Animation to automation
Dec 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Adam Martinez
Employing a master/slave template process greatly improves automation within the NRCS while minimizing repetitive tasks.
It is important to understand the entire graphics system workflow and process from creation to playout in order to maximize the system processes. This article looks at the typical newsroom processes and compares them to new streamlined, workflow optimized-specific, 24-hour news scenarios with multiple graphics palette structures.
Templates vs. pages
The graphics creation process, from a producer standpoint, starts by accessing a predefined template available within the XNews application in ENPS. A producer chooses a variety of options and fills out specific information pertaining to the defined template structure. These templates are saved into pages that contain the MOS information and are placed into the typical ENPS rundown. Within any specific rundown, you may have numerous pages in various orders. (See Figure 1)
Control room playout
Media General station WFLA-TV in Tampa, FL, uses Miranda XmediaSuite for playback with Grass Valley Ignite automation.
The playout process in the control room is to cue and arrange the take templates in the order that the producer stacks these elements within the ENPS rundown. Depending on the options that the producer selected during the creation process, the output and business logic within the template assembles the graphics and/or animation within the specific CG device.
Although this process is conceivable and practical in most 24-hour newsroom environments, there are two areas that make this workflow process tedious and iterative. First, changing current rundown from generic to breaking news takes valuable time in breaking news situations. These tasks become repetitive finding the rundown and opening each graphic (page) to change specific options. Second, rerecording live events to on-scene for later viewing is the same process where producers have to access each page to make graphic optional changes.
Multiple graphics palettes
Many news stations are becoming more aware of audiences and viewing times and have opted to move in the direction of creating multiple graphics palettes for each day part or specific show. While this provides a fresh new look for each “block,” with this comes challenging new workflow strategies.
Figure 1. An example of a typical ENPS rundown with CG elements
Select figure to enlarge.
There are downsides of keeping the current graphic configurations, scenarios and template broadcast logic. First, without any complex broadcast logic, producers will have to perform the same iterative tasks of opening each page and making the optional changes, resaving the page and repeat. Second, the current configuration does not allow graphic templates to float into new day part graphics palettes or different shows without accessing each page to make optional changes. Third, control room directors currently do not have any power over last-minute changes and must wait to rerecord live/on-scene while producers change rundown page graphic options.
In a typical 24-hour newsroom situation when everything is running smoothly, it is essential that the control room production time is optimized for the specific day part period. During this time, producers are recording elements for both the current times and later day parts. It is essential that this factor be taken into the upmost consideration. Directors will need complete control overrides for every rundown element.
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