Grass Valley Aurora Playout User Manual v.6.5
Aurora Playout
PLAYBACK CONTROL SYSTEM
User Guide
SOFTWARE VERSION 6.5
071-8516-04
NOVEMBER 2008
Copyright Copyright © 2008 Grass Valley, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Portions of software © 2000 – 2008, Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This document
may not be copied in whole or in part, or otherwise reproduced 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.
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 inaccuracies that may appear in this publication.
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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.
Grass Valley, K2, Aurora, Summit, Dyno, Infinity, Turbo, M-Series, Profile, Profile XP,
NetCentral, NewsBrowse, NewsEdit, NewsQ, NewsShare, NewsQ Pro, and Media Manager
are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Grass Valley, Inc. in the United States and/
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Software Licenses If this product requires a software license in the manual, then the license, as well as any
copyright, disclaimer, warranty, trademark, or logo information is located in the Appendix of this
document.
Revision Status
Rev Date Description
September 21, 2006 Release 071-8516-00 for Software Version 6.0
January 18, 2007 Release 071-8516-01 for Software Version 6.0b
May 23, 2007 Release 071-8516-02 for Software Version 6.1
September 19, 2007 Release 071-8516-03 for Software Version 6.3
November 19, 2008 Release 071-8516-04 for Software Version 6.5
2 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Contents
Grass Valley Product Support...................................................................9
Chapter 1: Introducing Aurora Playout.................................11
Contents
Web Technical Support.............................................................................................9
Telephone Support....................................................................................................9
International Support Centers........................................................................9
Authorized Local Support Representative......................................................9
About Aurora Playout..............................................................................................12
Terms You Should Know.........................................................................................12
Overview of Aurora Playout.....................................................................................13
Using Aurora Playout..............................................................................................14
Linking to a Newsroom Computer System (NCS) .......................................15
Creating playlists manually ..........................................................................16
Overview of the Assignment List Plug-in................................................................17
Overview of the Assignment List Manager.............................................................17
Overview of the Housekeeper.................................................................................18
Overview of the Simple Database (SDB) Server ...................................................19
Overview of the Thumbnail Server .........................................................................20
Overview of the XMOS Server ...............................................................................21
Chapter 2: Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout............23
Setting Up Your NCS for Aurora Playout.................................................................24
Setting up ENPS ....................................................................................................24
Sending scripts with ENPS..........................................................................25
Setting ENPS MOS ready to air ..................................................................26
Setting up iNEWS ..................................................................................................26
Configuring status translations for iNEWS...................................................26
Setting up Octopus ................................................................................................27
Registering the MOSWrapper file for Octopus.............................................27
Creating an ActiveX Device for Octopus......................................................28
Configuring the MOS Device for Octopus....................................................28
Chapter 3: Installing Aurora Playout.....................................31
Installing Aurora Playout.........................................................................................32
Cabling the Aurora Playout computer ....................................................................32
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 3
Contents
Installing Aurora Playout Software..........................................................................33
Installing the Assignment List Plug-in..........................................................35
Connecting the RDU 1510 Under Monitor Display .................................................39
Connecting the X-keys Jog/Shuttle Controller .......................................................40
Chapter 4: Configuring Aurora Playout................................41
Configuring Aurora Playout.....................................................................................42
Configuring the Aurora Playout application.............................................................42
Setting General options................................................................................43
Setting Playback options..............................................................................44
Setting channel configuration.......................................................................45
Configuring GPI Input and Output................................................................47
Defining Function Keys................................................................................49
Defining status colors...................................................................................54
Configuring the Remote Display Unit (RDU)................................................55
Setting Cue and Chain options....................................................................57
Configuring Archive Play..............................................................................59
Configuring the Simple Database (SDB) Server.....................................................60
Setting General Options of SDB Server.......................................................60
Setting Media options of SDB Server...........................................................62
Reinitializing media monitor of SDB Server.................................................64
Repopulating rundown items from SDB Server...........................................64
Restoring backup database of SDB Server.................................................65
Configuring the Thumbnail Server..........................................................................65
Creating a Thumbnail folder.........................................................................65
Setting up the Thumbnail Server..................................................................65
Configuring the XMOS Server................................................................................66
Refreshing rundowns in XMOS Server........................................................67
Configuring Housekeeper ......................................................................................68
Setting General options of Housekeeper.....................................................68
Setting Media options of Housekeeper........................................................69
Configuring the standalone Assignment List Manager...........................................70
Chapter 5: Using NCS rundowns and Aurora Playout.........73
Using NCS rundowns and Aurora Playout..............................................................74
About the Assignment List Plug-in..........................................................................74
Using the Assignment List Plug-in .........................................................................75
Creating placeholders in Assignment List Plug-in........................................75
Sorting placeholders by category.................................................................78
Viewing placeholder categories...................................................................79
4 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Contents
Searching placeholders................................................................................79
Adding breaks in your rundown ...................................................................79
Viewing the video thumbnail of a placeholder..............................................80
Viewing asset via MediaFrame clip player....................................................81
Using Assignment List Plug-in with ENPS .............................................................82
Creating placeholders automatically in ENPS..............................................83
Inserting clips manually into ENPS..............................................................84
Assigning playout channels to clips in ENPS...............................................85
Using Assignment List Plug-in with iNEWS............................................................85
Creating placeholders in iNEWS..................................................................86
Assigning playout channels to clips in iNEWS.............................................87
Using Assignment List Plug-in with Octopus .........................................................87
Creating placeholders automatically in Octopus..........................................87
Linking clips manually in Octopus................................................................88
Inserting clips manually in Octopus..............................................................88
Assigning playout channels to clips in Octopus...........................................89
Chapter 6: Editing and Aurora Playout.................................91
Editing and Aurora Playout......................................................................................92
Using the Assignment List Manager.......................................................................92
Receiving Editing Assignments...............................................................................94
Linking sequences to Aurora Playout placeholders................................................94
Sending completed clips.........................................................................................98
Additional features of Assignment List Manager...................................................100
Creating placeholders in Assignment List Manager...................................100
Deleting placeholders in Assignment List Manager ..................................102
Changing clip category in Assignment List Manager.................................103
Viewing by category in the Assignment List Manager................................103
Viewing asset via MediaFrame clip player..................................................103
Identifying missing clips.............................................................................104
Chapter 7: Playing clips to air..............................................105
Playing Clips to Air................................................................................................106
About Playout Toolbar...........................................................................................106
About the Playlist..................................................................................................108
Understanding Playlist colors.....................................................................109
About Playout channels........................................................................................109
About Rundowns...................................................................................................111
About the Clip Browser.........................................................................................112
About the Playlist overview...................................................................................113
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 5
Contents
Creating a Playlist.................................................................................................114
Opening an NCS Rundown .......................................................................114
Appending rundowns to a playlist...............................................................115
Removing rundowns from a Playlist...........................................................116
Previewing other rundowns........................................................................116
Creating a new playlist manually................................................................117
Saving local playlists..................................................................................118
Opening saved Playlists.............................................................................119
Appending a Playlist...................................................................................119
Exporting a Playlist.....................................................................................119
Chaining Clips in a Playlist.........................................................................120
Using MediaFrame Plug-in....................................................................................120
Viewing assets via MediaFrame clip player................................................121
Viewing metadata on clip properties .........................................................121
Cueing Clips..........................................................................................................124
Using the Jog feature.................................................................................125
Playing clips..........................................................................................................125
Archiving Clips......................................................................................................126
Recording a black clip for Archive Play......................................................127
Customizing playlist for broadcast........................................................................127
Rearranging the Playlist layout...................................................................128
Viewing clip properties ..............................................................................128
Assigning clips to channels........................................................................128
Rearranging clips in a Playlist....................................................................128
Adding new clips to a playlist.....................................................................129
Using the context-sensitive playlist menu...................................................130
Chapter 8: Managing Clips with Housekeeper...................131
About the Housekeeper .......................................................................................132
About Housekeeping tab.......................................................................................132
About Clip Import tab............................................................................................133
About Archive tab..................................................................................................134
About Housekeeper toolbar .................................................................................135
Deleting clips from the clip database....................................................................136
Deleting clips immediately..........................................................................136
Moving files to the recycle bin....................................................................136
Emptying the recycle bin............................................................................137
Unprotecting a clip.....................................................................................137
Refreshing the clip list................................................................................137
Deleting clips from a media server only.....................................................137
6 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Contents
Importing clips from a media ser ver......................................................................138
Changing clip properties ......................................................................................139
Creating placeholders in Housekeeper.................................................................140
Using MediaFrame in Housekeeper......................................................................142
Viewing asset via MediaFrame clip player..................................................143
Viewing and editing metadata on clip properties .......................................143
Searching assets using MediaFrame.........................................................146
Searching assets with advanced settings..................................................149
Archiving clips in Housekeeper.............................................................................152
Resynchronizing clips...........................................................................................153
Appendix A: Aurora Playout Appendix...............................155
Sample of MOS Gateway configuration file...........................................................156
Appendix B: Software Licenses..........................................161
cmemdc................................................................................................................162
cping.....................................................................................................................162
CSizingToolBar.....................................................................................................163
CTextProgressCtrl.................................................................................................164
MIT........................................................................................................................164
mozilla...................................................................................................................165
Paintlib..................................................................................................................172
resizeable lib.........................................................................................................173
tconvert.................................................................................................................175
zlib.........................................................................................................................175
Glossary.................................................................................................177
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 7
Contents
8 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Grass Valley Product Support
T o get technical assistance, check on the status of a question, or to report a new issuse,
contact Grass Valley Product Support via e-mail, the Web, or by phone or fax.
Web Technical Support
To access support information on the Web, visit the product support Web page on the
Grass Valley Web site. You can download software or find solutions to problems by
searching our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) database.
World Wide Web: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/support/
Technical Support E-mail Address: gvgtechsupport@thomson.net
Telephone Support
Use the following information to contact Product Support by phone.
International Support Centers
Our international support centers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Authorized Local Support Representative
A local support representative may be available in your country. To locate a support
center during normal local business hours, refer to the following list. This list is
regularly updated on the website for Thomson Grass Valley Product Support
(http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/support/contact/phone/).
After–hours local phone support is also available for warranty and contract customers.
Macau
In countryToll freeSupport Center
+33 1 48 25 20 20+800 80 80 20 20France
+1 530 478 4148+1 800 547 8949United States
TelephoneCountyRegion
+861 066 0159 450ChinaAsia
+852 2531 3058Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea,
+81 3 5484 6868Japan
+603 7805 3884Southeast Asia - Malaysia
+65 6379 1313Southeast Asia - Singapore
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 9
Grass Valley Product Support
TelephoneCountyRegion
South America
North America
Indian Subcontinent
North America, Mexico,
Caribbean
France
Eastern Europe
Belarus, Russia, T adzhikistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Finland, Denmark, Iceland)
Southern Europe – Italy
+91 11 515 282 502;
+91 11 515 282 504
+61 1300 721 495Australia, New ZealandPacific
+55 11 5509 3440AllCentral America,
+1 800 547 8949;
+1 530 478 4148
+44 118 923 0499UK, Ireland, IsraelEurope
+31 (0) 35 62 38 421Benelux – Netherlands
+32 (0) 2 334 90 30Benelux – Belgium
+800 80 80 20 20;
+33 1 48 25 20 20
+49 6150 104 444Germany, Austria,
+7 095 258 09 20;
+33 (0) 2 334 90 30
+45 40 47 22 37Nordics (Norway, Sweden,
+39 02 24 13 16 01;
+39 06 87 20 35 42
Near East and Africa
+34 91 512 03 50Southern Europe – Spain
+971 4 299 64 40Middle EastMiddle East, Near East, Africa
+800 80 80 20 20;
+33 1 48 25 20 20
10 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Chapter 1
Introducing Aurora Playout
This section contains the following topics:
• About Aurora Playout
• Terms You Should Know
• Overview of Aurora Playout
• Using Aurora Playout
• Overview of the Assignment List Plug-in
• Overview of the Assignment List Manager
• Overview of the Housekeeper
• Overview of the Simple Database (SDB) Server
• Overview of the Thumbnail Server
• Overview of the XMOS Server
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 11
Introducing Aurora Playout
About Aurora Playout
Aurora Playout is a playback control system that controls media servers for live
playback. It includes tools to integrate the program production workflow between a
media server, Aurora Edit, MediaFrame and optionally a newsroom computer system.
Aurora Playout is compatible with these systems:
System
Profile Video ServerMedia Server
K2
M-Series iVDR
Aurora EditEditing Application
MediaFrame plug-in from Aurora BrowseAsset Management Tool
Associated Press Electronic News Production System (ENPS)Newsroom Computer
Avid Technology iNEWS
Octopus Newsroom
By using Aurora Playout with a media server for server playout in live programs you
can effectively replace four to six tape machines, depending on your media server.
Aurora Playout displays each channel simultaneously and you can control playout
with a keyboard and mouse, or with GPI buttons.
Aurora Playout consists of seven software components:
• Main Aurora Playout application
• Assignment List Plug-in
• Assignment List Manager
• Housekeeper utility
• SDB Server
• XMOS Server
• Thumbnail Server
Terms You Should Know
To use Aurora Playout effectively and efficiently, you should become familiar with
terms that are frequently used with Aurora products.
DefinitionTerm
Clip
A piece of media you can edit, containing video, audio, or both. Once a
sequence is sent from a Aurora Edit workstation to a media serv er it becomes
a clip again. All clips and subclips merge into one clip.
Logical Asset
12 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Combination of the MediaFrame database information, metadata, physical
asset or assets on the server, and proxy assets.
Introducing Aurora Playout
DefinitionTerm
MediaFrame
Metadata
Placeholder
Script
Sequence
Story
A metadata storage and asset management architecture deployed in the
Aurora suite. This architecture shares media asset management (MAM)
components with other applications and systems such as media servers,
Aurora Ingest, Aurora Playout, and Aurora Edit workstations.
Data about data; it can include keywords, timecode information, and other
terms that help you find a particular asset.
The raw program material, such as video or audio.Physical Asset
An item (in the Aurora Playout Assignment List Plug-in or the Assignment
List Manager) reserved for a clip that doesn’t yet exist or is not complete.
Clips are linked to a placeholder in Housekeeper, NCS rundowns or via
Aurora Ingest.
A low-resolution clip that represents high-resolution material.Proxy
The textual information for a news story in the newsroom computer system
(NCS) rundown. Scripts can also reference electronic media, such as clips
from a media server.
Edited media, consisting of pointers to different clips and subclips edited
using the Aurora Edit editing system.
The story — a collection of clips, sequences, and scripts — is the complete
news segment that plays to air.
Overview of Aurora Playout
Aurora Playout is a playout control system that links a nonlinear editing system with
an electronic news production system, asset management tool and a media server for
a complete digital solution.
Playback operators use the main Aurora Playout application to create new playlists,
and to control playlists before and during broadcasts. Aurora Playout application
consists of several components such as Clip Browser, Playlist Overview, Rundown
List, Channel windows and Playlist to coordinate playback.
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 13
Introducing Aurora Playout
With the integration of MediaFrame asset management tool and Aurora Playout,
playback operators can search, add and edit metadata of assets created for broadcasts.
In addition, the MediaFrame clip player allows playback operators to preview clips
without taking up a channel of the playout server.
MediaFrame plug-ins can easily be used with Aurora Playout by specifying the
MediaFrame server within the general setting of SDB Server. With that one-time
setting, MediaFrame plug-ins can be accessed within Aurora Playout Playlist,
Housekeeper, Assignment List Plug-in and Assignment List Manager.
T o vie w proxy assets via the MediaFrame clip player , playback operators should ha ve
access to the Proxy Network Attached Storage (NAS) and have roles and licenses
configured. See the MediaFrame documentation for more details on client's
prerequisites and configuration instructions.
Using Aurora Playout
Aurora Playout includes tools to integrate the program production workflow between
a media server, Aurora Edit, MediaFrame and optionally a ne wsroom computer system.
With Aurora Playout, you can control live playback for your broadcast. You can use
Aurora Playout in two ways:
14 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
• Create playlists by linking to a newsroom computer system (NCS)
• Create playlists manually in Aurora Playout
Linking to a Newsroom Computer System (NCS)
The most efficient way to use Aurora Playout is with a MOS-compatible newsroom
computer system.
The producer uses the newsroom computer system to create rundowns for ne ws shows,
and links clips created in Aurora Edit to rundo wn scripts. After the clips are complete,
control room personnel use Aurora Playout to play out the clips to air.
Introducing Aurora Playout
A typical newsroom workflow using a newsroom computer system (NCS) is:
1. The news producer creates a rundown using NCS.
2. The news producer uses the Aurora Playout Assignment List Plug-in to:
• Create placeholders for scripts that require clips
• Assign placeholders to editors
• Link placeholders to scripts in the rundown
3. The news producer assigns playback channels within the NCS rundown.
4. The news editor creates sequences for assignments using Aurora Edit.
5. The news editor uses the Aurora Playout Assignment List Manager to:
• Receive assignments from the producer
• Create additional clip placeholders
• Reassign placeholders to other editors
6. Control room personnel use the main Aurora Playout application to:
• Open the producer’s rundown playlist
• Assign clips to specific channels for playback
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 15
Introducing Aurora Playout
• Rearrange, insert, or delete clips prior to broadcast if necessary
• Play back clips during the news broadcast
Creating playlists manually
When a MOS-compatible NCS is not available, you can manually create rundowns
and playlists.
After creating playlists, using placeholders to link to clips created in Aurora Edit, you
can cue and play the clips for broadcast.
A typical newsroom workflow using Aurora Playout to create playlists is:
1. The news producer creates a rundown.
2. The news editor creates sequences for assignments using Aurora Edit.
3. The news producer uses the Aurora Playout Assignment List Manager to:
• Create placeholders for clips
• Assign placeholders to editors
4. The news editor uses the Aurora Playout Assignment List Manager to:
• Create placeholders for clips
• Reassign placeholders to other editors
5. Control room personnel use the main Aurora Playout application to:
• Create a new playlist and rundown using the scripts from the producer and the
clip database
• Assign clips to specific channels for playback
• Rearrange, insert, or delete clips prior to broadcast if necessary
• Play back clips during the news broadcast
16 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Overview of the Assignment List Plug-in
Producers use the Aurora Playout Assignment List Plug-in to create placeholders for
clips and to coordinate electronic news stories with rundown scripts.
The Assignment List Plug-in inte grates with the ENPS, iNEWS, and Octopus newsroom
computer systems.
Introducing Aurora Playout
Overview of the Assignment List Manager
The Assignment List Manager comes in two forms: standalone and embedded into
the Aurora Edit application.
Producers (or other station personnel) use the standalone Assignment List Manager
to determine how many clips are missing for a given news show. Editors use the
embedded Assignment List Manager to receive assignments from the producer. Both
forms of the Assignment List Manager are used to create additional placeholders for
clips and to reassign placeholders to other categories.
The standalone Assignment List Manager runs on any computer on the network—an
icon in the task bar flashes red when items in the selected category or rundown are
missing.
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 17
Introducing Aurora Playout
The embedded Assignment List Manager runs on the Aurora Edit workstation and
integrates with Aurora Edit — the Aurora Edit toolbar displays part of the Assignment
List so editors can see at a glance how many stories need video.
Opening the Assignment List Manager provides more detail on specific stories.
Overview of the Housekeeper
Playback operators use Housekeeper to remove files from the clip database, import
files from media servers, and to archive clips.
18 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Introducing Aurora Playout
Housekeeper typically runs on the computer with the Main Aurora Playout application,
though it can be installed on multiple computers if necessary.
Due to differences in media server channeless connection limit, not all computers
within your broadcast operation can run Housekeeper application at the same time. If
your media server is K2 version 3.2, you can run up to sev en Housekeeper applications
simultaneously . While for M-Series, Profile and K2 v ersion 3.1 and lo wer; only three
Housekeeper applications can be run at the same time.
Overview of the Simple Database (SDB) Server
The SDB Server runs in the background to keep clip status current.
When the status of a clip changes, the SDB Server updates available status and clip
duration in the Aurora Playout database, which in turn updates the Aurora Playout
application. In addition, when a clip sent from Aurora Edit is associated with a Aurora
Playout placeholder, the SDB Server updates the number of missing items in the
Assignment List Manager and Assignment List Plug-in.
The SDB Server runs on the same computer as the XMOS Server, and optionally on
a second system as a hot standby backup database.
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 19
Introducing Aurora Playout
Overview of the Thumbnail Server
The Thumbnail Server displays connection status to the Profile media server(s) and
creates thumbnails for MPEG clips. The K2 system or the M-Series iVDR does not
use the Thumbnail Server.
The Thumbnail Server typically runs on the Aurora Playout machine for flexibility,
but it can run on the same computer as the other Aurora Playout Server components.
20 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Overview of the XMOS Server
The XMOS Server displays the communication between the Newsroom Computer
System and Aurora Playout.
It runs on the same computer as the primary SDB Server.
Introducing Aurora Playout
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 21
Chapter 2
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
This section contains the following topics:
• Setting Up Your NCS for Aurora Playout
• Setting up ENPS
• Setting up iNEWS
• Setting up Octopus
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 23
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
Setting Up Your NCS for Aurora Playout
With Aurora Playout, you can use your Newsroom Computer System (NCS) to create
rundowns and link clips to rundown scripts. The MOS-compatible NCS needs to be
configured for use with Aurora Playout.
• ENPS
• iNEWS
• Octopus
Setting up ENPS
To set up ENPS for use with Aurora Playout, you need to modify your ENPS
configuration.
1. On the ENPS servers, find the nom.ini file and add the following section:
[MOS]
Inport=10540
Outport=10541
LogIn=1
LogOut=1
Version=2.6
NumberROConstruction=0
2. Close the News Object Manager (NOM); it should restart automatically.
3. On an ENPS client, log in as the administrator and start up ENPS.
4. From the NEWS folder (e.g. KXYZ NEWS), select System Maintenance | Groups
| New and create a new group with these parameters:
KXYZGVGID
GV ClipsDescription
Select the name of your ENPS server from the dropdown listServer
5. Click Save and close ENPS on the workstation.
6. At both ENPS Servers, choose Resync (if using an ENPS Buddy Server).
7. Close the News Object Manager and it should restart automatically . After the NOM
has started, restart the ENPS client.
8. From the NEWS folder (e.g. KXYZ NEWS), select System Maintenance | MOS
Configuration | New and create a new MOS entry with these parameters:
24 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
ID
IP
Default Settings
MOS Version
The MOS ID; this value is case sensitive and must match the MOS
ID configured in the XMOS Server Options.The recommended
format is <family>.<machine>.<location>.<enterprise>.mos.
Standard practice is to use station call letters for location and station
group abbreviation for enterprise.
GV Assignment ListDescription
The IP address or host name of the machine hosting the SDB Server
and the XMOS Server.
GVG.XMOSCtrl.1ActiveX
Leave blank. These settings are configured when you install the
Assignment List Plug-in.
The group ID you configured in step 4.Program
2.6
OffLocal DragDrop
OnAuto Create
OnStory Send
9. From the NEWS folder (e.g. KXYZ NEWS), select System Maintenance | Global
Configuration Options, add a new property named AddMOSObjDuration and set its
value to 1.
10. On the ENPS server, close the NOM one last time and let it restart automatically.
11. Restart the ENPS client application.
12. Install the Assignment List Plug-in on all ENPS clients where this functionality is
needed.
Sending scripts with ENPS
The ENPS MOS Story Send feature allows Aurora Edit systems to view scripts.
1. For an existing rundown or template in ENPS, go to Properties.
2. Temporarily toggle the MOS Control Active field to OFF.
3. Click in the MOS Story Send field and turn on the checkbox for the MOS ID used
for Aurora Playout.
4. Toggle the MOS Control Active to ON to make the rundown available to Aurora
Playout.
5. Configure the XMOS Server to write scripts.
Aurora Edit systems will then be able to use the "Link to Story" and "Story View"
features.
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 25
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
Setting ENPS MOS ready to air
If you want producers to have the ability to indicate to the Aurora Playout operation
when a rundown is ready, use the ENPS MOS Ready to Air feature.
To set the feature:
• Set the ENPS rundown property “Ready to air” to ON.
A corresponding READY flag is set to ON in the Aurora Playout rundown window
Status column.
Setting up iNEWS
To set up iNEWS for use with Aurora Playout, you need to add a new MOS device
to the iNEWS configuration file:
1. On the MOS gateway machine, open the file C:\Program
Files\Avid\MOSGateway\mosconfig.xml.
2. Modify the following lines of the file, adding values for your location:
Value
ncs id
mos
amcp
Description
Your Newsroom Computer System name; this value is case sensitive
and must match the NCS ID configuration in the XMOS Server options.
The hostname of the iNEWS server.host
Your MOS ID; this value is case sensitiv e and must match the MOS ID
configuration in the XMOS Server options.
The tag displayed in iNEWS scripts for placeholders embedded in
scripts. This value should match the device name that appears in the
iNEWS SYSTEM.MAP file.
The hostname of the machine running the XMOS Server.network
NOTE: With iNEWS, <handlesRoItemLevelCommands> default setting could
cause stories to drop to the bottom of the playlist when they are newly inserted,
or when their channel assignment is changed. Therefore,
<handlesRoItemLevelCommands> value should be set to NO in the
mosconfig.xml file.
Configuring status translations for iNEWS
To ensure correct status reporting between Aurora Playout and iNEWS server, you
need to edit the status translation table in the iNEWS configuration file.
26 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
• The status translation table within the mosconfig.xml file should appear as below:
<statusTranslations>
<statusUnavailable>NOT READY</statusUnavailable>
<statusCueing>CUEING</statusCueing>
<statusAvailable>READY</statusAvailable>
<statusCued>STAND BY</statusCued>
<statusPlaying>PLAY</statusPlaying>
<statusPaused>STOPPED</statusPaused>
<statusStopped>END</statusStopped>
</statusTranslations>
• On the iNEWS server, your MCS dictionary (located at /site/dict/mcs) would
typically contain these lines:
A_EVERR /5ERROR
A_CAFRZ /END
A_CATREL /2STANDBY
A_CATHRD /THREAD
A_CACUING /2CUEING
A_CACUED /2CUED
A_CANOTAPE /4NOT READY
A_CABIN /READY
A_CAPLAY /3PLAY
A_CAPAUSE /3STOPPED
A_CAREW /REWIND
A_CAEJECT /EJECT
A_CAINCMPLT /TRANSFER
NOTE: Since the statuses that appear in this dictionary can be customized,
the values shown in the right column of your MCS dictionary may vary slightly
from the ones shown here.
To ensure correct configuration with iNEWS, a sample of the mosconfig.xml file is provided
in the appendix section.
Setting up Octopus
In order to use Octopus with Aurora Playout, you need to configure it first.
To configure Octopus for Aurora Playout, you need to register a file on the Octopus
server, create an ActiveX device, and modify the MOS Devices configuration.
Registering the MOSWrapper file for Octopus
You need to register the MOSWrapper file before configuring Octopus for Aurora
Playout.
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 27
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
1. Find the file MOSWrapper.ocx on the Octopus server machine.
2. Put the file on the Octopus server in the following location:
• On a Windows 2000 machine, put the file in C:/WINNT
• On a Windows XP machine, put the file in C:/WINDOWS
3. Double-click on the file to register it.
4. If necessary, specify the program to register it as REGSVR32.exe.
Creating an ActiveX Device for Octopus
You need to create an ActiveX device before using Octopus with Aurora Playout.
1. In the Octopus application, go to Admin | MOS | Devices.
2. Highlight the MOS ID for Aurora Playout.
3. Click the ActiveX button in the toolbar.
4. Click New and configure the device as follows:
SettingOption
User preference (e.g., ALP)Name
User preference (e.g., Assignment List)Long Name
Size
Enter GUID of Acti veX control
800 width x 600 height
browserType
1.0 iNewsVersion
GUIDInsert ActiveX using
4A7EA76A-62A5-11D4-BAE8-0050048C80CA
5. Click OK.
Configuring the MOS Device for Octopus
You need to configure the MOS Device before using Octopus with Aurora Playout.
1. In the Octopus application, go to Admin | MOS | Devices and double-click on the
device you want to use with Aurora Playout.
2. Configure the Basic tab as follows:
These values must match those set for the XMOS Server.mosID
ncsID
28 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
UncheckedDisabled
MOS protocol version
Rundown server port
2.6
Name of machine hosting the SDB ServerMedia server host
SDB Server port (normally won’t change from default setting)Media server port
Name of machine hosting the XMOS ServerRundown server host
XMOS Server port (normally won’t change from default
setting)
3. Configure the Advanced tab as follows:
Send all objects
Send empty elements
Send empty stories
Editable times
Supports more than one show
Content synchronisation allowed
SettingOption
roReplaceReplace rundowns after connection
Send rundown metadata
Send story texts
Prompt story element labels
Keep sending roStoryReplace
Log heartbeats
Send roElementAction
Uses UTC time
Receive feedback for all shows
Allow mosListAll
Use name instead of JobID
Delete lowres files
4. Configure the Object creation tab as follows:
Default MOS object creation device
User PreferenceSend story text elements
19 November 2008 Aurora Playout User Guide 29
Setting up your NCS for Aurora Playout
Allow automatic MOS object creation
5. Configure the Statuses tab as follows:
00:00:00:00Default MOS object duration
%n (where n = the name of the slug)MOS object naming pattern
Controls story status
(needed to provide status information on Aurora Playout)
a) Create these status categories (these are the suggested names and order):
6. Configure the Extra tab as follows:
Send channel info:
Other settings based on user preference
7. On the Times tab, use the default settings.
8. Click OK.
30 Aurora Playout User Guide 19 November 2008
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