Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: GDC playlist fails to be schedued

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Posted by Paul Willmott (Member # 3904) on 09-19-2017, 03:17 AM:

We have a GDC SX-2001 with a Barco DP2K-15C. We set up a show with some pre-show slides on a playlist that runs for around 20 mins followed by a separate playlist with the ads, trailers and feature. Using the GDC scheduler we find the first playlist always runs at the specified time but sometimes the main playlist fails to run. It appears to be random as to whether it runs or not! We have just had the firmware updated to the latest version but we still have the same problem. Has anyone come across this before or does anyone have any ideas?

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-19-2017, 06:13 AM:

The only thing I have noticed is if there is a missing key, or a missing CPL (clip) on the playlist - the playlist will fail to play. Addtionally, if the playlists are scheduled too close together - they will fail to start also.

Posted by Paul Willmott (Member # 3904) on 09-19-2017, 06:56 AM:

The playlist always plays when done individually - it just won't play when scheduled to run at a specific time. We have experimented with different timings allowing up to a minute between playlists but this appears to make no difference!

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 09-19-2017, 10:15 AM:

1> Are you inputting the scheduling directly on the
GDC SMS screen, or through a TMS system?

2> Is it possible the "Enable Scheduler" box on the the
"Schedule" page of SMS has somehow gotten un-ticked?
I've seen this happen a couple of times to people.

(graphics credit: GDC SX-2000 manual)

Posted by Paul Willmott (Member # 3904) on 09-19-2017, 10:29 AM:

We are entering it directly - no TMS.

I wish it was a simple case of not checking the schedule option!

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 09-19-2017, 10:51 AM:

Paul and his guys are pretty good - I too wish it were something as simple as not turning the scheduler on !

Paul - I take it that two consecutive shows work OK, barring the anomaly of the second part not starting sometimes ? I am wondering if the new software takes longer to reset ? Add a longer interval - does that fix it? Just a guess - let us know how you get on.. What if you do 2 test shows with just a trailer each ? Failing that we could get clever with a timer relay for restart - we do that in the Bollywood houses, pausing the show an using the timer relay to unpause after 6 minutes or so. This was a workaround on the Dolby 100 / 200s

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-19-2017, 10:55 AM:

Almost all of my customers run GDC and schedule their pre-show this way although scheduled though a TMS rather than locally. And most are running theor ads off a loop device though the DVID input.
Usually if there is something conflicting you will see it while you are building the CPL.

Mark

Posted by Paul Willmott (Member # 3904) on 09-19-2017, 11:51 AM:

Hi Peter
This has been happening for at least 9 months, so not a function of the new software. We have played with longer intervals between playlists but that doesn't seem to make any difference. We've been doing this without any issues for at least 5 years so it's annoying that it's started in the last year! We'll do some more tests with just a single clip in each playlist and see how it goes. The problem is that it appears to be random as to whether it works or not - although it may not really be random, it just a case of finding the cause!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-19-2017, 12:45 PM:

You can also send your logs off to GDC and they can probably look and tell you what if anything is amuck.

Mark

Posted by Josh Drummond (Member # 6033) on 04-09-2018, 04:23 PM:

I have had this exact issue before when shows were scheduled to close to each other WITHOUT overlapping. Its very strange that it would play some nights and not others. Its almost like the playlist is taking a extra few seconds and overlapping causing the next one not to start.

SOLUTION: Put the 2 into 1 playlist. Or leave a minute in between playlists.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-11-2018, 11:16 AM:

What 8.01 Build is everyone running here? Some older Builds had issues with this. The current Firmware is Build 278, plus Build 280 is available in the Pilot File on the GDC FTP Site. I have build 280 running in most servers now and have no issues with it. A few others are still at Build 278, also with no issues. I literally haven't had schedule start issues in ages.

Mark