EVS Xedio Dispatcher User Manual Version 3.1

User’s Manual
Version 3.1 - December 2010
ENG File Import and Dynamic Reviewing
Xedio Dispatcher – Version 3.1
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EVS Broadcast Equipment – December 2010
COPYRIGHT
EVS Broadcast Equipment – Copyright © 2010. All rights reserve d.
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.tv
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REGIONAL CONTACTS
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 on the EVS website on the following page: http://www.evs.tv /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.tv/downl oadcenter
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... III
WHAT’S NEW ON XEDIO DISPATCHER V3.1? .............................................................. V
1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 SUPPORTED FORMATS AND CODECS .................................................................................... 1
2. INSTALLATION ........................................................................................................ 4
2.1 PREREQUISITES ........................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... 4
2.3 LICENSES ................................................................................................................................... 5
2.3.1License Codes Required ......................................................................................................... 5
2.3.2Requesting and Importing the License Keys ........................................................................... 5
2.4 INSTALLATION PROCEDURE .................................................................................................... 6
3. CONFIGURATION AND CUSTOMIZATION ............................................................ 8
3.1 EXPORT TARGET PROFILES .................................................................................................... 8
3.1.1Definition ................................................................................................................................. 8
3.1.2Creating your Own Export Target Profile ................................................................................ 8
3.2 KEYWORD GRIDS .................................................................................................................... 12
3.3 CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS............................................................................................ 13
3.3.1Parameter Profiles ................................................................................................................ 13
3.3.2How to Edit a Parameter Profile ............................................................................................ 18
4. USER INTERFACE ................................................................................................. 19
4.1 STARTING XEDIO DISPATCHER ............................................................................................. 19
4.2 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................ 19
4.3 MENU BAR ................................................................................................................................ 21
4.4 SOURCE DEVICE AREA ........................................................................................................... 22
4.4.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 22
4.4.2General Description .............................................................................................................. 22
4.5 WORKSPACE AREA ................................................................................................................. 23
4.5.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 23
4.5.2View Modes in the Workspace .............................................................................................. 23
4.5.3Thumbnail View in the Workspace Area ............................................................................... 24
4.5.4Clip Player View in the Workspace Area ............................................................................... 25
4.5.5Storyboard Player View in the Workspace Area .................................................................... 27
4.6 TOOLS AREA ............................................................................................................................ 29
4.6.1Accessing the Tabs in the Tools Area ................................................................................... 29
4.6.2Logger ................................................................................................................................... 29
4.6.3Export Tool ............................................................................................................................ 31
4.7 STORYBOARD AREA ............................................................................................................... 33
4.7.1Overview ............................................................................................................................... 33
4.8 CLIP PLAYER AND STORYBOARD PLAYER .......................................................................... 33
4.8.1Overview ............................................................................................................................... 33
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4.8.2How to Load a Clip in the Clip Player .................................................................................... 34
4.8.3How to Load a Storyboard in the Storyboard Player ............................................................. 35
4.8.4Video Display ........................................................................................................................ 36
4.8.5Player Track Selection Buttons ............................................................................................. 37
4.8.6Jog & Media Bars .................................................................................................................. 38
4.8.7Transport Commands in the Clip Player ............................................................................... 40
4.8.8Transport Commands in the Storyboard Player .................................................................... 42
4.8.9Clip Creation Fields ............................................................................................................... 44
4.8.10Log Buttons ........................................................................................................................... 46
4.8.11Audio Track Monitoring Buttons ............................................................................................ 46
4.8.12Audio Guide Track Record Button ......................................................................................... 46
5. OPERATION ........................................................................................................... 47
5.1 GENERAL WORKING PROCESS ............................................................................................. 47
5.2 MANAGING THE STORYBOARDS ........................................................................................... 47
5.2.1How to Create an Empty Storyboard ..................................................................................... 47
5.2.2Other Possible Actions on Storyboards ................................................................................. 48
5.3 SELECTING RELEVANT MEDIA ............................................................................................... 49
5.3.1Opening the Source Clips in the Thumbnail View ................................................................. 49
5.3.2Loading a Source Clip in the Clip Player ............................................................................... 49
5.4 ADDING CLIPS OR SUB-CLIPS TO THE STORYBOARD ........................................................ 50
5.4.1How to Add a Sub-Clip to the Storyboard ............................................................................. 50
5.4.2How to Add Source Clips to the Storyboard .......................................................................... 51
5.4.3How to Replace a Clip in the Storyboard .............................................................................. 51
5.4.4How to Modify the Storyboard Clip Boundaries ..................................................................... 51
5.5 ADDING LOGS TO A CLIP ........................................................................................................ 52
5.5.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 52
5.5.2How to Add a Log to a Clip ................................................................................................... 52
5.5.3Log and Metadata Display .................................................................................................... 53
5.5.4Other Possible Actions on Logs ............................................................................................ 54
5.6 RECORDING AN AUDIO GUIDE TRACK .................................................................................. 55
5.6.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 55
5.6.2How to Record an Audio Guide Track ................................................................................... 55
5.7 CHECKING THE STORYBOARD .............................................................................................. 56
5.7.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 56
5.7.2How to Load a Storyboard in the Storyboard Player ............................................................. 56
5.8 EXPORTING THE STORYBOARD ............................................................................................ 57
5.8.1Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 57
5.8.2How to Export a Storyboard .................................................................................................. 57
5.8.3Exporting Clips and Sub-Clips .............................................................................................. 59
5.8.4Result of Export Job .............................................................................................................. 59
5.8.5Other Possible Actions on Export Jobs ................................................................................. 59
GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................... 61
INDEX .............................................................................................................................. 63
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The following table describes the sections updated to reflect the new and modified features on Xedio Dis patcher from Xedio Suite 3.1 (com pared to Xedio Suite 3.0).
In the user manual, the icon has been added on left margin to highlight information on new and updated features.
Click the section number (or the description) in the table to jump directly to the corresponding section.
Section Description
1.1 - 1.2 New source support: XDCAM Ex, Panasonic P2 AVC Intra
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Dispatcher V3.1?
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New export/transcoding form at support:
Proxy: H.264 AVC TS
SD: H.264 AVC (MP4, TS), MXF OP1A SMPTE
(DVCPRO50)
HD: MXF OP1A SMPTE (Avid DNxHD®, DVCPROHD )
4.4 Device area: XDCAM EX files area supported.
4.5.4 - 4.5.5 - 4.8.5 Workspace – Clip Player View and Storyboard Player view:
Audio meters show the values defined for the different levels under Parameter Profiles.
4.6.2 - 5.5.2 Tools area – Logger tab: The list of available keyword gr ids is accessed by clicking
within the Keyword Grid Selection field, instead of clicking on an arrow.
4.5.3 - 5.4.2 - 5.8.3 Information has been added to give direction for copying several source clip(s) at once to the storyboard or to the export list.
5.4.3 Storyboard: A new section has been added to explain the replacement
(overwrite) of a storyboard eleme nt.
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1. Introduction
1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Xedio Dispatcher is a software product used for importing A/V files, rough-cutting and exporting rough-cuts to multiple destinations and formats.
Xedio Dispatcher automati cally detects connected devices (such as 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.
Once selected or created, the sub-clips and consolidated storyboards can be easily transferred from the device itself to any EVS video server (for example: XT[2]+, XS), media serv er (for example: SAN, XStore), or an y type of storage.
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Simultaneous transfers to multiple destinations in multiple formats are supported thanks to Xedio on-th e-fly SD/HD rewrapping & transcoding capabilities.
1.2 SUPPORTED FORMATS AND CODECS
The following tables provide information on the currently supported source and target codecs in SD and HD.
SD VIDEO CODECS
Supported standards
Supported codecs for source files
PAL
NTSC
Sony XDCAM hi-res
(DV25, IMX-D10 30/40/50)
Sony XDCAM proxy
Panasonic P 2 hi-res
(DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50)
Panasonic P 2 proxy
Supported codecs for export
Long GOP M PEG
(MPEG1, MPEG2)
Sony XDCAM hi-res
(IMX-D10 30/40/50)
Panasonic P 2 hi-res
(DV25, DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50)
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AVI
(DV25, DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50)
QuickTime
(DV, DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50, IMX-D10 30/40/50, MJPEG)
Raw DV
(DV, DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50)
EVS
(DVCPRO50, MJPEG, IMX-D10 30/40/50 and Supermotion)
PCM
(wav audio files)
WM9
H.264 AVC
(MP4, TS)
HD VIDEO CODECS
Supported standards Supported codecs
for source files
Supported codecs for export
MXF OP1A SMPTE (DVCPRO50)
1080i 50/59.94Hz
Sony XDCAM HD
(422, 420)
Sony XDCAM proxy
Sony XDCAM Ex
Panasonic P2 high-res
(AVC Intra 50/100, DVCPRO100)
Panasonic P 2 proxy
EVS
(MJPEG & proxy, Avid DNxHD®)
QuickTime
(DVCPRO100, Avid DNxHD®)
XDCAM HD
(422, 420)
Panasonic P 2 HD
(AVC Intra 50/100, DVCPRO100)
H.264 AVC
(MP4, TS)
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REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO SOURCE FILES
The source files must meet the following requirements:
All video and audio source files (SD or HD) must include maximum 8 audio
channels at 48 KHz, in stereo pairs (dual mono is not s upported).
HD editing is limited to (less than) 120 Mbps codecs and should be performed
using SAS storage or external disk arrays.
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Long GOP M PEG-2
(TS, PS)
MXF OP1A SMPTE (Avid DNxHD®,
DVCPROHD)
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2. Installation
2.1 PREREQUISITES
Here is the list of p rerequisites 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: Core Duo 2.33GHz processor (or equivalent)
RAM: 3GB
Display Resolution: minimum 1280x1024
Gfx Card: no specific needs (“stan dard” 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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SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Xedio Dispatcher has to be installed on a computer running Windows XP Pro SP3 32 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 10 Base Package for Xedio Dispatcher
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P2 Source 20 Access to A/V content on P2 support XDCAM Source 30 Access to A/V content on XDCAM support Storyboarding 40 Access to the Storyboarding (rough cut) module of
Xedio Dispatcher
Audio Guide Track
Export 50 Access to the Export Module of Xedio Dispatcher RTProf Wizard 51 Allows the creation of a new export target profile
Logger 60 Access to the Logging (IPD Logs) module of Xedio
Transcoding 70 Access to the transcoding option for the export
41 Allows the creation of an Audio Guide Track over a
storyboard
(RTProf generator)
Dispatcher
module. If not 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 Impor t 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_3.01.xx.exe locally.
This is the full installer file, which you need to use for a first installation. Use the
XedioDispatcher_3.01.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.
5. Click Install on the Ready to Install window.
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When the application is install ed, you need to restart the computer. The Xedio Dispatcher installer will then perform some final installation steps
before you can launch the applica tion.
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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 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 nee d to the generated.
The Export Target Profiles available in Xedio Dispatcher are stored in:
C:\XedioDispatcherMS\Profiles\RTProf.
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.
3.1.2 CREATING YOUR OWN EXPORT TARGET PROFILE
You can create an Export Target profile from the Export Tool in Xedio Dispatcher, by means of the Target wizard. This operation is explained in this chapter since it should be performed as you configure your application.
To create an Export Target Profile in Xedio Dispatcher, proceed as follows:
1. In Xedio Dispatch er, click the ExportTool tab in the Tools area:
2. In the Target field, click the down arrow and select <Create new target> from
the drop-down list.
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The Target wizard opens .
3. In the Target Type dialog box, select the types of targets you want to
generate, either files store d on the network, or clips on EVS servers:
Click Next
4. If you have asked to generate hi-res files, the High Resolution File Creation
dialog box will be displayed. 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. If you want to generat e an EVS metadata file (XML file), that will contain the file definition, select the Generate EVS metadata file option. This metadata file will be stored in the same folder as the media f ile.
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Click Next
5. If you have asked to generate lo-res files, the Proxy/LoRes File Creation
dialog box will be displayed. Specify the same information for the low resolution files as for the high-
resolution file. 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 fold er that AFI will have to scan to find the jobs to perform.
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Click Next
6. If you have asked to generate clips, the Export to EVS Video Server dialog
displays. Specify both IP addresses of the EVS video server, the codec used on the
server, the FTP login an d password, the default page o n which the generated clip will be stored.
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.
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Click Next
7. If you have asked to use a second EVS server as backup, the Export to 2
nd
EVS Video Server dialog displays. Provide the same information as for the
main EVS server. Click Next.
8. The Export Logsheet File 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 EVS metadata file option and specify the folder where to import this log sheet. Click Next.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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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 Tool in X edio Dispatcher.
3.2 KEYWORD GRIDS
The keywords grids used in Xedio Dispatcher are stored as .xml files in
C:\Program Files\EVS Broadcast Equipment\XedioDispatcher\Keyword Grids\*.xml.
Drop the requested keyword grid files in the folder specified above and the name of the file will be displayed as the keyword grid name in the Logger tool of Xedio Dispatcher. The grid is directly available in Xedio Dispatcher.
They are compatible with IPDi rector.
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3.3 CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS
3.3.1 PARAMETER PROFILES
You can access the parameter profiles in Xedio Dispatcher, via the menu Parameters > Parameter Profiles.
The parameters that are not described below are not used in the current version of Xedio Dispatcher.
GENERAL

General

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Label Type Default
Value
Default video aspect ratio
Default video standard
GrabStill­FrameFolder
GrabStill­FramePrefix
Video Ratio 16/9 Video Ratio used in thumbnail
Video Standard
String C:\ Location where grab image operations
String Grab Prefix of the resulting grab image file
HD 1080i @50
Description
generation and during rendering operations
Possible values: 4/3 or 16/9 Video supported by the Dispatcher in
the current session (You cannot mixed PAL and NTSC). This param eter is also used during rendering to upscale or not the media
Possible values: PAL SD, NTSC drop SD, HD 1080i @50, HD 1080i @59,94.
save files.

Audio

Label Type Description
Default Input Audio Track Assignment
Default Rendering Audio Track Assignment
Audio Track Assignment
Audio Track Assignment
Defines the default audio channel assignment for the imported media files (other than server clips and encoder ingests).
Defines the default audio channel assignment for rendered files.
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Vumeter

Label Type Default
Description
Value
Bottom level of Vumeter
Numeric -30 Audio level difference (in dB)
compared the 0 level (audio leve l of the source media) and corresponding to the bottom of the green zone in the audio meters
Saturation level of Vumeter
Numeric -9 Audio level difference (in dB)
compared to the 0 lev el (audio level of the source media) and corresponding to the bottom of the red zone in the audio meters
Top level of Vumeter Numeric 0 Audio level (in dB) of the source
media and corresponding to the top of the red zone in the audio meters
Warning level of Vumeter
Numeric -13 Warning audio level used in
Dispatcher players This value corresponds to th e
beginning of the yellow area in the vu-meter.
XEDIO DISPATCHER

General

Label Type Default
Value
External Cue Point –
Color Grey
Ranking 0 Color
External Cue Point – Ranking * Color
External Cue Point – Ranking ** Color
External Cue Point – Ranking *** Color
Color Custom
Color
Color Custom
Color
Color
Custom Color
Description
Color used, in the media bar of the Player, for representing a log with the default ranking assigned
Color used, in the media bar of the Player, for representing a log with a ranking * assigned
Color used, in the media bar of the Player, for representing a log with a ranking ** assigned
Color used, in the media bar of the Player, for representing a log with a ranking *** assigned
ThumbnailWidth Numeric 150 Width used for new thumbnails
(Height is found according to the 4/3 ratio)
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Db Maintenance

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Label Type Default
Description
Value
BackupFilename String XedioDispat
cherBackup
BackupFolder String C:\Program
File\EVS
Backup prefix name of the Xedio Dispatcher DB
Location where the backup
operations save backup files Broadcast Equipment\X edioDispatc her\Backup
CheckDB Boolean T (True) Checks DB during maintenance
operation
DaysBeforeDBMainte nance
Numeric 30 Delay between two DB
maintenances
GenerateBackup Boolean F (False) Generates Xedio Dispatcher DB
backup during maintenance
operation
PurgeBackupFiles Boolean F Purges previous Xedio
Dispatcher DB backup during
maintenance operation
PurgeBackupHistory Boolean F Purges history from Xedio
Dispatcher DB backup during
maintenance operation
ReorganizeIndex Boolean T Re-indexes table from Xedio
Dispatcher DB during
maintenance operation
ShrinkDB Boolean T Shrinks Xedio Dispatcher DB
during maintenance operat ion

DeviceFilter

Label Type Default
Description
Value
AllowCDRom Boolean T Allows scanning CDRoms to find
media. This parameter needs to
be active (T) for XDCAM disk
access.
AllowFixedDrive B oolean T Allows scanning l ocal hard disks
to find media
AllowRamDisk Boolean F Allows scanning Ram disks to
find media
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