Avid MediaCentral | UX Administration Guide Version 2.
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Contents Using This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 If You Need Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Avid Training Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Managing Users and Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Importing Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Creating a New User or Editing User Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Creating a New Group or Editing Group Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Adding a User to a Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using This Guide This guide is intended for all Avid MediaCentral | UX administrators who are responsible for configuring and maintaining a MediaCentral UX system (formerly Interplay Central). This guide describes product features and administrative procedures, such as MediaCentral UX system settings and user management. For initial installation and configuration, see the Avid MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide.
If You Need Help Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action Italic font Italic font is used to emphasize certain words and to indicate variables. Courier Bold font Courier Bold font identifies text that you type. Ctrl+key or mouse action Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the mouse action. For example, Command+Option+C or Ctrl+drag. | (pipe character) The pipe character is used in some Avid product names, such as Interplay | Production.
1 Administration and System Settings The following topics provide information about configuration of MediaCentral UX components: • The Administrator Account • Signing In to MediaCentral | UX • Configuring System Settings • MediaCentral System Settings • Configuring Image Quality • Configuring a Session Timeout • Configuring MediaCentral | UX for Sharing Messages • Configuring Message Archiving • Configuring E-Mail Forwarding • Configuring for Send to Playback • Configuring Settings in t
Signing In to MediaCentral | UX Additional Administrator Accounts An administrator can add other users to the Administrators group. All members of the Administrators group have the same administrator privileges. For more information, see “Creating a New Group or Editing Group Details” on page 65. Layouts Available Only to an Administrator Administrator tasks are performed in MediaCentral UX layouts.
Configuring System Settings n When you sign in to MediaCentral UX, you are automatically signed in to your iNEWS newsroom computer system, your Interplay Production system, or both. If, however, the security settings for one of these integrated systems is inaccurate, you might see a warning message that states that the application is unable to authorize the sign-in name or password. If you receive this message, click the link provided and verify your security settings. 4.
MediaCentral System Settings MediaCentral System Settings This topic describes settings in the System Settings layout. For information about how to access and save these settings, see “Configuring System Settings” on page 12. Load Balancer Provides a view of server nodes and connections. See “Monitoring Load Balancing” in the Avid MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide. Playback Service Settings and user credentials for the MediaCentral Playback Service.
MediaCentral System Settings Setting Description Variable Speed Playback Control the speed of the L key (forward) and J key (backward) for variable speed playback (J-K-L). The default settings are: • Press 2 times: 2x normal speed • Press 3 times: 3x normal speed • Press 4 times: 4x normal speed To change a value, type a number directly in a field. You can also use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys on the keyboard, or the up and down arrows next to the field, to increase or decrease the value by .
MediaCentral System Settings iNEWS Setting Description iNEWS Server: System ID The system ID for an iNEWS cluster, which is set in the iNEWS /site/system file. Using this ID ensures load balancing and failover if necessary. Do not include a suffix such as -a or -b. Ensure that all MediaCentral servers can resolve the IP addresses of systemID-a, systemID-b, and if present, systemID-c. Address resolution can be through DNS or hosts file.
Configuring Image Quality Messages & Sharing Setting Description Message Archiving The interval (in days) before messages are moved to an archive location, the most recent archive date, and the number of messages archived. The default interval is 7 days. See “Configuring Message Archiving” on page 19. Email Forwarding Enables and configures e-mail forwarding.
Configuring Image Quality Note the following: c n • If a user is a member of more than one group, and different pixel sizes are associated with the groups, the user is assigned the largest pixel size. • This setting does not apply to remote assets. If workstations in a facility will regularly use enlarged images for proxy video or high-resolution video, Avid recommends changes to the MediaCentral infrastructure. For more information, see How to Buy Hardware for MediaCentral Services.
Configuring a Session Timeout t To edit settings for an existing group, click the user group name. 5. To set the image size, select the width in pixels from the Maximum Size menu. 6. To enable a button for viewing high-resolution video, select MultiRez. After applying this setting, a user who is a member of the selected group can select STP Target Resolution or Highest Resolution from the MultiRez button, which is displayed in Asset mode and in Output mode in the Media pane. 7. Click Apply.
Configuring MediaCentral | UX for Sharing Messages Configuring MediaCentral | UX for Sharing Messages Before you can send messages from MediaCentral UX to Media Composer or NewsCutter, you need to configure your Interplay Production database so it uses the correct MediaCentral UX server for the messaging service. To configure Interplay Production for sharing messages with Avid editing applications: 1.
Configuring Message Archiving You can also use the Messenger Archive tool to export the archive to a comma-separated values (CSV) file, with the options of compressing the file and of deleting the exported message archive from your server. The Messenger Archive tool is located in the following folder: /opt/avid/bin. You must run the archive utility program as root from a command line. You can run the tool on any of the Linux nodes in your cluster setup. To configure message archiving: 1.
Configuring E-Mail Forwarding 2. Type acs-messenger-archive-tool to run the utility, selecting the appropriate options from the following table: Option Description -c Adds a command. You can use the following values: • info (lists the number of messages and the size of the archive, as well as the first and last messages) • export (creates a CSV file with all messages in the archive) -o Specifies the output folder for the exported CSV file. The default folder is /opt/avid/share/message_archives.
Configuring E-Mail Forwarding To enable and configure e-mail forwarding: 1. Sign in to MediaCentral UX as an administrator. 2. Select System Settings from the Layout selector. The System Settings layout opens. 3. In the Settings pane select Messages & Sharing. The Details pane displays the settings in that group. 4. Select Email forwarding. 5. Type a valid SMTP server name for the hosting e-mail application, and then type the appropriate port number. 6.
Configuring for Send to Playback Configuring for Send to Playback You can transfer a sequence to a playback device or playout server for viewing or broadcast. This process is called send to playback, or STP. Users can also send to playback a sequence stored in an Interplay Production database.
Configuring for Send to Playback • Interplay | Production - Interplay | Production Services Engine. This component serves as a broker for all Production Services. The Interplay | Transcode service and the Interplay | STP Encode service are used for MediaCentral UX send-to-playback operations. For installation and configuration information for the Production Services Engine and Production Services, see the Interplay | Production Services Setup and User’s Guide. • - Interplay | Transcode service.
Configuring for Send to Playback • “Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device” on page 27 • “Failover for Multiple MCDS Servers” on page 27 Send-To-Playback Workflow: I-Frame Sequences The following illustration shows a typical send-to-playback workflow for I-frame (non-Long GOP) sequences.
Configuring for Send to Playback Send-To-Playback Workflow: Long GOP Sequences The following illustration shows a typical send-to-playback workflow for a Long GOP sequence. MediaCentral Client (Browser) q MediaCentral Middleware Service w ISIS Shared Storage e MediaCentral Distribution Service t u Production Services Engine r w y i Interplay Transcode STP Encode o Interplay Transfer Media Indexer 1) Playback Server 1. The user starts an STP process in MediaCentral UX. 2.
Configuring for Send to Playback 8. STP Encode creates Long GOP OP1a media, stores it on the ISIS system, and initiates a transfer to the playout server, through Interplay | Transfer. 9. Interplay | Transfer transfers the sequence to the playback server. Sending a Mixed-Resolution Long GOP Sequence to a Playback Device In most cases, all media used in the sequence must be available in the target resolution to start an STP operation.
Configuring for Send to Playback Example The following example shows servers MCDS Server A, MCDS Server B, and MCDS Server C configured for MCDS high availability. 1. Server A is listed first, so it is initially the active server. q 2. Server A stops responding, so all new jobs go to Server B. 3. Server A comes back up, but jobs continue to go to Server B. 4. Server B stops responding, so all new jobs go to Server C. 5. Server C stops responding, so all new jobs go to Server A. 6.
Configuring for Send to Playback Example 2: 1. Servers A, B and C were initially configured for MCDS high availability. 2. Server B is the currently the active MCDS. 3. You reconfigure the settings list to use servers D, E, and F. a. Server B will no longer be active because it is not on the list. b. The sequence for testing on failover is now D> E > F.
Configuring for Send to Playback c If the menus do not display any values, the connection to Interplay Production might not be working. Try signing out and signing back in, or check the configuration between MediaCentral UX and Interplay Production. For more information, see the MediaCentral Services Installation and Configuration Guide. 4. Do one of the following: t To create a new profile, click the + (plus) button in the Send to Playback Profiles section.
Configuring for Send to Playback The following table describes the settings in each group. Send to Playback Setting Description Name A name for the profile. Choose a meaningful, descriptive name because this name is displayed to users. Individual Device or Studio Specifies if the profile applies to a single playout server or to an AirSpeed Studio. If you select Individual Device, the following fields are displayed: • Servers. Select the Transfer Engine server for the profile.
Configuring for Send to Playback Send to Playback Setting Description Video Options Long GOP: Select Long GOP if this profile will be used to transfer Long GOP media (for example, XDCAM HD). Long GOP media is transferred through the STP Encode service. AirSpeed: Select AirSpeed if this profile will be used to transfer to an Avid AirSpeed or AirSpeed Multi Stream server. Accelerated STP: If you select both Long GOP and AirSpeed, the Accelerated STP option is activated.
Configuring for Send to Playback Send to Playback Setting Description Audio Target Mixdown Mode Select Stereo or Direct Out. The maximum number of audio tracks supported for send to playback is 16. Interplay ISIS Workspace • Stereo: Maps to a left/right alternating pan (odd tracks on one channel, even tracks on the other channel), creates a stereo mixdown of all audio tracks, and outputs the resulting two tracks to two channels when sent to playback. This results in two channels of audio.
Configuring for Send to Playback Send-to-Playback Profile Examples The following examples of send-to-playback profiles show settings for different resolutions and different playback servers. Selecting a Transfer Server When you select a server in an STP profile, the Servers list includes all Interplay | Transfer Engines, AirSpeed Transfer Engines, and AirSpeed Multi Stream Transfer Engines that are specified in the Interplay Production workgroup.
Configuring for Send to Playback Selecting a Playback Device When you select a playback device in an STP profile, the Playback Device list includes the playback devices that are associated with the Interplay | Transfer server you selected. • For AirSpeed servers, there is only one selection that matches the server name. • For AirSpeed Multi Stream servers, there might be two types of selections: • - One selection that matches the server name.
Configuring for Send to Playback 36
Configuring for Send to Playback XDCAM-HD on AirSpeed Multi Stream This profile, named AMS1-XDCAM1080i60_50mb, specifies settings for an AirSpeed Multi Stream server that supports XDCAM-HD media. Note the following: • Servers: Airspeed Multi Stream includes a Transfer Engine, so A51-WG1-AMS1 is the computer name for the AMS server. • Playback Device: Because this profile supports XDCAM-HD Long GOP media, the playback device name includes the -HD suffix.
Configuring for Send to Playback • Long GOP and AirSpeed must be selected for this profile. With these options selected Accelerated STP (Send to Playback) becomes available, and can be used in this case because the AirSpeed MultiStream server is version 1.7 or later. • The remaining media options specifically describe the target video and audio resolutions. The Mixdown Mode is set for Stereo, and the specified ISIS workspace will hold the mixed-down media.
Configuring for Send to Playback Note the following: • Studio: The Studio option is selected and the Servers list is replaced by the Studio list. A51-WG1-AMS[3] is the computer name for the AirSpeed Multi Stream Studio group. • Playback Device: Because this profile supports XDCAM-HD Long GOP media, the playback device name includes the -HD suffix. • Long GOP and AirSpeed must be selected for this profile.
Configuring for Send to Playback SD on AirSpeed Multi Stream The following profile, named AMS2, specifies settings for an AirSpeed Multi Stream server that supports DV 25 SD media. Note the following: • Servers: A51-WG1-AMS2 is the computer name for this AirSpeed Multi Stream server. • Playback Device: Because this profile supports SD media, the playback device name matches the server name and does not include the -HD suffix. • AirSpeed must be selected for this profile.
Configuring for Send to Playback Generic FTP Profile The following profile, named Omneon, specifies settings for a third-party server configured for Generic FTP settings through a Transfer Engine server. Note the following: • Servers: A51-WG1-TM2 is the computer name for the Transfer Engine server. • Playback Device: a51-wg1-tm2:6534/OMN_SD is the third-party server configured through the Transfer Engine. • The remaining media options specifically describe the target video and audio resolutions.
Configuring Settings in the Interplay | Production Administrator Configuring Settings in the Interplay | Production Administrator The Interplay Production Administrator application includes settings that apply to MediaCentral UX. The initial configuration of these settings is described in the MediaCentral Services Installation and Configuration Guide. After the initial configuration, you might want to modify these settings.
Configuring Settings in the Interplay | Production Administrator Section Setting Description Audio - Track labels Natural Sound label This setting determines the wording or character(s) used as a label for the natural sound track control in the Audio pane as well as the header for the natural sound column in the Script Editor’s Sequence Timeline. By default, NAT is used.
Configuring Settings in the Interplay | Production Administrator Section Setting Description Dynamic Relink Dynamic Relink Enabled This setting is not configured for MediaCentral UX in this location in the Interplay | Administrator application. Instead, this setting is configured in the Playback Service group of the MediaCentral UX System Settings layout. Audio Effects Dissolve Duration Brief dissolves between audio tracks are used to make audio edits [frames] sound smooth.
Configuring Settings in the Interplay | Production Administrator Section Setting Description Permission Settings Can create locators If yes, allows the selected user or group to create markers. If no, a user of an Avid editing application can still create markers for an asset, but can check in only the asset, not the marker metadata (an error message is displayed). In most cases, if you want a user to create markers, select “yes” for both “Can create locators” and “Can modify locators.
2 User Management The following topics provide information about managing MediaCentral UX users and groups: • Opening the Users Layout • The Users Layout • Understanding Users and Groups • Available Layouts: Administrators and Users • Working with MediaCentral Zones • Managing Users and Groups • Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles • Displaying Information in the Details Pane • Searching for Users or Groups • Viewing and Ending Active Sessions Opening the Users Layout The Users layout
The Users Layout The Users Layout The Users layout consists of four major panes: User Tree, Roles, Details, and Search. The following illustration identifies these panes and other controls. In this illustration, the group Journalists is selected and the Details pane shows information about the group.
The Users Layout You can adjust the size and location of the panes in the same way as you do in other MediaCentral UX layouts. For more information, see the Avid MediaCentral | UX User’s Guide or the Avid MediaCentral | UX Help. The following sections describe areas of the Users layout. Menu Bar The Users layout includes the same Menu bar as other MediaCentral UX layouts. The contents of the Panes menu depends on the current layout.
The Users Layout Selected Entry in the User Tree: Top-Level Group Group Expand All Expand All Collapse All Collapse All User Delete (except for Administrators, Import, and Delete Unassigned) Import Users Import Users Import Users Help Help Help Roles Pane The Roles pane lists the default roles and any roles you created. For more information, see “Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles” on page 74. MediaCentral Zones Pane Lists the registered MediaCentral Zones.
Understanding Users and Groups Active Sessions Pane The Active Session pane displays a list of users who are currently signed in to the MediaCentral UX Web application. For more information, see “Viewing and Ending Active Sessions” on page 86. Understanding Users and Groups Users and groups are the basic entities that you manage in MediaCentral UX.
Understanding Users and Groups • A user can be a member of more than one group, and a group can be a member of more than one group. Users and groups are considered members only of their immediate parent groups. The following illustration shows the relationships that are allowed. B A w C q X 1 User X is a member of Groups A and B. 2 Group C is a member of Groups A and B. A user or a group can be a member of more than one group in a single subtree.
Available Layouts: Administrators and Users Relationships are hierarchical. Cyclical relationships, as in the following illustration, are not permitted. w A B e q C 1 Group C is a member of Group A. 2 Group A is a member of Group B. 3 Group B cannot be a member of Group C. • If a user or a group is removed from all parent groups, the user or group is moved to the Unassigned group. For more information, see “Understanding the Unassigned Group” on page 72. • Users and groups have properties.
Working with MediaCentral Zones Layout Available To... Media | Distribute (if installed) All users based on configuration and license System Settings Administrators only Users Administrators only An administrator assigns layouts and license types to a role. For more information, see “Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles” on page 74.
Working with MediaCentral Zones Multiple zones are connected (or federated) through the MediaCentral Platform bus. For information about configuring multiple zones, see the Avid MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide. Multi-Zone User Management Multi-zone user management is a workflow in which a single user authentication database is used to manage users across multiple MediaCentral zones. An administrator signed into one zone can manage users and roles for all other zones.
Working with MediaCentral Zones Multi-zone media asset delivery makes all media assets on the network no more than one step away from being assets that can be used in local projects. For more information, see “Delivering Assets and Media” in the Avid MediaCentral | UX User’s Guide. n Each of these workflows can be configured and used independently (multi-zone central index search and multi-zone media asset delivery are licensed and enabled separately).
Managing Users and Groups The following fields are displayed in the Details tab: • ID: The UUID of the selected zone, which is assigned when the zone is created on the MediaCentral server. This field is not editable. This ID can be useful for troubleshooting, for example, to understood data in logs. • Name: The name of the zone as it was configured on the MediaCentral server. An administrator can edit the name of zone, and the changed name will be used in the Users layout.
Managing Users and Groups Importing Users If you enable Windows Domain authentication, you can import groups from a Windows domain. This authentication uses the LDAP protocol. Users imported from a Windows domain can use their Windows domain user names and passwords to sign in to MediaCentral UX. Importing users is a two part process: c • Supply information about the authentication provider. • Perform the actual import. During the import process authentication requests cannot be handled.
Managing Users and Groups 4. In the Server section, supply the following information: - (Optional) If the Active Directory uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, select Use SSL Connection. - Type the hostname of the Windows domain server on which the user database is stored. - Type the port for the domain server. The default port is 389. For an SSL connection, the default port is 636. - Type the Base DN (root location) where the import of the user tree should be started.
Managing Users and Groups For example, the common root of an Active Directory with multiple domains could be named “company.com” and could be divided into the domain components DC=company and DC=com. Type these entries separated by a comma, but no space: DC=company,DC=com For a specific sub-domain, you might type: DC=company,DC=division,DC=com 5. In the Sign-In Credentials section, do one of the following: - Select Use Anonymous Access.
Managing Users and Groups To import users from a Windows domain: 1. Click the User Tree Pane Menu button and select Import Users. The Import Users dialog box opens. If you did not specify an authentication provider, the following message appears: “You have no authentication providers configured.” Click the Go to Authentication Providers button to display the Details pane and then complete the previous procedure. 2. Select whether you want to overwrite existing users that have the same user names.
Managing Users and Groups 4. If necessary, click the triangle to expand a group and display subgroups. You can also use the maximize icon to expand the pane. Select the groups that you want to import, and click Import. A message box displays the progress of the import. If the import process fails for any reason, such as a failure to connect to the Active Directory server, a message box describes the problem and gives you an option to retry.
Managing Users and Groups There are four tabs: - All: Lists all users and groups and their status - Failed: Lists the users and groups that could not be imported and their status - Skipped: If you selected “Do not overwrite existing users that have the same names,” lists the users and groups that were not imported because they already exist in the user database. - Successful: Lists the users and groups that were successfully imported.
Managing Users and Groups 5. Click OK. The selected group is imported in the user tree, in the folder named Users/Import/Microsoft/full_qualified_name. You can then assign imported users to other groups. Creating a New User or Editing User Details You can create individual users instead of importing a group of users. You can assign a user to one or more groups, including the Administrators group. To create a new user: 1.
Managing Users and Groups Note the following restrictions: - Passwords are case-sensitive. - Minimum length of user names and passwords: 1 character - Maximum length of user names and passwords: 255 characters - Passwords cannot consist of spaces only. 5. Select the options you want, such as “User must change password at next sign-in.” 6. (Optional) Add the new user to a group. If you selected a group and then selected Create User, the group you selected is listed in the Groups section.
Managing Users and Groups By default, a user inherits the role of the assigned group. This default role is not displayed until you save the new user. If you are working in a multi-zone environment, assign the appropriate role for each zone. For more information, see “Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles” on page 74. 8. If you do not want to create the user, click Cancel. This action clears the Details pane. 9. When you are satisfied with the information, click Save.
Managing Users and Groups 5. Add members to the new group by dragging users from the user tree to the Members section. Use Ctrl+click (Windows) or Command+click (Macintosh) to select multiple users, or Shift+click to select contiguous users. To remove a member from the group, click the Edit button, deselect the member, and close the dialog box (see “Adding or Removing Group Membership Through Selection in a Window” on page 69). 6. Assign one or more roles to the group.
Managing Users and Groups 9. When you are satisfied with the information, click Save. To edit group details: 1. In the user tree, double-click a group. 2. Change the properties, membership, or roles. 3. If you want to cancel your changes and return to the last set of saved information, click Revert. 4. When you are satisfied with the information, click Apply.
Managing Users and Groups 3. In the Groups section of the Details pane, select the group from which you want to delete the user. 4. Click the Edit button in the upper left of the section, deselect the group, and click the close button. 5. Click Apply. To remove a user from a group by using the group’s details: 1. In the user tree or search results list, double-click the group from which you want to remove the user. 2.
Managing Users and Groups To remove a group from a group by using the parent group’s details: 1. In the user tree or search results list, double-click the group from which you want to remove the group. 2. In the Members section of the Details pane, select the group you want to remove from the group. 3. Click the Edit button in the upper left of the section, deselect the group, and click the close button. 4. Click Apply.
Managing Users and Groups t In the Search bar, type the name of the user or group you want to add. For each letter that you type, the list or users and groups is reduced to names that contain those letters. You might need to open the Users folder or the Groups folder to view the search results. Then select the check box for the user or group you want to add. 5. Click the close button in the Add or Remove Users or Groups window. The user or group is added to the Members list. 6.
Managing Users and Groups The Add or Remove Groups window opens. 4. Select the group to which you want to add the user or group by doing one of the following: t Open the Groups folder if necessary, and select the check box for the group to which you want to add the user or group. t In the Search bar, type the name of the group to which you want to add the user or group. For each letter that you type, the list of groups is reduced to names that contain those letters.
Managing Users and Groups Understanding the Unassigned Group A group labeled Unassigned is included by default as a member of the top-level group (Users). The Unassigned group holds users and groups that have been removed from all other groups. The Unassigned group is a system group and thus you cannot rename it, move it, delete it, or make it a member of another group. You cannot manually add or remove users or groups.
Managing Users and Groups n If one user is selected in the user tree, and a different user is displayed in the Details pane, the user selected in the user tree is deleted. To delete a group: 1. In the user tree or search list, select a group. Use Ctrl+click (Windows) or Command+click (Macintosh) to select multiple groups, or Shift+click to select contiguous groups. 2. Do one of the following: n t Click the Delete button. t Right-click and select Delete.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles The Users layout includes a pane labeled Roles. In MediaCentral UX, a role is a set of features, privileges, and layouts that are assigned to a user by a MediaCentral UX administrator. An administrator can create MediaCentral UX roles based on roles within an organization.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles A client workstation can use a single license to run MediaCentral UX and Interplay Production client applications concurrently. For example, a user can run both MediaCentral UX and Interplay | Access while using a single MediaCentral UX license. For more information, see the Interplay | Engine and Interplay | Archive Engine Configuration Guide.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles Licenses for MediaCentral UX Web Application with iNEWS License Type and Configuration Layouts Available Base Central with iNEWS Rundown, Story configured Advance Central with iNEWS and Interplay Production configured All layouts Panes Available Major Features Available • Launch pane • Access to iNEWS databases • Assets pane • Creating and editing stories • Queue/Story pane • Sending iNEWS links • Project/Story pane • Searching for stories • S
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles Licenses for MediaCentral UX Web Application for Interplay Production License Type and Configuration Layouts Available Panes Available Major Features Available Advance Central with Interplay Production and iNEWS configured All layouts All panes All available with Base Central plus: • Access to iNEWS databases • Creating and editing stories • Searching for stories • Creating and editing advanced sequences • Recording voice-overs.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles Licenses for Interplay Production and iOS Mobile Applications License Type and Configuration Base Central with Interplay Production configured Advance Central with Interplay Production and iNEWS configured Major Features Available • Access to Interplay Production database • Viewing media • Creating and launching Interplay Production favorites All available with Base Central plus: • Access to iNEWS databases • Creating, editing, and approving stories •
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles An administrator can assign multiple roles to a user. Multiple-role assignments can help license management by letting the user consume either a Base or an Advance license, depending on the work that needs to be done and the licenses that are available. The following illustration shows an example of a multiple-role assignment. By default, the Journalist role is associated with an Advance license, and the Media Logger role is associated with a Base license.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles If the user selects the Story layout, the user is working as a Journalist and is consuming an Advance license. If the user switches to the Log layout, the user is then working as a Media Logger and is consuming a Base license. You can open only those panes that are available through the license you are currently using.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles t Click the Pane Menu button and select Create Role. t Click the New Role button. 4. In the Details pane, type a name for the role. This field is required. 5. (Optional) Type a description of the new role. 6. Select one of the following license types for the role: - Advance - Base For more information on license types, see “MediaCentral | UX Client Licensing” on page 74. 7. In the Layouts section, click the Edit button. The Add or Remove Layouts window opens.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles 5. Click Yes. The role is deleted. Assigning Roles You can assign roles in two ways: • In the Role Details pane • In the User or Group Details pane. You can assign roles by dragging and dropping. If you are working in a multi-zone environment, a user needs at least one role in a zone to sign in to the server for that zone. The same user can have different roles in different zones. To assign a role in the Role Details pane: 1.
Creating, Deleting, and Assigning Roles The following illustration shows the Journalists group assigned the role Journalist in two zones: news-ipc1 and news-ipc4. 5. Click Apply to save your changes or click Revert to cancel your changes. To assign a role in the User or Group Details pane: 1. Select Users from the Layout selector. 2. In the user tree, double-click the user or group to which you want to assign a role. Information about the user or group is displayed in the Details pane. 3.
Displaying Information in the Details Pane 5. Click Apply to save your changes or click Revert to cancel your changes. The From Group column shows if the role is assigned directly (“Assigned to group directly”) or inherited from a parent group. If a role is inherited, the parent group is listed in the From Group column. To remove a role, select the role and do one of the following: t Click the x to the right of the role. t Right-click and select Revoke Role.
Searching for Users or Groups Searching for Users or Groups If you want to display details about a user or group but you do not want to navigate the user tree, you can use the Search pane. You can perform tasks using the items in the search results, such as adding selected users to a new group or deleting selected users. The search process looks for users or groups whose initial letters match the characters you type (a “prefix search”). The search is not case-sensitive.
Viewing and Ending Active Sessions 2. Do one of the following: t Click the Delete button. t Right-click and select Delete. t Click the Pane Menu button and select Delete. Viewing and Ending Active Sessions A MediaCentral UX administrator can view a list of users who are currently signed in to the MediaCentral UX Web application. If a user has more than one session open in a browser, only one session is shown. To sort the sessions, click the heading for the column you want to sort by.
Viewing and Ending Active Sessions t Click the End Session button. t Right-click and select End Session. The session is ended on the server. These options skip sessions that cannot be ended (such as your own session). After a short delay (up to a minute), a message box is displayed on the selected clients that reads “Your session has been terminated. You will be redirected to the Sign-in screen.” 3. The user must click the Sign Out button.
3 Monitoring and Troubleshooting The following topics include information that you can use for monitoring and troubleshooting: • Log Files • Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems • Troubleshooting Mixdown Problems Log Files The following sections list some useful log files. Not all log files are listed. For information about log files related to a server cluster, see the Avid MediaCentral Server Clustering Guide.
Log Files Log File Description client/client-yyyy_mm_dd.n.log Contains log messages pertaining to the client application. The folder contains a maximum of ten files, numbered from 0 (most recent) to 10. Prior to Interplay Central v1.5, this information was in the interplay_central_n.log file If necessary, you can disable client logging by adding a property to the application.properties file: /opt/avid/etc/avid/avid-interplay-central/co nfig/application.properties Add the following line: system.
Log Files MediaCentral Distribution Service Log files for the MediaCentral Distribution Service are located in the following folder on the server where you installed the MediaCentral Distribution Service: C:\ProgramData\Avid\Interplay Central Distribution Service These logs are described in the following table: Log File Description STPService_nn.log Contains log messages from the MediaCentral Distribution Service STPTimerTask_nn.
Log Files MediaCentral Common Services Log files for common services used in MediaCentral (messaging and e-mail forwarding) are located in the following folder on the MediaCentral Services server: /var/log/avid/acs These logs are described in the following table: Log File Description avid.acs-messenger.log Contains log messages from the MediaCentral messaging service. avid.acs-mail.log Contains log messages from the e-mail forwarding service.
Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems If the log file is more than 15 MB, you cannot send it directly. Use the iTunes File Sharing feature: 1. Connect your device to a Macintosh computer. 2. Open iTunes and navigate to Device > Apps. 3. Open iTunes and navigate to Device > Apps. 4. In the Avid Central Documents list, select the Logs folder. 5. Click “Save to” or drag the folder to a location on your computer. 6. Zip the folder and send it to Avid as an e-mail attachment.
Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems Problem or Error Message Probable Cause Solution Message: Remote STP process Wrong version of failed: Interplay | Transcode. CM_INCOMPAT_TRACK_TYPES (in "wait render" phase) for sequence with D-track and dissolve. Install Interplay | Transcode v2.7.0.1 or later. Message:Remote STP process failed: Exporter failed with error code:4 (in “wait long GOP export” hase) Wait until the capture is complete.
Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems Problem or Error Message Probable Cause Solution Message: Remote STP process Indicates that in the STP profile the Edit the profile or change the setting failed: SessionRefused (in "wait long target resolution is not compatible on the AMS. GOP export" phase). with the resolution specified on the in the AMS Channel Configuration > or Video Standard setting. Remote STP process failed: The server is currently disabled. (in "wait long GOP export" phase).
Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems Problem or Error Message Probable Cause Solution Message: STP service is not available. The MediaCentral Middleware Service cannot find the MediaCentral Distribution Service. Check the server name for the MediaCentral Distribution Service in the System Settings (Interplay Production section). Message: Unable to map TM Profile • AirSpeed_name on TM Server AirSpeed_name to a • resolution/project ID The Interplay | Transfer server could be down.
Troubleshooting Send to Playback Problems Task Section Reference Make sure iNEWS is correctly installed, configured, and running. Avid iNEWS documentation. Make sure the playback server is installed, configured, and running correctly (AirSpeed, AirSpeed Multi Stream, or other) AirSpeed or AirSpeed Multi Stream documentation or third-party documentation. Make sure the Send to Playback profiles are correct, for example, “Configuring for Send to Playback” on page 23.
Troubleshooting Mixdown Problems The output will be similar to the following: [root@mun-kvmicps14 bin]# ./ics_version UMS Version: 1.5.0.6 IPC Version: 1.5.0.17 ICPS Version: 1.5.0.6407889 ACS Version: 1.5.0.6407889 ICS installer: 1.5 • Version numbers of MediaCentral Distribution Service (MCDS), Interplay Transcode, and Interplay STP Encode. • The MediaCentral Distribution Service log from “C:\ProgramData\Avid\Interplay Central Distribution Service\STPService_00.
A User Management Utility Tools The MediaCentral User Management Utility tools are programs that an administrator runs as root from a command line on the Linux server that is running the User Management service, avid-ums. Special Characters Be careful when using special characters in path names and when resetting the administrator password using this command line utility. Some characters will not be processed correctly.
Utility Tool Command Options Description avid-ums-create-role ROLE_NAME Creates a role and assigns licenses and layouts to the role. Specifying one or more layouts is optional. ROLE_DESCRIPTION LICENSE [LAYOUT1][LAYOUT2]...[OPTIONS] -p, --admin-password avid-ums-backup Performs a backup of the UMS database to a file -pp, --postgres-superuser-password that can be restored later.
MediaCentral Glossary A Administrators group A default group used for MediaCentral UX user management that contains users with administrative privileges. active angle In a group clip, the camera angle selected for single-angle view and the angle displayed when you add the clip to a sequence. advanced sequence A sequence you create in MediaCentral UX that includes a timeline with one video track and user-specified audio tracks.
Assets pane A pane in the client application that displays assets. These assets can result from a search or from browsing. Assets are displayed in a folder hierarchy, if applicable to the assets displayed. audio follows video An audio setting that allows the audio mapping for a track in a group clip to automatically “follow” any active angle change and use the audio from the new active angle.
drop zone The part of an area into which you can move a pane. Each area has five drop zones: center, top, bottom, left, and right. E edit while capture (EWC) See Frame Chase editing. F facet A subtopic of an iNEWS project that provides additional granularity. Any stories associated to a facet are automatically associated to that facet’s parent project. See also project.
J J-K-L play The J-K-L keys on the keyboard allow you to play and shuttle through media at varying speeds. This feature is also referred to as three-button play or variable-speed play. L Launch pane A pane in the client application from which you navigate to various locations. This pane displays remote file systems, local files systems, and other locations for assets. Layout A collection of panes designed for a specific purpose, such as a layout for journalists or a layout for administrators.
M marker An indicator added to a selected frame to mark a particular location in a clip, subclip, or sequence. Markers can be different colors and can be associated with user-defined text. Markers are displayed in the Media Timeline and marker text is displayed as an overlay in the Media viewer. Formerly called locator. master clip A media object that contains pointers to media files in which the actual digital video and audio data is stored.
Media Distribute layout A layout that displays different options for publishing to multiple platforms. The layout includes the Social Message, Web Story, and Packages panes used for publishing media packages. Media controls In the Media pane, controls that let you play and move through an asset and edit an asset for use in creating a sequence. Which controls are displayed depends on the selected asset.
Messages pane A pane in the client application that displays a message box for sending both text messages and media asset links to other MediaCentral UX users. It also lists all received messages. metadata Data that describes an asset. Metadata includes properties, reservations, restrictions, and other information. Metadata pane A pane that displays properties that are associated with a selected asset in the Interplay Production database, such as Start Timecode or Comments.
Packages pane A pane in the client application that displays a history of packages ready for publication and already published. The pane also allows you to review and approve packages submitted for publication. pagination A system setting the specifies the maximum number of items listed in the Queue/Story pane or the Project/Story pane. pane A section of the MediaCentral UX Web application. An area contains one or more panes.
Project/Story pane A pane in the client application that displays the contents of a project, its facets, and any associated stories. project An iNEWS term for a group of stories categorized by topic so that news teams working on a particular topic can find everything related to it in a single place. See also facet. Q Queue/Story pane A pane in the client application that displays the contents of a queue with the contents of the story, including the story form.
Rundown layout A layout that a journalist uses to edit and create stories. S script The text that is read on air. Also the content for organizing a feature. Script Editor A section of the Queue/Story pane in which a journalist creates and organizes the elements of a story. There are four sub-sections of the Script Editor: Story Form, Cue List, Story, and Sequence Timeline. script sequence A series of video, audio, and images that you compose in the Sequence pane and play in the Media pane.
send to playback (STP) The process of transferring a sequence to a playback device or playout server for broadcast. sequence Video, images and audio clips, or any combination, arranged in a series. See also basic sequence and advanced sequence. Sequence pane A pane in which you can work with video and audio clips to create or edit a sequence. You can associate the sequence with a new story as a script sequence or store it as an independent asset in an Interplay Production database.
Social Message pane A pane in the client application that allows you to create packages for publication to social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter. SOT (sound on tape) Audio recorded at the same time as the video, often by a microphone separate from the one built in to a camera. Compare with the definition of NAT (natural sound). source clip A video clip or audio clip that is used as part of a sequence.
T Thumbnails pane A pane that displays small images of an asset that is loaded in the Asset mode of the Media pane. Images are displayed by timecode, marker, or both. Timecode displays In the Media pane, displays that provide timecode information for the loaded asset or sequence. timing block A section of a script sequence that corresponds in duration to the read rate of a story segment. A timing block serves as a container for editing actions.
User Tree pane A pane in the Users layout that displays groups and users in a hierarchical layout. Users layout A layout for MediaCentral UX user management that a MediaCentral UX administrator uses to import, create, and manage users and group. V Voice-over controls Controls that let you record a voice-over and adjust its volume. W Web Story pane A pane in the client application that allows you to create packages for publication to Web Content Management Systems.
Index A I Active sessions ending 86 viewing 86 Administrator available layouts 10 default account 10 AirSpeed Multi Stream sending to 23 Authentication provider specifying 57 Avid online support 9 training services 9 ICS Zones described 47 Image Quality configuring 16 iNEWS settings 13 Interplay Production configuring settings in Interplay Administrator 42 configuring settings in MediaCentral 13 Interplay Production Services described 23 Interplay Transcode service described 23 Interplay Transfer Engine
Index M S Maximum size of proxy video 16 MediaCentral Distribution Service described 23 MediaCentral User Management service described 50 MediaCentral Zones configuring 55 managing 53 working with 53 Messages configuring e-mail forwarding 21 configuring message archiving 19 Messages & Sharing settings 13 Modules 13 Multiple resolutions configuraing for 16 MultiRez button 16 Multi-zone environments managing 53 Search pane in Users layout 85 Searching for users or groups 85 Send to playback (STP) configur
Index Users adding to a group 67 changing password 73 creating 63 deleting 72 described 50 editing details 63 importing 57 managing 56 removing from a group 67 searching for 85 Users layout described 47 opening 46 W Windows domain importing users from 57 Z Zones managing 53 working with 53 116
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