Grass Valley Zodiak v.6.0 Mar 15 2006 - Manual (Page 442)

442 Zodiak — User Manual
Section 5 — System Operation
Macros
Introduction
Macros provide a mechanism to record a series of actions and then play
them back by pressing a single button. Macro steps specify commands sent
to the Video Processor frame, rather than simple button presses. Macros
are fundamentally different from E-MEMs. E-MEMs store the complete
state of a portion of the switcher (level and sublevel) into keyframes. For
example, an E-MEM keyframe for M/E 1 captures all the source selections,
keyer settings, transition type, wipe patterns, etc. for all the buses of M/E 1
at the time that keyframe was added to the E-MEM register. A macro, on
the other hand, affects only the specific elements involved in the recording
of that macro. For example, a macro can be recorded that sets up only the
Preset bus with a particular source and selects a specific wipe pattern and
transition rate. You can recall an E-MEM to put the M/E in a known state,
and when you want to prepare that specific transition to just that source,
simply play the macro. In this example, different macros can be recorded
with different sources to allow rapid and reliable variations on the E-MEM
effect that was originally recalled.
A macro can contain several steps. Macros are executed as quickly as pos-
sible in the order the steps are recorded, but there are no guarantees for
timely execution. It is also possible to insert delays in a macro sequence
during recording to accommodate external devices or allow for completion
of internal system events.
Macros add enormous power and flexibility to the Zodiak system. Simple
tasks can be recorded into a macro quickly and easily for rapid and reliable
playback. Complex series of actions can also be programmed into a macro,
but careful planning is required to ensure the macro accomplishes its
intended actions for all the conditions under which it may be played back.
Note Macro attachments are saved and loaded with User Prefs. Be sure the User
Prefs you load are compatible with the Macro registers you are currently
using, to avoid accidentally running incorrect attached Macros.
Macro Recording
Macros are recorded into macro registers. The Zodiak system has 100
macro registers. The number of steps in any specific macro or the total
number of macro steps across all macros is limited only by the amount of
available memory in the Video Processor frame. Macro registers can be
saved to disk and reloaded, making the total number of pre-made macros
available to a Zodiak system unlimited.