gwsif / channelsimulator Goto Github PK

ChannelSimulator is a project that takes local media files in directories that are defined by a configuration file and plays them in an order similar to that of a television broadcast.

Only single show and commercial directories are supported at this time (Marathon Mode). This is a temporary limitation! Stay tuned!

ChannelSimulator requires that the following packages be installed on your Linux system (Other OS not currently supported at this time!):

• VLC
• ffmpeg
• mediainfo
• xorg-x11-server-xvfb
• xdpyinfo

1. Clone this repository
   • use the command git pull https://github.com/gwsif/ChannelSimulator-BASH
   • or by choosing Code > "Download Zip" from the main repository and unzipping it.
2. Make sure all of the files are executable.
   • Open a terminal from inside the ChannelSimulator folder or navigate to it from a terminal and copy and paste the following command:

   sudo chmod +x chansim.sh display_video.sh play_show.sh play_commercials.sh scan_config.sh simulate_marathon.sh display_menu.sh draw_display.sh channel_simulator.cfg
   

3. Edit the config file channel_simulator.cfg. The config file is where everything you can change is specified and it is well commented!
4. Run chansim

   ./chansim
   

5. If you are playing back locally (IE: on your own machine)
   • Make sure to set CS_METHOD to localin channel_simulator.cfg
   • Press 3 to start the simulation locally.
   • NOTE: This takes over your entire display!
6. If you are playing back over a network (headlessly) (IE: over LAN)
   • Make sure to set CS_METHOD to headlessin channel_simulator.cfg
   • Press 1 to start the virtual broadcast
   • Press 3 to begin the simulation
   • NOTE: If you stop viewing the stream at any time it will break the stream - however the simulation will continue to run. To re-open the stream, open a new terminal or another terminal tab and run the chansim script again ./chansim.sh and then press 1 again to bring the stream back online!
7. To stop please use the key combination ctrl+c on the window executing the primary script.

Please note that, by default, ChannelSimulator uses an Xvfb display value of 100 (aka id) and nc with port 5000. If you are currently using any software that conflicts with these defaults, you may change them in the configuration file. Please also note that when restarting the headless stream, a kill command is run on the process nc as well as vlc so if you are running other instances of these then ChannelSimulator WILL interfere with them!

There will be more additions/expansions to this system as I move forward! It is currently planned to allow for custom time splitting on video files that have commercial break openings, but are continuous (as in one file) rather than non-continuous (as in multiple files). Commercial segments based on time vs number of commercials is also planned. Down the line I would like to add more advanced stuff such as overlays, video and audio effects, support for tagging and automated broadcasts based on those tags, and more. Support for YouTube links as well as other media URLs that are natively handled by VLC is also coming. You absoluely will be able to mix and match local files & remote media URL's for playback!

ChannelSimulator will eventually be capable of generating its own unique graphics set to add to broadcasts in addition to traditional media as well, however this is only and end goal at present!