ProductsMedia Control Network
Products
The BBI Media Control Network is a scalable architecture for controlling complex shows or entire facilities. It consists of servers based on Windows95TM and Windows NTTM platforms that work together to play audio and video media, control theatrical and architectural lighting, schedule shows throughout the day or week, and monitor the operation of equipment.
• Servers reside on an ethernet (1) and communicate using TCP/IP (the most widely used high speed communication protocols).
• The Media Player (2) can play up to 16 channels of audio stored internally on hard disk or CD. It provides master control for a show or group of shows, using an RS-422 serial bus (3) to communicate with as many BBI audio processors and Multifunction Show Controllers as are required. Multiple Media Players can reside on the ethernet.
• The 8x6 Matrix Mixer (4) is a computer controlled audio mixer with 8 inputs and 6 outputs capable of performing real-time audio fades and pans. It is modular and may be combined to build mixers with more inputs and outputs as required.
• The Multifunction Show Controller (5) operates serial devices (DVD, LDP, CD, or hard disk recorder); reads buttons and sensors; and drives tally lights, relays and motion devices. Like the Media Player, it is programmable and thus can perform many functions autonomously.
• The Lighting Server (6) accepts commands from one or more Media Players and produces a DMX-512 signal to control architectural or theatrical dimmers. Independent fades can be executed on all channels simultaneously.
• The Schedule and Message Log Server (SMLS) (7) coordinates all the Media Players on the network. Scheduling functions allow staff to program the time of shows throughout the week using a scripting language. Overrides permit shows to be run manually or the operating time to be extended for special occasions. Message logging functions consolidate data from the Media Players and Lighting Servers in one location. The state of all the control equipment in the facility can be monitored locally at the SMLS screen or remotely via modem (8) or wide area network (9). The SMLS also facilitates sharing variables among multiple Media Players, allowing interlocking of shows running on different Players.
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