Application
Video operators apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. Even though they may work directly to a supervisor, they frequently carry a high level of responsibility for their own activities and are often responsible for supervising others. Teamwork is, therefore, an essential component of the job. Duties include preparation and set-up of video equipment, management of video recordings and maintaining the technical quality of vision and audio signals. Video operators need to be proficient in the use of test equipment and the functional application of technical standards. Other specific skills include the ability to dub, transfer and edit content for transmission and production purposes. Skills associated with editing at this level are covered in: CUFPOS401A Edit screen content for fast turnaround. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Set up for video recording | 1. Liaise with relevant production personnel to confirm production and transmission requirements and ensure accuracy of relevant documentation 2. Note timelines for production and transmission requirements and implement strategies and procedures to meet deadlines 3. Identify and note specific instructions relating to addition of time codes, durations and cue points 4. Ensure equipment is compatible with designated video formats and undertake conversions of source materials as required 5. Contribute creative solutions to enhance best outcomes for productions and transmissions 6. Align, connect and prepare equipment consistent with recording protocols, test for faults and take necessary steps to resolve where necessary |
Capture and monitor feeds | 7. Select or liaise with master control to access required feeds for recording broadcast materials and patch to appropriate equipment 8. Record broadcast material as identified by production or transmission schedules or as advised by relevant production personnel 9. Arrange ingestion of pre-recorded materials required from other sources, including insertion of time codes where applicable 10. Monitor and adjust quality of vision and audio feeds against technical standards for relevant enterprise 11. Liaise with relevant production areas during recording sessions to request changes to feeds and to advise of problems with quality of feeds 12. Select required stock and consumables and ensure that supplies are sufficient to meet recording schedule needs 13. Select and set time code type to meet post-production requirements and ensure time code is set to synchronise with other equipment where necessary 14. Complete required video operations and store materials in logical sequence to facilitate production requirements |
Replay for transmission and production | 15. Review production or transmission documentation in collaboration with relevant production and transmission personnel to verify production and transmission requirements 16. Ensure nominated replay segments are identified, labelled and stored in sequence and complete documentation according to enterprise procedures 17. Cue tapes and recordings accurately according to transmission and production requirements 18. Set replay parameters accurately and respond promptly to replay directions from relevant transmission or production personnel 19. Record and rewind instant replays where applicable and in accordance with production and transmission requirements 20. Maintain close monitoring of incoming and outgoing signals and adjust as needed |
Finalise video operations | 21. Finalise documentation and distribute to relevant production and transmission personnel according to enterprise procedures 22. Dub duplicate recordings to designated media format for back-up or archival purposes according to enterprise procedures 23. Ensure equipment remains in good working order, arrange for faults to be repaired and leave workplace in original or improved state 24. Review and reflect on performance and note areas for improvement |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
communication and organisational skills sufficient to: liaise with relevant production personnel, e.g. technical operators, directors, producers supervise effectively members of a video operations team plan and schedule relevant aspects of video processes organise television and interactive media content logically and accurately utilise relevant file management protocols for specified operating systems technical skills sufficient to: use computer systems to capture, record and convert material for broadcast and for other purposes, such as EDLs, DLS, time codes work in both non-linear and linear configurations identify aspect ratio judge picture-to-sound synchronisation check and test that equipment is working to specifications use intercom and two-way communication devices to send and receive messages efficiently and effectively initiative and enterprise in the context of achieving creative outcomes within technical constraints self-management skills sufficient to: prioritise work tasks work calmly under pressure and to tight deadlines make decisions within level of own responsibility seek expert assistance when problems arise literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to: interpret scripts and other relevant documentation prepare and write reports document, log and file source and recorded/edited materials implement and record time codes and copies |
Required knowledge |
industry knowledge, including: roles and responsibilities of personnel in broadcast operations and production understanding of the characteristics of television standards, e.g.PAL, NTSC,SECAM basic understanding of television broadcast systems and transmission facilities nature, function and limitations of video recording equipment and materials nature and purpose of test signals and selection of tape types sources of advice, information, and technical support broadcast terminology issues and challenges that arise in the context of coordinating television transmission operations concept and judgement of image and audio broadcast quality video library procedures and protocols tape handling and care methodologies compression codecs and encoders file management protocols across a range of operating systems OHS standards as they apply to working in broadcast operations |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: efficient capturing of material for broadcast ability to monitor quality of audio and video feeds according to production requirements collaborative approach to work, including effective team leadership correct interpretation of production schedules/instructions ability to judge picture-to-sound synchronisation. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: practical demonstration of skills through the coordination of television transmission operations access to material to be prepared for broadcast access to broadcasting facilities access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance evaluation of a selection of material prepared for transmission by the candidate observation of the candidate coordinating transmission operations on the job written or verbal questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUFBRD402A Vision mix television productions CUFBRD403A Transfer film to digital formats CUFPOS401A Edit screen content for fast turnaround. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Relevant production personnel may include: | editors floor manager head of department library personnel master control operators master control/master control operators news editors presentation operators producers specialist personnel station manager supervisor tape operators technical personnel transmission operators. |
Production and transmission requirements may include: | action replays back-ups compiles dubs/copying, e.g.: copying from tape to tape in the same format copying from a source tape in one format to a destination tape in another format, e.g. from analogue to digital copying from a tape to disk copying from tape to computer hard drive edits recordings replays transfers. |
Documentation may include: | barcode format computer generated cue sheets enterprise procedure manuals equipment manuals fault reports logging sheets manually generated schedules, e.g. production, transmission scripts tape information sheets. |
Productions may include: | advertisements community announcements live events outside broadcasts pre-recorded programs promotions studio productions. |
Time codes may include: | burned-in code CTL edge code/number keyed-in code MIDI (MTC) SMPTE/EBU, e.g. VITC, LTC. |
Equipment may include: | audio phase vector scope CCUs colour monitors computer hard drives computers control panels digi-carts disk players, e.g. DVD/CD down-links from satellite fibre optics frame stores/still stores landlines microwave links mobile phones noise and distortion meters oscilloscopes (scopes) playback facility, e.g. EVS servers, e.g. transmission, archival switchers talkback/two-way communication devices test tone generators up-links to satellite UPS (uninterrupted power supply) video/audio recorders video/audio replay machines VU and peak program meters waveform and picture monitors. |
Video formats may include: | analogue, e.g.: Betacam SP VHS Digital8 U-Matic computer hard drive/server digital media, e.g.: digi Beta DVCPRO Mini-DV DVCAM Digi-cart. |
Conversion may include: | AIFF AVI HDTV kine MIDI MP3 MPEG-1, 2, 4 OGG PAL to NTSC/SECAM WAV WMA WMV. |
Source materials may include: | analogue tape any digital media digital tape direct live feeds pre-recorded tapes, e.g. audio, vision program content promotions/advertisements. |
Recording protocols may include: | aspect ratios, e.g. 4:3, 16:9 audio levels, e.g. mono, stereo black levels burst phase chrominance gain closed captions colour balance colour bars compression ratios/codecs Dolby sound loss/lossless luminance television standards: PAL NTSC SECAM/MESCAM test patterns tone. |
Faults may include: | blocking/pixellation cable faults colour degradation data entry errors ghosting image tears impulsive noise line breakdown link fades machine breakdown overruns picture distortion picture freeze picture out of synchronisation with sound power or transmission signal loss satellite occlusions, e.g. thunderstorms sound distortion tape machine faults. |
Feeds may include: | analogue audio/video replay machines cable data digital fibre optics landline live-to-air broadcasts master control multiple feeds outside broadcast input/output pre-recorded material satellite single feeds sound studio studio output/input vision vision and sound. |
Consumables may include: | cleaning materials disks, e.g. DVDR/CD-RW, DAT labels spare parts, e.g. recorder heads tapes, e.g. video, audio. |
Sectors
Unit sector |
Competency Field
Media and entertainment production - broadcasting |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.