Complete list of all 347 questions and answers
Are there any limitations on the number of deck players I can have?
No, there is no limit to the number of deck players you can have in PlayIt Live. However, you are limited by your screen resolution - the more deck players you add, the smaller each deck will appear on your screen to fit within your available display space.
You can select the number of deck players using the up/down arrows in the Decks Mode settings. Each deck can also be assigned to a different audio device (typically a sound card) on your computer, allowing you to assign each deck to an individual fader or channel on a professional mixer.
Read full answer
Can I add custom icons to my track groups?
Yes, you can add custom icons to your track groups in PlayIt Live for enhanced visual identification on your playout log. PlayIt Live includes built-in icons, but you can also add your own custom icons.
Adding custom icons:
Navigate to the C:\ProgramData\PlayIt Live\icons\ folder on your computer. Note that C:\ProgramData\ is a hidden folder, so you'll need to type the full path into Windows Explorer or the Run window to access it.
Add your custom icon files to this folder. Your icons should be 256x256 pixel PNG files with transparency for best results, matching the format of PlayIt Live's built-in icons.
Important naming guidelines:
Use unique filenames without extensions for different icons
Avoid using the same filename with different extensions
Don't prefix your icons with "playit-" as this is reserved for built-in icons and could be overwritten during updates
Using custom icons:
Once you've added your custom icons to the folder, restart PlayIt Live to make them available. Then go to Manage > Track Groups, select your track group, tick the Icon checkbox, and click in the icon box to open the Select Icon window where your custom icons will appear alongside the built-in options.
Read full answer
Can I assign different deck players to different audio outputs or mixer channels?
Yes, you can assign each deck player to a different audio device or mixer channel in PlayIt Live. Go to File > Settings and click on the Decks Mode tab. In the Deck audio device assignment section, use the dropdown menu for each deck to select which audio device (sound card) you want that deck to use. This allows you to assign each deck to individual faders or channels on a professional mixer, giving you complete control over your audio routing setup.
Read full answer
Can I assign function keys (F1-F12) to specific PlayIt Live actions and what are the best practices?
Yes, you can assign function keys (F1-F12) to PlayIt Live actions through the keyboard settings. Go to File > Settings, click the Keyboard tab, select an action from the list, then click the key field and press your desired function key. To make shortcuts work even when PlayIt Live doesn't have focus (useful with Stream Decks or other controllers), tick the Global trigger checkbox at the bottom of the keyboard settings.
When using global triggers, it's important to use modified keys (combining function keys with Ctrl, Alt, or Shift) rather than unmodified function keys on their own. For example, use Ctrl+F1 instead of just F1. This prevents unintended triggers in PlayIt Live when you're using other software. Many applications use F1 for Help menus, F5 for refresh, and other standard shortcuts. If you assign an unmodified function key with global trigger enabled, pressing that key in another application will trigger the action in both programs simultaneously - the other software will perform its function whilst PlayIt Live also responds to the keypress, potentially causing unexpected behaviour during your broadcast. For critical playback controls, consider using more accessible combinations like Ctrl+Arrow keys that are easier to reach and less likely to cause unintended triggers.
Read full answer
Can I assign keyboard shortcuts to trigger specific QuickCarts?
Yes, you can assign keyboard shortcuts to trigger QuickCart actions in PlayIt Live. Go to File > Settings and click on the Keyboard tab. In the keyboard binding list, you'll find QuickCart-related commands that you can bind to keyboard shortcuts. Select a command from the list and click the key text box to set up your binding - you'll be prompted to press the key combination you want to use. To ensure your shortcuts work even when PlayIt Live doesn't have focus (useful for external controllers like Stream Deck), tick the Global trigger checkbox at the bottom of the keyboard settings section. This allows the shortcuts to work system-wide.
Read full answer
Can I automate playout log generation for multiple weeks while maintaining track rotation policies?
Yes, you can automate playout log generation for multiple weeks in PlayIt Live whilst maintaining your track rotation policies. The scheduler respects all configured playout policies when generating content, regardless of the time range.
To schedule multiple weeks, go to PlayIt Manager > Playout Log, select your desired date range using the start and end date fields, then click the Schedule button. The system will generate playout log entries based on your configured clocks, playout pattern, and will automatically apply all your playout policies including track/artist separation rules and daypart separation policies during the scheduling process.
Your track rotation policies remain fully active during extended scheduling. Any Track/Artist Separation Playout Policies you've configured will ensure tracks and artists don't repeat within your specified time periods, whilst Daypart Separation Playout Policies will prevent tracks from repeating within the same daypart (such as breakfast shows) across multiple days. The scheduler will also respect your chosen track scheduling strategies - whether Smart Selection, Most Rested, or Random - when selecting tracks from your rotation categories.
Read full answer
Can I broadcast live from outside locations with PlayIt Live?
Yes, PlayIt Live includes Remote Studio functionality as part of the Premium Module Bundle that allows you to broadcast live from any location using just a laptop and web browser.
Remote Studio lets you connect to your main PlayIt Live installation remotely, giving you full control over the playout system whilst broadcasting from outside locations. You can monitor studio audio in real-time, introduce your microphone into the broadcast mix, control players, manage the playout log, and perform all the same functions as if you were physically in the studio. The feature works through any Chrome-based web browser and requires a stable internet connection.
Read full answer
Can I change the colour of tracks that belong to a specific track group?
Yes, you can assign colours to track groups which will then be displayed for all tracks belonging to that group on the playout log. This makes it much easier to visually identify different types of content such as jingles, music, news, and station IDs at a glance.
To set up track group colours, go to Manage > Track Groups and select the track group you want to colour. In the track group editor, tick the Colour checkbox and click in the colour box to choose your preferred colour. You can select any colour that helps distinguish that content type from others.
If a track appears in multiple track groups with different colours, use the Priority setting to determine which colour takes precedence. The track group with the highest priority number will determine the display colour shown on your playout log. You can also combine colours with custom icons for even clearer visual identification of your content types.
Read full answer
Can I copy a track to play it again in the same hour?
Yes, you can easily add a track to play again in the same hour using the main interface. You can drag a track from the past (items that have already played) and drop it at a point in the future where you want it to play again. Note that dragging a track from the future to further in the future will move the track rather than copy it.
Alternatively, you can click on the track you want to duplicate, press Ctrl+C to copy it, then click where you want to insert the duplicate track and press Ctrl+V to paste it.
Read full answer
Can I exclude specific track groups when creating a Grouped track group?
Yes, you can exclude specific track groups when creating a Grouped track group by using the Include only tracks not found in the selected track groups checkbox.
To exclude track groups, go to Manage > Track Groups and create a new Grouped Track Group. Select the track groups you want to exclude from the Track group group list, then tick Include only tracks not found in the selected track groups. This will include all tracks except those from the selected groups.
For example, to create a "Music Only" track group, select your "Jingles", "Adverts", and "Station IDs" track groups and enable the checkbox. This gives you all tracks except those from the excluded groups. Similarly, you could create a "Daytime Safe" track group by excluding "Explicit Content" and "Late Night Only" groups.
Read full answer
Can I have multiple priority streams active at the same time and how does prioritisation work?
Yes, you can have multiple priority streams open at the same time in PlayIt Live. When multiple priority streams are open and active, PlayIt Live uses a priority system to determine which stream goes live.
How prioritisation works:
The priority stream with the highest priority number will take precedence and go live. You can set the priority number for each stream in the Edit Priority Stream window under the Priority field.
If multiple priority streams have the same priority number, the stream that became active first will go live. Only one priority stream can be live at any given time - the system automatically selects the highest priority active stream.
Important notes:
Priority streams must be in the Open state to go live (not Closed or Pre-Open)
The stream must be connected and have sufficient audio volume above the silence threshold to be considered "active"
When a higher priority stream becomes active, it will automatically take over from a lower priority stream
Priority Streams is a premium feature that requires the Advanced Scheduling Module
Read full answer
Can I install PlayIt Live Premium Module Bundle on multiple computers with a single subscription?
Yes, your Premium Modules Bundle subscription allows you to install PlayIt Live on multiple computers for the same radio station. This includes a standby server for disaster recovery purposes and an additional installation for outside broadcasts or remote operations. However, these installations must be used for the same station, and if you need multiple installations running simultaneously for different stations or purposes, you would need separate licences.
A station means a unique broadcast output - for example, a networked station with opt-outs or regional variations is considered a second station and would require a separate licence.
Read full answer
Can I link a solo artist with their band so they don't play back-to-back?
Yes, you can use Related Artists to link a solo artist with their band so PlayIt Live treats them as the same artist for separation purposes. Go to Manage > Related Artists and click Add New. Enter the solo artist name in one field and the band name in the other field.
For example, you could link "Robbie Williams" with "Take That" so that tracks by either won't be scheduled too close together according to your artist separation playout policies. This prevents situations where a Robbie Williams solo song plays immediately after a Take That song, maintaining better variety in your programming.
The order you enter the artists doesn't matter, and you can create multiple related artist pairs as needed for your music library.
Read full answer
Can I monitor my own voice through headphones while presenting live?
Yes, you can monitor your own voice through headphones while presenting live. Always use headphones connected either to your mixer or to your microphone's headphone monitoring port. Headphones prevent audio from the computer being picked up by your microphone while it is active.
Important: For internet broadcasters, always monitor your audio directly from PlayIt Live using headphones rather than listening to your own internet stream, as this allows you to hear what's playing in real-time without the 15-45 second streaming delay that internet radio servers introduce.
Read full answer
Can I prevent specific tracks from playing within a certain time period after they last played?
Yes, you can use playout policies to prevent tracks from playing within specific time periods. PlayIt offers two types of playout policies for this purpose:
Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy allows you to set minimum time periods before the same track, artist, or song title can be played again. You can configure separate time limits for each (e.g., tracks can't repeat for 2 hours, artists for 1 hour). This applies across your entire schedule and works with any track groups you specify.
Daypart Separation Playout Policy prevents tracks from repeating within specific dayparts (like breakfast or drive time shows) for a set number of days. This ensures regular listeners won't hear the same songs during their usual listening times. This feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module.
To set up playout policies, go to Manage > Playout Policies in PlayIt Live, click Add New, choose your policy type, and configure the separation times. You can apply policies to all tracks or specific track groups, and the scheduler will automatically respect these rules when selecting tracks.
Read full answer
Can I prevent tracks by the same artist from playing back-to-back?
Yes, you can prevent tracks by the same artist from playing consecutively using Track/Artist Separation Playout Policies. To set this up, navigate to Manage > Playout Policies in PlayIt Live and click Add New. Select Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy from the options.
In the policy settings, configure the Artist separation time using the up and down arrows to specify the minimum time that must pass before an artist can be played again. You can set this in hours or minutes using the dropdown menu. For example, setting this to 1 hour ensures that at least 60 minutes will pass before any track by the same artist is played again. You can apply this policy to all tracks or limit it to specific track groups by checking the Apply to specific track groups checkbox, which is useful if you want different rules for songs versus jingles or other content types.
Read full answer
Can I purchase once and use the software to run multiple radio stations?
No, you are required to purchase an additional user/server seat for each station you want to use the module on. So, for example, if you wish to use remote voice tracking on 2 radio stations, you should select 2 users when purchasing the Voice Tracking module.
Read full answer
Can I run two PlayIt Live stations on the same computer?
Yes, you can run multiple PlayIt Live stations on a single computer if your system has sufficient resources. With a CPU benchmark score of around double the recommended 8000 (as compared on cpubenchmark.net), you'll have adequate processing power for two instances. For memory, add approximately 2GB of RAM for each additional instance beyond the recommended 8GB (so aim for at least 10GB for two stations). Remember that if you're running separate radio stations (rather than a main and backup for the same station), you'll need separate Premium Module Bundle licences for each station to ensure proper licensing compliance. For instructions on setting up multiple instances visit: https://support.playitsoftware.com/support/solutions/articles/5000859614-running-multiple-instances-of-playit-live-on-the-same-computer
Read full answer
Can I see what played earlier today in the log?
Yes, you can easily view what has played earlier today in PlayIt Live's playout log. The playout log shows both past and future items, giving you a complete view of your broadcast day.
To view earlier items:
You can scroll up through the playout log to see what was played earlier. Use your mouse wheel to scroll up, or click the up arrow buttons on the right side of the playout log to navigate to previous items. On the main interface, tracks that have already played will be marked with a tick. If you're viewing the log via Manage > Playout Log, items that have played will show "Y" in the Played? column.
Navigate to specific times:
If you need to jump to a particular time earlier today, use the Go To Time button. This opens a window where you can select the specific date and time you want to view in the log. This is particularly useful when you need to check what played at a specific time or want to quickly navigate to content from hours ago.
Return to current position:
When you've scrolled up to view earlier content, you can quickly return to the current playing item by clicking the Home button. When the Home button is underlined, the playout log will automatically scroll with the current item. If you manually scroll away, the Home button becomes ununderlined and automatic scrolling stops. After 5 minutes of inactivity, the playout log will automatically return to 'Home' position.
The log is organised by hour groups with headings showing each hour, making it easy to navigate through your broadcast day and review your programming history.
Read full answer
Can I set up dayparting so different music plays during breakfast, daytime, and evening shows?
Yes, PlayIt Live supports dayparting through several complementary features. You can create different Clocks for each show period (breakfast, daytime, evening) with different track groups and content, then schedule these clocks for specific hours using Manage > Clock Schedule. Each clock can contain different track groups - for example, your breakfast clock might include energetic music and breakfast-specific jingles, whilst your evening clock could feature more relaxed content.
Additionally, PlayIt Live includes Daypart Separation Playout Policies (requires Advanced Scheduling module) which prevent the same track from repeating within specific dayparts like "Breakfast" or "Drive" for a set number of days. This ensures regular listeners don't hear the same songs during their usual listening times. You can also use track-level Dayparting settings to restrict when specific tracks can play - for example, preventing certain songs from playing at weekends or during specific time periods.
Read full answer
Can I set up different QuickCart pages for different show segments?
Yes, you can absolutely set up different QuickCart pages for different show segments in both PlayIt Live and PlayIt Cartwall. This is particularly convenient when specific jingles or audio elements are used for certain shows, as you can create dedicated pages for later use.
To manage your QuickCart pages, click the page name in the QuickCarts section to open the QuickCart Pages Window. Here you can Add Page to create new pages, Rename Page to give them descriptive names like your show titles, and use Move Up or Move Down to organise them in your preferred order. You can navigate between pages using the left and right arrows, and the page indicator shows your current position relative to other pages.
Each page can contain different audio files, jingles, beds, and promotional material specific to your show segments. You can customise the content, colours, and settings for each QuickCart on every page, making it easy to switch between different show setups quickly.
Read full answer
Can I set up holiday or seasonal music rotations that automatically activate on specific dates?
Yes, you can set up holiday or seasonal music rotations using clocks and the clock schedule feature. Create separate track groups for your seasonal music (e.g. "Christmas Songs", "Halloween Music") and build special clocks that include these seasonal track groups alongside your regular programming elements.
To schedule these automatically, go to Manage > Schedule Clocks and create schedule entries for your seasonal clocks. The scheduling system supports yearly recurring schedules, so you can set your Christmas clock to automatically activate from 1st December to 31st December every year. Simply set the repeat option to "Yearly" when creating the schedule entry, and your seasonal programming will automatically activate on the same dates each year without manual intervention.
Read full answer
Can I set up monitored folders to work with automated news and weather systems?
Yes, monitored folders are specifically designed to work with automated news and weather systems. They automatically detect when files are added, updated, or deleted in a folder, making them perfect for dynamic content that changes throughout the day.
To set up monitored folders for news and weather automation, go to Manage > Monitored Folders and click Add New. Point the folder path to where your automated systems drop their files. This could be a local folder, network drive, or cloud storage folder like Dropbox that your external systems use.
When configuring your monitored folder, tick Add tracks to track group and select an appropriate group like "News" or "Weather". This automatically organises incoming content and makes it easy to schedule these items in your clocks or playout pattern. You can also enable Analyse cue points to automatically set appropriate intro and outro points for your bulletins.
For systems that regularly replace files with the same filename, make sure to untick Delete tracks in the monitored folder settings. This prevents PlayIt Live from removing tracks from your database when files are temporarily unavailable during updates. Instead, when a file is replaced, PlayIt Live will update the existing track reference with the new audio content.
You can monitor the status of file changes through Tools > Monitored Folders Status to track when new content arrives. This setup ensures your station automatically picks up the latest news and weather content without any manual intervention, perfect for maintaining fresh content around the clock.
Read full answer
Can I set up PlayIt Live to watch a Dropbox folder for new music files?
Yes, you can use the Monitored Folders feature to automatically import tracks from a Dropbox folder. This is particularly useful if you want to add music remotely or have someone else drop files into a shared folder that PlayIt Live will pick up automatically.
To set this up, go to Manage > Monitored Folders and add a new monitored folder pointing to your Dropbox folder location on your computer (typically something like C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox\Music). You can choose whether to analyse cue points automatically, add new tracks to a specific track group, and whether to delete tracks from PlayIt Live if the files are removed from Dropbox. The monitored folder will periodically scan for changes, so when new files appear in your Dropbox folder they'll be automatically added to PlayIt Live's database. Just make sure your Dropbox is actively syncing on the computer running PlayIt Live, and avoid monitoring folders with a very large number of files as this will take longer to scan.
Read full answer
Can I subscribe to the Voice Tracking module only for the months I need it?
Yes, you can subscribe to the Voice Tracking module on a monthly basis and cancel when you don't need it. The features remain active until the end of the billing period. Typically, the subscription automatically renews unless cancelled, but you can easily cancel online through your PlayIt Software account without any issues. This provides flexibility for users with irregular voice tracking needs - simply resubscribe whenever you need the functionality again.
Read full answer
Can I use keyboard shortcuts to control deck players?
Yes, you can use keyboard shortcuts to control deck players in PlayIt Live. You can configure custom keyboard shortcuts for various PlayIt Live actions including deck player controls through the keyboard settings.
To set up keyboard shortcuts, go to File > Settings and click on the Keyboard tab. Select a command from the keyboard binding list that you want to assign a shortcut to, then click in the key field and press your desired key combination. For example, you could set Ctrl+1 to play deck 1 or Ctrl+2 to play deck 2.
If you want your keyboard shortcuts to work even when PlayIt Live doesn't have focus (such as with external controllers like Stream Deck), make sure to tick the Global trigger checkbox at the bottom of the keyboard settings section. This ensures your shortcuts work when PlayIt Live is running in the background.
Read full answer
Can I use PlayIt Live and PlayIt Cartwall together?
Yes, you can use PlayIt Live and PlayIt Cartwall together, but we actually recommend using the built-in QuickCarts feature in PlayIt Live instead of the separate PlayIt Cartwall application. The QuickCarts in PlayIt Live can use tracks directly from your track list, making it much more convenient as you don't need to separately load audio files. You can also configure QuickCarts to display as a separate window, giving you the same cart wall experience you'd get with PlayIt Cartwall. The QuickCarts feature in PlayIt Live can be found in the settings under File > Settings > QuickCarts, where you can choose to display it either docked at the bottom of the main window or as a separate cart wall window. This separate window can even be placed on a second monitor if you have a multi-monitor setup.
Read full answer
Can I use PlayIt Live for free?
Yes, PlayIt Live is free to get started. You can download the software and use the core functionality at no cost, including playing music, basic scheduling, and live assist features.
To access more professional features such as advanced scheduling, voice tracking, and remote management tools, you can upgrade to our premium modules through a subscription or lifetime licence.
The free version provides everything you need for basic radio automation, whilst the premium modules offer additional functionality for users who need more advanced broadcasting capabilities. You can download PlayIt Live and try it out at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Products/Live
Read full answer
Can I use PlayIt VoiceTrack to record a complete radio show?
Yes, PlayIt VoiceTrack is designed specifically for creating complete pre-recorded radio shows. You can build an entire show by adding music tracks and recording voice links between them, then mix the whole programme down to a single MP3 or WAV file.
The software allows you to drag and drop music files into a playlist, add voice track placeholders between songs where you want to speak, and then record your voice links using your microphone. You can adjust the timing and volume of tracks, fade music down when you're speaking, and add background music (beds) to your voice segments.
Once completed, use the Mixdown Audio feature to export the entire programme as a single audio file that you can send to your radio station. PlayIt VoiceTrack requires a free PlayIt Software account and you can download it from https://www.playitsoftware.com/Products/VoiceTrack to try it out. The software requires our Voice Tracking module for full functionality - without it, your exported audio will include a periodic audio notice, but you can otherwise evaluate all the features.
Read full answer
Can I use VST plugins like Stereo Tool with PlayIt Live for audio processing?
PlayIt Live doesn't support VST plugins directly. However, you can achieve audio processing by using a virtual sound card solution. Route PlayIt Live's output through a virtual sound card (such as VB-Cable), process it through your chosen audio processor like Stereo Tool, then send the processed audio to your streaming encoder. This is a common setup that many of our customers use successfully for broadcast audio processing.
Read full answer
Can multiple computers access the same PlayIt Live data over a network?
Yes, multiple computers running PlayIt Live can access the same data over a network. This can be accomplished using the built-in remote management server in PlayIt Live or our dedicated PlayIt Manager software. This setup allows you to manage your library, scheduling, and playout across multiple computers for the same station. However, please note that multiple separate radio stations cannot share the same data, as each station requires its own dedicated data set.
Read full answer
Can PlayIt Live automatically set the intro points of songs?
No, PlayIt Live cannot automatically detect and set intro points. The Analyse button in the Track Editor only automatically detects Cue In and Cue Out points based on silence at the start and end of tracks, but it cannot identify where vocals begin within a song.
What the automatic analysis can do:
Detect Cue In points (where actual audio begins after silence)
Detect Cue Out points (where audio effectively ends before trailing silence)
What must be set manually:
Intro points (where vocals start) must be set manually using the Track Editor
This requires listening to each track and using the Set button when the vocals begin
You can fine-tune intro points using keyboard shortcuts (arrow keys) or by dragging the waveform
Why intro points matter:
Intro points are displayed as blue markers on the waveform and provide a countdown timer on players, helping presenters time their speech to "hit the vocals" precisely. They're also essential for segue styles like Sweep Start and Sweep Intro.
Setting intro points manually:
Go to Manage > Tracks, select a track, and use the Set button in the Intro controls section whilst listening to position the point where vocals begin.
Read full answer
Do I get access to Remote Studio with the Voice Tracking module?
No, the Voice Tracking module only provides access to remote voice tracking functionality, which allows presenters to record voice tracks between songs using a web browser. Remote Studio is a separate feature that's part of the Remote Management module. Remote Studio allows presenters to broadcast live from remote locations with real-time audio monitoring and direct control of the playout system. If you need both capabilities, consider the Premium Module Bundle which includes all modules and offers better value than purchasing individual modules.
Read full answer
Do I need the Remote Management module in addition to Voice Tracking for remote voice tracking?
No, you do not need the Remote Management module for remote voice tracking functionality. For remote voice tracking, you only need the Voice Tracking module.
The Voice Tracking module provides everything required for remote voice tracking, including the ability for remote presenters to connect via a web browser, record voice tracks between songs, edit segues, and add tracks to the playout log during their assigned time slots.
What the Voice Tracking module includes for remote voice tracking:
Built-in remote connections capability through PlayIt Live
Web browser-based voice tracking interface for remote users
Automatic generation of remote URLs (typically ending in .playitradio.com)
User management for remote voice tracking access
Upload and processing of remote voice tracks to your audio store
What Remote Management provides instead:
The Remote Management module is a separate feature that includes Remote Studio functionality, which allows presenters to broadcast live from remote locations with real-time audio monitoring and direct control of the playout system. This is different from voice tracking, which involves pre-recording segments between songs.
Important licensing note:
While remote presenters don't need any modules on their end (they just use a web browser), your main PlayIt Live installation requires the Voice Tracking module to broadcast the received voice tracks without an audio watermark. Without this module, voice tracks will have an audio overlay stating that the module needs to be purchased, making them unsuitable for broadcast.
If you need both remote voice tracking and Remote Studio capabilities, consider the Premium Module Bundle which includes all modules and offers better value than purchasing individual modules.
Read full answer
Do I need the Voice Tracking module for remote voice tracking?
Yes, the Voice Tracking module is required in PlayIt Live for remote voice tracking functionality. While remote presenters can use PlayIt VoiceTrack to record and send their voice tracks during remote voice tracking sessions, your station's PlayIt Live installation needs the paid Voice Tracking module to broadcast these voice tracks without an audio watermark/notice. Without this module, voice tracks will have an audio overlay stating that the module needs to be purchased, which would be unsuitable for broadcast.
Read full answer
How are clocks different from playlists?
Clocks and track groups serve different purposes in PlayIt Live. The term "playlist" can be confusing as some people use it to mean track collections, others use it for scheduled content, or an hour's worth of programming - which is why PlayIt Live uses more specific terminology.
Clocks are hour-long templates that define the structure and timing of your broadcast content. They contain different types of items including track groups, fixed time markers, voice tracks, individual tracks, and break notes. When you schedule a clock to an hour, PlayIt Live generates the actual playout log based on the clock structure. For example, a clock might specify "play a track from the Songs track group, then a Station ID, then another song" - creating the framework for your hour.
Track groups are collections of tracks organised by type, genre, rotation category, or any criteria you choose. Examples include "A Rotation Songs", "Jingles", "News", or "80s Music". These track groups are then referenced within clocks to provide the actual content. When a clock item says "play from Songs track group", PlayIt Live will intelligently select a track from that group based on your scheduling strategy and playout policies.
The key difference is that clocks provide the structure and content flow for your broadcast hours, while track groups provide the organised pools of content that clocks draw from. You schedule clocks to specific hours via Clock Schedule, and the combination of scheduled clocks plus populated track groups creates your automated playout log.
Read full answer
How can I add Auto Adjust actions directly into my clocks for automated timing control?
You can add Auto Adjust actions directly into your clocks using Scheduled Event Actions, which allows for automatic timing control as part of your normal programming flow.
Adding Auto Adjust to a clock:
Go to Manage > Clocks and either create a new clock or edit an existing one
Click Add to add a new clock item
Set the Type to Scheduled Event Action
Click the Edit icon next to Settings
In the settings window, select Auto Adjust from the available actions
Click OK to confirm
How it works:
When the clock is scheduled into the Clock Schedule and the Playout Log is scheduled, the Auto Adjust action will automatically trigger when that specific item is reached during playout.
What Auto Adjust does:
When triggered, Auto Adjust will automatically:
Determine the target time (next fixed time marker or end of hour)
Adjust tempos of songs up to your maximum tempo setting
Modify segues between tracks up to your maximum segue setting
Soft delete items that would play after the target time
Schedule more items from the playout pattern if needed to fill time
Strategic placement:
Consider placing Auto Adjust actions at key points in your hour, such as:
Early in the hour (around 10-15 minutes past) to make initial timing adjustments
Before important fixed-time content like news or commercials
After segments that might run long or short
Requirements:
Auto Adjust actions require the Advanced Scheduling module. Only tracks with Type "Song" will be affected by tempo and segue adjustments.
Read full answer
How can I avoid tracks being cut off at the hard marker at the end of the hour, even though Auto Adjust is enabled?
If tracks are still being cut off despite Auto Adjust being enabled, this indicates a timing or configuration issue. Hard fixed time markers will always cut off any playing content when the fixed time is reached - this is their intended behaviour for maintaining strict timing.
Understand Auto Adjust limitations:
Auto Adjust has limits and cannot always solve timing issues. It can only adjust tempos up to your maximum tempo setting and segues up to your maximum segue setting. If these limits have been reached and there's still too much content scheduled, Auto Adjust cannot make further time reductions and tracks will still be cut off at hard markers.
Run Auto Adjust earlier in the hour:
Don't wait until the last few minutes. Access Auto Adjust via Tools > Auto Adjust and run it when you have 15-20 minutes remaining in the hour. This gives the system enough tracks to work with for tempo and segue adjustments.
Set up automatic Auto Adjust:
Configure Auto Adjust to run automatically every hour via Manage > Scheduled Events. Set it to trigger at 1 minute past each hour, ensuring continuous timing management throughout your broadcast without manual intervention.
Consider using Soft Fixed Time Markers:
If precise timing isn't critical, change your Fixed Time Markers from Hard to Soft type. Edit the fixed time marker and select Soft instead of Hard. Soft markers allow the current track to finish before advancing to the next item, eliminating abrupt cut-offs whilst maintaining reasonable timing control.
Read full answer
How can I extend the fade time for hard fixed time markers?
How can I extend the fade time for hard fixed time markers?
The fade time for hard fixed time markers cannot be extended or customised separately from other fade operations in PlayIt Live. Hard fixed time markers are designed to cause any playing items to immediately fade out and stop when the fixed time is reached, using the same fade duration as other operations in the software.
The fade time that applies to hard fixed time markers is controlled by the global Fade time setting found in File > Settings > General Tab. This setting affects all fade operations in PlayIt Live, including when the stop button is clicked and when tracks are segued in Live-Assist mode.
Alternative approaches:
If you need longer transitions before fixed time content, consider using a soft fixed time marker instead, which allows the current item to finish playing before advancing to the next item. You could also schedule your content to end naturally before the fixed time marker is reached, or use Auto Adjust to help manage timing more smoothly throughout the hour.
Read full answer
How can I integrate MIDI hardware with PlayIt Live?
PlayIt Live supports MIDI hardware integration through the Remote Start plugin, which allows you to remotely control PlayIt Live from hardware devices that support the MIDI standard protocol. You can integrate PlayIt Live with MIDI controllers such as IK Multimedia iRig Pads, AKAI Professional LPD8 Portable 8 Pad, or Behringer X-TOUCH MINI.
To get started, purchase and install the Remote Start plugin from https://www.playitsoftware.com/Plugins/View/RemoteStart and configure it to map your MIDI controller's buttons and pads to PlayIt Live actions such as controlling playback and triggering QuickCarts.
Read full answer
How can I make PlayIt Live start with Automation ON when I log into Windows?
To fully automate PlayIt Live startup with Automation ON, you need to add PlayIt Live to the Windows Startup folder and create a Scheduled Event. First, copy the PlayIt Live shortcut to the startup folder (Windows+R, type "shell:startup"). Then in PlayIt Live, go to Manage > Scheduled Events, create a new event triggered "On Startup" with the action "Change Playout Mode" to "Automation ON".
Read full answer
How can I move tracks between different Listed track groups?
You can easily move tracks between Listed track groups using the dedicated Move Tracks feature in PlayIt Live. This is particularly useful when you need to reorganise tracks between different categories or regularly transfer tracks between sets of track groups.
To move tracks between Listed track groups, go to Manage > Track Groups and click the Move Tracks button. This opens the Move Tracks window where you can select your source track group in the From Track Group dropdown and your destination track group in the To Track Group dropdown.
Once both track groups are selected, you can move tracks by selecting them and using the arrow buttons, or simply double-clicking tracks to move them between groups. You can select multiple tracks by holding the CTRL key. When you're finished moving tracks, click OK to save the changes to both track groups, or Close to discard any changes.
Read full answer
How can I record shows with specific start and end times using PlayIt Recorder?
To record shows at specific times, you need to create a programme and then schedule it in PlayIt Recorder.
First, go to Programming > Programmes and click Add New to create a programme with a name for your recording. Click OK to save it.
Next, go to Programming > Schedule to set up when the recording should take place. You can either click an empty slot in the schedule grid or click Add New. Choose your programme from the list and then set the exact start and finish times in the Edit Schedule Item window.
If you want the recording to repeat regularly, tick the Repeat checkbox. You can choose to repeat daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. For example, for a daily drive-time show from 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday, select Repeats Weekly, every 1 week, and tick Monday through Friday. You can also set when the repeating should stop using Repeat until.
For recordings that need to split into one-hour blocks throughout the day, select Repeats Daily, every 1 day, at All hours.
Once you've scheduled your programmes, go to Recordings > Start Scheduler to activate the scheduler. Recordings will now start and stop automatically at the times you've specified.
You can also add bleed time in File > Settings to extend recordings by a few minutes at the start and end, ensuring there are no gaps between consecutive recordings.
Read full answer
How can I use different audio devices for the main players versus the track editor and pre-fade listen?
PlayIt Live allows you to use separate audio devices for your main broadcast players and other audio playback functions like the track editor and pre-fade listen. This is essential for professional radio operations where you need to privately audition content whilst maintaining your live broadcast output.
Main Players Audio Device Configuration:
Each main player in Live-Assist mode can be assigned to a different audio device. Go to File > Settings and select the Live-Assist Mode tab. In the Player audio device assignment section, use the dropdown menus to assign each player to your preferred audio device, typically your main broadcast sound card or mixing desk channels.
Track Editor and Pre-Fade Listen Audio Device:
The track editor, pre-fade listen window, and segue editor all use a separate audio device setting. Go to File > Settings and select the General tab. Choose your preferred audio device from the Track editor audio device dropdown. This should typically be set to a different output than your main broadcast players, such as headphones or studio monitors, allowing you to privately preview and edit content without interrupting your live broadcast.
Practical Setup Example:
A typical professional setup would be to assign your main players to your broadcast mixing desk channels (for on-air output) whilst setting the track editor audio device to a separate headphone output or studio monitor system. This allows you to cue tracks, edit segues, and record voice tracks privately whilst other content continues playing on air.
Benefits:
This dual audio device configuration ensures you can preview tracks, set cue points, edit content, and record voice tracks without your audience hearing these activities, maintaining professional broadcast standards.
Read full answer
How do I add new tracks to PlayIt Live?
There are several ways to add new tracks to PlayIt Live, depending on your needs and workflow preferences.
Using the Add New Tracks Wizard:
Go to Manage > Tracks and click the Add New button to launch the Add New Tracks Wizard. This gives you three options:
From individual files: Select this to choose specific audio files from your computer. You'll be prompted to browse and select the files you want to add.
From a folder: Choose this option to add all audio files from a specific folder. This is useful when you have a collection of new music in one location.
From a CSV import file: This option allows you to import tracks with existing metadata and cue points from another playout system. You can generate a template by exporting your current track list to CSV from Manage > Tracks.
Quick method - Drag and drop onto track list:
You can also add tracks quickly by dragging audio files from Windows Explorer directly onto the track list on the right side of PlayIt Live. This will launch the Add New Tracks Wizard for the dropped files.
Note: While you can drag files directly onto the playout log or deck players (in Decks Mode), this only loads them temporarily for ad hoc playback and does not permanently add them to your track database.
Additional options during import:
When using the wizard, you can tick Analyse silence to automatically detect cue in and cue out points, which helps achieve professional gapless playback. The system supports common audio formats and will import track metadata from the audio files when available.
Read full answer
How do I add tracks to a Listed track group?
To add tracks to a Listed track group, go to Manage > Track Groups and double-click the track group you want to edit. In the Edit Listed Track Group window, you'll see two lists: the track list on the left showing tracks not in the group, and the track group track list on the right showing tracks already in the group. Select the tracks you want to add from the left list and click the > button to move them to the track group. You can use the search box at the top to filter tracks by artist or title to find specific tracks more easily. Click OK when finished to save your changes.
Read full answer
How do I add tracks to track groups from the track editor?
You can add tracks to Listed Track Groups directly from the Edit Track Window using the Track Groups tab. This section shows all the track groups that the selected track currently belongs to and allows you to manage their membership.
To add a track to track groups, click the Add Track Group button which will open a popup window showing all available Listed Track Groups. You can select a single track group or use Ctrl or Shift click to select multiple track groups, then click OK to add the track to those groups. To remove a track from track groups, you have two options: click the Delete button beside a specific track group to remove it individually, or select multiple track groups and press the Delete key to remove them all at once.
Read full answer
How do I adjust the audition time for voice track recording?
The audition time is the number of seconds from the end of the previous track that you'll hear when you start recording a voice track. This helps you time your speech to fit naturally after the outgoing track.
To adjust the audition time, click the Settings button in the segue editor window (the window that opens when you record a voice track). You'll find the Audition Time setting where you can change the number of seconds. Click OK to save your changes.
You can also change the default audition time for all future recordings by going to File > Settings from the main PlayIt VoiceTrack window and adjusting the Audition Time setting there.
Important note for remote voice tracking: If you're voice tracking remotely via a browser and you increase the audition time, you'll need to click Clear Audio Cache and refresh your browser to download more audio. Otherwise, you may hear silence if not enough audio has been downloaded from the server.
Read full answer
How do I adjust the clock offset setting to account for broadcast delays?
The clock offset setting in PlayIt Live allows you to adjust the displayed time to account for broadcast delays, ensuring your scheduled content plays at the right time for listeners despite streaming or processing delays.
Where to find the setting:
Go to File > Settings
Click on the Advanced tab
Look for the Clock offset setting
How it works:
The clock offset makes PlayIt Live's internal clock run ahead of real time, so scheduled content plays early enough to reach listeners at the correct moment after broadcast delays.
Setting the offset:
Enter the delay time in seconds as a positive value
Positive values advance PlayIt Live's clock ahead of real time
For example: if your stream has a 30-second delay, set the offset to +30
Why this works:
If your streaming service introduces a 30-second delay, setting the clock offset to +30 means:
When the real time is 11:59:30, PlayIt Live thinks it's 12:00:00
Scheduled content (like news at 12:00) starts playing at 11:59:30 real time
After the 30-second streaming delay, listeners hear it exactly at 12:00:00
Common scenarios:
Internet streaming delays: Stream delay of 30 seconds = set offset to +30
Processing equipment: Additional processing adds 10 seconds = set offset to +40 total
Time-sensitive content: Ensures news bulletins, station IDs, and competitions play when listeners expect them
Important limitations:
It's not perfect: Each internet radio listener experiences slightly different delays due to their individual buffering, internet connection speed, and player software
The offset compensates for your streaming server's delay, but individual listeners may still hear content a few seconds before or after the intended time
This is normal behaviour for internet radio and cannot be completely eliminated
Important notes:
A restart of PlayIt Live is required for changes to take effect
This affects all timed events and scheduled content
Test with a stopwatch to verify your offset matches your actual broadcast delay
This ensures your scheduled content reaches most listeners at approximately the right moment by compensating for broadcast chain delays.
Read full answer
How do I adjust the Default Gain setting if my microphone recordings are consistently too quiet?
If your microphone recordings are consistently too quiet in PlayIt Live, you can use the Default Gain setting to automatically boost the volume of all your voice track recordings without having to adjust each one individually.
Where to find the Default Gain setting:
Go to File > Settings and click on the Voice Tracking tab. In this section, you'll find the Default gain setting which controls the volume boost applied to voice track recordings by default.
How Default Gain works:
The Default Gain setting applies a volume boost to all new voice track recordings when they're created. This is particularly useful if your microphone level is consistently too quiet without additional gain. The gain is applied automatically during recording, so you don't need to manually adjust each voice track afterwards.
Setting the appropriate gain level:
Start with a moderate gain increase and test by recording a short voice track. If the recording is still too quiet, increase the gain setting further. If the recording becomes distorted or too loud, reduce the gain setting. Remember that it's better to start conservatively and increase gradually rather than applying too much gain initially.
Individual voice track adjustments:
Even with Default Gain set, you can still adjust the volume of individual voice tracks if needed. In the segue editor, you can modify the Gain setting under Audio Settings for any specific voice track that needs different treatment.
Alternative approaches:
Before relying entirely on software gain, consider checking your microphone setup. Ensure your microphone is positioned correctly, check your computer's microphone input levels in Windows sound settings, and verify that your Microphone Recording Device is set correctly in the Voice Tracking settings.
Important note:
The Default Gain setting applies to future recordings, not existing ones. If you have existing voice tracks that are too quiet, you'll need to adjust their gain individually through the segue editor or by re-recording them with the new Default Gain setting in place.
This setting is particularly useful for remote voice tracking users who consistently experience quiet recordings, as it ensures all their voice tracks receive the appropriate boost automatically.
Read full answer
How do I automatically add new audio files to PlayIt Live when I save them to a folder?
You can use monitored folders to automatically import audio files when you save them to a specific folder. This feature watches your chosen folder and adds any new audio files to PlayIt Live's database without manual intervention.
Setting up automatic file import:
Navigate to Manage > Monitored Folders and click Add New Monitored Folder. Specify the folder path where you'll save your audio files. PlayIt Live will periodically scan this location for changes.
Recommended settings for automatic import:
Enable Analyse cue points so new tracks have their cue points automatically detected. If you want new files organised, select Add tracks to track group and choose the appropriate track group for automatic categorisation.
Important considerations:
Avoid monitoring broad locations like C:\ as these take too long to scan. Instead, choose specific folders where you regularly save audio content. If you use Include sub-folders, ensure there aren't too many nested folders as this increases scan time.
Exercise caution with the Delete tracks option. When enabled, files that become inaccessible (such as from disconnected network drives) will be automatically removed from your database, potentially causing missing track errors in your playout log.
You can monitor the import process via Tools > Monitored Folders Status to see recent additions and force immediate scans when needed. This system is particularly useful for dynamic content like news bulletins, weather updates, or shared Dropbox folders where content changes frequently.
Read full answer
How do I automatically schedule Auto Adjust to run at specific times using Scheduled Events?
You can automatically schedule Auto Adjust to run at specific times using PlayIt Live's Scheduled Events feature. This is particularly useful for maintaining accurate timing throughout your broadcast day without manual intervention.
To set up automatic Auto Adjust:
Go to Manage > Scheduled Events and click Add New. Give your event a descriptive name like "Hourly Auto Adjust" and configure when you want it to trigger. For example, you could set it to run Daily and select it to trigger every hour at 1 minute past the hour (00:01:00).
Click the [+] button to add an action, then double-click on Auto Adjust from the available actions list. This will add the Auto Adjust action to your scheduled event.
How it works:
When the scheduled event triggers, PlayIt Live will automatically run Auto Adjust, which will analyse your playout log and make tempo and segue adjustments to songs to fit them to the next fixed time marker or end of the hour. If there aren't enough items scheduled to perform the adjustment, PlayIt Live will automatically schedule more items from your playout pattern to fulfil the Auto Adjustment requirements.
Alternative method:
You can also trigger Auto Adjust through a Scheduled Event Action within a clock. In your clock, add an item with Type Scheduled Event Action and select Auto Adjust under Settings. When this item is reached during playout, the Auto Adjust action will be applied automatically.
Read full answer
How do I back up my PlayIt Live database and settings?
PlayIt Live includes a built-in backup and restore feature that can backup your database and settings either on demand or on a regular schedule.
To access the backup feature, go to Tools > Backup and Restore. From this window, you can set your backup location by clicking the link to change where future backups are stored. You can also specify how many backups to keep using the "Keep up to X backups" setting.
For immediate backup, click the Back Up Now button to backup the database and settings straight away. The current backup status will be displayed whilst a backup is in progress, and you can view a list of recent backups in the current backups folder.
For automated backups, you can schedule PlayIt Live to regularly backup the database and settings every specified number of days. This scheduled backup will happen automatically in the background when PlayIt Live is running, ensuring your data is protected without manual intervention.
If you need to restore from a backup, you can either select a backup from the recent backups list and click Restore Selected, or use Restore From File to restore from a specific backup file. When you mark a backup to restore, PlayIt Live will need to restart to complete the restoration process. You'll be prompted to type "YES" to confirm the restore, and any existing data will be overwritten.
Read full answer
How do I bulk edit multiple tracks at once?
You can bulk edit multiple tracks at once in PlayIt Live to update fields across several tracks simultaneously. This is very useful for changing information like genre, year, or other properties on multiple tracks.
To bulk edit tracks, go to Manage > Tracks and select multiple tracks by holding the CTRL key and clicking on individual track rows, or hold SHIFT and click to select a range of tracks. Once you've selected your tracks, click the Edit button.
The Bulk Edit window will open, allowing you to edit multiple tracks at once. Simply tick the checkboxes next to the fields you want to change and enter the new values. For example, you could tick Genre and enter "Pop" to set the genre for all selected tracks to Pop.
You can also bulk analyse cue points for multiple tracks by clicking the Analyse button in the bulk edit window. This will automatically detect and set cue in and cue out points for all selected tracks.
Once you've made your changes, click Save Tracks to apply the updates to all selected tracks.
Read full answer
How do I bulk schedule multiple hours at once?
PlayIt Live allows you to schedule multiple hours efficiently by scheduling a date range in the playout log rather than scheduling hour by hour.
To bulk schedule multiple hours, go to Manage > Playout Log and set your desired date range using the Range start time and Range end time selectors. You can schedule anything from a few hours to several days or weeks at once. Once you've set your range, click the Schedule button to generate all playout log items for the entire period based on your scheduled clocks and playout pattern.
If you haven't set up clocks yet, first create hourly templates via Manage > Clocks, then schedule them to specific time slots via Manage > Clock Schedule. For hours without scheduled clocks, PlayIt Live uses your playout pattern to fill the time. This bulk scheduling approach is particularly useful when preparing programming for holidays, extended periods, or when setting up automation well in advance.
You can also enable the Log Scheduler switch on the main interface to automatically keep the next 15 minutes to 24 hours scheduled at all times, eliminating the need for manual bulk scheduling.
Read full answer
How do I cancel my PlayIt Premium Module subscription?
Before cancelling your subscription, we'd love to hear from you to see if we can help address any concerns you might have. Whether it's pricing questions, technical issues, or exploring features that might better suit your needs, please contact us at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Contact so we can assist you.
If you've decided to cancel, you can do so at any time by visiting your module subscription page. Log into your PlayIt Software account and go to https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Subscription/Bundle (or the specific module subscription page for individual modules). Click the Cancel button and enter your reason for cancelling. Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period, and you'll retain access to all premium features during that time. There are no cancellation fees or penalties, but please note that we cannot provide refunds for unused portions of your subscription period.
Read full answer
How do I change my microphone or playback device during a remote voice tracking session?
Using a web browser:
When remote voice tracking via a web browser, click the Settings button (cog icon) in the Segue Editor to open the audio settings. From here, you can select your preferred Microphone Device for recording and Playback Device for monitoring audio. These changes take effect immediately without needing to restart your session.
Using PlayIt VoiceTrack:
In PlayIt VoiceTrack, you can change your audio devices by going to File > Settings from the main menu. Under the audio device section, select your Microphone Recording device for voice track recording and your Segue Editor Playback device for monitoring audio during recording. You can also access these settings quickly by clicking the Settings button while in the Segue Editor. Click OK to save your changes.
For both methods, make sure you've selected a microphone device that doesn't record playback audio to avoid an echo effect in your recordings. You should wear headphones connected to your playback device to prevent your microphone from picking up the music.
Read full answer
How do I change the background colour of my QuickCarts?
You can change the background colour of your QuickCarts using two different methods:
Method 1: Individual QuickCart editing
Click the pencil button to enter Edit operation mode, then click the QuickCart you want to change. In the Edit QuickCart window, click the colour box next to Background colour to select a new colour. Click Use Default to revert to the default colour. Click OK to save your changes.
Method 2: Paint mode for multiple QuickCarts
Click the paint bucket button to enter Paint operation mode. In this mode, when you click a QuickCart, its background colour will change to your selected paint colour. To change the colour that is painted, double-click the paint button to select a new colour. This method is useful for quickly changing multiple QuickCarts to the same colour.
PlayIt Cartwall only: You can also change the default colour for new QuickCarts by going to File > Settings and clicking Change next to Default QuickCart colour.
Read full answer
How do I check if my Advanced Scheduling module licence is active and properly configured?
First, check your licence status:
Go to Help > Licence Information to view your currently applied licence information for all modules, including Advanced Scheduling. This window displays the complete status of your PlayIt Live licence and will show whether the Advanced Scheduling module is active.
You can also check the module-specific status by going to File > Settings > Advanced Scheduling and looking at the Advanced Scheduling Licence Status section at the top. This will show you the current status of the Advanced Scheduling module in your PlayIt Live licence. If the module is not licensed, all advanced scheduling functionality will be disabled.
If your Advanced Scheduling licence appears inactive:
Refresh your licence - Go to Help > Licence Information and click Refresh Licence to force an update from the PlayIt Software servers. Your licence should automatically update within 30 minutes of purchasing or subscribing to the module.
Check you're logged in correctly - If the module still isn't showing up, ensure you're logged in with the correct PlayIt Software account. Click Log Out then Update Licence and log in again with the account that purchased the module.
Visual indicators - Throughout PlayIt Live, you'll see Advanced Scheduling indicators on features that require the module. If these appear in orange, it means the module is not licensed. You can click these indicators to purchase or start a free trial of the module.
Features that require Advanced Scheduling:
The module is needed for track play history analysis (showing more than just the most recent play), hook sequences, priority streams configuration, fitting to time settings, and merge start/end functionality for external content insertion.
Read full answer
How do I choose the best Recordings Format setting for my voice tracks and what's the difference between the audio quality options?
The Recordings Format setting in PlayIt Live determines the audio quality and file size of your voice track recordings. You can find this setting under File > Settings > Voice Tracking in the Recordings Format dropdown.
The format options are based on MP3 encoding with different bitrates, where higher bitrates provide better audio quality but create larger files that take up more disk space. For voice tracking, you'll want to balance audio quality with storage requirements.
Recommended settings:
128 kbps Stereo - Good quality for most voice tracking applications with reasonable file sizes
192 kbps Stereo - Higher quality option if you have plenty of disk space and want professional-grade voice recordings
320 kbps Stereo - Maximum quality option, but creates very large files that may not be necessary for voice tracks
Lower bitrate options (64 kbps or below) are generally not recommended for broadcast use as they can sound compressed and unprofessional. Remember that the Recordings Folder location you've specified needs sufficient disk space to store your voice track recordings at the chosen quality level.
Read full answer
How do I configure dayparting to control when tracks can play?
PlayIt Live offers track-level Dayparting settings that allow you to restrict when specific tracks can be scheduled and played throughout the week. This feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module.
To configure dayparting for individual tracks:
Go to Manage > Tracks and select the track you want to edit
Click Edit to open the Edit Track window
Click on the Dayparting tab
You'll see a grid showing all hours of the week (Monday to Sunday, 00:00 to 23:00)
Setting time restrictions:
Click any cell and type Y for Yes (track can play) or N for No (track cannot play)
To change an entire day, click the day heading and type Y or N
To change an entire hour across all days, click the hour column heading and type Y or N
You can drag to select a range of cells and type Y or N to change multiple cells at once
Press Delete to clear selected cells (equivalent to setting them to No)
This is particularly useful for preventing certain content from playing at inappropriate times - for example, you might prevent explicit tracks from playing during daytime hours, or stop weekend-only content from playing during weekdays.
Read full answer
How do I configure full row colouring for track groups in Live-Assist Mode?
To configure full row colouring for track groups, go to File > Settings > Live-Assist Mode tab. In the Item colouring section, you can choose between two display options. By default, PlayIt Live colours only the edge of playout log items, but you can select "entire row" to highlight the complete row instead.
First, you need to set up colours for your track groups by going to Manage > Track Groups and editing the specific track group you want to colour. Tick the Colour box and click in the colour box to choose your preferred colour. You can also set an Icon and adjust the Priority to determine which track group colour is displayed when a track appears in multiple groups (the highest priority track group colour will be shown).
Once you've configured your track group colours and changed the item colouring setting to "entire row", tracks from those groups will display with full row highlighting in your playout log, making it much easier to visually identify different types of content at a glance.
Read full answer
How do I configure hook points for automated hook sequences?
Hook sequences in PlayIt Live allow you to create promotional segments featuring short snippets (hooks) of songs played back-to-back. To use hook sequences effectively, you need to configure Hook Start and Hook End points on your tracks.
Hook points are set at the most compelling part of a song, typically during the chorus or main melody. When editing a track via Manage > Tracks, you'll find Hook Start and Hook End controls in the cue points section. Use the Set button while listening to set the Hook Start point at the beginning of the hook, and the Hook End point where you want the hook to finish. If no hook points are defined, PlayIt Live automatically uses a hook starting at 20% into the track.
Hook sequences are created as clock items via Manage > Clocks. When adding a Hook Sequence item, you can specify the number of songs, target duration, and choose between Track Group Random (hooks from a specific track group), Coming Up (hooks from songs scheduled in the next X minutes), Coming Up Reversed, or Coming Up Random. The hook sequence automatically adjusts the duration of individual hooks proportionally to meet your target duration, with intro tracks, transition elements, and outro tracks creating a polished promotional segment.
Read full answer
How do I configure my Icecast server details in PlayIt Live?
To configure your Icecast server details in PlayIt Live, you'll need to set up an internet broadcast stream with the connection details provided by your streaming provider.
Go to File > Internet Broadcast to open the Internet Broadcast window, then click Add Stream to create a new broadcast stream. In the Edit Stream window, you'll find the Server details section where you need to enter the following information as provided by your streaming provider:
Server Type: Select Icecast from the dropdown menu
Server Address: Enter your server's hostname or IP address
Server Port: Specify the port used by the server (typically 8000)
Username: Provide the username for authentication (often "source")
Password: Enter the password associated with your username
Mount: Define the mount point or stream path (such as /radio or /live)
You can also configure additional settings including audio quality parameters, station details like your station name and genre, and enable features such as title streaming to send track information to listeners. Once configured, you can start your stream using the Start All Streams button or by right-clicking the individual stream in the streams list.
Read full answer
How do I configure players to flash when tracks are coming to an end in Live-Assist mode?
Player flashing is a useful visual indicator that alerts you when tracks are nearing their end in Live-Assist mode. The flashing feature can be configured to start at a specific number of seconds before the track finishes, or disabled entirely if you prefer.
To configure player flashing, go to File > Settings from the main menu and click on the General tab. In the settings window, look for the Flash players section. Tick the checkbox to enable flashing for Live-Assist mode players, then use the dropdown menu to select how many seconds before the track ends you want the players to begin flashing.
This same flashing behaviour also applies to tracks that are segued together in Live-Assist mode, providing consistent visual feedback regardless of how your tracks are configured to play. If you find the flashing distracting during broadcasts, you can simply untick the Flash players checkbox to disable this feature completely.
Read full answer
How do I configure PlayIt Live to automatically open and close priority streams at specific times?
You can automatically control when priority streams open and close using Scheduled Event Actions. This allows you to set up remote presenter streams or outside broadcasts to take over at predetermined times.
There are two main ways to configure automatic priority stream control:
Method 1: Using Scheduled Events
Go to Manage > Scheduled Events and create events with Change Priority Stream Open State actions. You can set these to trigger at specific times (once, daily, or weekly) to automatically open or close your priority streams.
Method 2: Adding to Playout Log or Clocks
Add Scheduled Event Action items directly to your playout log or include them in your clocks. For example, to have a priority stream take over after the news:
Add a Hard Fixed Time Marker at 00:00
Add a Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Close [All Priority Streams]
Insert your News track
Add another Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Open 'StreamName'
This will close all priority streams at the start of the hour, play the news, then open your designated stream. You should also add backup tracks after the open action in case the priority stream doesn't connect.
Note: Priority Streams is a premium feature requiring the Advanced Scheduling Module. You can start a two-week trial or purchase the module via Help > Licensing Information.
Read full answer
How do I configure silence analysis settings to automatically detect Cue In and Cue Out points?
PlayIt Live includes automatic silence analysis to detect Cue In and Cue Out points, which helps achieve gapless playback and proper track transitions. These settings can be configured to match your audio library's characteristics.
Where to configure silence analysis:
Go to File > Settings, then click the General tab. Look for the Silence analysis section near the bottom of the settings window.
What the settings control:
The silence analysis settings determine how sensitive PlayIt Live is when detecting silence at the beginning and end of tracks. You can adjust the sensitivity levels to work optimally with your specific audio files and quality standards.
How automatic detection works:
Cue In detection: Finds where the actual audio begins after any silence at the start of the track
Cue Out detection: Identifies where the track effectively ends before any trailing silence or fade-out
Real-time application: These settings are also used when you drag and drop files directly from your file system onto players
Using the analysis:
Once configured, you can apply automatic detection in several ways:
Individual tracks: In the Track Editor (via Manage > Tracks), click the Analyse button to automatically detect and set cue points
Drag-and-drop: When you drag files directly onto players, the analysis runs automatically
Voice track analysis: Similar settings apply to voice track recordings to help with ducking and segues
Fine-tuning results:
After automatic analysis, you can manually adjust cue points if needed using the track editor's waveform display. Use the Set button while listening to position cue points precisely, or use keyboard shortcuts (arrow keys) for fine adjustments.
Benefits:
Properly configured silence analysis ensures smooth transitions between tracks, eliminates dead air, and creates professional-sounding segues without manual intervention for each track.
Read full answer
How do I configure the Now Playing feature in PlayIt Live to send track information to my online radio station?
To configure Now Playing in PlayIt Live for your online radio station, go to Tools > Now Playing and click "Add New" under Targets. Select "Internet Broadcast" as the target type. Use "{{text}}" in the Template field to automatically switch between your Track Template (e.g., "{{artist}} - {{title}}") when a track is playing and your Fallback Template when no track is playing. Add a filter to ensure only specific track types (like "Song") send metadata. Make sure you've set up your Internet Broadcast stream (Tools > Internet Broadcast) with "Enable title streaming" checked. This ensures your listeners can see the currently playing track information on your online station.
Read full answer
How do I configure the number of deck players displayed in Decks Mode?
To configure the number of deck players displayed in Decks Mode, go to File > Settings and click on the Decks Mode tab. In the Number of full row decks selection section, use the up/down arrows to select how many full row decks you want displayed. While there's no limit to the number of decks you can select, you are limited by your screen resolution.
Each deck can also be assigned to a different audio device (typically a sound card) on your computer using the dropdown menu. This allows you to assign each deck to an individual fader or channel on a professional mixer.
Read full answer
How do I configure the schedule ahead setting in Live-Assist Mode?
To configure the schedule ahead setting in Live-Assist Mode, go to File > Settings and click on the Live-Assist Mode tab. Look for the Schedule ahead setting in the configuration options. By default, PlayIt Live schedules at least 15 minutes ahead when the Log Schedule is ON, but you can increase this up to 24 hours using this setting. PlayIt Live schedules in full hours, so setting the schedule ahead to at least xx:15 minutes will trigger the next hour to schedule at xx:45 past the hour (15 minutes before the end of the hour). Click OK to save your changes.
Read full answer
How do I configure the Target Threshold setting in Fitting To Time and what does it control?
The Target Threshold setting controls how precise the Fitting To Time algorithm needs to be when scheduling content to fit within time constraints. By default, this is set to 30 seconds, which means PlayIt Live will accept any combination of tracks that gets within 30 seconds of the target time.
What Target Threshold controls: This setting determines the acceptable margin of error when scheduling content up to the end of an hour or a fixed time marker. PlayIt Live will generate multiple combinations of playout log items and select the first combination that fits within your Target Threshold, or the best-fitting combination if none meet the threshold.
How to configure it: Go to File > Settings and click on the Advanced Scheduling tab. Look for the Fitting To Time settings section where you can adjust the Target Threshold value. Note that the Advanced Scheduling module is required to modify these parameters.
Impact of changing the setting: Decreasing the Target Threshold (making it more strict) will make PlayIt Live work harder to find combinations that fit more precisely within your target time. For example, setting it to 10 seconds means PlayIt Live will only accept track combinations that get within 10 seconds of the target time, resulting in more accurate scheduling.
Trade-offs to consider: A smaller Target Threshold will increase the time it takes to schedule playout log items, as PlayIt Live needs to generate more combinations to find one that meets the stricter criteria. The system will spend up to the Seconds Per Fit time limit (default 2 seconds) and generate up to the Number of Attempts (default 25) trying to find a suitable combination.
Practical example: With the default settings (30-second threshold, 25 attempts, 2 seconds per fit), PlayIt Live will generate up to 25 different combinations of tracks and select the first one that gets within 30 seconds of the hour end. If you reduce the threshold to 10 seconds, it becomes more selective and may need to use more of its 25 attempts to find a combination that meets the stricter requirement.
Read full answer
How do I configure track group icons alongside colours for better visual identification in Live-Assist Mode?
In addition to colours, PlayIt Live allows you to assign custom icons to track groups for enhanced visual identification on your playout log. Using both colours and icons together provides the clearest visual system for different content types.
Setting up track group icons:
Go to Manage > Track Groups and select the track group you want to customize. In the track group editor:
Tick the Icon checkbox to enable icon display
Click in the icon box to open the Select Icon window
Choose from the available built-in icons or your custom icons
Set the Priority value to determine which icon displays when tracks appear in multiple groups
Available built-in icons:
PlayIt Live includes various built-in icons suitable for different content types - music notes, microphones, clocks, and other broadcast-related symbols at 256x256 pixels with transparency.
Adding your own custom icons:
To add custom icons, navigate to C:\ProgramData\PlayIt Live\icons\ folder (note: ProgramData is a hidden folder). Add your own 256x256 PNG files with transparency to this location. PlayIt Live uses the filename (without extension) to identify icons, so avoid:
Using the same filename with different extensions
Prefixing filenames with "playit-" (reserved for built-in icons)
After adding custom icons, restart PlayIt Live to make them available in the Select Icon window.
Combining colours and icons:
For maximum visual clarity, use both colours and icons:
Colour provides immediate visual grouping from a distance
Icons offer specific identification when viewing the playout log closely
Different combinations help distinguish between similar content types
Priority system:
When tracks appear in multiple track groups, the group with the highest priority value determines both the displayed colour and icon on the playout log.
Best practices:
Use intuitive icons that match your content - musical notes for songs, microphones for voice content, clock symbols for time-sensitive items, and distinctive colours that contrast well against the PlayIt Live interface.
Read full answer
How do I connect PlayIt Live to Live365?
To connect PlayIt Live to Live365, you'll need to configure the Internet Broadcast feature with your Live365 streaming credentials. Go to Tools > Internet Broadcast in PlayIt Live and click Add Stream. Select Icecast as the Server Type (Live365 uses Icecast-compatible servers). You'll find your streaming credentials in your Live365 Dashboard at https://dashboard.live365.com/ by selecting Streaming from the left column Station Menu, then locate the LiveDJ area. Enter your server address, port, username, password, and mount point from Live365 into the corresponding fields in PlayIt Live. Configure your audio quality settings according to Live365's requirements, and tick Enable title streaming if you want song information to display on your Live365 player. Once configured, click OK and use the Start All Streams button to begin broadcasting. You can verify the connection is working by checking your Live365 dashboard to confirm your stream is online.
Read full answer
How do I create a Filtered track group that only includes songs from a specific year?
You can create a Filtered track group for a specific year by going to Manage > Track Groups and selecting Add New Track Group, then choosing Filtered Track Group from the options.
In the Edit Filtered Track Group window, enter a name for your track group (such as "Songs from 1985" or "2010 Hits"). Then set up your filter using the Year field with the equals (=) operation and enter your desired year as the value. For example, to filter tracks from 1985, you would set Field to "Year", Operation to "=", and Filter value to "1985".
As you build your filter, the Matched tracks list will automatically update to show which tracks will be included in the group, allowing you to verify that your filter is working correctly. You can also combine year filters with other criteria using AND and OR operators. For instance, you could create a filter like "Year = 1980 AND Genre = Rock" to include only rock songs from 1980.
Once you click OK to save the track group, it will automatically include any existing tracks from that year and will continue to update as you add new tracks with matching year information to your library. The track group will then be available in the Track Group selector throughout PlayIt Live for filtering and scheduling purposes.
Read full answer
How do I create a new track group?
To create a new track group in PlayIt Live, go to Manage > Track Groups and click the Add New button. This will open the Choose Track Group Type window where you can select from three different types of track groups.
Listed Track Group allows you to manually select specific tracks to add to the group. Choose this option if you want to handpick exactly which tracks belong in the group. You'll then use the > button to move tracks from the available tracks list into your track group.
Filtered Track Group creates a dynamic group based on track properties like Artist, Title, Genre, Year, or Type. This is ideal for automatically grouping tracks that share common characteristics. For example, you could create a filter for "Genre = Rock" or "Year >= 2000 AND Year < 2010" to group tracks from the 2000s. The group will automatically update as you add new tracks that match your criteria.
Grouped Track Group combines multiple existing track groups into a single group. This is useful for creating broader categories that encompass several smaller groups.
Once you've selected your track group type and configured it with a name and settings, you can optionally assign a colour and icon that will appear on the playout log to make different content types easily recognisable. If a track appears in multiple groups, you can set a priority to determine which colour takes precedence.
After creating your track group, it will be available for use in clocks, the playout pattern, and for filtering the track list on the main interface. Track groups are essential for organising your music library and controlling how tracks are scheduled in Live-Assist Mode.
Read full answer
How do I create a report showing which tracks played during my breakfast show?
PlayIt Live provides a simple way to generate reports showing which tracks played during specific time periods like your breakfast show using the Logged Tracks feature.
Accessing Logged Tracks:
Go to Manage > Logged Tracks to access the reporting tool. This window shows all tracks that have been logged (played) by PlayIt Live, with each track storing a timestamp showing when it was played.
Filtering for Your Show:
Use the Custom date filter option to specify your breakfast show time period. Click the calendar dropdown to select your dates and set the specific times. For example, you could set it to show tracks from 06:00 to 10:00 (6:00 AM to 10:00 AM) for a specific date range to capture your entire breakfast show.
Exporting Your Report:
Once you've filtered the results to your desired timeframe, click the Export to CSV button. This will open a window allowing you to select which fields you want to include in your report, such as artist, title, play time, track group, and other relevant information.
Using Your Report:
The exported CSV file can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application for further analysis, formatting, and distribution. This makes it easy to create professional reports for management, track your music rotation, or analyse your show's content.
Tips for Regular Reporting:
For ongoing breakfast show reporting, you can quickly generate weekly or monthly reports by adjusting the date range in the custom filter. This allows you to maintain consistent documentation of what played during your regular show hours.
Read full answer
How do I create a simple category rotation for my radio station?
Setting up a simple category rotation in PlayIt Live involves creating Track Groups for each rotation category and configuring how they're scheduled in your programming.
Creating your rotation categories:
Go to Manage > Track Groups and create separate groups for each rotation tier, such as "A Rotation", "B Rotation", and "C Rotation". Add your tracks to the appropriate groups based on how frequently you want them to play - typically A rotation contains your most popular current tracks, B rotation contains secondary tracks, and C rotation contains older or speciality content.
Configuring scheduling strategies:
For each track group, set the Track Scheduling Strategy to control how tracks are selected. The Smart Selection strategy works well for rotations as it uses a weighted random algorithm where tracks played longer ago have a higher chance of being selected, preventing repetition whilst maintaining variety. You can also use Most Rested which always selects the track that was played longest ago for even rotation.
Adding to your programming:
Use your rotation categories in either the Playout Pattern or Clocks. For the Playout Pattern, go to Manage > Playout Pattern and add your rotation track groups in your desired order. For more precise control, create clocks via Manage > Clocks and add Track Group items for each rotation category, setting different ratios - for example, include two A rotation slots for every one B rotation slot to make A rotation tracks play twice as frequently.
Visual identification:
Set different colours for each rotation category in the track group settings to make them easily identifiable on your playout log during live broadcasts.
Read full answer
How do I create a Web Link that searches for both artist and song title together?
You can create Web Links that combine both artist and song title in a single search by using multiple placeholders in the URL. This is particularly useful for finding specific songs rather than just artist information.
To create a combined artist and title search:
Go to File > Settings in PlayIt Live
Click on the Web Links tab
Click the Add button to create a new web link
In the Display Text field, enter: Google: {artist} - {title}
In the URL field, enter: https://www.google.com/search?q={artist} - {title}
Click OK to save your settings
Popular examples for combined searches:
Google Search:
Display Text: Google: {artist} - {title}
URL: https://www.google.com/search?q={artist} - {title}
Wikipedia Song Search:
Display Text: Wikipedia: {artist} - {title}
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search={artist} - {title}
Discogs Release Search:
Display Text: Discogs: {artist} - {title}
URL: https://www.discogs.com/search/?q={artist} - {title}type=release
YouTube Music Video Search:
Display Text: YouTube: {artist} - {title}
URL: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query={artist} - {title}
How it works:
When you right-click on a track and select your web link, PlayIt Live automatically replaces {artist} with the artist name and {title} with the song title. For example, if you have a track by "The Beatles" called "Hey Jude", the search will become "The Beatles - Hey Jude".
Customising the format:
You can adjust the format between artist and title:
Use {artist} - {title} for "Artist - Title" format
Use {artist} {title} for "Artist Title" format (no hyphen)
Use {title} by {artist} for "Title by Artist" format
This approach helps you find more specific information about individual songs rather than general artist information.
Read full answer
How do I create additional QuickCart pages for different shows?
You can create multiple QuickCart pages to organise specific jingles and audio content for different shows. To create a new page, click on the page name at the top of the QuickCart area to open the QuickCart Pages Window. In this window, click the Add Page button to add a new page to the bottom of the list. You can then use the Rename Page button to give the page a specific name for your show. The new page will be automatically saved and available the next time you run the software. Use the left and right arrow buttons to navigate between pages during your show.
This feature is particularly useful when specific jingles or audio content are used for certain shows, allowing you to create dedicated pages for later use.
Read full answer
How do I create backup content that plays if a scheduled priority stream doesn't connect?
To create backup content for when a scheduled priority stream doesn't connect, you need to add regular playout items (tracks or track groups) to your playout log that match the format of the streaming show. These items act as a fallback if the priority stream is disconnected or doesn't turn up.
Here's how to set this up:
Create your clock with backup content:
Go to Manage > Clocks and create a clock that includes both the Scheduled Event Action to open your priority stream and the backup tracks. Add tracks or track group items that match the format of the show being streamed after the action that opens the priority stream.
Schedule the backup content in your playout log:
When you schedule your clock into the playout log (Manage > Playout Log), include these items in sequence:
Hard Fixed Time Marker for your show start time
Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Open '[Your Stream Name]'
Your backup tracks (music, jingles, or pre-recorded content)
When the priority stream is active and connected, it will take over and play instead of the backup content. If the priority stream disconnects or never connects, PlayIt Live automation will automatically continue with the backup tracks you've scheduled. This ensures your listeners always hear appropriate content without dead air, even if your remote presenter doesn't connect.
Read full answer
How do I create custom track groups for different music genres or eras?
You can create custom track groups to organise your music library by genres or eras using Filtered Track Groups. These allow you to dynamically group tracks based on specific criteria such as genre, year, or other track properties.
To create a filtered track group, go to Manage Track Groups and select Filtered Track Group. You can filter tracks using fields like Genre for music genres (e.g., Rock, Pop, Jazz) or Year for different eras (e.g., tracks from the 1980s using "Year >= 1980 AND Year < 1990"). You can combine multiple conditions using AND and OR operators to create complex filters, such as filtering for "Rock music from the 1990s" or "Pop songs with a specific artist". The system will automatically update the track group as you add new music that matches your criteria.
Read full answer
How do I create my first Web Link to search for artist information on Wikipedia?
Web Links in PlayIt Live allow you to quickly search for information about tracks by right-clicking on any track in the main interface or segue editor. Here's how to set up your first Wikipedia link:
To create a Wikipedia Web Link:
Go to File > Settings in PlayIt Live
Click on the Web Links tab
Click the Add button to create a new web link
In the Display Text field, enter: Wikipedia: {artist}
In the URL field, enter: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search={artist}
Click OK to save your settings
How it works:
When you right-click on any track, you'll now see "Wikipedia: [Artist Name]" in the context menu. Clicking this will open your web browser and search Wikipedia directly for that artist.
Using placeholders:
{artist} - Replaced with the track's artist name
{title} - Replaced with the track's title
{album} - Replaced with the track's album name
Example result: If you right-click on a track by "ABBA", the menu will show "Wikipedia: ABBA" and clicking it will search Wikipedia for information about ABBA.
You can create multiple Web Links for different services like Google, AllMusic, or Discogs using the same method with different URLs.
Read full answer
How do I create user accounts for presenters to log into PlayIt Live locally?
You can create user accounts for your presenters by going to Manage > Users in PlayIt Live. First, make sure to tick "Require users to log in" to enable the user login system, but ensure you have administrator access before doing so.
To add a new presenter account, click "Add New" and fill in their Display Name (their real name that will show on the interface), a unique Username for login, and a Password (minimum 6 characters). You can tick "User must change password at next login" if you want them to set their own password.
For presenter permissions, avoid ticking "Is Admin" as this would give them full access to all settings. Instead, only grant the specific permissions they need for their role, such as access to the main interface whilst restricting them from adding new tracks or changing settings. This ensures presenters can operate the software without being able to modify critical system configurations.
Read full answer
How do I delete a track from PlayIt Live?
To delete a track from PlayIt Live, go to Manage > Tracks which opens the Manage Tracks window. In the track list, locate the track you want to remove and click the Delete button next to it. A confirmation window will appear to ensure you want to delete the track as this action is irreversible.
You can also delete multiple tracks at once by selecting them using Ctrl+A to select all tracks or holding Ctrl while clicking individual tracks, then pressing the Delete key. Remember to click Apply or OK to save your changes.
Note that deleting a track only removes it from the PlayIt Live database - it doesn't delete the actual audio file from your computer.
Read full answer
How do I delete a track group I no longer need?
To delete a track group in PlayIt Live, go to Manage > Track Groups from the main window. In the Manage Track Groups window, find the track group you want to remove in the list and select it by clicking on it. Then either click the red delete icon on that row or press the Delete key on your keyboard. A confirmation message will appear to ensure you want to delete the track group, as this action cannot be undone. Click OK to confirm the deletion, then click Apply or OK to save your changes.
Before deleting a track group, check if it's being used in any clocks or playout policies. If the track group is referenced in clock items or playout policies, deleting it will change the behaviour of those elements. You may need to update your clocks and policies to use a different track group before deletion.
Deleting a track group only removes the grouping itself, not the actual tracks within it. The tracks will remain in your database and can still be accessed through the All Tracks group or other track groups they belong to.
Read full answer
How do I delete or restore items from the playout log?
To delete an item from the playout log, click the Bin/Trash button which will soft delete the item (it remains in the log but won't play). To restore a soft deleted item, click the Restore button. To permanently hard delete an item, hold CTRL while clicking the delete button. If an item is currently playing, you'll see an Eject button instead which will fade out the item and advance to the next one.
Read full answer
How do I disable a Internet Broadcast stream temporarily without deleting the configuration?
To temporarily disable an Internet Broadcast stream in PlayIt Live without losing your configuration settings, you can use the Disabled checkbox feature.
Using the Disabled checkbox:
Go to Tools > Internet Broadcast and click Edit Stream on the stream you want to disable. In the Edit Internet Broadcast Stream window, scroll down and tick the Disabled checkbox near the bottom of the window. Click OK to save your changes.
What happens when a stream is disabled:
When a stream is marked as disabled, it will not start automatically in two situations:
When you have Auto start streams enabled and launch PlayIt Live
When you click the Start All Streams button
Re-enabling the stream:
To re-enable the stream for automatic starting, simply edit the stream again and untick the Disabled checkbox. The stream will then participate in auto-start and bulk start operations as normal.
Read full answer
How do I display more information about tracks in the playout log?
To display more information about tracks, right-click the column headings at the top of the playout log and select which columns you want to show. You can reorder the columns using the up and down buttons. You can also expand individual log items by clicking on them to see additional details like Out Cue, Intro, Album, Genre, Year, and Comments.
Read full answer
How do I edit basic track information like artist and title?
You can edit basic track information such as artist and title by going to Manage > Tracks in PlayIt Live. From the track list, either double-click on the track you want to edit or select it and click the Edit button to open the Edit Track window.
In the Edit Track window, you'll find the track information section where you can modify the Artist, Title, Album, Genre, Year, Type, and Tags fields. The Artist, Genre, and Tags fields will attempt to auto-complete if there's similar information on other tracks, helping to keep your data consistent across your music library.
You can also bulk edit multiple tracks at once by selecting them (hold CTRL or SHIFT to select multiple tracks) and then clicking the Edit button. This is particularly useful when you need to update information for several tracks from the same artist or album. Once you've made your changes, click OK or Apply to save the updated track information.
Read full answer
How do I edit segues between tracks?
To edit segues between tracks, click the Edit button on any playout log item. This will launch the segue editor where you can fine-tune the transition between the current track and the preceding and succeeding tracks. The segue editor allows you to adjust timing, volume levels, fade envelopes, and positioning of tracks relative to each other.
Read full answer
How do I enable or disable a track?
To enable or disable a track from being scheduled by PlayIt Live's automation, go to Manage > Tracks and select the track you want to modify. Click Edit to open the Track Editor, then click on the Scheduling tab.
In the Scheduling tab, you'll find the Disabled checkbox. When this box is ticked, the track will be disabled and won't be considered by the scheduler when scheduling track group items. When unticked, the track is enabled and available for scheduling.
You can also set Valid From and Expires dates to control when tracks are available for scheduling. Tracks won't be considered by the scheduler if the scheduling time is before the Valid From date or after midnight on the Expires date.
This is useful for temporarily removing tracks from rotation without deleting them from your library - for example, seasonal content or tracks that need updates.
Read full answer
How do I enable or disable scrubbing (seeking) on the deck player progress bars?
To enable or disable scrubbing (seeking) on the deck player progress bars in PlayIt Live:
To enable scrubbing: Tick the Toggle scrubber checkbox located next to the progress bar. When active, the progress bar will turn blue, indicating that scrubbing is enabled. You can then click anywhere on the progress bar to seek to that position in the track.
To disable scrubbing: Simply untick the Toggle scrubber checkbox next to the progress bar. This will return the progress bar to its default black colour and disable seeking functionality.
Scrubbing is disabled by default to prevent accidental seeking during live broadcasts. When enabled, you can click on any position within the progress bar to jump to that point in the track.
Read full answer
How do I enable or disable the on-screen clock display on the main interface?
You can enable or disable the on-screen clock display through the PlayIt Live settings. Go to File > Settings and click on the General tab. In the Time and Date display section, you'll find an option to enable or disable the on-screen clock on the main interface.
When enabled, the on-screen clock shows the current date and time by default, but can be configured to display up to two additional clocks. You can right-click the clock and select Configure to choose from different display options including Current Time, Until End of Hour, Until Time in Hour, Until Next Fixed Time Marker, or Until Next Stop. You can also change the text colour of the clocks through this configuration menu.
The on-screen clock setting is purely a visual preference and doesn't affect any of PlayIt Live's timing or scheduling functionality. Changes take effect immediately after clicking OK with no restart required.
Read full answer
How do I enable track title streaming to listeners?
Track title streaming allows your listeners to see the currently playing song information in their media players, streaming apps, or on your website. PlayIt Live can automatically send this metadata to your internet streams.
To enable track title streaming, first set up your internet broadcast stream via Tools > Internet Broadcast. When configuring your stream, ensure the Enable title streaming checkbox is ticked in the stream settings. This tells PlayIt Live to send track metadata along with your audio stream.
Next, configure the Now Playing feature by going to Tools > Now Playing. Add a new target and select Internet Broadcast as the target type. In the template field, use {{text}} which automatically switches between your track template (like "{{artist}} - {{title}}") when a song is playing and your fallback template when no track is playing. You can add filters to ensure only specific track types like "Song" send metadata, preventing voice tracks or jingles from appearing as "now playing" information.
The Now Playing feature is configured to send track information to all connected internet broadcast streams by default, so your listeners will automatically receive the current track information in their players.
Read full answer
How do I ensure artists don't repeat too close together in the playlist?
To prevent artists from repeating too close together, you need to create a Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy. This ensures that tracks by the same artist are separated by a minimum time period that you specify.
First, navigate to the Manage Playout Policies window and click Add New. Select Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy from the options. In the policy settings, set the Artist separation time using the up and down arrows to specify the minimum number of hours or minutes that should pass before an artist is played again. You can choose between hours and minutes using the dropdown menu. For example, you might set this to 2 hours for songs to ensure sufficient variety in your playlist. You can also apply the policy to specific track groups by checking the Apply to specific track groups checkbox if you only want the separation rules to apply to certain types of content like songs rather than jingles.
Read full answer
How do I ensure my news bulletin always starts exactly at 30 minutes past the hour?
To ensure your news bulletin starts exactly at 30 minutes past the hour in PlayIt Live, you need to use a Hard Fixed Time Marker in your clock template.
Setting up the Fixed Time Marker:
Go to Manage > Clocks and edit the clock that runs during your news hour. Add a Fixed Time Marker and set it to exactly 30:00 (30 minutes past the hour). Choose the Hard type rather than Soft or Not Before - this is crucial as a Hard Fixed Time Marker will cause any currently playing items to immediately fade out and stop at the specified time, ensuring your news bulletin starts precisely on schedule.
Example clock structure:
Here's what your clock should look like:
Fixed Time Marker - Hard, 00:00 (top of hour)
Track Group - Jingles (station ID)
Track Group - A Rotation (song)
Track Group - B Rotation (song)
Track Group - Jingles (presenter link)
Track Group - A Rotation (song)
Track Group - B Rotation (song)
Track Group - Jingles (news intro)
... (add more tracks as needed to fill 30 minutes)
Fixed Time Marker - Hard, 30:00 (exactly 30 minutes past)
Track or Remote URL - News Bulletin (your news audio file or live news stream)
Track Group - A Rotation (song to follow news)
... (continue with content for remainder of hour)
Important timing consideration:
You should include enough content before the 30-minute Fixed Time Marker to fill approximately 30 minutes of airtime. If you don't have enough items in your clock, PlayIt Live will automatically use your Playout Pattern to fill the remaining time until the Fixed Time Marker is reached.
Key points:
The Hard Fixed Time Marker guarantees that regardless of what's playing before it, playback will stop at exactly 30 minutes past and move to your news bulletin. Any track playing when the marker is reached will immediately fade out and stop.
Scheduling the clock:
Once your clock is configured, schedule it via Manage > Clock Schedule for the appropriate hours when you want news bulletins. The Fixed Time Marker ensures perfect timing every time without manual intervention.
Read full answer
How do I ensure my power rotation tracks play more frequently than recurrents?
To ensure your power rotation tracks play more frequently than recurrents, you need to configure your track scheduling strategy and track groups properly.
Track Groups and Separation: First, ensure your power rotation and recurrent tracks are organised into separate track groups. You can then apply different playout policies with varying track separation times - set shorter separation times for power rotation tracks to allow them to repeat sooner, and longer separation times for recurrents.
Scheduling Strategy: Use the Most Rested scheduling strategy for track groups containing power rotation content. This ensures tracks that haven't played for the longest time are prioritised. You can set this in Settings > Live-Assist Mode > Default track scheduling strategy or configure it individually for each track group in your clocks via Track Group Settings > Track scheduling strategy.
Clock Configuration: Structure your programming clocks to include more power rotation track group slots compared to recurrent slots within each hour. For example, if you want power tracks to play twice as often, include two power rotation track group items for every one recurrent track group item in your clock template.
Read full answer
How do I ensure my voice tracks are actually being sent to the server?
When remote voice tracking, you can monitor the Update Queue section in the Session Controls panel on the right-hand side of the interface. This queue displays all commands being sent to the server, including your recorded voice tracks and any segue changes you make.
If the commands are showing as Processed, this confirms they are being successfully accepted by the remote voice tracking server. It's worth regularly checking this queue to ensure everything is being processed as expected. Before ending your remote session, make sure all pending items in the update queue have finished processing, otherwise your hour may be incomplete. Do not close your browser until all items show as processed.
Read full answer
How do I export my played tracks to Excel?
You can export your played tracks to Excel by using PlayIt Live's Logged Tracks feature, which maintains a record of all tracks that have been played on your station.
To access logged tracks:
Go to Manage > Logged Tracks from the main menu. This opens the Logged Tracks window, which displays a list of recently played tracks with timestamps showing when each track was broadcast.
Filtering your data:
Before exporting, you can filter the data to show only the tracks you need:
Past 24 hours - Shows tracks played in the last day
Past 7 days - Shows tracks played in the last week
Past 30 days - Shows tracks played in the last month
Custom date range - Select specific start and end dates using the calendar dropdown
Exporting to CSV:
Once you've filtered to show the tracks you want to export, click the CSV button. This opens an export dialogue where you can select which fields to include in your export, such as track title, artist, play time, duration, and other metadata.
After selecting your desired fields, click Export and choose where to save the CSV file on your computer.
Opening in Excel:
The exported CSV file can be opened directly in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet applications like Google Sheets. The CSV format preserves all your data in a structured format that's perfect for creating reports, charts, or further analysis of your station's playlist history.
This export feature is particularly useful for music reporting, royalty submissions, creating playlist reports for clients, or analysing your station's music rotation patterns.
Read full answer
How do I export my track list to CSV?
You can export your track list to CSV format directly from the Manage Tracks window. Go to Manage > Tracks and you'll see an Export to CSV button at the top of the track list.
The export includes any filters you've applied, so if you want to export a specific subset of tracks, you can first filter by track group using the dropdown selector or search for specific tracks using the search box. The CSV export will only include the tracks currently visible in your filtered view.
When you click Export to CSV, you'll be prompted to choose a location to save the file. The exported CSV file will contain track information including Artist, Title, Duration, Path, and other track metadata. This format can be opened in spreadsheet applications like Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis, reporting, or importing into other systems.
The CSV export is particularly useful for creating reports, backing up your track metadata, or this can be used to export the tracks, edit data efficiently within excel and then reimport back. You can also use the exported CSV as a template if you need to import tracks later using the From a CSV import file option in the Add New Tracks Wizard.
Read full answer
How do I filter tracks by track group?
You can filter tracks by track group using the Track Group selector dropdown, which is available in several locations throughout PlayIt Live. This allows you to view only tracks that belong to a specific track group, making it easier to find the content you need.
The Track Group selector is found in the Manage > Tracks window, where you can select a track group from the dropdown to filter the track list to show only tracks that exist in the selected track group. This is particularly useful when managing large music libraries or when you need to work with specific categories of content like jingles, songs from a particular era, or tracks by genre.
You can also filter tracks by track group on the main interface using the track list on the right-hand side of the screen. Simply select your desired track group from the dropdown selector, and the track list will update to display only tracks from that group. This filtered view is especially helpful during live broadcasts when you need quick access to specific types of content, such as station IDs or music from particular decades.
The filtering works with all three types of track groups: Listed (manually selected tracks), Filtered (tracks matching specific criteria), and Grouped (combinations of other track groups). To clear the filter and see all tracks again, simply select the All Tracks option from the dropdown.
Read full answer
How do I generate future hours in advance for voice tracking?
To generate future hours in advance for voice tracking, go to Manage > Playout Log, set your date range to include the future hours you want to generate, and click the Schedule button. This will populate your future hours based on the clocks you've already scheduled via Manage > Clock Schedule. Once scheduled, click OK to save changes and then navigate to the future hour on the main interface to voice track. Remember to first set up your clocks via Manage > Clocks and schedule them via Manage > Clock Schedule before generating the log hours.
Read full answer
How do I generate monthly airplay reports for music licensing organisations?
PlayIt Live automatically logs all played tracks for reporting purposes, making it easy to generate monthly airplay reports for music licensing organisations like PRS, PPL, ASCAP, or BMI.
To generate a monthly report, go to Manage > Logged Tracks and select Custom date filter to set your desired month. Choose your start and end dates using the calendar controls. The logged tracks list will display all tracks played during that period, showing the track title, artist, play time, and additional metadata like ISRC codes and record labels if available.
Click the Export to CSV button to generate a spreadsheet file containing all the logged track information. This CSV file can be opened in Excel or other spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets. The export includes comprehensive track data including artist, title, album, play time, duration, ISRC codes, and record labels when available. You can customise which fields to include in the export by selecting or deselecting them in the export options window.
For enhanced reporting, ensure you've populated ISRC codes and record label information when managing your tracks via Manage > Tracks. This additional metadata helps licensing organisations accurately identify and process your airplay data for royalty calculations.
Read full answer
How do I handle clock scheduling when I need shows that start at 30-minute intervals?
PlayIt Live's clock scheduler is designed to work with full-hour increments only, but you can effectively create shows that start at 30-minute intervals by using Fixed Time Markers within a single clock structure.
Creating a 30-minute clock structure:
Go to Manage > Clocks and create a single clock that contains both half-hour segments. Structure your clock as follows:
Add a Fixed Time Marker at 00:00 (start of hour)
Add all content for your first 30-minute segment (tracks, voice tracks, jingles, etc.)
Add another Fixed Time Marker at 30:00 (30 minutes past the hour)
Add all content for your second 30-minute segment
How Fixed Time Markers ensure precise timing:
The Fixed Time Markers act as anchor points that guarantee each segment begins exactly at the specified time. The first marker ensures content starts precisely at the top of the hour, whilst the second marker ensures the second segment begins exactly at 30 minutes past, regardless of how the first segment's content runs.
Scheduling your 30-minute shows:
Once you've created your dual-segment clock, schedule it normally via Manage > Clock Schedule. The clock will be scheduled for the full hour, but the Fixed Time Markers will automatically separate it into two distinct 30-minute segments during playout.
Using different content for each segment:
This approach allows you to run completely different programmes within the same scheduled hour. For example, you could have a music show from 00:00-00:30 and a news programme from 00:30-01:00, all within a single clock structure.
Alternative for different shows:
If you need to run entirely different shows that happen to start at 30-minute intervals, create separate clocks for each segment and use the Fixed Time Marker method to ensure they begin at the correct times within their scheduled hours.
Read full answer
How do I hide a track group so it doesn't appear in the main interface?
You can hide track groups from appearing in the track group selector on the main interface by using the Hidden checkbox in the Manage Track Groups window. This is useful for track groups that you want to keep in the system but don't need regular access to.
To hide a track group, go to Manage > Track Groups and locate the track group you want to hide. Check the Hidden checkbox next to that track group, then click Apply or OK to save the changes. The track group will no longer appear in the track group selector dropdown on the main PlayIt Live interface, but it will still exist in the system and can be used for scheduling purposes in clocks and playout policies.
Read full answer
How do I import and export internet broadcast stream settings?
You can import and export internet broadcast stream settings using the Import/Export Settings button in the Edit Internet Broadcast Stream window. This feature allows you to save stream configurations to an XML file and share them with other users, which is particularly helpful for station managers who want to distribute settings to presenters to avoid configuration errors.
To export settings, open the stream you want to export by clicking Edit Stream in the Internet Broadcast window, then click the Import/Export Settings button and choose to export the configuration to an XML file. To import settings, click the Import/Export Settings button in any stream configuration window and select the XML file containing the stream settings you want to load. This will populate all the server details, audio quality settings, and metadata information from the saved configuration.
Read full answer
How do I import tracks from a CSV file?
You can import tracks from a CSV file using the Add New Tracks Wizard, which is particularly useful when migrating from another playout system while preserving track data and cue points.
To import tracks from a CSV file:
Go to Manage > Tracks and click Add New. In the Add New Tracks Wizard, select From a CSV import file and click Next. Browse and select your CSV file to begin the import process.
CSV file format requirements:
Your CSV file must include specific column headers that PlayIt Live recognises. The supported columns are:
Artist, Title, Album, Path, Duration (seconds), Intro, Cue In, Cue Out, Genre, Year, Out Cue, Tags, Comments, ISRC, Record Label, Type, Disabled, Expires, Valid From, No Fade, Sweeper
Creating a template CSV:
To generate a properly formatted template, go to Manage > Tracks and click Export track list to CSV. This creates a sample file showing the correct column structure and format. You can then modify this template with your new track information.
Important notes:
The Path column should contain the full file path to each audio file. Ensure all audio files referenced in the CSV are accessible from your PlayIt Live computer. Duration should be specified in seconds, and cue points (Intro, Cue In, Cue Out) should also be in seconds from the start of the track.
This method is especially valuable when migrating libraries from other broadcast systems, as it preserves valuable metadata like cue points that would otherwise need manual re-entry.
Read full answer
How do I jump to a specific position in a track using the Pre-Fade Listen window?
To jump to a specific position in a track using the Pre-Fade Listen window, simply double-click on any part of the waveform where you want to advance to. This will immediately move the playback position to that point in the track.
For more precise positioning, you can use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the waveform first, which makes it easier to target the exact position you want to jump to.
Read full answer
How do I know if a track has a missing audio file?
You can identify tracks with missing audio files by using the Missing Track File Analysis tool. Go to Tools, then Missing Track File Analysis and click the Scan for missing track files button. This will search your entire database and present a comprehensive list of all tracks that reference files that cannot be found. From this window, you can choose to update the path to the correct location if you've moved your audio files, or delete the track entries from the database if the files are permanently gone.
Read full answer
How do I know which items will be deleted before running the database clean-up?
PlayIt Live includes a "Dry Run" feature that shows you counts of items that will be deleted before the database clean-up actually removes any data.
To preview deletion counts:
Go to Tools > Database Clean-up and click Start Clean-up. PlayIt Live will immediately prompt you to try a Dry Run of the clean-up process so you can see how many items will be deleted.
What the dry run shows:
The dry run displays numerical counts of items that would be removed, including the number of old playout log items, voice tracks, and orphaned files. Orphaned files are those in the voice track recordings folder or audio store folder that are no longer referenced in tracks or voice track items in your database.
Making the final decision:
After reviewing the dry run counts, you have two options. Select Clean-up Now if you're satisfied with the quantities shown and want to proceed with the actual clean-up. Alternatively, you can cancel if the counts seem too high or you're uncertain about proceeding.
Why use the dry run:
This safety feature prevents accidental deletion by showing you the scope of what will be removed. While it doesn't list individual items, the counts help you understand whether the clean-up will remove a few items or a substantial amount of data, allowing you to make an informed decision.
The dry run is particularly valuable when you want to free up disk space but need to understand the scale of deletion before committing to the process.
Read full answer
How do I load tracks into the Decks Mode players?
You can load tracks into Decks Mode players using two simple methods:
Drag and drop from the Track List: Simply drag a track from the Track List (located on the right side of the main window) and drop it onto the Decks Mode player where you want to load it.
Drag and drop from your computer: You can also drag audio files directly from Windows Explorer (or your file system) and drop them onto any Decks Mode player.
When a track is loaded into the player, it will automatically cue to the Cue In point if this has been set on the track. The track title will be displayed in the format "Artist - Title" and you can then use the Play, Pause, and Stop buttons to control playback.
Read full answer
How do I loop tracks in PlayIt Live?
PlayIt Live includes the ability to loop tracks continuously using QuickCarts. QuickCarts are single-click one-shot players typically used for jingles, promos, or beds. To use the looping function: Load an audio file into a QuickCart, edit the QuickCart settings, enable the Loop option and set the Loop A and Loop B points if desired. When the Loop option is enabled, the QuickCart will continuously play between the set loop points (or the entire track if loop points are not set).
Read full answer
How do I make keyboard shortcuts in PlayIt Live work with external controllers like a Stream Deck?
To ensure your keyboard shortcuts work with external controllers like Stream Deck or when PlayIt Live doesn't have focus, you need to enable the "Global trigger" setting. Go to File > Settings, click on the "Keyboard" tab, and tick the "Global trigger" checkbox at the bottom of the keyboard settings section. This single setting applies to all configured shortcuts, ensuring they work even when PlayIt Live is in the background. After enabling this option, click OK to save your changes. If shortcuts still don't work, check whether another application might be intercepting the same key combinations.
Read full answer
How do I make sure an advert block always plays even if we're running behind schedule?
To ensure your advert blocks always play regardless of timing issues, you need to mark them as Protected items. Protected items cannot be dropped by Fixed Time Markers or affected by the Auto Adjust feature, which means they'll always play even when you're running behind schedule.
When adding an advert block to your clock via Manage > Clocks, make sure to tick the Protected checkbox for the advert block item. This will ensure that when the clock is scheduled into your playout log, the advert block will inherit the protected status.
You can also mark existing advert blocks as protected directly in the playout log. Go to Manage > Playout Log, find your advert block items, and tick the Protected checkbox for each one. Protected items will display with a shield icon on the main interface to indicate their status.
The protected status is particularly important when using Fixed Time Markers or the Auto Adjust feature. Normally, these features might drop items that would cause the schedule to overrun, but protected items are specifically exempted from this behaviour. This makes the protected flag essential for commercial content that must be played for contractual or revenue reasons.
If you're using automated scheduling, consider setting up your clocks so that advert blocks are always positioned before Fixed Time Markers rather than after them. This way, even if previous content runs long, the advert block will still have time to play before the hard timing constraint kicks in.
Remember that whilst protected items won't be automatically dropped, they can still be manually deleted if needed. However, you'll need to use the Ellipsis button (...) to access the context menu rather than the standard delete button, providing an extra layer of protection against accidental deletion.
Read full answer
How do I make the scheduler treat collaborative tracks separately from solo artists?
You can use Multiple Artist Splits to separate collaborative tracks from solo artists, allowing the scheduler to treat each artist individually when applying playout policies.
To set this up, go to Manage > Multiple Artist Splits in PlayIt Manager or PlayIt Live. Click Add New Multiple Artist Split and enter the split text that commonly appears in your collaborative tracks, such as " feat. ", " ft. ", " featuring ", " with ", " & ", or " and ". Remember to include spaces around the text if you're splitting by words - for example, use " with " rather than "with" to avoid unintended matches in artist names like "Bill Withers".
Once configured, tracks like "Take That feat. Lulu" will be treated as separate artists (Take That and Lulu) by the scheduler. This means if you have an artist separation playout policy set to 2 hours, playing "Take That feat. Lulu" will prevent both Take That solo tracks and Lulu solo tracks from playing within that timeframe. You can verify your split text is working correctly by checking the Matched Artists table when editing your multiple artist split - this shows all the artists that will be separated using your chosen text.
Read full answer
How do I manage multiple broadcast streams simultaneously?
PlayIt Live allows you to broadcast to multiple streaming servers at the same time from a single installation. Go to Tools, then Internet Broadcast where you can add and configure multiple streams. Click Add Stream to create each additional stream, entering the server details provided by each streaming provider. Each stream can have different encoding settings, bitrates, and server configurations to suit different platforms or listener requirements.
You can control all streams collectively using the Start All Streams and Stop All Streams buttons, or manage individual streams by right-clicking them in the streams list to start or stop them independently. If you want streams to begin automatically when PlayIt Live launches, tick the Auto start streams checkbox. You can also enable or disable specific streams without deleting them by editing each stream and using the Disabled checkbox, which is useful if you want to temporarily pause certain broadcasts whilst keeping others running.
Read full answer
How do I manually set cue points using the waveform editor?
You can manually set cue points using the waveform editor in the Track Editor window. To access this, go to Manage > Tracks, select a track, and click Edit to open the track editor.
Setting cue points:
The waveform shows different coloured markers for each cue point type:
Cue In (grey) - where the track starts
Intro (blue) - where vocals begin
Hook Start/End (hot pink) - for hook sequences
Early Out (orange) - where the track is almost finished
Cue Out (red) - where the track ends
To set any cue point, use the Set button whilst listening to position the point at the current playback position. You can also Test any cue point by clicking its Test button to hear playback from that position.
Fine-tuning cue points:
For precise positioning, you can:
Use keyboard shortcuts: Left/Right arrows to adjust by 0.01 seconds, or Shift+Left/Right arrows for larger 0.1-second jumps
Click and drag over the cue point time value to adjust it
Double-click on the waveform to jump to a specific position
Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the waveform for more precision
Use Zoom buttons for detailed editing
Playback controls:
Use the Play and Stop buttons to control playback, or press the Spacebar. The Back and Forward buttons jump to the start or end of the track. You can test any set cue point by pressing Enter or double-clicking the cue point value.
Read full answer
How do I merge an external log file from Ad Master (or other traffic software) into PlayIt Live?
To merge an external log file into PlayIt Live, you need to set up three components: the external log file itself, a Merge External Log File action, and Merge Start and Merge End items in your clocks.
First, ensure your traffic software (such as Ad Master) generates .pipl files in a consistent location like C:\MergeLogs with a date pattern such as 2025-08-11.pipl. The file should contain lines with a start time and content ID separated by a tab.
Next, set up the Merge External Log File action by going to Manage then Scheduled Events and adding a new scheduled event, or by adding it directly to the playout log. Configure the Folder path, Date Pattern, Merge Type (typically Day), and Hour Offset (typically 0).
Finally, insert Merge Start and Merge End items in your clocks where you want the external content to appear. When the merge action runs, PlayIt Live will read the .pipl file and insert the content between these markers.
Read full answer
How do I mix down my completed show to an audio file?
Once you're happy with your voice-tracked show, click the Mixdown Audio button on the main window to export it as a single audio file.
In the Mixdown Audio window, choose where to save your file using the Browse button. Select your preferred format - either MP3 or WAV. For MP3 files, you can choose the bit rate and whether to output in mono or stereo (lower bit rates use less disk space but have lower audio quality).
If you need your show to match a specific duration, tick Extend/Trim or fade. This will extend short shows with silence or fade out shows that run too long. You can also apply dynamic range compression using the preset options to even out volume levels throughout your show.
Tick Save CUE file if you want to create a metadata file showing where each track is positioned within the audio file - this is useful if you're importing the show into PlayIt Live. Tick Open file after mixdown to automatically play the file once it's been created.
Click OK to start the mixdown process and you'll see the progress displayed.
Note: If you haven't purchased the Voice Tracking module, the mixed down audio will be periodically overlaid with an audio notice. To remove this, purchase the module at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Subscription/VoiceTracking
Read full answer
How do I navigate the playout log using keyboard shortcuts?
You can navigate the playout log by first selecting an item, then using these keyboard shortcuts: Up arrow moves one item up, Down arrow moves one item down, Page Up moves one page up, Page Down moves one page down, and Home moves the selection to the current item. This allows for quick navigation without using the mouse.
Read full answer
How do I navigate through a track using the Pre-Fade Listen window?
The Pre-Fade Listen window allows you to listen to a track before it airs. To navigate through a track, use the Play and Stop buttons to control playback. You can double-click on any part of the waveform to jump to that specific position in the track.
For more precise navigation, use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the waveform, which helps you select exact positions.
Read full answer
How do I navigate through the playout log to see past or future items?
You can scroll through the playout log using the mouse wheel or the up and down arrow buttons to the right of the log. To return to the current item, click the Home button. When the Home button is underlined, the log will automatically scroll with the current item. If you manually scroll away, auto-scrolling stops but will resume after 5 minutes or when you click Home again.
Read full answer
How do I override the artist and title text displayed on a QuickCart?
You can override the artist and title text displayed on a QuickCart by editing the cart settings. To do this, first ensure you're in Edit operation mode by clicking the pencil button. Then click on the QuickCart you want to modify to open the Edit QuickCart window.
In the Edit QuickCart window, you'll find Artist and Title checkboxes with text boxes next to them. Tick the Artist checkbox and type your desired artist name into the text box to override the displayed artist. Similarly, tick the Title checkbox and enter your preferred title text to override the displayed title. Once you've made your changes, click OK to confirm and apply them to the QuickCart.
Read full answer
How do I prevent certain tracks from being automatically dropped by time markers?
To prevent important tracks from being automatically dropped by Fixed Time Markers, you need to mark them as Protected when creating your clock templates or playout log items.
Setting protection in your clocks:
When editing a clock via Manage > Clocks, tick the Protected checkbox for any clock items that must always play. This ensures that when the clock is scheduled into the playout log, those items will inherit the protected status and cannot be dropped by Fixed Time Markers or the Auto Adjust feature.
Setting protection for individual playout log items:
In the playout log (Manage > Playout Log), you can tick the Protected checkbox for specific items that need protection. Protected items display a shield icon and require you to click the Ellipsis button (...) to access the delete option rather than using the standard delete button.
Best practices:
Use protection primarily for essential content like advert blocks, station IDs, or sponsored content that must always play. For regular music tracks, consider adjusting your clock timing rather than marking everything as protected, as this maintains the timing accuracy that Fixed Time Markers are designed to provide.
Read full answer
How do I prevent competing adverts from playing in the same block?
To prevent competing adverts from playing in the same advert block, you need to assign the same Category to advert campaigns that contain competing products or services.
Setting up Categories:
When creating or editing an Advert Campaign, assign categories that represent competing business types. For example, you might use categories like "Fast Food", "Car Dealerships", "Mobile Networks", or "Banks". Advert campaigns that share the same category will never be automatically scheduled in the same advert block.
How Categories Work:
The PlayIt Live advert scheduler automatically ensures that campaigns with identical categories are kept separate. When scheduling adverts for a block, the system will not place two adverts from campaigns that have the same category name, preventing direct competitors from appearing consecutively.
Category Setup Process:
Go to Manage > Advert Campaigns
Select the campaign you want to edit or click Add New
In the Categories field, enter each category name and press Enter to add it
Repeat this process for competing campaigns, using the same category names
Click OK to save the campaign
Multiple Categories:
A single campaign can belong to multiple categories if needed. Simply enter each additional category name and press Enter to add more categories. This provides flexibility when dealing with businesses that operate in multiple competing sectors.
The category system works automatically during advert scheduling - you don't need to manually check conflicts as the scheduler will handle separation automatically when generating the advert log.
Read full answer
How do I prevent regular listeners from hearing the same songs during their usual listening times?
PlayIt Live offers a powerful solution for this common broadcasting challenge through Daypart Separation Playout Policies. This feature ensures that regular listeners won't hear repetitive content during their typical listening periods, such as their morning commute or evening drive home.
Setting up Daypart Separation:
First, you'll need to define your dayparts by going to Manage > Dayparts. Create dayparts that match your listeners' regular patterns, such as "Breakfast" (6-10 AM, Monday-Friday), "Drive Time" (4-7 PM, Monday-Friday), or "Weekend Afternoon" (12-6 PM, Saturday-Sunday). You can set specific hours for each day of the week to precisely match your audience's listening habits.
Creating the Playout Policy:
Navigate to Manage > Playout Policies and click Add New. Select Daypart Separation Playout Policy from the options. Set the Track separation time to specify how many days must pass before the same track can play again within that specific daypart. For example, you might set this to 3-5 days for popular music to ensure freshness during peak listening times.
Applying to Track Groups:
You can apply these policies to specific track groups by checking Apply to specific track groups. This allows you to have different separation rules for different content types - for instance, applying strict daypart separation to your main music but allowing jingles and station IDs to repeat more frequently.
How it works:
Once configured, the PlayIt Live scheduler automatically tracks which songs have played during each daypart and prevents them from being selected again until the specified number of days has passed. This means someone who listens every morning during their commute won't hear the same song for several days, keeping your content fresh and engaging.
Requirements:
Daypart Separation Playout Policies require the Advanced Scheduling module.
Read full answer
How do I record voice tracks in the playout log?
To record voice tracks, first drag a Voice Track item from the special items section into the playout log where you want to record. Click the red circle Record button on the voice track item to launch the segue editor. Set up your microphone device in settings, then click the Record button to start recording while hearing the end of the previous track. Click the button again to play the next track, then once more to stop recording.
Read full answer
How do I reset a forgotten password for a PlayIt Live user account?
The process for resetting a forgotten password depends on whether it's an administrator account or a regular user account.
For Administrator Accounts:
If you're an administrator and have forgotten your password, you can reset it by logging into your PlayIt Software account on the PlayIt Software website with the same account that has licensed the software. Visit https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Dashboard/ResetAdminPassword and verify that the Client ID matches. Enter the Reset Code Part 1 into the website which will generate Reset Code Part 2. Enter Part 2 into the box in PlayIt Live and click Reset. You will then be prompted to change your password.
For Regular User Accounts:
For regular user accounts, an administrator must reset the password manually. Go to Manage > Users, select the user that needs their password reset, and click Edit. In the password field, either enter a new password manually or use the Generate button to create a secure password. You can tick User must change password at next login to require them to set their own password when they next log in.
Important Note: Passwords are cryptographically hashed and stored in the database, so the actual password cannot be retrieved if forgotten. Take care not to lock yourself out of the system by ensuring you always have at least one administrator account with a known password.
Read full answer
How do I revert changes made by the Auto Adjust feature if I'm not satisfied with the results?
If you're not satisfied with the changes made by Auto Adjust, you can easily revert them using the Revert button in the Auto Adjust window. To access this, go to Tools > Auto Adjust from the main menu in PlayIt Live.
The Revert button will undo the most recent changes made by Auto Adjust, restoring items to their pre-adjusted values. This includes reverting tempo adjustments, segue modifications, and fade envelopes back to their original settings. However, it's important to note that any items that were soft-deleted by Auto Adjust will not be restored - you'll need to reschedule these manually if required.
Read full answer
How do I save my internet broadcast audio to a file?
PlayIt Live includes an Audio Archive feature within the Internet Broadcast settings that allows you to automatically save your streaming audio to files on your computer.
Enabling audio archiving:
Go to Tools > Internet Broadcast from the main menu
Select your existing stream and click Edit Stream...
In the Audio archive section, tick Save Audio to File
Click Browse next to File Path to specify where the recordings should be saved and what to name them
Set the Split File Every option to define how often new files are created (e.g., every 60 minutes)
Click OK to save the settings
How it works:
Once enabled, PlayIt Live will automatically record your broadcast audio to the specified location. The audio is saved in the same format and quality as your internet stream (typically MP3). Files are split at the intervals you specify, creating separate files for easier management and archiving.
File naming:
The file name you specify will be automatically appended with yyyy-mm-dd_HH-mm-ss to create unique files with timestamps. For example, if you name your file "Broadcast.mp3", the actual saved files will be named like "Broadcast 2025-09-21_14-00-00.mp3" for easy identification and chronological organisation.
Storage considerations:
Audio files can become quite large, so ensure you have sufficient disk space at your chosen storage location. A typical 320kbps MP3 stream requires approximately 150MB per hour of recording.
Read full answer
How do I schedule a clock to repeat every day at the same time?
To schedule a clock to repeat every day at the same time in PlayIt Live, go to Manage > Clock Schedule from the main menu. Click Add New or double-click an empty time slot in the schedule grid. Select your clock from the list, then set your start time for when you want the clock to begin each day.
Tick the Repeat checkbox and select Daily from the Repeat period dropdown. Leave Repeat every set to 1 day. Under Repeat at, you can either select All to repeat at every hour of the day, or select specific hours by ticking individual checkboxes. For Repeat until, choose Forever if you want the clock to continue indefinitely, or select This Time and set a specific end date if you want the schedule to stop at a particular point in the future.
Click OK to save your recurring clock schedule. The clock will now automatically play at the selected time every day according to your settings.
Read full answer
How do I schedule a long audio file that spans multiple hours in PlayIt Live?
To schedule a long audio file that spans multiple hours in PlayIt Live, first add your file as a track via Manage > Tracks. Then create two clock types: a "Show Start" clock containing a Hard Fixed Time Marker at 00:00, your usual top-of-hour elements, and your long audio file; and an "Empty Hour" clock containing a single 60-minute Break Note. Schedule the "Show Start" clock for your first hour, the "Empty Hour" clock for subsequent hours the audio file will play through, and ensure your next regular clock after the show ends begins with a Fixed Time Marker. This setup allows your long audio file to play completely across multiple hours without unwanted content being scheduled, and the Fixed Time Marker in your post-show clock will automatically clear any remaining Break Notes. This method requires no manual intervention once set up properly.
Read full answer
How do I schedule recurring weekly shows for remote voice tracking DJs?
Create a clock template for your DJ's show via Manage > Clocks, including tracks and voice track placeholders where they need to record. Then go to Manage > Clock Schedule to schedule this clock for the recurring time slot (e.g. every Wednesday at 1pm) by ticking "Repeat", selecting "Weekly", and setting your desired end date. When your DJ logs into remote voice tracking for their scheduled slot, PlayIt Live automatically generates the hour based on your clock template up to 30 days in advance, with all tracks and voice track placeholders ready for recording. Make sure to give your DJ remote voice tracking access for their specific time slots via Manage > Users.
Read full answer
How do I schedule shows that start or end at 30-minute intervals in PlayIt Live?
While PlayIt Live's clock scheduler only works with full-hour increments, you can still schedule shows that start or end at 30-minute intervals. Create a single clock containing both half-hour segments separated by Fixed Time Markers. Go to Manage > Clocks, add a Fixed Time Marker at xx:00:00, add content for your first 30-minute segment, add another Fixed Time Marker at xx:30:00, then add content for your second 30-minute segment. Schedule this clock for your desired hours using Manage > Clock Schedule. The Fixed Time Markers ensure each segment begins precisely at the time specified, allowing you to effectively run different programmes within the same scheduled hour.
Read full answer
How do I search for a specific track in the track list?
To search for a specific track in the track list on the main PlayIt Live interface, use the search box located above the track list on the right-hand side of the screen. Simply type your search term into the search box, and the track list will automatically filter to show only tracks that match what you've typed.
The search works instantly as you type and looks for matches in all visible text columns in the track list. By default, this includes artist and title, but you can add more searchable columns by right-clicking the track list header and selecting additional columns such as album, genre, year, or comments. To clear your search and see the full track list again, click the X button in the search box. You can also combine the search with the track group filter dropdown above it to narrow your results to specific categories of music.
Read full answer
How do I see what tracks have been played recently?
PlayIt Live provides several ways to view recently played tracks through the Logged Tracks feature and within the playout log itself.
Accessing Logged Tracks
To view a comprehensive list of recently played tracks, go to Manage > Logged Tracks. This opens the Logged Tracks window which shows a list of recently logged tracks. You can filter this list using several time periods: Past 24 hours, Past 7 days, Past 30 days, or set a custom date range using the calendar dropdown to select specific dates and times.
Viewing in the Playout Log
Recently played tracks also appear in the main playout log marked with a tick icon to indicate they have been played.
Exporting Play History
From the Logged Tracks window, you can export the visible list to CSV format by clicking the CSV button. This allows you to import the data into Excel or another spreadsheet application for detailed reporting and analysis.
Track-Specific Play History
For individual tracks, you can access detailed play history by right-clicking on a track in either the playout log or track list and selecting Track Play Analysis. This opens the Track Play History Window which provides a visual grid showing when specific tracks were played, with rows representing days and columns representing hours.
Read full answer
How do I set up a presenter account that can only use the main interface without changing settings?
Setting up a presenter account with restricted permissions ensures they can operate PlayIt Live without accessing critical system settings or adding tracks to your library. Here's how to create a properly restricted presenter account.
Enable User Login System: First, go to Manage > Users in PlayIt Live and tick "Require users to log in" to enable the user login system. Ensure you have administrator access before doing this, as you'll need admin credentials to make changes later.
Create the Presenter Account: Click "Add New" to create a new user account. Fill in their Display Name (their real name that will show on the interface), create a unique Username for login, and set a Password (minimum 6 characters). You can tick "User must change password at next login" if you want them to set their own password.
Configure Restricted Permissions: In the Permissions section, this is where you control what the presenter can access. Do not tick "Is Admin" as this would give them full access to all settings and features. Instead, leave most permissions unticked to restrict their access to only the essential functions needed for presenting.
What They Can Access: With restricted permissions, presenters will be able to use the main interface to start and stop players, control the playout log, and perform essential broadcasting functions. However, they will not be able to access the File > Settings menu, add new tracks via Manage > Tracks, or modify critical system configurations.
Interface Restrictions: When the presenter logs in, any sections they don't have permission to access will be disabled or hidden from the user interface. This prevents accidental changes to your station's configuration while still allowing them to present their shows effectively.
Additional Restrictions: You can also use the Remote Voice Tracking and Remote Studio grid to specify which hours the presenter is allowed to record voice tracks or access Remote Studio features, giving you precise control over when they can use the system.
This setup gives presenters exactly what they need to operate the software during their shows whilst protecting your station's settings and track library from unauthorised changes.
Read full answer
How do I set up automatic silence analysis for cue points?
PlayIt Live can automatically analyse your tracks to detect silence at the start and end, setting cue in and cue out points to ensure seamless playback. You can configure this in two places.
To set up automatic analysis for tracks you're adding, go to Manage > Tracks, click Add New, and in the Add New Tracks Wizard, tick the Analyse silence checkbox in the Additional Options section. This will analyse each track as it's imported.
For tracks already in your database, select the tracks in the Manage Tracks window, click Edit, then click the Analyse button in the Edit Track window to automatically detect the cue points based on silence. You can adjust the sensitivity of the analysis under File > Settings > General Tab > Silence analysis, where you can set the threshold level and minimum duration for what PlayIt Live considers as silence.
Read full answer
How do I set up different colours for jingles, music, news, and other content types to make them easily identifiable?
You can set up different colours for different content types in PlayIt Live using Track Groups. This visual coding system makes it much easier to identify jingles, music, news, and other content at a glance on your playout log.
Setting up colour coding:
Go to Manage > Track Groups and create separate track groups for each content type you want to colour-code, such as "Jingles", "Music", "News", "Station IDs", etc.
For each track group, tick the Colour checkbox and click in the colour box to choose a distinctive colour. For example, you might use blue for jingles, green for music, red for news, and yellow for station IDs.
Adding tracks to colour-coded groups:
You can populate your track groups in three ways:
Listed Track Groups: Manually add specific tracks by selecting them from the available tracks list
Filtered Track Groups: Create dynamic groups using filters based on track properties like Type, Artist, Tags, or Duration
Grouped Track Groups: Combine multiple existing track groups into a single colour-coded group
Using track types for automatic filtering:
The most efficient method is to ensure your tracks have the correct Type assigned (Song, Station ID, Jingle, etc.) via Manage > Tracks, then create filtered track groups that automatically include tracks based on their Type field.
Priority settings:
If a track appears in multiple track groups, use the Priority setting to determine which colour takes precedence. The track group with the highest priority will determine the display colour on your playout log.
Once configured, tracks will appear with their assigned colours on the main playout log, making different content types instantly recognisable during live broadcasts.
Read full answer
How do I set up different music rotations for breakfast, daytime, and evening shows?
You can set up different music rotations for breakfast, daytime, and evening shows using Clocks and Track Groups combined with the Clock Schedule feature. This allows you to create tailored programming for each daypart with specific music content and scheduling behaviours.
Start by creating different Track Groups for each show period at Manage > Track Groups. For example, create groups like "Breakfast Hits", "Daytime Favourites", and "Evening Classics", then populate them with appropriate music for each time period. You might include more energetic, upbeat tracks for breakfast and more relaxed content for evening shows.
Next, create separate Clocks for each daypart at Manage > Clocks. Build your breakfast clock with breakfast track groups and morning-specific jingles, your daytime clock with different track groups and content, and your evening clock with appropriate evening programming elements. Each clock serves as an hour-long template that defines how that hour should sound.
Finally, schedule these clocks using Manage > Schedule Clocks. Assign your breakfast clock to morning hours (for example, 6 AM to 10 AM), your daytime clock to midday hours (10 AM to 6 PM), and your evening clock to evening hours (6 PM onwards). The clock schedule will automatically use the appropriate clock template for each hour, ensuring your breakfast show has different music rotation than your evening programming.
For advanced control, you can also use Daypart Separation Playout Policies (requires Advanced Scheduling module) to prevent the same tracks from repeating within specific dayparts like "Breakfast" or "Drive" for a set number of days, ensuring regular listeners don't hear the same songs during their usual listening times.
Read full answer
How do I set up different rotation categories (A, B, C rotation) for tracks in Live-Assist Mode?
To set up different rotation categories like A, B, and C rotation in Live-Assist Mode, you need to create separate Track Groups for each rotation category and configure their scheduling strategies.
First, create your rotation track groups by going to Manage > Track Groups and setting up groups named "A Rotation", "B Rotation", and "C Rotation". Add your tracks to the appropriate groups based on how frequently you want them to play.
For each track group, you can set different Track Scheduling Strategies to control how tracks are selected:
Smart Selection - Uses a weighted random algorithm where tracks played longer ago have a higher chance of being selected (ideal for maintaining proper rotation)
Most Rested - Always selects the track that was played longest ago (ensures even rotation)
Random - Selects tracks completely at random from the group
To use your rotation categories in scheduling, you can add them to either the Playout Pattern or Clocks:
Adding to Playout Pattern: Go to Manage > Playout Pattern and use the > button to add your rotation track groups (A Rotation, B Rotation, C Rotation) in your desired order. This creates a repeating pattern that PlayIt Live will use to fill time automatically.
Adding to Clocks: Go to Manage > Clocks to create hour templates. Add Track Group items to your clock and select your rotation categories. When editing each track group item, you can set the specific scheduling strategy and configure whether tracks should segue. Schedule these clocks to specific hours using Manage > Clock Schedule.
You can also assign different colours and icons to each rotation category to make them easily identifiable in the playout log, and set priorities to determine which group's formatting appears when tracks belong to multiple groups.
Read full answer
How do I set up monitored folders for automatic track import?
Monitored folders watch a specified folder (and optionally its sub-folders) for new, updated, or deleted track files, automatically adding them to your PlayIt Live database.
To set up a monitored folder:
Go to Manage > Monitored Folders and click Add New Monitored Folder. Enter the folder path you want to monitor - choose a specific folder where your audio files are located rather than broad locations like C:\ which will take too long to scan.
Key configuration options:
Include sub-folders - Tick this to scan sub-folders, but avoid folders with numerous sub-folders as scanning takes longer.
Analyse cue points - When enabled, new tracks will automatically have their cue points analysed. Disable Re-analyse cue points if you manually set cue points to prevent them being overwritten.
Update track fields - This updates track metadata from the file when changes are detected. Turn this off if you manually edit track information to prevent your changes being overwritten.
Add tracks to track group - Select a track group to automatically assign new tracks to it.
Delete tracks - Exercise caution with this option. When enabled, tracks are removed from the database if their files are deleted or become inaccessible (such as network drives being disconnected). For frequently updated folders where files are replaced with the same name, keep this disabled to maintain playout log references.
Monitored folders are ideal for dynamic content like news, weather updates, or shared Dropbox folders. The system periodically scans for changes - you can check scanning status via Tools > Monitored Folders Status.
Read full answer
How do I set up my first internet broadcast stream in PlayIt Live?
Setting up your first internet broadcast stream in PlayIt Live allows you to stream your audio content to online radio directories and listeners via the internet.
Getting Started:
First, you'll need an account with a streaming provider such as Icecast or SHOUTcast. They will provide you with server details including the server address, port, username, password, and mount point information needed to configure your stream.
Configuring Your Stream:
Go to Tools > Internet Broadcast and click Add Stream to create your first stream. In the stream configuration window, enter the details provided by your streaming provider. Select your Server Type (Icecast, SHOUTcast v1, or SHOUTcast v2), then fill in the Server Address, Server Port, Username, Password, and Mount point. For SHOUTcast servers, you may also need to specify a Stream ID.
Audio and Station Details:
Configure your audio quality by selecting the Format (MP3) and setting the Quality parameters such as bitrate and sampling rate. Add your station information including Station Name, Description, Genre, and your website URL. If you don't want your stream to appear in public directories, tick the Private Stream option.
Track Information Streaming:
To send track titles to your listeners, ensure Enable title streaming is checked. PlayIt Live automatically sends currently playing track information through the Now Playing feature which is configured by default to work with internet broadcast streams.
Starting Your Stream:
Once configured, click OK to save your settings. Back in the Internet Broadcast window, you can start your stream by right-clicking it and selecting start, or use the Start All Streams button. You can also enable Auto start streams to automatically begin broadcasting when PlayIt Live launches.
Audio Source:
The broadcast uses PlayIt Live's main audio output by default. You can change the source by clicking Change Source if you need to stream from a different audio input. A visual level meter shows your output levels in real-time to ensure proper audio levels are being sent to your streaming server.
Read full answer
How do I set up my USB microphone to work with PlayIt Live during live shows?
Setting up a USB microphone with PlayIt Live for live broadcasting can be done in several ways depending on your setup preferences.
For direct USB microphone connection, you can use the Microphone Mix plugin (available at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Plugins/View/MicrophoneMix). This plugin allows you to connect a USB microphone directly to your computer and mix it with PlayIt Live's output for streaming with the Internet Broadcast feature. The plugin includes ducking functionality, which lowers the music volume when you click a button, perfect for talking over tracks during live shows.
For mixer-based setups, connect your USB or XLR microphone to an external mixer, route PlayIt Live's output to the mixer, and control both audio sources using the mixer's faders. If you have a USB mixer, connect it directly to your computer and select the audio device under File > Settings > Live-Assist Mode tab. For analogue mixers, you'll need a USB audio interface (such as the Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202) to connect the mixer output back to your computer.
Read full answer
How do I set up PlayIt Live to automatically turn on Automation mode when it starts up?
To set up PlayIt Live to automatically enable Automation mode at startup, you need to create a Scheduled Event that triggers when the software starts.
Create an On Startup Scheduled Event:
Go to Manage > Scheduled Events
Click Add New
Name the event something descriptive like "Auto Enable Automation"
Set the Trigger Type to On Startup
Click Add Action
Select Change Playout Mode as the action type
Choose Automation ON from the dropdown
Click OK to save the event
Setting up Windows Startup (Optional):
If you also want PlayIt Live to launch automatically when Windows starts, you can add it to the Windows Startup folder:
Copy the PlayIt Live desktop shortcut
Press Windows + R and type shell:startup
Press OK to open the Startup folder
Paste the PlayIt Live shortcut into this folder
With both steps completed, PlayIt Live will automatically launch when you log into Windows and immediately switch to Automation mode without any manual intervention.
Read full answer
How do I set up port forwarding on my router for Priority Streams direct connections?
When using Priority Streams with direct connections in PlayIt Live, remote users connect to a specific port on your computer. For this to work from outside your network, you'll need to set up port forwarding on your router.
Router Port Forwarding Setup:
Your router needs to forward incoming traffic on the Priority Stream port to your PlayIt Live computer. You'll need to forward the TCP port that you've specified in PlayIt Live's Priority Stream settings (found under Settings > Priority Streams > Priority stream direct stream port). The port should be forwarded to your computer's internal IP address.
Since each router brand has different setup procedures, we recommend visiting PortForward.com which provides specific instructions for many router models. You'll typically need to access your router's admin interface, navigate to the port forwarding section, and create a new rule forwarding the TCP port to your computer's internal IP address.
Additional Requirements:
You'll also need to configure your Windows firewall to allow connections on this port. Go to Start Menu > Windows Defender Firewall to create the necessary firewall rule. For corporate or school networks, contact your IT administrator for assistance with both firewall and router configuration.
Read full answer
How do I set up Sweep Start vs Sweep Intro segue styles and what's the difference?
Sweep Start and Sweep Intro are segue styles that allow you to play a sweeper or short audio element over the intro of a track. The key difference is in timing:
Sweep Start makes the sweeping track start at the same time as the next track, provided it's short enough to finish before the intro point ends. If the sweeping track is longer than the intro, it will start early and play up to the end of the intro period.
Sweep Intro makes the sweeping track finish playing immediately before the end of the intro point of the next track, timing the sweeper to end precisely when the vocals begin.
To set up either style, you need tracks with Intro or Early Out cue points set (these can be configured via Manage > Tracks). In the Segue Editor, click on the waveform to access segue information and select either Sweep Start or Sweep Intro from the segue style dropdown. Both styles will automatically use the Early Out cue point from the previous track if available.
Read full answer
How do I set up the Default Playout Log Editing Mode to restrict what remote voice tracking users can edit?
The Default Playout Log Editing Mode setting in PlayIt Live allows you to control what remote voice tracking users can do when they connect to voice track remotely. This setting provides two levels of access for remote users.
You can configure this setting by going to Settings in PlayIt Live and selecting the Voice Tracking tab. Here you'll find the Default playout log editing mode option which allows you to choose between:
Full playout log editing - Remote users can edit the complete playout log for their assigned hours, including adding tracks, reordering items, and making comprehensive changes to the schedule.
Voice tracks and segues only - Remote users are restricted to only recording voice tracks and adjusting their segues. They cannot add new tracks or modify other elements of the playout log.
This default setting applies to all new users you create, but can be overridden on a per-user basis when editing individual user accounts in Manage > Users. When editing a user, you'll see a Playout Log Editing section where you can specify whether that particular user should have full editing rights or be restricted to voice tracks and segues only, regardless of the default setting.
This feature is particularly useful for stations that want to allow remote presenters to voice track their shows whilst maintaining control over the music scheduling and ensuring the playout log structure isn't accidentally modified by remote users.
Read full answer
How do I set up track scheduling restrictions using Valid From and Expires dates?
The Valid From and Expires date fields allow you to control when tracks are available for automatic scheduling in PlayIt Live. This is useful for seasonal content, promotional campaigns, or tracks that should only play during specific time periods.
To set up these restrictions, go to Manage > Tracks and double-click the track you want to edit. Click on the Scheduling tab where you'll find the Valid From and Expires fields. The Valid From date specifies the earliest date the track can be scheduled, meaning the scheduler will ignore this track for any time before this date. The Expires date specifies the last day the track can be scheduled, and the track will not be scheduled after midnight at the start of this date. For example, if you set a Christmas song to expire on 26th December, it will be eligible for scheduling up to and including 25th December, but not from midnight on 26th December onwards. You can set one or both fields, or leave them blank if you don't want any date restrictions. Click Save Track to apply your changes. These restrictions only affect automatic scheduling via the playout pattern or clocks, they don't prevent you from manually adding the track to the playout log.
Read full answer
How do I show Internet Broadcast status control on the main interface?
You can display the Internet Broadcast status control on the main PlayIt Live interface to quickly monitor and control your streaming status without opening the full Internet Broadcast window.
To enable the status control, go to Tools > Internet Broadcast and tick the Show Status Control checkbox. This will add an Internet Broadcast indicator to the main interface, allowing you to see the current streaming status at a glance.
The status control shows whether your streams are active and connected, and provides quick access to start or stop all configured streams.
Read full answer
How do I start and stop individual broadcast streams?
You can start and stop individual broadcast streams in PlayIt Live by right-clicking on the stream entry in the streams list within the Internet Broadcast window.
To access this functionality, go to Tools > Internet Broadcast to open the Internet Broadcast window. In the Streams section, you'll see a list of all your configured broadcast streams showing their name, status, elapsed streaming time, and total data sent.
To start or stop an individual stream:
Right-click on the specific stream you want to control in the streams list
Select the appropriate option from the context menu to start or stop that stream
This gives you precise control over each stream without affecting your other configured broadcasts. You can also use the Start All Streams or Stop All Streams buttons to control all enabled streams at once, but the right-click method allows for individual stream management when you need to selectively start or stop specific broadcasts whilst keeping others running.
Read full answer
How do I stop a folder from being monitored without deleting it completely?
To temporarily stop monitoring a folder without removing it from your monitored folders list, simply tick the Disabled checkbox in the monitored folder settings.
Steps to disable monitoring:
Go to Manage > Monitored Folders, find the folder you want to stop monitoring, and click the Edit button (pencil icon). In the Edit Monitored Folder window, tick the Disabled checkbox at the bottom of the settings, then click OK to save your changes.
What happens when disabled:
When a monitored folder is disabled, PlayIt Live will stop scanning that folder for changes. No new files will be added, existing files won't be updated if modified, and files won't be deleted from the database if removed from the folder. All tracks that were previously imported from this folder will remain in your database unchanged.
Re-enabling monitoring:
To resume monitoring the folder, simply edit the monitored folder settings again and untick the Disabled checkbox. PlayIt Live will then resume scanning the folder and catch up with any changes that occurred while monitoring was disabled.
This is particularly useful when you need to perform maintenance on a network drive, temporarily move files, or pause monitoring during file organisation without losing your monitored folder configuration.
Read full answer
How do I stop Christmas songs with the same title from all being scheduled together?
To prevent multiple versions of Christmas songs with the same title from being scheduled close together, you need to use the Title separation feature in a Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy.
Setting up title separation:
Go to Manage > Playout Policies and click Add New. Select Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy from the options. In the policy settings, configure the Title separation time using the up and down arrows to specify the minimum time that should pass before a title is played again. You can choose between hours and minutes using the dropdown menu.
How title separation works:
Title separation deals with different songs that share the same title, such as Christmas songs. For example, if you have multiple artists' versions of "Silent Night" in your database, title separation ensures they won't play too close together. This prevents listeners from hearing several different versions of the same Christmas song within a short timeframe.
Recommended settings:
For Christmas music, consider setting title separation to 2-4 hours to ensure good variety whilst still allowing popular Christmas songs to play regularly during the festive season.
Important consideration:
Keep in mind that title separation will also affect completely different songs that happen to share the same title, such as "Hello" by Adele and "Hello" by Lionel Richie. You can limit this by applying the policy only to specific track groups containing your Christmas music.
Read full answer
How do I stop PlayIt Live from automatically deleting tracks when I move files around?
When you move audio files around on your computer or network, PlayIt Live might automatically delete the corresponding tracks from its database if you have monitored folders set up with the Delete tracks option enabled. This happens because PlayIt Live scans the monitored folder and when it cannot find the file in its expected location, it assumes the file has been deleted.
To prevent this automatic deletion, open Manage > Monitored Folders, select the monitored folder you want to modify, and uncheck the "Delete tracks" option. With this setting disabled, PlayIt Live will keep the track information in the database even if the file temporarily goes missing or is moved to a different location.
This is particularly important if your audio files are stored on network drives or NAS systems, as temporary network disconnections could cause PlayIt Live to think all your files have been deleted.
Read full answer
How do I stop PlayIt Live so I can talk at the end of a song?
To stop PlayIt Live at the end of a song so you can talk, you need to have Automation switched OFF. With Automation off, you can click the green arrow between tracks in the playout log, which will change to a red stop symbol. This causes playback to stop at the end of the current track, allowing you to talk live. When you're ready to continue to the next song, click the main Play button to resume playback.
Read full answer
How do I stop the same song from playing too often on my station?
PlayIt Live provides Track/Artist Separation Playout Policies to prevent songs from repeating too frequently on your station. These policies automatically enforce minimum time gaps between when the same track, artist, or song title can be played again.
Setting up Track Separation:
Go to Manage > Playout Policies and click Add New. Select Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy from the options. In the policy settings, you can configure three different separation types:
Track separation time: Prevents the same recording from playing again for a specified period (e.g., 4 hours)
Artist separation time: Prevents tracks by the same artist from playing too close together (e.g., 1 hour)
Title separation time: Prevents different versions of songs with the same title from playing close together (useful for cover versions or Christmas songs)
Configuring Time Periods:
Use the up and down arrows to set the minimum number of hours or minutes that should pass before each type can repeat. You can choose between hours and minutes using the dropdown menu. For example, you might set track separation to 6 hours for your main music library, ensuring no song repeats within a reasonable timeframe.
Applying to Specific Content:
You can apply these policies to specific track groups by checking Apply to specific track groups. This allows you to have different rules for different content - for instance, applying strict separation to your music but allowing jingles and station IDs to repeat more frequently since they serve different purposes.
How the Scheduler Uses These Rules:
Once configured, PlayIt Live's scheduler automatically tracks when each track, artist, and title was last played and prevents them from being selected again until the specified time has passed. This ensures your station maintains variety and prevents listener fatigue from hearing the same content too often.
Multiple Policies:
You can create multiple playout policies with different settings for different track groups, giving you fine control over how frequently different types of content can repeat on your station.
Read full answer
How do I stop two artists from playing too close together on the radio?
You can use Track/Artist Separation Playout Policies to prevent artists from playing too close together in your playlist. This feature allows you to set minimum time periods before the same artist can be played again.
To set this up, navigate to Manage > Playout Policies in PlayIt Live and click Add New. Select Track/Artist Separation Playout Policy from the options. In the policy settings, use the up and down arrows to set the Artist separation time - this is the minimum number of hours or minutes that must pass before an artist is played again. You can choose between hours and minutes using the dropdown menu. For example, you might set this to 2 hours to ensure sufficient variety between artists.
You can also apply the policy to specific track groups by checking the Apply to specific track groups checkbox if you only want the separation rules to apply to certain types of content like songs rather than jingles. Additionally, if you have artists that are related (like solo artists and their bands), you can set up Related Artists in the system so they're treated as the same artist for separation purposes - for example, preventing Robbie Williams from playing too close to Take That.
Read full answer
How do I switch between 12-hour and 24-hour (military time) display formats in PlayIt Live?
You can easily change how time is displayed throughout PlayIt Live by adjusting the time format settings.
To change the time display format:
Go to File > Settings in PlayIt Live
Click on the General tab
Look for the Time and Date display section
Use the dropdown next to the time format to select your preference:
24-hour clock (military time) - Shows times like 14:30, 23:45
12-hour clock - Shows times like 2:30 PM, 11:45 PM
What this affects:
Main interface clocks and timers
Playout log timestamps
Player displays and countdown timers
All time-related information throughout the software
On-screen clock:
You can also enable or disable the on-screen clock display on the main interface from this same settings section.
Applying changes:
Changes to the time display format take effect immediately after clicking OK - no restart is required. The new format will be used throughout PlayIt Live for all time displays.
This setting is purely cosmetic and doesn't affect the actual timing or scheduling of your content, just how times are presented to you in the interface.
Read full answer
How do I switch from Live-Assist Mode to Decks Mode (Classic)?
You can switch between Live-Assist Mode and Decks Mode (Classic) through the Settings window. Go to File > Settings from the main window menu, then navigate to the General tab.
In the General tab, you'll find both a Live-Assist mode selection and Decks player mode selection option. PlayIt Live offers these two player modes, and you can select which mode you'd like to use. Live-Assist Mode provides automated playout with scheduling features, whilst Decks Mode (Classic) emulates a traditional cart machine where you manually control each player by pressing buttons.
Read full answer
How do I talk live over tracks in PlayIt Live?
To talk live over tracks in PlayIt Live, you have two main options. First, you can use an external mixer by connecting your microphone to the mixer, routing PlayIt Live's output to the mixer, and controlling both with the mixer's faders. Alternatively, you can use the Microphone Mix plugin (https://www.playitsoftware.com/Plugins/View/MicrophoneMix) which allows you to connect a USB microphone directly to your computer and mix it with PlayIt Live's output. The plugin allows ducking: lowering music when the microphone is active. This is different from the Voice Tracking module, which is for pre-recording voice segments between songs rather than live broadcasting.
Read full answer
How do I transfer PlayIt Live and my plugins to a new computer?
To transfer PlayIt Live to a new computer, first install PlayIt Live on the new device. For paid plugins, visit https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Plugins, click the Transfer icon next to each plugin, then download them again on your new computer. Premium modules automatically transfer when you log in with your PlayIt Software account on the new computer. To transfer your track database and settings, copy the C:\ProgramData\PlayIt Live folder from your old computer to the same location on your new one. For consistency, maintain the same file path structure to avoid missing audio files. A video guide showing the complete process is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axy70phiCG4.
Read full answer
How do I troubleshoot priority streams that keep disconnecting?
Priority streams may disconnect due to several common issues. First, check your silence detection settings in the priority stream configuration - if the audio level falls below the silence threshold for too long, the stream will be considered inactive and disconnect. Verify that your source is providing sufficient audio levels.
Network connectivity issues are often the main cause of disconnections. Check your internet connection speed and stability - insufficient bandwidth or an unreliable WiFi connection can cause streams to drop out frequently. If using WiFi, try switching to a wired ethernet connection for more stable connectivity. For direct stream connections, ensure the remote user has a reliable internet connection.
Read full answer
How do I update the file path for a missing track to point to a new location?
When you see the notification message "Failed to load: file does not exist" in PlayIt Live, this indicates that tracks are referencing files that have been deleted or become inaccessible. You can resolve this by updating the file paths to point to new locations using the Missing Track File Analysis tool.
To access this feature, go to Tools > Missing Track File Analysis in PlayIt Live. Click Scan for missing track files to identify all tracks with broken file references. The tool will display a list of tracks that would show "Failed to load: file does not exist" error if PlayIt Live tried to load them.
For each missing track, click in the Resolution column to choose your action. Select Update path to redirect the track to its new location, then click in the New Path column to browse and select the correct file. PlayIt Live will automatically check if other tracks have also been moved to the same location and offer to update those as well.
You can resolve multiple tracks at once by selecting them using CTRL or SHIFT keys, then clicking Mark selected and choosing your preferred resolution. This is particularly useful when you've moved entire folders of audio files or when files have become inaccessible due to network issues.
Once you've set your resolutions for all missing tracks, click Resolve to apply the changes. PlayIt Live will update the database with the new file paths whilst preserving all your existing track metadata, cue points, and references in clocks and playout logs.
Read full answer
How do I upgrade my subscription to add additional stations when paying with PayPal?
If you're currently subscribed via PayPal and need to add additional stations to your licence, you'll need to cancel your existing subscription and create a new one with the correct number of stations. First, visit https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Subscription and select your module, then cancel your current subscription. Once cancelled, resubscribe to the same module but select the total number of stations you need from the dropdown menu during the subscription process. This ensures all your stations are properly licensed under your account.
Read full answer
How do I use CUE sheets with multi-track audio files in PlayIt Live?
PlayIt Live can work with CUE sheets to display and report individual tracks within a larger audio file. A CUE sheet is a metadata file that describes the track positions within a single audio file, commonly used for pre-recorded shows or albums.
To use CUE sheets in PlayIt Live, you need both the audio file (typically in WAV, FLAC or MP3 format) and its corresponding .cue file in the same folder with matching filenames. When you add the audio file as a track via Manage > Tracks, PlayIt Live will store it as a single track in your database.
When the track is loaded into a player during playout, PlayIt Live reads the CUE sheet and displays the individual tracks listed within it on the player interface. As the audio file plays through different sections, the player will show which track is currently playing based on the timings in the CUE sheet. This information is also sent to your Now Playing targets, allowing listeners or reporting systems to see the individual track names rather than just the filename of the complete audio file.
This is particularly useful if you've recorded a complete pre-recorded show as a single audio file and want listeners to see which song or segment is currently playing, or if you need accurate reporting of individual tracks for royalty purposes.
If you need to create CUE files, PlayIt VoiceTrack can generate them automatically when you use the Mixdown Audio feature by ticking the Save CUE file to same folder option. Alternatively, you can use online tools like https://cuegenerator.net to create CUE sheets manually for existing audio files.
Read full answer
How do I use Live365 ad triggers with PlayIt Live?
PlayIt Live works well with Live365 ad trigger files, which are required for stations with ad packages. To set up Live365 ad triggers, download the appropriate trigger MP3 files (30, 60, 90, or 120 seconds) from Live365's support site (https://help.live365.com/support/solutions/articles/43000533544-livedj-ad-triggers), then import them into PlayIt Live via Manage > Tracks. Schedule these tracks in your playout log or add them to hourly clocks to meet Live365's requirement of 4 minutes of advertisements per hour.
Read full answer
How do I use the Duplicate Track File Analysis tool to manage duplicate tracks?
The Duplicate Track File Analysis tool helps you find and remove tracks that reference the same file path multiple times in your PlayIt Live database. This is particularly useful when you've accidentally imported the same audio file multiple times.
To access the tool:
Go to Tools > Duplicate Track File Analysis from the main menu in PlayIt Live.
How to scan for duplicates:
Click the Scan for duplicate track files button to begin the analysis. PlayIt Live will search through your database to identify any tracks that point to identical file paths. This process may take a few moments depending on the size of your music library.
Viewing the results:
Once the scan completes, any duplicate tracks found will be displayed in a list. Each duplicate entry shows the track information and file path, allowing you to review which tracks are affected before taking action.
Removing duplicates:
After reviewing the results, click the Remove Duplicates button to eliminate the duplicate database entries. This action removes the redundant references from your database but leaves the original audio files untouched on your hard drive.
What the tool detects:
The tool specifically looks for multiple database entries that reference the same physical file location. It works by comparing file paths, not audio content, so it only finds instances where you've added the exact same file to PlayIt Live more than once.
What it doesn't detect:
The tool will not identify multiple versions of the same song with different file names, or identical audio files stored in different folders, since these have different file paths.
Regular use of this tool helps keep your database clean and prevents confusion when scheduling tracks, especially after importing large collections or reorganising your music library.
Read full answer
How do I use the Missing Track File Analysis tool?
The Missing Track File Analysis tool helps you identify and resolve tracks in your database that reference audio files which have been moved, renamed, or deleted from your computer. This commonly happens when you reorganise your music library or move files to a different location.
To use this tool, go to Tools > Missing Track File Analysis and click Scan for missing track files. PlayIt Live will check every track in your database to verify that its audio file still exists at the expected location. Once the scan completes, you'll see a list of any problematic tracks. For each missing track, you can choose a resolution by clicking in the Resolution column: select Do Nothing to skip it, Update path to point the track to a new file location, or Delete to remove the track from your database entirely. When you select Update path for one track, PlayIt Live will intelligently check if other missing tracks have also moved to the same new location and suggest updates for those as well. You can also bulk-select multiple tracks using CTRL or SHIFT, then click Mark selected to apply the same resolution to all of them at once. After reviewing your choices, click Resolve to apply the changes.
Read full answer
How do I use the Voice Tracking module in PlayIt Live?
The Voice Tracking module allows you to pre-record voice links between songs to create the illusion of a live presenter, enabling you to produce a complete show in advance. This is an industry-standard technique that can help you record a three-hour show in less than half an hour.
To use voice tracking, start by adding tracks to your playout log for the hour you want to voice track, then drag a Voice Track item from the special items section into the log wherever you want to record a voice link. A placeholder will appear showing an estimated duration like [00:30]. Click the red Record button on the voice track item to launch the segue editor. Before recording for the first time, click Settings to configure your microphone device and audition time (the number of seconds you'll hear from the end of the previous track). Click the Record button or press R to begin recording, speak your voice link as the previous track plays, press R again to play the next track, then press R once more to stop recording. You can trim the audio, adjust volume using the fade envelope, and move the voice track position by dragging the top bar of the waveform. Click Next Voice to save and move to the next voice track, or Save to return to the playout log. Voice tracks can be recorded as far in advance as you need using the Go To Time button to navigate to future hours. If you don't have the Voice Tracking module activated in your licence, you can still evaluate the functionality but all voice tracks will be preceded by an audio watermark notice. To use voice tracking for broadcast without the watermark, purchase the Voice Tracking module and refresh your licence via Help > Licensing Information.
Read full answer
How do I view what's scheduled to play in the coming hours?
To view what's scheduled to play in the coming hours in PlayIt Live, you can scroll down through the playout log on the main interface using the mouse wheel or the up and down arrow buttons to the right of the playout log. This allows you to see future items that are scheduled to be played. For navigating to a specific future date and time, click the Go To Time button above the playout log, which opens a window where you can choose the exact date and time you want to view. This is particularly useful for checking or voice tracking future programmes.
Alternatively, to see and edit your scheduled content in detail, go to Manage > Playout Log. Here you can set the Range start time and Range end time to display all items scheduled for any future time period. The playout log shows each item grouped by hour with their approximate play times, types (track, voice track, break note, etc.), and settings, giving you a complete overview of your upcoming programming.
Read full answer
How do I view when a specific track was played using Track Play History?
The Track Play History Window provides you with a detailed and visual representation of when and how often tracks are played over a selected time period. To access this feature for a specific track, you have two options:
From the main interface window, on a playout log item, select the three dots (or right click) and select Track Play Analysis. Alternatively, from the track list, right click a track and select Track Play Analysis.
The window displays a grid where rows represent days and columns represent hours of the day from 00 to 23. A green music note icon indicates the track was played during the corresponding hour and day, whilst a blue person icon indicates the artist of that track was played during the corresponding hour and day. For times in the future, the icons indicate the track or artist is scheduled for that hour.
Please note that this feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module. Without it, only the most recent play is shown.
Read full answer
How late can I leave it to voice track before it goes to air?
Voice tracking in PlayIt Live is designed to be flexible and can be completed right up until your programme is due to broadcast. There is no specific technical deadline - you can record voice tracks minutes before your show goes to air, provided you have completed all necessary recordings and saved your changes.
However, for best practice, it's recommended to complete your voice tracking with sufficient time to review your work and make any necessary adjustments. When remote voice tracking, ensure you End Remote Session properly to allow the update queue to finish processing before your show begins, as any pending items must complete uploading to the server. For local voice tracking within PlayIt Live, your recordings are saved immediately and ready for broadcast as soon as you click Save in the segue editor.
Read full answer
How long does Loudness Analysis take to complete?
Loudness Analysis completion time can take several hours to process all tracks in your database. The exact duration depends on the size of your music library and the processing power of your computer. PlayIt Live runs the analysis in the background whilst you use the software, so you can continue your regular broadcasting activities.
Once started, it's important to leave PlayIt Live running so it can continue processing tracks in the background. The analysis only needs to be performed once for your existing library - after the initial analysis is complete, any new tracks added to your database will be automatically processed in the background. You can monitor the progress of the analysis through Tools > Loudness Analysis to see how many tracks have been processed.
Read full answer
How many different types of track groups are there in PlayIt Live?
PlayIt Live offers three different types of track groups to help you organise and categorise your tracks:
Listed Track Groups
These allow you to manually group specific tracks together by selecting them from a list. This is ideal when you have simple categories of tracks you want to group together, such as specific songs for a themed show or handpicked tracks for a particular presenter.
Filtered Track Groups
These create dynamic groups based on track properties and criteria you define. You can filter tracks by fields such as Artist, Title, Genre, Year, Type, or Duration using operations like equals, contains, greater than, or starts with. For example, you could create a filter for "Year >= 2020" to automatically include all tracks from 2020 onwards, or "Genre = Rock" to group all rock music.
Grouped Track Groups
These combine multiple existing track groups into a single group. This is useful when you want to merge different categories together, such as combining your "Rock" and "Pop" track groups into a broader "Contemporary Music" group.
Additional features for all track group types:
Colour coding: Assign colours to track groups so tracks appear with visual indicators on the playout log
Custom icons: Add icons to help identify different types of content at a glance
Priority settings: When tracks appear in multiple groups, set which group's colour/icon takes precedence
Hidden groups: Hide track groups from the main interface selector when needed
Track groups are essential for organising your music library and are used throughout PlayIt Live in clocks, playout patterns, and scheduling strategies.
Read full answer
How many seconds before the end should I set players to start flashing for optimal cueing?
For optimal cueing, the recommended setting depends on your broadcasting style and how much advance warning you need, but 10-15 seconds typically works well for most radio operations.
Why players flash:
The flashing feature provides a visual warning that a track is nearing its end, helping presenters prepare for the next track or prepare to speak over the outro. This prevents dead air and ensures smooth transitions between content.
Configuring the flash timing:
You can adjust this setting by going to File > Settings, clicking the General tab, and looking for the Flash players section. Here you can:
Enable or disable the flashing feature entirely
Set exactly how many seconds before the end the players will begin to flash
The setting applies to both Live-Assist Mode and Decks Mode players
Recommended timings by use case:
10-15 seconds: Good for most stations where presenters need moderate advance warning
5-8 seconds: Suitable for experienced presenters who prefer minimal visual distraction
20-30 seconds: Better for newer presenters or stations with longer voice-overs and back-announces
Disabled: For automated stations or when visual indicators aren't needed
Professional tip:
Consider your typical outro length and speaking patterns. If you regularly do back-announces or longer voice-overs, set the flash timing to give yourself enough time to prepare and start speaking at the right moment. The visual cue should give you enough warning without being distracting during your presentation.
Read full answer
I have 20 presenters who might remote voice track. Do I need to purchase a subscription for each of them?
No, the Voice Tracking Module is priced per concurrent user. This means that you only need to purchase for the number of users who will be voice tracking at the same time. Alternatively, you can purchase the Premium Module Bundle which has no limit on the number of concurrent remote voice tracking users.
Read full answer
If I buy a plugin and reset my PC or change computers, will I need to buy it again?
No, you won't need to repurchase the plugin. When you buy a plugin, it's initially tied to your specific machine name, but you can easily transfer it to a new computer or after a factory reset. Simply visit https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Plugins where you'll see a transfer icon next to your purchased plugin, allowing you to move the licence to your new machine name without any additional cost.
Read full answer
If I change the silence detection values, are existing tracks updated automatically?
No, existing tracks are not automatically updated when you change the silence detection values in PlayIt Live settings. The silence analysis settings only apply to new analysis operations, not previously analysed tracks.
What happens to existing tracks:
When you modify the silence analysis sensitivity settings, tracks that already have Cue In and Cue Out points will retain their current values. PlayIt Live does not retroactively re-analyse your entire music library when settings change.
How to apply new settings to existing tracks:
If you want to apply your updated silence detection settings to existing tracks, you'll need to manually re-analyse them:
Individual tracks: Go to Manage > Tracks, select a track, and click the Analyse button in the Track Editor to re-detect cue points with the new settings
Bulk re-analysis: Unfortunately, there's no built-in bulk re-analysis feature, so you'll need to analyse tracks individually if you want to update them all
When new settings apply automatically:
The updated silence analysis settings will automatically apply to:
New tracks added to your library after changing the settings
Files dragged directly onto players from your file system
Future voice track recordings (if you've also adjusted voice track analysis settings)
Recommendation:
If you're fine-tuning your silence detection settings, it's best to test them on a few sample tracks first before deciding whether to manually re-analyse your existing library. Only re-analyse existing tracks if the new settings produce significantly better results than your current cue points.
Read full answer
If I have multiple versions of the same song (e.g., radio edit, extended mix), will the Duplicate Track File Analysis tool detect these as duplicates?
No, the Duplicate Track File Analysis tool will not detect multiple versions of the same song as duplicates unless they have identical file paths. The tool specifically looks for tracks that reference the same physical file location on your computer, not songs with similar content or metadata.
The duplicate detection works by comparing file paths rather than analysing the actual audio content or track information. So if you have:
Song.mp3 (radio edit)
Song_Extended.mp3 (extended mix)
Song (Radio Version).mp3
These would not be flagged as duplicates because they are separate files with different paths, even though they may be versions of the same song.
Similarly, the tool will not detect two identical copies of the same file stored in different folders on your computer. For example, if you have the same audio file saved as both C:\Music\Artist\Song.mp3 and D:\Backup\Artist\Song.mp3, these would not be identified as duplicates because they have different file paths, even though they contain identical audio content.
The tool is designed to find instances where you've accidentally added the exact same audio file to PlayIt Live multiple times, which can happen if you import the same folder repeatedly or add individual tracks that have already been imported. When the tool finds genuine duplicates (same file path referenced multiple times in the database), you can use the Remove Duplicates button to clean up these redundant entries.
If you want to manage multiple versions of songs more effectively, you might consider using track groups to organise different versions or using the track editor to add distinctive information in the title or notes field to help distinguish between versions when scheduling.
Read full answer
If I have the same audio file in different folders, will the analysis detect these as duplicates?
No, the Duplicate Track File Analysis tool in PlayIt Live only identifies tracks that reference the exact same file path. If you have copies of the same audio file stored in different folders, these will not be detected as duplicates by this tool because each track points to a different file location.
For example, if you have "Song.mp3" stored in both C:\Music\Pop\ and C:\Music\Rock, and you've added both files as separate tracks in PlayIt Live, the Duplicate Track File Analysis will not flag these as duplicates because the file paths are different, even though the audio content is identical.
The tool is specifically designed to find instances where multiple tracks in your database are pointing to the same file path, which typically happens when you've accidentally added the same file to PlayIt Live more than once. If you want to identify true audio duplicates across different file locations, you would need to use third-party audio fingerprinting software outside of PlayIt Live.
Read full answer
Is it possible to include a stream link to record shows in PlayIt Recorder?
No, PlayIt Recorder can only record from physical audio devices connected to your computer, such as sound cards or audio interfaces. It cannot record directly from internet stream links or URLs.
If you need to record from an internet stream, you would need to use additional software to play the stream through a virtual audio device (such as VB-Audio Virtual Cable), and then configure PlayIt Recorder to record from that virtual device. Alternatively, you could use the stream as an input to your physical sound card and record from that device.
Read full answer
Is PlayIt Live an online-based or internet-based radio automation software?
No, PlayIt Live is not an online-based or internet-based radio automation software. PlayIt Live is a desktop application that runs locally on your Windows computer. You download and install the software directly onto your machine, and it operates independently without requiring a constant internet connection for core functionality.
While PlayIt Live does require an initial internet connection to log in with your PlayIt Software account and to download premium module licences, once activated, the software can run completely offline for daily broadcasting operations. The software stores your music library, scheduling data, and playout logs locally on your computer rather than in the cloud.
PlayIt Live can stream your audio output to internet radio servers and includes features like remote voice tracking and remote studio access that work over the internet, but the core playout and automation functionality operates locally on your Windows machine.
Read full answer
Is PlayIt Live available as a lifetime purchase without annual payments?
Yes, PlayIt Live offers lifetime licences for all premium modules, including the Premium Module Bundle, which means you can make a one-time payment and use the software permanently without any recurring annual or monthly fees.
The Premium Module Bundle is available as a lifetime licence, and individual modules like Voice Tracking, Remote Management, and Advanced Scheduling also offer lifetime licensing options. Once you purchase a lifetime licence, you have a permanent licence to use the software with no subscription renewals required. You can find current lifetime pricing at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Pricing/LifetimeBundle
Lifetime licence holders receive email support for six months after purchase and can upgrade to extended support plans if needed. All software updates are included with your lifetime licence, ensuring you always have access to the latest features and improvements.
Read full answer
I've accidentally added the same audio file multiple times to PlayIt Live - how can I identify and remove these duplicates efficiently?
PlayIt Live includes a Duplicate Track File Analysis tool that helps you quickly find and remove tracks that reference the same audio file. This situation commonly occurs when you accidentally import the same audio files more than once or when you've reorganised your music library.
To use this feature, go to Tools > Duplicate Track File Analysis and click Scan for duplicate track files. PlayIt Live will search your database for any tracks that point to identical file paths. Once the scan completes, you'll see a list of all duplicate entries. Review the results carefully to ensure you're removing the correct duplicates, then click Remove Duplicates to delete the extra entries from your database. This will not delete the actual audio files from your hard drive, only the duplicate references within PlayIt Live. Keep in mind that this tool only identifies exact file path matches, so it won't detect different audio files with similar names or content.
Read full answer
What are ASIO devices and how do I enable them in PlayIt Live?
ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) devices are low-latency audio drivers that provide direct communication between software and professional audio hardware, offering better performance than standard Windows audio drivers.
What are ASIO devices:
Professional audio drivers that bypass Windows audio processing
Provide lower latency (delay) between audio processing and output
Commonly used with professional audio interfaces and sound cards
Offer more precise timing and better audio quality for broadcast applications
Benefits of ASIO:
Lower latency - Reduced delay between audio processing and playback
Better performance - More efficient audio processing
Professional compatibility - Works with broadcast-grade audio equipment
Stable timing - More consistent audio timing for live broadcasting
How to enable ASIO devices in PlayIt Live:
Go to File > Settings
Click on the Advanced tab
Look for the ASIO Devices section
You'll see a list of available ASIO devices on your system
Tick the checkbox next to the ASIO device you want to use
Click OK to save your settings
Restart PlayIt Live for the changes to take effect
Important notes:
Restart required: You must restart PlayIt Live after enabling ASIO devices
Explicit initialisation: ASIO devices must be explicitly enabled to avoid conflicts with standard drivers
Professional hardware: You need compatible professional audio hardware that supports ASIO drivers
One at a time: Generally, you should only enable one ASIO device to avoid conflicts
When to use ASIO:
ASIO is particularly beneficial for professional radio stations using dedicated audio interfaces, mixing consoles, or when precise audio timing is critical for live broadcasting.
Read full answer
What are clocks in PlayIt Live and why do I need them?
Clocks are hour-long templates that define the structure and flow of your broadcast content. Think of them as blueprints that tell PlayIt Live exactly what should happen during each hour of your programming.
A clock contains a sequence of different items such as track groups (for music), individual tracks (for specific jingles or promos), voice track placeholders, fixed time markers, break notes, and other content types. For example, a typical morning show clock might include a top-of-hour news bulletin, some music from your "A Rotation" track group, a voice track placeholder for the presenter, more music, and station IDs.
You need clocks because they provide several essential benefits for radio automation. They ensure consistency in your programming by maintaining the same structure every hour or show. They enable future planning by allowing you to schedule content days or weeks in advance. They automate your broadcast flow so PlayIt Live knows exactly what to play and when, reducing the need for manual intervention. They also create a professional sound by ensuring proper spacing between different content types and maintaining your station's format.
Without clocks, PlayIt Live would fall back to using your Playout Pattern, which provides basic automation but lacks the sophisticated structure that clocks offer. Clocks give you precise control over your broadcast format whilst still maintaining the flexibility to have different templates for different shows or times of day.
Read full answer
What are Duck settings and how do I configure them to automatically lower music volume when voice tracks play?
Duck settings in PlayIt Live automatically reduce (lower) the volume of music tracks when voice tracks are playing, creating a professional sound where your voice stands out clearly over background music.
Where to configure Duck settings:
Duck settings are found in the Voice Tracking settings under File > Settings. Look for the Duck settings section which controls automatic volume reduction when voice tracks play.
How ducking works:
When you enable ducking for a voice track, PlayIt Live automatically reduces the volume of the previous and next tracks that are playing at the same time as your voice track. This creates a smooth transition where your voice is clearly audible over the background music.
Configuring automatic ducking:
You can set up automatic ducking in two ways:
Global settings: In the Voice Tracking settings, configure the default ducking behaviour that applies to all new voice tracks
Individual tracks: In the Segue Editor, tick the "Duck other tracks" checkbox for specific voice tracks, then click the Settings button to configure the ducking volume and speed
Manual ducking control:
In the Segue Editor, you can manually adjust ducking for each voice track by:
Ticking the "Duck other tracks" checkbox
Clicking the Settings button to adjust the ducking level and transition speed
Viewing the effective track envelope which shows how the volume changes during ducking
Visual feedback:
When ducking is active, you'll see the track envelope change in the Segue Editor to show the volume reduction applied to surrounding tracks. This helps you visualise exactly how the ducking will sound during playback.
Read full answer
What are Early Out cue points and how do they work with sweep segues?
Early Out cue points are special timing markers that indicate when a track is considered to be almost finished. They appear as orange markers on the waveform and work differently depending on the type of track you're using.
For regular songs, the Early Out point tells PlayIt Live that it can place a sweeper after this point as the track is finishing, creating smoother transitions between tracks.
For tracks marked as "Sweeper", the Early Out point indicates to PlayIt Live that it can start the next track after this point. This allows the end of the sweeper to play over the intro of the following song.
Early Out cue points are particularly useful with Sweep Start and Sweep Intro segue styles. These segue types will make use of the Early Out cue point on the previous track when available, enabling more sophisticated automated sequencing. If Early Out points aren't set on tracks, PlayIt Live will fall back to using the standard Cue Out/In segue style instead.
Read full answer
What are Priority Streams?
Priority Streams is a unique feature that allows you to bring in an external audio stream, such as a remote presenter or DJ, or an outside broadcast. When a priority stream is active, it will take over your normal live-assist playout automatically.
The feature works by continuously monitoring for incoming audio from either a live URL (such as an Icecast or SHOUTcast server) or direct stream connections. When a priority stream connects and has sufficient audio volume above the silence threshold, it becomes active and takes priority over your regular playout. If multiple priority streams are active simultaneously, the one with the highest priority number will go live.
Priority Streams requires the Advanced Scheduling Module and can be managed through Manage > Priority Streams. You can control when streams are available using three states: Closed (stream won't activate), Pre-Open (stream connects but won't go live), and Open (stream can connect and go live when audio is detected).
Read full answer
What are QuickCarts and how do I use them for the first time?
QuickCarts are single-click one-shot players typically used for jingles, promos, or beds in PlayIt Live. They provide an easy way to trigger audio files instantly during your broadcast.
To use QuickCarts for the first time, simply drag and drop a track from your track list or an audio file from Windows Explorer directly onto a QuickCart to load it. Once loaded, click anywhere in the QuickCart box to play the audio file. You can configure QuickCarts to display as a panel at the bottom of the main window or as a separate cart wall window, which can even be placed on a second monitor for a multi-monitor setup.
Read full answer
What are Segue Editor Carts and how do I use them to add background music or station IDs to voice tracks?
Segue Editor Carts are a feature within the segue editor that allows you to record additional audio directly into your voice track recordings. They're particularly useful for adding background music (beds) or station IDs (jingles) whilst recording your voice tracks.
The Carts feature is located on the right-hand side of the segue editor. To use them, you can either drag and drop an audio file from your file system into the cart player, or click the three dots menu and select Load File to load a track from your database. Once loaded, click the Play button whilst recording your voice track and the cart audio will be mixed directly into your recording. You can adjust the volume using the slider if the audio is too loud to talk over.
Important: You must ensure carts are loaded before starting to record your voice track.
Read full answer
What are the default values for the Fitting To Time settings and when should I change them?
The default values for Fitting To Time settings are Target Threshold: 30 seconds, Number of Attempts: 25, and Seconds Per Fit: 2 seconds. These settings work together to help PlayIt Live find the best combination of tracks that fit as close as possible to your target time when scheduling up to the end of an hour or fixed time marker.
How the defaults work: PlayIt Live will generate up to 25 different combinations of playout log items and spend up to 2 seconds processing the selected combinations to find one that fits within 30 seconds of your target time. It will select the best combination that meets these criteria.
When to consider changing them: You might want to adjust these settings if you need more precise timing control or if scheduling is taking too long. Decreasing the Target Threshold (e.g., to 15 seconds) will make timing more precise but may increase scheduling time. Increasing Number of Attempts (e.g., to 50) gives more chances to find a perfect fit but may take longer to process. Increasing Seconds Per Fit allows more time to test the selected combinations but slows down overall scheduling. The Advanced Scheduling module is required to modify these parameters from their defaults.
Read full answer
What are the different cue point types (Intro, Hook Start, Hook End, etc.) and when should I use them?
PlayIt Live uses several cue point types to define important positions within tracks for better automation and timing control. Here's what each one does and when to use them:
Cue In
The position where the track should start playing. This eliminates any silence or unwanted audio at the beginning of the file. Use this to ensure tracks start cleanly without dead air or unwanted intro material.
Intro
The position where vocals begin on the track. This is displayed as a countdown timer on the players, helping presenters know when to stop speaking before vocals start. Essential for music tracks where you want to talk over the instrumental intro.
Hook Start and Hook End
Define the catchiest part of a song used in hook sequences. Hook sequences play short clips of multiple tracks back-to-back to promote upcoming music. Set these points around the most recognisable part of the song, typically the chorus.
Early Out
Indicates the track is almost finished and has two different uses:
For songs: Tells PlayIt Live it can place a sweeper after this point for smoother transitions
For sweepers: Indicates when the next track can start, allowing the sweeper to play over the intro of the following song
Cue Out
The position where the track is considered finished. In Live-Assist mode, players will begin fading out and start the next track when this point is reached. The remaining time countdown is based on this point.
Setting cue points:
Use the Set button while listening to position cue points precisely, or click Analyse to automatically detect Cue In and Cue Out based on silence analysis. You can fine-tune points using keyboard arrows (0.01s increments) or Shift+arrows (0.1s increments).
Visual representation:
All cue points are colour-coded on the waveform display, making it easy to see their positions at a glance during track editing.
Read full answer
What are the optimal silence analysis threshold settings for different types of audio content?
Silence analysis threshold settings in PlayIt Live should be adjusted based on the type of audio content in your library to achieve the best automatic cue point detection. The optimal settings vary depending on your audio quality, content type, and production standards.
Where to find silence analysis settings:
Go to File > Settings > General tab and look for the Silence analysis section. You'll also find specific Voice Track Silence Analysis settings under the Voice Tracking tab.
Settings for different content types:
High-quality studio recordings:
For professionally mastered music with clean recordings and minimal background noise, you can use more sensitive (lower) threshold settings. This allows the system to detect subtle silence periods more accurately.
Older or lower-quality recordings:
For vintage tracks, vinyl rips, or recordings with background noise or hiss, use less sensitive (higher) threshold settings. This prevents the system from incorrectly identifying background noise as the start or end of the track.
Voice track recordings:
Voice tracks typically need different sensitivity settings than music tracks. Configure the Voice Track Silence Analysis settings to match your microphone setup and recording environment. Studio-quality microphones in treated rooms can use more sensitive settings, whilst basic setups may need higher thresholds.
Mixed libraries:
If your library contains various audio qualities, start with moderate threshold settings and fine-tune based on results. Test the automatic analysis on representative samples from different eras and quality levels in your collection.
Testing and adjustment:
After changing settings, use the Analyse button in Manage > Tracks on sample tracks to test results. The goal is accurate Cue In points that start when music begins (not during silence) and Cue Out points that end when music effectively finishes (before trailing silence or fade-outs).
Important note:
Changes to silence analysis settings only apply to newly analysed tracks. Existing tracks retain their current cue points until manually re-analysed using the Analyse button.
Read full answer
What are the silence analysis settings in PlayIt Live and how do they work?
The silence analysis settings in PlayIt Live automatically detect the Cue In and Cue Out points in your tracks by analysing silence at the start and end of audio files. This feature helps achieve the best sounding gapless playback by identifying where music actually begins and ends, excluding any silence periods.
You can find these settings by going to File > Settings from the Main Window menu, then looking for the "Silence analysis" section in the General tab. The settings determine how sensitive the automatic analysis will be when detecting silence levels.
The silence analysis is used in several ways:
When you click the Analyse button in the Track Editor window
Automatically when files are dragged and dropped from the file system onto a player
During the track import process if you tick Analyse silence in the Add Tracks wizard
This automatic detection saves time compared to manually setting cue points and ensures consistent, professional-sounding transitions between tracks during automated playout.
Read full answer
What are track groups and why would I use them?
Track groups are collections of tracks organised by specific criteria, similar to smart folders or playlists in other applications. They help you categorise your music library so you can easily filter, schedule, and manage your tracks. There are three types of track groups: Listed groups where you manually select tracks, Filtered groups that automatically include tracks based on properties like genre or year, and Grouped groups that combine multiple track groups together.
Track groups are essential for scheduling because they allow you to create professional-sounding radio programming. You can use them in Clocks to automatically select tracks from specific categories of music, in the Playout Pattern to define your station's overall sound, and with Playout Policies to control how often tracks from certain groups can repeat. For example, you might create track groups for different decades, music genres, or show-specific content, then schedule them to play at appropriate times throughout the day. You can also use track groups to filter the track list on the main interface, making it easier to find and manually add specific types of content to your playout log.
Read full answer
What are Web Links in PlayIt Live and how do I access them?
Web Links are a convenient feature in PlayIt Live that allow you to quickly search for information about your tracks online. They appear as additional options in the context menu when you right-click on any track.
What are Web Links used for:
Searching for artist information on Wikipedia
Looking up track details on music databases like AllMusic or Discogs
Finding lyrics, reviews, or additional information about songs
Searching Google for general information about artists or tracks
How to access Web Links:
Right-click on any track in the main PlayIt Live interface
Look for your configured Web Links at the bottom of the context menu
Click on the desired link to open it in your web browser
Where to find them:
Main interface track list (right-click any track)
Segue editor (right-click tracks when editing segues)
Playout log (use the ellipsis button or right-click menu)
Setting up Web Links:
Go to File > Settings > Web Links to configure your links. You can add search engines, music databases, or any website that accepts search parameters. Each link can use placeholders like {artist}, {title}, and {album} which are automatically replaced with the track's information when clicked.
Web Links save time by eliminating the need to manually type artist or track names into search engines - simply right-click and search!
Read full answer
What audio device does the Pre-Fade Listen window use for playback?
The Pre-Fade Listen window uses the audio device that you have selected under Settings > Track Editor Audio Device. This is the same audio device that's used for playback in the track editor when adding or editing tracks, as well as for the segue editor.
To change which audio device the Pre-Fade Listen window uses, go to File > Settings from the main window menu, and then select your preferred audio device from the Track editor audio device dropdown in the General tab.
Read full answer
What do the different coloured highlights on the progress bar represent (grey, silver, pink)?
The coloured highlights on the progress bar show important cue points for the loaded track. Grey indicates the Cue In point (where the track should start playing), Silver shows the Intro point (typically where vocals begin), and Pink marks the Cue Out point (where the track should end or fade out).
These visual markers help you quickly identify key timing points when scrubbing through tracks or setting up precise timing for your broadcast.
Read full answer
What do the different coloured timers mean on each deck player (blue, green, red)?
Each deck player displays three coloured timers that provide different timing information for the loaded track. The blue timer shows the intro remaining time (time left until vocals begin), the green timer shows the elapsed time since the track started playing, and the red timer shows the remaining time until the track reaches its cue out point.
These timers help presenters manage their tracks effectively during live broadcasts by providing essential timing information at a glance.
Read full answer
What do the onscreen clocks show and how do I configure them?
The onscreen clock shows the current date and time by default, but can be configured to display up to two additional clocks. Right-click the clock and select Configure to choose from options like Current Time, Until End of Hour, Until Time in Hour, Until Next Fixed Time Marker, or Until Next Stop. You can also change the text colour of the clocks through this configuration menu.
Read full answer
What does it mean when a track is "logged" in the system?
When a track is "logged" in PlayIt Live, it means the software has recorded that the track was played and stored this information in the logged tracks database for reporting purposes. This creates a permanent record of when each track was broadcast, which is useful for royalty reporting, playlist verification, and analysing what music has been played on your station.
In Decks Mode, a track is logged if it plays for more than 75% of its duration. In Live-Assist Mode, a track is logged if it has started playing and exists in the playout log in the past. You can view all logged tracks by going to Manage > Logged Tracks, where you'll see a timestamped list of everything that's been played. You can export this information to CSV format for reporting to licensing agencies or for your own record keeping, and you can filter the logged tracks by date range to see specific time periods.
Read full answer
What does the "Global trigger" checkbox do in keyboard shortcuts settings and when should I enable it?
The Global trigger checkbox enables keyboard shortcuts to work system-wide, even when PlayIt Live doesn't have focus or is running in the background.
What it does:
When enabled, this single setting applies to all your configured keyboard shortcuts, allowing them to function regardless of which application is currently active on your computer. Without this setting, keyboard shortcuts only work when PlayIt Live is the active window.
When to enable it:
You should enable Global trigger when:
Using external controllers like Stream Deck, hardware control surfaces, or USB button boxes
Operating PlayIt Live while other applications are active (e.g., web browsers, email, production software)
Running PlayIt Live in unattended mode where other programs may take focus
Working with multiple monitors where different applications may be active on each screen
Using PlayIt Live for live broadcasting where you need reliable shortcut access at all times
How to enable it:
Go to File > Settings, click on the Keyboard tab, then tick the Global trigger checkbox at the bottom of the keyboard settings section. Click OK to save your changes.
Important considerations:
Choose your keyboard shortcuts carefully when using Global trigger. Avoid common key combinations like Space Bar or Ctrl+C that might interfere with other applications. If shortcuts stop working after enabling this feature, check whether another application might be intercepting the same key combinations.
This feature is essential for professional broadcasting setups where reliable control access is critical, regardless of what other software might be running simultaneously.
Read full answer
What does the Preview option show me before applying Auto Adjust changes?
The Preview section in Auto Adjust shows you exactly what changes will be made to your playout log before you commit to applying them. This allows you to review and understand the adjustments that Auto Adjust will perform without making any permanent changes to your schedule.
What the Preview displays:
The preview shows a detailed breakdown of the specific modifications that Auto Adjust will make when you click the Apply button, including which tracks will have their tempos adjusted, how segues will be modified, and which items (if any) will be soft deleted to fit the target timing.
Key information shown:
Tempo adjustments for tracks with Type "Song" - showing which tracks will be sped up or slowed down and by how much
Segue modifications between tracks to achieve smoother transitions within the time constraints
Items to be soft deleted - tracks that would play after the target time and need to be removed
Using the Preview effectively:
Click the Refresh icon to update the preview list if you've made any changes to your playout log since opening Auto Adjust. This ensures you're seeing the most current analysis of what changes are needed.
If there aren't enough items scheduled to perform Auto Adjust, you'll be prompted to schedule more items from your playout pattern before the preview will show you the proposed adjustments.
Important note:
The preview is essential for understanding the impact of Auto Adjust, especially since custom volume envelopes set manually on items may be destroyed when Auto Adjust is applied. Review the preview carefully before clicking Apply to ensure you're comfortable with all the proposed changes.
This preview functionality requires the Advanced Scheduling module to access the full Auto Adjust features.
Read full answer
What does the Priority setting do in track groups?
The Priority setting in track groups determines which track group's colour and icon are displayed when a track belongs to multiple track groups on the playout log. When a track is a member of several track groups that each have custom colours or icons configured, PlayIt Live uses the Priority value to decide which visual styling to show. The track group with the highest priority number takes precedence.
For example, if you have a track that belongs to both a "Rock" track group (Priority 5, coloured blue) and a "Breakfast Show" track group (Priority 10, coloured red), the track will appear red on the playout log because the Breakfast Show group has the higher priority. This allows you to create hierarchical visual organisation in your playout log, ensuring that more specific or important categorisations are displayed prominently.
Read full answer
What does the track type field mean and how is it determined?
The track type field categorises your audio content to help with organisation, filtering, and automation. Common track types include Song, Station ID, Jingle, Bed, News, Weather, and Sweeper. This field is used extensively throughout PlayIt Live for creating filtered track groups, setting up playout policies, and organising your content library.
By default, track type is set to "Inferred", which means PlayIt Live automatically determines the type based on your track's metadata and characteristics. The system uses these rules in order:
First, if your Tags field contains one of the track types (like "Jingle" or "Station ID"), that type is automatically assigned. Second, if your Artist or Title field exactly matches one of the track types, that type is used. Third, if the duration is less than 30 seconds, the track is classified as "Station ID" since short audio is typically used for station identification. Finally, if none of the above rules apply, the track defaults to "Song".
You can override the inferred type by manually selecting a specific type from the dropdown when editing a track via Manage > Tracks. This is particularly useful for ensuring accurate categorisation, especially for tracks that might not fit the automatic rules. Properly set track types enable you to create filtered track groups, apply specific playout policies to different content types, and maintain better organisation of your audio library.
Additionally, only tracks marked as "Song" will be affected by the Auto Adjust feature, which automatically adjusts tempos and segues for timing purposes.
Read full answer
What external IP address do I give to remote presenters for direct stream connections?
To find your external IP address for remote presenters using direct stream connections, you can visit https://whatismyipaddress.com/ to check your current external IP address. This is the address you'll provide to remote users connecting with Icecast-compatible encoders like PlayIt Live, BUTT or Rocket Broadcaster.
When setting up direct stream connections in PlayIt Live, remote users will need these connection details:
Server Type: Icecast
Server Address: Your external IP address (from whatismyipaddress.com)
Server Port: The port specified in your PlayIt Live priority stream settings
Username: PlayIt Live username (created under Manage > Users)
Password: The password for that PlayIt Live user
Mount: /
Remember that you'll also need to configure your firewall to allow connections on the specified port and may need to set up port forwarding on your network router to route incoming traffic to your PlayIt Live computer.
Read full answer
What file formats can I upload as tracks?
PlayIt Live supports the following audio file formats for track uploads:
MP3 files (.mp3) - The most widely used compressed audio format
WAVE files (.wav) - Uncompressed high-quality audio format
Windows Media Audio files (.wma) - Microsoft's audio compression format
MP4 files (.mp4) - MPEG-4 audio container format
M4A files (.m4a) - Apple's audio format, commonly used for iTunes music
AAC files (.aac) - Advanced Audio Coding format
FLAC files (.flac) - Free Lossless Audio Codec for high-quality compression
MP2 files (.mp2) - MPEG-1 Audio Layer II format
OGG files (.ogg) - Open-source Ogg Vorbis format
You can upload tracks using the Add New Tracks Wizard (via Manage > Tracks), by dragging and dropping audio files directly onto the track list, or by importing track information from a CSV file when migrating from another broadcast system.
PlayIt Live automatically reads metadata from audio files where available, including artist, title, album, and duration information. The software can also analyse silence at the beginning and end of tracks to automatically set cue in and cue out points for professional gapless playback.
Read full answer
What happens if I don't purchase the Voice Tracking module when mixing down audio?
If you haven't purchased the Voice Tracking module, you can still use PlayIt VoiceTrack to create shows and mix them down to audio files. However, the mixed down audio will be periodically overlaid with an audio notice indicating that the module needs to be purchased. This audio watermark prevents the output from being suitable for broadcast.
This allows you to fully evaluate all the features of PlayIt VoiceTrack, including recording voice tracks, adjusting segues, and mixing down complete shows, without any time restrictions. You can test the entire workflow and ensure the software meets your needs before purchasing.
To remove the audio notice and create broadcast-ready audio files, purchase the Voice Tracking module at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Subscription/VoiceTracking
Read full answer
What happens if I don't schedule a clock for a particular hour?
If you don't schedule a clock for a particular hour, PlayIt Live will automatically use the playout pattern to generate playout log items for that hour instead.
The playout pattern is a repeated sequence of track groups that serves as a fallback when no specific clock has been scheduled. PlayIt Live will cycle through this pattern and use the default scheduling strategy (which by default is Smart Selection) to choose tracks from the designated track groups to fill the hour, taking into account any playout policies you have configured to ensure proper track separation and variety.
Smart Selection explained:
Smart Selection uses a weighted random algorithm where tracks that were played longer ago are given a larger weight, significantly increasing their chance of being selected. This prevents certain tracks from being played too frequently whilst still maintaining variety in your playout, making it ideal for most radio stations as it provides good variety whilst preventing the same songs from playing too close together.
How it works:
When the playout log scheduler runs and encounters an hour without a scheduled clock, it refers to the playout pattern (configured via Manage > Playout Pattern). The pattern might be something like: Songs → Jingles → Songs → Adverts → Songs, and PlayIt Live will follow this sequence, using Smart Selection to choose appropriate tracks from each track group whilst respecting your playout policies for artist and track separation.
Setting up the playout pattern:
You can configure your playout pattern by going to Manage > Playout Pattern. This allows you to define the default sequence of track groups that will be used whenever no clock is scheduled, ensuring your station continues to sound professional even during unscheduled hours.
This fallback system means your station will never be silent due to missing scheduling - there will always be content generated for every hour, whether from a specifically scheduled clock or from the playout pattern.
Read full answer
What happens if I don't schedule anything for an hour?
If you don't schedule a clock for a specific hour, PlayIt Live automatically uses your Playout Pattern to fill that time. The playout pattern is a repeating sequence of track groups that serves as your fallback content when no specific clock is scheduled.
For example, if your playout pattern contains "Songs, Jingles, Promos", PlayIt Live will continuously cycle through these track groups to fill the unscheduled hour. It will play a track from Songs, then from Jingles, then from Promos, and repeat this pattern throughout the hour.
You can view and modify your playout pattern by going to Manage > Playout Pattern. This allows you to control what content plays during unscheduled hours. The pattern ensures your station never goes silent, even if you haven't created specific clocks for every hour of the day.
However, for professional radio operation, it's recommended to schedule specific clocks for most hours as they provide much better control over timing, content flow, and station format. Clocks allow you to include fixed time markers, voice track placeholders, specific tracks, and other content types that create a more structured and professional broadcast compared to the basic automation provided by the playout pattern.
Read full answer
What happens if I don't set up a playout pattern for my station?
If you don't set up a playout pattern, PlayIt Live will automatically use the All Tracks track group as the default playout pattern. The system won't let you save an empty playout pattern, so it defaults to scheduling from your entire music library.
This means that when gaps need to be filled in your playout log (such as when clocks don't contain enough items to complete an hour or when no clocks are scheduled for specific time slots), PlayIt Live will randomly select tracks from your entire music collection. Whilst this ensures continuous content, it may not provide the structured programming you want for your station.
Without a configured playout pattern, you have no control over what type of content fills these gaps. Your station might play anything from songs to jingles to station IDs in random order, which could create an unprofessional sound. For example, you might get two jingles in a row or inappropriate content for certain dayparts.
To maintain better control over your station's sound, it's highly recommended to set up a proper playout pattern at Manage > Playout Pattern. Create a pattern with your preferred track groups in the order you want them to play (such as songs, jingles, station IDs). This ensures that when gaps are filled, they follow your desired programming structure rather than random selection from your entire library.
Read full answer
What happens if I interrupt Loudness Analysis partway through - will it resume where it left off?
Yes, if you stop PlayIt Live or interrupt the Loudness Analysis process before it completes, it will automatically resume where it left off when you restart the analysis. The tool keeps track of which tracks have already been processed, so you won't lose any progress if you need to close the software or restart your computer during the analysis.
When you run Loudness Analysis again via Tools > Loudness Analysis and click Start Loudness Analysis, PlayIt Live will skip any tracks that have already been analysed and continue processing the remaining tracks. This makes it safe to run the analysis in stages, which is particularly helpful since analysing a large music library can take several hours depending on your collection size and computer speed. Any new tracks you add to your database after the initial analysis will also be automatically processed in the background.
Read full answer
What happens if I lose my internet connection whilst voice tracking?
If you lose your internet connection during a remote voice tracking session, any voice tracks that were being sent to the server at the time will be lost and will need to be re-recorded. Only voice tracks that had already been successfully uploaded and showed as Processed in the Update Queue before the connection was lost will be saved.
When your internet connection is restored, you'll need to reconnect to the remote voice tracking session and check which voice tracks were successfully uploaded by reviewing the hour. You'll then need to re-record any voice tracks that were lost. To minimise the risk of losing work, it's recommended to regularly check the Update Queue section to ensure your recordings are showing as Processed before moving on to the next voice track.
Read full answer
What happens if I try to use voice tracking without purchasing the Voice Tracking module?
Without the Voice Tracking module, you can still evaluate all the voice tracking functionality in PlayIt Live, but your voice tracks will be preceded by an audio notice (watermark) requesting that you purchase the module. This audio overlay makes the voice tracks unsuitable for broadcast purposes.
The Voice Tracking module is considered a premium feature, so whilst you can record voice tracks, adjust segues, and test all the functionality, any voice track played back will have an audible message stating that the module needs to be purchased. This allows you to fully evaluate the features before making a purchase decision.
What you can do without the module:
Record voice tracks using your microphone
Adjust timing and segues between tracks
Use the segue editor and all voice tracking tools
Test remote voice tracking functionality
What happens with the audio:
Every voice track includes an audio watermark/notice
The notice plays before your recorded voice track
This prevents professional broadcast use without purchase
To remove the audio notice and use voice tracking for broadcast, you'll need to purchase the Voice Tracking module or the Premium Module Bundle from https://www.playitsoftware.com/Pricing
Read full answer
What happens to my software if I cancel my monthly or annual subscription?
If you cancel your subscription, you will retain access to the modules until the end of your current billing period. After that, the premium features will be disabled, but you can continue using the free functionality of software.
Read full answer
What happens to the current playing track when a priority stream goes live?
When a priority stream becomes active and goes live, there are two possible behaviours that can be configured in Settings > Advanced Scheduling > Priority Streams:
Fade immediately: The currently playing track will fade out and stop immediately to get the priority stream on-air as quickly as possible. This ensures minimal delay but means the current track will be cut off mid-play.
Wait for current track to finish: PlayIt Live will wait for the currently playing track to complete before bringing the priority stream live. This provides a smoother listening experience as tracks aren't interrupted, but the remote stream will have to wait longer before their audio goes on-air.
When the priority stream ends and becomes inactive, playout behaviour depends on your Priority stream inactive behaviour setting. It will either return to its original playing state (resuming if it was playing before the stream went live) or automatically switch Automation ON to ensure playout always resumes.
Read full answer
What happens when I import a new playout log file - will it replace everything?
Yes, when you import a playout log file, it will completely replace the existing log content for the specified date range. This is an important consideration before proceeding with any import.
Complete replacement:
When you import a file, the entire log for the selected date range will be cleared and replaced with the imported file content. This means any existing playout log entries, manually scheduled items, or previously scheduled content within that timeframe will be permanently removed.
Date range scope:
The replacement only affects the specific date range you select during the import process. Content outside your chosen date range remains untouched. For example, if you import a file for a specific day, only that day's content is replaced.
Supported formats:
PlayIt Live supports importing several formats including PlayIt's own Playout Log Format (pipl) and M3U playlist format. Each format allows you to specify the exact timeframe for replacement.
Safety considerations:
Before importing, ensure you have backups of any important existing content within the target date range. The import process cannot be undone, so any custom scheduling, voice track placeholders, or manually placed items will be lost if not backed up.
Review before applying:
When importing via Manage > Playout Log, you can review the imported content before applying changes to your playout log. However, importing directly through the main interface will immediately take effect without a review step.
Always double-check your date range selection to avoid accidentally replacing more content than intended.
Read full answer
What happens when I increase the Number of Attempts in the Fitting To Time settings?
Increasing the Number of Attempts in the Fitting To Time settings gives PlayIt Live more opportunities to find the best combination of tracks that will fit precisely within your target time constraints. By default, this is set to 25 attempts, but increasing it will improve your scheduling accuracy at the cost of longer processing time.
When PlayIt Live schedules content up to the end of an hour or a fixed time marker, it uses the Fitting To Time algorithm to generate multiple combinations of playout log items. Each "attempt" represents a different selection of tracks from your track groups, and PlayIt Live evaluates how close each combination gets to your target time.
How it works: PlayIt Live will generate up to your specified number of combinations (attempts) and select the first one that fits within your Target Threshold (30 seconds by default). If none of the attempts fit within the threshold, it will choose the best-fitting combination from all the attempts made.
Benefits of increasing attempts: More attempts mean PlayIt Live has more chances to find track combinations that fit your timing requirements perfectly. This is particularly useful for complex scheduling scenarios or when you have strict timing requirements for your broadcasts.
Trade-offs to consider: Increasing the Number of Attempts will make the scheduling process take longer, as PlayIt Live needs to evaluate more combinations. The Seconds Per Fit setting (default 2 seconds) controls how much total time PlayIt Live will spend on this process for each scheduling period.
Note that the Advanced Scheduling module is required to modify these parameters. You can access these settings through File > Settings > Advanced Scheduling tab.
Read full answer
What happens when my scheduled show ends but there's still time left in the hour?
When your scheduled clock runs out of items before reaching the end of the hour, PlayIt Live automatically uses your Playout Pattern to fill the remaining time. The Playout Pattern is a repeating sequence of track groups that acts as a fallback to ensure continuous programming whenever a clock doesn't contain enough content to fill the full hour.
You can configure your Playout Pattern via Manage > Playout Pattern to define which track groups should be used for this automatic fill. If you want your clock to completely control what plays for the entire hour without any Playout Pattern items being added, make sure your clock contains enough content to reach the end of the hour, or add a Fixed Time Marker at the end of your clock to prevent any additional items from being scheduled. You can see where each item in your playout log came from by checking the "Reason" column in Manage > Playout Log, which will show either your clock name or "Playout Pattern" as the source.
Read full answer
What is an advert campaign?
An advert campaign represents an advert sales order from a customer who wants to play a set of adverts a specified number of times during certain times of the day for a particular period. It's essentially the business agreement between you and your advertiser that defines when and how often their advertisements will play.
Each campaign contains basic information such as the campaign name, company details, and the date range during which the adverts will be active. You can also assign categories to campaigns - this is particularly useful for preventing competing businesses from appearing in the same advert block. For example, you wouldn't want two rival pizza restaurants playing advertisements back-to-back.
Within each campaign, you'll add individual adverts (the actual audio files) and specify how many times each advert should play during different hours of the day or week. The campaign also tracks the maximum number of plays to ensure you don't exceed what the customer has paid for.
Read full answer
What is included in the Premium Module Bundle for PlayIt Live?
The Premium Module Bundle unlocks all of PlayIt Live's professional features by including all three premium modules: Remote Management, Advanced Scheduling, and Voice Tracking. This bundle represents the most cost-effective way to access the full functionality of PlayIt Live compared to purchasing modules individually.
Remote Management features:
Remote access to your PlayIt Live database via web browser
Remote Studio for live broadcasting from remote locations
Data synchronisation with another PlayIt Live instance or PlayIt Manager
Advanced Scheduling features:
Auto Adjust for fitting tracks to fixed time markers
Commercial advert scheduling with campaigns and logs
Daypart separation playout policies
Hook sequences for promoting upcoming songs
Track dayparting to restrict when tracks can play
Voice Tracking features:
Voice track recording between songs directly in PlayIt Live
Remote voice tracking via web browser or PlayIt VoiceTrack
Additional benefits:
Unlimited concurrent remote voice tracking users (exclusive to the bundle)
Dedicated email support while your subscription is active
Complimentary expert session for personalised setup assistance (annual subscriptions and lifetime licences only)
The bundle is available as a monthly subscription, annual subscription, or lifetime licence from the pricing page at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Pricing.
Read full answer
What is Remote Voice Tracking and how do I configure it?
Remote Voice Tracking allows presenters to record voice tracks between songs from any location using just a web browser. The presenter connects remotely to your PlayIt Live installation and can record voice tracks directly into your playout log, edit segues, and even add additional tracks from your library.
Configuration requires four main steps:
Enable remote connections - Go to File > Enable remote connections in PlayIt Live, expand the Advanced section, ensure Use HTTPS is checked, and click Start Server. Note the remote URL provided for users to connect.
Set up users - Access Manage > Users, click Add New, and create usernames and passwords for remote presenters. Use the Remote Voice Tracking grid to specify which hours each user can voice track into.
Add voice track placeholders - Drag the Voice Track button from the main interface onto your playout log to create gaps where presenters can record. You can also add these via Manage > Playout Log or through clocks.
Share connection details - Provide your remote presenters with the remote URL (usually ending in .playitradio.com), their username, and password. They can then voice track using any Chrome-based browser from anywhere with an internet connection.
Read full answer
What is Smart Selection in Live-Assist Mode and how does it work compared to other track scheduling strategies?
Smart Selection is PlayIt Live's intelligent track scheduling strategy that uses a weighted random algorithm to select tracks from track groups. The key feature of Smart Selection is that tracks played longer ago are given a larger weight, significantly increasing their chance of being selected. This prevents certain tracks from being played too frequently whilst still maintaining variety in your playout.
You can set Smart Selection as your default strategy by going to File > Settings > Live-Assist Mode and selecting it under Default track scheduling strategy. Alternatively, you can set it for individual track groups when editing clocks by going to Manage > Clocks and selecting Smart Selection in the Track Group Settings window.
PlayIt Live offers three scheduling strategies in total: Smart Selection (weighted random based on play history), Random (entirely random selection from the track group), and Most Rested (always selects the track that was played longest ago). Smart Selection strikes the perfect balance by preventing repetition whilst avoiding predictable rotation patterns, making it ideal for most radio stations wanting natural-sounding variety in their music scheduling.
Read full answer
What is the Advanced Scheduling module and why do I need a licence to access its features?
The Advanced Scheduling module is a premium add-on for PlayIt Live that unlocks sophisticated automation and scheduling features designed for professional radio broadcasting. It's one of three premium modules available for PlayIt Live, alongside Voice Tracking and Remote Management.
Key features requiring Advanced Scheduling:
Priority Streams - Allows remote presenters to take over your automation with direct stream connections
Hook Sequences - Creates promotional segments featuring clips from upcoming songs
Merge Start/End functionality - Inserts external content like commercial traffic logs into your playout log
Enhanced Fitting To Time settings - Advanced algorithms for precise timing control during scheduling
Extended Track Play History - Detailed analysis showing when and how often tracks are played over time
Auto Adjust - Automatically modifies tempo and segues to fit precise timing requirements
Why a licence is required:
These are professional-grade features that require significant development and ongoing support. The licensing system ensures that broadcasters using advanced automation features are properly supported and helps fund continued development of the software.
Identifying Advanced Scheduling features:
Throughout PlayIt Live, you'll see orange indicators on features that require the Advanced Scheduling module. These visual cues clearly show which functionality needs the premium licence.
Getting access:
You can purchase the Advanced Scheduling module individually or as part of the Premium Module Bundle (which includes all modules and offers better value). A 14-day free trial is available to evaluate all features before purchasing.
Checking your licence status:
Go to File > Settings > Advanced Scheduling to view your current licence status, or visit Help > Licence Information for a complete overview of all your active modules.
The Advanced Scheduling module transforms PlayIt Live from basic automation software into a comprehensive professional broadcasting system suitable for commercial radio stations.
Read full answer
What is the Database Clean-up tool used for in PlayIt Live?
The Database Clean-up tool removes old data from your PlayIt Live database to help manage storage space and improve performance. This tool can delete historical playout log items, old voice track recordings, and orphaned audio store files that are no longer referenced by the database.
When you run the clean-up, you can specify how far back to keep playout log items and voice tracks. For example, you might choose to keep only the last 30 days of playout history whilst removing older entries. Orphaned audio store files refer to files that exist in your voice track recordings folder or audio store folder but are no longer linked to any tracks or voice track items in the database. The tool will identify these files and can remove them to free up disk space.
Before performing the clean-up, PlayIt Live offers a "Dry Run" option that shows you what would be deleted without actually removing anything. This lets you preview the changes and ensure you're comfortable with what will be removed before proceeding with the actual clean-up.
You can access the Database Clean-up tool via Tools > Database Clean-up from the main menu.
Read full answer
What is the difference between an advert and an advert block?
An advert (also called a spot or commercial) is a single advertisement audio file that you want to play on air. Each advert belongs to an advert campaign and contains details like the audio file/track, duration, and scheduling rules for when it should play during the day or week.
An advert block is a sequence of multiple adverts that play together back-to-back during a specific time slot, typically scheduled at fixed points throughout the hour such as at the top of the hour or during natural breaks. When you add an advert block to your playout log or clock, PlayIt Live automatically fills it with individual adverts from your advert log based on your campaign scheduling rules. The advert block has settings like maximum duration and maximum number of adverts to control how many spots play in that break. This feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module.
Read full answer
What is the difference between Live URL and Direct Stream Connection priority stream types?
Live URL and Direct Stream Connection are two different types of priority streams in PlayIt Live that allow you to bring in external audio sources such as remote presenters or outside broadcasts.
Live URL streams work by connecting to an external streaming server. When you select this type, you enter a Live URL (such as an Icecast or SHOUTcast stream address) that PlayIt Live will continuously try to connect to. This is ideal when you want to pull in audio from an existing streaming server or when a remote presenter is broadcasting from their own streaming setup.
Direct Stream Connection streams work by allowing remote users to connect directly to your PlayIt Live system via a designated port. When you select this type, you choose which user account will be allowed to connect and stream audio directly to your system. Remote users can connect using any Icecast-compatible encoder such as PlayIt Live, BUTT or Rocket Broadcaster. This method gives you more control over who can stream to your system and doesn't require the remote user to set up their own streaming server.
Both types function identically once active - they will take over normal live-assist playout when audio is detected above the silence threshold, and playout will resume when the priority stream becomes inactive.
Read full answer
What is the difference between soft delete and hard delete in the playout log?
When you delete items from the playout log in PlayIt Live, there are two different types of deletion available. Soft delete is the default method - when you click the bin/trash button, the item remains in the playout log but is marked as deleted and won't play. This allows you to restore the item later by clicking the Restore button if needed.
Hard delete permanently removes the item from the playout log entirely. To perform a hard delete, hold CTRL while clicking the bin/trash button. Once an item is hard deleted, it cannot be restored and is completely removed from the log.
Read full answer
What is the fade time setting and how does it affect track playback when I click stop?
The fade time setting controls how long it takes for a track to fade out when you click the stop or eject button on any player in PlayIt Live. Instead of cutting off abruptly, the track will gradually reduce in volume over the specified duration, creating a smoother transition for your listeners.
You can adjust the fade time via File > Settings > General Tab where you'll find a dropdown menu to select the fade duration, with options up to 5 seconds. This same fade time is also applied when tracks segue into each other in Live-Assist mode, helping create professional-sounding transitions between songs. Choose a shorter fade time if you need quick control during live broadcasting, or a longer fade time for more gradual, musical transitions.
Read full answer
What is the Missing Track File Analysis tool used for?
The Missing Track File Analysis tool helps you find and fix tracks in your database that reference audio files which have been moved or deleted from their original location. This is particularly useful if you've reorganised your audio files by moving them to a different folder or drive, as PlayIt Live will no longer be able to find them at their stored file paths.
When you run this tool via Tools > Missing Track File Analysis, it scans your entire track database and identifies any tracks whose audio files are missing. You can then choose how to resolve each missing track by updating the path to point to the file's new location, deleting the track from your database if it's no longer needed, or doing nothing if you want to leave it as is. The tool is clever enough that once you've updated the path for one moved file, it will automatically check if other missing tracks have been moved to the same new location and offer to update those paths too.
Read full answer
What is the playback buffer length setting and how does it affect audio performance?
The Playback buffer length setting is found in File > Settings under the Advanced tab and controls the amount of audio data that PlayIt Live buffers before playing it back through your audio devices.
How it affects performance:
Increasing the playback buffer length decreases the chance of audio breaking up or dropping out on slower computers, but it also increases the latency (delay) when processing audio. This creates a trade-off between audio stability and responsiveness.
When to adjust this setting:
Increase buffer length if you experience audio dropouts, glitches, or break-ups during playback, especially on older or slower computers
Decrease buffer length if you need lower latency for live broadcasting situations where timing is critical, such as when using microphones or external mixing equipment
Important considerations:
A restart of PlayIt Live is required to apply any changes to the playback buffer length setting. The default setting works well for most users, so only adjust this if you're experiencing specific audio performance issues.
Read full answer
What is the Pre-Fade Listen window and how do I use it?
The Pre-Fade Listen window is a feature in PlayIt Live that allows you to preview and listen to a track before it goes on air. This is essential for radio presenters who need to check tracks, find specific cue points, or prepare for smooth transitions.
How to access the Pre-Fade Listen window:
• Double-click method: By default, double-clicking any track in the track list will open the Pre-Fade Listen window
• Right-click method: Right-click on any track in the track list and select Pre-Fade Listen from the context menu
• Settings option: You can change the double-click behaviour in File > Settings > General Tab under Track list double-click behaviour
How to use the Pre-Fade Listen window:
• Use the Play and Stop buttons to control playback
• Double-click anywhere on the waveform to jump to that specific position in the track
• Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the waveform for more precise positioning
• The audio will play through the device you've selected under Settings > Track Editor Audio Device
This tool is particularly useful for finding vocal entry points, checking track quality, or locating specific sections of a song before putting it on air.
Read full answer
What is the purpose of categories in advert campaigns?
Categories in advert campaigns are used to prevent adverts of the same type from being played in the same advert block. This ensures that competing businesses or similar products do not appear together, which would be problematic for both advertisers and listeners.
For example, you would not want two competing fast food restaurants or rival car dealerships to have their adverts scheduled in the same block. By assigning categories to campaigns, PlayIt Live's scheduler automatically ensures that advert campaigns within the same category will never be scheduled together in the same advert block, maintaining proper separation between competing advertisers.
Read full answer
What is the Recordings Folder setting and how do I change the location where my voice tracks are saved?
The Recordings Folder setting determines where PlayIt Live stores your locally recorded voice tracks on disk. You can find this setting by going to File > Settings > Voice Tracking tab in PlayIt Live.
The Recordings Folder shows the current location where voice track recordings are saved. To change this location, click the Browse button next to the Recordings Folder field. This will open a folder browser where you can select a new location on your computer or network where you want to store your voice track recordings.
When selecting a new recordings folder location, it's important to ensure there is sufficient disk space to store your recordings. Voice track files can accumulate over time, especially if you're using higher quality recording formats, so choose a location with plenty of available storage space.
The folder you select should also be easily accessible to PlayIt Live and have appropriate write permissions. You can move your recordings folder to a different drive if your main drive is running low on space, or to a network location if you need to share recordings across multiple systems.
Important note: The recordings folder is only used for locally recorded voice tracks. Remote voice tracks received from remote presenters are automatically stored in the audio store folder (default location: C:\ProgramData\PlayIt Live\AudioStore), not in the recordings folder location you specify here.
After changing the location and clicking OK to save your settings, all new locally recorded voice tracks will be saved to the new folder location.
Read full answer
What is the Track Editor Audio Device setting and which audio outputs use this device?
The Track Editor Audio Device setting determines which audio output device (sound card) is used for playback in several specific areas of PlayIt Live that are separate from your main broadcast output.
This setting controls audio playback for:
Track Editor: When adding or editing tracks using Manage > Tracks
Pre-Fade Listen window: When previewing tracks before they go to air
Segue Editor: When editing transitions between tracks or recording voice tracks
The Track Editor Audio Device is typically set to a different output than your main broadcast players, allowing you to privately audition and edit content through headphones or studio monitors without interrupting your live broadcast. This is essential for professional radio operations where you need to preview tracks, set cue points, or record voice tracks whilst other content is playing on air.
To configure this setting, go to File > Settings, select the General tab, and choose your preferred audio device from the Track editor audio device dropdown. Choose an output device that you can monitor privately, such as headphones or a separate set of speakers, rather than your main broadcast output.
Read full answer
What is the Track Play Count Analysis feature used for?
The Track Play Count Analysis feature helps you determine how many times each track has been played during a specific date and time range. This is particularly useful for ensuring you maintain the desired balance of tracks across your programming, identifying overplayed or underplayed songs, and producing airplay chart shows based on actual play counts.
To use this feature, go to Tools > Track Play Count Analysis, select your start and end date range, and click Analyse. The results will display each track along with the track groups it belongs to and the number of times it was played during the selected period. You can sort the results by track name, track groups, or play count, and export the data to CSV format for further analysis in Excel or Google Sheets.
Read full answer
What is the Track Play History Window and how do I access it?
The Track Play History Window provides you with a detailed and visual representation of when and how often tracks are played over a selected time period. This allows for in-depth analysis and informed decisions in music scheduling.
The window displays a grid where rows represent days and columns represent hours of the day from 00 to 23. A green music note icon indicates the track was played during the corresponding hour and day, whilst a blue person icon indicates the artist of that track was played during the corresponding hour and day. For times in the future, the icons indicate the track or artist is scheduled for that hour.
To access the Track Play History for a specific track, you can either:
From the main interface window, on a playout log item, select the three dots (or right click) and select Track Play Analysis
From the main interface window, on the track list, right click a track and select Track Play Analysis
Please note that this feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module. Without it, only the most recent play is shown.
Read full answer
What is the Voice Tracking module and why do I need it to use voice tracking features?
The Voice Tracking module is a premium add-on for PlayIt Live that enables professional voice tracking functionality for radio broadcasting. It's one of three premium modules available alongside Remote Management and Advanced Scheduling.
What is voice tracking:
Voice tracking is an industry-standard technique that creates the illusion of a live announcer in the studio when all the audio has actually been pre-recorded and played out automatically. This allows you to record a three-hour show in less than half an hour by recording voice segments between songs.
Key features of the Voice Tracking module:
Local voice tracking - Record voice tracks directly in PlayIt Live using the segue editor
Remote voice tracking - Allows presenters to record voice tracks from remote locations using a web browser
Unlimited concurrent users (with Premium Module Bundle) - Multiple presenters can voice track simultaneously
Professional audio quality - Voice tracks integrate smoothly with your music scheduling
Why you need the module:
Without the Voice Tracking module, you can still evaluate all voice tracking functionality, but your voice tracks will be preceded by an audio watermark (audio notice) requesting that you purchase the module. This makes voice tracks unsuitable for broadcast purposes.
What you can do without the module:
Record voice tracks using your microphone
Adjust timing and segues between tracks
Use the segue editor and all voice tracking tools
Test remote voice tracking functionality
The limitation:
Every voice track includes an audio watermark/notice
The notice plays before your recorded voice track
This prevents professional broadcast use without purchase
Purchasing options:
You can purchase the Voice Tracking module individually or as part of the Premium Module Bundle (which includes all modules and offers better value). The module is priced per concurrent user, meaning you only pay for the number of people who will be voice tracking at the same time.
Important note: The watermark is only overlaid during playback and not permanently recorded into your voice track files, so existing recordings will play without the watermark once you purchase the module.
Read full answer
What permissions should I give to voice tracking presenters versus live presenters?
The permissions you assign to different types of presenters should reflect their specific roles and responsibilities. Voice tracking presenters and live presenters have different needs and require different levels of access to PlayIt Live's management features.
Voice Tracking Presenters:
Voice tracking presenters primarily need access to record voice tracks remotely and edit their segues. For these users, configure the following permissions:
Do not tick "Is Admin" to prevent full access to all management functions and settings
Use the Remote Voice Tracking and Remote Studio grid to specify which hours they can voice track into
Set Playout Log Editing to restrict them to either "record voice tracks and adjust their segues only" or allow "full playout log editing" for their assigned hours depending on your requirements
Leave most other permissions unticked since they don't need access to track management, clock editing, or other administrative functions
Live Presenters:
Live presenters need access to the main interface for broadcasting but should still be restricted from management functions that could affect station operations:
Do not tick "Is Admin" unless you fully trust them with all system settings and management functions
Use the Remote Voice Tracking and Remote Studio grid to specify their broadcasting hours if they'll be using Remote Studio
Consider whether they need access to specific management functions like Manage Tracks if they need to add music during their shows
Leave permissions for clocks, scheduling, and system settings unticked to prevent changes to station automation and configuration
Key Differences:
Management access: Voice tracking presenters typically need no management permissions since they're only recording voice segments. Live presenters may need selective management permissions depending on their role (such as track management if they select their own music).
Time restrictions: Both should be restricted to their assigned hours using the time grid, but live presenters may need slightly wider time windows for show preparation.
Playout log control: Voice tracking presenters can be restricted to voice track recording only, whilst live presenters may need full playout log editing to manage their live shows.
System protection: The main interface (players, playout log interaction) is accessible to all users regardless of permissions - the permission system only controls access to management functions under the Manage menu and system settings.
Best practice: Start with minimal permissions and add management access only as needed based on the presenter's responsibilities and experience level.
Read full answer
What placeholders can I use in Web Link URLs and how do they work?
PlayIt Live supports three placeholders in Web Link URLs that automatically substitute track information when you right-click on a track:
Available placeholders:
{artist} - Substitutes the artist name of the selected track
{title} - Substitutes the title of the selected track
{album} - Substitutes the album name of the selected track
How they work:
When you configure a Web Link (via File > Settings > Web Links), you can include these placeholders in both the Display Text and URL fields. When you right-click on a track and select the web link from the context menu, PlayIt Live automatically replaces the placeholders with the actual track information.
Examples:
Display Text: Wikipedia: {artist} → Shows as "Wikipedia: ABBA" in the context menu
URL: https://www.google.com/search?q={artist} - {title} → Opens Google search for "ABBA - Waterloo"
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search={artist} → Searches Wikipedia for the artist
URL: https://www.allmusic.com/search/all/{artist} → Searches AllMusic for the artist
You can combine multiple placeholders in a single URL, such as {artist} - {title} for comprehensive searches. The placeholders work for both the display text (what appears in the right-click menu) and the actual URL that gets opened in your browser.
Read full answer
What server types does PlayIt Live support for internet broadcasting?
PlayIt Live supports the most commonly used internet radio streaming server types:
Icecast - The popular open-source streaming server that supports multiple audio formats and provides detailed listener statistics.
SHOUTcast v1 - The classic streaming server format that has been widely used in internet radio for many years.
SHOUTcast v2 - The updated version of SHOUTcast with enhanced features and improved compatibility.
When setting up your internet broadcast stream in PlayIt Live, you'll select your server type from the dropdown menu in the Edit Internet Broadcast Stream window. Along with the server type, you'll need to configure the server address, port number, username, password, and mount point as provided by your streaming provider. PlayIt Live currently supports MP3 format for streaming with configurable bitrate and sampling rate settings.
Read full answer
What should I do if I've forgotten the administrator password for PlayIt Live?
If you've forgotten your administrator password for PlayIt Live, you can reset it using the PlayIt Software website, provided you have access to the PlayIt Software account that licensed the software.
Steps to reset your administrator password:
Visit the reset page - Go to https://www.playitsoftware.com/Account/Dashboard/ResetAdminPassword
Log in to your PlayIt Software account - Use the same account that has licensed the software
Verify the Client ID - Check that the Client ID shown on the website matches the one in PlayIt Live
Generate Reset Code Part 1 - The website will provide you with Reset Code Part 1
Enter Part 1 in PlayIt Live - Input Reset Code Part 1 into the reset window in PlayIt Live
Get Reset Code Part 2 - The website will generate Reset Code Part 2 for you
Complete the reset - Enter Reset Code Part 2 into PlayIt Live and click Reset
Set new password - You'll be prompted to change your password to something new
Important requirements:
You must have access to the PlayIt Software account that purchased/licensed the software
The Client ID in PlayIt Live must match the one shown on the website
This method only works for administrator accounts
Prevention tip:
Since passwords are cryptographically hashed and cannot be retrieved (only reset), it's important to keep track of your administrator credentials. Consider writing down your password in a secure location or using a password manager to avoid future lockouts.
If you can't access the licensing account:
If you don't have access to the PlayIt Software account that licensed the software, you'll need to contact PlayIt Software support for assistance, as the automated reset system requires access to the original licensing account.
Read full answer
What solutions does PlayIt Software offer for radio stations?
PlayIt Software provides a comprehensive suite of Windows-based broadcasting applications designed for radio stations of all types and sizes, including community radio, internet radio, small commercial stations, and professional broadcast individuals. The main product, PlayIt Live, is a radio automation and playout system that handles everything from track scheduling and live assist playout to automated broadcasting with features like voice tracking, remote studio capabilities, and advanced scheduling tools.
The product range also includes PlayIt Manager for centralised remote management and data synchronisation across multiple PlayIt Live installations, PlayIt VoiceTrack for creating pre-recorded shows and remote voice tracking, PlayIt Recorder for scheduled audio recording, and PlayIt Cartwall for instant jingle and sound effect playback. More information about each product and pricing is available at https://www.playitsoftware.com/Products.
Read full answer
What's the audio watermark that plays without the Voice Tracking module and can I remove it?
The audio watermark is an audio notice that PlayIt Live automatically adds to all voice tracks when you don't have a valid Voice Tracking module licence. This watermark states that the module needs to be purchased and is designed to prevent unlicensed use for broadcast purposes.
When does the watermark appear?
The watermark will be overlaid on any voice track you record or play back in PlayIt Live if you don't have an active Voice Tracking module licence. This applies whether you're recording voice tracks directly in PlayIt Live or using remote voice tracking functionality.
Can I remove the watermark without purchasing?
No, the watermark cannot be removed or disabled without purchasing the Voice Tracking module. This is intentional - the watermark ensures that voice tracks are unsuitable for broadcast without proper licensing, encouraging you to purchase the module if you want to use it professionally.
How to remove the watermark:
To remove the watermark permanently, you need to purchase the Voice Tracking module or the Premium Module Bundle (which includes all modules). Once purchased:
Your licence should automatically update within 30 minutes
If it doesn't update automatically, go to Help > Licence Information and click Refresh Licence
Ensure you're logged in with the correct PlayIt Software account that purchased the module
Important note about existing recordings:
The watermark is only overlaid during playback and is not permanently recorded into your voice track files. This means any voice tracks you've already recorded will automatically play without the watermark once you purchase the module - you won't need to re-record anything.
Can I still evaluate the features?
Yes, the Voice Tracking module is fully functional during evaluation - you can record voice tracks, edit segues, and test all features. The only limitation is the audio watermark on the output, making it perfect for testing the functionality before committing to a purchase.
Read full answer
What's the best practice for managing user accounts when staff leave?
When staff members leave your organisation, it's essential to properly manage their PlayIt Live user accounts to maintain system security and access control. Here are the recommended best practices:
Immediate Actions:
The first step is to disable their user account rather than deleting it immediately. Go to Manage > Users, select the departing staff member's account, click Edit, and tick the "Disabled" box. This prevents them from logging in whilst preserving their account information.
Password Security:
If there's any concern about password security, immediately change their password using the Generate button to create a new secure password. This ensures that even if they know their old password, they cannot access the system.
Account Deletion:
You can safely delete the account immediately if preferred, as PlayIt Live doesn't track user activities or maintain historical logs tied to specific user accounts. Simply select the account and click the delete button. Note that you cannot delete administrator accounts, so if the departing staff member was an administrator, you must first remove their admin privileges or transfer admin responsibilities to another user.
Replacement Staff:
When hiring replacement staff, create new user accounts with appropriate permissions for their specific role using Add New. Set up their access permissions carefully, avoiding "Is Admin" unless they genuinely need full system access.
Read full answer
What's the best way to set up track groups for different types of content like songs, jingles, and station IDs?
The most effective approach is to create a combination of track groups based on your content types and operational needs. Start by setting up separate track groups for each major content category to ensure proper organisation and control over your programming.
Create content-based track groups:
Begin with Filtered Track Groups for your main content categories. Go to Manage > Track Groups and create filtered groups based on the Type field. The available track types in PlayIt Live are:
Song - Your music content
Station ID - Station identification jingles and IDs
Promo - Promotional content and announcements
Commercial - Advertisement content
News - News bulletins and updates
Bed - Background music beds for talking over
Station ID + Bed - Station IDs with background music
Inferred - Content where the type is automatically determined based on artist, title, tags and duration
Set up colour coding and icons:
For each track group, tick the Colour checkbox and assign distinctive colours - for example, blue for Station IDs, green for Songs, red for Commercials, yellow for Promos, and orange for News. You can also assign custom icons to make different content types instantly recognisable on your playout log. This visual coding makes it much easier to identify content types at a glance during live broadcasts.
Consider additional groupings:
Create more specific track groups for different music categories if needed, such as "Current Hits", "Gold Tracks", "Christmas Music", or genre-specific groups. You can also set up presenter-specific groups or daypart-specific content groups (like "Breakfast Promos" or "Drive Time Beds").
Use priority settings:
If tracks appear in multiple groups, set Priority levels to determine which group's colour and icon take precedence on the playout log display.
Apply to scheduling:
Once your track groups are established, use them in your Clocks (Manage > Clocks) and Playout Pattern (Manage > Playout Pattern) to create structured programming. For example, you might set up a pattern of Song > Station ID > Song > Commercial that automatically selects content from the appropriate track groups.
Read full answer
What's the best workflow for moving large numbers of audio files whilst maintaining track references in PlayIt Live?
Moving large numbers of audio files whilst maintaining track references in PlayIt Live requires careful planning to avoid breaking track links and losing important metadata like cue points.
Use the Missing Track File Analysis Tool:
When you need to move audio files to a new location, the best approach is to use PlayIt Live's built-in Missing Track File Analysis tool. Move your audio files to the new location using Windows Explorer first. Then go to Tools > Missing Track File Analysis in PlayIt Live. This tool will detect that tracks reference files that have been moved and allow you to redirect the references to the new file locations.
Step-by-Step Workflow:
First, move your audio files to the new location using Windows Explorer or your preferred file management tool. Keep the folder structure intact if possible to make the relinking process easier. Open PlayIt Live and go to Tools > Missing Track File Analysis. Click Scan for missing track files to identify tracks with broken file references.
For each missing track, you can choose to Update path (redirect to the new location), Delete track (remove from database), or Ignore (leave unresolved). Use the bulk selection options (CTRL or SHIFT keys) to select multiple tracks and apply the same resolution to save time. Click Mark selected to apply your chosen resolution to multiple tracks at once.
Alternative Methods:
If your files are already in monitored folders, be extremely careful as moving files between monitored folders treats this as a deletion followed by a new addition, which will lose all your cue points and metadata. Instead, disable the monitored folder settings temporarily whilst moving files, then re-enable them afterwards.
Important Considerations:
Never move files that are currently scheduled in your playout log whilst automation is running, as this can cause playback failures. Always perform file moves during maintenance periods when broadcasting is not active. Consider creating a backup of your PlayIt Live database before moving large numbers of files via Tools > Backup and Restore.
Monitored Folders Warning:
If you're using monitored folders with Delete tracks enabled, avoid moving files when your storage might be temporarily disconnected (such as network drives or NAS systems). PlayIt Live will treat disconnected files as deleted and remove all track information, including your cue points and metadata.
Best Practice:
For large music libraries, avoid using monitored folders entirely for your main collection. Instead, use Manage > Tracks > Add New to import tracks, as this creates more stable references that are easier to manage when reorganising your file structure.
Read full answer
What's the difference between allowing remote users full playout log editing versus voice tracks and segues only?
When setting up remote users for voice tracking, you can control their level of access through the Playout Log Editing permission setting. This gives you two distinct options for how much control remote users have over your playout log.
Full playout log editing allows remote users to make comprehensive changes to the playout log during their assigned hours. They can add, remove, and rearrange tracks, modify scheduling, drag new content from the track library, and essentially have the same control as if they were sitting in your main studio. This is ideal for trusted presenters who need complete flexibility to build their shows or make last-minute programme changes.
Voice tracks and segues only restricts remote users to recording voice tracks and adjusting the transitions between tracks. They can record their voice links between songs, edit the timing and levels of segues, and trim their voice track recordings, but they cannot add or remove tracks from the playout log or change the overall programme structure. This is perfect for presenters who simply need to add their voice to pre-programmed content whilst maintaining your station's planned music schedule.
The default setting for new users can be configured via the Voice Tracking tab in settings, and individual users can have their permissions customised when editing their user account in Manage > Users.
Read full answer
What's the difference between artist splits and related artists for scheduling?
Multiple Artist Splits and Related Artists serve different purposes in PlayIt Live's scheduling system, though both help manage artist separation policies.
Multiple Artist Splits are used to break down single track entries that contain multiple artists in the artist field. For example, if you have a track with the artist listed as "Take That feat. Lulu", you can create a split using the text "feat." to separate this into two distinct artists: "Take That" and "Lulu". When scheduling with playout policies, PlayIt Live can then prevent tracks from Take That or Lulu being played too close to the "Take That feat. Lulu" collaboration, ensuring proper artist separation across all variations.
Related Artists work in the opposite direction - they associate different artists together so they're considered as the same artist for scheduling purposes. This is useful when you want to prevent a solo singer and their band from being played close together. For example, you might set up Robbie Williams and Take That as related artists, ensuring that a Robbie Williams solo track won't be scheduled too close to a Take That song, even though they technically have different artist names.
Both features enhance your playout policies by giving you more control over artist separation. Multiple Artist Splits expand single entries into multiple artists for separation rules, whilst Related Artists group separate entries together under the same separation rules. You can manage both features through Manage > Multiple Artist Splits and Manage > Related Artists respectively.
Read full answer
What's the difference between Auto Adjust and Fitting To Time features in advanced scheduling?
Auto Adjust and Fitting To Time are both advanced scheduling features that help with timing, but they work differently and are used at different stages of the scheduling process.
Auto Adjust:
Auto Adjust is a real-time adjustment tool that modifies already-scheduled content to fit precise timing requirements. It works by:
Automatically adjusting tempos of songs (speeding them up or slowing them down)
Modifying segues between tracks to create smoother transitions
Soft-deleting items that fall after the target time
Adding more tracks if there aren't enough items to reach the target
Auto Adjust targets the next fixed time marker or end of the hour and only affects tracks with the Type "Song". It can be triggered manually from the main interface, automatically via Scheduled Events, or through Scheduled Event Actions in clocks.
Fitting To Time:
Fitting To Time is a scheduling algorithm that works during the initial scheduling process to select content combinations that naturally fit within time constraints. It works by:
Generating multiple combinations of playout log items (up to 25 attempts by default)
Testing each combination to see how close it gets to the target time
Selecting the best-fitting combination within the target threshold (30 seconds by default)
Spending a configurable amount of time (2 seconds per fit by default) to find optimal selections
Key Differences:
When they work: Fitting To Time works during scheduling, Auto Adjust works on already-scheduled content
Method: Fitting To Time selects better content combinations, Auto Adjust modifies existing content
Scope: Fitting To Time affects content selection, Auto Adjust affects tempo and segue adjustments
Flexibility: Auto Adjust can add/remove content dynamically, Fitting To Time works within existing content pools
Both features require the Advanced Scheduling module and work together to create perfectly-timed broadcast hours.
Read full answer
What's the difference between Decks Mode (Classic) and Live-Assist Mode?
Live-Assist Mode is designed for automated radio broadcasting where tracks can play continuously one after another. It features multiple players at the top of the main window with automatic segue controls, allowing tracks to flow seamlessly from one to the next. The green arrow/red stop sign segue toggle controls whether tracks play automatically or require manual intervention. This mode supports scheduling ahead up to 24 hours and includes features like voice tracking, priority streams, and advanced automation.
Decks Mode (Classic) emulates a traditional cart machine where a DJ must physically press a button to control each cart. In this mode, you manually load tracks by dragging and dropping them onto individual deck players, and each track must be manually started by clicking the Play button. Tracks are automatically cued to their Cue In point when loaded, but there's no automatic progression between tracks - everything requires manual control, giving DJs complete hands-on control over their broadcast.
Read full answer
What's the difference between Loudness Analysis (LUFS normalisation) and traditional peak normalisation, and why is loudness normalisation better for broadcast?
Traditional Peak Normalisation:
Peak normalisation adjusts tracks based on their highest digital audio peak, bringing the loudest point to a target level (typically 0 dBFS). However, this method can create inconsistent perceived loudness between tracks because it doesn't account for how humans actually perceive volume levels.
Loudness Analysis (LUFS Normalisation):
LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) normalisation uses the ITU-R BS.1770 algorithm to measure how humans actually perceive loudness rather than just technical peaks. PlayIt Live analyses your tracks, calculates an offset gain for each track, and stores this in your database. When tracks are played, this gain is automatically applied to ensure consistent perceived loudness.
Why LUFS normalisation is better for broadcast:
Consistent Listener Experience: LUFS normalisation ensures that all tracks sound equally loud to listeners, eliminating the jarring volume differences that can occur with peak normalisation. This creates a smoother, more professional listening experience.
Industry Standard: LUFS is the broadcast industry standard adopted by radio stations worldwide. It's specifically designed for broadcast applications and aligns with international broadcasting standards.
Perceptual Accuracy: Unlike peak normalisation which only looks at technical levels, LUFS considers frequency content and how the human ear perceives different frequencies, resulting in more accurate loudness matching.
Professional Quality: LUFS normalisation prevents quiet tracks from sounding too soft and overly compressed tracks from sounding too loud, maintaining consistent audio quality throughout your broadcast.
One-Time Process: PlayIt Live runs loudness analysis in the background, processing each track only once. New tracks are automatically analysed as they're added to your library.
Implementation in PlayIt Live:
To use loudness analysis, go to Tools > Loudness Analysis, select your target loudness (default -16 LUFS), and click Start Loudness Analysis. The process runs in the background and can take several hours for large libraries, but only needs to be done once.
Read full answer
What's the difference between my PlayIt Software account and PlayIt Live user accounts?
These are two completely different types of accounts that serve different purposes in the PlayIt Live ecosystem.
PlayIt Software Account:
Your PlayIt Software account is your online account with PlayIt Software that you use to access and license the software. This account is created when you register at playitsoftware.com and is used for:
Logging into PlayIt Live from the Get Started window
Managing your module subscriptions and licensing
Downloading software updates and accessing your account dashboard
Resetting administrator passwords for PlayIt Live installations
Generating offline licence keys for computers without internet access
You need this account to initially access PlayIt Live, and it's linked to your email address and payment information for any premium modules you purchase.
PlayIt Live User Accounts:
PlayIt Live user accounts are local user accounts created within the PlayIt Live software itself for people who will be using your specific PlayIt Live installation. These are managed under Manage > Users and are used for:
Different presenters logging into the same PlayIt Live system locally
Controlling permissions - restricting what each user can access and modify
Remote voice tracking access - granting specific time slots for remote presenters
Each PlayIt Live user account has its own username, password, and permission settings that determine what that user can do within your PlayIt Live installation.
Key Differences:
PlayIt Software account: One per person, used for licensing and software access
PlayIt Live user accounts: Multiple accounts per installation, used for operational access control
PlayIt Software account: Managed online at playitsoftware.com
PlayIt Live user accounts: Managed locally within PlayIt Live software under Manage > Users
You only need one PlayIt Software account, but you can create multiple PlayIt Live user accounts for different people who will be operating your radio station.
Read full answer
What's the difference between Open, Pre-Open, and Closed priority stream states?
Priority stream states determine whether PlayIt Live will check for and activate incoming streams from remote presenters or outside broadcasts.
Closed - PlayIt Live will not check for connected streams and the priority stream will never go live. Use this state when you don't want the stream to be available at all.
Pre-Open - PlayIt Live will check for a connected stream but it will not go live. This is useful for ensuring a stream is loaded and buffered before it needs to take over the playout. The stream connects and buffers in the background, ready to go live when switched to Open state.
Open - PlayIt Live will actively check for a connected stream and if the stream is connected with valid audio above the silence threshold, it will go live and take over the current playout automatically.
Read full answer
What's the difference between remote voice tracking in a browser versus using PlayIt VoiceTrack desktop application?
Both methods allow you to record voice tracks remotely into PlayIt Live or PlayIt Manager, and both let you reorder tracks in the playout log and add tracks from the server's track library. The main differences are in platform compatibility and interface.
Browser-based remote voice tracking (recommended) works on any operating system including Windows, Mac and Linux. You'll need a Chrome-based browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Vivaldi. Simply visit your station's remote URL in the browser, log in, and select your voice tracking slot. The browser downloads the start and end portions of tracks, and you can record directly using your microphone through the browser. All changes are immediately sent back to the server.
PlayIt VoiceTrack desktop application is a Windows-only solution that provides the same remote voice tracking functionality through a dedicated desktop interface. It offers the same editing capabilities as the browser version for recording voice tracks, adjusting segues, reordering the playout log, and adding tracks from the server.
Both methods require the same credentials (remote URL, username and password) from your station administrator. Remote voice trackers don't need to purchase the Voice Tracking module themselves - the licence is only required on the PlayIt Live system that broadcasts the voice tracks. The number of concurrent remote users is limited based on the Voice Tracking module purchase, with unlimited concurrent voice trackers available with the Premium Module Bundle.
Read full answer
What's the difference between segue styles and when should I use each one?
PlayIt Live offers several segue styles that control how tracks transition from one to another. The Cue Out/In style is the default, where the cue in point of the next track aligns with the cue out point of the current track, creating a standard transition.
Sweep Start is used for sweepers or jingles that should start at the same time as the next track, provided the sweeper is short enough to finish before the intro point of the next track. If the sweeper is too long, it will start early to finish before the intro ends.
Sweep Intro works similarly but ensures the sweeper finishes exactly at the end of the intro point of the next track, creating a smooth transition into the vocals.
Custom gives you complete manual control over track positioning, allowing you to drag tracks to any position relative to each other in the segue editor. When you manually move tracks in the segue editor, the style automatically changes to Custom to preserve your adjustments.
Read full answer
What's the difference between SHOUTcast v1 and v2 configurations?
When configuring internet broadcast streams in PlayIt Live, you can select between SHOUTcast v1 and SHOUTcast v2 as server types. The main differences relate to the connection parameters required for each version.
SHOUTcast v1 uses a simpler configuration that typically requires just the server address, port, and password for authentication. It doesn't use mount points like Icecast servers and has a more straightforward connection method. SHOUTcast v2 introduced additional features including support for multiple streams on a single server using Stream IDs (SID). When configuring a SHOUTcast v2 connection, you'll need to specify the SID field in addition to the standard server details. This allows multiple independent streams to run on the same server port, whereas v1 only supports one stream per port. Both versions support title streaming for Now Playing information when the Enable title streaming checkbox is ticked in your stream configuration.
Read full answer
What's the difference between Smart Selection, Most Rested, and Random track scheduling strategies in Live-Assist Mode?
PlayIt Live offers three different track scheduling strategies that determine how tracks are selected from track groups during automated scheduling. Each strategy uses a different approach to ensure variety and prevent repetition in your playlist, whilst always respecting any playout policies you have configured.
Smart Selection uses a weighted random algorithm where tracks that were played longer ago are given a larger weight, increasing their chance of being selected. This strategy balances randomness with ensuring tracks don't repeat too frequently, making it ideal for most radio stations as it provides good variety whilst preventing the same songs from playing too close together.
Most Rested always selects the track from the track group that was played longest ago. This strategy ensures maximum rotation time between plays of the same track, making it perfect for stations with large music libraries where you want to guarantee the longest possible gap between repeats of any song.
Random selects tracks entirely at random from the track group with no consideration of when they were last played. This can result in the same track being selected multiple times in a short period, so it's best used for track groups with jingles, station IDs, or other content where immediate repetition isn't a concern.
Regardless of which strategy you choose, PlayIt Live will always respect your configured playout policies when making track selections. You can set the default strategy in File > Settings > Live-Assist Mode under "Default track scheduling strategy", and you can also override this setting for individual track groups in your clocks or when manually configuring track group items.
Read full answer
What's the impact of protected items on automatic scheduling algorithms?
Protected items in PlayIt Live have a significant impact on automatic scheduling algorithms by providing deletion protection against certain automated features. When an item is marked as protected (indicated by a shield icon in the playout log), it becomes immune to modification or removal by both Fixed Time Markers and the Auto Adjust feature.
Fixed Time Marker Protection:
Protected items cannot be dropped by Fixed Time Markers, regardless of the marker type (Hard or Soft). This is particularly important for essential content like advert blocks that must play at specific times. Normally, Fixed Time Markers can remove items that would prevent precise timing, but protected items will remain scheduled even if they interfere with the time marker's target time.
Auto Adjust Feature Protection:
The Auto Adjust feature, which automatically modifies already-scheduled content to fit precise timing requirements, cannot affect protected items. While Auto Adjust can normally soft-delete items that fall after target times, adjust tempos, modify segues, or add tracks to reach timing goals, it will skip over any protected items during these operations. This ensures critical content remains untouched during automatic timing adjustments.
When to Use Protected Items:
Protected status should be applied to items that must be played during an hour regardless of timing constraints. Common examples include advert blocks, sponsor mentions, news bulletins, or any content with contractual or regulatory requirements. You can set items as protected either when creating clock items or when editing individual playout log items.
Manual Override Required:
To delete a protected item, users must access the context menu via the ellipsis button (…) rather than using standard delete controls. This prevents accidental removal whilst still allowing manual intervention when necessary.
Performance Considerations:
Whilst protected items are essential for critical content, overusing them can create performance issues. When multiple items are protected, the scheduling algorithms must work significantly harder to find suitable items to remove when reaching fixed time markers. This increased computational load can slow down the system as it searches further back through the playout log to locate unprotected items for removal. For optimal performance, reserve protection status exclusively for content that absolutely must play regardless of timing constraints.
Read full answer
What's the maximum number of concurrent remote voice tracking users with Premium Module Bundle?
The Premium Module Bundle has no limit on the number of concurrent remote voice tracking users. This means you can have as many presenters voice tracking at the same time as needed, without any restrictions.
This is different from purchasing the Voice Tracking Module individually, which is priced per concurrent user and limits the number of users who can remote voice track simultaneously based on how many user seats you've purchased.
The Premium Module Bundle provides excellent value if you have multiple presenters who need to voice track concurrently, as it removes the user limitation entirely whilst also including all other premium modules such as Remote Management and Advanced Scheduling.
Read full answer
What's the QuickCart Solo feature and when should I use it?
The QuickCart Solo feature ensures that only one cart plays at any particular time. When a cart with Solo enabled is played, it will cause all other carts to fade out and stop. Additionally, this cart will also fade out and stop when any other cart starts playing.
You should use the Solo feature when you want to ensure exclusive playback of specific audio content, such as when playing important announcements, emergency broadcasts, or any content that requires complete audio focus without competing background elements. This is particularly useful for presenters who need to guarantee that their primary content takes audio priority over any background music or other QuickCart elements that might be playing.
To enable Solo on a QuickCart, edit the cart settings and tick the Solo checkbox in the Edit QuickCart window.
Read full answer
When should I use Priority Streams over Remote URLs or Remote Studio?
Priority Streams are designed for live content that needs to automatically override your regular programming, such as remote presenters or outside broadcasts. They include sophisticated disconnection handling - if the stream drops out or goes silent, Priority Streams will automatically detect this and return to normal automation. This makes them ideal for unreliable connections or longer live segments where technical issues might occur.
Remote URLs are intended for scheduled external content within your playout log, particularly short segments like news bulletins or weather updates from external providers. Unlike Priority Streams, Remote URLs won't automatically reconnect if the connection drops, making them suitable for brief, scheduled content.
Remote Studio is for live presenters who need full control of the studio interface from a remote location. It provides real-time audio monitoring, microphone input, and complete access to playout controls through a web browser, making it perfect for interactive live shows where the presenter needs to operate as if they were physically in the studio.
Choose Priority Streams for live content requiring automatic failover protection, Remote URLs for short scheduled external segments like news or weather, and Remote Studio for full remote studio control.
Read full answer
Why are my duet songs not following my artist separation rules?
Duet songs and collaboration tracks may not follow your artist separation rules if PlayIt Live doesn't recognise them as containing multiple artists. By default, tracks with artists like "John Smith feat. Jane Doe" are treated as a single artist entity, so they won't trigger separation rules for either John Smith or Jane Doe individually.
To fix this, you need to set up Multiple Artist Splits that tell PlayIt Live how to recognise and separate multiple artists in track titles. Go to Manage > Multiple Artist Splits and click Add New. Create splits for common collaboration terms such as:
feat. (including the spaces before and after)
featuring
with
and
For example, if you create a split with the text feat. (note the spaces), PlayIt Live will recognise "Take That feat. Lulu" as two separate artists: "Take That" and "Lulu". When your artist separation playout policies run, they'll prevent tracks from Take That, Lulu, or Take That feat. Lulu from playing too close together.
You can also use Related Artists to create additional connections between artists. Go to Manage > Related Artists to link solo performers with their bands. For instance, you might link "Robbie Williams" with "Take That" so they're treated as the same artist for separation purposes.
After setting up your Multiple Artist Splits, check the Matched Artists table in the edit window to verify that your split text is correctly identifying the artists you intended. Make sure to include spaces in your split text where appropriate to avoid unintended matches.
Read full answer
Why can I only schedule clocks for exactly one hour?
PlayIt Live uses a structured hourly programming format where clocks are designed to be one hour in duration. This structured approach provides several benefits for broadcast automation and scheduling consistency.
When you create clocks in Manage > Clocks, each clock should contain content that fills at least a 60-minute timeframe. The clock can contain content that runs slightly longer than one hour, but if a Fixed Time Marker is placed at the beginning of the next hour, any items that would overrun from the previous hour will be automatically dropped to ensure more precise timing.
If you need programming that operates at different intervals, you can achieve this flexibility using Fixed Time Markers within your clocks. For example, to create shows that start or end at 30-minute intervals, create a single clock containing both half-hour segments separated by Fixed Time Markers at the 30-minute mark. This ensures each segment begins at the specified time whilst working within the structured hourly clock format.
Read full answer
Why can I still hear the same artist playing too close together even though I set up relationships?
There are several reasons why artist separation might not be working as expected, even with related artists configured. Here are the most common causes and solutions:
Check if playout policies are disabled:
Verify that your playout policies are enabled. Go to Manage > Playout Policies and ensure the Disabled checkbox is unchecked for your artist separation policies. Disabled policies won't be considered by the scheduler.
Verify related artist relationships:
Confirm your related artists are properly configured in Manage > Related Artists. Check that the artist names match exactly as they appear in your track database, including any spelling variations or punctuation differences. Also ensure the Disabled checkbox is unchecked for each related artist pair.
Review playout policy scope:
If you've checked Apply to specific track groups, ensure that all relevant tracks are included in the selected track groups. Tracks not in the specified track groups won't be subject to the separation rules.
Check multiple artist splits:
If your tracks contain featured artists (e.g., "Take That feat. Lulu"), verify your multiple artist splits are configured correctly in Manage > Multiple Artist Splits. Without proper splits, PlayIt Live might not recognise the individual artists for separation purposes.
Manual scheduling overrides:
Remember that manually scheduled tracks bypass playout policies. If you're manually adding tracks to your playout log, the system won't enforce artist separation rules for those items.
Related artists and playout policies only apply to automatically scheduled content, so ensure you're using the scheduler for the tracks where you want separation enforced.
Read full answer
Why can't I access my playitradio.com subdomain for Remote Studio even though the IP address works?
If you can access Remote Studio using the IP address but not the playitradio.com subdomain, this indicates a DNS resolution issue on your network rather than a problem with PlayIt Live. Try flushing your DNS cache (Windows: ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt as administrator), switching to Cloudflare DNS servers (1.1.1.1), or adding an entry to your hosts file mapping the subdomain directly to the IP address. Since this typically affects some networks but not others, it's usually a temporary DNS propagation issue that resolves within 24-48 hours.
Read full answer
Why can't my remote presenters see their hour of shows in the remote voice tracking interface?
This issue typically occurs when voice track placeholders haven't been placed in the clock scheduled for that hour, or the hour has already been scheduled into the playout log without voice track placeholders. To resolve this, check that your clock includes Voice Track items where presenters need to record (Manage > Clocks), verify the correct clock is scheduled for that time slot (Manage > Clock Schedule), and ensure the playout log contains voice track placeholders for those hours (Manage > Playout Log) after scheduling. If you've made changes to clocks after scheduling, you may need to unschedule and reschedule the affected hours.
Read full answer
Why do I keep hearing the same songs during my breakfast show every day?
This issue typically occurs when your track scheduling strategy or repeat protection settings aren't properly configured for your breakfast show programming. There are several ways to resolve this and ensure better variety in your morning music rotation.
The most effective solution is to implement Daypart Separation Playout Policies which prevent the same tracks from repeating within specific time periods like your breakfast show. Go to Manage > Playout Policies, click Add New, and select Daypart Separation Playout Policy. Configure it to prevent tracks from repeating within the "Breakfast" daypart for several days, ensuring regular listeners won't hear the same songs during their usual morning listening times. This feature requires the Advanced Scheduling module.
You should also review your track scheduling strategy settings. Go to Manage > Track Groups and check that your breakfast music track groups are using Smart Selection rather than Random. Smart Selection uses a weighted algorithm that favours tracks played longer ago, naturally preventing repetition whilst maintaining variety. If you're using Random selection, you might hear the same songs frequently due to pure chance.
Additionally, ensure you have adequate music variety in your breakfast track groups and consider implementing Track/Artist Separation Playout Policies via Manage > Playout Policies to prevent the same artist or specific tracks from playing too close together. Set track separation to several hours and artist separation to at least one hour to improve variety during your morning programming.
Read full answer
Why do I see "missing track" messages in my playout log after moving files?
When you see "missing track" messages in your playout log, it means that the playout log is still referencing tracks by their internal database ID, but those tracks have been deleted from the PlayIt Live database. This typically occurs when files are moved and monitored folders are involved.
How this happens:
When you move audio files that are being monitored by a monitored folder with the "Delete tracks" option enabled, PlayIt Live treats this as the original file being deleted and a new file being added. The original track (with its unique internal ID) gets deleted from the database, whilst a completely new track entry is created for the file in its new location with a different internal ID.
However, your playout log and clocks still contain references to the original track's internal ID, which no longer exists in the database. This creates the "missing track" entries you see in your playout log.
To prevent this issue:
It's recommended to only use monitored folders for dynamic content such as news and weather that changes regularly. For your main music library and static content, add tracks through Manage > Tracks instead. This gives you full control over which tracks are added to your database and prevents automatic deletion when files are moved.
To resolve existing missing tracks:
Once the database links are broken, you need to manually update your clocks (Manage > Clocks) and playout log (Manage > Playout Log) to replace the missing track references with the correct new track entries.
If the missing tracks were originally added through Manage > Tracks (not monitored folders), you can use Tools > Missing Track File Analysis to reassign the new file paths to the moved files, which will preserve the existing database links and avoid having to update your clocks and playout log.
Read full answer
Why do my cue points and track markers disappear in PlayIt Live?
Track markers (cue in, intro, cue out points) can disappear from PlayIt Live for several reasons, most commonly related to monitored folders and network storage setups.
Common causes:
Monitored folders with "Delete tracks" enabled - If your audio files are stored on a NAS or network drive and the connection is temporarily lost, PlayIt Live will consider the files missing and automatically delete the tracks from the database, losing all cue point information.
Moving files between monitored folders - Monitored folders treat file moves as a deletion followed by a new addition, creating fresh tracks without your original markers.
Prevention:
Use Manage > Tracks > Add New for importing your main music library rather than monitored folders
If you must use monitored folders, uncheck "Delete tracks" in the folder settings to prevent automatic deletion during network issues
Store audio files locally rather than on network drives when possible
Enable automatic backups via Tools > Backup and Restore to recover from data loss
Recovery:
If you have backups enabled, go to Tools > Backup and Restore, select a backup from before the markers disappeared, and click "Restore Selected" (requires restart).
Read full answer
Why does PlayIt Live say "invalid username or password" when the credentials are correct?
If you're receiving an "invalid username or password" error despite entering what you believe are the correct credentials, there are several common causes to check.
Check you're connecting to the correct server. If you're using remote voice tracking or remote management, ensure you're using the correct server URL. The remote URL should typically end with .playitradio.com for remote voice tracking, or be the correct IP address and port for your PlayIt Live or PlayIt Manager installation. Connecting to the wrong server will always result in invalid credentials errors even if your username and password are correct for a different system.
Verify the user account is not disabled. An administrator should go to Manage > Users, select the affected user, and click Edit. Ensure the Disabled checkbox is not ticked, as disabled users cannot log in even with correct credentials.
Check username case sensitivity. Usernames in PlayIt Live are case-sensitive, so "DJ1" and "dj1" would be treated as different usernames. Ensure the username is entered exactly as it was created, including any capital letters or special characters, and verify there are no extra spaces before or after the username.
Verify password accuracy. Double-check that the password is being entered correctly, paying attention to case sensitivity, special characters, and ensuring Caps Lock is not accidentally enabled.
If the issue persists after checking these common causes, an administrator can reset the user's password through Manage > Users by editing the user account and either entering a new password manually or using the Generate button to create a secure password. Remember that passwords are cryptographically hashed, so the original password cannot be retrieved if forgotten.
Read full answer
Why does PlayIt Live set the end marker (Cue Out point) halfway through some tracks imported via monitored folders?
This issue typically occurs when PlayIt Live analyses audio files before they've finished copying to the monitored folder. The software detects what appears to be the end of the file based on the partially-copied audio, setting the Cue Out point prematurely. Since "Re-analyse cue points" is disabled in your monitored folder settings by default, PlayIt Live won't automatically correct these cue points once the files are fully copied.
To fix affected tracks, use bulk editing to re-analyse them. Go to Manage > Tracks, select the affected tracks (use CTRL+A to select all if needed), click Edit, then click the Analyse button. This resets all cue points based on the complete audio files.
To prevent this in future, either enable "Re-analyse cue points" in your monitored folder settings (via Manage > Monitored Folders), or ensure files are fully copied before PlayIt Live scans the folder. A reliable method is to copy files to a temporary location first, then move them into the monitored folder once the transfer is complete, as moving tends to be an atomic operation that reduces the chance of partial file analysis.
Read full answer
Why is my internet broadcast audio source not showing any levels?
If your internet broadcast audio source isn't showing any levels in the visual audio level meter, there are several potential causes to check.
First, verify that you have the correct audio source selected for your internet broadcast. In the Internet Broadcast window, look at the Broadcast Source section and check the visual audio level meter. If no levels are displayed, click the Change Source button to select the correct audio input device.
The most common audio sources to select are:
PlayIt Live Main Mix - this captures the audio output directly from PlayIt Live
Input from your mixer - if you're using an external mixing desk, select the appropriate input device
Stereo Mix - this captures all sounds played by your computer, though this option isn't available on all systems
Make sure you're selecting the audio source that corresponds to where your programme audio is being routed. If you're using PlayIt Live without external equipment, PlayIt Live Main Mix is typically the correct choice. If you're using a mixing desk, select the input device that corresponds to your mixer's output to the computer.
Check your computer's audio settings to ensure the selected audio device is functioning properly and that the volume levels aren't muted or set too low. You can test this by playing audio in PlayIt Live and confirming you can hear it through your speakers or headphones. If you can hear audio but the broadcast source meter shows no levels, there may be an issue with the audio device routing or the device may not support monitoring of the output signal.
Read full answer
Why is my microphone not appearing in the Voice Tracking settings dropdown?
If your microphone isn't appearing in the File > Settings > Voice Tracking > Microphone recording device dropdown, this is usually because the audio device wasn't available when PlayIt Live started up.
Try restarting PlayIt Live with your microphone or audio interface switched on and connected. The software initialises available audio devices when it starts, so if your microphone was connected after PlayIt Live launched, it may not appear in the dropdown list.
If the microphone still doesn't appear after restarting, check that:
The device is properly connected and recognised by Windows (it should appear in Windows Sound settings)
You're looking at the correct dropdown - the microphone recording device list is separate from the playback device list
The audio drivers for your interface are properly installed and up to date
Most USB audio interfaces work well with PlayIt Live once the device is properly recognised by the system.
Read full answer
Why is PlayIt Live scheduling extra tracks that aren't in my clock?
This happens when your clock doesn't contain enough content to fill the full hour. When PlayIt Live reaches the end of your clock items before hitting the hour boundary, it automatically uses your Playout Pattern to fill the remaining time. To resolve this, you can add more content to your clock or adjust your Playout Pattern to contain appropriate content for these situations. You can verify where each item originated by checking the "Reason" column in Manage > Playout Log, which will show either your clock name or "Playout Pattern" as the source.
Read full answer
Why is there a 30-35 second delay between what's playing in PlayIt Live and what listeners hear?
This delay is not caused by PlayIt Live itself, but by your internet streaming setup. Internet radio servers add buffering to ensure smooth playback for listeners, which creates this delay. This is normal behaviour for online streaming and cannot be completely eliminated. Most streaming services introduce 15-45 seconds of latency due to encoding, transmission, and buffering processes. This ensures listeners receive consistent audio quality even with varying internet connection speeds. For live presenting, monitor your audio directly from PlayIt Live using headphones connected to your computer or mixer rather than listening to your own internet stream, as this allows you to hear what's playing in real-time without the streaming delay.
Read full answer
Why isn't my clock generating the correct tracks when I schedule the playout log?
There are several reasons why your clock might not be generating the tracks you expect when scheduling the playout log. The most common causes relate to track group configuration, scheduling strategies, and playout policies affecting track selection.
First, check that your track groups are properly configured with tracks. Go to Manage > Track Groups and verify that your track groups actually contain the tracks you want. If you're using filtered track groups, ensure your filters are correctly set up to match the track properties like Type, Artist, or Tags. Empty or incorrectly filtered track groups will result in no tracks being selected during scheduling.
Next, examine your track scheduling strategy settings. When you add track group items to your clock via Manage > Clocks, each track group item has a scheduling strategy that determines how tracks are selected. You can choose from Smart Selection (weighted random favouring less recently played tracks), Most Rested (always selects the track played longest ago), or Random (completely random selection). If you're experiencing unexpected repetition or selection patterns, try changing the strategy for that track group item.
Check for playout policies that might be preventing certain tracks from being selected. Go to Manage > Playout Policies to review any separation rules you've configured. If you have policies requiring minimum time gaps between artists or tracks, these might be restricting which tracks can be scheduled, especially if you have a limited music library or tight scheduling requirements.
If your clock isn't filling the full hour with the content you've specified, PlayIt Live will automatically use your Playout Pattern to fill any remaining time. You can verify what content originated from your clock versus the playout pattern by checking the Reason column in Manage > Playout Log after scheduling. This will show either your clock name or "Playout Pattern" as the source for each item.
Finally, ensure you've actually scheduled your clock to the correct time slots via Manage > Clock Schedule. Even if you've created a perfect clock, it won't be used unless it's properly scheduled to specific hours in your broadcast schedule.
Read full answer
Why isn't my priority stream going live even though it's connected?
A priority stream that appears connected but isn't going live is typically caused by one of several common issues. The most frequent cause is that the audio level is falling below the silence threshold setting, which means PlayIt Live considers the stream inactive even though it's technically connected.
First, check that your priority stream is set to Open rather than Pre-Open or Closed in the Edit Priority Stream window. Only streams in the Open state can go live. If the stream is in Pre-Open, it will connect and buffer but won't take over the main playout.
Next, verify the silence detection settings in your PlayIt Live settings under Priority Streams. If your incoming audio level is too quiet or contains periods of silence, the stream will be considered inactive. You may need to increase your audio levels at the source or adjust the silence threshold and timing settings to better match your content.
Read full answer
Why might no adverts be scheduled after clicking the Schedule button?
There are several common reasons why no adverts appear in the Advert Log after clicking the Schedule button, and most relate to missing prerequisites or configuration issues.
The most likely cause is that there are no Advert Block items in your playout log for the date range you're trying to schedule. The advert scheduler only looks at the playout log, not at clocks, so you must first schedule your playout log to generate the Advert Block items before you can schedule adverts. Go to your playout log management and schedule the dates first, then return to the Advert Log to click Schedule.
Check that your Advert Campaigns are properly configured and not disabled. Go to Manage > Advert Campaigns and verify that campaigns are not marked as Disabled in the campaign settings. Disabled campaigns will not be considered by the automatic scheduler regardless of other settings.
Verify the Date Range settings in your campaigns. Each campaign has a date range that determines when it can be scheduled. If you're trying to schedule dates outside the campaign's configured date range, those adverts won't be selected. You can manually schedule campaigns outside their date ranges, but the automatic scheduler will only consider campaigns within their valid date periods.
Ensure your individual Adverts within campaigns have appropriate Plays configured for the time periods you're scheduling. In the advert editor, check the Plays section grid to confirm that adverts are set to play during the specific hours and days you're targeting. If all cells show zero plays for your target time period, no adverts will be scheduled for those slots.
Finally, confirm you have the Advanced Scheduling module licence active, as advert scheduling is a premium feature that requires this module to function properly.
Read full answer
Why won't my internet broadcast stream connect?
If your internet broadcast stream won't connect, start by checking your server details as this is the most common cause of connection failures.
Verify that all your server details exactly match what your streaming provider gave you. Go to your stream settings and check the Server Type (Icecast, SHOUTcast v1, or SHOUTcast v2), Server Address, Server Port (usually 8000), Username (often "source"), Password, and Mount point like /radio or /live. For SHOUTcast servers you might also need the Stream ID.
Check your internet connection is working properly and stable. If you're on a corporate or school network, they might be blocking streaming connections, so speak to your IT department. Try switching from WiFi to a wired connection if possible as this can be more reliable for streaming.
Make sure your streaming account details are correct and that your account is still active. Some providers have specific requirements for usernames or might suspend accounts for non-payment, so double-check these with your provider.
If you're still having problems, try using different streaming software like BUTT to test the same connection details. This will help you work out if the problem is with PlayIt Live or with your streaming account settings. You can also export your stream settings using the Import/Export Settings button and send them to your streaming provider to check they're correct.
Read full answer
