F.A.Q.

NewTek announces major upgrade to entire family of TriCaster products. Click here

Q: What is TriCaster™?
A: NewTek TriCaster™ is an award-winning, turnkey, portable, live production system, designed for broadcasters and others who want to get their message across in the most powerful way possible - video. TriCaster brings the production and distribution capabilities of broadcast television with everything found in a television live truck into a backpack-sized appliance. It has a very easy interface using plain language instead of video jargon so churches, schools, stadiums and broadcasters can jump right in and start producing and distributing broadcast quality live events and presentations. It’s also perfect for local access channels or anyone wanting to communicate live events via video, closed-circuit TV or web stream. The combination of TriCaster's benefits makes it the solution of choice for live production.

Connect up to 6 cameras, and then use any 3 – Y/C or Composite. Add to that a Virtual VCR for hard disk playback of video and titles. TriCaster provides simultaneous live output, to video, projector and Windows Media web streams. All this in one box.

Q: What is TriCaster PRO™?
A: TriCaster PRO FX™ brings the amazing power and efficiency of virtual live sets to a more affordable 3-camera production. Extend the excitement of live broadcast production via projector, television and Internet with more power and capabilities than ever before. The result is an advanced production studio powerful enough to be utilized in network environments, yet still portable and small enough to fit in a backpack. TriCaster PRO FX offers everything within TriCaster PRO, with the following additions:

• NewTek LiveSet™ Live Virtual
• Sets 10 hours of internal video storage
• Virtual Set Support (numerous sets included)
• Multiple upstream effects
• Virtual VCR motion graphics
• Playback and render support for AVI, DV, MPEG-2, DVD, QuickTime®, MP4 and more

Q: What is TriCaster STUDIO™?
A: TriCaster STUDIO™ is a portable live production system that extends the excitement of live broadcast production via projector, television and web stream with more power and capabilities than ever before. The result is an advanced production studio powerful enough to be utilized in network environments, yet still portable and small enough to fit in a backpack. TriCaster STUDIO offers everything within TriCaster PRO, but adds the following features:

• 6 video inputs (component, Y/C, composite)
• 4 balanced audio inputs (mic or line; XLR or phone)
• 20 hours of internal video storage
• Virtual Set Support (numerous sets included)
• 16:9 wide-screen aspect for video, Internet and Projector
• Multiple upstream effects
• Dual DDR playback
• Both DDRs assignable to downstream key bus
• Playback and render support for AVI, DV, MPEG-2, DVD, QuickTime®, MP4 and more

Q: How much is TriCaster™?
A: There is a TriCaster for every price point and capability:

• TriCaster™ is $4,995.00.
• TriCaster PRO™ is $7,995
• TriCaster STUDIO™ is $9,995
• TriCaster BROADCAST™ is $11,996

Q: Are there accessories?
A: You can make live production even more enjoyable with the optional TriCaster VM video mixer. This $995 physical control surface has a T-bar to transition cameras, titles and video clips.

Q: Why do I need TriCaster™?
A: TriCaster™ is the perfect device to handle any live production, from mixing live cameras and video playback, to high-resolution projection of graphics and animations directly to a projector, video or the Internet. TriCaster can ingest full-screen graphics, spreadsheets, video and live web pages from another person across the local network. This can be mixed with cameras, streaming your live presentation to the Internet while recording it all as digital video. TriCaster™ is for presenters who are not familiar with video equipment.

Q: What makes TriCaster™ so different?
A: TriCaster™ brings several revolutionary technologies to the presentation market:

• LiveSet™ lets you use a modest green screen space, yet broadcast as if you owned a large sound stage.
• Cue up video clips, and the moment they’re selected, they begin playing, allowing you to produce the most polished and professional presentation imaginable.
• iVGA™ allows you to import full-screen presentations, video and graphics from a PC or MAC computer across the network and mix seamlessly into your live production.
• Send your high-quality graphics and images directly to the projector without compromising quality. Video is also scaled up to the projector’s resolution; something that would cost thousands if you were using hardware video scalers.

Q: What can I input to TriCaster™?
A: The flexibility of TriCaster™ allows you to seamlessly incorporate all of the following into your presentation:

• Component, Composite, Y/C video sources
• 3 analog cameras (with up to 6 connected)
• Digital Video
• Full-Screen Text
• Titles over live cameras
• PowerPoint™
• Spreadsheets
• Live web pages

Q: What does TriCaster™ output?

• Component2, Composite, Y/C video
  
• Digital Video DV files
  
• XGA computer graphics for projector or LCD displays
  
• Windows media live Internet streams
  
• Windows media files for on-demand viewing and archiving

Q: Does TriCaster™ work in PAL mode?
A: Yes. TriCaster is sold in North America as an NTSC video device, and is sold Internationally as a dual-standard, PAL and NTSC device.

Q: Does TriCaster™ accept webcams?
A: As a broadcast device, TriCaster™ does not input USB-based webcams, since they are not full resolution video.

Q: If I open the case, does it void the warranty?
A: Yes, it does. TriCaster must be serviced by NewTek.

Q: Who will provide Technical Support?
A: The first line of support for TriCaster™ is your local NewTek reseller. NewTek also provides technical support by e-mailing tech@newtek.com or calling 210-341-8444

Q: Can TriCaster™ software be upgraded?
A: NewTek will provide occasional updates for TriCaster via web downloads. This is accessed from the Admin panel.

Q: May I install other programs on TriCaster™?
A: Although the Operating System can be accessed from the Administrator Mode, NewTek discourages installation of additional software on TriCaster™ as it may degrade the performance of the system.

Q: Can I purchase a model with more storage or memory?
A: Yes, there are several possibilities. TriCaster provides 6 hours of video storage, with larger capacities available:

• TriCaster - 10 hours storage
• TriCaster PRO - 10 hours storage
• TriCaster STUDIO - 20 hours storage
• TriCaster BROADCAST - 20 hours storage

Q: You said Award-Winning.
A: That's not a question

Q: What has TriCaster™ been awarded?
A: Glad you asked. TriCaster has won numerous awards, including: Radio World’s Cool Stuff Award 2007; TV Technology Magazine’s Star 2007 Superior Technology Award; Australian PC User Magazine’s “Best Buy”; eventDV Magazine’s Editor’s Picks – Best of 2006; Byte Media Labs’ “Cold, Dead Fingers Award”; Studio/monthly magazine’s “Hot” Rating; eventDV Magazine’s Best of 2005; Computer Graphics World Magazine’s Editor’s Pick NAB 2005; Government Video Magazine’s Salute 2005; NAB AIM Award 2006; NAB AIM Award 2005; Demo@15 Producer’s Pick

Q: Does TriCaster™ come in different colors?
A: Yes. TriCaster™ is available in black, or a darker version of black. Both accessorize well with any presentation.