M3U Playlist Format

The M3U playlist format is a simple list of audio file paths, one per line. PlayIt Manager extends the format with special # comment directives so the imported log can include fixed time markers, break notes, voice tracks, remote URLs and aux inputs alongside regular tracks.

Hours

Tracks are grouped into hours using a # Hour: directive. The directive must appear on its own line and is followed by the start time of the hour in HH:mm format. Every track that follows the directive (until the next # Hour: directive) is placed in that hour:

# Hour: 00:00
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Jingles\Publicise Your Event ID.mp3
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Songs\Sam and the Womp - Bom Bom.mp3
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Songs\Fenech-Soler - All I Know.mp3
...
# Hour: 01:00
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Jingles\City Locations ID A.mp3
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Songs\Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough.mp3
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Songs\Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound.mp3
G:\PlayIt User\Music\Jingles\Contact Studio On Text & Email ID.mp3

Track paths

Track paths may be absolute or relative. When the paths are relative, the Base Audio Folder field on the importing playout log screen is prepended to each path to produce an absolute path that PlayIt Live can resolve.

Fixed time markers

Fixed time markers ensure time keeping within an hour. Use a # Fixed Time Marker: directive with Type= and TargetTime= parameters. The Type may be Hard, Soft or NotBefore, and the TargetTime is the position within the hour expressed as <minutes>m<seconds>s:

# Fixed Time Marker: Type=Hard; TargetTime=3m02s
# Fixed Time Marker: Type=Soft; TargetTime=3m
# Fixed Time Marker: Type=NotBefore; TargetTime=5s

See the editing clock page for an explanation of how each fixed time marker type behaves at playout.

Break notes

A break note inserts a silent placeholder of a known duration. Use a # Break Note: directive with Duration= and Notes= parameters. The Notes text appears in the log so the operator knows what the break is for:

# Break Note: Duration=1m1s; Notes="News on the hour"

Voice tracks

A voice track placeholder reserves a slot for a recording that will be added later. Use a # Voice Track Placeholder: directive with a Duration parameter:

# Voice Track Placeholder: Duration 1m

Remote URLs

A remote URL plays a remote audio file or live stream in PlayIt Live. Use a # URL: directive with Duration=, Title=, URL= and Type= parameters. The Type is either File for a static file with a known duration, or Live for a continuous live stream:

# URL: Duration=1m; Title="News"; URL="http://www.mywebsite.com/news.mp3"; Type=File
# URL: Duration=60m; Title="Simulcasted show"; URL="http://www.mywebsite.com/live"; Type=Live

Aux inputs

An aux input plays audio from a sound device attached to the PlayIt Live machine. Use a # Aux Input: directive with Duration=, Title= and DeviceName= parameters. The DeviceName must match the name of an input device configured in PlayIt Live:

# Aux Input: Duration=2m; Title="Sky News"; DeviceName="Microphone (USB Audio Codec)"