Content Settings

Changing the Content Settings requires admin-level privileges.  To update content and import settings, add, remove, and manage content categories and customize the content metadata fields, use these options.

Content Categories

To manage the content categories, click on the categories option. The application displays the Category List.

HC52CategoryList

To add a new category, click on the “New Root Category” button

To add a sub-category, click on the green “+” sign next to chosen root category

To remove a sub-category, click on the red “-” sign.

To edit a category, click on the category name. Change the name, description, or program guide default of the category as desired.

When creating a new category or sub-category, a popup will present you with fields for (1) naming the category or sub-category (2) a description, and (3) the option of whether or not to include content in this category in the Program Guide.

  • Name – Enter a short, descriptive name for the category, preferably one word. This is what will be displayed on the Programming and Content pages.
  • Description – Enter a longer description about the category that will distinguish it from any others on the database.
  • Include in Guide– To include this category’s content in the Program Guide and external schedule, choose Yes from the drop-down list. To omit this category’s content from the Program Guide and external schedule, such as PSAs, choose No. For example, you may want to create a category called “Filler” or “PSAs” that are set to not include in the guide for short form content. If you change the Include in Guide default from Yes to No, or No to Yes, you can apply that change to all future events in the category that are already scheduled. Click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen to save the changes. To return to the Category Setup screen without making changes, click the Cancel button.

Content may be put in multiple categories, but if any category is set not to be included in the Program Guide and external schedule, that piece of content will not appear in them unless you edit the playout and check the Include in Guide option.  For example, suppose you put a recycling reminder in both the Community and PSA categories.  Content in the Community category normally appears in the Program Guide and external schedule, but PSAs do not.  The PSA category supersedes the Community category and the recycling announcement will not appear in the Program Guide or external schedule.

You can add content to a category when adding the content file to the database, editing the content metadata, or while displaying one or more content files on the Content page.

Content

There are several options available through the Config –> Content –> Content settings page:

  1. Create Content Preview – When checked, will automatically create a preview version of all imported content.
  2. Delete all Existing Previews – A housekeeping feature that will delete all previews previously created in the HyperCaster. The amount of space previews are consuming is shown.
  3. Auto Archive on Content Import: is a timesaving feature that will automatically push content to the designated online or near-line storage location that was set up in the Config –> Remote Servers settings.
  4. Default Content Sort By – Specifies how content on the Content Tab and Calendar Sidebar is sorted by default. Your choices are:  Date Added, Last Updated, Filename, or Duration.
  5. Default Content Sort Order – Descending or Ascending.
  6. Global Content Search Filter – This setting allows you to use your content search filter throughout the application. Any content search parameters will be persisted and used when searching content on the calendar, playlist, or content page. Deselect this checkbox to have each content search store its own separate filter.
  7. Hide Program and Episode Codes – Hides the Program Code and Episode Code fields from the application completely. If you do not use these metadata fields in your workflow, it can reduce clutter by hiding.
  8. Default Sidebar Load Size – This setting allows you to customize how many records are automatically loaded when scolling on any given content sidebar. The higher this number, the slower the page may load.
  9. Transmux / Transcode Extension Update – Specifies whether after transmux or transcode to keep the original source filename regardless of the extension, or to update the extension to one of the common Transport stream extensions. It is generally recommended to enable Extension Update as some 3rd Party applications and software may rely on extensions to determine the video format rather than actually checking the video for the format.
  10. Transmux / Transcode Extension – Select the extension to use when Extension Update is enabled.
  11. The Transmux to Transport Stream feature will look for file formats containing MPEG-2 or H.264 video codecs (including MPEG-2 Program and most MP4, MOV, and AVI formats), and transmux those to the MPEG-2 Transport Stream format required to play out on the HyperCaster. To enable the Transmux feature, check the box “Transmux to Transport Stream”. Video preserved as-is from the original file including video bit rate. Audio preserved as-is from the original file including audio bit rate for AC-3, MPEG-1 Layer II, and AAC audio. Other audio formats are converted to MPEG-1 Layer II for MPEG-2 video, and AAC for H.264 video. For more detailed information on the Transmux feature, refer to the “Organize and Add Content” section of this manual.
  12. The Transmux using VMR option allows for a variable multiplex rate instead of a constant rate when re-multiplexing content to Transport Stream. Constant multiplex rate will need to pad the multiplex rate up for sources with highly variable video rates, that can result in larger files and high multiplex rates.Variable multiplex rate will result in smaller files and lower (average) multiplex rates. Variable multiplex is recommended unless you need a constant multiplex rate for your workflow.
  13. The Transcoding feature enables Transcoding imported files that are not playable either natively or with a transmux. The Pro Transcoding option allows you to define your own Transcoding Presets. Otherwise, the transcoded file format will be MPEG-2 Transport with H.264/AVC video (6Mbps for HD sources, 3Mbps for SD source) and AAC stereo audio. The multiplex rate will be constant (7Mbps for HD, 4Mbps for SD). The source resolution will be preserved.
  14. Content Analysis
    1. Frame Rate – The HyperCaster can only guarantee clean playout of the following frame rates: 23.98, 24.00, 25.00, 29.97, 30.00, 50.00, 59.94, 60.00. Select this checkbox if you would like the application to block you from scheduling content files that do not have one the previously mentioned frame rates.
    2. Audio Sampling Rate – Certain Set Top Boxes and other devices cannot accept uncommon audio sampling rates. To prevent streaming content unsupported by downstream equipment, select this check box to block you from scheduling files with sampling rates other than: 32000 Hz, 44100 Hz, 48000 Hz.

Customize Metadata Fields

The media server lets you add your own metadata fields so you can tailor your content metadata to your installation’s needs.  For example your installation might track sponsors or certain producers.  To customize the metadata fields, click on the custom content metadata fields option. The application displays the Metadata Setup screen. If there are no custom metadata fields, the box will be empty.

HC52CustomMeta1

  • Edit – To edit a metadata field, click on the field name or on its Edit icon . Edit the name, description, or default value of the field as desired. Click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen to save the changes. To return to the Metadata Setup screen without making changes, click the Cancel button.
  • Delete – To delete a metadata field, click its Delete icon . The application asks you to confirm the deletion.If you are sure you want to delete this field, click on Yes (OK). Otherwise click on No (Cancel), and the application leaves the field unchanged.
  • Add – To add a new metadata field, click the plus icon at the bottom of the screen. The application displays the Add Attribute screen.HC52CustomMeta2

 

  • Name – Enter a short, descriptive name for the attribute (metadata field), preferably one or two words. This is what will be displayed on the Programming and Content pages.
  • Description – Enter a longer description about the attribute (metadata field) that will distinguish it from any others on the database.
  • Default Value – Enter a default value for the attribute (metadata field) if desired.

Click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen to add the attribute to the list. To return to the Metadata Setup screen without adding an attribute, click the Cancel button.

Import Settings

To change the settings for imported content, click on the import option. The application displays the Import Settings screen.

  • Thumbnail Offset – The server displays a thumbnail for all imported content by capturing a frame from the file. The thumbnail offset is the point in the file where the server captures the frame.  Enter a thumbnail offset in seconds or use the default of 20 seconds.
  • Create TBDs when importing CSVs – TBD is a placeholder that allows you to schedule an event before you even have the content.  For TBD to work, you have to already know when you expect to ingest the content, how long it should be, and the precise filename.  To enable this feature, check “Create TBDs when importing CSVs”. If you are used to scheduling via CSV, this will automatically create TBDs for any item that does not yet have associated content.  Note:  your Source name has to match the filename of the TBD content exactly.

Click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen to save the import settings. To return to the Configuration menu without making changes, click the Cancel button.