the essence’s copy on that specific location: Available or Not Available. - Recording State: Indicates whether the file is still being recorded to the specific location: Recording or Complete. - Location GUID: The Globally Unique Identifier of the location. The location GUID is used internally by Interplay MAM to exactly define and identify the location, for example if path names are changed.
14 Working with Closed Captions in MediaCentral | UX The following main topics describe working with closed captions: • Basics of Closed Captioning • Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX • How the CCCS Works with Closed-Caption Files • Creating and Editing Closed Captions Basics of Closed Captioning MediaCentral UX provides controls for viewing, creating, editing, and outputting closed captions.
Basics of Closed Captioning n In the United States and Canada, “subtitles” are distinguished from closed captions by using subtitles to refer specifically to translation of dialog. In other areas, subtitles can also refer to closed captions, as in “Subtitles for the hard of hearing.” The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires the majority of English and Spanish programming seen on broadcast TV in the United States to be closed captioned.
Basics of Closed Captioning MediaCentral | UX Closed Caption Editing Following is important information for working with closed captions in MediaCentral UX v2.4. c n • Closed caption editing requires Interplay Production v3.3 or later. If the Closed Captioning pane is open, and you try to load a sequence stored in an Interplay Production database earlier than v3.3, a message tells you that Interplay Production v3.3 is required.
Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX • Currently, only SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption) files are supported for import. SCC and TTML files are supported for export. • A sequence must be dynamically relinked in Media Composer and must be checked into the Interplay Production database before you can extract or add closed captions.
Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX c To avoid problems with another user editing a sequence, add closed captions only after all video, audio, and effects editing are completed. Also, the sequence must be dynamically relinked in Media Composer and must be checked into the Interplay Production database. Extract Closed Captions from an Interplay Production Sequence You can work with sequences that are already associated with closed captions. The following steps describe a possible workflow.
Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX Import an SCC File into MediaCentral An SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption) file is a common file format for closed captions. The following steps describe a workflow for importing closed captions from an SCC file. 1. SCC files are created and saved in a location that is accessible to the MediaCentral UX user. SCC files use the file extension .scc. 2.
Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX Create New Closed Captions in MediaCentral You can create a new set of closed captions by using the Closed Captioning pane. The following steps describe a possible workflow. 1. The MediaCentral UX user loads an Interplay Production sequence in Asset mode and opens the Closed Captioning pane. 2. The user creates closed captions in the Closed Captioning pane.
Closed-Captioning Workflows for MediaCentral | UX Repackage Edited Closed Captions with an Interplay Production Sequence Repackaging integrates edited closed captions into a new D track MXF file. Before repackaging, the sequence was associated with a D track file for each clip. Repackaging creates a single D track file for the sequence. The following steps describe a possible workflow: 1.
How the CCCS Works with Closed-Caption Files An SCC file or a TTML file is downloaded to your browser download location. Technically, text from the TTML data is transcoded to an SCC file (with the extension .scc) or a TTML file (with the extension .ttml). How the CCCS Works with Closed-Caption Files The Closed Caption Conversion Service (CCCS) is a Linux service that is installed with other MediaCentral Platform Services.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions The Closed Captioning Pane You view, edit, and create closed captions in the Closed Captioning pane. q qq w e q r q q t q yq u i q o q 1) q 1@ q 1! q Display or Control Description 1 Closed-caption type Displays the type of closed caption currently loaded: Pop On or Roll Up. 2 Extract button Click this button to extract closed captions from an Interplay Production sequence and display them in the Closed Captioning pane.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions 9 Display or Control Description Pane Menu button The following options are available: • Add or Remove Columns. Select the columns you want to display. • Split at Current Playhead position. Divides a closed-caption segment into two, based on the location of the position indicator. The complete text for the segment is copied to the new segment, and you need to edit the text as desired. You can also use Ctrl+E or right-click a selected segment.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions 12 Display or Control Description Align column Displays the positioning of the closed caption. To change the alignment, select one or more closed captions, double-click the Align column, and select one of the nine positions. Importing and Exporting Closed-Caption Files You can import an SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption) file and edit the closed captions that it contains. You can associate these captions with a sequence and edit the timing as needed.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions Closed captions created in the Closed Captioning pane are saved in the Interplay Production database. Repackaging is required if you want to use the sequence for Interplay Production operations /such as the following: • Send to playback • Interplay Transcode operations (including Mixdown) • Interplay Delivery operations • Viewing closed captions in Media Composer. If you repackage a basic sequence, the sequence can no longer be edited.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions To create new closed captions: 1. Load an Interplay Production sequence in Asset mode. 2. Click the Media Pane menu and select Closed Captions to display closed captions in the Media pane. 3. Do one of the following: t Set an In point and an Out point in the Media pane, set the Create Segment button to In and Out mode, then click the button. If focus is in the Closed Captioning pane, press Ctrl+. (period). A closed-caption segment is created.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions To enter edit mode and edit closed-caption text, do one of the following: t Double-click the Text field. t Select the Text field of a closed-caption segment and press Enter. The Text field turns white and you can type the text. Use the Italic button and the Underscore button to format the text. Click the musical note button to add a musical note. Press the Enter key to start a new line.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions 2. Select a position from the grid. MediaCentral UX aligns the caption or captions according to your selection. Captions are aligned within the standard video safe area. You can view safe area grids in the Media viewer by clicking the Media Pane menu button and selecting Safe Areas. This display can help if you need to review previously positioned captions or create new ones. The following illustration shows the safe area outlines.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions To change an In point or an Out point, do one of the following: t Move the position indicator to the timecode where you want to set the new In point, select the closed-caption segment in the Closed Captioning pane, right-click, and select Set In. t Move the position indicator to the timecode where you want to set the new Out point, select the closed-caption segment in the Closed Captioning pane, right-click, and select Set Out.
Creating and Editing Closed Captions Text for each caption is entered on a separate segment in the Closed Captioning pane, with the desired alignment set in the Align column. The following example shows the Closed Captioning pane for the above illustration: Note the following: • If multiple captions share the same line (top, middle, or bottom), they will be merged into a single line as part of the repackaging or export process. To avoid this, change the alignment so each caption is on a different line.
15 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 Using the Messages Pane The Messages pane displays a message box for sending both text messages and media asset links. It also lists all received messages, with the most recent messages at the top of the list. Messages sent by you display in the message list with a blue background, while messages received by you display with a green background.
Using the Messages Pane 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. New messages display in the message list, with the most recent message at the top. 3. If the message includes a media asset, do one of the following: t Double-click the head frame in the asset area to view the media or story. t Right-click and select “Open in Enclosing Folder.
Using the Messages 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. (Interplay MAM only) If the message includes a link to a folder, double-click the folder icon in the asset area. The Assets pane navigates to the folder in Interplay MAM and shows the asset references saved in the folder. 5.
Using the Messages Pane 4. If you want to share a media asset, do one of the following: t Click the asset in the Assets pane and drag it to the asset area of the message. t Click the asset in the Search pane and drag it to the asset area of the message. t Click the asset displayed in the Media viewer in Asset mode and drag it to the asset area of the message. t (Interplay MAM only) Click the asset in the Tasks pane’s asset area and drag it to the asset area of the message.
Configuring E-Mail Forwarding 2. Click Reply. The address text box in the top of the Messages pane automatically adds the names of the recipients from the selected message. 3. In the message text box, type your message. You can also share a media asset by dragging it to the asset area of the message. A character count below the message displays the number of characters allowed in your message. You can type a total of 256 characters.
Using E-Mail Forwarding 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.
16 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 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. To view received messages: t Use the Arrow buttons located near the right end of the Message bar to scroll through any received messages.
17 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 • Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device • Sending Master Clips or Subclips 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 tran
Specifying Send to Playback Settings 2. Supply the following information: Setting Description Name Automatically supplied when you select a sequence for send to playback. You can copy text from the Name field into the paste buffer. For example, if the Video ID field is empty, you can paste the clip or sequence name into the Video ID field. Video ID Required to send a sequence to playback.
Sending a Sequence to a Playback Device 3. Click the Close button at the top right of the dialog box or click in another area of the application. If a sequence is loaded in Output mode, the resolution for the selected profile is displayed in the Video Format display. Move the mouse pointer over the display, and the complete resolution is shown in an overlay. Move the mouse pointer over the STP button, and a summary of the selected profile is shown in an overlay.
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 360. You can preview a sequence before sending it to playback. For more information, see “Reviewing in the STP Target Resolution” on page 186.
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-toplayback 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.
Sending Master Clips or Subclips to a Playback Device Sending Master Clips or Subclips to a Playback Device If you load a clip or a subclip in Asset mode, you can send it to a playback device (STP). This feature lets you send to playback without cutting a clip or subclip into a sequence. You can send a master clip or subclip to a playback device if the clip fulfills the following requirements: n • The media format of the clip must match the media format specified in the selected send-toplayback profile.
The Progress Pane If the clip includes a video ID, and the media formats match the requirements of the profile, the clip is sent to the Interplay Transfer service, from which it is sent to the selected playback device. You can continue working while the transfer is taking place. For information on monitoring the send-to-playback operation, see “The Progress Pane” on page 366. The Progress Pane The Progress pane is used to monitor sequence mixdowns and send to playback processes as they happen.
Interplay Services in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool You can set your browser preferences to show desktop notifications for jobs in the Progress pane as browser alerts. See “Showing Desktop Notifications from Panes” on page 33. n If an STP job uses Interplay Transcode and STP Encode to prepare the job for transfer, the Transcode and STP Encode jobs are listed in the Media Services and Transfer Status Tool.
18 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 Deliver From Mark In to Mark Out You can deliver a part of a clip by marking In and Out points and selecting the Deliver from Mark In to Mark Out option. If you use this feature, MediaCentral UX uses two additional services: Interplay Production Services Automation and Interplay Consolidate. For more information about these services, see the Avid Media | Index Configuration Guide. n n Sequences and subclips are not supported for delivery from Mark In to Mark Out.
Understanding MediaCentral Delivery The following illustration shows the Deliver To dialog box, with parameters taken from the Delivery profile and the Consolidate profile.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup n For more information on creating profiles for Interplay Consolidate, see the Avid Media | Index Configuration Guide. 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.
Delivering Assets and Media to a Remote Workgroup n By default, a Delivery provider is configured to run one job at a time. You can change this value by editing an .ini file. For more information, see the Interplay Delivery documentation. To deliver to a remote workgroup from the Media pane: 1. Load an asset in either Asset mode or Output mode. 2. (Optional) If you want to deliver only part of a clip loaded in Asset mode, set In and Out marks. You cannot set In and Out marks on sequences or subclips. 3.
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 To view the status of the delivery t n In the Progress pane, click the Pane Menu button and select Show Job Groups > Deliver To Me. Delivery jobs that use Mark In to Mark Out use Interplay Consolidate and Interplay Production Services Automation to prepare the files for delivery. These jobs are displayed in the Interplay Media Services and Transfer Status tool. An Interplay Consolidate job is deleted after processing is complete.
19 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 • Using File Attachments During Process Creation • Getting Information on Allowed Attachments • Using the Quick Send Feature • Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane • Working wit
Understanding Processes, Tasks, and Actions Panes that support the creation of processes provide an Actions menu item (Media pane, Assets pane, Search pane, File Info pane) or Create Process menu item (Tasks pane) to let you select the MAM system running the process and the configured process types. • If there is one MAM system connected to MediaCentral UX that allows creating processes, the process types are listed as submenu entries in the Actions or Create Process menu item.
Creating Processes Assets and Files as Attachments Depending on the process configuration, you can attach assets or files or both to processes and user tasks. Note the following differences between asset and file attachments: • Assets: Assets are registered, saved, and searchable in the Interplay MAM database. You can attach assets during process creation or in the context of a user task.
Creating Processes You can monitor the status of your processes in the Progress pane and track if additional user tasks resulted from processes in the Tasks pane. See “Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane” on page 385 and “The Tasks Pane” on page 387. To create a process from the Assets pane: 1. Select one or more assets. 2. Do one of the following: t Right-click a selected asset and select Actions. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Actions. 3.
Creating Processes 7. (Option) Upload files to the process. 8. 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 File Info pane: 1. Open an asset in the pane. 2. Click the Pane Menu button and select Actions. 3. (Option) Select the MAM system on which the process is to be created. 4.
Using File Attachments During Process Creation To create a process without attachments from the Tasks pane: 1. Click the Pane Menu button and select Create Process. 2. (Option) Select the MAM system on which the process is to be created. 3. Select the process type. 4. (Option) If the process type provides a submenu, select the desired menu item. 5. (Option) Upload files to the process. 6. Supply the required information in the process dialog box and click OK.
Using File Attachments During Process Creation 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Upload button in the process dialog box and select the files to be uploaded in the Open dialog box. t Open the Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), select one or several files and drag them to the process dialog box. The drop zone is outlined in orange, the Attachment area (or the Drop Assets Here area, if there is no attachment yet) is highlighted in orange, and a Move icon indicates if dropping is possible.
Getting Information on Allowed Attachments All deletable attachments are deleted. The process dialog box is updated and the attachments are no longer displayed. Getting Information on Allowed Attachments When you create a process, the Create Process dialog box shows the number of attachments (assets and files) in the Attachments count. The same information is provided in the Tasks pane when you select a task. See “The Tasks Pane” on page 387.
Using the Quick Send Feature - System: Type (Interplay MAM, Interplay Production, iNEWS) and name of the system to which the rule applies. If the rule applies to all systems of a type, the prefix “Any” is shown. - Asset Types: Name of the allowed asset type or “any” if there is no restriction. - Allowed Range: Number and range of allowed attachments (none, any, exactly n, up to n, from n-to m). - Total: The maximum number of attachments allowed for the process.
Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane Monitoring Processes in the Progress Pane The Progress pane is used to monitor the processes that you created in Interplay MAM Desktop or MediaCentral UX and are active or were completed during the last 24 hours. If necessary, you can also cancel a process that is underway directly from the pane. The following illustration shows several examples of what you might encounter when monitoring MAM processes with the Progress pane.
Working with Tasks To filter the displayed job groups: t Select Panes > Show Job Groups and click the job group name. The pane hides all processes of the selected job group or displays them again if you click an inactive (non-checked) job group name. To cancel a process underway: t Click the Cancel button located to the right of the active process. The Cancel button is removed. A process cancel request is sent. To remove all non-running processes from the list in the Progress pane: 1.
Working with Tasks The Tasks Pane The Tasks pane is used to show you all user tasks that allow you to complete an action. You can review and filter the displayed tasks and review the details of a selected task. If necessary, you can also edit task data and attachments, or assign and delegate tasks directly to other users and groups, or apply other actions directly from the pane. The following illustration shows several examples of what you might encounter when editing tasks with the Tasks pane.
Working with Tasks Display or Control Description 4 Uploads files as attachments to the task. See “Uploading Files as Attachments” on page 397. 5 Downloads the selected file attachments. See “Downloading File Attachments” on page 398. 6 Deletes the selected attachments from the task. See “Deleting Attachments” on page 399. 7 Saves the task data without leaving the edit field. See “Displaying and Editing User Task Data” on page 395. 8 My Tasks button Toggles the My Tasks filter on or off.
Working with Tasks 10 Display or Control Description Task List Displays active and finished tasks in an overview table, depending on the filter applied to the pane. The Task List has the following columns: • Name: Displays the name of the task. • Task Status: Displays the status of the task. • Task Start: Displays the date and time when the task was started. • Task Due: Displays the planned end date and time of the task (only for active tasks).
Working with Tasks 13 Display or Control Description Attachment count Shows the number of attached assets. If the number of attachments does not comply with the allowed limits, the Attachments count is shown in red. The Show Details links opens a window that provides details, including the reason why the limit is exceeded. See “Adding and Editing User Task Attachments” on page 396. 14 Task Information Displays the metadata assigned to the task.
Working with Tasks To add or remove property columns in the Task List: 1. Click the Pane Menu button in the top right corner of the Tasks pane and select Add or Remove Columns. The Add Or Remove Columns window opens. The list is divided in Common Properties and MAM Tasks. 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.
Working with Tasks 3. Select the information you want to display or deselect the information you want to hide: t To apply a status- and time-based filter, expand Task Status and select “All active,” “Completed last 30 days,” or “Completed last 7 days.” “All active” is selected by default and therefore only tasks that still require an action are shown. The two other options show completed user tasks that can no longer be edited.
Working with Tasks 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. In most cases, delegated tasks are removed from the Task List. However, if you delegate a task to a group and you are member of that group, the task will not be removed from the Task List. Assigning User Tasks to Users and Groups You can assign user tasks to another user or user group.
Working with Tasks 2. Click in the Assignee, Assigned Group, Next User, or Next Group field and start typing the name of the name or group in the search box to filter the list. When you type a letter, MediaCentral UX filters the list to all values containing that letter. As you continue to type, MediaCentral UX continues to filter the list according to the letters you type. 3. Do one of the following: t Double-click the value or check its check box.
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 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. If you do not save your changes and apply an action or delegate the task, select another task, close the Tasks pane, or log off, a message is displayed that asks you to save the changes. Adding and Editing User Task Attachments When you create a process, you attach at least one asset to it.
Working with Tasks To use an attached asset to create an association: 1. Select a task in the Task List. 2. Select the attached asset in the assets area, drag it to the associations of the desired association type in the Associations pane, and release the mouse button. For more information, see “Creating Associations” on page 316.
Working with Tasks For each file an asset card shows the file name, file size, and the upload status. The status can be one of the following: - Waiting: A loading indicator for files that have not been uploaded. A Cancel button is shown beside the loading indicator. - In Progress: A progress bar during the upload. A Cancel button is shown beside the progress bar.
Working with Tasks 3. To download several files at the same time, select the file attachments in the Attachments area, and do one of the following: t Click the Download File button on the Tasks pane toolbar. t Click the Pane menu and select Download File. t Right-click the file attachment asset card and select Download File from the pop-up menu. While the download is initiated, a “Preparing download” message is displayed. A message is displayed if the download cannot be started.
20 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 The iPhone The iPhone has 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. Button Description The Home button wakes the iPhone when it is sleeping and exits applications, returning you to the home screen.
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. c If you are updating your MediaCentral UX iOS app, Avid recommends backing up your apps before upgrading. For information on backing up your apps on your iOS device, see the Apple support Web site for your device. To install MediaCentral UX on the iPhone: 1.
The Sidebar To start MediaCentral UX: 1. Select the MediaCentral icon to start the mobile application. The sign-in screen appears. 2. Type the MediaCentral UX Server name. 3. Type your MediaCentral UX user name and password. 4. Do one of the following: t Tap the Sign In button. After you sign in, MediaCentral UX connects to the selected Interplay Production server or iNEWS system. All servers display in the Sidebar.
The Sidebar The top level of the sidebar contains the Launch pane. The following illustration shows the Launch pane with an available Interplay Production database and an iNEWS newsroom computer system, as well as a couple of user-defined Favorites. From the Launch pane, you can navigate through the file structure and open assets. After opening assets, you can view the sidebar at any time by swiping your finger across the screen to the right.
Buttons of the User Interface You can use the Refresh button to update the queues and stories displayed in the iNEWS database or the media assets displayed in the Interplay Production database by clicking the Refresh button. This allows you to view any changes made to stories or any new iNEWS or Interplay Production assets. In edit mode, the plus symbol located at the bottom of the sidebar operates as the Add Story button. Users can tap it to create a new blank story.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 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 mobile application. 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.
Accessing the iNEWS Database n If the queue contains more than 1000 stories, it might take some time for MediaCentral UX to receive and display them. You might need to increase the Request Timeout value in the MediaCentral UX settings. For more information, see “Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings” on page 405. The application uses different icons to distinguish between directories, queues, and stories. Icon Description Directories hold queues or other subdirectories.
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. 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 application displays your path or location within the database at the top of the screen.
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 following illustration shows the Script Editor open with the Story section displayed containing a story with production cue markers identified numerically. Presenter instructions appear as red text in the body of the story.
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 To adjust the size of the text of your story: 1. Tap the Change Text Size button. The Change Text Size controls open. 2. Do one of the following: t Tap the smaller letter icon to reduce the text size. t Tap the larger letter icon to increase the text size You can tap the letter icons multiple times to reduce or increase text to the appropriate size. 3. Tap Done. To add a new story: 1. Tap the story in the queue below which you want to insert the new story. 2.
Editing Stories When you associate video with a script, you use the Open Sequence button to open the viewer full screen and preview sequences. The following table describes buttons available to open and use the media viewer. Button Description The Play button plays the sequence so you can preview the video associated with the story. This button changes to a Pause button while the sequence plays. The Playhead allows you to navigate to a new position in the viewer’s video playback timeline.
Editing Stories You can use cut, copy, and paste to move text around within a single story or from one story to another. When cutting or copying text, the system stores the text in the clipboard. The clipboard stores only one block of text at a time, so whenever you cut or copy something new, the clipboard overwrites the previously stored text. To edit an existing story: 1. Navigate to the existing story in the queue and open it. 2. Tap the Edit Story button. 3. Tap in the story to begin editing the text.
Editing Stories When in edit mode (in the Script Editor), the app displays the Edit toolbar and a virtual keyboard. n The MediaCentral UX mobile app can also be used with a Bluetooth keyboard. 4. (Optional) Enter any production cues or machine control instructions. 5. Save the story. For more information, see “Ways of Saving Stories” on page 416. To edit the title (slug) of a story: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Edit Slug.
Editing Stories 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. You can choose to save the story or exit edit mode without saving your changes. Your story also is saved when the following occurs: • You change to another app or send MediaCentral UX to the background by pressing the Home button.
Editing Stories To format text, select the appropriate text and do one of the following: n t To bold text, tap and hold. and then select the B button. t To italicize test, tap and hold, and then select the I button. t To underline text, tap and hold, and then select the U button. t To mark text as a presenter instruction, tap and hold, and then select P for presenter. t To mark text as a closed captioning text, tap and hold, and then select CC for closed captioned.
Editing Stories Adding Machine Control Instructions If your station integrates with a broadcast control system, such as iNEWS Command, the production cues might include machine control instructions. You should precede these instructions with an asterisk (*) and write them in a format that begins with a command for a device — for example, CG for a character generator.
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 To create a Favorite: 1. Tap the Edit button. 2. Tap the gray star next to the directory, asset, queue, or story you want to designate as a favorite destination. You can select more than one at a time. 3. Tap the Done button. All selections appear in your Favorites list in the Launch pane. A star appears next to each icon of favorite destinations in the system directory.
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 application 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.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories 2. Tap the Cache button. A progress bar indicates the status of the cache operation. To stop the cache operation, tap the Cancel button. 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.
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. Media viewer — Action button, Media player, media controls To open a directory: 1. Navigate to the directory. 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production The following illustration shows the News Media directory opened to view one subdirectory and multiple media assets. 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.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To reload an asset: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Reload. To play an asset in a browser: 1. On your iOS device, tap the Settings icon. 2. Select MediaCentral UX in the list of apps. The MediaCentral Settings screen opens. 3. Set Logging to On. 4. Select the Logging Level to Verbose. 5. Start the MediaCentral UX mobile app. 6. Navigate to an asset in one of the directories.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 7. Tap the video asset. The asset opens in the Media viewer. 8. Tap the Play button to play the asset, and make a note of the time playback begins. 9. Tap the Actions button, and then tap Send Log to send an e-mail with the log file directly to an email account. 10. Open the e-mail on your Macintosh system, and then use a text editor to open the attached log file. 11. Find a link with .
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 14. Press Enter to go to the URL in the address field. n The Safari browser supports native playback for .m3u8 files. Other browsers — for example, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Opera — do not. If you are not working on a computer running Mac OS X, you can use your browser to download the file to your system and play it in a media player that support .m3u8 video files. 15. Play back the asset.
21 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 MediaCentral UX uses one of several connection options, including Wi-Fi or carrier-specific cellular service (such as 4G). n The app automatically selects the first available connection from the list of options according to the priority shown in the list. The iPad The iPad has very few exterior buttons. You navigate content with touch gestures — for example, tapping an icon to start an app.
Installing MediaCentral | UX on the iPad Location Gesture Description Media Viewer Pinch out on viewer embedded Expands the viewer to full screen. in the Script Editor above the Cue List sub-section 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.
Starting MediaCentral | UX on the Tablet 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, the MediaCentral UX mobile app uses the credentials last used to sign in to the MediaCentral UX Web application. For more information, see “Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories” on page 453.
The Sidebar The Sidebar After you sign in to MediaCentral UX on an iPad, you can view the sidebar, located along the left side of the screen when displayed. This allows you to navigate various systems integrated with MediaCentral UX, such as an iNEWS newsroom computer system or an Interplay Production database. The Launch pane also includes any iNEWS projects and iNEWS servers that are part of an iNEWS community. The top level of the sidebar contains the Launch pane.
Buttons of the User Interface You can use the Refresh button to update the queues and stories displayed in the iNEWS database or the media assets displayed in the Interplay Production database by clicking the Refresh button. This allows you to view any changes made to stories or any new iNEWS or Interplay Production assets. In edit mode, the plus symbol located at the bottom of the sidebar operates as the Add Story button. Users can tap it to create a new blank story.
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.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 5. Click “Save to” or drag the folder to a location on your computer. 6. Zip the folder and send it to Avid as an e-mail attachment. 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 Destinations in the iNEWS system directory selected for the Favorites list have a star on the right of the directory, queue, or story. n While viewing the top level of an iNEWS system 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. However, the button’s name changes the further you navigate down the system directory.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The following illustration shows the Wires directory opened to view numerous queues containing incoming wire stories. Wires directory on the BSI-C3PO iNEWS server, with the back button at the top of the list To back out of a directory or queue: 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.
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 following illustration shows the Script Editor with a story containing production cue markers identified numerically. These markers align with production cues and machine control instructions displayed in the Cue List to the left of the story. Blue text indicates machine control instructions. Black text indicates production cues. Red text in the body of the story indicates presenter instructions. To reload a story: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Reload.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 2. Do one of the following: t Tap the smaller letter icon to reduce the text size. t Tap the larger letter icon to increase the text size You can tap the letter icons multiple times to reduce or increase text to the appropriate size. 3. Tap anywhere on the screen to dismiss the Change Text Size controls. To add a new story: 1. Tap the story in the queue below which you want to insert the new story. 2. Tap the Add Story button, located at the bottom of the sidebar.
Editing Stories n You cannot view video sequences created directly in NewsCutter or Media Composer, and you cannot play back shotlists created in Interplay Assist or Interplay Access. To view video sequences associated with a script: 1. Do one of the following: t Tap the Play button in the viewer located above the Cue List sub-section of the Script Editor. t Tap the Maximize button in the viewer to open the viewer full screen. Then tap the Play button. 2.
Editing Stories You can use cut, copy, and paste to move text around within a single story or from one story to another. When cutting or copying text, the system stores the text in the clipboard. The clipboard stores only one block of text at a time, so whenever you cut or copy something new, the clipboard overwrites the previously stored text. To edit an existing story: 1. Navigate to the existing story in the queue and open it. 2. Tap the Edit Story button. 3. Tap in the story to begin editing the text.
Editing Stories When in edit mode (in the Script Editor), the app displays the Edit toolbar and a virtual keyboard. n The MediaCentral UX mobile app can also be used with a Bluetooth keyboard. 4. (Optional) Enter any production cues or machine control instructions. 5. Save the story. For more information, see “Ways of Saving Stories” on page 446. To edit the title (slug) of a story: 1. Tap the Actions button. 2. Tap Edit Slug.
Editing Stories Your story also is saved when the following occurs: • You change to another app or send MediaCentral UX to the background by pressing the Home button. • Your device goes to sleep due to Auto-Lock timeout. • If you use a Smart Cover and close the cover, sending the device to sleep.
Editing Stories n 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. 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.
Editing Stories Adding Machine Control Instructions If your station integrates with a broadcast control system, such as iNEWS Command, the production cues might include machine control instructions. You should precede these instructions with an asterisk (*) and write them in a format that begins with a command for a device — for example, CG for a character generator.
Approving Stories To open a Web link from a story: t Tap the link in the story. The tablet’s Web browser opens and loads the Web page. 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.
Working with Favorites 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. The app displays a progress dialog as it loads the rest of the stories in the rundown in order to cache them locally on your device. When the cache operation completes, the progress dialog closes. Stories load in the following order: - Load the previous story — the one before the selected story in the rundown.
Working with Favorites 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. Tap the Edit button. 2. Tap the gray star next to the directory, asset, queue, or story you want to designate as a favorite destination. You can select more than one at a time. 3. Tap the Done button.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories 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. Tap to the left of the directory, queue, or story you want to remove as a favorite destination. You can select more than one at a time. The selected item displays a check mark next to the title; gray circles indicate those not chosen. 3. Tap the Trash button.
Working Offline with Cached Queues and Stories Caching Queues and Stories To view queues and stories in offline mode, you must set them as Favorites before they can be cached locally and viewed when you do not have a connection to server (see “Working with Favorites” on page 451). You can delete a cache for a queue or story by deleting the item from the Favorites list. To cache a queue or story in the Favorites list: 1.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production Viewing Queues and Stories in Offline Mode When you lose your connection to MediaCentral UX, you can choose to work offline. This allows you to view queues and stories that have been cached on your mobile device. To view cached queues and stories after your lose your connection to MediaCentral UX: 1. In the sign-in screen, tap Work Offline. MediaCentral UX displays the Launch pane, with all cached queues and stories in the Favorites list. 2.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production Icon Description A group clip contains two or more grouped clips, strung together sequentially according to common timecodes. An in-progress clip, also known as an edit while capture (EWC) clip, is available for viewing and for use in editing while the capture is still in progress. Destinations in the Interplay Production system directory selected for the Favorites list have a star next to their icons.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production The following illustration shows the News Media directory opened to view one subdirectory and multiple media assets. News Media 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. 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.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To play an asset in a browser: 1. On your iOS device, tap the Settings icon. 2. Select MediaCentral UX in the list of apps. The MediaCentral Settings screen opens. 3. Set Logging to On. 4. Select the Logging Level to Verbose. 5. Start the MediaCentral UX mobile app. 6. Navigate to an asset in one of the directories. 7. Tap the video asset. The asset opens in the Media viewer. 8.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 10. Open the e-mail on your Macintosh system, and then use a text editor to open the attached log file. 11. Find a link with .m3u8 suffix that is located on the line marked with the time playback started — for example: 07-02 16:15:29.830 [ . . . ] http://123.45.678.910/download/ 0e41028f99738669c581c50388e80d36/060a2b340101010101010f0013-00000092dede5ab6034faa-b737d720c291-4093_1920x1080fps25.00_from_0_to_7501_quality_0_video_-1_audio_-1_h264_aac_ts_.m3u8 12.
22 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 Media Viewer Touch and drag in the timeline Moves to new position in viewer’s video playback timeline. Media Viewer Tap in the timeline Moves the Playhead to that position on the timeline. Installing MediaCentral | UX on Your Android Device The following procedure assumes licensing, setup, and configuration of MediaCentral have already been completed. To install MediaCentral UX on the Android device: 1.
Starting MediaCentral | UX on the Android Device To start MediaCentral UX: 1. Select the MediaCentral UX icon to start the mobile application. The sign-in screen appears. 2. Type the MediaCentral server name. 3. Type your MediaCentral user name and password. 4. Tap the Sign In button. n If your MediaCentral credentials are incorrect or missing in your MediaCentral account, you receive a message: “Authentication Failed: The user name or password you entered is incorrect.
The Navigation Drawer and Directory Panel 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. From the navigation drawer, you can connect to various systems integrated with MediaCentral, such as iNEWS newsroom computer systems or an Interplay Production database. The navigation drawer also includes any iNEWS servers that are part of an iNEWS community.
Buttons of the User Interface Buttons of the User Interface The MediaCentral mobile application provides buttons in the user interface that allow you to access the features of the app. The following table describes the buttons and their uses. Button Description The Up button lets users return to the navigation drawer when browsing the iNEWS or Interplay Production database. It also lets users show the navigation drawer when a queue, story, or asset is open.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 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 mobile application. Keep me signed in Set to On if you want MediaCentral UX to keep you signed in once you first sign in to MediaCentral. Logging If selected, MediaCentral UX keeps logs on session activities, which you can use to troubleshoot issues.
Accessing the iNEWS Database n If the queue contains more than 1000 stories, it might take some time for the MediaCentral mobile application to receive and display them. You might need to increase the Request Timeout value in the MediaCentral mobile application settings. For more information, see “Customizing MediaCentral | UX Settings” on page 466. The application uses different icons to distinguish between directories, queues, and stories.
Accessing the iNEWS Database 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. When you tap a story, it displays in Story view in the Body tab.
Accessing the iNEWS Database To open a queue: 1. Tap in the Directory panel to 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. Tap in the Directory panel to 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.
Accessing the iNEWS Database The following illustration shows the Body tab containing a story with production cue markers identified numerically. 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.
Viewing Video Associated with a Script 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). n Because of limited screen size on Android devices, the mobile application does not display the Directory panel with the story.
Viewing Video Associated with a Script Button Description The Play button plays the sequence so you can preview the video associated with the story. This button changes to a Pause button while the sequence plays. The Playhead allows you to navigate to a new position in the viewer’s video playback timeline. The Maximize button expands the viewer to full screen. You can view video sequences created in the following way: n • A sequence created and modified the sequence in MediaCentral UX.
Working with Stories 3. (Optional) If you expand the viewer, the orientation adjusts to display the video in landscape mode. You can tap the Minimize button on the viewer or the Back button on your device to restore the original size and orientation within the Sequence tab. 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.
Working with Stories 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. 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.
Working with Stories 3. Tap Edit Slug. The Edit Slug dialog box opens, and the application displays a virtual keyboard. 4. Edit the story title, and then tap OK. Ways of Saving Stories You can save newly created stories or change existing stories by tapping the Save Story button after modifying a story while in edit mode. You can also save your story when you change to another app or send the MediaCentral mobile application to the background by pressing the Home button.
Working with 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).
Working with Stories If you tap the Back button when you have turned off the Autosave Stories option in the settings, a message appears asking you to confirm whether to save the changes. You can choose to save the story or exit edit mode without saving your changes. 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.
Working with Stories Adding Machine Control Instructions If your station integrates with a broadcast control system, such as iNEWS Command, the production cues might include machine control instructions. You should write your instructions in a format that begins with a command for a device — for example, CG for a character generator. After the command the format specifies a particular item or template, such as 2line for a template that contains two lines for fulfillment data.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production You can access media assets stored in an Interplay Production database, such as video clips, audio clips, and subclips. When viewed with the mobile app, available Interplay Production systems appear in the sidebar, along with any of their directories and media assets. Different icons are used to identify Interplay Production assets: Icon Description Directories hold media assets or other subdirectories.
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 Directory panel. You can view and play assets in the Media viewer. Media viewer — top: Up button, Previous/Next buttons; Action overflow button; middle: Media player; bottom: Media controls To open a directory: 1.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 2. Tap a folder on screen to open it. The following illustration shows the Workflows directory opened to view multiple subdirectories and media assets. To back out of a directory: t Tap the Back button on your Android device.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To open and play a media asset: 1. Tap in the Directory panel to 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.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production To play an asset in a browser: 1. Start the MediaCentral UX mobile app. 2. Tap the Action overflow button, and then select Settings. The Preferences window opens. 3. Select Logging to enable logging. 4. Tap Logging Level and then select Verbose. 5. Click the Back button to return to MediaCentral UX. 6. Navigate to an asset in one of the directories.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 7. Tap the video asset. The asset opens in the Media viewer. 8. Tap the Play button to play the asset, and make a note of the time playback begins. 9. Click the Action overflow button and select Send Log to send an e-mail with the log file directly to an e-mail account. The MediaCentral Log dialog box opens, displaying your e-mail and text options. 10. Tap the icon for the app you want to use to send the log. The app opens on your Android device. 11.
MediaCentral | UX and Interplay | Production 15. Edit link in address field by typing -WIFI before the .m3u8 suffix — for example: http://123.45.678.910/download/0e41028f99738669c581c50388e80d36/ 060a2b340101010101010f0013-000000-92dede5ab6034faa-b737d720c2914093_1920x1080-fps25.00_from_0_to_7501_quality_0_video_-1_audio_1_h264_aac_ts_-WIFI.m3u8 n “WIFI” is case-sensitive. 16. Press Enter to go to the URL in the address field. n The Safari browser supports native playback for .m3u8 files.
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. Time Zone Controls the display of dates and times.
Settings Group Setting Description Interplay | Production Interplay Production credentials Sets the user name and password for access to the Interplay Production server. The user name and password must match the user name and password of an Interplay Production account. An option lets you set your MediaCentral UX user name and password to access the Interplay Production server.
Settings Group Setting Description Timeline Enable paging Enables a paging display during playback in the Sequence Timeline. This feature is useful when you are zoomed in to a sequence and you want to display the area around the position indicator. For more information, see “Timeline Paging During Playback” on page 110.
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 • Closed Captioning 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 74.
Assets Pane Shortcuts 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 36. n n Shortcut Description Focus Up Arrow Move the selection highlight up and select an item. Assets pane Down Arrow Move the selection highlight down and select an item.
Media Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Down Arrow Zoom in to a section of the timeline by 50 percent. Media pane Up Arrow Zoom out from a section of the timeline by 50 percent. Media pane Shift+Up Arrow Zoom to show the entire sequence Media pane J, K, L See “Using the J-K-L Keys for Playback” on page 170. Media pane Shift+Left Arrow Go to the previous marker. Media pane Shift+Right Arrow Go to the next marker.
Media Pane Shortcuts Shortcuts with Focus Outside the Media Pane The following table shows keyboard shortcuts you can use to control playback when focus is not in the Media pane, for example, when you are logging in the Logging pane. n Some keyboard shortcuts work differently when you are working in the Logging pane in edit mode. See “Logging Pane (Interplay | Production) Shortcuts” on page 495. n Some keyboard shortcuts work differently when you are working in the Sequences pane.
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 494. 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+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 working with marker text in edit mode. n “Edit mode” refers to the mode in which the Notes column is selected and the insert bar is displayed.
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+A (Windows) Command+A (Macintosh) Select all text Logging pane Delete key Delete one letter or space forward Logging pane Backspace key Delete one letter or space backward Logging pane Ctrl+X Cut selection Logging pane Ctrl+C Copy selection Logging pane Ctrl+V Paste selection Logging pane Ctrl+Shift+D (Windows) Change the direction of the text (right-to-left or left-to-right) Logging pane Command+Shift+D (Macin
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Delete key (Windows) Backspace key (Macintosh) fn+Backspace key (MacBook) Delete the selected segment or segments Logging pane Up Arrow Move to and select previous segment Logging pane Down Arrow Move to and select next segment Logging pane Left Arrow If the segment contains several properties, move Logging pane to the previous property field If the segment contains only one property field, move to and select previous segment
Logging Pane (Interplay | MAM) Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow (Windows) Alt+Shift+Down Arrow (Macintosh) Select next paragraph Logging pane 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 tim
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.
Sequence Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Left Arrow Select previous day Calendar Right Arrow Select next day Calendar Up Arrow Increase the figures by one unit Integer or Floating point field Down Arrow Decrease the figures by one unit Integer or Floating point field For more information on the Logging pane and its sections, see “Logging Interplay | MAM Assets” on page 280.
Closed Captioning Pane Shortcuts Shortcut Description Focus Ctrl+Z (Windows) Command+Z (Macintosh) Undo an action Sequence pane Ctrl+Y (Windows) Command+Y (Macintosh) Redo an action Sequence pane With trim indicators active M Trim the segment’s selected end by 10 frames earlier. Sequence pane comma (,) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame earlier. Sequence pane period (.) Trim the segment’s selected end one frame later.
C Icons This topic provides a quick reference guide to icons or buttons you might encounter when using MediaCentral UX.
Launch Pane 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) Launch Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Launch pane.
Assets Pane Icons Icon Description 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. Other icons are used to show the state of an asset. These type and status icons are displayed in the Assets pane in either the Name or State columns. Interplay | Production Assets Icons for Interplay Production assets appear in the Name and State columns.
Assets Pane Icons iNEWS Assets All icons for iNEWS assets appear in the Name column. Icon Description Directory or subfolder in the iNEWS database Indexed Directory Queue in the iNEWS database Indexed Queue (also BUCKET queue) Locked Queue Indexed and Locked Queue Facet in the iNEWS database Facet (not started) 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 Sequence asset (audio or video) Name Series asset Name Stock Footage asset Name Trailer asset Name 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.
Associations Pane Icons Icon Description Column 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 Associations Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Associations pane. Icon Description The Parent button navigates to the parent asset in the pane (hierarchical associations only).
Media Pane Icons 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. Moves the position indicator to the In point. Marks an In point. Marks an Out point Moves the position indicator to the Out point.
Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | Production Assets) Buttons Description Displays a group clip in a 3x3 grid. Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | Production Assets) The following icons are used in the Logging pane. Icon Description Insert Marker and Select Marker Color Add Restriction Refresh Cancel Logging Pane Icons (Interplay | MAM Assets) The following icons are used in the Logging pane.
Progress Pane Icons Progress Pane Icons The following icons are used in the Progress pane. Icon Description Open in Media pane Cancel Resend/Retry 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.
Tasks Pane Icons 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. Refresh The Lock Indicator icon indicates if the selected task is currently locked for editing. If a task is free for editing, the icon shown in the table is displayed. If a task is locked by you, the Lock Indicator icon is colored orange. If a task is locked by another user, the Lock Indicator icon is grayed out.
MediaCentral Glossary A B C D E F G I J L M N O P QR S T U V W Z 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.
Asset mode If you click the Asset button in the Media pane, you can view media for the currently loaded asset and use controls that apply specifically to assets, such as controls for setting In and Out points. Compare with the definition of Output mode. 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.
Closed Captioning pane A pane that displays closed captions for the Interplay Production asset loaded in the Media pane. The Closed Captioning pane lists timecode and text for the closed captions and includes controls for importing, exporting, editing, and positioning. Contacts list In the Message bar, a list of iNEWS users from which you can select a recipient of a message.
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. federated search A search that uses the search capabilities of the MediaCentral Platform to provide the full search functionality that individual databases provide. file-based playback Playback mode where media is downloaded to your workstation for playback.
J J-K-L play The J-K-L keys on the keyboard allow you to play and shuttle through media at varying speeds. This feature is also referred to as three-button play or variable-speed play. L Launch pane A pane in the client application from which you navigate to various locations. This pane displays remote file systems, local files systems, and other locations for assets. Layout A collection of panes designed for a specific purpose, such as a layout for journalists or a layout for administrators.
M marker An indicator added to a selected frame to mark a particular location in a clip, subclip, or sequence. Markers can be different colors and can be associated with user-defined text. Markers are displayed in the Media Timeline and marker text is displayed as an overlay in the Media viewer. Formerly called locator. master clip A media object that contains pointers to media files in which the actual digital video and audio data is stored.
Media | Index A search engine that allows users to search a central index for multiple Interplay Production databases over multiple zones. See also indexed search. Media pane A pane in the client application in which you can view and edit media assets, using the Media controls. Media viewer The section of the Media pane used to view an asset. Media Timeline In the Media pane, a graphical representation of the length and time spans of an asset or sequence.
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.
presenter mode A feature of the MediaCentral UX tablet application lets users view a show’s scripts in a page-bypage layout, similar to printed scripts used by news presenters. production cue An object in an iNEWS story that provides important information to technical staff as well as machine control commands for devices, such as character generators.
restriction A set of two markers that indicate clips whose use is limited in some way, such as through intellectual property rights management or content compliance. role A set of features, privileges, and layouts that are assigned to a user by a MediaCentral UX administrator. An administrator can create MediaCentral UX roles based on roles within an organization. rundown A lineup or timed list of scripts indicating the order in which they will be aired during a news program.
segment 1. In a rundown, a portion of the show aired between commercial breaks. 2. A portion of the story body/text. A journalist uses segments to time the text and integrate it with video, audio, and production cues. Multiple timed segments are combined to form the overall story. 3. In a sequence, a portion of media contained on a track. 4. In a stratum, a portion of media defined by an In and Out mark. Segments contain annotation that is associated to a sequence of frames.
Social Message pane A pane in the client application that allows you to create packages for publication to social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter. SOT (sound on tape) Audio recorded at the same time as the video, often by a microphone separate from the one built in to a camera. Compare with the definition of NAT (natural sound). source clip A video clip or audio clip that is used as part of a sequence.
T task An elementary step within a process that is carried out either automatically (based on workflow scripts) or by a user action. 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.
uneditable sequence A sequence created on Media Composer or another Avid editing application that cannot be edited in MediaCentral UX, such as a sequence that includes rendered effects. Uneditable sequences are colored dark red in the Sequence Timeline. See also read-only sequence. User Management Service (UMS) See MediaCentral User Management Service (UMS). user task A task that requires a user action and is completed by a user action. See task.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Index A About menu option 30 Actions applying to tasks 394 Active-X plug-ins 31 Adding attachments to tasks 396 file attachments to processes 381 Advanced sequence described 106 group clips 227 Android application for MediaCentral UX 461 Annotating segments 298 segments using tags 300 Annotation speech-to-text 82 Applying actions to tasks 394 Approve stories MediaCentral mobile app 450 MediaCentral UX mobile app 419 Areas 25 Aspect ratio 172 Asset mode described 161 displays and
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Audio track enabling 144 Audio-only segment 149 Audio-only sequences 115, 117 Auto-Save sequences 119 stories 95 Avid online support 18 training services 18 Avid Central adding machine control instructions 479 adding production cues 478 formatting a script 477 saving stories 476 working with links 479 Avid iNEWS described 19 Avid Instinct associated sequences 115 B Banks for group clips 219 Basic sequence described 106 group clips 226 C Captions displaying in Media pane
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Essence packages cleaning up 328 editing properties 327 Essences editing properties 329 understanding 319 Exporting markers 275 MP4 video 193 strata 307 F Facet associating story with 73 described 39 opening 70 opening a facet associated with a story 73 Favorites 419, 451 Federated search 230 File Info pane described 321 list of icons 508 working in 326 File-based playback 175 Filtering association types 313 Filtering user tasks 391 Floating a Story 100 Folder adding asset 56 cre
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ removing assets 59 renaming assets 58 renaming folders 54 vieweing image asset 192 viewing thumbnails 67 working with associations 308 working with essences 319 Interplay | Production asset types 42 described 19 duplicating assets 44 moving and copying assets 44 navigating database 42 property columns 43 renaming assets 45 user settings 487 Interplay MAM editing metadata 61, 64 property types and input controls 61 Interplay Production MediaCentral mobile app 456, 481 Media
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ playback quality 174 updating status 172 viewing in mobile app 412 viewing in mobile application 472 viewing in tablet app 443 Media | Distribute list of icons 512 Media Index indexed search 230 Media pane Asset mode 162 group clip 165 keyboard shortcuts 492 list of icons 509 menu options Asset mode 164 menu options Output mode 167 Output mode 166 Media timeline described 184 Media viewer size of video 172 MediaCentral | UX described 19 MediaCentral mobile app accessing iNEWS 438
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ MP4 file creating from a sequence 193 Multi-angle views group clips 215 Multicamera workflows described 214 MultiRez button highest resolution 187 STP target resolution 186 Mute track in advanced sequence 203 track in asset or basic sequence 199 N NAT column 134 NAT tracks changing the default 204 described 201 disabling 148 enabling 148 swapping with SOT tracks 204 Navigating using associations 316 Navigation drawer, described 465 NewsCutter associated sequences 115 NRCS
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Q Queue/Story pane described 74 keyboard shortcuts 491 toolbar 76 Queues caching 422, 454 creating story groups in 97 in Assets pane 39 viewing offline 423, 455 R Recording audio clip 210 Recovered files sequences 119 stories 95 Redoing in the Sequence pane 147 Reference level setting audio 208 Referenced assets displaying or hiding 45 Remote assets working with 177 Replace edit 141 Resizing overlapping segments 294 segments 293, 293 Resolution highest for playback 187 Restricti
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Sequence Timeline described 77 Sequence timeline paging 110 Sequences adding markers 156 adding media to advanced 134 adding media to basic 133 adding media using Match Frame 146 associated in Instinct and NewsCutter NRCS 115 audio-only 115, 117 basic and advanced 106 basic sequence as source 145 creating 112 creating Interplay MAM 116 creating Interplay Production 113 editing 132 enabling audio tracks 144 exporting Interplay MAM 118 horizontal and vertical 107 inserting d
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Tasks adding and editing attachments 396 applying actions 394 assigning 393 delegating 392 deleting attachments 399 downloading file attachments 398 editing data 395 filtering 391 getting information on allowed attachments 383 understanding 376 uploading files 397 Tasks pane described 387 list of icons 512 working in 390 Templates, for scripts 89 Thumbnails pane 47, 67 Timecode groups clips 221 modifying start 158 using to cue a frame 182 Timecode displays 182 Timing blocks editin
