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Operation
How to perform transitions, using keys and key modifiers, memories and custom controls, as well as Media-Store operation.
Keying
Keying is the term used to describe when you insert (or electronically cut) portions of one scene into another, or place titles over background images. Keys are made up of two basic components, an alpha, that cuts the hole in the background video, and a fill, that fills the hole with different video.
UltraChrome 2 Chroma Key

Operation
How to perform transitions, using keys and key modifiers, memories and custom controls, as well as Media-Store operation.
- Audio and Video Processing
  Video and audio signals are processed and passed through the switcher in different ways, depending on how the switcher is being used or is set up. A better understanding of how the switcher is processing these signals help you to achieve the production you want.
- Video Sources
  The switcher has access to three basic types of video sources, external, internal, and follows.
- Video Layering
  How video is layered in the output of the switcher depends on how an ME is re-entered onto the other, and what keyers are on-air for the ME.
- Video Preview
  Video preview allows you to use an additional monitor to preview what the next shot is going to be.
- Matte Source
  Matte color backgrounds (BG) are color signals that can be applied to backgrounds and keys. Color selection is done either by picking a preset color, or by adjusted hue, saturation, and luminance to create a custom color.
- Copying
  You can copy the content of an ME or keyer to another ME or keyer.
- Transitions
  Transitions are used to change the background video and take keys on and off-air. A transition can include any combinations of background and keyers for an ME, MiniME™, or Canvas. The background and each keyer can be transitioned independently.
- Keying
  Keying is the term used to describe when you insert (or electronically cut) portions of one scene into another, or place titles over background images. Keys are made up of two basic components, an alpha, that cuts the hole in the background video, and a fill, that fills the hole with different video.
  - Self Keys
  - Auto Select Keys
  - UltraChrome 2 Chroma Key
    - To Set Up a Chroma Key
      Set up the chroma key with the source you want to use and adjust the parameters. Ensure that the chroma key output has been selected on a keyer so that you can view the output as you adjust the parameters.
    - To Mask a Chroma Key
      The UltraChrome 2 has an independent mask engine that is separate from the mask used by the auto select key. This mask allows you to use a box mask or an external mask video signal as the mask source. The mask source must be assigned to the chroma key source in configuration.
    - UltraChrome Best Practices
      High-quality chroma keying with a natural look is fully-achievable with the UltraChrome 2 keying system. However, as with any chroma key system, careful attention should be paid to the chroma key environment.
    - Chroma Key Tips and Tricks
      Some useful tips for how to get your production ready for a flawless chroma key, and some tricks for how to deal with difficult shadows.
  - DVE Keys
  - Show Alpha
  - Masks
  - Split Keys
- Memory Functions
  A memory register is a snapshot of the current state of the switcher that can include one or multiple ME, MiniME™, Canvas, scenes, or chroma key outputs. Up to 100 memory registers per ME, MiniME™, Canvas, scene, or chroma key can be stored and recalled on the switcher. Each of these memory registers can store as little as the information of one ME, or as much as the current state of the entire switcher, including all ME, MiniME™, Canvas, scenes, chroma key outputs, Aux Buses, and DVE settings.
- Audio Mixer
  The audio mixer node in DashBoard provides a graphical interface to all the audio sources and mixer layers. An audio channel must be routed to the switcher to be controllable by the audio mixer interface. Audio sources can come from the embedded audio on an input BNC, through the 1RU Audio Breakout Unit, or from the Media-Store.
- Switcher Sets
  The switcher stores configuration and operation data in a number of registers that contain the individual entries for items such as memories or personality settings. These registers can be stored as a single archive file, or as a register set that contains all the individual register of that type; all memories for example. These files are stored into Sets on USB drive. Different Sets can be created for different shows or applications, allowing you to quickly locate and recall the switcher configurations.
- Media-Store
  The MediaManager interface to the Media-Store allows you to load stills, animations, or audio files from the USB drive and make them available across all MEs. Up to 4 (2 in UHDTV1) independent channels of video with alpha for playout of stills and animations are available switcher-wide.
- Clip Player
  The clip player offers a single playout channel for clips in the ITU-T H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) codec in specific HD formats that can be assigned as a source on any bus in the switcher. Basic transport controls can be performed manually from the Clip Player page, using custom controls, or through AMP commands.
- Custom Controls
  Once programmed, a custom control (CC) can be played back by pressing a button. The custom control can be as simple as triggering an output GPI pulse, or as complex as recalling a specific memory register on an ME, performing a switcher transition, and selecting a group of keys.
- Sequencer
  The Sequencer allows you to create a playlist of custom control events.
- UltraScene
  UltraScene provides a simplified interface for creating a show with multiple key layers and basic transitions.

UltraChrome 2 Chroma Key

An UltraChrome Chroma Key is a key in which the hole is cut based on a color value, or hue, rather than a luminance value or alpha signal. The color is removed and replaced with background video from another source. The default color is blue.

UltraChrome 2 can work in two modes, depending on the lighting conditions and subject matter used for the chroma key.

Wedge Key — Based on the standard chroma keyer and discriminates between the color vector angle and level of the background color vs the color vectors and levels in the foreground components. This produces very good results under ideal conditions. However, if the scene includes high detail luma content in edge regions, these may not be included in the output.
Detail Key — Differs from the standard chroma keyer in that it adds luminance dependency to a three-dimensional spherical color discriminator. This chroma keyer can develop subtle video and alpha shapes and discriminate high detail luma content in edge transition areas. However, this design may have problems with content where background and foreground levels are similar within the video itself.

Tip: UltraChrome 2 also offers the option to combine these two modes to offer good capture of high luma detail in the edge regions as well as compensation for similar foreground and background levels.

UltraChrome 2 includes unique Automatic Background Analysis that can develop key edges with luma values consistent with those of the new background - eliminating the light or dark key halos. In addition, background color values are averaged and can be applied to spill areas to add lighting realism to the final composition.

The UltraChrome 2 chroma keyer uses an independent chroma key engine to produce the video and alpha components of the key. These internal video streams can be composited in an ME or MiniME™ keyer, or fed out two separate video streams to an external device, such as a video server.