Creating Macros in the Control Room

August 23, 2024
MacrosControl Room

Creating Macros in the Control Room:

  1. Access Location Settings:
    • From the main menu, go to Settings > Location Settings > Autopilot > Control Rooms.
    • Select the control room you want to edit.
  2. Add Devices:
    • Choose the devices you want to include in this control room. For this example, I added VIO Encoder 1, VIO Playback 1, and Channel Output.
  3. Create a Start Recording and Captioning Macro:
    • Name your macro and assign a hotkey.
    • Step 1: Start recording.
      • Select Device Action > Specific Device > VIO Encode 1 > Record.
      • Name the file (e.g., "City Council Meeting").
    • Step 2: Start closed captioning.
      • Label it as "Closed Captioning."
      • Select Device Action > Specific Device > Encoder 1 > Start Transcribing.
    • Click Done.
  4. Create a Stop Recording, Captioning, and Start CG Macro:
    • Follow a similar process, but this time:
    • Stop Recording:
      • Select Device Action > Specific Device > Encoder 1 > Stop.
    • Stop Transcribing:
      • Select Device Action > Specific Device > Encoder 1 > Stop Transcribing.
    • Play CG:
      • Select Device Action > Specific Device > VIO Playback 1 > Play CG.
  5. Apply Macros in the Control Room:
    • Go back to your control rooms and select the macro to execute the desired actions.

Putting Macros All Together

The step types can be overwhelming at first, but combining these simple actions can yield powerful results. Below are some common sample scenarios that can be easily be automated with a Macro.

Starting a Meeting

  • Begin Automation Override - to make sure the scheduled automation doesn't interfere with the event.
  • Device Action - Start Recording on the events encode deviceDevice Action - Start Live Captioning
  • Switch - Switch the event's playback device to the channel output.
  • Mark Event Start - Mark the timestamp when the event actually started.

Ending a Meeting

  • Mark Event End - Mark the timestamp when the event actually ended.
  • End Automation Override - Let automation override take over.
  • Set Format - Set the format of the event's show to a Video Server Format for replays.
  • Set Total Run Time - Set the length of the show based on the marked event start and end
  • Device Action - Play CG to put the channel on bulletin board.
  • Queue Autopilot Send - Queue an Autopilot Send that will remove the original live events from the automation schedule and create events for replays.
  • End Automation Override - Resume automation without resuming into the ended live event.With the above Macros we can fully automate a meeting with two clicks.

Macro Options Tree

Type:

  • Begin Automation Override
    • Override Source
      • Specific Output
      • Event
      • All Outputs and Devices
  • Device Action
    • Device Source
      • Event Encode Device
      • Event Playout Device
      • Specific Device
  • Enable VOD
  • End Automation Override
    • Override Source
      • Specific Output
      • Event
      • All Outputs and Devices
  • Mark Event End
  • Mark Event Start
  • Queue AutoPilot Send
  • Set Format
    • Format
  • Set Total Run Time
  • Switch
    • Output Source
      • Specific Output
      • Channel Output
  • Wait
    • Duration (ms)

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Support@cablecast.tv!