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Playlist Macros
Section 11 Playlist Macros Help Document
Introduction
Playlist macros in NextKast radio automation are special events embedded within a playlist that perform various functions other than playing an audio element. These macros allow for greater control and flexibility in automating your radio station. This document provides detailed instructions on configuring and using these macros.
Overview of Playlist Macros
Playlist macros can perform a variety of functions, such as sending metadata, switching to manual mode, playing specific parts of a track, merging traffic logs, and more. Below is a description of each macro type and how to configure it.
Macro Types and Configuration
- Meta Data Send
- Description: Enter text to note in the playlist where this break note appears.
- Usage:
breakNote
- External Call Format:
breakNote - text_to_send
- Start Line-In
- Description: Starts the Line-In to accept outside audio sources.
- Configuration: Select the soundcard input and set the duration for the Line-In.
- Usage:
startLineIn - External Call Format:
startLineIn - soundcard_input - notes - duration in seconds
- Switch to Manual Mode
- Description: Switches automation to manual mode for a specified duration in seconds.
- Usage:
switchToManual - External Call Format:
switchToManual - manual_mode - notes - duration in seconds
- Play Hook for Track Number
- Description: Plays the hook of a track from a specified point in the rotation or playlist.
- Configuration: Set the track number to play the hook from.
- Usage:
playHookForTrackNumber - External Call Format:
playHookForTrackNumber - track_number - notes - duration in seconds
- Switch to Manual and Mic On
- Description: Turns on the microphone and places automation in manual mode.
- Usage:
switchToManualAndMicOn - External Call Format:
switchToManualAndMicOn - mic_on - notes - duration in seconds
- Merge External Traffic Log
- Description: Merges logs with Natural Log.
- Configuration: Set the merge time, select the traffic subfolder, and optionally enable tempo stretching.
- Usage:
mergeExternalTrafficLog - External Call Format:
mergeExternalTrafficLog - merge_time - traffic_subfolder - duration in seconds
- Play Time from Category
- Description: Plays the current time file from a specified category.
- Configuration: Select the category containing time files.
- Usage:
playTimeFromCategory - External Call Format:
playTimeFromCategory - category - notes - duration in seconds
- Play Minute from Category
- Description: Plays the current minute file from a specified category.
- Configuration: Select the category containing minute files.
- Usage:
playMinuteFromCategory - External Call Format:
playMinuteFromCategory - category - notes - duration in seconds
- Play Temperature from Category
- Description: Plays the current temperature file from a specified category.
- Configuration: Select the category containing temperature files and enter the zip code.
- Usage:
playTempFromCategory - External Call Format:
playTempFromCategory - category - zip_code - duration in seconds
- Play Intro from Category
- Description: Plays the intro file for the next track.
- Configuration: Select the category and specify search terms like ‘Artist’ or ‘Title’.
- Usage:
playIntroFromCategory - External Call Format:
playIntroFromCategory - category - search_terms - duration in seconds
- Play Track from Category
- Description: Plays a track from a specified category.
- Configuration: Select the category and specify search terms.
- Usage:
playTrackFromCategory - External Call Format:
playTrackFromCategory - category - search_terms - duration in seconds
- Time Sync
- Description: Jumps to a specified time in the playlist.
- Usage:
timeSync - External Call Format:
timeSync - time - notes - duration in seconds
- Force Time Sync
- Description: Forces an immediate transition to a specified time in the playlist.
- Usage:
timeSyncForce - External Call Format:
timeSyncForce - time - notes - duration in seconds
- Switch to Manual and Line-In On
- Description: Turns on Line-In and places automation in manual mode.
- Usage:
switchToManualAndLineInOn - External Call Format:
switchToManualAndLineInOn - line_in - notes - duration in seconds
- Start Serial Listen
- Description: Turns on serial port listening for external triggers.
- Configuration: Select the trigger profile.
- Usage:
startSerialListen - External Call Format:
startSerialListen - trigger_profile - notes - duration in seconds
- Stop Serial Listen
- Description: Turns off serial port listening.
- Usage:
stopSerialListen - External Call Format:
stopSerialListen - listen_off - notes - duration in seconds
- Launch .bat or .exe File
- Description: Launches a specified .exe or .bat file.
- Configuration: Enter the script path and any arguments.
- Usage:
launchBatOrExe - External Call Format:
launchBatOrExe - script_path - arguments - duration in seconds
- Send HTTP Command
- Description: Sends an HTTP command.
- Configuration: Enter the HTTP path and arguments.
- Usage:
sendHttpCommand - External Call Format:
sendHttpCommand - http_path - arguments - duration in seconds
- Send Serial Command
- Description: Sends a serial command.
- Configuration: Enter the serial command and optional COM port.
- Usage:
sendSerialCommand - External Call Format:
sendSerialCommand - serial_command - com_port - duration in seconds
- Turn Off Encoder
- Description: Turns off a selected encoder.
- Configuration: Select the encoder number.
- Usage:
turnOffEncoder - External Call Format:
turnOffEncoder - encoder_number - notes - duration in seconds
- Turn On Encoder
- Description: Turns on a selected encoder.
- Configuration: Select the encoder number.
- Usage:
turnOnEncoder - External Call Format:
turnOnEncoder - encoder_number - notes - duration in seconds
- Set Volume
- Description: Sets the volume for a selected audio player.
- Configuration: Select the audio channel and set the volume level (0-100).
- Usage:
setVolume - External Call Format:
setVolume - audio_channel - volume_level - duration in seconds
- Stop Line-In
- Description: Stops the Line-In if it is active.
- Usage:
stopLineIn - External Call Format:
stopLineIn - line_in_off - notes - duration in seconds
- Start or Stop Render
- Description: Marks the start or stop position for rendering a playlist section.
- Configuration: Enter the target file path and select the render type (mp3, wav).
- Usage:
startOrStopRender - External Call Format:
startOrStopRender - target_file_path - render_type - duration in seconds
- Send TCP Command
- Description: Sends a TCP command to a specified IP and port.
- Configuration: Enter the IP, port, and command.
- Usage:
sendTCPCommand - External Call Format:
sendTCPCommand - ip_address - port - command - duration in seconds
- Send UDP Command
- Description: Sends a UDP command to a specified IP and port.
- Configuration: Enter the IP, port, and command.
- Usage:
sendUDPCommand - External Call Format:
sendUDPCommand - ip_address - port - command - duration in seconds
- Send AudioScience GPIO Command
- Description: Sends a GPIO command for AudioScience devices.
- Configuration: Enter the output number (0 or 1).
- Usage:
sendAudioScienceGPIO - External Call Format:
sendAudioScienceGPIO - output_number - notes - duration in seconds
- Set as Template
- Description: Sets the current rotation as a template, ignoring total time in playlist generation.
- Usage:
setAsTemplate - External Call Format:
setAsTemplate - template - notes - duration in seconds
- Send Axia Command
- Description: Sends a GPIO command for Axia devices.
- Configuration: Enter the command (LHHHH).
- Usage:
sendAxiaCommand - External Call Format:
sendAxiaCommand - command - notes - duration in seconds
- Enable Schedule
- Description: Enables a scheduled playlist or rotation.
- Usage:
enableSchedule - External Call Format:
enableSchedule - schedule - notes - duration in seconds
- Disable Schedule
- Description: Disables a scheduled playlist or rotation.
- Usage:
disableSchedule - External Call Format:
disableSchedule - schedule - notes - duration in seconds
- Send WheatNet Command
- Description: Sends a GPIO command for WheatNet devices.
- Configuration: Enter the command (
<SLIO:#|LVL:1>). - Usage:
sendWheatNetCommand - External Call Format:
sendWheatNetCommand - command - notes - duration in seconds
- Terminate Game Event
- Description: Terminates any active event/game schedule.
- Usage:
terminateGameEvent - External Call Format:
terminateGameEvent - terminate - notes - duration in seconds
- Toggle External Mixer Mode
- Description: Enables or disables External Mixer mode and toggles Line-In.
- Configuration: Specify
TrueorFalseand select the soundcard input. - Usage:
toggleExternalMixerMode - External Call Format:
toggleExternalMixerMode - mode - soundcard_input - duration in seconds
- AI Intro
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce a song based on the duration specified. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AIIntro - External Call Format:
AIIntro - N/A - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- AI Outro and Intro
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce the previous and next song based on the duration specified. If time permits, other information about the artist or title may also be included. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AIOutroAndIntro - External Call Format:
AIOutroAndIntro - N/A - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- AI Outro and Station Promo
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce the previous and next song based on the duration specified, along with the next available station promo listed in the nextAi Global Settings. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AIOutroAndStationPromo - External Call Format:
AIOutroAndStationPromo - N/A - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- AI Entertainment News
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce entertainment news based on station demographic settings and the duration specified. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter the RSS feed URL in the argument field. Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AIEntertainmentNews - External Call Format:
AIEntertainmentNews - rss_feed_url - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- AI News
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce local news gathered from the RSS feed provided, based on the duration specified. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter the RSS feed URL in the argument field. Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AINews - External Call Format:
AINews - rss_feed_url - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- AI Weather
- Description: When nextAi is enabled and activated, the selected AI talent will announce local weather gathered from the RSS feed provided, based on the duration specified. Approximate voice cost per 10 seconds is $.02.
- Configuration: Enter the RSS feed URL in the argument field. Enter extra instructions for the AI host in the notes field. Optionally set a static file location to record the AI voice output.
- Usage:
AIWeather - External Call Format:
AIWeather - rss_feed_url - extra_instructions - duration in seconds
- duration in seconds: Many macros require a duration to be set. This duration specifies how long the macro should remain active.
- Sound Cards: For macros involving audio input, select the appropriate soundcard from the list.
- Metadata: Enter relevant metadata or arguments where applicable to provide additional instructions for the macro.
Conclusion
Playlist macros in NextKast radio automation provide a powerful way to automate and enhance your radio broadcast. By understanding and configuring these macros correctly, you can achieve a more dynamic and flexible automation setup.