Overview

The MashCast Desktop Application consists of a variety of interface components, all of which are accessible, either directly or indirectly, from the marquee or tab controls.


Each of these components is pictured in this section, along with brief descriptions of the controls.

In This Section:

• 1 - Main Menu - Provides access to the principal functions of the application.
• 2 - Start - The Start tab is a window on places to begin exploring the MashCast experience.
• 3 - Studio - The Studio tab contains the full suite of creation and publishing tools - Mash, Screen, Cast, & Upload. These tabs are replicated inside each conversation tab as well, which makes it easy to carry on a number of conversations at once.
• 4 - Mash - The Mash tab is the center of the creation system in MashCast, where you can animate your favorite images, make talking characters, and build multichannel soundtracks.
• 5 - Screen - Here's where you preview assets you have imported or exported. You can also edit video in the Screen tab.
• 6 - Cast - The Cast tab is where you select an online place for publishing your content.
• 7 - Upload - Add a title and description to your post, and upload it to the web from this tab.
• 8 - Camera - Opens MashCast’s Camera interface, where you can capture images and video from your webcam or other video device.
• 9 - The MashPit is where you can find more information on how to get the most out of MashCast, including FAQs & Tutorials. The MashPit tab is a browser tab that sits within the MashCast application. When you post content to the web using MashCast, the posts will appear in the browser inside the application.
• 10 - Queue - Supplies status on files that are being transcoded or uploaded to the web.
• 11 - Local Menu - The local menus are specific to each tab, and offer additional functionality that is specific to the tab you are on.
• 12 - Tab Controls - These controls allow you to scroll back and forth through the tabs on the top level of MashCast. The close button allows you to close browser tabs.
• 13 - Header buttons - You can Minimize, Maximize and Close the application using these buttons.
• 14 - Media - Opens the Media Window, where you can search for media you have created, imported, or received from other people.
• 15 - On Demand - The On Demand button opens a window where you can download channel broadcasts that you have received while you were offline. If new channel broadcasts have arrived since you last logged in, this button will flash.
• 16 - Online Status Indicator - Green when you are online, gray when offline. Clicking this button opens the Network list, where you can see who is online and launch Friend and Group Conversations by double clicking on the buddy icons.
• 17 - Info Zone - Online and message status notifications are displayed here.

 

Main Menu

The Main Menu is accessible by clicking on the MashCast icon at the left end of the Launcher.

Login/Logout: Logs the application into and out of MashCast Networks to which you are subscribed. Invite a Friend: Invite a friend to join MashCast Import to Database: Imports files into the MashCast Database. This is a necessary step prior to sending through MashCast, or mashing. Imported files can be accessed through the Media Search window. Show Commands: MashCast stores animations in the form of Show files. These files can be created and manipulated from within the Create tab* Undo/Redo: Applies to actions on the Stage. Copy/Paste/Delete: Applies to objects on the stage. Tools: The Tools menu provides access to the principal windows and tabs within the application. Scissors, Talking Picture, Text, and Mixer are accessible when the Stage is active.* View: Sets the magnification for viewing Shows.* Settings: Opens the Settings control panel. Database Commands: Back Up and Restore the MashCast database. The contents of the database can be viewed from within the Media Search window. About: Displays version and build number, and copyright notification. Help: Provides access to online documentation and other resources. Exit: Closes the application. * These menu items are active when the Mash tab is selected inside the Studio or within a Conversation.

 

Camera

• 1 - Record Video : Starts and Stops recording of video.
• 2 - Capture Still: Capture a still image.
• 3 - Time Code Display: Displays the elapsed time for video and SMV Captures. Displays countdown when using Capture Timing features.
• 4 - Stop Motion Video (SMV) Capture: Starts and stops capture of SMVs.
• 5 - Capture Timing: Opens the Capture Timing dialog, where you can set Capture Countdown and Capture Duration.

 

Mash

• 1 - Favorites Bar: Bin for storing frequently used assets. Scroll buttons on either side of the bar will page left and right through thumbnails.
• 2 - Stage: Canvas for assembling and playing back Shows (animations)
• 3 - Prev/Next Keyframe: Moves Scrubber forward or backward on the timeline by one Keyframe.
• 4 - Prev/Next Frame: Moves Scrubber forward or backward on the timeline by one Frame.
• 6 - Tween: When a frame is selected on the stage, "Tweens" motion to the selected frame.
• 7 - Layer Tool : Allows you to select layers by name, and to bring hidden layers to the front for editing.
• 8 - Audio Tracks: Red is armed, Green is active, Yellow is mute. Right-click for more options.
• 10 - Timecode Display: Indicates the elapsed time of a Show in Minutes:Seconds:Frames.
• 11 - Stop: Stops playback of a Show.
• 12 - Record: Records audio on the armed (red) audio track. Also adds time to a show if the record event extends beyond the length of the show.
• 13 - Play/Pause: Starts/pauses playback of a Show.
• 14 - Cast It! : Mousing over the Cast It! button provides a menu for sending the contents of the Mash tab to a friend or to the web. Clicking on Cast It! without choosing a submenu option sends the contents of the Screen tab directly to the friend with whom you are already having a conversation.
• 16 - Loop: Loops playback of a Show.
• 17 - Show Mixer: Opens a mixer control containing a Master Show Volume and Show-Specific Track Volumes.
• 18 - Scrubber: Provides a visual indicator of the elapsed time during playback of a Show. Dragging the scrubber across the timeline automatically advances playback to the corresponding point in the Show.
• 19 - Inactive Stage Title: Displays the title of the conversation on the inactive stage. Click on the inactive stage to swap it with the main, or active stage.
• 20 - Inactive Stage: Secondary "scratch" stage. The contents of this stage can be swapped for the contents of the main stage by clicking on the Inactive Stage.
• 21 - Inactive Stage Controls: Play/Pause and Stop for the Inactive Stage

 

Screen

• 1 - Screen Preview: Displays the contents of the Screen.
• 2 - Rewind to Beginning/Fast-Forward to End : Advances to the beginning or end of the program in the player.
• 3 - Prev/Next Frame: Advances playback one frame backwards or forwards.
• 4 - Inpoint/Outpoint: The orange Inpoint and Outpoint handles can be dragged to adjust the start and end times of videos.
• 5 - Program Bar: The program bar displays the active portion of an edited video.
• 7 - Open File: Open a file and display it in the Player.
• 8 - Timecode Display: Displays the elapsed time during playback for Video and SMV.
• 9 - Volume: Player volume.
• 10 - Play/Pause/Stop: Controls playback of Video or SMV.
• 11 - Scrubber: Provides a visual indicator of elapsed time during playback of Video and SMV. The Scrubber can be dragged along the Program Bar to begin playback earlier or later.
• 12 - Mash It! : Sends contents of the Screen tab to the Mash tab.
• 13 - Cast It! : Mousing over the Cast It! button provides a menu for sending the contents of the Screen tab to a friend or to the web. Clicking on Cast It! without choosing a submenu option sends the contents of the Screen tab directly to the friend with whom you are already having a conversation.
• 15 - Conversation History (Visible in Group Conversation Tabs only): Displays a record of the conversation between group members.
• 16 - Tabs: Tabs within the Communicate window allow you to move back and forth between players, browser windows, and the Stage (Create Tab).
• 17 - Prev/Next/Close Tab: These buttons allow you to manipulate the tabs within the Communicate window.
• 18 - Header Buttons: Main Menu, Maximize, Minimize, and Close.
• 19 - Text Instant Messaging (IM) Input: Type IM here and press return or <Enter> to send text during a conversation.
• 20 - Remote Status Bar: Provides notification when other parties are typing or sending messages.
• 21 - Text Style: Use these buttons to alter the appearance of your text during Text Instant Message communication.
• 22 - Text Send: Sends the contents of the Text Instant Messaging Input field.
• 23 - Push-to-Talk: This button functions as an intercom-style voice connect between you and the other members of your conversation. Push and hold to talk, release to send the voice message.

 

Cast

• 1 - Networks: In this list, you will find all MashCast Web Sites that you can publish to. Pythonline and TotoNetwork are examples of Networks.
• 2 - Channels: Within some Networks are Networks-within-Networks called Channels. Spamalot is an example of a Channel.
• 3 - Destinations: Within each Network and Channel are Destinations, publishing points that specify the location and format of your post. Select a destination in order to publish. My Media, My Station, MashCast Picture Album, and My Album are examples of Destinations.
• 4 - Affiliates: Third-Party sites such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube are examples of Affiliate Networks.
• 5 - Syndicates: Syndicates are groups of Destinations that can be created to enable publishing to multiple destinations with a single post. You can create a Syndicate by right-clicking on the Syndicates icon and selecting "Create a Syndicate"
• 6 - Anchors: The plus (+) and minus (-) signs in front of the list icons are called anchors. You can expand any list that has an anchor by clicking on the anchor. Clicking on the anchor a second time collapses the list.

Upload

The Upload Tab is where you caption and publish your post.

• 1 - Network: This field confirms the selection you made in the Destination tab. This is where your post will be published.
• 2 - Title: This is the title that will appear on the web at the top of your post.
• 3 - Description: This is the description that will appear with your post.
• 4 - Upload : Click this button to publish your post to the Web.
• 5 - Preview : Click here to Preview your post in the Screen tab.
• 6 - Cancel : Click here to cancel your post.

Once your post has been published, it will appear in MashCast's embedded browser, in a tab at the top level of the application..

 

Media

The Media window is where you search for Media that you have imported or received from other MashCast members. You can search by filename or keyword, and filter by filetype and/or "physical" location.

• 1 - Filter Bank: Selected Filetypes are included in the search results.
• 2 - Location Selector: Selected locations are included in search results.
• 3 - File Info: Displays metadata for selected file.
• 4 - Search Results: Search results area showing thumbnails.
• 5 - File Type Icons: File Type Icons represent type of associated files.
• 6 - Query Field: Enter text here to search against title or keyword.
• 7 - Search: Click the search button or hit <Enter> to search against text in the Query Field.