Support for expanded character set

The characters you can enter for closed captions have been expanded to include special characters in English, and characters used in the following languages:

You can mix characters and languages in a single closed caption or a set of closed captions.

All text is displayed in a single set of closed captions. You cannot currently switch between two sets of closed captions (for example, English and Spanish).

Multiple caption blocks on screen

If two closed captions share a simultaneous time span, both captions are displayed in the Media viewer. For example, in a scene with two speakers, you can align one caption left and one caption right, as shown in the following illustration.

Captions are limited to a total of four lines divided into two different blocks. Additional lines are not displayed.

Both segments must share the same In point and Out point. You cannot currently edit the In point and End point of simultaneous segments after you have set them once.

Import, edit, and export roll-up captions

Captions created as roll-ups in SCC files can be imported, displayed, edited, and exported in SCC files. Captions are displayed as single line segments in the Closed Captioning pane, and are displayed in three rows in the Media viewer.

Support for PAL frame rates

You can now add closed captions to sequences composed of clips in the following resolutions and frame rates:

Importing, extracting, editing, exporting, and repackaging of these sequences is supported. Send to playback is not currently supported.

Closed Captioning Service installation

All closed captioning components are now installed using the Closed Captioning Service installer. In v2.3.x the user interface components (such as the Closed Captioning pane) were installed by the MediaCentral UX installer even if the Closed Captioning Service was not installed.

Scrolling

Scrolling for items in the Closed Captioning pane has been improved. An item that you select is scrolled so that it is fully visible at the top, middle, or bottom of the pane.

Fixed limitations

Spaces that were underlined or italicized as part of the caption were not recognized as spaces by MediaCentral UX and caused problems during editing. These spaces are now recognized as spaces.

When adding a space, you could not remove formatting by using the Italics button or the Underscore button. This has been fixed.

Filter association types with no related assets

The Associations pane lets you see all associations of the asset currently open in the pane. By default, the pane shows all association types that can be set for the asset. You can hide association types for which no associations are currently defined and show them again by using a Filter button.

Attach Interplay Production and iNEWS assets to MAM processes

Starting with MediaCentral UX version 2.4, you can also attach Interplay Production assets or iNEWS stories to a process if the process is configured accordingly in Interplay MAM. Use the same procedure for creating processes for MAM assets and assets from other systems.

Quick Send

For a quick transfer of material to a certain destination, users of Interplay MAM Desktop can just set In and Out points and then initiate the transfer. Starting with version 2.4, MediaCentral UX also provides a “Quick Send” feature for Interplay MAM assets. Quick Send requires a specific configuration and adaptation of the sample Quick Send process delivered with Interplay MAM. If Quick Send is configured, the Media pane provides a Quick Send menu item for a fast process creation for an asset.

Browse Image assets in Media pane

Interplay MAM supports assets of type “Image.” You can use the Media pane to preview Image browse proxies from an Interplay MAM database. Supported formats are PNG and JPG.

Indicators for MAM connectivity status in System Settings pane

After you provide the Registry Server settings for a MAM system in the System Settings pane, a basic system connectivity status check is triggered. This query checks if the most relevant settings for the MediaCentral connection are configured properly in the Interplay MAM configuration profiles. This check provides information about mis-configured settings that must be resolved in Interplay MAM System Administrator.

MOS plug-ins available in Log and Cut layouts

Prior to MediaCentral UX v2.4, MOS plug-ins used with iNEWS workflows were only available in Rundown and Story layouts. MOS plug-ins are now available in the Log and Cuts layouts as well. If installed, MOS plug-ins are found at the bottom of the Panes menu.

Scrolling

Scrolling in the Logging pane has been improved. An item that requires an operation is scrolled so that it is fully visible at the top, middle, or bottom of the pane.

Add markers to a group clip

If you add markers to a group clip in MediaCentral UX, the markers are now saved with the group clip, so that a Media Composer user will be able to view the markers. Markers that were previously applied to angles are preserved.

For more information, see Markers and Restrictions for Group Clips.

GlusterFS now automatically installed

GlusterFS software packages are now bundled and automatically installed with all MCS 2.4 installations and upgrades. If you have a new installation, manual configuration of Gluster is still required. If you are upgrading an existing MCS cluster, the GlusterFS packages will be upgraded if necessary.

Saved Searches

You can save both indexed searches and federated searches to make it easy to access frequently searched assets.

Support for predefined criteria, such as legal lists of terms

You can use metadata values that are predefined to use as consistent values in your searches. These values display in the search criteria as a list of terms you can add to or exclude from your search. Legal lists are supported for Interplay MAM assets only.

Boolean operators in search

Some search criteria allow you to select Boolean operators — for example, “true” or “false” — from a predefined criteria list.

Time Selection in Search Criteria

You can modify the time values in your search criteria to specify an exact time in hours, minutes, and seconds.

Send master clips and subclips to a playback device

If you load a clip or a subclip in Asset mode, you can send the clip or subclip to a playback device (STP). This feature lets you send to playback without cutting a clip or subclip into a sequence. You use the same controls as when you send a sequence to playback.The resolution of the clip must match the resolution in the profile you select. For more information, see Sending Master Clips or Subclips to a Playback Device.

Language for user interface

The user interface is now available in Arabic and Turkish. Select the language you want to display in the General User Settings.

Date and time format

Administrators set the default date and time format in the General System Settings. This setting applies to most date and time displays in MediaCentral UX. Users can override this setting in the General User Settings.

For MediaCentral UX v2.4, system administrators and users can select one of the following formats for dates and times:

hh = 12h format
A = AM or PM
HH = 24h format
Z = Time zone (offset from UTC)

Desktop notifications for jobs in the Progress pane

Notifications for jobs listed in the Progress pane are shown as browser alerts. This is useful if the browser running MediaCentral UX is minimized or hidden by other windows.

The first time you start MediaCentral UX, a message box asks you if you want to allow or block notifications from the MCS server. For complete information, see The Progress Pane.

Authenticate against multiple Windows domain servers

Administrators can set more than one Windows domain server for user authentication. This feature is useful for facilities that use mirrored LDAP servers, so that a backup is available if one server goes offline. In the Authentication Providers section in the Users layout, enter the computer names of the servers, separated by a comma but no space, in the Hostnames text box.

Access portal for MediaCentral UX

MediaCentral UX Desktop is a client application capable of replacing a traditional web browser as an access portal to MediaCentral UX. Because Chrome v45 has removed support for NPAPI, this application allows customers that rely on MOS plug-ins for MediaCentral UX to continue to operate as normal.

For more information see the MediaCentral Platform Services Installation and Configuration Guide

Support for publishing to the Ooyala online video provider

You can publish to Ooyala from MediaCentral UX.

Support for publishing to thePlatform video CMS

You can publish to thePlatform video CMS from MediaCentral UX. The profile settings for thePlatform include customized fields and a separate pane in the Media Distribute System Settings.

Support for the YouTube v3.0 API

You can use the latest YouTube API for new profiles when publishing to YouTube.