The Newtek Tricaster has revolutionized corporate and educational television production. The exorbitant cost of video production has made it virtually impossible to replicate the equipment necessary to teach the required skills for studio production. The development of equipment like the Newtek TriCaster has allowed schools and small production companies to enter the industry and provides the same level of production at an extremely low cost. This section is designed to give the student a very basic introduction into the Newtek TriCaster. This will allow the student to develop a basic understanding of how the equipment can be utilized in the school's video studio today. This material should also be used as directed to complete any Review Questions Sheet that is assigned.
WHAT IS THE NEWTEK TRICASTER?
The NewTek TriCaster is a portable, live production system. It is designed for corporate professionals and other communicators who want to get their message across in the most powerful way possible. TriCaster was designed to bring the production and distribution capabilities of broadcast television to the corporate and educational environment. The TriCaster combines everything found in a television mobile truck into a box not much larger than a loaf of bread. It has a very easy graphical interface that uses plain language instead of very technical video jargon, so teachers, students, marketers, and corporate training professionals can jump right in and start immediately producing and distributing broadcast quality live events and presentations. Beyond the corporate and education markets, it is perfect for local access channels or anyone wanting to communicate live events. The combination of TriCaster's portability, functionality and affordability, make it the most powerful live production system ever developed.
WHAT CAN THE TRICASTER ACTUALLY DO?
TriCaster is the perfect device to handle any presentation need, from mixing live cameras and video playback, to high-resolution projection of graphics and animations directly to a projector, video or the Internet. Only extremely expensive studio production equipment used to be able to do the things that the TriCaster can do, such as sharing full-screen graphics and video from another person across a local network, mix it with up to three live camera sources, and even "stream" your live presentation to the Internet or record it to hard disk as full-resolution digital video. The TriCaster has also been designed for users who are not very familiar with video equipment or terminology.
The TriCaster consists of three main components or interfaces. The first is "Live Production", the second is "Capture Media" and the third is "Edit Media". Those components will be discussed below.
LIVE PRODUCTION WITH THE TRICASTER
The "Live Production" component of the TriCaster encompasses the ability to input three live camera sources, as well as recorded digital video files, VGA input from a desktop computer or notebook and still pictures. The ability to mix the sources is an added bonus since the TriCaster contains a fully functional "video switcher". The switcher can be used along with video transitions to easily switch from source to source. This mimics the way that network television stations create live broadcasts from multiple sources.
The TriCaster also contains a module for adding "overlays" to video productions. An "overlay" consists of graphics or text that is superimposed over the live camera feed or another source. This creates a "composite image" that consists of both the video and the graphics. Overlays help to create a truly professional look to the finished production.
The live production component also contains a "Virtual VCR". This allows the use of digital video files. A "playlist" of filers can be created so you can digitally "cue" a video clip and when you're ready to make it live, select and play it instantly. With the TriCaster, cutting between clips and live cameras is a snap.
The "Keyer" function allows a user to combine or superimpose two images. The process involves revealing the background image by eliminating part of the foreground image. In other words, when keying in video, the foreground image is shot in front of a blue or green screen. When you see a television meteorologist in front of a map that person is actually standing in front of a blue or green screen that is "chroma-keyed" out, exposing the background map.
A full functioning "Audio Mixer" is included in the TriCaster Live Production component as well. It provides basic support for audio reinforcement through the use of a 4-channel audio mixer. There are adjustments for Mic 1, Mic 2, Line and VCR with each input provided with balance and equalizer controls.
THE "CAPTURE MEDIA" COMPONENT
The "Capture Media" component of the TriCaster allows the user to realize the same capture functions as you would use to capture video using a desktop computer and non-linear editing software. TriCaster allows you to capture video from cameras, decks or DVD players to use in live video productions or as part of an edited video project.
"DV Camera control" allows the connection of a Digital Video deck or camcorder through an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connection. The TriCaster can also control the deck or camcorder allowing the capability to remotely control the play, rewind, fast forward and rewind controls of the camcorder or deck.
The "Capture Details" module panel allows you to choose between analog or digital sources. You can also use the analog audio input to record voiceovers or narration.
The "Captured Media" bin is where each clip is saved as you capture. The default folder can be used or you can create folders on the TriCaster unit's hard disk.
THE TRICASTER "EDIT MEDIA" COMPONENT
TriCaster includes one of the fastest "video editors" available. Editing is available in both "Timeline" and "Storyboard" mode. The "video editor" has the typical features one would expect in a non-linear editing software. It also contains advanced features such as multiple layers, picture-in-picture, real time slow motion and color correction.
The "Media Bin" is where you access all your audio, video, graphics and titles. This is where al;l the source files are found to begin creating and editing a full video production. Files can be dragged and dropped onto the "storyboard" in the editor. It is also easy to switch from "storyboard" mode to "timeline" mode. Some of the more advanced editing features are found in the "timeline" mode. Timelines are the best way to see the relationships between audio, video and titles. Since TriCaster has a "free-form timeline", audio, video and titles can be placed anywhere you need.
While in the edit component, the user can "trim" clips and select only the portions of the clip needed. Transitions are easily added and there are over 200 transitions to choose from. The edit mode also allows for advanced "character generation". Through this feature, both animated and static titles can be created to scroll or crawl over existing video clips.
The "Controls" Panel in the editor serves several purposes: animating, rotating, sizing, cropping, adding shadows, keying and color correcting video layers. I fyou select an audio file in the workspace, then "Controls" presents a different interface to adjust audio levels and balance.
Although the TriCaster sounds complicated, anyone can master most of its functions in a very short amount of time. There will be opportunities given to students to use the different components contained in the TriCaster and soon they should be producing professional-looking video productions that rival those seen on cable television. |
