ZachSchuster's dashboard

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on August 27, 2009 15:44:

Voicemail not Working?

I tried to call earlier this week, then twice today to talk to either JJ or Brandon at TRMS. The operator transferred me, it rang three times on each occassion, then I was disconnected. I tried from my cell and my office number, and it's the same each time.

I have only tried to call JJ and Brandon, so I don't know if other voicemail boxes are having the same issues. I thought you'd want to know.

ZachSchuster replied on August 25, 2009 03:51 to the idea "Paypal button for viewing on demand content feature request?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

I'm not exactly sure how the iTunes Store works, but it would be nice if there was a way to integrate the Quicktime content of the VOD server into the iTunes Store. People could pay through that service and download directly to their computer or video iPod... no idea if this is even possible. I imagine iTunes gets a cut of the profits, but it would be an easy, well known and highly used method of generating revenue for content distribution.

A comment on the question "How does Carousel control the power of monitors?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Jennifer, something else to consider along with that-- an accessory for the Carousel appliances that is a little computer speaker... maybe powered by a USB soundcard, that, when loss of signal occurs, it plays either an obnoxious alert tone, or a prerecorded message. That way the would-be-thief might just take off when the alert begins. Of course, with such a feature it would be good for the security dispatcher to be able to deactivate the alert after the situation has passed. Maybe the E-Mail could have a link for them to click to access an admin page to turn off the alert. Just brainstorming. – ZachSchuster, on April 01, 2009 21:19

A comment on the question "Commercial Insertion" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Also, how do reels affect VOD files? Are they compiled as a single video, or is a playlist created bsed on the reels? – ZachSchuster, on February 12, 2009 22:30

ZachSchuster replied on February 12, 2009 21:44 to the question "Commercial Insertion" in Tightrope Media Systems:

So, if I were to get an SX2 and run one channel, what Jon is asking would be plausible, with the show reels running out of one output and the router switching to output 2 for commercials?

Then, on the web display, would it come up as

12:00- show-reel 1
12:10- commercial break
12:11- show- reel 2
etc...

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on February 12, 2009 21:41:

Commercials on VOD startup

Still trying to build a case for going with Cablecast. Looking for revenue options to pay for it. Is it possible (or a possible feature request) with VOD to have a startup advertsiement? So, like I click to watch my favorite show and before it begins playing I see a 30 second commercial for the local pizza place?

ZachSchuster replied on February 05, 2009 20:54 to the question "Video playlists with VOD" in Tightrope Media Systems:

So, one other question came to mind as i was trying to get to sleep last night. (No, this topic wasn't keeping me up, it just came to me randomly.)

How might an embedded player be integrated to a different website. For example, our athletics page is a totally different URL from the school's main page. And the main page would be different from the Cablecast URL.

Can we embed a window to a totally separate site? I can see it being done with an iframe, but direct embedding would be preferred.

Again, I know squat about databases, so any advice in laymen's terms is appreciated.

ZachSchuster replied on January 30, 2009 00:16 to the question "Video playlists with VOD" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Ray,

Thanks for posting that. Until we actually HAVE a Carousel VOD, I can;t do anything to check this out, but I will keep this thread bookmarked.

The ability to do playlists like this could be a powerful incentive to push this harware. Marketing could use it for their videos on the admissions page, athleticsw could use it, etc...

Thanks again,

Zach

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on January 29, 2009 18:33:

Video playlists with VOD

I'm (still) trying to make the case for moving to Cablecast for our campus TV station, and with that moving to a VOD server so shows can be accessible online.

Our athletics department is looking at ways to place a "video box" on their main page. This box might have short highlights from the last game, a player interview, or a weekly coaches show.

I'm wondering if Cablecast VOD could fill this need. I imagine we could create a program ID and upload it to Cablecast, making it available for VOD, but with it highlights and such being so short, we probably wouldn't "air" it on our campus station. However, if we did a longer-format coaches show, we would air and VOD it.

But my question is if there is a way to have a webpage link to the VOD server and show a list of shows identified as sport's related. The user could select it and it would play in an embedded player window.

I imagine it would require our web team to integrate it through our content management system, but since I know nothing about databases and website integration, I thought I'd ask here first.

Also, if this is possible, what might the difficulty rating be on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest)?

Thanks,

Zach

ZachSchuster replied on November 13, 2008 19:34 to the question "Live Stream and VOD Questions" in Tightrope Media Systems:

John,

Sounds good. As you consider adding that feature, what might be nice is instead of choosing a date for ending VOD, you could also say "After X number of days."

This is helping, but I'm still feeling "bleh". As Steve, JJ, and Andy can all attest, I have been in touch with them a number of times to get information on Cablecast, VOD, DSK, etc... Our campus ministry department would really like to offer live and on-demand streaming of chapel services, and I'm hopeful that this initiative will allow me to move up to Cablecast.

Copyrights are just a necessary evil, and what I'm finding with various hymnal publishers is that they all have specific policies (or none at all-- meaning they don't want to deal with it) for including hymns and worship materials online. Some have no problem with it, others want it for VOD no more than 60 days, others don't care about acknowledgment on the webcast, some want a title of some sort stating copyright information.

I want it all automated so at 11am CableCast switches to the live feed from the chapel, live streams and records a copy, then stops after 30 minutes (chapels go no longer than 25 minutes) so I don't have to deal with it every day.

The ironic thing is that secular music is no problem! We can get a reasonable license for BMI, ASCAP and SESAC for webcasting all of those songs (well, people singing them, not prerecorded tracks). It's the sacred music and worship resources that are the holdup! ARGGGG!

ZachSchuster replied on November 13, 2008 00:52 to the question "Live Stream and VOD Questions" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Thanks.

One other question, is it possible when making a program available for VOD that you can put an expiration date on it so it will not be available for VOD? Or do you just have to go in and manually change the program details?

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on November 12, 2008 20:51:

Live Stream and VOD Questions

Am I correct in understanding that the methods of streaming the live and VOD feeds with cablecast are such that the end user cannot make a copy of the file on their hard drive? The same could not be said about the Podcast versions, since that places a copy of the program on the computer with iTunes, correct?

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on October 23, 2008 16:21:

Logged out when deleting bulletins

I have a worker who was going through and deleting stale bulletins in Carousel. After deleting a bulletin he would be logged out of the system. He would have to log back in and go through the whole process again.

Is this a known bug?

Also, I have never used the Housekeeping option before, mainly for fear that is will automatically delete all things "old." How does it work? Does it let you review things before finally deleting them?

Thanks,

Zach

ZachSchuster replied on October 10, 2008 19:36 to the discussion "Configuring Carousel for Digital Signage And TV" in Tightrope Media Systems:

A-ha! I have at last found a scan converter that would do this. According to the technical support crew from TVOne.com, all of their scan converters support aspect ratio conversion for letterboxing and pillarboxing, and I believe their scalers do too!

ZachSchuster replied on October 10, 2008 15:23 to the discussion "Configuring Carousel for Digital Signage And TV" in Tightrope Media Systems:

JJ,

Yes, the diagram you provided is exactly what I was trying to describe. I was on the phone yesterday with Andy asking some questions about all of your products as I am researching costs for a large-scale upgrade. If we went with a Cablecast Pro VOD we would also have the "unlimited expansion" for Carousel players across campus, correct?

Back to the converter, so, when you say the converter didn't letterbox, but only "compressed" the video, what exactly do you mean? In the context of this discussion, compress could mean reduce quality (hi res to low res), or it could mean vertical compression (opposite or stretching it out more), in which case it might do what I wanted.

Another thought... is it possible to take a 16:9 Carousel channel, "zone it" to a second channel, but scale down the zone sizes and add a black zone at the top and bottom... basically doing the same thing as the diagram, but backwards?

As always, thanks for your help and insight!

ZachSchuster replied on October 08, 2008 17:42 to the discussion "Configuring Carousel for Digital Signage And TV" in Tightrope Media Systems:

JJ,

Thanks for the info and offer to try out the converter. I may take you up on it.

Let me ask this follow up question. I have a Carousel server now. As I understand it, the server package would allow me to add two other players to it. To add more, I would have to get a Pro system.

So if my goal is to have identical information on both the cable channel and the hallway displays, either way I would need the converter to scale down and letterbox for TV.

However, if I wanted the 4:3 info for the cable channel, but wanter a seprate zone for the hallway displays (ie. a zone that just adds to the 4:3 to get me to 16:9), all I would need is a new player and tap into the main channel zones. Does that make sense?

ZachSchuster replied on October 08, 2008 17:42 to the question "How does Carousel control the power of monitors?" in Tightrope Media Systems:

Hey, you know what would a great addition to this software? For use with the serial interface, it would be nice if a "loss-of-signal" function could be added. In other words, if a thief comes in, manages to disconnect the montior and tries tro make off with it, immediately once the serial connection is unplugged, the player sends an E-Mail alert to a designated address, like the building security department.

Would such a thing be possible?

ZachSchuster replied on October 07, 2008 19:27 to the discussion "Configuring Carousel for Digital Signage And TV" in Tightrope Media Systems:

I'm just bumping this topic back up to the top. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to implement a single Carousel system for both 16x9 digital signage, as well as converting to 4x3 for analog cable?

I'd be fine with using a scan converter to downconvert to analog, but I only want to do that if I can get letterboxes on the 4x3 signal. I don;t want the 4x3 to be vertically stretched.

Any thoughts?

ZachSchuster asked a question in Tightrope Media Systems on July 27, 2008 22:24:

Screencast, etc... for Instant Replay

I certainly don't want to sound antsy, but what is the status of the screencast for the upcoming instant replay system?

Also, any idea on when beta testers will be selected?

Thanks,

Zach