The QuickClipXO Interface
Drastic’s QuickClip software provides the advanced capture, control and playback features of Drastic's award winning digital disk recorders, and is also available as a standalone product. QuickClipXO is the main interface of QuickClip. There are additional components of QuickClip including LocalConfig and the QuickClip MDI Admin interface that are used to access specific settings and features.
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QuickClipXO may be used to control the capture and playback of digital media on a Drastic DDR, either locally (capture and playback functionality is limited to the capabilities of the hardware in the system) or remotely via the network (network control may be optional depending on the Drastic system being controlled). This Drastic DDR will be a computer with QuickClip software and hardware components integrated according to the requirements of the application
Please note: This is a reference manual for the settings and modes of QuickClipXO. If you are looking for information on using QuickClipXO or on specific task setups, there is a series of Tutorials available on our web site. There is also a How Do I document available for quick, specific answers.
This manual assumes the following:
That the user knows how to operate a mouse and keyboard and perform the basic functions of Microsoft Windows operating system.
That the user is familiar with video editing and how to use VTRs
That the user has access to MIS technicians capable of placing the device on the network and setting up any SAN systems if necessary.
That the user has access to audio/video technicians capable of installing and timing the device into a facility or video setup.
The name of a control or display present on the interface will be displayed in bold text.
Where a portion of the manual is referred to the name of the section mentioned will be displayed in italics.
Where a Drastic product is mentioned its name will be displayed in Dark Blue.
Certain images in this document have been grayed out where it is useful or necessary to place indicator marks to show specific controls or displays above a darker background.
To view information regarding the required hardware, and the installation and licensing procedure for QuickClip, please see the QuickClip MDI Admin Manual.
For the purposes of this document, a system upon which QuickClip has been installed may be referred to as a Drastic Device.
QuickClipXO can perform its activities locally, using the hardware in the system upon which it is installed for capture and playback. This arrangement may be referred to as Local Control. Alternately QuickClipXO can control an external QuickClip-based system provided that the external system is licensed for network control (this component may be optional). This arrangement may be referred to as Network Control.
Where QuickClipXO is controlling an external QuickClip-based system, it may be referred to as the "Control Station" and the external system being controlled by the Control Station may be referred to as a "Target Device".
This manual is intended as a user guide for the QuickClipXO interface.
QuickClip must be installed on a computer running Windows (NT, 2K or XP) operating systems. To run QuickClipXO this station must also have Java installed. Versions of QuickClipXO are available for Mac (OS 10 or greater), or Linux operating systems so that the user may exercise network control over their Drastic Device (Network control features are license-dependent).
To control external QuickClip-based systems, the Control Station and any Target devices being controlled must be on the same network and made accessible to each other. In external VTR control applications, device emulation must be properly set up. Where a serial controller is to be used, serial control must be properly set up. Detailed instructions for setup are available both herein and in the MDI Admin interface manual.
Many features are common to Local Control and Network Control applications. Where there are differences they have been specified in the appropriate section of this manual.
The Target device must be a computer with QuickClip installed, and it will need to be licensed for the Network Control Option. Specific digital disk recorder products include this option – check with your reseller if you are unsure whether your system can support network control.
The hardware in the Target Device must be properly integrated for use in the intended application. The Target Device must be properly placed on the same network as and made accessible to the Control Station.
All of the devices being used must be set up to work with each other, including (but not limited to) external storage (if present), video and audio input devices, genlock (if used), network connectivity, serial controller device connectivity, external (source or target) VTRs or DDRs.
Codec Config allows the user to set up their installed codecs. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ Codec Config.
Drastic Proxy Config allows the user to set up AutoProxy file generation file types. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ Drastic Proxy Config. Proxy file generation may be optional for specific products.
LocalConfig offers various easily set default configurations and allows the user to adjust global, serial control, external VTR/DDR control and internal channel settings. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ Local DDR Configuration.
MetaData Config allows the user to specify the order, class and contents of their metadata fields. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ MetaData Config.
RemoteConfig allows the user to set up the system to be controlled either via the network or from a serial controller device. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ Remote (Network) Config.
The Drastic Setup Wizard allows the user to set up a number of defaults for the system. The Setup Wizard auto-runs upon installation but may also be run at any time to reset the configuration. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Config/ Setup Wizard - Configure DDR.
Drastic VTR Control allows the user to set up and test or confirm control over an external VTR/ DDR. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Util/ Drastic VTR Control.
LicenseVVW allows the user to confirm or update the status of their license. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Util/ LicenseVVW.
SpeedLimit allows the user to test the speed of their media storage drives to confirm whether the system can capture the intended video file type(s). It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ Util/ SpeedLimit
VVWCheck allows the user to check the system for drivers for all of the video hardware that Drastic supports. It is available in: Programs/ Drastic Technologies/ QuickClip/ VVWCheck.
The user will need to run QuickClipXO and "connect" to either the Drastic Device itself (local control) or a Target Device on the network (network control), in which case it will operate as the Control Station. Note that in some installations the system may be set up to run QuickClipXO as a service, so the connection will be made automatically upon bootup. Here is how to connect locally.
Run QuickClipXO on the Drastic Device. The first screen that will appear is QuickClipXO in disconnected state. The interface is mainly grayed out, and the Connect button is active.
Press the Connect button. This opens the Connection window.
Here is how to connect to and control the Drastic Device upon which this instance of QuickClipXO is installed (Local Control).
With the Connection window open: enter the Network Name or IP address (127.0.0.1) of the Drastic Device into the Address field, or type in the word "localhost" into the Address field.
Enter the port number in the Port field. The default port number is 1234.
Press the Connect button. QuickClipXO should then display a "connected" screen. In this connected state, the user may exercise all the functions of QuickClipXO.
Here is how to connect to and control an external Drastic Device (a Target Device). The Target device must be a QuickClip software-based system, licensed for the Network Control Option.
For accurate synchronization, ensure that the Target device, the Control Station and any other devices used in the setup (such as VTRs, cameras), are properly genlocked.
Confirm that the Control Station and any Target Device being controlled are placed on the same network (LAN, Internet) and made accessible to each other.
Start the Target Device. Run LocalConfig on the Target Device. Confirm that the HTTP and MediaCmd Network Interfaces checkbox is selected in the General tab of LocalConfig. Close LocalConfig.
Run QuickClip on the Target Device. Select the Disable Local Control button from the Toolbar. Leave QuickClip running on the Target Device.
Press the Connect button on the Control Station. This opens the Connection window.
The Address field on the Connection window displays the name of the last Drastic Device that was connected if any. Enter the IP address or the network "name" of a Target Device into the Address field. If the IP address is used, be sure to include the periods.
To select from a list of known Target Devices, use the pulldown arrow to reveal the menu of recent connections. Select from among this list if the preferred device is present.
Set the Port for this operation in the Port field. The default is 1234.
To search the network for available Target Devices, press the Browse button. This opens a browsing progress window, which lists the systems it finds on the network while displaying a percentage of completion for the procedure. Once browsing is complete, all available devices will be displayed in the pulldown menu of the Connection window. Select the intended Target Device.
Press the Connect button. QuickClipXO should then display a "connected" screen.
In the connected state, the user may now control the Target Device. Given that specific capture or playback functionality is hardware-based, the user should confirm that the Target Device is capable of the actions they are attempting. For example, a playback-only QuickClip station will not respond to any Record commands.
Many setup and diagnostic tools are available to run before opening QuickClipXO, (these are briefly summarized in the Configuration Settings section of this document) and in some cases the system will be set correctly for the application upon running the software. However there are a few quick settings the user would do well to confirm before attempting to capture and play back video on the Drastic Device.
Run LocalConfig
Select the Internal H/W tab to set or check the following:
Check the video checkbox for the channel (hardware-dependent).
Select between normal, In2=Alpha, or dual link.
Set the video file type.
Set the codec.
Set the resolution.
Set the video standard.
Close LocalConfig.
Run QuickClipXO. Select the Video Settings tab.
Confirm the input settings: Use the pulldown menu below the Video Input label to select between available choices for the video input. This will determine which input connection will be "live".
Broadcast (on-air mode), Color Killer (remove color from the video input) and Auto Gain (automatic compensation for variable input levels) may be enabled or disabled on specific platforms by selecting or deselecting their checkboxes.
Setup (video level),
Confirm the output settings: Use the pulldown menu below the Video Output label to select between available choices for the video output. This will determine which output connection is "live".
Use the pulldown menu below the Filter label to select between available filters to apply to the video output.
Color (remove color from the video output) may be enabled or disabled on specific platforms by selecting or deselecting the checkbox.
The Bars button allows the user to test the video output on specific platforms. When it is enabled, press the Bars button and standard SMPTE test bars will be sent out through the video hardware.
Run LocalConfig
Select the Internal H/W tab to set or check the following:
Check the audio checkbox for each video channel (hardware-dependent).
Set the number of audio channels.
Set the audio resolution.
Set the audio file type.
Close LocalConfig.
Run QuickClipXO.
Select the Audio Settings tab.
Confirm the input settings: Use the pulldown menu below the Audio Input label to select between available choices for the audio input. This will determine which input connections will be "live".
Where the system supports variable level adjustment, the slider controls will be active and will allow the user to adjust input levels.
Where this channel of the system is being allocated to the incoming LTC, the user will select the LTC checkbox and make sure the LTC signal is being sent to the correct input.
Confirm the output settings: Use the pulldown menu below the Audio Output label to select between available choices for the audio output. This will determine which output connections will be "live".
Where the system supports variable level adjustment, the slider controls will be active and will allow the user to adjust input levels.
Where this channel of the system is sending LTC, the user will select the LTC checkbox and make sure the LTC signal is being sent to the correct output.
Storage for Media - Confirm that the system is set to record onto the correct drive or drive set. Select the Setup view tab. Press the Record Folder button. This opens the Record-To Folder window. Make sure QuickClipXO is set to record onto a drive other than that which contains QuickClipXO software (if the default installation path is used, QuickClipXO is installed onto the C drive).
Browse to and select a record-to folder if necessary or keep the current folder if it is set correctly.
QuickClipXO can be used to perform the following tasks:
Record - encode, or capture media files from an incoming video signal
All Modes Open Length Record or Set Length Record
All Modes Pull-in from an external deck under control
Play - output media files through video hardware or VGA screen monitor
Clip Mode Play clips in the Clip Bin including looped playback
Compose and run a PlayList
Lay back media to an external deck
Film Mode Select the ::Film clip in the Clip Bin and play the media in Film Space
Conform Mode Play media in VTR Mode including looped playback
Add media in VTR Mode
Edit Media and Lists - edit media lists, create sub-clips, multiple custom lists
Clip Mode Add/delete media in the Clip Bin
Create Sub-clips from existing clips in the Clip Bin
Multiple/ Custom Clip Bins
Film Mode Multiple/ Custom Film Spaces
Conform Mode Add/delete media in Time Code Space
Multiple/ Custom time code space lists
The following sections outline the steps to perform these actions.
Media may be captured from an incoming video source in either Clip or Conform Mode, provided that the Drastic Device is capture-enabled. The Drastic Device may be operated under Local Control or Networked Control. All three modes provide capture functionality, hardware-dependent.
Video Signal - Confirm that there is a valid video signal of the correct type being sent to the video input of the QuickClipXO system performing the capture. If necessary, attach and configure genlock.
Target Folder - Confirm the "Record To" directory. Select the Setup View button to open the Setup View. Press the Record Folder button to confirm where the media will be recorded. If necessary, a new location can be set. It is important that QuickClipXO is not set to record media onto the program drive.
Internal Channel - Use the pulldown menu labeled Internal Channel to select the correct channel to record onto. This is not applicable in a one channel system.
Setup - Confirm that any other applicable settings have been properly adjusted using the controls offered in the Setup, Video Setup and Audio Setup tabs. Return to Main View by selecting the Main View button.
Press the Clip Mode button to enter Clip Mode.
Record Settings - Press the Record button to open the New Clip Settings window. This window allows the user to set the clip's name and if needed, length.
Clip
Name - The first field at the top is the New Clip Name
field. A
default clip name will be supplied by QuickClipXO. To change this name, select the text and type
in the preferred name.
Press the Set
Name button at any time to update the clip name.
Max
Length - The next field is the Max Length field.
It allows the user to define the length of the captured clip before the
recording has started.
If this checkbox is unselected, pressing the Start button will
cause QuickClipXO to continue
recording until interrupted. Once the Max Length checkbox
has been selected, enter a length for the clip (by time code) in the field to
the right of the checkbox.
The last frame
of video captured will actually be the clip duration minus one frame, as the
first frame counted is always 00:00:00:00. A single frame of video for example
would technically have In and Out points of 00:00:00:00 but a duration of
00:00:00:01.
The Time Remaining
field displays the amount of video the user should expect to be able to
capture, based on the available drive space, and the video/audio
settings.
Set
Name button - The name of the clip is displayed just below the
Time Remaining
field. Enter a
new clip name and press the Set Name button to change the current name.
Start
- Once all parameters for the capture have been correctly
set, press the Start
button. Clip capture will
begin. The
record button will turn red, and the time code in the Transport Display
will also turn red for the duration of the capture.
Upon completion
of the record, the new clip should appear in the Clip Bin, available
for playback.
Cancel - If it becomes useful or necessary to stop the capture dialog, press the Cancel button.
Set Capture Parameters
Select Film Mode. Select the clip
named ::Film in
the Clip
Bin. If
there is no ::Film clip in the Clip Bin, it may be
created using the Drastic Setup Wizard.
To load a
saved ::Film
Space press the File button. Select Open/New ::Film. This opens a browser which allows the user to
seek and load a saved ::Film Space.
Create a Set
Length Capture - the user sets the location within Film Space into
which video will be captured by defining in and out points in the extents
section of the Transport/ Clip Control window.
To set an In Point, select
the time code in the In box and type in a start time code location. Press the Q button. Press the In button.
To set an Out Point, select
the time code in the Out box and type in an end time code location. Press the Q button. Press the Out
button.
Record the specified
video - Press the Edit button in the Extents
section. This
performs the capture as set up.
Create an Open
Length Capture - If the user elects to press the Record button at
any time code location in Film Space, an open length record will begin at that
point. So the user will need to confirm that the system is not cued to a
location containing important media before pressing the Record
button.
Cue to a Good
In Point - the user may enter a time code location in the In Point field of
the extents section and press the Q button. Alternately the user may use the transport
controls to seek to a good location.
Record the specified video - At the top center of the Transport/ Clip Control window, press the red Record button. This performs the capture from the cued location and continues until the user presses Stop or the media storage drives are filled.
Press the Conform Mode button to enter Conform
Mode.
In Conform Mode clip
names are not used.
Instead, automatically generated file names are used. These names are
based on the name of the VTR Mode Time Code Space EDL file. This file may be
copied, and the copy renamed. The alternate time code space can be loaded
using the QuickClip
MDI Admin interface. The user might have different time code space
lists which are referenced to different media.
Open Length
Record - The user may perform a "crash record", which is to simply start recording from the cued location and stop when the user presses the Stop button. This is also
referred to as an open length record.
Set an In
Point - Cue to a location where there is no media allocated. If there is media
already in Time Code
Space, the user may cue to the last frame of the last clip. Select a clip by
clicking on its row.
Press the Q next to the Out field in the Clip Extents section to cue up the last frame.
If there is no
media in the Time
Code Space List, the user can keep the default start location (00:00:00:00)
or enter a preferred start record location in the In time code field
and press the Q
button.
Begin the
Record - To start the crash record, press the Record button. To stop the record,
press the Stop
button.
Upon completion of the record a new clip will appear in the Time Code Space Edit
List having the specified parameters.
Set Length
Record - The user may perform an "edit record", which is to specify In and Out points and then record video into this area of time code space. This is also referred to as a "set length" record.
To set an In Point, select
the time code in the In box and type in a start time code location. Press the Q button. Press the In button.
To set an Out Point, select
the time code in the Out box and type in an end time code location. Press the Q button. Press the Out
button.
Preview the
Edit - The user may preview this section of time code space
prior to starting the capture. Press the Prev (preview)
button. This
allows the user to confirm the edit and to adjust any parameters necessary
before performing the capture.
Begin the Record - To perform the capture using the specified In and Out
points, press the Edit button. QuickClipXO will record the incoming video into
the specified area of time code space. Upon completion of the record a new clip will
appear in the Time
Code Space Edit List having the specified parameters.
QuickClipXO can control an
external VTR via RS-422 serial control to instruct it to play specific media
sections while capturing them onto the QuickClipXO
system.
Once all the settings have been adjusted and the pull-in is in progress,
the VTR seeks, pre-rolls, and goes into play mode while the system is
playing. After
each clip is captured both devices go into post-roll then begin cueing up to the
next item if present.
When the pull-in is finished, the new clips will be available in either
the Clip Bin (Clip Mode) or Drastic's 24 hour time code space (Conform Mode).
A Pull-in may
be performed either in a Local Control or Network Control application.
Confirm that
the video/audio output(s) of the VTR are connected to the input(s) of the
Drastic Device.
Confirm that
the RS-422 output of the Drastic Device is connected to the RS-422 input of the
VTR via a serial cable, and that the VTR is set to Slave (or Remote) Mode (in
order to accept external control). It may be necessary to open LocalConfig and
confirm serial control settings. Detailed instructions for setting up serial
control are available in the MDI Admin interface manual.
QuickClipXO can perform a Pull-in either in Clip Mode or Conform Mode.
The options are set differently for each mode.
Select Clip Mode - Press the Clip Mode
button.
Set EDL Options - Clip Mode - Press the FromVTR button. This opens the Enter EDL Options
window in Clip
Mode.
The top field
is the Reel Name
field. This
refers to the tape in the external VTR. Keep the default name or type in a new
name for the reel.
If the Reel
Name changes during the pull-in the user will be prompted to change the tape
in the external VTR.
The Base Name adds a
prefix during the pull-in to create each item’s clip name. Enter (up to) 4
characters in the Base Name field or leave it blank.
In Clip Mode pull-ins,
the Record In is
disabled.
Set Heads and
Tails - The user can add "heads" and "tails" to each clip. These are extra
frames of media captured at the beginning and end of each clip so as to provide
a safe (editable) zone surrounding the media being captured. Enter a number of
frames in the H/T field. QuickClipXO will add this amount of frames so that each
item captured is that much longer. For example a H/T setting of 4
would add 8 extra frames to each clip created in the Pull-in.
Press the Set Name button to confirm all of the above adjustments.
The Create
button then becomes active. Press the Create button to
begin setting up the EDL in Clip Mode.
Select Conform Mode - Press the Conform
Mode button.
Set EDL Options - Conform Mode - Press the FromVTR button. This opens the Enter EDL Options
window in Conform
Mode.
The top field
is the Reel Name
field. This
refers to the tape in the external VTR. Keep the default name or type in a new
name for the reel.
If the Reel
Name changes during the pull-in the user will be prompted to change the tape
in the external VTR.
In Conform Mode
pull-ins, the Base
Name is disabled, as media is captured into time code space using a default
naming convention.
Set the Record In - The