Parallel overlays

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hdradio
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Parallel overlays

Post by hdradio »

As I have asked in this topic there are times that - when parallel overlays exist - an overlay starts plays a song and then the next overlay plays.
I 've followed the suggestion to create the overlays with 1 sec difference but still (not very often) this problem occurs.
I 'd like to have the possibility to create the overlays at the same time and have a priority field (like in campaigns) to control which one will play first.
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radio42
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

Today it sounds like you have created (at least) 2 overlays every 30 minutes?
So that would be 96 overlays...i.e. the overlays to combine would be e.g.:
- Time-Announcement :30:00
- OVL XYZ
So what I mean is, that you can create one script to combine 2 overlays.

This would then result half of the number of entries (instead of 96 overlay) in 48 overlays using 48 scripts.

When using certain macros within the script; you might even create one single script...
Within the script-line entries you might use for example the following (overlay related) macros:
- ${start_xxxx) macros to resolve the overlay's start date and time values
- ${end_xxxx) macros to resolve the overlay's end date and time values
- ${overlayname}, ${overlaydescription}
(in the next .23 version there will also be a ${overlayreference} macro available)
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hdradio
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by hdradio »

The first overlay is a Time Announce (sometimes < 1 sec) and the second overlay is a commercial play.
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hdradio
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by hdradio »

Can you explain to me how can I create a script for all my overlays ?
Or do I have to create 48 scripts a day (for every half an hour) ?
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hdradio
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by hdradio »

Today it sounds like you have created (at least) 2 overlays every 30 minutes?
I created only 2 overlays (with 1 hour recurrence) for Time Announce announce and the commercial overlays were created by the wizard.
I still don't understand what my script lines should contain to resolve that time's overlay.
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radio42
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

As far as I remember you are already currently using a (single) script for your time announcement. This consists of a single line:
1. LoadTrack, C:\MyTimeFolder\Time${start_HH}-${start_mm}.mp3

This can stay as is (see my above note about macros).
In addition you might add a line for the commercials:
2. Advert, _0000_0

Yes, that would today leave you with 48 scripts! As today you can not specify a macro for the Advert Slot (the '_0000_0' in the above example).
So you would need to have one dedicated script for each advert slot to play - if you have 48 advert slots to combine with your time announcements.
If this is less, then you have less scripts.
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radio42
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

I am not sure in which cases this can happen, as previously it was happening because your total playing time of the first overlay was less than 2 seconds!
This mean now you want to play overlays with less than 1 second?

Why couldn't you combine the 'overlays' within in a script then?
Can you please show some details about the 2 overlays which should 'play together'...
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radio42
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

So couldn't this combined into one script with two script-lines (as such combined into one overlay)?
1. Time-Announcement
2. Advert ...
?
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

I just too a closer look - and I guess it will be possible to add a new 'Priority' field to the overlay, which defines the order (1, 2, 3...) in which overlays should be used/executed in case their start time is exactly the same.

However, note, that an overlay entry must be unique.
It is unique, if any of the following field/values are different:
- Name
- Playing (command)
- Start Time

E.g. make sure, that the name is different for any overlay being scheduled at the same time.
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Re: Parallel overlays

Post by radio42 »

v3.0.14.23 now supports Overlay 'Priorities' in the way described above.

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