Avid® CaptureManager ™ User’s Guide m a k e m a n a g e m ove | m e d i a ™ Avid ®
Copyright and Disclaimer Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com. The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software.
Copyright 1995, Trinity College Computing Center. Written by David Chappell. Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation. This software is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. Copyright 1996 Daniel Dardailler.
This product may include the JCifs library, for which the following notice applies: JCifs © Copyright 2004, The JCIFS Project, is licensed under LGPL (http://jcifs.samba.org/). See the LGPL.txt file in the Third Party Software directory on the installation CD. Avid Interplay contains components licensed from LavanTech. These components may only be used as part of and in connection with Avid Interplay.Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS.
Contents Using This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Who Should Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customizing the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adding a Channel on the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Viewing Channels on the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Viewing Metadata from the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Chapter 4 Device Capture Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using This Guide Congratulations on your purchase of your Avid CaptureManager system. Avid CaptureManager offers a considerable amount of functionality for the state-of-the-art newsroom, including feed management, newsroom system integration, and asset management. With CaptureManager, newsroom personnel can easily coordinate all video feeds, schedule feed captures in advance, or record late-breaking events instantly—even control the router.
Using This Guide • The Introduction helps you get oriented with beginning concepts and general workflow and provides valuable pointers to keep in the back of your mind as you proceed. • The main body of the guide follows the natural flow of your work, with clear and comprehensive step-by-step procedures. • Finally, a detailed Index helps you quickly locate specific topics.
If You Need Help Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action Ctrl+key or mouse action Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the mouse action. For example, Ctrl+drag or Ctrl+S. This also applies to Alt and Shift keys. If You Need Help If you are having trouble using the Avid CaptureManager system: 1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in this guide. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow. 2.
Using This Guide How to Order Documentation To order additional copies of any Avid documentation from within the United States, call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local Avid representative. Avid Educational Services For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications, courseware, and books, visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843).
Chapter 1 System Overview This chapter provides instructions on how to log in to CaptureManager as well as an overview of the system, its workflow and user interface.
Chapter 1 System Overview Workflow The Avid nonlinear broadcast news workflow starts with the ability to control the capture of feeds from any source, such as satellite downlinks, microwave relays, field tapes, and studio input. CaptureManager interfaces with a wide range of industry standard components, allowing for easy simultaneous control of routers, VTRs and video servers. CaptureManager’s feed-scheduling ability enables users to create recording schedules in advance, based on a variety of criteria.
Logging In The CaptureManager system is comprised of: n • A Windows-based workstation running the CaptureManager client software • A Windows-based server running the CaptureManager utility programs, known as services.
Chapter 1 System Overview t Double click the CaptureManager shortcut on the desktop, as shown below: 2. Enter your user name and password in the Login to Avid CaptureManager dialog box. 3. Select the appropriate server from the System list (if necessary). 4. (Optional) Select whether you want the computer to remember your password and log you in without prompting you for a user name and password. 5. Click OK. The Avid CaptureManager window appears, displaying the program’s workspace.
Workspace Workspace CaptureManager’s simple tabbed workspace is both informative and easy to navigate. At the top is a menu with the following options: File and Help. The File menu allows users to print asset information, log off, and exit the program. The Help menu is a link to the system’s comprehensive task-oriented reference tool known as the Avid Help system. The primary tabs located across the top are: • Assets Tab (See page 17.) • Feed Capture Tab (See page 27.
Chapter 1 System Overview 16
Chapter 2 Assets Tab The Assets tab—shown on page 15—displays available media.
Chapter 2 Assets Tab Overview At the top of the Assets tab is the Assets toolbar that contains buttons described in the following table. Button Description Use this button to delete a media asset from the directory. Use this button to search for assets. See “Searching” on page 57 for more information. Use this button to filter what appears in the Queue panel. For more information, see “Types of Media Assets” on page 19.
Types of Media Assets A user can reorder the list by clicking the header buttons at the top of each column, such as Name or Type. Also, what types of media assets appear is determined by using the View button in the Assets toolbar. See “Types of Media Assets” on page 19 for more information. At the bottom of the Assets tab are the Metadata tabs—Information, Comments, Related Assets, and Record Information, which are explained on page 20.
Chapter 2 Assets Tab n The View MetaData option toggles the display of metadata on the tabs at the bottom of the screen, such as Information and Comments. Viewing and Printing Metadata Metadata is another term for media asset information. Enhanced metadata enables users to more easily find the media within an asset database. Metadata varies depending on the type of asset and is located on the Metadata tabs at the bottom of the Assets tab. Display of the Metadata tabs can be turned on or off.
Types of Media Assets The Information tab contains metadata as described in the following table: Metadata Description Type of media asset The words Clip (for video) or Recording appear in bold at the top left of the tab, depending on the type of media asset. This field is read-only. Name The name of the asset, as it appears on the Assets tab. Video ID The assigned ID to a clip referenced from on-air playback. Tape Name The name of the source tape, or the feed, where the video originated.
Chapter 2 Assets Tab Metadata Description Modified The date the asset information was last changed. This field is read-only. Expires The date the system will automatically delete the asset. Archive This read-only check box indicates that an archived high-resolution video asset exists, such as for Nearchive. To view more information about the asset, click the Related Assets tab. Web This check box is reserved for future development. Browse This check box is not enabled.
Types of Media Assets For example, a user could add the script associated with the clip, names of individuals or places on the video, as well as any copyright or payment terms for the clip if used on-air. All comments become part of the searchable database of metadata, which can be used to help locate the media later through the Find button on the Assets toolbar. To enter comments: 1. Type comments in the text box on the Comments tab. 2. Click Save Changes when done.
Chapter 2 Assets Tab For example, the preceding graphic shows all assets associated with a clip called Plane Crash, including: n • High-resolution video on a Profile video server • The clip itself • A recording If an archived asset, browse clip, or broadcast-quality video is available as a related asset, this information is also indicated in the Available Video section of the Information tab. Record Information All recordings have metadata that is displayed on the Record Information tab.
Types of Media Assets Except for Record Notes and Prevent Auto Archive, the information on this tab is read-only. • Record Date—The date the recording is scheduled to occur or the first time a recurring recording will occur. • Recurrence—Description of how often a recurring recording will occur. • Record Status—Current state of the recording, such as Record Scheduled, Record Pending, Record Complete, Record Error, or Recording.
Chapter 2 Assets Tab 26
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab Use the Feed Capture tab—also known as the Feed Scheduler—to set up video recordings instantly or on a schedule, which might or might not recur. For information on setting up recordings, see Chapter 7.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab Overview The Feed Capture tab is divided into the following sections: • Schedule Date • Legend • Scheduling Grid The scheduling grid is the table containing time elements, channels, and various feed resource names located at the bottom of the Feed Capture tab. By default, the grid displays feeds for the selected date and time associated with the server running the Data service shown in the CaptureManager Server list box.
Overview To view feeds for a specific date: 1. Click the Down Arrow button to the right of the displayed date. A calendar appears, displaying the current date by default. 2. Select a new date. To view the live recording schedule only: t n Select the Show live schedule radio button. When the live schedule is displayed, the scheduling grid’s scroll bar is disabled so only the live schedule is visible at all times.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab Users may customize the color settings by right-clicking the Legend. For more information, see “Customizing the Grid” on page 31. By default, the colors are as described in the following table: Record State Default Color Description Record Scheduled Aqua Indicates the feed is scheduled for a future date and time, but has not yet initiated. Record Pending Yellow Indicates the scheduled feed is about to begin.
Customizing the Grid Current Time Indicator Channel Header Buttons Colored Feed Boxes By default the times appear vertically down the left side of the grid. The available channels appear across the top. Some users can add channels or limit which channels are shown. For more information, see “Adding a Channel on the Grid” on page 32. Feeds show up on the grid in colored boxes—also known as Feed boxes—with the colors indicating the status of the feed.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab To customize the layout: 1. Right click on any white space in the scheduling grid. 2. Do any or all of the following: t Select Schedule options > Schedule layout to position the increments of time on the grid. Options include: Time across or Time down. t Select Schedule options > Schedule time format to set the timing convention used on the grid. Options include: the standard 12-hour or 24-hour military timing conventions.
Customizing the Grid 3. Fill in the text fields accordingly. Field Description Name Name of the channel. This is the name that will appear on the channel’s header button in the scheduling grid. Folder Folder where video from the channel is stored in the database. If one already exists, use the Ellipses button to browse for and select the folder. Default Clip Name Provides a default name for clips when the user doesn’t provide one.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab 34 a. Click the Add button. b. Select the appropriate device from those available in the Device Information dialog box. c. Fill in the information required for the selected device accordingly. Device Field Description AirSPACE: Server Name The name here must be network resolvable. Channel Name Must match the channel name on the AirSPACE device. This setting is case-sensitive.
Customizing the Grid Device Field Description AirSpeed: Host Name or IP Address If a name, it must be network resolvable. If an IP address, it must be the static address of the AirSpeed device. Channel Name Always set to Channel 1. Media Manager Host This should be either the host name for the Media Name Manager or the Avid Interplay Engine. IPV/MXF: Timecode Source This source should be the same for both AirSpeed and the Avid Interplay encoder. Options include: LTC, VITC, or Internal.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab Device Route Point Video Feed VTR Field Description Role Select whether device is a source of video or a destination for storing ingested media. This is usually set to destination. Route When a Route service is installed and running, then a route associated with this device might be indicated. This is usually set to . Name A label that is user configurable. Role Select whether it is used as a source or a destination.
Customizing the Grid 5. Click OK. The Device Information dialog box will close. 6. (Optional) To remove a device, select it in the Channel Information dialog box and click Remove. To edit or choose a different device, select the device shown and click Edit. 7. Click OK again. The channel appears on the Feed Capture’s scheduling grid. Viewing Channels on the Grid To hide or show channels on the scheduling grid: 1. Right-click any channel’s header button. 2. Select Customize channels.
Chapter 3 Feed Capture Tab 5. (Optional) Click the Move Up and Move Down buttons to adjust the order of the channels. Listing channels from top to bottom equates to positioning channels on the grid from left to right. 6. Click OK. Viewing Metadata from the Grid Positioning the mouse pointer over a Feed box causes a tooltip to appear with some metadata information. To view all metadata information associated with a feed: 1. Right-click a Feed box. 2. Select Show metadata.
Chapter 4 Device Capture Tab Use the Device Capture tab to manage video and recordings from video tape recorder devices. For more information on procedures for setting up recordings, see Chapter 7.
Chapter 4 Device Capture Tab The Device Capture tab is divided into the following sections: • Legend • Tabbed Workspace Tabbed Workspace The tabbed workspace on the Device Capture tab displays recording information for any video tape recorder (also known as VTR) associated with the server shown in the CaptureManager Server list box. To display devices for a different server: t n Select a different server from the CaptureManager Server list box.
Chapter 5 Messages Tab The Messages tab provides feedback regarding the success or failure of a recording or transfer. When a problem occurs while instant recording is underway, the system indicates an error in the Instant Record dialog box, as shown in the following graphic: Displaying Messages Users can then view more information about what generated the error by clicking the Messages tab in CaptureManager. n The Messages tab is optional and therefore might not appear in the workspace.
Chapter 5 Messages Tab To view more information about a specific message: t 42 Select the message and click the Details button.
Chapter 6 ActiveX Add-In Tab CaptureManager provides a customizable tab that, by default, is called the ActiveX Add-In tab. Since the tab is optional, it does not appear in the workspace unless configured by the system administrator. If it appears, use it to display an ActiveX add-in, such as Internet Explorer. n The system administrator can rename the ActiveX Add-In tab by editing the settings under Visible Components with the User Profile Configuration Tool.
Chapter 6 ActiveX Add-In Tab Signing in to MediaManager using this ActiveX Add-In tab allows users to check the status of transfers into Avid Unity, from the AirSpeed and AirSPACE video servers.
Chapter 7 Working with Recordings Video recordings can be started instantly or set up in advance on a recurring or non-recurring basis. Video can be recorded from live video feeds or digitized from a video tape recorder device, known as a VTR.
7 Working with Recordings Scheduling a Recording CaptureManager users can schedule multiple recordings—simultaneously capturing high resolution video with audio—in advance from a variety of sources. When setting up a scheduled recording, users can also state whether the system should repeat the process at regular intervals, eliminating the risk of missing a satellite feed that occurs on a daily or weekly basis. To schedule a video recording: 1.
Scheduling a Recording 3. Type any pertinent data in the Content Information section. For more information, see “Content Information” on page 49. 4. Set the time period for the recording. Select the Start Time check box and either the End Time or Duration check box. (When one is selected, the other appears dimmed.) A default might appear for duration, as configured by your system administrator. You can adjust the duration manually if the default is not enough or too long.
7 Working with Recordings 5. Set the expiration date for the recording by selecting Delete after and setting the number of days the recording is to remain available in the database. If no expiration date is set, the recorded video must be deleted from the database manually. 6. (Optional) Determine whether the recorded video is a private asset. If private, select Only Visible to Owner. The asset’s ownership belongs to the user whose ID appears in the Owner field.
Scheduling a Recording Content Information The Content Information section appears in several dialog boxes, such as: • Scheduled Record • Instant Record • VTR Record In each case, the information available to the user is explained in the following table: Field Description Source The name of the source from which the video is recorded. (The field is read-only. The name here also appears in the title bar of the dialog box.) Source Route Routable items for router control.
7 Working with Recordings Field (Continued) Description Notes Other technical information in reference to the recording. Type the information in the text box. This data appears in the Record Notes text field on the Metadata tab named Record Information. Comments Text that appears on the Metadata tab named Comments. Type any comments in the text box. n See “Viewing and Printing Metadata” on page 30 for more information.
Initiating an Instant Recording 2. Type of select any pertinent data in the Content Information section. For more information, see “Content Information” on page 49. 3. In the Time Period section, the Start Time is already set to On Demand and the Duration is set to the default, as configured by your system administrator. You can adjust the duration manually if the default is not enough or too long.
7 Working with Recordings 4. (Optional) In an Avid Unity/AirSPACE environment, select Transfer to Unity—shown below—if you want the clip transferred to Unity and therefore made available to Avid NewsCutters. The Transfer to Unity check box only appears in the Options section when CaptureManager is part of an Avid Unity/AirSPACE environment. 5.
Recording from a VTR Device Recording from a VTR Device To record video from a VTR device: 1. On the Device Capture tab, select the tab for the VTR you want to use. 2. Click the Acquire button. The VTR Record dialog box appears. VTR Control buttons 3. Type of select any pertinent data in the Content Information section. For more information, see “Content Information” on page 49. 4. Type the name in the Segment Name text box.
7 Working with Recordings n A default name might appear, as configured for each individual channel by the system administrator. Users can override the default. Also, users can change a name later by selecting the existing segment in the Time Code Segments section and using the Change button. 5. Set the IN and OUT points for the recording by doing one of the following: t Use the IN and OUT spin boxes to select the timecodes. t Type the actual timecodes.
Recording from a VTR Device 7. In a Avid Unity/AirSPACE environment, select the Transfer to Unity check box if you want the clip transferred to Unity and therefore made available as an online MediaManager clip. 8. Click the Add button to add the marked video to the list located in the Time Code Segments section of the VTR Record dialog box. This step is unnecessary if the Add on Mark OUT check box is selected, in which case the marked video is added to the list when you set the Mark OUT point. 9.
7 Working with Recordings 56
Chapter 8 Searching Metadata information makes it easy to find clips while a searchable asset database helps make media and feeds easy to find and view. Users can search for word strings, video clips, dates, or by other criteria.
8 Searching Opening the Find Dialog Box The search functionality is located on the Assets tab. To search the assets database: t Click the Find button on the Assets toolbar.
Searching by Text Searching by Text The following graphic shows the Text tab search options. Searching by text allows you to find items by entering text and searching a specified field or all fields in the metadata database. You can also select to see all items that contain any of the keyword text or those that contain all of the keyword text. To search by text: 1. Click the Find button located on the toolbar. The Find dialog box appears. 2. (Optional) Change the default Search Name. 3.
8 Searching 4. In the lower section of the Text tab, select whether the system should return items that contain ANY or ALL of the keywords you entered. 5. Click Find Now. The system conducts the search, navigates to Search Results in the Directory panel, and places the results in a directory that is given the name chosen in step 2. Searching by Date The following graphic shows the Dates tab search options. Searching by date allows you to find items by creation, modification, or expiration dates.
Searching by Type 2. (Optional) Change the default Search Name. 3. Click the Dates tab. 4. Select one or more of the check boxes to define the type of files to search. This action activates the radio buttons with which dates may be specified. 5. Select a radio button to refine the dates of the files to search. 6. Click Find Now. The system conducts the search, navigates to Search Results in the Directory panel and places the results in a directory that is given the name chosen in step 2.
8 Searching To search by type: 1. Click the Find button located on the toolbar. The Find dialog box appears. 2. (Optional) Change the default Search Name. 3. Click the Types tab. 4. Do one of the following: t Select one or more check boxes to define the type of file(s) to search for. t Click the Select All button to select all file types. 5. (Optional) Click the Unselect All button to clear all check marks. 6. Click Find Now.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Index Index A Acquire button 53 ActiveX Add-In tab 43 Adding channels 32 Adding comments 25 AirSPACE 44, 52 AirSpeed 35, 44 Archive, preventing auto 25 Assets making private 48 searching the database 58 types of 19 Assets tab 17 Avid educational services 10 Knowledge Base 9 Avid Interplay 35 database 35 low resolution encoder 13 Avid Unity 44 MediaManager 43 transferring to 52 B Buttons Acquire 40 Change 55 Configure 40 Find 58 Preview 54 VTR Control 54 C CaptureManager compon
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Feed Capture tab 27 Feed Scheduler 27 Feeds instant recordings 50 recurring 48 scheduled recordings 46 File menu 15 G Metadata on Information tab 21 searching 57 view and print 20 Metadata tabs 19, 38 viewing 20 O Online support 9 GVG Profile 35 H Help menu 15 I iNEWS documentation 9 training 10 Information tab 20 Instant Record ASAP option 50 Instant recording 50 Internet Explorer 43 IPV/MXF 35 K Knowledge Base 9 L Legend 29 Log in 13 Low resolution encoder 12, 35
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Q Queue panel 18 R Record Information tab 24 Record Notes 25 Recording, defined 19 Recordings instant 50 scheduling 46 types of 45 Recurrence 48 Related Assets tab 23 S Schedules, viewing 29 Scheduling grid add channels 32 customize channels 37 customize layout 32 customizing colors 31 default colors explained 30 explained 30 Scheduling recordings 46 Search Results 62 Searching 57–62 Services 13 Index Related Assets 23 Text (Search) 59 Types (Search) 61 Text tab 59 Toolbars,
Index 66 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
