Reviewing with LiveEdit

Rehearsals have always been part of the shows creation process, way before TV existed. But the technology has changed the way rehearsals are used. Today, the possibility to record and review rehearsals made them a lot more productive, provided the technology is at the service of creatives, and not vice versa.

LiveEdit Review workflow is both extremely powerful and very easy to use. This article explains how things happen behind the scene for tech-savvy, but directors and creatives most often just use it, without taking care of any of this.

Example of 4 rehearsals being reviewed side by side using the "Review" HD-SDI output

Program recorded during rehearsal

While you rehearse, your program is recorded in the Producer using PGM IN on both Max or Lite models. A technical process is then automatically started:

• An Apple ProRes 422 HQ file is created locally in the Producer.
• A High-Res proxy (H.264 1080p) is immediately sent to the LiveEdit App controlling Producer (ie : director’s laptop)
• Medium + Low-Res proxies (H.264 720p + 480p) can be also automatically pushed to the LiveEdit Cloud (AWS). They become available for review by any crew member in less than a minute.
• Record is simply triggered from the LiveEdit App controlling Producer, or can even start automatically while chasing an incoming Timecode.
  
  

Rehearsals instantly available for review

Once a rehearsal is finished, it can be reviewed from any of the devices:

• On HD-SDI Producer output (controlled by LiveEdit App)
• In all other LiveEdit App which have access to the project
• Thru myLiveEdit Web App
• On any Showtime App on tablet or smartphone
  
  

It allows any crew member, wherever he/she is, in the control room, on stage, in the office or even at home to review any of the recorded rehearsals.

Modify during review

If anyone can review any rehearsal, the director (and other authorized crew members) can modify a sequence to correct potential mistakes or enhance a performance:

• By changing the source of a shot in the Timeline
• By adjusting the start point, duration, transition... of the cues
• By modifying any trigger like MIDI, OSC, Switcher Effects...

Multi-View function and offline work

There is no limit in rehearsal number, and a special mode allows both LiveEdit App and myLiveEdit to compare up to 4 takes simultaneously thru a quad view.

Thanks to the LiveEdit Cloud, the whole review process and timeline editing is available without having the Producer device running. Thus, after a day of work in the studio, director, camera operators, production crew can review, compare, modify from home or hotel room, avoiding the cost of keeping the control room online.

Multicapture for multi-camera review

Multicapture device will soon allow LiveEdit users to record up to 8 ISO angles during rehearsal or live takes. All the camera clips will follow the same process as single PGM record (proxy creation, Cloud sharing). As a result, several great new functions will soon be available:

• Visualization of all the camera angles simultaneously in a Multiviewer display
• Direct editing on the Timeline, modification of shot boundaries or source
• Preview of alternative creative choices without the need of redoing endless rehearsals

Typical Multicapture LiveEdit workflow

Collaboration at heart

As always with LiveEdit, collaboration is key. As each team member can review a take individually, each one can focus on his part. For instance a camera operator can replay 10 times a complex camera move to remember each detail. He can also jump from a take to another, while his colleague focus on another part of the sequence. The TD can check the perfect timing of his effects triggers, while the light designer will compare several takes with slightly different light effects.

Each one can focus on his part, making the best out of the time available during busy -and always too short- rehearsal days, smoothly and easily.

Article photo by Chris Moylan @optikalusion