This article will show how to insert growing files into a playlist.
Definition A growing file is a file that is still being recorded – it is therefore growing in size.
Insert to Playlist Growing files can be inserted to the playlist like any other file: By Drag Drop from outside of PLAYDECK or using the integrated file explorer. They will be detected as “growing”, which can be verified in the info column. The clip duration will be updated every 5 seconds:
Possible Sources The files can be recorded anywhere, they don’t need to be recorded in PLAYDECK. In the above screenshot we are using one PLAYDECK recording, another from OBS Studio and another from MagicSoft Recorder.
Possible Formats Only the following file container formats are supported. But within that container you can use any video codec: – MKV – AVI – MPEG
Cutting and Editing You can cut and edit growing files the same way as regular files. For example: You can set an OUT point to the file and loop it, while it is still being recorded.
Recover lost license
This article explains, how to recover a lost license.
Shop license If you still can access the PC system with the license, you might be able to recover and move the license by yourself: https://playdeck.tv/howto/move-license/
But if that PC system has crashed, is lost or you had to re-install windows, you will not be able to recover your license by yourself. In this case, please contact us at [email protected]. We are happy to release the license for you, so it can be checked out again with the license manager.
USB Dongle license If the USB device is broken or lost, we can replace your Dongle and provide you with a temporary offline license during the delivery time. If the Dongle is still working, we can update the Dongle remotely with an updater-file. Please also contact us at [email protected].
Offline license The offline license can’t be moved to another PC by default. Please also contact us at [email protected] to receive a new offline license from us.
Closed Captions / Subtitles
This article will show how to use Closed Captions and Subtitles
PLAYDECK supports Closed Captions CEA-608 (NTSC) and CEA-708 (digital television) and Subtitles.
They work differently in PLAYDECK. Here is how:
1. Subtitles They can only be sourced from Video files and are ALWAYS burned onto the picture. You can select them via right-click on the Clip. The Subtitle track is disabled by default:
Subtitles can be embedded into the Clip, they are called “ASS Embedded”. They can also be an external SRT-file. This File must have the same Filename (except the extension .srt). The SRT-file can be in the same folder or in any of the sub-folders “Subs” or “Subtitles”.
If you send your video feed to anywhere (SDI, NDI, Stream), the Subtitles will be rendered in the picture frame. You can change the optics like font type etc. in the settings.
2. Closed Captions CC can have many different sources and are either Burn-In or Pass-Through only. In Video files the CC track can be embedded and is shown as “CC Embedded” when right-click the Clip:
The option to switch between Burn-In and Pass-Through can be found in the settings. Burn-In means, that the CC text will be rendered onto the picture frames, just like Subtitles. If in Pass-Through Mode, the CC Text will only be shown in the Preview, but not on any Output. The task of rendering the CC Text is therefore “passed on” to the next receiver, e.g. YouTube Live Stream.
Besides video files, CC is supported by the following input and output methods, meaning PLAYDECK can read, preview and send CC with: – SDI Device (If Device supports it) – Streams with MPG-2 or H.264 Video Codec (any protocol e.g. UDP, RTMP, SRT) – NDI Device
Please note that NDI support for CC is not universal, therefore only PLAYDECK can send and receive CC via NDI (Loops).
Please also note, that CC contains information about text position and animation, which can’t be changed by PLAYDECK for previewing or burn-in. It is hard-coded into the CC Tracks. The animation names typically are “Roll-Up” or “Pop-On”. They may be changed after pass-through by another receiver.
1. Add Clip and select CC Track Add the Video Clip to Channel 1. Right-click the Clip and select the CC Track. Also set the Block to Loop. You should now be able to see the CC Text in the lower Preview. You can disable the “CHANNEL 1” Overlay by right-clicking the Preview.
2. Output the Stream via SDI and NDI Activate any SDI Device and loop the Signal to another SDI Port for testing (if available). Also active NDI with default settings:
3. Output to UDP Stream Setup a new local UDP Stream. Make sure the UDP protocol is selected and you use (any) H.264 Video Codec. The Target URL is: udp://127.0.0.1:5001
4. Add SDI and NDI Inputs We now loop our outputs to new Inputs in PLAYDECK itself. We use INPUT 1 for SDI and INPUT 2 for NDI.
5. Insert Inputs and UDP Stream to Channel 2 We add Input 1 and 2 to the Channel 2 Playlist by Drag Drop of the Input Icon. We then add our UDP Stream by Drag Drop of the Stream Icon. The Stream URL is: udp://127.0.0.1:5001. You can now observe that all 3 new Clips will show their source CC in the Channel 2 Preview area. You have now successfully send and received CC Tracks via SDI, NDI and UDP.
6. Explaining Burn-in and Pass-Through While playing any Clip on Channel 2, we observe double Text in the PLAYDECK Preview area of Channel 2. This is because Channel 1 is burning the CC onto the picture by default (rendering the Text on all Frames). In addition, Channel 2 detects a CC Track in the Input, that is being “passed through” from the Input. Channel 2 then shows the CC Tracks as Preview in the Channel 2 Preview area. We therefore have 2 CC Texts overlapping each other: One already in the input video feed and another from the CC Track that is passed-through:
7. Switching off Burn-in As observed in the last paragraph, Closed Caption are burned onto the Picture and then send to SDI, NDI and Streams. We want to change this behavior to just pass-through the CC and have PLAYDECK render the CC in the Preview Area. We therefore activate the checkbox “Pass-Through” in the CC settings. After clicking “Update to Playlist”, we don’t observe double texts anymore on the Channel 2 preview.
8. Controlling with Desktop Output To check, if the CC is burned into the picture or not, we activate a Desktop Output in “Window Mode”. This always represents, how the video feed is send to devices and streams:
9. Monitoring You can check the status of your input and output video feeds by enabling the MONITORING window:
Add new CC/Subtitles to Video
PLAYDECK has no tools to add CC/Subtitles manually (by entering text) into videos or video feeds. But there are many tools available in the internet to add CC/Subtitles, e.g. https://www.veed.io/ https://studio.youtube.com/
Broadcast your Video Feed
This article will show how to send your channel video feed to any desired target and audience.
The most simple way to show your Video Feed, is to output your Channel in Fullscreen. Enable Fullscreen by Double-Clicking the Preview or Right-Click and select “Fullscreen”:
The Fullscreen Output will use a much higher quality and FPS as the regular Preview. You can exit the Fullscreen by pressing any Mouse Button or the ESC Key.
This Mode is best suited for quick private Slideshows. Here is an example on how to setup a Slideshow with PLAYDECK: https://playdeck.tv/howto/slideshow/
HDMI via Extended Desktop
Another simple way to send your video feed is to use your HDMI outputs of your PC or your Graphics Card. To make the HDMI Output visible to PLAYDECK, you need to setup a new “Extended Desktop Output”, like you would do, if you added a secondary Monitor:
1. Connect in Windows Connect your HDMI Device to your PC physically and turn the HDMI on, so Windows can find it. Connect it to your Graphics Card (preferred) or your Mainboard. Right-Click anywhere on your Desktop and select “Display settings”. You should see your new Monitor and it should say “Display is extended” (That’s why it’s called “Extended Desktop”). If you don’t have access to your HDMI Output Device yet (e.g. LED Screen), you can use any Dummy PC Monitor for Setup. PLAYDECK will later scale your (other) output automatically, if you use the same HDMI Port. Please also make sure, your Monitor uses 60 FPS and not 120 or 144, as this might lead to lag.
2. Assign in PLAYDECK Start PLAYDECK and select your new Monitor as “Desktop Output” for your Channel. Once activated, PLAYDECK will “overlay” its output on the Monitor. It will be On-Top of all other Windows Apps and the Mouse Pointer will be disabled. Should you accidently activate this on your PRIMARY Display, press ALT+F4 to close it, as you cant access Windows or PLAYDECK otherwise.
PLAYDECK is able to re-connect to your Desktop Output, should it disconnect or on a power-loss or if the HDMI Device is receiving power after PLAYDECK has been started already.
This Mode is best suited for local transmission to a TV or LED Screen, e.g. during exhibitions or events.
SDI / HDMI Output Card
Output Cards have a huge advantage over Desktop Output:
– Stronger Video Signal for longer cable transport – Much less CPU/GPU Usage, as Card will offload resources – No Frame Drops, as Cards have integrated Frame Rate Control and Conversion – Much higher picture quality, especially Colors
Output Cards are almost always worth the costs and are highly recommended. They provide a much more stable video transport solution compared to Desktop Output and an overall better experience.
1. Install the Output Card into your PC You would need a separate PCIe Slot on your Mainboard. Imagine this Card as “Secondary Graphics Card”. Please make sure, that the PCIe provides the necessary bandwidth needed by the Device. Some PCIe Slots are “shared” and only have half the bandwidth, leading to stuttering video output. This might be changed via BIOS. You can also “host” your Card in an external housing for mobile production, like the “Sonnet Echo Express” and connect it via Thunderbolt, but please be aware that bandwidth available via Thunderbolt is lower than the PCIe bandwidth required for some some Cards like the “DeckLink 8K Pro”.
2. Install Driver for Windows Most Cards need a specific Driver installed for Windows to operate. Those Driver also deliver Tools to test the Card before using it in PLAYDECK.
Make sure, you always have the latest Version of the Driver installed in your System for maximum stability and quality. For BlackMagic Card, PLAYDECK needs at least “Desktop Video 14.5” as Driver, otherwise the Card will not work as intended: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support/family/capture-and-playback
3. Activate in PLAYDECK Select your Output Cards and Line in PLAYDECK and activate the Device Output. Unlike Desktop Outputs, these Output Cards don’t need a connected display via SDI or HDMI, they will activate right away:
SMTP ST 2110 / IP Output Card
These Cards are very similar to SDI/HDMI Cards described above. Please read there for Installation.
The difference between 2110 and SDI Cards is, that 2110 Cards send the signal via LAN (local area network). This is a modern and growing standard for Studios to transport video signals within the company. While it is theoretically possible to use existing LAN for ST 2110, it is recommended to use a separate LAN with specific PTP-aware switches (precision time protocol). Once setup, the main advantage is, the multiple receiver can easily access the video feed generated by PLAYDECK.
NDI is another Network Transport Option for your video feeds. It can be used with the existing LAN (local area network) and doesn’t need specific network configuration. It provides its own “discovery system”, meaning: You send your NDI signal into the network and it will be automatically detected by any NDI receiver.
You can pick out of several Streaming Protocols, which all serve a different purpose.
– UDP/RTMP Streaming: Low-latency Live Streaming – SRT: High-reliability Broadcasts – DVB: Traditional Broadcasting – And many more (RTP, RIST, Icecast, HLS
To setup your Stream in PLAYDECK, we recommend browsing thru the additional information provided behind the SHOW HELP Buttons. They navigate you to your specific needs and explain the more deep configuration options for each and every streaming protocol:
Note: NVENC Video Codec does NOT support Interlaced formats anymore, which has been a decision made by NVIDIA. Use “Intel QuickSync SW H.264 Encoder” instead.
Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS)
This is strictly speaking not a video feed, as DVS is audio-only. This is yet another Network (LAN) Option. The use case for DVS is, if you need to send your audio feed SEPARATE or ADDITIONAL to your video feeds, or in audio-only productions. The most common use case is, that in live events, the audio mixer needs ALL audio feeds of ALL PLAYDECK channel, meaning: He wants to receive 8 audio channel in stereo pairs of your 4 video channel.
This is a specific Output option PLAYDECK provides, to inform your crew of the state of affairs: This will mix several different video feeds into one video feed and overlay information about remaining time. This is meant to provide assistance in a multi-room or multi-person environment.
This video feed works like a separate channel: You can send it parallel to your other outputs. You can setup and send up to 4 different Director Views. You can pick how many and which channel should be included:
In addition, you can modify the overlay to fit your own company, e.g. integrate your own logo or change fonts.
