The following describes how to create effects that will be used to build replay animations for use on a Fast Forward DDR.
As there will be the need for both fill and key animations, two effects have to be created (or just one if you'll remember which sources to change between them). I like two since I can fire them off in rapid succession. Both effects will fly in the standard DVE replay effect (with sound on the "fill" version) but instead of pausing they should delay for about 1.5 seconds (to give the digicart time to recue) then fly off again. This is done so that the separate passes for fill and key animations can have *exactly* the same length, allowing a single on/off timeline to be used in the Kalypso implementation of a dual feed (no need to cue a new clip on the fast forward due to staggared start times of the "out" effect).
The first is your standard replay effect where you will fly from the DVE to the fox box (displaying only the replay brand). Do NOT fly to your replay M/E with your brand over black because this results in a brand that looks darker than it should on the fill side if your brand is not at full opacity. You could fly from the black instead of the DVE but the artwork will darken slightly as it dissolves out (most people won't notice). The brand is an issue though so be careful there. You can take the DVE fill signal or dirty program for your fill animation.
Creation of the matte is NOT as easy as just taking the key signal of the DVE (try it to find out why). Just duplicate your above effect but as the fill for your artwork, use white (NOT the key for your artwork... it's a lengthy explanation but the results are not the same and not readily apparent until you are keying your animations). Also, you will fly to the Fox Box Key crosspoint with a very slight fade to black if any transparency is desired in the finished brand (see the percentage of opacity on a scope).
Please bury these effects somewhere in your home show setup because if a dual show comes in without their animations, it'll save you a lot of time.
Len Marinaccio
lmarinaccio@qwest.net
April 26, 2004
More info on Fast Forwards and Lance Controllers