Welcome < Configuration < Stream Groups

Stream Groups

Stream Groups in Zetta^® give the ability to group audio input streams together. This is necessary, as there are times when station playback requires multiple events to be fired simultaneously. Each audio event playing at any given time must have its own play stream. Zetta chooses the stream to use based on the Log Event and the Asset Properties. Zetta first determines the playback Splits Event Routing (if splits is enabled), then the Asset Type. If Zetta Splits is disabled or the Splits Event Routing is Regular (non-Splits) and the Asset Type is (All), Zetta looks at the last output channel audio outputs used by the Sequencer and then the order of the defined streams for the Stream Group. (If multiple events are playing the sequencer looks at which stream ends the latest). Once a Stream is assigned in the Log, the stream assignment remains the same even if a change is made to the log, such as skipping an event. However, if the changes made leave two adjacent events using the same audio output, Zetta will adjust the streams if possible. Stream playback can be monitored using the Stream Group Monitor. The following is the minimum recommended Stream Groups that will need to be created:

On-Air Stream Group – The On-Air Stream Group is used for the On-Air Module playback of the Sequencer. For best On-Air sound and playability, use a minimum of three play streams for this Stream Group.

Audition Stream Group – The Audition Stream Group is used for previewing audio. At least one play stream is needed for this Stream Group, but three is recommended for auditioning voice tracked events in the log.

Hot Keys Stream Group – The Hot Keys Stream Group is used for playing audio back from the Hot Keys^® Module. Use three play streams for this Stream Group.

Stack Stream Group – The Stack Stream Group is used for playing audio back from the Stacks Module. For best On-Air sound and playability, use three play streams for this Stream Group.

Z-Player Stream Group – The Z-Player Stream Group is used for playing audio from the Z-Player Module. Use at least one play stream for this Stream Group, three is recommended.

The left pane of the Stream Group window allows the user to copy, create, delete, view and save Stream Groups. This pane shows the Name of the stream group and the number of unique Audio Outputs used. The right pane of the Stream Groups configuration window is for configuring the details of each playback stream. The above list is the minimum recommended Stream Groups for a typical station, however, when using splits and other features in Zetta this configuration will vary from site to site.

Click any area in this image for help

Click any area in this image for help

Once the play streams have been configured, the Stream Groups can be assigned in the Playback tab for the station in the Station Configuration window. Keep in mind that Configuration windows do not update dynamically, meaning if the Stations window is open and a new Stream Group is added, the changes will not be seen in the Stations window until the configuration window has been closed then reopened.

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Stream Group Toolbar

Stream Group Details

The right pane of the Stream Groups window displays information about the selected Stream Group. From this pane the user can copy, add, delete and verify a playback stream for the Stream Group.

Minimum Recommended Stream Group Configuration for Zetta^®

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Name

Use the Name field to identify the Stream Group.

Description

Use the Description field to enter a detailed description of the Stream Group. (optional)

Stream Toolbar

Splits Event Routing

The Splits Event Routing column is used for the Splits Feature in Zetta and has a drop-down option to select the purpose of the stream for the Stream Group. When Zetta Splits^® is enabled in the System Configuration | General tab this column is shown. When an Asset or a Spot Block has a Split Behavior set, Zetta will route the audio based on the type of Split Behavior. Zetta creates groups based on the Splits Event Routing of the stream, these groups can be expanded and contracted with the plus to the left of the grouping.

Regular (non-Split) - By default the Regular option is selected for normal Play on the station.

Master Audio/Splits Player - The Master Audio/Splits Player option is used for both Master Splits and Splits Player Stations. When an asset or spot block for the master station is assigned the Split behavior, Master Audio or Master Monitor, this signals the splits player station to play an asset using an assigned Master Audio/Splits Player stream. The asset may be the same or different depending on the Asset Tagging.

Master Monitor - The Master Monitor option is used to designate what stream should be used by the Master Splits Station when an asset plays on the Master station with a Split Behavior of Master Monitor.

Recommended Stream Group Configuration for Zetta^® Splits

Status

The icon in the Status column verifies the player is responding and the stream selected in not in use by another sequencer or Stream Group. If the playback stream is responding and the device is verified, the status column will display a green check mark . If the playback stream is not online or not functioning a red is visible in the Status column. If the playback stream is online but the device cannot be verified a yellow check mark is visible in the Status column. Additional warnings are displayed if the stream is used by another station or the stream is used by another Stream Group. Hover the mouse over the warning icon to view a tool tip to help in troubleshooting the issue.

Note: If Streams / Stream Groups are misconfigured or some are shared between Sequencer and Auditioning Stream Groups audio may be played or stopped unintentionally. When logging off / closing the Zetta UI (Zetta.exe), the playback of audio is stopped on that computer's Auditioning Stream Group. When audio stops within a Sequencer Stream Group, it will automatically advance to the next event.

Asset Types

Stream Group streams can be assigned to play specific asset types. When a new stream is added to a Stream Group the Asset Type defaults to (All), this means the stream can play all asset types available in the Zetta system. Use the drop-down or simply type in the Asset Types field to select another asset type.

To remove an Asset Type, simply right-click the asset type and select Remove.

Player

The Player column is used to select the audio Name from the Audio Outputs configured in Configuration | Computers, see the Audio Outputs section for more details.

Computer

The Computer field shows the computer that the audio player is connected.

Stream Name

The Stream Name column is used to select the Stream to use that is configured in Configuration | Computers, see the Audio Outputs section for more details.

Audio Outputs

The Audio Outputs field shows the audio output selected in the audio outputs tab for the computer.

Stream Groups Step-by-Step Topics

Once streams have been successfully defined and audio outputs assigned in the Audio Outputs tab of the Computer Configuration window, the Stream Groups can be created.

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Create Stream Groups for Zetta

1. Select Stream Groups from the Configuration menu.
2. Click the Add New Stream Group  button to create a new Stream Group. If the computer was created with the computer wizard at login, the audition Stream Group will already be created.
3. Name the Stream Group as desired
4. In the second line enter a description of the Stream Group. (Optional)
5. To add play streams for a Stream Group, click the Add Stream to Group button for the desired number of streams.
6. Optionally, select the Splits Event Routing for the stream. The default is Regular (non-Splits). Splits Event Routing is only visible when the Zetta Splits feature is enabled.
7. Optionally, select the Asset Types that the play stream can play. Default is (All) Asset Types.
8. For each stream, select the Player that was configured in the computers Audio Outputs. 
9. Select the Stream Name to use for the Player. 
10. Repeat steps 5-9 for additional Streams (Optionally, use the Copy Selected Stream button for quick configuration):
11. Use the Verify if audio output device is online  button to verify the players are functioning; the status column will display a green check mark if the player is online and is available to Zetta. If the Player is not online or not functioning a red is visible in the Status column. If the playback stream is online but the device cannot be verified a yellow check mark is visible in the Status column. Hover the mouse over the icons in the status column to view the status of the players.
12. Click Save to add the Stream Group.
13. Repeat steps 2-12 for these additional recommended Stream Groups (Optionally, use the Copy Selected Stream Group button for quick configuration):

13. When finished, the Stream Groups window should show all five Players.
    
14. Once the Stream Groups have been configured, they can be assigned in the Playback tab for the station in the Station Configuration window.

Copy a Stream Group

1. Select Stream Groups from the Configuration Menu.
2. In the Stream Groups configuration window, select the Stream Group to copy.
3. Click the Copy Selected Stream Group  button.
4. Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the selected Stream Group.

Delete a Stream Group

1. Select Stream Groups from the Configuration Menu.
2. In the Stream Groups configuration window, select the Stream Group to remove.
3. Click the Delete Selected Stream Group  button.
4. Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the selected Stream Group.

Modify a Stream Group

1. Select Stream Group from the Configuration Menu.
2. Select the Stream Group to modify.
3. Modify the values present.
4. Click the Save  icon to save the changes to the Stream Groups.

Welcome < Configuration < Stream Groups