Getting Started
This chapter will help you gain a basic understanding of some of the most essential elements of your Click Effects PRIME system, and as necessary, this User Guide will provide information specific to the HD-SDI Workflow or the GPU Workflow. After reading this chapter, you should understand basic elements such as Media Buttons and system Users.
Also covered in this chapter is important Windows operating system knowledge of which every end-user and system administrator should be aware. Disregarding this information could result in unexpected behavior from Click Effects PRIME.
Note:
Throughout this User Guide, sections are highlighted to signify that the following information is specific to the Type of Click Effects PRIME Workflow installed. (including Username Shortcut)
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- HD-SDI Workflow is blue
- GPU Workflow is green
- Event Workflow is orange
Press the Power button located on the left handle next to the front cover. When turned on, the power button glows green, and a red light shows disk activity.
Log in to Windows.
- Each Click Effects PRIME system has been configured with a single Windows user that does not require a password at login time.
- Click the username in the middle of the screen to start Windows.
A Click Effects PRIME shortcut icon is present on the Windows desktop. Double-clicking this icon initializes the video hardware and then opens the application. The application can also be launched from the Start > Programs menu in Windows. Once launched, Click Effects PRIME is ready to import content and play media!
Click Effects PRIME systems are preconfigured at Chyron and do not require additional system settings changes. Upon assembly and installation, Chyron technicians ensure that all system settings are set for optimal performance.
IMPORTANT:
Changes made to the Click Effects PRIME software settings or the Windows operating system settings can easily result in unexpected behavior or system malfunction. Users should never change settings without the consent of Chyron Technical Support. If you have any questions concerning Windows operating system settings or Click Effects PRIME System settings, then please feel free to contact Chyron Technical Support. Failure to consult a support technician may void your Warranty.
WARNING:
The computer name of your Click Effects PRIME system is not randomly set. It is an integral part of your system’s operation. NEVER change the computer name of your Click Effects PRIME system. This will result in a software malfunction.
The environment within which Click Effects PRIME software operates cannot be interfered with by other processes or software packages running on the server. Many software packages interfere with CPU processing power and computer bus speed. These are essential hardware elements that Click Effects PRIME relies on for proper media playback. Any unauthorized changes or installation of third-party software can result in major system malfunction. As stated in your Warranty, unauthorized changes to your Click Effects PRIME system or hardware result in voiding your Warranty. Do not modify your Click Effects PRIME system. Always consult a Chyron Technician.
Click Effects PRIME provides a set of Keyboard Shortcuts (fix link) to perform common tasks. In addition, Click Effect PRIME’s Hot Keys and Command Keys provide a powerful feature with which you can tie Media Buttons to keystrokes on the keyboard.
Throughout this User Guide you will encounter a few recurring basic terms and definitions. Here is a quick overview of these terms that will help you understand descriptions and explanations.
Board | In a GPU Workflow, represents an area on the physical GPU output of the system. In general, the pixels inside this GPU output area are processed and displayed on LED video boards. |
|---|---|
Preview | In the Preview state, media has been loaded and is visible in the Preview window. |
Program | In the Program state, media is sent to the output of the HD-SDI Workflow. |
Take | ‘Taking’ media is the act of moving media from Preview to Program. |
The main entry point into the Click Effects PRIME Workflow is the User Select Screen. Click Effects PRIME allows you to create a number of Users based on the tier and the system that you have purchased. A User is linked to a unique media collection and collection of settings. For each User created, a new Media Collection is generated. This allows you to set up the Workflow for multiple events and keep event specific media separated.
Media Buttons represent the very core of the Click Effects PRIME Workflow media playback functionality. A typical Media Button displays information, including Media Type, Duration, current state, etc. A thumbnail provides a visual indication as to the content that is linked to a Media Button. You can create over 5,000 Media Buttons per user.
It is important to know that a Media Button represents a link to content residing on your Click Effects PRIME system’s hard drive. Should you choose to make multiple copies of a Media Button, the Workflow does not copy the physical file on the system’s hard drive; it merely creates another link to this file. This helps to retain enough hard drive space available for future content to be loaded onto the system.
A media button consists of the following elements:
1 | Duration |
|---|---|
2 | Board Name *GPU Only |
3 | Media Type Indicator |
4 | Thumbnail |
5 | Title |
6 | Loop Indicator |
The background color of a media button indicates the state of the media button:
Yellow: Preview
Green: Program
Red: Marked
Teal: Selected
Black: Idle
Click Effects PRIME can be in one of two modes:
- Player Mode is the default mode, and allows you to play media items.
- Organizer Mode allows you to perform organizational actions such as moving and deleting Media buttons.
Depending on the current mode of your Workflow, a single click on a Media Button triggers a specific action:
- If the Workflow is in Player Mode, a single click on a Media button either Previews the media associated with this button, or takes the media already in Preview to Program.
- If the Workflow is in Organizer mode, a single click on a media button selects the media button for organizational purposes. The button displays a teal highlight color.
In either Player Mode or Organizer Mode, media button options are displayed in the its-context (right-click) menu To display:
- Right-click the Media Button.
Depending on Media Button mode and state, the Media button context menu allows you to switch between Player Mode and Organizer Mode.
A Media Page is the visual area within which Media Buttons are located. Media Page can contain up to 60 Media Buttons.
The Media Page Buttons are located at the left of the Click Effects interface.
At any time, you can right-click a Media Page Button to change the Media Page Name or Media Page Button color.
A single media bank is represented by a tab on the left-hand side of your screen, and each media bank holds a total of fourteen media pages.
At any time, you can right-click a media bank button and change the bank name.
There are ten Media Types available within the Click Effects PRIME system.
- The icon in the upper right corner and the color of the Media Button name identify the type of the button.
- The Duration counter in the upper left corner displays the length of a video clip.
A Looping
or Single Play
- If the Duration or Looping/Single Play corners are blank, then they do not apply to that Media Type.
Video | Full Motion Video: Any Video moved to Program displaces currently playing Video, Stills or Full Screen Graphics. |
|---|---|
Still | Single Frame of Video (Still): Any Still moved to Program displaces currently playing Video, Stills or Full Screen Graphics. |
Full Screen Graphic | Full Screen Graphic: Created in the Graphics Editor, it behaves much like a Still. Any Full Screen Graphic moved to Program displaces currently playing Video, Stills or Full Screen Graphics. |
Bug | Bug Graphic: Created in the Graphics Editor, a Bug remains in Program until it is physically removed. A TV station logo is a typical example of a Bug. |
Overlay | Overlay Graphic: Created in the Graphics Editor, an Overlay attaches itself to a Video, Still or Full Screen Graphic in Program. The Overlay disappears as soon as the associated Video, Still or Full Screen Graphic is stopped or displaced. |
Playlist | Video/Still Playlist, Graphics Playlist, or Audio Playlist: A Playlist is a sequential list of media items. |
Group | Group: This Media Button can contain a collection of other Media Buttons. When multiple media must be launched at the same time, a Group simplifies this action by simultaneously activating all grouped Media Buttons. |
Remote | Remote: This media button fires events. The events can, for example, display Media Buttons, perform commands, or control exterior hardware. These events can execute on the local machine and/or remote machines that reside on the same network. |
DVE | DVE (Digital Video Effect): A Digital Video Effect can perform a video squeeze or display Picture-in-Picture (PIP) with both video playback and Live Feed. This button is available only in the HD-SDI Workflow and Event Workflow. |
The Media Button context right-click menu makes it very easy to create various Media Types at any point in time.
Any ‘Create…’ item in the Media Button right-click menu creates a new Media Button and launches the appropriate editor. For example, if you select Create Graphic, then the Click Effects PRIME Graphics Editor launches, and you can add graphics objects.
The Record Video and Create DVE selections are available only within the HD-SDI Workflow and Event Workflow.
A Player in the HD-SDI Workflow represents one physical video and audio output of the Click Effects PRIME system. For systems that are configured with multiple video outputs, a Player for each output is available from a tab at the top of the GUI.
The HD-SDI Workflow Player interface extends across the top of the screen and contains many video, graphic and audio controls. These controls are the same for each channel of video.
For more information see HD-SDI Workflow: HD-SDI Workflow Player Interface Explained.
A Board within the GPU Workflow represents an area on the physical GPU output of the system. In general, the pixels inside this GPU output area are processed and displayed on LED video boards.
The main playback control interface runs across the top of the screen and contains one or many Board Control widgets. These widgets have the same look-and-feel for each LED board that is controlled, and should have different colors and names for easy identification of each.
The Event Workflow is a combination of HD-SDI and GPU outputs. Designed for smaller installations, this workflow has the same tabbed view as the HD-SDI workflow, but one of the tabs displays a GPU Workflow set of controls.
