NEW! Now Autoscript WinPlus IP Studio full version with redundant backup available.
My existing version has been upgraded to a full studio version of Autoscript WinPlus IP.
This is a full version in which presenters can be saved.
There is now also a backup computer with redundancy. This means that both computers can be operated completely synchronously, even during editing, and all content and changes are immediately applied to all devices and system settings via real-time preview.
An enormous plus in security, especially for critical productions or general meetings.
WinPlus-IP is able to switch manually or even automatically and reliably to a redundant system in the event of a computer failure.
In the event of an emergency, the speaker will generally not even notice the automatic system change and the operator does not have to change the controller or switch the video output source.
This ensures increased production reliability.
What is a teleprompter?
Delivering a speech involves not only the mere communication of a message to an addressee, but also requires active contact between the speaker and his audience.
If a speaker has little or no contact with the audience, he will have great difficulty in minimally conveying the content and objectives of his speech.
Interaction with the audience plays a far more significant role than most speakers really realize.
When it comes to conveying content, active contact with the audience and the associated rhetorical presence is often more important than the actual, logical content of a speech or presentation.
The teleprompter - also called prompter - (English: soufleuse, Latin: promptus "determined, ready") is a technical aid that is used primarily in television productions and increasingly also at events such as conferences, conventions, general meetings, as well as lectures and speeches, in order to always remain in eye contact with the audience and to be able to speak more freely.
Originally, the text was on strips of paper. Simple boards (cue cards) with text to be read off have been known since the early years of sound film. In the 1950s, the US American Hubert Schlafly (1919-2011), together with Irving B. Kahn, invented the teleprompter. Since that time they have been built and successfully used.
A mirror construction "camera teleprompter" hanging in front of the camera lens is mounted directly in front of the lens of a camera. Directly below it, a monitor is attached that displays a computer-generated text in mirror image. On the mirror directly the text appears readable again for the speaker, who can thus look directly into the camera and read his text at the same time. The quality of the camera image is only slightly affected by this device and can easily be compensated by the camera without any impairment. A cover ensures a uniformly dark background from the speaker's point of view and prevents light from the side from being reflected into the lens.
Another possible variant is a conference teleprompter (presidential mirror). During lectures and speeches, two lightly tinted glass panels are mounted on thin stands in the left and right areas of the speaker's field of vision. The corresponding monitors are placed on the floor. In the center, an unobstructed view is left for cameras of the press and the audience.
At live events, the presentation can also be shown on a preview monitor, which is usually used for PowerPoint presentations.
A teleprompter operator fades in the speech text, adapts it to the respective circumstances and live to the required reading speed.
What is a teleprompter operator?
The task of a teleprompter operator is to check the text elements in order to make adjustments there, if necessary, and to make the transmission of the texts to be visualized and the playing of the text in the rhythm of the moderation during the live broadcast possible.
The text flow speed is permanently adjusted by an experienced operator to the individual speech speed and rhetoric of the speaker.
If speakers regulate their prompter speed themselves, most of them quickly fall into a monotonous pronunciation. This makes the speaker appear unconvincing, less confident and less authoritative. Particularly in the case of difficult issues, the delivery of the message to the audience by a strong performing message transmitter is important.
The advantages of a teleprompter
The biggest advantage of a teleprompter is conveying the content without the risk of forgetting the text, losing the thread or not having permanent eye contact with the audience due to reading written manuscripts. The system protects against possible memory gaps caused by stress, stage fright or anxiety.
For confident and confident performance situations, the great benefits of using a teleprompter are underestimated in most cases.
When speeches are delivered off the top of one's head or read from a script, it is common for an untrained speaker to falter while delivering. A prompter is spot-on with the speech and, as a helpful and safe tool, protects against this unfavorable behavior.
The speaker can fully concentrate on his performance and gestures without losing the important "eye contact" with the audience. This gives the audience the impression of an eloquent speaker.
On a stage, this impression is reinforced if a mirror is placed to the left and right of the speaker respectively.
The speaker is given the opportunity to let his gaze wander over the entire audience without losing sight of his text and even inexperienced speakers appear much more confident and much more convincing.
Another advantage is that the speaker never loses the "red thread" and can deliver his speech fluently. The prompter always shows him the current text passage and he does not have to search for it in his script or the moderation cards.
Text passages or individual words can be colored differently in the teleprompter software. This makes it easier for the artists to recognize your respective text part or to recognize stage directions.
The conference teleprompter system is especially useful for difficult content, speeches in a foreign language or when there is a lack of preparation time.
Prompter systems can be used at all large and small events, streaming events, press conferences, general meetings, laudations, party events, trainings, ad-hoc messages, medical congresses, speeches, scientific lectures etc.
Teleprompter training
Even people experienced in media appearances often fail with the teleprompter. Even if speech coaches - especially with inexperienced speakers - repeatedly speak out against the use of a prompter out of self-protection, years of practice have shown the power of this aid, especially with this target group.
In my many years of experience, it has become clear that even strong speakers no longer want to do without the advantages of a teleprompter. For them it is less about the text, much more about concentrating on their own gestures and facial expressions, so that their message is conveyed credibly to the addressee.
A Teleprompter training will help you to master the teleprompter as a tool:
- You will learn how to present credibly and confidently and how to convince your audience and press representatives as a representative of a company with confidence.
- You will learn what a teleprompter text looks like and how to present it correctly.
- You save your time by less preparation time, you can change your contents at short notice without endangering your whole presentation.
With an own teleprompter system, I will be happy to visit you for a personal teleprompter training.
Teleprompter systems
A teleprompter system consists of two components:
- On the one hand, the software and control for text generation.
- On the other hand, there are different teleprompter display devices for different purposes, i.e. the devices that make the text visible to the speaker.
The software and the control
Welcome to the future of Intelligent Prompting
There are several software solutions for the control of a teleprompter. We have extensive experience with all popular solutions on the market. The most powerful and customizable teleprompter software on the market is WinPlus-IP from Autoscript.
Wherever your needs lie, and wherever you are, Autoscript's industry-leading and fully IP-based "Intelligent Prompting" solutions are the best option for prompting your speaker.
When using a router, prompting is also possible on one or more Ipads.
With the HC-IP Desktop hand controller for WinPlus-IP, special emphasis was placed on ergonomics during design and development to enable the operator to work without fatigue and thus with greater concentration, even during long operations.
The XBox-IP Scroll Engine is completely new developed, very compact in its dimensions, transportable and at the same time extremely robust.
The XBox-IP has two HD-SDI outputs. Furthermore, it also offers a POE connection to operate the HC-IP without an additional power supply.
The teleprompter display devices
Depending on the type and application, there are different display units.
For filming or streaming events, there are the so-called "On Camera Units" or camera teleprompters for mounting in front of the camera lens.
There are also the Conference Teleprompters - also known as Obama Teleprompters or Presidential Systems - which are regularly used at lectures, general meetings, trade fairs, press conferences etc.
Not to forget the Stage Teleprompters, which are ideal for the performance on a music stage.
The camera teleprompter
Camera teleprompter systems or on camera units are regularly used in television shows, streaming events, industrial films, studio recordings, moderations, reporting, documentaries, award ceremonies, television and feature films, among others.
They are balanced with the help of a special adapter plate and mounted directly in front of the camera. This means that even Dutchheads can be used without any problems. The range of use of teleprompters starts with small DSLR cameras and extends to large studio cameras.
The selection of the right device, i.e. the right size of the prompter, depends strongly on the set-related conditions and the distance to the speaker.
An important question is the distance between the speaker and the camera.
If the camera teleprompter is too small or too far away, the speaker reads himself or has to squint his eyes to be able to recognize the text.
If the distance is too small or the on camera unit is too large, the eyes and head move too much to read the lines.
Both cases result in the speaker's appearance being detrimental to the viewer.
- Also crucial is which camera is used.
Autoscript or Autocue camera teleprompters are compatible with almost any camera and optics. You just have to decide on the size of the mirror.
- Very important is the dimension of the tripod or camera crane.
A tripod has to carry the extra load besides the camera and its attached accessories. With a crane, the mirror should be as light as possible. Autocue and Autoscript camera prompters have the best payload-to-weight ratios on the market, but be sure to factor in that weight as well.
For DSLR camera capable teleprompters, almost any sturdy EB camera tripod, jib arm or camera crane etc. can be used.
Due to the low weight, this teleprompter system can easily be used with a steadycam, camera crane or even without a tripod.
Conference teleprompter
Conference teleprompter systems or presidential systems consist of one or two special high-contrast and very bright flat screens, which are placed flat on the floor in front of the lectern or embedded in the stage. Above these screens, on a mobile or fixed, thin tripod, are semi-transparent mirrors that are almost "invisible" to the auditorium.
The text is faded in (invisible for the audience) from the flat screens, into the mirrors.
For the speaker, the text is thus easy to read even in difficult lighting conditions, while the auditorium in the first rows perceives at most a transparent pane of glass.
As already mentioned, you can use electrically movable or manual stands. This depends on the type of lectern and the number of speakers, which in most cases vary in size.
Stage teleprompter
The Music Stage Teleprompter is suitable for all kinds of concerts, shows, events or special situations such as guest performances with unknown lyrics in music projects.
The displays of the teleprompter are placed directly on the stage at an inclined angle to the performers and/or plasma screens are placed in the hall in front of the performers so that they can easily read the lyrics without the risk of the audience noticing "the prompter".
The Music Stage Teleprompter System is operated by an operator who precisely adjusts the text flow speed to the song speed, and also adjusts the order of the songs according to the direction of the show.
The artists can thus devote themselves entirely to their performance.