Scheduling a playlist for fixed hour

[bigrod]

I am new to this solution.
As a station manager using RB cloud, I want to easily schedule my playlist to run at a fixed time (e.g., from 3PM to 4PM).
I am aware that I can add tracks to a pls manually, but with this option, I do not know how long this pls will run. Also, adding songs manually is lots of effort.
So what options do I have, set Duration limit ? but that's also in seconds.

 

[djsoft]

Depending on what end result you need - you can create a playlist this is one hour long (if it's some show with items that need to play). If it's a different rotation (e.g. based on Track List) then you can start this playlist at 3PM, then start something else at 4PM.

 

[bigrod]

Depending on what end result you need - you can create a playlist this is one hour long (if it's some show with items that need to play). If it's a different rotation (e.g. based on Track List) then you can start this playlist at 3PM, then start something else at 4PM.

you can create a playlist this is one hour long (if it's some show with items that need to play

Do you mean manually?

 

[djsoft]

Do you mean manually?

Yes, if this is some show. If not then you create a playlist with Track List items and make it select the tracks for you - see step 3 in the quick start guide: https://www.radioboss.fm/support/radioboss-cloud/radioboss-cloud-quick-start-guide/

 

[bigrod]

Sure. but besides the manual action, still as admin I don't know whether the tracks are enough to "fill" the hour, right?
For example, I may add 10 tracks that equal an hour or 20 tracks, or even 1 hour mix. There is no way to see what I'm adding fits (or exceeds) the hour.

 

[djsoft]

Sure. but besides the manual action, still as admin I don't know whether the tracks are enough to "fill" the hour, right?

If you build the playlist manually, you see its duration.

 

[rob0]

A thought - @bigrod If you don't mind a song being cut off at the end of the playlist, you can use an EVENT - and make it last an hour (defined as 3600 seconds). So it will last just an hour. But like @djsoft says, when you have made a playlist it shows duration. Might think about content/fillers at end of playlist that don't matter if they are cut off.

 

[bigrod]

A thought - @bigrod If you don't mind a song being cut off at the end of the playlist, you can use an EVENT - and make it last an hour (defined as 3600 seconds). So it will last just an hour. But like @djsoft says, when you have made a playlist it shows duration. Might think about content/fillers at end of playlist that don't matter if they are cut off.

Thanks @rob0, where should I see the duration? I'm not --> https://prnt.sc/Ez1Ha3NIAOoR

 

[djsoft]

Thanks @rob0, where should I see the duration? I'm not --> https://prnt.sc/Ez1Ha3NIAOoR

When there are Track List items, duration is not calculated, because it's unknown (each time a Track List is played, it will select a different track). But as the playlist is looped, this rotation will go over again once it's finished. You should probably use the "Replace playlist" option to clear other tracks from the playlist window.

 

[bigrod]

When there are Track List items, duration is not calculated, because it's unknown (each time a Track List is played, it will select a different track). But as the playlist is looped, this rotation will go over again once it's finished. You should probably use the "Replace playlist" option to clear other tracks from the playlist window.

@djsoft previously you said: https://www.djsoft.net/community/threads/scheduling-a-playlist-for-fixed-hour.12535/post-54263 If you build the playlist manually, you see its duration.
Now, I'm confused

 

[bigrod]

Ah sry. I see what you mean: drag and drop to create a manual PLS --> duration is shown.
Using tracklist --> no duration shown.

still confusing, but I can manage for now. TY

 

[rob0]

AHA - TRACKLIST vs. PLAYLIST. My confusion. I misread that. Also am new to RadioBoss so just learning too

However, one screnshot shows where Duration for an scheduled event can be found and set (in seconds), so 3600 would be the number of seconds in an hour. I think as long as it has something to play, it SHOULD keep playing from that event for the duration.

BUT and this is a big but....
a TRACKLIST ONLY PLAYS ONE TRACK, from its one selected folder. This is hard-coded. [It could be a feature request to be able to choose the amount of tracks?]. A playlist (not tracklist) however does have a duration based on the number of track it has. But a Duration for a playlist event could also be set - in seconds, in the same way.

An event of music tracks would not last an hour if it would only play ONE TRACK and then move on to something else in the playout playlist (or upcomng events).

As i write, I think, maybe...
- I have not tried this - but from using RB for some weeks now, could you...

1. use a Tracklist event (let's call it OUR-EVENT) with Insert position. 'replace playlist' (see other screenshot - not Queue after playing track or anything else)
so that there is nothing else in the playlist but the Tracklist item from OUR-EVENT - So nothing else to move on to after playing its 'one track'.

2. make sure there is an hour or more of content in the folder the Tracklist OUR-EVENT is calling from.

3. set repeat protection , in settings to not repeat same track for an hour (tho am not 100% convinced by repeat protect, need to study some more). This applies across the whole system, not to any particular event.

4. set another event (EVENT-TOO) after your one hour event, Which then adds more content to re-fill you playout playlist - or does whatever it must do after the 3600-second (1hr) tracklist from OUR-EVENT is up. Again, you might use 'Replace Playlist', for EVENT-TOO to clear your previous Tracklist from OUR-EVENT, which been playing for the last hour.

Could that work?

I am just theorising, maybe it is fundamentally flawed - but based on what i have learning about RB so far, this is what i would try.
Maybe someone else could confirm or maybe you are able to try that.

 

[rob0]

AHA - TRACKLIST vs. PLAYLIST. My confusion. I misread that. Also am new to RadioBoss so just learning too

However, one screnshot shows where Duration for an scheduled event can be found and set (in seconds), so 3600 would be the number of seconds in an hour. I think as long as it has something to play, it SHOULD keep playing from that event for the duration.

BUT and this is a big but....
a TRACKLIST ONLY PLAYS ONE TRACK, from its one selected folder. This is hard-coded. [It could be a feature request to be able to choose the amount of tracks?]. A playlist (not tracklist) however does have a duration based on the number of track it has. But a Duration for a playlist event could also be set - in seconds, in the same way.

An event of music tracks would not last an hour if it would only play ONE TRACK and then move on to something else in the playout playlist (or upcomng events).

As i write, I think, maybe...
- I have not tried this - but from using RB for some weeks now, could you...

1. use a Tracklist event (let's call it OUR-EVENT) with Insert position. 'replace playlist' (see other screenshot - not Queue after playing track or anything else)
so that there is nothing else in the playlist but the Tracklist item from OUR-EVENT - So nothing else to move on to after playing its 'one track'.

2. make sure there is an hour or more of content in the folder the Tracklist OUR-EVENT is calling from.

3. set repeat protection , in settings to not repeat same track for an hour (tho am not 100% convinced by repeat protect, need to study some more). This applies across the whole system, not to any particular event.

4. set another event (EVENT-TOO) after your one hour event, Which then adds more content to re-fill you playout playlist - or does whatever it must do after the 3600-second (1hr) tracklist from OUR-EVENT is up. Again, you might use 'Replace Playlist', for EVENT-TOO to clear your previous Tracklist from OUR-EVENT, which been playing for the last hour.

Could that work?

I am just theorising, maybe it is fundamentally flawed - but based on what i have learning about RB so far, this is what i would try.
Maybe someone else could confirm or maybe you are able to try that.
View attachment 14952

View attachment 14951

I was just looking at RB docs on web and my 'solution' may not be....

https://www.radioboss.fm/support/radioboss-cloud/scheduler/#a_params​

RadioBOSS Cloud lets you schedule tracks, playlists, network streams, and other items for playback at predefined times.


Scheduled tracks are marked with a clock icon in the playlist window and are removed automatically after playback, except for events, with the “Insert as regular playlist tracks” option enabled (see “Event parameters” below for more information).

removed automatically after playback,!!!! suggests my theory might not work! Sorry

 

[rob0]

ooh- i tried that thing and it all got a bit messy.
When i started configuring it i realised it was not as simple as i tried to describe.

e.g. replace playlist was not the way to go....and tried to call in Repeat.

First - had to call up an event (music / jingle) that 'replace playlist', so it cleared the playout playlist.

Then I set the Tracklist event to:

Repeat every minute, not more than 60 times.
but realistically could be every 2 not more than 30 or whatever.

Insert Type - guessing - after current or after scheduled would make most sense.

Still not sure if - Insert as regular playlist track - should be ticked or not but I did not see the tracks actually appear. I don't know what happed but 'tracklist, did appear a few times' but it get confused. and was not playing anything at all.

THE PROBLEM, which I may have faced - had content less that a minute in the folder, 4 seconds long being the shortest. This could have confused it.

RB REPEAT option can do a shortest interval of 1minute. -

Conclustion.
There may be a way with this kind of logic
1 - play from tracklist
(insert as regular track? or not?)
2 - insert type - play after current? after scheduled?...?
e.g. repeat every x minutes for no more than (obv within the hour)

3 - make sure content last min of one min. (maybe this can be workd out also)

Well my experiment failed in first instance but might value some revisiting.

Maybe RB can give guidance or suggest how it would / wouldn't work.

 

[djsoft]

@djsoft previously you said: https://www.djsoft.net/community/threads/scheduling-a-playlist-for-fixed-hour.12535/post-54263 If you build the playlist manually, you see its duration.
Now, I'm confused

It's the case when you add regular music tracks there, or items with known duration.

Ah sry. I see what you mean: drag and drop to create a manual PLS --> duration is shown.
Using tracklist --> no duration shown.

Yes, because in case of Track List, a different track can be selected each time.

 

[djsoft]

However, one screnshot shows where Duration for an scheduled event can be found and set (in seconds), so 3600 would be the number of seconds in an hour. I think as long as it has something to play, it SHOULD keep playing from that event for the duration.

This is duration limit. The event will not be extended to match this duration, it's to stop the events which duration is more that the limit. Still, instead of using the Duration Limit, almost always it's better to start a different event if you want to stop this event. This way, you know what will play next. With Duration Limit, it will end the event, and play whatever there is in the playlist next.

Then I set the Tracklist event to:

Repeat every minute, not more than 60 times.
but realistically could be every 2 not more than 30 or whatever.

What is the purpose of this, I mean what is the end result that needs to be achieved? If you want to select something using Track List then you can simply leave one Track List item in the playlist and (as playlist is repeated) it will repeat.

There may be a way with this kind of logic
1 - play from tracklist
(insert as regular track? or not?)

Depends, if you want it to be deleted after playback, then uncheck this, if you want it to stay, then "As regular music track".

2 - insert type - play after current? after scheduled?...?

Again, depends on how you want it to queue.

It's all in the docs: https://www.radioboss.fm/support/radioboss-cloud/scheduler/

 

[rob0]

Then I set the Tracklist event to:

Repeat every minute, not more than 60 times.
but realistically could be every 2 not more than 30 or whatever.

What is the purpose of this, I mean what is the end result that needs to be achieved? If you want to select something using Track List then you can simply leave one Track List item in the playlist and (as playlist is repeated) it will repeat.

so does that mean that if a tracklist is in the playist - on its own -
it will just keep picking another track from the folder?

the end resutl would be to keep playing the event (a new instance of same event) to keep it going for an hour.

since a tracklist only plays ONE track.

but if this functionality to keep playing from the tracklist - one,then one agian, in an otherwise empty playlist, then that would solve the problem of an hour-long tracklist then?
(with repeat protection and duration of event)

 

[djsoft]

so does that mean that if a tracklist is in the playist - on its own -
it will just keep picking another track from the folder?

The playlist window (the one you see in the Overview section) is in "Repeat" mode, that is, after the last track is played, it will start playing from the first track again. If there's a single Track List item, it will continue selecting a new track. Or there may be multiple Track List items to create a rotation - see the Quick Start guide about it: https://www.radioboss.fm/support/radioboss-cloud/radioboss-cloud-quick-start-guide/

Typically the playlist plays from top to the bottom. If Shuffle mode is enabled, it will play in random order.

but if this functionality to keep playing from the tracklist - one,then one agian, in an otherwise empty playlist, then that would solve the problem of an hour-long tracklist then?
(with repeat protection and duration of event)

You should not use the duration limit in this case. If there's a single track in the playlist, and it's stopped after duration limit is hit, there will be nothing to play - you'll have silence on air. To interrupt it after an hour, you should start something else instead.

 

[rob0]

@djsoft thanks so much for your clarifications.
i been using PLAYLISTS sooooo WRONG!
- I understand why they are deemed to be 'containers' now.

This video from your guide helped my understand that tracklists could go in playlists, not just in the PlayOut (overview Playlist)

I have been to your guides several times but missed this. And still have to go over them several times. But got a better understanding in that round.
I completed missed that i could nest anything inside of playlists, including other playlists. That unlocks a lot of power, thank you.

So back to the OPs question - to get an an hour's music from a Tracklist.

Could that be done very simply, using TrackList by:
1. Create Event in Scheduler which last 3600 seconds (1hour) (with playlist or Tracklist depending on 2.)
2. Use tracklist event to pick at ONE folder (random or in order). OR Nest multiple TrackLists in a Playlist to pick from MULTIPLE folders.
3. (maybe ignore or manage repeat protection to avoid having nothing to play)
4. Make sure another event is scheduled to clear the event of 3600 duration.

Could that work in theory, based on the simple idea that,
If PlayOut (overview Playlist) is in Repeat mode and otherwise empty, with simply a tracklist in there, it would keep going and going, trying to pick from that tracklist?

I know you advised against Duration setting but could that all work 1-2-3-4 in RB logic?