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MillimeterShoot Review — Telescript FPS-150-F
Feb 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Tom Patrick McAuliffe
Portable teleprompter system eases field production.
We tried. The script went out a month before the shoot and the talent said they would memorize it. But once on the set for the shoot, it was clear that the script had never left its envelope.
The Telescript FPS-150-F teleprompter system features a LCD screen that displays scrolling text, reflected by non-glare glass.
The star — the president of a large service company who needed to pump up a national sales team but had the personality of a rock — didn't make the director's life (mine) any easier. Then and there I made a vow never to do another corporate video without having a teleprompter available. So it was with great interest that I investigated Telescript, which makes a range of teleprompter products and systems for broadcast, production, and presentation applications. It was the first company to offer LCD flat-panel teleprompters for portable field use. In addition to hardware, Telescript also makes teleprompting software packages for Windows. Free demo versions of the software are available on the company website for download.
Though the software is not included, Telescript does not take the cheap road with the FPS-150-F. For example, many of the cheaper products I researched don't do image reversal in hardware. Instead, they rely on the software to do the image reversal. This seems OK until you need to make text changes on the fly (oh yeah, like that never happens) or you want to hook up a monitor for the producer. The cheaper solutions on the market don't allow these capabilities.
So with a second shoot planned for our corporate sales video, I looked forward to using the FPS-150-F Color LCD Teleprompter. The “F” is for “folding,” which makes the unit much more portable. Once I unpacked the unit from its custom Calzone road case with wheels (an option), I was immediately taken by the size of the screen and thinness of the flat monitor. The monitor has a larger viewing area than a conventional 15in. CRT, but because it is an LCD it weighs much less.
The FPS-150-F's field configuration utilizes Telescript's exclusive QuickMount system, which made setup quick and easy. The FPS-150-F MirrorView assembly lets all the components stay together as one piece so they slide on and off the QuickMount Plate easily. (These components include the folding frame, monitor, folding hood, and the beam splitter, which reflects the text for the presenter and allows the camera to get a high-quality shot through the monitor glass.) The assembly folds and unfolds easily and stores securely in a optional custom ATA-rated shipping case that easily fits in the trunk of a small car or can be checked as airline luggage.
Working with a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, and a wrench, I was up and ready to begin shooting in five minutes. Upon setup, the importance of a strong fluid-head tripod became apparent. At first I set up using a Sony VX2000 — a smaller DV camcorder — and the FPS-150-F, which has a special riser and counterweight for these types of cameras. However, even though the total system weight of the FPS-150-F is only 14lbs., I found the balance to be just too tenuous for comfort for a system that costs almost $5,000. I then set up with a JVC KY-27 over-the-shoulder dockable camera and a heavy-duty Sachtler Tripod. The FPS-150-F handled much better under this configuration.
The camera shoots through special non-glare glass that's tilted to reflect the text from the LCD screen, which is mounted below, so that the talent can read it. The computer generates the text signal and outputs it to the LCD. The trick is having no glare with large, readable text that can be sped or slowed at will.
When it comes to video signal inputs to the LCD, you have three options: composite video, S-Video, and VGA (on up through XGA). I found the composite signal to be somewhat blurry, but the S-Video signal was razor-sharp. The VGA/XGA input is great for folks who want to use their PowerPoint presentations. In my tests the monitor's anti-reflective glass virtually eliminated glare and reflections.
My test unit came with a semi-firm collapsible hood that fits over the monitor so that the talent can see the screen better. The 15in. display is easy for talent to read up to 35ft. away. Just from looking at it, you can tell that the FPS-150-F is a professional-grade product. It's got lightweight milled aircraft-grade hardware, aluminum monitor housings, clearly marked and accessible power and video ports, patented anti-reflective monitor glass, and professional-grade beam splitters. What's not to like?
The second shoot went off without a hitch. I used an old Mac program called Scriptor with a PowerBook G4 running OS 9.2 and a version of TeleScript Jr. on a Dell laptop running Windows. TeleScript Jr. generated large, full-screen text, and it was able to load any language or text format. After importing an RTF with text of the president's speech into the programs, I hooked up the laptop's S-Video output, and we were ready to go. The talent loved the large monitor and clear text of the FPS-150-F and delivered the copy perfectly on the second take.
My overall experience with the FPS-150-F was very positive. It is a portable professional-grade teleprompting system that's easy to use and rock-solid on the hardware side. When teamed with the right software, it's very effective at helping talent deliver lines better. In fact, the lack of software is really the only negative — you'd think that at this price point a basic software application could be included. Telescript's software is top-notch, however — check out the free demos on the company's website.
The products are also made in the U.S., which I think is important. Telescript recently announced new options and lower prices. Its FPS-130, DV-8, and FPS-150 products offer a new composite-only video monitor that delivers what the company considers a good combination of price, quality, and functionality. These lower-priced versions of the 13in. and 15in. teleprompter systems carry a “V” designation for “value”; the systems employ the same folding and mounting technology as the system I reviewed.
The studio-grade FPS-150-F unit I tested is listed at $4,795, but with the composite-only monitor option the starting price for that configuration drops to $3,495. The composite 13in. version is $2,995 and the smaller DV-8 with a composite- and S-Video-only monitor is $2,795. This goes a long way toward addressing any price objections and provides cost-effective alternatives. Telescript also offers a Road Case option, which, if you plan on moving the unit around at all, is a must have. At around $750, the case is cheap insurance.
BOTTOM LINE
Company: Telescript
Norwood, N.J.; (888) 767-6713
www.telescript.com
Product: FPS-150-F teleprompter
Assets: Folding design for easy transport, sharp LCD screen, fast setup.
Caveats: Best used with larger cameras and tripods.
Demographic: Video pros involved in corporate and educational production.
Price: $4,795
feedback
To comment on this article, email the Video Systems editorial staff at vsfeedback@primediabusiness.com.
