CFUZ RADIO 204 AIRTIME OPERATOR TRAINING

Transcription

1 CFUZ RADIO 204 AIRTIME OPERATOR TRAINING

2 CFUZ RADIO 204 AIRTIME IS A HUGE PART OF HOW OUR STATION WORKS. During the next hour, you ll be introduced to our broadcast automation software - Airtime. We ll give you a rundown of the basics, and put you on the path to becoming an Airtime Operator, assisting in the day-to-day programming of CFUZ. Dave Del Rizzo, Technical Coordinator

3 CFUZ RADIO 204 UH-OH, THE PRESSURE IS ON You

4 NO PRESSURE The Airtime system is basically a database of audio files with an easy to use graphical interface Audio files are added to the calendar by Airtime Operators Being an Airtime Operator can be done from the comfort of home Only requires a computer, an internet connection and a favourite internet browser

5 OUTLINE Logging in, modifying your profile, permissions Basic elements of the system - the tour Adding Files - uploading content The Library - metadata and searching The Calendar - scheduling content Files, Playlists and Smart Blocks - what s the difference? Practical exercises

6 FOLLOW ALONG ON YOUR LAPTOPS

7 LOGGING IN Navigate your browser to the address: Keep your username/password safe & secret Choose a password that is difficult to guess - use special characters, caps, lower case. No dictionary words! Too many incorrect logins will temporarily disable your account Change the temporary password you have been assigned immediately Contact prog@peachcityradio.org if you forget it

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9 ACCESS YOUR PROFILE BY CLICKING ON YOUR USERNAME LOGOUT BY CLICKING ON THE WORD LOGOUT

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11 PERMISSIONS Guest DJ Can t do much other than browse around - can t hurt anything Can browse around, can upload files, can modify files you own, can only modify blocks assigned to you - limited ability to cause problems Program Manager Can browse, upload, modify any files and modify any blocks - this user can Admin do some damage if not careful All knowing, all seeing - we don t give this to just anyone

12 STATUS AREA Here is where you can see at a glance, what is happening at any given time

13 CURRENT Information on the file that is currently being played out over the air. This information comes from the metadata of the file The orange progress bar indicates the play out progress of the file Above this is information regarding the previous file played, and below is information about the next file in the queue

14 CURRENT SHOW The name of the block that is currently playing out A block is a section of time that is assigned to an airtime operator. it may contain one or several files. It always has the same length The blue progress bar indicates the play out progress of the block

15 SOURCE STREAMS A representation of the various signals that may flow into the automation software These are switches, and can disrupt the broadcast - they should never be pressed

16 ON-AIR INDICATOR This is lit (red) when audio is being transmitted by the system. If this light is dark, there is no content scheduled at the current time (dead air) Press the listen button to hear what the system is currently playing out

17 STATION TIME This displays the current station time as dictated by the station computer This clock is not synchronized with the clock on the studio wall

18 MENU BAR Use this to navigate the various features of Airtime

19 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ NOW PLAYING Shows the current play out queue, with the current file at the top in green, and the queue is listed below DJ level access only allows user to start an audio preview of the files in the queue, or to modify blocks specifically assigned to the user Program Managers may add/remove files in the queue for any block from this screen

20 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ ADD MEDIA Users with DJ and + permission may upload content to Airtime through this interface Ensure that all metadata is filled in properly according to the guidelines prior to uploading

21 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ LIBRARY Peruse the files stored in the Airtime system library Edit metadata on the files which you own (DJ) or on any file (Program Manager)

22 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ CALENDAR See at a glance the program block scheduled within the system by the day, week or month Drill down and look in depth at ay program block to view contents

23 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ HISTORY Search through the play out history of the station

24 The menu displays the options available to you based on your level of access - most will be a DJ HELP Access the user manual and some basic getting started notes, provided by the people who wrote the software

25 ADDING FILES Convenient drag-and-drop window Drag mp3 files in, or press Add files Press Start upload to begin Monitor Upload Status here

26 THE LIBRARY Click To sort Columns Lists all the contents of the Airtime library system (including files, playlists & smart blocks) Various ways to filter, sort & display information using the basic search area

27 FILES & METADATA Right click on a file to access functions associated with that file DJs may only preview & download files, or edit metadata for files they have uploaded Title, Creator, Album, Track, Genre and Year - see guidelines for metadata - the rest are optional Fill these in prior to uploading (use itunes or kid3 or your favourite software - there are many options)

28 THE LIBRARY Advanced search allows for a detailed sorting to help you find content - but only if metadata is properly filled in Close the advanced search by clicking again on the words

29 THE LIBRARY Custom tailor your library display with these controls

30 THE LIBRARY Scheduled files/playlists/smart blocks are those which are scheduled to play out sometime in the future Playlist/Block files/playlists/smart blocks are those which are currently saved to a playlist or smart block - not necessarily scheduled to play out

31 THE CALENDAR Administrators set the schedule using blocks of time - these are assigned to Airtime Operators to fill each week If the blocks aren t populated, there is dead air Colour coding helps to see who is doing what

32 THE CALENDAR Change the time period Navigate from one time period to the next using the arrow keys Change the time display

33 THE CALENDAR Check whether the block is full at a glance Empty block Not quite full block Currently playing block

34 THE CALENDAR Click on a block to access functionality - you are only able to do this if you are assigned the block, or you are a program manager or higher privilege As a DJ, you can view the content or add/remove content if you are assigned to the block

35 TERMINOLOGY File - an audio file uploaded to the system Program Block (or Block) - a chunk of time in the play out schedule, intended to be filled with files. These are created by the administrator and then assigned to operators/programmers to fill weekly Playlist - a list of files which can be manipulated as one object. Once assigned to a playlist, the files maintain the same order and can be added to a block Smart Block - a type of playlist which can be auto-populated based on metadata criteria determined by the user. The criteria of the search is what is stored, and the user may refresh the contents by regenerating the smart block at any time. Once generated, the smart block can be added to a block

36 PLAYLIST VS SMART BLOCK Content all added by hand Can be saved Changes made by hand Bottom Line: Offers an operator more precise control over what is included in the block. SOLID PLAYLIST Content can be added by hand, or using filters Can be saved Changes made by re-generating or by hand Bottom Line: Offers an operator slightly more flexibility when the precise content is not as important. FLEXIBLE, EASY SMART BLOCK There are times and places for both in Airtime programming

37 LET S MAKE A PLAYLIST!

38 1. Open the library window using the menu button

39 2. Select the open media builder button at the top right corner of the library window This opens the media builder view, which allows you to drag and drop content into your playlist from the library view on the left, to the builder view on the right All library functionality remains useable (search, filter, select, etc ) in this view Close this view at any time by pressing the X in the top right corner (don t forget to save)

40 3. Press the new button, and select New Playlist from the drop down menu

41 4. Give your new playlist a name, by clicking on the pencil and editing the name text field, then save This name is how you will be able to identify your playlist in the Airtime library, including how to easily find it using a search and/or filters You may also view and/or edit the description field (click on the words to access) if you like (it s not currently necessary)

42 5. Populate your playlist with items from the library. You can drag in files or smart blocks Note the total elapsed time of your playlist update each time you add a file Note that each file is updated with an end time as you add it - this is always measured from the start of the playlist Preview files by clicking on the play icon to the left of any file Easily remove files by clicking the X on the right of the file entry

43 What do the other buttons do? Cue Points - edit the start and stop of the audio file Cross Face - edit the properties of the cross fade between 2 audio files Delete - deletes your playlist Shuffle - randomizes the order of files in the playlist Clear - clears the playlist

44 YOUR PLAYLIST IS NOW READY TO BE INSERTED INTO THE CALENDAR Airtime Operator

45 LET S MAKE A SMART BLOCK!

46 Follow the same steps as a playlist to get started 1. Open the library 2. Open the media builder window 3. Press New and select New Smart Block from the drop-down 4. Give your smart block a name + save it

47 5. Select a static or dynamic smart block A static smart block requires a user to regenerate it each time. A dynamic smart block stores only the criteria used to populate the smart block, and regenerates itself each time it is added to a block in the calendar. For the most part, to retain some control over the content of your smart block, we recommend using a static smart block

48 6. Enter the criteria for your smart block - this is how Airtime chooses files to populate the block Add as many criteria as you feel necessary in order to populate the block with the type of music you require Choose a length, and decide whether or not to allow repeat tracks Generate the smart block Don t forget to save it!

49 Much of the same functionality exists between playlists and smart blocks once they have been populated in the media builder display (cross-fade, cue points, preview, delete, etc )

50 YOUR SMART BLOCK IS NOW READY TO BE INSERTED INTO THE CALENDAR Airtime Operator

51 ADDING THINGS TO THE CALENDAR Click on a block to access functionality Select Add/Remove Content

52 ADDING THINGS TO THE CALENDAR Display is now similar to the media builder. Simply drag content from the left over to your block on the right Note the time remaining indicator at the bottom: red is too short, green is ok. Within 5-10 seconds of full is standard Hit OK at the bottom right to save your changes

53 NOW YOU RE READY! Sign up for an Airtime account, and talk to the Airtime Administrator about scheduling and time commitment Download and read the Airtime Operator Handbook from the Peach City Radio website Login and play around in the sandbox until you re comfortable Join the Airtime Operator team!

54 Your Name Here? CFUZ RADIO 204 THANKS!