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Click
Here for Sport Replay Tips
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Video Q.C. Operators:
If you carry your PC around to different facilities, you’ll
want to upgrade to the latest version of the (FREE) BUFclips
utility.
Why? Because the latest firmware versions in the VQC-3000 and
VTC-4000/RM-4000 controllers use 38.4K BAUD for the RS-232 serial
interface, but many of the controllers you encounter at facilities still
have older firmware that use 9600 BAUD.
As of version 100510, BUFclips now has a BAUD button that switches BAUD
rate instantly, saving you from having to edit files.
SRW-5800 - you may have noticed that, due to picture
breakup, JOG mode is unusable on some SRW-5800s.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not some lack of DT, it’s just a
little firmware bug in the VTR.
BUF has a workaround: VQC-3000 and VTC-4000/RM-4000 firmware
revisions 100121 or later have a menu that, when enabled, sends variable
play commands in lieu of jog commands when in JOG mode. JOG still
works the same, it just substitutes the command sent to the VTR. The
result is that the SRW-5800 works exactly as well as the SRW-5500 when
jogging. The menu to enable is (SETUP, SETUP) OPER PREFS, JOG USE VP
CMD.
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Popular "Sport"
Replay System
Hard Disk Recorder right in the Panel

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Comments from Sport owners:
"Sport
really is just the best replay system out there at any price - and it's
[inexpensive]!"
"Very happy with it - it works perfect!"
"Used
it on our first game and loved it. Haven't gotten very deep into the
playlist stuff yet, but will soon."
"Roll-ins
work seamlessly. The operator looks like a Cheshire Cat when using
it and wants 4 of them."
"Would
like to order a couple more Sport-80's because we love them so much.
Put them on Amex."
"Had
an emergency basketball game this weekend, used Sport, and loved it."
"Just
love Sport. Use it for roll-ins for live TV. Upgrading to SDI,
charge the Amex."
"We
use it for a clip store. It's very fast bringing up a clip. Just
punch in the number and it's right there. All our crowd reaction stuff is
done on it. Best six grand we ever spent."
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Sport-HD
Replay System
Multi Channel Hard Disk HD Replay

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Sport Replay Tips
Playlists - Fast and Easy Highlights
You may or may not already use the playlist feature of your
Sport or Sport-HD replay system.
These simple steps can help you to streamline the way you use this powerful
tool:
1. During recording, when you see action worthy of the highlights package:
Hit MARK, then hold ENTER and hit PLAYLIST - this makes a clip and puts it
into the highlights playlist.
2. Once the action is over, hit CUE or PREROLL to cue for replay. Turn the
knob (jog) to tweak where the clip should ideally begin.
3. Hold ENTER and hit MARK (see NOTES below) - this changes the start of the
clip to your tweaked location (IN point), and inherently also fixes it in
the playlist.
4. Play the replay (on air). If playback doesn't stop at the ideal time, hit
STOP and jog to a better location, then hold OUT and hit MARK - this tweaks
the OUT point.
By following these steps while doing replays, a
"cuts-only" highlights package will be ready to play as soon as
the game is over (just hit PLAYLIST, CUE, PLAY and ride speed as desired).
Capturing for Editing and Streaming
The fastest and easiest way to get video from Sport into
your editing system is simply to capture the playback of a playlist of
selected clips. If you use any slow motion effects in your edited piece, you
can improve the look of your product by taking advantage of Sport’s
capabilities: After you capture the playlist, capture it again while playing
the playlist at half (50%) speed. Name the slow motion clip with the same
name followed by "slow" or "50". When you want to edit a
slow motion segment, rather than slowing the segment down with your editing
software, use the already slowed down version from the slow motion clip. It
will be located at the normal speed clip’s TC times two, so if the full
speed segment starts at 00:01:20:00, the same segment on the slow clip will
be at 00:02:40:00. If you want to slow it down further, use the editor to
slow down the 50% footage (e.g. slow to 50% to get 25% of real time). The
idea is to use all the pictures that the camera provides.
Why bother to do it this way? Because most video capture
systems only record 30 frames per second, so when you slow to half speed for
instance, you get a jerky and amateur looking 15 FPS. BUF Technology Sport
replay systems record all sixty pictures per second that the camera
provides, so at half speed you get a smooth looking 30 FPS. By capturing
Sport’s half speed playback, your slow motion edited segments will have
that same professional look and feel.
NOTES:
For step 1 above, you must first make sure the "setup
playlist" is the same one you will be using for highlights (typically
zero). There are ten playlists, any of which can be selected independently
for "setup" and/or "playback".
To select a playlist for setup:
Hit SETUP, a keypad number 0-9, then PLAYLIST. Anytime you hold ENTER and
hit PLAYLIST, the current cue point (the one on the MENU display) will be
added to that playlist. You can also hold 0-9 and hit PLAYLIST to add the
current cue point to any of the ten playlists. While in playlist setup mode,
follow the icons to change the displayed step, delete a clip, or add a
"still" step. A clip can be added at any step by simply entering
its number. When done, hit HOME to exit the setup mode.
To select a playlist for playback:
Hit a keypad number 0-9 (don’t hold it in), PLAYLIST, then CUE. The
selected playlist is cued for playback. Hit PLAYLIST again to exit the
playlist mode. The next time PLAYLIST, CUE is hit (without hitting a keypad
number first), the last used playlist will be cued for playback.
Step 3 above - Hold ENTER and hit MARK: This works only with
newer firmware versions. Previously, you had to hold IN (UP arrow) and hit
MARK - the new way was added because it is easier to reach.
Refurbishment
If your Sport replay system is more than a couple of years
old, we recommend taking advantage of our "REFURB" program. For a
reasonable charge, your Sport is completely disassembled, cleaned, and
reassembled. New firmware is installed and all factory tests are performed.
Any broken parts are replaced for half their regular price (certain parts
are excluded). A REFURB-SP will make your Sport almost like new - hit PRICE
LIST for pricing.
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Video Q.C. Keystroke Utility Now Works with Window’s Vista
The free PC timecode keystroke entry
utility for BUF Technology QC controllers now works with Microsoft’s
Vista and "7" operating systems. The popular "BUFkeys"
utility program is replaced by the new "BUFclips" software
offering the same keystroke issuing capability in addition to new
features.
The new BUFclips may look somewhat
complicated, but it is really very simple to use. The new clip features
are activated only if you purchase and connect the USB "Dongle"
security key to your PC. These features allow the VQC-3000 or
VTC-4000/RM-4000 to control VDCP protocol servers in addition to Sony
protocol VTRs. It adds support for almost all servers including Grass
Valley/Thomson/Tektronix, Harris/Leitch/ASC, Omneon, Seachange, FFV,
Doremi, and many more. It allows you to manage and load clips and perform
other clip related tasks.
But if you only need the keystroke utility
that you had with BUFkeys, use BUFclips without the Dongle, and the
program runs in "free mode", providing the same keystroke
features as BUFkeys, except it uses a different and more universal
technique to issue keystrokes. It works with all known versions of
Windows, including Vista and "7". As with BUFkeys, you typically
need to run BUFclips "as Administrator" for it to work. To use
VDCP and the other new optional features, you need to update the EPROM in
the panel (as well as purchasing and installing the Dongle). However,
older versions of VQC-3000 and VTC-4000/RM-4000 firmware do work with
BUFclips.
To use BUFclips with older (before 091116)
VQC-3000 or VTC-4000/RM-4000 firmware versions:
1. Download and install the program (skip
the Dongle drivers install step as instructed).
2. Run the program and hit the QUIT button
- this creates the BUFclips.txt file.
3. Edit the BUFclips.txt file with a text
editor, search for BAUDRATE= and change the value from 38.4K to 9600.
BUFclips will work just like BUFkeys and
reacts more quickly in addition to other enhancements. Importantly,
BUFclips will issue keystrokes to all known versions of Windows, including
Vista, adding support for most laptops.
Click here for more
info about BUFclips.
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BUFclips Video Server Clip Management Software
BUFclips supercedes BUFkeys video Q.C. keyboard
utility
Still FREE keystroke features - now works on Vista and 7!
Optional features add:
VDCP Protocol support to existing BUF controllers
~ Displays all clips available on server
~ Loads clips for playback
~ Drag and drop clips into play lists
~ Jog and shuttle control with companion VQC-3000 panel
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Don't Replace - Refurbish!
You have made the right choice purchasing BUF
Technology controllers/replay systems. Because they last
forever! If you are in the club of experienced BUF users, you
know how long they hold up and how much punishment they can
take. But everything ages eventually and we would love for you
to purchase our newest model. However, sometimes if it works for
you, why spend money needlessly? Instead take advantage of our
"Refurb" program: For a nominal charge, you can make
your BUF controller almost like new again. We disassemble it,
clean it, update it, reassemble it, and run it through our factory
tests.
Don't leave money sitting on the table, refurbish!
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A BUF Sport Story:
(The Demo)
Love it. Like the ability to
record a 3 hour meeting. It's really an impressive unit. Used it for
football yesterday and had a play where there was a turnover, but they
couldn't tell how it happened, how their guy got the ball. They looked
at the recording on Sport this morning and were able to see exactly how
it happened with ease. Phased it into the switcher in a couple of
minutes and love the interface. One of our guys who deals with purchases
saw it and he says he'll recommend it to the board.
(Later after the purchase)
The Sport Replay is a favorite of
our announcers because of the quick turnaround of the video. They
frequently ask to see replays or even still shots of plays. We used a
still shot the other night when the team got called for lining up
offsides. The still picture clearly showed the player way ahead of the
line of scrimmage.
When we are not using the Sport Replay in the van for sporting events,
it is connected to our control room for B-roll video. Because our crews
are 100% volunteer, we do not always have a full crew. The Sport Replay
is so easy to use, the director usually cues and plays the B-roll video
him/herself.
It was great meeting everyone from Buftek at the show in Marlboro, MA.
Keep up the great work!
Regards,
Dennis
Dennis Bergeron
Program Manager
Holliston Cable Access, Inc., Holliston, MA
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"Spot"
Video Server Controller
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Powerful yet simple control
of video servers
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One touch playlists and
loops
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Store, recall, and
configure panel setups on PC
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Controls 8 server channels
and 2 VTRs
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Frame accurate ingest from
tape
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Multi channel recording and
playback
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BUFMC
Routing Switcher Control System

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Affordable control of
routing switchers using PC computers
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Fast and easy - touch
screen or mouse
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Easy to set up using
engineering GUI
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Controls many routers from
many PCs
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Control via existing
network
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IR device control option
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Routing and IR command
scheduling
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VQC-3000
"BUFclips" Software Upgrade for Video Server Control
The capabilities of the VQC-3000
video Q.C. controller have been expanded to enhance video server
support. Full technical and visual Q.C. (quality control) is performed
routinely on high end programming, particularly long form programs such
as major motion pictures prior to delivery to broadcasters or before
encoding for DVD. Defects such as film scratches, specks, hairs, digital
hits, noise, and compression artifacts often can be detected only by
human visual observation. A high performance controller is usually
employed to speed the process, saving time and money. The Q.C. operator
watches the programming in real time and has complete and instant
control over picture motion allowing questionable segments or frames to
be identified frame accurately and documented in a Q.C. report for later
repair. Programming generally is transmitted by videotape, sometimes
using superior formats like Sony's HDCAM-SR. However, more and more
programming is being recorded, post produced, and delivered entirely as
file based objects, never leaving the domain of video servers.
To support video Q.C. operations
using file based systems with minimal adjustment to current procedures,
we have introduced "BUFclips", a software program that runs on
a PC connected to any new or existing VQC-3000 video Q.C. controller.
The system controls video servers using VDCP (video disk communications
protocol - formerly "Louth Protocol"), a "9-pin"
RS-422 protocol common to almost all video servers. VDCP is to video
servers as the "Sony 9-pin" VTR control protocol is to
videotape recorders. BUFclips displays clip names reported by the server
and features one click clip loading and jog/shuttle control essentially
identical to that of VTRs (depending on the video server's capabilities
and file format limitations, e. g. "long-GOP" compression
formats like some forms of MPEG tend to play with rough motion in
reverse). Long clip names are supported. Other features such as drag and
drop playlists are also included.
In addition to its video server
related features, BUFclips also facilitates automatic timecode entry.
When problem frames are identified by the operator, the timecode number
must be entered into the Q.C. report. Manual entry of timecode numbers
takes time and is prone to errors, so we developed a system for entering
the numbers automatically via a serial connection between the controller
and PC. Because this feature could only be used with custom Q.C. report
software, we developed BUFkeys, a software utility that allows the
numbers to be entered into any program as though typed on the keyboard.
A simple F-key keystroke either on the PC or the controller
"types" formatted timecode wherever the "caret"
(keyboard cursor) is located. Any program that would normally receive
keystrokes typed on the keyboard, receives the timecode, and formatting
is easily customized including pre and/or post characters, drop frame
indication, etc. This allows exact timecode numbers to be entered
quickly and accurately into any program running on the PC including
popular spreadsheet, database, and word processing programs. BUFclips
includes all the features of BUFkeys and runs on all versions of Windows
(98SE or later). Also new for BUFclips is that it works on the Vista
operating system (Windows and Vista are trademarks of MicroSoft
corporation). Since Q.C. rooms commonly already have a PC running
BUFkeys, it is simply a matter of replacing BUFkeys with BUFclips and
updating the firmware in the VQC-3000 to upgrade an existing Q.C. room
to file based Q.C.
Any new or existing VQC-3000 will
work with BUFclips - existing VQC-3000s require a firmware update.
BUFclips is available for half price when purchased with a new VQC-3000.
Click
here for Press Release format
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