re-read "Variable Duration File" rescan

chrismadog · June 14, 2023, 07:47:01 AM

Hi Marius,

Can we have any Variable Duration File be re-scanned before it is played so any variation in length gets updated ?

I suggest in the 10 seconds before it is played.

At the moment, it appears that it is scanned when it is put into the playlist either manually or by an event.
If it is in a saved playlist however it does not seem to be re-scanned before playing.

As a result, if a playlist is imported for 4 hours with 4 news segments, the first one may play correctly (depending on when it is loaded) but subsequent news will be wrong as it still has the length as set when the playlist was imported.
Our news bulletins vary by up to a minute so 50% of the time, it cuts off the end of the news bulletin.

If it gets re-scanned in the 10 seconds before playing and the length updated, that should fix the problem ?

Kind regards,
Chris M

mdj · June 15, 2023, 06:15:17 AM

Quote from: chrismadog on June 14, 2023, 07:47:01 AMAt the moment, it appears that it is scanned when it is put into the playlist either manually or by an event.

This may be the answer to an issue I have. . .

I load a playlist at 0630 (to start at 0658).
At 0655 I use an event to update my 0700 news file (using wget), it downloads the file.
It plays at 0700. It's timing is just never quite right (or right as it is if I re-analyse the file).

In my example, are you suggesting that the news file is only checked when I load the playlist? This explains the behaviour I am seeing.

Thanks.
Mike.

chrismadog · June 17, 2023, 06:01:46 AM

Quote from: mdj on June 15, 2023, 06:15:17 AMThis may be the answer to an issue I have. . .

I load a playlist at 0630 (to start at 0658).
At 0655 I use an event to update my 0700 news file (using wget), it downloads the file.
It plays at 0700. It's timing is just never quite right (or right as it is if I re-analyse the file).

In my example, are you suggesting that the news file is only checked when I load the playlist? This explains the behaviour I am seeing.

Thanks.
Mike.

Exactly the issue.
I've found a workaround though.

After the news is downloaded (in my case, at 5 mins to the hour), run an event that puts in the news intro (Mine is at 10 seconds to the hour).
In RadioDJ, make a manual event and also track edit the intro as follows ...

Manual Event - all it does is loads the news track into the top of the playlist.

Edit the News Intro track - Edit Track -> Others -> Start Event = set to the manual event that loads the news file.

When it runs the intro track, it loads the fresh news.

Works perfectly for me and hopefully for you.

Regards,
Chris M

mdj · June 17, 2023, 01:56:41 PM

Thanks for the suggestion.

It doesn't quite fit my use case, as I have a 'stop down' before the news. I may resort to adding it to the queue list manually.

Fully support the idea of it being re-scan, say once it has hit the top of the queue list, with a visual representation that it has/hasn't been re-scanned would be good to (if anything to boost confidence).

Thanks again.
Mike.

chrismadog · June 20, 2023, 02:22:37 PM

Quote from: mdj on June 17, 2023, 01:56:41 PMThanks for the suggestion.

It doesn't quite fit my use case, as I have a 'stop down' before the news. I may resort to adding it to the queue list manually.

Fully support the idea of it being re-scan, say once it has hit the top of the queue list, with a visual representation that it has/hasn't been re-scanned would be good to (if anything to boost confidence).

Thanks again.
Mike.

Hi Mike,
What did you mean by a 'stop Down' before the news ?
Is that where you stop whatever is playing before triggering the news ? If so, do the stop, load the news intro or whatever and then Play and it should work.

Yes, rescan just before playing would do the trick and if it did it every time, I would be happily confident it would work.

Chris M

mdj · June 21, 2023, 02:29:32 AM

Quote from: chrismadog on June 20, 2023, 02:22:37 PMWhat did you mean by a 'stop Down' before the news ?

I have a talk break between my last song and the news, only a few seconds, but enough to push the news across the top of the hour.

I pulled the news into the playlist, and it appears that it even then it did not re-analyse it?

I don't mind going into the track info to re-analyse, but using 2.0.0.6, I have to change the category to anything but 'VDF' to get into the cue editor.

Would be great if 'Re-scan VDF' was an event or right click a 'VDF' for a re-scan option.

Thanks again.
Mike.

chrismadog · February 22, 2024, 11:02:52 AM

Marius, now I have the need for rescanning the variable duration News files.

The Programming Manager at the station now makes a playlist which has the sponsorships for a show as well as the news, weatrher etc.
The News is the problem as the Programming Manager also has a selection of News to pick from.

This creates the problem.
The news for my entire show is loaded as a playlist and then I put the songs into the playlist.
At Top Of The Hour (TOTH) it loads the news but it was changed some 5 minutes beforehand. The Old news was 4m44s but the new one is 5m20s - some 36s longer.

RadioDJ will only play the original length of 4m44s, then it goes onto the next track (an outro) and continues on, cutting the News short by that 36 seconds. It sounds awful

If RadioDJ scanned the file in the 10s preload period, and updated the track length, that would fix it.

Please Marius ?
Just for the Variable Duration Files about to load from the playlist ?

Regards,
ChrisM

Kiwi · February 23, 2024, 06:49:37 PM

@ChrisM, this may trigger an idea or two for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqNePpVcgI

Courtesy of RadioDJ Dude...

chrismadog · February 24, 2024, 09:53:32 AM

Quote from: Kiwi on February 23, 2024, 06:49:37 PM@ChrisM, this may trigger an idea or two for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqNePpVcgI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqNePpVcgI

Courtesy of RadioDJ Dude...

Yeah - I'm subscribed to that - I do it a slightly different way that doesn't require audio ducking on the bed track. (RadioDJ does it for me).

However, I did get the idea of how I now do it from that video.

But the news can't reliably be loaded just before I play it as it comes in only 4 minutes before it has to play and if I forget to drag the updated track in, it sounds awful. Same track but the length needs updating.

ChrisM

ignitenz · March 08, 2024, 10:37:31 AM

Just a couple of points...

1: Many news feeds have specific end times, usually within +/- 10 seconds, which play very well with VD files in RDJ. So why not access one of those services or ensure any on-site produced news feeds obey this rule?

2: I use a bed that introduces the news bulletin and then at the end music that signals the end of the bulletin. The bulletin is then used as a VDF in overlay mode, meaning there is always an outro that plays and then cuts out when the bulletin finishes, immediately triggering the next event element.

In our case, I have a bed that runs for 3:20 with silence between the intro and outro. This allows for any variance in the bulletin time. I can send you some audio if that helps?

EDIT: Additionally, set up folder synch to refresh any new news file (file overwrites) to happen after you receive the news file download but before the news kicks off. This then allows time for the news to be downloaded, then the VDF is re-scaned (by folder synch) before it's played out. If you have a underlying bed, make it around 45 sec long and fade it in gradually (using Audacity or such). This way it won't matter too much whether the bulletin is 30 secs longer than usual or bang on time. The music will end as soon as the bulletin does and if there's a sponsor this would come next in the event. I hope that makes sense.

I hope that helps.