Creating a SIM-LIVE Event from a LIVE Event

Last updated on May 01, 2019

Ready to record your next LIVE event into a SIM-LIVE event so that you can share that experience with the same level of engagement anytime? Now you can! Introducing the new LIVE to SIM-LIVE feature. With our SIM-LIVE, or Simulated-LIVE feature, you can take a VOD of a LIVE recording and stream it as if it were LIVE – in other words, with no capability for the viewer to rewind or fast forward. That way, your audience is watching the events unfold together and you can schedule times for the phones to be manned, and so forth.

Important

To play a VOD event as if it were LIVE requires the Bitmovin player. Check with your Service representative to determine if you have the Bitmovin player as part of your tool set.


To create a SIM-LIVE event from a LIVE event, perform the following tasks in the HVC web interface:

Creating a Player

To create a player:

  1. Click the Players tab in navigation pane.
  2. Click the +Create Player button in the action bar above the view pane.

  3. In the entry field, enter the name of the player. NOTE: The name is automatically prefixed with "HVC_" to indicate that it is a Scheduler Player. 

    Note

    Haivision Video Cloud Schedule Players are injected with additional code that enables special features (for example, the countdown clock). However, this code is not compatible with other players. Once a player has been designated as an Haivision Video Cloud Schedule Player, it can only be used as such.

    Create Player Screen

  4. Click the Create New Player button when finished. The player is added to the listings in the view pane and the tag "Scheduler Player" appears next to the listing.

Modifying the Player

Next, modify the player you just created as desired. For instance, you might want to add a countdown message so that it's included when you embed the final code into your website. 

To modify a player:

  1. Click the Players tab in navigation pane.
  2. Locate the desired Player item in the view pane and click on it.
    The Player page for the selected player opens.
  3. The Player's Schedule Layout/Options section is divided into three tabs: Layout, Messages, and Advanced (see below for descriptions).  Make changes to the settings as appropriate.
    Schedule Layout and Options Screen
  4. When finished making your selections, click the Update Player button.

Player Layout/Options

Layout Tab

  • Background image - Enter the URL to select an image for the countdown background. For example: https://www.haivision.com/sites/default/files/images/descr/banners_solutions_400x220_15_0.jpg
  • Background color - Choose a web safe color for the background. Use the standard color name or hex designation. Refer to CSS Color Names. For example, aqua or #00FFFF.
  • Position - Use the drop-down menu to reposition to the either the center or one of the four corners of the screen.
  • Padding - Indicate a percentage of space from the left edge.
  • Font Family - Choose from a drop-down menu of a variety of font families.
  • Font Color - Specify the font color. Use the standard color name or hex designation. Refer to CSS Color Names . For example, aqua or #00FFFF.
  • Font Size - Indicate a point size or a percentage for the font size.

Messages Tab

You can use HTML to customize any of the following messages.

  • Countdown Message - Specifies the custom message that appears prior to an event.
  • Pause Message -  Specifies the custom message that appears between events.
  • No Events Message - Specifies the customer message that appears after the last event.
  • Countdown Output Style - A drop-down menu option between:
    • hh:mm:ss - which displays the hours:minutes:seconds.
    • humanize - which recalculates time into more general terms such as "tomorrow" instead of 24:00:00 and so forth.

Advanced Tab

  • Countdown CSS - a text entry box for inputting your own CSS customizations. For example, use the following to add a drop shadow to the text: 

    Countdown CSS 
    .countdown { 
 text-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #000; 
}

Creating a VOD Event

This is the step where you indicate that this event is a cloud recording. Make sure you check the Live to Simulated Live checkbox. When checked, the LIVE stream will start at the beginning of the cloud recording (i.e., DVR). This selection is recommended for delayed or rebroadcasting of LIVE events before the archive has been published to cloud.haivision.com. 

To create a single VOD event:

  1. Click the Schedules tab on the navigation sidebar.

  2. Click the desired schedule from those listed.

  3. Click the + Add Event button for that schedule. 



  4. At the asset selection screen, either search for or select the VOD asset you want to add to the schedule.
  5. Click the asset to open its event creation page.



  6. At the asset's event creation page, click the Single Event (One-Time) or Recurring Event radio button as appropriate.
  7. Next, indicate how you want the VOD to play. Click either Simulate asset playback as if it was live or Schedule availability. 
  8. Under Cloud Recording, click the Live to Simulated Live checkbox.
  9. Select the start date and start time. If nothing is selected, it will default to the current date and time of which the event creation process was started. 



  10. Click the Create New Event button. You will be redirected to the schedule page with the new event now in the schedule.

Creating a Feed 

Think of the feed as the playlist for your SIM-LIVE event. it can be a great way to streamline the workflow. The feed can grab the latest VOD asset and offer it as the SIM-LIVE recurring event so that your audience has something new to view each week in that time slot. 

To create a feed: 

  1. Click the Schedules tab on the navigation sidebar.

  2. Click the desired schedule from those listed.

  3. Click the + Add Event buttons that are on the landing page for the schedule.

  4. At the Asset Selection screen, click the Dynamic Feed tab. 



  5. Click the Select a Feed dropdown, and choose the feed that you want.
  6. At the feed's event creation page, indicate whether the event is a single event or a recurring event.
  7. Next, decide whether or not you want the Feed to play all the way through or to be forcefully stopped at some point in time.
  8. Once that has been decided, determine how you want the feed to play. 
    • If you want the feed to play as if it was live, then you would select "Simulate asset playback as if it was live."
    • If you want the feed to play like a traditional VOD, then you would select "Schedule availability."
  9. Under Duration, select the start time and end time. If nothing is selected, it will default to the current date and time of which the event creation process was started. Adjust as appropriate.
  10. Finally, choose the Days checkboxes for the days of the week that you want the feed to play during the specified time.  



  11. Click the Create New Event button at the bottom right of the page or the top right. 
  12. Click the Premium Embed Code button and copy the Bitmovin embed code for to paste in your website.
  13. Click the Update Schedule button. You will be redirected to the schedule page with the new events now in the schedule.

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