sserre's dashboard

sserre replied on June 21, 2009 02:12 to the question "iTunes like scheduling." in Tightrope Media Systems:

Personally, I want to have more control over exactly which programs play on our channels, how many times and when...

Having said that, this idea would be perfect for PSAs and other interstitials, if such an engine could exist to fill the empty programming time BETWEEN long-form video programs. Boy, would that be helpful...

sserre replied on June 21, 2009 02:05 to the question "Timing shows to avoid clipping and other newbie questions" in Tightrope Media Systems:

My guess is it would depend on what hardware you have and how it's configured through cablecast.

For example, we usually edit our full-length programs with a two-second black slug at the beginning, and a 5-second slug at the end. That usually compensates for the one-second pre-roll that our VS4 server needs to start up the file, and another second for any time inconsistencies between the cablecast server and our Sigma router (which does the switching on our channels). I usually add 1-2 seconds to the program length in Cablecast, so the end won't get truncated.

Using that strategy, we usually have pretty smooth transitions from Carousel to programming and vice-versa. Other people may have other strategies?

sserre shared an idea in Tightrope Media Systems on June 19, 2009 22:52:

Custom Cable Display Bulletins for Individual Programs

For the 'Coming up Next' and 'See it Again' cable display bulletins, how about a way to customize those for the individual programs that they accompany?

For example, I could create and load a "coming up" bulletin that has logos, graphics, pictures etc. for a specific show, which would compliment that show. Then rely on the generic one for other shows if I don't feel like creating one for every show.

Perhaps that control could be connected to Cablecast based on show ID?

sserre started following the question "amber alerts" in Tightrope Media Systems.

sserre replied on May 11, 2009 20:55 to the problem "Podcasts and Projects are not Functioning--Cablecast 4.8.3" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Thanks Jennifer! I've got it installed and I'm once again podcasting successfully. Just one small hiccup, which folks may want to check out in my post on this topic: http://gsfn.us/t/jzj

Thanks again for all your help!!

--Shawn

sserre replied on May 11, 2009 20:52 to the question "How do I change the IP address that my podcasts use?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Update to this thread: I just installed Cablecast 4.8.3 Build 52, which repaired our Podcasting services from a previous installation. However, the podcast files did not commence transcoding after installation. Here's what I found:

All of the above steps that made podcasting work were still in place on the Cablecast Pro server...except one: The Cablecast service reset itself to run as the Local Account instead of the Administrator account (even after I selected 'Administrator Account' in the install program!). I went in, stopped the service, changed the logon as described above, then bounced the service. Within minutes, the CPU went nuts and started transcoding.

So for anyone trying to get this to work, double check that setting again after install.

sserre replied on May 09, 2009 14:56 to the question "Multiple Tracks Conversion" in Tightrope Media Systems:

David, have you tried hitting "pause" instead of "stop" on your field DVD recorder in between segments? That's what we do when we're recording something in segments onto a DVD. That way you end up with one title instead of several. It's not always possible, but when it is, we do that so it'll be easier to rip in using DVD Import...

sserre replied on May 07, 2009 01:21 to the idea "Feature Request: Restricting Font Size and Font Types" in Tightrope Media Systems:

To dovetail with this thread...Along with font size and font type, the one restriction that would be a big help to us would be total NUMBER of characters that could be on a single bulletin.

That way, when we set up a template for users to enter text into, having a limit at a certain number of chars (settable by the admin; we would probably set it to 210, which equals roughly 7 lines of text with 30 characters per line), the message would still be readable when it goes on the air. The restriction could follow the template or the user.

There could also be a button on that text entry page that allows a user to easily split their text-heavy message into two or more pages with the same title and background. For example, once the user attempts to enter more than the set number of chars, that button becomes active (or glows yellow or something!). I know we can do that right now, but it's several mouse clicks away from the text entry page. That's the place where it would be most convenient to the user.

sserre replied on May 06, 2009 15:25 to the question "Electrical Rating (Volts) on SX2, VOD & CG250" in Tightrope Media Systems:

I'd say it's just as 'on-topic' as anything else!

So: Watts=Amps x Volts. Let's assume you have 115 volts at your outlet where you plug in all of your equipment (voltage from the utility company varies, but is usually in the range of 105-125 Volts AC). The limit of a typical circuit breaker in a commercial building is 20 Amps (20A). If you are using all 20 amps , 20 x 115 = 2300 Watts. That means the total of all the wattage of your equipment on that circuit can't add up to more than 2300 watts. In fact, you'd want to be a couple hundred watts under that, because it's not a great idea to run your circuit so close to its limit all the time.

If your unit's back panel is showing you amps instead of Watts (for example, 120V AC 60Hz 1.2A), then you can calculate the wattage of that unit by multiplying the Amps times the Voltage (let's guess 115 V), 1.2 x 115 = 138 Watts.

So add up all your Watts and hopefully that answers the question for you!

sserre replied on May 06, 2009 14:12 to the question "Electrical Rating (Volts) on SX2, VOD & CG250" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Normally the power ratings on such devices (as listed on the back of the boxes, at the power supply) are measured in watts or amps, assuming you are using 110-120 volts AC. Are you interested in calculating the total power that these units consume? If so, you would want to know the current (amps) or watts. Maybe I am misunderstanding your question?

sserre replied on April 30, 2009 19:16 to the problem "Podcasts and Projects are not Functioning--Cablecast 4.8.3" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Thanks John!!

sserre replied on April 27, 2009 18:55 to the question "DVD Import will not accept Disks made in Toast 9" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Scott, I can put the VIDEO_TS folder of one of these discs up on our FTP server for you to grab, if you would like-- let me know.

sserre replied on April 25, 2009 14:19 to the question "Bandwith requirements for streaming VOD" in Tightrope Media Systems:

We do okay on a RoadRunner Business Class connection (cable modem, not like a T1 or T3) at 8Mbps down and 2Mbps up. But I think if demand grows for these services (which is going to happen) we could have issues...

sserre replied on April 25, 2009 14:13 to the question "DVD Import will not accept Disks made in Toast 9" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Hi Patrick,

I suspect it might be a setting in Toast. We have a member who submits DVDs she creates with Final Cut Pro/DVD Studio Pro, and we get the same exact message every time when we try to use DVD import to bring her programs into our server.

Now, we use Studio Pro all the time for our own stuff and never have a problem. So I conclude that it must be a setting in her software that's causing DVD import to think the disc is copy-protected. Unfortunately I can't give you a solution because we haven't been able to help her solve it either!

sserre replied on April 23, 2009 21:45 to the question "NAB 2009 - What's up?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Once again a great time hanging out with all of you this year! Thanks again guys!!!

sserre replied on April 21, 2009 04:11 to the question "NAB 2009 - What's up?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Awesome, thanks for the update guys!! Booth looks great, we'll be there tomorrow late morning (that's all the warning you're going to get!!). We're actually staying at Treasure Island this year. Kahunaville is here, and also there's a tequila bar in Isla mexican restaurant. I know how much the TRMS community appreciates tequila. Although the view from the Monte Carlo as described sounds appealing ;-)

sserre replied on April 17, 2009 18:15 to the question "NAB 2009 - What's up?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Doesn't have to be anything big or fancy, I'd be up for knocking a few down with all of you. Name the time and place, avoiding Tuesday evening if possible (if it's still going on after 10 PM Tuesday I might be able to drop by :-)

sserre reported a problem in Tightrope Media Systems on April 10, 2009 16:38:

Podcasts and Projects are not Functioning--Cablecast 4.8.3

One of our staff noticed today that since the upgrade to 4.8.3 (build 9) he has not seen any new podcasts being created. I went into the show record to link a program to a project, and when I hit search, no projects show up!! No results for projects are shown. Has anyone noticed this as a problem of this upgrade? And is there a solution available? Thanks...

sserre replied on April 01, 2009 23:02 to the problem "Changing record times on a live event" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Yes, except that we use the 'Record Run' button in the details screen, which is automatically setting the record function (which is great by the way). So it's natural to think that when you change a time in the playback schedule, the record run would follow suit.

Now if I had scheduled a recording SEPARATELY from the record run box, then yes, I would think of the two as separate events.

I have learned that I need to make two changes when I change the time of such an event...but it would be a nice improvement if I didn't have to.

sserre replied on April 01, 2009 20:31 to the question "Zeplay!" in Tightrope Media Systems:

See, that's why I love TRMS. I can always count on you guys to push technology to, and beyond, its limits, and even the limits of physics and the time-space continuum. Bravo, ye purveyors of E.S.P. (n?).