The main runtime user interface in PRIME is used for playout. PRIME can be configured for both a fully functional preview and program. Both the preview and program both have proxies.
Channel Proxy Visibility
Enable and disable visibility of:
- Control Panel
- Proxy Output
- Audio Meters
For each configured Channel (Preview & Program)
- Playing the preview to air, regardless of its state, will default it back to its default state to ensure proper operation.
- During Scene Design, each scene is assigned an output channel which may be any negative or positive value. The channel number determines the compositing output order. Each channel may only have a single scene assigned to it. If a scene on output is occupying Channel 1 and a preview scene assigned to Channel 1 is played to air, it will “Effect out” the current scene on Channel 1. Additionally, multiple scenes from preview may be moved to output in a single take.
In the image below, there are 3 scenes loaded into preview. Each scene is in a different layer: Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3.
Users may choose to take all three scenes to air as a composite or select scenes individually.
For example, here all three scenes have been taken to air while another scene is loaded into layer 1.
If the scene that is now loaded into layer 1 is sent from preview to air, it will bump off the existing scene on output that was assigned layer 1.
Preview Load Behavior options allows for Multiple Scenes, Single Scene Per Layer, or Single Scene only.
Output Layer assignments are properties of the scene.
Preview Scenes
Output channels can have “Previews”. Multiple scenes can be loaded into a preview channel.
Multiple scenes can be played to air simultaneously. Scenes can be fully previewed in the preview channel. No matter what the state is of the scene in the preview channel the scene will revert to the “Default” state when played to air. In the example below two scenes are loaded into preview. One scene is in layer 5 and the other scene is in layer 1.
Play and Play All
These two scenes can be played to air individually or as a group.
Clear and Clear All
They can be cleared individually or all.
Preview / Program Display Options
For each configured Preview and Program channel you can choose to hide or show a proxy output, control panel and audio meters. Use the drop down arrow in the proxy windows upper right hand corner to check or uncheck desired selection
Control Panel Visible
Control Panel / Replaceable Panel Toggle
To toggle between a control panel (this requires a control panel resource has been added the loaded scene, and applicable control panel objects), and replaceables panel (required replaceable objects added to the parent scene) then click on the control panel / Replaceable toggle icon in the bottom right of the control panel region.
Control panels allow for more complex and custom designs.
A replaceable panel is more limited and restrictive than a control panel. Replaceable panel support:
- Order: Enable / Disable II (Intelligent Interface for W commands)
- EX: Enable / Disable External Updates
- Databound: Enable / Disable
- ID: Read only. Updates to this alphanumeric value must be made to the scene in Prime designers replaceables.
- Description: Read only. Updates to this alphanumeric value must be made to the scene in Prime designers replaceables.
- Value: This is an editable field. For a value update to take effect, click enter.
ID, Description and Value columns can be rearranged, by dragging on the column header.
The selection of either control panel or replaceable panel will hold true for each individual preview/program channel.
Previewing animations and save options
The dropdown in the lower right-hand corner allows for the following
- Preview Active Only: When enabled, only the selected scene will show in the Preview. Otherwise, the preview will be a composite of all loaded scenes.
- Preview Animations: With this option enabled you can preview any animations that will occur within the scene. With this option disabled all animations will cut to the final keyframe and show the last state.
- Save Message: This option will save the scene as a “Template Data Message” and show up in the “Messages” browser. Refer to the section on Messages.
- Save Message As: Same as “Save Message” but prompts the user for a message name
- Save Message Range As: This option is primarily intended to be used with II and EX commands workflow. An individual message range can be saved to span over multiple message numbers. For example 100–199. If an II command is received for any message between 0–99 then a message will load with the settings applied from the message range. This elevates saving out 99 separate messages. Message Range will save in Messages folder 100–199.pbm
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- If a II/EX is received, and an individual message exists between a message range, then the individual message will load, not the message range message.
- Save Output Image: Saves the proxy image to file. The file location is in a sub folder of the projects “Image” folder named “Captures”. Ex: I:\PRIME\Projects\News\Images\Captures.
- Save Output Image As: Save As dialog prompts the user to save the image file type, location, and region of interest. Currently supported formats are .tif, .jpg and .png
- Region of interest must be predefined within the scene properties in Prime Scene Designer prior to saving out the image in Designer or Playout.
- Save Output Clip: Saves the proxy scene as a clip file. The file location is in a sub folder of the project's “Clips” folder named “Captures”. Ex: I:\PRIME\Projects\News\Captures. Save output clip, will adhere to the last clip resolution set with Save Output clip as.
- Save Output Clip As: Save As dialog prompts the user to save the clip file name, output type, location and region of interest (cropped clip render). Currently supported formats are Quicktime Animation GTC, Motion JPEG, DNxHD, DNxHR, Web M.
- Region of interest must be predefined within the scene properties in Prime Scene Designer prior to saving out the image in Designer or Playout.
- Rendered clips using “Save Output Clip” will only honor the Effect In. If an action within the scene is triggered within the Effect In, this will be honored in the render. The Effect Out will not be rendered, unless it is triggered by the Effect In.
Scenes vs. Messages
- Scenes: Scenes are saved to the file system as .pbx files and comprise of all the elements of a scene. Scenes are defined as “Templates” or “Base Messages”.
- Messages: Messages are a subset of scenes and are much smaller in size that contain a reference to the parent Scene file. Messages use the .pbm file extension. Messages are defined as “Template Data Messages”, “Automation files. See the separate section “Messages” for detailed information on creating and editing scene Messages.
Scenes and messages can have their own independent browsers.
In the Messages browser, if you hover over the thumbnail you will get various metadata including the parent scene name.