9
edits
Timeclock: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
Reword first to second incarnation
Dummy User (talk | contribs) (added picture of 1993 timeclock from an archive tape) |
m (Reword first to second incarnation) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Pre 1998== | ==Pre 1998== | ||
In its | In its second incarnation {{unsure|by unknown author}}, running on a BBC Micro, the timeclock consisted of a large circle with overlapping text box for the producer and date (in red). Some double height text described the content. | ||
[[Image:OriginalTimeclock.png|left|thumb|160px|Original timeclock look]] | [[Image:OriginalTimeclock.png|left|thumb|160px|Original timeclock look]] | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
The timeclock software actually lived alongside an assortment of other graphics overlay software from pre-[[Commodore Amiga]] times, though these were infrequently used and the default menu option was always to create a timeclock. | The timeclock software actually lived alongside an assortment of other graphics overlay software from pre-[[Commodore Amiga]] times, though these were infrequently used and the default menu option was always to create a timeclock. | ||
Graphics from the BBC Micro could be overlayed by keying off | Graphics from the BBC Micro could be overlayed by keying off its black background using the luma key on the [[Polar vision mixer]]. The video system was genlocked to incoming video with an add on box labelled 'Beeblock' and an assortment of flying wires that entered through the otherwise unused network socket to various places on the motherboard. | ||
==Post 1998== | ==Post 1998== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
[[Image:ProperTimeclock.png|left|thumb|160px|Revamped timeclock from 1999]] | [[Image:ProperTimeclock.png|left|thumb|160px|Revamped timeclock from 1999]] | ||
Using reference footage from a [http://www.secretlifeofmachines.com/ Secret Life of Machines] video from Channel 4, a new timeclock generator was written by [[Rob Sprowson]]. | Using reference footage from a [http://www.secretlifeofmachines.com/ Secret Life of Machines] video from [http://www.channel4.com/ Channel 4], a new timeclock generator was written by [[Rob Sprowson]]. | ||
===Technical=== | ===Technical=== | ||
This included a preview mode which ran at high speed, options to start up to 40s from the start, a 1 frame flash at 15s, 'pips' at 3s, larger and clearer logo, and more intuitive editing. | This included a preview mode which ran at high speed, options to start up to 40s from the start, a 1 frame flash at 15s, 'pips' at 3s, larger and clearer logo, and more intuitive editing. The final screen clear to white now used palette switching to achieve an instantaneous changeover. | ||
It also dispensed with the double height text and red coloured writing, which due to the dubious colour output from a BBC Micro often lead to hard to read writing - even on a black and white monitor. | It also dispensed with the double height text and red coloured writing, which due to the dubious colour output from a BBC Micro often lead to hard to read writing - even on a black and white monitor. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
==In 2007== | ==In 2007== | ||
One BBC Master in the station now contains the 1999 software, but burnt onto a permanent memory chip, removing the need for | One BBC Master in the station now contains the 1999 software, but burnt onto a permanent memory chip, removing the need for an unreliable 5.25" floppy drive. | ||