Stops correspond to locations in the real world and are used to play the appropriate audio. A Stop has one or more Clips that are linked together with Connections. A Stop has the following pages:
Introduction
While a Stop is a place in the Site – usually near a piece of art in a museum, it can also be a room or an explanation for visitors – a Clip (or set of Clips) is the content that gets played when a Stop is triggered. This page gives you full control over how Clips flow into one another.
Note: If your Stop should just play one Clip, then you can skip most of the explanation and just use the Script field to add content or upload an audio file.
Creating a tour
Start Clip
Go to Tours and click on Add new Tour. Select what tour you like to create and click on continue.
Fill in the name of the tour, this will be visible for visitors using PWA. Select the desired device. It’s possible to use both Podcatcher and PWA and click on continue.
Select the main language. Select other languages if prefered.
After clicking on create tour, a Stop with Tour Start is created. This is your tour start, a.k.a. you’re language start and is set in the languages you have chosen in the previous step.
To add more stops, just click on Add Stop. This way you can add several stops to your tour. Don’t forget to give it a title.
Adding content
When adding content to a stop, you can choose whether you want to upload audio, or use the AI options with Text-to-Speech. Repeat the process for as many stops as you need to complete the tour.
Uploading audio: Click on select file or just drag the audio file to the uploadfield next to select file. Ask AI: Enhance or modify your script based on specific needs, such as simplifying text, adjusting the tone, or translating it into another language. Using Text-to-Speech: With Text-to-Speech you can simply generate the inserted script to audio file when clicking it
AV-Sync is an innovative feature that enhances the way audiences enjoy multimedia presentations. With AV-Sync, audio content is perfectly synchronized with video content. This means an unlimited amount of visitors can watch a video displayed on a screen and listen to the corresponding audio track on a Podcatcher, all in real-time and in their preferred language.
By offering multiple language accommodation, AV-Sync ensures that every visitor, regardless of their language preference, can have a fully immersive, personalized, and synchronized audiovisual experience.
Enabling AV-Sync
This guide walks you through the process of setting up AV-Sync, ensuring compatibility, preparing and testing your files, and conducting a flawless tour. What we will achieve is extracting the existing audio track from the video and replacing it with a time code. The original audio track will be transferred to the Podcatchers, allowing visitors to listen in real-time. Don’t worry, the original video will stay intact.
Step 1: Preparing the Movie File
Use the Guide-ID AV-Sync Tool to process your original movie file. Assign a unique Video Code to each movie file – starting with “A1”. Make sure that the ‘Use Code’ check box is checked. The tool generates two files: one for video playback on the media player and an audio file to be uploaded to the Guide-ID Portal.
Both files will be exported to your computer next to the original video. The audio file ends with “_audio” the video with the added timecode end with “_video”.
Log into the Guide-ID Platform, and create a new AV-Sync stop. Upload the audio file generated by the AV-Sync Tool. If you have alternate languages for the tour, upload these audio files as well. They should have the same length as the original audio.
Enter the Video Code you’ve chosen in the tool in the Video Code box. Also add an IDentifier that visitors can scan.
Step 3: Test the Video Playback
Begin playing the video on the media player to ensure it is displayed correctly on the screen.
You will note a beeping sound, don’t worry. This beep is translated by the Brainbox to a time code.
Make sure that the volume on the media player is unmuted and set to an appropriate level, ensuring it is neither too quiet nor too loud.
Setting the volume to 30 or 40 % is mostly perfect.
Step 4: Brainbox Setup
Now, connect the supplied cables:
Use a 3.5mm Jack cable to connect the media player (or TV) to the Brainbox.
Use the IR Out connector to connect the RCA cable to the supplied AV-Sync IDentifier with the Brainbox
Connect the USB-C cable to the power adapter or use a USB-A port on the media player.
Both the led’s (WiFi and AV-Sync) blink Orange once.
Press the small switch button on the Brainbox.
The AV-Sync LED will turn orange. Indicating Auto Gain has started where the Brainbox is searching for the best setting. The LED light will flash green within around 15 seconds; all done.
Step 5: Test the Tour
Lastly, ensure that your tour is published and synced on the Guide-ID Platform. Test the tour’s audio by playing the AV-Sync stop on the Podcatcher or holding your phone close to the IDentifier if using an app. Point the Podcatcher or phone at the AV-Sync IDentifier and ensure the expected audio starts playing, indicating a successful setup.
Following these steps will provide a seamless and enjoyable tour experience for your audience, further enhanced with the power of synchronized multimedia delivered by AV-Sync.
Understanding the LED Indicators on Your Brainbox
Make sure the Brainbox is connected to a mediaplayer with a running video
color AV-Sync LED
Meaning
Green blinking
the AV-Sync signal is functioning correctly, ensuring perfect audio-video synchronization.
Orange (1 short blink)
The Brainbox is powered on.
Orange
Auto gain is in progress. It’s fine-tuning the settings for optimal audio synchronization. it’s started and stopped by pressing the switch button. If it takes more than 15 seconds you need to check the audio volume of the media player. Make sure it’s unmuted and not too quiet.
Red blinking
The Brainbox is receiving an audio input, but it’s not the correct AV-Sync track. Test the audio output of the media player with headphones or speakers to check if you can hear the AV-Sync track (beeping noises at regular intervals).If you don’t hear the beeps, the AV-Sync track isn’t added to the video or the audio output isn’t selected on the player. Alternatively, the audio track was added to the left channel.Alternative, adjust the volume by lowering is 20 %. restart the auto gain by pressing the switch button.
off
No audio signal is being processed. Verify the volume on the media player. Note, when plugging in the USB-C cable it wil blink orange once indicating it’s powered.
Remember, the Brainbox doesn’t need a Wi-Fi connection to work; it just needs power (through a USB-C 5V adapter) and the correct audio signal from a media player. With AV-Sync, your visitors can enjoy videos in perfect harmony with audio, in real-time and in any language. Setting up your Brainbox is the first step to offering an immersive and synchronized audiovisual experience!
You will always receive our Podcatchers and IDentifiers with our standard Guide-ID labels. But If you would like to customize your labels you can! To do so, you can make use of our new design and ordering method.
Depending on the country you are located in, you will receive either an accountora link to a unique page where you can design and order your labels. Customers located in the Netherlands and Belgium will reveice an account from our Customer Support department. Customers located in other countries will be able to access their own unique page with a link they will receive from our Customer Support department.
Within this account / or on this page you can create, save, order and re-order your designs now and in the future. And you will also be able to order our standard Guide-ID labels and various StartIDentifiers labels you might need.
If you are already our customer and would like to order new or additional labels, you will also be able to use our new design and ordering method from now on! Please contact our Customer Support at helpdesk@guide-id.com and we will make sure to set you up.
There are several ways to minimize the risk of losing Podcatchers. In this specsheet you’ll find a number of tips and best practices.
Other ways
When a visitor uses a Podcatcher, you can expect them to return it after use. However, some visitors may neglect, or simply forget to do so. To lower the amount of Podcatchers ‘disappearing’ over time, there are several ways to activate a warning signal built into the Podcatcher to alert visitors they should return the device.
Warning IDentifier
The Podcatcher can sound its warning signal when it receives a Warning IDentifier code. This is a special IDentifier that is typically placed near the building exit so visitors should be notified at the right time.
Warning signal after idle time
The Podcatcher can also sound an warning signal when it is engaged in a Tour but has not played audio for a while. By default this functionality is turned off, but you can set it up in the Site Podcatcher settings, under “Podcatcher idle time before alarm starts”.
The advantage of this method is that the warning signal will always sound after a while, unless properly handed in. The disadvantages are that if you set it to sound the warning signal too quickly, visitors may become annoyed; if you set it to sound the warning signal too late, the visitor may already be on the bus back home by the time it goes off. Further, if your site doesn’t collect Podcatchers in docks after visitors finish the tour (such as a drop-off box), they may start to produce a very annoying chorus over time.
Post-Alarm trigger
The Podcatcher can be made to play audio after sounding the warning signal using the Post-Alarm trigger in a stop. This will make the stop play its audio after the warning signal has stopped playing (either due to it playing for its full duration or a button being pressed). This is – as all content is – localized to the language of the tour.
When we receive a Podcatcher in need of repair, we will always try to transfer the label onto the new player first. Sometimes this is not possible, in that case you will receive a new player with our label. Of course, this also applies for IDentifier labels. It is therefore important for you to have enough labels in stock yourself to be able to change a label when necessary.
New or extra labels?
If you would like to order new or extra labels, please contact our Customer Support at helpdesk@guide-id.com
If you would like to design a furniture for our Podcatchers, you can choose between a design using loose Dockingstations or a design where you use a cabinet block which you slide into the furniture.
When you are designing a furniture this is what you need to keep in mind;
The design is of course very dependent on the number of Podcatchers that you want to supply to your visitors. (Make sure to think about the future, when you might want to add players).
Per 10 Podcatchers you will receive 1 Dockingstation
When designing for loose Dockingstations; each Dockingstation has its own USB cable (and power-adapter with older Dockingstations) which needs to be connected to the Syncbox. So make sure to keep enough space available behind the Dockingstations for these cables (and extension courts when needed)
Up to 10 Dockingstation (or 1 cabinet block) can be directly connected to one single Syncbox, which in turn needs to be connected to the internet. The cable length of the USB cable from each loose Dockingstation to the Syncbox is 90 CM, so the Syncbox needs to be placed near the Dockingstations. Because the USB cables also power the dockingstations, a Hub can not be used to extend the length of the cables.
When using a Cabinet block the cables are already connected inside the block and the Syncbox is placed in the back if the block (see the manual)
When designing for loose Dockinstations; keep room for the Syncbox(es). Depending on the set up, you will probably have to use multiple Syncboxes (100 Podcatchers can be connected to 1 Syncbox)
It is also important to take into account where you place the Syncbox because it must be easily accessible if you have to restart it.
In addition, it is also important that you have easy access to the back of the furniture unit, if there are problems with a USB cable / power adapters /extension cords / switch etc.
The entire setup must be connected 24/7 to power and a wired internet connection for the correct operation of the system.
Also make sure the furniture has enough possibilities to ventilate warm air.
Don’t place the top row with Dockingstations to high, otherwise you cannot see the lights (the status) of the Podcatchers
Don’t place the bottom row with Dockingstations to low.
Each Podcatcher is equipped with a neck lanyard. When the Podcatchers are placed in the Dockingstations, the lanyards hang down. So if the bottom row is to low, the lanyards will hang on the floor.
We recommend to place the lowest row of Dockingstations at a height of at least 100 cm from the ground. That way they are still easy to access for infants and visitors in a wheelchair.
We have 4 info-graphics available that explain the handout of the Podcatcher which you can add to the (self-service) furniture if you like; https://help.guideid.com/kb/icons-for-signage/
Also important
We strongly advise not to use drawers in your furniture design for the distribution of the Podcatchers for several reasons; the USB cables (and power adapters) that are connected to each Dockingstation will be under tension constantly when sliding the drawers in and out. In addition, the cords can easily get stuck and you cannot properly detect wear on the wiring. Chances are also very high that cables are pulled from the Syncbox so no connection can be made when synchronizing, which in turn ensures that not all Podcatchers are synchronized
Take your visitor flow into account (with self-service, the amount of visitors able to access the furniture at the same time) and how you would like to lead them. When having one furniture for instance there are 2 flows; visitors who have just entered the museum and need to be able to easily access the furniture, to take out and activate a Podcatcher. While the second flow (visitors who are leaving the museum) must return their Podcatcher. These two flows should not interfere with each other.
Placement of the Start IDentifiers
To activate a language, you need to point your Podcatcher at a Start IDentifier. These are always placed at (or near) the distribution point.
You can either integrate them in the furniture or make a separate board where people can activate their Podcatchers (so separate from the furniture). A reason to do so, could be the visitor flow, or because of limited space around the furniture.
If you do integrate them into your furniture, please make sure not to place them flat (with a table design) or underneath the last row with Dockingstations (with a wall design).
Other important information about placing your (Start) IDentifiers can be found here.
Casing of the Identifiers
If you prefer to place the Identifiers in a casing, please keep in mind that our Identifiers are equipped with Bluetooth functionality. The Bluetooth signal cannot be transmitted through metal. This means that Identifiers cannot be placed in a metal casing.
Sometimes, our Podcatchers need some extra attention, for example when they get into an errormode. If this is the case, the LED light on the Podcatcher will show you. Our new and updated manual will help you prevent Podcatchers going into an error state and explain what the LED light is telling you and which action to take. The manual combines the information in 3 languages; Dutch, English and French. User manual
The Syncbox is a compact computer, designed by Guide ID to charge and synchronize Podcatcher audio guides. You can connect up to 10 dockingstations (100 Podcatchers) to one Syncbox.
We recommend using a wired network connection whenever available. In cases where it isn’t, but you have a WiFi network available, you can connect the Syncbox to it using a USB WiFi dongle.
Only specific types of dongles are supported, so please contact our helpdesk if you are in need of one. Configuration must be repeated for each USB dongle. If you have more than one Syncbox, you may be provided with a WiFi access point instead, to simplify the configuration and provide the best reception.
1.1. USB WiFi dongle
Connecting the Syncbox to WiFi using a USB dongle is an easy one-time process. Follow the steps below.
1. Insert the USB dongle into the front USB port that is below the Ethernet port, and startup you Syncbox. Note: Do not use any of the 10 USB ports on the rear of the Syncbox for the WiFi dongle. The device will not be found.
Step 1: Connect the WiFi dongle
2. Wait for about 2 minutes, until the connection LED starts flashing red. This indicates that the Syncbox has started a WiFi hotspot.
3. Search for WiFi networks on you phone (or another WiFi capable device). Select the network named after the label on you Syncbox, and connect to it. The WiFi password is “podcatcher”.
4. When you are connected to the hotspot, a popup should be shown: “Sign in to network”. Click on it to open the WiFi configuration page.
5. Select your WiFi network from the drop down list. Enter the passphrase, and click “Connect”. The WiFi hotspot will be disabled, and the Syncbox will connect to your WiFi network.
To check if the connection is succesfull, observe the connection LED. The LED should be blinking orange, and become green after about one minute. If there is an error connecting to the WiFi network, the LED will return to blinking red and the hotspot will be restarted. You can then go back to step 3.
1.2. WiFi access point
Instead of using a WiFi dongle for each Syncbox, it is possible to use an access point in client mode to connect many Syncboxes to your wireless network at once. The Syncboxes connect to the access point by means of Ethernet cables, and the access point is configured to connect to your wireless network. To help plan your setup, please contact our helpdesk.
Configuration using a WiFi access point is similar to the procedure for connecting a single USB dongle. But, you will only have to configure the access point.
2. Proxy server
On some locations it is required to access the internet through a proxy server. The Syncbox supports proxy servers through automatic and manual configuration. There are however some requirements on the type of proxy server used.
2.1. Proxy server requirements
Your proxy server must meet the following requirements:
Support HTTPS connections to websites. Or in technical terms: support the HTTP CONNECT method, where the proxy server sets up a direct connection between the client and the website. As most websites today use HTTPS, most proxy servers support this feature. Some proxy servers however require clients to install a special certificate, instead of using HTTP CONNECT. This is currently not supported by the Syncbox.
If your proxy server requires entering a username and password to access the internet, this is supported by the Syncbox, but currently only through the HTTP basic authentication scheme. Other existing types (e.g. HTTP Digest, HTTP NTLM and HTTP Negotiate) are currently not supported.
2.2. Automatic configuration (WPAD)
The Syncbox supports automatic configuration of a proxy server by means of the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD). If your network is configured to support this, proxy server configuration of the Syncbox is done automatically and will work out of the box.
If your proxy server requires entering a username and password to access the internet, automatic configuration will normally not provide the Syncbox with these credentials. To enter them you would need to resort to manual configuration. As an alternative you can include the credentials in the the proxy URL in the PAC file. An example PAC file in this format is shown below.
function FindProxyForURL(url, host) { return "PROXY username:password@192.168.1.1:8080; DIRECT"; }
Note: Including the username and password for the proxy server in the PAC file will make it available to all users on the network, unless access to the PAC file is regulated by for instance IP address. The MAC address of the Syncbox is printed on its label to allow to assigning it a specific IP address.
3. Manual configuration
Manual configuration of Syncbox network settings is possible using a USB mass storage device. Please follow the steps below.
3.1. Prepare the USB stick
Format a USB stick in FAT format.
Create a new text file on it named “config”. The file must not be placed within a directory.
Add configuration entries to the file as specified below.
3.2. Network configuration entries
The configuration file “config” can contain a combination of the following configuration entries, each on a separate line.
3.2.1. General
Clear all network profiles config_net_reset=1
Note: The reset can be combined with other entries and will be handled first.
3.2.2. Wireless LAN
WiFi ssid to apply settings to (if omitted, configure Ethernet) config_net_wifi_ssid=My WiFi Network
WiFi password to install config_net_wifi_pass=password
WiFi auth-alg: – open: Open System – shared: Shared Key config_net_wifi_auth=open
Note: Proxy configuration applies to wired Ethernet, unless it is combined with wireless LAN configuration entries. To manually configure a proxy server for WiFi, you must also manually configure the WiFi settings. If you have already used the hotspot method to configure WiFi, you must clear the existing profile using the reset option listed above.
Proxy server host config_net_proxy_host=192.168.1.1
Proxy server port config_net_proxy_port=8080
Proxy server username config_net_proxy_user=username
Proxy server password config_net_proxy_pass=password
3.3. Apply settings on a Syncbox
Using the following steps you can apply the configuration to a Syncbox. You can repeat these steps on multiple Syncboxes, using the same USB stick.
Power off the Syncbox, by holding the “Shutdown” button 10 seconds until the system LED starts blinking orange and finally switches off.
Insert the USB stick into the front USB port below the Ethernet connector. Note: Do not use any of the 10 USB ports on the rear of the Syncbox for the USB stick. The device will not be found.
Press and hold the “Shutdown” button for 10 seconds to start it in recovery mode. The Syncbox should apply the settings, and automatically reboot to normal mode. Note 1: Release the button when the system LED becomes orange. If you hold it too long it becomes red and will start in a different mode. Note 2: If applying the settings failed or no settings were applied, the Syncbox will stay in recovery mode and the system LED will stay red. In this case check the USB device, and restart at step 1 to retry.
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