Name:	Merging Ovation
Version:	6.7.2
Available for:	Manager V7 and Manager V6 (Lite & Pro), Showmaster (Mini)
Limitation In:
Device Brand:	Merging
Positrack Compatible:	Yes
Resources type:	MS Windows Pipes over TCP/IP Network

Overview

This MxM provides control over the Merging Ovation audio video server. It allows Ovation to be used in an integrated show control environment and provides simple cuelist and cue firing capabilities as well as a positrack model which simplifies programming of mutually exclusing cues allowing shows to be edited in small chunks.

The Ovation Posititrack model supports a single active cue per group with time based tracking of that cue. This allows the programmer to navigate through a timeline sequence and restart the show with the Ovation replaying the correct cue at the correct point in time. An unlimited number of groups can be created and they are not tied to specific tracks in the timeline. Note: Positracking is only provided for cue based commands, and only operate on cues in a single user specified cuelist. This cuelist can be selected using the setup dialog box.

MxM Installation

No installation required.

Device Setup

Device creation window: The setup dialog box allows the following parameters to be specified.

• Ovation Network Address: Specifes the network address of the Ovation controller. Address can be in network name format or IP address.

• Ovation Show (For Offline Programming): This field allows the programmer to specify an Ovation show file to use as the source for cue and cuelists information to aid in offline programming.Location should be specified relative to the Manager computer.

• Positrack Groups: This section allows the programmer to define the positrack groups that are active in the show. There is no limit to the number of groups allowed.Note: Renaming or deleting a group does not change the contents of any existing cues. It is the programmers responsibility to update these cues if the group names are changed or removed.

• Default Cue List: All positrack groups operate on a specific cuelist in the Ovation software. This option allows the programmer to specify which playlist holds the cues.Note: Ovation cuelists are numbered starting from 1. This field should be set to identifer (and not the name) of the cuelist.

• Cue Monitor Variables: This section allows the programmer to create variables to monitor specific Ovation cues. An ovation cue is identified in two parts, the playlist and the cue Name. Cue Names in turn are built from a numeric identifier (1.2.3 for example) and human readable name.

The Variable names are built up as follows:

{cuelist}#{Cue}: {optional name}#Position{cuelist}#{Cue}: {optional name}#Status 

where Cue can contain up to 4 numbers separated with a ‘-’ sign. Position and Status are appended automatically and are not required when entering the name in the setup dialog. (NOTE that Ovation uses ‘.’ to identify cues and subcues, however Medialon reserves the use of ‘.’ in variable names).

Examples:

1#1: TestClip
1#1-2: TestClip2
2#1-3 

Creating a newMonitor Variable

A new variable can be created in two ways.

1. If the programmer has entered debug mode and refreshed the cue data from Ovation (see below for more information), then the CueList and Cue dropdown lists can be used to select the required cue. Click Add to create the variables.

2. Variables can also be created manually by typing directly into the Cuelist and Cue boxes, and clicking Add.IMPORTANT Note. The format of these two boxes must be correct for the variable to be created.

CueList:-should be a numeric identifier for the cuelist. “1” for example.

Cue:- should be 1 to 4 numbers separated with a ‘.’, “1.2” for example. The ‘.’ will be converted to ‘-’ when the variables are created.

Device Commands

Load Show:

Loads a show from Disk into Ovation.

• Show Name: [String] Location of the show to load. The file extension (.ovs) must be included

Note: The path to show name is relative to the Ovation machine.

Play Cue:

Fire an Ovation cue.

• Cue Name: [String] Cue to fire
• Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue
• Fade In: [Time] Fade in time at start of cue
• Offset: [Time] Start point within the cue
• Positrack Group: [String] Positrack group for this cue (See positrack groups below for more information)

Note: If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used.

Pause Cue

Pause a cue.

• Cue Name: [String] Cue to pause
• Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue
• Positrack Group: [String] Positrack group for this cue (See positrack groups below for more information)

Note: If a positrack group is specified then Cue Name can be left blank and pause will pause the currently playing cue in the group. If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used.

Stop Cue

Stop a cue.

• Cue Name: [String] Cue to stop
• Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue
• Fade Out: [Time] Fade out time
• Positrack Group: [String] Positrack group for this cue (See positrack groups below for more information)

Note: If a positrack group is specified then Cue Name can be left blank and stop will stop the currently playing cue in the group. If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used.

Cue Audio Level

Set the gain for a cue.

• Cue Name: [String] Cue to pause
• Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue
• Gain: [float] Gain in dB to apply to the cue. Can be negative for attenuation
• Positrack Group: [String] Positrack group for this cue (See positrack groups below for more information)

Note: If a positrack group is specified then Cue Name can be left blank and pause will pause the currently playing cue in the group. If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used.

Mute Cue

Set the mute state for a cue.

• Cue Name: [String] Cue to pause Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue Mute: [Enum]
  • “UnMute”: Un-Mute the cue (default).
  • “Mute”: Mute the cue.
  • Positrack Group: [String] Positrack group for this cue (See positrack groups below for more information)

Note: If a positrack group is specified then Cue Name can be left blank and mute will mute the current cue in the group. If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used.

Create Media Cue

Create a new media cue from a source file on disk.

• Media Name: [String] Path to media file (relative to the Ovation Machine)
• Cue List: [String] Cue list containing cue
• Cue Id: [Integer] Position of Cue in Cue List
• Output Slot: [Integer] Ovation Output for cue
• Fade In: [Time] Fade In Time for cue (future expansion)
• Fade Out: [Time] Fade Out Time for cue (future expansion)

Note: If Cue List is empty or 0 the default cue list will be used. It is the programmers responsibility to enter a cue position where the new cue will be created and use this position when creating play, pause or other cue related commands. Be aware that this command will insert the cue and shift the id’s of other cues down by one which can cause existing manager commands to fire the wrong Ovation cue.

Play Cue List

Play a cue list.

• Cue List: [String] Cue list to play

Note: The cue list should be an Ovation “timed” Cue list.

Pause Cue List

Pause a cue list.

• Cue List: [String] Cue list to pause

Stop Cue List

Stop a cue list.

• Cue List: [String] Cue list to stop

Cue List Chase Mode

Set chase mode for a cue.

• Cue List: [String] Cue list Id
• Chase Mode: [Enum] Chase mode to set
  • “Internal”: Lock to internal clock (default).
  • “External”: Lock to external clock.

Play Next Cue

Play the next cue in a cue list.

• Cue List: [String] Cue list Id

Show Start

Equivalent to pressing Start Show in Ovation.

Show Init

Equivalent to pressing Init Show in Ovation.

Show Pause

Equivalent to pressing Pause Show in Ovation.

Show Stop

Equivalent to pressing Stop Show in Ovation.

Device Variables

Status:

[Enum] Current status of the device connection.

• “Unconnected”: Not connected
• “Connecting”: Connection in progress
• “Ready”: Device is connected and ready to work
• “Busy”: Device working

Error

[Enum] Current error status of the device.

• “No Error”: Device is Ok
• “Network Error”: A network or transmission error occurred

Variables Per Positrack Group

{groupName}-CurrentCue

[String] Holds the index of the currently selected cue in the group. Available Values:“1” to “n” where n is the maximum cue id in the default cue list

{groupName}-Position

[Time] Holds the current playback position of the currently selected cue in the group. Available Values:“1” to “n” where n is the maximum length of the cue.

{groupName}-Status

[Enum] Holds the state of the current cue in the group.

• “Stopped”: Cue is stopped
• “Paused ”: Cue is paused
• “Playing”: The Current Cue is playing

Please refer to the Ovation documentation for more specific details about the meaning of each of these states.

Variables Per Monitored Variable

{CueList}#{Cue}:{Name}#Position

[Time] Holds the current playback position of thecue. Available Values: “1” to “n” where n is the maximum length of the cue.

{CueList}#{Cue}:{Name}#Status

[Enum] Holds the current state of the Cue.

• “Sleeping”: Cue is in the sleeping state
• “Ready”: Cue is in the ready state
• “Stopping”: Cue is transitioning to stopped state
• “Stopped”: Cue is stopped
• “Pausing”: Cue is transitioning from playing to paused
• “Paused”: Cue is paused
• “Firing”: Cue is loading
• “Fired”: Cue has fired
• “Dimmed”: Cue is Dimmed

Please refer to the Ovation documentation for more specific details about the meaning of Each of these states.

Revisions

V 1.0.1

• Fixed: Positrack don’t work properly anymore.
• Fixed: Wrong fade times.

V 1.0.2

• Modified: internal changes.

V 1.0.3

• Added: support of Ovation version 1.2 build 7777. Note that this MxM version is not compatible with previous versions of Ovation.
• Fixed: no cue state feedback after Ovation has been shut down and restarted while the Manager Program is in Run or Debug mode

V 6.0.0

• Modified: Support of Manager V6/Showmaster V2.

V 6.0.1

• Fixed: Setup dialog doesn’t open on the correct screen on a multi-screen configuration.

V 6.0.2

• Fixed: Device variables are not reset after a project load (Requires Manager 6.0.3+).

V 6.0.3

• Fixed: The Setup dialog box is not always visible at the device creation time.

V 6.0.4

• Improved: Few graphic changes.

V 6.0.5

• Fixed: MXM Commands may sometimes hang Manager/Showmaster while the command being executed.

V 6.7.0

• Improved: Support for High DPI displays (require Manager 6.7.0+ or Showmaster Editor 2.7.0+)
• Changed: Compatibility for Manager 6.7.0 and Showmaster Editor 2.7.0
• Fixed: Unloading that MXM might freeze the ShowControl software.