XStudio 3

Log Directives are a special key component of the broadcast log (schedule). Log Directives serve a number of purposes:

•They provide specific instructions to XStudio regarding program execution. Examples include marking the commercial break that will play next in Satellite mode, causing an XStudio Action to execute at a specific log time, and causing XStudio to play audio at a specific time.

•They serve as visual markers, separating logical groups of program content in addition to normal log items like program titles and log notes.

•They are used in calculating content length for audio elements associated with the Log Directive.

•They are used in calculating the hourly audio content totals.

There are several types of Log Directives, each with a specific purpose that relates to program execution. This topic outlines the types of Directives that can be used with XStudio.

Some Log Directive types can also contain directive "keys" or "modifiers". These are special characters added to the directive description field, typically in the first character position, that affect the directive's meaning and behavior. For clarity, these items are referred to as a directive key.

Directive Types and Directive Keys

Log Directive types are not visible on the XStudio log display as a default. Directive keys, which are a part of the directive description, are visible as a default. See the topic on Customizing Log Column Visibility for details on how to make directive types visible on the log.

For information on creating and editing Log Directives within XStudio, see the topics on Editing a Log, Load Directive, Load Window, Execute Function and Play Cart Directive.

The table below includes base information on available Log Directive types and keys along with links to additional details on each. The characters contained in the Log column of the table indicate what is displayed on the XStudio log during operation. In the case of directive types, the information is displayed in the Dir Type column. Directive keys appear in the Description column.

Load Required Directive (LR)

The Load Required directive is used primarily in Satellite mode to indicate a commercial break that must be covered locally. The directive needs to be activated prior to the earliest expected signal from the program supplier to execute the break. As an example, if the program supplier's format calls for the break at 20 minutes past the hour and the break might float 5 minutes either way, the directive time should be no later than 14 minutes past the hour. It should be positioned no earlier than a minute past the preceding break's latest possible execution time. When XStudio gets the signal to play the break, it is evaluated to see if there is any content in the break. If so, XStudio does two things:

1.Starts playing the first audio item on the log following the directive. Playback of the item occurs regardless of where the XStudio Next-To-Play marker is on the log. In Satellite mode, the active directive, noted with text ActD=>, always controls what's next to be played when playback is initiated via an XStudio Action.

2.Advises the running Action of the total length of the break. The Action then waits the length of the break before performing the next Task in the Action list.

If there are no audio items (carts) on the log, XStudio passes a message to the running Action that there is nothing to play and the next Task in the Action list is executed immediately. The effect is that if in the Action you had updated an audio switcher to turn off the program service channel just prior to the play command and the task following the play command is to restore the program service channel to air, the two switcher updates (before and after the break) occur within milliseconds of one another, keeping the program service on the air.

In other modes of operation, the Load Required directive comes into play only if the directive contains a directive key and the key is valid for the current operating mode.

Load Optional Directive (LS)

The Load Optional directive is used primarily in Satellite mode to indicate a commercial break that can optionally be used by the local station or, if there are no commercials, skipped and the program service kept on the air.

The behavior of XStudio in terms of handling this directive is the same as the Load Required directive handling.

Load Play Directive (LP)

The Load Play directive has special meaning in Satellite mode only. If XStudio is in Satellite mode when the directive is activated, the first audio item (cart) on the log following the directive begins playing immediately, followed by any other audio items on the log up to the next log directive.

In all other modes of operation, the Load Play directive is handled in the same way as the Load Optional directive.

Load Window Directive (LW)

The Load Window directive is used to set the Current Voice value in XStudio. This value is used in cart numbers using the cart macro "##".

To update the Current Voice value using this directive, you must enter text in the directive Description field somewhere after the first character. The "$" character is used to designate the location of the new voice value. For instance, to change the Current Voice value to "BJ", enter the following:

 Bill Jones $BJ

Notice that the new voice value is designated with a "$" character followed by the two-character value, which can be either numbers or letters.

The Load Window directive is active in all modes of operation.

Execute Function Directive (CR)

The Execute Function directive is used to execute an XStudio Action at a specific log time. This directive is valid for Satellite and Automation modes only; it is ignored in all other modes.

Play Cart Directive (PC)

The Play Cart directive is used to play a specific audio item (cart) at the directive log time. It is valid only in Satellite mode; in all other modes, the directive is treated as though it is a normal cart record on the log and played in sequence with other carts in a non-time-specific way.

Time Offset Directive Key (:xx)

The Time Offset directive key is used to make a directive's execution (activation) time something other than an exact hour and minute. If you have a directive scheduled at 2:42 PM on the log and want it to be activated at 2:42:30 PM, enter the colon character in the first character of the directive Description field, followed by the two-digit value for the number of seconds to "offset" from the minute, i.e., enter :30 followed by whatever description you wish. The time offset value must be two digits following the colon or your results will be unpredictable.

Time Approximate Directive Key (~)

The Time Approximate directive key is intended for use in Satellite mode only, as a way of making load directive types (Load Required and Load Optional) sequence-oriented rather than time-driven. For more information on how to use time approximate directives in Satellite mode, see the topic Satellite Programming - Special Events.

Cast-Off Directive Key ($)

The Cast-Off directive key is used in XStudio to perform what is known as a "soft sync". When the directive is activated, it causes XStudio to "cast-off" or skip over unplayed audio items on the log, setting the Next-To-Play item as the first audio item (cart) following the directive. When the currently playing cart reaches EOM (Aux Mark), the audio item immediately following the directive is played. The effect is to synchronize log playback close to the directive time, a technique that keeps XStudio close to real time in terms of program execution.

To create a Cast-Off key, enter a "$" (dollar sign) as the very first character of the directive's Description field.

The Cast-Off directive key is valid in Satellite and Automation modes only and is ignored in all other modes.

Current Voice Directive Key ($)

The Current Voice directive key is used in combination with the Load Window directive to set the current announcer voice value. See the Load Window directive description for details on using this key. The Current Voice directive key is valid in all modes of operation.

Hard Sync Directive Key (!)

The Hard Sync directive key is used to perform an immediate synchronization of XStudio audio playback to a specific log time. When a directive containing the Hard Sync key is activated, XStudio stops any audio playing on the primary playback channel (channel 1) immediately and begins playing the item on the log immediately following the directive. The effect is an abrupt stop of playing audio and an immediate start of the next audio item, achieving an immediate synchronization of audio playback with the log.

To create a Hard Sync key, enter an "!" as the very first character of the directive's Description field.

The Hard Sync directive key is valid in Automation mode only and is ignored in all other modes.

Suspend Auto-Segue Directive Key (^)

The Suspend Auto-Segue directive key is used to disable auto-segue playback from the log. When a directive containing this key is activated, XStudio turns off (disables) the [Auto] button on the channel 1 transport. No other action is taken. The effect is that if XStudio is currently playing a cart, it will not automatically sequence to the Next-To-Play item on the log and play it when the cart reaches EOM (Aux Mark). The playing cart will finish and XStudio will be idle until either a user or an Action restarts audio playback.

To create a Suspend Auto-Segue key, enter a "^" (caret) as the very first character of the directive's Description field.

The Suspend Auto-Segue key is valid in Automation mode only and is ignored in all other modes.

Resume Auto-Segue Directive Key (@)

The Resume Auto-Segue directive key is used to re-enable auto-segue playback from the log. When a directive containing this key is activated, XStudio turns on (enables) the [Auto] button on the channel 1 transport. No other action is taken. The effect is that audio playback from the log will be auto-sequenced when a cart playing from the log reaches EOM (Aux Mark).

To create a Resume Auto-Segue key, enter the "@" (at sign) character as the very first character in the directive's description field.

The Resume Auto-Segue key is valid in Automation mode only and is ignored in all other modes.