BrightAuthor:Connected Setup

Guide-ID has set up this integration in both BrightAuthor 5 (see AV-Sync Using the BrightSign Plugin) and BrightAuthor:Connected. The plugin and the serial commands are identical; only the menu paths differ.

Prerequisites

• A Guide-ID Brainbox and a USB cable that fits the player’s USB port (the Brainbox side is USB-C)
• A BrightSign player and BrightAuthor:Connected
• The plugin script SendTimecodeviaRS232.brs — request it from helpdesk@guide-id.com
• Podcatcher Pro devices, a Basecamp and access to the Platform

Part 1 — Add the plugin

1. Open or create your presentation and switch the layout to Advanced
2. Open the presentation settings and add SendTimecodeviaRS232.brs as a script plugin (in BrightAuthor 5 this is Presentation Properties → Autorun → Add Script Plugins)
3. Name it exactly videoTimecodeInfo

Part 2 — Initial state

1. Add a Live Text Object to the layout
2. Set it as the initial state
3. Optionally add a timeout event that transitions to your first video

Part 3 — Serial communication

Serial input

Add a serial input event on port 2 (port 0 on the LS424) with input <*> that remains on the current state.

Activate the Brainbox

Add a Send bytes command 13,10 on the same port to the start frame. The carriage return switches the Brainbox’s USB port into command mode; the Brainbox sends no reply.

Video codes

Add a Serial String (EOL) command to every item, including the start frame:

brightsign code A1XX

XX are the last two characters of the video code as entered in the Platform, for example brightsign code A101.

Part 4 — Let scans start the video

1. Switch the Brainbox into video console mode by sending the serial string console video 1 from the start frame
2. From then on, every scan of an AV-Sync stop makes the Brainbox send videocode A101 (uppercase) over the serial port
3. Create a shared variable named video code
4. Add a serial input event videocode <*> that stores the wildcard in that variable, and reset the variable on the start frame
5. Use conditional targets on the variable to jump to the matching video — the values must be uppercase, for example A101

Part 5 — Publish and test

1. Publish with Enable serial debugging enabled
2. Connect the Brainbox to the BrightSign over USB and restart the BrightSign
3. Scan the AV-Sync stop with a Podcatcher Pro: the video starts and the Brainbox’s AV-Sync LED flashes green while it plays

Troubleshooting

• Serial port number matches the player (2, or 0 on the LS424)
• Plugin name is exactly videoTimecodeInfo
• Video codes match the Platform, in uppercase
• Serial debugging is enabled
• No LED activity: restart the BrightSign — the Brainbox is powered from the player’s USB port and restarts with it

Related articles

• AV-Sync Using the BrightSign Plugin — the documented BrightAuthor 5 setup
• AV-Sync Setup — standard AV-Sync configuration