Setting up and scheduling playlists in AzuraCast is both simple and effective. As a station operator, you can easily upload media files like songs, jingles, and ads, organize them into playlists, and schedule them for specific times and dates.
Accessing AzuraCast
1. Log in to your AzuraCast account using your station’s credentials at https://radio.sternhost.com.
2. After logging in, navigate to the "Station Overview" section and click the "Manage" button next to your station. This will direct you to your station's main dashboard where you can manage all settings.
3. Configure your playlist by filling out the following details:
- Playlist Name: This will appear on the "scheduled view" page.
- Source: Choose "Song-Based." Select "Remote URL" only if the playlist uses a remote audio link.
- Avoid Duplicate Artists/Titles: Enable this if you want AutoDJ to prevent repeating the same artist or song.
- Include in On-Demand Player: Enable if you want the playlist to be available for download.
- Allow Requests from This Playlist: Allow users to request specific songs from this playlist.
- Hide Metadata from Listeners: Enable this to hide song titles and names from your station’s audio player.
- Playlist Type: Select the playlist type that fits your needs:
- General Rotation: Auto-DJ plays songs randomly based on their "weight."
- Once per x Songs: Plays one song from the playlist every x number of songs.
- Once per x Minutes: Plays one song from the playlist every x number of minutes.
- Once per Hour: Plays one song from the playlist every hour.
- Advanced: For experienced users familiar with editing LiquidSoap’s configuration.
- Song Playback Order: Decide how Auto-DJ will select songs:
- Shuffled: Plays songs in a shuffled order.
- Random: Picks a song randomly from the playlist.
- Sequential: Plays songs in the order they are listed.
4. Save your playlist.
Scheduling Playlists
To schedule your playlist for specific times or dates:
1. In the AzuraCast dashboard, click on "Playlists."
2. Click the "Edit" button next to the playlist name.
3. Go to the "Schedule" tab and click "Add Schedule Item."
4. Set the desired date and time for the playlist to play.
5. Save your schedule. Auto-DJ will play the playlist only at the scheduled time.
Advanced Playlist Options
For more control over playlist behavior:
1. Click on "Playlists" in the AzuraCast dashboard.
2. Select the "Edit" button next to the playlist name.
3. Go to the "Advanced" tab to enable advanced features:
- Interrupt other songs to play at scheduled time: Allows Auto-DJ to interrupt the currently playing song to start the scheduled playlist immediately.
- Only play one track at scheduled time: Plays only a single song from the playlist at the scheduled time.
- Merge playlist to play as a single track: Combines all songs in the playlist into a single track, useful for playlist mixes.
Reviewing Playlist Schedules
AzuraCast offers a public schedule feature where listeners can view the upcoming playlist schedule:
1. Go to your station’s main dashboard.
2. Find the "Schedule" field under the "Public Pages" section. The URL displayed here is your public schedule URL.
You can share this URL with your audience or use it for planning playlist schedules.
