PARTNERING GUIDELINES
Transcript of PARTNERING GUIDELINES
PARTNERING GUIDELINES – FOR VERITEXT & VIDEOGRAPHERS –
VIDEOGRAPHER GUIDELINES – JANUARY 11, 2021 Veritext Proprietary & Confidential Information
[email protected] | (866) 642-9574
WELCOME .......................................................................................................................................................................................
GENERAL GUIDELINES ..............................................................................................................................................................
PRE-ASSIGNMENT/TAKING ASSIGNMENTS ......................................................................................................................
DAY OF ASSIGNMENT ................................................................................................................................................................
POST-ASSIGNMENT ....................................................................................................................................................................
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL ................................................................................................................................................
ADVANCED VIDEO SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................
APPENDIX 1: READ-IN SCRIPT ..............................................................................................................................................
APPENDIX 2: EQUIPMENT/TECHNICAL PROTOCOLS ....................................................................................................
APPENDIX 3: ROOM CONFIGURATIONS ............................................................................................................................
APPENDIX 4: MEDIA MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................................
APPENDIX 5: HAUPPAUGE HD PVR ROCKET ...................................................................................................................
APPENDIX 6: HANDLING THE READ-IN WITH DIGITAL REPORTERS .....................................................................
CONTENTS
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VIDEOGRAPHER GUIDELINES
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Partnering Guidelines for Veritext & VideographersAS OF JANUARY 1, 2021
WELCOME!Veritext views you as partners in the business. Together we must ensure that the record is captured professionally, accurately, and by non-invested parties (always maintaining a neutral position). We ask that you always represent Veritext as Veritext represents you -- as a trusted professional partner who will do everything possible to provide the best service and support to our mutual clients.
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines which help guard and preserve the video record. These guidelines have evolved over the years and incorporate state and federal rules, National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) recommendations and industry best practices.
In addition to these guidelines, supplemental documents are available on specific topics, including the Veritext Partner Portal, Veritext Policies, Remote Proceedings, Technical Concierge/Support Services and any videographer forms which can be used during depositions.
If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the Technical Services team: [email protected] or (866) 642-9574.
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GENERAL GUIDELINES
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Veritext expects its videographer partners to share its values and goals of professionalism, whether the proceeding is in person, 100% remote or some combination thereof:
Comport yourself professionally, including
Maintain composure during a proceeding and be attentive to its dynamics
Maintain constant and open dialogues with Veritext about
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Room Set-Up
Use state of the art equipment
Utilize Veritext’s Partner Portal as the primary means of communicationhttps://portal.veritextllc.com/login
Do not offer your opinion
Engage with Veritext
Conclude the proceeding politely & pleasantly
• Your attire should mirror what you would wear if attending a courtroom proceeding
• Preparedness
• Expertise during the proceeding
• Prompt follow-up
• Open communication
• Availability including any vacation time planned and who Veritext can contact in your absence if there is an emergency
• Job assignments
• Technical issues or snafus (of any kind)
• Product requests by clients
Wish them all a good day and thank them for their cooperation and business.
Engage with Veritext’s specialists always and often in support of your activities, new technologies and service advancements in the industry.
Set-up the room and equipment so that the deponent is appropriately “shot.”
• Ensure your phone is on silent during the proceeding
• Do not take or make calls or text unless it is necessary to contact Tech Support or a Veritext office
You equipment should be well maintained and tested regularly, always ensuring that it is in good working condition.
• View and confirm upcoming assignments
• Enter information for completed assignments (witness, appearances, etc)
• Upload completed Veritext forms/paperwork
• Submit audio and video files via upload
• Upload invoices
• Check for news updates
Do not offer your opinion on any topic during a proceeding. Always adhere to the protocols in taking the record of, or supporting, the proceeding.
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Support attorneys with technical issues
Devote your undivided attention to your responsibilities in the proceeding
• Make it a point to frequently check key elements of the process, which will help you remain engaged, for example:
• Check the Chat icon to see if there are entries there which you should look for.
• Check the Participants icon to see if there are participants in the Waiting Room.
• Walk away from your computer, except on agreed breaks
• Participate in a side conversation with someone else at your location
• Engage in text messaging
• Browse the internet
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Offer high-level support for Veritext Virtual and Exhibit Share based on your experience with the platforms and if you are comfortable
Work in a clean, quiet area where there is minimal noise (no barking dogs, loud music playing in the background, etc.)
Ensure your microphone is on mute in the Virtual conference; unmute only when required to speak as part of your facilitation duties.
Ensure the room is well-lit, avoid being back-lighting.
Remove personal items that may become distracting.
Avoid sitting too close to a window that can cast changing and uneven light.
In addition, you should consider the following WHEN ONE PARTY, MULTIPLE PARTIES OR ALL PARTIES ARE REMOTE:
If it is possible to have an extra laptop or Wi-Fi hotspot available, that is often helpful in resolving connection issues.
Support attorneys and/or deponents if they become frustrated with technical challenges in setting up, viewing or hearing the proceeding
• Be supportive and respectful always and empathize with their frustration.
• Encourage them to be patient as Tech Support is contacted to assist them when necessary.
• Remember that these challenges are the downside to being able to work from their home or office and glitches are often unavoidable, but with a little help, can be overcome.
Ensure your microphone is on mute
Stay engaged; DO NOT…
Offer high-level support
Focus on your responsibilities
Ensure the room is well-lit
Work in a clean, quiet area
Use a plain background
Avoid sitting too close to a window
Have an extra Wi-Fi hotspot
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PRE-ASSIGNMENT / TAKING ASSIGNMENTS
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IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to inform Veritext’s Scheduling Associates
if you are available/unavailable to take
an assignment. Any advanced notice of
vacations, days unavailable, etc., will be
greatly appreciated.
Potential assignments will be conveyed
to you primarily through Veritext’s
Partner Portal. The request to cover
an assignment will be based on your
availability (as conveyed by you to our
local scheduling team), your desired
coverage area, a match on your skills to
the client’s requests, your equipment, etc.
CONFIRMATIONS Remember that confirming and accepting an
assignment for Veritext means that you or one
of your subcontractors will be present and arrive
in a timely manner, either in person or virtually,
to cover the assignment. Be sure to check the
portal for updated information daily as jobs
frequently cancel or get added to the calendar.
There will be times when you cover assignments
in different time zones. Make sure you are aware
of the time difference, are prompt to the event,
and that the time displayed on the video image
matches the local time zone of the witness.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT Please contact the Veritext office that scheduled
you for the assignment if you have any general
questions about an assignment before it takes
place or you cannot cover it for any reason, after
you have accepted it.
EQUIPMENT PREPARATION Be sure that you have the necessary equipment
(and backup) to conduct the proceeding. It is
advisable that you test your equipment daily
before the start of every proceeding.
When the assignment involves remote
participants, always make sure that you have the
Zoom app installed on your laptop and you test
your connection prior to the proceeding.
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IMPORTANT: Please check the Portal multiple times daily for potential assignments, as jobs are constantly coming on the schedule and you will not always receive an email notification regarding a new assignment or the cancellation of an existing assignment.
IN GENERAL: • Most jobs are assigned one or two
business days prior to the assignment
• Jobs on continuing cases are
frequently assigned upon entry onto the Veritext calendar
• Jobs in less populated areas tend to be assigned several weeks in advance of the proceeding
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DAY OF ASSIGNMENT
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ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE HOUR EARLY (IN PERSON) You are expected to be in the room where the assignment is scheduled to take place at least one hour prior to the scheduled start time (if in person), unless told otherwise. Contact your local Veritext office if you
are delayed or are going to be late.
PROCEEDING INFORMATION Ensure that you have the relevant information on the proceeding (case name, parties and services being provided which can be found on
Veritext’s Partner Portal at your fingertips:
You should always:
• State that you represent Veritext unless we tell you to represent another firm, and do so on camera if you or any party is remote
• Tell all parties that they should contact Veritext with any questions and provide the appropriate contact information for the
Veritext office
ALWAYS REMAIN ATTENTIVE You should always be attentive during the proceeding and remain quiet. Don’t be distracted by emails, texts, etc. Stay focused on the
event at hand and your responsibilities.
MONITOR NOISES Monitor extraneous noises (i.e. Traffic sounds, whispers, etc.) and adjust your volume accordingly.
INTERRUPTING If you must interrupt the deposition, try to find a “logical break”. It’s not easy, but the best time is usually after the deponent
has completed an answer.
OBTAIN VIDEO ORDERS You should ask each attendee if they want the video file or not. Be sure to collect this information and enter it into the Portal
after the proceeding ends.
BE PREPARED
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IF REMOTE: 1. CONNECT TO VERITEXT VIRTUAL | Ensure your computer
can effectively connect to the Veritext Virtual platform.• Test from the location where you will work to ensure
the network is adequate,• Ensure your Zoom application is up to date, as
periodic updates are provided.
2. 45 MINUTES EARLY | Log into the remote proceeding at least forty-five minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
3. TEST EQUIPMENT | Take the opportunity to ensure all equipment is set up and in working order.
4. INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE REPORTER | coordinate support and activities specifically around Hosting rooms and supporting the Virtual session and any services.
5. COMPUTER PROGRAMS | Do not run any programs on your computer other than those directly involved in the recording of the proceeding
6. TECH SUPPORT | Have the Veritext Tech Support phone number at your fingertips.
• You can find the current Tech Support number on the Partner Portal where the Remote Proceeding access button is located.
• Contact Tech Support immediately if something is not working correctly or if any of the participants requires assistance connecting or using the tools.
7. INTRODUCE YOURSELF ON CAMERA | Introduce yourself to the entire room once all parties have joined.
8. OTHER PLATFORMS | Please follow the same guidelines to the left if the remote proceeding is taking place on a platform other than Veritext Virtual.
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AUDIOTake whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the deponent, all attorneys, the court reporter, and you will be picked up by the lavaliere and/or table microphones utilized. All videographer announcements must be clearly audible on the recording. At a minimum, you should always have a lavaliere microphone for the deponent, examining attorney, primary defending attorney, and yourself.
AUDIO
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AUDIO FEEDAs a common courtesy, some videographers provide an audio feed for the reporter to listen to what is being recorded on the video when the videographer and court reporter are both on-site together. It is recommended that you have this capability and offer it to the reporter. If you do offer this option, please connect a cable to your equipment in a way that does not diminish your ability to monitor the audio that is being recorded or compromise the recording.
AUDIO RECORDING – REPORTERAn audio recording of the deposition should be made available to the reporter at the conclusion of the proceeding. You might want to ask if the reporter prefers an MP3 versus a WAV file. Some reporters may prefer to receive the audio immediately at the conclusion of the deposition on a flash drive if the reporter and videographer are both on-site (It’s a good idea to have at least one or more USB flash drives available to accommodate these requests). Others may accept an email from you that contains a download link to the audio. In a remote environment when the reporter and videographer are not in the same room, the audio should be provided via a download link to the reporter as soon as possible once the proceeding has concluded.
IMPORTANT: It is very likely that the reporter used other means to record the audio during the deposition. Despite this, you MUST provide a copy of YOUR audio to the court reporter. If the court reporter refuses to accept your copy of the audio, please upload the audio to the Veritext Video Cloud and note it on the Portal.
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COURT REPORTER TIME STAMPING
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Most proceedings will go smoothly. Starting a proceeding with
professionalism and a cooperative attitude will facilitate the
environment and result in a more pleasant experience for all.
It is suggested that you do the following to start:
• Introduce yourself to all parties, including the witness and reporter
• Explain to all parties that you are a neutral professional there to support the on-the-record capture.
• Perform the Read-in.
• Turn the proceeding over to the attending parties.
At the start of the proceeding, the Veritext Read-In is required to
be read on the record.
If the court reporter is time-stamping the transcript, please make
sure the video time on the screen matches the reporter’s steno
machine time within five seconds.
STARTING THE PROCEEDING
READ IN/INTRODUCTION
• You must announce on the record that you represent Veritext.
• Any reference to another company is strictly prohibited unless you are
instructed otherwise by Veritext.
Veritext will cover assignments for other Reporting and/or video agencies from time to time. It is customary that the hiring agency will ask that our staff should state that they represent the hiring agency, not Veritext.
• Ensure that you have the correct case caption with the deponent’s name spelled and pronounced correctly
• Read the entire “read-in” at the beginning of each deponent. Speak slowly, clearly, and loudly so that the reporter accurately captures the “read-in” on the record.
• Please do not use language such as “volume” or “day” during the read-in. Do not say “this is day two of Bob Smith” or “Jane Smith, volume four”.
IMPORTANT: There may be times when the attorneys will ask that the read-in be waived and not read. Try to avoid not doing a “read-in”. If all the attorneys are adamant and are in complete agreement that they do not want a read-in, state their unanimous agreement
while you are on the record with other statements about being on the record and the start/end times.
It is important that you record everything that is “on the record”.
The audio and video must be complete and the quality must be
acceptable. Conversely, do NOT record any conversations that
are “off the record”.
ON/OFF RECORD RECORDING
Video files should be recorded at:
A FRAME SIZE OF 1920 X 1080, 16:9 ASPECT RATIO – and – IN MPEG-2 (PREFERRED) OR MPEG-4 (ACCEPTABLE) FORMAT.
Please be sure your recording device is capable of creating high quality MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 files (For example, the Hauppauge Rocket is
not ideal for MPEG-4 creation).
VIDEO FILES
IMPORTANT: Digital Reporter Proceedings If a digital reporter is present, they will be responsible for the read-in meaning that videographers do not need to handle the read-in for these assignments. Please refer to Appendix 6 for further information regarding these proceedings.
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ACTION LOG
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It is common that you will need to change the media throughout
the day. It is advisable tell the attorneys, before the start of
the proceeding, the estimated duration of each media unit and
the need to take breaks prior to reaching the end of the unit’s
capacity. Also inform them that you will tell them when the
media is reaching its capacity, so that he/she can wrap up the
questioning and/or temporarily halt the proceeding.
An Action Log of the following items need to be recorded during
each day of each proceeding:
MEDIA CHANGES
• Going on and off the record
• The start and end of each media unit
• Marking/introduction of exhibits
• Change of attorneys
• Objections
• Some helpful abbreviations to use for the Log are:
• OBJ | Objection (or use the notation OBJx4 if four objections were made within one minute)
• EXB | Exhibit
• CHG | Change of Attorney
• You should be prepared to resolve any and all technical issues
that arise. In a situation where the audio or video may be
compromised, it is your responsibility to take corrective action.
Please try your best to communicate with the attorneys in a way
that is both polite and direct to correct the issue. You do not
want to become a part of the record.
• There are some situations that may occur such as a catastrophic
or sudden technical failure (camera shuts off without warning,
microphone stops working, etc). In the event of such a major
problem, you must take action and tell the attorneys that there
is a problem. Depending on the severity of the issue, you may
need to be very audible. Ultimately, you cannot delay and wait
for a natural pause if the problem is severe.
TECHNICAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
• The scheduled start time of the assignment.
• The actual time you started the deposition and went on the
record.
• The time that you went off the record and concluded for the day.
• The total running time of each media unit that was used.
• You must also enter the total number of files and highest letter
that were used for each media unit (see Appendix)
IMPORTANT: Do not wait to provide a notification after a new topic has been started or interrupt while a question is being asked or answered in mid sentence. There may be times when the attorney will either ignore or forget that you are running out of time.
Do NOT allow the media to run out of space for recording under any circumstances.
Additionally, at the bottom of the form,
please indicate:
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POST-ASSIGNMENT
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As stated earlier in this document, all relevant information and files
should be submitted to Veritext via the Partner Portal. (Refer to
the Videographer Portal Tutorial Guide for more information on
the Partner Portal). The Portal is a robust tool for communicating
with Veritext. UPON CONCLUSION OF THE ASSIGNMENT, YOU ARE
ASKED TO:
VERITEXT PARTNER PORTAL
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https://portal.veritext.com
OBTAIN APPEARANCES from all the attorneys in attendance
whether they are present in the room with you or appearing
remotely.
NOTE APPEARANCE INFORMATION even if an attorney does
not want to order the video.
IN THE VERITEXT PARTNER PORTAL, enter the following:
• Enter the attorney’s name, firm, address, phone number and email address.
• Obtain each attorney’s format selections for the video and enter the selection in the Partner Portal.
OBTAIN ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION even if the court
reporter obtains the appearances.
APPEARANCES & ORDERSFor each assignment, you must:
COMPLETE RELEVANT PAPERWORK
(Action Log, Certificate, Optional Invoices) and submit
through the Portal
FILL OUT EACH CLIENT APPEARANCE AND ORDER IN
THE PORTAL
COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION to ensure
timely and correct payment
UPLOAD ALL FILES-- within the following time frames:
• Within 24 – 48 hours after the deposition has taken
place. (Physical media is not accepted)
• Immediately following the conclusion of the
proceeding for expedited assignments or if there
are requests for same day turnarounds of videos.
NOTE: If there is more than one deponent during the assignment,
you must use a new set of orders and forms for each deponent.
IMPORTANT: You should only upload original, cloud ready files that are captured at your assignment. Never convert any video files to submit them to Veritext (i.e. record MPEG-4 and convert to MPEG-2).
IMPORTANT: It is extremely vital that you provide complete and accurate appearance information on the portal. Failure to list appearances and/or copy orders may cause a delay in payment or non-payment of your invoice.
There may be some depositions where many attorneys will be in attendance (sometimes 30 – 40). In these instances only, you may copy the reporter’s sign-in sheet and upload with your paperwork. However, you MUST add the appearance of the scheduling or primary taking attorney and any other attorney that orders the video in the Partner Portal.
HOT TIP: There are several format options
available for Veritext clients. In order to assist you and our
clients, we have included a supplemental document entitled
“Veritext Video Formats” that describes each format.
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In the assignment notes section of the Partner Portal, please document
anything that is important and noteworthy but does not belong in any
other section or on any of the other forms.
NOTES
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VIDEOGRAPHER FORMS/PAPERWORKACTION LOG: An action log noting on/off record times, exhibit introductions,
change of attorneys, objections and media information must be submitted with
every assignment.
CERTIFICATE: Each proceeding requires all professionals including the
videographer to complete a signed certificate to be included with the
transcript. Be sure to always upload the certification with your files
on the portal.
APPEARANCE PAGE: An appearance page is provided as part of our
Videographer Forms. It is not mandatory to submit this page provided
all appearance and order information has been entered directly into
the Partner Portal.
THE CURRENT VERSION OF VERITEXT VIDEOGRAPHER FORMS ARE LOCATED ON THE PARTNER PORTAL: https://vhelp.wpengine.com/on-boarding-documentation/
Please instruct the attorney to contact Veritext if
he/she requests pricing information on services or
products, specific details about available formats, or
delivery times. Veritext will be happy to get back to
the attorney promptly.
Be sure to also contact Veritext yourself (via the
Portal or email or phone), ensuring that the attorney’s
request is addressed.
QUOTING PRICES FOR PRODUCTS/SERVICES
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EXPEDITED OR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY REQUESTS
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If any attorney requests an expedited or same day delivery of the video, please be certain to find out the exact date that the video needs to be delivered (a request of “ASAP” is not enough information as out team will need specifics in order to accommodate the client’s need).
If an attorney orders expedited video, make sure to find out if any other parties also want their video expedited.
Please note, that Veritext, for security reasons, never provides videos at the conclusion of the proceeding directly to the attorney. If you receive a request to provide a copy of the video to any parties immediately upon the conclusion of an assignment, please contact the video team right away.
ONCE YOU HAVE CONFIRMED A REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED OR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY, PLEASE:
• Enter the delivery and format information on in the Veritext Partner Portal
• Immediately upload the video and all relevant forms to the Veritext Partner Portal.
• Contact the Veritext Video team immediately
Eastern Region assignments [email protected] | (973) 549-4423
Western Region Assignments [email protected] | (949) 777-9337
• Please include the following in the subject (URGENT, EXPEDITE, Job #). Provide as much specific detail as necessary in your email to convey the request.
IMPORTANT: You MUST notify Veritext immediately regarding all requests for expedited or immediate delivery. Do not wait until you go home or to your office. Do not wait until you have uploaded the media or until the following week.
INVOICES
Your invoice should be submitted via the Veritext Partner Portal by adding individual line-item expenses in the financials section.
EXPENSESAny assignment related expenses that fall outside of your normal rates (airfare, hotel, etc) must be approved by Veritext Video Management. If you submit an invoice for charges that are not approved by Veritext Video Management, the charges may not be paid.
PLEASE DO NOT email invoices unless you are specifically directed
to do so by the video team.
PLEASE SEE THE VIDEOGRAPHER PARTNER PORTAL
TUTORIAL DOCUMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: https://vhelp.wpengine.com/on-boarding-documentation/
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COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL
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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
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We fully expect that our partners will do everything necessary to
provide the highest quality and professionalism while covering our
assignments. There will be times, however, when mishaps occur.
We will work together to ensure that such errors are minimized and
corrected so that our clients receive the best possible service.
Issues such as late submission of video, failure to submit paperwork
or enter orders in the Portal, late arrival to assignments, and many
other miscellaneous issues that may harm our clients or cause us to
be delayed in providing the video can be troublesome. Veritext may
correct the problem or ask you to fix the issue with our guidance.
Veritext reserves the right to not pay you for services associated with
poor quality, careless errors, unprofessional behavior, etc.
It is vital that videographers follow the Veritext guidelines and use good judgment in order ensure confidentiality, adhere to security protocols and meet client expectations.
We fully understand that technical problems can and do occur. However, if you use due diligence and best practices, many catastrophic failures can be avoided.
REPORTING PROBLEMS TO VERITEXT
Even if you do follow our guidelines to the letter, it is still possible that an issue
may occur. If a one does, please report it to the video team no matter how big or
small. We will work with you to identify the problem and resolution.
EASTERN REGION Video Department
290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 2260, Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 549-4423 – [email protected]
WESTERN REGION Video Department
611 Anton Boulevard, Suite 500, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone – (949) 777-9333 [email protected]
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ADVANCED VIDEO SERVICES
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Veritext assignments will mainly require that you use your standard video equipment. However, there are occasions when you will be
asked to cover depositions that require additional
equipment or non-deposition assignments. You will
also need to have the training or experience to cover
these assignments. Below, you will find examples
of what Veritext categorizes as “advanced” video
assignments.
For guidance on how to take the record or perform specific tasks
using Veritext’s tools and products,
such as Veritext Virtual, Exhibit Share, Concierge
Technical Support, please see the appropriate
procedure guides on the Portal. THESE GUIDES CAN
BE FOUND IN THE “HELP” SECTION OF THE VERITEXT
PARTNER PORTAL.
VERITEXT VIRTUAL This is a web conferencing solution that allows multiple parties to communicate via audio and
video. To facilitate this service, you will need an additional laptop with USB ports and RCA
(composite) to USB interface device. There are also a few devices that will connect the HDMI
output from the camera to a laptop via USB. You would connect your deposition camera to the
laptop to broadcast the image of the witness through the Veritext Virtual interface. There are
some cameras that will not allow simultaneous output through the RCA (composite) and HDMI
connections. If you are using such a camera, please contact Veritext Tech Services (support@
veritext.com) for further instructions.
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NOTE: Firewire/1394 connections are less common due to the lack of Firewire/1394 ports on
cameras and laptops today. The more common solution is to use an RCA (composite) or
HDMI to USB device that allows the connection of RCA cables from your camera to the RCA
(composite) to USB device. The device connects via USB to your laptop and thus allows
your camera’s image to be shared via Veritext Virtual. The Elgato Cam link USB 3.0 is an
example of a device we have had good experiences with.
IMPORTANT: The Hauppauge PVR Rocket/PVR 60 do
NOT work as an interface device for Veritext Virtual
assignments under any circumstances and thus cannot
be used for Veritext Virtual assignments
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SITE/PRODUCT INSPECTIONS OR DAY IN THE LIFE These assignments are not depositions at all. Rather, the activity that is
recorded will eventually be used during the course of the litigation. For site or
product inspections, a product (machinery, vehicle, etc) or site (house, factory,
store, etc) will be recorded with specific parameters laid out by our client.
YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE:
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EXHIBIT CAPTURE/MULTIMEDIA This service allows for a video
recording to be made from a computer.
The recording is made during the
deposition on a separate device for
Exhibit Capture assignments. For
Multimedia assignments, the recording
is integrated with the recording of
the witness in a picture-in-picture.
Additional equipment such as laptops for the attorneys, monitors, projector, screen,
document camera, and digital HD mixer may be needed. You may also need to
utilize your backup camera in some situations
NOTE: Inspections may take place indoors and/or outdoors under differing lighting and climate conditions. Therefore, it will be necessary for you to prepare accordingly.
• The ability to be portable
• Batteries for your camera
• Lightweight tripod or monopod
• External lighting
• Wireless microphones
IME/CME An IME (independent medical exam) or CME (Certified medical exam) usually
involves a medical professional that examines a patient for purposes of litigation.
In many such exams, it will not be possible for you to remain in the room while the
exam is taking place. Therefore, you should be prepared to monitor (if possible) the
video from outside the room where the examination is taking place. This will require
additional cables. You will also need to communicate with the medical professional
so that changes of media are coordinated. Otherwise, the exam may run too long
and exceed the capacity of your recording media.
MOCK DEPOSITION Unlike a deposition, a mock deposition (also known as deposition prep)
only involves one side of the litigation along with a witness. Several
attorneys will stage a deposition and ask the witness the questions that
they anticipate might be asked during the actual deposition. The session
is recorded and the “testimony” is sometimes played back intermittently
during the session or at the end of the entire session. You should be
prepared to record the mock deposition the same way as you would
an actual deposition with the added need of playing back the video
recording for the attorneys and witness.
PLAYBACK
Typically, this service is usually provided at a trial and involves the
playback at a courthouse of one or more videos that were previously
recorded. This type of service differs because it is not part of discovery,
but rather part of the trial phase. In addition, you are not recording
anything and only playing back the video. In limited situations, you may
also be asked to skip portions of testimony when playing back recordings
of depositions. The attorneys will direct you on what needs to be skipped
in these situations. In order to provide this service, you will need a laptop
or DVD-Video player, projector, screen, monitors, and speakers recording
for the attorneys and witness.
CONCIERGE TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Concierge Technical Support is a service being utilized in conjunction with remote proceedings more and more frequently. Concierge Support
tasks include the monitoring of sessions in realtime, managing the
technical aspects (video and audio) of connections throughout the
proceedings and trouble-shooting client issues. Other tasks include
setting up and/or managing the waiting
rooms, breakout rooms, virtual rooms,
etc., and introducing people upon entry.
Additionally, supporting Advanced
Products such as Exhibit Share at any
point in the proceeding including the
introduction of exhibits and marking
each exhibit with a digital exhibit sticker.
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APPENDIX 1: READ-IN SCRIPT
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IMPORTANT: The following script is to be read at the
beginning of each deposition for every witness. Engage all
recording devices and then begin with:
JOB NUMBER
Good Morning/Afternoon. We are going on the record at____ am/pm on _______________________.
Please note that the microphones are sensitive and may pick up whispering, private conversations, and cellular interference. Please turn off all cell
phones or place them away from the microphones as they can interfere with the deposition audio. Audio and video recording will continue to take
place unless all parties agree to go off the record.
This is media unit 1 of the video recorded deposition of________________________, taken by counsel for __________________in the
matter of: ________________________________________ v. _________________________________________________
filed in the____________________________________________________________________________________________
case number/docket number_______________________________________________________________________________
This deposition is being held at_____________________________________________________________________________
located at____________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is__________________________ from the firm___________________________and I am the videographer.
The court reporter is____________________________________from the firm________________________________________
I am not authorized to administer an oath*, I am not related to any party in this action, nor am I financially interested in the outcome. Counsel and
all present in the room and everyone attending remotely will now state their appearances and affiliations for the record. If there are any objections to
proceeding, please state them at the time of your appearance, beginning with the noticing attorney. (Notaries can omit the sentence in bold)
Will the court reporter please swear in the witness?Thank you, we may proceed.
END OF DEPOSITIONWe are off the record at ___________ am/pm and this concludes today’s testimony given by _____________________
The total number of media units used was_____________ and will be retained by_______________________________
Each time that you stop recording in order to take a break, you should state “We are going off the record. The time is ____.” When returning from a break, you
should state “We are back on the record. The time is____.”
When you are reaching the end of a media unit and you are ready to go off the record, please state “We are going off the record. This is the end of media unit
number ____. The time is ____.” When you are starting a new media unit, please state “We are back on the record. This is the beginning of media unit
number____. The time is ____.”
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APPENDIX 2: EQUIPMENT/ TECHNICAL PROTOCOLS
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NOTE: It is your responsibility to carry insurance on your equipment, make sure that it is maintained, and that it is in good working condition.
EQUIPMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION
PRIMARY CAMERA 3 CCD/CMOS pro camera with XLR audio inputs, HDMI and composite/RCA outputs
BACKUP CAMERA Any consumer grade video camera capable of recording audio and video
TRIPOD Fluid head with adjustable pan and tilt functions
AUDIO MIXER Minimum of 4 audio inputs (6 preferred) with multiple outputs, independent audio control for each input, and control for the master audio level
MICROPHONES Wired, lavaliere with windscreens and clips (wireless microphones are not acceptable)
AUDIO RECORDER Auxiliary input (MP3 recording capability preferred)
SECONDARY DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDER (DAR) Must be completely independent of the primary audio/video chain
UPS (UNINTERRUPTABLE POWER SUPPLY) Battery backup power that can provide at least 10 minutes of power for all recording components
VIDEO CAPTURE DEVICE Capable of recording 1920 x 1080, 16:9, MPEG-2(Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket or PVR 60 preferred devices)
LAPTOP Minimum Windows, 4GB Ram (8GB or more recommended), dedicated video card, HDMI output, Intel I-5 processor (MAC not recommended)
BACKDROP/BACKGROUND Portable background (collapsible preferred, gray preferred)
ADAPTER 3-Prong–2-Prong Grounding Outlet Converter/Adapter
OTHER Headphones, cables, extension cords, power strips, carrying cases, etc.
REMOTE RECORDING PROGRAMS (If recording completely remotely from a location other than with the participants)
OBS: Open Broadcaster Software recording program, Zoom app
REDUNDANT RECORDING DEVICESYou should use a minimum of two recording devices during each proceeding. A
common scenario is for a camera to be used as a primary recording device and
a video capture device connected to a laptop as a secondary devise. If you are
recording the proceeding remotely, you will typically record a secondary video
capture using the Veritext Virtual platform. If the remote session is taking place
outside of the Veritext Virtual environment a backup camera should be pointed at
the screen/capture device to record the secondary source. Additional details are
provided in our remote proceeding documents.
In addition, you must have a BACKUP recording device (digital audio recorder or
DAR) that is completely independent of your setup and placed near the witness
and attorneys. In a remote environment, a standalone backup audio recorder
should still be utilized either connected to your computer or near an external
audio source if it not possible to connect directly to the computer.
RETENTION POLICY (REDUNDANT BACKUPS)Veritext requires that you maintain your redundant copy of the master recording
for at least six months. Failure to maintain your redundant backup copy for a
minimum six (6) months may have serious consequences for clients if there is a
problem with the original recording.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT The table below depicts the minimum equipment requirements for covering Veritext assignments:
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APPENDIX 3: ROOM CONFIGURATIONS
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THE ROOM Please identify the best place to position your camera relative to where the deponent will be seated.
THERE ARE TWO COMMONLY PREFERRED AND ACCEPTED SETUPS FOR VIDEO DEPOSITIONS:
ATTORNEY
VIDEOGRAPHER
DEPONENT COURT REPORTER
ATTORNEY
This example is mainly used in
most of the United States with the
notable exception of California.
ATTORNEYVIDEOGRAPHER
WITNESS
COURT REPORTER
ATTORNEY
There will be some instances that will require you to set up “across the table”. This
arrangement is the preferred setup in California. You would place everyone as
shown here:
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EQUIPMENT PLACEMENT Try to place your equipment in a neat
and organized manner. Do not use a
huge footprint especially if the room
that you are in is small and there is
limited table space for the attorneys.
29
LIGHTING Do not use any auxiliary lighting unless it is
absolutely necessary to obtain a clear image. If
you do find that auxiliary lighting is necessary,
please make certain that your lights are placed
in a safe manner and that the lighting is not
objectionable to the other people in the room.
• Utilize professional grade black gaffer’s tape to secure cables to the bottom side of the conference room table.
• Tape any cables that must be placed on the floor as neatly as possible in a manner that will avoid a tripping hazard.
FRAMING/COMPOSITIONThe appearance of the video should conform to the Veritext standard:
• Take care to avoid causing any damage. Scratching floors, chipping paint when pulling tape, or dinging the table can easily happen if proper care is not taken.
• Leave the room organized and undamaged.
The deponent should be the only person visible in the video frame.
Please try to avoid having the deponent sit in front of any windows or in a high-traffic area.
Always place your background behind the deponent with the understanding that there will be some situations where a background cannot be used.
Try to avoid anything being placed on the table that would obstruct the view of the deponent or appear to be distracting. Exhibits (documents, binders, etc) are permissible and can be visible in the video frame as long as these items do not obstruct the view of the deponent.
The time and date stamp should always appear at the bottom of the screen unless you are specifically instructed not to do so by all counsel present.
Your time/date stamp should display the hours, minutes, and seconds.
Other characters such as the recording status, running time, filter settings, etc s should NEVER be visible on the video that is being recorded.
There should be a little room near the top of the video frame near the deponent’s head and the surface of the table or desk should be visible at the bottom of the video frame.
During the deposition, please make sure that the witness remains in frame. Do not zoom in too close or zoom out too far.
GOOD
NOT GOOD
IMPORTANT: : Monitor the video at all times in order to
provide framing that presents a clean and clear image.
HOT TIP: IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP YOUR IRIS, WHITE BALANCE, AND FOCUS CONTROLS ON MANUAL INSTEAD OF AUTO.
AUTOMATIC SETTINGS CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED RESULTS THAT CAN IMPACT THE QUALITY OF THE VIDEO.
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APPENDIX 4: MEDIA MANAGEMENT
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MEDIA NAMING
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STANDARD NAMING CONVENTION Veritext has a standard naming convention for media files. The convention is as follows:
• last name followed by an underscore
• first initial of first name followed by a hyphen
• date in mmddyy format followed by a hyphen
• media number
IMPORTANT: For our team to confirm that all footage has been received, you must document the number
of files that were used for each media unit and the highest letter used on the Action Log. You must also
make sure that all your files are numbered in the correct order that they were recorded.
EXAMPLE: Smith_J-050916-1of3
Let’s assume that we name a media file as Smith_J-050916-1of3. In this example, the following explains how the file was named:
• Smith is the deponent’s last name
• J is the first initial of the deponent’s first name
• 050916 is the date (May 9th, 2016)
• the media number is 1 of 3
You will likely be naming your files during the deposition and therefore you will frequently not know how many media units you will have at the end of a deposition. In order to name your files correctly, you should add a letter to the end of the file name. See the example below and to the right for a further explanation.
USING LETTERS There may be times when you will use many letters as you go through the alphabet due to many files being recorded for one media unit. There will also be rare instances that will require you to record more than 26 files for one media unit thus using every letter in the alphabet. If this happens, please use the following formula for naming files:
• Files 1 – 26 (a-z)
• Files 27 – 52 (aa – zz)
• Files 53 – 78 (aaa – zzz)
• Files 79 – 104 (aaaa – zzzz)
EXAMPLE:
Below, you will see several files that were named during a deposition:
• Smith_J-050916-1a
• Smith_J-050916-1b
• Smith_J-050916-1c
• Smith_J-050916-2
In this example:
• There were a total of four files recorded, but only two media units.
• The first three files are segments that comprise media unit one.
• The files have a letter after the number (a, b, c).
• There was only one file recorded for media two so there is no letter that follows the two.
Smith_J-050916-1a
Smith_J-050916-1b
Smith_J-050916-1c
Smith_J-050916-2
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MEDIA NUMBERING
32
Please begin each day and each deponent with new a media unit – do not continue recording on the same media from one day
to the next or from one deponent to the next on the same day. When a deposition is continued on more than one day, please
label and announce the deposition as “The continuation of the deposition of _____________” and start media numbering
with media #1. Do not continue numbering based on the media number last recorded on the previous day.
EXAMPLE #1: On Monday, you recorded depositions for three deponents. The deponents were John Smith, Sally Smith, and Bob Roberts. You used three media units for John, two media units for Sally, and one media unit for Bob. The numbering for the media units would be as follows:
Smith_J-050916-1of3
Smith_J-050916-2of3
Smith_J-050916-3of3
Smith_S-050916-1of2
Smith_S-050916-2of2
Smith_J-050916-2of2
As you can see, there are six total media units, but the numbering reset each time there was a new deponent. The numbering wasn’t done in a cumulative fashion which is why the media isn’t numbered as 1 of 6, 2 of 6, and so on.
EXAMPLE #2: On Monday, May 9th and Tuesday, May 10th, you are assigned to cover depositions for John Smith on both days. The media will be numbered as follows:
Smith_J-050916-1of4
Smith_J-050916-2of4
Smith_J-050916-3of4
Smith_J-050916-4of4
There are seven media units that were used over the course of two days, but the numbering on the second day was reset and we began with 1. The numbering never indicated 7 units which is why the numbering wasn’t 1 of 7, 2 of 7, and so on.
Smith_J-051016-1of3
Smith_J-051016-2of3
Smith_J-051016-3of3
MEDIA NUMBERING – FURTHER CONSIDERATIONSIn addition to the previous sections that deal with media naming and media numbering, it is also important to be consistent
across all recordings that you make during an assignment.
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, WE WILL BE ADDRESSING WHAT CONSTITUTES A MEDIA UNIT.
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MAXIMUM RECORDING TIME POLICY
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Even though technology allows for seemingly endless record times, it is a practice that Veritext prohibits for a few reasons:
• DATA CORRUPTION: When video is recorded to files on removable storage and disk based storage systems, the chance of data corruption is always a possibility. This possibility increases during recording as the size of the file increases. Further complicating data integrity is power spikes and/or total loss of power. Surge protectors and uninterruptable power supplies can help to mitigate such occurrences, but it still becomes more likely that data corruption will occur over time during recording.
• TOTAL DATA LOSS: While less common, the chances that a file is no longer accessible also increase with longer recordings.
IT IS VERITEXT POLICY THAT THE RUNNING TIME OF EACH MEDIA UNIT MUST NOT
EXCEED 90 MINUTES.
In order to properly understand the Veritext policy on maximum recording time, it is important to understand what is meant by media units. This will be explained in the next section.
MEDIA UNITS POLICY AND EXPLANATIONIt is Veritext policy to record the same number of master media units and secondary media units. Let’s assume that a videographer plans to record using 16 GB SD cards and a 500 GB hard drive. As we analyze the videographer’s recording mechanisms, we find that the camera is set to record around 90 minutes of video on each 16 GB SD card. The videographer’s camera will create several individual files on the 16GB SD card. The entirety of the SD card is what we consider to be a complete media unit despite the presence of smaller files. Once the videographer has recorded footage that is equal to or less than 90
minutes, the videographer will begin recording to a new 16GB SD card.
Meanwhile, the video capture device is set to record at a quality that allows
for many hours of recording since this videographer’s laptop hard drive has a
capacity of 500 GB. The videographer must match the recording time of the video capture
device to the recording time of the camera. The SD card in the camera will only record 90 minutes
or less. When the SD card is either full or nearly full, the videographer will swap out the SD card and prepare to use an unused 16 GB card.
Let’s assume that the videographer recorded approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes of video on the SD card. The running time of the footage on the laptop will also be 1 hour and 27 minutes. The footage that was recorded with the video capture device might be only one file. It could also be several files, dozens of files, or perhaps many dozens of files. Ultimately, the media unit that we are using to manage the entirety of the deposition is the SD card. Therefore, the number of files recorded with the video capture device is completely irrelevant. Whether 1 file, 4 files, or 40 files were recorded, the entirety of the file or files that equal 1 hour and 27 minutes constitutes ONE media unit.
NOTE: Veritext Videographers will commonly record video on SD cards that are
loaded in the camera. The secondary or concurrent recording mechanism is a video
capture device that is connected to a laptop. Both the SD cards and the laptop’s hard
drive storage capacities dictate the total recording time. Further consideration must
be made regarding the format that the videographer’s camera used to record to the
SD cards versus the way the capture device records to a computer’s hard drive.
EXAMPLE: During the course of an 8 hour deposition, you use 5 16GB SD cards. This will mean that 5 media units were used. Remember that it doesn’t matter how many individual files are on the SD cards. The secondary recording device will also yield 5 media units because you made sure to limit the total files for each unit based upon the recording capacity of your SD cards
TIP: Try to use the equivalent of a DVD or tape as the “master” media unit. In this case, we are using an SD card. You might use a CF card or USB flash drive. All other redundant devices that you use to record must match the “master” media unit. You could easily have dozens and dozens of files recorded on both of your devices, but the total number of media units will ultimately be dictated by the master storage device.
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STORAGE CAPACITY CONSIDERATIONS
34
A further consideration that you must make is to use flash media that has
enough capacity along with a recording setting in your camera that allows
for sufficient quality. In the days of tape-based recording, it was common
to use digital video tape along with DVD-Video discs to record depositions.
Recording was limited to the capacity of the tapes and discs along with the
recording settings used on the camera and DVD-Video recorder. In order to
provide the best quality recording, videographers would use the “SP” setting
on the recording device along with the longest tape available. Much like
the data corruption concerns mentioned above, longer tapes also presented
potential recording errors. Thus, a happy medium was needed to ensure the
best quality and stability.
By using this equipment with the recommended settings, you will
have the greatest opportunity for successful recordings.
You will need to make a decision based upon our
policy and the best practices for your equipment.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO USE:
• 16GB, Class 10 Ultra SDHC cards from top brands (Sandisk, Transcend, etc)
• Cameras from the major manufactures (Panasonic, Sony, JVC, Canon), and
• The Hauppauge PVR video capture devices (PVR 60, Rocket).
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APPENDIX 5: HAUPPAUGE HD PVR ROCKET
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RECORDING VIDEO FILES USING THE HD PVR ROCKET
36
THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SHOULD DO
once you have your Hauppauge Rocket is to power it up. The
Rocket must be connected to your computer to be powered on.
The Rocket can be powered by connecting it to your computer
using the included USB cable.
Always plug the black end of the USB cable into your computer
first. After that, you can connect the square shaped side of the
cable into the USB/Power plug located on the back panel of the
Rocket as seen in the diagram to the right.
Once the Rocket is powered on, you will be able to capture the
footage you are recording with your camera. You will be taking
the signal from the HDMI Out port on your camera. You will run
an HDMI cable to the Rocket HDMI IN port.
If your camera does not support HDMI, you can use your
component out cable and plug into the adapter that is included
with the Rocket. If you are using composite, you should plug your
composite video out into the blue cable on the adapter and the
audio outs should be plugged into the audio left and right.
This adapter can then be plugged into the AV IN port on the
back panel of the rocket.
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THE NEXT STEP will be to download the Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket drivers and Hauppauge Capture software from the Hauppauge website at: http://hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr_rocket.html
LAUNCH THE HAUPPAUGE CAPTURE PROGRAM After you install the software and drivers on your computer, you
can launch the Hauppauge Capture Program
When launched the main Hauppauge screen will appear:
You should see the image that your camera is outputting in the window on the right.
If you do not see the image from your camera, make sure that your camera is connected to the Hauppauge Rocket and that the Rocket is connected to your computer. You may need to change your Video Input on the left hand side of the Hauppauge Capture screen. Select the correct video input based on your camera’s output (HDMI/Component/SVideo/Composite)
Please ignore the section named Microphone input since that will not be normally used for depositions. Under the Video input & Microphone input sections is the Video Quality option. Select 5 Mbps at a Constant quality.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE DRIVERS FROM THE FIRMWARE UPDATE TAB: YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE FROM THE
HAUPPAUGE CAPTURE TAB
In order to select where the video files will save on your computer, go the Settings tab. You will see the screen to the left.
The Recording Directory can be changed to any folder on your computer and we recommend separating each job into an individual job number folder.
This program produces an MPEG-2 TS file which you will choose under the record button, which is the format Veritext requires. Do NOT record using the MPEG-4 or MTS setting. When you are naming your files, please follow this naming convention:
Lastname_Firstinitial-MonthDayYear-MediaUnit
For example; for a September 3rd, 2014 deposition of John Smith that is 2 media units long, your files should be named:
• Smith_J-090314-2• Smith_J-090314-1
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When you are ready to record go back to the main
tab called Capture.
Click the red record button once you have started
recording with your camera.
When you go off the record, click the record button
again to stop once you have stopped recording with
your camera.
Veritext requires that media units do not exceed 1 Hr and 30 Mins. For more information, please reference the Veritext
Videographer Guidelines.
The Rocket will create a new file every time the recording is stopped (There is currently no pause function). If you have more recorded
Rocket files than original media units (SD Card, hard drive, etc) they should be labeled as -1a, -1b, -2a, -2b, etc.
• SMITH_J-090314-2A
• SMITH_J-090314-2B
After the assignment has concluded and all files have been recorded, they
can be uploaded to the Veritext Video Cloud via the Veritext Partner Portal.
At this time, the other tabs within the Hauppauge Capture software are
not used for Veritext Video assignments.
• SMITH_J-090314-1A
• SMITH_J-090314-1B
• SMITH_J-090314-1C
FOR EXAMPLE:
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APPENDIX 6: HANDLING THE READ-IN WITH DIGITAL REPORTERS
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OVERVIEW
40
Digital reporters must begin a proceeding by reading a script that is very similar to the videographer read-in script found in Appendix 1. When you cover an assignment with a digital reporter, you should not read the videographer read-in script. You are responsible for all other announcements to go on and off the record.
You should check the Veritext Partner Portal to see if a digital reporter is covering a proceeding that you are also covering. The information in the portal will look like the image above.
THE PROCEEDING
Digital reporters are instructed to identify themselves as a digital reporter to the videographer well before the deposition start time. The digital reporter will be prepared to read the read-in script at the beginning of the proceeding.
After the proceeding commences and the digital reporter has read the read-in script on the record, you will announce that you are going on and off the record when a request or need arises. You will say “We are off/on the record at ___, the time is approximately ______”.
END OF PROCEEDING
You will also need to conclude the proceeding with an audible announcement stating that you are going off the VIDEO record. You will then proceed to stop recording on all local devices and any web conferencing recording (Zoom, WebEx, etc.). The digital reporter will remain on the record to obtain the orders from the attorneys. Please see below for an example of the conclusion announcement:
“We are off the video record at _________am/pm and this concludes today’s testimony given by ___________________. The total number of media units used was ______ and will be retained by______________.
LEAVING A WEB CONFERENCEIf your proceeding is also being conducted via a web conference, you will want to confirm that nothing further is needed from the remote attendees or anyone who is physically attending the proceeding. Once you have confirmed that nothing else is required, you should leave the web conference.
If you are a host, do NOT end the meeting.
This will be handled by the digital reporter. To leave a meeting, simply click the “Leave Meeting” button or a similarly named button in other platforms. Please see below for the “Leave Meeting” button in Zoom.
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DIGITAL REPORTER READ-IN SCRIPT
Please see below for a partial sample of the read-in script that the digital reporter may use. The actual version used may differ from what is shown below:
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ABOUT
About Veritext Legal SolutionsVeritext is the leader in deposition and litigation support solutions with a proven track record
of industry excellence. For law firms and corporations, we provide coverage across all of North
America, state-of-the-art conference rooms, facilitate the connection with highly skilled reporters
and videographers, advanced technology, remote services, unparalleled client service, and on-
time delivery. Our solutions utilize the latest easy-to-use technologies to streamline the deposition
process, and reliably handle the most complex cases. All of this combined with unmatched data
security (including HIPAA and PII compliance) ensure that Veritext clients have the best tools
available and the confidence of working with the market leader.
www.veritext.com