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Setting up the HDMI Output to Monitor and Test

Set up an HDMI preview monitor (with speakers or an audio extractor) to preview your audio and video in real-time.

The HDMI Preview Channel was designed to see and hear your content. The preview channel is for monitoring and testing purposes only and is not licensed for other uses. Please ensure your monitor has speakers so you can hear audio or you can utilize an HDMI audio extractor to use external speakers. 

This feature is available for QuickRoll and QuickCast models. It is not available for the Mini because the Mini utilizes the HDMI for unit control.

GET CONNECTED

  1. Connect your HDMI monitor to the CASTUS HDMI output.
  2. Log in to your CASTUS user interface either remotely or on-premise.
  3. Select CASTUS in the top left and choose Services. 
  4. Select Outputs and if the Preview Channel is not running, click Start.
  5. Select Outputs and start both the HDMI Video (formerly “HDMI”) and HDMI Audio outputs.
  6. Choose Settings to the right of HDMI Video. 
  7. In the Source dropdown, select Preview Channel. Select Apply at the top of the screen to save the changes.
  8. Once these settings have been set, close out of Firefox on the on-premise unit and Log Out of the graphical user interface by selecting the icon on the bottom left and choosing log out. 
  9. You should now see the selected source on your external HDMI monitor.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Video

  • Confirm the preview channel is running by navigating to CASTUS > Services. If it is not running, select the start button to the right of the channel name.
  • Confirm there is content assigned to or playing on the preview channel. 
  • Confirm the Source is set to Preview Channel in the HDMI Video output settings.

Audio

  • Confirm your monitor is capable of playing audio.
  • Confirm the item assigned to the preview channel has audio.
  • Confirm the Item is set to Preview Channel in the HDMI Audio output settings.
  • Confirm  the Driver is set to Advanced Linux Sound Architecture, or “alsa” in the HDMI Audio output settings.
  • Confirm the Alsa Output is set to hw:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3 in the HDMI Audio output settings.
  • If that doesn’t correct the issue, try changing the Alsa Output to hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=0 in the HDMI Audio output settings.
  • Confirm the audio default is on in the HDMI Video output settings.

ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING

Only use these troubleshooting techniques if you are comfortable with command-line operations. Otherwise, if you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps above, please call or email our support team  at support@castus.tv for assistance. 

Video

  • If you have 2 monitors, they might be in "dual monitor mode" instead of "mirror mode" or "clone mode". You can tell if you have that issue when the HDMI Video and the Preview Channel are off and the mouse goes from one monitor to the other but not both.

Run the following commands to correct:

cp -p /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-video.conf

/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-video.conf.backupnew  

 

cp -p /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-video.conf.default

/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-video.conf

 

If you run diff on the files above you will see it puts the driver in "mirror mode".

Audio

  • Try changing the Alsa Output from hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3 to hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=0 in the HDMI Audio output settings.
  • Open the Terminal Emulator and run the following command:

alsamixer

The playout S/PDIF should show 00.  If it shows M for muted, run the following command to unmute:

m

QUICKROLL ONLY: Then on a QuickRoll only, type the following command to look at the other card and repeat the step above.

F6

Escape to exit.  It will save the settings.

  • Audio levels typically the levels should be very roughly 75%, except anything with boost in the name should be 0%.