Softron Media Services

Frequently Asked Technical Questions About OnTheAir Video

What are the limitations of the demo version?

DVI version vs PCI version
What are the differences between the PCI and the DV version?
What are the advantages of the DV version?
What are the advantages of the PCI version?

Hardware
What converters do you recommend for the DV version?
What Video Card do you recommend for the Video Card version?
How do I know if my converter or my Video Card is recognized by OTAV?
Can I connect a Firewire device to the Mac while playling video clips with OTAV?
Can I control OTAV using external devices like GPI or MIDI?
Can I control GPI devices using OTAV?
The newer MacPros’ slots have fixed PCI Express lane configurations. How does this impact using multiple cards in a system.

Playlist management
What kind of files can I put in a playlist?
Do all of the clips in an OnTheAir Video playlist have to be the same format?
What is the file format of the playlists? Is it proprietary?
How do I put video clips into a playlist?
Can I work with and create different OnTheAir Video playlists while one playlist plays out?
Can I leave a space in an OnTheAir Video playlist for a clip that has not yet been created so that when it is created it will automatically be added to the playlist?
What is the maximum duration of a playlist?
Can I change the size of the clip that is played out using OnTheAir Video?
Is it necessary for OnTheAir Video or OnTheAir Video DV to play an entire clip in the playlist or can the clip be edited?
Can I set in and out points to trim the video clips I inserted?
How do I start playing back my clips?
In the DV version, why is there a "Device" popup menu on every playlist?

Two cards configurations / MovieRecorder
Can a single computer be used to play out two different OnTheAir Video playlists at the same time.
Can OnTheAir Video be used to capture as well as playout video?
Can I use OnTheAir Video products and MovieRecorder products on an Apple SAN.
Is it possible to ingest media using MovieRecorder and output the ingested clip with the second video card using OnTheAir Video while OnTheAir Video is outputting on the same workstation?
Does OnTheAir Video support multiple language output?
How can I overlay a bug on a video clip when it is played out using OnTheAir Video?
Can I add logos interactively onto clips being played out with OnTheAir Video?


Scheduling with OnTheAir Video
What is the OnTheAir Video Scheduler?
How to I add OnTheAir Video playlists to an OnTheAir Video Schedule?
How do I know that an OnTheAir Video Schedule will play as intended?
Can I create OnTheAir Video schedules outside of OnTheAir Video?
How does OnTheAir Video handle redundancy.
Does OnTheAir Video support VDCP – Virtual Deck Control Protocol?
Does OnTheAir CG require OnTheAir Video to work?



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What are the limitations of the demo version?
The demo version is only limited by the fact that it overlay DEMO on your signal, whatever its real length is. You can use the demo verion to test OnTheAir Video
completely before buying it.



DVI version vs PCI version

What are the differences between the PCI and the DV version?
The main difference is that the DV version uses an external DV converter to output the video signal, and the PCI version uses an internal PCI video card (Decklink, KONA,...) to output the video signal. There are also some differences in the number of video outputs, of video formats and of flexibility.

What are the advantages of the DV version?
The main advantage of the DV version is that it can output several Video signals on one computer. For OTAV there is no limit, you could chain as many DV converters as you want but there is, of course, the limit of the hardware (Disk and CPU). We recommend not to chain more than 3 DV converters on one
computer. The necessity to have more than one signal going out from one computer (for economic or other reasons) is the primary reason to use the DV version of OnTheAir Video. OnTheAir Video DV has a few disadvantages: limitation to the dv format, less flexible, and requires a PCI video card for logo overlay.

What are the advantages of the PCI version? The PCI Version is much more flexible than the DV version specially regarding the video formats that can be used. OnTheAir Video in the PCI version can play almost any kind of video file. The only important limitation is that it can't play files that are working with GOPs such as as mpeg-2 or H.264 codecs. But OnTheAir Video can play DV, DVCPRO-25, DVCPRO-50, MPEG-4, M-JPEG, DVCPRO HD, ProRes, IMX, AVI (and many more codecs, just test them before airing them!) together within the same playlist! You will not loose a lot of time to convert your files from one format to another. You can output only two signals from one computer using two decklink cards in the same computer.

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Hardware

What converters do you recommend for the DV version?
Since this market is evolving constantly, we cannot test all versions of every model of converters there are on the market. So we recommend you try the application with the converter you're planning to buy and make
sure it works ok. Generally, we found the Canopus converters to be the most reliable, but we noticed a few problems when using cell phones very close to the low-end models like the ADVC-100. Alternatively, you can also use any DVCam or DV VCR or camera as a converter (provided it has an iLink input).

What Video Card do you recommend for the Video Card version?
Since this market is evolving constantly, we cannot test all versions of every model of PCI video cards there are on the market. So we recommend you try the application with the PCI card you're planning to buy and make sure it works ok. Generally, we found the Decklink Video PCI Cards to be the very reliable. The KONA should work very well, but we are currently making long tests on it. Until now, we found no problem using it, but you should also test it with your configuration to be sure.

How do I know if my converter or my Video Card is recognized by OTAV?
DV version : When you start OnTheAir Video, it will create a blank empty playlist. On that playlist, you will see a popup menu named "Device". It will display the names (and an index) of the devices that it is connected to. If your device appears in the list, it will most likely work with OTAV. It is important to notice that the devices have to be plugged in BEFORE OTAV is started since we do not support hot-plugging a device after the application has started.
PCI version : When you start OnTheAir Video, go in the preferences and select "Playback". The select the Video format (PAL or NTSC) and choose the Video and Audio output. If this is blank, then your PCI video card is not plugged in or has a problem. Check with your dealer.

Can I connect a Firewire device to the Mac while playling video clips with OTAV?
DV version : No, we do recommend that you do NOT connect or disconnect anything while OTAV is playing. The reason is that a bus reset will occur, interrupting the playback. Try transferring the information using gigabit Ethernet instead.
PCI version : Yes, as you are not using the Firewire bus to output the video,there is absolutely no problem to connect or disconnect any Firewire device.

Can I control OTAV using external devices like GPI or MIDI?
Yes, OTAV can be controlled through MIDI. Each clip on each playlist can be assigned to a specific MIDI note/channel combination and therefore, GPI to MIDI converters can be used as well. We also provide full AppleScript support.

Can I control GPI devices using OTAV?
Yes, you can control any GPI device from OTAV. In fact every clip can send a GPI information through our USB to GPI Commander interface. This interface has 8 outputs and 24 inputs.

The newer MacPros’ slots have fixed PCI Express lane configurations. How does this impact using multiple cards in a system.
This is really an issue regarding use of additional cards such as a Fibre Channel card. 4 lanes is a lot more than what a Decklink or AJA card needs. The Fibre Channel card can still perform very well in one of the "slow" slots (still much faster than old PCI-X systems.) This said, there is no impact on OnTheAir Video performance, of for that matter the performance of any of the Softron Media applications.
For most use with 2 Decklinks and one Fibrechannel card, you can set Expansion Slot Utility to set number 2 with four lanes in slot 3 and 4 and one lane is slot 2. You will then put the OnTheAir CG card in slot 4, the OnTheAir Video Decklink card (Card N°2 in your system) in slot 3 and the FibreChannel card in slot 2.



Playlist management

What kind of files can I put in a playlist?
DV version : Due to technical constraints within only the DV version, you will need raw DV files only. Raw DV files have an extension of ".dv" and can be generated by FinalCut Pro, iMovie, FinalCut Express or QuickTime Player. We recommend you select "locked audio" (like in DVCam) and 48 kHz but you can also use 32 kHz unlocked audio files. However, we recommend not mixing and matching different audio formats in the same playlist. The reason is that the DV converter has to switch its internal circuitry every time the format changes and that can cause an audible silence of about half a second during playback. OnTheAir Video will warn you if you try to mix different types of files in the same playlist (or if the audio file format is different from the playlist default).
PCI version : As explained before, with the PCI version, you can put almost any kind of video file in your playlists, and the more so you can put different formats within the same playlist like DV, DVCPRO-25, DVCPRO-50, MPEG-4, M-JPEG, DVCPRO HD, ProRes, IMX, AVI, and many more!

Do all of the clips in an OnTheAir Video playlist have to be the same format?
No. You can mix and match different formats (codecs) in any OnTheAir playlist. You can even mix SD and HD formats – although this should be avoided because of the obvious resolution differences.

What is the file format of the playlists? Is it proprietary?
No, the file format is completely open and documented. It is based on XML and reading an existing playlist will give you a good idea on how it is built. Therefore, database applications can easily create new playlists and import them into OTAV.

How do I put video clips into a playlist?
You simply drag and drop them to the playlist! You can even drag entire folders. Even their Finder label color will be retained.
Once the playlist is created, simply save it and then you will be able to recall it later.

Can I work with and create different OnTheAir Video playlists while one playlist plays out?
Yes. You can have any number of OnTheAir Video playlists open concurrently while one of the playlists is outputting. You can copy and paste between them - even the one that is outputting. You can switch between the playlist to change which one is doing the output. If you have are using the Multichannel Video option, you can copy and paste between two outputting playlists on two (or up to 4 with OnTheAir DV) cards.

Can I leave a space in an OnTheAir Video playlist for a clip that has not yet been created so that when it is created it will automatically be added to the playlist?
Yes - offline clips can be added into an OnTheAir Video playlist using the Add Offline Clip command in the File menu.

What is the maximum duration of a playlist?
There is no preset maximum duration for a playlist, but common sense has to be used. Playlists with a few thousands clips will be difficult to handle and create (not mentioning if you make a mistake). So we recommend creating playlists of a few hundred clips maximum and then scheduling them using the Scheduler module.

Can I change the size of the clip that is played out using OnTheAir Video?
OnTheAir Video has the ability to resize the clip and change the position of the clip that is played out from the playlist. The clips position and size can be changed at anytime, even while the playlist is being output, as long as the clip itself is not being output when the change is made.

Is it necessary for OnTheAir Video or OnTheAir Video DV to play an entire clip in the playlist or can the clip be edited?
A. Any clip in the playlist can be played in full, can be split into segments to playback contiguously or can be shortened. This does not impact the actual clip that is stored in anyway because OnTheAir Video and OnTheAir Video DV uses pointers to identify the starting and stopping points.

Can I set in and out points to trim the video clips I inserted?
Yes. Simply click on the file you want to trim in the playlist with the right button (or using CTRL for those with only one button) and select "Set In/out points". You will then be able to set in and out points. This information will only be kept in the playlist and the file itself will not be modified. So if you need to keep that information, only drag from the playlist and not from the Finder.

How do I start playing back my clips?
There are 3 options:

In the DV version, why is there a "Device" popup menu on every playlist?
Each playlist can be assigned to a different DV converter (a.k.a. device). So if you have the demo version or the multi-channel option, you can use up to 4 different converters and playback 4 streams simultaneously. However, some converters will not handle that well and might crash the computer, so it is
always best to try before you buy! The good thing is that OTAV will remember which playlist goes on which device (each device has a unique identifier) and so you don't have to reconfigure your playlists even if you disconnect and reconnect a device.



Two cards configurations / MovieRecorder

Can a single computer be used to play out two different OnTheAir Video playlists at the same time.
Yes, but the OnTheAir Multichannel Video option is required.
When working with DV video, OnTheAir Video DV can output up to four channels of video from four separate playlists.
When using two Blackmagic Decklink cards, OnTheAir Video can output two channels of video. (AJA drivers currently do not support multiple cards in a single MacPro.)
In both instances, hard drive disk speeds must support the video throughput.

Can OnTheAir Video be used to capture as well as playout video?
No. OnTheAir Video is a playout server. To record video clips, you need to use MovieRecorder or MovieRecorder DV.

Can I use OnTheAir Video products and MovieRecorder products on an Apple SAN.
That is the recommended and most often used configuration for multiple users of all Softron products.

Is it possible to ingest media using MovieRecorder and output the ingested clip with the second video card using OnTheAir Video while OnTheAir Video is outputting on the same workstation?
Yes – providing you use two cards. You can use MovieRecorder to ingest using one of the Blackmagic cards while OnTheAir Video is playing out a playlist using the second Blackmagic card. OnTheAir Video playlists can be edited during playout. The only limitation is that the clip being played cannot be modified during playback and that the next clip in the playlist cannot be changed 10 seconds before playout.
What makes this even more interesting is that you can actually start ingesting a reference movie that can be brought into Final Cut and edited while the ingest continues. As long as the edited clip is exported from Final Cut as a self-contained QuickTime file, it can be dropped into the playlist.
This is extremely useful when you want to output the most up to date information.

Does OnTheAir Video support multiple language output?
OnTheAir Video has an option called Multichannel Audio Support of OnTheAir Video. This allows stereo pairs to output languages using either the Quicktime naming feature or pair order. Providing that the video card also supports multiple channels of audio and the number of pairs selected, audio streams can be output one language per stereo pair (or two channels.) This does not work with DV.

How can I overlay a bug on a video clip when it is played out using OnTheAir Video?
OnTheAir Video has an option called the Logo Overlay option which allows static logos and other graphics to be overlaid onto the playout of a playlist or individual clips in a playlist. Animated bugs require the use of OnTheAir CG in conjunction with OnTheAir Video.

Can I add logos interactively onto clips being played out with OnTheAir Video?
As long as a clip is not being played out when you want to add the logo, OnTheAir Video with the Logo Ovrlay option allows you to add a logo or change a logo associated with a clip so that the logo will be played out with the clip.

Can I change the size of the clip that is played out using OnTheAir Video?
OnTheAir Video has the ability to resize the clip and change the position of the clip that is played out from the playlist. The clips position and size can be changed at anytime, even while the playlist is being output, as long as the clip itself is not being output when the change is made.




Scheduling with OnTheAir Video

What is the OnTheAir Video Scheduler?
OnTheAir Video Scheduler is an option for OnTheAir Video that allows you to add different OnTheAir Video playlists together so that the playlists will play at specific times on specific days. OnTheAir Scheduler allows for complete automation of OnTheAir Video playlist playout.

How to I add OnTheAir Video playlists to an OnTheAir Video Schedule?
You add OnTheAir Video playlists to an OnTheAir Video Schedule in much the same way you add clips to a playlist – by dragging and dropping or adding them from a menu. The only difference is that instead of adding a clip, you add a playlist – a list of clips.

How do I know that an OnTheAir Video Schedule will play as intended?
When you create an OnTheAir Video Schedule, you will see confirmations and or error messages as playlists are added. These will confirm that the media you want to play are available or not. You will also see the actual time that a playlist is scheduled to start and stop.

Can I create OnTheAir Video schedules outside of OnTheAir Video?
OnTheAir Video schedulecan be created in any text editor as long as the schedule creator knows the names of the playlists and the location where the playlist and media are stored.

How does OnTheAir Video handle redundancy.
This is a question that comes quite often. We address this in two ways:
Our experience shows that we need to address it in two ways:
First, full redundancy is NOT the way to go with OnTheAir Video. The historical justification behind redundancy is the fact that Windows machines have a tendency to crash from time to time. Windows also has an issue with viruses. Redundancy is also needed by large networks who need to have a completely transparent failover.
This is not the case with Macs (provided the hardware components have been tested and function properly). The only way to crash OnTheAir Video is to give it an incorrect (or damaged) QuickTime file that would be either skipped (90% of the time) or would cause some form of issue with the system. If there are two machines doing exactly the same thing at the same time, chances are they will both crash (or skip the file) at the same time as well !
Therefore, instead of recommending full redundancy, we recommend using a "standby" or backup machine that would be able to play the same playlists (in case of scheduled maintenance) or would be taking over in case of problem.
Second, notwithstanding anything indicated above, if full redundancy is still a requirement, all that need be done is to synchronize the Mac clock to an in-house NTP server. In addition, many NTP servers can be synchronized to an LTC timecode in case that is needed. Feeding each workstation with an LTC timecode directly is overkill and could create more problems in case the timecode stops coming in.
In the second scenario, the biggest difference between the two stations will be a few frames which is perfectly acceptable in most operations.

Does OnTheAir Video support VDCP – Virtual Deck Control Protocol?
We do not support VDCP for the following reasons:
1) It assumes we are "controlled" by another form of automation system. This is not needed by OnTheAir Video since OnTheAir Video does automation and playout in the same application.
2) VDCP, like the Sony protocol, require that we execute each command within 10 milliseconds (a quarter of a frame). We cannot guarantee that without having dedicated hardware (the MacOS X is multi-tasked, so we cannot guarantee that the serial port will have a high-enough priority to reply in time). Most existing systems assume that the controlling device will not care about a late reply but this is not reliable enough.
Finally, VDCP is an old protocol (Video Disc Control Protocol from back in the days when these players were proliferate) so we'd rather support some form of TCP/IP protocol if really needed.

Does OnTheAir CG require OnTheAir Video to work?
No. OnTheAir CG is a standalone application that works either by itself or together with OnTheAir Video. Many users will find that they will not need OnTheAir Video at all because they will use OnTheAir CG only to overlay text or graphics on live video at events or on air. However, it CAN be used together with OnTheAir Video if video from a playout server is required.