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Panasonic “Preview Out” Explained
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Most high-end video mixers permit the viewing (or previewing) of the video buss that is opposite of whatever is being sent to “Record Out” or “Program Out”. This allows the user to see what is next in line to come up on screen when a transition (dissolve, wipe, etc.) is performed.

This “preview” signal is sent to it’s own separate video monitor and at any given time, it’s signal will be just the opposite of whatever is being sent to your editing VCR. The Panasonic digital video mixers use a slightly different method of permitting “preview” on their Panasonic MX-10, MX-12, AVE-5, AVE-7, MX-30, and MX-50.

In the upper right-hand corner of the Panasonic digital video mixer, there are three blue buttons that are in the “Program Out” section and they are labeled “A”, “B”, and “Effects”.

If you are sending a video signal that is originating from the “A” buss of the mixer (the T-Bar is in the up or “A” position at the time of the recording), this signal will go out of the “Program Out”, regardless if it is assigned to either “Effects” or “A”.

If you push “B” in the “Program Out” section, whatever signal present on the “B” buss will leave the mixer and go on to your editing deck, regardless of where the T-Bar is set. As a matter of fact, you can switch or toggle between the “A” and “B” bus without even having to touch the T-Bar or the Auto-Take button just by pushing either “A” or “B” in the “Program Out” section. However, you do have to push “Effects” in the “Program Out” section to let the video mixer perform transitions.

So what good is the “Preview Out” on Panasonic digital video mixer?

Well, here’s a scenario:

You have a tape playing back through, let’s say, Input 1 of your Panasonic digital mixer. You assign this #1 input to the “A” buss and, of course, you have your T-Bar in the “A” buss position and you’re now recording that particular signal onto your editing VCR.

You also have another tape from another VCR playing back and it is assigned to Input 2 on the “B” buss and pretty soon you will be performing a circle wipe to it from the “A” buss. However, you would like to see what the circle wipe is going to look like before you perform it (border color, auto-take transition speed, positioner location, etc.), but you don’t want to stop the entire recording process just to look at it.

Since your current playback signal is already coming out of the digital mixer from the “A” buss, press “A” in the “Program Out” section and the signal will continue to go on to your recording deck just as it was. But now you can go ahead and perform a “test” run of your upcoming transition. You will see the transition on your Preview monitor, however, it will not be actually recorded on your recording VCR.

Now that you’re satisfied with your circle wipe transition, first return the T-Bar to the “A” buss and then push the “Effects” button in the “Program Out” section, and when you’re ready, effect the transition (with T-Bar or Auto-Take). This time the effect transition will go onto your recording VCR.

Just remember, the Preview Output signal will always show the “effects” mode. And if the “Program Out” section is assigned to “Effects”, it too, will show the same picture. It’s only when you change the status of the main outgoing signal in the “Program Out” section to “A” or “B”, will you see two different signals on your Preview monitor and your main recording VCR monitor. (A detailed review of the function is on Volume III of the “The MX-50: Shaken, Not Stirred.” available from Studio 1 Productions. See the catalog section of this website.)

Panasonic AVE5, AVE7, MX30, MX50, MX20, AVE55 digital video mixer tips and trick article.

Please Note:  We DO NOT sell or provide support for video mixers.
We offer instructional videos on the Panasonic MX-50, MX-30 and AVE-7.
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