BUF Technology - The Art of Control

Click Here for Sport Replay Tips
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.



Popular "Sport" Replay System Hard Disk Recorder right in the Panel	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."

Sport-HD Replay System Multi Channel Hard Disk HD Replay

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.

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.

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!

*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

"Spot" Video Server Controller Powerful yet simple control of video servers One touch playlists and loops Store, recall, and configure panel setups on PC Controls 8 server channels and 2 VTRs Frame accurate ingest from tape Multi channel recording and playback	BUFMC Routing Switcher Control System Affordable control of routing switchers using PC computers Fast and easy - touch screen or mouse Easy to set up using engineering GUI Controls many routers from many PCs Control via existing network IR device control option Routing and IR command scheduling
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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