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AJA Control Panel Overview
The AJA Io XT Control Panel is a software application that provides a simple visual window
showing how the Io XT interface is currently configured, and that allows you to make
changes. Settings—both those you changed and those you didn’t—can be saved as a
snapshot for recall at anytime. This lets you save settings associated with all your frequent
tasks; then as you switch tasks you don’t have to spend extra time resetting interface
configurations—just load the previously saved settings for each task.
One thing you’ll notice instantly about the Control Panel is that it represents a visual block
diagram of how the unit is configured. The current status, input and output settings, and
many other details can be viewed as a color-coded block diagram in the Control Panel.
To ensure you make the most of the software, launch the AJA/Io XT Control Panel
application and look at its display. Then refer to the “Basics” described here to fully
understand what you’re seeing and learn how to view and change the Io XT system
configuration.
Before we go into too much detail, here are some basic definitions you should know (please
refer to the figure that follows for reference). After studying the basics, read “
Who is
Controlling Io XT
?” later in this chapter for more advanced information on how applications
interact with Io XT.
Block Diagram Screen
—The top area of the Control Panel shows
a visual picture representing the processing (if any) that’s
currently occurring, including inputs/outputs, reference
source, and system status. Lines between inputs, the
framebuffer, and outputs, show a video path. Where there are
no lines, it shows there is no connection; this can be because
an input or output isn’t selected. The lines will also show
whether the outputs are video or video + key.
Icon objects on the block diagram screen (input/output
icons, frame buffer, etc.—also called “widgets”—indicate
their status by color (explained later) and can be clicked for context-sensitive
information and choices. (These same choices can also be made from the tabbed
Control Panel screens.)
Control-Clicking
an Icon Produces
a Context-sensitive
Menu
