HOW TO: Perform an action when detecting a SCTE trigger on one input

OnTheAir Video can trigger SCTE on the output (see the following article), but it can also detect SCTE in the VANC of inputs set in the settings. This allows OnTheAir Video to be used as an ad server for example.

Create Live sources

First you will need to have at lease one Live source available. To create one, go to "OnTheAir Video > Settings > Inputs". Then click on the "+" icon to create a new Live Source that you will be able to use. 

If your live source is already created, click on the little gear to show the option.

Make sure to enable the "Process SCTE Triggers" option. This is the option that makes sure that we monitor that specific input.

Once the live input is created make sure to enable it in the list by checking the checkbox.

Select an AppleScript to Launch

Then at the bottom of the Inputs settings pane, make sure to select an "AppleScript to Launch":

This AppleScript must be saved in the following folder:

/Library/Application Support/Softron/OnTheAir Video/OnTheAir Video/Actions

WARNING! Use the appropriate AppleScript depending on your OnTheAir Video version. 

Depending on the OnTheAir Video version you are using, different values can be passed. Attached, you will find two short sample scripts for the different OnTheAir Video versions. It is important to use the appropriate version as they are not cross compatible. Make sure to update your AppleScript when you change OnTheAir Video version.

OnTheAir Video 4.5.7 or later

Download the script SCTEHandler_OTAV_v4-5-7. It will show a notification with the content of the SCTE message.

Previous versions only supported Splice events requests. With version 4.5.7 we have added the support for Segmentation Descriptor requests.

As this means that we can receive different type of requests, the AppleScript is a bit more complex, and will first check which type it is (operationID), then perform the action needed.

Here's an other idea of a script that will perform an action depending on the spliceType:

on action(arguments)
    set recordValues to arguments as list
    set operation to operationID of arguments
    if operation = "SpliceRequestData" then
        set spliceInsertTypeName to spliceInsertTypeName of arguments
        display notification ("Splice Type: '" & spliceInsertTypeName & "'") with title "Received SCTE Splice"
    else
        if operation = "InsertSegmentationDescriptorRequestData" then -- and this one is for SEGMENTATION DESCRIPTORS
            set segmentationTypeName to segmentationTypeName of arguments
            display notification ("Segmentation Type: '" & segmentationTypeName & "'") with title "Received SCTE Segmentation Descriptor"
        else
            display notification "Unsupported message received"
        end if
    end if
end action

The script attached is more complete, so make sure to download it to check what can be done.

OnTheAir Video 4.5.3 to 4.5.6

Download the script SCTEHandler_OTAV_v4-5-3. It will show a notification with the content of the SCTE message.

We have added more packets formats, and the ability to check for autoReturn and operationID. 

Here's an other idea of a script that will perform an action depending on the spliceType:

on Action(spliceInsertType, spliceInsertTypeName, spliceEventID, uniqueProgramID, breakDuration, autoReturn, operationID)
-- do something with all these parameters…..
   tell application "OnTheAir Video"
      tell front playlist
          if spliceInsertType = 1 then
             play
          else if spliceInsertType = 3 then
             stop
          end if
      end tell
   end tell
end Action

Note that the possible splice Type descriptions, with their corresponding numbers, are:

1. Start Normal
2. Start Immediate
3. End Normal
4. End Immediate
5. Cancel

OnTheAir Video 4.1.6 until 4.5.2

Download the script SCTEHandler_OTAV_v4-1-6. It will show a notification with the content of the SCTE message.

Here's an other idea of a script that will perform an action depending on the spliceType:

on Action(spliceType, spliceDescription, eventID, programID, duration)
-- do something with all these parameters…..
   tell application "OnTheAir Video"
      tell front playlist
          if spliceType = 1 then
             play
          else if spliceType = 3 then
             stop
          end if
      end tell
   end tell
end Action

Note that the possible splice Type descriptions, with their corresponding numbers, are:

1. Start Normal
2. Start Immediate
3. End Normal
4. End Immediate
5. Cancel