How To Load Split Audio

Created by Jason Carr, Modified on Thu, 14 Mar at 6:36 PM by Jason Carr

If your PlayoutONE system is set up so you can play separate commercial breaks to different outputs, such as different transmitters, etc. In addition to playing different commercial traffic logs, you also have the ability to play different audio elements on demand on each split.

Split items can be triggered using the scheduled music log, or from a quick key. This is useful for localised production, sweepers, legal IDs, news etc.

This guide explains how to set up, load, and use split audio on PlayoutONE.

Split ID

Before we load audio destined to be used as split, we'll explain the 'Split ID' used in PlayoutONE. Each station/split in your PlayoutONE should have a two digit split ID set, including the station that has the music log scheduled into it, which is referred to as the 'dummy'.

Every item of audio that is to be aired this way needs to have #SplitID at the end of its UID. For example, a split sweeper for a station with the split ID set to UK would have a UID something like SWP01#UK - then the one for NE would be SWP01#NE. If the dummy split ID is AB then the UID for the dummy audio would be SWP01#AB.

Wait! What Is The 'Dummy' Audio?

The dummy audio is simply to tell PlayoutONE on the station that the music log is scheduled on how long to wait whilst the splits play their localised audio. It doesn't actually playback on the music log, but it is needed to ensure PlayoutONE knows what is going on. The dummy audio can be the same physical audio as used on one of the splits.

Setting the Split ID

In PlayoutONE, ensure that the station you want to change the Split ID on is selected in the dropdown menu on the log.
On the Splits tab, check 'Split Station ID Enable' and type in the two digit split ID required.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each station/split on your system.

Loading Audio

We'll start with loading the audio for the dummy. Import a new audio item in PlayoutONE, and set the UID to SWP01#YY - where YY is the split ID of the station that the music log is scheduled on.
Go to the Options tab and enable 'Split Item'. You only need to do this for the dummy item.
Then import the audio for the split item for your first split, and set the UID to SWP01#XX - where XX is the split ID of the split station.
Repeat step 3 for as many split stations as you have set up on your system.

Scheduling

To trigger a split item, you should schedule the dummy audio in your music scheduling system.

When PlayoutONE comes to play it from the log, it will send a command to each split to play their respective version. PlayoutONE on the music log station will wait for that item to complete.

To trigger a split audio item from a Quick Key, ensure that the dummy (#UK) version is assigned to the Quick Key.