When appending playlists using the event scheduler, there is an option to set the fixed or soft time to a dummy element (top of the hour). Could someone please tell me why one would what to set the sync on the dummy element rather than on the following audio track? ???
I’ve tried it both ways and see no difference in playout.
Thank you for your time… Alec M
First of all, some people prefer to have some sort of visual indication of the top of the hour, more than just the fixed time in the left-hand column.
Additionally, this option can be used to program both soft and hard fixed playlists at the same time.
Imagine that you’re using soft fixed times by default, so the currently playing song won’t be interrupted when the new hour starts. Now once in a while, you want the scheduled playlist to be started exactly at the top of the hour, for example when it contains a pre-recorded 60-minute show. In this case, go to the playlist editor in mAirListDB and set the (hard) fixed time on the first real element. When the playlist is appended, there will be two fixed times: a soft one for the dummy, and a hard one for the first element. This will make mAirList ignore the dummy and start the first element at exactly xx:00:00.
Without a dummy, this trick won’t work, because the hard fixed for the first element time would be overwritten with the soft one set in the event scheduler.
So just to be 100% clear, Torben, to use that ‘trick’ you would need to select ALL THREE of these options in the Configure Action - Load Database Playlist dialog Playlist Options:
BFN
CAD
Yes.
Thank you both Cad and Torben…
But what if you’re using no time syncs at all but still wish to have the dummy as a visual clue to the top of the hour. Within the options listed, there is no opton for this, correct? Or can you check “use dummy element for fixed time” but then leave the soft and fixed options unchecked?
I’m away from my machine, or else I would experiment myself ;D
Best Regards, Alec M…
In mAirListDB, create a new virtual folder named something like Top of Hour, then add a single DUMMY item to it, and put whatever text you prefer as the item’s title.
In each of your hour templates, add the Top of hour virtual folder as the first item in the list. This forces the Mini Scheduler to choose that one item and schedule it as the first item in each hour’s playlist.
BFN
CAD
Thank you Cad!
Regards, Alec M…
how and where do I give the relative time to the dummy to have it starting (soft timer) at :00 minutes after having appended the playlist at :57
is that a script or a command and how is this set in the mini scheduler ?
Generally, the timing can be set individually for each item in its Properties dialog, on the “Playback” tab. See here for description of all available timing options: https://www.mairlist.com/wiki/index.php/mAirList_4.0#Timing_Options_and_Advanced_Backtiming
The timing can also be set for each item of the mAirListDB hour template.