sserre's dashboard

sserre replied on December 04, 2009 02:47 to the question "Installing control modules on computers for purpose of syncing time." in Tightrope Media Systems:

How's it going Ray! You're absolutely right, Windows time syncing is terrible!!

Here's what I've been doing to solve the same problem. I use a fairly old (and free) utility called 'AboutTime' found here: http://www.arachnoid.com/abouttime/ . I install this utility on the Cablecast server, and make it an NTP server for my local network. I sync this version of AboutTime to the NTP server at us.pool.ntp.org, and have it sync once every minute. Pretty close to network time from what I have observed.

Then I install AboutTime onto other machines in my facility that need to be in sync with the switching that Cablecast performs (such as your CG computer). I turn their external servers off, but point them to sync ONLY with the cablecast server. That way, I know they'll all be synced together.

You could also have those machines sync directly with us.pool.ntp.org every minute using AboutTime. This also works pretty well...

Good luck! --Shawn

sserre replied on December 04, 2009 02:29 to the discussion "DSK crawl" in Tightrope Media Systems:

We've seen the same problem, have needed to split crawls into several messages, but unsure how long is too long....

sserre replied on November 13, 2009 01:17 to the question "Record Run Preset" in Tightrope Media Systems:

This is a pretty common need and feature request. We all seem to have live, regular programming that needs to be encoded off the first run, and then played back off the server for subsequent runs.

We have several-- the most pressing is a live daily morning program from a high school, which is encoded, but then plays back off the server each evening at 11 PM. Every day I need to change the format and resend autopilot in order for the show to replay. Since I set up three months worth of programs at one sitting, it would be great to enter all this information only once (create the show IDs, schedule the shows on the appropriate days, record the runs, and have the subsequent runs change format to the video server). Heck, throw in enabling 'On Demand' and we've got a party!!

If there's one feature request I'd love to see in the next release it would be this one!

sserre reported a problem in Tightrope Media Systems on November 06, 2009 16:51:

Carousel audio low when playing live video feed

I'm experimenting with using the NASA channel on Carousel as a live video feed. The feed is set up as a dynamic alert page. It works great... except the audio is very low. The audio mixer settings in windows shows all channels are up all the way. Music playing through the mixer is playing at the correct level. Anyone have suggestions on how to boost this?

sserre marked one of Chad Gartner's replies in Tightrope Media Systems as useful. Chad Gartner replied to the problem "Unhandled Exception Error in Web UI".

sserre replied on November 04, 2009 22:14 to the problem "Unhandled Exception Error in Web UI" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Yeah, restarted the server. It happens only occasionally. Just wanted you to know the details of the problem, will look for the update that clears it up... does it have a case number or bug ID?

sserre reported a problem in Tightrope Media Systems on November 02, 2009 21:36:

Unhandled Exception Error in Web UI

Getting the following error in our web ui. I have seen this before, and usually only restarting the cablecast pro server will solve the problem:

Server Error in '/Cablecast' Application.
Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Source
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Source

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:

[ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Source]
Mediachase.FileUploader.McHttpModule.PatternMatch(String Source, String Mask) +493
Mediachase.FileUploader.McHttpModule.f8fcd557836e2379(String 9235e7f93719edde) +379
Mediachase.FileUploader.McHttpModule.694a7e1d01f817ae(Object 337e217cb3ba0627, EventArgs fbf34718e704c6bc) +650
System.Web.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +68
System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +75

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.3603; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.3082

sserre replied on September 24, 2009 02:32 to the question "16x9 Playback" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Depends on which server model you have. Older (VS4) servers squeeze 16x9 programs when they play into a 4:3 window.

sserre shared an idea in Tightrope Media Systems on September 24, 2009 02:17:

Force Menu "Override" Could Show User Name

Would it be possible for the Autopilot Force (Matrix) menu to display which user overrode the automation?

Here is the information displayed currently when the automation is overridden:

Pittsfield ETV On-Air has been overridden since 9/23/2009 9:08:53 PM

It would be great if it could also say "by user 'sserre' from ip address 192.168.1.1' or something to that effect. That way when multiple people have access to this privilege, someone logging in late could easily find out who's taking care of business...

sserre started following the question "Anyone using a fade to black device? I Need suggestions." in Tightrope Media Systems.

sserre started following the idea "Disposition tracking, and automated disposition generator." in Tightrope Media Systems.

sserre replied on September 02, 2009 01:52 to the discussion "How to Time a Show" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Lance, it's very easy to use MPEG Streamclip for this function. Nice, free app that trims, cuts and appends MPEG files. To me, it's the same amount of time to trim the file in this way. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

sserre started following the question "VOD Reporting" in Tightrope Media Systems.

sserre replied on August 12, 2009 23:56 to the idea "New Carousel Feature? Smartphone combatibility..." in Tightrope Media Systems:

An iPhone app would be KILLER!

sserre started following the idea "New Carousel Feature? Smartphone combatibility..." in Tightrope Media Systems.

sserre shared an idea in Tightrope Media Systems on August 12, 2009 23:55:

Notification when Live IP Streaming Fails?

We have Live IP Video streaming functionality on our three channels. Every so often, the web stream will stop working for some reason. Users get a 'network error' message on windows media player, and the 'Live IP Video' screen in Autopilot shows the stream is not started. Clicking 'Start' does not work; however, bouncing the 'Cablecast Device Control' Service on the appropriate streaming server usually makes it work again.

While that problem is fodder for another forum post, this made me wonder: it it possible to have Cablecast monitor the health of the IP streaming, and send an email when the service hasn't checked in for 15 minutes? Similar to the way Carousel reports that a player hasn't checked in for a certain amount of time. This might also help us track down what is causing the problem on the server.

Just thinking!

sserre replied on August 11, 2009 17:12 to the question "Run Carousel remotely" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Boy, wouldn't it be great if, during creation of the Alert Bulletin, there was a checkbox that would take care of the above steps automatically?

Maybe two choices: 1) Force Override of Cablecast Automation after the current program ends; 2) Force Override of Cablecast Automation Immediately and return to Carousel. Checking none of the above boxes would simply put the Alert Bulletin on Carousel but have no effect on Cablecast.

The end action checkbox could be "Return to Automation when Alert Bulletin Expires," which would make everything right with the world!

sserre replied on August 11, 2009 17:05 to the idea "Biblographic Show Info Defaults" in Tightrope Media Systems:

I just had a situation where the host of a program changed. I had already created a series of shows that were scheduled through the middle of September, and each show had the old host's name in the Episode Description field (a custom field). So I had to go back through and change the host's name in that field, for all FUTURE shows, one show record at a time. Needless to say, that was tedious. A solution that would update a batch of show records all at once would be fantastic. But I wouldn't want a process whereby one global field changes all PAST and FUTURE show records either. Maybe there could be a way of defining what parameter of changes, by date, show record, etc? Just my two cents!

sserre started following the idea "Biblographic Show Info Defaults" in Tightrope Media Systems.

A comment on the question "Wordpress, Websites, RSS and Cablecast" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Well let's just say it would make quite the access program. – sserre, on July 31, 2009 21:30