Maxxsonics High Definition Video Server MAXX-2400HD - Manual (Page 72)

Page 72 MAXX-2400HD Owner’s Manual
An automation system could, for example, issue a VDCP Cue command to Channel 3 for a
clip called “logo”. Channel 4 would automatically be loaded with clip “logo_”. A Still or Play
command sent to Channel 1 would cause both Channels 1 and 3 to display the fill and key clips,
respectively.
Note that the VDCP checkbox option to “show first frame” for a Cue command is ignored for
channels in ganged mode. The automation system must issue a Still command to Channel 1 to
achieve this effect.
Ingesting a TARGA file via FTP automatically creates a key clip and a fill clip, each a single
frame in length. For example, if file “xyz.tga” is transferred to a server via FTP, then a pair of
single-frame clips is created: “xyz” and “xyz_” containing the fill and key material.
Combined Video and Graphics Capabilities
MAXX 2400HD includes graphics import capability, enabling the server to function as both a
graphics still-store, and an animation playout server. Its four outputs give it the power to provide
key-and-fill material along with two additional video feeds simultaneously.
The server supports FTP import from most graphics systems, including Photoshop®, After
Effects®, Final Cut Pro®, Xpress Pro™, Liquid Edition and Vegas Video.
Importing TARGA Graphics Files
The server will be able to recognize and ingest single-frame TARGA files via FTP from many
network-attached graphics workstations. TARGA files have a .tga extension, and may contain an
alpha (or key) channel. During transfer, the server will split the TARGA file into a Fill frame, and a
Key frame if it exists. These will be converted to high-resolution files, one frame in length.
For example, if an original file is named Logo.tga, the files created will be named Logo.mxf
(the fill file) and Logo_.mxf (the key file). Note the trailing underscore “_” added to the file name
of the key. This allows the TARGA file to be used for key and fill applications when channels 2
and 3 are ganged together.
The resolution of a TARGA image should be 1920 x 1080 for use in 1080i format, or 1280 x
720 for use in 720p format. If the original TARGA image is not of this resolution, the server will re-
scale it, possibly introducing some dimensional distortion. The bit depth of the files must be 24 or
32 bit. The server does not support Targa sequences, only single frame graphics.
Animation Import (.mov files)
From the server’s standpoint, an “animation” is a clip with a minimum length of two seconds.
Clips used for sequential (back-to-back) seamless playback must be a minimum of four seconds
long. A separate Alpha channel may or may not be present. Any graphics workstation capable of
exporting files supported by the server can make transfers to it via FTP. If an alpha channel is
present, the naming conventions of the Key/Fill Mode apply: the file name for the key video is the
same as the filename for the fill video with the addition of an underscore character ( _ ). Many
software programs have the ability to create content compatible with the server, including Final
Cut Pro®, Avid® Xpress, Liquid Edition, Vegas Video; and Adobe® After Effects®, Premiere® and
Photoshop®.
Animation sequences to be sent to the MAXX-2400HD should be saved in QuickTime format
with either no compression or with Run Length Encoding enabled. The image size should be
1920x1080 or 1280x720. An alpha channel may be present.