Videonics FIREWRITER REMOTE User manual

Instruction Manual

FireWriter Instruction Manual • MANL-0780-01 ©2001 Focus Enhancements
The Videonics logo and Videonics FireWriter logo are registered trademarks of Focus Enhance-
ments, Inc. Other products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies and are hereby acknowledged. Television screens are simulated. Subject
to change without notice. FireWriter is not to be used for the unauthorized copying of copyrighted
material.
Focus Enhancements Inc. • 1370 Dell Avenue • Campbell, CA 95008 USA • 408-866-8300
www.focusinfo.com
Instruction Manual

CONTROLS
1. POWER. Power key turns on the FireWriter unit.
DEMO. Demonstrates features. Press ACCENT + DEMO for English version; SHIFT + DEMO
for International version. You can also copy the demo into the editing area, to modify it or
study how its effects were accomplished.
2. MENU KEYS. Menus change color, font, style, etc., of lines or pages that contain marked text
or cursor. Use either MARK START, MARK END, TAB, or the bracket keys, ( [ ) and ( ] ), to
change sub-menus; arrow keys to highlight the desired choice; and NEW LINE/OK or PLAY
to implement changes. Press UNDO to cancel the menu and leave titles unchanged.
3. POSITION LIGHT. Used in conjunction with the POSN key (16). Indicates that page or line
positioning may be done (see POSN key).
4. CUT, COPY and PASTE. To cut, copy or paste text, mark the text using MARK START and
MARK END, move cursor to desired location, then press CUT, COPY or PASTE.
5. CAPS LOCK LIGHT. When the CAPS LOCK light is on, typing a letter key (A-Z) causes the
SHIFTed version to appear. Other keys (numbers, symbols, etc.) are unaffected. Press the CAPS
LOCK key to turn the CAPS LOCK light on and off.
6. MARK LIGHT. Indicates that the mark function has been enabled (i.e., MARK START or
MARK END has been pushed).
7. UNDO. If you accidentally delete something, press UNDO immediately.
8. DELETE. Erases marked text, if any. Otherwise, erases the character before the cursor.
9. MARK START and MARK END (10). Mark text to modify, delete, copy, or move it. Position
cursor before first character and press MARK START. Position after last character and press
MARK END. Notice cursor becomes wider to remind you something is marked. Use UNDO to
remove marks. SHIFT, used with a mark key, marks start or end of the page; COMMAND plus
a mark key marks start or end of all text in current project.
11. TAB. “Smart tab” positions cursor to match the tab stops located above the status line. Also
used to move between submenus.
12. SHIFT and CAPS LOCK. Hold SHIFT to type capital letters. CAPS LOCK capitalizes all
typing until pressed again. Note that some fonts have only capital letters. SHIFT is also used to
modify the function of other keys.
13. CMD (COMMAND). Modifies function of other keys.
14. Z (CLOCK). ACCENT + Z displays clock as text on a page.
15. ACCENT. Hold ACCENT while typing a letter key to type the special symbols (•,©,¢,etc.)
printed in blue. Use with power key to activate DEMO. Use with accent marks followed by a
letter to type accented international characters such as é, ü, å, etc.
16. POSN (POSITION). Press and release POSN, followed by up or down arrow keys, to position
text at the top, bottom, or center of the page. Press and release POSN, then left or right arrow,
to position text at right, left, or center page.
17. X (DATE). ACCENT + X displays date as text on a page.
18. SPACE BAR. Adds space to text. Pauses the page that is playing.
19. PAGE INDEX. Displays an index in which each page occupies one line, making it easy to look
through all pages and projects.
20. NEW PAGE. Starts a new page of text.
21. PLAY. After you create titles using the Editing Screen, press PLAY key to play the titles for
display or recording. CMD (Command) + PLAY always plays from first page in project. If no
text is marked, PLAY displays the current page. If text is marked, PLAY loops through marked
pages. Once playing begins: Press PLAY again to go to next page; use SHIFT and PLAY to
play backwards; press arrow keys to manually step forward or backwards. NEW LINE/OK
ends play and returns to Editing Screen.
22. ARROW KEYS. Use the four individual arrow keys to move the cursor on screen; to change
highlights in a menu; and, when playing text, to go forward and backward.
23. PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN. Used to re-position cursor a page at a time. PAGE UP places
cursor at the first line of the page, PAGE DOWN places cursor at the last line in the page.
24. NEW LINE/OK. Ends a line of text and starts a new one. Also accepts settings of menus,
returns to Editing Screen from Page Index and Play Screens.
25. LEFT and RIGHT BRACKET. Use the left and right bracket to change sub-menus. MARK
START, MARK END, and TAB will do the same.

Contents
Long Pages ............................................ 35
Creating a Page ..................................... 35
Page Symbols ........................................ 36
Navigating Pages and Projects ............. 36
Deleting a Page...................................... 37
Inserting a Page ..................................... 38
Moving and Copying Pages .................. 38
Chapter 8 • Projects...................... 40
About Projects ........................................ 40
Examples of How Projects are Used ..... 40
Viewing Projects ..................................... 41
Creating a Project .................................. 41
Naming a Project .................................... 41
Removing a Project or
Erasing its Contents............................. 41
Moving Between Projects ...................... 42
Copying or Moving Text
Between Projects ................................. 42
Chapter 9 •Changing Titles.......... 43
Undo ....................................................... 43
Simple Changes ..................................... 43
Marking Text for Major Changes ........... 43
Marking Whole Lines and Pages ........... 44
Deleting Marked Text ............................. 44
Replacing Marked Text .......................... 45
Moving and Copying Text ...................... 45
Memory.................................................. 46
Multiple Copies...................................... 47
Chapter 10 • Positioning Text
....................................................... 48
Positioning Horizontally:
Left, Right, Center................................ 48
Positioning Vertically:
Up, Down, Center ................................ 48
Additional Positioning Hints ................... 49
Chapter 11 • How to Use Menus . 50
Concept .................................................. 50
Sub-menus ............................................. 50
Highlights and Choices .......................... 50
Using the Menus .................................... 51
Chapter 12 •
How Characteristics Affect Text . 52
How Characteristics Affect
Lines and Pages .................................. 52
Choosing Characteristics....................... 53
Chapter 1 • Introduction................. 1
In a Hurry? ................................................ 1
Helpful Hints ............................................. 1
What is a Character Generator? .............. 2
What is FireWriter? ................................... 2
Typical Applications ................................. 3
Equipment ................................................ 3
Chapter 2 • QuickStart ................... 4
Chapter 3 • Connections .............. 14
Connections: Overall Concept ............... 14
What You’ll Need .................................... 15
Types of Cables Used
with FireWriter. ..................................... 15
IN and OUT Markings ............................ 16
Connecting Power .................................. 17
Turning Power On and Off: Video
Pass-Through and Data Protection ..... 17
Connecting Outputs and Monitors......... 18
Connecting a Video Source ................... 19
Troubleshooting Hints ............................ 20
Chapter 4 •
Connecting Equipment ................ 23
Videonics Equipment Arrangements ..... 23
Single-Source Editing Setup .................. 24
Multiple Source Editing
with a Video Mixer ............................... 25
GPI Control ............................................. 25
Chapter 5 • Using the Demo ........ 27
Using the Demo...................................... 27
International Demo ................................. 27
Locked Demo ......................................... 27
Using the Demo as a Guided Tour ........ 27
Using the Demo to Create Titles ............ 28
Chapter 6 • Typing Titles ............. 29
The Editing Screen and Cursor ............. 29
Moving Around the Screen .................... 29
Shortcuts for Moving the Cursor ............ 30
Typing Titles ........................................... 30
Columns (Tabs) ...................................... 31
Typing Special and
Accented Characters .......................... 32
Chapter 7 • Pages ......................... 35
About Pages ........................................... 35
REAR PANEL
A. S-video VIDEO IN. Connect a S-video 4 pin mini-DIN cable from source.
B. Composite VIDEO IN. Connect a RCA type cable from source.
C. DV VIDEO IN. Connect a 4 pin DV ( IEEE-1394) cable from source.
D. AUDIO IN . Audio connections are provided for convenience; the audio signals pass straight
through without modification.
E. S-video VIDEO OUT. Connect a S-video 4 pin mini-DIN to VTR.
F. Composite VIDEO OUT. Connect a RCA type cable to VTR.
G. DV VIDEO OUT. Connect a 4 pin DV (IEEE 1394) to VTR.
H. AUDIO OUT. Audio output connections.
I. PREVIEW OUT. Optional. When used in live title setup, permits you to modify titles and
typing is not seen on main output. Important: Leave unconnected when not in use.
J. SERIAL. 9-pin D-type connector for optional serial control.
K. CONTROL (GPI). Allows remote trigger of titles using switch or controller with GPI (“Gen-
eral Purpose Interface”) output. Warning: Always turn power off before connecting or discon-
necting GPI jack.
L. POWER. Connect FireWriter power supply. Important: Do not use power supplies designed
for any other equipment.
M. ETHERNET. Connect to the Internet, LAN, or to a client computer.
Note:
Upside-down legends make it easy to make connections without turning unit around.

Contents
Chapter 13 •
Fonts, Sizes, and Styles .............. 54
Font and Size.......................................... 54
Hints on Using Fonts and Sizes ............. 54
Font Style ................................................ 54
Outlines and Shadows........................... 55
Hints on Using Styles ............................. 55
Chapter 14 • Colors ...................... 56
About the Color Palette.......................... 56
Choosing a Color ................................... 56
Creating a Color .................................... 56
Using the User Colors ............................ 57
Hints on Using Colors ............................ 57
Chapter 15 • Background Patterns
59
Pattern Menus ........................................ 58
One Pattern per Page ............................ 58
Hints on Using Patterns ......................... 59
Bugs...................................................... 59
Hints on Using Bugs............................... 59
Chapter 16 • Borders .................... 60
Border Style Menu .................................. 60
Placing a Box Around Text.................... 60
Complex Borders ................................... 60
Removing borders .................................. 61
Chapter 17 •
Effects, Scrolls, and Crawls ........ 62
Effects Menus ......................................... 62
Transition Effects: Cuts, Fades, Slides, and
Wipes ................................................... 62
Choosing a Transition Effect .................. 63
Setting the Transition Speed .................. 63
Displaying the Page ............................... 63
Setting Duration...................................... 63
Infinite Duration ...................................... 64
Scroll and Crawl ..................................... 64
Scroll and Crawl Notes .......................... 65
Hints on Using Effects............................ 65
Chapter 18 •
Clock and Date Features.............. 66
Setting the Clock and Date Formats ...... 66
Setting the Clock and Date .................... 66
Displaying a Project at a Pre-Determined
Date and Time ..................................... 66
Repeating Triggers ................................ 67
Internal Timed Trigger Notes ................. 67
Displaying the Real Time Clock
and Date .............................................. 68
Real Time Clock and Date Notes........... 68
Placing Time or Date in Your Text ......... 69
Chapter 19 •
Superimposing Titles ................... 71
Superimposing Titles on Video .............. 71
Superimposing Titles on Video
with a Transparent Pattern .................. 71
Making Titles Come and Go .................. 72
Chapter 20 • Playing Pages ......... 73
Projects ................................................... 73
Important Concepts ............................... 73
Playing All Pages ................................... 74
Playing Some Pages .............................. 74
Pause ...................................................... 74
Search (Cue and Review) ...................... 74
Manual Play (Slide Projector Mode) ...... 74
Continuous Play (Video Billboard) ......... 75
Leaving Play to Edit Again ..................... 76
Chapter 21 • Editing and Presenta-
tions..............................77
Applications............................................ 77
Video Editing .......................................... 77
How Titles are Added............................ 77
GPI Trigger............................................ 78
Presentations .......................................... 79
Instructions for Making a Trigger........... 81
Chapter 22 • Preview .................... 81
About Preview ........................................ 82
Forcing Preview Mode ........................... 81
Chapter 23• Computer Connec-
tions................................................83
Ethernet .................................................. 83
Connecting to a Network........................ 83
Connecting to a PC (serial port)............. 84
Transferring Files.................................... 84
System Directories..................................85
Updating System Software..................... 85
System Information................................. 87
Contents
Fonts...............................................88
Selecting a Font and Size ...................... 88
Fonts 1-26.............................................. 89
Appendix A •
Advanced Techniques, Shortcuts,
and Command Keys ..................... 90
Capacity ................................................. 90
Erasing Memory and Resetting Unit ...... 91
Moving the Cursor .................................. 91
Projects ................................................... 92
Moving In the Color Menu ...................... 92
Using the Demo...................................... 92
Play Modes ............................................. 93
System Information................................. 93
Appendix B • Graphic Files ......... 94
Appendix C • Glossary ................. 96

VIDEONICS FIREWRITER PAGE 1
Chapter 1 • Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Videonics
FireWriter character generator, by Focus Enhancements.
FireWriter is a character generator that meets the demand of
the video producer. FireWriter not only has the traditional
analog video (composite and Y/C), input and output but
also includes IEEE-1394 DV input and output for full com-
patibility with digital sources and recording equipment.
Your new FireWriter also includes features like Ethernet
and Serial I/O to make the connection to the Internet, your
LAN and computers possible. With FireWriter, you can add
brilliant titles, graphics, and effects to your video produc-
tion, making the FireWriter one of your most creative video
tools.
In a Hurry?
If you want to get started quickly, reference the Quick Start
section, Chapter 2.
Helpful Hints
FireWriter is a sophisticated video production tool. Some of
the words and concepts used in this manual may be new to
you. As needed, please refer to the Glossary (Appendix C).
For More Information...
Focus Enhancements produces the highest quality products
possible while also making them easy-to-use. If you have
any difficulties with your equipment, our Technical Support
staff is available to assist you. The following table contains
information for contacting Technical Support:
Telephone: [phone] am- 5 pm PST
[email protected]
http://www.focusinfo.com/support

PAGE 2 VIDEONICS FIREWRITER VIDEONICS FIREWRITER PAGE 3
• Choose from a wide variety of fonts and sizes.
• Choose different attributes. You can change letter spac-
ing, make the letter boldC and add outlines, Shadows, and
colors to each character independent of each other.
• Use a real-time clock to superimpose a running clock
onto all backgrounds, including live video.
• Have a project start playing automatically at a specified
date and time.
Typical Applications
FireWriter can be used in live or taped settings. You can add
titles as you copy or edit tapes. The original tape remains
untouched – titles are added to the edited copy. FireWriter
works with VCRs and camcorders of all videotape formats
as long as the equipment used has DV, composite, or S-video
outputs. You can superimpose titles, bugs and logos on live
video, colored or gradient backgrounds, or JPEG back-
grounds, using fades and wipes to transition between plain
video and video with titles.
Equipment
Your FireWriter Package includes:
• FW-1 Unit
• Keyboard
• Power supply
• This manual
• Product registration card.
You may need to purchase cables to connect audio and
video equipment to your FireWriter . Your dealer can help
you identify the cables you need
What is a Character Generator?
A Character Generator (also called a title generator, titler, or
CG) creates letters and numbers (characters) on a video signal
that can be displayed on a television or monitor, or be recorded by a
VCR.
What is the FireWriter?
FireWriter CG is a character generator with many capabili-
ties. With FireWriter you have the ability to:
• Overlay text, bugs, and logos over live video .
• Import and export JPEG graphics using a computer and
various software Applications.
• Execute a wide variety of transitions (such as dissolves
and wipes) that you can use to artfully switch from one
project page to another.
• Operate the FireWriter CG as a stand-alone device, or
you can integrate it with a computer platform.
• Connect FireWriter CG to a Macintosh, Windows, UNIX,
Amiga, and other computer platforms. The connection can
be made through a serial (RS-232) connection or an Ethernet
Network to transfer files.
• FireWriter CG uses the concept of Projects and Pages to
help manage your work. A project is any collection of work –
such as title credits for a video production, or text overlays
for a specific Video. Every project consists of one or more
pages. Pages normally consist of one or more lines of Text,
bugs or logos, and backgrounds that can be either imported
JPEG pictures or full color.
• Copy and move text, to revise titles without retyping.
• Position text anywhere on the page, including automatic
centering.

PAGE 4 VIDEONICS FIREWRITER VIDEONICS FIREWRITER PAGE 5
Chapter 2 • QuickStart
Whether you’re a video expert looking for just the basic
steps or a beginner who wants instant gratification, this
chapter will have you titling in minutes! This chapter de-
scribes just the basics. Many features and applications are
skipped or mentioned only briefly. For more information, or
if you encounter problems, refer to the table of contents or
the index to locate a more complete discussion elsewhere in
the manual.
Connections
Connect the power supply (C) to a working wall outlet and
connect the other end to FireWriter’s POWER jack.
Connect FireWriter’s OUT jacks to the VIDEO and AUDIO
IN jacks of a VCR (B). Connect a television or monitor to the
VCR in the normal fashion, so you can see the VCR’s output.
Leave the PREVIEW OUT jack unconnected unless you are
using a PREVIEW monitor (Chapter 22). Turn the television
and VCR on.
Connect a camcorder, VCR or other source (A) to
FireWriter’s video and audio IN jacks if you plan to super-
Typical FireWriter Connections
impose titles over video. Turn on the video source and start
the tape rolling.
Note: The illustration shows the use of composite (RCA-
style) jacks for the video connections. You can use S-video
(Y/C) jacks or DV instead.
The audio connections are for convenience only — the audio
signals are not affected by the unit, only passed.
Keyboard Connect the keyboard to the jack on FireWriter’s
front panel.
Power On/Off
The Keyboard's Power key turns the power on and off. The
green LED located on the units front panel will light when
the unit it on, and flash when connected to a network via
Ethernet.
Demo
To start the demo, press
ACCENT while you press
DEMO (POWER). The
demo is a built-in project
that demonstrates a wide
range of the TM-3000
features and effects. To run
the international version of
the demo, press SHIFT + DEMO. If no demo appears, check
the connections. Press any key to stop the demo.
Instant Titles
Creating basic titles is simple. Start with the Editing Screen.
The screen may not look exactly like this but it should have
at least the blinking cursor (1). Press POWER once or twice if
the cursor is not displayed. The cursor indicates where
characters you type will appear. Page symbols (2, described
later) separate pages of titles. Type some titles. They appear
at the cursor location. Press the PLAY key on

PAGE 6 VIDEONICS FIREWRITER VIDEONICS FIREWRITER PAGE 7
how it will be displayed; and which effect will be used to end
its display.
Projects
You can create separate projects (Chapter 8). Each project has
its own pages which are protected from alteration while you
are working on another project. This way several people can
use the same unit, or one person can work on several distinct
jobs. The PAGE INDEX key is used to access projects. It
displays all the pages in all the projects. By moving the
cursor up and down through the Page Index
screen, you can begin work on any page, in any
project. Press NEW LINE/OK to return to the
Editing Screen.
Entering Text
To create a title, simply type some letters and they will
appear at the cursor’s location.
• To type a capital letter, hold
SHIFT as you type. Press CAPS
LOCK to type all capital letters (key-
board LED will light). Press it again
to type in normal upper and lower
case (keyboard LED will go out).
• To type special characters (such as the ones printed in
blue on the keys), press ACCENT and a letter at the same
time. For instance, press ACCENT and Q to produce “¢.”
• To type an accented letter, simultaneously press
ACCENT and the key with the desired accent mark, then
press the letter to be accented. For example, press ACCENT
and 3 together; then release them and press the A key. You
will see the letter “à.”
Lines
Press NEW LINE/OK to end a line of text and begin a new
line.
the keyboard when you are finished. The Editing Screen
disappears and the finished titles fill the screen. Congratula-
tions — you have created your first titles! Press NEW LINE/
OK to return to the Editing Screen.
The Editing Screen and the Play Screen
You have just seen how the screen changes appearance,
depending on whether you are creating titles or displaying
them. The Editing Screen (the one with the cursor) is used to
create or change titles.
The Play Screen shows just the titles, with no cursor
or other items. It is the screen you use to display
and record the completed titles.
Pages
Titles are divided into pages. A page is a full screen of titles.
You create a new page by pressing the NEW PAGE key. In
this example, we typed “Sherlock Holmes,” then pressed
NEW PAGE, then typed “221B Baker Street.” We then used
the up arrow to move the cursor back to the first page and
pressed PLAY.
Page Symbols
A row of page symbols divides one page from the next. These
are described in detail in Chapter 7. Briefly: The first two
symbols and their numbers identify which page this is and
to which project (described in Chapter 8) it belongs. The next
symbols tell which effect will be used to introduce the page;

PAGE 8 VIDEONICS FIREWRITER VIDEONICS FIREWRITER PAGE 9
Moving the Cursor
If you want to add text somewhere other than where the
cursor is, use the arrow keys to move the cursor. Press PAGE
UP or PAGE DOWN to move a page at a time or you can
hold SHIFT as you press the UP or DOWN arrow keys.
SHIFT with the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key moves the cursor
to the start or end of the line.
Note: You cannot move the cursor past the end of the last
line of text. If you want to type beyond the last characters on
the screen, position the cursor at the end of the line and
press NEW LINE/OK to create blank lines.
Editing Text
To insert text, use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the
desired location and type. To delete text, position the cursor
after the characters you want to remove and press DELETE.
The character before the cursor is removed. To delete large
blocks of text at once, mark the text and press delete.
To replace text, delete the existing text, then type the new
text.
Oops!
If you accidentally delete something, immediately press
UNDO. It restores the text that was deleted by the last press
of the DELETE key.
Using Menus to Change Colors, Fonts, etc.
You can change characteristics (such as fonts, colors and font
styles) using the menu keys at the top of the keyboard.
Changes are made between MARK START and MARK END
brackets (Use undo to clear the brackets). For instance, press
the LETTER COLOR key (in the top row). A menu of colors
appears. This menu has two sub-menus — one at the top of
the screen (1) and one at the bottom (4). Each sub-menu
contains choices you can use to change your titles. Use the
left or right bracket ( [, ] ) to choose which sub-menu is
active. In this example, the bottom sub-menu is active (Tab,
MARK START and MARK END also work). If you wanted
to use the top sub-menu instead, you would press any of the
previously mentioned keys. One item in the active menu is
highlighted. In this example, a color choice is highlighted by
the triangular pointers (3). Use the arrow keys to move the
highlight to a different color. The sample patch (2) shows the