In television industry, video engineer takes care of the optimum function of technical equipment and has a tight relation with the production team. The creative part of the production team creates the aesthetic part of production, and the engineer has to assess the possibility of implementation of such production from the technical aspect. We met certain limitations in television that originate from the fact that the main video mixer, Ross Video Vision Octane, provides only two ME units, one of which is used for mixing. This means that only one is available for preparation of video effects and direct transition between different ME settings is not possible. Moreover, ME also does not enable the use of four keys, but the need of using several keys occurs sometimes.
As we have a smaller Rossi Video Carbonite video mixer in television production, which is rarely used, it would be sensible to find a solution on how to use the capacity of that mixer together with the main video mixer. The solution is in the use of remote ViewControl management function, supported by the Carbonite mixer. If we bring a program output (which is the output of one ME mixer unit) beside mixer configuration for using this function and another output for setting the other ME Carbonite mixer unit, such as an input to Vision mixer, the capacities expand. We can use the ME Vision mixer unit and both ME Carbonite mixer units in a way that the operator manages it with a touch-screen display, which is installed next to the control panel of the Vision mixer. Using both mixers enables transitions between different ME settings, up to 12 keys can be used by chaining ME units, and, if optimised properly, the Carbonite mixer can also be used as a backup in case of a critical error on the Vision mixer.
This way, the equipment is used in an optimum manner and expands the possibilities of production. If we automate certain parts of the production, the entire work process can be additionally optimised. Since the purchase of a purpose-made software for automation in minor production, as in our case, is economically less feasible, own solution is more sensible. Designing such software is rather demanding. We must connect different equipment of various manufacturers, and the application must be very robust if we wish to use it for live broadcast, but this requires a lot of testing. That is why we are providing only the first few steps on how to approach development of such an application.
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