TalkShow Features In-Depth

Essentials

Broadcast-Style Video from Regular Skype Calls
With automatic aspect ratio conversions and balanced audio, and without requiring a scan converter.

Optimized On-Air Video
NewTek’s proprietary, real-time video processing engine incorporates superb scaling, format conversion, aspect, and color correction routines; limit return video resolution in order to prioritize the quality of incoming call video.

Built-In Video Quality Checks
Failover to a custom, still image when unforeseen bandwidth constraints occur below operator-defined preset value.

SDI I/O
Output a live video call to any SDI production switcher or router, and accept any SDI input source to send a return signal back to the remote caller over Skype.

Multiple, Simultaneous Skype Calls
Group call or queue any combination of 4 contacts on TalkShow VS 4000, or stack multiple TalkShow VS 100 units, managing all calls within a single interface.

Access to Anyone with a Skype Account
...and to anyone else who downloads and installs the Skype app on their device, and signs up for an account.

Setup

Video Over IP
Integrate TalkShow into IP video workflows via NDI™, NewTek’s innovative Network Device Interface technology, which allows TalkShow to send Skype video calls across a standard network to TriCaster® and other NDI-enabled systems and devices, and receive NDI video sources over IP for return to caller. TriCaster will also send a tally notification downstream to TalkShow to indicate when a Skype call is on air.

Small and Simple
Why take up precious space? Each TalkShow system occupies only 1RU of your rack—integrating easily into any facility, control room, or production environment, whether in single or multi-unit installations.

Better Return Sound
With TalkShow’s exclusive support for multi-channel audio on input for signals coming into the system over the network or SDI, operators can have multiple, selectable audio feeds—such as mix-minus—available for use as the return audio back to the caller.

Audio Over IP
You heard right. In addition to audio over IP via NDI, TalkShow includes fully integrated Dante™ audio support, interfacing with other audio devices utilizing the Dante networking protocol from Audinate®. In addition to sending and receiving audio over the network, and versatile audio source selection, TalkShow supports extensive management of network audio signals, including gain, equalization, compression, metering, and more.

Signal Monitoring
Calibrate your video and ensure your signals are broadcast-compliant with built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope displays accessible right from the TalkShow VS 4000 user interface.

System Restore
TalkShow has a comprehensive restore function that allows the operator to undo system changes by returning to the factory default settings at any time.

On-Air

Talk Back
Communicate off-air with Skype callers directly, with a headset and the click of a button—or an external GPI trigger. With TalkShow’s Talk Back function, operators, producers, or directors can speak with callers as easily as they do with in-studio talent and crew, enabling them to prepare callers, provide instructions, and relay additional information before they go to air.

Color Correction
Outside the controlled studio environment, when lighting conditions or color characteristics are less than ideal, easily compensate with TalkShow. It’s the only solution to include NewTek’s fully configurable proc amp settings and auto color correction, so picture characteristics can be optimized dynamically in real-time—without requiring monitoring. Remote callers’ video can be all over the place, but you can make sure your viewers see a professional presentation.

Preview Monitoring
The promise of full-motion Skype calls should pay off with full-motion previews, so operators know exactly how the call is proceeding. Where other solutions may make you rely on video previews with a frame rate of approximately 5 frames per second, TalkShow supports full-motion, high-quality video previews for real-time monitoring of input and output signals.

Tally Support
Always know who’s talking. TalkShow is the only Skype TX solution to support a tally overlay visual for return to callers, indicating when they are on air. The tally overlay is customizable, allowing for a show logo or graphic of choice—not only to let callers know when their conversation is live, but to provide additional branding opportunities for your program as well.

Built-In Video Screen with Tally
TalkShow VS 100 operators can view a full-color preview via the video screen built into the faceplate for instant recognition of the caller currently connected to that system, with tally support to indicate whether the caller is live or on standby—quick and easy verification of which TalkShow system is on air in a multi-system installation.
Available only in TalkShow VS 100.

Professional Audio Tools
Incoming and outgoing audio signals are fully configurable, with gain control, compressor/limiter, and 7-band equalizer on inputs and outputs to enhance sound quality, adjust levels for consistency, and prevent clipping or overdriving. TalkShow also includes VU meter displays that are configurable in all common professional audio scales, including dBFS, dBU, and dBVU, for accurate, real-time audio monitoring.

Configurable Monitoring
TalkShow VS 4000 supports dual-display monitoring and control, optional picture-in-picture views of incoming and outgoing video signals, and allows you select from different multi-view layouts and independently apply your choice of video overlays—including safe areas, center cross, and audio VU meters—to each call monitor to configure the workspace to your preference.
Available only in TalkShow VS 4000.

Minimal Latency
TalkShow is optimized to provide the lowest latency when integrated into and genlocked within broadcast environments.

Post Show

Record and Re-Use
TalkShow VS 100 enables full-bandwidth recording of any call onto external USB 3.0 or SAN storage with the click of a button—so you can capture the call while it’s happening, and use it in a later broadcast or a whole new program. And both models are compatible with the NewTek IsoCorder Pro and NDI IsoCorder for remote recording over the network via NDI. Calls are saved as distinct QuickTime files that work with every major non-linear editor and all other NewTek systems for archive, post-production, and playback.
Available only in TalkShow VS 100.