NewTek TriCaster TC1 (2 RU) - Manual (Page 146)

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11.3.5 BUFFER WATCH FOLDERS
If you wish, you can share the Frame Buffer folder, which contains any still images used in Buffers , across a
network. The Share Media Folders and Buffers is easily enabled even during a live production using the File
menu at the left-hand end of the Dashboard .
The files which serve individual still image buffers are located in clearly named sub-folders of the Frame
Buffer folder for each session. These folders are arranged as follows:
Sessiondrive :\Sessions\ sessionname\ Frame Buffer\Buffer (#)
e.g., D:\Sessions\MySession \ Frame Buffer\Buffer 3
The Frame Buffer folder for the current session is accessible on the network when sharing is enabled. This
allows still image buffers to be updated across a network using suitable graphics application (such as
Photoshop ® ).
Note: This special share name assignment is dynamic. Network sharing is activated, and the current Buffer
path is automatically updated whenever you enter a session with the option enabled. This ensures that
applications on networked systems can remotely access and update buffer graphics for the current production
session.
The Frame Buffer folder is a “watch folder”. W hen you save an image for a given buffer, the buffer updates
even if it is currently displayed, allowing you to refresh overlays instantly across the network.
• Still image Buffers are normally stored using the popular 32 bit PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
format, but other formats are also supported.
• Specific filenames are not important in the buffer workflow. Actually, multiple media files with
different names can reside in buffer folders.
• The Buffer always shows the ‘newest’ file – that is, the one with the most recent modification date.
11.3.6 USING BUFFERS
Creative uses for buffers abound. You’ll notice that the sample media content supplied with your system
includes a number of different styles of animated buffers – some full screen, suitable for looping backgrounds
or similar applications, and others that are suited to overlay, bug, or alert tasks.
Buffers of all sorts can be displayed in the following locations:
• Main Switcher
o Program / Preview ) rows – all 15 buffers are directly accessible in the Switcher
o DSK channels – choose a specific buffer using the DSK’s drop-down source menu.
• M / E banks
o Select a Buffer on an M/E row just as you would for the main Switcher .