How do I install the SL NEO server and client software demo kit?

The SkyLark SL NEO software installation procedure is simple and standard. The installation exe-file is supplied on CD/DVD/Flash media or downloaded from the Internet. The demo version is sent upon request, the request should be sent to info@skylark.ru. The only installer file contains full set of server, client software and all necessary codecs. The SL NEO platform software functions under Windows 10 or Windows 2019 Server.

Before starting the SkyLark SL NEO software installation process, make sure that all necessary device drivers for hardware components (I/O cards, control ports) are installed and functioning properly.

There is no need to install additional codecs into the system - everything you need is contained in the single installation file of the SL NEO platform software. The system requirements for your PC to install the software can be found here. You should install the SL NEO software with the Administrator rights. Initial installation requirements:

Static IP address of network adapter, cable connection to local network;

Absence of anti-viruses on the server and firewalls between the server and client stations;

Correct operation of network infrastructure, efficient disk subsystem;

Third-party software products should not function simultaneously with the SL NEO software.

Restrictions in demo mode: “SL NEO Media Platform” inscription on the output image during playback and recording, Transfer Manager software in demo mode moves files not longer than 8 minutes. In the applications Air Manager and News Cut the inscription “Demo Mode” appears from time to time and the duration of imported files is limited to 8 minutes.

Everyone who wants to test SL NEO software products in full volume is given a temporary license for up to 3 months. To get a temporary key, you need to go through a simple activation procedure: after the installation and configuration of the SL NEO software on the servers and client stations, you need to send us the Machine Code for each computer with installed server or client SL NEO software. The details of this procedure are described here…

Preparation, installation, first run

Disabling Windows User Account Control (UAC), disabling services, other settings

Before installing the SL NEO software you must turn off the Windows User Account Control (UAC), restart your computer after turning it off, and then proceed with the installation.

In Windows we recommend to disable Windows Search service (disk indexing), automatic defragmentation according to the schedule, Windows Automatic Update service, make sure to enable “high performance” power supply mode with parameters that prevent stopping of disks and switching off the monitor, disable power saving mode in the network adapter properties. These actions will help to minimize the risk of “lags” during 24/7 server operation.

License Agreement

At the first stage of installation carefully read the License Agreement. If you do not agree to the License Agreement, you must not install or use SkyLark Technology software products in any way.

Required free disk space

C:\Program Files (x86)\SL NEO Media Platform - is a folder, where the SL NEO server and client software set will be located after the installation is finished. You need about 100 MB on your system disk to install the software (not including the log files, which may additionally require about 100 MB per day if you work around the clock).

The same C: drive can be used for playback-writing for the period of the test; to increase the speed and for operations with HD content we recommend to use a separate RAID-array with not less than 4 disks and levels 10 or 5.

Desktop

After the installation is complete, you will see icons on your desktop:

SL NEO Media Server - an icon for starting and stopping the SL NEO platform server software.

Transfer Manager - software module, which provides operations of automatic moving media and metadata files between nodes of production and broadcasting complexes (servers, NLEs, workstations).

Easy Muxer - multiplexer-demultiplexer of transport streams with Time Delay function for TS.

Air Manager - main client application for controlling recording-playback channels, graphical design, media data management.

Multiscreen - client application - control multi-screen for input and output signals of SL NEO servers, which are in the common network.

News Cut - client application for non-linear editing on network workstations using proxy copies, without copying media files to the editing stations and back to the server.

First run, express setup of server and client software after installing

Initially you should launch the server module of the SL NEO Media Server (the icon on the desktop).

If this is the first launch of the server software on the given machine, the step-by-step setup wizard will help you to choose and configure all the necessary hardware and software components of the SL NEO server.

The first step of the Server Setup Wizard is to select the board (or interface) for audio/video input/output

The first window of the wizard - Video IO Boards - is intended for selecting the boards and/or I/O interfaces that will be involved in the server. Determine the number of channels and select from the list those devices that are physically present in the system and for which the appropriate drivers are installed.

If there are no special cards in the system, you can select “Standard Computer Monitors” to display the output program in a window on the PC screen; if it is possible to receive IP stream by another machine, you can select “LAN Interfaces” and configure MPEG-2/H.264 UDP broadcasting in the network for subsequent reception of the signal by VLC. If you have a tape recorder with IEEE1394 interface, you can use it as a signal source and DV-Video converter (in this case you should select “FireWire Interfaces”).

The second step is to specify the path to the server database or file folder from which playback will be performed

Why a database and not just a folder with media files?

Our long-term experience in developing and communicating with Windows does not allow us to doubt the reliability of the operating system in question, however, this operating system (as any other) appeared not quite suited for non-stop work of on-line recording and playback processes while working with media files.

As a result, we have developed a system that bypasses the existing restrictions of the OS. Another goal was to make the users interact with the materials/clips rather than with the files on disk, so that they wouldn't waste their time wondering what folder the material was in, what would happen to the broadcast if the file was moved to another folder, how to start watching the material immediately after the recording starts, how to view comments and other attributes, how to watch one material for several network users simultaneously, without “slowing down” and without affecting the on-air playback?

We created a special service for reliable and convenient work with content - the SL NEO server database - a server module, which serves as a specialized database for content. It allows you to store attributes (metadata) for audio/video/graphic materials and provide users with a set of services for content management (search by attributes, keyframes, setting “life time” etc.), automated import of materials into the server storage and export from it, with and without transcoding.

The key advantage of SL NEO platform database is the usage of single cached connection to the local RAID-array of the server, when all recording-playback services and network user requests are fulfilled only through this connection. As a result, Net Bios of Windows is not used and all the artifacts associated with the use of SMB protocol and “shared” folders, the need to connect “network drives” are excluded, users work with “clips” (actually - with proxy-copies of materials, viewing and editing them), resulting in a minimal additional load on the network and disk arrays.

Our solution doesn't use MS SQL and there's no need to install any additional software components.

You can download the demo base with clips and examples of graphic design by following the link, unzip the rar-file and specify the path to the appropriate folder with the base in the setup wizard window, selecting “SL NEO Media Storage” in the Storage Type menu.

The third step is to configure the VTR to record from the tapes

The setup consists of specifying the control port of the server the tape recorder is connected to (RS-232/422 or IEEE1394). Playback on the air directly from the tapes we disabled and do not support because of the irrelevance of this technology.

The final step is to finish the configuration and start the server software

Once the server software starts, an icon will appear in the Windows taskbar showing the server software activity.

Blue color of the icon means that all configured server software modules are active.

Red icon indicates that the software loader is running, but all server modules are stopped.

Right-clicking on this icon brings up a menu that can be used to start and stop the server software modules.

The main commands of the server management menu are:

Start Server - start the SL NEO software server modules that are preconfigured and configured.

Stop Server - stop the SL NEO software server modules.

Administrator Control Panel - web-console for server management. It is started when the server software is running.

After the server software starts it is possible to start client applications on the server and client stations.

Start client software

First of all, you need to start the main client application Air Manager. The application is already configured and ready to go. In the Media Browser window the server's database folder tree with clips must be displayed, when clicking on a clip it must be displayed in the File Monitor window, and the playlist windows must be active. To play a clip, drag it to the CAST1 playlist window and press PLAY on the Top-menu.

Client software description

You can get a detailed description of all the server, client and server software features by carefully reading the detailed descriptions on this site.

Support

If you have any questions, please contact support.