Fastrack - The True Hybrid
The Fastrack is a Linear / Non-linear editor designed to interface with and control disk based video servers, with the additional benefit of being able to control VTRs, mixers, switchers, character generators and other peripheral devices…a true hybrid system.  The Fastrack VS is equipped to edit non-linearly with servers, with the additional benefit of being able to control a VTR for control and ingest.  The Fastrack SE is equipped with the same non-linear capabilities as the VS, with the addition of a complete linear-mode application.

Fastrack and Servers
You can connect multiple servers to one Fastrack, and multiple Fastracks to one server.  Control of most servers is via Ethernet, allowing you to edit on or with server channels on servers already allotted to other functions or applications.

Gui Interface
Unlike Editware VPE and DPE series editors, the Fastrack incorporates a full Graphic User Interface. The use of this GUI obsoletes the need for numbers, and makes the editing process more of a non-linear “see & hear” process.  For those users that come from a linear background, dual monitors are supported, and a text-based Work Bin is provided with a text representation of the graphical Timeline.  In the SE model, a full EDL with ten Bins are included.

FastTracks
Editing is performed on the Fastrack by placing Events (clips) on Tracks, similar to an audio sequencer.  A Track is a logical device, a means of controlling and displaying a source on the Fastrack Timeline such as a video server channel, a VTR, a character generator, a switcher source, etc.

Events
Each Event placed on a Track represents video and up to 8 channels of audio from the device assigned to that Track.  Only activated sub-Tracks contribute to the end result of the edit, and multiple Tracks can be used to enable control of more than 8 channels of audio at one time.

Frame Accurate, Real-time Timeline
An edit in the context of the Fastrack is the frame accurate real-time playout of Events on the Timeline.  Events can be shortened, lengthened, modified, copied, pasted, added, deleted, slipped, slid, enabled, disabled, linked, split, separated, and joined. 

Preview
The Preview functions allow you to preview the edit from any position on the Timeline.  You may work with as few as one Track for cuts-only editing from a video server, or a minimum of two Tracks if transitions or effects are involved, or if you are editing tape-to-tape.   Up to 80 Tracks are supported, and displayed in groups of 8.

Automatic Re-cue between Events
If the Track represents a supported video server channel, cuts between clips stored on the server may be played out in real time.  If the Track represents a linear device such as a VTR, the Fastrack system will automatically re-cue between Events, and still continue to record all previously defined cuts in a single process.  Additionally, you may first create an edit as a cuts-only piece, and define transitions at a later time by distributing Events over two or more Tracks.

Optimize Record Feature
After all Events are placed on the Timeline to your satisfaction, you may want to create a master on either Disk or Tape.  When using a video server for the recorder, you can create the master in a single real-time recording.  If your server is capable of using our “Optimize Record” feature, then a single clip can be generated of the entire Timeline in a matter of seconds.   When working with video servers, material already digitized is not re-recorded.  Only those parts of the edit that are modified by transitions or effects, or material that has not yet been digitized, will be recorded onto the server during an “optimized” recording.  This means that whole tapes need not be pre-digitized just to utilize a small portion.

Effects
The Fastrack provides for control over dissolves, wipes, keys and switcher memories through on most standard video switchers.  The details of an effect are usually set in a switcher dialog, but the transition time and type may also be defined directly through a shortcut.  Events automatically compensate to allow for the transition time.  Fastrack will determine the ‘FROM‘ source for a transition automatically, providing you with more flexibility when shifting Events around to test different effects and transitions.

Linear Mode
The “Linear Mode” option includes a graphic representation of the record VTR tape, insert, assemble, and pre-read editing, full and automatic  “match” capability, timing adjustments, and EDL input, output, import and export.  We have added extended PEGS to both the linear and non-linear applications, and we have even adapted our Linear Mode to do full linear insert editing on some servers, like the Accom A-6000. 

Standard audio mixer protocols include

• Yamaha O3D, O2R, O2R96, O2R96V2, M1000 and O1V, controlled using a serial or USB Midi-Host protocol that allows for two-way communication from and to the mixer
• Graham-Patten D/ESAM4 and ESAM2 protocols.

Standard video switcher protocols include:

• Evertz
• For-A Mighty Mix
• GV100/110,3000, 4000, Kayak, and Kalypso
• Ross Synergy series
• Snell & Wilcox
• Sony DVS, BVS, and DFS switchers
• …and many more.

Server protocols include:

• Accom A-6000
• Doremi
• EVS
• GeeVS
• Omneon
• Profile PDR, XP, and SAN
• Sony MAV-555
• and other VDCP controlled servers.

Many more devices are constantly under construction.

Additional Options Available for Fastrack:

• 8, 16, or 24 state-of-the-art serial I/O ports
• Linear Edit Mode
• Additional Tracks (16 or 80)
• Video capture card for preview display
• Additional Video Server protocols
• Extension kit for Monitor(s), keyboard and mouse
• On-site Training

Editware reserves the right to substitute any parts listed above as needed.

For additional information on the Fastrack hybrid editor from Editware, please contact Bob Lefcovich at 530-477-4300 or bobl@editware.com.  Also visit our website at http://www.editware.com.