Grass Valley Aurora Ingest User Manual v.6.1

Aurora Ingest

INGEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

System Guide

SOFTWARE VERSION 6.1

071-8514-02
MAY 2007

Copyright Copyright © 2007 Grass Valley, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Portions of software © 2000 – 2007, Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This document may not be copied in whole or in part, or otherwise r eproduced except as

specifically permitted under U.S. copyright law, without the prior written consent of Grass
Valley, Inc., P.O. Box 59900, Nevada City, California 95959-7900

This product may be covered by one or more U.S. and foreign patents.

Trademarks Grass Valley, K2, Aurora, Turbo, M-Series, Profile, Profile XP, NewsBrowse, NewsEdit,

NewsQ, NewsShare, NewsQ Pro, Aurora, and Media Manager are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Grass Valley, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other trademarks used in this document are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the
manufacturers or vendors of the associated products. Grass Valley, Inc. products are covered
by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Additional information regarding Grass
Valley, Inc. trademarks and other proprietary rights may be found at
www.thomsongrassvalley.com.

Disclaimer Product options and specifications subject to change without notice. The information in this

manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should
not be construed as a commitment by Grass Valley, Inc. Grass Valley, Inc. assumes no
responsibility or liability for any errors or inacc uracies that may appear in this publication.

U.S. Government
Restricted Rights
Legend

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the United States Government is subject to restrictions as set
forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause
at DFARS 252.277-7013 or in subparagraph c(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer
Software Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19, as applicable. Manufacturer is Grass
Valley, Inc., P.O. Box 59900, Nevada City, California 95959-7900 U.S.A.

Revision Status

Rev Date Description

September 14,
2006

January 18, 2007 Release 071-8514-01 for Software Version 6.0b
May 23, 2007 Release 071-8514-02 for Software Version 6.1

Initial release of the Aurora Ingest System Guide, 071-8514-00 for
Software Version 6.0. Updated from 071-8342-02, IngestStation
System Guide

ii Aurora Ingest System Guide May 23, 2007

Contents

Grass Valley Product Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Safety Summaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi

Safety Terms and Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii

Service Safety Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Certifications and Compliances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Environmental Criteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x

Chapter 1 Introducing Aurora Ingest

What is Aurora Ingest? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Aurora Ingest applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Aurora Ingest workstations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Aurora Ingest - Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Aurora Ingest - VTR Controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Aurora Ingest - VTR Ingest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Aurora Ingest - Scheduler Client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Aurora Ingest - RMI Client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Integration with Aurora Suite and third-party products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Understanding Status Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Aurora Ingest - Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Aurora Ingest - VTR Ingest/VTR Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Aurora Ingest - Scheduler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Aurora Ingest - RMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installing Aurora Ingest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Installing Hardware (VTR Controller) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Installing Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Obtaining a Software License Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Migrating Aurora Ingest - Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Setting Up Your Media Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

K2 Media Server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

M-Series iVDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Configuring Aurora Ingest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Aurora Ingest - Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configuration Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configuring System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Configuring Media Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Configuring Routers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Configuring Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Configuring Aurora Ingest - Scheduler (Feed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Configuring VTR Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Configuring VTR Ingest (VTR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Configuring RMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

User Administration for Aurora Ingest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 3 Using Aurora Ingest - Scheduler

Tour of the Aurora Ingest - Scheduler Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Channel Window Toolbar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Tour of Schedule Viewer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Channel Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Crash Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Scheduling Recordings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Scheduling events with ENPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide iii

Contents

Setting up ENPS Assignment Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Adding New Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Adding New Events from CompuSat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Adding Recurring Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Modifying Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Deleting Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Creating a Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Using VTR Ingest Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Using filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Chapter 4 Using VTR Controller

Tour of the VTR Controller Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Accessing VTR Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Chapter 5 Using VTR Ingest

Tour of the VTR Ingest Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Channel Window Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Channel Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

VTR Ingest Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Using VTR Ingest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Adding Handles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Creating a Segment List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Deleting the Segment List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Controlling the VTR with VTR Ingest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Marking In and Out Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Recording Clips to the Media Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Importing an EDL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Exporting an EDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Chapter 6 Using Aurora Ingest - RMI

What is Aurora Ingest- RMI?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Using Aurora Ingest - RMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Chapter 7 Linking Clips to Aurora Playout Placeholders

Tour of the Assignment List Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Linking Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Creating New Placeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Appendix A The Aurora Ingest Keyboard
Appendix B Aurora Ingest Error Messages

...................................................................................................................... 73

Index

iv Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

Grass Valley Product Support

To get technical assistance, check on the status of a question, or to report new issue,
contact Grass Valley Product Support via e-mail, the Web, or by phone or fax.
Contact Grass Valley first regarding problems with third party s oftware on Grass

Valley products, such as the Microsoft

®

Media

player, Internet Explorer® internet browser, and SQL Server™.

Web Technical Support

To access support infor mation on the Web, v isit the pro duct support Web p age on the
Grass Valley Web site. Yo u ca n down loa d software or find solut ion s t o pr obl ems by
searching our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) database.

World Wide Web: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/support/
Technical Support E-mail Address: [e-mail].

Phone Support

Use the following information to contact product support by phone during business
hours. Afterhours phone support is available for warranty and contract customers.

®

Grass Valley Product Support

Windows® operating system, Windows

International
(France)

International
(United States,
Canada)

Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Korea,
Macau

Australia, New
Zealand

Central, South
America

China [phone] Netherlands [phone]
Belgium [phone] Northern Europe [phone]
Japan [phone] Singapore [phone]
Malaysia [phone] Spain [phone]
Middle East [phone] UK, Ireland, Israel [phone]

[phone]
[phone]

[phone]
[phone]

[phone] Indian

[phone] Germany, Austria,

[phone] Near East, Africa [phone]

Authorized Support Representative

Italy [phone]

[phone]

Belarus, Russia,
Tadzikistan,
Ukraine,
Uzbekistan

Subcontinent

Eastern Europe

[phone]
[phone]

[phone]
[phone]

[phone]

A local authorized support represent ative may be availabl e in your countr y. To locate the
support representat ive for your count ry, visit the pro duct support Web page on the Grass
Valley Web site.

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide v

Safety Summaries

General Safety Summary

Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this
product or any products connected to it.

Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.

While using this product , you may need t o acces s other parts of the sy stem. Read t he
General Safety Summary in other system manua ls fo r warn ing s and cauti ons re la ted
to operating the system.

Review all system operator manuals, including manuals in electronic format on the
system hard drive.

Injury Precautions

Use Proper Power

Cord

Ground the Product This product is grounded t hrou gh the grounding conductor of the power

To avoid fire hazard, use only the power cord specified for this product.

cord. To avoid electric shock, the grounding conductor must be
connected to earth ground. Before making connections to the input or
output terminals of the p roduct, ensure that the product is properly
grounded.

Do Not Operate
Without Covers

Do Not Operate in

Wet/Damp

Conditions

Do Not Operate in

an Explosive

Atmosphere

Avoid Expo sed

Circuitry

To avoid electric shock or fire hazard, do not operate this product with
covers or panels removed.

To avoid electric shock, do not operate this product in wet or damp
conditions.

To avoid injury or fire ha zard, do not operate this pr oduct in an explosive
atmosphere.

To avoid injury, remove jewelry such as rings, watches, and other
metallic objects. Do not touch exposed connections and components
when power is present.

Product Damage Precautions

Use Proper Power

Source

Provide Proper

Ventilation

Do Not Operate With

Suspected Failures

vi Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

Do not operate this product from a power source that applies more than
the voltage specified.

To prevent product overheating, provide proper ventilation.

If you suspect there is damage to this product, have it inspected by
qualified service personnel.

Safety Terms and Symbols

!

!

Battery

Replacement

To avoid damage, replace only with the same or equivalent type
recommended by the circu it board manufactu rer. Dispose of used bat tery
according to the circuit board manufacturer’s instructions.

Safety Terms and Symbols

Terms in This

Manual

Terms on the

Product

These terms may appear in this and other product manuals:
WARNING: Warning stat ements ide ntify con ditio ns or prac tices t hat ca n

result in personal injury or loss of life.
CAUTION: Caution statements identify conditions or practices that can

result in damage to the equipment or other property.
These terms may appear on the product:
DANGER indicates a personal injury hazard immediately accessible as

one reads the marking.
WARNING indicates a persona l injury hazard no t immediately acces sible as

you read the marking.

CAUTION indicates a hazard to property including the product.

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide vii

!

Symbols on the

Product

The following symbols may appear on the product:
DANGER high voltage
Protective ground (earth) terminal
ATTENTION – refer to manual

Service Safety Summary

Do Not Service

Alone

No Power Switch To avoid electric shock, disconnect the main power by means of the

Use Care When

Servicing With

Power On

Do not perform internal service or adjustment of this product unless
another person capab le of rendering first aid a nd re sus citation is present.

power cord. The power cord is the main power disconnect. Ensure that
the power cord is easily accessible at the rear of the product or at the
power receptacle.

Dangerous voltages or currents may exist in this product. Disco nnect power
and remove battery (if applicable) before removing protective panels,
soldering, or replacing components.

To avoid electric shock, do not touch exposed connections.

Certifications and Compliances

Canadian Certified

Power Cords

Canadian approval includes the products and power cords appropriate for
use in the North America power network. All other power co rds supplied are
approved for the country of use.

FCC Emission

Control

Canadian EMC

Notice of

Compliance

This equipment has been te sted and fou nd to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital d evice, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own expense. Changes or
modifications not expressly approved by Grass Valley can affect
emission compliance and could void the user’s authority to operate this
equipment.

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radi o noi se
emissions from digital ap paratus set out in the Radio Interferenc e
Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant les l imites appl icables a ux apparei ls numérique s de la cl asse A
préscrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par
le ministère des Communications du Canada.

viii Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

Certifications and Compliances

Canadian Certified

AC Adapter

EN55022 Class A

Warning

Laser Compliance

Laser Safety

Requirements

Laser Safety Laser safety in the United States is regulated by the Center for Devices

Canadian approval includes the AC adapters appropriate for use in the
North America power network. All other AC adapters supplied are
approved for the country of use.

For products that comply with Class A. In a domestic environment this
product may cause r adio interference i n which case the use r may be required
to take adequate measures.

The device used in this product is a Class 1 certified laser product.
Operating this product outside specifications or altering its original
design may result in hazardous radiation exposure, and may be
considered an act of modifying or new manufa ctu ri ng of a la ser product
under U.S. regulations contained in 21CFR Chapter 1, subchapter J or
CENELEC regulations in HD 482 S1. People performing such an ac t are
required by law to recertify and reidentify this product in accordance with
provisions of 21CFR subchapter J for distribut ion wit hin the U.S.A., and
in accordance with CENELEC HD 482 S1 for distribution within
countries using the IEC 825 standard.

and Radiological Health (CDRH). The laser safety regulations are
published in the “Laser Product Performance Sta ndard,” Code of Federa l
Regulation (CFR), Title 21, Subchapter J.

FCC Emission

Limits

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 825,
“Radiation of Laser Products, Equipment Classification, Requirements
and User’s Guide,” governs laser products outside the United States.
Europe and member nations of the Europe an Free Tra de Associat ion fall
under the jurisdiction of the Comité Européen de Normalization
Electrotechnique (CENELEC).

This device complies with Pa rt 15 of the FCC Rules. Opera tion is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesirable operation.

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide ix

Certification

Environmental Criteria

Category Standard

Safety Designed/tested for compliance with:

ANSI/UL60950-2000 - Safety of Information Technology Equipment
IEC 60950 - Safety of Information Technology Equipment (3rd edition, 1999)
CAN/CSA C22.2, No. 60950-00 - Safety of Information Technology Equipment
EN60950:2000 - Safety of Information Technology Equipment (3rd edition)

The following table lists the environmental criteria for Aurora Ingest.

Characteristics Description

Operating Temperature Requirement: 10° to 40°C
Storage Temperature Requirement: -40° to 65°C
Operating Altitude Requirement: To 10,000 feet

Supplemental Data: IEC 60950 compli ant to

2000 meters
Storage Altitude Requirement: To 40,000 feet
Mechanical Shock Supplemental Data: Class 5 (30G) Grass Valley

001131500
Random Vibration Requirement: Operational: Class 6 Grass

Valley 001131500

Requirement: Non-Operational: Class 5

Grass Valley 001131500
Transportation Requirement: Grass Valley 001131500
Equipment Type Supplemental Data: Information Technology
Equipment Class Supplemental Data: Class 1
Installation Category Requirement: Category II Local level

mains, appliances,

portable equipment, etc.

Pollution Degree Requirement: Level 2 operating

environment, indoor use only.
Relative Humidity Requirement: Operating 80% from +30° to

+40°C

Non-Operating 90% from

+30° to +60°C

Do not operate with visible

moisture on the circuit boards.

x Aurora Ingest System Gui de May 2007

Chapter 1

Introducing Aurora Ingest

Aurora Ingest is an automated media digitization system, made up of several
integrated applications, that allows you to ingest footage from VTRs, feeds from a
router, or files from multi ple Digital Media Cameras and Digital Media Recorders, all
directly to a Media Server in your operation.

This manual shows you how to install and con figure the Aurora Ing est applications in
your newsroom, and how to use Aurora Ingest to capture and record clips for l ater use
in a newscast.

This chapter is divided into the following sections:

• “What is Aurora Ingest ?”

• “Aurora Ingest applications”

• “Aurora Ingest workstations”

• “Integration with Aurora Suite and third-party products”

• “Understanding Status Colors”

What is Aurora Ingest?

Aurora Ingest lets you get footage from VTRs and from router feeds and ingest it
directly to your Media Server. With the Aurora Ingest applications you can select
clips from multiple VTR tapes, create a batch (also known as a segment) list, and
record it to the server. You can also ingest feeds from a router source directly to the
same server. Up to eight VTRs are supported at any time. You can select the
supported VTRs from an unlimited number of VTRs or RS-422-connected routers.
Batch jobs can be saved as Edit Decision Lists (EDLs).

The Aurora Ingest system supports the K2 Media Server and M-Series iVDR media
server or servers. You can configure your system to record clips into two servers in
parallel. If one server fails or has inadequat e storage, only the recording on that server
will be stopped. When the system continues to the next clip, the storage capacity on
both servers is che cked again, allowing parallel recordin g to resume if storage is made
adequate.

Raw footage comes from a VTR connected directly to the Aurora Ingest workstation,
a CompuSat satellite dish control system, or a router sou r ce. While you connect the
media servers to the Aurora Ingest workstation using AMP Sockets, you need RS-422
connection from the VTR t o the Aurora Ingest workstation to have co ntrol of the VTR
in the Aurora Ingest windows. For router sources, Aurora Ingest supports the Grass
Valley SMS 7000, Encore control and Jupiter systems, and allows source selection
and renaming.

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 1

Chapter 1 Introducing Aurora Ingest

Aurora Ingest applications

Aurora Ingest consists of the following applications:

• Aurora Ingest - Server, which lets you configure the other Aurora Ingest
applications for batch or feed events, as well as monitor the status of the media
servers, database servers, routers, CompuSat-controlled satellite dish, and
channels. You can also access the logs . For mo re i nfor mat ion, see “Aurora Ingest

- Server” on page 12.

• VTR Controller, which lets you monit or and manage the VT Rs you use with VTR
Ingest. For more information, see Chapter 4, Using VTR Controller on page 49.

• VTR Ingest, which lets you ingest footage from VTRs and import or export Edit
Decision Lists (EDLs). Supporting up to eight channels, VTR Ingest can record
footage and confi gur abl e handle durations. It l ets you set mark points u si ng e it her
the VTR, the PC keyboard, or the mouse. You can ingest a single item or build a
batch list o f items to capture from multiple tapes. You can also create a batch list
offline and then import the list into VTR Ingest as a common EDL. For more
information, see Chapter 5, Using VTR Ingest on page 53.

• Aurora Ingest - Scheduler, which lets you schedule i ngest feed events from a medi a
server, CompuSat satellite dish control system, or router source. Y ou can also
schedule events to r ecord, up to one ye ar in advance, on eac h server port, incl uding
recurring events . Schedule Vie wer provides an e asily readable way to s ee all port s
and more specifically the task assigned to each port. For more information, see

Chapter 3, Using Aurora Ingest - Scheduler on page 33.

• Removable Media Interfa ce (RMI), which lets you ingest files from multiple
Infinity Digital Media Cameras and Digital Media Recorders, as well as Sony
XDCam and Panasonic P2 removable media devices. For more information, see

Chapter 6, Using Aurora Ingest - RMI on page 63.

For information on installing and configuring the Aurora Ingest applications, see

Chapter 2, Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest on page 5.

If you use Aurora Playout as a playback system in your ope ration, you can ingest clips
directly to a Aurora Playout rundown by linki ng clips to a Aurora Playout placeholder
at the point of record. For more information, see Chapter 7, Linking Clips to Aurora

Playout Placeholders on page 65.

Aurora Ingest workstations

Aurora Inge st has a client/server architecture th at allows for multiple simultaneous
users. It supports simultaneous event creation, event modification, event deletion,
event monitoring, and resource viewing from multiple workstations.

Each workstation can control up to ei ght VTRs for batch li st creation and b atch ingest.
You can work with either directly attached VTRs and dedicated server ports or
through a router.

You can trigger multipl e c hannel records from dispa ra te sour ce s si mult aneously and
schedule record events without reference to physical server port. Aurora Ingest
automatically allocates any available port as determined at the o ptimum time b efore
the record event is scheduled to begin. RS-422 router level control allows any
router-connected VTR to be controlled by any Aurora Ingest channel.

2 Aurora Ingest System Gui de May 2007

Aurora Ingest - Server

This application has the following functionality:

• control of all Media Servers for all types of ingest

• stores the ingest schedule

• switches the Encore/SMS7000/Jupiter router

• interfaces to ENPS

• interfaces to CompuSat satellite dish control system

• user account administration

Aurora Ingest - VTR Controller

This application has the following functionality:

• controls up to eight VTRs for VTR Ingest (AI server controls media server ports)

Aurora Ingest - VTR Ingest

This application has the following functionality:

Aurora Ingest - Server

• provides a user interface for playing tapes and marking in and out points

• creates batch (segment) lists

• provides a user interface for ingested clips to be recorded to Media Servers

Aurora Ingest - Scheduler Client

This application has the following functionality:

• ingest scheduling

• schedule status display

Aurora Ingest - RMI Client

This application has the following functionality:

• Ingests material from P2/XDCAM/Infinity removable media devices

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 3

Chapter 1 Introducing Aurora Ingest

Integration with Aurora Suite and third-party products

Aurora Inge st is integrated with the other applications in the Au rora Suite and
third-party removable media devices. In addition to serving as a metadata entry and
transfer application fo r metadata cr eated in the newsroom computer system (NRCS),
it supports:

• Simultaneous file transfer ingest, including MOS-ID matching, status updating,
and metadata import and transfer to Au rora Browse from multiple Rev Pro and
Professional Compact Flash removable media devices.

Understanding Status Colors

Each entry in the batch list displays a certain color according to its status. The colors
are:

Row Background Color Description

Red The entry is recording.
Gold The entry is cued and is next to record.
Green The entry has finished recording.
Blue The Scheduler entry is ready to record.
Black VTR Ingest has reserved this channe l at t hi s t ime.
Purple The entry failed to record. See the Error Message field for

more information.

Grey The entry time has elapsed, probably due to a conflict with

another recording.

4 Aurora Ingest System Gui de May 2007

Chapter 2

SMS

7000

NAS

Serial hub

Router
Matrix

VTR Ingest /

Ethernet LAN

NetCentral

Encore/

RS422

Satellite

Receivers

!

Aurora Ingest Server

VTR

Logging Workstation

SDI / HD-SDI

CompuSat satellite
dish control system

!

Aurora Ingest Server

(Marathon)

!

!

Media Server

Media Server

!

Media Server

VTR Ingest /

Logging Workstation

VTR

VTR

VTR

AI Client

Workstation

AI Client

Workstation

Innity Client

P

2

/XDCAM/

Innity Client

P

2

/XDCAM/

Jupiter

Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

The Aurora Ingest system consists of an Aurora Ingest Server, one or more Aurora
Ingest Scheduling Clients, VTRs, the Aurora Ingest software, K2 Media Client or
M-Series iVDR media server or servers, and optional router or CompuSat satellite
dish control system sources.

This chapter is divided into the following sections:

• “System Requirements”

• “Installing Aurora Ingest”

• “Setting Up Your Media Server”

• “Configuring Aurora Ingest”

System Requirements

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 5

• “User Administration for Aurora Ingest”

Grass Valley supplies a CD containing the Aurora Ingest software and
documentation. For some of the Aurora Ingest components, Grass Valley also
supplies hardware. The following section details the software and hardware
requirements for each Aurora Ingest component.

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

Aurora Ingest - Server

The Aurora Ingest - Server ap plication coul d be installed on the Aurora Inges t Server
or Aurora Ingest Base Workstation on any regular office machine. The application
must be running for an Aurora Inges t client to conne ct to it. All Aurora Inge st Clients
should have their system time synced to the Aurora Ingest Server.

NOTE: Grass Valley recommends that the Scheduler, VTR Ingest and Aurora
Ingest - Server applications are not installed in the same machine as K2 AppCenter
application or its remote Control Point software.

Grass Valley supplies the Aurora Ingest - Server software/hardware configuration:

• Dell Server with Windows 2003 Server (two units if redundant option selected)

• Additional Windows 2003 license and Marathon Ftvirtual Server license (if
redundant option selected)

• DIGI One SP 1 Port RS 422 Serial to Ethernet Device Server (RoHS Compliant)

• .NET Framework 2. 0

• MSXML 6.0

• SQL Express 2005

• SQL Server Management Studio Express

Aurora Ingest - VTR Ingest/VTR Controller

VTR Ingest and VTR Controll er can be i nstalled on th e same machine. I f VTR Ingest
and VTR Controller are on two separate machines, the two machines need to be
connected via Ethernet. For your VTR Controller client, Grass Valley supplies an
RS-422 card. (See “Installing Hardware (V TR Controller)” on page 8.)

NOTE: Grass Valley recommends that the Scheduler, VTR Ingest and Aurora
Ingest - Server applications are not installed in the same machine as K2 AppCenter
application or its remote Control Point software.

The PC you use to run VTR Ingest/VTR Controller should conform to these
requirements:

• Windows XP Pro, with the Intel P4 CPU and a minimum of 512 MB RAM

• 10 GB HDD

• Minimum 1024x768 SVGA display adapter (Preferred: 1280 x 1024)

• CD-ROM drive for installation

• Two available PCI slots for the video capture and RS-422 boards (for VTR
Controller)

• 100BaseTX Ethernet interface

• Hauppage WinTVGo Video Capture Card (optional)

6 Aurora Ingest System Gui de May 2007

Aurora Ingest - Scheduler

NOTE: Grass Valley recommends that the Scheduler, VTR Ingest and Aurora
Ingest - Server applications are not installed in the same machine as K2 AppCenter
application or its remote Control Point software.

The PC you use to run Aurora Ingest - Scheduler should conform to these
requirements:

• Windows XP Pro, with the Intel P4 CPU and a minimum of 512 MB RAM

• 10 GB HDD

• Minimum 1024x768 SVGA display adapter (Preferred: 1280 x 1024)

• CD-ROM drive for installation

• 100BaseTX Ethernet interface

• Hauppage WinTVGo Video Capture Card (optional)

Aurora Ingest - RMI

Do not install the Aurora Ingest - RMI client on a machine that already has Aurora
Edit installed. You need to install the Aurora Core software instead.
(SetupAuroraCore.exe on the Aurora Ingest software CD.)

Aurora Ingest - Scheduler

The PC you use to run RMI Client should con form to these require ments (minim um):

• Windows XP Pro, with the Intel P4 CPU and a minimum of 512 MB RAM

• 10 GB HDD

• Minimum 1024x768 SVGA display adapter

• CD-ROM drive for installation

• USB Port

• Aurora Core software
For HD ingests, Grass Valley recommends the following configuration:

• Windows XP Pro

• HP Workstation xw9300, with Opteron 285/2.6GHZ 1MB/1000 dual core

processor and 2GB (4x512) DDR400 RAM

• 80GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 HDD

• NVIDIA Quadro FX3450 256MB PCI-Express

• 1280 x 1024 SVGA display adapter

• 48X DVD-ROM/CDRW Combo

• Opteron 285/2.6GHz 1MB/1000 dual core processor

• Intel Pro/1000 GT Gigabit PCI NIC desktop adapter

• USB Port

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 7

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

O
N

12

• Aurora Core software

Installing Aurora Ingest

To install Aurora In gest, you need to install the ha rdware in your computer, ins tall the
Aurora Ingest software, and obtain a software license number.

This section is divided into the following topics:

“Installing Hardware (VTR Controller)”
“Installing Software”
“Obtaining a Software License Number”
“Migrating Aurora Ingest - Server”

Installing Hardware (VTR Controller)

Grass Valley supplies the Aurora Ingest Server with all the necessary hardware and
software installed. The software for the other Aurora Ingest components can be
installed on any PC with that meets the “System Requirements” for that com ponent.
In addition, for VTR Controller Grass Valley supplies a RocketPort Plus Universal
PCI 422 SMPTE 8 Port RoHS RS-422 card that must be installed.

NOTE: Th e video capture card is for SD (standard definit ion) video only. If you want
to ingest HD video and then view it on the Inges t monitor, f irst downconve rt from HD
to SD, and then from digital to analog. The video capture card accepts composite
analog video only (NTSC or PAL).

1. Install the video capture card in your computer and install the card’s driver.

2. If you are connecting one or more VTRs to VTR Controller, instal l the RS-422 card
in your computer, making sure the dip switches are set to the down position
shown, and install the card’s driver.

3. Connect the video capture board’s S-Video Input connector to the device you’re
using for on-screen video display (VTR, router, or switch box).

4. Connect the VTR(s) to the VTR Controller machine via RS-422.

5. If you are using LTC for timecode, connect a timecode cable from the timecode
source (VTR for VTR Inge st , Ti mecode Generator for Auro ra Ingest - Scheduler)
to the Media Server.

Installing Software

If you’re migrating Aurora Ingest - Server from an existing installation to a new one ,
refer to “Migrating Aurora Ingest - Server” on page9.

To install the Aurora Ingest software on your computer, insert the Aurora Ingest
CD-ROM into the machine’s CD-ROM drive and follow these instructions:

, as

On this screen... Do this...

Welcome Click Next.

8 Aurora Ingest System Gui de May 2007

On this screen... Do this...

Choose Destination Location Click Next.
Select Components Specify the Aurora Ingest applicat ions to install: Server,

Scheduler, VTR Controller, VTR Ingest, or RMI.

With Server component, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 will also be installed by default.

[Note: RMI cannot be installed on a machine that already has
Aurora Edit installed. You nee d to install the Aurora Core software

(SetupAuroraCore.exe is on the Aurora Ingest software

instead.
CD.)]

Specify Server Name Enter the Aurora Ingest Server that the Aurora Ingest applications

will use.

Start Installation Click Next.
Installation Complete Click Finish.

Obtaining a Software License Number

Once you’ve installed the Aurora Ingest software, you need to get a license number
from Grass Valley.

Obtaining a Software License Number

When you install the Aurora Ingest - Server application, the SabreTooth License
Manager is installe d as wel l. You c annot l aunch channel s or c onfigu re Auro ra Ing est
until you have obtained the SabreTooth license.

To get a license number, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Aurora License Request icon on the desktop. The Sabr eTooth License

Manager opens.

2. Follow the directions and License Manager will generate a unique ID (a unique

string of characters).

3. Email this unique ID to [e-mail] and you will be

provided with the SabreTooth license number.

Migrati ng Aurora In gest - Server

1. Run the latest Aurora Ingest 6.1 installer on the existing machine to update the

Aurora Ingest database. With Server component selection, Microsoft .NET
Framework 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 will also be installed by default.

2. Export the Aurora Ingest Server registry key under “My

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Grass Valley\Aurora
Ingest\Se rver” from existing machine.

CAUTION: DO NOT launch the Microsoft SQL Server Management
Studio Express CTP on both existing machine and n ew machine. If you
do this, you cannot back up the database.

3. Shut down the Aurora Ingest - Server appl ication on the existing machine and copy

two files (IS_Data.MDF a nd IS_Log.LDF) from C:\Pr ogram Files\ Microsoft SQL
Server\90\Tools\Binn from existing machine to same directory path in new

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 9

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

machine. Make sure these two files are NON-READONLY.

4. Make sure the “SQLServer (SQLEXPRESS)” service is running on new machine .
You can check the state of the service in the “Services” application.

5. Launch the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express CTP on new
machine.

6. Log on, using Window Authentication Mode, to attach the Aurora Inge st databas e.

7. Attach the Aurora Ingest database as shown in the following screenshot.

8. Select the IS_Data.MDF from the same directory (C:\Program Files\Microsoft
SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn).

9. After the Aurora Ingest database had been attached successfully, you should be
able view the Aurora Inges t database fold er shown under the Database s root folder.

10.Import the server registry key to new machine

11.Run the latest Aurora Ingest installer on new machine.

12.License the Aurora Ingest software (Number of Channels , Schedule r, VTR Ingest
and RMI). For more information on licensing, see “Obtaining a Software License

Number” on page 9.

13.Remove the licenses from the existing machine.

14.Launch the Aurora Ingest - Server application on the new machine. Select

Options

15.Change the “SabreTooth Server” s etting to the compute r name of the new machi ne.

and click on the System tab.

Setting Up Your Media Server

Once you’ve cabled Aurora Ing est and installe d software, you nee d to configure your
Media Server to work with Aurora Ingest.

K2 Media Server

Tools |

To configure the K2 system for Aurora Ingest:

10 Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

• See your K2 documentation; set up the record channels to use Advanced Media

Protocol (AMP).

• Configure channels to use LTC or VITC input.

M-Series iVDR

The configuration of M-Series iVDR for Aurora Ingest depends on the type of
communication you’re using for the server—DCOM or RS-422.

DCOM

If you are using DCOM, see your M-Series iVDR documentation and set up the
record channels to use Advanced Media Protocol (AMP).

RS-422

If you are using RS-422, see your M-Se ries iVDR documentation and set up the server
as follows:

• Make sure you configure the record channels to the correct RS-422 port.

• Set up record channels to use Advanced Media Protocol (AMP).

M-Series iVDR

• Configure channels to use LTC or VITC input.

Configuring Aurora Ingest

Once you have installed any ha rdware (if necess ary) and th e software c omponents of
Aurora Ingest, you need to configure the Aurora Ingest options for your particular
newsroom equipment and workflow.

You can add and configure VTRs with the VTR Controller and VTR Ingest
applications. The Aurora Ingest - RMI client is configured through the Aurora
Ingest - RMI application. All other configuring can be performed in the Aurora
Ingest - Server application.

This section is divided into the following topics:

“Aurora Ingest - Server”
“Configuration Overview”
“Configuring System Settings”
“Configuring Media Servers”
“Configuring Routers”
“Configuring Channels”
“Configuring Aurora Ingest - Scheduler (Feed)”
“Configuring VTR Ingest (VTR)”
“Configuring RMI”

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 11

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

Aurora Ingest - Server

The Aurora Ingest - Server applicatio n shows the status of the system co mponents and
channels, as well as the System logs. The server machine name might be truncated,
however the full name is visible if you hover over the area. Additional information
regarding a channel can also be obtained if you hover on the channel name. These
information include channel name, server name, recording port, remaining storage
and status of the channel.

• A green indicator—the component or channel is connected.

• A red indicator—the component or channel is not connected.

• A grayed-out indicator—the component is not configured.

To configure Aurora Ingest, select
overview of the process of configuring Aurora Ingest.

Configuration Overview

In Aurora Ingest - Server application, you can configure most of the Aurora Ingest
settings. (Configur e VTR controller settings in VTR Controller and VTR Ingest.) The
following table details the configurable options in the Aurora Ingest - Server
application. The fol lowing s ecti ons desc ribe the Aurora Ingest confi gurat ion pro ces s
in detail.

Options Description

System Allows you to specify servers, such as the SDB server, XMOS Server, SabreTooth server,

etc. You can also specify the Video s tandard and CompuSat location, and any information
about the log level and when to warn the user that the storage is close to the threshold level.

Media
Server

Router Specify the type of router (Encore/SMS7000 or Jupiter) and its IP address or COM port.

Allows you to add, edit, or delete information about the media servers, including the drive
and record locations. Note: the record location is not machine dependent.

Tools | Options. The following section gives an

12 Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

Options Description

Channel Specify the various channel s and the media server they are associated with, as well as the

record location. (The record location is the router destinat ion, which is physica lly connected
to the media server using the AV cable.)

Feed For feed ingests performed using Aurora Ingest - Scheduler, this tab allows you to specify

default information ab out the clips, such as name, r ecord durat ion, cra sh record lo cation a nd
duration, and tim ecode source (System ti me, LTC or VITC).

VTR For segment (batch) ingests performed using VTR Ingest, this tab allows you to specify

default information about th e cl ips, su c h as na m e, re cord loc a tio n, ha ndle a nd pre ro ll tim e s,
and timecode source (Control track, LTC or VITC).

Configuring System Settings

Configuring System Settings

Setting Description

SDB Server Enter the IP address or computer name of the server where t he

Aurora Playout database resides (primary SDB Server is
running).

Backup SDB
Server

XMOS Server Enter t he name of the computer hosting the XMOS server.
NetCentral Server If your system uses NetCentral to monitor equipment, enter its

CompuSat If you are using CompuSat satellit e dish control syste m, enter the

SabreTooth Server Enter the name of the server where the SabreTooth license is

If you are using a backup database server, enter the IP address or
computer name of the server where the backup Aurora Playout
database resides (hot -standby SDB Server is running).

name or IP address.

location where the CompuSat application is running.

located.

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 13

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

Setting Description

Video Standard NTSC drop frame

NTSC non-drop
PAL

Debug Log Level Specify the level of detail in the Debug and Operator logs. The
Operator Log Lev e l

minimum level that coul d be set is 0, which means that n o log will
be generated for that setting. The default level is set to 12.

Select the video standard used in your
operation.

Storage Threshold
Warning

Specify when the Aurora Ingest system warns that the storage
threshold level is being reached. The format of the setting is
hh:mm and the default is set to 2 hours.

Configuring Media Servers

Setting Recording Locations

You can also specify where schedu led recordings will resid e on each server. Once you
configure them, select which folder to record to when recording clips and feeds.

To set a reco rd location:

1. In the Media Servers box, click

2. E nter the media server name and its dr ive letter (e.g. V:), and click

14 Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

Add.

OK.

3. In the Record Locations box, click Add.

Configuring Media Servers

4. Type the name of the location and click

If you entered a folder na me that do es not exis t on the media s erver, Auror a Ingest
creates the folder as soon as the first record is started in the new folder.

5. Repeat step 3 and step 4 to create additional locations.

Modifying Recording Locations

To modify a record location:

1. In the Media Servers box, select the media server name that you want to change

and click

Modify.

2. Enter the new media server name and its drive letter (e.g. V:), and click

3. If you need to change the folder name as well, select the folder name in the Record

Locations box and click

OK.

OK.

Modify.

4. Enter the new folder name and click

OK.

5. Repeat step 1 to step 4 to modify more recording locations.

Removing Recording Locations

To remove a record location:

May 2007 Aurora Ingest Syste m Guide 15

Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Aurora Ingest

Jupiter Router

Encore/SMS7000 Router

1. In the Media Servers box, select the media server name and click Remove.

2. Click

Yes to confirm the removal of the media server from the Aur ora Ingest -

Server sett ing.

3. If you need to remove a folder as well, select the folder name in the Record
Locations box and click

4. Click

OK to close the options window or click Apply to continue with other

configuration settings.

Configuring Routers

If you are using a Jupi ter or an Encore/SMS7000 rout er as part of your news stati on,
you can configure Aurora Ingest to use sources from the router to record clips.

Remove.

16 Aurora Ingest System Guide May 2007

To configure a router for use with Aurora Ingest:

1. Check the

Use Router checkbox.

2. For router type, select either the Encore/SMS7000 or Jupiter.

3. For Encore/SMS7000, enter the IP address or name of the router that you want to
connect to. Then, go to step 5.

4. For Jupiter with direct route r connection via RS422, select e ither COM1 or COM2
(depending on your setup) fr om the drop-down list. For Jupite r with connection via
serial hub, select the appropriate COM port that had been configured. For more
information, see “Configuring Virtual COM port” on page 18.