MagicSoft PlayOut ver 5

User Manual

This manual is organized in five sections

Section I : Installation
Section II : Overview
Section III : PlayOut Server
Section IV : PlayOut Client
Section V : Linking with MagicSoft CG

Contents
Section 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 Rom

Insert 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 Drive

Run 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 Key

Once the software is installed the Hardware Key (dongle) can be inserted
into one of your computers unused USB ports.

I.4 Checking the Installation

Run the program to test the installation by double clicking on "Start
MagicSoft Playout" icon. The programs 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 multi core 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 1080i
- 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 and .m2ts
For HD 720p
- 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 and .m2ts
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 software

Adobe 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
Procoder
CinemaCraft.
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 Bar
This 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 Window
It shows the currently playing video.
MENU BAR
It cotains the menu of the application :
File -> Exit
Tools ->Options ( in this section you can modify the preferences for the server )
Logo -> Set Logo ( up to 16 Logo can be preloaded )
Counters -> Displays a separate window that shows the elapsed and remaing
time for the current playing clip
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
HD 720p : 1280x720
HD1080i : 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 Preferences
In 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 )

If you need to play clips with alpha channel you can select the external key
mode.
Preview settings allows you to adjust the quality of the preview on the desktop in
order to avoid processor heavy loads (useful for HD resolutions and high
demanding codecs like H264)
Also allows you to output the sound on the computer's output .

Server TCP settings for communication with the playlist client

By 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.
You can check "Save file name only" if you don't want the ful path of the file to be
saved in the log file.

Section IV: PlayOut Client

IV.1. User interface

The client interface window has several elements :

a. Title Bar
b. Menu Bar
c. Current clip and playlist progress
d. Volume Sliders
e. PlayOut Control Buttons
f. Playlist Grid
g. PlayList Commands buttons
h. Search in the playlist feature
i. Export missing clips - verify the availability of the clips from the
list and makes a list with all the missing clips
j. Watch folder for the following playlists that will be add to the
current one

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

-> Append list content
-> Save
-> Save As ...
-> Close

Edit

A new playlist file will be created

Append a .xml playlist . Will be inserted at the end of the list
Save your playlist in the curent playlist file
Save your playlist in a .xml file
Close the client program. A dialog will display to save the modified list
Playout will stop after next playing clip.
Allows you to perform Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete to selected clips

-> Cut
-> Copy
-> Paste
-> Delete
Actions

-> Park
-> Play
-> Stop
-> Pause
-> Refresh

Settings

-> Options
-> MetaData

View

-> Show all Columns

-> Size to content

Help

-> Help
-> About

will prepare a clip for playback. First frame will show on the output
starts the playback
playout will stop. At the output will display black
playout will stop. At the output will display a frame
will scroll the list to make the playing clip visible

Open the setup dialog

Open the setup Metadata section
If you hide some columns by resizing , you can restore them using this
command
Automatically resize the comuns for best fit to content

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 start
Name- the clip name
Image- the image associated with the clip
Duration - the duration of the clip calculated between Mark OUT and Mark IN
Play Interval - display values of Mark IN and Mark OUT
Video Size - the size of the video material
Audio - the sampling rate of the audio
ClipType - 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 clips

Cut
Copy
Paste
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 be

inserted ( as playlist ) after the selected clip
When 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 be
inserted ( as playlist ) after the selected clip
When 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 clip
The 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 black
The 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 signal
The 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 Default
the metadata of the selected row will be saved as default for the clip
-> Load Defaults
the metadata defaults values will be loaded for the selected clip
-> Apply Metadata to all play items
the metadata for selected row will be applied for all row containing the
same clip
Find File
Will 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.1.h. Search in the playlist will search each cell of the enire list in
order to find the typed string. By pressing the corresponding buttons the seach
wiil be made in upper or in the lower part of the list regarding the currently
selected row
IV.1.i. Export missing clips will verify the availability of the clips from the
list and if necessay, will make a list with all the missing clips

IV.1.j. Watch folder for the following playlists that will be add to the
current one
This feature allows you to enable the client to continuously watch a designated
folder in order to appead at the end of the curent playlist any playlist files that
appears in the folder.
After appending, the playlist file will be moved in a subfolder
There are two options for appeanding :
- "add list" will simply add the playlist file at the end of the existing playlist
- "add replacement list" will also add the playlist file at the end of the existing
playlist but when the playout will reaches the proximity of this replacement list,
clips already played will be discarded from the grid

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 "Connection" 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.
Auto save will automatically chech every minute if the playlist was changed and
it will save the playlist.

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 -> Metadata
In "Metadata Setup" dialog ,the list displays all the metadata types. Each
metadata has a corresponding 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 Window
Is 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
Mark OUT
Delete IN
Delete OUT
GoTo IN
GoTo OUT
HOME
END

select the starting point of playing segment

select the ending point of playing segment
delete the Mark IN
delete the Mark OUT
go to Mark IN point
go to Mark OUT point
go to start of the clip
go to END of the clip

Step to next frame

Step 10 frames forward
Step to previous frame
Step 10 frames back

step forward in 1 frame increments

step forward in 10 frame increments
step backward in 1 frame increments
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
Counter for Mark OUT

shows the selected Mark IN time (displayed in white

near the Mark IN button )
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 On Air and Off Air

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 text 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 Meta1
Click Edit
At "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 On Air and Off Air

In this example example we will make a CG project to go On Air and Off
Air driven by playout.
V.2.a Set MagicSoft CG
Make 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
Off Air 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 PLAY
If you choose another clip type the CG project will not be displayed