Ross® XPression Clips and BlackStorm Video Servers

This setup information applies to the XPression Clips, BlackStorm, and SoftMetal.

Note: FlexDevice drivers have been integrated into the switcher software as of Acuity® v9.2a. Individual FlexDevice drivers are no longer supported. If you are running a software version prior to Acuity® v9.2a the FlexDevice drivers are still supported and required.
Note: If you are running a software version prior to Acuity® v9.2a the BlackStorm supports both the AMP FlexClip driver and the legacy serial and ethernet drivers. You must install and initialize the FlexClip driver to be able to set up and control the video server from the switcher using the driver. Contact Ross Video Technical Support for the most recent FlexClip driver for your device and refer to the Setup Manual that came with your switcher for information on FlexDevice drivers.

Cable Connections

The XPression Clips connects to the switcher over a standard ethernet connection.

The BlackStorm connects to the switcher over an RS-422 serial connection to a DB9 port on the switcher and a DB9 port on the device, or over a standard ethernet connection.

The SoftMetal connects to the switcher over an RS-422 serial connection to a DB9 port on the switcher and an RJ45 port on the device, or over a standard ethernet connection.

Table 1. Switcher to BlackStorm Cable Connections
Acuity™ (Remote Port) BlackStorm (COM 3/4 Port)
2 (Rx-) 8 (Tx-)
3 (Tx+) 7 (Rx+)
7 (Rx+) 3 (Tx+)
8 (Tx-) 2 (Rx-)
Table 2. Switcher to SoftMetal Cable Connections
Acuity™ (Remote Port) SoftMetal (COM Port)
2 (Rx-) 2 (Tx-)
3 (Tx+) 3 (Rx+)
7 (Rx+) 1 (Tx+)
8 (Tx-) 6 (Rx-)

Switcher Setup

The switcher must be set up to communicate with the video server using either serial or ethernet protocols, as well as associate the video inputs that are coming into the switcher from the video server with the channel on the device that they are coming from.

Note: If you are using multiple video channels, each channel should be assigned to a separate port, or a port expander should be used.

FlexDevice Driver

Note: FlexDevice drivers have been integrated into the switcher software as of Acuity® v9.2a. Individual FlexDevice drivers are no longer supported. If you are running a software version prior to Acuity® v9.2a the FlexDevice drivers are still supported and required.

The FlexDevice driver must be installed and initialized before it can be assigned to a device.

Note: You do not need to install a FlexDevice driver if the device you are using does not use a FlexDevice driver.

To Install a FlexDevice Driver

  1. Open a web browser and navigate to the IP address of the switcher frame. You are prompted to enter a user name and password. The defaults are user and password.
  2. Click Other > FlexDevices.

    The FlexDevices page lists all the FlexDevice drivers that are installed on the switcher, their version, and status. If a driver is not compatible with the current version of switcher software, the status will be Obsolete (OBSOL) or Unsupported (UNSUPP)

  3. Click Browse and locate the FlexDevice driver you want to install in the switcher.
  4. Click Open/Choose to select the file.
  5. Click Install Driver.

To Initialize a FlexDevice Driver

Note: You must initialize a separate instance of a driver for each device you want to control from the switcher.
  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup > More > Flex Devices.
  2. Press Start Driver
  3. Use the Interface knob to select the control panel or frame that you want to initialize the FlexDevice driver on.

    For example, if you want to control the device from a serial port on the back of the master control panel, you must select Panel0.

  4. Use the Type knob to select the type, or class, of driver you want to initialize.
  5. Use the Driver knob to select the driver that you want to initialize an instance of.

    If the driver you want to initialize does not appear on the menu, ensure that the driver has been installed.

  6. Press Accept.

A popup notifying you that an instance of the driver has been started appears on the menu.

To Set Up Serial Communications (Non-FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select VTR (CLIP).
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select VDCP.
  5. Use the Device Preroll knob to select 0.
  6. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-422.
  7. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 38400 (Baud) and ODD (Parity).
  8. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    TargetMachine BlackStorm / SMS v##
    Note: The remaining extra options are set automatically when the target machine in selected.
  9. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Ethernet Communications (Non-FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the net port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select VTR (CLIP).
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select VDCP.
  5. Use the Device Preroll knob to select 0.
  6. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select Network TCP.
  7. Press Com Settings and use the Client/Server knob to select Client and enter the IP Settings.
    IP Setting Value
    Remote IP Address (IP of device)
    Remote Port 50103-50110 (Ch1-Ch8)
    Local IP Address 0.0.0.0
    Local Port 0
  8. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    TargetMachine BlackStorm / SMS v##
    Note: The remaining extra options are set automatically when the target machine in selected.
  9. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Serial Communications (FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select FlexCLIP.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select the AMP-S FlexClip driver.
  5. Use the Device Preroll knob to select 0.
  6. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-422.
  7. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 38400 (Baud) and ODD (Parity).
  8. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    MediaIDLength LongIDs
    Record Time 60
    Clip List Floating List
    Eject Clip No (default)
    Send Loop On (default)
    Note: The remaining extra options are set automatically when the target machine in selected.
  9. Press More > VDCP.
  10. Use the Main/Associate knob to select where the device gets the clip list.
    Note: This feature requires multiple devices with the same clips loaded on them. Only the clip list from the main is loaded. Associate devices are assumed to have the same clips and the clip list from the main device is used. This saves loading the same clip list from a different server when switching between the devices.
    • Main — the device with the main clip list.
    • Associate — the main device clip list is used instead.
  11. Use the Main Port knob to select the device and clip list to use instead of loading the list from the current device. Only those devices that have been set to Main are listed.
  12. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Ethernet Communications (FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the net port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select FlexCLIP.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select the AMP-E FlexClip driver.
  5. Use the Device Preroll knob to select 0.
  6. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select Network TCP.
  7. Press Com Settings and use the Client/Server knob to select Client and enter the IP Settings.
    IP Setting Value
    Remote IP Address (IP of device)
    Remote Port 3811
    Local IP Address 0.0.0.0
    Local Port 0
  8. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    Eject Clip On (default)
    Send Loop On (default)
  9. Press More > VDCP.
  10. Use the Main/Associate knob to select where the device gets the clip list.
    Note: This feature requires multiple devices with the same clips loaded on them. Only the clip list from the main is loaded. Associate devices are assumed to have the same clips and the clip list from the main device is used. This saves loading the same clip list from a different server when switching between the devices.
    • Main — the device with the main clip list.
    • Associate — the main device clip list is used instead.
  11. Use the Main Port knob to select the device and clip list to use instead of loading the list from the current device. Only those devices that have been set to Main are listed.
  12. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up a Video Input (Non-FlexClip)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Source Configuration > Input Type.
  2. Use the Input knob to select the input source that you want to configure.
  3. In the Input Type area, select VTR.
  4. Press More > VTR/VDCP/AMP Xpts and use the Controller knob to select the device that the video signal is coming from.
  5. Press Video Server Setup and use the Channel and SubAddress knobs to selectthe video output channel you are controlling on the device.

    If no sub-address is specified, select the same value as the channel.

  6. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up a Video Input (FlexClip)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Source Configuration > Input Type.
  2. Use the Input knob to select the input source that you want to configure.
  3. In the Input Type area, select VTR.
  4. Press More > VTR/VDCP/AMP Xpts and use the Controller knob to select the device that the video signal is coming from.
  5. Press Video Server Setup and use the Channel and SubAddress knobs to select the video output channel you are controlling on the device (channel) and 0 (sub-address).
  6. Press HOME > Confirm.

Device Setup

The device must be set up to communicate with the switcher using the same serial or ethernet communications as you set the switcher up to use.

Note: This information in this procedure is provided as a guide and is based on the current version of hardware and software that was available at the time of testing. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the documentation that came with your device.

To Set Up Serial Communication for the BlackStorm

  1. Open the Configuration Client.
  2. Click on the Remote Control tab.
  3. In the Com3 or Com4 list, click VDCP. The Com port is the one that is connected to the switcher.
  4. Click Apply.

To Set Up Serial Communication for the SoftMetal

  1. Open the SoftMetal Configuration Client.
  2. Click on the Remote Control tab.
  3. In the Peripheral Port drop-down list, select the port that you have connected to the switcher.
  4. In the Protocol drop-down list, select VDCP.
  5. Click OK.

To Set Up Ethernet Communication for the BlackStorm

  1. Open the Configuration Client.
  2. Click on the Remote Control tab.
  3. Click Enable VDCP over Ethernet.
  4. Click Apply.

To Set Up Ethernet Communication for the SoftMetal

  1. Open the SoftMetal Configuration Client.
  2. Click on the Remote Control tab.
  3. In the Peripheral Port drop-down list, select the port that you have connected to the switcher.
  4. In the Protocol drop-down list, select VDCP.
  5. Select VDCP over Ethernet.
  6. Click OK.

Troubleshooting

If the device is communicating properly, but you cannot gain control from the switcher, try cycling through different values for the SubAddress, and then the Channel. The most common settings are channel set to the video channel number and sub-address set to 0 or and channel set to the video channel number and sub-address set to the serial communications port on the video server.