Two Synchronization Examples included
- Sychronize a 2 video Playlist
- Syncrhonize 1 Looping video
Important Notes
- You can connect to units directly to each other using a standard Ethernet cable, or you connect multiple units together using a hub, switch, or router.
- You MUST set the port number on both the Master and Slave projects so the port number the master is using matches the port number the slave is using.
- The master unit must have an IP address. If the units are connected to a network or to a router, this isn't an issue since the Brightsigns work using DHCP. If you are plugging two units into each other, or just using a switch or hub, use the script below to manually set the IP address on the master unit. You don't need to set the IP on slave units.
Manual IP Script
Set to DHCP - We recommend using transport streams for synchronization.
- The videos you are using should have the same specs: bitrate, resolution, length. For example, if the video on the master unit has audio, then the slave unit files must have an audio layer as well, even if their audio is muted.
Example 1 - Sync Two Video Playlist
In the following example, the Brightsigh starts up and plays a logo for 10 seconds, then starts playing a two video playlist. The synchronization command is sent when the image times out to the first video, and at the end of each video.
Master Playlist
Starting with a logo image, which could also be a blank image, allows us to send a synchronization event before the video plays the first time.
Master Playlist - Send Synchronize Command
Opening the timeout event (clock symbol) we see that after 10 seconds we play the attract.mpg file. Under Advanced, the Synchronize command is sent with the string "attract". You can put any string in the parameter field, as long as the slave unit is using the same string the master is sending.
Slave Playlist
On the slave, the synchronize event is used to transition from one file to another. In this example, each video is connected to the startup image. There's also a synchronize event connecting each video to the other. This way, if the slave unit were to lose power or were to get out of sync for any reason, it would be in sync on the next file to play.
Slave Playlist - Receive Synchronize Command
Opening this Synchronize event, you see the slave is listening for the "attract" string when the logo image is displayed. Atttract.mpg plays when "attract" is received.
Example 2 - Synchronize 1 Video
In the following example, the Brightsigh starts up and plays a logo for 10 seconds, then starts playing 1 video which loops and starts again when finished. The synchronization command is sent when the image times out to looping video, and also when the video restarts.
Download Sample Project Files - including small video sample, and blank image
Master Playlist
Starting with a logo image, which could also be a blank image, allows us to send a synchronization event before the video plays the first time.
Slave Playlist
The slave unit listens for input after the startup image, and each time the video ends.
