Player and Accessories FAQ

If you are trying to play multiple audio and/or video files simultaneously, playback might fail if the files use differing audio sampling rates. Ensure that all audio and video files use the same audio sampling rate (for example, 44.1KHz or 48KHz).

Some player models allow Mixed Audio PCM or Mixed Audio PCM / Compressed audio settings, which allow you to mix different audio sampling rates. See https://brightsign.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DOC/pages/404623943/Presentation+Settings#Audio.

BrightSign players currently support touch screens via the USB port only. First, check the “Which Touchscreens Can I Use with BrightSign Players?” FAQ to see if there are any known compatibility issues with your touchscreen model. 

HID Drivers

If you are not sure whether your touchscreen model is supported, check if it supports standard HID drivers: This means that the touchscreen will work with any device that has HID drivers installed, no matter the operating system of the device (Linux, Windows, OSX, etc.). HID drivers do not require any drivers from the manufacturer. Some manufacturers claim to support HID, but still use custom drivers that are not compatible with BrightSign players.

Calibration

If the touchscreen is not responding, or if the coordinates don't align properly with the contact screen area, you may need to run the calibration script attached below. The Calibration .zip file contains a Readme file describing how to use the calibration script.

Further Steps

If you are still having problems after calibrating the player, try these solutions:

1. Test your touch project using a USB mouse, which uses the same coordinate system as touchscreens. If the project doesn't work with a mouse, there is a problem with the playlist or script you're using to accept touch input.

2. If your project works properly with a mouse, we recommend using the Touch Capture script, which is included with the Calibration .zip file. Instructions for using the Touch Capture script are included in the Readme file. Once you have retrieved the logs generated by both the Calibration and Touch Capture scripts, contact support@brightsign.biz and attach the logs to your support ticket.

The player will attempt to reconnect until the network connection is re-established. If a player loses connection while a presentation is displayed, it will continue to display the presentation until new content is downloaded. If a player is downloading content when the connection is lost, it will resume downloading once the connection is re-established.

When using BrightAuthor:connected the player's status is accessible in the Network tab. The player's status is displayed to the immediate left of the Player ID in All Devices, or within the group where the device is assigned to.

Note: Player status is only available for devices connected to the internet.

Formatting your SD card using NTFS allows you to play files that are larger than 4GB in size, but the player will not be able to receive network updates or generate logs. In other words, BrightSign players can read from NTFS formatted cards, but cannot write to them.

For Series 5, 4, and 3 players, we recommend using the exFAT filesystem (which requires firmware version 6.2.94 or later). This allows you to play files larger than 4GB without restrictions on writing to the card.

If you are using an earlier player model and are publishing via BSN.cloud, Web Folder, or Local Network, you need to format your SD card using FAT32.

Series 2, 3, 4 and 5 BrightSign players do not support component or composite video without an external converter.

HD810 and HD1010 players come installed with YPbPr component connectors. Using a third-party VGA converter, you can also play component and composite video on other models.

There are many third-party VGA breakout cables; however, some VGA breakout cables will not work with the VGA port on a BrightSign player. You will need to ensure that the VGA converter you purchase has the same pin layout as outlined below:

In BrightAuthor:connected or BrightAuthor, configure the output for component/composite as follows:

Component:  Select Component from the Connector type drop down menu. In the Screen resolution drop down menu, you may choose any 1080,  720, or 480 option, as well as the NTSC-COMPONENT and PAL-COMPONENT options.

S-Video or CVBS: Select HDMI from the Connector type drop down menu. In the Screen resolution drop down menu, you may choose the following options:

• PAL-N

• PAL-M

• PAL-I

• PAL-BG

• NTSC-M-JPN

• NTSC-

Yes. You can connect a USB keyboard or mouse to any BrightSign player that has a USB port and use a mouse (or touchscreen) and keyboard to generate interactive events.

In a BrightAuthor:connected presentation, add a USB event for mouse input or the Keyboard event for keyboard input to your interactive presentation.

To implement a virtual keyboard, see these GitHub instructions and add the keyboard.zip and virtualKeyboard.brs to your presentation as shown below. After you publish, the keyboard will automatically pop up when you select a text input field.

In a BrightAuthor presentation, create an interactive playlist and then add a mouse/touch icon for the mouse input or a keyboard icon for keyboard input.

Yes. BrightSign players will work with barcode scanners or RFID receivers that use USB. These HID devices use a method similar to a keyboard to send information. The USB Event in BrightAuthor:connected can be used for barcode scans. 

Genlock (frame-accurate VSync) is available with BrightSign OS version 7.0 and is automatically integrated in all BrightWall™ and Enhanced Synchronization presentations as of BrightAuthor version 4.7.1.x or later.

The current version of BrightAuthor:connected doesn't support BrightWall™, but does support Enhanced Synchronization. BrightAuthor versions 3.8.0.x or later support BrightWall™ BrightAuthor:connected and BrightAuthor can be used and installed on the same computer. 

Note that synchronization is not supported over wireless connections.

The USB Capacitive Touch Button Pads offer a demonstration and development platform for implementing button interactivity and LED controls. Two models are available: a 4-button (BP200) and an 11-button (BP900) touch pad (see https://www.brightsign.biz/brightsign-players/accessories/ for more information). Both models have a USB Mini-B port and are compatible with any BrightSign player that supports USB.

Button triggering and functionality is easily customized in BrightAuthor and BrightAuthor:connected. You can also connect multiple button pads to a single player: see this Tech Note for details.

If you are covering the buttons with other materials:

• The material must be ¼” or thinner; if too thick a plastic is used, the buttons will not trigger. Acrylic, PC, and ABS surfaces have all been verified to work. 

• There must not be an air gap between any material you're using to cover the board and the board itself. 

The device self-calibrates on bootup and is not manually adjusted in the player software or hardware, so test your application before deploying it broadly. 

BrightSign players do not support videos that have a width or height less than 64 pixels. However, a video can be scaled down beyond this limit by making the BrightAuthor:connected or BrightAuthor zone or HTML video element containing the video smaller than 64x64. To get the desired downscaling behavior, ensure that the View Mode of the zone is not set to Fill Screen and Centered, or that the <video> element does not have an object-fit=cover attribute. 

BrightAuthor:connected and BrightAuthor accept input from any of these devices:

• Touchscreens equipped with a supported touch controller. See this FAQ for a list of supported touch controllers. (XC2055, XC4055, XT1145, XT1144, XT1143, 4K1042, 4K1142, XD1035, XD235, XD1034, XD1033, XD1032, XD1132, XD1030, XD1230, HD1025, HD1023, HD1022, HD1020, LS425, LS445, LS423, LS422)

• BrightSign’s BP200 and BP900 USB button panels (XC2055, XC4055, XT1145, XT1144, XT1143, 4K1042, 4K1142, XD1035, XD235, XD1034, XD1033, XD1032, XD1132, XD1030, XD1230, HD1025, HD1023, HD1022, HD1020, LS425, LS445, LS423, LS422)

• Many brands of USB Keyboards (XC2055, XC4055, XT1145, XT1144, XT1143, 4K1042, 4K1142, XD1035, XD235, XD1034, XD1033, XD1032, XD1132, XD1030, XD1230, HD1025, HD1023, HD1022, HD1020, LS423, LS422)

• Many brands of USB Mouse or Trackball (XC2055, XC4055, XT1145, XT1144, XT1143, 4K1042, 4K1142, XD1035, XD235, XD1034, XD1033, XD1032, XD1132, XD1030, XD1230, HD1025, HD1023, HD1022, HD1020, LS425, LS445, LS423, LS422)

• Many brands of USB Bar Code Scanners (XC2055, XC4055, XT1145, XT1144, XT1143, 4K1042, 4K1142, XD1035, XD235, XD1034, XD1033, XD1032, XD1132, XD1030, XD1230, HD1025, HD1023, HD1022, HD1020, LS425, LS445, LS423, LS422)

• Quadravox Serial Button Board

• MX, Crestron, and similar control devices

• Any GPIO (open/close contact switch) button, signal, or LED (your custom board or LED display)

• PC (via UDP or serial)

• IR input/output devices using the NEC or Pronto Hex remote control protocols (all XT, 4K, and XD models, as well as the HD1023, LS423, HD1022, HD1020, HD810, HD1010, HD1010w).  To accept IR input, you must use a 3.5mm IR transceiver or a USB IR transceiver from Igunaworks.

Using the BrightWall or Enhanced Synchronization features, players stay synchronized within a few milliseconds (i.e. video and images remain frame-accurate among screens). See this FAQ to determine which synchronization option is best for your needs.

The current version of BrightAuthor:connected doesn't support BrightWall™, but does support Enhanced Synchronization. BrightAuthor versions 3.8.0.x or later support BrightWall™ . BrightAuthor:connected and BrightAuthor can be used and installed on the same computer. 

See this page for more information.