Anchor videos
Use a filmed presenter instead of audio alone.
An anchor video is a presenter upload in video form. Prism transcribes its audio, matches it to blocks and lets you trim it in the Writers Room, just like an audio upload.
Uploading a filmed read
Open Presenter uploads in the right rail and drop the file on the panel.
Prism takes MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM, up to 2 GB per file.
If a file is too large, re-encode it at a lower bitrate before trying again. The size limit is on the file, not on the length of the read.
Video files take longer to upload and process than audio.
Processing runs in stages
An anchor video is usable well before it is finished, and the card tells you which stage it has reached.
- The file uploads and is transcribed, which takes one to three minutes
- The card matches to its blocks and offers an audio preview
- A video preview becomes available in place of the audio one
- The card reaches Ready when the full asset is done
Blocks in the middle stages show a Processing anchor video… overlay where the picture will be.
Matching does not wait for the picture. A block can be linked, trimmed and read back while its video is still being prepared.
Committing while videos process
Commit Script is disabled while any anchor video is still processing.
A banner reads Processing 1 anchor video… and says preview is available now, with commit unlocking once processing completes — about five minutes.
There is no way past it. Wait for the banner to clear, then commit.
Committing a script covers the rest of the handover to the edit.
When something goes wrong
- Re-encode and re-upload anything over the 2 GB limit
- Convert a rejected file to MP4, MOV, MKV or WebM
- Choose Retry on a failed card, then pick the file again
- Check your connection if an upload never reaches Prism
Retrying does not resume the old upload. It starts a fresh one, so the file has to be selected a second time.
Audio or video
Both replace generated narration, so the choice is about what you want on screen.
| Use | When |
|---|---|
| Audio upload | The presenter is heard, not seen, over footage |
| Anchor video | The presenter appears on camera as well |
An output can mix the two, since each block is linked on its own.
FAQ
Does an anchor video need a presenter set on the output?
Yes. A presenter is required at the Assignment Desk before an output can be created at all.
Does the trim apply to the picture as well as the sound?
Yes. A block's trim sets the slice of the recording it uses, and picture and sound travel together.