Those days ended for me when I came across the PlaybackPro Plus USB Controller and software from DT Videolabs. The controller is one of two they produce in order to control the PlaybackPro (and PlaybackPro Plus) software. I used the PlaybackPro Plus keyboard for the purposes of review and also used the PlaybackPro Plus software.
The 40 key PlaybackPro Plus USB controller provides quick and accurate access to all PlaybackPro Plus show controls and certain navigation controls and clip settings at the touch of a button. And they’re buttons that give you that tactile feedback that is missing from so many video playback apps. Granted, there are plenty of controllers that can accomplish playback, especially in the VJ’s world. But those are built for that world, and the corporate/live event industry doesn’t really need to be able to warp/scratch/stutter a CEO’s dedication speech. I found that it surpasses the capabilities of DDRs, DVD players and videotape machines, and is tailored to the unique demands of the professional presentation industry.
The PlaybackPro Plus software couldn’t have been easier to install, and the install for the controller was a breeze as well. PlaybackPro Plus sets the standard for full high-definition and standard definition playback. (It’s Mac-centric, so all of you Windows users will have to sit by and wait.) I used a MacPro 2.8 with 14 GB RAM and a RAID 0 internal SATA for the testing. DT Videolabs recommends all clips be in Apple’s ProRes 422 format and stored on a RAID 0 drive internally or externally for the most reliable playback.
The Hardware
PlaybackPro Plus Software/Controller is a multi-channel player that does cuts and dissolves between clips, has variable fade and kill settings, and allows individual control of each clip’s gain, saturation, gamma, volume and black levels. It automatically adjusts to the output resolution and aspect ratio. Content in any ratio (4:3, 16:9, etc.) has infinite adjustability through sizing, stretching and cropping, yet it’s completely non-destructive to original files. All of these controls were well laid out in the interface and easily accessible. The learning curve was virtually 0. Almost any file type can be played back by adding easy-to-find QuickTime components. If your switching system accepts high resolution computer inputs like VGA, DVI, DisplayPort or HDMI, the Mac can be plugged directly into the system. If you require SDI or gen-locked component signals, a digital DVI to SDI/Component/Composite SD/HD frame-buffer like the original Matrox MXO (not MXO2) works very well.
Clean clip aborting by fading out audio and video, full start and end point controls, easy fade-in and fade-out settings, time-elapsed and time-remaining counters, as well as convenient Goto 10, Goto 20 and Goto 30 buttons for rehearsal cue-to-cues are just a few of its many features. PlaybackPro Plus can be used with their SimpleSync application for multiple machine synchronization (sync rolls).
Layout
The 40-key keyboard is standard plastic fare, but it had a decent angle to it as well as a slightly rounded dimple below the main center section for resting your wrist. I’m a righty, but I could see a lefty using this controller just as easily. By resting my wrist on the dimple, I was able to hit the Take button easily with my thumb, and the Kill button with my pinky. The whole unit is basically a half-keyboard with a clear division of the buttons on left and right being Preview and Program respectively as well as Loop, Freeze, and Link buttons in the center. Preview buttons are all in blue and Program buttons are all red, with Loop/Temp in yellow. That helps if you’re under fire and not really wanting to actually read a label. The big, double-wide, green Take button on the left side of the board screams “Hit Me,” as does the same-sized red Kill key on the opposite side. There are also Mark In/Out buttons for preview and program. The PlaybackPro Plus software gives extensive control over looping, freeze and for linking referenced clips, and the controller offers easy access to these functions.
I did a simple drag-and-drop with a 1080p test file directly into the cuelist area, highlighted it, and it was available in the preview screen of the GUI.
After loading the clip into the Playlist, hitting Take played the clip instantaneously (with a satisfying clunk) and all controls jumped to the Program section. If there are fades, loops, or links already set to the clip, those are reflected upon playback. Big, easy-to-read numeric counters are displayed over the preview section as well as playback. And, just as easily, hitting Kill (again, with that satisfying clunk) faded the clip from the screen.
Summing Up
The PlaybackPro Plus controller is designed primarily for the corporate/industrial video portion of the industry, but I could see it finding use in the concert/touring biz if other methods of playback haven’t been explored. In other words, companies with a need for easy, reliable playback of clips can do so with something more than a software “button.” Unlike most software applications, the tactile nature of this controller gives an operator the distinct feel of something actually “playing.” Since the software/dongle combo can be installed on multiple machines, a smaller company can save resources by using the controller on different gigs — where there might be a different playback computer than what they have in the shop. The buttons are well-laid-out, and the controller had a great angle (at least for my wrist). There is a smaller cousin of this USB controller for use with the PBP 2.x software as well. The PBP+ software has extensive features which are a little beyond the scope of this review, but are well-supported by the controller.
After all is said and done, the PlaybackPro Plus software/controller effectively turn your Mac into a full-blown DDR with capabilities far beyond most dedicated pieces of hardware. If you already own the computer, the controller and software can serve as a minimal investment yielding professional results.
PlaybackPro Plus from DT Videolabs
What It Is: A multi-channel player that can help users manipulate video presentations without affecting the original files.
Who It’s For: Mac users looking to bolster their playback confidence — and to sleep better at night.
Pros: Easy installation, easy to use, well-suited for the corporate/live event world.
Cons: Mac-centric; not available for those in PC land.
How Much: Keyboard controller: $399.99; USB Enabler Key: $899.99; PlaybackPro Plus single software license: $699.99.
Jeff Gooch, a.k.a. Projectionfreak, is a video technician/stagehand in Indianapolis who can’t get his hands on enough software. Formerly from the ranks of the Squints, he writes about large-format projection, projection mapping, video and all the technology that makes them go. His blog is at www.projectionfreak.com.
