1. NEW PROJECT
Show Director stores all information in Project files (.pyr). Project files
link a group of files necessary to conduct the operation of show scripting and
downloading to the Field Controller.
You must start always creating a Project,
with the command New Project. If you choose to not create a Project, you won’t
be able to save settings and will be forced to open again every time the group
of files.
Once the Project is open you have to continue
opening the group files:
1.
Script Manager (.scx). This is the window for scripting, containing
the timeline and all the information of the show.
2.
Effects
Manager (.efx). This is the window
that contains your Database of Effects. You will insert effects or drag them
from this window into the Script. Is not necessary to re-type effects in the
Script Manager every time you make an entry, if they are previously stored with
all their characteristics in the Effects Manager. You can have as many Effects
Manager databases as you want.
3.
Wave Display (.wav). This is the window that displays your music
in the form of a PCM WAV file. The resolution of the display is adjustable. You
will navigate through the Script and Music clicking on this display. You will
be able to insert cues or effects directly from here, and see a display of
marks of them in the wave display.
4.
Script Filter
Manager (.sfr). This window is a new
addition in Show Director 5.0. It contains all possible Filter combinations for
all columns that you create. This file can be opened in multiple Projects,
saving once and using many times your preferred filters. This window or control
panel serves to create the Table files that will be downloaded to the Field
Controller. You can assign to every filter a Field Controller ID (serial
number) and a Firing Table ID. There is a Function to see the Unfiltered Cue,
to avoid miss-download of firing data.
5.
Script Sort
Manager (.ssr). This window is a new
addition in Show Director 5.0. It contains all possible Sort combinations for
all columns that you create. This file can be opened in multiple Projects,
saving once and using many times your preferred sorts.
6.
Effects Filter
Manager (.efr). This window is a new
addition in Show Director 5.0. It contains all possible Effect Filter
combinations for all columns that you create. This file can be opened in multiple
Projects, saving once and using many times your preferred filters
7.
Effects Sort
Manager (.esr). This window is a new
addition in Show Director 5.0. It contains all possible Effect Sort
combinations for all columns that you create. This file can be opened in
multiple Projects, saving once and using many times your preferred sorts.
Two new files that are created automatically
are added to the group of files in the Project. You should not delete or move
these files:
1.
GRIDLAYOUT
(.grx) This file stores the configurations that you give to the
Grids. In Show Director 5.0 you can move and swap the order of the columns and
hide them.
2.
TOOLBARLAYOUT
(.atb). This file stores the layout of the new tool
bars configuration and position in the window.
Every project can have different layout and
configuration. Show Director will create a specific GRIDLAYOUT (.grx) and
TOOLBARLAYOUT (.atb), for every project. In the case that you do not choose to
work within a project, . Show Director will create two
default files.
2. OPEN PROJECT Crtl+O
It is only possible to have one project open
at a time. If you open another project the current one on screen will close.
Changes are automatically saved. If you want to compare Projects or Scripts you
can launch the application as many times as necessary (conditioned to RAM
capacity) , multiple Show Director windows can be open
at one time.
When Show Director starts and you open a New
Project, it will open with the default configuration: all columns, black
foreground and white background, MS Sans Serif 8 font.
If you open a new project with another one
already open, the new project will adopt the screen configuration of the
existing one and will replace it. The Script and Effects Manager files will be
the same as the previous project. Filters, sort and download configuration will
be the same.
3. SAVE PROJECT/ SAVE PROJECT AS
SAVE PROJECT saves the Project and settings
for the Grid and Toolbars. SAVE AS,
saves the project with a different name, when you wan to create a new project
with the same settings than the original. You may want to close and open new
Script or other files.
4. CLOSE PROJECT
This new command closes the Project and
associated files. It frees the memory to open a new Project without having the
configuration of the previous Project.
5. PROJECT LIBRARY
This new command opens a new window, where
you can see all the files associated with the Project, and their paths. You can
Export these files packed, to a new Project, always, into a different directory
or folder. This folder can be exchanged and when the exported Project opens in
a different computer it will keep the same configuration and file paths.
“Write File list” will create a .txt document
in the same folder of the project (.pyr), with the list of files and paths. You can use this file to procreate a printed
record of the Project files.
6. SCRIPT FILE
The Script window has the following columns
and characteristics:
- CUE: Displays the Cue or
shot number.
- HH MM SS FF: Displays
the Time in Hours Minutes Seconds and Frames.
- NEXT: Display the time
to the next Cue. 00:00:00. Minutes, Seconds and Frames.
- Event Description: Space
for 52 Characters. You may write the first notes while scripting. Musical description, or possible effects.
- PFT: 2 Characters. Pre
Fire Time. In 1/10 of second
- ADDR: Display the
address in the Firing Module. Hexadecimal number. Maximum address is 7FF.
- CGHZ: Displays the
Caliber Group Hazard. Numbers 1 to 16. Corresponds to the Caliber Group in
the Field Controller. This is the field that will be downloaded as Caliber
to the Field Controller. It will make it possible to lock any of the cues
with this CGHZ number.
- POS: Displays Position.
6 Characters. Where the effect is located. Alphanumeric sort.
- ANGLE: Displays Angle. 64
Characters.
(Enlarged in SD 5.00)
- QTY: Displays Quantity
of product Used. 4 Numbers. To obtain the price sum it needs to have a
value.
- CAL: Displays Caliber. 3 Characters. No (,) or (.).
- TYPE: Type of product.
36 Characters. Shell, Roman candle, Mine, Gerb, Double shell, etc.
- Effect Description: 128
Characters. Description of the Effect: Color. Etc (Enlarged in SD 5.00)
- DUR: 00:00. Seconds and Frames. Duration of the Effect
- REF: 16 Characters.
Reference number of Product. IMPORTANT: Always use a Reference number because
the Sorts and Counts in the program use this field.
- MFG: 12 Characters.
Manufacturer.
- MAGAZINE: 6 Characters.
Magazine where the product is stored.
- PRICE 1: 12,345,678,90 (no currency signs are permitted). Three types
of prices, cost, wholesale, retail, with squib, etc
- PRICE 2: 12,345,678,90
- PRICE 3: 12,345,678,90
- CUSTOM1: 128 Characters.
Notes. Image Code Field for VSD. (Enlarged in SD 5.00)
- CUSTOM2: 12 Characters.
SCRIPT
FILE MENU:
·
New
·
Open
·
Save As
·
Close
·
Import .CSV Format
·
Export .CSV Format
New: Creates New Script file.
Open: Opens an existing Script File.
Save As: Saves a copy of the open Script File. Is useful to
save frequently backups of your Script. This is the command to use.
Import .CSV Format: Imports a .csv
file from Excel or any application supporting the file format. The column order
and configuration is the same as in Show Director Script.
Export .CSV Format: Export a .csv
file format, with the same column order and configuration as in Show Director.
In the new version 5.0, headers have been added to all the columns, and the
NEXT column is not exported. If you want to export All Columns, you need to use
the Report Menu function “Export All Columns”
7. SCRIPT FILTER FILE
This file window is a new addition in Show
Director 5.0. It contains all possible Filter combinations for all columns that
you create.
This file can be opened in multiple Projects,
saving once and using many times your preferred filters.
This window or selection panel serves to
create the Table files that will be downloaded to the Field Controller. You can
assign to every filter a Field Controller ID (serial number) and a Firing Table
ID.
There is a Function to see the Unfiltered
Cue, to avoid miss-download of firing data.
NAME:
In this field you enter the name of the Filter. This will become the
name of the Firing Table file (.tab), if you assign a value in the FC ID and FT
ID columns. The names of the Filter will be displayed in the Drop-Down Toolbar
When you select a name in the Drop-Down menu
the Script will change accordingly to the settings of the Filter.
FC ID: (FIELD CONTROLLER IDENTIFICATION). In
this filed you enter the number of the Field Controller. It can be any number,
no letters. You can put the Serial Number to identify the FC if you want. In
the Download Manager (see later: Firing Tables Manager) you can select each FC
with the display of the Tables assigned to it.
FT ID: (FIRING TABLE IDENTIFICATION). In this
field you put the number of the Firing table assigned to the Field Controller. The
values are hexadecimal, as are in the Firing Tables. Therefore, you can enter
up to 12 Tables, from 0 to B. The program won’t let you enter a value superior
to B.
COLUMN FIELDS:
The Columns in Green or Red are Ranges:
·
FIELD in Green
corresponds to IN value.
·
FIELD in Red
corresponds to OUT Value.
If values remain at 0, the range is not taken
into consideration.
·
CUE | CUE
·
HH
MM SS FF | HH MM
SS FF
·
ADDR | ADDR
·
DUR | DUR
8. SCRIPT SORT FILE
This file window is a new addition in Show
Director 5.0. It contains all possible Sort combinations for all columns that
you create. This file can be opened in multiple Projects, saving once and using
many times your preferred sorts.
All columns of the Script Manager are present
in the Script Filter Manager.
You need to give a name to the Sort and then
proceed to insert the values of your Sort Order.
Value 1, will be the first column sorted, and
so on. Positive values are sorting Ascending. Negative values are sorting
Descending.
The display order of the columns in the
Script Sort Manager, will change accordingly to the
sort order, to help you visualize the Sort.
The Sort
names will be displayed in the Script View toolbar:
When you select a name in the Drop-Down menu
the Script will change accordingly to the settings of the Sort.
9. SCRIPT VIEW
A Script View is a combination of a Sort and
a Filter. You can name the View for quick access with the Drop-Down Menu in the
Toolbar.
This is useful to view parts of the Script
(Filters) sorted in a particular Order. You will find many useful applications
for this feature.
There is a limit of 32 names for Views in a
Project.
10. EFFECT FILE
Effect Manager (Effect Filename.efx) is the
Show Director products database. Show Director can
open simultaneously only these two windows; Script and Effect Manager, and only
one Effect Manager and one Script at a time.
You will be able to create as many Effect
Manager databases as you want, for different products
and show types, and bring them up as you need, but only one at a time.
Each Effect Manager has unlimited Filters
available. (See Effect Filter later). You can have a complete database that is
filtered by any category of the column Fields.
You can create an Effect Manager File, file
from scratch, from another Effect Manager File via Filtering and Export, or
import from a .csv file created with Excel, Access or any database/spreadsheet
application.
You will also be able to export a Show
Director Effect file (. efx) to a same (.efx) file (see Effect Filter later-
Export Effects) or a (.csv) format to be opened with your spreadsheet
application for more complex editing or presentation.
Create a New Effect Manager File:
You can create an Effect Manager file, where
you can add the effects, as you want.
These are the format parameters of the
columns on the database:
Column Header: Number of Characters:
- CAL: 3
Numbers. Caliber
- TYPE: 36 Characters.
Type of product: Shell, Roman Candle, Mine, Gerb,
etc.
- PFT: 2 Characters. Pre
Fire Time. In 1/10 of second
- DUR: 00:00. Seconds and Frames. Duration of the Effect
- Effect Description: 128
Characters. Description of the Effect: Color. Etc (Enlarged in SD 5.00)
- REF: 16 Characters.
Reference number of Product. IMPORTANT: Always uses a Reference number as
the Sorts and Counts in the program use this field.
- MFG: 12 Characters.
Manufacturer.
- MAGAZINE: 6 Characters.
This is the column to put quantities on hand or inventory. The Script
Manger will decrease in the same field, quantities used from this value.
- PRICE 1: 12,345,678,90 (no currency signs are permitted). Three types
of prices, cost, wholesale, retail, etc.
- PRICE 2: 12,345,678,90
- PRICE 3: 12,345,678,90
- CUSTOM1: 128 Characters. Notes.
Image Code Field for VSD. (Enlarged in SD 5.00
- CUSTOM2: 12 Characters.
You can use this field for notes. Pre-addressed product, etc.
EFFECT
FILE MENU:
-
New
-
Open
-
Save As
-
Close
-
Import .CSV Format
-
Export .CSV Format
New: Creates New Effect file.
Open: Opens an existing Effect File.
Save As: Saves a copy of the open Effect File. Is useful to
save frequently backups of your Effect Manager if modified. This is the
command to use.
Import .CSV Format: Imports a .csv
file from Excel or any application supporting the file format. The column order
and configuration is the same than in Show Director Effects Manager.
Export .CSV Format: Export a .csv
file format, with the same column order and configuration as in Show Director.
In the new version 5.0, headers had been added to all the columns.
11. EFFECT FILTER FILE
This file window is a new addition in Show
Director 5.0. It contains all possible Filter combinations for all columns that
you create.
This file can be opened in multiple Projects,
saving once and using many times your preferred filters.
This window or selection panel serves to
create the new or partial Effect Files to be exported by selecting them in the
Effect Filter view and Selecting Export. You can assign to every filter a new
Effect Manager.
NAME:
In this field you enter the name of the Filter. The names of the Filter
will be displayed in the Drop-Down Toolbar
When you select a name in the Drop-Down menu
the Effect Manager will change accordingly to the settings of the Filter.
COLUMN FIELDS:
The Columns in Green or Red are Ranges:
·
FIELD in Green
corresponds to IN value.
·
FIELD in Red
corresponds to OUT Value.
If values remain at 0, the range is not taken
into consideration.
·
CAL | CAL
·
PFT | PFT
·
DUR | DUR
12. EFFECT SORT FILE
This file window is a new addition in Show
Director 5.0. It contains all possible Sort combinations for all columns that
you create. This file can be opened in multiple Projects, saving once and using
many times your preferred sorts.
All columns of the Effect Manager are present
in the Effect Filter Manager.
You need to give a name to the Sort and then
proceed to insert the values of your Sort Order.
Value 1, will be the first column sorted, and
so on. Positive values are sorting Ascending. Negative values are sorting
Descending.
The display order of the columns in the
Effect Sort Manager will change accordingly to the sort order, to help you
visualize the Sort.
The Sort
names will be displayed in the Script View toolbar:
When you select a name in the Drop-Down menu
the Script will change accordingly to the settings of the Sort.
13. EFFECT VIEW
An Effect View is a combination of a Sort and
a Filter. You can name the View for quick access with the Drop-Down Menu in the
Toolbar.
This is useful to view parts of the Script
(Filters) sorted in a particular Order. You will find many useful applications
for this feature.
There is a limit of 32 names for Views in a
Project.
14. WAVE FILE
The introduction in version 4.0.0 of the new
Wave Display Window and operation makes it the preferred way to script a show.
You should be able to create your soundtrack with number of sound editors
available on the market.
If you play the soundtrack from a .wav file,
you will need to include time code in synchronization with the wave clock. You
can record time code from the Pyrodigital CD, the time code starts a 00:00:00:00. If you are importing audio time code from the PD CD,
do not delete the tone at the beginning; it is part of the Time Code sequence.
From the .wav file with music and Time Code you can record your final show tape
or vice versa.
The ability to display and script to the
music’s image is now provided using the WAV file display window. Thise new display overlays the cues onto the WAV display, and
indicates each cue’s caliber graphically.
The user has the ability to position the time cursor and add cues and effects
using the WAV display, in addition to the normal "space bar” capture.
The display appearance can be user defined under the Configure Menu- Wave
Display.
You can select a .wav file to script.
Before you open a wave file and want to
see the graphic, make sure that you have WAV Plot Display Enabled in the
Configure Menu: Wave Display
> Open or select a file from the File Menu
/Wave File, and in the
> Open Wave File Menu, select a wave file to play.
> Click Open in the Menu
> The Process WAVE file window will be displayed. You can select left or
right channel, in case you have a channel in your wave edited with Time Code.
It is possible to increase the definition of
the graphic display reducing the file size factor. The graphic plot file size
is by default 500 KB. The factor is set automatically to create a plot file of
this size. Bigger sizes of graphic plot file, will
give more definition and also slow the display. Same size of Plot and Wave File
is factor 1.
Channel selector allows selecting Left or
righting channel of your wave file. This is necessary when you have a wave file
that has also Time Code in one channel. To not plot the Time Code Channel you
will have to select the Music channel. The computer will play a wave file as
is, in stereo. To not hear the Time Code you will have to disable the channel
with the Windows audio settings for balance.
Once the process of building the plot file is
finish the new Wave Window will pop up and will be synchronized with the Script
if one is opened. The cues and caliber will be also plotted overt he wave
graphic.
The commands in the Wave display window allow
you to:
- Zoom In and Zoom Out (16 magnification steps)
- Small Scroll Left and Right
- Large Scroll Left and Right
- Add a Cue pressing the Add Cue button or depressing the Space Bar
- Add a Cue with a selected effect or effects in the Effects Manger
while capturing.
- Visualize Marked cues and caliber of effects
- Double click in any part of the wave graphic starts playing the
sound and re-locates the cue in the Script Manager
- Select a Cue or row in the Script Manager places the Wave Cursor
in the corresponding time position
- To PLAY the music you can double click anywhere and the Script
will locate the cue and start playing and displaying the Events.
- If you are searching for a beat in the music you can use, after
locating it, the right button of the mouse to stop into the correct
position.
15. PRINT
Show
Director 5.0 prints all grids in WYSIWYG format, as displayed on screen.
The printout may be different
depending on the screen resolution used and type of printer.
You should create Print
Templates in different Projects with the particular settings for each printout.
The settings will be saved in the Project and every time you open the project
with the Script you want to print, it will appear showing the Columns and in
the sort order you want them to appear.
In the creation of Print
Project template you will use the following functions:
- Column order
- Hide
- Sort
- Font format
- Background Color
The Print Menu will allow you
to adjust, margins, size and orientation of paper.
Each Print menu can be
different depending on the type of printer used.
FORMAT
GRIDS LAYOUT
Script, Script
Filter, Effect, Effect Filter Managers:
Changing
Position of Columns
In
the new grid Columns can be re-ordered to your preference, simply by selecting
the header and dragging to desired location.
The positions in
the Script Sort and Effect Sort can not be changed as they are rearranged
automatically according to sort in place.
Changing
Formatting
Font type, font
size, font style, alignment, font and background colors, are controlled now by
a toolbar menu. Select the column and apply the changes.
To change the color
of the fonts or backgrounds, you need to select the column or cell and click on
the Font or Background Icons. If you wan to change the colors select the arrow
down pull up menu. A new widow with Color menus will appear. Make your
selection there.
Hiding –
Un-hiding Columns
Any column can be
hidden or un hide by clicking in the Eyes Open or
Close Icons.
To unhide columns
you need to click in the Eyes close until a new menu appears with the list of
hidden columns:
CUES MENU
CUES MENU COMMANDS:
1. Save
New Cues
2. Clear
New Cues
3. Copy
Cues
4. Cut
Cues
5. Paste
Cues
6. Duplicate
Cues Ctrl+D
7. Insert
Cues Ctrl+I
8. Insert
Effects Ctrl+E
9. Capture
Cues F2
10. Renumber
Cues F3
11. Renumber
Addresses F4
12. Validate
Addresses F5
13. Reset
Addresses F6
14. Offset
Time F7
15. Refresh
Grid F8
16. Column
Fill Down F9
17. Locate
F10
18. Import
Cues
19. Export
Cues
20. Export
.chr
9.CAPTURE CUES (F2)
To start capturing cues the Capture Cues
function must be on. You can do that from the Cues Menu, pressing F2 or
clicking in the Streetlight Icon. When this is on “Green” and in the bottom bar
it says “Capture On”, you are ready to capture Cues.
The CD and WAV file players have been
enhanced to allow the "seek to" operation. The user may seek both
forward and backward in increments of 5 seconds. Also, by selecting a row in
the event grid and pressing the Play key the music will seek to that time and
begin playing. This greatly enhances the ability to quickly review firing
sequences.
The Clock on the second left pan at the
bottom of the screen displays a HH: MM: SS: FF clock in sync with the Time
Code.
> Press Space Bar,
or Click Add Cues on the Wave Display button. You can also insert selected
effects at the same time that you capture cues pressing the Button Add Effects.
The Effects Manager needs to be open to have this function enabled.
Each time you press, the New Cues pan
displays the total of cues entered, and the Last Cue pan the time of the last
cue.
You can see that the Script window displays the new cues with the
<CAPTURE>sign in the Event Description column. The columns HH: MM: SS: FF
display the exact time of the cues.
> Stop playing the music.
The Script Window will update and save
automatically the cues entered. You can also save the cues at any moment during
capture by going to the Cue menu and clicking on Save Cues. To review the cue
markers in the wave Display you need to PressF8
> Rewind, and Play again. Capture must be
ON to play the cues.
The Next cue on the time sequence will be
highlighted in blue, and as the cues time match the Time Code running clock
they will highlighted as well. The Blue highlight is programmed to be stable at
the center of your window. Therefore at the beginning of the script it will
scroll down to find the center position of the screen, and at the end will move
down until the last cue is highlighted.
500 cues may be safely captured before being
saved.
If you want to enter a modification or
adjustment in the time HH: MM: SS: FF, you can do it by selecting the cell and
typing a new number. Press Tab to go to the next cell. It is also possible to
increase or decrease the time value by Pressing (Shift +) to increase, or, (-)
to decrease (no Shift).
1.
SAVE NEW CUES, 2. CLEAR NEW CUES
While capturing cues in External Pyrodigital
Modem play mode, if you want to keep the cues, you can save them instantly
before stopping, or clear them if you do not want to keep them. This command is
active only when Play is running. Once you stop playing the cues are
automatically inserted in the Script.
3.COPY, 4.CUT, 5.PASTE, 6 DUPLICATE
You can copy or cut any selection on the
Script and paste it in any other cue or selection of cues with automatic time
reset to the inserted cue.
The new Show Director 5.0 allows to Copy
selections of cues at different times and Paste in different cues or selections
of cues at different times.
First: make a Selection.
For One Cue: Click in the grey square button
at the left of the row.
For Multiple Contiguous Cues: Press the Shift
Key and click on the first row square and the last.
For Multiple Alternate Cues: Press the Ctrl
Key and click on each row square. (Important: Do not make a selection back in
the time line, always-select forward). The selection will be highlighted in
blue.
To Copy: 
Press
Ctrl+C, select command from Cues Menu or click the Icon
To
Cut: 
Press
Ctrl+X, select command from Cues Menu or click the
Icon. Cut will take off the cues from the Script and store them temporarily in
the Clipboard
To
Paste: 
Make first a selection of one or Multiple
Cues.
Press Ctrl+V select command from Cues
Menu or click the Icon
To Duplicate: 
Press
Ctrl+D, select command from Cues Menu or click the Icon. When you are
duplicating more than one time, a cue that is part of a group of cues with the
same time, look that after duplicating it, the cursor always moves back to the
first cue, which may be a different effect that the one you want to duplicate.
To avoid this problem:
1. / Use Copy Paste commands,
or
2. / Create a sort named
“Duplicating” with Time as value 1 and Cue as value –2 (descending). The last
cue duplicated will go up and be selected, and you will be able to continue
with the duplicate operation.
·
You can now
also Copy, Cut and Paste text within cells or from other application. Highlight
the text string and, clicking on it with the right button of the mouse, opens
the edit Menu.
7. INSERT CUES CTRL+I
This is a powerful Show Director feature that
you can use with great flexibility. It is a real time saver. At the same time
it is a calculator of cue intervals, numbers, within time sequences.
> Go to Cues Menu and select Insert Cues,
or just type Ctrl+I.
The Insert/Edit cues window will open.
You can use this window to do the following
operations:
> Insert any number of cues, with a
selected effect, address, position and Interval of firing.
There are 3 methods of operation.
1. / Compute # of Cues: You can select a Time in
and a Timeout for the effect and interval. Show Director will calculate the
number of cues necessary.
2. / Compute Interval: You can select a Time
in and a Time-Out and the number of cues. Show Director will calculate the
interval in-between cues.
3. /Compute Duration: You can select a Time
in, the number of cues and the interval. Show Director will calculate the Time
Out.
To any of these methods you can assign the
selected effect or effects in Effects Manager, with a position, correlative or
offset addresses, angle, quantity, Caliber Group Hazard number, and an Event
Description.
To select multiple effects in the Effects
Manager, press the Shift key for adjacent effects in the list or the Ctrl key
for non-adjacent and descending effects selected. The multiple effects selected
will be inserted with the same time, and as many times as the number of cues at
the selected intervals.
After filling the values on the marquis, you
can press the Compute button to see the results, and adjust if necessary any of
the values.
Clicking Apply or OK buttons inserts the cues in the Script window.
Angle Field has been extended in Show
Director 5.0 to 64 characters.
9. INSERT EFFECTS Ctrl-E 
(See Duplicate Cues)
The same functions as Duplicate cues apply for Insert Current effect.
In the Effects Manager, select a single effect, subsequent effects, or a
non-adjacent selection of effects.
You can also select multiple cues, with the Ctrl key, and insert the effect or
effects in each cue of the multiple selections.
In the Script Window:
> Select the row(s) at the time(s) where you want to insert the selection,
> Press Ctrl-E, select command from Cues menu or click in the Icon.
All the effects selected will be inserted
with the same time.
In the script window you can type a reference
number or the first digits of it in the Script window Reference field and you
will see how it is located in the Effects Manager, and also inserted in the
Script.
Once you have the desired effect
> Press Ctrl+E and the effect(s) will be
inserted at the selected cue(s).
If you want to work within a specific
category of effects, apply a filter to the Effects Manager, and the same
functions will apply.
10. RENUMBER CUES F3 
Selecting Renumber Cues in the Cues menu or
pressing F3 will renumber the cues in the entire script. There is no Undo for
this function.
11. RENUMBER ADDRESS F4 
Show Director allows you to address your
script with an important degree of automation. You won't need to type every
single address.
You need to know the Sort, Filter, and Selection functions, to use and enjoy
the Renumber Address function.
Normally to address a script you will do it by positions, then by caliber, then
by time or product type. If you want your show to be progressively fired by time
and fire your racks in a spatial sequence, you will sort by time (this way you
add a safety factor, as in the case of having to go to the launching site
during firing, you know where there are no shells to be fired). If for packing
reasons you want to load by type of product you will then sort by product.
If you want to keep this Addressing Script separate from the Time Script, you
can copy and save it with another name with Explore.
To start addressing then, Sort by Position
(POS), then by Caliber (CAL), then by Time (HH: MM: SS: FF), and then by
Type-Effect Description or Reference. SHOW DIRECTOR let’s you sort by four
different categories.
Once you have your Script sorted, you can either address all of it at once if
you do not have space separation restrictions, or do it by blocks upon
positions and caliber, or by your own space separations.
For all the Script:
> Select the cell where you want to start
in the ADD column. Type the initial address, ex 010.and press
Enter.
> Go to Cues Menu and select Renumber Address or press F4. A verification
message will display: Renumber all addresses from current cue to end?
> If you want to do so, click OK. All the Script will be addressed.
For Blocks of the script:
> Select the initial ADDR cell, and type
and address,
> Press Enter and Select the starting row on the left row button.
> Press Shift and Select the last row to be addresses, according to your
layout. The entire block will be highlighted in blue.
> Press F4 or in the Cues Menu, select Renumber addresses. The selection
will be addressed.
Go to your next position and repeat the
operation.
12. VALIDATE ADDRESSES F5 
Once you have finished addressing you can now
validate your Script checking for repeated addresses. You can do it now within
the application without need to download to the FC and check with it.
> Go to Cues Menu
> Select Validate Addresses, or better, press F5. A window for Duplicate
Address Error will pop up, indicating any duplicate addresses or none (No
duplicate addresses).
If any duplicated address, the message
indicates the Cue number and the Address duplicated, and at the same time
highlighted on the script window the row with the error. Click OK. Go to the
address cell, change it, and press Enter.
For SAFETY reasons you must validate the
Script. Addresses 000 to 00F, sometimes used for comments, are not excluded on
the check.
Show Director does not allow entering any addresses over 7FF.
If you want to keep duplicated addresses:
> Click Skip button, at the error prompt
13. RESET ADDRESSES F6 
Reset addresses, changes all the addresses to
000. This is useful when importing a script from an old show that has addresses
on it and needs to be re-addressed. Instead of deleting one by one you can do
it all at once.
14. OFFSET TIME F7 
The Offset feature is necessary when the Time
code has changed from your original script. The Cue offset is made from the
first row of the Script to the last. It changes the whole Script. It is
possible to add or subtract any HMSF value.
If you want to offset a portion of the
Script, because your soundtrack edition has changed only in one part, select
the rows to be offset and apply the Offset command. Offset works also with
multiple selections.s
15. REFRESH GRID F8 
Refresh grid command sorts the script by the
current options set in the Sort Menu. By default the sort is by Time-PFT-Cue.
Refresh also computes and adds new values for the NEXT column, and updates the
Price 1-2-3 sum.
20. COLUMN FILL DOWN F9 
If you want to copy, repeat a value to
following cues, you can use the Fill Down command.:
>Select the cell you want to fill down.
>While pressing the Shift key, select the
last row of your fill. The selection is highlighted.
>Press F9, and the cell will be copied to
the cells below the selection.
21. LOCATE- GO TO CUE F10 
Locate helps you to go to a certain Cue, Time
or Address of the Script. When you have to make changes in the addresses of the
script, you should use this command. You will be able to locate the address and
change it to a new one.
22. IMPORT CUES and 23. EXPORT
FILTERED CUES
Import and Export cues Show Director feature works together and in conjunction with Script Filter
Manager option.
A Filter is a part of the Script. It could be
a large number of cues corresponding to a song, or several cues for a
particular sequence. The filter can be more specific than only cues. You can
filter by any entry in the Script. If you want to use a song without certain
positions, calibers or products, you can filter it.
EXPORT FILTERED CUES:
1.
First create a
Filter name in the Script Filter Manager. Make the selection of values for
every column.
2.
Select the Filter
in the Drop down menu. The Script will show only the Filtered Cues.
3.
Select Export
Cues in the Cues Menu or click in the Icon 
4.
Follow direction
in the Save Menu. A new Script file will be created for the Filtered Cues.
Once you have exported the cues or you have
another script you can
IMPORT FILTERED CUES:
1.
Select the Cue or
Cue Selection where you want your Script (filtered)
2.
Select Import
Cues in the Cues Menu or click in the Icon 
3.
Choose the File
to Import
4.
The imported
Script with cues will be inserted in the Cue or in every Cue of your selection.
Multiple Selection of Cues is a new feature of Show Director
5.0
EFFECTS MENU
EFFECTS MENU
1.
Refresh
grid Shift-F8
2.
Duplicate
Effects Ctrl+A
3.
Column
Fill Down Shift+F9
4.
Locate
Effect Ref# Shift+F11
5.
Total
Effect F12
6.
Total All
Effects Shift+F12
7.
Update
Effect Totals Ctrl+F12
8. Import Effects…
9. Export Effects…
The Effects Menu
contains the commands to operate within the Effect Manager window. The
functions are identical to Cues Menu. Please review Cues Menu instructions for
the following Commands:
·
Refresh grid Shift-F8
·
Duplicate
Effects Ctrl+A
·
Column Fill
Down Shift+F9
·
Import
Effects…
·
Export
Effects…
6. LOCATE EFFECT REF# Shift+F11 
If you want to locate an effect by reference
number you just have to type it in the Go To Effects
window. You can also type the reference number in the Script Manager and it will
locate the effect in the Effects Manager.
5. TOTAL EFFECT F12 
This is a new inventory-tracking feature of version 4.0.0. In order to operate
properly you need to assign the Columns MAGAZINE in the Script Manager and
Effects Manager to display the total quantities on hand or inventory for each
product.
To know at any given moment of scripting the
quantities of a particular product in the script :
·
Select the
product in the Script
·
Select the
command in the Effects Menu, Press F 12 or click the Icon.
If you have used more
quantities than available in inventory the display in MAGAZINE /Script Manger
will show negative numbers.
6. TOTAL ALL EFFECTS Shift- F12 
This command extends the inventory account to all the products in the Script
Manager.
9. UPDATE EFFECT TOTALS Ctrl+F12 
The Effect Manager can be updated by
Subtracting all the product from the selected Script, which causes a NEW Effect
File to be created.
FIRING TABLES MENU
MANAGER
Show Director 5.0 conducts
the Firing Table selection and Download in a different and easier way.
- All the Download operation is conducted with one
single Control Panel in the Manager Window
- The Firing Table selection is done with the
Script Filter Manager, as explained in the Script File Section.
- If no Filter is used, all cues are taken to make
a unique Firing Table for Download.
If you have
used Filters to separate and specify each Firing Table, the Script Filter
Manger will look like this:
Columns not
necessary had been hidden and relevant columns repositioned.
And the Firing
Table Manager, like this:
Field
Controller: Selects the Field Controller
Number.
Firing Tables:
Selects the number of Tables in consonance with The Field Controller Memory
settings.
Serial Port: Chooses the serial port to
send the data to the Field Controller.
Status: Shows the
status of the Firing Table: Pending, Downloaded or Failed
If you make a
change in the Script, make sure to click UPDATE or UPDATE ALL, to reflect the
changes in the file downloaded to the Field Controller (.tab)
Click DOWNLOAD and
follow the messages to download to the Field Controller.
OK. Saves the
settings and exits the Firing Table Manager.
CONFIGURE
1. TIME CODE
·
External
Pyrodigital modem (Pyrodigital Time Code)
You will select this option if you are using
the Pyrodigital modem connected to the com port of your computer with an audio
input from a tape striped with music and Time Code, or a wave file with music
and Time Code stored in your computer. You can play this one at the same time
that Show Director is running. You will have to take a feed from the computer
external audio L&R channels to one speaker and to the PD modem.
A two-channel (stereo) tape with a Soundtrack
and Pyrodigital Time Code striped.
Use this function if you are
using a Tape Player, CD Audio with Music in the Left channel and Pyrodigital
Time Code striped in the Right Channel. You can play the CD from your computer
CD ROM player. Connect the external audio stereo feed to the speaker and to the
Pyrodigital Modem, respectively. To control the CD use the Microsoft CD player
controls. Those include forward, rewind and a clock that matches the Time Code
clock. This is the most reliable way to script the show as you have complete
guarantee that there are no gaps due to the possible interference of other
computer internal operations.
·
Internal CD
ROM
If you have a CD player attached to the
computer you can play CDs and capture cues directly from them. You will save
these song scripts with different names. After, when you edit the music
soundtrack from the same CDs, you will have to cue first the starting cues of
each song, and with the command Import Cues insert the song files already cued
to the starting cue of each song. We will demonstrate this later, in the Import
Cues menu.
If you have your soundtrack burned into a
CD-ROM or just scripting songs to a CD-Audio, you can also use the CD to
capture cues. If you are preparing a show you can capture cues from songs on
various CDs, and when your final soundtrack is edited import the scripts at the
offset times.
IMPORTANT:
If you are using a CD ROM, with your soundtrack you have to be aware that some
CD recording software requires a minimum of 2 seconds pause in the first track.
When you play the CD you may observe that the music cues are offset by 2
seconds. To correct this you will need to offset all your cues in the Script by
2 seconds.
To do so:
>: Select the first row and while pressing the Shift cue, select the last
row.
>: Go to Cues menu and select Export Cues.
> The save Export cues window will appear. Give a name to the Exported cues,
ex: 'Script2sec'.
> Go back to the Script and select all the Rows, by selecting the first row,
pressing Shift and selecting the last row, then press delete.
> Your Script is empty.
> Go to the Cues menu and select Import Cues. The Import cues window will
appear.
> Select Insert Cue at time, and enter the offset, 2 sec= 00:00:02:00
> Click OK.
> The new cues will fill the Script with the 2 second offset.
You will observe that the music cues and Script cues now match while playing
back.
If you are firing the show with a CD, with
Music in the Left and Pyrodigital time code in the right channel, the CD
recording software pause does not affect the synchronization, as both channels
are playing simultaneously.
·
A Wave file (.wav):
Wave file configuration is automatically
selected when you open a Wave File from the File Menu. (See WAVE following)
·
SMPTE Time
Code
Show Director supports Scripting directly
with SMPTE Time Code. SMPTE Time Code is input through a new, optional external
SMPTE Time Code Reader, in a manner similar to the Pyrodigital Time Code Modem.
This new SMPTE Modem is available from Pyrodigital Consultants or Infinity
Visions. Show Director 4.00 and the new SMPTE Modem support 30fps,
29.97fps-Drop Frame, 25fps, and 24fps.
For more information about the use of SMPTE
and the Modem, see end of User Manual
Enable Beep during cue capture.
If you want to hear a beep during cues
playback you have to enable this function.
The beep is actually a. wave file, and you can make any beeps, sounds or words
like Fire! sound at every cue.
If you want to change beeps go to Windows Settings-Control Panel-Sounds, Select
Default Sound, Browse to Sound Director Folder, we have provided you with a collection.
If you want you can create your own with Microsoft Sound Recorder.
If you can not hear any beeps, check that
your multimedia controller for sound has the .wave listening enabled.
Depending on the Time Code option that you
choose, you will have to change the Time Code Configuration. The default
configuration is Pyrodigital Time Code /SMPTE 30fps, and Port1.
2. WAVE
If you want to change the colors of the Wave
Background and foreground, display or not cues or caliber you can open the Wave
Configuration Display under the Configuration Menu, and make your selection.
REPORTS MENU
REPORTS MENU
1. Script
2. Effects
1. SCRIPT
Show Director produces within the application
various pre-defined Reports and Summaries.
Reports are Lists of all the data contained
in the Effects Manager, with the applied Filter, and with predetermined sorts,
following the order of the columns from left to right. Summaries are tables
with computed information about Caliber use, by subtotals or for each
individual item. In the lower tool bar there is a summary of Cost for each
Price category, that you can update by pressing F8.
The Reports and summaries open in a separate
control window that you can leave open to check as you script the show, or send
it to Window stool bar. The window has navigational controls, page by page,
zoom in and zoom out.
You may also save the report as a large variety of file formats, if you want to
open it in another application like Excel, Word, etc., to edit the format,
alter the order of the columns, sort it in a different way, apply other
calculations or perform a fancier printing.
If you are not satisfied with this, you can always export the whole Script as a
.csv file, open it with Excel or other spreadsheet/database application, and
play with it for your final print out. Or, combine exported reports in other
application.
So, your options are unlimited and the flexibility that Show Director gives you
is enormous possibilities.
Script Reports display the following Columns:
Show Report:
QTY-CAL-TYPE-EFFECT DESCRIPTION-POS-ANGLE-CGHZ
Event Report:
SHOT-HH MM SS FF- NEXT- EVENT DESCRIPTION- CAL -QTY-POS-ANGLE -CUSTOM1-CUSTOM2
Loading Report:
POS-ADDR-CAL-QTY-TYPE-EFFECT DESCRIPTION-REF-ANGLE
Product Report:
REF-CAL-TYPE-DESCRIPTION-MAGAZINE-POS -QTY-ADDR-PFT ---CUSTOM2
Loading -Screen Sort Report:
For your convenience, if you want to generate
a Loading report with different sorts, you can do so
Set the sort order that you want in the
Script with Cues Menu/Sort.
Select Loading-Screen Sort Report in the Reports Menu.
2. EFFECTS
The EM report is a list only of the effects
by the filter and sort applied.
3.PRINT, SEND AND EXPORT REPORTS
Event or Script Reports and Effects reports
can be printed within Show Director, delivered via email service or exported to
a variety of file formats for a more sophisticated printing layout.
WINDOW
Cascade
Tile Horizontal
Arrange Icons
All other Opened windows or Managers….
These are standard parameters for any Windows
application.
Every computer is different and depending on
the various OS, the windows can behave differently.
Just play with it and experiment. You will
find whatever configurations are more comfortable for you.
A few tips:
·
The active window always goes on top after arranging.
·
You can display
an overlapped window just selecting in the Menu. This allows to have any window
maximized and behind.
·
If you cannot see the scroll bar on Script or Effects Manager windows after
changing the size of the Show Director main window, go to Tile Horizontal and
the windows will be resized to show them entirely. Show Director window can be opened at the same time with other
applications.
Manual Mode:
A new Manual Mode has been integrated in the
program to allow the choreography of manually fired show with electric panels.
Description of Manual Mode, when manual mode
is entered:
a. If the script window is on the screen, the
PFT (PreFire Time/Delay) column is locked (i.e. edits not allowed) and the time
(HMSF) is adjusted by the PFT. The time displayed is the Fire Time. The PFT
column is locked, so that when manual mode is terminated, time is converted
backs to the original event time (Firing Time + PFT).
b. If the script window in not on the screen,
when the script is opened the script will be converted to the manual mode
(i.e., the time will be adjusted to Fire Time).
When manual mode is active, the Manual Pull Down Menu is enabled. This Menu has the following functions:
Configuration
Display Countdown
Renumber Cues
Validate Cues with Tolerance
Convert script to Normal Mode
Configuration: This screen
contains all the Manual Mode parameters: The current set includes:
Tolerance (H: M: S: F): Specifies how near cues can be to each other. The
validate function will use this number to compare cue times (if cues are too
close together, they are difficult to Fire on a manual panel consolidate or
adjust the script as required).
Response delay (tenths): Sets the number of tenths of a second at which the
"FIRE" wave file is to be played, to compensate for the Firing
Operator's Delay in physically initiating the Firing button/probe on a manual
Firing board.
Display Countdown: This window has a countdown
HMSF/Cue #/and Fire indicator. Everything is in big fonts for easy visibility.
Renumber Cues: This
function allows a quick and semi-automatic addressing of the number of Firing
Positions per rail/slat on the manual firing system. It is possible to set the
number of cues per rail/slat and automatically renumber all the script.
Validate Cues with Tolerance: This function flags occurrences of inter-cue times
that do not meet the specified tolerance. The user specifies a tolerance and is
able to select all, or selected cues for validation. It operates similar to the
address validation in that the user is able to ignore/proceed past conditions
that fail the check. This function insures that user has not specified cues too
close together for actual operation of the manual firing system.
Convert script to normal mode: This function allows the user to perform the Time =
time + PFT function manually if a file has been corrupted.
USE OF WAVE DISPLAY WITH MANUAL MODE
With the new wave display it is possible
to combine the Graphic display of the cues on the wave graphic with the Manual
Countdown Panel. You will need to deselect wave display and caliber display in
the Configure Wave-Options. This way you will have a graphic plot of the cues
only. While you play the music you will be able to see the cues coming while
the cursor advances and looking at the Count Down announce the cue number.
For any additional help, suggestions or problems with
this Guide Please contact:
ShowDirector@infinityvisions.com
This site will provide updated information about tips
and possible bugs in the program.
June 04, 1999
SMPTE MODEM USER'S GUIDE
For Alpermann + Velte TC 60 RL -72
Portable SMPTE Time Code Reader
Please refer to provided TC 60 RL User's
Guide for Technical Details
TC 60 RL CONFIGURATION
Remove 4 screws and set DIP Switches as
follows:
1=OFF, 2=OFF, 3=ON, 4=OFF, 5=ON, 6=ON,
7=OFF, 8=ON
{Configured for 9600 Baud, with Parity,
Auto Data Transfer, LED On}
TC 60 RL OPERATION w/ SHOW DIRECTOR
SOFTWARE
1) POWER SOURCE:
a) For Portable Use 9 vdc Battery; Note that
BATTERY IS ALWAYS ON
Unless a Connector is PLUGGED INTO
External Power Input Jack
Use Supplied Cable Connector as Battery
On/Off switch by
plugging into jack, thus DISCONNECTING
BATTERY
(Cut provided stepped connector from wire
if desired, which
will "Lock" in place and not
fall out)
(Wall Pack WHEN CONNECTED will also
Disconnect Battery)
b) For Office use 9vdc Wall Transformer
(Center pin positive)
(Battery NOT required)
2) Connect a 9 Pin M/F SERIAL Cable
(RS-232) to COM Port of Computer.
(use 9 Pin F to
25 pin M Adapter for easy switch to PD Modem)
3) Connect SMPTE Time Code Audio Source
to RCA jack of TC 60 RL.
4) Configure SHOW DIRECTOR,
"Configure" pull Down Menu, "Timecode" to
EXTERNAL SMPTE (AV 60 RL), select SMPTE
Time Code Type (Frame Rate),
select Com Port # to which AV 60 RL is connected
via SERIAL Cable.
5) Play SMPTE Source and observe that RED
LED on AV 60 RL will FLASH
during Valid SMPTE Input.
6) In Show Director, Enable CUE CAPTURE.
Verify SMPTE Time Code work-
ing by observing increasing Time Numbers
in lower right Tool Bar.
EOF
June 04, 1999
SMPTE TIME CODE SPECIAL NOTES AND PRECAUTIONS
VERY IMPORTANT
SMPTE USERS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE
PRECAUTIONS
> THE SMPTE FRAME RATE TO WHICH YOU
SCRIPT YOUR SHOW MUST MATCH THE
TYPE OF SMPTE TIME CODE BEING USED - Be
sure to set Show Director to
the same Frame Rate as being used. Make a
note of the Script's frame
rate as part of the top information line
of your script.
WARNING
If you Script in Show Director with the WRONG SMPTE
frame rate setting
you WILL have Cues which are UNFIRED or
FIRED at slightly the wrong
time with the Field Controller. If you
are unsure of the SMPTE frame
rate, play the SMPTE into the Time Code
Input of the Field Controller
set to the Time Code Operating Mode,
SMPTE Option 2, and observe the
indication; 30ND, 29DF, 25FPS, or 24FPS.
Set Show Director to match.
30 Drop Frame IS NOT SUPPORTED.
> SMPTE TIME CODE IS NOT NEARLY AS
ROBUST AS PYRODIGITAL TIME CODE.
SMPTE Time Code WILL NOT
work through normal Phone Lines, normal
Radios, or any other limited bandwidth
transmission systems.
SMPTE
Time Code DOES NOT have
Parity Error Checking, as DOES Pyrodigital
Time Code. Full audio quality (20Hz to 20kHz) transmission systems
are REQUIRED for SMPTE to work at all.
SMPTE works fine with DIRECT
CABLE CONNECTIONS (Hard Lines) over 600
ohm BALANCED LINES or short
RCA Cables when the Field Controller is
within a few feet of the SMPTE
Source.
DO NOT SIMPLY SWITCH TO SMPTE BECAUSE IT
IS A MORE COMMON STANDARD AND
THE CLIENT / TECHNICIANS PRESSURED YOU TO
DO SO. THERE ARE VALID AND
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT REASONS FOR INSISTING
ON USING PYRODIGITAL TIME
CODE. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU USE
SMPTE.
WARNING
DO NOT USE SMPTE TIME CODE IN THE MANNER
IN WHICH YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED
TO USING PYRODIGITAL TIME CODE, OR YOU WILL HAVE A SHOW FAILURE. TEST
VERY CAREFULLY any transmission system
when using SMPTE to BE SURE
that you can receive it correctly.
> DO NOT MANUALLY ADJUST THE FRAMES ON
THE FIELD CONTROLLER TO
UNUSED / OUT OF RANGE SMPTE FRAMES
BECAUSE THOSE CUES WILL NOT BE
FIRED. The Field Controller's Data Table
is structured for 30 frames
per second. Frames numbers between 0 to 29 CAN ALWAYS be entered (or
changed) within the Field Controller's
Data Table. So, for example,
if you change a frame time from 24 to 25
(25 fps SMPTE), then this cue
WILL NOT be fired, BECAUSE it is NOT a
valid frame at 25 fps.
With SMPTE 24 fps, valid frames are from
0 to 23
With SMPTE 25 fps, valid frames are from
0 to 24
With 29DF (Drop Frame), "A frame
PAIR is dropped at the start of each
minute, except minutes 0, 10, 20, 30, 40,
& 50" Thus (2 x 60) - (2 x
6) = 120 - 12 = 108 frames are DROPPED
every hour. Thus these par-
ticular frames are NOT VALID.
example 1 - SMPTE Time Code frames are;
00:08:59:28
00:08:59:29
00:09:00:02
00:09:00:03
frames 0 and 1 dropped every minute
except every 10 min as next;
example 2 - SMPTE Time Code frames are;
01:09:59:28
01:09:59:29
01:10:00:00
01:10:00:01
no frames dropped because this is 10
minutes
With SMPTE 30 ND (Non Drop), ALL frames
are Valid (from 0 to 29).
THIS IS NORMALLY NOT A PROBLEM, because
Show Director will automati-
cally LIMIT the frames according to the
frame type selected when you
Script your Show. The problem arises when
you change the frame time
of an event in the Data Table DIRECTLY ON
THE FIELD CONTROLLER.
Therefore be aware of what you are doing
if you change frame times
directly in the Field Controller (with
other than 30ND SMPTE).
> V3.00 FIRMWARE BUG - 29DF INTERNAL
CLOCK SPEED FOR FIELD CONTROL-
LER - There is a SERIOUS PROBLEM with
Field Controller in using 29DF
in that the INTERNAL CLOCK RUNS WAY TO
FAST. So if you run 29DF on
the Field Controller and THEN loose the
Time Code Feed, the Field
Controller's Internal Clock will run way
too fast, gaining about 17
seconds in only 3 1/2 minutes, which will
FIRE way to soon as compared
to the actual Time Code (simply unplug
29DF on the FC and compare Show
Director also running same 29DF to FC
running on internal clock).
Pyrodigital is anticipating releasing an
Updated Firmware EPROM which
corrects the 29DF internal Clock speed,
AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL REQUEST.
Y2K & MIDNIGHT 2000 - The Field Controller DOES
NOT use or have any
DATE chips, so it doesn't care what year
it is. However with New
Year's 2000 Displays, it is likely that
some Displays will be Fired
with SMPTE Time Code BECAUSE SMPTE IS the
master timing reference for
virtually all TV Stations. They will be
using 29DF SMPTE (USA /
NTSC). THIS IS FRAUGHT WITH POTENTIAL
SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHICH THE USER
SHOULD BE AWARE OF (Nothing to do with
Y2K, just the transition of
SMPTE at midnight which occurs EVERY DAY).
RECOMMEND PD Time Code.
> 24 HOUR CLOCK - MIDNIGHT CHANGE OF SMPTE TIME - AT MIDNIGHT ALL
TYPES OF SMPTE CHANGE FROM 23:59:59:29 TO 00:00:00:00 (example
for 30
fpsND). NEITHER SHOW DIRECTOR OR THE
FIELD CONTROLLER WILL MAKE THE
TRANSITION FROM THE END OF 24 HOURS BACK
TO ZERO HOURS (Midnight). At
24 hours YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE
SCRIPT AND THE END OF FIRING.
Think about it; your script (and the FC)
work by INCREASING time num-
bers; if time suddenly goes to zero you
are at the beginning, or
before the beginning of your Script &
Show. At the SMPTE midnight
transition, Show Director cannot continue
to Capture/Display cues be-
cause Time is now for the beginning of
the Script. The FC will post
the "END OF TABLE" message (and
then beeping to turn key off). SMPTE
Time Code simply DOES NOT have any DATE
support for the "next day".
> WORK AROUND SMPTE 24 HOUR CLOCK
TRANSITION AT MIDNIGHT - Have
MIDNIGHT and NOON Reversed at the SOURCE. Therefore
midnight becomes
12:00:00:00 and there is no problem. THE
PROBLEM IS CONVINCING YOUR
TV STATION / RADIO STATION / SPONSOR TO
DO THIS. Normally SMPTE
Clocks which run TV Stations and the
Networks will change to
00:00:00:00 at midnight and it may be difficult or
impossible to make
them change. Tell them Y2K, DO IT!! It may be possible to use a spe-
cial SMPTE Offset Processing Device that
CAN transition smoothly over
the 24 hour change with an offset and NOT
crash / Die. Check for Y2K.
Attempting to use the Field Controllers
SMPTE Offset feature to
reverse Midnight and Noon DOES NOT WORK because
the offset SUBTRACTS
time by design (for VER250 Special
application) and at 00:00:00:00
there is NO TIME to subtract from, so
TIME STOPS.
EXPERT USER Work Around - The Field
Controller, however will at mid-
night (with a SMPTE offset) switch to it's internal clock and keep
shooting (setup option, tape clock mode,
set to auto), assuming a DATA
TABLE set to match the offset time (must
be increasing time). There
is another problem with doing this in
that for 29DF, the internal
clock for V3.00 Firmware in the Field
Controller, WILL RUN FAST
without the EPROM update. If you attempt
this type of Work Around,
you should Test & Re-Test VERY
Carefully and be aware that you WILL be
running on the internal clock ONLY at midnight. Check the internal
Clock speed if attempting to Sync w/
music. There also remains the
problem of Scripting the Show which
CANNOT be done on Show Director
directly, but could be cleverly Offset,
or scripted directly on the
Field Controller. TEST, TEST, Re-TEST!!
