Grass Valley iTX Master Control User Manual v.2.3

ITX Master Control

(ITX-MC)

User Guide

www.miranda.com

16 May 2013

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Document Identification

• Title: iTX-MC User Guide

• Part number: M###-####-233

• Software version: iTX v2.3 SP3

• Last revised: May 16, 2013

Document Revision History

After the original release date, this user manual may be updated with edits and then rereleased. The following table tracks the versions of this document.

Publication date Description

May 16, 2013 Original publication of the document.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1-1

Functional overview of an iTX-MC System........................................................................................ 1-2

Operational modes ............................................................................................................................ 1-4

Fully Automated mode.................................................................................................................. 1-4

Automation Assist mode ............................................................................................................... 1-4

Manual Insert & Manual Override modes ..................................................................................... 1-5

iTX Master Control events ................................................................................................................. 1-6

iTX-MC system configuration ............................................................................................. 2-1

Installing or updating the iTX Desktop client software components .................................................. 2-3

Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller ........................................................................................ 2-4

Installing and adding the iTX MC layout to the iTX Desktop.............................................................. 2-6

Configuring the Master Control Plugin in the iTX Desktop ................................................................ 2-8

Enabling master control on the iTX Channel Config........................................................................ 2-10

Setting up and using the Mixer Mapper ...........................................................................................2-11

Configuring the Mixer Mapper..................................................................................................... 2-12

Using the Mixer Mapper.............................................................................................................. 2-15

Configuring the iMC panel to support iTX Automation..................................................................... 2-17

Activating the Enable Cue-to-First-Frame setting on the iTX Output Server ................................... 2-19

Using Fully Automated mode ............................................................................................. 3-1

Adding a master control primary event to a schedule........................................................................ 3-2

Setting and editing a master control primary event’s properties ................................................... 3-3

Adding a master control secondary event to a schedule ................................................................... 3-4

Setting and editing master control secondary event properties.................................................... 3-6

Using Automation Assist mode to manually control the iTX schedule.......................... 4-1

Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Automation Assist mode......................................................................... 4-2

Using iTX-MC’s Automation Assist mode.......................................................................................... 4-2

Forcing the next scheduled primary event to play immediately .................................................... 4-2

Delaying the next scheduled primary event’s playout................................................................... 4-4

Skipping the next scheduled primary event .................................................................................. 4-6

Using Manual Insert and Manual Override modes............................................................ 5-1

Manually inserting a live source into a scheduled broadcast............................................................. 5-2

Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Manual Insert mode ........................................................................... 5-3

Using iTX-MC’s Manual Insert mode ............................................................................................ 5-3

Manually overriding a scheduled broadcast with a live source.......................................................... 5-4

Preparing to use iTX-MC’s Manual Override mode ...................................................................... 5-4

Using iTX-MC’s Manual Override mode ....................................................................................... 5-5

iTX-MC User Guide TOC-1

1 INTRODUCTION

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.

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 programme 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.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-1

Functional overview of an iTX-MC System

iMC panel

iTX Desktop

iTX Output Server

Router Controller

Station Router

Imagestore 750

Intuition XG (optional)

Network, studio, live feeds

Video clips

Program

Preset

Automation control

Router control & tallies

Manual control & tallies

F&K

iTX control

Video

Oxtel control

Clean

Nvision router

iTX channel playout automation

Video source inputs

A/B switching of video signals

A/B source mixing and local secondary event insertion

Optional downstream graphics insertion

control protocol

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 (figure 1-1).

Introduction

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 iTX 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 contain the usual secondary events like logos, voice-overs...etc.

The station router also receives SDI video inputs from various sources, including live network feeds, studio feeds and the SDI output of the iTX Output Server.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-2

Figure 1-1. iTX-MC system architecture

Introduction

345

A/B source mixing and local secondary event insertion: The Imagestore 750 provides the A/B switching of signals from the station router 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 voice-over assets which are native to the Imagestore 750.

Traditional master control integration: The iMC panel is directly connected to the Imagestore 750 master control and channel branding processor via Ethernet. The Imagestore 750 is fed A/B program sources by an upstream router, with control from playout automation by an Ethernet connection. The router is controlled by the Imagestore 750 via a NVISION 9000 controller.

The iMC master control panel provides operators with the manual control of the Imagestore 750’s PGM bus, which permits them to insert or override scheduled programming with live incoming video.

Operators can also manually control the iTX schedule using the iMC panel’s Automation Assist buttons (T

AKE NEXT, HOLD NEXT, CUE NEXT, SKIP NEXT).

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 750’s keyer layers.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-3

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

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 events is known in advance and the live video content is originating from different sources. 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 page 1-6

3-1 for more information related to Fully Automation mode.

Introduction

and “Using Fully Automated mode” on page

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 (C 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.

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 page 1-6

manually control the iTX schedule” on page 4-1 for more information related to Automation

Assist mode.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-4

UE NEXT, TAKE NEXT, HOLD NEXT and SKIP NEXT) or the iTX

and “Using Automation Assist mode to

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 way in which the schedule’s playout is 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 programme 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 5-1

Introduction

for more information.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-5

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

Figure 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 played out, the starting transition type and speed and the duration of the live event.

A master control primary event appears as primary event item in the iTX schedule grid and 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 3-2 information.

Introduction

for more

Master control secondary events

Master control secondary events represent logos, voice-overs or Macro recalls that are native to the Imagestore 750.

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 3-4 information.

iTX-MC User Guide 1-6

for more

2 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.

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.

Component Setup or configuration description

iTX Framework Server An iTX Framework Server must be available with iTX Database

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 instructions.

iTX Output Server The iTX Output Server software component must be installed and

configured for regular channel playout on the iTX Output Server device. See the iTX System Administrator Guide information and instructions.

The iTX-MC related configuration task includes enabling the CUE

TO FIRST FRAME setting on the Output Server. See page 2-19 for

instructions.

iTX-MC User Guide 2-1

for more information and

for more

iTX-MC system configuration

Component Setup or configuration description

iTX Desktop Client The iTX Desktop Client application must be installed and

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 2-3 more information and instructions.

• Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller component on the iTX Desktop client computer. See page 2-4

for more

information and instructions.

• Installing and configuring the

ITX-MC PLUGIN within the iTX

Desktop application. See page 2-8 for instructions.

• Enabling the master control setting in the iTX Channel Config See page 2-10

• Adding the

ITX MC LAYOUT to the iTX Desktop application.

for more information and instructions.

See page 2-6 for more information and instructions.

• Configuring and setting up the iTX MC layout’s Mixer Mapper component. See page 2-11

for information and

instructions.

for

Imagestore 750

Imagestore-Modular

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.

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

2-17 for more information and instructions.

• Configure the panel’s Automation Assist buttons (H

OLD

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.

iTX-MC User Guide 2-2

iTX-MC system configuration

Installing or updating the iTX Desktop client software components

Install or update the iTX software to v2.3 SP3 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 2.3 installer folder in Windows Explorer.

2. Run the iTX installer by right-clicking on the Setup.exe file and selecting the Run as administrator command.

3. Click the Select Software button.

4. In the Select Software to Install window, enable the Desktop Client and Hard Panel Controller options and click OK. Then complete the installation or updates as required.

iTX-MC User Guide 2-3

iTX-MC system configuration

iTX Desktop iTX Hard Panel Controller

iMC panel

Configuring the iTX Hard Panel Controller

When iTX-MC is used in Automation Assist mode, the iMC panel (v.7.2.9 or later) is used to manually control events scheduled for selected iTX playout channels.

This functionality is made possible by the iTX Hard 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 2-3 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).

To access the iTX Hard Panel Controller service window:

1. Click the Windows Start button and navigate through the programs to ITX 2.0 > Hard Panel Controller.

This activates the Hard Panel Controller icon in the Windows applications tray.

2. Right-click the Hard Panel Controller icon and select the Show command. The

Hard Panel Controller window appears.

To create a new hard panel configuration profile in the iTX Hard Panel Controller:

1. Click the Windows Start button and navigate through the programs to ITX 2.0 > Hard Panel Controller.

This activates the Hard Panel Controller icon in the Windows applications tray.

iTX-MC User Guide 2-4

iTX-MC system configuration

2. Right-click the Hard Panel Controller icon and select the Configuration command. The Hard Panel Configuration window appears.

3. Right-click the Hard Panels heading and select the Add new Hard Panel command. A new panel heading (New Panel1) is added as a sub-heading.

4. Select the New Panel heading and then type a name for the panel in the Panel Name field. This name must be identical to the name given to the panel device when it was configured using the MC Panel Configuration tool.

5. Click the Select button associated with the Panel Driver field, which opens the Select Driver window.

6. Select IMCPanel from the Driver Name list and click OK. The IMC Panel Driver Configuration section is added to the Hard Panel Configuration

pane and automatically fills in the Local Address (which is the IP address of the computer hosting the iTX Desktop) and TCP Listening Port setting (5007).

7. Click OK to automatically save the hard panel’s configuration and close the Hard Panel Configuration window.

iTX-MC User Guide 2-5

+ 33 hidden pages