Naturally easy to use
Hive software is designed intelligently, so it can be operated from any modern web browser, on any device.
You can even build a custom user interface for your client’s laptop, phone or tablet. We think of it like organic technology – flexible and adaptable to suit the nature of your project. You can even build a custom user interface for your client’s laptop, phone or tablet. We think of it like organic technology – flexible and adaptable to suit the nature of your project.
Getting Started
The first thing you will see when you log into your HIVE player is a page which describes the status of your device.
From this page you will see a low resolution preview of the video your player is currently sending to its output. You can also check the output resolution, remaining storage, number of media files, serial number and software version.
Simple MAPPING
On the MAP page you can configure how your videos will be drawn to the video output. Using simple arrows to drag the output region you can quickly and easily ensure that the video output aligns with your LED wall or video wall controller.
Using the options menu will let you select standard aspect ratios and demo images.
ADVANCED MAPPING
On the advanced mapping page you can add any number of source and destination regions. This is a powerful feature enabling configurations of large and complex video outputs. Regions can also be converted into four point warps and masks.
You can import & export your output configurations to/from a text file which allows you to store multiple output configurations and recall them again in the future. You can also share the output configuration with other HIVE systems & users.
Warp and Blend
Using the warp and blend page the user can import warp and blend configuration files from 3rd party camera based calibration tools such as VIOSO® & Screenberry ™.
Using these calibration files allows the user to create huge video projections comprised of multiple projectors blended together to make 1 large output.
This technology can be used to map domes and large curved surfaces.
Media Management
The media page manages uploaded video files and images, supporting H.264 & H.265 media, the Avolites Ai codec, and Notch LC. If a file is uploaded that doesn’t use one of these codecs, the player can transcode it. The page displays a thumbnail preview of the video file, its duration, and FPS. Users can play, pause, and scrub content using a simple playhead.
The software also allows for the addition of template images, web pages, user applications, and live inputs such as Newtek’s NDI as well as USB Video inputs from third-party adapters. The Avolites AIM Codec for Adobe Suite CC2019 & Onward can be downloaded here:
AIM Codec Windows
Play PLAYLIST
Programming a playlist is the simplest method of controlling media in the HIVE user interface.
This page allows users to specify which videos on their device should play and in what order. Users can also choose what happens after each video finishes, such as playing the next video in the list or selecting a video at random.
The playlist can be controlled on two layers, allowing for an overlay with a logo or ident on one layer while the other randomly selects videos from the list.
Live inputs can also be included in the playlist.
External Clock
On the external clock page, users can synchronise video files stored on the device to an external clock like SMPTE timecode. You can set trigger times for each video, which will automatically play in sync with the timecode signal when the external clock reaches the trigger time.
You can choose to lock the video file frame by frame to the source or free-wheel, maintaining synchronisation while allowing the video file to continue playing if the external clock stops transmitting.
Additionally, users can synchronise to the system clock, enabling scheduled playback of video files at defined times of the day. ArtNet support for timecode from devices like TIMECORE is also available.
Live Control
The live control page is a very flexible and powerful way to control your media, with 16 pages for adding buttons, faders, knobs, and custom controls to adjust any system parameter.
Users can add buttons to trigger media and composition triggers that activate all system parameters simultaneously, enabling the creation of complex scenes and effects with a single, user-customized control surface.
The control page can be configured to trigger from a MIDI device, or loaded through a web browser on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Timeline
The timeline page uses an intuitive nonlinear timeline to adjust media with key-framed opacity and 32 easing types, including linear, exponential, quadratic, bounce, and elastic.
Live inputs like USB HDMI/SDI and Newtek NDI can also be incorporated and mixed into the timeline.
Timelines can be added to the media list and triggered from playlists or external clock sources like USB timecode or ArtNet Timecode.
Users can import and export timelines to create multiple timelines for different chapters of their presentation.
Adjust SETTINGS
DEVICE NAME – An editable name for this device which appears on the Device page.
IP METHOD – Select from DHCP or Static IP addresses.
IP ADDRESS – Enter a custom IP address or view the DHCP assigned Static IP address.
NET MASK – Enter a custom Net Mask or view the DHCP assigned Net Mask.
DMX UNIVERSE – Enter the DMX Universe that this device should appear on.
HIVE MODEL – Set during manufacture.
BEE TYPE – Select Queen or Worker. A Queen bee HIVE Player can take over control of many worker bees.
PLAY MODE CONTROL – Local control or Queen / Worker can be selected.
CONTROL PROTOCOL – ArtNET or ArtNET simplified. The latter is used for very basic lighting desks with only a few available control channels.
OUTPUT RESOLUTION – Select from 1280×720, 1920×1080 or 3840×2160 resolution.
OUTPUT REFRESH RATE – Select 25, 30, 50 or 60.
OUTPUT MODE – Select single output, cloned HDMI & DisplayPort, or L1 HDMI / L2 DisplayPort.
SEND COMMAND – Send system commands to reset or control the Hive Player operation.
Parameters
The HIVE players have a vast number of controllable parameters, everything from size, position, scale, speed, rotation, colour adjustment; all the parameters you would expect from a full professional media server.
Full parameter list available here: Hive Media Players Artnet Personality
These parameters can be controlled manually with keyboard and mouse on the Parameters page. They can be saved to the device so that the device starts up with all the parameters as you have set them.
Where it gets really interesting though is when you start controlling the HIVE player[s] with an external control surface like a lighting desk or any device which can control ArtNET fixtures. When you control the HIVE players via ArtNET the parameters page serves as a monitoring page to show the user what each of the parameters is currently set to. Very handy when you quickly want to check the output from the lighting desk is setting the value you want!
There is a layer selection drop down too, which allows you to set or monitor the parameters on the 2nd layer.
Effects
From the effects page you can apply effects to the video files playing on each layer. There is a maximum of 2 effects on each layer.
The current effects list is as follows:
| 1 – OLD TV | 6 – FRACTAL SOUP | 11 – INFINITY ZOOM |
| 2 – SEPIA | 7 – RADAR | 12 – DOT GRID |
| 3 – FEEDBACK | 8 – PIXELISE | 13 – KALEIDOSCOPE |
| 4 – BLUR | 9 – SOFT EDGE OVAL | 14 – MULTI MIRROR |
| 5 – CRYSTALISE | 10 – TILE | 15 – REBELLE DISTORT |
We will be adding more effects soon. Feel free to get in touch and request an effect if there is something you would like to see in the system.
Sensors
All Hive players support the wide array of network sensors available from www.phidgets.com.
Contact our support team to discuss your application
More INFO onOUr Software
- Control from your phone, tablet or laptop via the web browser interface
- Designed from the ground up by experienced AV professionals to be simple to use & easy to operate
- Market leading lossless video codecs – H.264 & H.265 in addition to Avolites AiM & Notch LC
- Build your own live control pages, accessible through your web browser or controlled by MIDI
- Control the system from your lighting desk using ArtNet
- Newtek NDI input
- Rock-solid embedded Linux render engine