MagicSoft PlayOut ver 5User Manual

This manual is organized in five sections

Section I : InstallationSection II : OverviewSection III : PlayOut ServerSection IV : PlayOut ClientSection V : Linking with MagicSoft CG

ContentsSection I: Installation

I.1 System Requirements

Operating system:MagicSoft PlayOut is designed to run under Windows XP, Vista or

Windows7 32 bit or 64 bit.Framebuffer:

It is recommended to install a BlackMagic DeckLink or Intensity card before installing the playout software. If such a card it is not detected the software can run by displaying in a preview windows on the desktop. Hard Disk Space:.

You must have a minimum of 100 Mbytes of Hard Disk space to install the program. If you intend to use the system for broadcasting, make sure that you have 10GB Hard Disk space available to store metadata and cached. Thumbnails. For each clip you need approx 25kB of system Hard Disk space.

We recommend you to use a separate hard disk for storing clips and format NTFS it with 64k blocks.CD-ROM:

If you intend to install the software from a CD-ROM, the system must have a CD/DVDdrive.Processor (CPU):

The program will run on a 2 Ghz (or better) Pentium / AMD processor.For HD playout a quad processor is recommended.

RAM:MagicSoft PlayOut PC will need at least 1GB of RAM. It is recommended to install 2GB of RAM.

USB Port:The computer must have at least 1 unused USB port to install the USB

Hardware Key (Dongle).VGA Card:

Any video card that supports a resolution of 1024*768 or greater.We recommend a nVidia chipset that have a memory bus of min.128 bits and min 128MB video memory Mpeg2 /4 decoder :

An Elecard decoder must be installed on your system in order to work with mpeg2/4 materials. For license inquiry please contact Elecard.QuickTime decoder :

The Quicktime decoder must be installed on your system in order to work with .mov, .dv or .mp4 materials.

I.2 Installing the Software

The Program has a Setup program (with extension .msi) to setup the software to run on your computer. Installed from either a CD-Rom or from your hard drive.

Installing from a CD RomInsert MagicSoft CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Run the

.msi program from the CD-ROM and the system will begin installing the software. Follow the instructions on the screen until the software is completely installed. After installation, a folder called “MagicSoft” should be in the Programs menu.

Installing from the Hard DriveRun the .msi program and the system will begin installing the software.

Follow the instructions on the screen until the software is completely installed. After installation, a folder called “MagicSoft” should be in the Programs menu.

I.3 Installing the Hardware KeyOnce the software is installed the Hardware Key (dongle) can be inserted

into one of your computer’s unused USB ports.

I.4 Checking the InstallationRun the program to test the installation by double clicking on "Start

MagicSoft Playout" icon. The program’s window should appear after several seconds.

Using the program graphical interface you can choose :- the video standard- the type of the license (Demo or full license with the Dongle Key )

Both client and server will be started for playout.

Section II: Overview

II.1 About MagicSoft Playout

MagicSoft Playout software is designed as an intuitive and powerful playout solution for professional environments like TV broadcasting stations (suitable for 24/24 or comercials/news insertion ) or live shows, exhibitions, trade shows and so on.

The MagicSoft Playout User Interface has been designed to be easy to use.

MagicSoft playout solution has a Client-server architecture and that brings some noticeable advantages for stability and usability : - server (that also controls the Decklink card) and clients (that manages the playlist) allows a better cpu balancing for today multicore CPU - clips are verified in the client application before being accepted for playout- you can have more than one client started and you can dynamically jump from one playlist to another

MagicSoft Playout is also very flexible :- for SD it works with mixed list of DV avi and mpeg2 materials- for HD the playlist allow all suported SD materials (making upsaling) and also HDV (1440 x 1080i .m2t or mpeg2) and full HD (1920 x 1080i mpeg2)

Do not hesitate to contact us at support@magicsoft.tv for specific questions

II.2 Supported Video Formats

For SD Supported SD formats - DV in .avi container (fourCC dvsd and dsvd)- avi uncompressed ( 24 bit or 32 bit with alpha channel )- avi mjpeg ( available by using DeckLink 4:2:2 decoder ) - Mpeg2 (4:2:0 or 4:2:2 ) with extension mpg, m2p, mp2, vob, m2t, ts- QuickTime (can also have alpha channel) with extension .mov , .dv or .mp4- Windows Media Video with extension .wmv- Mpeg4 (AVC) with extension .mts

If a clip has a resolution like 704x576 or 512x576 it will be accepted in playlist and resized to 720x576

For HD - all suported SD materials (upscaling is done automatically) - HDV (1440 x 1080i .m2t or mpeg2)- Mpeg2 (4:2:0 or 4:2:2 ) with extension mpg, m2p, mp2, vob, m2t, ts- Windows Media Video with extension .wmv- Mpeg4 (HD-AVC) with extension .mts

Supported audio codecs : - DV, mjpeg and uncompressed avi must have the sound uncompress- mpeg2 materials must have the sound as mp2 or LPCM

Supported sampling rates are : - 8000 , 11025 ,16000 , 22050 , 24000 , 32000 , 44100 and 48000 Hz.

Both 8bit and 16bit and mono and stereo materials can be played.

Materials without sound are accepted for playout

All supported file types can be mixed in the same playlist .

The unsupported files will appear on a red background

Suported NLE softwareAdobe Premiere (beginning with version 6.0)Apple Final Cut Pro (using Sorenson for avi files larger that 4GB) Avid (using Sorenson for files larger that 2 GB)Canopus Edius (export as Microsoft DV)Sony Vegas Pinnacle Liquid

Suported encoders : Mainconcept ProcoderCinemaCraft. Other encoders may work.

In the next version of the software ,support for other codecs and containers are planned.

Please contact us if you have any sugestions.

Section III: PlayOut Server

III.1. User interface

The main interface window has several elements :

Title BarThis is the topmost horizontal bar . It displays the name of the licenses that you are using and the name of the playlist that is curently playing.

Video Overlay WindowIt shows the currently playing video.

MENU BAR

It cotains the menu of the application :File -> ExitTools ->Options ( in this section you can modify the preferences for the server )Logo -> Set Logo ( up to 16 Logo can be preloaded ) Help ->About ->Help

III.2. Logo Settings

This dialog allows you to preset up to 16 Logo that can be dinamically assigned in the playlist.

The logo must be :- .tga file uncompressed 32 bit- full screen ( PAL : 720x576 / NTSC : 720x486 / HD1080 : 1920x1080 )

The logo will be displayed only if the clips or live is running.

It is not recommended to use Logo on clips with alpha channel.

In the client software, the metadata dialog offers the possibility to cutomize a certain folder in order to automatically assign a logo for all the clips from the folder.

III.3. Server Settings

Setting up PreferencesIn order to modify the settings go to Tools ->Options

Video mode dialog allows you to select the TV standard and the framebuffer used for output and input ( for Live incoming signals )

Server TCP settings for communication with the playlist clientBy default, the server for playout listen the commands for playlist client on

127.0.0.1 on port 3002 and send the responses on port 3001.You can change those settings in this "Server TCP" section. Of course,

you must change the settings for playout clients using the same values.

Settings the parameters for comunication with the CG

The playout program has a very powerful way to link to the MagicSoft CG acting as TCP client to send the metadata associated to each clip to CG.

You can change those settings in this "TCP client for CG" section. Of course, you must change the settings for CG to ensure the communication.

Setting the folder for logging

The playout program allows you to set a folder for saving daily logs.

Section IV: PlayOut Client

IV.1. User interface

The client interface window has several elements :

a. Title Barb. Menu Barc. Current clip and playlist progressd. Volume Sliderse. PlayOut Control Buttonsf. Playlist Gridg. PlayList Commands buttons

IV.1. a. TITLE BAR

This is the topmost horizontal bar of the MagicSoft PlayList Client. It display the name of the currently executed playlist file .If the playlist has been changed, but not saved, there is an asterisk (*) after the playlist name.

IV.1. b. MENU BAR

It cotains the menu of the client application :

File -> New PlayList A new playlist file will be created -> Append list content Append a .xml playlist . Will be inserted at the end of the list -> Save Save your playlist in the curent playlist file -> Save As ... Save your playlist in a .xml file -> Close Close the client program. A dialog will display to save the modified list

Playout will stop after next playing clip.

Edit Allows you to perform Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete to selected clips -> Cut -> Copy -> Paste -> Delete

Actions -> Park will prepare a clip for playback. First frame will show on the output -> Play starts the playback -> Stop playout will stop. At the output will display black -> Pause playout will stop. At the output will display a frame -> Refresh will scroll the list to make the playing clip visible

Settings -> Options Open the setup dialog -> MetaData Open the setup Metadata section

View -> Show all Columns If you hide some columns by resizing , you can restore them using this command

-> Size to content Automatically resize the comuns for best fit to content

Help -> Help-> About

IV.1. c. Current playlist progress

This section has several elements :

Progressbar for the list (shows in blue and white the time elapsed and time remaining )

Countdown for playlist time remaining (displayed at right )Counter for playlist time elapsed (displayed at left )Display for playlist duration (in the middle, above the Progressbar for

the list )

Progressbar for current playing clip (shows in green and white the time elapsed and time remaining)

Countdown for current playing clip showing time remaining (displayed below the Progressbar for the clip, at right )

Counter for current playing clip showing time elapsed (displayed below the Progressbar for the clip, at left )

Display for current playing clip duration (in the middle, below the Progressbar for the clip)

IV.1. d. Volume Sliders

The Volume sliders allows you to compensate different sound volume in separate clips.

You can control it by dragging the slider.The maximun value is 15 dB and minimum is -15 dB. Per channel control is also supported.

IV.1. e. Playback Control Buttons

Park file Click this button to prepare a clip for playback. First frame will show on the output

Play Click the green arrow to PLAY the selected file

Stop Click to stop playback

Pause When you click PAUSE, file playback pauses, and you can resume playing by clicking play or pause again

Set Next Click to mark selected clip to be played after current playing clip

Refresh Will scroll the list to make the playing clip visible

Loop If checked, when the playback of the last clip of the playlist is complete, playback will continue from the beginning of the playlist

AutoStart Allows you to set the playlist to start at a predefined time

IV.1. f. Playlist Grid

Clips will be played in the sequence they are shown in the rows of the grid.

The columns of the grid are :

Time - shows the time when the material will startName- the clip nameImage- the image associated with the clipDuration - the duration of the clip calculated between Mark OUT and Mark INPlay Interval - display values of Mark IN and Mark OUT Video Size - the size of the video materialAudio - the sampling rate of the audioClipType - allows you to assign a type to each material Metadata - more metadata fields

You can use the metadata setup editor to make the metadata structure appropriate for your project type

Right click options for list

Allows you to perform Cut, Copy and Paste to selected clipsCutCopyPaste

Insert Media Will open a dialog for selecting the clips that can be inserted in the list after selected clip

Insert Media from List Will open a dialog for selecting a playlist in order to insert the content of the chosen list after selected clip

Insert List Will open a dialog for selecting a playlist in order to beinserted ( as playlist ) after the selected clipWhen the playout will reach the proximity of this list, the content of the list will be expanded.

Insert Replacement List Will open a dialog for selecting a playlist in order to beinserted ( as playlist ) after the selected clipWhen the playout will reach the proximity of this list, the content of the list will be expanded and the grid will discard the clips already played.

Open in another playlist Allows you to expand a playlist in another client a note in the list after selected clip

Insert Note Allows you to insert a note in the list after selected clip.

Insert Pause Event If you insert a Pause Event , Playout will stop after current clip and will display last frame of the clipThe duration of the Pause Event is adjustable

Insert Stop Event If you insert a Stop Event , Playout will stop after current clip and will display blackThe duration of the Stop Event is adjustable

Insert Live Event If you insert a Live Event , Playout will stop after current clip and will display the Live incoming signalThe duration of the Live Event is adjustable

Insert ParkNext Event If you insert a ParkNext Event , Playout will stop after current clip and will display the first frame of the next clip

Set Loop If checked the corresponding playing clip will continue playing until unchecked.

Metadata

-> Set Defaultthe metadata of the selected row will be saved as default for the clip

-> Load Defaultsthe metadata defaults values will be loaded for the selected clip

-> Apply Metadata to all play itemsthe metadata for selected row will be applied for all row containing the same clip

Find FileWill open the directory containing corresponding clip with clip being selected

Randomize selection Will change the order of the selected clips

Media Information Shows the properties of the clip

IV.1. g. PlayList Commands buttons

Live switch Allows you to switch from the current playlist to a Live input.The Live input is available if you have a another DeckLink card assigned as Live input.

Insert Will open a dialog for selecting the clips that can be inserted in the list after selected clip

Delete Delete selected clips

Trim Will open a dialog for trimming the selected clip

Rescan File By clicking this button will re-check the selected clips

Image Toggle clip image displaying in the list

Use Logo Allows you to forcefully change the logo immediatelly

IV.2. Client Settings

Setting the library path

Select the location to store Metadata and pictures of the clips used for playout

Setting the connection

By default, the client for playout send the TCP commands for server on 127.0.0.1 on port 2001.You can change those settings in this "Conection" section. Of course, you must change the settings for playout server also

Setting the encoding for TCP/IP communication

Setting for GUI

If “Verify clip existence” is checked then the existence of the next 10 clips to be played will be automatically verified.

Assigning shortcuts

The dialog allows you to assign shortcuts for the default actions of the program

Setting the metadata

Will open a dialog for editing the metadata to make the metadata structure appropriate for your project type

Metadata setup

In order to open the dialog go to Settings -> MetadataIn "Metadata Setup" dialog ,the list displays all the metadata types. Each

metadata has a corressoponding editable column in the playlist grid.You can Add , Delete or Edit the selected metadata from the list.

Metadata properties

By clicking the Edit button a "Metadata Properties" dialog will appear

This dialog allows you to edit:-the name that will be displayed in the column header-the variable name that will contain the metadata value. By using the TCP/IP protocol this value will be sent to the MagicSoft CG- choose the way to edit the value of the variable in the playlist grid .

Two types are supported : free text type : allows to accept as input any string typed limit to some values : in the playlist grid on the corresponding

column only the listed values will be accessible

Medatadata assigned per folders

The is a powerful option that allows you to set the properties of all the clips that are taken from a certain folder.

You can customize :- the color of the text used for the clips when displaying in the playlist grid - the color of the background used for the clip when displaying in the playlist grid - the type assigned to the clips- the logo assigned to the clips- possibility to play the clips by swapping the fields

IV.3. Trimming a clip

The Trimming dialog allows you to establish a segment of the selected clip that will be played , instead playing the entire clip.

The main interface window has several elements :

Preview WindowIs located on the upper part of the dialog and display the clip content

Slider The Time Line slider allows you to preview the video material and jump to

different positions using the cursor.The preview window will display according to the selected frame

Buttons :

PLAY/STOP toggle between PLAY and STOP state

Mark IN select the starting point of playing segment Mark OUT select the ending point of playing segment Delete IN delete the Mark INDelete OUT delete the Mark OUTGoTo IN go to Mark IN pointGoTo OUT go to Mark OUT pointHOME go to start of the clipEND go to END of the clip

Step to next frame step forward in 1 frame increments Step 10 frames forward step forward in 10 frame incrementsStep to previous frame step backward in 1 frame increments Step 10 frames back step backward in 10 frame increments

Counters :

Counter for time elapsed (displayed in green under the PLAY button )Counter for clip duration (displayed in grey under the PLAY button and time elapsed counter )

Counter for Mark IN shows the selected Mark IN time (displayed in white near the Mark IN button )

Counter for Mark OUT shows the selected Mark OUT time (displayed in white near the Mark OUT button )

Counter for selected duration Shows the duration of the selected segment between Mark IN and Mark OUT time (displayed in blue between Mark IN and Mark OUT buttons )

Check box

Swap Fields check box When is checked the clip will be played with swapped fields

Set As Default check box When is checked the Mark IN and Mark OUT points will be saved as defaults.If is unchecked, the settings that you made will be used only for current entry in the playlist.

Section V: Linking with MagicSoft CG

The Magicsoft playout system has a very powerful way to link to the MagicSoft CG .

Metadata associated to each clip is send as values to the CG and can be used for examples to :

− change the text displayed by an item− put a project OnAir and OffAir

V.1. Changing the text displayed by an item in MagicSoft CG

In this example example we will assign the metadata value to be displayed as text by Magicsoft CG.

V.1.a Setting MagicSoft CG

- Make a new project in CG - Choose a name for the project (for example "Project txt controlled by

playout.red2" ) - Create a text item for the project - Assign a variable to the item by writing variable name instead text to be

displayed (for example [title] )

V.1.b Setting the Metadata for playout

In the playout client application go to Settings -> Metadata

A "Metadata setup" dialog will be displayed You can create a new metadata for the "title" or you can use for example

the existing "Meta1" (we will modify Meta1 in this example)Select Meta1Click EditAt "Display Name" type the name that you want to appear in the column

header (for example "Material Title" )At "CG variable " you must type the same variable name assigned in CG (in this example [title] )For this example will select "free text type" ( is suitable for a tile to be freely edited )

Save your settings and from now on the playout will send the values to CG to be displayed

V.2. Put a project OnAir and OffAir

In this example example we will make a CG project to go OnAir and OffAir driven by playout.

V.2.a Set MagicSoft CGMake a new project in CG and choose a name for the project (for example "Project LOGO controlled by playout.red2" )Create a rectangle item for the project and choose "Infinite loop" as property

(sure, you can create any item you want , this is given only as an example)Select the project and go to Properties Choose Advanced

click Add (1) type [#VIDEO_TYPE] (2) select = (string) (3) type PRODUCTION (4) ensure to have (([#VIDEO_TYPE]=PRODUCTION)) on the list (5) close the dialog (6)

Click play for the project in CG project list

In the project list you will see that now , your project has a red dot indicating the OffAir status and the rectangle is not displayed at TV output

If you will play a material that has type PRODUCTION the project has a green check mark and and the rectangle is displayed at TV output

V.2.b Setting the Metadata in playout

For this example you don't need to setup the Metadata Only choose "PRODUCTION" as clip type for a clip and hit PLAYIf you choose another clip type the CG project will not be displayed