DMP 8 (Digital Media Player) User Guide

ADMINISTRATOR GUIDE
VERSION 8.2

*Click here to download a PDF of this guide.

Table of Contents

Introduction 
Content Library 

• Search for a Title 
• Edit Content Title 
• Extend Content License Dates

Play Content on Demand

Create a Schedule 

• Point and Click Scheduling
• Drag and Drop Scheduling
• Interval Scheduling

Manage Schedules

• Copy a Schedule
• View Your Existing Schedule
• Delete a Schedule
• Delete Scheduled Content
• Change the Time of Scheduled Content

Import a Schedule
Export a Schedule

Intermissions

• Automatic Intermissions (Next Up)
• Customize the Intermission (Playlist)
• Auxiliary Input Intermission
• Turn Off Intermission

Add Custom Content to the Library

Video Settings

• Video Resolution
• Brand the Channel

Settings

• Check Drive Space
• Application Localization and Culture
• Conduct a DMP Health Check
• DMP Alias
• Export Activity Logs

Introduction

Congratulations on the successful installation of your new Digital Media Player!

This User Guide is a reference tool for the Digital Media Player (DMP) software. There are many
functions designed to make implementing a custom movie channel simple and easy. If you have any
questions regarding the DMP software or equipment, please contact us! You may reach a Swank
Technical Representative by calling 866-815-7719 or 314-984-6295.

The DMP software consists of the following modules:

• Content Library – See all loaded content and add your own custom content.
• Intermission Manager – Maximize round-the-clock programming with an automated intermission or a custom playlist.
• Scheduling Manager – Create, copy, modify and export scheduled content.
• Content Updates – Receive new releases from Swank via USB hard drive or network.
• General Settings - Special functionality and system logging.
• Video Settings – Manage the audio, video and overlay settings for the DMP output signal.

Content Library

If you ordered content from Swank, it will be delivered on a USB drive in a separate shipment. To add
content to the library, please follow the directions that are included with the drive. If you did not
receive a drive, please contact your Swank Movie Programmer.

After the content has been loaded, click the Content Library tab for a list of available titles.

The library details the title, duration, license start and end date, and indicates if the content was
provided by you. If you do not see any titles in the Content Library, see the section “Create a
Schedule.”

Search for a Title

Search for a title by typing a portion of the content’s name in the Filter field:

Edit Content Title

1. Under Content Library, select a title. “Minions” was selected in this example.

2. Click Edit Selected.

3. Under Video Name, enter a new title name then click OK. In the example, the name was
changed to “Minions 2”.

The updated title will appear in the Content Library.

Extend Content License Dates

All of the content provided by Swank Motion Pictures has a license period. Content may not be played
or scheduled outside of that license range. In certain circumstances, you may need to discuss
extending the license date with your Swank Movie Programmer.

If the date is extended, you will receive a code from Swank Motion Pictures. The steps below show
how to extend the license date using the code.

1. Under Content Library, click Apply License Extension

2. Copy the coupon code that was sent to you by Digital Services via email and paste it in the upper
text box.

3. Click Apply to make the license range changes to the content.

4. If you go to the Content Library tab, you will see the list of content and the new license range.

Play Content on Demand

The DMP application allows content (within its license period) to be played immediately.

1. At the bottom of the screen, uncheck the Enable Schedule box.

2. Under Content Library, select a title. In the example, Minions was selected and is displayed on the right side of the screen.

3. Click Play On Demand.

“Now Playing” will list the title selected, and the lower area shows this as “Playing On Demand”.

Please note: While the “Enable Schedule” checkbox is unchecked, all schedules are ignored. Click the check box again to turn the Scheduler back on.

Create a Schedule

Create a schedule to meet your needs and flexibility. You may add content to your schedule whenever
you choose.

Click the Scheduling menu.

If you would like to create a schedule, please continue to read below:

Point and Click Scheduling

1. Select a Start Date

Click on the calendar icon.

Click on the first day of your schedule. For the above example, today is July 12 and we will be adding to the schedule for July 13.

2. Select a Title

Click on a title to select it. Be sure to check the End License Date when selecting titles. In this example, Minions 2 is selected.

Click Add to Selected Schedule.

3. Enter a Start Time

Enter a time or click the icon for a selection.

Click OK.

The title will be added to the schedule at right. In the example, Minions 2 trailer was added to the schedule at 8:00 a.m.

4. Select Additional Titles

Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed to complete your schedule.

Drag and Drop Scheduling

1. Select a Start Date

Click on the calendar icon.

Click on the first day of your schedule. In the example, today is November 17 and the schedule will begin on November 18.

2. Select a Title

Click on a title and drag it to the schedule at the time you want the movie to start. In the example, Minions 2 was added to the schedule at 8:58 a.m.

3. Repeat step 2 as needed to complete your schedule.

Interval Scheduling

1. Select a Start Date

Click on the calendar icon.

Click on the first day of your schedule.
In the example, today is November 17 and the schedule will begin on November 18.

2. Select a Timeframe

Select an interval – you may schedule on the hour, every half hour, every quarter hour or continuously.

3. Select a Title

Double-click on any title. In the example, Minions 2 was selected and added to the schedule.

4. Select Additional Titles

Repeat step 3. Titles will be added based on the interval selected in step 2.

Manage Schedules

Copy a Schedule

You may copy an existing day or series of days, and use that as a template for creating future schedules. For best results, answer these questions:

• Does my date range overlap with content already scheduled?
  • If there is content already scheduled on the dates you are copying forward to, it will result in a conflict.
• Does my date range overlap with itself? For example, does content on the last day end when content on my first day is scheduled to begin?

1. Under the Scheduling menu, click the Scheduling tab.

Click Copy Forward.

2. Select the date range of the schedule you wish to copy.

3. Enter the start date (when you want the copied schedule to begin).

4. Enter the number of copies, which is the number of times you want the schedule to
repeat.

5. Click Apply.

6. The DMP application will check for any potential schedule conflicts (for example, content out of the license period). If conflicts exist, Copy Forward will not work and the conflicts will be explained. If no conflicts exist, the Copy Forward process will be successful.

View Your Existing Schedule

The schedule summary shows what has been scheduled and how much content is scheduled on each day over any particular month.

1. Under the Scheduling menu, click Schedule Summary.

2. The calendar displays when content is showing and how many titles are scheduled.
Click on any day in the calendar.

3. A schedule summary appears on the left side of the screen for the day you selected.

Delete a Schedule

1. Under the Scheduling menu, click the Scheduling tab.

2. Click Delete Schedule.

3. Under start of range, enter the beginning date of the schedule to be deleted.

Under end of range, enter the last date of the schedule to be deleted.

If you only need to delete a single day, then enter the same date into both fields.

After both dates are filled in, click OK.

Delete Scheduled Content

1. Under the Scheduling menu, click the Scheduling tab.

2. Click on the calendar icon.

Select the day of the schedule to be modified.

3. Click on the title to delete. In the example, “Jurassic World” is selected.

Click Delete Selected.

4. Click OK to delete the title or Cancel to keep the title.

Change the Time of Scheduled Content

1. Under the Scheduling menu, click the Scheduling tab.

2. Click on the calendar icon.

Select the day of the schedule to be modified.

3. Double-click on the title to modify. In the example, Jurassic World was selected.

4. Enter a new start time or click the clock to select times on the hour.

5. Click OK to change the time.

Import a Schedule

To import a schedule you will need a copy of the schedule on a USB drive.

1. Connect the USB drive with the schedule to the server.
2. Open the Digital Media Player (DMP) application.
3. Go to Schedule Manager.
4. Select Import Schedule.
5. Select the appropriate schedule for your channel and import.

Export a Schedule

The schedule for a DMP can be exported in several different formats including:

• Comma-Separated Value (csv) – a raw, comma-delimited list of schedule lines
• iCalendar (ics) – a common export/import format for calendaring and CMS software
• Another DMP machine – for another DMP installation from Swank

1. Click on the Export Schedule button.

2. Plug in a thumb drive or portable storage device and specify where to save the file.

Click OK.

3. Select the export format and start and end dates to export.

4. The software will export the schedules within the given range to the location specified.

Intermission Manager

Intermissions are an optional feature which displays upcoming movie information, trailers or your custom content between scheduled content.

Automatic Intermissions (Next Up)

The default intermission type is Next Up. This intermission displays a static image of the content that is scheduled to play next.

Details pertaining to the title, start time, rating and synopsis. For many movies, a poster/image is
also included.

Under Intermission, select Next Up for the Intermission Type.

Please note: If viewer screens are small, you may turn off the synopsis as it becomes too small to read on many CRT televisions. Uncheck the box shown to turn off the synopsis.

Customize the Intermission (Playlist)

With the Playlist transmission, you may select content to play as the intermissions.

1. Under Intermission, select Playlist for the Intermission Type.

2. Select the titles to include in the Intermission. To select multiple titles, click a title and hold the Shift key then click additional titles. In the following example, Minions 2 was selected.

3. Click Add Titles to Playlist. The title is added to the Playlist. Note: You must select at least one title or viewers will see blank video.

The green bars show the current place in the playlist.

The DMP allows a user to add the “Next Up” image into your playlist, so that you can still advertise the next scheduled playback within your playlist.

1. Click the “Add Next Up Image to Playlist” button.
2. In the new window, use the up/down arrows to change the number of minutes to show the image – from 0.5 minutes (30 seconds) to 1200 minutes.
3. Click “OK” to add the entry to the playlist.

You will now see a row added to your playlist of “Next Up Image”, with a runtime of the time you gave. The Next Up images can be placed into the playlist as many times as desired.

The Playlist operates from top to bottom then repeats, always remembering where it left off. If the Playlist is interrupted by scheduled content, the next title in the Playlist will play during the next open timeslot in the schedule.

Re-order the titles by clicking the up or down arrows. Delete a title from the Playlist by selecting the title and clicking Delete Title.

Auxiliary Input Intermission (Aux Input)

The DMP software supports playing external video/audio sources when in-between scheduled playbacks. Consult your installation guide for details on connecting your external source to the Swank DMP.

To enable this feature, select “Aux Input” from the dropdown list. There will be a brief initialization as the connection is established to the external source. Once complete, the player will route any signal it receives to the existing output connections.

When the schedule reaches a time to play a title, it will change the outputs back to local content, and play the scheduled title. After the scheduled title has finished, the external content will once again show. The audio slider on the DMP has no effect on the aux. input audio.

We strongly recommend keeping the input video source consistent in terms of resolution and frame rate. For Aux Input, refer to your respective video card below:

Intensity Pro:

(Input video must be in SD. If you push the secondary video above 720 x 486, it will not work)

You may need to change the settings within the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup app to the preferred input. (Below)

Decklink:

(Input video can be SD or HD)

*Note: This feature is not available in DMP 9.

Turn Off Intermission

You may not want any content to play when scheduled content is not playing.

Under Intermission, select None for the Intermission Type.

Add Custom Content to the Library

The DMP supports a wide range of formats. Be sure to test the video and audio playback of your custom content on the DMP, as not all video creation and encoding programs are the same. Please be aware that content can not be downloaded from the DMP after being ingested.

The preferred video specification for custom content is as follows: 

• MP4/H264, 1280x720p @23.98fps, 2000kbps/AAC audio 128kbps 2ch

Other types of video source files may be added to the DMP immediately:

• WMV
• MPEG-1
• MPEG-2 Program Stream
• MPEG-2 Transport Stream
• QuickTime (H264, MPEG-4, and MPEG-2)
• MPEG-4

Other file types must be converted before adding to the DMP:

• Microsoft PowerPoint®
• Shockwave
• Flash SWF
• QuickTime (Sorenson, 3GPP, 3GPP2)
• Any files where the DMP cannot determine the runtime

When your content is ready, follow the steps below:

1. Save your content to a portable storage device and plug it into an open USB port on the DMP.

2. Under Content Library, click Load Custom Content.

3. Click Choose File to select the content to be added to the Content Library.

4. Enter a Video Title for your content. This title will appear in the Content Library.

In the example, Example Video was entered.

Click OK.

5. Under Content Library, check for the addition of your content.

 

Video Settings

Video Resolution

The default video resolution on the DMP is 1280x720. You may adjust the resolution to match the viewing requirements of the projector or televisions showing the content.

1. Under the Video Settings menu, click on the arrow to display the options.

2. Select a resolution.

Brand the Channel

The Digital Media Player may be configured to incorporate a logo on the player to brand the channel for your organization. The supported image types include: BMP, JPEG, PNG, and GIF. If you want to allow the video to “bleed through” the image, utilize a transparent (alpha-layer) image.

1. Under the V Settings, click Select an Overlay Image.

2. Select the logo or image from a USB drive.

Then click Open.

The image selected will appear on the Settings page. In this example, the Swank logo was added to the player.

3. Click the “Show the Overlay” box. The image you selected appears on the output screen as shown below. The example on the left shows a solid image, and the image on the right displays an image with alpha-layer transparency.

4. Click the “Show during “Next Up” image if you want to show the logo in this location. The example on the left shows a solid image, and the image on the right displays an image with alpha-layer transparency.

 

Settings

The audio output level can also be adjusted. Use the slider to adjust the amount of gain/loss on the output line

There are several functions under Settings to help ensure that the DMP runs smoothly.

Check Drive Space

Under General Settings, you may see how much storage space is used and still available for content in the DMP.

Application Localization and Culture

You may adjust the localization of the DMP into other languages from the dropdown list below. More languages will be coming soon.

Conduct a DMP Health Check

1. Under Settings, click Health Check.

2. You will receive a message with the DMP’s status. If you have any concerns, please call us for assistance.

3. Click OK to close the message.

DMP Alias

The DMP software supports a visible “alias,” which will appear in the footer of the main application UI. This text field allows admins to place a brief note for themselves, and have it show within the software. One example would be a note of “Channel 20,” which would remind an admin which closedcircuit channel that this machine is attached to.

To use this field, click on the text box next to “DMP Alias” and begin typing. The message will appear in the footer of the display after every keystroke, located next to the “Enable Schedule” checkbox.

Export Activity Logs

If you have any issues with the DMP, our technical support team will be happy to assist you. Often they will request an export of the machine’s logs for analysis. This can be created in just a few clicks.

1. Click Export Logs.

2. Select a location to save the exported log files, and click OK. (It is the easiest to save to the Desktop. After clicking OK, the process may need a minute.)

3. You will receive a message that the export has been saved. Click OK.

The zip file is typically very small, and is easy to attach to an email.

Swank Motion Pictures Contact Information

Please submit any questions to:

Swank Digital Support

Please find PDF link below.