This section focuses on control commands and the common use case of assigning them to a keyboard shortcut. Topics covered include:

Control Commands are commands an operator can send direct from their keyboard, to one of the connected devices, independent of templates currently in use.

For example, a control command key can be defined to send a DVE FORWARD command to the vision mixer or similarly, a Continue graphics command can be sent to the connected graphics system.

  • You access these settings from the menu bar: Tools > Keyboard shortcuts editor and then selecting Control Command Key from the panel on the right.

Working With Control Commands for a Keyboard

Common Parameters

Touch Mode

 
All control command keys share the Touchmode parameter. 

  • OnAir indicates that clicking or pressing the keyboard shortcut in the shortcut window immediately executes the relevant control command.

  • None disables touch/click functionality for the button.

Adding a New Command

To add a new parameter

  1. Refer to the table Keyboard-based Control Command Categories

  2. From the menu bar select Tools > Keyboard shortcuts editor.

  3. Click Add new command to add multiple commands to a shortcut.

     
    In the figure above, two commands have been added: SET_AUX_CROSSPOINT and LIGHT.
    These commands are executed sequentially from left to right (in the example, first SET_AUX_CROSSPOINT, then LIGHT).

Keyboard-based Control Command Categories

In the Viz Mosart UI, control commands are arranged in categories, based on the key.

The table below refers to commands available per category.

AUDIO

AUTOTAKE

AUTOTRANS

DIRECTTAKE

DVE

ENABLE_GRAPHICS_MIRRORING

FULLSCREEN_GRAPHICS

GRAPHICSPROFILE

LIGHT

MARKER

OVERLAY_GRAPHICS

SET_AUX_CROSSPOINT

SET_CROSSPOINT

SET_CURRENT_ME

RUNDOWN_NCS_RESYNC

SEQUENCE

STUDIOSETUP

VIDEOWALLMODE

TAKE_SERVER_TO_PROGRAM

TRANSITION_TYPE

WEATHER

ACCESSORIES

SET_VIDEOSERVER_SALVO

NCS

SWITCH_VIDEO_SERVER_MIRRORING

SWITCH_GRAPHICS_MIRRORING

SWITCH_REHEARSAL_MODE

SWITCH_GENLOCK_MODE

RECORD

QUICKEVENT

VIDEO_PORT

DEVICE_PROPERTY

USER_MESSAGE

OVERLAY_TO_MANUAL

STORY_ACTION

ENGINE_SWITCHER

STORY_RECORDER

Command Category and Summary

Parameters

Default / Notes

AUDIO

Audio Control Commands have an associated Faderate parameter,
enabling the operator to set a fade rate.

Faderate: In frames where relevant.

Action:

FADE_OUT_KEEPS
Faders that are set as "keep level" in the template On Air are faded out.
Also work when new templates have been taken in between the 'keep' action and the FADE_OUT_KEEPS.

CTRL+F

FADE_MANUAL
The audio faders for the On Air server channel are set to Manual control, and are not changed by Viz Mosart until taken out of manual control again.

CTRL+M

FADE_UP_SECONDARY_AUDIO
Viz Mosart fades up relevant audio sources not connected to the video currently On Air, when cutting between sources.
For example, when cutting from a camera to a live source, internal Viz Mosart logic dictates that all the microphones in the camera template are left up.
Pressing SHIFT+F10 fades the camera template microphones down. F10 brings them back up again, for example to allow the presenter to talk to a reporter at the end of a live segment.

F10

FADE_DOWN_SECONDARY_AUDIO
Viz Mosart fades down relevant audio sources not connected to the video currently On Air. 

SHIFT+F10

FREEZE_AUDIO
With the Control Command Freeze Audio all sound faders are frozen, and do not respond to commands from templates.
This command is a toggle function. Same function as 'Keep Sound'.
(the K button in the Audio Function area).

CTRL+K

SET_LEVEL_2_PREVIEW
The second level for faders in the template are set on the template which is in preview, and be performed on next transition. 

CTRL+L

SET_LEVEL_2_ONAIR
The second level for faders in the template which are On Air are set. 

SHIFT+CTRL+L

AUTOTAKE

Sets the Viz Mosart system to auto take mode.

The key can be defined as a toggle key, or two separate keys can be used to activate or deactivate autotake mode.

Action:

TOGGLE

ACTIVATE

DE-ACTIVATE

Toggle with CTRL+SHIFT+A

AUTOTRANS

Instruct the switcher to perform a transition on a given ME between the currently cued and On Air source.

MixEffect:

PP

ME1

ME2

ME3

ME4

M_RIP

M_OTH

Transitionrate: In frames

DIRECTTAKE

Executes a direct take template.

Template: Recall Number of the direct take template (nnnn).

When the direct take has been created, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to perform in this menu.

You can create a direct take in the Template Editor.
Note that all direct takes have to be created as part of the special Directtakes template set.

Define the direct take number under Template properties > Recall Nr.

DVE

Sends a forward or reverse command to the DVE in the vision mixer.

Direction:

FORWARD

BACKWARD

Forward with PageUp

Backward with PageDown

ENABLE_GRAPHICS_MIRRORING

Send the same graphic commands to multiple graphics engines.

Target: Where to enable/disable graphics mirroring

FULLSCREEN

OVERLAY

ALL

Action: What to perform
ENABLE

DISABLE

FULLSCREEN_GRAPHICS

Engine: The engine number on which control commands execute.
The engine number must be same as the number defined in AV Automation.

Action:

CONTINUE
Send a Continue command for a full screen graphic on a graphics engine.

MACRO
For graphics systems that support macro recall, recalls a macro on the defined engine.

For VIZRT graphics, two special macros are available:

  • INITIALIZE (or INITIALISE): Initialize the playlist.

  • CLEANUP: Clear the playlist.

Parameter:
Specific functionality depending on the chosen command.

Send a Continue to the current engine with F11.

GRAPHICSPROFILE

Changes the current graphics profile loaded.

Name: The name of the desired graphics profile.

LIGHT

Activates a specific light setup.

Scene: The number of the desired scene.

MARKER

Inserts a metadata marker into the timeline.

Description: Description to be entered for the marker.

OVERLAY_GRAPHICS

The Overlay Graphics Interface provides control and monitoring of overlay graphics for all Viz Mosart-approved graphic engines.



All OVERLAY_GRAPHICS commands share the Render parameter. This parameter can be set to send the given command to a specific engine, or to engines which currently have active graphics On Air.

Render: Specifies the engine number (from the Overlay Graphics screen) to clear the graphics from, if Parameter is empty.
This value can also be non-numeric (in the left-hand example below: Current), to clear the graphics from all the engines.

Any non-numeric value (including the empty value) has the same effect: Clear the graphics from all the engines.

Parameter field value has a higher precedence than the value of Render.

For a detailed description, see section Overlay Graphics Interface of the Viz Mosart Administrator Guide.

Action: 

CLEAR
Take out all on-air overlay graphics.

CONTINUE
If the current overlay graphics contains stop points/triggers, this command continues the timeline.
The Parameter can be either one of the Mosart graphics destinations (channels) or a valid graphics ID.
If the Parameter-field is not empty, and the value given is not found among the destinations configured in the Viz Mosart OverlayGraphics, then this is considered to be a graphics ID.
In such cases, the destination is searched for in the configured destinations from within the OverlayGraphics settings based on the value of the Render-field (which is the engine ID).
Possible values for the Value-field:

STRICT
The shortcut is executed only if the graphics contain continue points.

<empty>: Applies to all the graphics.

PRETAKE NEXT
With this command, the next overlay graphics in the timeline are taken in.
Parameter field can contain a graphics Handler name (WALL or DSK etc). This value overrides the value in Render.

TAKE LAST OUT
This command takes out the last overlay graphics which have been taken in. Render value has no effect.
In the Parameter field, it is possible to enter a graphics Handler name (WALL or DSK etc.).

TAKE MANUAL OUT
This command takes out overlay graphics which have been set to wait for a manual take out.
Parameter field specifies the name of the destination to take out the graphics from.

Note

For versions before Viz Mosart 5.5.0, the TAKE MANUAL OUT command would also take out overlay graphics set to wait for background end or story end. If this functionality is needed, use the TAKE ALL OUT command (below) introduced in Viz Mosart 5.5.0.

TAKE ALL OUT
This command takes out all overlay graphics currently on air.
Parameter field specifies the name of the destination to take out the graphics from.

TAKE NAMED OVERLAY
This command is to take a specific named overlay graphic item to air via a keyboard shortcut.
Parameter field holds ItemId. If blank, use current item.
Value=Slug.

MACRO
For graphics systems that support macro recall, this recalls a macro on the defined engine(s).
Parameter field is the name of the macro to execute.

For VIZRT graphics, two special macros are available:

  • INITIALIZE (or INITIALISE): Initialize the playlist.

  • CLEANUP: Clear the playlist.

  • CLEAR: CTRL + X

  • CONTINUE: SHIFT+F11








  • PRETAKE NEXT: CTRL + O

  • TAKE LAST OUT: HOME

  • TAKE MANUAL OUT:
    SHIFT + HOME

  • TAKE NAMED OVERLAY:
    If blank, use current item

Parameter: The Parameter value has varying functionality depending on the chosen command, specifying the destination to clear the graphics from.

Value: This field is ignored.

SET_AUX_CROSSPOINT

Sets a crosspoint on one of the AUX buses on the mixer.

Bus: 1-16.

CrossPoint: As defined, for example INP1-6.

SET_CROSSPOINT

Sets a crosspoint on the vision mixer.

MixEffect:

PP

ME1

ME2

ME3

ME4

M_RIP

M_OTH

Bus: The ME, bus (A, B, C, D or keyers)

Buses C and D are used for video switchers supporting M/Es effects with 4 layers (for example, with vizrt-ips).

CrossPoint: INP1-6.

SET_CURRENT_ME

Sets a given ME On Air.

MixEffect:

PP

ME1

ME2

ME3

ME4

M_RIP

M_OTH

RUNDOWN_NCS_RESYNC

Initializes a reconnect to the NRCS.

-

SEQUENCE

Control a sequence as defined in a template.

Applies to all secondary items, including lower third graphics and accessories. 

Action:

START
Restart a previously stopped sequence.

STOP
Stop a running sequence.

STARTLOOP
Set a running sequence to start looping.

STOPLOOP
Stop running a looped sequence in loop

In a rundown loaded in the Viz Mosart UI, you can perform this operation with:
Right-click on a story > Edit > Save story as sequence.

STUDIOSETUP

Changes the current studio setup (template set) loaded.

Name: Name of the desired studio setup.

VIDEOWALLMODE

Toggles a mode where key parts of production are shifted via an ME to a connected video wall
(for example, a video server ripple but not camera switching).

MixEffect:

PP

ME1

ME2

ME3

ME4

M_RIP

M_OTH

It is not recommended to use this feature without consulting Viz Mosart support.

TAKE_SERVER_TO_PROGRAM

Take a video server port to Program on a selected ME. 

MixEffect:

PP

ME1

ME2

ME3

ME4

M_RIP

M_OTH

Transitionrate: In frames

Example: A video clip is running on a video wall. The shortcut can then be used to take the last used/active video server to Program.

TRANSITION_TYPE

Sets the transition type to use on the next transition.

TransitionType: 

CUT
Set the transition to be mix with value = 0
MIX
Set the transition to be mix with the specified value as number of frames
WIPE
Set the transition to be wipe with the specified value as number of frames
EFFECT
Set the transition to the effect specified by number in the Value field
TOGGLE
Toggle between MIX,WIPE,EFFECT

Value: The transition rate in frames, or the effect number for the mixer effect transition type.
Not used with TOGGLE or CUT.

(Default)

TransitionType: TOGGLE
(cycle through the various transition types)

WEATHER

Controls the timeline of a connected Viz Weather system.

Action: 

PLAY
Start the timeline of the weather system.

CONTINUE
When a weather timeline has stop points, send Continue commands to the timeline.

GO TO FIRST
Cue the weather scene to its first page/frame.

ACCESSORIES

Pretakes an accessory. 

Action: 

TAKE_NEXT

Pretake requires the accessory template to have preload enabled and a primary type to trigger the defined pretake.
Only use accessories with
in-time=0.

SET_VIDEOSERVER_SALVO

Switches to a specified video server salvo.

Salvo: Specify the salvo name.

SWITCH_GENLOCK_MODE    

Action:
TOGGLE
Toggle genlock mode.

ACTIVATE
Activate genlock mode.

DEACTIVATE
Deactivate genlock mode.

NCS

Specific control for the OpenMedia newsroom systems.

Action:  
START_STATUS
STOP_STATUS

Parameter:
RUNDOWN
STORY
ITEM

SWITCH_REHEARSAL_MODE

Action:
TOGGLE
Toggle rehearsal mode.

ACTIVATE
Activate rehearsal mode.

DEACTIVATE
Deactivate rehearsal mode.

SWITCH_VIDEOSERVER_MIRRORING

Switch mirrored video ports.

-

Toggles a switch of any mirrored video ports.

SWITCH_GRAPHICS_MIRRORING

Action:
TOGGLE
Toggle mirroring mode for graphics for full screen graphics.

ACTIVATE
Activate mirroring mode.

DEACTIVATE
Deactivate mirroring features.

RECORD

 

Command:

PREPARE
Cue a recording.

START
Start a recording previously PREPAREd.

STOP
Stop a recording previously STARTed.

DELETE

Recorder: A user-defined name to be used for a recording, tied to ClipName and PortName.
Set in the PREPARE command and then used by the START and STOP commands. A value of Default selects the default recorder.

ClipName:
(PREPARE only): The name of the clip to be created.

Note: It is possible to include the current gallery/studio, template set, and time in the name of the created clip. For details please refer to section Video Server, MAM and Database Connection Strings in the Viz Mosart Administrator Guide (ClipNamePattern property).

 PortName (PREPARE only): The name of the video port where the recording shall take place. Note that this port has to be part of the “Rec” virtual video port group.
Default value is “Rec”.

Recorder: A value of DEFAULT selects the default recorder.

PortName (PREPARE only):
Default value is Rec.

Note: For the setup of recording ports, please refer to section AV Automation Devices Video Servers in the Viz Mosart Administrator Guide.

QUICKEVENT

Command:

NEXT_ITEM
Select the next item (down).

NEXT_GROUP_ITEM
Select the next group-selected item (down).

PREVIOUS_ITEM
Select the previous item (up).

PREVIOUS_GROUP_ITEM
Select the previous pre-selected item (up).

TAKE_SELECTED
Attempt to put the selected item to air.

TAKE_SELECTED_TO_WALL
Takes the selected item to the wall item specified in the parameter. See section Template Router.

PREVIEW_SELECTED
Attempt to put the current selected item to preview.

PREVIEW_SELECTED_TO_WALL
Put the selected item to the selected wall salvo preview wall item specified in the parameter. See section Template Router.

PRELOAD_SELECTED
Attempt to preload the current selected item to the preload port/engine if available and configured in AV Automation.

FILTER_LEFT
Switch the selected filter to the filter displayed to the left of the currently selected filter (this also works in the Quick Access Panel, QAP).

FILTER_RIGHT
Switch the selected filter to the filter displayed to the right of the currently selected filter (this also works in the QAP).

CLEAR_SELECTION
All selected and group-selected marks are removed.

TOGGLE_SELECT
Mark the current item in the list as group-selected. The group selected items can be iterated with NEXT_GROUP_ITEM and PREVIOUS_GROUP_ITEM.

LOWERTHIRD_ACTION_SELECTED

Put the selected lower third in the Quick Access tab based on the (mandatory) value of Parameter.

Parameter:

  • DEFAULT: Take in only

  • AUTO: Take in if not On Air
                Take next continue point if On Air and has continue points
                Take out if On Air and no more continue points

  • CONTINUE: Take next continue point

  • TAKEIN: Take in only (same as DEFAULT)

  • TAKEOUT: Take out (even if there are more continue points lef

VIDEO_PORT

 
Send a specific command directly to a specific video port. 

Action: What action to perform on clip assigned to port:

PLAY_PAUSE
Play or Pause assigned clip

STOP
Stop assigned clip

CUE
Cue assigned clip

RECUE
ReCue assigned clip

SET_LOOP
Tells the video player to loop the current clip

PLAY_TAIL
Skip to end of clip and start playing. Specify a Parameter (see below). 

CUE_TAIL
Same as PLAY_TAIL but does not start to play.

VideoPort: Name of the video port for sending commands to.

Parameter: Used for PLAY_TAIL and CUE_TAIL commands.
Specified length from end or start of clip to skip to. Use negative number to count from end.
For example, -10 to skip to 10 seconds before end of clip. Used for rehearsal.

Tip: For additional control possibilities, refer to the section Video Port Control Commands.

Not applicable for all video servers, behavior varies depending on video server type.
Is not visible in the rundown (only visible in Template Router)

DEVICE_PROPERTY

Parameter1:

AUDIO

CAMERACONTROL

Parameter2: String variable

Parameter3: Additional optional control value

USER_MESSAGE

Generate an arbitrary logging message

Message:
Insert a simple log message to inject into logging when this button is pressed.

When activated, adds the specified text string to all connected logs.

This is useful for the operator in fault-finding situations, where, a known message string can be pushed into the log, for example, at the point of a troublesome production situation.

OVERLAY_TO_MANUAL

Convert all lower thirds(overlays) to manual for the current, preview or selected story.

The control command OVERLAY_TO_MANUAL has three optional parameters:

Target: The type of story to be converted

SELECTED
(default)The selected story in the GUI.

PREVIEW
The next story

ONAIR
The on air story

Handlers: Comma-separated list of handler names.
Empty list means all handlers.
Example: WALL,DSK. 

TakeOutMethod: Method for the converted overlays to be taken out.

AUTOMATIC (default)

  • MANUAL
    Converts all lower-thirds in the specified Target with the specified Handlers to MANUAL.
    - If no handler name is specified, it converts all lower-thirds in Target to MANUAL.
    If TakeOutMethod is set to MANUAL, the converted overlays also have to be taken out manually. Otherwise they are taken out (automatically) after the specified duration.

Defaults:

Target: SELECTED

STORY_ACTION

Invoke an action on a target story. 

Target: The type of story to be converted, either:

SELECTED
(default) The selected story. Used for GUI.

PREVIEW
The next story

ONAIR
The on air story

Action: 

TOGGLE_COUNT_DOWN_TO
(Not available for ONAIR) Toggle the target story count down to the target story.

SET_AS_NEXT
(Not available for PREVIEW or ONAIR) Set the target story as next.

SET_AS_NEXT_AND_SKIP
(Not available for ONAIR) Set the target story as next and skip any remaining items.

TOGGLE_LOCK
Toggle the lock story from NCS update on the target story.

REMOVE
(Not available for ONAIR) Remove the target story.

LOOP_START
Set the start loop at the target story.

LOOP_END
Set the end loop at the target story.

LOOP_CLEAR
Clears any loops in the rundown.

APPEND_ITEMS_TO_CURRENT
Take all items of target story and append them after the current on air item.

This command can replace functionality in the Story context menu with a shortcut.

Can only be used from the Viz Mosart UI.

ENGINE_SWITCHER

Action:

INIT
Reset the Engine Switcher status. Typically used at rundown reload.

PRESET_STYLE
Jump back to the previous preset.

GOTO_PREVIOUS_PRESET
Toggle between the last preset applied and the previous one.

PresetName:

Name of Preset, created in Viz Engine.

Transition:
CUT

TAKE

STORY_RECORDER

See section Story Recorder Mode.

Additional Control Command Actions

In addition to being assigned to shortcut keys, control commands can be:

  • Set into the Viz Mosart timeline (from the NRCS), using written commands. For example, using a textual command, either as a machine command in iNews or like this in ENPS.

    This command performs a DVE FORWARD four seconds into the main item:

    (**COMMAND=DVE FORWARD <00:04**)

  • Attached to templates as continue points. See Control Commands in Templates below.

  • Attached to templates to be automatically performed when a template goes on-air or off-air. See Control Commands in Templates below.

  • Used for changing the template set.

  • Used for changing the graphics profile .

  • Used for setting the system in AUTOTAKE-mode.

Parameters with Placeholders

Control command parameters may contain placeholders which can be replaced with values found in the fields of the Viz Mosart item which is currently on-air.
Refer to the Viz Mosart Administrator Guide, under section AV Automation > Template Editor > Working with Templates > Control Commands in Templates, topic Command Values and Parameters.

Control Commands in Templates

For further details of the control commands that can be attached to a template, please refer to the Viz Mosart Administrator Guide, section AV Automation > Template Editor.