Priority Streams

Priority Streams is a feature allowing you to bring in an external stream such as a remote presenter/DJ or outside broadcast. When a priority stream is live, normal live-assist playout will stop and the priority stream will take over. If a priority stream is not connected or if it is too quiet or silent, it will not go live and not take over normal live-assist playout. The highest priority, open, active priority stream will take priority over normal live-assist playout.

A video demonstrating Priority Streams in PlayIt Live can be found on the PlayIt Software YouTube channel:

How It Works

When a priority stream is open, PlayIt Live will continuously try to connect to a live URL (for Live URL streams) or check for connections on the direct stream connections port (for Direct Connection streams). If a connection is made and the volume level of the audio is sufficient (see the silence threshold in Live-Assist Mode Settings) then the priority stream is considered active. Normal live-assist playout will fade and stop, or wait until the currently playing track finishes (depending on settings) and then the priority stream will go live. If there are multiple active priority streams, the one with the highest priority will go live. If the priority is the same, the one that was active first will go live.

When the priority stream is no longer active, live-assist playout will resume its previous state (playing or stopped) or switch Automation on, depending on settings.

To control the open state of a priority stream automatically, use a Change Open State action under Manage > Scheduled Events, or add a Scheduled Event Action item in the playout log.

Direct streams

A priority stream gets its audio in one of two ways, set by its Type:

• Live URL: PlayIt Live reaches out and connects to a remote Icecast or SHOUTcast server, pulling the audio from it.
• Direct Stream Connection (a "direct stream"): the direction is reversed - a remote encoder connects in to PlayIt Live and pushes its audio, the same way an encoder feeds an Icecast server.

A direct stream is useful when the remote presenter cannot host a stream URL of their own but can send audio to yours - for example a guest DJ broadcasting from home. The remote source authenticates as a PlayIt Live user, so each Direct Stream Connection priority stream is tied to the user who will stream to it, and the source must send MP3 audio.

To set up a direct stream:

1. In Settings > Advanced Scheduling, tick Allow direct stream connections on this port and note the port number. If the presenter is remote, make sure that port is reachable from the internet (forward it on your router or firewall).
2. Under Manage > Users, create a user for the presenter with a username and password.
3. Create a Direct Stream Connection priority stream (see Edit Priority Stream) and choose that user.
4. Give the presenter your server address, the port, and their username and password. They point an Icecast-compatible encoder (such as BUTT or Mixxx) at those details and stream in MP3 format. The exact encoder fields are listed on the Advanced Scheduling settings page.
5. While the priority stream is open, the incoming connection becomes active once it has valid audio above the silence threshold, and it goes live according to the priority rules described above.

Only one source can be connected as a given user at a time.

Main Interface

When one or more priority streams are open, priority stream players are displayed below the main live-assist players. These indicate which priority streams are connected and playing.

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Priority Stream Panel

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When priority streams have overridden main live-assist playout, this message bar is shown:

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Priority Stream Override Message

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Usage Scenarios

Allowing a stream to take over live-assist automation at any time

1. Simply create an open priority stream.
2. Stream audio to the live URL or to the direct stream connections port.

Allow a stream to take over live-assist automation after the news

1. Create a closed priority stream.
2. Add to the playout log the following items:
   • Hard Fixed Time Marker 00:00
   • Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Close [All Priority Streams]
   • Track: News
   • Track: News Out Jingle
   • Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Open the priority stream
   • Additional items matching the format of the streaming show, as backup if the stream disconnects
3. Stream audio to the live URL or to the direct stream connections port. When the priority stream is open it will go live.

Pre-buffer a stream before going live

1. Create a closed priority stream.
2. Add to the playout log the following items:
   • Hard Fixed Time Marker 00:00
   • Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Close [All Priority Streams]
   • Track: News
   • Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Pre-Open the priority stream
   • Track: News Out Jingle
   • Scheduled Event Action: Change Priority Stream Open State: Open the priority stream
   • Additional items matching the format of the streaming show, as backup if the stream disconnects
3. Stream audio to the live URL or to the direct stream connections port. When the priority stream is open it will go live.

Scheduled Event Actions can be added to clocks to automate the control of priority stream open states. When creating clocks with Scheduled Event Actions to bring in priority streams, add track or track group items that match the format of the show being streamed so that automation can take over if the priority stream disconnects.

Terminology

Active: An active priority stream is one that is open, is connected, and has a volume level above the silence threshold. If a stream disconnects or falls below the silence threshold for a period of time, it will be considered inactive.

Go Live: The priority stream with the highest priority that is active will be faded up. Depending on settings, normal live-assist playout will fade and stop, or the current track will finish before the priority stream is faded up.

Open: PlayIt Live will try to connect to the live URL or check for audio on the direct stream connection port. Open streams can go live.

Pre-Open: As Open, but the stream will not go live. Use this to pre-buffer a stream before opening and going live.

Closed: PlayIt Live will not check for connections for the priority stream and will not go live.

Related Pages

• Manage Priority Streams
• Edit Priority Stream