The Output Editor in Visual Radio Assist makes it simple to create and manage outputs. This guide will walk you through the four steps of the Output Editor to get your first output up and running.
What is an Output?
In Visual Radio Assist, an output is like the stage where all your visual content comes to life. It’s the final destination for your graphics, videos, and media before they reach your audience. Without outputs, your Visual Radio setup wouldn’t function—no visuals would be displayed, no graphics would enhance your broadcast, and no dynamic elements would engage your viewers.
What Does an Output Do?
An output acts as a media and graphic player. It gathers all the visual elements you’ve designed or scheduled and sends them to where they’re needed, such as:
- Live Streams: What your online audience sees.
- In-Studio Displays: Screens in the studio showing content to presenters or visitors.
- Broadcast Feeds: Video signals sent to TV channels or other broadcast platforms.
The output determines what content is shown and when. Whether it’s a station logo, a countdown timer, or a dynamic ticker with breaking news, the output manages and plays it in the right order. Essentially, the output is what makes your visuals "visible" to the world.
How to create an output in Visual Radio Assist?
Creating an Output is a crucial step in setting up your Visual Radio station, and we aim to make the process as straightforward as possible for all users. Whether you're new to Visual Radio or an experienced technical user, we provide tools to suit your needs. In Visual Radio Assist, there are two ways to create Outputs:
1. Standard Output Editor
The Standard Editor offers a user-friendly and streamlined approach to creating Outputs. It’s designed for users who prefer a guided experience with minimal technical configuration. This method allows you to quickly set up Outputs without diving into advanced settings.
Key Features:
- Simplified interface for quick setup.
- Ideal for non-technical users or those who want to focus on functionality over customization.
- Automatically applies default configurations optimized for common use cases.
When to Use:
Choose the Standard Editor if you’re setting up an Output for general purposes and don’t require detailed control over specific parameters.
Also see our blog about the Setup Output Assistant
2. Advanced Output Editor
The Advanced Editor is tailored for technical and experienced users who need greater flexibility and control over their Outputs. This method provides access to a comprehensive range of settings and customization options.
Key Features:
- Full control over advanced Output configurations.
- Customizable settings to fine-tune Outputs for complex broadcast setups.
- Allows integration with external hardware and software, such as SDI/NDI devices.
When to Use:
Select the Advanced Editor if you’re working with unique broadcast requirements or integrating with complex setups where precise configurations are essential.
How to create an output in the Standard Output Editor?
Step 1: Name Your Output
Begin by giving your output a clear and descriptive name. This helps you and your team easily identify the output later, especially if you’re managing multiple outputs.
Tip: Use a name that reflects the purpose of the output, such as "Studio Screen Overlay" or "Lower Third Right".
Step 2: Map Your Output
Mapping is where you connect your output to a physical or virtual destination. You can map your output to:
- NDI (Network Device Interface): A powerful, network-based video output solution that integrates seamlessly with your existing studio setup.
- SDI (Serial Digital Interface): Ideal for physical hardware setups requiring reliable, high-quality video signals.
Mapping ensures that your content is sent to the correct display, stream, or channel.
Step 3: Select Your Output Content
Next, decide what type of content this output will display. The options include:
- Visual: Dynamic, animated visuals created in the Visual Designer.
- Image: A static image, such as a logo or background.
- Video: Pre-recorded video files.
- Scheduled Media: Content that plays based on a predefined schedule.
Choose the option that best fits your use case and configure the associated settings.
Step 4: Add a Condition (Optional)
Conditional outputs allow you to display content based on specific triggers or criteria. For example:
- Only show a graphic when a particular microphone is active.
- Display an emergency message when triggered by your automation system.
If you enable conditions, you’ll need to define the criteria under which the output will be displayed.
Step 5: Set a Fallback (Only If Condition Is Enabled)
If you’ve added conditions, you can specify a fallback—a backup piece of content to display when the condition isn’t met. This ensures there’s always something displayed, even if the condition isn’t triggered.
Understanding the Advanced Output Editor
The Advanced Output Editor provides a more complex interface than the Standard Editor, giving you greater control over the design and functionality of your outputs. Here are the key features and settings you should know about:
Locking an Output
Locking an output ensures that no changes can be made by other users while you are working on it. This is particularly useful in collaborative environments where multiple users might access the same output.
While an output is locked, only you (or other users with admin permissions) can edit or unlock it.
Deciding the Output Mode
The Output Editor allows you to choose between two modes:
- Manual Mode: Outputs are controlled manually by the user. This is ideal for on-the-fly adjustments during a live broadcast.
- Automatic Mode: Outputs are triggered automatically based on the schedule or rundown playlist. Use this for pre-programmed shows or predictable workflows.
Selecting the Editor Mode for Other Users
As an admin, you can decide which editing mode (Standard or Advanced) the output will be for other users when working on this specific output. This ensures that less experienced users stick to the simpler Standard Editor while advanced users can leverage the full capabilities of the Advanced Editor.
Admins can always access the Advanced Editor regardless of this setting.
Managing the Rundown Playlist
The rundown playlist is the backbone of your output, determining the sequence and timing of items. In the Advanced Output Editor, you can:
- Rearrange items by dragging and dropping.
- Add or remove items from the playlist.
- Set specific durations for each item.
- Include fallback content for unexpected delays or gaps.
Using Conditions
Conditions allow you to set specific criteria that must be met for an item to be displayed or triggered in a rundown. For example, you can configure an item to appear only when a particular audio trigger is detected or during a specific time window.
Adding Live Items
Live items are dynamic elements designed to adapt to real-time data or events. These could include live text updates, ticker information, or triggered camera shots based on audio levels.