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Viz Multichannel User Guide

Version 4.2 | Published July 31, 2023 ©

Running Viz Multichannel

This section covers the following topics:

Media Sequencer

There must always be a connection to the Media Sequencer(s) when running Viz Multichannel. By default, the Media Sequencer runs as a Windows service, and is automatically launched on machine startup. You can check Media Sequencer by starting the Media Sequencer Launcher application. From the Launcher you can start, stop and set run-mode. Alternatively, start the Windows Services component and make sure Sequencer is running and set to autostart. You can see the complete Media Sequencer Documentation (assuming it’s running on standard port) at:

http://YourMediaSequencerhost:8580/doc

Note: You must configure your channels.ini file in order for Viz Multichannel to run in Master Control Room (MCR) mode.

The Playlist Importer runs on the Media Sequencer by default. For a schedule to be imported correctly, your Viz Multichannel client must therefore set the correct Startup Parameters for your Media Sequencer.

Startup Parameters

Parameter

Description

Example

-channelini

A path of channel.ini file that we want to use for MCR mode. If no -channelini is specified, MCP will read channel.ini file from the default path, [ProgramData]\Vizrt\Multichannel\channels.ini

-channelini "C:\channel_1.ini"

-msehost

Hostname or IP address for Media Sequencer. If none is used MCP will work in MCR mode, reading each channel’s Media Sequencer from channels.ini. See Playout and Configuration of Channels with channels.ini. If no parameter is provided, MCP will attempt to connect to localhost.

-msehost none-msehost 10.210.0.10-msehost hostname

-vizdb

host:db:user:pw Configure the Viz Engine 3.x database login for the local preview Engine.

-vizdb localhost:VizDb:Guest

Time Format and Timezones

All internal time handling calculations and operations - the time reference in the Media Sequencer - is always UTC (Universal Time Code), regardless of the timezone and local settings on your Windows servers and PCs. This is a reference time only - Window PC clients that are running the User Interface will often have different time-settings. This can easily get confusing, so please keep the following rules in mind:

  • The Media Sequencer reference time is UTC.

  • The Multichannel UI will show the client machine time. If you click on the time-display in the Multichannel UI it will show the Media Sequencer’s time and local offset, if any.

When importing and handling time-dependent items in Multichannel please make sure that:

  • Logic in rules should use the channel’s timezone setting, see Timezone Settings.

  • Logic for Page Content Filling (PCF) should use the playout channels timezone settings.

A timecode in the Rules section must always follow full time-code format - the value you manually enter must be HH:mm:ss:00. The value HH:mm:ss. is contained in begin_time and is pushed On Air when it is used as an attribute from which to grab data.

See Also