POWER STUDIO

Power Traffic Integration

Power Traffic is the online commercial planner that can synchronize commercial blocks, spots, promos and Static Items with Power Studio.

Power Studio can also exchange deletion information with Power Traffic workflows, depending on the station configuration. This helps keep track, commercial and Static Item availability aligned between systems, but it also means administrators should be careful when deleting items that may still be used by traffic planning.

Configure The Interface

Open Options and Settings > Power Traffic and configure the station's Power Traffic connection details.

Typical settings include:

  • Enable the Power Traffic interface.
  • Enter the API key or download key supplied for the station.
  • Choose when macros in the playlist should be processed.
  • Configure the full sync interval.

For many stations, processing macros when the first playlist of the day is loaded works well. A full sync interval of several hours keeps commercial data current without unnecessary traffic.

Macro processing can happen when the first playlist of the day is loaded, when a playlist is being played out or when a playlist is generated. Use the earliest option that still fits the station's commercial workflow. If commercial material may change late, choose a workflow that keeps data fresh without surprising operators during live playout.

Full sync can be scheduled at a fixed time, at an interval after a number of hours or disabled when synchronization is handled manually. Document the chosen approach so traffic staff and studio staff know when changes become available in Power Studio.

Content Availability

Power Traffic can use:

  • Tracks with content type Spot.
  • Tracks with content type Promo.
  • Static Items for fixed openers, closers or separators.

After synchronization, commercial blocks become available as macros in the Clock Format editor.

Keep audio file availability separate from schedule availability. A block can exist in Power Traffic while the required spot audio is still missing or stored on a path the playout computer cannot reach.

If a Static Item or commercial item appears to be missing after synchronization, check both systems before editing formats. The issue may be a missing file, a deleted item, a synchronization delay or a content type mismatch.

Scheduling Blocks

Add the Power Traffic macro to the Clock Format at the position where the block should play.

For a block that must play before a fixed time, use Fill Out on the final block line. This gives Power Studio room to shorten preceding music while preserving the commercial block.

Top-Of-Hour Example

A common structure around the top of the hour is:

  1. News download macro.
  2. After-news Power Traffic macro.
  3. Static top-of-hour item.
  4. Normal music or program content.
  5. Before-news Power Traffic macro at the end of the hour.

Set Fill Out on the final before-news block when it must still play before the next hour starts. In a non-floating hour, Power Studio can fade preceding music earlier so the commercial block and next hour remain on time.

For floating hours, the transition may happen slightly before or after the hour so songs can play in full. Use this only when the station accepts a more natural but less exact hour transition.

Content Types

Use content types deliberately:

  • Commercial audio should normally be Spot.
  • Promotional audio should normally be Promo.
  • Station imaging used as commercial openers, closers or separators can be configured as Static Items.
  • News or other non-music dynamic items can use Miscellaneous when they should not publish normal song metadata.