The Kaleidescape Alto Installation Guide describes how to set up and configure Alto, and add new components to an existing installation.
Alto is an all-in-one movie server and movie player that stores and plays up to 100 Blu-ray or 600 DVD-quality movies. It is easy to set up, comes with a comprehensive movie guide for special scene selection and lets you download Blu-ray quality movies online (where available). It provides amazing convenience without compromising quality.
Alto enables you to:
Alto supports easy integration into audio, video, and whole-house control systems.
Up to four Alto players can be connected together to enjoy a shared library of content on each player. Each player must have a wired network connection to be linked. A single Alto can be connected to the Internet with the included wireless USB adapter.
Up to two DV700 Disc Vaults can be added to a Kaleidescape Alto system. Each disc vault must be connected to your home network using a wired network connection.
The following accessories are packaged with Alto:
There are three buttons located on the front panel of Alto:
There are four error indicators located on the front panel of Alto. These error indicators light up only in the event of a problem:
Use the following guidelines when installing system components to ensure proper clearance and ventilation. These guidelines apply to all installations including rack mounting.
1. Mount components in a location with adequate ventilation.
2. Check for proper grounding if installing components in a rack.
3. Maintain a 2 in. (5 cm) clearance in back and a 1 in. (2.5 cm) clearance in front and on the sides.
4. Verify that there is sufficient space for a disc to be ejected from the disc slot.
Kaleidescape component power supplies are universal input and operate on any nominal line voltage between 100–240 V, and frequency between 50–60 Hz. Verify that power outlets are grounded, preferably shielded from power surges and brownouts.
Kaleidescape recommends a grounded outlet with a high-quality surge protector for the power source for players and servers. A UPS is optional.
Before beginning the installation, determine the type of the display and audio systems that will connect to Kaleidescape components.
Kaleidescape Systems support combinations of the following outputs:
Video
Audio
A Gigabit network is recommended, and required if there is more than one Alto player linked and Blu-ray quality movies are played in more than one room at the same time.
Connect network, audio and video cables. Then connect the AC adapter.
A wired network connection is recommended. Use the included Wi-Fi adapter (not shown above) if a wired connection is not possible. For performance considerations, only a single Alto can be connected using Wi-Fi. If you have more than one Alto player linked, they must be connected to your network using a wired network connection. A wired connection is also required if an integrated disc vault, such as the DV700 or M700 disc Vault, is linked.
Make sure your television is set to the correct HDMI input and that you are seeing the setup menu. Please note that starting up your Alto may take a few minutes.
After installing your Alto, you will be prompted to set it up using the onscreen display. Connecting to your network (via a wired or wireless network connection) and activating your Alto is required.
Select Network from the onscreen menu. In most cases, Alto will automatically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server.
If you wish to set a static IP address, select Set static IP configuration and enter your network information.
Select Accept these settings to save the information entered.
After a valid network connection is set up, select Continue to proceed to activating your Alto.
Insert the included Wi-Fi adapter and select Wi-Fi Setup from the onscreen menu. A list of available wireless networks will be displayed. Select the one you would like to connect to, and enter the username (if applicable) and password. If your Wi-Fi network is not displayed, select Connect to another network to enter its information.
After a valid network connection is established, a checkmark will appear next to the name of the connected Wi-Fi network. Select Continue to proceed to activating your Alto.
Note: For testing and calibration purposes, activation can be skipped by selecting Finish despite this option appearing unavailable.
Alto must be activated in order to use all its features. To activate your Alto, select Begin Activation from the Activation page on the onscreen menu.
Enter the email address of the system owner using the onscreen keyboard, and then select Done on the keyboard. Check your email for registration instructions.
If the email is not received within several minutes, check the spam or junk folder. If the email still cannot be located, select Send email again to resend the email, or Change email address to send the email to a different email address.
Once the email address has been submitted, the Finish option in the onscreen menu will be available. Select Finish to exit the initial setup menu and start using your Alto.
Additional settings can be configured using the onscreen Settings menu. To access this menu, press the MENU button on your Kaleidescape remote, scroll to the System tab, and select Settings.
General
General player settings can be configured from the General page of the onscreen Settings menu.
Audio settings for your player can be configured from the Audio page of the onscreen Settings menu. A summary of all the audio settings is displayed on the Audio page. Select Audio to change audio settings.
Alto can be used to watch DVD and Blu-ray movies with nearly any audio receiver, processor, or display.
Audio Mode
The audio decode mode affects all other audio settings. The decode mode determines if the player or the receiver decodes the audio. Audio can be sent as multichannel PCM over HDMI by default, with all outputs enabled, or it can be passed through to HDMI with other outputs disabled.
HDMI Audio
Bitstream pass-through
Select bitstream pass-through to send 7.1-channel Blu-ray soundtracks over HDMI at the highest bandwidth possible (up to 192 kHz or 7.1 channels).
The lossless audio formats available on Blu-ray discs, such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and 7.1-channel PCM, exceed the capabilities of analog and coaxial audio outputs. These formats are only available over HDMI, and only when bitstream pass-through is enabled. This setting turns off the analog and coaxial outputs, and picture-in-picture audio cannot be heard. To hear lossless audio tracks (for example, Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio) from Blu-ray discs without alteration, the A/V receiver or audio processor must be able to decode these formats.
Player Decode Mode
Select Player Decode to hear Blu-ray secondary audio or when coaxial or analog audio outputs are used. This setting sends 48 kHz PCM output over HDMI, up to 5.1 channels depending on content and cabling.
In this mode, the coaxial output passes through the audio bitstream for DVDs, but re-encodes multichannel audio to DTS Digital Surround for Blu-ray discs.
Secondary audio with picture-in-picture
Blu-ray discs support a secondary audio track typically used for interactive audio and commentary. This track is mixed with the main audio so both tracks can be heard at the same time. M-Class players play secondary audio with picture-in-picture when in player decode mode. (To hear unaltered primary audio, bitstream pass-through must be enabled.)
Downmixing
The stereo audio output sends downmixed stereo when playing Blu-ray discs or DVDs when player decode is selected.
Dolby Surround Support
Select this option if the output is connected to a sound bar or receiver capable of Dolby Surround / Pro Logic / Pro Logic II decoding.
D-BOX mode
Select this option if you have D-BOX equipped seating. Selecting this option will send D-BOX compatible audio up to 5.1 channels over HDMI and coax.
PCM stereo
Select this option to downmix all audio to stereo, as when connecting to two-channel devices like TVs for Blu-ray and DVD movies. Commonly used in video distribution situations where one or more device only supports stereo.
Volume
Movie Volume
Select Enable Dynamic Range Compression for movies if you want the player to allow information from the audio track to compress the dynamic range, thus reducing the volume of loud sounds or amplifying quiet sounds.
Advanced
HDMI Capability Override
Audio receivers connected via HDMI automatically provide EDID information used to determine the audio formats sent by the player to the receiver. Selecting Auto detect will automatically detect the receivers capabilities and should provide the best results. In rare cases, these capabilities must be overridden because of an EDID that is inaccurate or has been corrupted by an HDMI extender or switcher. Select Receiver supports all audio formats if you are sure your receiver supports all audio formats.
Video settings for your player can be configured from the Video page of the onscreen Settings menu. A summary of all the video setting is displayed on the Video page. Select Video to change video settings.
Video Mode
Video Resolution
Select the preferred video resolution based on the capabilities of the display.
Displays connected via HDMI automatically provide a list of supported resolutions including the preferred resolution. Alto outputs this preferred resolution when set to Use highest available or Use highest available, allow 1080p24. If you want the player to ignore the information communicated by the display, select one of the other choices. When using one of these choices and the player is connected to a PAL display, select Use 50Hz onscreen menus to reduce the number of resolution changes.
Aspect Ratio
Screen Aspect Ratio
Select the aspect ratio for your video display. CinemaScape is an aspect ratio designed for 2:35:1 projectors and displays. Select the mode that best suits the zoom mode or anamorphic lens configuration of your 2:35:1 equipment. More information: CinemaScape
4:3 Video
Configure how full screen 4:3 movies will appear on a 16:9 display.
Stretching causes the image to fill the display screen but will distort 4:3 images.
Advanced
Blacker-than-black
This player can output the full luma range. This setting is intended only for use during calibration, as it will cause additional video mode changes and cause some disc menu and subtitle features to display incorrectly. After calibration, disable blacker-than-black.
Detail Enhancement
Configure detail enhancement for HDMI Video to influence how sharp the edges of scaled video appear.
Wi-Fi Setup
See pages 10 – 11.
See pages 9 – 10.
The default name for your player is Alto. This name is displayed in the Kaleidescape App for iPad, and can be changed to help distinguish between players in different rooms of the house. For example, if you have two Alto players in your house, you can name one Living Room and one Master Bedroom.
Some suggestions for names are available in the Player Name page of the onscreen display, or you can select Enter a custom name to give your player a unique name.
If additional Alto players are being added, they can be linked using the Link Players page. This page will only appear if there is more than one Alto detected on the same network. Players must have a wired network connection to be linked. Any wirelessly connected Alto players that are not activated will appear in the list, but will not be available for linking.
To link an additional Alto player, ensure the original Alto system is wired to your home network and that it is activated. Then, connect and turn on the additional Alto. Connect it to your home network using a wired network connection. A Link Players option will be displayed onscreen.
A list of other Alto players detected on your network will be displayed. Select the one you wish to link to. A checkmark will appear next to the player you are linked to.
If you do not wish to link to any players, select Do not link. Then select Continue to proceed.
Linking a disc vault with your player makes it fast and easy to catalog and play Blu-ray discs and DVDs without having to handle the discs. Content plays from the disc vault over the network to the player.
Up to two integrated disc vaults, such as the DV700 or M700 Disc Vault, can be linked to a Kaleidescape Alto system. The process below describes how to link a disc vault in the onscreen user interface, but this can also be accomplished on the browser interface. Visit the Kaleidescape Disc Vaults Installation and Operation Guide for more details.
Select Disc Vaults. To start linking a vault to your system, select Link new disc vault.
The Settings: Link New Disc Vault page appears.
Select the vault you wish to link and confirm.
When successfully linked to the Kaleidescape Alto system, the disc vault appears on the Disc Vaults page of the onscreen Settings menu. Select the linked disc vault to access settings specific to this vault.
Disc Vault Name
The disc vault name appears on the front display of the vault, on the browser interface and throughout the onscreen display. Providing a descriptive name helps when identifying the location of a disc. For example, one vault can be named Upstairs Vault and the other can be named Basement Vault; both describing locations in your home making it easier to retrieve an ejected disc.
Choose one of the suggested names, or select Enter a custom name to give your vault a unique name.
Setting the DVD Region of the Disc Vault
Most DVDs are authored for a specific region. Your vault’s DVD region determines whether the vault can catalog and play a DVD. The current DVD region of the vault is displayed with a checkmark next to it in the DVD Region page for the disc vault.
To change the DVD region of a vault, select the region you want to set. The region setting will be applied when a disc of that region is inserted into the vault.
The DVD region of a vault can be changed up to four times.
Unlink Disc Vault
When you wish to unlink a disc vault, select Unlink disc vault and confirm. If you unlink a disc vault, cataloged Blu-ray discs and DVD will have to be inserted into the player in order to play them.
Most DVDs are authored for a specific region. The DVD region setting determines whether the player can catalog or play a DVD. To play a cataloged movie, the DVD must be present in the slot of the local player.
The current DVD region of the player is displayed with a checkmark next to it in the DVD Region page of the onscreen Settings menu.
To change the DVD region of a player, select the region you want to set. The region setting will be applied when a disc of that region is inserted into the player.
The DVD region of a player can be changed up to four times.
Different players linked together can be set to different DVD region codes.
A preferred language for movie playback can be configured for each player using the Language/Subtitles page of the onscreen Settings menu. If a DVD or Blu-ray disc has an audio or subtitle file for the language you select, the player will automatically play the movie or display subtitles in your preferred language, based on the settings selected.
Preferred Movie Language – choose your preferred audio language for movies. Select Choose language and then enter the first three characters of your preferred language. If an audio track or subtitle file is available in that language, the movie will either play audio or display subtitles in that language, depending on your selected preference in the Audio Dubbing section. Leaving the settings as None will play the default audio track of the disc.
Movie Audio
Once you select a preferred movie language, you can select whether you would prefer to hear the movie audio in its original language and show subtitles in your preferred language, or whether you would prefer to hear the movie audio dubbed in your preferred language.
A passcode can be set to protect certain operations on your player. If a passcode is set, it will be required when deleting content from your player, unregistering your player, adding or removing components to your player, or to display movies of a rating higher than the currently permitted rating.
Select Create passcode from the Passcode page of the onscreen Settings menu. Then enter a four digit numeric passcode.
If you know your current passcode and want to change it, select Change passcode . If you know your current passcode and no longer want to have a passcode, select Clear passcode to remove the passcode from your player.
If you do not know your current passcode, select I forgot my passcode and follow the onscreen instructions. A temporary passcode will be provided via email.
If you have more than one Alto player, they will share the same passcode.
The default parental control level of your player is set to display All Movies. This can be changed to a level more restrictive. The parental control level determines which movies can be seen and played without entering your passcode.
Select Change parental control level to change the default parental control level of your player. Use the left and right navigation arrows on your remote to set the new default parental control level. A description of each rating is displayed at
the bottom of the page. Press OK when you are finished to confirm the change.
Temporarily changing the parental control level
There may be occasions where temporarily changing the parental control level is desired. This can be done from the Parental Control menu in the Movies tab of the Kaleidescape menu. (Press the menu button on your remote control. Then select the Parental Control menu in the Movies tab.) If a passcode is set, it will be required when changing to a parental control level higher than the default parental control level of the player.
Any changes to parental controls made from this menu are temporary. The player will revert back to its default level after 30 minutes of inactivity.
The Advanced page of the onscreen Settings menu can be used by installers when integrating this player with a home control system.
Calibrate Touch Panel
If the video output of this player is being displayed on a touch panel, use the Calibrate Touch Panel option to configure touch locations to allow interacting with displayed elements directly, such as pressing on specific covers in the Covers View. Follow the instructions onscreen.
Test Masking
Use the Test Masking option to test different aspect ratios to ensure they are displayed properly on your screen.
Subtitle Repositioning
Select whether you want the subtitles to be displayed within the movie image or if you have a control system that sends masking cues, you can select to reposition the subtitles when these cues are sent.
Selecting Always reposition subtitles within the movie image causes the player to position subtitles within the movie image so that they can be seen and read even if part of the screen is covered by masking or cropped by a lens.
Select Only reposition subtitles when masking system sends cues if the screen masking system is designed to leave room for subtitles at the bottom of the screen. Subtitles appear in the original position, which can place them below the movie image. Display elements continue to be places within the movie image.
Reset Settings
Choose Reset player settings to factory defaults in order to reset player settings. This includes audio, video, network and parental controls.
There are several Kaleidescape options available for controlling Strato.
• Kaleidescape Remote (included)
• Kaleidescape App for iPad (free download)
• Kaleidescape Child Remote (optional purchase)
Strato can also be controlled by several types of third party control devices.
• Infrared (IR) remotes
• Home control systems (which may include touch panels, handheld remotes, mobile apps, etc.)
Kaleidescape provides control modules along with touch panel templates and sample programs for most leading control systems. Kaleidescape also provides databases and IR codes for popular IR remotes.
For specific product support including modules and reference manuals, go to https://www.kaleidescape.com/support and click on Control Systems
A control device can communicate with the Kaleidescape Alto using a simple text-based protocol over Ethernet, or with IR.
For more information on control connections, refer to the Kaleidescape System Control Protocol Reference Manual at www.kaleidescape.com/go/control-protocol and the IR Hex codes at www.kaleidescape.com/go/ir-hex.
Kaleidescape Alto comes with a backlit IR remote control. It features one-button access to features such as Intermission and Shuffle, while the Movies button toggles views between List, Covers and Collections. The Music button
provides quick access to the Songs collection.
The Volume and Mute buttons can be programmed to control the volume on the TV or other audio device:
1. Press and hold the Info and Pause buttons at the same time. When the indicator light at the top of the remote begins blinking, release the buttons. The indicator light stays on. The Kaleidescape Remote is now in programming mode.
2. Place a remote that already controls the volume flat on a table with the Kaleidescape Remote about 6 inches (15 cm) away.
3. The following steps have to be repeated for the Mute button and both Volume buttons.
• Check that the indicator light is still on. If it is off, repeat Step 1.
• Press and release the button on the Kaleidescape Remote for the function you want to program.
• Press and hold the button for the same function on the remote that already controls the volume for two seconds.
• The indicator light on the Kaleidescape Remote blinks twice to indicate success. If the indicator light blinks four times, try again.
4. When finished, press the OK button on the Kaleidescape Remote. The indicator light blinks twice to confirm programming is complete.
Learn more in the Using the Kaleidescape Remote Reference Guide.
The Kaleidescape App for iPad provides an immersive experience for browsing and searching your collection of movies. The app extends the Kaleidescape experience to the iPad, displaying your movie collection with vivid high-resolution cover art, synopses, and other details.
The Kaleidescape App for iPad includes volume controls and a Return button for integration with other control systems. The following is a typical use case for the Return button:
• The user is running a home control app on an iPad and wants to use their Kaleidescape System.
• The user chooses the Kaleidescape source within the home control app.
• The controller app configures the A/V equipment for use with the Kaleidescape System, and launches the Kaleidescape App for iPad by opening a specific URL.
• The user can browse movies and music, play any selection, and control the Kaleidescape System from within the Kaleidescape app.
• When the user is finished with the Kaleidescape app, they can tap the Return button and a message appears containing an option to return to the controller app.
• The user taps the popover option to return to the controller app.
The home control app must use the special URL in order to enable the Return button. For help, refer to Integrating with the Kaleidescape App for iPad.
When the Child Remote is used, the onscreen user interface automatically switches to the simplified child user interface, eliminating all text-based menus in favor of pure graphical navigation of movie covers.
In addition to the preprogrammed Kaleidescape Child Remote, the child user interface commands can be sent to any programmable controller. Refer to IR Control Hex Codes for Kaleidescape Systems or the Kaleidescape System Control Protocol Reference Manual.
Kaleidescape provides a wide range of templates, modules, and sample programs for control systems from several manufacturers.
Some manufacturers also provide templates, modules and IR libraries to control Kaleidescape systems.
Control devices can be simple IR remotes or touch panels.
The simplest control device is a generic IR remote control for a DVD player.
IR Code Sets
The Kaleidescape movie player supports two major infrared remote control code sets.
• Code set used by Toshiba DVD players and other manufacturers including Philips, Magnavox, Zenith, Onkyo, and Marantz
• Code set used by Kenwood DVD players
Types of Remotes
IR remotes (other than the Kaleidescape Remote) fall into the following basic categories:
• Pre-programmed
• Learning
• PC Programmable
Pre-programmed Remotes
Pre-programmed remotes only require setting the remote to control a Toshiba or Kenwood DVD player. Custom buttons that jump directly to Kaleidescape menu selections are not available.
Learning Remotes
Learning remotes can be used two ways: as a general remote with a Toshiba or Kenwood code set, or set to accept (learn) Kaleidescape-specific commands from a device that can generate these commands (for example, the Kaleidescape Remote).
PC Programmable Remotes
PC Programmable remotes can support commands specific to the Kaleidescape interface and provide a more complete experience. The manufacturer provides software that allows the remote to be programmed via a computer. This type of programming often allows IR codes to be imported in hex format (usually copying and pasting the codes into a text box), or from a Philips CCF file.
For a list of all IR codes (in hex) or CCF format available from Kaleidescape, or for the CCF file, go to www.kaleidescape.com/go/ir.
Templates are available for download for RTI, URC, and Elan remotes. Kaleidescape is also included in IR code database libraries for URC, Logitech Harmony and Opus.
Kaleidescape supports several variations of touch panel control, including:
• Onscreen Display with Video
• Onscreen Display without Video
Onscreen Display with Video
Onscreen Display with Video (OSD Video) displays the Kaleidescape onscreen display on the touch panel, along with other controls, by using a video window on the touch panel. Touching the video display makes selections or navigates menus. OSD Video provides the richest user experience and is the implementation suggested by Kaleidescape whenever possible.
Onscreen Display without Video
Onscreen Display without Video (OSD No Video) provides supplemental information with text-based details for content. The touch panel replicates the details pages for movies while browsing the onscreen display.
When selecting the touch screen for an installation, consider whether a video display is present and the technical capabilities of the touch panel. Installations can require more than one type of touch panel interface to provide the best control for every zone.
+1 877-352-5343 Toll Free (US Only)
+1 650-625-6160
7:00am - 5:00pm PT (M - F)
*Kaleidescape will be closed on the following holidays.
