Overview of the systems based on extended version of Alpha Pro software

By Alexander Zibrov

Review contents:

CGs yesterday, today and tomorrow Software and hardware tools for TV programs graphic branding Graphic tools of DMS module system The use of XDR2-GENSEC in the systems of regional air branding Akula VTM video compositing system. New model range — new features Profitt’s titling and air branding systems, clock and logo generators Overview of the systems based on extended version of Alpha Pro software X-CG character generator — good choice for titles creation TitleBox graphic manager Clock Station Leitch’s equipment for air branding Matrox InfonetTV Deko CGs from Pinnacle Systems Company Pixel Power equipment Stream Labs.’s video cards Videoprinter system for DSC video switchers Videonics titling machines

Alpha Pro’s extended version has been created as a tool for developers of their own software applications dedicated to automation of the process of titles and close captures playout used in TV programs branding. Using different computer languages like VBScript, isual C++ etc it is possible to make an application which by its own prepares titles according to templates and plays them out to air at specified time. In this way many independent was created by both Alpha Pro developers and by programmers working in central and regional TV companies.

Most often it is necessary to create applications for titles, clock and interactive phone surveys results playout. A bit separate a task of advertising clips automated playout according to the schedule stays. For solving of this most often appeared tasks the special applications to extended version of Alpha Pro were written. Let’s look at them deeper.

Live is the system for titles playout and interactive phone surveys conducted in the live air

Regularly and especially right before elections a need for air interactive polls appears. Along with extended version of Alpha Pro software full functional demo example of such application delivered. It is written in VBScript language and has an HTML-page interface. It uses modems connected to computer and counts incoming phone calls. Additionally some applications are being created which work in local network and can serve up many modems, reply to calling person by speech file and define a phone number of a caller (for avoiding double calls count). The modems are connected to the computer via multi-port card installed into main frame. It can be several frames and they transfer data via local network to the computer which outputs polls results to air. On the central channels providers of appropriate services are the sources of information, i. e. instead of just modems in some cases another devices for polls results input were used.

TV program’s frame branded by Live system

This scheme of connection and a principle of work were transferred to Live system but instead of multi-port card today is convenient to use USB hubs. The Live system allows immediately work with 4 phone lines connected to external modems with functions of phone number detection and voice reply. Number of lines can be extended if necessary.

Another important task during live air programs is output of titles containing information about persons involved: names, occupations etc. Sometimes happens that precise list of guests and order of their appearance is not known before. Also in news programs recently gathered stories need to be titled in live mode. The editor should have common control of titling process as well as close captions and polls results control. Often it is necessary during the program playout inputting new messages or correcting old ones very fast.

In contrast to traditional systems the Live can automatically change plates (backgrounds) size or a text, or vice versa stretch a text without losses of its readability to such size that it can be fitted to plate. These plates which are appropriate to different independent news air branding elements (Live event, Archive, date and time of event and so on) will appear if their text at present moment is presented on a screen. An editor chooses appropriate titles line from chart and pressing single button sends the titles to the screen having a possibility to edit content of other lines immediately.

The Lice system is being used in “Itogi”, “New”, “Grani” and “Cimes content” of TBC channel

Use of Alpha Pro for air branding of sports programming

Live system’s titles creation interface

Each kind of sports is so individual that it is impossible to create single common branding system for its playout. For period of extended version of Alpha Pro the methodology was developed which allows pretty fast create such applications for particular sports. Software delivered along with demo sample for football (soccer) match which illustrates this methodology.

Many applications was created for not only football but basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, horse racing and other sports games. It is necessary to note that working on basketball or ice hockey match with second meter values and other statistic information display is quite complex task. Extended version Alpha Pro allows realization of all this tasks and its flexibility gives a possibility create such application easy.

Crawl playout automation

As an example of extended version of Alpha Pro software use one can give an application for crawl playout process automation according to schedule created by Vladimir Ostapchuk from Krasnodar City.

This application works with database from which crawls are taken when, aking current schedule. In the database the crawls output time, number of playouts and type of background are specified. Separately it is possible output of logo, digital clock and temperature (from temperature sensor). Positions of logo, crawls, and background type, and style of text, time and temperature values symbols can be defined by users through templates of appropriate script in Alpha Pro software.

Tele — advert blocks and close captions scheduled playout automation system

The Tele system already gained well popularity is the hardware and software set dedicated to automated scheduled playout (along with audio) of close captions, titles, animations and video clips. The system consists of software module working with Alpha Pro software and Stream Labs’s Stream Alpha or Candela’s Akula VTM card for computer graphics output.

Crawls creating working window

Usually for playout of ad blocks to air NLE cards are used. They are being connected to the switcher’s or router’s input equipped with synchronization module. These devices make appropriate switching at good moment. Often NLE card doesn’t have external reference input and upon switching it to the output for ad clips playput by some reason black fields appear on output. The Tele system doesn’t require high cost switcher or router because the output card works in slave mode from the very beginning and synchronization doesn’t being lost upon switching to video clips playout. The audio is being switched by computer’s audio card.

In recent time the increase of PC’s microprocessors speed and evolution of their architecture made it possible software decompression and playback of most types video files directly from hard disk. This way looks more efficient for air branding than the use of specialized chipsets.

The file formats created by Pinnacle, Canopus, Matrox, DPS cards are supported. Beside wide spread compression algorithms for DV and M-JPEG video files one can playback and pretty “economic” in terms of disk space usage MPEG-2, MPEG-4 files and so on. If high quality uncompressed computer animation output needed, than the system can do it having appropriate disk space and high speed of access.

Additionally, with no re-rendering, it is possible to output logos and clock over the video clips or just passing through signal as well as make in real time the correction of image’s parameters, cropping and cut edit.

The Tele system can playout crawls and animations with alpha-channel (banners) with no limits in length over the passing signal. Single files of Alpha Pro’s scripts one can combine into block, add audio tracks and play them out in “Teleinform” style.

System operates with continuous schedule in which start of playback for different clips is locked to specific time and date. The playback can be realized both by system timer in automatic mode and in semi-automatic mode with count of suddenly appeared changes of common schedule or time shifting of playback start. Internal clock of a system can be set to any time value or a playback can be handled in totally manual mode.

Usually as a source of passing signal the one is used which is fed to the input of titles output and overlay card. But if the only output of graphics with key signal is used and overlay itself is realized by switcher or transcoder, than the Tele system allows switching video signal sources. For instance it has place in mutual work with ITM’s XDR-ES series transcoders.

Material provided by Stoik-M Company