Overview :
This
MxM provides a simple and fast way to reach and play various
type of media from your PC hard disc or from a distant PC
or server hard disc on the network. The media can be video
or audio, in various formats.
Video files can be played in Full sceen or windows mode,
and many media files can be played at the same time (depending
on your PC configuration). This MxM contains all usefull
VTR functions as Play Pause Stop Locate function...
This MxM allows easy creation of an Mpeg video player. To
play an Mpeg2 video, an Mpeg2 decoding circuit board or
software decoder is necessary, such as Sigma Design Netstream
2 or Moonlight Elecard MPEG2 Decoder.
Video can be both displayed in a Manager Object container
and sent to a videoprojector using the Mpeg2 decoding circuit
board analogic output. Video can also be displayed outside
an object container. In this case settings of video window
aspect should be done in the setup dialog box.
This MxM is based on the Microsoft DirectShow Layer and
the supported formats depend on the DirectShow filters installed
on your PC. Most common are MPEG 1 & 2, WM9, Avi, Mp3,
MIDI, wav, Seq. These filters could be input filters as
UDP reader filter or decoder filter as MPEG2 Decoder filter.
In some case Hardware Mpeg 2 decoding circuit board for
Mpeg2 files is required to perform fast Mpeg 2 decoding.
Video
Sync mode considerations :
This MxM has the ability to synchronize Video playback to
an external reference. This reference is provided via
TCP/IP by
another MxM called Medialon Sync Master.
For
example, several slave PCs running the Medialon Local Media
Player MxM can play video files in sync when slaved to another
PC running the Medialon Sync Master MxM.
To synchronize Video playback on a slave PC :
-
Set the IP configuration in the Device Setup
(You can leave the default values).
- Execute
the OpenMedia command and specify a Sync Group to sync to.
From
that point, all transport commands (Play, Pause, Stop, Locate)
may be sent from the PC running the Medialon Sync Master
MxM and all of the slaved PCs of the same Sync Group play
their video in sync.
Note
that a Medialon Local Media Player MxM can run on a PC which
also runs the Medialon Sync Master MxM.
If
the media file contains an audio stream, the audio stream
is also synchronized to the external reference. However
if the same file is played by 2 MedialonLocalMediaPlayer
in sync mode, reverb or phasing effects can be noticed due
to the synchronisation process.
Locate
accuracy and Positrack considerations :
This MxM provides a "Locate" command and
is positrack compatible. However, the accuracy of the "Locate"
command (and thus of the Positrack) depends upon both the
media type and the DirectShow filter used to play the media.
If
your application doesn't need a frame accurate "Locate"
command or Positrack with this MxM you can skip the following
paragraphs.
MPEG2
Video Files
To
have an accurate "Locate" command with MPEG2 Video
files you have to make sure that the Video files include
Presentation Time Stamp (PTS) informations and that the
Direct Show Filter used to read that file uses PTS for media
seeking.
As
an example, here are the steps to follow when using Moonlight
Elecard MPEG2 Decoder v2.0.
-
Open the MPEG2 video file with the Elecard MPEG2 Player
- Type Control-F to display the Direct Show Filter Information
window
- Right-click on the MPEG Splitter Box and choose the "Properties"
menu item
- Check
the "Using PTS" radio button
- Click on the "Set as default" button
- Quit the Elecard MPEG2 Player
Once this procedure is done, the Elecard MPEG2 Decoder is
setup to use PTS information for all MPEG2 files.
DV/AVI
Video Files
DV/AVI files have embedded time code informations and thus
support accurate Locate.
WM9
Video Files
WM9 files have embedded time code informations and thus
support accurate Locate.
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Installation (MXM) :
The
MXM need the DirectShow layer to work properly. From Windows 2000 Direct
Show layer is already installed with the operating system.
NT4 : to install this layer (if it's not done), run "Intall.bat" in
folder "Runtimes for MXMs\DirectShow Runtime 6.0" from "Manager CD Install
Disk."
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Creation (Device) :
Device Creation Window :

Default
Video Window Settings :
These settings enable to define the aspect of the default
video window when object containers are not used to display
video.
Left
:
Define the left position of the video window.
Top
:
Define the Top position of the video window.
Width :
Define the width of the video window.
Height :
Define the height of the video window.
Select :
Enable to graphically select coordinates using the mouse
cursor.
Screen :
Set coordinates to the current screen position and size.
Window style:
Define if the window is a moveable, a moveable
and sizeable or a fixed window.
Window Always Visible :
If checked, a video window is opened when the mode switch
from Stop to Debug/Run and always stays visible.
If unchecked a video window is opened when "Open
Media" command is executed (default option) or can
be embedded in a container via the Manager "Device
Control" command.
Window
Always On Top:
If checked, the video window is always on top.
Sync
Settings :
These settings are used when a video is played in Sync
Mode. These settings must match those of the MedialonSyncMaster
device which is used to synchronize this device. These
parameters can be left to their default values unless
there's a specific network requirement.
Multicast
IPAddress :
Defines the Multicast IP Address where the device is listening
to synchronisation messages.
Default is 235.0.0.1.
Multicast
IP Port :
Define the Multicast IP Port where
the device is listening to synchronisation messages.
Default is 13107.
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Graphical
User Interface:
Display
This MxM provides a graphical view (name "Display")
which can be displayed either as a stand alone window or
inside a User Screen Contenair object with the "Device Control"
Manager command.
When no Userscreen object container is defined for the device,
a default video window is used. The position and the style
of this window is defined in the setup of the device. The
position could be anywhere in the screen area and the style
could be "Fixed" (not sizeable, not moveable,
no border), "Moveable" (a caption enable to move
the window, the size is fixed) or "Moveable and sizeable".
This default video window could be opened when the media
is opened (closed when the media is closed) or when the
application switch from Stop to Debug/Run mode (this enables
to maintain the video window during the application life).
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Commands
(List Of) :
Open
Media :
Description
: Open a media to be played.
Parameters :
MediaName : [Type : String] : Name (and path) of
the media to be played
SyncGroup : [Type : Integer] : Sync Group this device
is part of
Usage : Specify a SyncGroup value of 0 if Video
Sync mode is not required.
Close
Media :
Description
: Close the media currently opened.
Parameters : no parameter.
Repaint
:
Description
: Repaint the video window.
Parameters : no parameter.
Usage : This command may be used when the video window
is hosted by a container in a user screen and is not properly
refreshed.
Stop
:
Description
: Stop the media currently playing.
Parameters : no parameter.
Note : Pause and Stop could result on same effect
depending on the media type.
Pause
:
Description
: Pause the media currently opened.
Parameters : no parameter.
Note : Pause and Stop could result on same effect
depending on the media type.
Play
:
Description
: Play the media currently opened.
Parameters : no parameter.
Rewind
:
Description
: Rewind (Fast reverse play) the media currently opened.
Parameters : no parameter.
Usage : This command is not supported by all media
types. Is case of not supported this command has no effect.
Forward
:
Description
: Forward (Fast forward play) the media currently
opened.
Parameters : no parameter.
Usage : This command is not supported by all media
types. Is case of not supported this command has no effect.
Locate
:
Description
: Set the media to the desired position in time.
Parameters :
TimePosition : [Type : Time] : Time to be reach
by the media.
Usage : This command is not supported by all media
types. Is case of not supported this command has no effect.
In some case the media don't reach the target position
when the command is sent, but when the following Play
command is sent.
Set
Volume :
Description
: Change the volume of audio.
Parameters :
Volume : [Type : Integer] : Level of volume in
dB.
Usage : The unit of volume is dB, this means that
0 represent the maximum level whereas -100 the lowest
one. The curve of audio level is linear from 0 to -100.
Set
Balance :
Description
: Change the balance of audio chanels (right/left
proportions).
Parameters :
Balance : [Type : Integer] : Level of balance in
dB.
Usage : The unit of volume is dB, this means that
0 represent the midle between right chanel / left chanel,
-100 the minimum volume for right chanel (left chanel
is maximum) and +100 the minimum volum for left chanel
(right chanel is maximum). The curve of audio balance
is linear from -100 to +100.
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Variables (List Of) :
Current Media
:
Type : String.
Description : Name (and path) of the current opened media.
Timecode :
Type : Time.
Description : Current time position of the current opened media.
Duration :
Type : Time.
Description : Current time duration of the current opened media.
Status :
Type : Enum.
Description : Current status of the current opened media.
Available Values :
"Idle" : No media
opened.
"Busy" : The Device is performing an operation.
"Ready" : The media is loaded and Device is ready to play.
"Openning media" : Openning media is in progress.
"Closing media" : Closing media is in progress.
"Playing" : The media is playing.
"Plausing" : The media is in pause mode.
"Media Error" : The media could not be opened. An error occured
during DirectShow setup (generaly caused by correct filters combinaison
missing).
"Container Error" : The container to display video is not set.
"Command Error" : The command sent is not supported or failed.
Volume :
Type : Integer.
Description : Current audio volume.
The unit of volume is dB, this means that 0 represent the maximum
level whereas -100 the lowest one. The curve of audio level is linear
from 0 to -100.
Balance :
Type : Integer.
Description : Current balance of audio chanels.
The unit of volume is dB, this means that 0 represent the midle between
right chanel / left chanel, -100 the minimum volume for right chanel
(left chanel is maximum) and +100 the minimum volum for left chanel
(right chanel is maximum). The curve of audio balance is linear from
-100 to +100.
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Support
(Difference with previous versions) :
V 1.0.1:
- Bug fixed: inconsistent behaviour when "Window Always Visible" option is activated and the device display is set to a container
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