ROMANTIC ROBOT present VIDEOFACE DIGITISER INTRODUCTION. The VIDEOFACE DIGITISER is compatible with ANY Spectrum. It is very easy to use, fully menu-driven and with screen prompts. To achieve the best possible results and to minimise any difficulties you may encounter, please read the MANUAL thoroughly. INSTALLING THE VIDEOFACE. 1) Disconnect the power supply from your Spectrum. NEVER ATTACH/REMOVE THE VIDEOFACE WHEN THE SPECTRUM IS ON! 2) Insert the phono plug of your video lead into the left side socket of the VIDEOFACE. Turn the power of your TV or VCR ON at this stage, as power switching ON/OFF of other devices is known to be able to CRASH the Spectrum. 3) Push the VIDEOFACE firmly onto the Spectrum Extension Bus. 4) Connect the power supply and switch the Spectrum ON. 5) Insert the tape with the VIDEOFACE label facing up into your tape recorder, type LOAD "" and start the tape recorder. The loading is complete when a menu appears. Provided the GREEN LED on the VIDEOFACE is ON, you are READY TO DIGITISE! Should you encounter any problems, please READ CAREFULLY the whole manual, ensure that all the connections are good and try again. If you still should not succeed, please do NOT return the VIDEOFACE, but contact our technical dept. Instead - we should be able to solve most of the problems over the phone on: 081-200 8870 Note for programmers on the VIDEOFACE SOFTWARE. The software consists of BASIC and m/code starting at 63232. It is not protected and can be copied (to disk, cartridge, etc.). The m/code part handles all real-time hardware procedures. The menu and SAVE instructions are in BASIC and can thus be altered. The area between BASIC and m/code is used for storing the latest six screens. By switching the ANIMATION OFF (see further), you could use this area for other purposes GENERAL TIPS. Whilst the VIDEOFACE can produce black & white screens only, best results may come from a colour source. The colours are transformed into grey scale patterns giving a nice appearance. The grey scale can also be influenced by the amount of lighting when using a VIDEO CAMERA - please experiment whilst changing the contrast on the VIDEOFACE at the same time. Always try to feed the VIDEOFACE with a clear and steady signal. GETTING THE RIGHT SIGNAL. VIDEOFACE takes pictures from any video source and digitises them by converting the analogue pictures into pixels. To start with, it is absolutely essential to feed your VIDEOFACE with the right signal - the COMPOSITE VIDEO - which can be found on: 1) VIDEO CAMERAS. Usually, it is very easy to get the signal from VIDEO CAMERAS. The composite video should always be available and it is just a question of having the right lead; most cameras actually come with a lead giving a composite video on a PHONO (also called RCA or CINCH) plug and that is all you need. 2) VIDEO RECORDERS. Most VIDEO RECORDERS should provide composite video. However, it is very common to mistake the UHF signal (labelled TV OUT or similar - it's simply the signal going from the Video recorder to TV) for the composite video. The UHF signal is utterly USELESS for digitising and you have to look for the VIDEO OUT signal. It can be available on either a: a) PHONO socket - the most typical socket used on HI-FI b) BNC bayonet screw-on type socket c) a big rectangular SCART/EUROCONNECTOR 21-pin socket d) a 6-pin round DIN type AV socket Ideally, your video will have the lead you require - you need a phono plug labelled (COMPOSITE) VIDEO irrespective of what the other end is or what else may also be on the cable (AUDIO, etc.). Any HI-FI dealer will have a phono-to-phono cable, but you may need to go to a VIDEO shop for any of the other 3 cables - make sure you know the exact make of your video recorder or take the manual with you. You should always be able to obtain the cable you need as they are all standard ones. VIDEO RECORDERS can be used in three ways: a) as a passive TUNER - i.e. just receiving UHF signal and converting it into COMPOSITE VIDEO b) in STILL mode - by freezing a picture on the video recorder, you can ideally adjust the contrast on the VIDEOFACE c) in PLAY mode - moving picture are no problem for the VIDEOFACE because of its high scanning speed 3) TV TUNERS. TV's are usable ONLY if they provide COMPOSITE VIDEO signal. Please look for the connections/cables as described under VIDEO RECORDERS. 4) COMPUTERS may give you a COMPOSITE VIDEO signal directly and you can just bring a phono plug, if available, into the VIDEOFACE. Alternatively, you may need to use a TV or VCR to convert a UHF signal into COMPOSITE VIDEO by plugging the aerial lead from the computer into your TV or VCR and then taking the usual COMPOSITE VIDEO signal for the VIDEOFACE. In all cases, a GREEN LED in the VIDEOFACE MUST BE LIT and it lights up as soon as the COMPOSITE VIDEO signal is provided. USING THE VIDEOFACE - THE MENU 'Z' or 'SPACE' - STOP SCANNING 'Q' or 'P' - START SCANNING 'S' = SAVE SCREEN$ 1-6 OR ALL 'C' = COPY 'E' = EXIT TO MENU '0' = STEP SCREEN$ '5' = MOVE SCANNING LEFT '6' = MOVE SCANNING RIGHT '7' = MOVE SCANNING UP '8' = MOVE SCANNING DOWN 'A' = ANIMATION (6 screen$) 'F' = FAST 'S' = SLOW AJUST LEVEL CONTROLS FOR THE BEST RESULTS PRESS "1" = START SCANNING "2" = ANIMATION ON "3" = ANIMATION OFF The menu is horizontally divided into three parts: a) the top boxed part is applicable ONLY during the DIGITISING b) the middle part (blue on colour monitors) during ANIMATION c) the bottom part is your main starting choice, so pressing '1' starts scanning/digitising and the RED LED comes ON '2' turns the animation ON - (it is normally ON as a default) '3' turns the animation OFF if you wish to use the part of RAM reserved for animation for other purposes To start scanning, press '1'. The next vital step is to find the right CONTRAST by turning the knob on top of the VIDEOFACE. Depending on your set-up, the contrast may range from an all-black to an all-white screen at the extreme knob positions. You should have no problem finding the best results. You can create special effects by atypical contrast. Whilst scanning, you can shift the entire picture by using the cursor keys. The only other keys can use are 'z' or 'space' which will stop scanning, freeze the last frame and, provided the animation was ON, automatically retain 5 previous screen; a small sub-menu will appear with these options: 1) 'q' or 'p' to re-start scanning 2) 'e' to EXIT to the main menu to turn animation on/off 3) 's' to SAVE - again, saving is menu-driven and you can a) save screens INDIVIDUALLY (1-6) or ALL together (0) b) save to MICROdrive, OPUS, Disciple DISK or TAPE - on Spectrum + 3 the TAPE option will save to DISK instead, provided it is formatted with enough room 4) 'c' to COPY a current screen to an EPSON type printer 5) '0' to STEP manually through the 6 available screens 6) 'a' to ANIMATE the 6 screens at a speed which you can control by pressing 'f' for faster or 's' for slower USING THE VIDEOFACE WITH OTHER HARDWARE. The VIDEOFACE has been tested and found to be compatible with: Multiprint Interface 1 & 2 Any Multiface ZX Lprint III RGB Interfaces Plus D Interface AMX Mouse Beta Disc Interface Cheetah Specdrum Opus Discovery Kempston Joystick Interface Disciple Disc Interface TROUBLESHOOTING. Complaint Cause Tip Pressing '1' in the main You are not getting the Check all cables to menu has no effect. composite video signal. bring the green LED on. Vertical stripes The edge connector is Clean connector using over the picture. dirty. alcohol or hard rubber. Horizontal stripes over The video level is too low Adjust the light the picture. or there is not enough contrast. and/or contrast No sub-menu. BREAK has been pressed. Reload software. GUARANTEE. This guarantee is in addition to and does not affect any statutory or other rights of consumers or purchasers. ROMANTIC ROBOT guarantee that if within 6 months of the date of purchase the Videoface proves to be defective by reason of faulty design, workmanship or materials, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge, provided that: 1) It has not been in any way misused, used with unsuitable equipment or subjected to deliberate, accidental or consequential damage 2) No unauthorized modifications, repairs or adjustments were made to the Videoface 3) A dated proof of purchase will be provided to confirm that the Videoface is still under guarantee for units purchased directly from us, please supply the details of the original order instead The purchaser's sole and exclusive remedy under this guarantee is for the Videoface repair or replacement. No other remedy, including but not limited to, incidental or consequential damage or loss of whatsoever nature shall be available to the purchaser. Also available from ROMANTIC ROBOT: MULTIFACE 3 for Spectrum +3/+2A MULTIFACE 1 or 128 for Spectrum 48/128/+2 MULTIPRINT Printer Interface for Spectrum 48/128/+2 GENIE Disassembler for Spectrum 48/128/+2 with a Multiface LIFEGUARD for any Spectrum with any Multiface MUSIC TYPEWRITER for any Spectrum Please send a SAE for further information on the range of our products Designed and manufactured by ROMANTIC ROBOT UK Ltd. 54 Deanscroft Avenue, London NW9 BEN. Tel. 081-200 8870.