Component version of Stream Alpha Titler Card with video server capabilities.

Stream Alpha cards and the Alpha Pro 2.0 software can be use in a wide range of applications:
- TV programs titling during editing and live broadcasting;
- TV program logotypes production;
- automated screening of current time, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and other similar information (additional equipment required);
- audience telephone polls during live broadcasts (additional equipment required);
- informational and graphical design of sports broadcasts;
- generation of various digital and analog clocks and timers;
- pre-scheduled broadcasting of informational and advertisement blocks;
- animation and video clips playback (in 4:4:4, 4:2:2, DV type 2, and AVI formats);
- subtitling.

Stream Alpha Component title creating card is designed for working with component YUV signal. New 10 bit digital-to-analog converter with 4x oversampling is used for graphics generation. The card works on 32 bit PCI bus and has 64 bit bus memory.

The card has completely digital path of graphics generation, it can work both in analog and digital mixing mode. In the digital mode input signal is digitized, mixed with graphics and transferred to the output. Signal delay is about 25 Oms. In the digital mixing mode input signal can be bot Component YUV or RGB, or Composite, and S-Video. In the latter case the signal is decoded using the state-of-the-art Philips decoder. This decoder uses split adaptive filter (<>) for separating brightness and color signals.

In the analog mixing mode the card superimposes graphics on the passing signal in Component YUV or RGB formats using alpha channel with palette. Due to alpha channel individual transparency can be assigned to every image point. Palette makes it possible to change this transparency in the course of work, for example for applying Fade in/out effects without alpha channel copying.

The card has a stand-alone synchro generator that switches on automatically in absence of a synchronizing signal. On computer switch off or if BYPASS mode is on for all devices input and output are locked through relay, the 75 Om load being switched off. There is a separate syncro input and Composite (PAL) output. Computer graphics superposition over TV-image can be effected either within the card or with the help of an external mixer using key signal generated by the card. Alpha channel (Key) output is provided for that purpose.

Alpha Pro 2.0, operating in Windows 98/2000 media enables creating scenarios (title sequences to be output with various effects) and play them back through the device for computer graphics superposition over TV/video signal. From the user's point of view it resembles a multi-window text processor, in which several scenarios can be edited and kept ready for output simultaneously. Besides, the same scenario can be opened in several separate windows, which simplifies text changing procedure in its various parts.

A scenario is paged, number of pages being unlimited. An individual video effect is related to every page determining its appearance, motion and fading out from video screen. The following effect types are supported: vertical text moving from bottom to top, Drum, Roll, infinite page moving horizontally from right to left (Creeping Line), Crawl, static page Cross Fade with a pause for display, Wipe, including user-defined, with adjustable transition softness, animation playback over static pages, effects with operating areas restricted to a certain part of the screen, animation symbols in Roll or Crawl pages. User-defined parameters for video effects are application area, speed and delay duration.

Alpha Pro 2.0 extended version provides for object management be external applications, including user developed programs. That comprises programs written in Microsoft Office VBA script language, including Word, Excel and Access scenarios, programs in Visual Basic, Web-pages containing scenarios in VBScript, and programs written in Delphi and Visual C++. That enables the user to play back the required pages at the required moment with program modifications in the course of playback (for real-time presentation of any information input to the computer). If computers with video cards are connected into a network, centralized output control from one program is possible.

Broadcasting arrangement design is set up in the form of templates that may be prepared beforehand and/or edited on air. Real-time data are merged into the template immediately at the playback moment. A function is provided for automatic screen update synchronously with input data updates. A system of any capacity may be constructed out of standard equipment (IBM PC, video cards) and can be reconfigured if necessary. The user edits templates as desired and if necessary can write his own Visual Basic, VBScript or VBA programs for his specific tasks.

Using VBscript language in-built in the Internet Explorer it is possible to concentrate program control within one or several HTML pages comprising text boxes and operation buttons. For example, the textbox Surname and two buttons, Show and Hide. Through writing the appropriate scenario and preparing Alpha Pro page templates it is possible to set exactly the design style (background, font for surname display) and effects for its appearance and fading out. That way we get the control panel without distracting foreign control elements.

Live broadcast

Having prepared page templates based on broadcast design style and written the management scenario in Visual Basic, it is possible to broadcast appropriate pages at the right moment making software changes directly at the moment of broadcasting (for real-time presentation of any input data). It solves the design problems of sport translation, game shows, etc. The same approach enables telephone polling broadcasting by installing required amount of modems into the computer or using a dedicated card for the purpose.

With a high-precision time-code source in SMPTE/EBU format it is possible to program schedule of page broadcasting time specifying calendar functions and precision up to one frame, which enables automated airing simple commercial inserts (creeping line, logo, animation logo). User interface (HTML page) can be tailored by yourself so as to exclude all incidents in the course of broadcasting, keeping strictly necessary functions only (title text choice from the list, broadcast title, hide title).

TELE system is video server software intended for automatic playback of logos, titles, animations and video clips on the schedule. It is recommended for automation of a TV company broadcasting, and for integration of regional commercials and broadcasts into the network television broadcasting timetable. This program is a logical sequel of the wide-known Alpha Pro 2.0 TV titling program. It enables converting your title generation station into a real video server keeping its title creating capabilities intact.

Video file formats support:

- DV type 2 720x576), 4:2:0, compression 1:5, audio 48 KHz stereo (supported by Pinnacle Dv500, Matrox Rt2500 video cards)

- MJPEG* (720x576), 4:2:2, compression 1:3, audio 48 KHz stereo, miroVideo DC30/DC50, and also Matrox DigiSuite card format

- 4:2:2 format without compression, created on the basis of AVI format with Conv422 converter included in TELE package or a video capture program (if grabber is included in the system). It ensures the highest quality of D1 for video (720 x 576 x 4:2:2) and 48 KHz stereo format for the sound. Besides, 422 format does not have 4 Gb AVI file size restriction. Estimated storage capacity is 60 minutes for disk set 2x80 Gb.

- Animation 444-type files have no sound, they are formed through TGA 32-bit file train conversion. Can be used for creation of animation logos and presentations. There is a flow rate restriction of updating not more than screen area per frame. Resolution 720x576x32 bits.

Systems P4 2,2 gHz and higher enable playback of any format AVI files provided codec of this format installed in the system (Indeo, DIV-X, MPEG4, etc.)

The program makes it possible to combine source video files into video blocks with the help of the simplest editing tools (clip trimming, line editing) and also correct some video clip visual parameters (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.). Moreover, the files in the block can be played back not in full, but in fragments, i.e. a block can comprise different video clip fragments following at random. TELE system also produces logo superposition (including dynamic logo) and pointer clock over video files played back.

Another block variety is SC/Audio blocks. Video and audio track content is filled separately and independently. SC/Audio video track is a train of files containing Alpha Pro 2.0 titles of SC type. Their total duration determines SC/Audio block duration.
So, if you use offline systems based on miro DC30+/DC50 video cards, or systems based on DV format, and you need a solution for broadcasting files created in these systems;

If you are going to automate commercial inserts broadcasting on schedule and need a convenient solution for advertising blocks and play-lists setup with possibility of editing them in the course of playback, or if you need to insert animation logos moving over the screen;

If it is more convenient to you to transfer clips to the broadcasting computer over the network instead of writing them on your VCR and broadcasting manually through control console;

If it is be easier for you to insert commercials and video clips right into the passing video signal, without mixer -

then this program is for you.

Basic system features

Commercials insertion right into the passing video signal, without mixer, synchronizer or offline editing system. Automatic audio and video signal commutation.

Playback of commercial logos and AVI video files in DV and MJPEG formats.

Uncompressed video file (4:2:2) playback with D1 quality without 4.0 Gb size restriction.

32 bit 4:4:4 type animation files playback for creation of animated logo moving over the screen area as an alternative to the creeping line.

Logo superposition on video files as a separate layer in real time mode.

Pointer clock superposition over video files in the course of playback by TELE system in real time mode, including pointer clock full-screen playback on animated background via a single video card.

Video block broadcasting at preset time on schedule.

Possibility of play-list editing in the course of playback.

Advertising clip transfer over the network without any traditional video information carrier application

Preview function for preliminary playback on control monitor.

Compatibility with popular offline editing systems, using DV and MJPEG format.

Transcoder-synchronizer management (2 channel switch-over without synchronization detriment), which makes it possible to organize inserting commercials into the broadcast route using two video and audio sources, e.g. for alternate switching of central and local channels.