Pinnacle Systems ShowCenter - 1.7 User Guide

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Pinnacle ShowCenter

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.

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

This manual is printed on chlorine-free, bleached paper using solvent-free ink. Pinnacle Systems GmbH has written this manual to the best of its knowledge,

but does not guarantee that the programs/systems will fulfill the users’ intended applications.

No warranty is made as to the specifications of features. Pinnacle Systems GmbH retains the right to make alterations to the content of

the manual without obligation to inform third parties. All quotes, sales, supply and manufacturing contracts from Pinnacle Systems

GmbH, including consulting, installation and other contractual services are subject exclusively to the General Sales and Delivery Terms of Pinnacle Systems GmbH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Configuration of a Network Connection .........................................................19

Pinnacle MediaManager .....................................................................................25

Overview .........................................................................................................25

The Media Library...........................................................................................28

The Media Player ............................................................................................34

Importing Media Files .....................................................................................36

Organizing Media Files ...................................................................................48

Using Playlists.................................................................................................52

Exporting Media Files .....................................................................................55

The Menus.......................................................................................................61

Real Rhapsody Music Service.........................................................................66

File Formats.....................................................................................................69

Television ...........................................................................................................73

Turning on the ShowCenter Player and the Television...................................73

Introduction to the TV Menu...........................................................................74

TV Menu - Music ............................................................................................76

TV Menu - Movies ..........................................................................................79

TV Menu - Photos ........................................................................................... 82

TV Menu - PCTV............................................................................................86

TV Menu - Settings .........................................................................................89

iii

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Remote Control...................................................................................................95

Remote Control Keypad Layout......................................................................95

Button Descriptions in Detail ..........................................................................96

Troubleshooting for the Remote Control ......................................................100

Specifications....................................................................................................101

Hardware .......................................................................................................101

Technical Support.............................................................................................103

Getting Technical support .............................................................................103

License information ..........................................................................................105

Pinnacle End User License Agreement ......................................................... 105

Glossary ............................................................................................................109

Index .................................................................................................................117

Basics

Safety Instructions

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

Power Cable and Plug

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

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

the plug itself and not the cable.

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

or form.

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

the power plug.

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

disconnect the power plug. Contact your dealer immediately.

Where Not to Install the Device

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

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

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

humidity (90% or greater).

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

This could damage the components in the device.

 On flammable surfaces such as cloth-covered tables.  Keep the device away from flower vases, bathtubs, sinks, etc., and from

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Problems With Other Devices

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

on it.

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

heat.

Housing and Internal Components

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

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

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

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

 Do not place any foreign objects on the device.

Condensation

Condensation may develop in the device in the following circumstances:

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

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

Non-Use

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

should unplug it from the power socket.

Accessories

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

Batteries

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

battery case.

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

(alkaline and non-alkaline).

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

accordance with legal and environmental requirements.

Basics

Copyrights

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

Any changes or additions to the printed documentation can be found in the

read-me file on the CD-ROM included with the device.

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

The Idea in Words

Pinnacle ShowCenter allows you to playback the following media types:

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

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

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

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter organizes all your media files in an intelligent multimedia database on your PC so that you can easily find them and have

easy, convenient access to them. Do you use the broadband internet access on your PC (DSL or cable modem) to

download audio and video files, but would like to be able to organize them and play them back any time you want? Do you want to archive your digital photos, movies, and audio CDs so that you have instant access to them?

Pinnacle ShowCenter is the perfect solution in both cases! Pinnacle ShowCenter allows you to organize your media collection so that

you can play back your favorite movies, pull up your favorite photos and listen to your favorite music on your stereo system any time you want.

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

At the end of this manual is a section entitled "Glossary" where you can look up definitions of unfamiliar terms. If you're still not sure what to do, please consult the manuals for your television, your stereo system, and your PC components.

Basics

The Idea in a Picture

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

The Components

The Pinnacle ShowCenter system consists of the following components:

Hardware

ShowCenter Player

The ShowCenter Player creates a multimedia home network together with your PC and your television and/or your stereo system. The ShowCenter

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

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

Remote Control (Infrared)

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

Software

Pinnacle MediaManager

The Pinnacle MediaManager Application, which is installed on your PC, permits you to import, manage and organize music files, movies, and digital photos in your constantly updated ShowCenter Database. You can also create playlists where your favorite music, movies, or photos are organized according to your own special criteria.

The media files on your PC can come from the internet, from your audio CDs or from your digital camera.

ShowCenter Server

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

ShowCenter Database

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

Basics

Package Contents

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

Your Package Contains

Hardware

ShowCenter Player

with integrated power supply

SCART cable

(only in Europe)

Remote control with

"Mignon 1.5 V"

batteries

(R06, AA)

Video and audio

cable

(only outside

Europe)

Power cable

(different for each

country)

SCART-VGA

adapter

(only for some

models)

Ethernet cable

(length: 33')

Crossover cable

(length: 16', only for

some models)

CD-ROM with

applications,

sample files and

drivers

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Documentation

QuickStart guide User manual

Note: some models may not have the same package contents as shown above.

Software

The following software is on the CD-ROM:  Software for Windows 2000 or Windows XP

Pinnacle ShowCenter does not support Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition or Windows NT.

 Pinnacle MediaManager  ShowCenter Server

Note: some models may not have the same package contents as shown above.

You also need

 Computer  Television and/or stereo system

Basics

System Requirements

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

Computer Hardware

Processor

You must have at least a Pentium® III 1GHz, or a comparable AMD processor

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

RAM

256 MB minimum - 512 MB recommended.

Hard Drive

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

Graphics Card

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

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

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

Sound Card

DirectX 9.x-compatible sound card.

Ethernet Connection

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

adapter or must be connected to an existing access point.

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Computer Software

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

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Set up Your ShowCenter System in Two Steps Overview

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

We recommend the following procedure:

1. Install the software

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

 Pinnacle MediaManager  ShowCenter Server  Sample files

2. Connecting Your Devices

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

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Installing the Software

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

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

1. Insert the Installation CD

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

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

2. Choose Language, Click Next

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

3. Click Next

Click Next again to continue with the installation.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

4. Agree to the License Agreement and Click Next

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

5. Enter Your User Information and Click Next

Enter the user information and serial number (see CD case). Specify whether the application should be made available for all users on the computer, or only for yourself. Then click Next.

6. Select the Setup Type and Click Next

Next, you select a setup type.

Complete

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

Custom

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

Click Next once you are finished.

7. Select Components, Click Next

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

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

8. Start the Installation

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

9. Desktop Shortcut

Click Yes if you want a shortcut on your desktop.

10. Reboot Your System

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

11. Install Third-Party Applications

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Connecting Your Devices

ShowCenter Player - Front View

The following operating and signaling elements are located on the front of the ShowCenter Player:

 Power on/off switch  LED status indicator - stand by, on/off  Infrared receiver for the remote control  LED indicator for signals (e.g. "New files in watch folder")

ShowCenter Player - Rear View

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

1. Connecting the ShowCenter Player to the Television

SCART Out / Video and Audio Out

Europe: Connect the SCART cable included in the package to the SCART Output on the ShowCenter Player and to an available SCART Input on your television. If at all possible, select a SCART connection on your television that supports RGB signals, since this will provide the best possible image quality.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Make sure to change the settings in the ShowCenter Player's Preferences menu to SCART RGB.

U.S.: Connect the Analog Video Output to an analog Video Input on your television using the video cable (yellow plug) from the package. Next, connect the "A" Analog Audio Out jacks to the stereo Audio In jacks on your television using the stereo audio cable (red and white plugs) from the package.

Configuration of a Network Connection

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

If the display on your ShowCenter Player differs from what you see here, your firmware is not the latest version. In this case, we recommend first updating the firmware by connecting the ShowCenter Player to your PC or network using an Ethernet cable. The update is then performed automatically. It is also possible to configure a wireless connection using older versions of the firmware, but this is neither very easy nor convenient. If you would like to know more, refer to the section "Wireless Network Connections (Old Firmware)".

Ethernet Network Connection

For a network connection via an Ethernet cable, first remove any wireless networking card from the ShowCenter Player. Choose the Wired (Ethernet) button by selecting it with the blue navigation buttons on the remote control and

Pinnacle ShowCenter

then pressing the OK button. The ShowCenter now automatically detects the PCs in your network which have ShowCenter software running. They are listed on the right. Select one of these PCs and press OK to create the connection.

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

Wireless Network Connection

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

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

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

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

Wireless Direct Connection (Ad Hoc Mode)

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

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

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

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

In the following dialog window, enter a name for the network (letters and numbers without spaces) and then for the network authentication type, select Open.

If you would like to encrypt your network, select WEP as data encryption and deactivate the checkbox The key is provided for me automatically. Now enter a network key.

However, we recommend that you first deactivate the encryption to make it easier for you to check whether the wireless connection is functioning correctly.

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

Set up Your ShowCenter System

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

wireless connection with the ShowCenter.

Connecting to an Access Point (Infrastructure Mode)

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

Wireless Network Configuration for the ShowCenter Player

Insert the wireless networking card into the ShowCenter Player expansion slot and disconnect any Ethernet cable. Select the Wireless (WiFi) button in the Server Selection menu of the ShowCenter Player by selecting it with the blue navigation buttons on the remote control and then pressing the OK button. Or you can press the C button to do this. The ShowCenter Player then performs a reset, searches for wireless networks and after a few seconds, displays the results.

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

Pinnacle ShowCenter

After choosing the network, you see the following menu:

The network name (SSID) is already automatically configured here. Activate the Direct to a computer checkbox if this is a wireless direct connection ("adhoc"). If you use WEP encryption in your network, select the type of key and then enter the key under WEP Key.

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

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

Wireless Network Connections (Old Firmware)

Old versions of the ShowCenter Player firmware cannot perform automatic searchs for wireless networks. In this case, a connection is created by pressing the B button in the Server Selection menu and then selecting WiFi Setup. Enter the configuration data for the wireless connection into this menu. In this case, the WEP key must be entered in hexadecimal code and must be either ten or 26 characters long (64 or 128-bit encryption).

For a wireless direct connection, you also need to configure your server PC as described previously.

Set up Your ShowCenter System

After a connection has been made, a firmware update is automatically performed. After this, you may need to reenter the configuration data for the ShowCenter Player, since it can be deleted by the update.

More Network Configuration Tips

Firmware Updates

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

Manually Adding a Server

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

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

Automatically Connect With a Server

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

server and choose your server PC. Now activate the checkbox Always connect to this server and save the setting.

Manual Network Configuration

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

WLAN Network Extensions for the ShowCenter

For an 802.11g standard network connection (54Mbit/sec), you can only use the card provided by Pinnacle. This card is not suitable for use in other devices such as notebooks.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

WLAN Range and Data Rates

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

The maximum data rate for realtime video transmission using the 802.11g standard is approximately 9 to 10 Mbit/sec. This is sufficient even for DVDcompatible formats. However, when the distance is increased or when walls are in the transmission path, the maximum data rate decreases.

Firewalls

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

Limitation to Special MAC Addresses

If you have configured the access point to secure your wireless network so that it permits only devices with certain MAC addresses, you must add the MAC address of the ShowCenter WLAN network expansion card to this list. The MAC address is located on a sticker on the ShowCenter network card. Note that this is not the MAC address that is indicated in the settings of the ShowCenter Player.

Permanent IP Address

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

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

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 photos

You can manage and organize these files in the MediaManager database which is constantly updated.

You can also create personal playlists – compilations of your favorite songs, movies or photos organized according to your own criteria. These playlists can also be exported so that, among other things, you can burn an audio CD.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Main Window of the Pinnacle MediaManager

You can launch the Pinnacle MediaManager from the Pinnacle program group in the Start Menu or by double-clicking the Desktop shortcut. The following window will open:

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:

At the very top of the window is the menu bar, which contains the File, Edit, Tools and Help menus.

Pinnacle MediaManager

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 first focus on the Media Library and the Media Player to give you the basic tools you need to use the application.

In later chapters, we will look at the more advanced functions – Import, Organize, Playlists and Export – as well as the menus.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

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 ShowCenter

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 any search term in the search field.

You can use the button to determine whether only certain ranges in 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.

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 ShowCenter

The Media Player

Using the Media Player and Its Controls

The Media Player plays the media files in the database on your PC. Video files and photos are played/displayed on its 16:9 screen. To toggle full-screen playback on your PC monitor, double-click the Media Player screen. Doubleclick the screen again to revert to the main Pinnacle MediaManager view. Audio files are played back using your sound card and computer speakers. Audio 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.

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 the button will change appearance. Click the button again to stop playback. In the left column of the Media Library next to each entry, the corresponding icons appear in miniature.

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

Pinnacle MediaManager

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 ShowCenter

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 import media files to the MediaManager Database from the following 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 media type in the Media Library, you can see the imported files in the Last imported category and in other categories. Right-click the list and select the Display in Explorer option from the pop-up menu in order to open the folder on your PC hard drive where the files are stored. The following sections explain the features for the individual categories in more detail.

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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 Browse button to select which folder on your computer you want to import media files from. Once you have found the folder, click the Open button. 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 photos, the names of the subfolders will also be imported as photoalbum names. Movie titles act as names for collections. If a movie consists of several files, these files will be grouped together in a collection.

Start

When you are finished with your settings, 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 wasn't supported or they were already listed in the database. All imported files will be displayed in the Media Library in the bottom half of the window, listed by media type and category.

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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 Media Library in the bottom half of the window, listed by media type and category.

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

(M3U format).

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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.

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the Start button. 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.

All imported files will be displayed in the Media Library in the bottom half of the window, listed by media type and category.

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

You may have problems importing copy-protected audio CDs.

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. The Get Titles feature allows you to import this information to 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 playing back from the CD.

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If you look in the Start column, you will see a checkbox for each track. 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, right-click the 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.

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.

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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.

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Start

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

In the Photos tab in the Media Library, you can see the imported files 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 photo files will be saved by default to the ...\My Documents\My Pictures folder on your PC's hard drive.

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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 last column in the list of watch folders, a menu will appear where you can select additional options for each watch folder:

Subfolder

If this option is activated, the server will watch all subfolders as well. If you are watching folders with photos, the names of the subfolders will be

imported as photoalbum names. Movie titles act as names for collections. If a movie consists of several files, these files will be grouped together in a collection.

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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.

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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.

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Organizing Media Files

Organizing File Tags

Various organizing tags can be used to manage the three media types (music, movies, photos) in the Pinnacle MediaManager. These organizational criteria serve to rank all files of a specific media type.

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

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.

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Customized File Tags (Keywords)

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

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

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.

lets you open the context menu and switch on the keywords

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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 keywords to the media files in the 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 one or more files in the Media Library list and click the create a new keyword for the selected files.

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 values.

button to

For some organizing tags such as Genre, the application will suggest common terms (Pop, Rock, Classical) even if you haven't imported any files in this category. Just click the entry once to see the suggestions.

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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

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

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

button.

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.

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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 playlists in which you list your 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 left column.

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.

Creating and Editing Playlists

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Creating a New Playlist

Click the An input field, which is by default called Playlist, will appear in the left-hand

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.

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.

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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 the display time for a photo. If you select manual, the slideshow will not automatically continue after that particular photo. To change the display time for all photos at once, first right-click and choose Select all from the menu. Then, leftclick 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.

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 Next, Previous, Shuffle, and 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.

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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 copies of media files from your MediaManager playlists to a:

 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.

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Exporting to a Folder

You will see the following window when you select the Folder category under the Export tab in the Tools section:

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.

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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 Start button. The progress bar will display 100% once all the files have been exported. You will also be told how many files were exported.

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Exporting to an M3U Playlist

You will see the following window when you select the Playlist category under the Export tab in the Tools section:

In this section, you can export a MediaManager playlist to an M3U playlist. The playlist will contain references to the actual location where your media files are stored.

Playlist

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

File

Use the Browse button to the right to select the file you want exported to the selected playlist. Then enter the name you want to give to the file.

Start

When you are finished with your settings, click the Start button.

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Exporting to a Burner

You will see the following window when you select the Burner category under the Export tab in the Tools section:

In this section, you can export a playlist to burn to CD or DVD.

Playlist

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

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.

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

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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 Start. The progress bar will display 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.

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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 selected files will be used to create a new playlist.

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.

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

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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.

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The Edit Menu

The Edit Menu Contains the Following Options:

Cut

Select the text you want to move and click Cut in the menu. Then, click the location where you want to paste the text and click Paste in the menu. 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 Copy in the menu. Then, click the location where you want to paste the text and click Paste in the menu. 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 Cut or Copy commands.

Delete

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

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).

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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 Media Library sort view. There is a separate, more detailed section in the manual for this feature.

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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.

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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 www.rhapsody.com

. Download the Rhapsody 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.

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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.

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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.

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

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 WMV

Supported Photo Formats

 JPG  PNG  GIF  BMP

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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 Media Library displays details on individual files in the list to the right. The first column shows the file state, which describes the file's conversion status.

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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.

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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.

Television

Turning on the ShowCenter Player and the Television

After you turn on the ShowCenter Player, the television screen will show the ShowCenter logo for a few seconds and then the server options menu.

The ShowCenter Player will now automatically detect all available server PCs in the network. Server PCs are computers on which the ShowCenter

software was installed and the ShowCenter Server is active. They will be displayed after a few seconds on the right-hand side, marked with a green checkmark. Select one of the servers with the direction keys and press OK to connect to it.

Server PCs that are not currently active are marked with a red no-access icon. In general, you cannot connect to inactive servers.

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Introduction to the TV Menu

Once the computer, the television, and the ShowCenter Player have been turned on and the connection to a server PC has been established, the

following menu will appear on the TV screen:

The left side of the screen lists the media types and some special features. The menu option PCTV is only available if you have installed a Pinnacle PCTV series product on your server PC.

The right side contains the index for the selected media type. It is easy to differentiate between media types because they are shown in different colors.

The main screen, which is always set to New Media, shows to the right the ten most recently imported media files. These files may be music, movie or photo files.

If new files have been imported since the last time you invoked this menu

then this is indicated by a signal next to the "New Media" button.

You can use the remote control to navigate in the menu and choose which media you want to view.

Television

The following sections provide more information about the menu structure of the individual media types as well as settings and special functions.

Do You Have Questions?

If you have any questions while using the menu, press this button on your remote control to access the interactive help feature for the TV menu. A video will be displayed on the television screen for whichever media type is currently selected.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

TV Menu - Music

The Music Start Menu is divided up into the following categories:

New Music

The most recently imported music files are displayed in "Artist-Album" format. If you press OK on the remote control, then all of the titles of the album are shown.

Playlists

A list of all the playlists created with the Pinnacle MediaManager application is displayed. If you select a playlist and then press OK, then all of the titles in this playlist are shown.

Auto-Playlists

Automatic playlists are created for the Pinnacle MediaManager categories Highest rating, Frequently played, Rarely played, and Not yet played, which are then accessible via this menu option.

Internet Radio

While the ShowCenter is being installed on your PC, the directory ShowCenter Radio, which contains several links to sample radio stations, is created in

Internet Explorer.

Television

You can store additional radio stations from the Internet as favorites at any time, e.g., from the internet page www.shoutcast.com internet page, right-click one of the "Tune In!" buttons, select "Add to

Favorites…" from the context menu and then the directory ShowCenter Radio.

Any saved radio stations are displayed in the Internet Radio menu. Subdirectories located in the ShowCenter Radio directory are shown in square brackets.

Select the desired directory and/or radio station with the remote control and then press OK.

Internet Radio is not active unless you have internet access. You can

deactivate this menu item via "Music Options" in the "Settings" menu.

. Once you have opened the

We recommend that you use the program "Winamp" from Nullsoft to listen

to internet radio on your PC. It is available on the internet at www.winamp.com.

Genre

A list of the different music genres is displayed. You can access a list of the corresponding artists by selecting a music genre and pressing OK.

Artist

A list of the artists is shown. You can access the list of albums with OK.

Album

A list of the albums is shown. You can access the song title selection list with OK.

Song Title

All of the titles included in the database are displayed. You can play a selected song by pressing OK.

Special Functions in the Music Menu

The A, B, and C buttons on the remote control and their functions in the Music menu are described below. Each is respectively displayed on the lower left-hand side of the screen. The respective function is executed by pressing the corresponding button.

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A - Play All

Any music pieces currently displayed on the right are played one after the other.

B - Shuffle & Play

Any music pieces currently displayed on the right are first shuffled in their order and then played.

C - Search

Selecting this function will call up a text entry field. Enter a search term of your choice and then press OK. All files found using the search term are then displayed in the list on the right-hand side of the screen.

You can also use the input keys 2 - 9 (or A - Z) in order to search for entries

in alphabetical order. Press "1" to return to the previous list.

Remote Control Functions While Playing Music

"?" Button

Detailed information about the current track is displayed when this button is pressed.

"Cursor Left" and "Cursor Right" Buttons

These buttons let you jump to any position in the track currently being played.

Buttons 0 to 9

Buttons 0 to 9 let you enter a desired percentage in order to skip to another position in the track currently being played.

"Next Track" and "Previous Track" Buttons

These buttons let you play the next/previous music piece of the selection.

It is not possible to scroll through the music collection while pieces of

music are being played.

TV Menu - Movies

Television

The Movies Start Menu is divided into the following categories:

New Movies

The most recently imported films are displayed with their titles. If you press OK on the remote control, the film selected is played.

Playlists

Displays a list of all of the playlists that have been created. If you select a playlist and then press OK, all of the films in this playlist are displayed.

Auto-Playlists

Automatic playlists are created for the Pinnacle MediaManager categories Highest rating, Frequently played, Rarely played, and Not yet played, which are then accessible via this menu option.

Genre

A list of the various film genres is displayed. By selecting a genre and pressing OK you can access the list of corresponding films.

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Series

A list of the various series is displayed. Select a series and press OK to access the list of the corresponding movies.

All Movies

All of the films included in the database are displayed. You can play a selected film by pressing OK.

The name of the collection is always displayed for films. Thus films which consist of several files are automatically grouped and the files are played successively. You can switch between the individual files during playback with the "Next Track" and "Previous Track" buttons on the remote control.

Special Functions in Movies Menu

The buttons A, B, and C on the remote control and their functions in the Movies menu are described below. These buttons are displayed on the lower left-hand side of the screen. Each function is executed by pressing the corresponding button.

After calling up the "Playlists" menu, you have the following options:

A - Play Selected

All of the films included in the selected playlist are played one after another.

B - Shuffle & Play

Any films included in the selected playlists are first shuffled and then played.

We recommend using this function for music videos.

Television

C - Search

A text input field appears on the screen if you select this function. Enter any search term and then select OK. In the list on the right, the media, which are associated with the search term, are then displayed.

You can also use the input keys 2 - 9 (or A - Z) to search for entries in alphabetical order. Press "1" to return to the previous list.

Remote Control Functions While Watching a Film

"A" Button

This button lets you change the screen size of the film currently being shown.

The standard setting is made in the "Settings" - "Video Start Size" menu.

"B" Button

This button can be used to switch between soundtracks for films with several different soundtracks.

"C" Button

A subtitle can be displayed with this button.

The function can only be activated for VOB files with subtitle tracks.

"?" Button

Pressing this button will display details about the current film.

"Cursor Left" and "Cursor Right" Buttons

These buttons let you to jump to any position in the film currently being shown.

Buttons 1 to 9

Buttons 1 to 9 allow you to enter a desired percentage value (10%, 20%, etc.) for skipping to another position in the film currently being shown.

"Next Track" and "Previous Track" Buttons

These buttons are used to show the previous/next film in a playlist or collection.

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TV Menu - Photos

The Photos start menu is split into the following categories:

New Photos

The most recently imported photos are displayed in the form of a photo album list. To display a slideshow, select a photo album using the remote control and press OK.

Slideshows

This function displays a list of all slideshows stored. To see a slideshow on screen, select the slideshow and then press OK.

Auto-Slideshows

Automatic slide shows are created for the Pinnacle MediaManager categories Highest rating, Frequently played, Rarely played, and Not yet played, which are then accessible via this menu option.

By Date

This is where you can perform a search for photos according to chronological specifications (year, month, day).

Television

Photo Albums

This function displays a list of all available photo albums. When you select a photo album, its contents will be displayed as thumbnails.

Special Functions in the Photos Menu

The A, B, and C buttons on the remote control change function according to which part of the menu you are currently in. The applicable functions are displayed in the bottom right section of the screen. Press the relevant button to perform the desired function.

After calling up the Photo Album menu, you have the following options:

A- Play Selected

All photos included in the selected album are displayed one after another.

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B - Step Selected

The first photo from the album selected is displayed. Use Previous Track and Next Track to switch back and forth between photos.

C - Search

Selecting this function will call up a text entry field. Enter a search term and then press OK. All files found using the search term are then displayed in the list on the right-hand side of the screen.

You can also use the 2 – 9 keys (or A - Z) to search for entries alphabetically. Press 1 to return to the previous list.

After calling up a photo album, you have the following options:

The A, B, and C buttons, which are displayed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen (or the corresponding buttons on the remote control), have the functions described below in the Photos menu. Press the relevant button to call up the desired function.

A - Play Album

All photos currently included in the list on the right are displayed one after another.

B - Step Album

The photos from the currently displayed list can be called up individually using the Previous Track and Next Track buttons.

C - Shuffle & Play

All photos currently displayed on the right are shuffled before being displayed.

Television

Remote Control Functions During Slideshows/Photo Albums

Full-screen Button

With this button you can shift between full-screen and thumbnail display format.

"A" Button

After pressing the "A" button, use the arrow buttons on the remote control to alter the size of the image (zoom) or of a detail (pan). Press the Play button to move on to the next photo.

The background music is paused in this mode.

"B" Button

Use this button to rotate the photo displayed. Press the Play button to move on to the next photo.

The background music is paused in this mode.

"C" Button

Use this button to show or hide the title of the photo currently displayed.

"?" Button

Pressing this button will display details about the photo currently displayed.

"Next Track" and "Previous Track" Buttons

These buttons are used to display the next/previous photo in a slideshow or photo album.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

TV Menu - PCTV

The "PCTV" option will only appear on the TV menu if a ShowCentercompatible Pinnacle PCTV product has been installed on your PC. Please refer to our Internet site www.pinnaclesys.com for a full list of ShowCentercompatible PCTV products.

Installing a PCTV Product

If a PCTV product has already been installed on your PC before you install ShowCenter, the system automatically detects the PCTV product and adds the PCTV option to the ShowCenter TV menu.

If the PCTV option does not appear in the TV menu, select Settings, General, and then PCTV Detection. The PCTV option will be available after a few seconds.

Television

The PCTV start menu is divided into the following categories:

Record Now / Scheduled Recordings

If you want to begin a recording immediately, select this option using the remote control and then press OK. Now select the desired station and duration of recording and confirm the recording details with Apply.

The recording will start immediately and the Record Now menu option will switch to Scheduled Recordings after a short time.

If you want to watch a recording while it is still in progress, select this option. You can now use further standard playback functions (e.g., pause, fast-forward, rewind).

Recording Programming

This menu allows you to program recordings. Press the "A" button on the remote control and set the desired recording date using the calendar displayed, select the further options and the relevant station and confirm your recording details with Apply.

Press "C" to cancel the programming entry. All recordings currently programmed are now listed in chronological order.

Press "B" to edit these entries or "C" to delete them.

If the recording you have programmed does not appear on the list, please check whether any information was incorrect or missing. It may be the case, for example, that a time limit has been exceeded.

New Recordings

Selecting this menu item will display all new TV recordings, listed according to date and time of recording.

All Recordings

Selecting this menu item will display a list of all TV recordings in alphabetical order.

Further Information on TV Recordings

Channel List

The Pinnacle MediaManager application imports the channel list from the PCTV VISION application.

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Storage Location for TV Recordings

All TV recordings are stored by the Media Library of the Pinnacle MediaManager under Media Type – Movies and under the TV film genre, where they can be organized or deleted. The recordings can also be called up in the PCTV Vision gallery, where they can also be deleted.

Capture Format

The capture (recording) format (e.g., VCD or SVCD) can be defined in the PCTV Vision settings.

TV Menu - Settings

Television

The following settings can be made on this screen page:

Locks

If you have stored some of your media files with an access code (PIN number) and the corresponding setting in the Pinnacle MediaManager application and now want to have full access to all files, proceed as follows:

First, confirm the Lock field, enter your PIN number and then press OK. You now have unrestricted access to all media files.

If you want to reapply restricted access, press OK.

Media files that are to be subject to restricted access are selected separately in the Organize tab of the Pinnacle MediaManager application.

Pinnacle ShowCenter

General

Language

Select the desired language for the TV menu and then press the OK button on the remote control.

Skin

This option allows you to choose from a range of designs for the TV menu.

Screen Saver

Select the period of time that you want the system to wait for prior to switching on the screen saver for your TV. The screen saver is generally deactivated while a film or image is currently being displayed.

PCTV Detection

This function detects the PCTV product installed on your computer. This takes a few seconds – if the process is successful, then the PCTV functions will be available via the TV menu.

Reload Firmware

This option is used to reload the firmware of the ShowCenter Player. This should only be performed in conjunction with a software update.

Music Options

Internet Radio

From here, you can switch the option Internet Radio Internet Radio off and on in the Music Menu.

Shortcut Keys

Use this function to assign music playlists and internet radio stations to the keys 0-9 on the remote control. Using the menu option New media, you can play back programmed music with the keys 0-9 without the television being on.

Video Preferences

Subtitles

In this menu option, you can turn the subtitles for AVI movie files on and off. Subtitle files need to be in the same directory as the movie files themselves and they need to have the same name. Supported file formats include MicroDVD (SUB), SubRip (SRT) and Substation Alpha (SSA).

Television

Video Start Size

Select whether a film is to be played back initially in "picture-in-picture" mode or immediately in full-screen mode.

You can also change the video start mode using the full-screen button on the remote control.

Movie Display

This function lets you choose whether the size of the playback format for films is, for example, to be adjusted to your TV, or whether another format is to be used.

You can also set the video output size while a film is being played by pressing the "A" button on the remote control.

Dolby Digital Output

By default, the ShowCenter Player plays movies with Dolby Digital sound only via the digital audio output jacks. If you would also like to play back Dolby Digital sound via analog audio connections, you will need to first pay a fee and activate this function. This occurs on the server PC via

Start/Programs/Pinnacle ShowCenter/Options/Activation of Dolby(R) Digital soundtracks on analog audio outputs.

The menu option Dolby Digital Output is visible only after activation. Here you can decide whether Dolby Digital sound is to be made available either as a stereo signal via the analog and digital audio output jacks or as surround sound using the digital audio output jacks exclusively.

Photo Options – General

Transition

This option allows you to select the type of transition between the photos displayed.

Filtering

This function is used to switch the flicker filter on or off and select the desired flicker filter level. Pressing "A" on the remote control will display a comparative selection of

Pinnacle ShowCenter

photos from the Pinnacle MediaManager Database as they would appear with the filter switched on and off.

The filter should be switched on for TVs with picture tubes in order to minimize flicker. We recommend a setting of 25%. In the case of plasma or LCD TVs, the filter should be deactivated so as to ensure maximum picture quality.

Color Correction

The color correction function automatically improves the quality of the photos displayed. Pressing "B" on the remote control will display a comparative selection of photos from the ShowCenter database as they would appear with and without color correction.

Photo Titles

This function allows you to switch the photo titles on or off.

This function can also be activated while photos are being displayed by pressing the "C" button on the remote control.

Photo Options – Album Settings

Background Music

This function allows you to select a music playlist to run while photos from an album are being displayed. The pieces of music on the relevant playlist are always shuffled before being played.

Note: The background music during a slide show is selected in the Pinnacle MediaManager application, not via the TV menu!

Time Per Slide

This option allows you to set the display time for photos when called up from photo albums.

Note: The duration of a slide show currently being displayed is selected in the Pinnacle MediaManager application, not via the TV menu!

Television

Video Output

Select the desired video output (e.g., SCART, Component).

After a new output has been selected, ShowCenter will use this as the standard output and wait several seconds for you to confirm by pressing OK. If it does not receive confirmation, ShowCenter will return to the original output.

Special Functions in the Settings Menu

A - Server

Press this button on the remote control to proceed to the server select function. Select the computer/server from which media are to be exported to the TV.

B - Advanced

Press this button on the remote control to proceed to the firmware settings page. This is where, for example, the network configuration settings are made.

C - Screen Adjust

Press this button on the remote control to center the menu screens. To do this, use the arrow keys and then press OK to store the position. This option has no effect on film or photo playback.

Please bear in mind that the A, B, and C buttons have additional functions according to the media type and category selected. The latter are always displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen.

Remote Control

Remote Control Keypad Layout

This image gives you an overview of what functions you can perform with the ShowCenter remote control:

Pinnacle ShowCenter

Button Descriptions in Detail

With your ShowCenter remote control in hand, you can access many ShowCenter features from the comfort of your recliner or sofa. The functions assigned to the individual buttons are described below in detail:

On/Off

This button turns the ShowCenter Player on and off.

Mute

This button turns the sound on and off.

Open Music / Movies / Photo Start Menu,

Open Home Page

These buttons open the music, movies and photo start menus as well as the home page, where you can select a particular menu function.

Change Video Out

This button toggles between individual video outputs. The screen will show the selected video output. If you do not see any image on your screen, just press the "Change Video Out" button until you do see an image.

This button is only for emergencies. The video output can also be selected in the TV Menu via "Settings" -"Video Output".

Full-Screen

Press this button to enlarge the preview window initially used to display a movie or a photo to full-screen mode, or to return to the preview window from fullscreen mode.

Miscellaneous Functions

The functions assigned to these buttons vary depending on which media type and category are selected. The functions are displayed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. Pressing a button will initiate the associated function. Press the relevant button to call up the desired function.

Pinnacle Systems ShowCenter - 1.7 User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table Of Contents

Basics

Safety Instructions

The Idea in Words

The Idea in a Picture

The Components

Package Contents

System Requirements

Set up Your ShowCenter System

Installing the Software

Connecting Your Devices

Configuration of a Network Connection

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

Television

Turning on the ShowCenter Player and the Television

Introduction to the TV Menu

TV Menu - Music

TV Menu - Movies

TV Menu - Photos

TV Menu - PCTV

TV Menu - Settings

Remote Control

Remote Control Keypad Layout

Button Descriptions in Detail