POWER STUDIO

Playout

Playout is where generated playlists become the on-air broadcast.

Automation Mode

In Automation Mode, Power Studio starts and advances through playlist items automatically. Use this for unattended operation, overnight programming and non-stop music.

Before leaving a system unattended:

  • Confirm the correct playlist is loaded.
  • Confirm the next playlist exists.
  • Confirm audio routing is correct.
  • Confirm macros and live sources have been tested.
  • Confirm fallback content is available for dynamic items.

Live Assist Mode

In Live Assist Mode, a presenter or operator controls starts and transitions. Use this for live shows where presenters manually start players, jingles and voice elements.

Presenters should know how to:

  • Start and stop players.
  • Cue tracks.
  • Use Playout Player PFL on Player A-D.
  • Use Playlist PFL or browser preview when they need to audition other items.
  • Fire carts.
  • Switch back to Automation Mode.
  • Handle a missing or failed macro.

When switching from Live Assist Mode to Automation Mode, Power Studio reloads the players for automation operation. Operators should still look at the loaded players and the next item after switching modes, especially during a live show or when fewer than four playout players are in use.

Training Mode

Training Mode is used when operators need to practice, test a workflow or demonstrate Power Studio without treating the workstation as a normal on-air playout participant.

Turn Training Mode on or off according to the station's current need. It can be useful during presenter training, production-room testing, support sessions or rehearsals. Turn it off again when the workstation must take part in normal on-air operation.

In multi-studio setups, Training Mode temporarily disables coordination behavior for the running instance. If a studio should coordinate with a Central Playout node, make sure Training Mode is off before troubleshooting the Multi studio connection.

The main navigation bar contains quick controls for Training Mode, Live Assist and Automation. Operators should always confirm the intended mode before going on air or leaving the system unattended.

Startup Behavior

The General settings page can open common windows automatically on startup, such as the Recorder, database browser, cart players, Mix Editor, playout players and playout playlist. It can also start automation automatically.

Use automatic startup only on computers where the role is clear. For example, an unattended playout computer may need to start automation, while a production workstation should not unexpectedly take on an on-air workflow.

The Auto player select on manual start option gives live operators more control over when a track is assigned to a playout player. Use it when the station wants player assignment to happen at the moment the operator starts the item manually, rather than earlier in the workflow.

Program Log Transitions

Power Studio tracks the current playlist and the next playlist. The countdown in the main window helps operators see when the next scheduled hour is approaching.

When fixed timing matters, review Floating and Fill Out behavior in the Day Format and Clock Format.

Playlist context actions include adding a track, advanced add, adding a live source, adding a web stream, deleting a track, opening the Mix Editor, listening with Playlist PFL, linking items, filling out, executing a macro, setting an item as next, editing the track and opening playlist analysis or playlist insight.

Only use Set as next track, manual macro execution and playlist edits during live operation when the operator understands the effect on the current hour and the next scheduled transition.

Forced Playlist Breaks

Some stations need fixed breaks, such as news or commercial fill-out items, to happen even while the presenter is operating in Live Assist Mode. The Force playlist breaks in live mode setting can automatically switch to Automation Mode and start the required news or fill-out items when the next playlist is not floating.

This setting is per machine and also works in multi-studio setups. Enable it only on workstations where that behavior is desired. Before using it on air, test a complete hour transition with the same Clock Format, Day Format and Live Assist Mode workflow the presenters use.

Document the behavior for presenters. A forced break is useful for keeping fixed programming on time, but it can surprise an operator who expects Live Assist Mode to wait indefinitely.