The automation is able to control the newest technology and legacy equipment as well. Aveco focuses on supporting all kinds of TV technology equipment, from videoservers, VTRs, carts, digital archive through routers and mixers up to VPS code inserters, captioning and others.

Are you unsure whether we control your specific set of devices? Please check the compatibility list. Should you do not find your device there? Just ask. We get it to the list.

All commands and actions taken and received by a device are logged. This gives the support engineers the historical record for problem solving.

Videoserver

Videoservers are used for recording, clip store and playout.

All kinds of manual recording, record scheduling, caching and others are described in the Media Capture section.

The automation manages the content of the videoserver. It takes care of the minimum available space and when the value gets under preset watermark the warnings are issued or the automatic purging is initiated.

The automation knows how many times each clip has been used and when it happened last time (utilization). Also the purge dates (clip warranty) is maintained. The purging is then based on clip categories, utilization, warranty and other criteria.

The automation supports single channel and dual channel playback from the videoserver. When the single channel playback is selected the series of videoserver clips are played back from one videoserver channel. If the dual channel alternative is selected the automation changes the videoserver channels during the clip sequence playback. This allows for X transitions between clips, if the master switcher is connected.

VTRs

The automation provides transport control, tape recognition by user bits or barcode and automatic parking of events. When airing from a particular VTR has been completed, the tape is cued to the next parking position or rewound to the beginning of the tape and ejected.

The VTRs are also used as a source for recording clips to the videoserver.

Cart machine

The automation supports cart machine control allowing the cart machine to be used for playout, recording and caching to the videoserver. The cart machine control is based on direct control of the cart machine's individual components, i.e.: the robotic arm, the VTRs, the switcher and others.

Character generator

There are two features supported by the automation. These features can be used if accepted by the installed character generator:

• Import of text into the predefined template and the text page creation.
• Selecting the text page on the generator's output.

Still store

The still store control selects the still on the device's output. The videoserver can also be used as the still store and the stills and clips can be mixed freely on the videoserver's output.

Logo inserter

The automation supports control of inserting/removal of the logo as well as selection of the logo; as long as these features are supported by the device used.

This module has built in support of logo sequences to change the logo's behavior during the program playout according to predefines scenarios.

Master switcher

The automation supports X and Y transitions, mixes, wipes, pattern selection, four transition times (cut, short, medium, long) and three keyers (two open + one logo keyer).

When there is a bypass router present, the automation controls it so the same signal is on the dedicated router outputs as on the master switcher program output (except of the keys). This comes in handy in cases of the master switcher failure or maintenance.

The automation recognizes three audio modes: MONO, STEREO and DUAL. Each event carries it's audio mode description. The automation controls appropriately the master switcher and puts the mode info in the VPS code.

DVE

The automation can recall transitions stored in the DVE. The signals are handled in the following steps:

The proper signals are routed to the DVE inputs, i.e. the source which is currently on air, the next source and others. the DVE outputs the same signal as the mixer.

The DVE output is cut on air.

The transition on the DVE is recalled.

When the transition on the DVE is over, the new source signal which is the same as the DVE output is cut on air on the mixer.

Routing switcher

The routers are controlled without the need of any intervention from the user. The signals are routed from sources to recorders. The automation routes the proper signal to the TV monitors according to the user activities proceeding on the terminals.

The tielines are managed.

Manual control of the routers is available too. The salvos can be created, edited, stored and recalled when appropriate.

The routing switcher control only manages outputs to devices controlled by the automation and can co-exist with other routing switcher controllers, if this is supported by the routing switcher.

VPS control

The VPS generator control is supported. All the information fields within the VPS code can be independently changed, from date and time up to the parental guidance flag and the audio mode.

Closed captioning/subtitling

The subtitle files can be attached to the events in the daily schedule and played back along with the main event. There are two approaches of subtitling in the automation system:

1. All built-in: The subtitle file management is included in the automation system together with the file analysis, generating text based on the position on tape or within the media file. The generated text is then sent to CG for in-vision subtitling or to the teletext server for teletext subtitling. When in teletext the automation supports multi-lingual subtitling.
   The files of the EBU subtitle file format are accepted.
2. Control of external subtitling systems: Here the automation system controls the external subtitling system. When the tape is cued, automation announces to the subtitling unit the identifier of the subtitle file. The timecode router is used to pass the timecode from the proper VTR to the subtitling system.

Scrambler control

The scrambler control allows for controlling various parameters of the conditional access such as scrambled-clear mode, parental guidance level, tiers level and others for each event independently.

Satellite dishes

The setups predefined in the dish controller and tuner are recalled by the automation or the parameters can be set directly from the automation.

Interactive internet

The automation synchronizes the internet interactive services providing systems to the playout so that the internet streaming of the TV channel is accompanied by appropriate set of interactive components.

Masterclock

The interface to the station master clock, to the DCF receiver or to the GPS receiver synchronizes the internal AUTOMATION clock.

Pager/GSM notification of system errors

This module expands the reach of the diagnostics subsystem by communicating critical errors and warnings to predefined phone numbers and/or pagers. The type of errors detected include: videoreference, lack of communication with controlled devices, cue commands not accepted by videoservers and others.

Once corrective action has been taken, the messaging system sends out an "all clear" notification.

The module consists of hardware and a software module added to the automation.

Bar code scanner

Barcode reader is 1U unit which can be mounted in the rack above the individual VTRs to identify tapes loaded into the VTRs by barcode. Supports all existing barcode standards. Requires barcode labels to be attached on the top side of the tapes.