Pinnacle Systems MediaCenter - 3.0 Instruction Manual

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Pinnacle MediaCenter

User’s Guide

explicit written permission from Pinnacle Systems GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.

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

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.

Introduction...........................................................................................................1

Welcome............................................................................................................1

Pinnacle MediaManager ................................................................................2

Pinnacle MediaCenter....................................................................................2

Pinnacle Hardware .........................................................................................2

PCTV MediaCenter Remote Control.............................................................2

The Contents of Your Package..........................................................................3

Hardware........................................................................................................3

Software .........................................................................................................3

Documentation...............................................................................................3

Online Help .......................................................................................................4

Online Manual...................................................................................................4

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup..................................................................5

Installing the Hardware .....................................................................................5

Installing the Software.......................................................................................5

The tvtv Manager ..............................................................................................6

Opening a User Account................................................................................6

Assigning TV Channels .................................................................................6

Scheduled Recording List .............................................................................. 7

Advanced Settings.............................................................................................8

Advanced Settings Dialog Overview.............................................................8

Advanced Station Settings Creating a Channel List ......................................9

Advanced Station Settings Editing a Channel List ......................................11

Advanced Station Settings Favorites ...........................................................13

Advanced TV Hardware Settings ................................................................14

Advanced Remote Control Settings.............................................................17

Advanced Playback Settings........................................................................18

Advanced Display Settings .......................................................................... 21

Advanced Data Services Settings ................................................................23

Advanced General Settings..........................................................................24

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

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

What the Pinnacle MediaManager Does......................................................27

iii

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Main Window of the Pinnacle MediaManager ............................................28

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

Introduction to the Media Library................................................................30

The Sort View in the Media Library............................................................33

Searching in the Media Library ...................................................................34

Deleting Files in the Media Library.............................................................35

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

Using the Media Player and Its Controls .....................................................36

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

Introduction to the Import Tab.....................................................................38

Import - Folder.............................................................................................39

Import - Files................................................................................................40

Import - Drives.............................................................................................41

Import - Audio CD.......................................................................................42

Import - Digital Camera...............................................................................45

Import - Watch Folder .................................................................................47

Import - Rhapsody Playlists.........................................................................49

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

Organizing File Tags....................................................................................50

Customized File Tags (Keywords) ..............................................................51

Introduction to the Organize Tab .................................................................52

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

Introduction to the Playlists Tab ..................................................................54

Creating and Editing Playlists......................................................................55

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

Introduction to the Export Tab.....................................................................57

Exporting to a Folder ...................................................................................58

Exporting to an M3U Playlist ......................................................................60

Exporting to a Burner...................................................................................61

The Menus.......................................................................................................62

The File Menu..............................................................................................62

The Edit Menu .............................................................................................64

The Tools Menu...........................................................................................66

Real Rhapsody Music Service.........................................................................67

Real Rhapsody Music Service - Overview ..................................................67

File Formats.....................................................................................................70

Table Of Contents

Supported File Formats................................................................................70

Converting Files...........................................................................................71

Pinnacle MediaCenter.........................................................................................74

Pinnacle MediaCenter Functions.....................................................................74

Pinnacle MediaCenter User Views..................................................................76

Pinnacle MediaCenter Window Formats.........................................................78

Remote View (optimized for operation with the remote control) ...................82

Overview......................................................................................................82

TV Menu......................................................................................................86

Radio Menu................................................................................................103

Music Menu ...............................................................................................113

Movies Menu .............................................................................................127

Photo Menu................................................................................................137

Online Menu ..............................................................................................150

Menu Settings ............................................................................................151

PC View (optimized for operation with a mouse).........................................164

Overview....................................................................................................164

General Operating Controls .......................................................................165

Operating Controls While Watching TV ...................................................169

Operating Controls During DVD Playback ............................................... 175

Operating Controls During File Playback..................................................179

Teletext ......................................................................................................183

Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and Recording ......................................187

Technical Support.............................................................................................195

Getting Technical Support.............................................................................195

1. Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................195

2. Ask a Question and Get an Answer .......................................................195

3. E-mail Support .......................................................................................195

4. Discussion Forum ..................................................................................196

License Agreement ...........................................................................................197

Pinnacle End User License Agreement .........................................................197

Glossary ............................................................................................................201

Index .................................................................................................................209

Introduction

Welcome

Your new Pinnacle product offers you a completely new experience in multimedia entertainment. From now on, you can access and process all sorts of media such as television, radio, movies, music and photos, either from your computer or from the comfort of your armchair.

You can watch both analog and digital television (optional) on either your computer monitor or your television screen. The fun gets even better with the following features. Watching TV just got easier and you don't have to miss a second of your favorite shows, thanks to the latest timeshift recording technology. This makes spontaneous or scheduled recording to your hard disk a breeze. With you new Pinnacle product, you have immediate access to the latest news using teletext. In addition, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) gives you an overview of a complete range of television programs. Scheduling your recordings is also quick and easy.

You also have the option of listening to radio at any time and recording your favorite broadcasts quickly and easily. In addition, your Pinnacle product lets your receive Internet radio stations.

You can play video, music, and display photo files from your hard disk or from a CD and/or DVD. You can also burn your own CDs or DVDs.

In addition, you can arrange your media files in an intelligent multimedia database so that they can be found quickly. This is done according to various playback criteria based on specific categories (for example, all the movies in a certain genre or all the photos from a particular vacation). Pinnacle MediaCenter gives you simple and targeted access to all your media files.

The Pinnacle MediaCenter also gives you direct access to many different online services thereby opening all the doors to an incredible world of media and information.

Now you can access all of these different media quickly and easily with just one device: your PC. The Pinnacle MediaCenter interface has been especially designed so that all the menu options are very legible even at a distance of several yards. Plus they can be easily navigated with your remote control.

The following components of your new Pinnacle product put all the following functions at your fingertips:

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaManager

The Pinnacle MediaManager is installed on your PC and is used to import music files, movies, and digital photos into the MediaManager database. You also manage these files and keep them in order in the MediaManager. You can create your own playlists for collecting your favorite music, movies and photos. The media files on your PC can originate from almost anywhere, for example, from the Internet, your own audio CDs or your digital camera.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The Pinnacle MediaCenter is also installed on your PC and is used for media playback. You can watch and record TV with the Pinnacle MediaCenter, play back recordings, and display teletext. You can also listen to and record radio broadcasts. Music, movies, and photos from CDs, DVDs or your hard disk are shown in the Pinnacle MediaCenter. You can access the categories created in the Pinnacle MediaManager to display media sorted according to your criteria. This helps you select the medium best suited to your particular mood or for any occasion.

Pinnacle Hardware

If your new Pinnacle product comes with the optional reception device, you can receive TV and radio (optional) and take advantage of, for example, the teletext or timeshift functions.

PCTV MediaCenter Remote Control

With the remote control, you can navigate the on-screen menu from anywhere in your room – without having to bother going back and forth to your computer.

Now go have fun with your new Pinnacle product!

Introduction

The Contents of Your Package

Before you begin with the installation, check the contents of the package to make sure that they are complete. If any part is missing or damaged, contact your retailer. Keep the packing material in case you have to transport the original parts again in the future.

Hardware

The hardware included in the box depends on the version of the Pinnacle package you have bought.

Software

Software designed for Windows XP is found on the CD-ROM included in the box.

Documentation

User Manual on CD Hardware operating instructions on CD

Remote control

operating instructions

on CD

Online Help

Please note that the actual contents of the package may differ from the items

shown above depending on which version of the product you bought!

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Online Help

Your Pinnacle product gives you access to Online Help at any time. If you are searching for a specific topic, select the Help Topics function in the

Help menu or simply press the F1 key on your keyboard.

Online Manual

If you have questions about the function and operation of your Pinnacle product, you can consult the online manual in addition to the printed manual. The online manual is installed automatically and can be read directly on-screen. To open the online manual, you need the free program Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To start the online manual, do the following:

 Use your mouse to click and open the Windows Start menu.  Move your mouse over Programs to open the Program menu.  Move your mouse over Pinnacle MediaCenter to open the Pinnacle

MediaCenter menu.

 Now click Pinnacle MediaCenter.

Any new modifications or supplements that did not make it into the

documentation are described in the ReadMe file on the CD-ROM included in the box.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Installing the Hardware

Hardware installation depends on the type of hardware included in the package, for example, whether it is an internal or external device. You will find a detailed description in the corresponding hardware manual on the CD.

Installing the Software

This section describes how to install the Pinnacle software on your PC. During installation, a program group along with its corresponding subgroups will be created. This is where all the necessary software components will be copied.

As a part of the installation, you will be asked for the serial number. This is

located on the CD or the CD case.

 Insert the installation CD in the CD drive of your computer.  The setup program now either starts automatically or you can start

autorun.exe in the setup directory on the CD-ROM.

 Now follow the installation instructions displayed on the screen.

During installation, an installation wizard leads you through the Advanced

Settings Dialog. This is where you can configure the Pinnacle MediaCenter settings. For more information about this, refer to the chapter "Advanced Settings".

 After installation, you will be prompted to restart your computer. This restart

needs to be done in order for your settings to take effect and for the Pinnacle MediaCenter to function properly.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The tvtv Manager

The Pinnacle MediaCenter gives you convenient access to the services offered by the EPG provider tvtv. With the help of the TV listings on the tvtv pages, you can quickly and easily select the shows you want to record and then import the recording list into the Pinnacle MediaCenter. The shows you have selected are then automatically recorded - without you having to configure the recording any further.

Opening a User Account

To use this method of recording TV shows, you need to register with tvtv.

 Click the Windows Start menu once.  Move your mouse to Programs to open the Programs menu.  Move your mouse to the Pinnacle MediaCenter to open the menu.  Click the tvtv Manager option.

A wizard for guiding you through the registration process now appears.  Select whether you are registering with tvtv for the first time or you are

already a registered user.

 If you are registering for the first time, enter a user name and password in the

next dialog window and select one of the services. You will then be forwarded to the tvtv Web site.

In order to use the tvtv service, you need to activate your user account on the tvtv Web site.

 To do this, enter your user name and password.

Assigning TV Channels

After activating your user account, you can now synchronize the Pinnacle MediaCenter channel list with the tvtv channel list. This lets you record shows selected on tvtv with the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

To do this, a two-column channel list appears. On the left are all the channels on your Pinnacle MediaCenter channel list.

 If you click a field on the right part of the channel list, all your tvtv channels

will be displayed in separate window. Now choose the tvtv channel to be associated with the Pinnacle MediaCenter channel on the same line. This is how you link your Pinnacle MediaCenter channels to the tvtv channels.

It is now easy for you to select shows as well as keep track of them directly

on the www.tvtv.de Web site. All you have to do is import them into the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Scheduled Recording List

In the next window, all the shows scheduled to be recorded via the tvtv Web site are displayed.

After the tvtv recording list has been imported into the Pinnacle

MediaCenter, you can modify the shows scheduled to be recorded in the TV menu under "TV Recorder".

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Advanced Settings

Advanced Settings Dialog Overview

During the installation of the Pinnacle MediaCenter software, a wizard will lead you through the Advanced Settings Dialog where you can configure all the settings for the individual areas in the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

After installation, you can access the Advanced Settings Dialog at any time by double-clicking the Settings icon in the Pinnacle program group.

Note that the Advanced Settings Dialog can only be operated with your

keyboard or your mouse.

On the left side of the window, you see a tree structure for the Advanced Settings dialog that outlines the following areas:

 Channels  TV hardware  Remote control  Playback  Display  Data services  General

When you click an entry, the corresponding menu opens and you can modify the settings for that area.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Advanced Station Settings Creating a Channel List

To create a new channel list, go to the tree structure on the right side of the window and click Scan under Channels.

Now you can perform a complete channel scan and use it to create a new channel list.

To do this, select which areas listed in the channel scan setup window should have a channel scan (for example, for DVB-T, analog TV or radio).

Depending on your TV hardware, the settings available may vary.

Furthermore, you can configure the following additional channel scan settings:

No duplicate channels

If a station can be received on more than one channel, you can enter a name in the channel list for each channel this station uses. When you select this option and a station broadcasts on more than one channel, only the station with the best reception is selected.

Additive scan

When you select this option and then perform a channel scan, a new channel list is not generated. Instead, any new channels found are added to the existing list.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Station logo

When you select this option, a channel is automatically labelled with its corresponding station logo whenever possible.

Hardware settings

To perform a channel scan using your own hardware settings, click the corresponding hardware name within the tree structure under Channels - Scan.

Start Channel Scan

After you have configured all the required settings, click Start to start the channel scan. Click Stop to cancel the channel scan at any time.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Advanced Station Settings Editing a Channel List

After you have performed a channel scan, the menu option Channel - Editor offers you various options for editing the current channel list:

Viewing the Channel List

The channel list is located in the middle section of the window. The items in this list can be sorted according to various criteria:

To list the channels in a specific grouping (for example, All, Hardware, Internet), click that grouping.

Editing and Deleting a Channel

If you would like to edit a channel in the channel list, select that channel. Now you can, for example, optimize the reception quality, assign a logo to the channel or change the channel name. In addition, you can delete the selected channel from the channel list.

Adding a Channel

After clicking the Add button, a window opens where you can add a new channel to the channel list.

Depending on your TV hardware, the settings available in this menu option

may vary.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Hardware

In this field, select the hardware installed.

Channel name

Here, you can enter the name of the newly added channel.

Country

Select the country where you are currently located.

Satellite

Choose a satellite from your satellite list in the TV Hardware menu option.

TV standard

For analog reception, select the TV standard for your area (for example, PAL BG).

Fine tuning

Use the fine tuning slider to optimize the reception quality of the new channel if necessary.

Frequency or channel

Enter a frequency here (for analog: KHz; for DVB-T: MHz; for DVB-T: GHz) or a station.

If you want to add a DVB-T or DVB-S station to your channel list,

additional special settings are necessary. These settings are automatically displayed in the Settings menu.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Advanced Station Settings Favorites

After you have performed a channel scan, you can create different lists with your favorite channels in the Channels - Favorites menu option.

Creating a Favorites List

To create a new favorites list, click the New button and then select channels from the channel list. Add these channels to your favorites list by clicking the arrow buttons or by dragging and dropping the selected channels onto the favorites list.

Editing a Favorites List

If you would like to modify an already existing favorites list, select that list. Now you can delete channels, add them or change the order of the channels.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Advanced TV Hardware Settings

In the tree structure on the left side of the Settings window under Channels Scan, you see a list of all the hardware components installed on your system. To configure more exact settings for your TV hardware, click the corresponding entry.

Depending on your TV hardware, the settings available may vary.

Audio

Device

This is where you select the sound card that you want to use.

Audio input

Here, select which sound card input should be used for audio playback.

Audio recording input

This is where you set which sound card input is used for recording audio. Normally, this is the same setting as under Audio input.

Volume

Here, you can enter the default playback volume.

Recording level

Use the slider in this field to control recording and playback. The default recording and playback levels are shown in the level displays so you can keep track of them.

Video

To fine tune the Pinnacle MediaCenter video or TV picture, use the slider to adjust the brightness, saturation, contrast, and sharpness of the color display.

Antenna

If you use an antenna without its own power supply, you can turn on the antenna power supply here.

Satellite

Edit

In this field, you can remove satellites from the satellite list or add new satellites to the list.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Satellite configuration

For some LNBs, the value of the output intermediate frequency is not set as the default value due to manufacturing tolerances. You can read in this value for brandname LNBs directly and correct them here if necessary.

Recording Format (Analog)

In this field, select the default format for your analog recordings. The values for compression algorithms, bitrate, and size/resolution for the

recording formats VCD, SVCD, DVD Longplay, DVD, and Direct DVD are defined as follows:

 VCD: MPEG1, 1.15, 352x288  SVCD: MPEG2, 2.5, 480x576  DVD Longplay: MPEG2, 3.5, 352x576  DVD: MPEG2, 6.0, 720x576  Direct DVD: When you select Direct DVD, your recordings are saved

directly as a video DVD-compatible stream onto DVD - without timeconsuming caching on your hard drive.

 Others

Recording Format (Digital)

In this field, select the default format for your digital recordings. For this, configure the following settings:

MPEG program stream

Here, enter a MPEG program stream.

Transport stream with various audio modes (for example, PMC, AC3) and VBI (for example, EPG, subtitles)

Select a transport stream in this field.

Save as "DVD ready"

Select whether you would like your recordings to be ready to burn onto a DVD at any time.

Record entire transponder

At this point, you can decide whether you would like to record the entire transponder.

Recording multiple programs from the transponder

In this field, select whether you would like to record more than one program from the transponder.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Making and saving recordings compatible with the MS player

In this field, select whether your recording should be compatible with the MS player.

USB Port

This field displays which USB port your TV hardware is connected to.

Hardware Number

Here, the serial number and the SAP number of your hardware is displayed.

MAC Address

This field contains the MAC address.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Advanced Remote Control Settings

Here, you can select the type of remote control you received in the package. In this menu, you can also configure the remote control receiver and check how

your remote control functions.

You will find more detailed information about this in the remote control

instructions that are included on the CD.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Advanced Playback Settings

In this menu option, you can configure the settings for playing back movies and music and for displaying photos.

CD/DVD autoplayback

Select this option to allow a CD/DVD to start playing automatically when you put it in your CD-ROM/DVD drive.

Music Playback

Static visualization

Here, you can choose between various visualizations that can be displayed on your screen while you listen to music.

Repeat playlist

In this field, you can set the default repeat mode to on or off. When repeat mode is on, all the titles in the selected category (for example, the playlist or album) are played repeatedly. You can activate or deactivate repeat mode for the current playback at any time in the Music menu.

Shuffle playlist

In this field, you can set the default shuffle mode to on or off. When the shuffle mode is on, all the titles in the category you selected (for example, in the playlist or genre) are played in random order. You can activate or deactivate shuffle mode at any time in the Music menu.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Show MP3 tag info

Activate this option display different types of information during MP3 playback, for example, artist and song.

Local free DB database

Here, you can enter the path of your music database.

Movie Playback

Audio language

Here, you can set the default language for the soundtrack on your DVDs.

Subtitle language

Here, you can set the default language for the subtitles on your DVDs.

Enable subtitles

When you select this option, subtitles are displayed by default when you play your DVDs.

Shuffle playlist

In this field, you can set the default shuffle mode to on or off. When shuffle mode is on, all the movies in the category you selected (for example, in the playlist) are played back in random order. You can activate or deactivate shuffle mode at any time in the Movie menu.

Repeat playlist

In this field, you can set the default repeat mode to on or off. When repeat mode is on, all the movies in the category you selected (for example, in the playlist) are played back repeatedly. You can activate or deactivate repeat mode at any time in the Movie menu.

Photo Slide Show

Slide duration

In this field, you can enter the maximum length of time in seconds a photo should be displayed during a slideshow.

Transition type

Use this option to add transitions between the individual photos in a slideshow.

Background music playlist

If you would like to enhance your slideshow with a bit of background music, select the music you want from this menu option.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Show photo captions

Activate this option to display the name of the current photo while displaying a group of photos.

Pan_scan

To make the presentation of your photos more exciting, activate this option to place a pan and scan filter over your photos. Now, when you view a slideshow, the window zooms slightly in on the current photo so that only a cutout of the image is visible as the image moves back and forth during the photo presentation.

Repeat playlist

In this field, you can set the default repeat mode to on or off. When repeat mode is on, all the photos in the selected category (for example, the playlist or album) are played back repeatedly. You can activate or deactivate repeat mode at any time in the Photo menu.

Shuffle playlist

In this field, you can set the default shuffle mode to on or off. When shuffle mode is on, all the photos in the category you selected (for example, in the playlist or the photo album) are displayed in random order. You can activate or deactivate shuffle mode at any time in the Photo menu.

Advanced Display Settings

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

In this menu, you can configure all the display settings:

On Screen Display (OSD)

Here you can decide whether an OSD display with detailed information about the current TV or radio broadcast, the current music, the movie showing or the current photo should be displayed in the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

When you enable OSDs, they should disappear automatically. If the OSD display does not disappear automatically, you can manually hide it by pressing the ? or Details button on your remote control (depending on the remote control).

Duration

If On Screen Displays are set to automatically disappear, you can set how long an OSD should be displayed on the screen in this menu option.

Transparency

Here, you can set the level of transparency for the On Screen Displays in the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

Preferred Output Device

Select whether your media should be displayed on your computer screen or on your TV screen.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Date - Time Display

In this field, select the time and date format you prefer.

Preferred Video Aspect Ratio

Select between the common 4:3 picture size, cinema display 16:9 or another format.

Cropping

Select this option to suppress any interference patterns on the upper and lower edges of the image.

Video Interlace

Here, you have the choice between one field, two fields interlaced, and two fields de-interlaced.

Page Switching Effects

In this field, you can select the type of transition there should be between menus.

Start Size of Video

This is where you select whether the Pinnacle MediaCenter should appear in full screen or in normal size after starting the program.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Advanced Data Services Settings

In this menu option, you can configure the settings for various data services:

Teletext

Here, you can change the teletext level.

EPG

In this field, select an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) provider.

Data Source Configuration

Nextview

Select this field if you would like to receive analog EPG.

Source

Select the hardware you want to use for EPG reception.

Channel selection

Select the channels for which you want to receive EPG information.

Channel assignment

Here, you can compare the channel names in the Pinnacle MediaCenter with the channel names in the EPG information.

Scheduler set-up

Here, you can set for which channels and how often EPG information should automatically be received.

DVB

Select the hardware you want for digital EPG reception.

Schedule Get EPG Data

Here, you can set for which channels and how often EPG information should be received.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Advanced General Settings

In this menu option, you can set various general configuration parameters.

Language

In this area, you can change the language settings for the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

Theme (Skin)

You can choose different themes or skins for the Pinnacle MediaCenter here.

Screen Saver

In this section, you can decide whether a screen saver should be displayed for the Pinnacle MediaCenter or not.

Capture File Path

Enter the location on your hard drive where video and audio recordings should be saved.

Skip Buttons on the Remote Control

This is where you can set the time interval for how far pressing the Skip back/Skip forward buttons on your remote control should take you during timeshift playback. These buttons are also known as the Previous Track/Next Track buttons depending on your remote control.

Enable Timeshifting

Select this option to enable a timeshift recording.

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Timeshift: File Path

Enter the location on your hard drive where timeshift recordings should be saved.

Timeshift: Maximum File Size (MB)/ Maximum Duration (Minutes)

In this field, you can set the maximum available disk space and the maximum duration of your timeshift recordings. Since both of these values are dependent on each other, when you enter one value, the other is automatically recalculated.

If, while recording, the disk space allowed on your hard drive is used up or

the set time has been exceeded, the parts already recorded will be overwritten starting from the beginning of the recording.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Overview

What the Pinnacle MediaManager Does

The Pinnacle MediaManager is installed on your PC so that you can import the following:

 Music files 

Movies and other video files

 Digital You can manage and organize these files in the MediaManager database which

is constantly updated. You can also create personal

movies or photos organized according to your own criteria. These playlists can also be

photos

playlists – compilations of your favorite songs,

exported so that, among other things, you can burn an audio CD.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Main Window of the Pinnacle MediaManager

You can launch the Pinnacle MediaManager from the Pinnacle program group in the Start Menu window will open:

or by double-clicking the Desktop shortcut. The following

The window contains the following sections:

Section 1:

The

Tools section with the Import, Organize, Playlists and Export tabs,

located in the upper left-hand corner.

Section 2:

The Media Player in the upper right-hand corner.

Section 3:

The

Media Library with the Music, Movies and Photos tabs, located in the

bottom half of the window.

Menu Bar:

Pinnacle MediaManager

At the very top of the window is the menu bar, which contains the

Tools

The window layout varies depending on what tools and lists you have selected; the three sections work together closely and interactively. How the sections work individually is explained in detail in the following chapters.

We will basic tools you need to use the application.

In later chapters, we will look at the more advanced functions – Import, Organize, Playlists

and Help menus.

first focus on the Media Library and the Media Player to give you the

and Export – as well as the menus.

File, Edit,

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The Media Library

Introduction to the Media Library

Media Types

The Media Library displays the contents of the database sorted by media type. Access each media type by clicking on the corresponding tab:

Music tab

 

Movies tab



Photos tab

The Sort View in the Media Library

Pinnacle MediaManager

You can toggle the sort view on and off by clicking the the tabs.

Clicking this button will split the list horizontally into two new sections.

The upper half of the list can be used to sort or filter the media files displayed in the lower half. In other words, in the upper half you set a filter that selects which files can be displayed in the lower half.

Example: You have activated the Music tab and now want to display all the tracks in your database in the

Soul genre.

button to the right of

You can open the menu with the should be displayed in the sort view. We recommend listing photos, for example, according to date.

button and determine which columns

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Searching in the Media Library

On the far right-hand side of the Media Library is the search field:

To quickly find a particular media file in the database, just enter in the search field.

You can use the database should be searched, e.g. according to "Name", "Artist" or "Album", or whether the entire database should be searched.

Any files that have names containing the search term will be displayed in the list. To enter a new search term, simply click in the search field and overwrite

the old search term, or clear the field by clicking the

button to determine whether only certain ranges in the

button.

any search term

Deleting Files in the Media Library

Deleting Files

Pinnacle MediaManager

To the right of the tabs is a Select one or more files in the list and then click this button.

The entries are deleted from the database. The associated media files can also be deleted from the hard disk if you select the corresponding option in the dialog box displayed.

If you want to include the files in the database again, you will have to reimport them.

button.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The Media Player

Using the Media Player and Its Controls

The Media Player plays the media files in the database on your PC. and photos playback on your PC monitor, double-click the Media Player screen. Doubleclick the screen again to revert to the main Pinnacle MediaManager view.

are played back using your sound card and computer speakers. Audio files

files also require you to use the Media Player controls.

To make them easier to use, all controls have a tooltip field that appears

when your mouse pointer is placed over the buttons.

are played/displayed on its 16:9 screen. To toggle full-screen

Video files

Audio

Individual Explanations of Controls:

Start/Pause Playback

Select a file in the Media Library and then double-click it. The movie or the photo will appear on the Media Player screen, and appearance In the left column of the Media Library next to each entry, the corresponding icons appear in miniature.

. Click the button again to stop playback.

the button will change

Pinnacle MediaManager

Click this button to play back the previous file in the playlist.

Click this button to play back the next file in the playlist.

Shuffle

The music, video or photo files will be played/displayed in random order.

Repeat

If you click this button while a playlist is being played, the list will be played back over and over until you deactivate the feature by clicking the button again.

Video Format

While playing a movie, you can click this button to select the video format (standard 4:3, letterbox or widescreen 16:9. Note that a tooltip field will appear when you place the cursor over this button. The video format you select for a movie will be saved in the database – you won't have to reset it the next time you watch the movie.

Progress Bar

This slider indicates by its position how much of the current audio or movie file you have heard or seen. You can also move back and forth to anywhere in the file by dragging the slider with your mouse.

Time Display

This shows you how long the audio or video file has been playing.

Volume Control

Located on the right-hand side of the screen section, this slider can be dragged up and down with the mouse to set the volume.

Mute

Click this button to turn the sound on and off.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Importing Media Files

Introduction to the Import Tab

You will see the following window if you select the Import tab in the Tools section

You can sources

 Folder: From a folder on your PC.  Files: One or more files from a selected folder.  Drives: From any drive on your PC.  Audio CD: From the audio CDs that you wish to archive in the

MediaManager Database.

 Digital camera: Photos taken with your digital camera.  Watch folder: From a watch folder on your PC.  Rhapsody playlists: Download Rhapsody playlists onto your PC.

Due to licensing restrictions, this function is not available in every version of the Pinnacle MediaManager.

In the tab for a particular imported files in the Right-click the list and select the Display in Explorer option from the pop-up menu stored.

import media files to the MediaManager Database from the following

media type in the Media Library, you can see the

Last imported category and in other categories.

in order to open the folder on your PC hard drive where the files are

following sections explain the features for the individual categories in more

The detail

Pinnacle MediaManager

Import - Folder

You will see the following window if you select the Folder category in the Import tab in the Tools section:

Folder

Click the import media files from. Once you have found the folder, click the The folder and the number of files selected will be displayed above the progress bar.

Scan Subfolders

If you activate this checkbox, the application will import any files it finds in the subfolders.

If you are importing photoalbum names Movie titles act as names for these files will be grouped together in a

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the bar will display 100% when the import is complete. You will also be told how many files were imported and how many, if any, were rejected because their format wasn't supported or they were already listed in the database. All imported files will be displayed in the listed by media type and category.

Browse button to select which folder on your computer you want to

Open button.

photos, the names of the subfolders will also be imported as

collections. If a movie consists of several files,

collection.

Start button. The progress

Media Library in the bottom half of the window,

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Import - Files

You will see the following window if you select the Files category under the Import tab in the Tools section:

Files

Click the

Browse button to select which file(s) you want to import to the database from a folder on your hard drive. Once you have selected the files, click the

Open button. The folder and the number of files selected will be

displayed above the progress bar.

Start

When you have made your selection, click the Start button. The progress bar will display 100% when the import is complete. You will also

be told how many files were imported and how many, if any, were rejected because their format was not supported or they were already listed in the database.

All imported files will be displayed in the the window,

listed by media type and category.

Media Library in the bottom half of

Playlists from other programs can also be imported by using this function

(M3U format).

Pinnacle MediaManager

Import - Drives

You will see the following window if you select the Files category under the Import tab in the Tools section:

Hard Disk

In the drop-down list, select the hard drive on your computer that you wish to import media files from.

Ignore 'Windows' and Ignore 'Program Files'

If you have activated these checkboxes, the application will not scan the Windows and/or Program Files folders. This is generally a good idea because these folders generally do not contain any noteworthy media files.

If you are importing photoalbum names Movie titles act as names for these files will be grouped together in a

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the You will be told how many files were imported and how many, if any, were

rejected because their format wasn't supported or they were already listed in the database.

photos, the names of the subfolders will also be imported as

collections. If a movie consists of several files,

collection.

Start button.

All imported files will be displayed in the the window,

listed by media type and category.

Media Library in the bottom half of

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Import - Audio CD

Due to licensing issues, this function is not available in all versions of the

Pinnacle MediaManager.

You will see the following window when you select the Audio CD category under the

Import tab in the Tools section:

This feature allows you to import your audio CDs to the MediaManager Database. The

files

You may have problems importing copy-protected audio CDs.

tracks on each CD are read in and separated into individual MP3

Insert the CD and Select the Drive

Insert the audio CD in your computer's CD drive. If your computer has several CD or DVD drives, you will have to select the drive from the

Drive drop-down

list. The application will read in the CD tracks and display them by number in the

Track column.

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Get Titles

You will need an active internet connection to use this feature.

The names and titles of all known audio CDs are stored in an internet database.

Get Titles feature allows you to import this information to the

The MediaManager Database along with the tracks from the CD. If you click this button, the application will search for the data online and will generally display it immediately as shown below.

If you cannot connect to the internet or if your CD is not listed in the internet database, you can

enter the titles as well as artist and album names manually.

Just left-click the corresponding fields to enter this information. You can also play back individual CD tracks by double-clicking the title. The

Media Player will display a special image indicating that you are from the CD

playing back

Pinnacle MediaCenter

If you look in the Activating these checkboxes allows you to select which tracks you want to import.

Here's a helpful tip: if you want to select all the tracks at once, Start column and choose Select all from the pop-up menu.

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the Start button. During the import, each track is assigned its own progress bar.

The progress bar at the bottom will display 100% once all selected titles have been imported.

In the Music tab in the Media Library, you can see the files imported from your audio CD in the Last imported category and in other categories.

Unless you have already defined a folder in the Preferences item in the File menu, imported audio files will be saved by default to the ...\My Documents\My Music folder on your PC's hard drive.

Start column, you will see a checkbox for each track.

right-click the

Ejecting the CD

Click this button to eject the CD from the drive.

Closing the CD Drive

You can close the CD drive by clicking this button.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Import - Digital Camera

At present, only cameras with WIA drivers are supported. Since Windows

2000 does not support WIA, this feature is only available in Windows XP.

You will see the following window when you select the Digital camera category under the

Import tab in the Tools section:

Camera

To import photos to the MediaManager Database directly from a digital camera, select the camera from the

Camera drop-down list.

If you connected a new camera to your PC while the MediaManager was active, just click the

Refresh button. It will then appear in the drop-down list.

Album

Enter a name for your album.

Delete photos on camera

Activate this checkbox to have the photo files removed from your camera's memory after being imported.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the bar will display 100% when all files have been imported.

In the Last imported category and in other categories.

Unless you have already defined a folder in the

Documents\My Pictures

Photos tab in the Media Library, you can see the imported files in the

, imported photo files will be saved by default to the ...\My

folder on your PC's hard drive.

Start button. The progress

Preferences item in the File

Pinnacle MediaManager

Import - Watch Folder

You will see the following window when you select the Watch folder category under the

Import tab in the Tools section:

Here you can specify/add any number of directories as watched directories on your PC. The Media Server constantly checks these directories for new or deleted files and records this information to the database – even if the MediaManager is not active. You can designate the watched directories yourself and see them all in the list in the right half of the window.

Define/Create New Watch Folder

Click this button to define/create a new watch folder. New watch folders start out active by default. To deactivate a watch folder, click

the button in the first column of the list.

Options for Watch Folders

If you click the where you can select additional options for each watch folder:

Subfolder

If this option is activated, the server will watch all subfolders as well.

last column in the list of watch folders, a menu will appear

If you are watching folders with imported Movie titles act as names for these files will be grouped together in a

as photoalbum names.

photos, the names of the subfolders will be

collections. If a movie consists of several files,

collection.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Delete Watch Folder

Click this button to delete a watch folder from the database.

Only the reference to the folder will be deleted from the database; the folder itself will still be stored on your PC's hard drive. To make the folder appear again in the database, you will have to redefine it as a watch folder.

Scan Watched Directories Again

Click on this button to scan all of the watched directories again. This is useful if, for example, the Media Server has been switched off temporarily.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Import - Rhapsody Playlists

Due to licensing restrictions, this function is not available in every version of the Pinnacle MediaManager.

If you select the category Rhapsody Playlisten in the function area under the tab Import, the window will be structured as shown below. With the help of this function, you can import Rhapsody playlists into the MediaManager Database. The Real Rhapsody application needs to be active in order for the playlists to be displayed.

In the left column of the list, you see a checkbox for every playlist. Click on the checkbox for any number of playlists you would like to have imported.

Start

When you are finished setting preferences, click on the Start button.

You can now view the imported titles, for example, in the category Last imported under the tab Music in the Media Library.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Organizing Media Files

Organizing File Tags

Various organizing tags can be used to manage the three media types (music, movies, photos) serve to

rank all files of a specific media type.

in the Pinnacle MediaManager. These organizational criteria

Organizing tags are assigned to the Pop genre, it can't also be assigned to the Classical genre.

Music files

The original ID3 tags of the imported files are normally used to categorize these files according to name, artist, album, genre, etc.

If a music file is not categorized according to ID3 tags but according to folder and file names, select Update values using file/directory names via the Media Library Shortcut menu. Then select a category structure from the dialog displayed. Compare this to the display underneath and click on OK.

Movies

When importing movies, the default categorization criteria for Genre is the name of the folder where the movie is found. If the movie is made up of multiple parts, these parts are automatically grouped together into a collection. The categorization criteria Series is not set by default. You can change this via the File/Preferences/Import menu. For example, you can fill the fields Genre and Series with the names of folders at different levels in the directory hierarchy.

exclusive tags. That means that if a music file has been

Photos

If you import photos, the directory name is used as the photoalbum name by default. For the creation date, the date the photo was taken (found in the EXIF tag) is used.

Tip: If your photos do not have access to this date, the creation date is first displayed as <Unknown>. When you select the photos, select "Organize" and click on <Unknown>. Select the function "File date" via the menu to set the creation date of the photo. This is usually the date when you copied the photos to your PC.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Customized File Tags (Keywords)

In addition to the organizing tags, you can also assign customized tags (keywords)

These

Assigning a Keyword - An Example

You can create the keyword "My Wedding" and assign all wedding-related media files to it. This will make it a snap at some later date to filter out all the files in "My Wedding" from the rest of the files in the Media Library.

Assigning Several Keywords - An Example

You can assign several keywords to one file. For example, some of the files to which the "My Wedding" keyword has already been assigned can be assigned one or more additional keywords, such as "At the rehearsal dinner", "At the church" or "At the reception".

Display Keywords

This button display in the Media Library sort view.

non-exclusive tags will help you to organize your media files.

lets you open the context menu and switch on the keywords

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Introduction to the Organize Tab

You will see the following window when you select the Organize tab in the Tools section:

The

Organize tab helps you to change or add tags for your media files so as to

better organize your files.

Defining a New Keyword

On the left-hand side, you can assign MediaManager Database. You can then use the keywords as search terms in order to find certain files quickly. You can assign several keywords to a single file.

Select create a new

Deleting a Keyword

Select the keyword you want to delete from the database and then click the button.

Field and Value - Changing Organizing Tags

Whenever you select an entry in the Media Library list, you will also see the value assigned to each field. By double-clicking, you can access and modify the individual

one or more files in the Media Library list and click the button to

keyword for the selected files.

values.

keywords to the media files in the

For some organizing tags such as terms ( category. Just click the entry once to see the suggestions.

Pop, Rock, Classical) even if you haven't imported any files in this

Genre, the application will suggest common

Pinnacle MediaManager

For music genres, you have the Rebuild this list via the Shortcut menu. If you select this option, unused entries are deleted from the list and only those genres are displayed whose media files are assigned in the database.

Once you are finished modifying the

values for an entry in the list, click the button to have the values written to the database. The changes will be shown accordingly in the Media Library.

Note: changing tags that are associated with metadata (such as MP3

metadata) will cause these changes to be made in the associated file as well.

Undo Button

Click this button to undo previous changes. However, you can only undo changes if you have yet accepted them by clicking the

button.

Rotate Clockwise/Counterclockwise (For Photos)

Selecting a photo from the Media Library will bring it up in the Media Player. You can rotate the photo by clicking on these two buttons.

Next, click the

button to have the new position saved to the database. The

new position will be used whenever the photo is displayed on the television.

Restricted Access

You have the option of setting the

Restricted access value for each media file

with the click of a mouse. According to the setting

value, for a particular file this may mean that the correct access code will have to be entered from the menu of the output device before the file can be played on the output device.

Note: the access code only applies to media playback from the menu of the output device. All files can still be accessed from the MediaManager on your PC.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Using Playlists

Introduction to the Playlists Tab

You will see the following window when you select the Playlists tab in the Tools section:

This section is where you create personal favorite music, movies and photos, organized according to your own criteria.

Since each playlist can only contain one type of media, you will be creating playlists for music, movies or photos. You cannot mix these different types of media in one playlist.

Playlist Catalog

All the playlists are displayed in the

Individual Playlist Contents

The

right column displays the contents of the individual playlists. Selecting a playlist in the left column will bring up detailed information in the right column about the media files in the playlist.

playlists in which you list your

left column.

Creating and Editing Playlists

Pinnacle MediaManager

Creating a New Playlist

Click the An input field, which is by default called

side of the list. Double-click the field to access it and enter your own name for the new playlist.

Now it's time to put together the media files you want in this playlist. Select one or more files from the Media Library in the database and drag them up to the right-hand section.

If you do not want to drag with the mouse, you can use the

Organizing Items in a Playlist

Select the file you want to move within the playlist and drag it to its new position. Or, if you prefer, you can use the two

Deleting Playlists or Items

button to create a new playlist.

Playlist, will appear in the left-hand

button instead.

and buttons instead.

If you want to delete a playlist or remove a file from the playlist, just select it and then click the

button.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Slideshows

There are two extra things to do when creating photo playlists ("slideshows"):

1. Click the last column for a given entry in order to specify for a photo. If you select manual, the slideshow will not automatically continue after that particular photo. To change the at once, first right-click and choose click on the display time for any entry in order to set the time for all photos.

2. If you want to play background music during a slideshow then select an appropriate music playlist from the drop-down list. This list will be played to your photos on the output device.

Select all from the menu. Then, left-

display time for all photos

the display time

Playback in the Media Player

Double-click an entry in the playlist to play it back with the Media Player. Once that particular item is finished, the application will automatically move on the next entry in the playlist. You can also use the Repeat functions in the Media Player. When playing back a slideshow, the Media Player will only display the photos; it will not play any selected music playlist.

Next, Previous, Shuffle, and

Pinnacle MediaManager

Exporting Media Files

Introduction to the Export Tab

You will see the following window when you select the Export tab in the Tools section

In this section, you can export playlists

 New folder on your hard drive  M3U playlist  CD burner or DVD burner

The following sections explain the features for the individual categories in more detail.

to a:

copies of media files from your MediaManager

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Exporting to a Folder

You will see the following window when you select the Folder category under

Export tab in the Tools section:

the

In this section, you can export the items in a

playlist to a new folder on your

hard drive. The export will create copies of the media files.

Playlist

Select a

playlist from the drop-down menu.

Folder

Use the

Browse button to the right to select the folder you want the playlist to be

exported to.

Create subfolders

Activate this checkbox to have subfolders created based on the sort criteria of the original files (e.g., artist, album, photo album).

If a particular file does not have all the tags, this option will create a subfolder called

Unknown.

Note: this option is not active when you export video playlists.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Create M3U playlist

If this checkbox is activated, you will both export the selected playlist to a folder and create an M3U-compatible playlist.

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the bar will display 100% once all the files have been exported. You will also be told how many files were exported.

Start button. The progress

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Exporting to an M3U Playlist

You will see the following window when you select the Playlist category under

Export tab in the Tools section:

the

In this section, you can export a MediaManager playlist will contain references to the actual location where your media files are stored.

Playlist

Select the

File

Use the selected playlist. Then enter the

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the

playlist you want to export from the drop-down menu.

Browse button to the right to select the file you want exported to the

name you want to give to the file.

playlist to an M3U playlist. The

Start button.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Exporting to a Burner

You will see the following window when you select the Burner category under

Export tab in the Tools section:

the

In this section, you can export a

Playlist

Select the

Disc type

The choice of output formats will depend on what kind of media files are in the playlist. Select a format from the drop-down list.

Music

Audio CD: You want to burn an audio CD that you can play on your stereo system or in your car's CD player. Any MP3 files will be automatically decoded.

MP3 Data CD/DVD: You want to burn MP3 files to a CD or a DVD. All tracks in the playlist will have to be converted to the MP3 format.

Data CD/DVD: You want to burn original music files (MP3, WMA or WAV) to a CD. Any converted versions will not be used.

playlist you want to export from the drop-down menu.

playlist to burn to CD or DVD.

Movies

Depending on what format the media files are in and whether converted copies are available, you will be given the option of burning a VCD (VideoCD), SVCD (SuperVideoCD) or DVD. You can always select a data CD/DVD, which will

Pinnacle MediaCenter

burn the media files in their original format. You cannot start the burning process if the file(s) is (are) too long for a CD or DVD.

Photos

Photos are always burned as original media files to a data CD/DVD.

Recorder

Select the burner you wish to use and click 100% when the burning process is complete.

The CD/DVD burner in the Pinnacle MediaManager is optimized for fast, easy burning. It cannot create DVD menus nor can it spread long files/playlists over several discs. If you need more sophisticated burning features, we recommend using Pinnacle INSTANT CD/DVD.

Start. The progress bar will display

The Menus

The File Menu

The File Menu Contains the Following Options:

New Playlist From Selection

If you have selected one or more files in the Media Library and then choose this option, the

On the left-hand side of the Media Library, you will see an input field with a default name where you can enter your own name for the new playlist.

For

more information, consult the Creating and Editing Playlists section.

Play Selection

Select one or more files from the Media Library and choose this option. The selection will now be played back / displayed in the Media Player.

selected files will be used to create a new playlist.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Preferences

Choosing this menu item will bring up a dialog box where you can make all your settings for the Pinnacle MediaManager:

Audio CD Import

 Format (quality and bitrate)  Speed

General

 Language  Data conversion settings  Skin settings  Specify the access code (PIN) for restricted file access  Define folders for audio, video and image files and for temporary files

Playback

 Playback settings: device and memory buffer

Key Commands

Choosing this menu item will bring up a dialog box where you can create, edit and delete customized key commands and macros.

Quit

Choose this option to exit the Pinnacle MediaManager.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The Edit Menu

The Edit Menu Contains the Following Options:

Cut

Select the text you want to move and click location where you want to paste the text and click The text will be removed from its original location and inserted at the new location.

Copy

Select the text you want to copy and click location where you want to paste the text and click The text will remain at its current location and will also be inserted at the new location.

Paste

This command allows you to paste text at one location that you have cut or copied from another location using the

Delete

Select the files and then choose this option from the menu in order to permanently remove the files.

Cut in the menu. Then, click the

Paste in the menu.

Copy in the menu. Then, click the

Paste in the menu.

Cut or Copy commands.

Select All

This option allows you to simultaneously select all the files in an active area (e.g., the Media Library list).

Select None

This option allows you to undo the selection for files in an active area (e.g., the Media Library list).

Pinnacle MediaManager

Select Invert

This option allows you to simultaneously select all the files in an active area (e.g., the Media Library list), or to undo an existing selection.

Browse

This option brings you to the detailed

section in the manual for this feature.

Media Library sort view. There is a separate, more

Pinnacle MediaCenter

The Tools Menu

In the Tools menu, you have the following options:

Import old database

With this function, you can import a database created with version 1.5 or older of the ShowCenter application

Find missing/modified media

To do a manual search for missing or modified media in the database, select this option. The search runs in the background and can take several minutes. The missing and modified media are then marked in the left column with their own icons.

Save database

With of this function, you can save an existing database. Select the option and then indicate the desired target directory and file name. This procedure saves an XML file. You can also generate more than one XML file, for example, at different intervals.

Restore database

This function is used to restore a saved database. The Pinnacle MediaManger automatically chooses the correct target directory in order to make the previously saved XML files available again. The selected file is then loaded into the database so that the media files in the Media Library are visible again.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Real Rhapsody Music Service

Real Rhapsody Music Service - Overview

The Rhapsody Service is currently not available in all areas. Check

www.rhapsody.com for current information as to whether Rhapsody is available

in you country.

The Rhapsody Music Service from RealNetworks gives you unlimited access to one of the largest legal music databases in the internet. Choose from over 700,000 titles for your playlists and put your own radio stations together.

Used with the ShowCenter, you can now also listen to Rhapsody music in the comfort of you own living room. Pinnacle MediaManager automatically imports all the titles and radio stations in your Rhapsody Library and even lets you combine Rhapsody music with other titles to create new playlists.

Due to licensing restrictions, not every version of the Pinnacle MediaManager supports the Rhapsody Music Service.

Installation and Registration

To use the music service, you need the Rhapsody application, as well as a subscription - you can get both at application and install it on the same PC where the ShowCenter software is also installed

Configuring the Rhapsody application

After starting up and registering the program, open the Options menu and select

User Settings... . n the dialog window, click on the tab UPnP and activate the

checkbox Start UPnP Server once logged on. Then click on Start to start the UPnP server.

www.rhapsody.com. Download the Rhapsody

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Now you can fill the Rhapsody application library with the music of your choice, as well as select radio stations and even configure the application yourself.

Rhapsody music and the Pinnacle MediaManager

All the titles and albums in the Rhapsody Library are automatically imported into the Pinnacle MediaManager Media Library and are available as music under the genre Rhapsody. This synchronization is also done when the Pinnacle MediaManager is closed. You can modify the synchronization settings or deactivate the synchronization process via File/Preferences/Rhapsody. Note that the synchronization of a large library can last several minutes.

In the Pinnacle MediaManager, Rhapsody titles are marked with their own icon. You can create playlists of Rhapsody titles, as well as mixed playlists of Rhapsody music together with, for example, MP3 titles.

All the playlists created with the Rhapsody application are displayed and can be imported into the Pinnacle MediaManager, via Import/Rhapsody playlists. Older playlists with the same name are not overwritten.

Due to licensing restrictions, the playback of Rhapsody titles via the Pinnacle MediaManager on a PC is currently not possible.

Pinnacle MediaManager

Rhapsody music and the ShowCenter Player

Just like other music, Rhapsody titles are displayed in the TV menu Music in the ShowCenter Player. However, Rhapsody titles are marked with their own icon. Note that it can take several minutes until newly added music is displayed in the ShowCenter Player.

Radio stations in the Rhapsody Library are automatically made available via Music/Internet Radio/Rhapsody Radio.

You can play back Rhapsody music via the ShowCenter Player only if the Rhapsody application has already been started and you have logged on.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

File Formats

Supported File Formats

Supported Audio File Formats

 MP3  WAV  WMA

Supported Video File Formats

 MPEG 1  MPEG 2 (including VOB files)  MPEG 4 AVI (Versions 3, 4, 5) [simple profile]  XviD AVI [simple profile]  DV AVI  WMV

Supported Photo Formats

 JPG  PNG  GIF  BMP

Pinnacle MediaManager

Converting Files

The Pinnacle MediaManager can convert media into other formats. For example, you can convert an MPEG 2 movie file into the MPEG 1 VCD format for burning onto a CD. If you use the Pinnacle ShowCenter, this file conversion function is useful for formats, which you cannot directly play back via the ShowCenter Player such as, for example, DV-AVI video clips.

During conversion, a copy of the media is created, while the original file remains unchanged. You can define where to save this copy in the File/Preferences menu of the Pinnacle MediaManager. Here you can also configure an automatic media conversion, as well as keep track of the current status of running conversions.

In order to convert a media file, select it in the Media Library, right click and then select the format you want via the Shortcut menu Convert/Convert to. You can initiate conversions for more than one medium at a time. These conversions are then queued and processed one after the other. Conversion runs in the background and keeps going, even if you close the Pinnacle MediaManager.

File Status

For each media type, the

list to the right. The first column shows the file state, which describes the

the file's

conversion status.

Media Library displays details on individual files in

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Any file in a given category can have one of the following file states (indicated by the icon):

The file needs to be converted before it can be played back.

The file can be found in the conversion queue.

The file is currently being converted.

The conversion of this file is completed.

Conversion Options

Right-click a file in the list to bring up the pop-up menu, where you can choose among the following options:

Convert to

The selected file will be converted. You can choose between the following movie formats:

VCD (VideoCD)

The video is compressed using MPEG 1 to one-fourth of its original image size (352x240 or 288). The data rate is 1.15 Mbps in total. That means that one CD (650 MB) can hold a little over an hour's worth of video and audio. While the video quality is rather poor, VCDs can be played back in most DVD players.

SVCD (SuperVideoCD)

The video is compressed using MPEG 2 with full vertical resolution and 2/3 horizontal resolution. The data rate is 2.5 Mbps and one CD can only hold a little less than a half an hour's worth of video and audio. The video quality is much better than on a VCD, but only some DVD players accept the SVCD format.

DVD LongPlay

The video is compressed using MPEG 2 with full vertical resolution and 1/2 horizontal resolution. The data rate is 3.5 Mbps, which makes for very goodquality video. DVD LongPlay can be burned to DVDs and is accepted by virtually all DVD players. It is also an excellent format for converting high-datarate video to a low enough data rate to be able to play it back over a wireless network.

Pinnacle MediaManager

DVD

The video is compressed using MPEG 2 with full resolution. The data rate is 6 Mbps, which may produce excellent-quality video, but it is too high to be transmitted over a wireless network. Converting to DVD format only really makes sense for wired 100-Mbps networks or for burning a DVD that essentially all DVD players can read.

The audio is always compressed using the MPEG 1 layer 2 format (stereo).

Delete converted files

With of this function, you can delete the converted files. The original files remain unchanged.

Cancel conversion

A planned or already running conversion is cancelled. The original file remains unchanged.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaCenter Functions

The Pinnacle MediaCenter offers you the extensive and diverse functions of a modern multi-media program. Its convenient and easy-to-use displays let you enjoy a wide variety of media such as television, radio, music, movies, photos, and lets you access a broad range of products offered by various online services:

 In the TV area, you can keep track of the current TV schedule and the shows

you have recorded not only directly on your PC, but also from the comfort of your armchair or sofa thanks to the full screen mode and the remote control included. In addition, you can use the teletext function and the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) to get quick and comprehensive information about the TV schedule as well as all the latest news. Want to record a TV show? With a simple push of a button, you can start recording the current TV program at any time. Use the EPG function to quickly and simply program your machine to record upcoming shows. You won't have to miss any of your favorite TV programs again. Even annoying interruptions while watching TV are no longer a bother because you can delay watching a program by using the timeshift function.

 In the Radio area, you can receive every available FM radio station. You can

also create radio playlists in the "Advanced Settings" so that you can receive a radio station assigned to a certain category at any time. Recording FM radio broadcasts is quick and easy with the Pinnacle MediaCenter - either press a button to record the current program immediately or schedule an upcoming radio program for later enjoyment. In addition, the Pinnacle MediaCenter lets your receive Internet radio.

 In the Movies area, you can view movies from a CD/DVD or from your hard

disk - all this using the remote control from the comfort of your sofa. No need to get up and fiddle with the PC. If you have previously categorized your movies in the Pinnacle MediaManager, you can easily access these categories and select movies according to certain criteria

 In the Music area, you can access CDs or files created in the Pinnacle

MediaManager. Play back your music according to any criteria you set (for example, according to music genre or artist) and select just the right music to suit your mood or the occasion.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

 In the Photos area, you can view photos saved on your hard disk or on CD.

Photos can also be categorized in the Pinnacle MediaManager (for example, the pictures from your last vacation or that one party or simply those taken on a certain date) so that you see only those photos that you really want to see quickly and hassle-free. If you want to show off your photos, you can also set up a slideshow to display them as a group.

 In the Online menu option, you have access to various online services. These

services even include being able to watch videos on demand.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaCenter User Views

In the Pinnacle MediaCenter, you can select between two different user views. Each user view is optimized for the different ways of using the Pinnacle MediaCenter:

 The Remote View is optimized for operation with the remote control. The

entire menu is accessible from the Pinnacle MediaCenter window and each menu option is easy to read even from a distance. This lets you use your remote control to play back and edit media from the comfort of your own sofa. Of course, you can still operate the Pinnacle MediaCenter with your mouse or keyboard while in the remote view. You can also display the PC view control bars in the remote view and use them to operate the Pinnacle MediaCenter.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

 The PC View is optimized for use with your mouse or keyboard. This view

is especially useful when you use the Pinnacle MediaCenter while working at your desk (for example, for watching TV while working on the computer). The menu bar-shaped buttons are arranged at the top and bottom of the Pinnacle MediaCenter window and are easily activated with a click of the mouse. Since you will be mainly using this view when working at your computer, PC view menus are only displayed if necessary so that as little screen space as possible is used.

You can switch between the PC view and the remote view at any time when using the Pinnacle MediaCenter:

 To go to the remote view, press the P or Menu button on the remote control

(depending on the remote control) or click the P button in the upper control bar.

 If you double-click in the preview or information window when you are in

the remote view, this window opens in full screen and takes you to the PC view.

If you are interested in other ways of displaying the preview or information window in full screen and thereby accessing the PC view, refer to the chapter "Pinnacle MediaCenter Window Formats".

Using the Pinnacle MediaCenter in the remote view and in the PC view is described in greater detail in the corresponding chapters.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaCenter Window Formats

The Pinnacle MediaCenter lets you switch between various window sizes and formats. These options let you customize the Pinnacle MediaCenter window according to your needs.

For example, would you rather play back media directly from your desk while working at you PC or from your TV chair? Do you want your Pinnacle MediaCenter window to take up the entire screen so that you can read all the menu options well even at a distance or do you want to minimize the window so that you can continue working on your PC during playback? Would you like to watch TV or movies or view photos in full screen mode or should the menu remain visible? The Pinnacle MediaCenter is very flexible in accommodating your wishes.

The following explains how to display the various window formats:

Pressing the "Full Screen" Remote Control Button for a Normal-Sized Window Without Preview or Information Window

If you have opened the Pinnacle MediaCenter in normal size and there is no preview or information window in the current menu (for example, the main screen in the remote view) (1), you can switch between the normal-sized Pinnacle MediaCenter window and full screen (2) by pressing the Full Screen button on your remote control.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pressing the "Full Screen" Remote Control Button for a Full Screen Window with Preview or Information Window

If you have opened the Pinnacle MediaCenter in full screen and the menu displayed contains a preview or information window (for example, the TV menu in the remote view) (1), you can switch between the entire Pinnacle MediaCenter window in full screen and the preview/information window in full screen (2) by pressing the Full Screen button on your remote control.

Pressing the "Full Screen" Remote Control Button for a Normal-Sized Window with Preview or Information Window

Pinnacle MediaCenter

If you have opened the Pinnacle MediaCenter in normal size and the menu displayed contains a preview or information window (for example, the TV menu in the remote view) (1), you can display the entire Pinnacle MediaCenter window in full screen (2) by pressing the Full Screen button on your remote control. If you press the Full Screen button again, only the preview/information window is displayed in full screen (3). If you press the Full Screen button a third time, you are taken back to the original window, that is, the entire Pinnacle MediaCenter window in normal size (1).

Clicking the Mouse in a Normal-Sized Window with Preview or Information Window

If you have opened the Pinnacle MediaCenter in normal size and the menu displayed contains a preview or information window (for example, the TV menu in the remote view) (1), double-clicking will only display the preview/information window in normal size (2).

Pinnacle MediaCenter

If you double-click again, you are taken back to the entire Pinnacle MediaCenter window in normal size (1).

If only the TV window is displayed in normal size (2), you can enlarged it to full screen by clicking the Maximize button in the upper control bar or doubleclicking the upper control bar (3). If you double-click again or click the Minimize button, the TV window returns to normal size (2).

If you double-click the TV window in full screen (3), you display the entire Pinnacle MediaCenter window in full screen (4). If you double-click again, the TV window appears again in full screen (3).

If you click the Minimize button or double-click the upper control bar when the Pinnacle MediaCenter is in full screen (4), the Pinnacle MediaCenter window will switch to the original normal size (1).

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Remote View (optimized for operation with the remote control)

Overview

Operating the Pinnacle MediaCenter Remote View

The Pinnacle MediaCenter remote view is optimized for operation with a remote control. The menu is not only extremely visible even from distance but it is also easy to operate with your remote control buttons. It simply invites you to make yourself comfortable in your easy chair or on the sofa and enjoy the media in your Pinnacle MediaCenter.

And you can, of course, use either your keyboard or your mouse to operate the Pinnacle MediaCenter remote view.

To simplify this manual, the instructions on how to operate the remote view of your Pinnacle MediaCenter will be based mainly on the use of your remote control. However, the same functions found on your remote control can also be used via the function keys on your keyboard or by using your mouse.

On-Screen Menu Buttons

You can operate many of the functions in your Pinnacle MediaCenter using the on-screen menu buttons displayed on your screen (for example, the individual menu options on the main screen).

If you want to display a menu option, you can do one of the following:

 Select that option using the arrow buttons on your remote control  Use the cursor keys on your keyboard.  Click the menu option once with your mouse.

To open this menu option, you can do one of the following:  Select the menu option and then press the Confirm button on your remote

control.

 Select the menu option and then press the Enter key on your keyboard.  Double-click the menu option with your mouse.

The menu option you have selected now opens.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Remote Control Buttons and PC Function Keys

You can also operate several of the functions directly using the remote control that came with the product or using your PC keyboard - without having to activate an on-screen menu button (this includes the fast forward function when watching a television recording).

 The remote control buttons required for the functions are described in detail

in the individual chapters of this documentation. You can also refer to the documentation that came with your remote control to get an overview of the functions assigned to the different buttons.

 You can also use certain function keys on your keyboard to execute the same

commands available on your remote control. In this case, the individual function keys correspond to specific buttons on your remote control. Read the following overview to find out which keys on your keyboard are used to perform which functions:

The PC view and the "Advanced Settings" in the Pinnacle MediaCenter can only be accessed using your keyboard or mouse.

Function PC function keys

Exit the PMC ALT+F4

Switch between full screen and preview window

OSD channel list Enter (while watching TV)

Channel info/Help (depending on remote control)

Mute On/Off M

Toggle between the last two channels ALT+L

Volume +/- +/- or CTRL+Cursor Up/Down

Channel +/- Page Up/Page Down

ALT+F or ALT+Enter

ALT+I

OK/Confirm Enter

Start page/menu (P key; depending on remote control)

Jump to live position during timeshift playback

Esc

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Function PC function keys

Start recording C

Pause

Space bar in TV mode: Start timeshift recording

Previous Track/Next Track Pos1/end

Back (depending on remote control) Back

Play P

Stop S

Rewind/Fast Forward

R/F in teletext mode: Display previous/next subpage

TV F5

Teletext F6

Radio (depending on remote control) F7

EPG F8

Enter numbers 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

0/AV (switch video input) 0

Selection of on-screen menu buttons Cursor

in teletext mode: Display

Cursor Up/Down previous/next page

Switch between letters and numbers

CTRL+C (C/N)

Delete entry Del

Control Bars

To quickly and easily operate your Pinnacle MediaCenter, you have two control bars in the remote view which you can use to directly access important functions with your mouse. To display the control bars, move your mouse in the Pinnacle MediaCenter window. The control bars disappear automatically a few seconds after you stop moving your mouse.

For more information, refer to the chapter "PC View (optimized for operation with mouse)".

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Main Screen of the Pinnacle MediaCenter Remote View

You can start the Pinnacle MediaCenter remote view using the Start menu and the Pinnacle program group. Simply double-click the desktop link or press the TV button (remote control type A) or the Pinnacle button (remote control type B) on your remote control.

The main screen of the Pinnacle MediaCenter then opens:

The main screen provides you with an overview of seven menu options:  The menu options TV, Radio, Music, Movies, and Photos give you access

to the functions for each particular type of media.

 You can use the Online area to access the various online services available.  In the Settings menu, you can configure the most important Pinnacle

MediaCenter settings.

You can configure more advanced settings in the "Advanced Settings

Dialog". For more information, refer to the chapter "Advanced Settings".

The following sections provide you with detailed information about the numerous options available to you in the individual menu options.

For more information about operating the Pinnacle MediaCenter, refer to

the chapter "Operating the Pinnacle MediaCenter Remote View".

Pinnacle MediaCenter

TV Menu

TV Menu Overview

If you select TV in the main screen of the Pinnacle MediaCenter, the following window appears:

The individual menu options give you access to the following functions:

 Channels: Use this menu to select channels from the channel list.  Guide: This menu gives you access to an Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

Use this guide to not only get an excellent overview of the TV schedule but to help you schedule and program recordings.

 Teletext: Use this menu to activate teletext.  Record: This menu lets you record TV shows.  Recorded TV: This menu lets you play back or edit previously recorded

shows. In addition, you can make timeshift recordings while watching television. The individual TV menu functions are explained in detail in the following

sections.

Information Window

In the Pinnacle MediaCenter, the current TV schedule of the last channel selected is displayed in an information window. You won't miss a minute of your favorite show, even if you are in the middle of scheduling recordings or looking up tomorrow's TV schedule in the EPG.

For more information about switching between the information window and

full screen mode, refer to the chapter "Pinnacle MediaCenter Window Formats".

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Selecting Channels

When you select Channels in the TV menu, the following window appears:

Switching Channels

Channel lists

On the right side of the window, all the channel lists created in "Advanced Settings" (for example, Music, News, and Sports) as well as the entry All TV Channels are displayed.

To change the current TV channel, select All TV Channels or select the channel list you want and confirm your selection. A list of all the channels or the channel assigned to the selected list is now displayed.

An EPG window located on the lower edge of the screen shows you information about the selected channel (if EPG service is available). This information includes the start and stop time of the program currently showing and a short description of the content. This gives you an optimal overview of the schedules for the channels in the list.

After you select and confirm a certain channel, its schedule is displayed in full screen mode.

Channel list

When you are watching television in full screen mode or in the preview window, you can also use the Channel+/Channel- buttons on your remote control to change the current channel according to the sequence in the channel list.

Or you can press the Confirm/OK button on the remote control. This displays the channel list in On Screen Display mode. Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to select a channel and confirm.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Direct channel input

When you are watching live TV in full screen mode or in the preview window, you can also select a channel directly with your remote control or with your keyboard: To do this, simply enter the number of the channel you want using the number keys on your remote control or the number keys on your keyboard. The TV schedule of the channel you select is then displayed.

Switching between the last two channels

Press the Switch Between Channels button on your remote control to switch back and forth between the last two channels (for example, to avoid irritating commercial breaks).

After changing channels, the number of the current channel is displayed for

a few seconds on the screen.

Video Input

When you press the AV button, you can sequentially switch between the available video input sources on your TV card (for example, from antenna to Svideo). And depending on your hardware and the reception, you even have the option of switching between analog and digital television.

Volume

To regulate the volume while watching TV, use the Volume +/- buttons on your remote control. Press the Mute on/off button to turn the sound off. Turn it back on by pressing the button again.

When you change the volume, a status bar with the current volume level or

a "Sound off" icon is displayed on the screen for a few seconds.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

On Screen Display (OSD): General Information

You can configure detailed settings affecting the behavior of the On Screen

Display in the Settings menu.

When you turn on live TV or switch channels while watching TV, an EPG On Screen Display appears (if EPG service is available) with the following information:

 The name of the current channel and its number in the channel list  The current language (if available)  The page format (if available)  The audio mode (if available)  The current time and date  The display of the time status of the current program  The start time, name, and short description of the current show, as well as of

the next show If no EPG service is available, the following information is displayed:

 The name of the current channel and its number in the channel list  The page format (if available)  The audio mode (if available)  The current time and date

This OSD disappears after a few seconds. If you would like to display the OSD again manually (without changing the

channel), press the ? button or the Info button (depending on the remote control). The same information including a volume level bar is displayed. If you have not set the OSD to disappear automatically in the Settings menu, the OSD disappears again when you press the ?/Info again.

On Screen Display (OSD): Audio Settings

When you are watching TV in full screen mode or in the preview window and you press the B button on your remote control, an On Screen Display appears where you can change your audio settings:

On the left side of the OSD, all the supported audio modes are displayed. All the languages available for the current program are displayed on the right side of the window.

Use the arrow buttons to select a new audio mode and/or a new language and activate it by pressing the OK/Confirm button on your remote control.

Pressing the B button again will hide the On Screen Display and apply the changes you made.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Electronic Program Guide (EPG)

This menu is only available if an EPG service is present.

When you select Guide in the TV menu or press the EPG button on your remote control, the following window appears:

The EPG (Electronic Program Guide) function is an electronic TV guide which gives you not only a quick and easy-to-read overview of the TV schedule but also makes recording TV shows a snap.

The EPG menu contains an EPG program list, a time and channel button, as well as a time and channel display. Press the arrow buttons on your remote control to move back and forth between these areas and within the program list.

Sorting the EPG Program List

You can sort the program list by the time or by channel. You do this by selecting and confirming the corresponding button.

Sorting the EPG program list by time

When you select and confirm the Time button, the current time is displayed on the upper edge of the screen and all the programs scheduled to be broadcast at the current time are listed in the program list.

When you select the time display on the upper edge of the screen and press the left arrow or right arrow buttons on your remote control, the displayed time is

Pinnacle MediaCenter

updated in half-hour increments. Or you can use your mouse to press the "left arrow" or "right arrow" buttons to change the time display.

The EPG program list now displays the shows that will be broadcast at the time indicated.

Sorting the EPG program list by channel

After you select the Channels button and confirm it, the current channel is displayed on the upper edge of the screen and the schedule of the current channel appears in the program list, beginning at the current time.

When you select the channel display on the upper edge of the screen with the arrow buttons and press the left arrow button or the right arrow button on your remote control, the position of the channel changes within its channel list. Or you can use your mouse to press the "left arrow" or "right arrow" buttons to change the channel display.

The EPG program list now contains the schedule for the channel just chosen, beginning at the current time.

If you would like to modify the channel list in order to display the schedule of a different channel in the EPG program list, select the channel display and confirm it. This displays the list of channel lists from which you can select a new channel list or the All TV Channels entry. After you have confirmed your selection, you are taken back to the EPG menu.

EPG Information

An EPG window on the lower edge of the screen displays information about the selected channel. This includes start and stop times, a status bar for the time status of the program currently showing and a short description of the content.

You can access detailed information about the selected schedule in the program list by pressing the ?/Info button on your remote control (depending on the remote control) or by clicking the More Info button. An EPG window now opens displaying the show time, the channel, the name of the program, as well as an extensive description of the content. You can exit this EPG window by pressing the ?/Info button again (depending on the remote control).

Viewing a Show in the EPG Program List

After you select and confirm a show in the EPG list that is currently being broadcast, the show is displayed in full screen mode.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Recording a Show From the EPG Program List

Using the EPG function, it is easy to record a show. To do this, select the show your want from the EPG program list and press the

Record button on your remote control: A program that is currently being shown is recorded immediately. The recording of a program in the future is scheduled.

You can tell whether a show is currently being recorded or if a show is

scheduled to be recorded by the record symbol in the EPG channel list.

Pausing, Editing or Deleting Recordings in the EPG Program List

You can edit or delete recordings being made right now or recordings scheduled in the future directly in the EPG menu.

To do this, select the corresponding program and confirm your selection or press the Record button. In the window that now appears, you can pause, process or delete the recording.

To pause a running recording or delete a scheduled recording, you can also select the corresponding program in the EPG program list and press the Stop button on your remote control.

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Teletext

When you select Teletext in the TV menu or press the Teletext button on your remote control, the following window appears:

The teletext menu consists of two areas. On the left side of the window, you will find TOP text. On the right side, you will see the teletext window. You can switch back and forth between the two areas by pressing the right arrow and left arrow buttons on your remote control or the cursor keys your keyboard.

If no TOP text is available, only the teletext window is displayed in the Teletext menu.

Pinnacle Systems MediaCenter - 3.0 Instruction Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table Of Contents

Introduction

Welcome

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaManager

Pinnacle Hardware

PCTV MediaCenter Remote Control

The Contents of Your Package

Hardware

Software

Documentation

Online Help

Online Manual

Pinnacle MediaCenter - System Setup

Installing the Hardware

Installing the Software

The tvtv Manager

Opening a User Account

Assigning TV Channels

Scheduled Recording List

Advanced Settings

Advanced Settings Dialog Overview

Advanced Station Settings Creating a Channel List

Advanced Station Settings Editing a Channel List

Advanced Station Settings Favorites

Advanced TV Hardware Settings

Advanced Remote Control Settings

Advanced Playback Settings

Advanced Display Settings

Advanced Data Services Settings

Advanced General Settings

Pinnacle MediaManager

Overview

What the Pinnacle MediaManager Does

Main Window of the Pinnacle MediaManager

The Media Library

Introduction to the Media Library

The Sort View in the Media Library

Searching in the Media Library

Deleting Files in the Media Library

The Media Player

Using the Media Player and Its Controls

Importing Media Files

Introduction to the Import Tab

Import - Folder

Import - Files

Import - Drives

Import - Audio CD

Import - Digital Camera

Import - Watch Folder

Import - Rhapsody Playlists

Organizing Media Files

Organizing File Tags

Customized File Tags (Keywords)

Introduction to the Organize Tab

Using Playlists

Introduction to the Playlists Tab

Creating and Editing Playlists

Exporting Media Files

Introduction to the Export Tab

Exporting to a Folder

Exporting to an M3U Playlist

Exporting to a Burner

The Menus

The File Menu

The Edit Menu

The Tools Menu

Real Rhapsody Music Service

Real Rhapsody Music Service - Overview

File Formats

Supported File Formats

Converting Files

Pinnacle MediaCenter

Pinnacle MediaCenter Functions

Pinnacle MediaCenter User Views

Pinnacle MediaCenter Window Formats