--- title: BrightSign Author slug: author/brightsign-author docTags: createdAt: 2025-03-11T06:56:09.059Z --- :::hint{type="info"} Note that BrightSign Author (BrightAuthor\:connected) is our latest app for managing content and players. Although similarly named, it is *different* from BrightAuthor Classic, our legacy app. Development of BrightAuthor Classic has ceased and it will soon be deprecated and replaced with BrightSign Author. ::: # BrightSign Author **BrightSign Author** is BrightSign’s latest app for player setup / management, authoring, and content management. Key features include: - Multi-Platform - Free desktop app available for Mac or PC ([download](https://www.brightsign.biz/resources/software-downloads/)). - Web app version available at [https://app.bsn.cloud](https://app.bsn.cloud). Note that with the web app, players must be connected to the internet. - [Player Setup](docId\:XNnXywMV09iEgZIIt7RWA): Configure and set up players for use. - [Player Management](docId\:Uba8sfkMSAJsIBrbv4A6N): Monitor and troubleshoot players over the Internet. - [Presentation Creation](docId:0Vm0UTpL2j8dss-DFNhMo): Create presentations consisting of video, images, audio, HTML, and text. - [Presentation Publishing](docId\:go2VHVit1mkPM8WmRwgIT): Publish presentations for players to display. Presentations can be delivered to players via several available [Publishing Modes](docId\:rEScIigY-dJRPuZgwaA4e). ## Requirements To create presentations and publish them to your player, you will need the following: :::ExpandableHeading **Mac or PC** **Mac** Any Mac computer running one of the last two major production releases of macOS. **Windows PC** Any Windows PC that meets or exceeds the following *minimum* requirements: - 2.3 GHz CPU - 2 GB RAM required (4 GB recommended) - 100 MB available hard disk space for program files (additional disk space required if storing content and/or presentations on your hard disk) - One of the following operating systems: - Windows 11 - Windows 10 (32 or 64 bit) - Windows 8 (32 or 64 bit) - Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) The following is optional but recommended: - Bonjour 3.x or later: Required for automatically discovering players on the local network; available with the Airport Utility installer. ::: :::ExpandableHeading **Web Browser** The browser version of BrightSign Author should be compatible with all major web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox, Brave, etc.). ::: :::ExpandableHeading **BrightSign Player** Players must be running at least the indicated minimum OS indicated. - **Series 5** - AU335, XCx55, XDx5, LSx5, HDx5, XTx5 (minimum OS: 9.0.22.3) - AU335 (minimum OS: 8.2) - **Series 4 **(minimum OS: 8.0) - XTx44, XDx34, HDx24, LS424, HS124 - **Series 3 **(minimum OS: 8.0) - XTx43, XDx33, HDx23, LS423, HS123, HO523 - **Series 2** (minimum OS: 8.0) - 4Kx42 only ::: :::ExpandableHeading **Display** A monitor, TV, or touchscreen with an HDMI® input. ::: :::ExpandableHeading **Storage Device** As mentioned [here](docId\:o4YzospNpFaGbgLdUleee), players require a separate storage device. These can include any of the following: - microSD card (most common storage device) - Formatting requirements described [here](docId\:o4YzospNpFaGbgLdUleee). - Note that some very early player models use the larger form-factor SD card. - If publishing a [Setup](docId\:XNnXywMV09iEgZIIt7RWA) and/or presentation directly from your computer to a microSD card, a card reader / writer is required. - USB Flash Drive (supported on models with a USB port) - M.2 SSD (XCx55, XDx35, XTx45, XTx44, XTx43, XDx34, XDx33 models only) - mSATA drive (4Kx42 models only) ::: # BrightSign Author Plus The subscription-based BrightSign Author Plus (formerly known as bsn.Content) includes all BrightSign Author features plus cloud hosting of presentations and media assets along with tools to manage that content. Subscribers can use the [BrightSign Author](docId:7xqhhE03hrlS_QzV35_ta) Mac or Windows desktop app to access BrightSign Author and Author Plus. For those who prefer not to use a desktop app, all of this functionality is also accessible via a web browser at [https://bsn.cloud](https://bsn.cloud/). You can access Author Plus through our [free 30-day trial](https://www.brightsign.biz/bsncloud/bsncloud). After the trial, you can subscribe to Author Plus for $139 per player, per year, or simply let the trial expire where you’ll be reverted to the free BrightSign Author service. With BrightSign Author, you'll still be able to control your players remotely, but you'll lose access to the BSN.Cloud hosting and publishing tools along with any content and presentations you saved to the cloud during the trial. :::ExpandableHeading ## Updating to Author Plus Players configured for BrightSign Author Plus must be set up to receive content updates through BSN.Cloud. If your player was previously set up with another Publishing Mode, you will have to change how it receives content updates. To do this: **Create your Account** - To connect an existing BrightSign player to BSN.Cloud for the first time, first [Factory Reset](docId\:ynCF7P2PYZo2qedF1JYim) the player. - Format a blank microSD card to FAT32 or ExFAT and insert it into the player. - Activate your free BrightSign Author Plus trial through the BrightSign Author **Admin** tab. **Create a Setup** 1. In BrightSign Author, select **Setup** under the **Admin** tab. 2. If you have not already done so, select **Player Settings** and fill out **Setup Name**, **Player Name**, and **Player Description.** Set the **Idle Screen Color** to something other than black, so that you can see if the player is outputting a video signal.  3. Select **BrightSign Author Plus** (bsn.Content) as the **Publishing Mode**. 4. Choose **Add Setup to Library**. **Provision The Player ** ![MicrosoftTeams-image (2).png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/511c8QBH-VHiwWnyzIwUb/NUHvObL7Nch4_jfZmVa1I_microsoftteams-image-2.png) 1. Go to the **Admin** tab in BrightSign Author and select **Provision.** Use the checkbox to select the player from the list. 2. Select **Apply Setup** and select the Setup File that you saved to your library. 3. **Apply Setup** to the player. 4. Go to the **Network** tab and select the cog icon next to the player you want to provision. This will take you to the remote Diagnostic Web Server. 5. From the **Control** tab, go to **Reprovision Player**, and select **Update**. The player will reboot several times in the process. 6. When reprovisioning is complete, a green check mark will appear next to the player and the **Setup Type** in the **Properties** pane will be BrightSign Author Plus. You will see the welcome screen when the player boots. **Publishing** BrightSign players support several methods for publishing content to players. This is known as a Publishing Mode. With a BrightSign Author Plus subscription, most users will opt for the BrightSign Author Plus Publishing Mode in which all content is stored on BSN.Cloud and readily available to any internet connected player. However, users have the flexibility to choose an alternative Publishing Mode if desired. For more info, refer to this page on [Publishing Mode](docId\:rEScIigY-dJRPuZgwaA4e). ::: ::::ExpandableHeading ## Managing Content BrightSign Author Plus allows you to create and manage your own content library. All content uploaded or created will be available to every player registered on the BrightSign Author Plus network.  **Content Library** You can access the **Content Library** through the Dashboard on the BrightSign Author home page or in the **Content** tab drop down menu. If you do not have a paid BrightSign Author Plus subscription, these sections in the BrightSign Author home page will be unavailable because they access cloud content, not local content. From the this section, you can: - **Upload New Media** (for example, images, video, and audio) - Create a **New Component** like BrightSign dynamic playlists, data, or media feeds, or upload an HTML site or script.  - Navigate the media and components already uploaded into the cloud, and view data on content including media type, dimensions, file size, and upload and modification dates in the **Content Library**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/0prk6SO2dy9LdU77jB8D1/T0L_HBg6Oc6U4L5RaKS7v-20260515-143401.png "Image 1") **Local vs. Cloud Content** As a BrightSign Author Plus subscriber, you can build a presentation from content you have uploaded to BSN.Cloud, or from assets stored locally on your computer. However, *remote and local assets can't be used in the same presentation*. If you plan to work with locally stored assets, switch to **Simple** mode via the Simple/Advanced toggle switch at the top right. If you plan to host presentations and content remotely with your BrightSign Author Plus subscription, switch to **Advanced** mode. If you added content or presentations to BrightSign in Simple mode, and want to use that content with your BrightSign Author Plus network, select the content or presentation and then select the Upload Presentation button, above the **Advanced**/**Simple** toggle, to make those assets available in the cloud. :::hint{type="warning"} Note that the Simple / Advanced switch is only available in the BrightSign Author Plus desktop app. If you open it through a web browser, you cannot access files on your local computer. ::: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/0prk6SO2dy9LdU77jB8D1/jTTifloeaoVZ4HfnjycDM-20260515-170719.png "Image 2") **Adding Content to the Library** In the Content Library, select a folder that corresponds to your media type, or select the icon to the right of the folder location to make a new folder. Enter a descriptive title and select **Create** to create the folder. Add new media by selecting **Upload New Media** in the **Content** tab dropdown and **Choose Files** to select the files from your computer that you want to upload. You can preview your content and make sure it is pointing to the right folder. Then select **Upload Content.** You will see a progress bar at the top of your screen, as shown in Image 3. Select **Transfer Info** to check the progress of your upload. You can navigate to other tabs while your media is uploading, which is helpful if you want to work on your presentation while content is uploading. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/511c8QBH-VHiwWnyzIwUb/lAZTJTnRLVn1GdFvC1BDN_image-20230404-180458.png "Image 3") :::: :::ExpandableHeading ## Scheduling & Publishing **Publishing Modes** The **Type** dropdown list allows you to select a publishing option and the destination is set by default to whichever location was last used. The player [Setup File](docId\:XNnXywMV09iEgZIIt7RWA) must be configured for BSN.Cloud, and the [Content Mode](docId:8yTHtVfOe83v1SSsbyIW-) must be set to **BSN.cloud Content** before you can publish to BSN.Cloud (see the image below). When the Content Mode is set to **Local Content** (for example, if you are using BrightSign Author rather than Author Plus) only the **Standalone**, **Local Network**, or **Web Folder** publishing methods will be available. Note that local filesystems are not accessible from the BSN.Cloud web interface so this switch is only available in the desktop app. You can also use the **Group** dropdown to view the presentation schedule for any group you have created. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/511c8QBH-VHiwWnyzIwUb/PxTqFv2GZNWGm0LMUFg4d_pubtypes.png) **Scheduling and Publishing** Presentations can be published per predefined schedules. The current player schedule can be seen in the **Schedule** tab. Presentations can be set to run 24/7, at a specific time, or at a recurring time. If two presentations are scheduled during the same time, one will be set to interrupt the other. Only one presentation can interrupt another at a time.  BrightSign Author Plus allows you to remotely publish presentations, or interruptions, on the player group schedule. Once you have created or finished editing the schedule, select the **Publish** icon at the top right to send your presentations and schedule to your networked players.  ::: # Input Devices BrightSign Author can be used to create Advanced presentations that take advantage of various types of input devices. Depending on player model, the following input devices are supported. ::::ExpandableHeading ## Supported Input Devices - Touchscreens equipped with a supported touch controller. See [Supported Touchscreens](docId\:ACL5V8_jQiuq3SntxSNfO) for a list of supported touchscreens. - BrightSign [BP200 and BP900](https://www.brightsign.biz/digital-signage-products/accessories/Button-Panels) USB button panels  - Many brands of USB keyboards  - Many brands of USB mice or trackballs  - Many brands of USB bar code scanners - Quadravox Serial Button Board - AMX, Crestron, and similar control devices - Any GPIO (open/close contact switch) button, signal, or LED (your custom board or LED display); GPIO connections may require [Phoenix-type GPIO](https://www.brightsign.biz/digital-signage-products/accessories/GPIO-terminal-block) terminal blocks. - PC (via UDP or serial) - IR input/output devices using the NEC or Pronto Hex remote control protocols. BrightSign Author supports IR events through the IR port as well as through IR USB devices (e.g., [Iguanaworks USB transceiver](https://www.iguanaworks.net/products/usb-ir-transceiver/)). :::hint{type="warning"} Note: The LS424/423 models have a USB-C port, while many of the above USB devices (including the BP200/BP900) ship with USB-A connectors. BrightSign sells a [USB-A to USB-C](https://www.brightsign.biz/digital-signage-products/accessories/USB-C-Cables) adapter for this purpose. ::: ::::