--- title: ZEN MASTER April 2020 RELEASE NOTES slug: zen-master-april-2020-release-notes docTags: createdAt: 2025-03-20T16:00:33.968Z --- The following updates were pushed to ZEN Master on April 20, 2020. New UI ZEN Master has launched a new user interface (UI) with a streamlined look and feel and improved responsiveness. The new UI can be accessed by clicking on the button in the header bar. In next month’s release the new UI will become the default, with a button to roll back to the old UI. The following sections highlight some of the improvements in the new UI. ### Info Pages When you select an object instance (Feeder, Broadcaster, Receiver, Source, Channel or Target), or other list element (Automation, Report or License), the list will become narrow showing only the element name and detailed info about the selected element is shown. In the new UI this info is shown on the right side of the screen (as opposed to the bottom), and can be viewed either in tab view or in accordion view (with collapsible sections). Also, the Details tab/section for Sources now includes a thumbnail preview of the stream. The following are examples of the information display for a Source in accordion view and tab view. Accordion View In accordion view, selectable in the top right-hand corner, there are two columns of information panels, if browser width allows. The UI is responsive and the two columns will become a single column on narrow browser windows or mobile devices. Each information panel can be minimized and maximized with the and buttons on the top left of the panel. The min/max state of panels remains persistent while viewing other objects of the same type, Sources for instance. It will reset once you view other object types. ### Tab View In tab view, selectable in the top right-hand corner, information is organized into tabs similar to the previous ZEN Master UI. However, the information panel is to the right of the object list and not below as before. The information in each tab is displayed responsively to adjust for browser width. ### Grids The Grids screen has been improved to include a thumbnail view of Sources with the typical formatting capabilities of Grids or, as before, Grids can show status and key data for all object types. The Grids can now be shown in full screen mode and also in dark mode, which may be preferable for monitoring streams in a NOC. Viewing Source thumbnails using Grids replaces the option of viewing the Sources screen in Thumbnail mode. Note: ZEN Master automatically generates a default Grid that includes all Sources. In addition, you can create any number of custom Grids and Grid Groups to monitor customized groupings of ZEN Master resources. ### Working with Lists The new UI makes it easier to search and sort the elements shown in lists (e.g. Broadcasters, Sources, Reports etc.). ### Search Filter The search feature now shows results that match the search text for any data element. This includes the data shown in each column as well as the Access Tags associated with the element. So, for example, if you enter the search text “Demo” on the Sources screen, results are shown for Sources that have “Demo” as part of the Source Name, Ingest Cluster, Input etc. ### Sort You can sort all lists by the data elements shown in each of the columns. When the full list screen is shown, click on the desired column headings. You can reverse the order by clicking the heading a second time. When the list is shown side by side with the info pane (i.e. once an element has been selected), sorting is done as follows, including by columns that are not displayed: 1\. Click on the Sort by button. A drop-down list of parameters is shown. Select the parameter that you would like to sort by. The sorted results are shown together with the column for the sorting parameter (e.g. Status). ### History Graphs The History tab for Sources and Targets shows graphs representing the instance’s performance over time. Several improvements have been introduced to these graphs. • Time Ranges: ZEN Master now offers a broad selection of preset time ranges (default: 24 hr), as well as the option to set a custom range. The time range selected will apply to all displayed graphs. Note, currently one year of history is saved in the ZEN Master database even though the graphs show larger timeframes. Contact Zixi if you require more than one year of history. • Graph Refresh Frequency: You can set the frequency that the graph automatically refreshes. The default is blank which means no automatic refresh. You can set the refresh frequency or manually refresh by clicking . • Graphs Coordination: ZEN Master now treats all graphs as a single component so that the zoom time range set for one graph is automatically applied to all graphs on that screen. Similarly, when you hover over a point on one graph, the tool-tip values are shown for the same point in time on all of the graphs. ### Data Forms Previously, forms used for user input were a popup dialog, possibly with multiple pages that you would navigate through; this was not ideal for mobile or touch based devices. In the new UI, forms are no longer a popup dialog and instead the browser navigates to a new page for each form. For forms that are especially long, navigation links at the top of the page will take you directly to the desired section of the form. Also, some sections of the form, such as the “Advanced” section, will start out collapsed and can then be expanded by the user. New Supported Input/Output Protocols ZEN Master has added support for additional protocols in the new UI.. • RIST: RIST is supported for Targets and Sources using both Simple and Main profile. Simple profile runs on Zixi Broadcasters v13+ and Main profile runs on v14 broadcasters. For Targets, only Push is supported; for Sources, both Push and Pull are supported. • SRT: SRT is supported for Sources as Push or Pull. • UDP/RTP: Support for UDP/RTP was added for Sources as Push or Pull. This is in addition to the existing support for UDP/RTP as a Push Target. ### Summary of new Protocols Protocol Target Source Push Pull Push Pull RIST Simple √ X √ X RIST Main √ X √ √ SRT X X √ √ UDP/RTP √ X √ X Note: For all of the above protocols, Push Sources need to have a specific Broadcaster assigned (not Any Primary/Secondary Broadcaster). ### MediaConnect Flows ZEN Master now supports full integration of MediaConnect with ZEN Master in the new UI. This enables you to create and manage new MediaConnect Flows from within the ZEN Master UI (i.e. without accessing the MediaConnect console or using their APIs). Aside from the convenience of working exclusively within the ZEN Master UI, this method provides the following advantages: • Create MediaConnect Sources independently of MediaConnect Flows (Channels), enabling flexibility to interchange between MediaConnect Sources and Channels. • Show History graphs, TR101 warnings and Event logs Media Connect Integration Methods ZEN Master now supports two different methods for integrating MediaConnect Flows. • Method 1 - Partial Integration (existing): The previously existing method uses existing MediaConnect Flows as a Source or Target in ZEN Master. • Method 2 – Native Flow Management (new): The new method involves creating and managing a completely new MediaConnect Flow in ZEN Master and connecting it to Sources and Targets defined in ZEN Master. The following is a description of the procedures for each method. ### Method 1 - Partial Integration Bring a MediaConnect Flow into ZEN Master as a Source using the following procedure: 1\. Have a pre-existing MediaConnect Flow or create a MediaConnect Flow using the MediaConnect console or APIs. 2\. 3. In ZEN Master, create a new Zixi Source. In the Input section of the Source configuration, select the desired Mode, either Push or Pull. 4\. For the Application, select AWS MediaConnect. 5\. 6. Fill in the rest of the fields as desired and Save the Source. In ZEN Master, connect the Source to a Channel and Target using standard procedures. Send a ZEN Master Source to MediaConnect for further processing and distribution using the following procedure: 1\. Have a pre-existing MediaConnect Flow or create a MediaConnect Flow using the MediaConnect console or APIs. 2\. 3. 4. In ZEN Master, set up the Source and Channel using standard procedures. In ZEN Master, create a new Zixi Target. In the Type section of the Target configuration, select AWS MediaConnect as the Type. (The Channel Type is automatically set as ZEN Master Channel since you are getting the stream from a standard ZEN Master Channel.)