Tips+and+Tricks

Create a user account specifically for broadcast that all facilitators of AVC will use on the broadcast PC to log in.

Create a folder on the shared drive for broadcast and keep everything there.

Have an "emergency" generic script stored on the harddrive of the broadcast computer for those days when the network is down and the show must go on!!

Save, save, save......save, save, save!!!

Clear recordings before saving and then save again. If you try to save before you clear, it may lock up.

If you have two licenses with the anticipation that changes can be made, we would only recommend changes such as the script from the "other" computer. Do not attempt to change pictures, backgrounds, transitions, etc. because many files are stored locally on the broadcast PC.

Timing - always have your camera/greenscreen come in about 2 seconds before you want them to be seen.

Drag in pictures, audio, movies - any movie created in Windows Movie Maker or even a PowerPoint, can be dropped into the action window and the program will automatically lengthen the show to accomodate the piece you insert. Pictures - just drag into the action window and it automatically makes it a "slide".

If you're using animated backgrounds, be sure that the button that stops animation is not checked.

Hold down the shift button while you click the top object in the action window you want to move and everything below the one you clicked will move without changing the timings. Best hint in the world to remember!

Editing slides.....lunch menu....lower thirds....special reports....over the shoulder....etc. Double click on the slide - if you only want to change the word(s), click on Edit, change the line, click the double carrots, change the other line, and be sure to hit done.

To create a whole new slide or customize one - hit title editor. That will bring up a whole new window - the layers are the key to making it work (and patience). We recommend you name it and save it in your shared broadcast folder. Otherwise it defaults to that day's show and chances are you'll never see or find it again.

You can create a "template" for Monday - Friday - just renaming as the day each time you save it. Be sure to clear recordings!!!

To record: If you want to record the day's broadcast - hit record upon starting instead of rehearse. When you are done, hit the publish button and follow through the series of steps to save it in the form you want it saved as. It can easily be emailed (be careful of FERPA - Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act, confidentiality, and acceptable use).

You can set the scroll speed, but we have found it easier to manipulative the words in the script to have fewer words per line, then mess with the speed. It helps if your person running AVC is a good detail person.

Since AVC does not allow color coding, use Anchor 1/Anchor 2 or something similar so anchors know whose turn it is to speak.

Mouse over the tray in the action window to see your timings so you know how long something lasts.

The picture of the house is your friend. Be sure you are on the graphics tab if you are looking for pictures, the video tab if you're looking for videos.

When adding a picture to your background....insert the vscreen background tray (found in video effects at the bottom) into the action window. Then drag the picture you want for your background into the tray be sure to also drag the picture to the vscreen tab for the correct camera. (For fun, we asked for teacher input on pictures to use as our background images or moment of silence and then gave them recognition as to what/where about the picture.) Horizontal pictures are preferred - vertical will give you black lines on the sides.

Calibrating the cameras - be sure the lights are on first. Keep a t-shirt handy for those kids who forget and show up in green!!! On the Vscreen tab, click the calibrate wizard and go through each of steps. Some days you just can't get rid of the shimmering.

Additional Ideas for Use of the Equipment: *Have a flip camera or two on your campus? Easily incorporate those videos into broadcast... *Universal Screenings - done by the principal - broadcast to everyone. *5th graders did "Living Portraits". *4th grade teachers prepared for Camp Write A Lot. *Pledges for PreK-4th grade are recorded ahead of time. Use Windows Movie Maker to create the movie file. Drag and drop - allows all students to be on broadcast.

Additional websites for animated backgrounds.

[|Backgrounds]