Hi guys, I wanted to add a bit of information to what James has written above: With version 3.4 of TDC-100 firmware, there is an additional menu choice on the TDC-100 which is relavent to Spotbox operation. The choice is CLIP LIST = INT or EXT in the TDC menu. If you select INT, the TDC works the way it always has, it builds an internal copy of the list of clips in the spotbox, up the its maximum of 99 clips per channel. The CLIP FILTER works in this mode, and will allow you to screen out clips that don't have a matching first character (digit), if the clip filter is turned on. If you select EXT, the TDC does not build an internal copy of list, but instead uses the list in the Spotbox. This eliminates the 99-clip limit, and also allows faster (instant) status updates. The catch is that as of now, only the Spotbox supports the additional commands required for this operation. It won't work with other ddrs. If you're using a Spotbox, I would recommend this mode. Everything else works the same: if CLIP STORE/RECALL is turned on, the TDC will attemp to capture a clip name as well as the timecode when you hit MARK IN (or set a time code inpoint from the keypad). It will try to load that clip name and cue to that timecode when you recall that register, send a RECUE pbus trigger, or press the CUE button. You can check the captured clip name for the current register by pressing FCN, then REG#. This will recall the clip name for that register to the bottom line of the display, without changing anything. (You can also recall in point timecode to the display to check it by pressing FCN, then MARK IN. Same with MARK OUT for outpoint timecode). On the pbus/switcher side, it all always works the same way, regardless of what's happening on the ddr side. The swr/pbus always recalls registers (which cause the ddrs to be cued to the proper clips/times, or just times if clips aren't being used), and sends triggers for play, stop, loop, etc. All that should work exactly the same, whether you're using a FFV, Spotbox, Profile, or anything else. The TDC should isolate the ddr personality from the switcher, so you don't have to alter anything you're doing switcher-wise if you change ddrs. I hope that helps a bit................ Bill

The EVS SPOTBOX mode allows the Server to be controlled by any device speaking the same protocol, usually ODETICS. The LANCE TDC-100 will allow you to enable Clip Store/Recall, and this each register will memorize the Clip ID that was present upon performing Mark IN. This means when the register is reloaded it will load the correct clip and cue to the TC specified. The SPOTBOX does NOT speak P-Bus natively... however the GVG Kalypso and Sony MVS switchers can both speak a protocol in common with the Spotbox...allowing direct control if you so desire. Kalypso = Odetics MVS8000/9000 = VDCP

Hey all... I've never used the Spotbox before, but now I've got some dates coming up on Trio Tango. Can someone explain a little bit about how you specify the clip in the timeline on a Kalypso? I know that when I use a Fast Forward, I specify the register in the PBus menu, is it the same with a Spotbox? Thanks

Scott, Thanks for the Lance side of the setup. I'm good with that. I was looking for the SpotBox side of the setup. I've asked a couple of EIC's what to look for on the SpotBox side, and they mostly say "I'm not sure... I turn it on and it works." I've seen a SpotBox reset solve a Lance comm issue once, but I didn't exactly see where the reset is in the SpotBox menus. So, I suppose the more detailed question is, what is a TD expected to know about starting up, configuring, troubleshooting, and reseting the SpotBox, itself? If it doesn't talk to the Lance, is it purely up to the EIC? I'd kinda like to know how to set it up myself. What SpotBox menu keystrokes should we know? Thanks!

Hi MM, A couple of things you need to check. Turn your menu On and scroll to the last page. It should tell you it is talking Odetics. This is not a setting you can change. The Lance recognizes the device it thinks it is talking to and displays the appropriate setting. Scroll back a couple of pages and make sure the Lance is set to the same Parity that the switcher is set to. Choices are Odd, Even and None. Scroll back a page and set the type of switcher the Lance is talking to. Choices are GVG and Sony. If you are on a Kayak or Xten set this to GVG. Scroll back a few pages and set Clip Store Recall to ON. This allows the Lance to talk to the Spot Box by the Clip "Name" (Think spot Box address) rather than Time Code. The last thing you should have to set is page 12 (I think). If you want to see the Name of the Clip set this to Name. One last thing. There is a page where you can set the Clip Filter. Set this to the area of the Spot Box you want to work in. For Example, if you want to work in the 300 page of the Spot Box, set the filter to 3. When you have these set up you can select the Cip List button on the panel. You should see a clip list that you can scroll through. Scroll though the page to the clip you want, press the Set key (gray I think) and the CUR key to selct the clip as the Current clip. Mark new In and Out points if necessary and the Lance will now recall the Clip when the register is recalled. You have to do this process seperately for each channel you want to control. I am fairly sure this is correct. I am not in front of the Lance or a Spot Box so I might have some bad page numbers but this should get you there. Happy Punching! Scott