Listeners
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Configuration
Automation-Enabled Instances
RossTalk triggers fire globally across all enabled instances.
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Command Log
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Overview
RossTalk is used by Ross Overdrive's Caprica automation engine to trigger graphics by ID. Commands search all automation-enabled instances globally to find the target item.
Caprica (Overdrive) → RossTalk (TCP) → Kinetica Listener → All Enabled Instances
Template Editor uses a different protocol: If you are using Ross Overdrive's Template Editor for direct CG control, that uses CII — configure it on the Overdrive page instead. RossTalk and CII can both run simultaneously.
Setting Up a Listener
- Click + Listener and give it a name (e.g. "Main Switcher")
- Set the Port (default 7788) -- this is the TCP port the automation system connects to
- Click Start to begin listening for connections
- Ensure the target overlay instances have Automation enabled in their instance settings
How Items Are Resolved
When a command like TAKE <ref> is received, Kinetica searches all automation-enabled instances and finds the target item by trying these strategies in order:
- Automation ID -- the 8-character hex code shown on each rundown item (e.g.
a7f3b2c1) - MOS Item ID -- if the item was created by MOS/iNews (e.g.
KIN-1708901234-a7f) - Position -- a number like
1,2,3references items by their order in the rundown
Auto-create: If no rundown item exists but stored MOS data is available (from a previous MOS INSERT), the item is automatically created from the stored template and overrides. This happens on the first TAKE or CUE -- subsequent commands find it instantly.
Command Reference
| Command | Example | Action |
|---|---|---|
TAKE <ref> | TAKE KIN-xxx | Take item on-air (auto-creates from MOS data if needed) |
TAKE | TAKE | Take whatever was previously CUEd |
CUE <ref> | CUE KIN-xxx | Pre-cue item (auto-creates from MOS data if needed) |
CLFB | CLFB | Clear framebuffer -- all items off-air |
SEQO | SEQO | Take current on-air item off |
GPI <n> | GPI 1 | GPI trigger (logged for future action mapping) |
All commands are plain text over TCP, terminated with CR/LF (\r\n).
Testing from Terminal
You can test commands without an automation system using nc (netcat):
$ nc localhost 7788
CUE KIN-1708901234567-a7f
TAKE KIN-1708901234567-a7f
CLFB