Release Notes

Release Notes for OnTheAir Video Express and OnTheAir Video

• Added compatibility with T-Tap Pro
• Changing the clip end behaviour on a playing clip will be applied immediately (previously it would only be applied the next time it played)
• Contact Support: We now send the playlists used by the scheduler
• The "Now Playing" will now also bring the playing playlist front, you do not need to be on the playlist itself anymoret
• Searching in playlists is not case sensitive anymore
• Behaviour with Locked/unlocked playlists. It is now possible again to edit playlists that are not playing.
• Issue with Stream Deck, when using the built-in integration, and switching from one Softron application to another Softron application
• Issues when doing skip to previous/next with next or previous clip offline
• Some black frames could be seen when starting a clip shorter than 8 seconds
• Field priority issues in SD PAL

Release notes for OnTheAir Video only

• Added the ability to run macros on ATEM using AppleScripts
• Scheduler: Event may not stop if there were manual stops, or if the same playlist is reused multiple times before an event
• The "color label" badge was shown at the same place as the "clocked" item icon
• Traffic Option: Media Browser: would sometimes not become ready in very specific cases (on a very fast computer such as the Mac Studio, with very few media items stored on the internal drive for example)
• Traffic Option: Skip to previous icon was disabled with traffic playlists
• Traffic Option: Discrepancies between playlist and media browser status

Release Notes for MovieRecorder Express and MovieRecorder

• Added the ability to force the colorspace of a source (currently HDR and Rec2020 is supported only with Blackmagic-Design devices)
• Added the support for Rec2020 (SDR) for AJA devices
• Potential flickering of the preview. This did not impact the recorded file, just the preview
• Image distortion with in SD 8-bit
• After using the timer button, the button was disabled, preventing you to use the timer again
• UI issue where timecode could be cropped on small sizes viewers
• When scrolling in the view using mouse or trackpad, we could move the preview out of the frame
• Potential crash when selecting the Bluetooth Timecode option

Release notes for MovieRecorder only

• Now sending the path of the recorded file in the AppleScript as a second parameter

• Adobe Premiere XML: Added support for more audio channels
• Final Cut Pro XML: Fixed some potential issues when importing in DaVinci Resolve
• Preferences: Fixed an issue when no IP was set for ATEM switchers

• Added support for GPICommander box v3. We started shipping the GPICommander 3 box (instead of v2)on May 11th, 2022. This new box requires a Softron software compiled on or after November 15th, 2021. Read more...
• Fixed an issue when rebooting computer and GPICommander would auto-launch.

Important information

• About the Universal version of MovieRecorder and Apple Silicon computers:
  • Some of the encoders that we were using with intel computers are not yet available for the Universal version. Some will not be ported (as DV, DVCPro, DVCPRO HD which are legacy codecs), others will come at a later time. Check the list of supported codecs in the specifications on the MovieRecorder page.
  • M|Family:Download the Deltacast Universal drivers from our website.
  • ProRes Accelerators with M1 Pro, Max and Ultra are not compatible with interlaced sources. When using interlaced sources, the CPU will be used. We have reported the issue to Apple, and hope for a fix soon.
• Important changes:
  • We have removed the preference "Single view" when controlling MovieRecorder from a web page. We changed the logic a little bit; instead of doing a preference, it’s just a different page to type in the browser. You should now use this url to access the single page view:
    http://127.0.0.1:8080/index_single.html

Release Notes for MovieRecorder Express and MovieRecorder

• Native support of Apple Silicon computers. Applications are now universal.
• Added support for HDR and Wide Gamut Rec. 2020 capture (currently only with Blackmagic-Design devices, and only with QuickTime destinations)
• Added the ability to create a new clip when TC break is detected (only with QuickTime None or Segmented destinations; and the TC source must match the fps of the video source).
• Updated NDI SDK to version 5.0.10 for full compatibility of NDI with Apple Silicon computers.
• When receiving a SCTE trigger, we now log it. Making it a nice signal analyzer.
• Added the ability to control a Blackmagic-Design Videohub or Ross video router using AppleScripts . Read more...
• AppleScripts now send the source name as a parameter. Useful to do tests for example for notifications, or have a different behaviour depending on the source name.
• Added the ability to trigger an AppleScript when recording starts or stops per scheduled recording (previously only on destinations).
• Added notifications when a "Critical Error" would happen.
• Added support of bundled licenses (one serial can contain the license for multiple channels)
• Added the ability to disable the capture of VANC (and CC) on a per source base. Previously you could decide not to write a CC track in the file, but the VANC were always interpreted from the source, which could lead to issues in some very specific cases (when the signal providing the signal would enter wrong VANC or VBI data for example).
• Updated to latest versions of the Deltacast and AJA SDK.
• Deltacast: Added support for the pdf formats
• Crash happening when doing remote control with Catalina. Read more...
• Issue with fps of Classic QuickTime movie files when using an effect to change the fps from 50 to 25 or 60 to 30.
• Some audio drops could happen when using Blackmagic-Design devices
• Possible crash when recording a QuickTime Segmented or None to an Avid NEXIS storage.
• When doing auto-split, only the first recorded file would have the correct DF/NDF flag. All subsequent recordings would have the non drop frame flag even if using drop frame.
• Auto split with encoders that can produce an I-frame whenever needed. The durations will match one another. Note that some codecs may still have different split times depending on the GOP structure.
• When doing auto-split with AAC audio, there could be one sample of audio missing at the beginning
• Possible issue when creating new file after an auto-split
• REST API issue to update scheduled recordings
• Issues when using Streaming Destinations on Apple Silicon computers
• QuickTime > Classic destinations: ProRes Encoder on Apple M1 Pro and Max processors: maxFrameSize could be wrong.
• Scheduled recordings: Fixed issues when stopping scheduled recordings.
• An issue with some keyboard shortcuts with MovieRecorder Express.

Release notes for MovieRecorder only

• Now allowing to enter commas in metadata text fields
• Added support for DNxHR (currently Intel only)
• Issue with some signals providing more VANCs than just CC. Recording may have stopped in specific cases.
• Schedule issue for spring DST (on the Sunday of the change, scheduled recordings between 23PM and midnight would not be triggered)
• Crash when writing some sidecar metadata files with MXF destinations
• Some warnings when encoding to XDCAM (but had no impact on encoding, just excessive logging)
• Some possible duplicated frames at the end of XDCAM recordings.
• Some display issues for CC in Viewers.
• AppleScripts Actions were not triggered at the end of the recording if done with a schedule, or timer
• AppleScripts Actions could not retrieve the recording name of a schedule

Important modifications

• OnTheAir Video 4.1 now requires macOS 10.14 or later.
• Some AppleScripts value types have been changed from 'number' to 'boolean' (is playing, is paused, loop, chain, cue more, is valid). If you are using AppleScripts, you should change them to test on 'true/false', instead of '1/0'.
• We have modified the preferences pane, and have grouped the GPI, MIDI, and ATEM/Tricaster integration preferences into one single menu item: "Triggers".

Release notes for OnTheAir Video Express and OnTheAir Video

• Added HyperDeck emulation, so you can control your playlists directly from the ATEM Software Control application. Note that the HyperDeck protocol only allows to control one channel per IP address, and thus this feature will not work for multiple channels on the same Mac
• Added support for SpeedHQ codec
• Added a way to relink multiple offline files at once. When a playlist is opened, hold the option key down, click on the File menu and select "Search and Relink Missing Clips"
• Added a "Include offline clips durations" preference to set if the offline files are counted in the playlist duration and start times when the playlist is playing. Previously it was automatic depending on whether the playlist was playing or not. Note that the change is only for the playlists that are currently playing.
• Added a "Disable direct Keyboard Shortcuts" preference. Will disable any keyboard shortcut that does not use a modifier key (control, option, command). This is to avoid user errors and a user inadvertently starting/stopping the playback when on air.
• Added options to the "Natural" resize mode so you can choose if you want the frame to position in the center of the frame, top left, top center, etc... Previously it was only center of the image.
• Added notifications when a "Critical Error" would happen.
• Added a menu to force the revalidation of a clip. Right-click on a clip and select “Force Revalidation”
• OnTheAir Video Express now supports MIDI triggers.
• Added an option for the output preview window to always remain on top. So no window will come above the output preview window.
• Added the support for more than just MIDI notes. When right clicking on a clip, you can now select the event type to either monitor or output: Note, After Touch, Control Change, Program Change, Channel Pressure, Pin Wheel, and set the channel and Parameters. When "learning" the input, you can manually set it up, or still just press the MIDI device button to automatically assign it to the clip.
• Added the ability to trigger MIDI events using AppleScripts
• Updated AJA SDK (16.2) and Deltacast SDK (6.19) to be able to run natively on Apple Silicon.
• Updated NDI SDK to version 5.0.10.
• Performances when downscaling ProRes files with the "Express" engine (so with OnTheAir Video Express or OnTheAir Video when "SMART Resize and Graphics" option is disabled)
• Added support for Stream Deck MK2
• Closed Captioning: Added support for more generic SEI NALU captioning types
• Now showing a warning when AJA or Blackmagic-Design device is used as a system audio input/output. Cf this help center article for more info about this.
• ATEM integration: now using the tally information in order to trigger clip start/stop instead of the various effects modules. This is more reliable and also works with super sources
• Potential crashes when asking for an item index but item is nil
• Issue where a clip could be skipped if a second play request was done
• Trigers: issues with Tricasters to automatically cue and start clips
• Output Preview window: when changing audio output settings, VU meters would freeze
• When validating, sometimes the modification date was nil
• Issues with some specific m2ts files with each field being separated.
• Transparency was ignored for ProRes 4444 clips when running on M1 Pro / M1 Max computers (with ProRes acceleration).

Release notes for OnTheAir Video only

• Added support for 10bit output. Supports Apple ProRes, DNxHR, H.264 and HEVC 10bit files. Files using 8bit can play as well but of course won't have the 10bit colors. This option requires to enable the SMART Resize and graphics option in OnTheAir Video and does not work in OnTheAir Video Express as we needed advanced color conversion to support as many codecs as possible.
• You can now set an out point on a clip that is currently playing (note that modifying the in point will be possible, but will only have an impact the next time the clip plays obviously)
• Traffic option: Added last modification date and Finder label in the Media Browser
• DGO option: playback and attributes of clips are updated even when clip is playing
• REST API: Added the ability to do "live subtitling": send text to be displayed on screen during a live.
• REST API: Added "Bypass authorisation" preference (in the General & HTTP Server pane) to disable password and token protection
• REST API: Added user rights to either read only, write, write and control, or full access.
• REST API: Added a log if we can't start the web server
• REST API: Added controls for the Scheduler
• REST API: Updated the api.html documentation with transitions, authorizations, JIP and DGO control
• Scheduler: When playlist is opened by scheduler it is not possible anymore to modify the playback attributes of the playlist (Chain, Loop, Shuffle, Cue). This is made to avoid confusion if the playlist automatically reloads with different attributes than what the schedule have set
• Ross router control: now handling better the possible errors when switching so we can show a warning in case the switching did not happen.
• Ross router control: communication could remain open, and after a period of time communication would not be possible with Ross router.
• Scheduler: Schedule will now correctly wait for Media Browser (related to traffic option) before starting up
• Scheduler: an issue where the scheduler was waiting indefinitely for the media browser (when the folder doesn’t exist)
• Scheduler: If the playback was on pause and a new event started, playback remained on pause. It now starts playing when the new event starts.
• Scheduler: Now properly restoring the window status when restarting OnTheAir Video.
• DGO: When using a folder based ticker CG project and saving from text edit to the folder directly, it would not trigger the start
• Secondary audio output: issue when selecting a start channel different than 1
• Live inputs: When scrubbing, live source would freeze
• Stream Clips: .sdp URLs were marked as invalid
• MIDI assign: playback buttons were not assignable anymore
• Fixed logo overlay was not working anymore on Live clips
• CC/Subtitling: Crash with some files with CC when using directLink
• CC/Subtitling: Closed Captioning on some mp4 files (using the SEI NALU type)
• CC/Subtitling: Live inputs: Some CC types (when there were multiple metadata per line) now pass through correctly
• CC/Subtitling: Possible wrong vertical position of OP47 subtitling when using .stl files
• Possible memory issue when using NDI Live sources
• Possible "conflict" when using both an Action and a DGO setting in inspector to start a DGO project

• Stream Deck: When creating a button to create a marker without name, it creates a "default" marker with auto index
• GPICommander: Compatibility with GPICommander devices
• User Interface: Some UI issues
• Logging: Some issues when logging past midnight
• Timecode: issue with an incorrect dropFrame value when starting up

The wait is over, OnTheAir Video 4 and OnTheAir Video Express 4 are now available as release versions. Since we announced it, we have added many new features and improvements along the way, and it's not over. We are still working on some new nice features that we'll add in coming up releases, so stay tuned!

What's new in OnTheAir Video & OnTheAir Video Express 4?

• Full Compatibility with macOS Big Sur (11.0).
• Universal application for better performances on Apple Silicon computers. 
• Full compatibility of NDI with Apple Silicon computers. 
• New icon as the ones used for all our Universal applications.
• Video Preview + Audio Vu-Meters: A window allows you to preview what OnTheAir Video is playing out.
• Automatic Folder-based Playlist: Select a folder with media files, and OnTheAir Video will automatically populate the playlist with the content of the folder. Add a file, it will be added to the playlist automatically. Delete a file, the file will be removed from the playlist.
• Shuffle playback: As with music playlists, the next clip will be randomly played.
• Rename clips: Sometimes your file names are cryptic, now you can rename the clips in the playlists, so it says something more obvious. Also useful if you have split a clip in 2 with two different parts.
• Auto-update modified clips: If a media file has been modified (replaced or deleted in the Finder for example), it will automatically update in the playlist.
• New "Clip end behaviours": Cue next clip.
• Added the ability to select a clip to "Play next", so OnTheAir Video can chain to any clip in the playlist.
• Added an "auto-cue" feature. When using the cue mode, the next clip will be automatically cued after a specified duration.
• Added the ability to add "Comments" in a playlist.
• Added the ability to Disable Clips, so they don't play but remain in the playlist for later use.
• Added support for new codecs: DNxHR and AVC-Intra 200
• Added the audio countdown announcements. Get a voice telling you when the remaining time is 30, 20, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2.
• New controls in inspector timeline (go to a specific Timecode, select if you want to display the file TC or the elapsed time)

What's new only in OnTheAir Video 4 (features not available in OnTheAir Video Express)?

• Built-in CG:  (Requires the Dynamic Graphics Overlay Option) Additionally to still images, you can now import CG Projects in OnTheAir Video to be overlaid on top of the video playback. 
• Secondary Audio Output: Additionally to the video output on the selected video device, you can now also output to another available audio output on your Mac. Works with CoreAudio, so supports the audio devices that are available for macOS (including Dante or MADI).
• Transitions:  You can use either built-in transitions such as cross-fades, or custom transitions (made with your own movies with an Alpha Channel)
• Scheduler has been completely revamped. Schedule editor is now in the application. With the ability to group playlists in "Events" that can be repeated.
• If the Schedule is modified by a third party application, it is automatically reloaded. There is no need to "Reload" the schedule manually anymore.
• Added the ability to "Loop" an event => you can loop multiple playlists.
• Added the ability to set a preset duration to a playlist, so you can know if you are having overrun and underrun
• Added the ability to add a timed start of a clip in a playlist directly. Set its auto-start date/time, and if the playlist is opened, it will start playing at the specified date/time. 
• Validation report: Generate a report for a playlist to print (with offline clips, offline actions, ...). This is very useful for long playlists, to have a quick overview of possible issues.
• Streaming input: Supports HTTP, RTMP and TCP video input to play a web stream easily. Just add a "stream clip" to your playlist, enter the HTTP, RTMP or TCP url and start playing it back. Stream clips can be previewed in the inspector. You can either use a "real" live signal, and even play a VOD file from a web server.
• Improved Actions (can now be relative to the start or end, and have a custom icon)
• Countdown until next Live event: In the "Timer" window, you can now show how long there is until the next live event
• Support for OP47 Subtiltling. (Requires the CC option). It is supported either in an MXF file with OP47, or using SRT or .STL sidecar files.
• Support for SRT sidecars files with Closed Captioning. (Requires the CC option)
• Support for SCTE-35 triggers. (Requires the CC option)
• Ability to control a VideoHub or a Ross video router without the need of OnTheAir Switch. This can be done using Actions.
• REST API:  OnTheAir Video is now coming with a full REST API that allows to control it remotely from a webpage:

Improvements in OnTheAir Video & OnTheAir Video Express 4

• There is no installer anymore. Just drag and drop the application to the Applications folder. See below for more info.
• Scrubbing in long GOP video clips in the inspector has been improved.
• 4K decoding performances improvement
• Improved remote editing of playlists. Now when you edit the xpls playlist document from another computer, OnTheAir Video will properly reload it, even if it is currently playing. If the currently playing clip is deleted from the playlist, it will stay in the playlist, keep on playing, and be removed from the playlist once done.

Important changes and warnings:

• Playlists will be incompatible with OnTheAir Video 3: Once you have saved your playlists with OnTheAir Video 4, if you try to open them with OnTheAir Video 3, a copy of it will be opened and you will have to save it again. The reason is that there are new "attributes" that don't work anymore (such as Comments, graphics items, transitions, etc...)
• The Schedule file is no longer a .txt file, it is now a XML file by default. The 'old' .txt file will automatically be converted to a XML. If you are using a third party tool to create your Schedules, .txt schedules can still be imported, but changes made to it in the user interface will only be saved to the XML. We advise you to change to the new XML format (JSON is also supported). Contact us for more info and help.
• The as-run-logs have been moved by default to the same location as the technical logs. The reason is we wanted to have one less window asking to get access to the "Documents" folder. If you had a different folder set than the default one, it will be maintained there, but if you did not modify the default location, they will be moved.
• Actions Folder has now moved to "/Library/Application Support/Softron/OnTheAir Video/OnTheAir Video/Actions/". It is not located next to the application anymore. We will copy your current actions to the new location, but we will not delete them from the current location so if you still use OnTheAir Video 3 this will still work. But remember this if you want to modify the Actions later to look in the correct location.
• OnTheAir Tools is not installed by default (it's not needed to create schedules anymore, only for the "Log analyser" tool, so it can still be downloaded from our website.
• AppleScript examples are not installed (the ones to be used as Actions, or to control OnTheAir Video). They can be downloaded from our website. 
• The playback preferences are different than the one of OnTheAir Video 3. So if you switch from one to the other, make sure to change them (which video device is used and the format) in both versions.
• When starting OnTheAir Video, it will now show a warning: "Full Disk Access is not enabled". This is not mandatory, but it helps to have less warnings when OnTheAir Video need to access video files in your storage.
• Changes in the playback start times in chain mode:
  • when the playlist is playing, and the "auto-update start times" option is enabled, the duration of the offline files will not be counted in the start times, so you will know exactly when the following clips will start.
  • after a clip was started, it will keep the time at which it started playing.

• Now using the new icon scheme used by all our "Universal" applications.
• Added support for Newtek's SpeedHQ codec
• Full Compatibility with macOS Big Sur (11.0).
• Universal application for better performances on Apple Silicon computers.
• Changed Adobe Premiere version to support latest version (15)
• Crash when connecting to Multicam Logger using the webpage to add marker, and timecode received was nil.
• Delays to receive angle change from Tricaster and connection issues

• Now using the new icon scheme used by all our "Universal" applications.
• Full Compatibility with macOS Big Sur (11.0).
• Universal application for better performances on Apple Silicon computers.
• Issues with YouTube integration

• Now using the new icon scheme used by all our "Universal" applications.
• Now using the new icon scheme used by all our "Universal" applications.
• Added configurable anti-rebound
• Full Compatibility with macOS Big Sur (11.0).
• Universal application for better performances on Apple Silicon computers.
• Actions are now using notifications instead of alert windows so it is less annoying

• Now using the new icon scheme used by all our "Universal" applications.
• Full Compatibility with macOS Big Sur (11.0).
• Universal application for better performances on Apple Silicon computers.

• OnTheAir CG Server: Added SCTE event counter (when the parameter is missing)
• OnTheAir CG Server: Performances when using Apple Remote Desktop
• OnTheAir CG Server & Designer:Now requesting for "Full Disk Access", so we don't ask each time we need access to folders
• OnTheAir CG Server & Designer:Contact support now supports "dark mode"
• OnTheAir CG Designer: Issue when drag and dropping shape items in timeline
• OnTheAir CG Designer: Text was not immediately refreshing in the preview
• OnTheAir CG Server & Designer:Issue with relative paths

• Compatibility Issue with Catalina

• Fixed an issue with the exports when using macOS Mojave or earlier

• Added a preference to set the duration of the output pulse (must be set between 1 and 2.000 milliseconds)

• QuickTime Destinations: Added the ability to use .mp4 and .m4v containers when using the HEVC codec
• AJA: Added support for different audio inputs on the card (Analog, AES, ...)
• AVC-Intra: Issues when recording HD sources to AVC-Intra 200 
• Destinations: Fixed frame rate when having 2 destinations (one is without rate conversion and on with rate conversion)
• Auto-split: Recording could stop when doing auto-split with H.264 and HEVC recordings

OnTheAir Video 4 is now available for everyone to download as a pre-release version. It is probably one of our biggest releases ever with a host of new features to enhance both the user experience and the performance. As an example, we are adding CG projets directly into OnTheAir Video through the “Dynamic Graphics Overlay” option.

Our development team probably got too excited about this release and decided to add even more exciting new features like a powerful HTTP/REST API, new playback behaviours and many other things. This is why  our release date has slipped "a bit". But, every new license purchased includes a free upgrade to version 4, and there are already TV channels that are using the pre-release version for their production and broadcast, so if you need the best playout software you can already order it now. You won’t need to purchase anything when the final version is released, and, as always, you will enjoy our free support and update.

There are many new features with OnTheAir Video 4. Too many to be listed all here. The best is that you download and try it out, but here are a few that we wanted to highlight:

1. Dynamic graphics overlay: OnTheAir Video now comes with a built-in Character Generator. Add animated logos, tickers, lower third very easily in your playlist.
2. Transitions: Use either built-in transitions such as cross-fades, or custom transitions (made with your own movies with an Alpha Channel) to add more dynamics to your playout
3. On screen video and audio preview. Preview directly on your computer screen what you are playing out.
4. Secondary Audio Output: Additionally to the video output on the selected video device, you can now also output to another available audio output on your Mac. Works with CoreAudio, so supports the audio devices that are available for macOS (including Dante or MADI).
5. Streaming input: Supports RTMP video input to play a web stream easily. Just add a "stream clip" to your playlist, enter the RTMP url and start playing it back.
6. Improved for 24/7 playout stations: We have improved the built-in scheduler of OnTheAir Video for easy broadcast scheduling. But we also have added features to be used by major broadcasters, such as a new integration with Wide Orbit Traffic software for advanced master control operation. OnTheAir Video can now be used as a playout automation solution with features that were until now available only with expensive solutions.
7. Improved for Live shows:  With audio countdown announcements, get a voice telling you automatically when the remaining time is 30, 20, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2. No need to have someone look at the remaining time.
8. And many more improvements: such as Automatic Folder-based Playlist, shuffle playback, Comments, new REST API to control OnTheAir Video remotely, simply from a web page, etc...

• XDCAM: Issue when setting in point with XDCAM clips. (First frame would still be shown)
• Inspector: Resize issue of the inspector window when changing from the Timeline to the Attributes tab

• Crash with Mojave or earlier versions (in version 3.5.1)
• Digital Clock: Horizontal alignments was wrong