DIRECTORS PANEL
The functionality of the Interlinear has been further extended by providing a small Directors Panel carrying dedicated transport keys for each channel.
In addition to the Play, Stop and Recue functions, the Next and Last keys allow each channel to be stepped both forwards and back through the playlist, providing improved flexibility when things don't go according to the script.
The individual transport controls allow channels to be played in any order.
The Directors Panel is designed to allow multiple key presses without restriction, so that, for example, all four channels can be played simultaneously in near synchronism.
As each clip finishes playing, the InterCart system monitors the on air tally input. Until the tally has cleared and the postroll period (five seconds) has expired, the final frame of the clip will be held on the output. After this, the next clip for that channel will be cued up automatically and its first frame will be visible on the Clipbox output.
While a tally is present (active low, contacts closed), the red LED for that channel will be illuminated and the CUE, LAST, STOP and NEXT functions will be inhibited so that playback to air is not disrupted. Furthermore, changes to the playlist involving the clip that is playing will be ignored until the tally is cleared.
The HOST key breaks and rejoins the link between InterCart and the Host Automation System. When the link is broken, local operation can proceed without interference from the host. InterCart will ignore all commands from the host, but will reply to status requests so the host remains up to date.
The ON OFF key (for safety reasons, this is only active while the HOST is not active) allows the InterCart system to release its Clipbox ports for use by other devices while the system is not on air or rehearsing.
The multicoloured LED below the HOST key indicates that the Directors Panel and InterCart are able to communicate satisfactorily. This LED is normally green. If there is a problem, the LED turns red and an audible beep is produced.
The CUE key will cue up the clip if used while the clip is not currently at its cue point, that is, if the clip is playing or stopped (other than at the cue point). When cued, the key will illuminate to confirm that the clip is cued. The LAST function operates in place of the CUE function if the clip is cued already, which is whenever the key is illuminated. The LAST function removes the current clip from the output and replaces it with the previous clip allocated to that channel. LAST can be used repeatedly, if necessary, to gain access to any previously used or missed clip. Both CUE and LAST are inhibited by the presence of a tally for that channel. LAST does not operate while the HOST is on.
The STOP key will freeze the clip while the clip is playing (inhibited by on air tally but useful when rehearsing and to shorten the postroll). While stopped, the STOP key will illuminate to confirm this state. The NEXT function operates in place of the STOP function if the clip is stopped already, which is whenever the STOP key is illuminated. The NEXT function removes the current clip from the output and replaces it with the next clip allocated to that channel. NEXT can be used repeatedly, if necessary, to gain access to a clip which was scheduled to play much later in the programme. Both STOP and NEXT are inhibited by the presence of the tally for that channel.
NEXT and LAST are directly complimentary, so any error in the use of one function can be corrected by the use of the other, but only if the HOST is switched off.
Also, the NEXT function replaces the tape-style "Double Play" function, as the next clip can be cued as soon as the decision to omit an item occurs.
|
|