By Dale Farris, Secretary
Golden Triangle PC Club
May 2005

Operational Overview

Visual Communicator 2 (VC2) is a new product line that builds on the original Visual Communicator (VC1) technology with a new engine and new features. Like VC1, there are levels of VC 2 called Web, Pro and Studio. Serious Magic is also offering an upgrade package for VC1 users that want to move to VC2. The upgrade will upgrade whatever level of VC1 you have (Web, Pro or Studio) to the same level of VC2. The upgrade is available on a CD-ROM disc shipped to you. Alternatively, if you have a broadband internet connection, you can choose to immediately download the same software that's on the upgrade CD. If you are in North America you will want the NTSC version. Most other countries will require the PAL version. If you have questions whether you need NTSC or PAL see a general listing at the Serious Magic web site.

Visual Communicator 2 is the most significant upgrade ever to the VC product family. The new interface and brand new engine let you create better videos, faster than ever. You can fix mistakes or update a section without re-recording the whole video. You can start recording anywhere in your show, or replace any section you've already recorded by simply recording over it. You can even record a show, save multiple copies and then record different introductions or endings in the copies.

With VC 2 you can now make changes or add new content after you've started recording or while you're live streaming. Just drag-and-drop action trays into the action window as the show is recording (Studio version only). VC 2 also allows you to set fade in and fade out points to your audio files. In addition you can also trim video clips right in the action window, allowing you easy and precise trimming of video clips in your shows.

Visual Communicator is much faster and easier to use than editing software, yet users with no video experience whatsoever can get results in a few minutes far superior to anything they could accomplish with editing software. The reason is that Visual Communicator is based on a new process that works differently than editing. The traditional "post-production" approach of editing involves shooting video, digitizing the footage, marking each clip, creating custom graphics, sequencing the clips with graphics and effects in a timeline, and finally rendering the output video. This can be laborious and time-consuming, taking up to one hour of editing time for each finished minute of high-quality video. Visual Communicator is different, because it creates great-looking videos very fast while you're actually talking!

Until Visual Communicator there was no PC software that could create all these advanced features in real-time (meaning instantly with no waiting for rendering). Serious Magic's Ultra Engine software is the new technology inside Visual Communicator that does all this magic in real-time entirely with PC software. It's incredibly simple, very fast and yet amazingly powerful. It's so different from everything you may know or assume about creating video that you really need to see how it works firsthand.

When you see Visual Communicator 2 in action, you will fully understand the background to the name of this company, as this is truly serious magic in action!

What's New in Version 2?

Powerful New Editing Features - Flex Recording
VC2 offers a fast new way to fix mistakes made during recording or update a section without re-recording your video. VC2's new "Flex Recording" feature lets you start recording anywhere in your show, or replace any section you’ve already recorded, by simply recording over it. With Flex Recording you can even record different introductions or endings to create customized versions of a video without having re-record the whole video.

Faster and Easier Clip Handling
Cut the time it takes to create videos with VC2's new clip handling. Now you can see how long video clips are and exactly where they end right in the action window. Change their length just by grabbing and moving the new on-screen handles. It's called "In-Place Trimming" and it brings new power to VC’s fast and easy interface.

On-The-Fly Editing
With VC2 you can now make changes or add new content after you’ve started recording or while you're live streaming. Just drop trays into the action window as it's scrolling. This gives you new ways to improve your shows such as responding interactively to questions with a graphic or video clip in mid-presentation. Live presentations or streaming shows will benefit as you can respond to viewer's questions and answer them immediately by displaying complementary graphics or charts.

Audio Fade-in and Fade-out
Another popular request from users is a way to fade audio in at the beginning of clips and fade it out at the end. VC2 now gives you "Audio Fades", which can be added to audio and video clips. You can fade in, fade out, or both, and each allows you to choose the length of the fade.

Faster, Better, Stronger Review Anywhere
To go along with Flex Recording, "Review Anywhere" has been added. You no longer need to replay an entire show from the beginning to see a change you've made at the end. Now you can just scroll to any location and start viewing the show from there. You'll see all your recordings and clips play back frame accurately in real-time.

Real-Time Scrubbing
Scrubbing is the powerful ability to see each frame of your show play as it scrolls through the red bar. Not just when playing but even as you scroll the window up and down to move through your show. This lets you instantly see where you are in clips, effects and a camera recordings. Among other things, this lets you choose where to record with Flex Recording. By scrubbing slowly you can even step through your show slower than real-time letting you examine each element and frame.

Next Generation Interface
VC2 also features a more modern and polished interface look with updated buttons, colors, icons, folders and more so it's not only more powerful, faster and easier, it also looks great!

More
The upgrades, improvements and refinements in VC2 don't stop here. For example, there's a whole new Undo and Redo system that goes beyond just the text in the Teleprompter. Now other changes like adding, moving, and deleting actions, effects or content can be easily undone, giving you the freedom to experiment. There is not just one level of Undo/Redo. VC2 remembers up to 5,000 changes! Other improvements include adding numeric readouts and input boxes to important sliders, like color correction and V-Screen.

Input to Visual Communicator

Visual Communicator is compatible with virtually any standard webcam or camcorder connected to a PC.
Webcams
Camcorders
VCRs
PC Microphone

Output From Visual Communicator

The files Visual Communicator creates can be shared with anyone in the world via Email, websites, company networks, and more. After publishing, they can be viewed by anyone with RealOne Player or the standard Windows Media Player that's included with Microsoft Windows and freely available to Macintosh users. Visual Communicator also a includes a step-by-step Broadcast Wizard to automatically compress videos for viewers with any speed of Internet connection, from dial-up modems to broadband networks. These include RealVideo 9 and .WMV files as well as standard uncompressed AVI files which can be loaded into most multimedia software. Visual Communicator can also save your files using any standard Windows video compression codec you may have installed on your machine such as MPEG1.

Visual Communicator Pro features high resolution DV video input and full broadcast resolution output including print-to-tape and CD/DVD publishing.

Types Cameras You Can Use With Visual Communicator

Visual Communicator works with standard webcams and camcorders. If you use a camcorder you'll need a video input card in your PC, such as a Firewire (IEEE 1394) or an analog capture card. Your webcam or video input card needs to have a standard Windows software driver. Standard drivers are DirectShow compatible and are sometimes referred to as "WDM" (Windows Driver Model). Most webcams and input cards already come with WDM drivers. If your device is older you may need to visit the manufacturer's website to download a more current driver. If you aren't sure, check the device manufacturer's website to see if the device has standard Windows drivers and was designed to work with standard PC video applications (the vast majority are).

There is a pull-down menu in the Setup area of Visual Communicator that lists all of the DirectShow-compatible video devices currently attached to your computer and lets you select which one to use. If you have an analog video capture card you can also hook up a VCR and capture video clips for use in Visual Communicator.

Webcams That Are Best For Use With Visual Communicator

When considering which webcam to use, keep in mind that with webcams you generally get what you pay for. In other words, a webcam that costs $89 usually has better image quality than one costing $39. We recommend more recent models because they tend to have better quality as well as better software drivers. Many users have reported positive results with the widely available and reasonably-priced Logitech Quickcam 3000 and 4000 Pro. Regardless of which camera you have Visual Communicator is designed to give you the best results possible from your input device.

Files Visual Communicator Can Import

Simply drag-and-drop to import standard graphic, audio, and video files into Visual Communicator, such as digital camera pictures, PowerPoint slides, captured video from camcorders, and images downloaded from the Internet.

Video Files (AVI, WMV, ASF, MPG)
Pictures and Graphics (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG)
PowerPoint Slides (Pro version imports .ppt files)
Audio and Music (WAV, MP3, WMA)

Sharing Videos

You can send compressed videos in an email, place them on a website for download, stream them over the Internet, burn them on a CD, or share them on your corporate network. All your audience needs to view your shows is the RealOne Player or the standard Windows Media Player that is already installed on all Windows PCs and most Macs.

Video Cards For Use With Visual Communicator

Visual Communicator will work with just about any 3D accelerated AGP graphics card with 16MB of video memory. This includes just about any graphics card shipped in the last three years. However, for best performance we recommend using any of the GeForce or Radeon-class graphics cards. Most computers already have a suitable graphics card installed, but if your machine is older you can upgrade to a more up-to-date card starting at under $50 at many stores and online shops. Serious Magic recommends cards with 32-bit color capability for best image quality.

Video Resolutions and Formats

The standard output resolution of Visual Communicator is 320 x 240 which is optimal for Internet videos (streaming or web/emailed), videos viewed over a company network, and Video CD publishing. The user can select lower or higher resolutions as well (such as 160 x 120 for low-bandwidth dial-up video or 640 x 480). Most webcams have a useable resolution of 320 x 240, but regardless of which camera is used, the live camera input is always captured at 320 x 240 and smoothly scaled up or down to the final output resolution selected by the user. The graphics, titles, backgrounds, and pictures included with Visual Communicator are 640 x 480 and are also smoothly scaled to the final output resolution selected by the user.

You can choose to save files as RealVideo 9 or the standard compressed Windows Media format (.WMV). Both are good for email / web streaming, or uncompressed AVI which is good for exporting output to multimedia software. There is also a custom mode which allows the user to select alternative software compression codecs that they may have installed on their PC. The size of the compressed files depends on the resolution and level of compression you choose when you save. You can save multiple copies of the same show in different sizes and compression levels. Compressed file sizes are user selectable from as low 30k bits per second to many megabits per second. For Internet streaming the size you choose should be based on the type of connection your typical viewer has. If you are emailing your videos, the level of compression will effect the time it takes your viewer to receive the email containing the video. To make the process easier, Visual Communicator already has default compression settings configured for Dial-up, Cable Modem/DSL and viewers on your Network/LAN.

QuickTime Format

Currently, Visual Communicator does not directly save to QuickTime video formats. However, you can still create video files in this format. You simply need to save the video from Visual Communicator as a standard AVI file and then load it into the QuickTime stand-alone encoder software. Serious Magic is currently looking into supporting additional formats directly within Visual Communicator.

Editing Video and Making Special Graphics

Visual Communicator features a smart Wizard system that automatically customizes high-quality graphics for users as well as including a wide variety of show templates assembled by broadcast video experts. Visual Communicator is the first tool that can help just about anyone make awesome-looking video. Even if you did have a CNN studio worth of broadcast video gear on your desk and even if you could magically learn to operate it all in a few minutes, it still wouldn't make you an Emmy award-winning broadcast designer. Let's face it, the standard for "professional" looking video is set by top video artists at the television networks and everyone is used to seeing it on TV every day. It's hard for the rest of us to make video that can live up to those expectations, particularly on a limited budget, yet that's what is required to look professional these days. Most of us don't have the time or natural talent required to create the pro "look" we are all used to seeing on prime-time broadcast television. Visual Communicator's unique Wizard technology helps "the rest of us" bridge that gap and create video that we can be proud to put our name or our company's name on.

What Comes With Visual Communicator

Visual Communicator Web includes a program CD and a 130 page "Personal Broadcasting Handbook." Serious Magic continues to include a physical manual with products instead of just on-screen documentation and help files (which are also included). Visual Communicator is so easy to use that many users never open the manual to learn how to operate the software, but they still find the manual invaluable for other reasons. The manual is called the "Personal Broadcasting Handbook" because it includes quite a bit of useful information in addition to documentation about the software. This includes tips on how to get the best looking video quality possible from your webcam or camcorder (before even using Visual Communicator) and tips on setting up your workspace for best results.

Visual Communicator Web also includes a huge royalty-free media library featuring dozens of broadcast video fonts (the same ones actually used by the TV networks), over a hundred pieces of TV-style music, hundreds of video effects and broadcast graphics as well as over a hundred sound effects. Visual Communicator Web includes all this plus a professional microphone and the official V-Screen green backdrop!

Visual Communicator For the Macintosh or Linux

While Visual Communicator output videos may be viewed on other platforms, including Macintosh and Linux, the Visual Communicator program itself relies on Microsoft's DirectX and DirectShow libraries to create videos. Unfortunately, these libraries are not currently available on other platforms. Because of this Serious Magic does not expect to be able to offer Visual Communicator on other platforms in the foreseeable future.

Visual Communicator And PAL (European) Video Inputs

Input compatibility with PAL video sources is actually a function of your video capture or input card. Visual Communicator works in standard computer video resolutions, such as 320 x 240 and 160 x 120, no matter where it's used. If your video capture input card supports PAL video sources and has a DirectShow-compatible driver, everything should work fine.

Visual Communicator Software Required To Operate

Visual Communicator includes all the software necessary for basic operation on its CD. Visual Communicator requires some standard Microsoft system components, including IE 5 (or later) and DirectX 8.1 (or later) to be installed on your PC. At installation time, Visual Communicator will check which versions of these standard components you currently have installed and update your system software with newer versions only as necessary. If you've already installed more recent versions than those included with Visual Communicator then these will not be installed and your existing versions will be used.

Creating A Video CD

Visual Communicator makes a finished video file. To put that file on a Video CD you will need to have a CD-R recorder and Video CD disc burning software. Most CD recorders come with software that will take a standard AVI video file from Visual Communicator, compress it and burn it on a CD (such as Roxio's EZ CD Creator). If your recorder didn't come with software capable of making a Video CD, you can use a program called "Nero" that will turn a Visual Communicator AVI file into a Video CD.

Targeted Customers

Visual Communicator has a ton of uses in all industries and organizations. The program is a simple and cost-effective solution to improving the effectiveness of your business communications using the power of video. It allows you to capture attention, establish a personal connection with customers, investors, press and partners, and convey your message like never before.

Visual Communicator enables you to demonstrate your products or services to prospects all over the world with the effectiveness of a one-on-one presentation. You can quickly and easily create custom-tailored videos that capture attention and clearly communicate the benefits and features of your product with impact. The results are dramatic and immediately visible  with most users stating that the software actually paid for itself the first time used.

Visual Communicator is a simple-to-use, affordable solution for creating dynamic videos for church presentations in just minutes instead of hours. It allows you to quickly and easily create videos that capture attention, establish a warm, personal connection with your audience, and deliver content like never before.

Visual Communicator is a simple, cost-effective software solution that also measurably improves training effectiveness. It allows you to quickly and easily create video presentations that capture attention, establish a personal connection with your audience and deliver content like never before.

Visual Communicator can make your distance learning courses significantly more effective using the power of video. It allows you to capture attention, establish a personal connection with your students, and improve retention like never before.

Visual Communicator is easy to implement, easy to use, and it integrates seamlessly with your existing content and delivery methods. It even gives you the power to create once and then deploy for Intranet, Internet, CD-ROM and DVD. Best of all, most Visual Communicator users report that it pays for itself the first time used.

Price

$189.95

For the power and the impressive features of this amazing program, this is a bargain price.

System Configuration Requirements

933MHz Intel P- III processor or equivalent (including Intel P-IV, Intel Celeron 2, AMD Athlon or Athlon XP, or AMD DURON)
Windows 2000, XP
256MB RAM
500MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
Standard PC audio card with microphone
16MB AGP graphics card with 3D acceleration

(Note: Laptop owners should verify that they have 3D accelerated graphics hardware such as a GeForce, Radeon or Intel 830 chip)

Visual Communicator 2 has been tested and known to work with the English version of the Windows operating systems. Although users have reported success with various other languages, compatibility has not been tested by Serious Magic and thus cannot be guaranteed.

About Serious Magic

Serious Magic has revolutionized the way people communicate. As a leading developer of next-generation video software and communication tools for business, educational and professional markets, Serious Magic is changing video production by democratizing video tools that were too expensive and complex. Now anyone can benefit from the power of cutting-edge video, from business communicators and independent producers to educators and students.

Serious Magic is focused on providing complete and innovative software solutions for each of its customer segments. The company's flagship product, Visual Communicator, has garnered multiple industry awards and has received international recognition. It is the first software to enable businesses and educators to create their own videos that have the look, feel and effectiveness of a network television newscast.

ULTRA is the first software that makes high-quality chroma keying and sophisticated virtual sets dramatically easier and more practical for both studio and in-the-field video productions. Serious Magic introduced several technological advances in ULTRA. They include Vector Keying, a new approach that allows high-quality keying without a specialized studio, and VirtualTrak, a virtual set technology which replaces expensive camera tracking with virtual camera moves.

In 2004, Serious Magic introduced DV Rack, the first PC-assist, video production software designed to work with videographers during shooting to improve video quality and prevent shooting problems. In much the same way as PCs were introduced into the editing process a decade ago, DV Rack enables videographers to integrate the computer into the video shooting process while in the field.

Serious Magic, Inc. was founded in early 2001 by a team of seasoned industry executives with a twelve-year track record that includes two of the most popular digital media tools of all time; the best-selling Snappy Video Snapshot and the Emmy award-winning Video Toaster. Privately held and located in Folsom, California, Serious Magic's vision is to use its proprietary software engines to remove the complexity and high costs from video technology, enabling it to serve new, fast-growing markets. With three ground-breaking product lines already introduced and over twenty industry awards, including seven "Best of Year" awards, Serious Magic and its world-class engineering teams are well on their way to achieving this ambitious goal.

The name Serious Magic was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's observation:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Arthur C. Clarke

Contact

Michelle Gallina
Director of Marketing
Serious Magic
101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 250
Folsom, California 95630
916-985-8041
FAX 916-985-8095
mgallina@seriousmagic.com
www.seriousmagic.com