Pinnacle Systems iNews Command - 1.0 User’s Guide

Avid® iNEWS® Command

User’s Guide

make manage move | media

™

Avid

Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc.

The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com. The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement.

Avid products or portions thereof are protected by one or more of the following United States Patents: 4,746,994; 4,970,663; 5,045,940; 5,267,351; 5,309,528; 5,355,450; 5,396,594; 5,440,348; 5,452,378; 5,467,288; 5,513,375; 5,528,310; 5,557,423; 5,577,190; 5,583,496; 5,584,006; 5,627,765; 5,640,601; 5,644,364; 5,654,737; 5,715,018; 5,719,570; 5,724,605; 5,726,717; 5,729,673; 5,745,637; 5,752,029; 5,754,851; 5,799,150; 5,812,216; 5,828,678; 5,842,014; 5,852,435; 5,999,406; 6,038,573; 6,061,758; 6,141,007; 6,211,869; 6,532,043; 6,546,190; 6,596,031; 6,636,869; 6,747,705; 6,763,523; 6,766,357; 6,813,622; 6,847,373; D352,278; D372,478; D373,778; D392,267; D392,268; D392,269; D395,291; D396,853; D398,912. Other patents are pending.

This document is protected under copyright law. An authorized licensee of Avid iNEWS Command may reproduce this publication for the licensee’s own use in learning how to use the software. This document may not be reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this document or providing support or educational services to others. This document is supplied as a guide for Avid iNEWS Command. Reasonable care has been taken in preparing the information it contains. However, this document may contain omissions, technical inaccuracies, or typographical errors. Avid Technology, Inc. does not accept responsibility of any kind for customers’ losses due to the use of this document. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software [i.e., the TIFF library] and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

The following disclaimer is required by the Independent JPEG Group:

Portions of this software are based on work of the Independent JPEG Group.

The following disclaimer is required by Paradigm Matrix:

Portions of this software licensed from Paradigm Matrix.

The following disclaimer is required by Ray Sauers Associates, Inc.:

“Install-It” is licensed from Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. End-User is prohibited from taking any action to derive a source code equivalent of “Install-It,” including by reverse assembly or reverse compilation, Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. shall in no event be liable for any damages resulting from reseller’s failure to perform reseller’s obligation; or any damages arising from use or operation of reseller’s products or the software; or any other damages, including but not limited to, incidental, direct, indirect, special or consequential Damages including lost profits, or damages resulting from loss of use or inability to use reseller’s products or the software for any reason including copyright or patent infringement, or lost data, even if Ray Sauers Associates has been advised, knew or should have known of the possibility of such damages.

The following disclaimer is required by Videomedia, Inc.:

“Videomedia, Inc. makes no warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, regarding this product, including warranties with respect to its merchantability or its fitness for any particular purpose.”

“This software contains V-LAN ver. 3.0 Command Protocols which communicate with V-LAN ver. 3.0 products developed by Videomedia, Inc. and V-LAN ver. 3.0 compatible products developed by third parties under license from Videomedia, Inc. Use of this software will allow “frame accurate” editing control of applicable videotape recorder decks, videodisc recorders/players and the like.”

The following disclaimer is required by Altura Software, Inc. for the use of its Mac2Win software and Sample Source Code:

Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend

U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are “commercial computer software” or “commercial computer software documentation.” In the event that such Software or documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to FAR §12.212(a) and/or DFARS §227.7202-1(a), as applicable.

Trademarks

888 I/O, Adrenaline, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AirSpeed, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid, Avid DNA, Avid DNxcel, Avid DNxHD, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, Avid ISIS, Avid Learning Excellerator, Avid Liquid, Avid Mojo, AvidNet, AvidNetwork, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, Avid Unity ISIS, Avid Xpress, AVoption, AVX, CamCutter, ChromaCurve, ChromaWheel, DAE, Dazzle, Deko, DekoCast, D-Fi, D-fx, DigiDelivery, Digidesign, Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, DigiDrive, Digital Nonlinear Accelerator, DigiTranslator, DINR, DNxchange, do more, D-Verb, Equinox, ExpertRender, Face Robot, FieldPak, Film Composer, FilmScribe, FluidMotion, HIIP, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, IllusionFX, Image Independence, iNEWS, iNEWS ControlAir, Command, Instinct, Intraframe, iS9, iS18, iS23, iS36, LaunchPad, Lightning, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media, Marquee, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, Media Browse, Media Composer, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, Media Recorder, MEDIArray, MediaShare, MediaStream, Meridien, MetaSync, MissionControl, NaturalMatch, Nearchive, NetReview, NewsCutter, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM, Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, PCTV, Pinnacle MediaSuite, Pinnacle Studio, Pinnacle Systems, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi, RetroLoop, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, SecureProductionEnvironment, Show Center, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, SpectraGraph, SpectraMatte, SteadyGlide, Symphony, TARGA, Thunder, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video RAID, Video Slave Driver, VideoSPACE, and Xdeck are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Adobe and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Apple and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Footage

Arizona Images — KNTV Production — Courtesy of Granite Broadcasting, Inc., Editor/Producer Bryan Foote. Canyonlands — Courtesy of the National Park Service/Department of the Interior. Tornados + Belle Isle footage — Courtesy of KWTV News 9. WCAU Fire Story — Courtesy of NBC-10, Philadelphia, PA. Women in Sports – Paragliding — Courtesy of Legendary Entertainment, Inc.

GOT FOOTAGE?

Editors — Filmmakers — Special Effects Artists — Game Developers — Animators — Educators — Broadcasters — Content creators of every genre — Just finished an incredible project and want to share it with the world?

Send us your reels and we may use your footage in our show reel or demo!*

For a copy of our release and Avid’s mailing address, go to www.avid.com/footage.

*Note: Avid cannot guarantee the use of materials submitted.

Avid iNEWS Command v1.0 User’s Guide • 0130-07791-01 Rev. A • March 2007

Using This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Who Should Use This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

If You Need Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

How to Order Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Avid Educational Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Chapter 1 Introduction to iNEWS Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Architecture and Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Starting the Client Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

The User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Support Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Chapter 2 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Main Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Device Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Redundancy/Failover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Non-redundant services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Viewing Status of Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Starting and Stopping Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chapter 3 Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Working with Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Playlist Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Media Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Chapter 4 Playlist Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Types of Playlists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Overview of Playlist Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Channel Group Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Customizing the Playlist Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Cursor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Clocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Locking and Unlocking Playlists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Working with Channel Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Channel Group Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Assigning Channels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Working with Standalone Playlists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Working with Embedded Playlists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Editing Embedded Playlists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Using Time of Day Playlists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Chapter 5 iNEWS Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Inserting Machine Control Events into Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Using Plug-Ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Inserting Deko Select Events into iNEWS Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Loading Rundowns to Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Loading and Unloading Playlists from iNEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Monitor LOAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Monitor Off and Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Event List Queue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Composite Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Item Status After Load to Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Changing Channels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Chapter 6 Working with Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Inserting New Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Deleting Stories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Updating Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Rearranging Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Floating & Unfloating Stories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Chapter 7 Playout Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

UI Controlled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Playout Media from Command Workstation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Disabling the Keyboard at the Command Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

USB Keypad Controlled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Channel-Specific Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

GPI Controlled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Appendix A Icon and Button Quick Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Appendix B Action Quick Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Using This Guide

Congratulations on your purchase of your Avid iNEWS Command system.

Avid iNEWS Command offers a considerable amount of functionality for the state-of-the-art newsroom, including newsroom system integration and playout control. With Command, newsroom personnel can easily create and manage playlists.

This publication provides information on how to use the Command system.

The documentation describes the standard features of a basic system configuration. Therefore, your system might contain certain features and hardware that are not covered in the documentation.

Who Should Use This Guide

This guide is written for journalists, producers, directors, writers, and various technical personnel responsible for using the Command system in a broadcast newsroom. This guide is intended for all users, from beginning to advanced.

It is strongly recommended that system users have prior experience in or classroom knowledge of Windows-based operating systems.

About This Guide

This guide leads you through even the most complex procedures with task-oriented instructions, illustrated for a more realistic presentation of the actual icons and images you encounter. The information provides basic user procedures, while adding a complete explanation of all the tools and techniques required to create, apply, and adjust various settings, including useful tips, shortcuts, and custom options.

The Contents lists all topics included in the book. They are presented with the following overall structure:

• The Introduction helps you get oriented with beginning concepts and general workflow and provides valuable pointers to keep in the back of your mind as you proceed.

Using This Guide

• The main body of the guide follows the natural flow of your work, with clear and comprehensive step-by-step procedures.

• Finally, a detailed Index helps you quickly locate specific topics.

This guide provides instruction for your system in the following areas:

• An overview of system architecture and workflow

• The Command Workstation and iNEWS Workstation

• Various procedures and uses for iNEWS Command

Use this guide for help in using your system after you have installed all components according to requirements and specifications. Before installing any equipment, the site must already have a configured network.

Symbols and Conventions

Avid documentation uses the following symbols and conventions:

Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action

> This symbol indicates menu commands (and subcommands) in the

Italic font Italic font is used to emphasize certain words and to indicate variables.

Courier Bold font

Ctrl+key or mouse action Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the

A note provides important related information, reminders, recommendations, and strong suggestions.

A caution means that a specific action you take could cause harm to your computer or cause you to lose data.

A warning describes an action that could cause you physical harm. Follow the guidelines in this document or on the unit itself when handling electrical equipment.

order you select them. For example, File > Import means to open the File menu and then select the Import command.

This symbol indicates a single-step procedure. Multiple arrows in a list indicate that you perform one of the actions listed.

Courier Bold font identifies text that you type.

mouse action. For example, Ctrl+drag or Ctrl+S. This also applies to Alt and Shift keys.

If You Need Help

If you are having trouble using the Avid iNEWS Command system:

1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in this guide. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow.

2. Check for the latest information in one of two locations:

- If release notes are available, they ship with your application.

- If ReadMe files are available, they are supplied in your Avid application folder.

If You Need Help

Release notes and ReadMe files are also available on the Avid Knowledge Base.

3. Check any printed documentation that came with your Avid application or your hardware for maintenance or hardware-related issues.

4. Visit the online Knowledge Base at www.avid.com/onlinesupport. Online services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Search this online Knowledge Base to find answers, to view error messages, to access troubleshooting tips, to download updates, and to read/join online message-board discussions.

5. For Technical Support, call 800-800-AVID (800-800-2843). For Broadcast On-Air Sites and Call Letter Stations, call

800-NEWSDNG (800-639-7364).

How to Order Documentation

To order additional copies of any Avid documentation from within the United States, call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local Avid representative.

Using This Guide

Avid Educational Services

For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications, courseware, and books, visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843).

Chapter 1

Introduction to iNEWS Command

Avid iNEWS Command is a device automation system that integrates with any iNEWS or MOS-enabled newsroom computer system (NRCS) and provides broadcasters precise control over a range of playout devices, including video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment. Backup services and mirrored playout make this system reliable while the user interface allows you to control multiple production devices. Avid iNEWS Command works with Avid Interplay Framework applications and services to insure you always have the best system performance.

This chapter contains the following main sections:

• Overview

- Architecture and Workflow

- Features

• Starting the Client Software

• The User Interface

• Support Dialog Box

1 Introduction to iNEWS Command

Overview

The basic iNEWS Command system is comprised of iNEWS Command Servers, workstations that run the client software, and devices, such as Avid AirSpeed video servers, Thunder production servers and Deko graphics system. The system is designed to be an extension of your current Avid system. It allows you to receive playlists from Avid iNEWS (or a MOS-based newsroom computer system) while controlling your video and graphics devices, or even create standalone playlists using drag-and-drop functionality from an inventory of media items. The iNEWS Command system supports industry standard protocols that make it compatible with many other products.

For newscast control your iNEWS Command system provides automated playlists, tracks script changes, and automates control of production and playback devices including video servers, and character generators. It integrates with the iNEWS rundown—or any other MOS-enabled newsroom computer system—allowing a producer to change a show while it is on air, and reflecting those changes in their iNEWS Command system. MOS commands are provided so that journalists can use MOS plug-ins within the newsroom computer system script. Production playout devices, including Avid Deko and Avid Thunder on-air graphics solutions and AirSpeed video servers, are triggered based on the events in the rundown.

News graphic and text templates for news elements can include logos and station IDs, lower-third captions or superimposed graphics, and full-screen backgrounds with text. Journalists, using iNEWS newsroom computer system, fill in the templates and insert them into their stories in a variety of ways. For instance, machine control commands can be entered using Deko Select or Thunder Select plug-ins. They can be entered manually or by using a macro. They may also include clips and stills in their script by entering the ID of the graphic in the story as a production cue. At air time an iNEWS Command operator triggers the graphics playlist, which is synchronized with the iNEWS rundown.

Architecture and Workflow

Avid iNEWS Command is scalable and can adapt to work in traditional newsroom-based playlist creation to production-centric workflows where running orders are created inside the iNEWS Command playback application. All of the components can run on a single computer, or they can be spread out across multiple computers with redundant services configured to take control if the primary services should become unavailable.

Overview

An example of a basic Command system architecture is shown in the following illustration:

In the most common news workflow, playlists are created using the iNEWS newsroom computer system and the video and graphic assets are referenced in stories using their IDs or by dragging and dropping them from an Active-X plugin, such as Deko Select.

Playlists can be saved to use later, standalone playlists can be created, and multiple playlists can be embedded in a single running order. You can set a playlist to playback at a specified time, or you can set groups of assets within a playlist to play in follow-on mode.

1 Introduction to iNEWS Command

A basic workflow is shown in the following illustration.

Features

The Avid iNEWS Command system provides the features described in the following table.

Feature Description

Playlist Functionality You can load a playlist from the newsroom computer system or create the

playlist manually within Avid iNEWS Command. You can also embed within other playlists. This provides the flexibility to control event playout locally, at the desktop, or from a rundown. It also allows seamless transitions between shows or segments produced by separate editorial teams.

Manual and Automated Triggering

Redundant Failover Mirrored playback allows a single Play command to initiate playback on two

Advanced Playback Feature You can cue items as needed if and when playlists change, and provide

Items can be played back manually by the operator, triggered via GPI, linked with other clips to block play, or—as in the case of time of day playlists—automatically played based on the time of day. This provides total integration with the facility, its systems, processes, and staff.

channels simultaneously for seamless failover. All Command services are redundant.

simultaneous playback while video files are still being transferred, saving time.

Starting the Client Software

Feature (Continued) Description (Continued)

Frame Accuracy Avid iNEWS Command provides frame accurate video playout for follow-

on items assigned to the same channel.

Flexible Device Configuration Actual device channels can be configured into multiple virtual possibilities

through channel groups.

Flexible Integration You can configure the Avid iNEWS Command system to control any

combination of Avid Thunder, Avid AirSpeed, and Avid Deko systems that are operating in an Avid iNEWS, ENPS, or other MOS environment.

User Interface The intuitive user interface provides visual tools, including clocks that show

time elapsed and time remaining, channel assignments for easy identification of transmission paths, and color-coded status indicators that illustrate the inventory of assets based on availability and playability on all devices. This improves operation, reduces training time, and ensures complete synchronization of devices with the playlist

Status Updates The Command user interface reflects playability status of inventory assets;

display of playout and channel group lock status; and status-based colors and fonts for stories and items at a glance. These status updates speed up decision-making saving time, while maintaining accuracy.

Starting the Client Software

Avid iNEWS Command client software requires no password to log in and is easy to start.

To start iNEWS Command at a workstation:

1. Do one of the following:

t Double click the iNEWS Command icon on the desktop.

t Click the Start button and select Programs > Avid > Avid iNEWS Command.

The iNEWS Command window opens as shown in the following illustration:

1 Introduction to iNEWS Command

Menu bar

Panels

Status bar

The User Interface

Playlist Viewer

Workspace

Inventory

The Avid iNEWS Command window is the graphical user interface that contains panels, a menu bar, a status bar, and a workspace area.

Panels

Panels are components that appear in the application and provide information in various ways.The iNEWS Command window contains panels that you can dock, undock, move, resize, or even hide from view. Each panel is easily identified by the name appearing in its title bar.

For more information about the panels, including the Inventory Explorer, used in iNEWS Command, see “Panels” on page 31.

Menu Bar

The menu bar for iNEWS Command contains the following:

•File

•Edit

The User Interface

•View

•Playlist

•Item

•Tools

•Help

Each menu, its options and descriptions are described in the following tables:

Menu Submenu Menu Option Shortcut Keys Description

File New Playlist Ctrl+Shift+N Opens the Create New Playlist dialog box.

Story Ctrl+N Opens a Create New Story dialog box.

File Import Playlist Imports a playlist to Command.

Export Playlist Exports a playlist from Command.

Exit Closes the Command program.

Edit Cut Ctrl+X Cut selection.

Copy Ctrl+C Copy selection.

Paste Ctrl+V Paste selection.

Delete Delete selection.

View Playlist Explorer Ctrl+Shift+E Displays or closes the Playlist Explorer.

Inventory Ctrl+Shift+I Displays or closes the Inventory.

Clock Displays or closes the Clock.

Media Viewer Ctrl+Shift+M Displays or closes the Media Viewer.

Alerts Ctrl+Shift+A Displays or closes the Alerts.

Playlist View Next Ctrl+Tab Displays next playlist

Previous Ctrl+Shift+Tab Displays previous playlist

Set Focus Ctrl+F Sets the keyboard focus to the active view.

Close Ctrl+W Closes the current playlist.

Close All Ctrl+Shift+W Closes all playlists.

Playlist Select Next item Ctrl+Down Select next item in current playlist.

1 Introduction to iNEWS Command

Menu Submenu Menu Option Shortcut Keys Description (Continued)

Previous Item Ctrl+Up Select previous item in current playlist.

Next Row Alt+Down Select next item in current playlist.

Previous Row Alt+Up Select previous item in current playlist.

Item In

Ctrl+Page Down Select next item after story.

Following Story

Playlist Properties

Playlist Edit Edit Selection Ctrl+E Edit current selection in playlist.

Edit Channel Ctrl+- (hyphen) Sets focus to current playlist item’s

Channel column so the user can manually assign a channel.

Edit Trigger Ctrl+* (asterisk) Sets focus to current playlist item’s Trigger

column so the user can select manual or follow-on playout. For more information, see “Playout Media from Command

Workstation” on page 97.

Cut Cut selection.

Copy Copy selection.

Paste Paste selection.

Delete Delete selection.

Playlist Insert New Story Ctrl+N Insert new ptory.

New Break Insert new break.

Playlist Channel Assign Ctrl+R Assign channel.

Playlist Playout Cue . (period) Cue media in a playlist.

Play Enter Play media in a playlist.

Pause + (plus) Pause media playing in a playlist.

Stop 0 (zero) Stops media from playing.

Media Play Ctrl+Space Play media.

Go To Mark In Alt+Q Go to the marked In point.

Go To Mark Out Alt+W Go to marked Out point.

Support Dialog Box

Menu Submenu Menu Option Shortcut Keys Description (Continued)

Set Mark In Alt+I Mark the In point.

Set Mark Out Alt+0 Mark the Out point.

Forward One Frame Alt+. Move forward one frame.

Forward One Second

Forward ten Seconds

Backward One Frame

Backward One Second

Backward Ten Seconds

Restart Alt+6 Restart media.

Tools Options Opens the Options dialog box.

System Settings Opens the System Settings dialog box.

Help About Display information about iNEWS

Contents Displays help information for users.

Support Opens the Support dialog box.

Ctrl+. Move forward one second.

Ctrl+Alt+. Move forward ten seconds.

Alt+, Move backward one frame.

Ctrl+, Move backward one second.

Ctrl+Alt+, Move backward ten seconds.

These options apply to the workstation only and are not system-wide settings.

Command.

Support Dialog Box

The Support dialog box is provided for Command users to log information about any issues encountered that might require contacting Avid Customer Support.

To log support information:

1. Select Help > Support.

2. Enter a description of the issue in the Support dialog box. For instance, the following example shows a sentence regarding a GPI device:

1 Introduction to iNEWS Command

3. Click Save.

4. Select the name and location where you want the zipped file to be saved.

5. Click OK.

The system saves your comments inside a zipped file that also contains other vital information, such as system settings and software versions, which enable support personnel to troubleshoot the issue. This file can then be e-mailed to Avid Technical Support. For more information, see “If You Need Help” on page 11.

Chapter 2

Services

The services for iNEWS Command enable it to interface with newsroom computer systems as well as providing for playlist control. Some of the services can be defined as Main services—those responsible for communicating with newsroom computer systems and for playlist control. Other services are known as Device services—those responsible for controlling other devices, such as video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment.

This chapter contains the following main sections:

• Main Services

• Device Services

• Redundancy/Failover

• Viewing Status of Services

• Starting and Stopping Services

2 Services

Main Services

The main services are vital components that enable interfacing with a newsroom system, as well as playlist control.

The two services that pertain to newsroom computer system interfacing are:

• Avid iNEWS Communication Service—An iNEWS Command system uses this

service as the communication portal to load and unload iNEWS rundowns from an iNEWS workstation. The service receives playlist messages from the iNEWS monitor server, distributes them to the appropriate Command components, and reports item status and inventory messages back to iNEWS. A single iNEWS Command system can have multiple iNEWS communication services for redundancy.

• Avid MOS Communication Service—An iNEWS Command system uses this service

to load and unload rundowns from a MOS-compliant newsroom system, such as ENPS. The service receives MOS playlist messages from the newsroom computer system, distributes them to the appropriate Command components, and reports item status and inventory messages back to the newsroom computer system.

The services related to playout control of playlists are:

• Avid Playlist Controller—The playlist controller drives playout of the media on locked

channel groups from the playlist it controls. When one or more channel groups are locked, a playlist controller is allocated by the Playlist Manager. A single iNEWS Command system can have multiple playlist controllers. One playlist controller is necessary for each concurrent on-air playlist. Separate controllers are not needed to control embedded playlists.

• Avid Playlist Manager—This service assigns a playlist controller (and its backup, if

any) to a playlist when the first channel group is locked. It also manages the locks on other channel groups of the playlist. Playlists that have locked channel groups are prevented from being deleted. An iNEWS Command system can only have one primary Playlist Manager, but may have others as backups.

• Avid Playlist Store—This service is the data store or respository for all loaded

(newsroom) playlists and standalone playlists. It communicates playlist changes to other Command components.

The services related to inventory are:

• Avid Inventory Manager—This service maintains an inventory of media metadata for

all physical devices connected to any channel group in an iNEWS Command system. This inventory is sent to the Inventory Manager via the individual device services. An iNEWS Command system can only have one primary Inventory Manager, but might have backups.

Device Services

While an iNEWS Command system can have only one primary service of each Playlist Store, Playlist Manager, and Inventory Manager, multiple instances of each service can be installed and used as backups.

Device Services

The Device services are those services responsible for controlling other devices, such as video servers, still stores, and character generators in a broadcast news environment.

• Avid AirSpeed Device Service—This service provides control of a single AirSpeed

high resolution video server. One is required for each AirSpeed. It runs on the iNEWS Command servers, not on the device like other device services.

• Avid Deko Device Service—This service provides control of a single Deko device. One

is required for each Deko device. It runs on the device.

• Avid Thunder Device Service—This service provides control of a single Thunder

device. One is required for each Thunder device. It runs on the device.

• Avid GPI Service—This service interfaces to a GPI input card on the server.

• Avid Maney Panel Service—This service interfaces to a Maney panel.

Redundancy/Failover

Avid iNEWS Command operates on a primary/backup basis. There can be only one primary service, but there can be several backup services. It is best to dedicate a computer to be a Command Server. Avid does not recommend running the Command services on a workstation, Deko, or Thunder.

When a primary service goes down, Command conducts an election, and changes the backup service to primary. The new primary service will remain primary until it goes down. When the old primary service comes back up, it becomes the backup service. If the primary Command Server were to go down, all of the services on the backup server would become primary.

Command determines primary and backup based on the length of time the service has been running. The server that has been running longer is the primary. If you were to lose network connectivity to the primary Command Server, the services do not actually go down, and so their duration remains longer than the backup. After the network connection is restored, those services become primary again.

2 Services

If you have an on-air failover on the primary Command Server due to a loss of network connectivity, you must stop the services on the primary server. Otherwise, those services will once again become primary when the connection is restored, which will interrupt on-air playability. After the connection is restored, and at a non-crucial time, you should start those services again.

Non-redundant services

There are some services that are not redundant:

• Lookup Service — This Command service acts independently. If a second one is running, it is doing the same work; they basically work as two primary services. In a failover scenario, the second lookup service is already working, and services would continue seamlessly.

• iNEWS Communication Service— This Command service is server specific, meaning that services on different computers act independently. In a failover scenario, the Command playlist will become disconnected, users can continue playout functions. To get an updated playlist, the user can reload the iNEWS rundown to the second Command Server and continue.

• Deko & Thunder Device Services— These Command services must run on the Deko and Thunder respectively, and you cannot install a second service on a device.

• Service Starter Service, Machine Monitor Service, Time Synchronization— These Avid Interplay Framework services are computer specific, so redundancy does not apply.

Viewing Status of Services

Avid Command uses Avid Interplay Framework as its structure for discovering and communicating with services.

To start Interplay Workgroup Properties:

1. Click the Start button and select > All Programs > Avid > Interplay Framework > Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties.

The Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties window opens.

Viewing Status of Services

When you start the Interplay Workgroup Properties application, the Services tab appears by default displaying the name of the workgroup, to which this computer belongs, in the Workgroup text box. Also shown, in the Status text box, is the status of all Avid services running on the local computer.

The Interplay Workgroup Properties application uses colored icons—in combination with text—on the Services tab to show the status (started and/or enabled) of all Avid services. A user can click the Advanced button to see more information about individual services. The icons displayed provide fast, easy identification of the current status of an Avid service.

2 Services

Status Icon Status Icon Description

When all of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a green circle with a check mark in the center is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence—All enabled services are running—is displayed.

When some of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a caution symbol (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in the center) is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence—Some services are enabled but not running—is displayed.

When none of the enabled Avid components are running on the local machine a red square is shown next to the Status text box and the sentence—No services are running—is displayed.

For more information on viewing Avid services using the Interplay Workgroup Properties application, see the Avid Interplay Framework User’s Guide.

Starting and Stopping Services

The Services tab allows you to edit the workgroup to which the computer belongs, view the status of all the Avid services running on the local computer, or start, stop, and restart the local Avid workgroup services.

The Advance button on the Services tab opens the Avid Interplay Services dialog box. This dialog box allows you to stop, start, enable, or disable individual or multiple Avid services running on the local computer.

To stop, start, enable, or disable Avid services:

1. From the Services tab in the Avid Interplay Workgroup Properties window, click the Advanced button.

The Avid Interplay Services dialog box opens.

Starting and Stopping Services

2. Select a row on which to perform the stop, start, enable, or disable action. Multiple rows can be selected.The Action buttons are enabled with the Start button

changing to Restart if all of the services are running.

For more information on starting and stopping services using the Interplay Workgroup Properties application see the Avid Interplay Framework User’s Guide.

2 Services

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