TextMachine 3D Tutorials

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Preset Management and Playback
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In this tutorial you will learn how to:

 

 

Save your Compositions as Presets, Organize and Playback them

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Introduction

The Machine State Presets" Window can be used to capture Machine State output for faster access later in time, while you are playing with TextMachine 3D.

Machine State presets can be captured from current output or batch loaded from File. The Machine State Presets can also be batch saved to file for a later use.

Every TextMachine 3D Preset you build with the Fonts installed on your PC, your favorite Backgrounds, Effect Textures, Masks and Dictionaries references these Objects in your File System.

For your convenience, the last Machine State Preset Layout is loaded when you start TextMachine 3D.

If you want to have empty Machine State Presets when TextMachine 3D starts, clear the Machine State Presets before exiting.

 

How to Save, Load and Organize Presets

  • To open the "Machine State Presets" Window click on the "Presets" button in the main toolbar located in the main user interface.

  • To add the current machine state as Preset click on the "Capture" button in the "Machine State Presets" window.

  • To Save the selected Preset(s) click the "Save" button in "Machine State Presets" window. 
    Note: If you select more than one Preset, a numbered file sequence of Presets will be generated with the filename given.

  • To save all Presets to a numbered file sequence with the filename given click the "Save All" button in "Machine State Presets" window.

  • To save your Preset configuration as playlist click the "Save Playlist" button in "Machine State Presets" window.
     

  • To load Presets into "Machine State" Presets window use the "Load" , "Load All" and "Load Playlist" buttons.

  • To remove a Preset click the "Remove" button in "Machine State Presets" window. To reset click the "Dust Bin" button.

 

How to Playback Machine State Presets

  • To output a preset double click, right click, or select it and press enter in "Machine State Presets" window. You can also use Number Keys 1 trough 9 to output Machine State Presets. 0 Resets output.
    Note: You can also control Machine State Presets with MIDI

  • To automate playback of loaded presets, click the "Play" button.

  • Randomized/Looped playback is toggled by the "Randomize" button

  • To overlay one Preset to the other while changing preset enable the "Overlay"   button

  • To adjust playback and overlay time adjust the respective sliders.

 

 

Create Cues to Playback Presets at a Defined Time of the Day

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Introduction 

The Cue Editor can be used to automate preset playback in a defined sequence and timeline.
Use this functionality to program exactly timed shows or informative video panels.

Notes: 
Please note that a Cue is bound to Machine State Presets.
Machine State Presets must be saved to File before they can be loaded into a Cue
If you remove a Preset from Machine State Presets Window it will be also removed from Cue if assigned

How to Create and Playback  Cues

  • To open the "Cue Editor" and enable Cues click the "CUE" button in "Machine State Presets" window.

  • To set the playback time for the Preset(s) to be added to the CUE set the time in format "HH:MM:SS" at the bottom of the "CUE Editor" window.

  • To add a Preset to the Cue keep the ALT key on your Keyboard pressed and click the desired Preset in "Machine State Presets" window. You can also select the preset in "Machine State Presets" window and click the "Add Preset" or "Add All Presets" button in the "CUE Editor" window.

  • To change the timing of one or more Presets in the CUE, select the presets in "CUE Editor" window, set the Time in "HH:MM:SS" at the bottom of the window then click "Set".

  • To change the position of a Preset in the CUE, click the "Move Up" and "Move Down" buttons in the "CUE Editor" window.

  • To playback the Presets in the CUE at a defined time of the day, choose the "Absolute Time" from the drop down list in "CUE Editor" window.

  • To playback the Presets in the CUE with a defined duration, select "Defined Duration" from the drop down list in "CUE Editor" window.

  • To Save and Load a CUE use the buttons and respectively in "CUE Editor" window.

  • To delete Preset from the CUE or to reset the CUE click the buttons and respectively in the "CUE Editor" window.

  • To start/stop playback of the CUE toggle the "Play" button in "CUE Editor" window.

 

 

Deploy Presets to Other Computers

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Introduction

All Fonts, Images, Videos, Dictionaries, Free Frame Effects you add to your Presets are referenced into the TextMachine 3D file when saved.

To correctly deploy TextMachine 3D Presets on another Computer

1) Load the desired Presets into the "Machine State Preset" window. 
2) Select the Presets in the "Machine State Preset" window and right click the "Save" Button

Note: All referenced Files and Fonts will be copied to the Folder containing the preset. 
Additionally a HTML file will be created listing the Fonts used. The Fonts are linked to Google search. 
Click on the Font link to find them in Internet for download.

3) Copy your Preset Folder to another PC.

Note: Fonts on the Target PC will automatically be installed by TextMachine 3D, when a newly deployed Preset is loaded. The Windows Font Folder will popup when new Fonts are being installed.

 

Auto Power On TextMachine 3D when the Computer starts

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Introduction

TextMachine 3D playback can be automated for PCs/ systems that need to automatically start TextMachine 3D when powered (booted) without user intervention.

For this purpose a command line mode has been  implemented.

The command line has to be provided as following:

PlayList; PlayPreset; OutputMonitor; FullScreen Or Resolution WxH; AlwaysOnTop

  • PlayList - Play List filename to be loaded (See Machine State Presets)

  • PlayPreset - Index of Preset to start playback with (See Machine State Presets) e.g. 1,2,5 etc.

  • OutputMonitor - Monitor index for output (See Main Control ) e.g. 1,2 etc.

  • FullScreen Or Resolution WxH - Full Screen switch  (See Main Control ) Possible values 1=Full Screen, 0=Normal Window, WidthxHeight e.g. 2400x600 for a fixed resolution.

  • AlwaysOnTop - Output always on top  (See Main Control ) Possible values 1=Always on Top, 0= Not Always on Top

Example

Suppose you have the play list you want automatically playback when the system starts located in C:\MyPlayList.TM3DPL

And you want to send the output Full Screen and Always on Top  to Monitor 2 starting with preset #3.

Your call to TextMachine 3D will be as follows:

"C:\Program Files\TextMachine3DV8\TextMachine3DV8.exe" C:\MyPlayList.TM3DPL;3;2;1;1

If you want to specify a fixed resolution, say 2400x600, your call to TextMachine 3D will be as follows:

"C:\Program Files\TextMachine3DV8\TextMachine3DV8.exe" C:\MyPlayList.TM3DPL;3;2;2600x600;1

Be sure to put the path to TextMachine3DV8.exe between Double Quotes (")

Note: 
You can build a Windows Shortcut with this command line and place that Shortcut in your Windows "Start Up" folder.
See Windows Help to obtain more Information about Shortcuts and command lines for shortcuts.

 

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