Workflow rates can be significantly improved when the editing system is commanded from a set of dedicated hardware controls instead of a standard keyboard/mouse and on-screen icons. JLCooper’s Eclipse CX Midnight controller is a hardware control surface which interfaces directly with professional colour correction and grading software such as the Color 1.5 application within Apple’s Final Cut Studio suite, IRIDAS Speedgrade or IFX Piranha Cinema. It gains enhanced functionality and configurability with these and other editing applications when the optional JLCooper Eclipse Ethernet software is installed on the host computer.
The control surface provides several types of tactile controls: the primary ones are 3 custom trackerballs with outer rotating control rings for elegant one-handed operation of two or more colour parameters. There are also 6 continuously-variable and 5 detented rotary data entry controls with associated context-sensitive displays, a dedicated set of transport control buttons with status LEDs and large timecode display, a set of function keys which can be programmed by the user, JLCooper’s classic dual-concentric jog/shuttle wheel and a set of edit keys.
With a choice of interfaces available, the CX is able to connect to the host computer in a variety of ways. The software to be controlled will determine the interface type. With Mac-based applications, the interface between the host and the CX will normally be a standard Ethernet network connection; other applications or alternative host computers may instead require a USB, RS-232 or RS-422 interface. In all cases, a simple initial set-up procedure gets the controller up and working within minutes of opening the box.
Users of Mac-based systems may install the optional Eclipse Ethernet software (downloadable free of charge) onto the host, greatly expanding the power of the CX. It can then act as a controller for other Final Cut Studio components such as Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro and Motion, as well as for several further third-party applications, including Nuendo and Logic Pro. The Ethernet software also gives the editor full control over the assignment of the surface’s controllers to the various parameters in the application in use, to suit his/her preferences and the job in hand. It is able to switch the assignments automatically, from one task to another “in the background”, following the operator’s selection of foreground application on-screen.
The Eclipse CX Midnight is a sturdy and professional piece of equipment built to withstand the high workloads of modern video production facilities. Finished in black, the desktop unit will blend well into any edit suite décor. Editors will appreciate the intelligent layout of controls and the low light output of the displays, which are tailored to minimise eye strain.
A matching audio controller with eight motorised faders, the Eclipse MX Midnight, is available to add audio mixing capability to the CX Midnight.