DeltaServer: Behind the Scenes

StackSignage is a web-based front end that interacts with the 7thSense DeltaServer software running on servers in the role of Player.

StackSignage 2.1 required Delta version 2.6.74.

DeltaServer, which has its own user interface – DeltaGUI – runs multiple timelines playing media through configurations to any kind of display. Signage applications frequently run to video walls, and in this situation DeltaServer configures the displays for size, resolution, number of channels, bezel correction, and if required in ‘Composition Mode’ for optimising media resources over distributed display areas.

This much will be covered during installation by the systems integrator, and should require little further intervention unless the display elements are changed.

StackSignage interacts directly with DeltaServer, sending instructions on which media resources to use, how and when. These dynamically populate however many timelines have been set up (so that different media can play simultaneously through a number of channels), pulling in effects and transitions between items, according to times. Once set up, you should have little need to know about DeltaServer, but is is worth knowing a few things:

•DeltaServer must be running on each player. It should run automatically when the servers are switched on, and the icon is available always on the Delta Server (Player) desktop.

•When DeltaServer is running, it has a Playback window showing what media is being currently played on Timeline 1, but this is usually running in fullscreen mode, so if you cannot see the Desktop, press the ‘F’ key to make the Playback windowed.

•When DeltaServer runs, a show file plays by default. The name of this file will be set on installation to be your StackSignage show file. If any changes to display configuration are made they will be in this file, so this file must be re-saved.

•The media framerate must match that of the Delta timeline. If you need to change the framerate to match video media or capture frames, you will need to make some changes using DeltaGUI, the same front-end to DeltaServer used for configuring the display outputs.

DeltaServer Configuration

The DeltaServer and DeltaGUI software operation, managing media and setting up displays, are all covered in detail in the user guides available on the 7thSense support portal.