AV-Playback V2 is now available!

OK, here’s the deal… I have just posted a pre-release beta of version 2. You are welcome to download it from our website using the exact same method as before. In the reply email you will see a new link for V2. Since this is a beta the enclosed help file is still for version one. So, if you feel intrepid and still want to explore you need to make sure Tool Tips are enabled. That way you can refer to them as you move along. I believe they will provide you with enough clues to best navigate through all the new features.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be working on an updated help file system and quick start guide, as well as redoing our online website. We also will be producing a series of YouTube video tutorials to get you up to speed faster.

I want to thank you all for being so patient with me, I know I said in the beginning it would only be a couple weeks, when in reality, it ended up taking 12 + hour days, seven days a week for over five months. Man am I fried!!

Well, this should prove to you that V2 is a totally, from the ground up redesign. Many of the compatibility issues some of you were having with version 1 should now disappear. I will admit however, version 2 does require a lot more computer power and I will be posting a revised minimum requirement document to our website soon. Sorry but this is the price for having all the features you need, and many you just wanted. 

Speaking of features, here is a recap of all the changes:

To start with the video engine was totally rebuilt from the ground up. The most significant change is that the engine is now truly multi-layered. This means you will finally have true crossfades, as well as the ability to overlay either still image graphics or live image capture, via either DeckLink or any other recognized capture device. You will also be able to combine other elements in the playlist (video / audio clips, image capture and still image files) together and play them as one.

Each clip’s audio track can now be individually assigned to playout to different audio outputs and controlled with its own level control. 

You can also create spanned pixel spaces across multiple outputs without the need for a data path. In this space you can combine multiple clips and sync play them together.

To support the manipulation of each of these layers there is a robust array of geometry and proc adjustments:

(Geometry) 

1) X & Y position, X & Y scale

2) Independent 4-sided clipping (which scales with the fill size.)

3) 3D projection (X, Y & Z rotation)

4) 2D Rotation (center point is adjustable)

5) X & Y skewing

6) 8-point warping (This is a work in progress and later will have further updates enabling unlimited point selection. Perfect for 3d mapping.)

There are also convenient buttons to snap an element to different locations within the pixel space.

(Proc Adjustments) 

1) Opacity

2) Brightness

3) Contrast

4) Chroma

5) Hue

6) Gamma offset(all) and separate gamma levels for red, green and blue.

Save adjusted clip properties as selectable treatments. Making it easy to paste those treatments to other media elements within the playlist.

Fully interactive previewing control located directly within the playlist window. This now means the preview display in the confidence window will now support full motion playback of any clip currently in standby. You will also be able to use the timeline punch markers to set in and out points even while another clip is being played out to program. On top of that, you can also assign a separate audio output to the preview bus and listen with a backstage monitor or earbuds, without disturbing the program’s audio output.

OSD for both program and preview confidence monitor displays. Showing clip title, elapsed time, countdown time, current transport status and audio VU levels.

Built in test patterns as well as a generated vector alignment grid.

Time Tags: With these markers you can more easily keep track of specific time points within the playing of a clip. When the time display is in tag mode, it will provide countdowns to each one. This way the operator can call out countdowns during playback for any needed stage hand cues.

Easy to use separate set punch in and punch out buttons. Enabling quick setting of those points.

Quick Go-To in and out point buttons.

Improved tracking of scrub movements.

Choice of either displaying thumbnails for each clip all the time or simplify the playlist grid and show thumbnails only when right clicking on the clip’s playlist row.

In addition, there is now a new network sync module call AV-Sync Hub. This unit operates much the same way as SimpleSync does but can go so much further. From it you can now output a liner timecode signal that can be assigned to any available audio output and plugged directly into the lighting desk or any other device that would like to sync to a currently playing clip. The signal is purely generated in the app and does not require a video clip to have a separate embedded timecode track. The hub also can serve as the access point for our MCS5 control surface making it easy to control multiple workstations with just one controller and without having to move the USB connector from machine to machine. In the future AV-Playback will be able to sync to external clocks as well.

There is also a sperate timecode display app called “AV-Timecode Display”. This app requires no license and can easily be copied onto other network connected computers. When running they pickup on UDP packets being broadcasted from any enabled AV-Playback units. The user can select to display either the elapsed or countdown time of any currently playing clip. You can have as many as you need on a single network. Just think now everyone can now have their own clock and not require constant countdowns from the operator. 

Support for X-Key type Playback-Pro remote controls. 

Please try to remember that this is a beta and I do expect that some of you will find something that will break it. Just please, when it does, be sure to write me with a brief description of what happened and what you were doing when it did.

Go to https://ifelseware.com to download/purchase or just to learn more about our other offerings.

I should also let you know that the retail price will be going up soon but as with all current owners, any new license sold before the price increase will be automatically grand fathered in at no additional charge.