Download SimpleSync X from www.dtvideolabs.com/downloads. It does not require a license.

System Preferences

Network

Configure using the fixed IP values below.

System Preferences

Security and Privacy

1. Command Type - Determines how PlaybackPro Plus X clients are cued
2. Delay - Controls the delay between the time the “Take” button is clicked and playback begins. This helps ensure proper cueing of clips on all PlaybackPro Plus X clients. The delay may be increased if there are a large number of computers. Delay is only available for Clock Sync.
3. Entering Clip Numbers - Clips can be loaded into Preview on PlaybackPro Plus X clients by typing their clip numbers directly on the keyboard. They will appear briefly in the interface window. Clip numbers can be assigned to the same, or to different clips, on each computer. This makes sync roll recall easy. They must match the numbers entered in the # fields of PlaybackPro Plus X clients.

To prevent your keyboard from producing unwanted sounds:



System Preferences



Sound Effects




Uncheck “Play user interface sound effects”

4. Client List - A list of connected PlaybackPro Plus X clients
5. Show Controls - These controls affect Take, End All and Goto 10/20/30

1. Select the desired Command option
2. Optionally, configure NTP (Network Time Control) server and clients
3. Configure PlaybackPro Plus X for SimpleSync X

Using Direct Command is quick and easy, but should only be used when absolute synchronization isn’t necessary.

When Direct Command is used, PlaybackPro Plus X clients are triggered in nearly instantaneous succession. There may be a small latency between triggering the first computer and the last one, especially when a large number of computers are used. There is no clock sync with this option

If you are using Direct Command you can skip the next section on NTP Setup.

PlaybackPro Plus X utilizes QuickTime for video decoding, which is based on each computer’s real time internal clock. Clock Sync assures all client computer clocks are in perfect sync. Each computer is assigned a time in the very near future to begin playback so that successive frames will display at the expected time. If clips on different computers are started at exactly the same time, they will remain in sync as long as their internal clocks do not drift apart during the duration of the clip. Drift can occur when looping clips. Be sure to test content when looping clips.

1. Easiest - Connect all systems to the Internet and use standard clock syncing to the Apple time servers listed in the dropdown box and check the box to “Set the date and time automatically”
2. Complex - Use a dedicated NTP server
3. More Complex - Connect to an existing Windows or Linux system that’s already configured as an NTP server
4. Most Complex - Configure your own Linux system

A simple way to determine if the clocks are synchronized is to:

The time should reset to the time on the server.

1. No Control - Stops all listening for remote commands
2. UDP Listen - System listens for commands over ethernet from remote system
3. TCP/IP Listen - System listens for commands over ethernet from remote system
4. DT18 - System listens for a connection to and then direct commands from the DT18 Multi-System Controller
5. SimpleSync X - System listens for commands from SimpleSync X

Only one instance of SimpleSync X should be running. The recommended configuration is for it to run on a separate system from the PlaybackPro Plus X systems but it is possible to run it on a system that is also running PlaybackPro Plus X.

All systems should be running the same version of macOS and the same version of PlaybackPro Plus X. You can use any combination of PlaybackPro Plus X Internet Activated and USB licenses.

All PlaybackPro Plus X playlists must have alphanumeric characters in the # (clip number) field.

Download SimpleSync X from from Downloads. It does not require a license.