Grass Valley Xplay Vertigo Suite User Manual

User Manual

Xplay

Media Event Sequencer

M852-0800-500

Belden, Belden Sending All The Right Signals, and the Belden logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Belden Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and other jurisdictions. Grass Valley USA, LLC, Miranda, Vertigo Suite, Vertigo XG and Xmedia Server 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.

Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. By using the Xplay documentation, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

Grass Valley hereby grants permission and license to owners of the Vertigo Suite to use their product manuals for their own internal business use. Manuals for Grass Valley, A Belden Brand products may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including 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. Thus, different versions of a manual may exist for any given product. Care should be taken to ensure that one obtains the proper manual version for a specific product serial number.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Grass Valley.

Warranty Policies

Warranty information is available in the Support section of the Grass Valley Web site (www.grassvalley.com).

Document Identification

Title Xplay User Manual

Part number M852-0800-500

SW version Vertigo Suite v5.0

Revision History

After the original release date, the Xplay User Manual may be updated with edits and then re-released. The following table tracks the versions of this document.

Revision date Description

November 28, 2014 Original release

March 02, 2015 Vertigo Suite v5.0 SP1 release

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introducing Xplay................................................................................................................. 1-1

Getting started with Xplay................................................................................................... 2-1

Installation and licensing information................................................................................................. 2-2

Starting Xplay and connecting to the Xmedia Server ........................................................................ 2-3

Overview of the Xplay interface ......................................................................................................... 2-4

Configuring Xplay’s settings .............................................................................................................. 2-7

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices .............................................................................. 2-8

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager....................................................................... 2-9

Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control ....................................................... 2-12

Connecting output devices to Xplay ........................................................................................... 2-16

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay .............................................................................. 3-1

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View........................................................................................... 3-3

Creating a new playlist ...................................................................................................................... 3-5

Loading an existing playlist................................................................................................................ 3-6

Playlist element verification........................................................................................................... 3-8

Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist........................................................................ 3-9

Adding playlist elements to a playlist............................................................................................... 3-10

Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist ................................... 3-10

Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist ............................................ 3-12

Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist................................... 3-15

Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist .................................................................. 3-16

Adding shared segment assets to a playlist................................................................................ 3-18

Grouping elements into playlist segments....................................................................................... 3-19

Adding and populating playlist segments ................................................................................... 3-20

Repositioning playlist segments and their elements ................................................................... 3-22

Deleting playlist segments from a playlist................................................................................... 3-23

Adding comment rows to the playlist ............................................................................................... 3-25

Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist ........................................................................... 3-27

Repositioning primary playlist elements (clips, pages or comments) ......................................... 3-27

Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist .................................................................... 3-28

Configuring and editing the playlist columns ................................................................................... 3-29

Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout ........................................................................... 3-29

Editing a playlist element’s properties.........................................................................................3-33

Deleting playlist elements................................................................................................................ 3-36

Reloading the playlist ...................................................................................................................... 3-37

Saving the playlist............................................................................................................................ 3-38

Operator controlled preview and playout techniques...................................................... 4-1

Preview and playout on a single device............................................................................................. 4-2

Preparing to preview and playout on a single device.................................................................... 4-3

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device ................................................ 4-4

Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers............................................................ 4-7

Xplay User Manual TOC-1

Table of Contents

Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout ...................................................4-8

Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices .............................................4-10

Additional operator controlled tasks .................................................................................................4-16

Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View .....................................................4-16

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on a device ....................................................4-20

Reloading and refreshing playlist elements .................................................................................4-21

Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired..........................................................................4-23

Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols .................................................. 5-1

Specifying Automation settings in Xplay.............................................................................................5-3

Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial ...................................................................5-5

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial .....................................................................5-9

Configuring Xplay to use Xprotocol over TCP/IP..............................................................................5-13

Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP .......................................................5-15

Device forwarding of automation commands ...................................................................................5-19

Appendix A - Quick reference to Xplay’s menus and settings........................................ 6-1

Xplay’s menu commands ...................................................................................................................6-2

File menu .......................................................................................................................................6-2

View menu .....................................................................................................................................6-4

Actions menu .................................................................................................................................6-5

Tools menu ..................................................................................................................................6-11

Help menu ...................................................................................................................................6-12

Xplay’s settings.................................................................................................................................6-13

General settings...........................................................................................................................6-14

Layout settings.............................................................................................................................6-16

Playout settings ...........................................................................................................................6-17

AFD settings ................................................................................................................................6-20

Display settings............................................................................................................................6-21

Template Favorites settings.........................................................................................................6-23

Panel Events settings ..................................................................................................................6-24

Automation settings .....................................................................................................................6-25

As Run Logging settings ..............................................................................................................6-27

Logging settings...........................................................................................................................6-30

Plugins settings............................................................................................................................6-32

Servers settings ...........................................................................................................................6-34

Playlist > Basic settings ...............................................................................................................6-35

Playlist > Status settings..............................................................................................................6-36

Playlist > Highlight settings..........................................................................................................6-37

Appendix B - Creating and editing pages in Xplay........................................................... 7-1

Embedded versus Shared pages .......................................................................................................7-2

Creating and adding embedded pages to a playlist ...........................................................................7-3

Creating and adding a single embedded page ..............................................................................7-3

Creating and adding multiple embedded pages ............................................................................7-5

Using Template Favorites to create and add embedded pages ....................................................7-7

Creating and adding shared page assets to a playlist........................................................................7-9

Creating and adding new shared pages ........................................................................................7-9

TOC-2 Xplay User Manual

Table of Contents

Using the Asset Browser to add shared pages to a playlist........................................................ 7-12

Editing pages in Xplay ..................................................................................................................... 7-13

Editing a page within a playlist using the Edit Page command................................................... 7-13

Editing a page when it is cued on a device................................................................................. 7-14

Appendix C - Using Xplay to support the Emergency Alert System (EAS).................... 8-1

Configuring Xplay’s EAS settings ...................................................................................................... 8-2

Communication Settings............................................................................................................... 8-3

Target Device Settings ................................................................................................................. 8-3

Protocol Settings........................................................................................................................... 8-4

Device Forwarding........................................................................................................................ 8-4

EAS status bar in the Xplay interface ................................................................................................ 8-6

Appendix D - Configuring GPI inputs ................................................................................ 9-1

Configuring and controlling the GPI Server .................................................................................. 9-1

Specifying the Video Bypass settings for the GPI inputs .............................................................. 9-3

Starting, stopping, and refreshing the GPI Server ........................................................................ 9-4

Opening the GPI Configuration window in Xplay .......................................................................... 9-5

Adding states for each GPI input .................................................................................................. 9-5

Adding a rule to a GPI input state................................................................................................. 9-6

GPI input actions .......................................................................................................................... 9-8

Enabling and disabling GPI in Xplay.............................................................................................9-9

Xplay User Manual TOC-3

Table of Contents

TOC-4 Xplay User Manual

1 INTRODUCING XPLAY

Xplay is the Vertigo Suite’s application for controlling and previewing the playout of media and graphics. The management and playout of the playlist can be either operator-controlled using the Xplay user interface or through a external automation system. Xplay’s versatility also allows you to control playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.

Figure 1-1. Xplay allows you to preview and control the playout of playlist elements

In situations where operator-control over the playlist is appropriate, Xplay allows you to:

• Create new playlists that contain pages, clips and/or templates

• Create new pages and add them to a playlist

• Edit existing playlists and pages either prior to playout, or on the fly during the broadcast

• Send completed playlists to air on one or more playout devices in real-time using manual control techniques, or with the assistance of customizable run-time control panels

In newsroom environments, Xplay is the media event sequencer which controls the playout of rundowns in a similar way that it controls the playout of traditional playlists. Using the

Xplay User Manual 1-1

Introducing Xplay

NRCS & Xnews plugin

Asset management

Xplay

Playout device

Station automation

Automation

protocol

Xplay

(Serial or TCP/IP)

MOS protocol, the newsroom computer system (NRCS) sends the rundown information to Xplay, which previews and plays out on Vertigo playout devices (figure 1-2).

Figure 1-2. Xplay also acts as the media event sequencer in newsroom environments

Upon receipt of the rundown, Xplay recalls the graphics pages from the Xmedia Server and then plays out the dynamic news sequences with live data mapped to the appropriate graphic template fields. Customized control panels at the top of the Xplay interface can be used for manual operation. Since Xplay’s device views show a preview of the device’s playout, you can also make last minute changes to the graphics. The Xnews User Manual provides more information about the Vertigo news graphics workflow.

Xplay can also be used to allow third-party automation systems, like Pharos, Pebble Beach, Harris (ADC), and Florical, to control Vertigo playout devices (i.e. Vertigo XG and Intuition XG). Figure 1-3 automation controls protocols for graphics playback either through a serial or TCP/IP connection. Xplay receives these commands from automation to control the device and the device sends back status messages. See “

protocols” on page 5-1 for more information.

demonstrates that automation commands are sent using standard

Controlling Xplay devices using automation

Figure 1-3. Xplay allows third-party automation systems to control Vertigo playout devices

1-2 Xplay User Manual

2 GETTING STARTED WITH XPLAY

Xplay can be used to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on a single or multiple devices and this can be done either manually or through automation. As such, the procedures for installing and configuring Xplay are depend upon its intended use.

The following sections provide information and instructions for how to install, configure and become familiar with Xplay’s user interface:

Installation and licensing information” on page 2-2

• “

• “Starting Xplay and connecting to the Xmedia Server” on page 2-3

• “Overview of the Xplay interface” on page 2-4

• “Configuring Xplay’s settings” on page 2-7

• “Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices” on page 2-8

Xplay User Manual 2-1

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Installation and licensing information

When playout is to be controlled manually by an operator, Xplay is typically installed and configured on a client computer that is connected via a local-area network to the playout devices. However, when the playout is to be controlled by an external automation system, Xplay is installed and configured directly on the Vertigo playout device (i.e. Vertigo XG or Intuition XG).

Regardless of where it is installed, Xplay is packaged with the Vertigo Suite software installation wizard. It can be installed as part of the full installation or as an individual (standalone) component. In both cases, you simply need to run the installation wizard on a workstation that is on the same network as the Xmedia Server.

Information regarding the Vertigo Suite’s hardware and network requirements, as well as instructions for installing and/or upgrading Xplay, are available in the Vertigo Suite’s Release Notes, which can be downloaded from the Support Portal web site.

Unlike most other Vertigo Suite applications, Xplay does not require a software application license.

2-2 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Starting Xplay and connecting to the Xmedia Server

When you initially launch Xplay, a dialog box appears and asks you to configure the server location. As a client application, Xplay must be connected to the Xmedia Server, which is the centralized asset management server for Vertigo applications and devices.

Since you have only just installed Xplay, the first task that you must do is to connect Xplay to the Xmedia Server.

To start Xplay and connect to the Xmedia Server:

1. Click S

2. When the message asking you to configure the server location, click the Y

TART>PROGRAMS>VERTIGOXMEDIA>XPLAY.

ES button.

The SETTINGS dialog box appears.

Figure 2-1. Settings dialog box

3. Click S

4. In the X

ERVERS in the tree view at left. This displays the settings related to the Xmedia

Server (see page 6-34

MEDIASERVER IP ADDRESS field, replace <server IP> with the IP address of

for more information about Xplay’s Server settings).

the machine hosting the Xmedia Server.

5. Unless the port number was changed when the Xmedia Server was installed, the default in the X

MEDIASERVER PORT field will be correct. If it was changed, enter the new

number.

6. Click OK. Xplay launches. If the program does not launch, consult your system administrator. The

problem could be due to one of the following:

• The IP address or port was entered incorrectly.

• The machine hosting the Xmedia Server is down.

• The Xmedia Server is not running on the host machine.

• The machine is not connected to the network.

Xplay User Manual 2-3

Getting started with Xplay

7 8

Overview of the Xplay interface

While some of the Xplay interface components remain constant, others are customizable using Xplay’s settings. Figures 2-2 interface components and provide a brief functional description of each.

and the following descriptions identify the Xplay’s main

Figure 2-2. Xplay set to Manual playout mode and On-Air Preview layout mode

1. Main menus: Located along the top of the interface, these menu commands provide access to most of Xplay’s settings and administrative functions. See “Xplay’s menu

commands” on page 6-2 for more information.

2. Asset Browser: The Asset Browser, which is located within a collapsible panel, provides a tree view of assets stored on the Xmedia Server. You can use the Asset Browser to locate and load a rundown into Xplay, as well as to add pages, clips, templates and/or scenes to an open playlist.

3. Playlist Editor: The Playlist Editor is the workspace where an opened playlist is displayed. Playlist elements (segment headings, pages, clips, comments...etc.) are organized in a

2-4 Xplay User Manual

sequential list.

• The buttons along the top of the window are used for loading and managing playlists.

These buttons allow you to open a new playlist, as well as save, reload, loop... the playlist and its elements.

•The Q

• The Playlist Editor’s global C

UICK RECALL field, which can be hidden/exposed using the VIEW>QUICK RECALL

command, allows you to quickly locate and insert a page, clip, template and/or scene into the playlist using the asset’s Recall ID property.

the playlist elements appear on air.

UE and TAKE buttons allow you to control the timing of when

Getting started with Xplay

4. Message Log: Xplay’s Message Log window alerts you to possible errors or operational events that may impede or adversely affect your playout. For example, the Message Log will alert you if Xplay’s connection to the Xmedia Server (XMS) or to an output device is disconnected or re-connected.

The Message Log window is conveniently displayed as a floating window upon start up and each time a new message is added to the Message Log.

You can hide the Message Log window by clicking the window’s C reopen the Message Log window at anytime, select the V command or press C

TRL + M.

IEW>OPEN MESSAGE LOG

LOSE button . To

Rather than a floating window, the Message Log window can be set as an embedded window in the Xplay interface (figure 2-3

). To embed the Message Log window, set the

Tools>Settings>Layout>Show embedded message window setting.

Figure 2-3. Xplay’s Message Log window can be floating or embedded

5. EAS Status bar: When Xplay is configured to support the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the EAS Status bar provides operators with a quick visual of the EAS receiver’s status and any current event messages. See “

Appendix C - Using Xplay to support the

Emergency Alert System (EAS)” on page 8-1 for more information.

6. Xplay’s Status bar: Xplay’s status bar identifies the name and status of the currently loaded playlist, as well as Xplay’s connection status to the Xmedia Server.

The following table describes the possible status information that is displayed in each of the categories:

The X logo indicates that a basic Vertigo Suite playlist is loaded in the Playlist Editor. The logo is followed by the playlist’s name.

The asterisks beside the playlist’s name indicates that unsaved edits have been made to the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 2-5

Getting started with Xplay

Xplay’s F

ILTER PAGES BY DEVICE setting is enabled and

some playlist elements were removed because they were not assigned to a device.

The MOS logo indicates a rundown (playlist) is currently loaded in Xplay. Rundowns are a type of playlist normally used for MOS news broadcasts.

Xplay is properly connected to the Xmedia Server whose name or IP address is indicated.

When this section of the Status bar turns red, Xplay is has lost its connection to the Xmedia Server whose name or IP address is indicated.

Alerts or warns you that the Xplay.ini file, which is located in C:\Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps, is currently in an unwritable state. This means that Xplay is currently not able to save any of the Xplay settings upon shutdown.

7. Toolbar Panel: Any panel opened for use with the playlist will be displayed in a panel directly under Xplay’s menu bar. When a panel is open, you can display or hide the entire control panel area by selecting or deselecting V

IEW>TOOLBAR PANEL. The panel area can

be resized by dragging from its bottom borders downwards. You can also zoom in/out of the panel by using the mouse wheel. See “

Using a panel to control an additional keyer level on

a device” on page 4-20 for more information.

8. Device Views: Xplay’s G

ENERAL settings (TOOLS>SETTINGS) allow you to set the LAYOUT

setting to either MULTI-DEVICE or ONAIR-PREVIEW, which affects the appearance of Xplay’s Device Views. The Device Views allow you to see a visual representation of the playlist element that is either being cued or currently being played out on a device.

ULTI-DEVICE: When Xplay is configured to playout to multiple devices or on different

• M

keyers of the same device, a display pane appears according to the number of devices specified in the N

UMBER OF DEVICES setting. Each device’s display view has indicators

that informs of the device’s connection status, as well as override buttons for controlling the playout of the playlist elements on that device (e.g. C

UE, TAKE CLEAR). The override

buttons allow you to take selected playlist elements to air on the channel of your choice. The layout of the device’s display views can also be customized using the

AYOUT>MULTIDEVICE LAYOUT setting, which can be set to ONAIR, PREVIEW, or

REVIEWONAIR. See “Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout” on page 2-14 for more

information.

NAIR-PREVIEW: This mode is used when Xplay is connected to only a single playout

• O

device (1 keyer channel) and an optional preview device (i.e. Software CG). One display pane shows the playlist element that is currently on air, while the pane previews the element that has been cued as next-to-air. See “

Configuring Xplay for single device

playout (OnAir-Preview)” on page 2-12 for more information.

2-6 Xplay User Manual

Configuring Xplay’s settings

NOTE

While Xplay’s default settings are appropriate for most operating circumstances, you may want to customize the look and behavior of the application using Xplay’s settings. Note that modifying these settings is entirely optional.

Getting started with Xplay

Changes to Xplay’s settings are made within the S accessed by selecting the T

Some settings will require you to restart Xplay for the changes to be applied.

This SETTINGS dialog box contains a tree-structure of thematic settings. Each of the settings is defined in the following sections:

General settings” on page 6-14

• “

• “Layout settings” on page 6-16

• “Playout settings” on page 6-17

• “AFD settings” on page 6-20

• “Display settings” on page 6-21

• “Template Favorites settings” on page 6-23

• “Panel Events settings” on page 6-24

• “Automation settings” on page 6-25

• “As Run Logging settings” on page 6-27

• “Logging settings” on page 6-30

• “Plugins settings” on page 6-32

• “Servers settings” on page 6-34

• “Playlist > Basic settings” on page 6-35

• “Playlist > Status settings” on page 6-36

• “Playlist > Highlight settings” on page 6-37

OOLS>SETTINGS menu command.

ETTINGS dialog box, which can be

Xplay User Manual 2-7

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Xplay’s Device Views

Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices

Xplay allows you to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on various types of rendering and playout devices (e.g. Software CG, Vertigo XG or Intuition XG). Xplay can be configured to preview and control playout on a single device, or to managed the playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.

Figure 2-4. Xplay’s Device Views allow you to control the playout on specific devices, channels and/or keyers

The following sections describe how to configure Xplay’s Device Manager and Device Views to connect to your output device(s):

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager” on page 2-9

1. “

2. “Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control” on page 2-12

3. “Connecting output devices to Xplay” on page 2-16

Xplay supports playout on several different device types, including the Software CG, Vertigo XG, Intuition XG, as well as other Grass Valley and 3rd party devices. Please refer to the latest Vertigo Suite Release Notes for the complete list of supported devices.

2-8 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager

Before Xplay can connect and playout media and graphics content to an output device, each instance of the output device must be defined in Xplay’s Device Manager.

The Device Manager maintains a list of output device profiles that have been configured to work with Xplay. You can add several devices to the Device Manager, as well as add a separate device for each channel of the same device (i.e. XG1 for channel A and XG2 for channel B of a dual-channel Vertigo XG device).

Note that adding a device to the Device Manager does not automatically associate the device with an Xplay Device View (keyer) nor does it automatically connect the device to Xplay (these tasks are performed in a separate step described on page 2-12 Adding devices to the Device Manager simply means that these devices are already configured and available to Xplay whenever they may be needed.

To add an output device to Xplay’s Device Manager:

1. Open the Device Configuration window by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER.

2. In the D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window, select the ADD button:

and page 2-16.

Figure 2-5. Device Configuration dialog box

3. The DEVICE CONFIGURATION windows expands to reveal two tabs (GENERAL and ADVANCED) with settings for identifying the device’s configuration.

Figure 2-6. Add Device Configuration section

Xplay User Manual 2-9

Getting started with Xplay

4. Specify the appropriate General Device Configuration settings:

Device name The name of the selected device. This can only be modified when adding a device.

Device alias An alternative name for the selected device on your network.

Description An optional field that lets you label the device to distinguish it from other similar

devices at your facility (for example).

Device Type Identifies the type of device that these settings apply to.

Choose from:

•V

ERTIGOXG

NTUITIONXG

•I

•P

REVIEW (OR OTHER DEVICE)

MAGESTORE

•I

•INTUITION

•FTP

•LGK

•DSK

•HMP

THER

•O

NOTE: Always select PREVIEW (or other device) for Software CG devices.

Control IP The network location (IP address) or hostname of the selected device. The host

must be available on the network.

OTE: The Control IP setting is not displayed when HMP is selected as the device

type.

Control Port The networking port that serves as a channel for sending commands to and from

the device.

OTE: The Control Port setting is not displayed when HMP is selected as the device

type.

Publish IP The network location (IP address) or hostname of the selected device. The host

must be available on the network.

OTE: The Publish IP setting is not displayed when VERTIGO XG, INTUITION XG or

INTUITION are selected as the device type.

Publish Port The networking port that serves as a channel for publishing assets. Typically, this

value is set to 15000.

OTES:

• The Control Port setting is only displayed when PREVIEW, FTP, HMP or OTHER are selected as the device type.

• This value must correspond with the port used by the XpublishAgent on the output device.

2-10 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Publish as Export

The Publish as Export setting is only displayed if FTP is the selected device type.

This setting publishes the asset in the Vertigo Export (.vex) zip file format. The VEX format is used by the File Ingest Service to import assets into the Xmedia Server and/or device.

5. Specify the appropriate Advanced Device Configuration settings:

Clip Template When a “stand-alone” clip asset played out (either from the playlist or from an

automation command), Xplay will use this system template to determine the clip’s playout format, position and behavior.

Click the button to navigate to and select a Clip template.

Valid clip templates for various scene formats are included with the Vertigo Suite’s system templates. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the T

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES category.

If you choose to create your own clip template, remember that the clip template’s control-side must have a texture linked to a scene-side clip object.

Cel Template

Image Tem pla te

The name of the template that is used to play “stand-alone” cel animations or images when they are taken to air using an automation command.

Click the button to navigate to and select a cel template or image template.

Valid templates for various scene formats are included with the Vertigo Suite’s system templates. Once imported into the Xmedia Server, the templates are stored in the T

EMPLATES>SYSTEM TEMPLATES category.

If you choose to create your own template, remember that the template’s controlside must have a texture linked to a scene-side cel animation or image object.

External Keyer Allows you to associate another device with the current device. This setting is

specifically used when the Software CG output is keyed over the ImageStore output. In this way, specific commands can be sent to the ImageStore (the External keyer) when specific things are done on the Software CG.

OTE: The External Keyer setting is not displayed when FTP and HMP are selected

as the device type.

Publish Master

Lets you select a master device.

OTE: The Publish Master setting is only displayed when PREVIEW and OTHER are

selected as the device type.

6. Click A

PPLY.

After a device has been added to the Device Manager, you can edit a device’s configuration settings (except for the Device Name) or delete the device from the Device Manager. However, the device must not be actively assigned to a Device View in Xplay.

Xplay User Manual 2-11

Getting started with Xplay

Toolbar Panel

On Air

Preview Device View

Device View

Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control

The Device Views along the right-side of the Xplay interface allow you to view and control the playlist items that are either being cued or currently being played out on a device.

Taking into consideration your intended use and output device configurations, you must set Xplay’s Layout setting (T

ULTI-DEVICE, which determines the appearance of Xplay’s device views. You must also

associate Xplay’s Device Views with the device channels and keyers that the playlist items will be played out on. Both of these tasks are explained in the following sections:

Configuring Xplay for single device playout (OnAir-Preview)” on page 2-12

• “

• “Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout” on page 2-14

Configuring Xplay for single device playout (OnAir-Preview)

When Xplay is to be connected to only a single playout device, we recommend that you set Xplay’s Layout setting to ONAIR-PREVIEW. Figure 2-7 demonstrates that the OnAir-Preview layout provides you with two Device View windows (On Air and Preview) and the Toolbar Panel. See page 4-2

OOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL>LAYOUT) to either ONAIR-PREVIEW or

for a detailed description of the OnAir-Preview layout.

Figure 2-7. On Air - Preview layout’s device views and Toolbar Panel

Once a playout device and a preview device (optional) have been added to Xplay’s Device Manager (page 2-9

) and the layout is set to ONAIR-PREVIEW, you can assign a device

(channel and/or keyer) to each of the On Air and Preview Device Views using the Active

Device table in the Device Manager.

To configure Xplay for single device playout using the OnAir-Preview layout:

1. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL and set the LAYOUT setting to ONAIR-PREVIEW and click OK.

2. Restart Xplay.

2-12 Xplay User Manual

Getting started with Xplay

Step B

Steps A & D

Step C

3. Open Xplay’s Device Manager by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER. The D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window appears with the available output devices already

listed in the device table. If the desired device is not listed, refer to page 2-9 instructions on how to add a device to the Device Manager.

4. To associate the On Air Device View with a playout device and keyer. a. In the Active Device table, click O

N AIR to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to playout on. c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the On Air Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

The keyer value tells Xplay on which layer of the output device to playout the playlist element (0 is the bottom-most level).

for

Figure 2-8. Connecting Xplay to an output device

5. Optional - If you want to preview and/or edit playlist items before they are taken to air, you can associate the Preview row in the Active Device table with an output device.

a. In the Active Device table, click P

REVIEW to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to preview the

playout on.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the Preview Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

0 is the bottom-most level.

6. Optional: To configure Xplay to use a control panel asset to control and playout graphics on a different device or on a different keyer on the On Air device:

a. In the Active Device table, click P

ANEL to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to control the

playout on.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table.

d. Click the device’s K

EYER column and assign a keyer value.

0 is the bottom-most level.

Xplay User Manual 2-13

Getting started with Xplay

Toolbar Panel

Device Views

Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout

When you want to use Xplay to control the playout on more than one output device or control more than one keyer on the same device, we recommend that you set Xplay’s

Layout setting to M

ULTI-DEVICE.

Figure 2-9. Multi-Device layout’s device views and Toolbar Panel

The Multi-Device layout allows you to specify the number of playout devices or keyers to be controlled and then produces one Device View window in Xplay for each device channel or keyer. For example, if I intend for Xplay to control and playout on one dual-channel Vertigo XG with both channels having two keyer levels; I would set the N

UMBER OF DEVICES setting

to 4. Consequently, this produces 4 device view windows in Xplay, which would be assigned to these device channels/keyers. See page 4-7

for more information about the Multi-Device

layout.

Once playout devices have been added to Xplay’s Device Manager (page 2-9 layout is set to M

ULTI-DEVICE, you can assign a device (channel and/or keyer) to each of the

) and the

On Air and Preview Device Views using the Active Device table in the Device Manager.

To configure Xplay to control and playout on multiple devices and/or keyers:

1. Select TOOLS>SETTINGS>GENERAL and set the LAYOUT setting to MULTI-DEVICE.

2. On the same page, specify the number of devices and/or keyers to be controlled in the

UMBER OF DEVICES setting.

3. Select T

OOLS>SETTINGS>LAYOUT and set the MULTI-DEVICE LAYOUT setting to

REVIEW, ONAIR or PREVIEWONAIR.

4. Click OK and then restart Xplay. When Xplay reopens it displays multiple Device View windows along the right-side in

the format specified by the M

ULTI-DEVICE LAYOUT setting.

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Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

Step B

Step A

Step C

5. Open Xplay’s Device Manager by selecting TOOLS>DEVICE MANAGER. The D

EVICE CONFIGURATION window appears with the available output devices already

listed in the device table. If the desired device is not listed, refer to page 2-9 instructions on how to add a device to the Device Manager.

6. To assign an output device with a Device View: a. In the Active Device table, click the <Device#> in the N

AME column to select the row.

b. In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to assign to the

Device View selected in the Active Device table.

c. Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.

The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the Device View on the Xplay interface.

d. Repeat the above steps for each of the device views in the Active Device table.

Figure 2-10. Associating a device with one of Xplay’s Device Views

for

By default, the device views in Multi-Device layout are named DEVICE1, DEVICE2, DEVICE3...etc. You are not obligated to keep these default names. To personalize the device views by assigning them a new name, right-click on the K

EYER STATE button (the device’s

name in the Device View’s toolbar) and select the RENAME command. The Keyer State button will now display the new name, as does the Active Device table in the Device Manager

7. Once a device is added to the Active Device table, you can complete the remaining properties associated with each of the Device Views:

EYER: The keyer value tells Xplay on which layer of the output device to playout the

• K

playlist element (0 is the bottom-most level).

• Preview: (Optional) Assigns a device from the Device Configuration table to be a

preview device. This allows you to preview the playout of a playlist item when it is cued and then playout on the assigned device when it is taken to air. Like an output device, the preview device’s name and connection status LED are displayed in the Device View’s toolbar.

Xplay User Manual 2-15

Getting started with Xplay

Output Device Name

Device View Name

Connection LED

Green = Connected Red = Disconnected

• Show View: Determines whether or not the Device View window is appears (TRUE) or is hidden (FALSE) in the Xplay interface. When an abundance of devices are active, hiding certain devices from view provides more space on the Xplay interface for those devices that are of greater interest.

UMBER OF ADDITIONAL KEYERS: You can associate a number of additional keyers with

• N a particular device. This is useful if Xplay is configured with many devices, for example 20 devices with 16 keyers on each device. Xplay is not capable of displaying this many views simultaneously. So, you can decide to show only the keyer specified in the

EYER column of each device for control/interaction purposes and the rest will remain

hidden, but be controllable by automation. Note that the additional keyers are accessible to all External Control functions and they can be referred to by name using the following format:

<BaseKeyerName>#1 <BaseKeyerName>#2 ... <BaseKeyerName>#n

8. Click the C

LOSE button on the DEVICE CONFIGURATION window.

Connecting output devices to Xplay

Although the output devices may be properly configure and associated to the Device Views in Xplay’s Device Manager, you must also ensure that the Device View is actively connected to the output device. An active connection means that the output device is up and running and that Xplay is able to communicate with it.

Figure 2-11 Device View’s toolbar.

Figure 2-11. Whether or not a device is actively connected to a Device View is indicated by the LED

shows that the device’s connection status is reported using an LED on the

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Getting started with Xplay

NOTE

To reconnect Xplay to a device:

If Xplay is not connected or disconnects from an output device, the LED next to the device name turns red. You can reconnect Xplay to the output device without having to access the Device Manager; simply double-click the red LED. The LED turns green if a connection to the device is established. If the LED remains red, it means one of the following:

• The information describing the device has been entered incorrectly.

• The desired device is down.

• The network connection has been lost.

To disconnect Xplay from a device:

If desired, you can disconnect from a device and run your playlist in Xplay to ensure that all page information is correct. You can temporarily disconnect a device from Xplay, without removing the device from the Device Manager; simply right-click on the device’s LED and select the D

You can change the default name of the Device View (i.e. Device1) to something more descriptive by right-clicking on the Device View’s name in the toolbar and selecting the Rename command. When the name becomes editable, type the new name and press Enter. The name change will also be automatically be applied to the Device Manager’s Active Device table.

ISCONNECT command (the green LED turns red).

Xplay User Manual 2-17

Getting started with Xplay

2-18 Xplay User Manual

3 CREATING AND EDITING PLAYLISTS IN

PLAY

Xplay’s Playlist Editor allows you to build and edit playlists by adding playlist elements (i.e. pages, templates and clips) to the tabular list and organizing them into the order in which they are intended to be taken to air. Playlists built in Xplay are typically designed to be manually played back sequentially by operator control using Xplay.

Figure 3-1. Xplay’s Playlist Editor in Standard playlist view

Each row in playlist represents a single playlist element, while the columns display properties associated with the playlist item (some of which can be edited directly in the Playlist Editor). Since some playlists can get quite long, you can also organize playlist elements into thematic segments, as well as insert comment rows to provide information or instructions to the operator controlling the playout of the playlist.

Xplay User Manual 3-1

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

The following sections provide information and instructions for how to create and edit playlists in Xplay:

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View” on page 3-3

• “

• “Creating a new playlist” on page 3-5

• “Loading an existing playlist” on page 3-6

• “Navigating and selecting elements within the playlist” on page 3-9

• “Adding playlist elements to a playlist” on page 3-10

• “Grouping elements into playlist segments” on page 3-19

• “Adding comment rows to the playlist” on page 3-25

• “Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist” on page 3-27

• “Configuring and editing the playlist columns” on page 3-29

• “Deleting playlist elements” on page 3-36

• “Reloading the playlist” on page 3-37

• “Saving the playlist” on page 3-38

3-2 Xplay User Manual

Creating and editing playlists in Xplay

Playlist elements are ordered sequentially

Playout controls

Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View

The appearance and functionality of Xplay’s Playlist Editor differs depending upon the Playlist View setting (T new playlist or load an existing playlist in the Playlist Editor, we recommend that you first select an appropriate playlist view.

• None

• Standard

• ByDevice

None

When Xplay’s Playlist view setting is set to NONE, the Playlist Editor is not displayed in the Xplay window and playlists cannot be manually loaded or displayed. This setting is used primarily when Xplay is controlled through automation. See page 5-1 about controlling Xplay using automation protocols.

Standard

When Xplay’s PLAYLIST VIEW setting is set to STANDARD, the loaded playlist is displayed in the Playlist Editor as a single list, showing all of its elements in the order in which they were saved, positioned, or are intended to be sequentially played out.

The Playlist Editor’s global Cue and Take buttons are available in Standard view and let you to manually control the timing of when the playlist elements appear on air.

Unlike the ByDevice view, Standard view can be used to control the playout on a single device, or on multiple devices. See page 4-1 operator controlled playout techniques.

OOLS>SETTINGS>LAYOUT>PLAYLIST VIEW). As such, before create a

for information and instructions on using

for more information

Figure 3-2. The Playlist Editor in Standard playlist view

Xplay User Manual 3-3

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