Magic DaVE: Difference between revisions

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Magic DaVE occupies 2 units in the rack which houses all the image processing, and has the inputs and output BNC sockets. It also has four 'REF' (Black & Burst) BNC sockets, of which one is used for the 8x4 Video Switcher, and another is sent to Main Mux as a video input.
{{Outofdate}}
{{OldKit|Magic DaVE is long gone baby. This page exists for posterity, or in case any future techie finds it's corpse and actually decides to commit to making it usable again.}}
{{HDNO}}
Magic DaVE's are powerful full 3d Digital Video Effects mixers. We use them to switch between different things during a show - like mixing into a VT. Sometime, you may ask what the magic button does, these machines do actually have magic buttons. They do nothing useful - just for configuring menus... which dont really need configuring for what we use them for.


There is also a 'front end' on the director's desk which is used by the vision mixer during a show to. This is the interface and is used to control the 2 unit device previously mentioned.
==Magic DaVE==
* Mark 1 Mainframe, Option card slot non-functional (fault on PCB, doesn't affect performance for us)
* Compact Control panel (no direct access to keyers & Key bus) Software Version 3.0.
=="F" Magic Dave (Bob)==
* The same as DaVE, with a few differences.
* Mark 2 mainframe, Fully functional after re-capping in 2011
* Compact panel with v4.00 (last software) provided by Snell & Wilcox.
* Frame speed is 32Mhz
* Panels cross compatible with DaVE
* incredibly useful for aspect conversion work, such as putting howard into the path, or converting image formats.


As you'll see from the Vision Path page, the four inputs to Magic DaVE are from DaVE P169 (whence 'DaVE' P169 gets its name).
==Connection==
* 4 inputs,  all analogue, each with the following options per input:
** Composite on BNC
** YPbPr on 3xBNC
** Y/C on Svid


The 'Program' row of buttons dictates what is its output.  The 'Preview' row is the input or picture which will be faded to next. 
* Key video input
** Composite on BNC
** For inputting a Matte / cut area


Fading is done by means of the T-bar.  The 'Program' out can be switched instantaneously (IE cutting to, without fading between inputs) by pressing one of the four input buttons, or Matte, Pattern, or Black.
* Preview output
** YPbPr / RGB on shared BNC's (3xBNC total)
** Settable via service menu


Usually Matte or Pattern should never be broadcasted.  Black will be used occasionally; EG at the end of a show, or during severe technical difficulties when a ticker bar should be overlaid from Graphics PC to explain the lack of transmission (grapics PC could alternatively give a slide to explain that there's a problem, this probably looks more professional.
* Program outputs
** YPbPr on BNC (1 of) (3xBNC per set)
** Composite on BNC (2 of)
** Y/C on Svid (2 of)


Magic DaVE has a lot of options and features. It can do creative transitions between video inputs (some of which are a bit corny to say the least, but others such as 'wipe' which are good for variety). It can also apply visual effects to the output, such as solarise and probably a lot of others. Each of these features has a wealth of options to control the finer nuances, such as controlling the thickness and colour of the 'wipe' line between sources, or the threshold level of solarising.
* Snell & Wilcox Rollcall
 
* Ref in & loop
** For locking DaVE's output onto an unsyncronised source, or another mixer
 
* Black Burst (4 of)
** For sending a signal for other devices to lock onto
 
* GPI port
** input & output configurable
** default setting:
*** Active Low tally - a null output signals the source is visible (or partially) on the program buss.
 
==Using DaVE==
DaVE is a Program/Preset mixer: this means, whatever is on the Program bus is ALWAYS what's going out. The Preset bus is what will go out if you fade across to it using the T-Bar. If you put one thing (call it 'A') on the program bus, and 'B' on the preset bus, and fade between them, at the end of the fade, DaVE will swap them over to make them the right way round again ('B' on the program, and 'A' on the preset). So, watch out! the T-Bar does not indicate which bus is live!
 
You can switch between items instantly, by just pressing a different source on the Program bus. DaVE can also do the transitions for you, use the 'take' button.
 
DaVE's panel allows you to change the transition type, (wipes, dissolves, pixelation, PiP...), the colour of the transition, it's size, position, angle, axis...
DaVE also has a Huge pile of effects it can apply to the output - the list is almost endless, and again, you can change almost every aspect of them.
'''Warning''' Attempting to master all of DaVE's quirks and abilities is impossible, don't try it! Also, most of the effects are incredibly cheesey.
 
===Shots===
DaVE(s) can save settings in them. To do this, set up a shot as you want, like a PiP or a DVE thing. Then navigate to the next available sequence space, and click Save Shot. You can then use these settings on whatever is currently on the Progam and preview busees - i.e. it doesn't have to be the channel numbers you used when you saved the shot. To use the shot, hit "recall shot". DaVE will then Morph it's way to the saved settings, and increment the next shot counter (so if you press recall again, it will do the next saved shot....)
 
==Control cable==
[[File:Dave_cable.png]]
 
OR, using Sneel & wilcox rollcall: Connect a Buss network using T peices on ALL devices from 75ohm coax, connect in a chain, and on the end devices, add a 75ohm terminator. Do NOT have a network running with the chain end running straight into a device!
[[Category:Vision Path]]
[[Category:Equipment]]

Latest revision as of 12:51, 6 August 2023

cancel.png Information on this page may be out of date or apply to old equipment. Use with caution.
cancel.png Joe Wharfe says: "Magic DaVE is long gone baby. This page exists for posterity, or in case any future techie finds it's corpse and actually decides to commit to making it usable again."
If you have reason to believe this isn't something that ended up in the Bin Pile, feel free to remove this tag.

Template:HDNO Magic DaVE's are powerful full 3d Digital Video Effects mixers. We use them to switch between different things during a show - like mixing into a VT. Sometime, you may ask what the magic button does, these machines do actually have magic buttons. They do nothing useful - just for configuring menus... which dont really need configuring for what we use them for.

Magic DaVE

  • Mark 1 Mainframe, Option card slot non-functional (fault on PCB, doesn't affect performance for us)
  • Compact Control panel (no direct access to keyers & Key bus) Software Version 3.0.

"F" Magic Dave (Bob)

  • The same as DaVE, with a few differences.
  • Mark 2 mainframe, Fully functional after re-capping in 2011
  • Compact panel with v4.00 (last software) provided by Snell & Wilcox.
  • Frame speed is 32Mhz
  • Panels cross compatible with DaVE
  • incredibly useful for aspect conversion work, such as putting howard into the path, or converting image formats.

Connection

  • 4 inputs, all analogue, each with the following options per input:
    • Composite on BNC
    • YPbPr on 3xBNC
    • Y/C on Svid
  • Key video input
    • Composite on BNC
    • For inputting a Matte / cut area
  • Preview output
    • YPbPr / RGB on shared BNC's (3xBNC total)
    • Settable via service menu
  • Program outputs
    • YPbPr on BNC (1 of) (3xBNC per set)
    • Composite on BNC (2 of)
    • Y/C on Svid (2 of)
  • Snell & Wilcox Rollcall
  • Ref in & loop
    • For locking DaVE's output onto an unsyncronised source, or another mixer
  • Black Burst (4 of)
    • For sending a signal for other devices to lock onto
  • GPI port
    • input & output configurable
    • default setting:
      • Active Low tally - a null output signals the source is visible (or partially) on the program buss.

Using DaVE

DaVE is a Program/Preset mixer: this means, whatever is on the Program bus is ALWAYS what's going out. The Preset bus is what will go out if you fade across to it using the T-Bar. If you put one thing (call it 'A') on the program bus, and 'B' on the preset bus, and fade between them, at the end of the fade, DaVE will swap them over to make them the right way round again ('B' on the program, and 'A' on the preset). So, watch out! the T-Bar does not indicate which bus is live!

You can switch between items instantly, by just pressing a different source on the Program bus. DaVE can also do the transitions for you, use the 'take' button.

DaVE's panel allows you to change the transition type, (wipes, dissolves, pixelation, PiP...), the colour of the transition, it's size, position, angle, axis... DaVE also has a Huge pile of effects it can apply to the output - the list is almost endless, and again, you can change almost every aspect of them. Warning Attempting to master all of DaVE's quirks and abilities is impossible, don't try it! Also, most of the effects are incredibly cheesey.

Shots

DaVE(s) can save settings in them. To do this, set up a shot as you want, like a PiP or a DVE thing. Then navigate to the next available sequence space, and click Save Shot. You can then use these settings on whatever is currently on the Progam and preview busees - i.e. it doesn't have to be the channel numbers you used when you saved the shot. To use the shot, hit "recall shot". DaVE will then Morph it's way to the saved settings, and increment the next shot counter (so if you press recall again, it will do the next saved shot....)

Control cable

File:Dave cable.png

OR, using Sneel & wilcox rollcall: Connect a Buss network using T peices on ALL devices from 75ohm coax, connect in a chain, and on the end devices, add a 75ohm terminator. Do NOT have a network running with the chain end running straight into a device!