POWER STUDIO

Windows Maintenance

An on-air computer should not restart unexpectedly during playout.

Windows Update

Configure Windows Update so it cannot interrupt a broadcast. Use station IT policy or Group Policy to prevent automatic restarts during broadcast hours.

Run Windows updates manually during maintenance windows. Make sure another playout source, backup computer or emergency audio source is available before restarting the on-air machine.

For Windows 10 Pro and similar editions, the support article Disable Automated Windows Updates on Power Studio PC explains how to use Group Policy to disable automatic update behavior.

Background Software

Avoid unnecessary background tools on the on-air computer. Antivirus scans, cloud sync tools, consumer updaters and remote backup tools can affect disk and network performance.

In most cases, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, also known as Windows Defender, is a good default choice for Power Studio workstations. It has generally shown a low impact on audio performance compared with many third-party antivirus or endpoint suites. If the station uses a third-party security product, test playout, recording, file access and database access under realistic load before relying on the workstation on air.

Time Synchronization

Keep Windows time synchronization enabled and healthy. Accurate system time helps playlists, logs, recordings, database changes and multi-studio behavior line up correctly.

The Power Studio installer can help configure Windows time synchronization more carefully during install and uninstall. Still verify the final Windows time settings as part of station maintenance, especially after replacing a workstation or changing domain policies.

Do not manually adjust the clock during playout. If the system time is wrong, plan a maintenance window, correct Windows time synchronization and then review the affected playlists and logs.

Routine Checks

Periodically check:

  • Disk free space.
  • PostgreSQL backups.
  • Audio storage availability.
  • Network stability.
  • Audio device driver status.
  • License expiration warnings.
  • Windows event logs after unexpected restarts or audio issues.