Welcome < Features < Time Announcements

Time Announcements

Time Announcements call for external audio files using Zetta Variables. A Time Announcement can be added to Logs or Clocks using an External Asset or External Control Event. The Audio for the Time Announcement is external to Zetta^®, meaning it is not content managed by Zetta. These External events can be scheduled in GSelector^® and then passed to Zetta where Zetta will then resolve the filename based on what is passed from GSelector and the time the event occurs in the log. External Asset use the Play External Playback Method and can be placed in the Log, Clock, Hot Keys, Stacks, Z-Player or in a Macro. Zetta gets it Time from the computer running the Time Sync Service. The Time Sync setup in Zetta is actually pretty simple. Navigate to Configuration | System | General, and choose the machine that will host the Time Sync Service. This is the machine which will host the Time Sync Server task within that machine's Startup Manager | Site Synchronization process. This is also the only machine that should be synchronized to some reliable time source, as this will drive the time on all Zetta machines.

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Time Announce Filename Variables

Zetta uses wild card variables to enable the play of the correct audio at the time the event occurs in the Log such as, @H for the current hour and @m for the current minute. Therefore, the filename of TM@H@m.wav scheduled at 8:15 will tell Zetta to locate the file named TM0815.wav. The following is a sample list of wild card variables that can be used for the filename:

External Time Announcement Asset

To use an asset to play a Time Announcement create the Asset in the Library and use the Extra tab to specify the file is external to Zetta. The following screen shot shows an example of a Link configured as a Time Announcement asset.

Set the Playback Method to Play External then enter the path and file name using Zetta Variables into the File Path field and finally the Segue Time Before Audio End in Seconds. Each time the system plays the asset it will look for the specified filename and adjust the segue length specified for the event. Once the Asset is created it can be scheduled using Clocks or GSelector Integration. This asset can also be fired from Logs, Hot Keys, Stacks or Z-Player.

External Control Event Time Announcement in Zetta

A Time Announcement can also be placed in the log or in a macro using an External Control Event. Each time the system reads an External Control Event it will look for the specified filename and adjust the segue length specified in the External Properties for the event. The Segue Time Before End and the Estimated Duration are expressed in milliseconds.

Zetta External Control Event Time Announcement in GSelector

A Time Announcement can also be placed in the schedule using the Zetta External Control event found in GSelector when Zetta is integrated. In GSelector the Info field in the Clock or the User Data filed in the Editor can be used to specify the filename of the external audio. In addition to the filename the user can add the Segue Length, Title and Estimated Length to the path. When this option is used the SegueLength and EstimatedLength are expressed in milliseconds.

Example: C:\Time\TM@H@m.wav /SegueLength:3000 /Title:"Time Announce" /EstimatedLength:7000

Time Announcement Step-by-Step Topics

The following sections will provide instructions on Time Announcement events in Zetta.

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Time Announcements using an Asset

1. Go to the Library Module
2. Select the Links tab. If the system is integrated with GSelector the asset will need to be a Link or Song asset to allow for scheduling in GSelector using an Asset.
3. Click the Add new media button
4. Enter the Title.
5. Optionally, enter a Product and Sponsor
6. Click the Extra tab
7. Select Play External as the Playback Method
8. In the File Path field specify the file path and filename. Use the Zetta Variables have Zetta locate the correct file at the time the file plays in the log.
9. Optionally, enter a Segue length in the Segue seconds before end of audio field. This value is in seconds.
10. Set the Target Duration.
    
11. Enter an External ID for the Time Announcement.
12. Select a Kill Date if desired
13. Select a Chain Override value (optional)
14. Click the Station Specific Tab
15. Select a station from the Select Station drop-down
16. Set the Approval flag if required
17. Set the Active flag
18. Enter the Category, as the category is typed Zetta will match the name to existing Categories in the database. If the Category exists select it from the list.
19. If the Category does not exist enter the entire name to add the Category. When Zetta is integrated with GSelector^®, new Categories must be added in the GSelector application.
20. Optionally, if the station is not integrated with GSelector, right-click the Category field to select Manage Names to open the Manage Categories window.
21. Optionally, select the scalar values for the Attributes.
22. Set a Start and End Date/Hour if desired
23. Select a Tag if working with Splits. See the Tags section for information on adding a Tag. See the Splits feature topic for help with setting up Splits.
24. Select a Split Behavior if working with Splits. See the Splits feature topic for help with setting up Splits.
25. Select the Script tab to add a Note or Live script to the Link.
26. Click Save
27. Once saved the asset is transferred to GSelector (if GSelector integration is enabled) and can be scheduled in the log. Schedule the External Link in GSelector or Zetta.

Time Announcements using GSelector Control Event

1. In Zetta^®, select System from the Configuration menu
2. Select the GSelector^® tab
   
3. Select Sync Categories and Control Events to publish the Control Event to GSelector.
4. Close the System window.
5. In GSelector, go to the Clock or Editor
6. Add the Clock Entry type Control from the Clocks or Insert a Control using Insert Other from the Editor.
7. Select the Control Description type Zetta External
8. Using the Info drop-down from the Clock or the User Data drop-down from the Editor enter the Command line parameters for the Filename, Title, Segue Length (milliseconds) and Estimated Length (milliseconds) for the event.
   

9. Save the changes.
10. When Zetta receives the log change, the event will be added to the Log as an External Control event with the Title from GSelector.
    
11. Once the External event is queued by the sequencer the filename will resolve to the correct filename for the time the event will play in the log.
    

Adding a Time Announcement to a Zetta Log or Clock using an External Control Event

1. Select Log/Clock from the Modules menu
2. Right-click a location in the Log/Clock
3. Select Insert Control Event
4. Select the External from the Insert Control Event consideration window.
5. Using the New External Properties window enter the Title of the event
6. Enter the Path and Filename for the event using variables where necessary into the Filename field.
7. Enter the desired Segue Time Before Audio End (in milliseconds)
8. Enter the Estimated Duration (in milliseconds) of the audio.
9. Select Stretch to allow Zetta to Stretch or Squeeze the External event to meet the next ETM.
10. Select Fixed to lock the event so it will play and will not be dropped.
    
11. Click and Drag the External Control event from the consideration window to the location in the Log/Clock

Welcome < Features < Time Announcements