Remoto Playback v1.1.(1) released November 21, 2024

Full version number(s): v1.1.0.355  / v1.1.1.363 / v1.1.1.365

Version v.1.1.1.363 and .365 are stability releases only, no major notes.

Current and legacy documentation (user guides, etc) can always be found here.

This document is organized in 5 sections:

• Technical Alerts - Crucial information and recommendations on how to configure and use the app to optimize its performance and your experience using it.
• System Requirements
• New Features - A list and explanations of Remoto Playback improvements included in this release.
• Bug Fixes - A list of resolved bugs with their reference numbers.
• Known Issues - A collection of known issues that we are tracking and working to resolve. This may not be a complete list, but rather curated with the most common issues experienced. If a workaround is available, it will be listed. 

Alerts

⇒ Desktop & Web Streaming - Multichannel audio Issues: We have encountered an issue where if a multichannel audio format is chosen as the streaming source for Desktop & Web sessions, this can result in various issues for Guests being able experience the stream. While we work on fixing the underlying issue, we have temporarily disabled the option to choose a channel layout greater than stereo to be used with any chosen Virtual Audio Device. Please make sure your audio source program is sending stereo to Remoto.

⇒ Timecoded Markers: This function is not available for Streaming Type: Desktop & Web. This is a limitation of the streaming protocol used for Desktop & Web streaming (DolbyIO) - it is unable to process the data needed to transmit timecode. To use the timecoded markers function, use Streaming Type: Desktop Only.

⇒ Remoto Playback Application: If Remoto Playback has been left open for an extended period of time (i.e. over the weekend) we recommend logging out and logging back in. Failing to do so may result in Remoto Playback being unresponsive when attempting to schedule or modify settings, as it may have lost connection with our server and logged you out due to inactivity.

⇒ Streaming over WiFi: Streaming over WIFI rather than a hardwired connection, may result in compromised stream performance reflecting WiFi performance issues.

⇒ “It appears that you are currently signed in from another device. Do you want to sing out from that device and continue here?” message: Upon attempting to log back into Remoto Playback after an application crash, this message may appear. This is an expected message. If Remoto Playback quits unexpectedly, it may not gracefully log you out from our server, and you may still register as logged in. Click yes to proceed.

⇒ Remoto Playback Frame Rate Settings: In Streaming Session Settings and in Video Settings, setting the Streaming Framerate and Video Source Framerate to match the NLE/DAW framerate is critical. Not doing so may result in streaming errors. 

⇒ Remoto Playback Log Location: Logs are currently saved to a folder named “SPG Studios”. This folder name will be changed to “Remoto” in a future release.

⇒ Remoto Playback Streaming Settings - Streaming From Application:  Using MacOS Sonoma will result in cropped video. This is a limitation of Sonoma; Remoto is investigating possible solutions, but there may not be a solution to this MacOS-level issue. (REMT-5675)

⇒ Closing Video Capture Window: Closing a video window source that is being captured by Remoto via any means other than partial screen capture (NDI, Application Window), or disconnecting the monitor screen that is being used as a Screen Capture source, will result in a streaming error as the streaming source will be lost. 

⇒ Guest User - Audio Output Settings: In order for call audio or stream audio output changes to take effect, guests will need to leave the session and be re-admitted. (REMT-5862)

System Requirements

Remoto Playback Desktop (MacOS only)

Remoto Playback Web Browser Requirements: 

• Chrome
• Safari

We recommend using the latest browser versions available for optimal performance.

New Features 

New Dashboard Interface!

Remoto Playback has a new and improved dashboard interface!

Multiple Dashboard Views Available: “Full View”, “Basic View”, and “Guest Sessions Only”

This allows the customization of the look, feel and function of Dashboard view. As an Organizer, there is the option to view a “Full” or “Basic View”, and as a Guest user you will be viewing “Guest Sessions Only” for an optimized Guest experience.

As an Organizer, the Dashboard views are split between 2 sections - Session Details where you can see the “who, what, when, and where” of the session, and an “Edit and Action” state, where scheduling and stream settings can be easily accessed and adjusted, and the session can be started, stopped and deleted.  

As a Guest (or an Organizer who has been invited to a session), “Guest view” has been tailored to you with relevant information such as the session and organizer name, start time and duration, and a guest count, along with making it easy to join the session from the action column.

Scheduling Details and Streaming Settings Are Now Easily Accessible

In the new Dashboard, either under “Full View” or “Basic View”, there are buttons with colored statuses to quickly access and edit scheduling details or streaming setting details. If they are green, your session is good to go to start your stream, if one (or both of them) is yellow, it needs attention.

Enable Email Notifications for Guests (On/Off)

When scheduling a session, it’s now possible to control when your invited Guests will be notified about a session through an “Enable notifications for Guests” checkbox in “Edit Session Details 1 of 2: Schedule”. This is off by default, and once turned on, all Guests will receive their invitations and subsequent updates about the session.

A/V Sync Adjustment when in a live session now available!

When viewing a Remoto Playback stream, it’s now possible to manually control the A/V Sync to help correct audio to video delays caused by latency.

Adjustments made by the Organizer affect the sync of the outgoing stream. Adjustments made by Guests only affect their local experience, and are integrated with the Organizer's adjustments. This feature is only available to Guests in the Remoto Playback Desktop application.

Two fields can be adjusted: “Delay Video” and “Delay Audio”. A positive value up to 500 ms can be typed into the respective field, or adjusted via the up/down arrows.

If audio is delayed, this feature will provide a positive offset; if video is delayed, it will provide a negative offset. 

Bug Fixes

NLE/DAW Set Up -  Sync Destination: “Remoto_out”:  Resolved an issue where this sync destination may not appear as an option in your host NLE or DAW until the first stream is initiated. “Remoto_out” is now available whenever Remoto Playback is open, regardless of if the user is in a session or not. (REMT-3925)

Removing an admitted Guest From The Invite List During a Session Does Not Remove Them From The Session:  Fixed an issue where Guests that were initially invited to a session and admitted, but then uninvited while they were in an active session resulted in them remaining in the session and continuing to see the stream. Guests, now if present in a session and then removed (uninvited) from the session will now be properly removed from the session. (REMT-5268)

Incorrect Video Source Displayed After Changing Video Input During an In-Progress Session: Fixed an issue where if a host changed the video input source during a streaming session already in progress, the old video source was still be streamed even once the stream was restarted after the change was committed. Video input source changes while in a session now behave as expected and change accordingly. (REMT-5749)

“There is no active Session” Organizer error after crash: As an Organizer, if you experienced a crash when in a live session, it was possible to encounter an issue when trying to re-enter the session from the Studio button. A message stating "There is no active session. Please start a session or wait until it will be started" may have appeared. This issue is no longer present. (REMT-6366)

Known Issues 

Critical:

Desktop & Web Streaming - Multichannel Audio Issues:

If Desktop & Web Streaming method is chosen, and multichannel audio is being used, Guests will experience issues depending on how they are joining the stream:

• Joining from Remoto Playback Desktop: Guests will experience the stream video being frozen on a single frame, no audio will be heard, and their session state will be stuck in “Starting”. (REMT-6600)
• Joining from Remoto Playback Web: Guests will receive the video stream but they will not hear any stream audio. (REMT-6599)
  To avoid these issues, the workaround is to choose a stereo "Audio Input Type” streaming source. Do not stream multichannel audio when using Desktop & Web streaming.

Film Audio Format Channel Misroute: 5.1 Film and 7.1 Film channels 2 and 3 are swapped in the resulting Remoto Playback stream. Additionally, if the Audio Input Source for the stream is a channel width greater than the chosen format, the last two audio channels will be moved. For example, If Pro Tools Audio Bridge 16 is the chosen Audio Input Source for a 5.1 stream, channels 2+3 will be inverted, and channels 5+6 will be routed to channels 7+8. To avoid 5+6 being moved to 7+8, choose Pro Tools Audio Bridge 6 if using 5.1 FILM. If using 7.1 Film, channels 2+3 will be reversed, and channels 5, 6, 7, 8 will be outputting 7, 8, 9, 10.

The only other workaround at the moment requires external patching to swap channels back to their expected positions. (REMT-4496) (REMT-6144)

Guests Might be Unable to Receive Stream: There is an inconsistent issue where Guest participants may be unable to receive the stream as a result of being stuck in “Starting” or “Preparing” status. Intel machines seem to exhibit this issue more frequently. (REMT-5723) (REMT-6503)

Stream Setting Changes when in a live stream will not take effect: As a session Organizer, if a stream is in progress, if you access Stream Settings and attempt to modify and save any settings, the changes will take effect. To change a Stream Setting, press “Stop Stream”, access your Stream Settings and make your adjustments, and save, and “Start Stream” in order for your changes to take effect. (REMT-6375) (REMT-5100)(REMT-1649)

Non-Critical:

Guest Webcam May Show Frozen Image Instead of Live Video for Guest only: Inconsistent. No known workaround. (REMT-5693)

Checking Mic Level in Preferences when in a Live Session results in no visual metering: If encountered using a Guest account, the workaround is to leave the session and request to re-join. There is no workaround if encountered with an Organizer account. (REMT-5421)

Guest may be stuck in the waiting room: Intermittent. A Guest may be waiting to be admitted to a session by the Organizer but the Organizer may not have received the request. If this occurs, as the Guest trying to be admitted, “Leave” the session through the waiting room dialog and attempt to rejoin. (REMT-4209)