Page 1 XPLAY MEDIA EVENT SEQUENCER User Manual Vertigo Suite v5.2 M852-0800-520 2015-12-11...
Page 2: Copyright And Trademark Notice
Belden Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and other jurisdictions. Grass Valley USA, LLC, Miranda, Vertigo Suite, Xplay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Grass Valley USA, LLC. Belden Inc., Grass Valley USA, LLC, and other parties may also have trademark rights in other terms used herein.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents 1 Introducing Xplay ........1 2 Getting started with Xplay .
Page 4 Table of Contents 4 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques ..53 Preview and playout on a single device ......... . .54 Preparing to preview and playout on a single device .
Page 5 Xplay User Manual Appendix B Creating and editing pages in Xplay ..119 Embedded versus Shared pages ..........120 Creating and adding embedded pages to a playlist .
Page 6 Table of Contents...
Page 7: Introducing Xplay
Introducing Xplay Xplay is the Vertigo Suite’s application for controlling and previewing the playout of media and graphics. The management and playout of the playlist can be either operator- controlled using the Xplay user interface or through a external automation system. Xplay’s versatility also allows you to control playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.
Page 8 Introducing Xplay commands from automation to control the device and the device sends back status messages. See Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols, on page 73 for more information. Automation protocol (Serial or TCP/IP) Station automation Xplay Fig. 1-2: Xplay allows third-party automation systems to control Vertigo playout devices...
Page 9: Getting Started With Xplay
Getting started with Xplay Xplay can be used to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on a single or multiple devices and this can be done either manually or through automation. As such, the procedures for installing and configuring Xplay are depend upon its intended use. The following sections provide information and instructions for how to install, configure and become familiar with Xplay’s user interface: •...
Page 10: Installation And Licensing Information
Getting started with Xplay Installation and licensing information Installation and licensing information When playout is to be controlled manually by an operator, Xplay is typically installed and configured on a client computer that is connected via a local-area network to the playout devices.
Page 11: Overview Of The Xplay Interface
Xplay User Manual Overview of the Xplay interface While some of the Xplay interface components remain constant, others are customizable using Xplay’s settings. The following descriptions identify the Xplay’s main interface components and provide a brief functional description of each. Fig.
Page 12 Getting started with Xplay Overview of the Xplay interface The Message Log window is conveniently displayed as a floating window upon start up and each time a new message is added to the Message Log. You can hide the Message Log window by clicking the window’s Close button .
Page 13 Xplay User Manual When this section of the Status bar turns red, Xplay is has lost its connection to the Xmedia Server whose name or IP address is indicated. Alerts or warns you that the Xplay.ini file, which is located in C:\Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps, is currently in an unwritable state.
Page 14: Configuring Xplay's Settings
Getting started with Xplay Configuring Xplay’s settings Configuring Xplay’s settings While Xplay’s default settings are appropriate for most operating circumstances, you may want to customize the look and behavior of the application using Xplay’s settings. Note that modifying these settings is entirely optional. Changes to Xplay’s settings are made within the Settings dialog box, which can be accessed by selecting the Tools>Settings menu command.
Page 15: Adding And Connecting Xplay To Playout Devices
Xplay User Manual Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices Xplay allows you to preview and control the playout of media and graphics on various types of rendering and playout devices (e.g. Software CG, Vertigo XG or Intuition XG). Xplay can be configured to preview and control playout on a single device, or to managed the playout on multiple devices, multiple channels, and/or multiple layers on a channel all from a single interface.
Page 16 Getting started with Xplay Adding output devices to Xplay’s Device Manager To add an output device to Xplay’s Device Manager: 1 Open the Device Configuration window by selecting Tools>Device Manager. 2 In the Device Configuration window, select the Add button. 3 The Device Configuration windows expands to reveal two tabs (General and Advanced) with settings for identifying the device’s configuration.
Page 17 Xplay User Manual 5 Specify the appropriate Advanced Device Configuration settings: Clip Template When a “stand-alone” clip asset played out (either from the playlist or from an automation command), Xplay will use this system template to determine the clip’s playout format, position and behavior. Click the button to navigate to and select a Clip template.
Page 18: Configuring Xplay For Single Or Multi-Device Playout Control
Getting started with Xplay Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control The Device Views along the right-side of the Xplay interface allow you to view and control the playlist items that are either being cued or currently being played out on a device. Taking into consideration your intended use and output device configurations, you must set Xplay’s Layout setting (Tools>Settings>General>Layout) to either OnAir-Preview or Multi-Device, which determines the appearance of Xplay’s device views.
Page 19 Xplay User Manual c Click the right-arrow button to establish the association. The device is immediately added to the Active Device table. It is also added to the On Air Device View on the Xplay interface. d Click the device’s Keyer column and assign a keyer value. The keyer value tells Xplay on which layer of the output device to playout the playlist element (0 is the bottom-most level).
Page 20 Getting started with Xplay Configuring Xplay for single or multi-device playout control Configuring Xplay for multi-device playout When you want to use Xplay to control the playout on more than one output device or control more than one keyer on the same device, we recommend that you set Xplay’s Layout setting to Multi-Device.
Page 21 Xplay User Manual a In the Active Device table, click the <Device#> in the Name column to select the row. b In the Device Configuration table, select the device that you want to assign to the Device View selected in the Active Device table. c Click the right-arrow button to establish the association.
Page 22: Connecting Output Devices To Xplay
Getting started with Xplay Connecting output devices to Xplay example 20 devices with 16 keyers on each device. Xplay is not capable of displaying this many views simultaneously. So, you can decide to show only the keyer specified in the Keyer column of each device for control/interaction purposes and the rest will remain hidden, but be controllable by automation.
Page 23 Xplay User Manual removing the device from the Device Manager; simply right-click on the device’s LED and select the Disconnect command (the green LED turns red). Note: You can change the default name of the Device View (i.e. Device1) to something more descriptive by right-clicking on the Device View’s name in the toolbar and selecting the Rename command.
Page 24 Getting started with Xplay Connecting output devices to Xplay...
Page 25: Creating And Editing Playlists In Xplay
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Xplay’s Playlist Editor allows you to build and edit playlists by adding playlist elements (i.e. pages, templates and clips) to the tabular list and organizing them into the order in which they are intended to be taken to air. Playlists built in Xplay are typically designed to be manually played back sequentially by operator control using Xplay.
Page 26: Setting The Playlist Editor's Playlist View
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View Setting the Playlist Editor’s Playlist View The appearance and functionality of Xplay’s Playlist Editor differs depending upon the Playlist View setting (Tools>Settings>Layout>Playlist view). As such, before create a new playlist or load an existing playlist in the Playlist Editor, we recommend that you first select an appropriate playlist view.
Page 27 Xplay User Manual ByDevice Xplay’s ByDevice playlist view allows the Playlist Editor to display a playlist’s elements by device groupings rather than one sequential playlist. This makes it easier to identify and control the playlist elements that will be played out on specific devices. Playlist for Device 1 Playlist for Device 2 Playlist for Device 3...
Page 28: Creating A New Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Creating a new playlist Creating a new playlist To create a new playlist, you must first open a new, empty playlist. If the Playlist Editor area is already occupied by another playlist, performing the Create New Playlist action (described below) immediately clears the Playlist Editor and a blank playlist appears, ready for use.
Page 29: Loading An Existing Playlist
Xplay User Manual Loading an existing playlist When Xplay is in the Standard playlist view and a playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor, the playlist appears as one sequential list of playlist elements. However, when Xplay is in the ByDevice playlist view and a playlist is loaded, the playlist splits up its elements into sub-playlists that contain elements that target each of the devices configured in Xplay.
Page 30 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Loading an existing playlist • Only the elements that target the device are displayed in the playlist for each device. Elements whose target device does not match any device name will be played in the playlist for the first device.
Page 31: Playlist Element Verification
Xplay User Manual Playlist element verification When the Verify Playlist setting is enabled, each element in the playlist is verified when the playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor to ensure that it is available and ready for use. Each element in the playlist is verified as follows: •...
Page 32: Adding Playlist Elements To A Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Adding playlist elements to a playlist Grouping a selection of playlist elements You may want to group a selection of playlist item as to drag & drop the grouped elements to a different location or to delete a grouping of items all at once. Selecting consecutive playlist elements: Select the first element that you want to be included in the grouping.
Page 33: Using The Asset Browser To Add Pages, Templates And Clips To A Playlist
Xplay User Manual Using the Asset Browser to add pages, templates and clips to a playlist The Pages, Templates, and Clips root categories in Xplay’s Asset Browser provide access to all of the shared pages, templates, and clips that are stored on the Xmedia Server. As such, the Asset Browser is a practical tool for finding and adding these assets to the playlist.
Page 34: Using Quick Recall To Add Templates, Clips And Pages To A Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Using Quick Recall to add templates, clips and pages to a playlist When Xplay is in the ByDevice playlist view and you add a shared page by double-clicking or using the Open command, the new shared page is immediately appended to the device playlist as assigned by the template’s Target Device property, which is set in Xstudio when the template is created.
Page 35 Xplay User Manual Adding a page/template/clip to a playlist in ByDevice playlist view When Xplay is set to ByDevice playlist view, the asset’s Target Device property primarily determines in which device’s playlist the asset will be added. If no Target Device is associated with the asset, then the asset is added to the first device’s playlist.
Page 36: Using Search Xms To Find And Add Pages, Template Or Clips To A Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist Using Search XMS to find and add pages, template or clips to a playlist Xplay’s Search XMS allows you to quickly find and add shared pages, templates, or clips to a playlist that is currently loaded in Xplay’s Playlist Editor.
Page 37: Inserting Or Appending A Playlist To A Loaded Playlist
Xplay User Manual Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist When Xplay is set to Standard playlist view, you can add the entire contents of an existing playlist (i.e. pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments) to a playlist. This avoids having to recreate the contents of a playlist that already exists.
Page 38 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Inserting or appending a playlist to a loaded playlist The entire contents of the playlist asset is added immediately to the bottom portion of the playlist, including all pages, templates, clips, segments, and comments that were contained in the playlist asset.
Page 39: Adding Shared Segment Assets To A Playlist
Xplay User Manual Adding shared segment assets to a playlist Adding a shared segment to a playlist in Xplay is a convenient way of adding an existing grouping of embedded pages, shared pages and/or clips to a playlist. Note: Shared segments are only permitted to be added to a playlist when Xplay’s Playlist view setting is Standard .
Page 40: Grouping Elements Into Playlist Segments
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Grouping elements into playlist segments Grouping elements into playlist segments When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, you can add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) into your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings.
Page 41: Adding And Populating Playlist Segments
Xplay User Manual Adding and populating playlist segments When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, you can add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) into your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings. To add a segment to the playlist: 1 Be sure that Xplay is set to Standard playlist view.
Page 42 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Adding and populating playlist segments 6 Click and drag the selected playlist element into the desired segment. As you drag, a Insert Line indicates where the element will be placed. Before you drop it, take note of the following: •...
Page 43: Repositioning Playlist Segments And Their Elements
Xplay User Manual Repositioning playlist segments and their elements The instructions on page 34 explain how to add playlist segments (sometimes called embedded segments) to your playlists to group together related playlist elements under common headings. Segment 1 Segment 2 Fig.
Page 44: Deleting Playlist Segments From A Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Deleting playlist segments from a playlist Deleting playlist segments from a playlist When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, deleting a playlist segment and its elements from a playlist is pretty straightforward. However, when Xplay is in ByDevice playlist view, the segment’s elements might be targeting several devices, which changes the deletion procedure slightly (see below).
Page 45 Xplay User Manual When Xplay is in ByDevice playlist view and you want to delete a playlist segment: As is described on page 23, when a playlist is loaded into the Playlist Editor that contains a playlist segment whose elements target more than one device, the segment and its elements are displayed in each of the relevant devices.
Page 46: Adding Comment Rows To The Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Adding comment rows to the playlist Adding comment rows to the playlist When Xplay is in Standard playlist view, you can annotate your playlist by adding comment rows. Your comments should be concise, yet identify the purpose or behavior of elements in your playlist.
Page 47: Repositioning Playlist Elements Within The Playlist
Xplay User Manual Repositioning playlist elements within the playlist Pages and clips are added to playlists as primary scheduled events. Once added to the Playlist Editor, you can reposition these elements within the playlist by dragging and dropping them to the desired row location. In Standard playlist view, you can move an elements to any location within the playlist.
Page 48: Adding Secondary Elements To A Clip In The Playlist
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist Adding secondary elements to a clip in the playlist Making a page a secondary event to a clip allows you to set the page’s offset and duration with respect to the clip (primary event), rather than to the beginning of the playlist.
Page 49: Configuring And Editing The Playlist Columns
Xplay User Manual Configuring and editing the playlist columns Each row in playlist represents a single playlist element, segment heading or comment; while the columns display properties associated with the playlist item. Which columns are displayed in the Playlist Editor can be configured using the Column Layout dialog box.
Page 50 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout Click Cancel to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was. Removing columns from a playlist Complete the following steps to remove one or many columns from a playlist: 1 Select Tools>Configure Playlist Columns.
Page 51 Xplay User Manual Click OK to immediately add the new column to the playlist and close the Column Layout dialog box. Click Cancel to abort the changes and maintain the playlist as it was. Reordering the columns in a playlist The order in which the column appear in the Playlist Editor is determined by the column heading’s position in the Complete the following steps to reorder one or many columns in a playlist:...
Page 52 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Configuring the Playlist Editor’s column layout The Selected Columns and Available Columns text boxes are immediately appropriately populated. 4 Click Apply to implement the changes immediately in the playlist, while keeping the Column Layout dialog box open for further edits to the playlist columns. Click OK to implement the changes immediately to the playlist and close the Column Layout dialog box.
Page 53: Editing A Playlist Element's Properties
Xplay User Manual Editing a playlist element’s properties When a playlist is loaded in the Playlist Editor, you can change certain properties that belong to playlist elements. The following table defines the property/column and explains how to edit each playlist column. Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property Description...
Page 54 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Editing a playlist element’s properties Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property Mark In / Mark Displays the frame location that will be used as a starting and ending points when the clip asset is played out in the playlist. This property is set MarkIn/Out Editor using the Embedded pages, Shared pages and Templates...
Page 55 Xplay User Manual Playlist column Definition and how to edit the playlist element’s property Playout Type Indicates the method by which the playlist item (i.e page, template or clip) be cued to air. The Playout Type for playlist elements can be changed in Playout Type the Playlist Editor by right-clicking on the element’s cell,...
Page 56: Deleting Playlist Elements
Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Deleting playlist elements Deleting playlist elements While building or using the playlist, you may want to delete an element that was previously added to the playlist (e.g. a page, template, clip, playlist segment, or comment). Note: If the page, template, or clip that is to be deleted is a saved asset, deleting the item from the playlist does not remove the asset from the system, only from the playlist.
Page 57: Saving The Playlist
Xplay User Manual you. Instead, the Reload button will turn orange to indicate that a new version has been detected. Click the button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar to reload. • Both the Playlist update interval and Auto reload playlists settings have been activated.
Page 58 Creating and editing playlists in Xplay Saving the playlist To save an existing playlist under a different name or into another category: 1 Select the File>Save Playlist As menu command. Click the Save Current Playlist As button in the Playlist Editor’s toolbar. The Save Playlist dialog box appears.
Page 59: Operator Controlled Preview And Playout Techniques
Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Xplay is the Vertigo Suite’s application for previewing and controlling the playout of content that has been organized into playlists. Operators use Xplay’s Playlist Editor and Device Views to view and control the playlist elements that are then cued and/or taken to the output device(s).
Page 60: Preview And Playout On A Single Device
Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Preview and playout on a single device Preview and playout on a single device When Xplay is intended to be used to control the playout on only a single playout device, we recommend that you use Xplay’s OnAir-Preview layout. The OnAir-Preview layout provides operators with two Device View windows (On Air and Preview) and the Toolbar Panel.
Page 61: Preparing To Preview And Playout On A Single Device
Xplay User Manual Preparing to preview and playout on a single device Before using Xplay to preview and take a playlist to air on a single device, we suggest that you perform the following preliminary configuration and verification procedures to ensure that Xplay is properly configured and setup: 1 Verify that Xplay is currently in the OnAir-Preview layout and that the On Air and Preview Device Views are assigned to the desired devices.
Page 62: Previewing And Taking Playlist Elements To Air On A Single Device
Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on a single device The Playlist Editor’s global control buttons, Cue and Take, allow operators to cue and playout the playlist elements in the order in which they are listed in the Playlist Editor. •...
Page 63 Xplay User Manual Since the Cue On Load Playlist setting is enabled, when the playlist is loaded, the first playlist element is cued onto the Preview Device View and previewed on the connected preview device. Note: The first element in the playlist does not have to be the first item played out.
Page 64: Preview And Playout On Multiple Devices, Channels Or Layers
Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Preview and playout on multiple devices, channels or layers 9 Optional: You can remove the cued item from the Preview Device View by clicking the Uncue button or selecting Xplay’s Actions>Clear Preview menu command. Similarly, you can use the Clear button or Xplay’s Actions>Clear All (F4) menu command to remove the currently playing element from the On Air playout device.
Page 65: Preparing To Preview And Playout Using The Multi-Device Layout
Xplay User Manual Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout Before using Xplay to preview and take a playlist to air on a multiple devices, channel and/or layers, we suggest that you perform the following preliminary configuration and verification procedures to ensure that Xplay is properly configured and setup: 1 Verify that Xplay is currently in the Multi-Device layout and that appropriate number of Device Views are displayed and assigned to the correct devices.
Page 66 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Preparing to preview and playout using the Multi-Device layout • ByDevice: The playlist is broken down and displayed as multiple playlists, with one list for each device configured in Xplay. The device’s playlist is shown opposite the Device View for the corresponding device.
Page 67: Previewing And Taking Playlist Elements To Air On Multiple Devices
Xplay User Manual • Xplay>Playout>Cue look ahead>Enabled Determines if Xplay cues elements on every device when a cue is performed. Enabling this setting and then performing a general cue allows the element that is selected for cueing to be cued first. Then a search is made for the next element targeting each remaining device, starting after the selected element.
Page 68 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices Each playlist element’s Device cell displays the particular device that they were assigned to be played out on. Since the Cue On Load Playlist setting is enabled, the first playlist element for each device is cued onto their assigned output device.
Page 69 Xplay User Manual the playlist. So the next the next element in the playlist would be taken to air on Device2 and so on. If the Playlist Editor’s Set Playlist Wrap Property button is enabled, once you have reached the last element in the playlist, you can keep looping through the playlist by clicking the Take button.
Page 70 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Previewing and taking playlist elements to air on multiple devices 3 Click the Take button in the Device View assigned to the device that it is to be played out on and the element is immediately taken to air. The element is immediately taken to air and the playlist resumes from this new location.
Page 71: Additional Operator Controlled Tasks
Xplay User Manual The playlist is immediately divided up and each playlist element is placed in a playlist according to its assigned or target device. Since the Cue On Load Playlist setting is enabled, the first playlist element for each device is cued onto their assigned output device.
Page 72 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View The following topics describe how to edit the playlist elements in the Device Views, as well as how to save or apply the changes: •...
Page 73 Xplay User Manual Editing text and other contents elements in the device view If the page or template that is displayed in the Device View contains content elements (primitives) whose Allow Edit property are set to True, then you can make changes to these elements.
Page 74 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Editing playlist elements that are displayed in a Device View Changing an image, clip, or cel animation in the device view If page or template that is in the Preview or On-air Device View window contains an image, clip, or cel animation element whose Allow Edit property is set to True, then you can substitute the current image, clip, or cel animation for another without having to clear and reload the Device View.
Page 75: Using A Panel To Control An Additional Keyer Level On A Device
Xplay User Manual rather than on-air. If however, you really must save changes that were made in the On-Air Device View, you can use the Xplay’s File>Save Pages command. Be aware however, that the Save Pages command not only saves the page of interest, but all pages that have unsaved edits.
Page 76: Reloading And Refreshing Playlist Elements
Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Reloading and refreshing playlist elements 4 Depending upon what the panel was designed to do, operators can interact with the panel’s editable fields and control buttons and/or the panel will receive events during playout and react according to the programmed logic. Note: Xplay can be configured to send events to a control panel using keyboard shortcuts.
Page 77: Marking / Unmarking Playlist Elements As Aired
Xplay User Manual Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired Xplay contains an optional feature that allows you to visually distinguish between the playlist elements that have already been played on air and those that have not. You can configure Xplay so that once an element has been taken to air, its Status column changes color and reports “Aired”.
Page 78 Operator controlled preview and playout techniques Marking / Unmarking playlist elements as Aired...
Page 79: Controlling Xplay Devices Using Automation Protocols
Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Vertigo playout devices (Vertigo XG and Intuition XG) can be remotely controlled by external automation systems using Xplay and an automation protocol. Automation commands are sent using an automation protocol from the automation system to the device’s Xplay either through a serial or TCP/IP connection.
Page 80 Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Close the Xplay Automation Configuration window’s error message and use Xplay’s Device Manager to associate one or more devices to Xplay (see Adding and connecting Xplay to playout devices, on page 9). Then, try again to open the Xplay Automation Configuration window.
Page 81: Specifying Automation Settings In Xplay
Xplay User Manual Specifying Automation settings in Xplay For automation to control a Vertigo playout device, Xplay must run on the same device that is to be controlled. To ensure frame accuracy during playout, you must configure both Xplay and the device’s Automation settings to be complementary. Note that frame accuracy is not supported when using playlists.
Page 82: Configuring Xplay To Use The Evertz Protocol Over Serial
Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial Xplay can be configured to support the Evertz protocol as a means of controlling the playout of graphics content to Vertigo output devices. Thus far, Grass Valley has used Encoda Automation System running the Evertz protocol (Evertz 9525 DSK-LG) controlling Xplay.
Page 83 Xplay User Manual Data Bits The number of bits that make up a character of data that is transmitted. This setting is determined by the protocol and therefore it has been disabled. Flow Control Select the process for managing the rate of transmission of data between the receiver and Xplay to prevent congestion.
Page 84 Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Configuring Xplay to use the Evertz protocol over Serial 6 Optional: Select the Enable Advanced Logging setting to supplement the Xplay*.log files with additional information regarding the interaction between the Evertz protocol, Xplay and the output devices. A prerequisite to using the Enable Advanced Logging setting is that the Enable Debug Logging >...
Page 85: Configuring Xplay To Use The Oxtel Protocol Over Serial
Xplay User Manual Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial As the Oxtel protocol is Grass Valley’s proprietary protocol, we recommend that you use this automation protocol to allow an automation system to control Grass Valley playout devices. The following instructions describe how to configure Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over a dedicated serial connection between the automation system and Xplay.
Page 86 Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel protocol over Serial Data Bits The number of bits that make up a character of data that is transmitted. This setting is determined by the protocol and therefore it has been disabled.
Page 87 Xplay User Manual 9 Once you are finished setting the Oxtel over Serial properties, click OK and restart Xplay. Note: Xplay should be restarted after any changes to the Xplay Automation Configuration window’s Device to protocol mappings or protocol properties. 10 Verify that the automation configuration has been applied to the Xplay device(s).
Page 88: Configuring Xplay To Use Xprotocol Over Tcp/Ip
Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Configuring Xplay to use Xprotocol over TCP/IP Configuring Xplay to use Xprotocol over TCP/IP The Vertigo Xprotocol is a TCP protocol that allows external communication with Xplay. The packets are composed of a 24 byte TCP packet header followed by the Xprotocol command. An external program may connect to Xplay and control Xplay through Xprotocol commands.
Page 89: Configuring Xplay To Use The Oxtel Serial Protocol Over Tcp/Ip
Xplay User Manual Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP To configure Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP to control Xplay devices: 1 Open Xplay’s Device Manager and verify that the devices and device keyers that Oxtel protocol will control are properly configured and assigned.
Page 90 Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Configuring Xplay to use the Oxtel serial protocol over TCP/IP 9 Click OK and restart Xplay. Note: Xplay should be restarted after any changes to the Xplay Automation Configuration window’s Device to protocol mappings or protocol properties.
Page 91: Device Forwarding Of Automation Commands
Xplay User Manual Device forwarding of automation commands If the device that is to be controlled by automation is a dual-channel Vertigo XG, Xplay’s device forwarding allows you to use the automation protocol to control both channels by configuring one device channel and then forwarding the automation commands from the assigned device to the other device channel.
Page 92 Controlling Xplay devices using automation protocols Device forwarding of automation commands...
Page 93: Appendix A Xplay's Menus And Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Although many of Xplay’s menu commands and settings are described within the main chapters of this document in the context and/or procedures to which they apply, the following sections provide a quick reference to their functional descriptions: •...
Page 94: Xplay's Menu Commands
Xplay’s menus and settings Xplay’s menu commands Xplay’s menu commands Many of Xplay’s key features and commands are thematically organized within the menu bar command structure at the top of the main interface window. The following sections provide functional definitions of the Xplay menu commands: •...
Page 95 Xplay User Manual New Pages This command allows you to add multiple embedded pages. The Select A template for the new graphic and the Insert New Page dialog boxes stay up after adding a page to the playlist, so that you can keep adding more.
Page 96: View Menu
Xplay’s menus and settings View menu View menu menu contains commands that are related to displaying or hiding windows and View tools that are used to create and/or operate playlists and troubleshoot any problems that might occur along the way. Each of the menu commands is described in the following table: View...
Page 97: Actions Menu
Xplay User Manual Actions menu The Actions menu contains commands that allow you to control or perform tasks related to your playlist. Many of the commands are also available within the appropriate windows as buttons, or as key combinations. Cues the highlighted element in the playlist to the default device(s). Alternative access: •...
Page 98 Xplay’s menus and settings Actions menu Skip Multi Takes In cases where the playlist element that is playing on Device 1 Device 1 consists of multiple takes, this command keeps the current graphic on air while bypassing all remaining takes and cueing the next playlist element.
Page 99 Xplay User Manual Refresh Cued Device 1 Refreshes the page cued on device 1 by forcing all of its objects with data links to read the latest values from the database. This command is only available when Xplay’s General>Layout setting is set to Multi-Device. Alternative access: Shift+F3 •...
Page 100 Xplay’s menus and settings Actions menu Cue on Device Provides access to the following submenu commands, which cue the highlighted element in the playlist on the device identified by the command. Cue on Device 1 Ctrl+Alt+A • Cue on Device 2 Ctrl+Alt+B •...
Page 101 Xplay User Manual Clear on Device Provides access to the following submenu commands, which removes the playlist element that is currently on-air from the device identified by the command. Clear on Device 1 Ctrl+Shift+I • Clear on Device 2 Ctrl+Shift+J •...
Page 102: Tools Menu
Xplay’s menus and settings Tools menu Tools menu The Tools menu contains commands that allow you to specify some of the settings that affect the aesthetic and behavioral properties of Xplay. It also allows you to configure Xplay to interact with other devices and applications. The following table describes the functionality of the Tools menu commands: Settings Displays the Settings dialog box, which allows you to make changes...
Page 103: Help Menu
Xplay User Manual Configure GPI Vertigo XG devices can be equipped with an optional GPI card, which provides you with up to eight (8) inputs for manually controlling a series of content playout actions. Xplay’s GPI Configuration window allows you to match GPI inputs to specific playlist control actions.
Page 104: Xplay's Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Xplay’s settings Xplay’s settings Although Xplay’s default settings are appropriate for most operating circumstances, you may want to customize the look and behavior of the application using Xplay settings. Note that modifying these settings is entirely optional. Changes to Xbuilder settings are made within the dialog box, which can be Settings...
Page 105: General Settings
Xplay User Manual General settings • : If you will be using Xplay to operate a control panel, you can use this Startup panel field to specify which panel you would like automatically opened when you launch Xplay. To do so, click the button beside the field to display the dialog Select Panel...
Page 106 Xplay’s menus and settings General settings • : This setting is only used when the Limit for page cache Enable limit for page cache setting is enabled. The value represents the maximum number of elements in that are kept in the cache. elements that have not been used for the longest time are discarded first and anything that is currently visible inside a view is not discarded.
Page 107: Layout Settings
Xplay User Manual Layout settings • : This setting determines how the currently loaded playlist is displayed in Playlist view the Playlist Editor. Xplay offers the following three (3) playlist views in the Playlist Editor: • - The Playlist Editor is not displayed at all in the Xplay window. No playlists None can be manually loaded or displayed.
Page 108: Playout Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Playout settings Playout settings • Cue look ahead : Determines if Xplay cues elements on every device when a cue is performed. Enabling this setting and then performing a general cue allows the element that is selected for cueing to be cued first. Then a search is made for the next element targeting each remaining device, starting after the selected element.
Page 109 Xplay User Manual • : Determines the action taken when Xplay has detected that the Auto reload playlists currently loaded playlist has changed. Note: this setting is ignored if the Playlist update interval setting is zero. If this setting is enabled and Xplay detects that the currently loaded playlist has changed, it automatically reloads the playlist.
Page 110: Afd Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings AFD settings AFD settings • Enable XG Output AFD monitoring : When enabled, Xplay is able to monitor the output AFD of the XG and raise the following event to the panel loaded in Xplay: NotifyOutputAFDCode(devName, previousAFDCode, NewAFDCode) •...
Page 111: Display Settings
Xplay User Manual Display settings Although the Display setting page has various settings, the bulk of the settings deal with properties, which are set on this page and reported in the overflow underflow Overflow column in the Playlist Editor. At the center of the overflow/underflow discussion are timeslots .
Page 112 Xplay’s menus and settings Display settings offset is with respect to the start of the page, that is, when the page was taken. Normally, this value is equal to the duration of the preceding page. • : Determines the format of the first column in the Playlist Editor, which can Number rows be used for identifying the playlist element rows by row number or MOS story number.
Page 113: Template Favorites Settings
Xplay User Manual Template Favorites settings The Template Favorites settings allow you to assign particular templates to control key sequences (Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2...). This provides a convenient shortcut for opening templates that are frequently used for creating and adding embedded pages to broadcast playlists. The Template Favorites settings allows you to assign shortcut for up to (10) templates.
Page 114: Panel Events Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Panel Events settings Panel Events settings Xplay can be configured to send events to a control panel using keyboard shortcuts. The keys used to send the events are Ctrl-Shift+0 up to Ctrl-Shift+9 The events that are sent to the control panel for each key are specified in the Panel Events settings.
Page 115: Automation Settings
Xplay User Manual Automation settings Xplay automation settings allow you to determine whether or not you would like messages to display while working in Xplay. While these messages may become redundant, they often serve as an important confirmation step. Therefore, in most cases, we recommend that you leave these settings selected.
Page 116: As Run Logging Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings As Run Logging settings As Run Logging settings Xplay can automatically generate As Run Log files, which provides a record of all of the elements that were played during the execution of a playlist. The As Run Log is often used by management and billing departments to document that commercials or programs were actually played on-air.
Page 117 Xplay User Manual setting is set to , the log file is automatically named using As Run Log Frequency Weekly the 52-week calendar convention (e.g. week40.asr Each time a playlist element is taken to air, an entry is recorded in the log file. The format the entries is in Vertigo format is as follows: •...
Page 118: Logging Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Logging settings Logging settings Xplay’s logging settings allow you to specify the categories of events that you want to be recorded in the Xplay log files, as well as the maximum number and size of Xplay log files that will be archived.
Page 119: Plugins Settings
Xplay User Manual Plugins settings Xplay’s functionality can be extended through plugins. All plugins that are meant to be used with Xplay must be stored in one directory location. The directory location must be specified in the Plugins Path setting. While the Plugin Path value can be any full path directory location on your system, the default Plugin Path value is: C:\Program Files\VertigoXmedia\Apps\Plugins\...
Page 120: Servers Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Servers settings Servers settings The Xmedia Server is the central graphics asset management server for the Vertigo Suite system. Along with the Data Server, the Xmedia Server manages the communication and content that allows Xplay to build/edit playlists and pages, as well as playout the contents of playlists to output devices.
Page 121: Playlist > Basic Settings
Xplay User Manual Playlist > Basic settings The Playlist’s Basic settings determine the background and text colors for everything in your playlist -- pages, actions, segments, comments, and titles. You can also choose a font for the playlist. To edit the default color for these playlist settings, click the button to the right of each color field.
Page 122: Playlist > Status Settings
Xplay’s menus and settings Playlist > Status settings Playlist > Status settings The status of each playlist element is reported in the Playlist Editor’s Status column. During playout, it is often difficult to keep track of which playlist elements are cued or on-air and on which device(s).
Page 123: Playlist > Highlight Settings
Xplay User Manual Playlist > Highlight settings The Highlight settings allow you to associate some playlist tasks and events with a highlight color that helps draw your attention to and identify a playlist event, like which playlist elements have already aired. Depending upon the task or event, a highlight may be in the form of a line that helps guide you, a cell or row in the Playlist Editor that changes color, or text added to the playlist element’s Status.
Page 124 Xplay’s menus and settings Playlist > Highlight settings...
Page 125: Appendix B Creating And Editing Pages In Xplay
Creating and editing pages in Xplay While most graphic pages are created and added to playlists in Xbuilder, Xplay does offer you the ability to create and add embedded and/or shared pages to a loaded playlist. See Embedded versus Shared pages below for a brief description of these two types of pages.
Page 126: Embedded Versus Shared Pages
Creating and editing pages in Xplay Embedded versus Shared pages Embedded versus Shared pages Before creating a graphics page, you must decide whether the new page will be an embedded page or and a shared page. Note that both types of pages provide the same playout performance in a playlist.
Page 127: Creating And Adding Embedded Pages To A Playlist
Xplay User Manual Creating and adding embedded pages to a playlist If you require a graphic page for an individual playlist, and you are sure that the page will never be used outside of the playlist, then we suggest that you create an embedded page. Embedded pages exist only within a playlist, and it is the playlist that is saved as a whole in the Xmedia Server.
Page 128: Creating And Adding Multiple Embedded Pages
Creating and editing pages in Xplay Creating and adding multiple embedded pages Creating and adding multiple embedded pages The following procedure describes how to create a multiple embedded pages in Xplay by selecting a template, editing template’s variable fields, adding it to the currently loaded playlist, and then repeat the process without having to reopen the template browser.
Page 129: Using Template Favorites To Create And Add Embedded Pages
Xplay User Manual • To create a new page using the same template, simply edit the template’s variable fields and click the button Append to / Insert in Playlist and Start New Page • To create a new page using a different template, close the Create Page dialog box by clicking the...
Page 130: Creating And Adding Shared Page Assets To A Playlist
Creating and editing pages in Xplay Creating and adding shared page assets to a playlist Creating and adding shared page assets to a playlist Shared page assets are stored on the Xmedia Server, which allows them to be added directly to any playlist in Xplay. See Embedded versus Shared pages, on page 120 for more information about shared pages.
Page 131 Xplay User Manual • To only save the new shared page as an asset on the Xmedia Server, simply click the button . The dialog box appears allowing you to specify Save Page Save Page the new page’s name, information and category. After you have completed the page’s information and category fields, click .
Page 132: Using The Asset Browser To Add Shared Pages To A Playlist
Creating and editing pages in Xplay Using the Asset Browser to add shared pages to a playlist Using the Asset Browser to add shared pages to a playlist root category in Xplay’s Asset Browser provides access to all of the shared pages Pages that are stored on the Xmedia Server.
Page 133: Editing Pages In Xplay
Xplay User Manual Editing pages in Xplay You can edit embedded and shared pages that have been added to a playlist up until the page is taken to air. In most cases, you will edit a pages variable fields or basic properties within the playlist, but Xplay also allows you to make on-the-fly edits to a page when it is cued in the Device View.
Page 134: Editing A Page When It Is Cued On A Device
Creating and editing pages in Xplay Editing a page when it is cued on a device Editing a page when it is cued on a device You can make edits to a page when it is cued on a device’s view or enlarged window. The edited page can either be taken directly to air with or without saving the changes.
Page 135: Appendix C Emergency Alert System (Eas) Support
Emergency Alert System (EAS) Support The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a federal United States of America notification system used by government-approved entities to broadcast important warnings to the entire nation. The television industry is required to respond to such notifications by suspending its programming and displaying the incoming messages, optionally broadcasting EAS- supplied audio as well.
Page 136: Configuring Xplay's Eas Settings
Emergency Alert System (EAS) Support Configuring Xplay’s EAS settings Configuring Xplay’s EAS settings The configuration of Xplay’s EAS support is performed in the Emergency Alert System dialog box, which is available by selecting the menu Configuration Tools>Configure EAS command. The initial dialog box prompts you to select an EAS Emergency Alert System Configuration receiver from the drop-box.
Page 137: Target Device Settings
Xplay User Manual • : The parity setting offers the option of error checking during transmission Parity between the receiver and Xplay. This setting is determined by the protocol and disabled ( None • : The stop bits value represents the last bit in a character in asynchronous Stop Bits transmission to indicate the ending of the character.
Page 138: Protocol Settings
Emergency Alert System (EAS) Support Protocol Settings Protocol Settings While the television industry is required to respond to EAS notifications by suspending its programming and displaying the incoming messages, they can choose whether or not to broadcast the EAS-supplied audio message. If the broadcaster chooses to play the audio portion, they must enable the Request Audio Message setting to request the EAS voice...
Page 139 Xplay User Manual To assign a template to a device that is listed in the Device Forwarding table: 1 Create the templates in Xstudio. Be sure to use the exact same name for each template, but append a prefix (EAS > HD_EAS) or postfix (EAS > EAS_HD) to the template that is intended for the device in the Device Forwarding table.
Page 140: Eas Status Bar In The Xplay Interface
Emergency Alert System (EAS) Support EAS status bar in the Xplay interface EAS status bar in the Xplay interface Once the Emergency Alert System (EAS) receiver has been configured in Xplay, a collapsible status bar appears along the bottom of the Xplay user interface to provide operators with a quick visual of the EAS receiver’s status and the current EAS event massage.
Page 141: Appendix D Configuring Gpi Inputs
Configuring GPI inputs Vertigo XG devices can be equipped with an optional GPI card, which provides you with up to eight (8) inputs for manually controlling a series of content playout actions. See the “Vertigo XG Configuration Guide” for more information about the GPI card option. The Vertigo Suite includes a GPI Server, which is an independent service that listens for GPI triggers coming from the GPI card and then routes the trigger either to the playout device for hardware bypass, or to Xplay which has been configured to match GPI inputs up to...
Page 142: Configuring And Controlling The Gpi Server
Configuring GPI inputs Configuring and controlling the GPI Server Configuring and controlling the GPI Server The GPI Server Control Panel is used to configure the GPI hardware and the video bypass option. To open the GPI Server Control Panel: • Select Start>Programs>Vertigo>Control Panels>GPI Server Control Panel Setting the GPI Server’s General and Device Type settings Selecting the...
Page 143: Starting, Stopping, And Refreshing The Gpi Server
Xplay User Manual To configure the Video Bypass option for the GPI inputs: 1 Open the GPI Server Control Panel and select the menu command. Tools>Options Expand the GPI Server heading and select Video Bypass 2 Click the button to add a new Video Bypass definition. 3 Define the video bypass definition for a specific GPI input by setting the following parameters: •...
Page 144: Opening The Gpi Configuration Window In Xplay
Configuring GPI inputs Opening the GPI Configuration window in Xplay Opening the GPI Configuration window in Xplay For each of the GPI inputs’ states (High or Low), you can define a rule (a set or actions) that is sent via the GPI Server to Xplay. Upon receipt of the trigger, Xplay then performs the specified actions.
Page 145: Gpi Input Actions
Xplay User Manual GPI input actions The following table provides brief descriptions of each action that can be assigned to a GPI input state’s rule (see Adding a rule to a GPI input state, on page 138): Clear Playlist Removes the current playlist from Xplay’s Playlist Editor. Cue Down Removes the currently cued playlist item from the playout device specified in this action’s Device parameter.
Page 146 Configuring GPI inputs Enabling and disabling GPI in Xplay...
Page 147: Contact Us
Contact Us Grass Valley Technical Support For technical assistance, contact our international support center, at 1-800-547-8949 (US and Canada) or +1 530 478 4148. To obtain a local phone number for the support center nearest you, please consult the Contact Us section of Grass Valley’s website ( www.grassvalley.com An online form for e-mail contact is also available from the website.

Belden grass valley XPLAY User Manual

Quick Links

Need help?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Belden grass valley XPLAY

Summary of Contents for Belden grass valley XPLAY

Table of Contents