Pinnacle SHOWCENTER User Manual

Pinnacle ShowCenter

User’s Guide

D/GB March 2005

41005345

No part of this manual may be reproduced or transferred to other media without explicit written permission from Pinnacle Systems GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.

All brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly prohibited.

Content providers are using the digital rights management technology for Windows Media contained in this device ("WM-DRM") to protect the integrity of their content ("Secure Content") so that their intellectual property, including copyright, in such content is not misappropriated. This device uses WM-DRM software to play Secure Content ("WM-DRM Software"). If the security of the WM-DRM Software in this device has been compromised, owners of Secure Content ("Secure Content Owners") may request that Microsoft revoke the WM-DRM Software's right to acquire new licenses to copy, display and/or play Secure Content. Revocation does not alter the WM-DRM Software's ability to play unprotected content. A list of revoked WM-DRM Software is sent to your device whenever you download a license for Secure Content from the Internet or from a PC. Microsoft may, in conjunction with such license, also download revocation lists onto your device on behalf of Secure Content Owners.

This manual is printed on chlorine-free, bleached paper using solvent-free ink.

Pinnacle Systems GmbH has written this manual to the best of its knowledge, but does not guarantee that the programs/systems will fulfill the users’ intended applications.

No warranty is made as to the specifications of features.

Pinnacle Systems GmbH retains the right to make alterations to the content of the manual without obligation to inform third parties.

All quotes, sales, supply and manufacturing contracts from Pinnacle Systems GmbH, including consulting, installation and other contractual services are subject exclusively to the General Sales and Delivery Terms of Pinnacle Systems GmbH.

Basics....................................................................................................................1

Safety Instructions.............................................................................................1

The Idea in Words .............................................................................................4

The Idea in a Picture..........................................................................................5

The Components................................................................................................6

Package Contents ..............................................................................................7

System Requirements ........................................................................................9

Set up Your ShowCenter System........................................................................11

Set up Your ShowCenter System in Two Steps - Overview ...........................11

Installing the Software.....................................................................................12

Connecting Your Devices ...............................................................................14

Network Connection Configuration ................................................................20

Pinnacle MediaManager .....................................................................................27

Overview .........................................................................................................27

The Media Library...........................................................................................30

The Media Player ............................................................................................36

Importing Media Files .....................................................................................38

Organizing Media Files ...................................................................................50

Using Playlists.................................................................................................54

Exporting Media Files .....................................................................................57

The Menus.......................................................................................................63

Real Rhapsody Music Service.........................................................................68

File Formats.....................................................................................................71

Television ...........................................................................................................75

Turning on the ShowCenter Player and the Television...................................75

Introduction to the TV Menu...........................................................................77

TV Menu - Music ............................................................................................78

TV Menu - Movies ..........................................................................................82

TV Menu - Photos ........................................................................................... 86

TV Menu - PCTV............................................................................................90

TV Menu - Settings .........................................................................................93

iii

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Remote Control...................................................................................................99

Remote Control Keypad Layout......................................................................99

Button Descriptions in Detail ........................................................................100

Troubleshooting for the Remote Control ......................................................105

Special Functions..............................................................................................107

Attaching USB Devices.................................................................................107

Dolby® Digital Sound Playback ...................................................................107

HD Playback..................................................................................................108

Album Cover Display....................................................................................108

Playing Music Without Turning on the TV................................................... 108

Displaying Movie Subtitles ...........................................................................109

Automatic Playlists........................................................................................109

Detecting Missing or Modified Media ..........................................................109

Music Information From Directory and File Names.....................................110

Organizing Movies By "Series" ....................................................................110

Specifications....................................................................................................111

Hardware .......................................................................................................111

Technical Support.............................................................................................113

Getting Technical Support.............................................................................113

License information ..........................................................................................115

Pinnacle End User License Agreement .........................................................115

Glossary ............................................................................................................119

Index .................................................................................................................127

Basics

Safety Instructions

WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

Please read and follow these instructions for your own safety, and to ensure that your device functions properly.

Power Cable and Plug

Please make sure to obey the following instructions in order to prevent the device from malfunctioning and to prevent electrical shock, fires, and injuries:

 When disconnecting the power to your device, always unplug it by pulling

the plug itself and not the cable.

 Don't ever plug in or unplug the power cable with wet hands.  Keep the power cable away from heaters and radiators.  Never put heavy objects on the power cable.  Don't try to repair the power cable yourself or to modify it in any way, shape,

or form.

 Regularly clean off the dust, dirt, etc. from the plug.  If you drop the device or damage it in any fashion, turn it off and disconnect

the power plug.

 If the device produces smoke, strange smells, or noises, turn it off and

disconnect the power plug. Contact your dealer immediately.

Where Not to Install the Device

Do not install the device in any of the following locations:  In direct sunlight, next to radiators or other heat sources or in vehicles parked

in direct sunlight with all the windows rolled up and the doors closed.

 Locations with extremely high temperatures (95°F or greater) or levels of

humidity (90% or greater).

 Very dusty or sandy locations.  Locations where there are vibrations, shaking or slanted surfaces underneath.

This could damage the components in the device.

 On flammable surfaces such as cloth-covered tables.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

 Keep the device away from flower vases, bathtubs, sinks, etc., and from

locations where the device is exposed to precipitation. The device may be severely damaged if any liquid enters it.

Problems With Other Devices

 Set up the device in a horizontal position and do not place any heavy objects

on it.

 Do not place the device on an amplifier or any other device that gives off

heat.

Housing and Internal Components

 Never remove or open any part of the housing and do not try to perform any

repairs yourself. Any maintenance or repair work should be done by a qualified repair person.

 Keep fingers and objects away from the inside of the device.

It is dangerous to touch any of the components inside the device. Doing so may injure you and damage the device.

 Do not place any foreign objects on the device.

Condensation

Condensation may develop in the device in the following circumstances:

 Right after a nearby heater or radiator has been turned on.  In a very humid or steam-filled room.  If the device has been moved from a cold location to a warm one.

Condensation in the device may cause it to malfunction. In this case, turn off the device and wait around 1 hour until the condensation has evaporated. Then you can use it again.

Non-Use

 Turn off the device when you are not using it.  If you are not planning on using the device for a long period of time, you

should unplug it from the power socket.

Accessories

Use only the accessories included with or recommended for the device in order to minimize the risk of fire, electrical shock or interference.

Batteries

 Put in the batteries shipped with the device as shown in the remote control

battery case.

Basics

 NEVER combine old and new batteries or different types of batteries

(alkaline and non-alkaline).

 Once the batteries are discharged, make sure to dispose of them in

accordance with legal and environmental requirements.

Copyrights

Make sure not to violate any copyrights when you use music, movie and digital photo files.

Any changes or additions to the printed documentation can be found in the read-me file on the CD-ROM included with the device.

The CE Declaration of Compliance and the FCC Compliance Statement for Pinnacle ShowCenter are included as PDF files on the CD-ROM included with the device.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

The Idea in Words

Pinnacle ShowCenter allows you to playback the following media types:

 Music files  Movies and other video files  Digital photos

You can download them from various sources, including the Internet, and

manage them on your PC, view them on your TV or play them back on your stereo system. And, so that you don't have to get up from the couch to switch files, it comes with a convenient remote control.

Pinnacle ShowCenter combines a living-room component, a home PC, a remote control, and media-management software.

Pinnacle ShowCenter organizes all your media files in an intelligent multimedia database on your PC so that you can

easy, convenient access to them.

easily find them and have

Do you use the broadband Internet access on your PC (DSL or cable modem) to download audio and video files, but would like to be able to organize them and play them back any time you want? Do you want to archive your digital photos, movies, and audio CDs so that you have instant access to them?

Pinnacle ShowCenter is the perfect solution in both cases! Pinnacle ShowCenter allows you to

you can your favorite music on your stereo system

Pinnacle ShowCenter allows you to create one simple system that keeps your PC out of your living room but still lets you enjoy all the benefits of modern media.

look up definitions of unfamiliar terms. If you're still not sure what to do, please consult the manuals for your television, your stereo system, and your PC components.

play back your favorite movies, view your favorite photos and listen to

At the end of this manual is a section entitled "Glossary" where you can

organize your media collection so that

any time you want.

Basics

The Idea in a Picture

This overview shows one possible setup of the system components in your house:

Pinnacle ShowCenter

The Components

The Pinnacle ShowCenter system consists of the following components:

Hardware

ShowCenter Player

The ShowCenter Player creates a

your PC and your television and/or your stereo system

multimedia home network together with

. The ShowCenter Player acts like a network client, allowing you to view on your television or play back on your stereo system any movies, photos, and songs that are stored on your PC.

Depending your model, your network connection may be wired or wireless.

Remote control (infrared)

The remote control allows you to use the menu displayed on the television screen.

Software

Pinnacle MediaManager

The Pinnacle MediaManager application, which is installed on your PC, permits you to

your

You can also create organized according to your own special criteria. The

CDs

import, manage, and organize music files, movies, and digital photos in

continuously updated ShowCenter Database.

playlists where your favorite music, movies, or photos are

media files on your PC can come from the Internet, from your audio

or from your digital camera.

ShowCenter Server

The ShowCenter Server installed on your PC is what connects the ShowCenter application to the ShowCenter Player. The server delivers data selected in the TV menu to the ShowCenter Player so that you can play it back on your television set or stereo system.

ShowCenter Database

The ShowCenter Database is used by the Pinnacle MediaManager Application and the Server to exchange information across all media. The database contains all the information about storage locations and file types and stores any other available information (for example, playlists). This ensures that the Pinnacle MediaManager can easily find all the data and that the server can make any file available to be played back on your television and/or stereo system.

Package Contents

Before you start the installation, check to make sure that you have all the package contents. If a part is missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately. Keep the original parts again.

Your Package Contains

Hardware

packaging material in case you have to transport the

Basics

ShowCenter Player

with integrated power supply

Remote control

with batteries

(Figure is an

example)

WLAN antenna

Power cable

(different for each country)

Ethernet cable

(only for some models)

SCART cable

(only in Europe)

CD-ROM with

Video and audio

cable

(only outside

Europe)

applications, sample

files and drivers

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Documentation

QuickStart guide User manual Online Help

Note that some models may not have the same package contents as shown

above.

Software

You will find the ShowCenter software for Windows 2000 or Windows XP on the CD-ROM included in the package.

You also need the following equipment:

 Computer  Television and/or stereo system

Basics

System Requirements

Your system must meet the following requirements for your Pinnacle ShowCenter to work properly:

Computer Hardware

Processor

You must have at least a Pentium® III 1.5 GHz, or a comparable AMD processor

- We recommend a Pentium® 4 1.8 GHz or a comparable AMD processor.

RAM

256 MB minimum - 512 MB recommended.

Hard drive

At least 5 GB available storage space on your hard drive.

Graphics card

DirectDraw-compatible graphics card (AGP graphics card with MPEG 2 decoding support recommended) with 16 Bit color depth (65536 colors) or greater and 800 x 600 pixel or better resolution.

DirectDraw support:

Before you can use the application, you must have a graphics card and DirectX

9.x installed. The installer will check to make sure that your system meets these requirements and, if necessary, will automatically install DirectX 9.x.

Sound card

DirectX 9.x-compatible sound card.

Ethernet connection

 10BaseT - 100BaseT recommended.  For setting up a wireless network connection your PC must have a WLAN

adapter or must be connected to an existing access point.

If you are using a 10BaseT Ethernet connection, you may encounter problems when streaming high-bandwidth video files. We strongly recommend that you have a 100BaseT connection, especially if you are using other network functions.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Computer Software

Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 installed (or higher) or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed (or higher).

In order to play DRM-protected Windows Media files, Microsoft Windows Media Connect will be installed on your computer. This requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (or higher).

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Set up Your ShowCenter System in Two Steps Overview

This section provides an overview of how to set up your ShowCenter system. Each step will be explained in detail in the following chapters.

We recommend the following procedure:

1. Install the Software

First install the software on your computer. You will install the following components:

 Pinnacle MediaManager  ShowCenter Server  Sample files

2. Connect Your Devices

Now connect the ShowCenter Player to your computer as well as your television and/or stereo system.

Depending on your model, you may use wired or wireless network connections.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Installing the Software

This section explains how to install the ShowCenter software on your PC. The installer will create a Pinnacle ShowCenter program group with several subgroups where it will copy all the software components you need.

You will need administrator privileges to install the software under Windows 2000 / Windows XP. You must be a member of the "Power User" group or higher in order to use the applications.

1. Insert the Installation CD

Insert the installation CD in your CD drive. The setup program will either launch automatically or you will have to launch autorun.exe from the CDROM.

The installer will launch, and display the following dialog box:

2. Choose Language, Click Next

Choose your language for the installation and the software and then click Next.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

3. Click Next

Click Next again to continue with the installation.

4. Agree to the License Agreement and Click Next

Please read the license agreement carefully, agree to it by selecting the corresponding option, and then click Next.

5. Enter Your User Information and Click Next

Enter the user information and serial number (see CD case).

6. Select the Setup Type and Click Next

Next, you select a setup type.

Complete

The program is installed with full functionality. This option takes up the most space on your hard drive.

Custom

You can choose which options should be installed yourself. Recommended for advanced users. Among other things, you can also change the destination path for the directory where the software is installed.

Click Next once you are finished.

7. Select Components, Click Next

If you have chosen the Custom setup, you will be asked to select which components you want installed. Once you are finished with this, click Next.

This step is not necessary if you have opted for the Complete setup.

8. Start the Installation

The system is now ready to install. Click the Install button in order to start copying.

9. Reboot Your System

If Windows asks you to reboot, you should reboot your system now.

10. Install Third-Party Applications

After rebooting, you can install any other programs that you have selected as components (such as Acrobat® Reader).

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Connecting Your Devices

ShowCenter Player - Front View

The following ShowCenter Player:

 Power on/off switch  LED status indicator - stand by, on/off  Infrared receiver for the remote control  LED indicator for signals (for example, "New files in watch folder")  USB2 connection (see the "Special Functions" section)

operating and signaling elements are located on the front of the

ShowCenter Player - Rear View

The connections on the rear of the ShowCenter Player are explained in detail in the following steps.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

1. Connecting the WLAN Antenna to the ShowCenter Player

Firmly screw the WLAN antenna that came in the package into the connection hole on the rear side of the ShowCenter Player. Make sure the antenna is in an upright position.

2. Connecting the ShowCenter Player to the Television

SCART out / video and audio out

Europe: Connect the SCART cable included in the package to the SCART output on the ShowCenter Player and to an available SCART input on your television. If at all possible, select a SCART connection on your television that supports RGB signals, since this will provide the best possible image quality. Make sure to change the settings in the ShowCenter Player's Preferences menu to SCART RGB.

U.S.: Connect the analog video output to an analog video input on your television using the video cable (yellow plug) from the package. Next, connect the "A" analog audio out jacks to the stereo audio in jacks on your television using the stereo audio cable (red and white plugs) from the package.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Network Connection Configuration

After you turn on the ShowCenter Player, you see the following Server Selection menu on the connected television. The configuration differs depending on the type of connection (Ethernet cable or wireless).

Ethernet Network Connection

For a network connection via an Ethernet cable, choose the Wired (Ethernet) button by selecting it with the arrow buttons on the remote control and then pressing the OK button. The ShowCenter now automatically detects the PCs in your network which have ShowCenter software running. They are listed on the right. Select one of these PCs and press OK to create the connection.

Pressing the B button lets you access further menu pages for the ShowCenter network configuration. This is only necessary for special settings, for example, if you want to manually configure the IP address of the ShowCenter Player.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Wireless Network Connection

A wireless network connection (WLAN) can be created in two ways. The first way is to create a wireless connection directly between the ShowCenter

Player and a PC. This is also called "ad-hoc mode" or a "wireless direct connection". For this, your PC must have a WLAN adapter.

The second way is to use "infrastructure mode" via a WLAN access point (WLAN router).

In the following, PC configuration for a wireless network is described first.

Wireless direct connection (ad-hoc mode)

The ShowCenter Player supports a high-speed 11g connection in ad-hoc mode. However, many 11g PC-WLAN adapters are not able to provide this and only offer low transmission rates in ad-hoc mode according to the 11b standard. With this connection, movies can only be played without any problems in just a few cases. Therefore, we recommend a wireless direct connection only in exceptional cases and urgently advise you to use a WLAN access point.

First make sure that the WLAN adapter on you PC is properly installed, activated, and functioning.

Open the control panel via Start/Settings. Double-click the Network and Dial-up Connections icon and then the icon for

the WLAN adapter on your PC. Click Advanced and then Add. If you have installed Windows XP Service Pack

2, click Modify advanced settings, then click the Wireless Networks tab and then click Add.

In the following dialog window, enter a name for the network (letters and numbers without spaces) and then for the network authentication type, select Open. If you would like to encrypt your network, select WEP as data encryption and deactivate the check box The key is provided for me automatically. Now enter a network key. However, we recommend that you first deactivate the encryption to make it easier for you to check whether the wireless connection is functioning correctly.

The network key is the "password" for your wireless network. It has to be entered in hexadecimal format (digits 0 to 9 and letters a to f only). For 64-bit encryption, the key needs to be made up of exactly ten Hex characters. For 128bit encryption, it is 26 Hex characters. Make a note of the key, since you will also need to enter it in the ShowCenter Player.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Finally, do not forget to activate the check box This is a computer-tocomputer (ad-hoc) network and confirm it twice with OK. Your PC is now

waiting for a wireless connection with the ShowCenter.

Connecting to an access point (infrastructure mode)

Make sure that your access point is activated and properly configured and that there is a network connection to the PC which has ShowCenter software running. If your wireless network uses WEP encryption, you need the WEP key as a Hex character string for the following.

Wireless network configuration for the ShowCenter Player

Disconnect the Ethernet cable. Select the Wireless (WiFi) button in the Server Selection menu of the ShowCenter Player by selecting it with the arrow buttons on the remote control and then pressing the OK button. Or you can press the C button to do this. The ShowCenter Player then performs a reset, scans for wireless networks, and after a few seconds, displays the results.

In this menu, choose the name (SSID) of your wireless network and press OK. If no network is displayed, check the configuration of your WLAN adapter or WLAN access point and select Re-Scan to perform a new search for wireless networks.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

After choosing the network, you see the following menu:

The network name (SSID) here has already been preset. Select the Ad-hoc check box if you are using a wireless direct connection. For a connection to an access point, select Infrastructure. If you use WEP encryption (here Security) in your network, select the key type and enter the key under Key.

When entering a hexadecimal key, you may only use the numbers 0 to 9 and the lower-case letters a to f. The C/N key can be used to switch between upper and lower-case letters and between letters and numbers.

After completing your entry, press the SAVE button. The ShowCenter Player restarts and after a few seconds the Server Selection menu appears again. An attempt is made to connect to the previously configured wireless network - this may take a few minutes. When the connection has been made, the PCs on your network, which have ShowCenter software running, are displayed on the right. Select one of these PCs and press OK to connect the ShowCenter Player with this server PC.

More Network Configuration Tips

Firmware updates

The latest versions of the ShowCenter software usually contain the latest version of the ShowCenter Player firmware. This is automatically loaded after the installation. After a firmware update, you may need to reconfigure a new wireless network, since the current settings can be deleted by the firmware update.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Manually adding a server

If your server PC is not automatically detected, you can add it manually. To do this, first open a command prompt on your server PC and enter the command ipconfig. Windows now displays the IP addresses of all the network adapters. Make a note of the IP address of the adapter, over which the connection to the ShowCenter Player should be made.

After this, press the A button in the Server Selection menu and then select Add a server. Enter a name for the server and the previously noted IP address, and save the settings. The new server PC now appears in the Server Selection menu.

Automatically connect with a server

If you only use one server PC, you can automatically connect to this server. To do this, press the A button in the Server Selection menu. Then select Edit a

server and choose your server PC. Now select the check box Always connect to this server and save the setting.

Manual network configuration

You can access the setting pages for manually configuring Ethernet and wireless networks by pressing the B button in the Server Selection menu. We recommend using these settings only in special circumstances or when no connection can be made otherwise.

WLAN range and data rates

The range of wireless networks is limited and decreases drastically when devices are separated by walls. Many manufacturers of WLAN products indicate ranges based on measurements made on open fields and under ideal circumstances. In practice, actual performance does not even come close to the ranges indicated. In our tests, we have found that the distance of transmission is not more than eleven yards if there is a wall in the way.

In addition, you should also only use a single wireless transmission link, since each additional link cuts the data rate in half again. When the ShowCenter Player is connected via wireless to your access point, your PC should be connected to the access point per cable, not per wireless.

The maximum data rate possible for realtime video transmission with the

802.11g standard is about 10 to 12 MBit/sec. This is sufficient for almost all standard definition video formats as well as for DVD formats. In addition, this data rate is, in most cases, sufficient for MPEG 4 HD AVI files as well as for Windows Media Video HD up to 720P. On the other hand, MPEG 2 HD and Windows Media Video HD 1080I usually require an Ethernet cable connection.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Firewalls

If you use a firewall between your PC and ShowCenter, then ports 8000 (TCP) and 1900 (UDP) must be enabled because they are required for communication between the ShowCenter Player and the server. Many WLAN access points are at the same routers, that is, they establish connections to the Internet (for example, via DSL or cable modem). In this case, a firewall is integrated which only works "outward" (that is, in the direction of the Internet). These ports should not be enabled for this kind of firewall because the contents of your media database will otherwise be visible on the Internet.

Permanent IP address

By default, the ShowCenter Player uses an IP address assigned via DHCP. If no DHCP server is on the network, ShowCenter selects an IP address itself.

You can also manually assign a permanent IP address to the ShowCenter Player for special network configurations. To do this, press the B button on the remote control in the Server Selection menu. Now select IP Config and then Switch to manual. Now you can enter the values.

+ 102 hidden pages

Pinnacle SHOWCENTER User Manual

Table Of Contents

Basics

Safety Instructions

The Idea in Words

The Idea in a Picture

The Components

Package Contents

System Requirements

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Installing the Software

Connecting Your Devices

Network Connection Configuration