Playlists

Playlists are generated from Day Formats and Clock Formats. They are the broadcast script for the station.

Power Studio has two playlist-oriented screens with different purposes: the Playlist Editor and the Playout Playlist.

Playlist Editor And Playout Playlist

Use the Playlist Editor for preparation and maintenance. This is the screen for reviewing generated playlists, correcting future hours, adding or replacing items, checking timing, preparing special programming and opening the Mix Editor for production work. The Playlist Editor can open and edit any playlist.

Use the Playout Playlist during broadcast operation. This is the on-air playlist window that follows the current playout state and helps the operator control what happens next. The Playout Playlist is always the playlist that is currently on air.

The practical difference is:

The same editing actions are available in both screens. Items can be moved, replaced or added in the Playout Playlist in the same way as in the Playlist Editor. The difference is not how editing works, but which playlist is being edited and how close the change is to broadcast.

In the Playlist Editor, changes are usually planned and checked before broadcast. In the Playout Playlist, changes affect the active or upcoming on-air sequence and should be made more carefully. Because the Playout Playlist is mainly used during live on-air operation, changes are saved immediately and do not require a separate save step. This avoids an extra action while a presenter or producer is working live.

During a live show, prefer the Playout Playlist for operational actions such as setting an item as next, executing a macro, opening the current transition in the Mix Editor or using Playlist PFL. Use the Playlist Editor when the goal is to prepare another hour, another day or a future correction that is not part of the current on-air moment.

Playlist PFL previews the selected playlist item through the configured Playlist PFL route. It is separate from Playout Player PFL, which belongs to Player A-D in the Playout Players window and changes the behavior of a loaded playout player.

When several playlist windows are open, check the date, hour and active window before making changes. This is especially important in multi-studio setups, production rooms and stations that prepare several days ahead.

Generate Playlists

Generate playlists after the formats and track metadata are ready. For automated stations, generate several days ahead so weekends and holidays are covered.

After generating, review the playlist for:

• Missing or unsuitable tracks.
• Fixed items at the right position.
• Macro placeholders for news, commercials or syndicated programs.
• Voice track positions.
• Live sources.
• Correct timing around the top of the hour.

Playlist views show operational durations that are useful for playout decisions. Use the effective duration when reviewing timing, because it reflects the usable playout timing more closely than the raw file length.

Review special hours before normal hours. A normal music hour is usually easier to repair during playout than a sponsored block, network program or top-of-hour sequence.

Playlist Editing

Use the Playlist Editor or Playout Playlist to make manual changes when needed. You can replace items, move items, add fixed audio or prepare special hours.

Avoid using manual edits to compensate for incorrect formats. If the same correction is needed often, update the Clock Format or track metadata.

Before editing a playlist that is close to air, confirm that the presenter or operator knows what is changing.

Tracks can be dragged into a playlist from the Tracks Browser or from another playlist. Use this when a producer, scheduler or presenter needs to replace an item, add a fixed item or prepare a changed hour.

Supported files can also be dragged into a playlist directly from Windows Explorer when the user has permission and the station workflow allows it. These files are then immediately available to all Power Studio instances, including instances running on other computers.

The Content-Type for dropped files can be configured in Options & Settings > General > Dropped Files > Default Content-Type. Set the correct content type for dropped files. A wrong content type can affect Now Playing metadata, reporting, traffic behavior, repeat rules and whether the item is treated like music, imaging, a spot or miscellaneous content.

Playlist changes are shared immediately. When one Power Studio instance changes a playlist, the change is also visible in other Power Studio instances that use the same database, including instances on other computers. This is useful when, for example, a producer needs to adjust the playlist for a presenter who is currently on air.

Macro Placeholders

Macro items appear as placeholders when the playlist is generated. Power Studio processes the macro before playout and replaces the placeholder with the downloaded, rendered or synchronized content.

Macro placeholders are used for dynamic content such as downloaded programs, news, commercials or imported blocks.

Timing

Watch the relationship between playlist length, fixed start times and Floating settings. A playlist that is too short can run out of content. A playlist that is too long may require fade-outs when fixed timing is required.

For reliable automation, include enough reserve content in each generated hour.

Scheduling Ahead

For unattended operation, generate and review playlists far enough ahead to cover the next period without staff intervention. Do this before weekends, holidays, transmitter maintenance, network work or studio relocation.

When Power Studio is used in multiple studios or for multiple stations, confirm that the correct playlist is loaded for the correct station and date.

Exporting Playlists

Playlists can be exported for operational review, administration or external workflows. CSV export is useful when a station needs the current hour, the current day or a selected date range in a spreadsheet-compatible format.

After exporting, treat the file as a snapshot. If the playlist is edited later, export it again before sending it to another department or external system.