EVS Xedio Dispatcher User Manual Version 4.35

USER MANUAL

Version 4.35 - October 2013

USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

Disclaimer

The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only and subject to change without notice. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this user manual is accurate, up-to-date and reliable, EVS Broadcast Equipment cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies or errors that may appear in this publication.

Improvement Requests

Your comments will help us improve the quality of the user documentation. Do not hesitate to send improvement requests, or report any error or inaccuracy on this user manual by e-mail to doc@evs.com.

Regional Contacts

The address and phone number of the EVS headquarters are usually mentioned in the Help > About menu in the user interface.

You will find the full list of addresses and phone numbers of local offices either at the end of this user manual (for manuals on hardware products) or at the following page on the EVS website: http://www.evs.com/contacts.

User Manuals on EVS Website

The latest version of the user manual, if any, and other user manuals on EVS products can be found on the EVS download center, on the following webpage:

http://www.evs.com/downloadcenter.

USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

TABLE OF CONTENTS III

WHAT'S NEW? VII

1. INTRODUCTION 1

1.1. Product Description 1

1.2. Opening Xedio Dispatcher 1

1.3. Process Overview 2

1.3.1. General Working Process 2

1.3.2. Process Overview with File Exceeding the P2 Card Capacity 2

1.3.3. Process Overview with P2-3D Cards as Source 2

2. INSTALLATION 4

2.1. Prerequisites 4

2.2. Hardware and Software Requirements 4

2.3. Licenses 5

2.3.1. License Codes Required 5

2.3.2. Requesting and Importing the License Keys 5

2.4. Installation Procedure 6

3. CONFIGURATION AND CUSTOMIZATION 9

3.1. Export Target Profiles 9

3.1.1. Definition 9

3.1.2. Creating your Own Export Target Profile 9

3.2. Xsquare Target 18

3.2.1. Purpose 18

3.2.2. Creating an Xsquare Target on the Local Xsquare 19

3.2.3. Discovering Xsquare Servers 19

3.3. Keyword Grids 21

3.4. Metadata 21

3.4.1. Introduction 21

3.4.2. Profile Management 21

3.4.3. Media Profile Association 26

3.4.4. Edit Profile Association 27

3.5. Configuration Parameters 28

3.5.1. Parameter Profiles 28

3.5.2. Keyboard Profiles 42

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4. USER INTERFACE 49

4.1. Overview 49

4.2. Menu Bar 50

4.3. Source Device Area 52

4.4. View Modes in the Workspace Area 53

4.5. Thumbnail View in the Workspace Area 54

4.5.1. Overview of the Workspace in Thumbnail View 54

4.5.2. Selecting Techniques 55

4.5.3. Thumbnail Contextual Menu 56

4.6. List View in the Workspace Area 56

4.6.1. Overview of the Workspace in List View 56

4.6.2. Sorting the Elements in the Grid 58

4.6.3. Organizing Columns 58

4.6.4. Element Contextual Menu 59

4.7. Clip Player and Storyboard Player 60

4.7.1. Overview of the Clip Player 60

4.7.2. Overview of the Storyboard Player 62

4.7.3. Video Display 64

4.7.4. Audio/Video Track Selection and Monitoring 65

4.7.5. Media Bar and Jog Bar 69

4.7.6. Editing and Transport Commands 72

4.8. Storyboard Area 77

4.8.1. Overview of the Storyboard Area 77

4.8.2. Storyboard Contextual Menu 77

4.9. Logger 77

4.9.1. Purpose 77

4.9.2. Overview of the Logger Tab 78

4.10. Export Tools 80

4.10.1. Purpose 80

4.10.2. Export to Target Tab 80

4.10.3. Export to File Tab and Export to Device Tab 83

5. MANAGING THE STORYBOARDS 87

5.1. How to Create an Empty Storyboard 87

5.2. Storyboard Properties Window 87

5.3. Other Possible Actions on Storyboards 90

6. SELECTING RELEVANT MEDIA 91

6.1. Introduction 91

6.2. Adding and Scanning a Folder in the Source Device Area 91

6.3. Listing Clips in the Workspace Area 92

6.3.1. Displaying the Source Clips in the Thumbnail View 92

6.3.2. Listing the Source Clips in the List View 92

IV Table of Contents

6.4. Searching for Elements in the List 93

USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

6.4.1. Introduction 93

6.4.2. Quick Text Search 94

6.4.3. Advanced Search 95

6.4.4. Using Saved Filters 102

7. LOADING A SOURCE CLIP ON THE CLIP PLAYER 104

8. ADDING CLIPS OR SUB-CLIPS TO THE STORYBOARD 106

8.1. How to Create a Sub-Clip and Add it to the Storyboard 106

8.2. How to Add Source Clips to the Storyboard 107

8.3. How to Replace a Clip in the Storyboard 107

8.4. How to Modify the Storyboard Clip Boundaries 107

9. ADDING LOGS TO A CLIP 108

9.1. Introduction 108

9.2. Log and Metadata Display 108

9.2.1. Log Color and Rating 108

9.2.2. Keywords Associated to a Log 109

9.3. Adding a Log to a Clip and Associating Metadata 110

9.4. Other Possible Actions on Logs 111

10. RECORDING AN AUDIO GUIDE TRACK 113

10.1. Introduction 113

10.2. How to Record an Audio Guide Track 113

11. CHECKING THE STORYBOARD 114

12. EXPORTING THE STORYBOARD OR CLIPS 115

12.1. Introduction 115

12.2. Exporting to Target 115

12.2.1. Introduction 115

12.2.2. How to Export to Target 115

12.2.3. Monitoring the Export Process to a Target 116

12.2.4. Exporting Metadata 117

12.2.5. Exporting Logs 117

12.2.6. Other Possible Actions on Export Jobs 117

12.3. Exporting to Xedio, to File, to Device 118

12.3.1. How to Export a Storyboard to File or to Device 118

12.3.2. Setting the Export Properties To File 120

12.3.3. Setting the Export Properties To Device 121

12.3.4. Setting the General Export Properties 122

12.4. Exporting Clips and Sub-Clips 123

13. GLOSSARY 124

Table of Contents V

USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

What's New?

In the user manual, the icon has been added on the left margin to highlight information on new and updated features.

The sections updated to reflect the new and modified features in Xedio Dispatcher from Xedio Suite 4.03 and 4.35 (compared to Xedio Dispatcher 4.02) are listed below.

Updated management of export target profiles

• The configuration of RTProf is done from a Menu bar option rather than the Export tool.

See section "Creating your Own Export Target Profile" on page 9.

See section "Menu Bar" on page 50.

• Xsquare can now be used with Xedio Dispatcher. A storyboard can be exported to a predefined Xsquare target.

See section "Xsquare Target" on page 18.

See section "Menu Bar" on page 50.

See section "Overview of the Export to Target Tab" on page 80.

See section "Exporting to Target" on page 115.

• The export can be monitored.

See section "Monitoring the Export Process to a Target" on page 116.

Import of metadata profile

• Metadata profiles can be imported into Xedio Dispatcher.

See section "Managing Metadata Profiles" on page 24.

New keyboard shortcuts

• Updated list of keyboard shortcuts.

See section "List of Media Dispatcher Keyboard Keys Assignments" on page 43

Management of spanned clips created from a single shot over several P2 cards

• Special display for contiguous clips created during a single shot on a P2 card.

See section "Overview of the Workspace in Thumbnail View" on page 54.

See section "Process Overview with File Exceeding the P2 Card Capacity" on page

Management of 3D media

• Possibility to transfer media from P2-3D cards as 2 separate files.

See section "Product Description" on page 1.

See section "Overview of the Workspace in Thumbnail View" on page 54.

See section "Process Overview with P2-3D Cards as Source" on page 2.

New behavior for the J, L shortcuts

• The first time the Jor the Lshortcut is pressed, the speed is 100%.

See section "Transport Commands in the Player" on page 72.

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The Allow Match Frame function has been removed

See section "List of Media Dispatcher Parameters" on page 32.

See section "Overview of the Storyboard Player" on page 62

VIII What's New?

USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

1. Introduction

1.1. Product Description

Xedio Dispatcher is a software product used for browsing A/V files in place, rough-cutting and exporting rough-cuts to multiple destinations and formats.

Xedio Dispatcher automatically detects connected devices (such as CANON, P2, XDCAM or XDCAM EX devices), and instantly displays their contents. This allows immediate browsing of the media directly on the device, which speeds up the shoot selection, sub-clipping and/or fast rough-cut editing. Shoots, sub-clips and edits can also be instantly logged. Xedio Dispatcher also scans drives or folders upon user request and displays their content.

As soon as clips are displayed in Xedio Dispatcher, they are available to Xedio database and media server as growing clips, without waiting the end of transcoding process.

Once selected or created, the sub-clips and consolidated storyboards can be easily transferred from the device itself to any target such as EVS video server, media server (for example: SAN, XStore), or any type of storage. They can also be exported to a file that can be read by an external system or to an external device such as a tape recorder.

Simultaneous transfers to multiple destinations in multiple formats are supported thanks to Xedio on-the-fly SD/HD rewrapping & transcoding capabilities.

Refer to the release notes for the list of supported formats and codecs for source files and exported files.

Xedio Dispatcher is able to manage media from P2-3D cards and transfer media from the left and right cards as two separate files to the selected target.

1.2. Opening Xedio Dispatcher

To start Xedio Dispatcher, select the Xedio Dispatcher application via the menu Start > All Programs > EVS Broadcast Equipment > Xedio Dispatcher > Xedio Dispatcher

or double-click the Xedio Dispatcher shortcut on the desktop:

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1.3. Process Overview

1.3.1. General Working Process

When you want to create and export a storyboard, you will usually apply the following steps. These steps are explained as simple procedures in the following sections. Click on the step to jump directly to the corresponding section.

1. Creating an empty storyboard

2. Selecting media

3. Adding sub-clips to the storyboard

4. Adding logs to clips and/or storyboard (optional)

5. Checking the storyboard

6. Exporting the storyboard

1.3.2. Process Overview with File Exceeding the P2 Card Capacity

When the duration of a single shot record exceeds the capacity of the P2 card or when the resulting file exceeds 4 GB, the camcorder goes on recording on another P2 card.

This results in multiple contiguous media files automatically detected by Xedio Dispatcher. They are highlighted in the Thumbnail view of the workspace by yellow rectangles on the right and/or the left sides of the clip thumbnails.

See section "Overview of the Workspace in Thumbnail View" on page 54.

1.3.3. Process Overview with P2-3D Cards as Source

Xedio Dispatcher is able to manage 3D media from P2 cards and its transfer to a storage location.

The process is subject to the following limitations:

• Source must be P2-3D cards.

• Always use a Storyboard or a full media within Xedio Dispatcher.

• Thumbnails will always refer to the 1st P2-3D card.

• Both left and right P2-3D cards cannot be plugged in the Xedio Dispatcher workstation

at the same time. The second card must not be plugged until the first storyboard is has been transferred to the target.

The process must respect the following sequence of steps:

1. Plug the first P2-3D card in the Xedio Dispatcher workstation (left or right eye card).

2. Make a storyboard (i.e. cut-sequence or shot selection) from this card.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

3. Export the sequence as a file (e.g. left_eye_file.mxf).

4. Unplug the card.

5. Plug the second card in the Xedio Dispatcher workstation.

6. Export the sequence as a file, now linked to the other eye (e.g. right_eye_file.mxf).

See section "Overview of the Workspace in Thumbnail View" on page 54 for the display specific to 3D clips.

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2. Installation

2.1. Prerequisites

Here is the list of prerequisites to the installation of Xedio Dispatcher:

• Hardware requirements must be met.

• Software requirements must be met.

• The XSecure application needs to be installed on the workstation with all the required

license codes.

• Xedio Dispatcher has to be installed with administrator rights.

• It is recommended to close all other applications before starting the Xedio Dispatcher

installation, especially all EVS applications.

• XDCAM and/or P2 drivers must be installed on the Xedio Dispatcher computer.

2.2. Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware Requirements

Xedio Dispatcher can be installed on a single laptop or desktop computer.

The browser and player of Xedio Dispatcher use the CPU resources of the Xedio Dispatcher workstation to decode the A/V material, depending on the source and the target codecs.

The guidelines for the hardware minimum requirements are:

• CPU:

◦ For 720p and AVC Intra 100: Core i7 2.8 GHz processor (or equivalent)

◦ For all other codecs and video standards: Core Duo 2.33GHz processor (or

equivalent)

• RAM: 3GB

• Display Resolution: minimum 1280x1024

• Gfx Card: no specific needs ("standard" PC Gfx card)

Options:

• USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and/or PCIe interface(s) depending on the device you

want to connect to Xedio Dispatcher machine (FTP access not supported).

• For Audio monitoring and/or Audio Guide Track: Digigram Audio Board or any other

Audio Board.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

Software Requirements

Xedio Dispatcher has to be installed on a computer running Windows XP Pro SP3 32 bits or Windows 7 32 or 64 bits.

2.3. Licenses

2.3.1. License Codes Required

The XSecure application needs to be installed on the workstation. All the following license codes (known as Xedio Dispatcher full option) must be requested to allow the use of Xedio Dispatcher, except the Audio Guide Track and RTProf Wizard which are optional.

License Code Description

Base Package

P2 Source 20 Access to A/V content on P2 support

XDCAM Source

Storyboarding 40 Access to the Storyboarding (rough cut) module of Xedio

Audio Guide Track

Export 50 Access to the Export Module of Xedio Dispatcher

RTProf Wizard

Logger 60 Access to the Logging (IPD Logs) module of Xedio Dispatcher

Transcoding 70 Access to the transcoding option for the export module. If not

10 Base Package for Xedio Dispatcher

30 Access to A/V content on XDCAM support

Dispatcher

41 Allows the creation of an Audio Guide Track over a storyboard

51 Allows the creation of a new export target profile (RTProf

generator)

present, only smart rendering is allowed.

2.3.2. Requesting and Importing the License Keys

In the XSecure Manager application installed on the Xedio Dispatcher workstation, you need to click the Request button to generate an XML file. Email this XML file to the EVS support and ask for the Import Key file.

Once you have received the Import Key file, you need to select and import the file via the Import Key File button in XSecure Manager.

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2.4. Installation Procedure

A Setup wizard guides you through the installation of Xedio Dispatcher.

To install Xedio Dispatcher, proceed as follows:

1. Copy the installation file FullXedioDispatcher_4.0x.xx.exe locally.

This is the full installer file, which you need to use for a first installation. Use the XedioDispatcher_4.0x.xx.exe for upgrades.

2. Double-click on the installation file to launch the installation wizard.

3. Click Next on the Welcome window.

4. Read the License agreement, click the I accept the agreement option and click Next.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

5. Select the components you want to install and click Next.

6. Click Install on the Ready to Install window.

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7. Click Finish.

When the application is installed, you need to restart the computer.

The Xedio Dispatcher installer will then perform some final installation steps before you can launch the application.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

3. Configuration and Customization

3.1. Export Target Profiles

3.1.1. Definition

An Export Target Profile (also called "RTProf") is an .xml file that contains the definition for rendering the storyboard created in Xedio Dispatcher into a single file on a given destination or into a clip on a given EVS server.

The Export Target Profile mainly includes the definition of the destinations, and of the codecs in which the file or clip need to be generated.

The Export Target Profiles can be defined and customized to your needs by the EVS Project Manager. However, you can also create your own Export Target profiles using the Target Wizard.

The Export Target Profiles available in Xedio Dispatcher are stored in: C:\XedioDispatcherMS\Profiles\RTProf.

3.1.2. Creating your Own Export Target Profile

You can create an Export Target profile with the RTProf wizard in standalone mode, or from Xedio Dispatcher, by means of its New Target wizard.

To create an Export Target Profile from Xedio Dispatcher, proceed as follows:

1. In the Menu bar, click Targets >RTProf > Create RTProf.

The New Target Creation wizard opens.

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2. In the Target Type dialog box:

a. select the types of targets you want to generate, either files stored on the network,

or clips on EVS servers:

b. Click Next.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

3. The High Resolution File Creation dialog box is displayed if you have asked to

generate hi-res files.

a. Specify the folder where the high resolution files will be stored, as well as the

codec and format to be used to generate these files.

b. If you want to generate an EVS metadata file (XML file), that will contain the file

definition and the custom metadata fields associated to the media/Storyboard, select the Generate EVS metadata file option. This metadata file will be stored in the same folder as the media file.

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c. If you select an Avid OPAtom format, the Export to Avid (Interplay or AAF)

option appears. Select it if you want to export to Avid. Further configuration will be done in steps 10 and 11.

d. Click Next.

4. The Proxy/LoRes File Creation dialog box is displayed if you have asked to generate

lo-res files.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

a. Specify the same information for the low resolution files as for the high-resolution

file.

b. If you want the AutoFileImporter application (AFI) to scan the generated files and

reference them in the Xedio database, select the Reference Hi/Lo files to Xedio option and specify the folder that AFI will have to scan to find the jobs to perform.

c. If you select an Avid OPAtom format, the Export to Avid (Interplay or AAF)

option appears. Select it if you want to export to Avid. Further configuration will be done in steps 10 and 11.

d. Click Next.

5. The Export to EVS Video Server dialog box displays if you have asked to generate

clips.

a. Specify both IP addresses of the EVS video server, the codec used on the server,

the FTP login and password, the default page on which the generated clip will be stored.

b. If you want to generate an EVS metadata file (XML file), that will contain the file

definition, select the Generate EVS metadata file option, and specify the folder where the file should be stored.

c. Click Next.

6. If you have asked to use a second EVS server as backup, the Export to 2ndEVS

Video Server dialog displays.

a. Provide the same information as for the main EVS server.

b. Click Next.

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7. The File Name Properties dialog box displays.

◦ Maximum filename length: maximum number of characters above which the

filename will be truncated.

◦ Force GUID: when this option is selected, a GUID will be incremented at the end

of the filename.

Click Next.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

8. The EVS Metadata Info dialog bog displays, if you have selected one of the Generate

EVS metadata file options.

a. Asset Owner: specify the owner of the media/edit you will export as it will appear,

for instance, in IPDirector.

b. Bin Name: specify the name of the IPDirector bin where you want to send your

material.

c. Click Next.

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9. The Export Logsheet File dialog box displays.

◦ Xedio Dispatcher can generate a log sheet (XML file) that will contain the log

information available in the clip, sub-clip or storyboard exported. To this end, select the Generate Logsheet file option and specify the folder where to export this log sheet.

◦ If you have selected the export to AVID during steps 4 or 5, the Export Logs as

locators to Avid option is displayed. By selecting this option, the locators will appear on-the-fly within Avid.

Note

If one of those options is selected, cut points will be exported as logs.

• Storyboard start timecode and storyboard end timecode are considered as cut points.

• Each cut point between the start and the end of the storyboard contains 2 logs: on for the IN point and one for the OUT point.

Click Next.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

10. If you have selected the export to AVID during steps 4 or 5, the Export to Avid dialog box displays.

a. Select the export type you want to perform.

◦ If you want to export your storyboard to an Avid Interplay setup using

WebServices, select Export to Avid Interplay (Web Services). During the export to Avid Interplay, users will be allowed to use the file being encoded.

The Test button can be used to check the connectivity with Avid WS host.

◦ If you want to export your storyboard to an Avid setup using an AAF file, select

Export AAF File. The AAF file will contain the reference to OPAtom files, specific metadata and locators.

b. Click Next.

11. In the next dialog box, specify the name for the Target Profile you have defined. This is the name that will be displayed in the Target field of the Export Tool in Xedio Dispatcher.

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12. The last dialog box provides an overview on the target profile definition. You can still go back to a previous dialog box, and modify the target profile definition.

Click Finish to confirm the Target Profile Definition.

The target profile you have created is now available for use in the Target field of the Export to Target Tool in Xedio Dispatcher.

3.2. Xsquare Target

3.2.1. Purpose

Xsquare can be used to receive and send media in file format or for the rendering of files to an EVS video server.

Xsquare installed locally on the Xedio Dispatcher workstation will automatically be detected.

However, users have also the possibility to use an Xsquare installed on another workstation, provided that their accounts use the same user IDand password in both Xsquare and Xedio Dispatcher.

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USER MANUAL Xedio Dispatcher 4.35

3.2.2. Creating an Xsquare Target on the Local Xsquare

The local Xsquare installed on the Xedio Dispatcher workstation is automatically detected by Xedio Dispatcher.

The creation of targets on this local Xsquare is done from the Xsquare Targets window which can be directly accessed from within the Xedio Dispatcher interface.

To display the Xsquare Targets window, select Create Xsquare Target from the Targets >Xsquare menu of the Menu bar.

Refer to the Xsquare user manual for more information on the creation of targets and the description of fields.

3.2.3. Discovering Xsquare Servers

Overview of the Xsquare Servers Window

Xedio Dispatcher can work with targets from Xsquare not installed locally on the workstation. To do so, the distant Xsquare servers must be discovered from the Xsquare Servers window.

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It can be accessed from the Menu bar, by selecting Targets >Xsquare > Xsquare Servers:

The Xsquare Servers area displays the list of Xsquare servers which have been defined as targets from Xedio Dispatcher.

The Xsquare Properties area shows the properties of a Xsquare server selected from the Xsquare Servers area.

The discovery of Xsquare targets can be done manually or automatically.

Automatic Procedure

To automatically find the list of Xsquare servers available on the network, proceed as follows:

1. Click the Discover button.

The Xsquare Servers Discovery window opens and lists the Xsquare servers found.

2. Select one Xsquare server.

3. Click Add.

The properties of the Xsquare server are displayed on screen.

4. Click Save.

The selected Xsquare server is displayed in the Xsquare Servers area.

Manual Procedure

To select an Xsquare server manually, proceed as follows:

1. Click New.

The default host name 127.0.0.1 is displayed in the Xsquare properties.

2. Set the Xsquare properties by completing the fields.

20 3. Configuration and Customization

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