NewTek advances the state of live production with SX-SDI™, the newest VT[5] hardware that provides 8 serial digital inputs and outputs.

Serial Digital Interface, or SDI, is a standard for broadcast quality video, capable of transmitting uncompressed digital component video across a single coaxial cable with television facilities, with audio embedded in the same signal.

In addition to live switching of 8 digital sources, SX-SDI also serves as a signal router, with the ability to assign any of the serial digital inputs to any of 5 digital outputs.

Further flexibility is provided on the audio side, with support for embedded digital audio selectable from any SDI input, as well as AES-EBU audio in and out.

While the SX-SDI adds additional inputs to VT[5], it does not limit the capacity of the SX-84 analog switcher. This means an SX-SDI added to a VT[5] LIVE! system continues to provide component, Y/C and composite in and out in addition to the digital connectivity.

NewTek SX-SDI specifications:

• 8 Serial Digital video inputs
• 1 Embedded Serial Digital audio input
• 1 AES-EBU Serial Digital audio input
• 8 Serial Digital video outputs
• 1 Serial Digital Preview output
• 1 Serial Digital Program output
• 1 Embedded Serial Digital output
• 1 AES-EBU Serial Digital
• SDI Video in / out conforms to SMPTE 259M
• Embedded Audio conforms to SMPTE 272M
• Digital Audio in / out conforms to AES/EBU standards; 20-bit 48khz (2 channels)

The NewTek SX-84 is the heart of the VT[5] LIVE! Switcher, offering component, Y/C or composite ins and outs, along with audio, preview, alpha channel, tally, GPI and machine control.

There are 8 Video input rows, but that does not indicate the true flexibility of this rack-mountable beauty measuring 18 7/8” wide by 10 ½” high (or 6 rack-units high) and 1 ½” deep.

This is a production switcher that saves you both time and money.

All inputs can use whatever cameras you have at your disposal, and unlike most switchers, does not require cameras to be genlockable. VT[5] performs all this internally, with each input having its own dedicated genlock controls in software. This means less gear to haul to a shoot, less time in setup and less investment for you to produce a multi-cam production. There is even an input for house synch, so you can time VT[5] to the other suites.

Inputs

Each input row consists of a Y/C input, a Y, U and V BNC input. This allows connection of 8 component cameras to VT, which is something not available to producers at even twice the price.

Not many production facilities have that many component cameras for live switching, so the SX-8 allows you to mix and match inputs for incredible flexibility. Connect a component camera to input 1, then a Y/C camera to input 2, and then connect three composite video sources to the three BNC connectors on input 3.

When a Y/C source is connected, the BNC V connector is still free for a composite input.

This means you can connect inputs with the following combinations:

• 8 component inputs
• 1 component input + 1 Y/C + 19 composite
• 8 Y/C inputs + 8 composite inputs
• 3 Y/C inputs + 18 composite
• 24 Composite inputs…and so forth.

Audio inputs are also quite flexible, with 4 microphone inputs (with phantom power). Those same inputs can be switched to line-level for 4-channel balanced audio support. There are also 6 stereo pair of unbalanced inputs. Add to that an Aux Return input for any audio coming back from outboard devices, such as parametric equalizers, limiters or reverb units. NewTek gives you incredible flexibility at the greatest price available.

Outputs
Your choices are equally flexible on the way out of VT[5]. There are 4 rows of video outs, which allow you to send Program Out to several devices for display or recording. You can also send your output in component or Y/C and composite. VT[5] also provides an output for your Preview field monitor. That connection can be soft-switched to become a dedicated key out.

Audio outputs provide four balanced outs, 4 stereo pair of unbalanced outs and an Aux Send channel if you wish to perform a pre-fader manipulation of an audio input. The integrated audio mixer provides such handy live capabilities as a Talkover function for VJ’s and a mix-minus record.

DV(IEEE1394)
Although SX-84 is analog, many customers are interested in FireWire in and out. If you have a IEEE 1394 Firewire card installed in your VT[5] machine, you can bring in your DV camera as an input into VT[5] switcher. Real-time FireWire out is also available whether you are editing graphics in VT[5] or switching a show with VT[5] LIVE!

Control
With more than 100 connectors on this switcher expansion module, we have included inputs for controlling decks and external devices as well. SX-84 includes three independent RS-422 machine control ports to remotely operate your professional decks, as well as a serial connector and a Tally/GPI connection. VT[5] gives you complete control over hardware so YOU have control over your production.

As the core component of live video production, the Switcher combines a multitude of visual sources – live cameras, videotape decks, digital disk recorders (DDRs), CG pages and graphics – with digital video effects in real-time.

NewTek LiveControl™ is an optional TriCaster™ and VT[5] switching control surface for portable live production and virtual set systems that provides touch control of each input for more compelling productions with tighter pacing. LiveControl is available in two versions for all NewTek switchers (LC-8 for TriCaster™ and LC-11 for TriCaster PRO™, TriCaster STUDIO™ TriCaster BROADCAST™ and VT[5]). LiveControl can be used in tandem with NewTek’s other new LiveText™ and TimeWarp™ accessories to more efficiently integrate titling, replay and slow motion into your live productions.

With LiveControl, a director and technical director can focus on their respective production roles to improve the accuracy, pacing and overall quality of live web casts and video projects. The simple layout and large back-lit buttons provide the physical touch and feel of control mechanisms familiar to professional technical directors, so they you operate a TriCaster right out of the box. LiveControl allows technical directors to keep their eyes forward and react quickly, which is important in fast-paced production.

LiveControl Benefits

• Tactile control of all inputs aids technical directors
• Director maintains better focus on show
• Improved accuracy for fast-paced productions

Specifications

• High quality, hermetically-sealed magnetic-reed switches
• High quality, Panasonic rotary encoders
  • Speed control o Effects selection
  • CG page selection
• 8-bit stepping for 256 discrete transition levels on T-bar
• USB 1.1 or 2.0 compatible connection
• Requires TriCaster software Update 2.0 or VT[5] version 5.2

 

NewTek TimeWarp™ is an external replay controller for the NewTek family of TriCaster™ products and VT[5]. TimeWarp is an optional controller surface that provides clip selection, marking and playback at various speeds. This $995 USB-connected tabletop controller gives a dedicated operator the power that previously only a large, mobile production crew wielded. Once the slo-mo operator marks beginning and end segments of the chosen input, they are instantly available for replay.

Put Time in your hands.
Fast-paced action deserves a second look. Or, a third. NewTek TimeWarp™ replay controller extends the live production capabilities of TriCaster by providing a dedicated operator for video playback. Enjoy the freedom of instant replay, while you continue recording Program output.

TimeWarp will elevate your sports and event production with instant replay and beautiful slow motion.

When you edit, you are used to marking in and out points, right? Now do that with your live production. As TriCaster records the event, you can bracket a moment in time, and send that clip to DDR, awaiting the director’s touch for playback. Choose a playback speed and deliver slow motion every time.

TimeWarp Benefits

• Improve production quality by adding a dedicated replay operator
• Record a selected TriCaster or VT[5] input with instant access to that footage
• Surpass audience expectations with instant replay & slow motion at any venue
• Provide your clients with a more polished production
• Mark in, mark out, cue and play clips without distracting director

Specifications

• USB-powered desktop controller
• High quality, hermetically-sealed magnetic-reed switches with controls for:
  • Selecting DDR1 or DDR2
  • Selection or List playback mode
  • Remove clip, Mark Replay In, Mark Replay Out
  • Set playback speed at 25, 33, 50, 75 or 100%
  • Previous clip, First frame, Last frame, Next clip
  • Stop, Pause, Play
• Jog/shuttle controller for rapid clip preview
• USB 1.1 or 2.0 compatible connection
• 10.25” W x 1.5” H x 6.75” D
• 2.2 pounds
• Requires TriCaster software Update 2.0 or VT[5] version 5.2

 

Remote titling software for the TriCaster™ family of products and VT[5]™, allows you to add a dedicated title station to your live production. LiveText communicates directly with the TriCaster or VT[5] during a live production or web stream and provides scrolls, crawls and still pages.

In fast-paced live productions, it helps to share the workload with others - one person switching sources while another focuses on titles. TriCaster, a market leader for its ease of use, makes live production even more enjoyable with LiveText™.

While TriCaster excels at one-person production, many producers want to involve as many hands as possible. With LiveText, during live production a separate graphics operator can ensure the correct title is ready for display at all times and title updates can be incorporated on the fly. Further, LiveText allows you to streamline pre-production by creating titles and graphics on your laptop off-site or on the way to the location.

LiveText makes last-minute show changes easy to handle, with page recall in order or randomly.

LiveText Benefits

• Build graphic pages enroute to location
• Improve production quality and accuracy
• Dedicated graphics operation, just like TV stations
• Easily manage last-minute speaker changes

LiveText Features

• Create live titles on a Windows laptop
• Control TriCaster on-air titles from remote station
• Easy creation of still, scroll and crawl pages
• Save one page or the entire project
• Use any installed TrueType™
• font Pages saved as 32-bit image for transparency
• Instantly save or recall text styles
• Create graphic objects (boxes, circles, splines)
• Powerful vector-based drawing tools

Minimum System Specifications:

Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon™ processor that supports SSE2
DirectX 9-capable graphics card with 64MB RAM and minimum 1280x900 screen resolution (ATI or NVIDIA chipset recommended)

100 Base-T or Gigabit Ethernet connection
1 Gigabyte of system RAM
IDE or SATA system drive with 1 Gigabyte of free disk space
CD-ROM Drive
Windows® XP (Service Pack 2) or Vista® Operating System
DirectX™ 9.0c or higher