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XcentroniX WinFX
Overview:
WinFX is a complete system, comprising a PC running purpose-written software, combined with a suitable audio input / output card, touchscreen and port hardware. It instantly plays sound effects for use in the radio, television, disco, or theatre environment.
The user interface of WinFX
25 simultaneous effects are available as command buttons on each screen, and these may be triggered by touching, if a touch-screen is used, or by left-mouse clicking on the appropriate button. Right-mouse clicking on command button allows the sound effect associated with that particular button to be changed. Multiple screens may be opened, allowing simultaneous effects. Sound clip duration and remaining time is constantly displayed as the effect is played:
WinFX
is supplied complete with a library comprising of hundreds of free,
high-quality, efficiently categorized sounds, and more may be recorded, edited
and saved to supplement this.
The WinFX sound effect library.
Four external triggers (relays, "fader starts" or switch closures) may be connected through a supplied interface to the printer port.
The WinFX trigger interface
These "GPI's ("General Purpose Interfaces"), can be associated to any four command buttons, so that when a trigger occurs, the sound file corresponding to the button is played. These are also quick and easy to reassign "on-the-fly", and may be used, for instance, to trigger a sound effect in game shows.
The
audio output level is adjustable, and there is also a fade function The user may
also change parameters such as background and text colours, to distinguish
between pages.
Multiple
setups may be stored on disk, in the form of configuration files, and these may
be quickly recalled. This results in all settings for that configuration being
loaded, namely the sound file list, remote triggers, audio levels, fade rate,
port used, colours, etc., being recalled.
And
have you ever had the problem of timing a background piece of music to a live
presenter's link when the length of the link is unknown? Well, don't resort to
simply fading out the music: This nifty addition to WinFX enables the operator
to accurately time the background music
(in
MP3
format)
to a link of indeterminate duration, so that the end of the presenter's link
exactly coincides with the music tail.
The WAV / MP3 crossfader.
Magic?
– try it and see!
Various
system options are available to suit every budget:
1)
Turnkey system, supplied with
WinFX software, PIII 1000
computer (Intel mainboard & processor), 15" touch-screen monitor,
Creative Labs audio card with S/P-DIF and optical outputs, audio balancing unit and external trigger box providing 4 contact
closure inputs. System is supplied fully
configured and ready-to-play.
2)
Do-it-yourself option: Adapt your own PC: We supply WinFX software, 15"
touch-screen monitor, Creative Labs audio card with SP-DIF and
optical outputs, audio balancing unit and external trigger box
providing 4 contact closure inputs.
3) Budget option 1: WinFX software, audio balancing unit and external trigger box providing four contact closure inputs.
4)
Budget
option
2:
WinFX software
and external trigger box providing
four contact closure inputs.
5)
Demo option: WinFX operated without the associated hardware, will function in
Demo mode, where the software may be run 20 times before it expires. This is
free, and available
upon request.
WinFX
is currently in daily use for
E-TV and M-NET,
two major broadcasters in South Africa.
For more information or a demonstration, please call
Multi Channel Media, P. O. Box 68746, Bryanston 2021.
or
Julio Costa, XcentroniX Creative Engineering, 74 Oleander Ave., Edleen 1619
Johannesburg, RSA
(011) 976-1750 or 082 372-1750
Installation:
Run "Setup" from the CD and simply follow the instructions, installing into the default folder. Then copy the SFX folder (sound effects library) to your hard disk.
Operating
Instructions:
25 Large buttons on the screen correspond to their assigned effects, and indeed, are labelled with the effect filename. They may be triggered by either left-mouse clicking on the appropriate button, or simply touching the button, if a touch-screen is installed.
To change the sound effect associated with a particular button, right-mouse click on the button. A file selection dialog-box will open, where the required file may be selected.
The
fader allows the operator to control the
audio output level.
External
events may also be used to launch sounds, by using the external trigger or
"GPI" function. This interface (supplied with the software) simply
plugs into the printer port, and provides triggers for any four effects,
selectable "on-the-fly". These trigger
events may be assigned by first left-mouse clicking (or touching,
if a touch-screen is installed) on
the "Assign GPI" button, and then on the desired sound button. The
button name will change, to indicate the assigned GPI, and the GPI button will
also indicate which effect is to be played upon a trigger event.
GPI assignment: To assign trigger 2 (currently set to trigger "Jungle) to play "Largedoor", first click on GPI 2 assign button (1), and then click on the required file to be triggered (2)
When the operator is satisfied with the current set-up for a particular show, this may be saved, by selecting "File / Save Setup" from the menu bar. This stores all relevant information in a configuration file. Any number of such .CFG files may be saved, and recalled by selecting "File / Load Setup" from the menu bar.
