Does AdMaster Work With Your Playout?
Check Compatibility and Integrate With Most Playout Software Easily
- AD Play
- Air Server
- Arrakis Automation
- Audio Vault
- Audisi GML (can be integrated using the custom output format, check the information below)
- BSI Simian
- Close RadioTV
- Clyde Broadcast Integra Air
- Competa Playout
- Dalet Playout
- DJB Radio
- Dinesat Pro Radio
- Enco DAD
- InfoAudio
- Jazler RadioStar
- Jazler SOHO
- m3u (standard playlist format recognized by most playouts, playlist file names available in 3 variations)
- mAirlist, one tpi file per day or hour
- Media Continuity Systems
- Music1
- MusicMaster
- Myriad (separate output formats available for Version 6, Version 5 and earlier versions)
- NexGen
- NextKast
- OmniPlayer
- Playlist Digital
- Play It Live (use the Insert External Log/Playlist dialog with the date pattern %yyyy%-%MM%-%dd%-%HH%a, format M3U Playlist and Position: To Play Next. Replace the letter a with the proceeding letters for the second, third, etc. break in the hour)
- Playout One
- pls (standard playlist format recognized by most playouts, playlist file names available in 3 variations)
- PowerGold
- RadioBoss
- RadioDJ (the output presets for both m3u for new, and rpl outputs for older versions, are available in AdMaster, check this RadioDJ Forum Topic)
- Rivendell (Important: the AdMaster Desktop client app is not available for Linux, but you can install it on any PC and file-sync the required folders with a Linux Broadcast computer)
- Sam Broadcaster
- SoftLab Onair
- StationPlaylist (log and m3u playlist file formats available; the video tutorial is available on the Video tutorials page)
- Vector 3
- WideOrbit
- Zara Studio (seq files)
- Zenon Media's SEND Broadcast
- Zetta by RCS
- Darim FS4000
- Dinesat Movie
- Masterplay
- Stream-Labs VPlay
- Softron (Mac Based Television Playout; the AdMaster Desktop client app is not available for Mac, but you can install it on any PC and file-sync the required folders with a Mac with the Softron installation)
What If Your Playout Isn't Listed?
Even Unsupported Playouts Should Work With AdMaster - Get Help Anytime
The M3U Test (Works With Almost Anything!)
Here’s a simple rule: if your playout software can import a basic playlist file (like a .pls, .m3u, .txt, .xml) into its program schedule, it will work with AdMaster. This means AdMaster is compatible with most playout systems - new, old, or even outdated local software used only in your country or on your station.
Create a Custom Output Format for Your Playout
AdMaster offers simple options to create a custom output format. Look for the Add a new output format option in the General Station Settings, and you'll be able to configure whatever format your playout expects. We're here to help if you get stuck.
Need Help?
If you’re still facing issues, don’t hesitate to reach out. We'll do our best to ensure your AdMaster integration is successful, no matter your playout system.
Understanding Your Playout's Integration Method
To get the most out of AdMaster, it’s helpful to understand the fundamental way your playout system handles external ad schedules. This isn't about AdMaster itself, but about how your playout is designed to work. Generally, there are two common methods in the industry. Knowing which one your system uses is the key to a smooth and predictable daily workflow.
Method 1: The Event-Based Method
How it works: Your main program playlist doesn't contain the ads themselves. Instead, you configure your playout to launch an external playlist at a specific point in the hour. This doesn't have to be a special 'Play Ad Break' command that older or simpler systems might not have.
It's often as simple as telling your system: 'After the third song, play the playlist from the AdMaster_Logs folder'. Your playout will then read the current AdMaster traffic log file at that moment, play the ads, and automatically resume your main program playlist once the ad break is finished.
Advantage: This is highly automated. Any changes you make in AdMaster (like adding a last-minute ad) are automatically picked up for the next scheduled event.
Trade-off: Your main scheduler doesn't know the exact length of the ad break in advance, which can slightly affect the hour's timing down to the second. (Note: This is why AdMaster has features to prevent same-hour ad changes, as most playout systems working this way wouldn't pick them up in time. Also note: You can set AdMaster to create ad breaks with an exact duration, for example 3:00 minutes. The break will start with paid ads, and it will be topped up with promos or other content if there are not enough paid ads to fill the time.)
Method 2: The Log Merge Method
How it works: Your playout scheduler generates a master playlist for a future period (e.g., the next day or week) by merging your music log with the AdMaster traffic logs. This creates one large, static playlist with both music and ads already combined in their final sequence.
Advantage: Perfect timing. Your final on-air playlist is calibrated down to the last second, and you see the complete schedule in advance.
Trade-off: This is a more manual process. If you make any change in AdMaster, you must regenerate and reload the master playlist in your playout software for those changes to be included on-air (Note: Some playouts may offer some kind of auto-reload process).
How to Find Out Your System's Method
Your next step is to determine which of these methods your playout system supports (it might be one or both). This will tell you whether changes in AdMaster are reflected automatically or if you need to reload your logs after every change.
You can likely find this information in your playout's documentation or by asking their support team a very specific question:
"Does our playout software use an 'event-based' system for external traffic logs, or does it use a 'log merge' method to build the final playlist?"
Understanding your playout's method is the key to mastering your workflow. Once you know which path you're on, your day-to-day operations will become perfectly clear.
Ready to Integrate AdMaster With Your Playout?
Start integrating today and see how AdMaster simplifies your ad scheduling. Need assistance? Our team is here to help!
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