Synchronising drives for simultaneous start-up

Synchronization Principle

All EVP380 video players can synchronize to start playing their files simultaneously. In loop mode, players also wait to restart at the same time.

This feature is based on the [SYNCHRO] tag, which allows you to define:

• A Primary Player.
• Secondary Players.
• The synchronized content.

Activation/Deactivation:
The synchronization mode is enabled by default. You can disable it in the menu: Scenario Settings > Playback Start 

Synchronization.

Connecting Players Together

To synchronize playback between two players, connect them directly with an Ethernet cable. To connect more than two players, use a network switch.

Network Configuration of Players (Non-DHCP Network)

If your installation is not managed by a DHCP server, configure the players with static IP addresses. Here is an example configuration:

Group Concept

It is possible to create multiple groups of players on the same network by modifying the communication port number. By default, the port used is 44830.

This setting is done in the menu: Scenario Settings > Playback Start Synchronization.

• All players using the same port number belong to the same group.
• For example:
  • Group 1: Port 44830.
  • Group 2: Port 44831.

Thus, when a Primary Player in group 1 sends playback information, only the Secondary Players in group 1 will react. Players in group 2 can exchange playback orders without interfering with group 1.

Implementing the Primary Player

1. Create folders as for normal playback.
2. Within these folders, files that must send a playback order to other players must contain the tag [SYNCHROxxx].

Example of Primary Player Content:
Folder: 001[J000]
    Lion1 [SYNCHRO001].mp4
    Chat.mp3
    Chien [SYNCHRO002].mov

Note:
Files with the [SYNCHRO] tag will send an order over the network.
Other files in the folder will be played without sending a playback order.

Implementing a Secondary Player

1. Create a folder named synchro at the root of the media.
2. Copy the files to be played there, numbered in order.

Example of Secondary Player Content:
Folder: synchro
    001 lion2.mp4
    002 [J002] chien2.mov

Operation:

• The Secondary Player operates normally with its other playback options.
• When it receives a synchronization playback order, it stops the current playback to play the requested file.

Concrete Example:

• The Primary Player plays Lion1.mp4 → The Secondary Player simultaneously plays lion2.mp4.
• The Primary Player plays Chien.mov → The Secondary Player simultaneously plays chien2.mov.

Tags:
If tags are included in the filename of the Secondary Player, they will be executed at the end of playback.
(Example: chien2.mov will be played in a loop if the tag [J002] is present.)