Video Switcher (150-1274) Operation Faxback Doc. # 7293 Connecting for Basic Operation The illustration is a very simple connection for the Switcher's basic operation, such as making a video tape from two source Video Cassette Recorders. You'll need a recording VCR, two source VCRs and a TV set. Connect the TV set to the recording VCR to monitor the recording and to see the playback of the edited recording. Note: On some VCRs, the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCR's allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type, you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio/video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF inputs on the VCR. Basic Operating Procedure The controls on the Special Effects Switcher interact with each other and with the controls on your VCR, TV, and other video equipment. Follow the instructions carefully. Also observe the operating instructions in the owner's manuals of your other units. Refer to the CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS section for details on the effect of each control and switch, and the REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS for basic connections. Make sure all connections have been made as outlined and as shown in the connection illustrations in this manual. If you are unsure about the connections for your particular video system, draw a diagram of your system and take it to your local Radio Shack store for advice. To realize the maximum benefit from your Special Effects Switcher, your TV must be in good working condition with the controls set for a normal color picture. The other components of your video system must also be working properly. This unit will not compensate for defects in other video equipment. Turning on Your Video System 1. Turn the MANUAL FADE control to IN (fully clockwise) and the DURATION control to center (12 o' clock) position. 2. Turn on your monitor TV. Turn on source A, the source VCR connected to the A IN jacks. And turn on the B video source connected to the B IN jacks. Then turn on the recording VCR. If you are using a standard TV, use Radio Shack's RF Modulator, Cat. No. 15-1273, to provide a Channel 3 or Channel 4 signal. 3. Turn on your Special Effects Switcher. The POWER and the source A LEDs will light. When it is first turned on, the switcher is in the automatic operating mode. A is the input source. Before using your Switcher for actual recording, first get used to its operation. Experiment with the switches and controls in both the automatic and the manual operation modes. AUTOMATIC OPERATION MODE Be sure the MANUAL switch is released. When the MANUAL indicator is not lighted, you know you are in the automatic mode. When the MANUAL switch is deactivated, the fades and wipes are performed automatically. Fading Out and Fading In 1. Press the FADE switch. The picture will gradually disappear from the screen. 2. Press the FADE switch again. The picture and sound of the same source A will fade back in. 3. Now adjust the duration control and repeat steps 1 and 2 to see how this control affects the timing of the fade. 4. To fade out source A and fade in source B, press the FADE A/B switch. The source A picture will gradually disappear and the source B picture will fade in. Watch the indicators above the switch. The A indicator goes out and the B lights when the source is switched. 5. Change the setting of the DURATION control and try again to get an idea of the timing. Using the SOURCE Switch for a Quick Cut An instantaneous move from one source to another is called a "quick cut." To accomplish this, press the SOURCE switch. This operates the same way in either the manual or automatic mode. Wiping Out and Wiping in the Same Source Keep the Special Effects Switcher in the automatic mode. To perform wipes in the horizontal pattern, set the DIAG-H/V position. 1. Press one of the wipe buttons. The LED above the selected wipe button lights to indicate which wipe button is active. 2. Press the FADE switch. The picture will be wiped away in the horizontal or vertical direction, depending on which wipe button you pressed. 3. Press the FADE switch again. The same source will be wiped in with the same wipe pattern. To perform wipes in the diagonal pattern, set the DIAG H/V to the DIAG position. You can activate one, two, three, or all four wipe buttons of the same time. Try several combinations. Wiping Out and Wiping in Alternate Sources Press the FADE A/B switch. The picture will be wiped away, and the picture from the alternate source will be wiped in. Changing the shape of the Patterns and Switching to an Alternate Source Between Wipes You can alter the shape of the wipe pattern and change the input source between the wipe out and wipe in, during the "black" interval. Between the fades the screen is empty. This is called in television jargon, "going to black." When the screen is black: 1. Press the PAUSE button on your VCR. 2. Press SOURCE to switch inputs. 3. Reset the wipe buttons to create a new pattern. 4. Release the PAUSE on your VCR. 5. Press the FADE switch to wipe in the alternate source in the new wipe pattern. MANUAL OPERATION MODE In this mode, you can control a fade or wipe manually with the MANUAL FADE control. Also, you can stop the fade or wipe at any time, or reverse the direction of the fade or wipe. To Perform a Fade Using Manual Control... 1. Press the MANUAL switch. The MANUAL LED will light. 2. Press the FADE switch and rotate the MANUAL FADE control counterclockwise. The picture will disappear as you turn the control. 3. To restore the picture of the same source, rotate the MANUAL FADE control clockwise. 4. To fade out source A and fade in source B, press the FADE A/B switch. Now rotate the MANUAL FADE control. The source A picture will gradually disappear. Watch the A/B indicators above the switch. The A indicator goes out and the B indicator goes on when the source is switched. Then you can rotate MANUAL FADE clockwise to fade in the source B picture. To Perform a Wipe Using Manual Control... Press the wipe buttons, and set the DIAG H/V switch in the desired position. When you rotate the MANUAL FADE control the picture will wipe in and out with the set wipe pattern. Using the SOURCE Switch for a Quick Cut An instantaneous move from one source to another is called a "quick cut." To accomplish this, press the SOURCE switch. This operates the same way in either the manual or automatic mode. Note: The DURATION control has no effect in the manual mode. Example for a Diamond Wipe in the Manual Mode To wipe in and wipe out with the diamond pattern, follow these steps in sequence. 1. Initiate the manual operating mode. 2. Set the DIAG-H/V switch in the diagonal position. 3. Press all four of the wipe buttons. 4. Press FADE A/B to switch sources during wipe. 5. Execute the wipe out by turning the MANUAL FADE control counterclockwise. 6. Wipe the source back in by turning the MANUAL FADE control clockwise. Recording and Editing 1. Make connections as previously instructed. 2. Turn on all equipment in your video system. 3. Start playback on the source VCRs and make a test recording. 4. Playback the test recording to be sure all equipment is connected and working properly. 5. Rewind all VCR tapes to the beginning. 6. Set the unit to manual operation mode by pressing the MANUAL switch (MANUAL LED lights). Turn the MANUAL FADE control to OUT (fully clockwise). 7. Select your video source with the SOURCE switch. 8. Activate the record mode on the recording VCR, then start playback on the video source to be first wiped in. 9. If you only want to fade in and fade out the picture, turn the MANUAL FADE control clockwise to fade in the picture and sound, counterclockwise to fade it out. 10. If you want to wipe in a specific pattern, set the Wipe buttons and the DIAGonal-Verticle/Horizontal Switches for the pattern desired. 11. Activate the record mode on the recording VCR, then start playback on the source VCR to be first wiped in. 12. Turn the MANUAL FADE control clockwise to wipe in the picture and sound. 13. The process of changing from one source to another to put different sources onto one tape is contained under Basic Operating procedure. A little experimenting will soon show you how to make the most of your special effects. 14. When the recording is complete, for a smooth finish, press the FADE switch while the unit is in the automatic operation mode. Or turn the MANUAL FADE control toward OUT if you are in the manual operation mode. 15. Press the stop button on the recording VCR first, then on the source VCR and rewind the tapes. 16. Play the newly recorded tape. Connecting a Standard TV Set If you're connecting a standard TV, that does not have separate video and audio inputs, you must connect an RF modulator, Catalog Number 15-1273 to a VCR/TV/FM switch Cat. No. 15-1249. If you do not need to use your antenna as an input of the RF Switch, you may eliminate the RF switch and the VHF/UHF splitter, (Cat. No. 15-1252). In this case, connect the VHF output of the RF Modulator directly to the VHF input of the TV set. To monitor sound and picture from your TV, use the Y adapter, Catalog Number 42-2435 to input both L and R signals from the Special Effects Switcher to the Modulator. The modulator converts the base band signals into an RF signal. By using the Y adapter, you will lose only a very slight amount of stereo separation at the audio outputs connected to the recording VCR. Note: If the source VCR is monaural, then the output is monaural and no Y - adapter is necessary. Procedure 1. Make connections. 2. Turn on the Switcher, the appropriate VCR (A or B) and the TV set. 3. Use the SOURCE switch to accept input from the selected VCR. Note: On some VCRs, the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCRs allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type, you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio/video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF inputs on the VCR. Connecting Video and Audio Processors The connections will vary from system to system and the operation will be more complicated as your system expands. Refer to your system components owner's manuals, and use them in conjunction with this manual. If you are unsure about your connections, draw a diagram of your system and take it to your local Radio Shack store for advice. Note: On some VCRs, the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCRs allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type, you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF inputs on the VCR. Connecting a Video/Audio Control Center When you connect the Archer Video/Audio Control Center, it allows you to switch sources electronically. You can change from one component to another without physically changing the wiring. Separate amplifiers for the main TV, VCR and remote TV inputs maintain isolation and prevent signal loss. Please notice that the Video/Audio Control Center has a processor loop hookup. So the recording VCR is connected directly to the Control Center. You can direct signals from VCRs, a satellite receiver, or an audio unit containing a microphone input. It is also helpful aside from the editing process in that it enables you to view one source while recording a different source. Note: On some VCRs the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCRs allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR Audio/Video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF/inputs on the VCR. Connecting a Separate Sound Track and Combining it with Video In video production jargon, this is called 'Voice over' or 'music over' meaning the laying down of a video track first, then adding a sound track of narration or music. In a production studio, if you hear a director ask for 'music out,' this is in a situation where the music has been used as an introduction and to set the mood. Then, it is faded out. The next thing the director would do is cue the actor to begin the narration or group of actors to begin dialogue. You can accomplish the same results, by routing music from your compact disc player, or another audio unit to the Special Effects Switcher and by routing the narration or dialogue to it from an audio unit to which a microphone is connected. You can use the music introduction to get attention and set the mood, fade music 'out' and bring the narration or dialogue into the recording. Arrange for the connections to combine separate video and audio tracks onto the recording VCR tape. The video is not routed through the Special Effects Switcher. You can also cut back and forth from Source A sound to Source B sound for music transitions between scenes. With this connection, use a jumper cable, such as our 2-ft. VCR video/audio cable (15-1538) between the Control Center's Processor video In and Out jacks. This allows the video portion of the selected source to pass through the Control Center. The most successful way to use this production technique is first to edit all your visuals onto one cassette. Then remove the cassette from the recording VCR and place it in the source VCR for the final edit. Recording from the source VCR of the same time you add the sound makes it easier to achieve a more polished production on the final recording. Note: On some VCRs the VHF/UHF Inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCRs allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the format type, you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio/video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF inputs on the VCR. Connecting a Mixer for Music under a Narration or Vocal Use the connections if you want to fade music under and continue the music under a spoken narration or under a singing voice. This is the technique most commonly used for documentaries. Notice in this instance, the video is routed as usual through the Special Effects Switcher from the source VCR to the recording VCR. However, for the music 'under' technique the mixer is routed directly to the recording VCR. Note: On some VCRs, the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCR's allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF inputs on the VCR. Connecting a Video Camera You may use a video camera in the place of a source VCR. You can use the fade/wipe in and out techniques as the original camera recording is being made. A camera AC power supply that provides power for the camera and that has the necessary RCA-type audio and video outputs will also be needed. Connect the remote pause plug from the video camera power supply to the remote jack on the VCR. Consult your video camera owner's manual recording instructions. The Special Effects Switcher can be especially valuable for editing during production. Note: On some VCRs, the VHF/UHF inputs are automatically disabled when connections are made to the audio/video input jacks. Other VCRs allow manual selection of the input source. If your VCR is of the former type, you will have to unplug the connections to the VCR audio/video input jacks when you want to record antenna broadcasts or cable TV signals connected to the VHF/UHF inputs on the VCR. Important If you are using an A/B switch with this unit in a video system that also has an antenna. It is imperative that you use the suggested Hi-Isolation A/B Switch (Radio Shack Cat. No. 15-1249. Use of other A/B switches might result in broadcast of the signals from the TV/VHF terminal on the Video Processor through the TV antenna. This would be a violation of specific FCC regulations. (br/all-8/10/94)