PROFESSIONAL-GRADE CONFIGURATION – INTUITIVE CONTROL
Central command for Aion’s core identity and behavior. Configure your unit’s network presence across dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports with independent DHCP or static IP addressing—perfect for segregating PTP grandmaster traffic from control interfaces. Set time zones for accurate wall-clock display, choose from multiple professional display fonts and formats, and manage screen saver timing to prevent OLED burn-in during 24/7 operation. Program up to 6 GOTO timecode presets for instant navigation, enable external control via UDP, OSC, or TSL-UMD protocols for integration with automation systems, and manage firmware updates with one-click simplicity. Administrative password protection keeps critical settings secure while allowing operator access to essential functions.
SYSTEM
Zone Set your time zone for display clock and scheduling (Affects wall clock display on main interface)
Admin Passkey Require authentication before making configuration changes (Toggle on to prevent accidental or unauthorized modifications)
Unit ID Assign a unique name to this Aion device on your network (Visible in network discovery and helpful when using multiple units)
DISPLAY OPTIONS
Theme Choose color scheme for the interface (Default, Red, Green, Blue, B/W – useful for different venue lighting)
Display Font Select the font for timecode numbers on screen (Monospaced fonts recommended – Digital7-mono is standard broadcast choice)
Display Time Format Choose how timecode appears on the display (HH:MM:SS:FF is standard SMPTE format; alternatives include total frames or milliseconds for specialized workflows)
Screen Saver Auto-blank display after inactivity to prevent burn-in (Select timeout: Never, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours. Blanks the web UI interface on external monitor connections)
Power Saver Auto-turn off embedded display screen after inactivity (Select timeout: Never, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours. Affects the Aion unit’s built-in physical display only – reduces power
consumption and extends display lifespan during standby periods)
Show Real Time Clock Display wall clock alongside timecode for reference (Toggle on to see both timecode and actual time simultaneously)
Show Frame Rate Display current frame rate on screen during operation (Helpful for verifying sync and detecting frame rate changes during live events)
Show User Bits Display user bits field (SMPTE timecode metadata) (Advanced: typically used for reel numbers, production IDs, or tape identification)
NETWORK CONFIGURATION
Aion features dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports for professional network deployment. Configure each independently to create dedicated traffic lanes:
Network Port 1 & Network Port 2:
DHCP Toggle automatic IP address assignment
(On = DHCP client mode; Off = use static IP configuration below)
IP Address Set static IP address (when DHCP is disabled)
(Format: 192.168.1.100 – must be valid for your network)
Net Mask Subnet mask for your network range
(Typical: 255.255.255.0 – defines which addresses are local vs remote)
Gateway Router address for off-network traffic routing
(Typical: 192.168.1.1 – the gateway to your internet connection)
DUAL-PORT STRATEGY:
You can assign each port different purposes. For example:
- Port 1: PTP (Precision Time Protocol) for millisecond-accurate master clock distribution
- Port 2: ArtNet timecode broadcast, TSL UMD remote displays, and remote terminal access
This separation ensures critical timing data never competes with control traffic, maintaining rock-solid sync across your entire facility. Alternatively, configure both ports on the same network for redundancy – Aion will use the active connection automatically.
STEP & GOTO PRESETS
Step Unit Choose the increment for manual timecode stepping (Frame = individual video frames, Seconds, Minutes, or Hours)
Step Amount Set the quantity to step forward or backward (Example: Step Unit = “Seconds” + Step Amount = “30” steps by 30 seconds)
GOTO Presets Create quick-jump buttons to common timecode positions (Add presets to jump instantly to marks like intro, verse, chorus, outro, talent entry point, or any production cue – dramatically faster than dialing up timecode manually during live events)
Add Create a new preset by entering its timecode position Replace Update an existing preset with a new timecode value Remove Delete a preset you no longer need
EXTERNAL CONTROL & INTEGRATION
Enable Aion to be controlled and monitored remotely through industry-standard protocols. Perfect for automation systems, broadcast control rooms, and facility integration.
UDP COMMAND PROTOCOL
Send simple text commands over UDP port 7400 to control Aion’s timecode generator from any network device—automation systems, production control panels, software applications, or custom scripts.
Common commands include:
- DISCOVER (find Aion devices on your network)
- STATUS (get comprehensive timecode and system status)
- PLAY / STOP / PAUSE (transport control)
- GOTO [timecode] (jump to specific position)
- OFFSET, LOOP, DURATION, FRAMERATE (configuration)
- STEP commands (frame-by-frame control with configurable step amounts)
Response Format: Commands return immediate acknowledgment (OK or ERROR with description). Status broadcasts automatically every 5 seconds to multicast 239.255.42.99:7400 for continuous monitoring.
Enable UDP: Toggle “Allow UDP Control” in External Control settings to activate the command listener. Default port is 7400 (configurable if your network requires a different port).
Ideal for: Broadcast automation systems, custom control software, remote production trucks, live event management, multi-site facility synchronization.
OSC (OPEN SOUND CONTROL) PROTOCOL
Control Aion via OSC messages (port 8000 UDP) for seamless integration with audio systems, lighting control, and multimedia production software.
OSC commands mirror UDP functionality with standard OSC path syntax:
- /timecode/transport/play, /stop, /pause, /reset
- /timecode/goto “01:23:45:12” (jump to timecode)
- /timecode/set, /timecode/offset (positioning)
- /timecode/transport/step (frame stepping)
- /timecode/loop, /timecode/duration (looping control)
- /timecode/framerate (frame rate changes)
All commands use standard OSC format with string arguments (case-insensitive).
Enable OSC: Toggle “Allow OSC Control” in External Control settings. Default port is 8000 (configurable).
Ideal for: Audio production, live music/DJ mixing, lighting automation, media servers (Resolume, QLab, disguise), DAW synchronization, multimedia theater productions.
TSL UMD (TALLY & MONITORING) PROTOCOL
Broadcast timecode and status to TSL-capable devices via industry-standard TSL UMD protocol. Integrate with Ross Overdrive, broadcast tally systems, professional monitoring displays, and remote control surfaces.
TSL Configuration:
Multicast Address: Network address where Aion broadcasts TSL data (Default: 224.0.168.168 – standard TSL multicast; change if your facility’s network architecture requires it)
Protocol Version: Choose your TSL equipment’s version (v5.0 = latest recommended; v4.0 = legacy support; v3.1 = older systems)
UMD Port: Network port for TSL display data (Default: 4003 – where TSL-capable displays listen for timecode and status)
Command Port: Network port for remote control FROM TSL devices (Default: 9001 – where automation systems send commands)
Allow GOTO: Permit remote TSL devices to send jump-to-timecode commands from control surfaces (Enable for full automation integration; disable for display-only mode)
Allow Rate Changes: Permit remote TSL devices to change Aion’s frame rate (Enable for fully automated facilities; disable to lock frame rate at Aion unit only)
Example deployments:
Broadcast Control Room: Aion broadcasts TSL on 224.0.168.168:4003 with GOTO and Rate Changes enabled. Ross Overdrive automation system connects on port 9001, allowing remote control while all TSL displays show live timecode.
Display-Only Mode: Aion broadcasts TSL data but GOTO and Rate Changes disabled. All TSL displays show reference timecode, but control remains exclusively on the Aion unit for manual operations.
Multi-Site Broadcast: TSL broadcast reaches across facility networks, keeping remote broadcast centers, graphics systems, and monitoring displays synchronized with master timecode.
Ideal for: Broadcast facilities with tally systems, automation-heavy environments, multi-site operations, TSL-equipped monitoring displays, Ross Overdrive control rooms.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
View Log Display the system activity log for troubleshooting (Shows recent operations, errors, and system events. Useful for diagnostics when something unexpected occurs. Contains detailed timestamps and event descriptions)
Update Firmware Check for and install firmware updates (Process: Aion first attempts to phone home to check for newer versions (requires internet connection). If offline, it scans connected USB drives for an update package and examines its manifest to verify it’s newer. Once an update is found and confirmed as newer, you’re notified and can proceed. Installation is automatic, and the unit reboots when complete.
Never interrupt during update – unit is protected from corruption)
Rollback Firmware Restore the previous firmware version (Aion automatically creates a snapshot before each update. If you find the new version has issues, press Rollback to restore the previous snapshot. Unit will reboot to apply the rollback. This is a safety net – always available as long as no new snapshot has been taken)