Grass Valley iTX Master Control User Manual v.2.6
ITX MASTER CONTROL
(ITX-MC)
INTEGRATED PLAYOUT WITH MASTER CONTROL CAPABILITIES
User Guide
v2.6
2015-03-23
Notices
Copyright and Trademark Notice
Copyright © 2015, Grass Valley USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
Belden, Belden Sending All The Right Signals, and the Belden logo are trademarks or
register
other jurisdictions. Grass Valley USA, LLC, Miranda, iTX and Master Control (ITX-MC) are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Grass Valley USA, LLC. Belden Inc., Grass Valley USA,
LLC, and other parties may also have trademark rights in other terms used herein.
ed trademarks of Belden Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and
Terms and Conditions
Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. By using iTX documentation, you
agree to the following terms and conditions.
Grass Valley hereby grants permission and license
manuals for their own internal business use. Manuals for Grass Valley products may not be
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photocopying and recording, for any purpose unless specifically authorized in writing by
Grass Valley.
A Grass Valley manual may have been revised to reflect changes made to the product
during its manufacturing life. T
product. Care should be taken to ensure that one obtains the proper manual version for a
specific product serial number.
hus, different versions of a manual may exist for any given
to ow
ners of iTXs to use their product
Information in this document is subject to change without
commitment on the part of Grass Valley.
Warranty information is available in the Support section of the Grass Valley Web site
(www.grassvalley
Title Master Control (ITX-MC) User Guide
Software Version v2.6
Revision
.com).
2015-03-23, 11:18
notice and does not repr
esent a
i
Table of Contents
1 About iTX Master Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Functional overview of iTX-MC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Operational Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Fully Automated Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Automation Assist Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Manual Insert & Manual Override Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
iTX Master Control Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Master Control Primary Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Master Control Secondary Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 iTX-MC System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Overview of iTX-MC System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Installing or updating the iTX Desktop client software components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Installing and adding the iTX MC layout to the iTX Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Configuring the Master Control Plugin in the iTX Desktop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Enabling Master Control on the iTX Channel Config. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Setting up and using the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Configuring the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Using the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Configuring the iMC panel to support iTX Automation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Activating the Enable Cue-to-First-Frame setting on iTX Output Server 1 . . . . . . . . . . .21
3 Using Fully Automated Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Overview of iTX-MC’s Fully Automated Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Adding a master control primary event to a schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Setting and editing a master control primary event’s properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Adding a master control secondary event to a schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Browsing the media content of the Imagestore 750 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Setting and editing master control secondary event properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
4 Using Automation Assist mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Overview of the Automatic Assist Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Automation Assist mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Using iTX-MC’s Automation Assist mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Forcing the next scheduled primary event to play immediately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Next items are already cued (Take Next only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Next items are not cued (Cue Next & Take Next). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Next items are not cued (Take Next only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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Table of Contents
Delaying the next scheduled primary event’s playout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Delaying the start of a live source event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Delaying the ending of a live source event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Skipping the next scheduled primary event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
5 Using Manual Insert and Manual Override Modes. . . . . . . . 37
Manually inserting a live source into a scheduled broadcast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Manual Insert mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Using iTX-MC’s Manual Insert mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Manually overriding a scheduled broadcast with a live source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Manual Override mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Using iTX-MC’s Manual Override mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
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About iTX Master Control
The iTX Master Control (iTX-MC) option integrates an Imagestore 750 mixer and an iMC
master control panel to the target iTX playout channel. This configuration offers the
efficiency of fully automated file-based broadcasting (using iTX) along with the capacity for
fully-manual operations driven by a traditional master control switcher and user console
panel.
Summary
Functional overview of iTX-MC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Operational Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
iTX Master Control Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Functional overview of iTX-MC
In functional terms, iTX-MC allows the automation system to have full control during
normal, scheduled playout, but operators can also take direct control when necessary –
such as during live events, emergencies, breaking news and other unplanned broadcast
events.
By adding master control primary events (live source events) to the schedule, iTX-MC allows
the iTX channel to access and switch between multiple live sources (network, studio or
live), as well as perform back-to-back live event cuts. iTX-MC also provides full master
control transitions using the iMC panel to manually select and insert from the various live
sources.
iTX-MC offers the following functionality:
• The ability to create and playout fully automated schedules that contain a mixture of
pre-recorded content (long and short form from iTX) and live content from multiple
sources.
• The ability to use manual operations on the panel to control the schedule’s live and
program events, including triggering programming breaks (e.g. commercials and
promos) during live events.
• The ability to have the planned schedule “roll under” during breakaway operations
driven by the panel.
• The ability to hold the planned schedule to allow for breakaway operations and then
return without programming loss.
1
About iTX Master Control
1
2
3
4
Functional overview of iTX-MC
The iTX Master Control (iTX-MC) option integrates the Imagestore Master Control processor
(Imagestore 750 or Imagestore-Modular) and an iMC panel (iMC100, iMC200, or iMC300)
with a traditional iTX channel automation system, station router and router controller (see
Figure 1-1).
Fig. 1-1: iTX-MC system architecture
iTX channel playout automation: When the iTX-MC option is added to a system, iTX
still drives automation control by managing and playing the schedule’s events. However,
unlike traditional iT
X systems, the iTX automation system controls the Imagestore 750
mixer as the playout device as well as an iTX Output Server.
Video source inputs: With the iTX-MC option, the iTX Output Server acts as a video
server source to the station router by providing the pre-recorded programme content,
which can also con
tain the usual secondary events like logos, voice-overs...etc.
The station router also receives SDI video inputs from various sources, including live
twork feeds, studio feeds and the SDI output of the iTX Output Server.
ne
A/B source mixing and local secondary event insertion: The Imagestore 750 provides
the A/B switching of signals from the station r
outer based on the scheduled events being
run by the iTX automation system, or the manual operations performed on the iMC master
control panel.
The Imagestore 750 also provides the ability to perform downstream insertion of logo or
oice-over assets which are native to the Imagestore 750.
v
Traditional master control integration: The iMC panel is directly connected to the
Imagestore 750 master control and channel br
anding processor via Ethernet. The
Imagestore 750 is fed A/B program sources by an upstream router, with control from
2
playout automation by an Ethernet connection. The router is controlled by the Imagestore
5
750 via a NVISION 9000 controller.
The iMC master control panel provides operators with the manual control of the
magestore 750’s PGM bus, which permits them to insert or override scheduled
I
programming with live incoming video.
Operators can also manually control the iTX schedule using the iMC panel’s Automation
t buttons (Take Next, Hold Next, Cue Next, Skip Next).
Assis
Optional downstream graphics insertion: The Intuition XG co-processor is an optional
piece of equipment that can be used to insert rich branding graphics to the Imagestore
75
0’s keyer layers.
Operational Modes
iTX-MC has four modes of operation, which offer operators various levels of control over the
playout of scheduled and non-schedule content. The following section provide a brief
overview of each mode, while further chapters provide usage instructions:
• Fully Automated Mode
• Automation Assist Mode
• Manual Insert & Manual Override Modes
Master Control (ITX-MC)
User Guide
Fully Automated Mode
The iTX-MC’s Fully Automated mode allows the iTX automation system to fully control the
playout of iTX schedules, which may contain a combination of pre-recorded video clip
events from iTX and live content events from multiple video sources.
Fully Automated mode is ideal for situations where the exact timing of primary video
ents is known in advance and the live video content is originating from different sources.
ev
Since the timing of all of these primary events is known, a schedule containing these events
can be created and automation can run the schedule automatically by taking each event at
a precise time regardless of where the video content is coming from. When building the
schedule, live video source events are added to the schedule as master control primary
events.
See iTX Master Control Events, on
more information related to Fully Automation mode.
Automation Assist Mode
The iTX-MC’s Automation Assist mode allows operators to have full manual control of
scheduled events, even during the playout of a live broadcast. Using the iMC panel’s
Automation Assist buttons (Cue Next, Take Next, Hold Next and Skip Next) or the iTX
Desktop’s Manual Control panel, operators can manually intervene and control the
channel’s scheduled primary events, including extending or truncating a scheduled live
playout event, which results in the advancement or bumping out of the next schedule
primary and secondary events.
page 4 and Using Fully Automated Mode, on page 23 for
3
About iTX Master Control
Manual Insert & Manual Override Modes
Automation Assist mode is ideal for live event broadcasts where the duration of the live
events are unknown and the schedule contains primary video clip events that must be
taken to air, although not necessarily at a specific time.
See iTX Master Control Events, on
for more information related to Automation Assist mode.
page 4 and Using Automation Assist mode, on page 31
Manual Insert & Manual Override Modes
iTX-MC offers two modes that allow operators to manually insert a live video source during
an automated broadcast using the iMC panel: Manual Insert mode and Manual Override
mode. Typically this type of intervention is used when unforeseen emergency events occur
and a “newsflash” type interruption of the regularly scheduled broadcast is required.
The main difference between the two modes is the wa
resumed after the manual live event is finished. When using Manual Insert mode, the
automation system pauses the schedule’s programming during the live event and then
resumes playout from the point of interruption. Manual Override mode allows automation
to continue running the schedule (roll under), without displaying the schedule’s playout.
Once the live event is finished, the program is resumed “in progress” or from where it would
have been had there not been a live event interruption.
See Using Manual Insert and Manual Override Modes, on page 37 for more information.
iTX Master Control Events
iTX-MC introduces two new types of events that can be added to an iTX schedule:
• Master Control Primary Events
• Master Control Secondary Events
y in which the schedule’s playout is
Fig. 1-2: Example of a master control primary and secondary event in an iTX schedule
Master Control Primary Events
Master control primary events are main video items added to an iTX schedule to enable the
iTX automation system to switch to and playout live content from any of the live video
sources available to the Imagestore 750 from the upstream router.
When adding a master control primary event, you must specify the precise live source to be
yed out, the starting transition type and speed and the duration of the live event.
pla
A master control primary event appears as primar
is displayed as a block on the PGM track of the channel’s timeline.
See Adding a master control primary event to a schedule, on page 24 for more information.
4
y event item in the iTX schedule grid and
Master Control Secondary Events
Master control secondary events represent logos, voice-overs or Macro recalls that are
native to the Imagestore
Master control secondary events can be associated with any type primary event in the
schedule. However, since live video content from master control primary events is routed
directly to the Imagestore 750, it does not pass through the iTX Output Server where
traditional iTX logo and voice-over insertion events are normally applied. As such, master
control secondary events allow for logo and voice-over insertion using the Imagestore 750.
See Adding a master control secondary event to a schedule, on page 26 for more
information.
750.
Master Control (ITX-MC)
User Guide
5
About iTX Master Control
Master Control Secondary Events
6
iTX-MC System Configuration
iTX-MC is an option that integrates an Imagestore 750 mixer and an iMC panel with a
traditional iTX channel automation system, station router and router controller.
Summary
Overview of iTX-MC System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Installing or updating the iTX Desktop client software components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Installing and adding the iTX MC layout to the iTX Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Configuring the Master Control Plugin in the iTX Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting up and using the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Configuring the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the Mixer Mapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Configuring the iMC panel to support iTX Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Activating the Enable Cue-to-First-Frame setting on iTX Output Server 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Overview of iTX-MC System Configuration
For the most part, the iTX automation system must be installed and configured for normal
channel control and playout. Similarly, the Imagestore 750 and iMC panel are configured for
normal master control usage.
With that in mind, this document does not repeat general iTX, Imagestore or iMC system
installation and configuration procedures. Instead the following table summarizes the
installation and configuration of iTX-MC specific components that are required to use iTXMC in normal operating conditions. Further sections in this chapter provide instructions for
performing iTX-MC specific installation and configuration tasks.
7
iTX-MC System Configuration
Overview of iTX-MC System Configuration
Component Setup or configuration description
iTX Framework Server An iTX Framework Server must be available with iTX Database
iTX Output Server The iTX Output Server software component must be installed
iTX Desktop Client The iTX Desktop Client application must be installed and
Imagestore 750
or
Imagestore-Modular
Server, Locator Server and Media Watcher installed.
A valid iTX Master Control license and transition license must be
added to the iTX system.
See the iTX System Administrator Guide for more information
and instructions.
and configured for regular channel playout on the iTX Output
Server device. See the iTX System Administrator Guide for more
information and instructions.
The iTX-MC related configuration task includes enabling the
Cue to first frame setting on the Output Server. See
page 21 for
instructions.
configured for regular channel playout. See the iTX Desktop
Operator’s Guide for more information and instructions.
iTX-MC related configuration tasks include:
• Installing or updating the iTX Desktop Client and Hard Panel
Controller software components. See page 9 for more information
and instructions.
• Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller component on the iTX
Desktop client computer. See page 10 for more information and
instructions.
• Installing and configuring the iTX-MC plugin within the iTX Desktop
application. See page 12 for instructions.
• Enabling the master control setting in the iTX Channel Config See
page 13 for more information and instructions.
• Adding the iTX MC layout to the iTX Desktop application. See
page 11 for more information and instructions.
• Configuring and setting up the iTX MC layout’s Mixer Mapper
component. See page 14 for information and instructions.
An Imagestore Master Control device must be configured to
receive input from a video source router.
See the Imagestore 750 User Manual for more information and
instructions.
8
Master Control (ITX-MC)
User Guide
Component Setup or configuration description
iMC panel Regardless of which model of iMC panel used (iMC100, iMC200,
or iMC300), the panel must be configured to control an
Imagestore 750 or Imagestore-Modular device. See the iMC
Master Control documentation (Oxtel series>Documentation) for
more information and instructions.
iTX-MC related configuration tasks include:
• Adding the hardware control panel to the MCS Panel Configuration
Editor and the IP address of the computer hosting the iTX Desktop
client must be specified. See page 19 for more information and
instructions.
• Configure the panel’s Automation Assist buttons (Hold Next, Cue
Next, Take Next, Skip Next) and the Automation Off button.
Router & Router Controller Since the iTX automation system controls the router’s
crosspoints through the Imagestore 750, please consult the
Imagestore 750 User Manual for more information and
instructions of configuring the Imagestore 750 and router
controller.
Installing or updating the iTX Desktop client software components
Install or update the iTX software to v2.4.10 SP6 or higher on the computer hosting the iTX
Desktop application to ensure that you have the most recent versions of the iTX Desktop
client and Hard Panel Controller components.
To install or update the required iTX Desktop client software components:
1 Open the iTX Suite installer folder in Windows Explorer.
2 Run the iTX installer by right-clicking on the Setup.exe file and selecting the Run as
administrator
3Click the Select Software button.
4In the Select Software to Install window, enable the Desktop Client and Hard Panel
Controller
5Click OK.
Complete the installation or updates as required.
command.
options.
9
iTX-MC System Configuration
Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller
Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller
When iTX-MC is used in Automation Assist mode, the iMC panel is used to manually control
events scheduled for selected iTX playout channels.
This functionality is made possible by the iTX Har
d Panel Controller, which is an iTX service
application that interfaces between the iTX Desktop application and the iMC panel. The iTX
Hard Panel Controller is run on the same computer as the iTX Desktop client (see page 9 for
installation instructions).
Since the Hard Panel Controller is an iTX service, it has a service window which provides
information and status about the service and its clients. To run the iTX Hard Panel Controller
service between a specific iMC panel and the iTX Desktop, you must create a hard panel
configuration profile (see instructions below).
10
To access the iTX Hard Panel Controller service window:
1 Click the Windows
Panel Controller.
This activates the
2Right-click the
Panel Controller
Start button and navigate through the programs to ITX 2.0 > Hard
Hard Panel Controller icon in the Windows applications tray.
Hard Panel Controller icon and select the Show command. The Hard
window appears.
To create a new hard panel configuration profile in the iTX Hard Panel Controller:
1 Click the Windows
Panel Controller.
Start button and navigate through the programs to ITX 2.0 > Hard
This activates the Hard Panel Controller icon in the Windows applications tray.
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