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-Quick Start - LiveSupport 1.0 release candidate
- -Navigation
- -Context menus
- - The LiveSupport - web client uses context menus extensively throughout the program. For example, by clicking - on the ScratchPad, you can perform a number of operations on your file, including - adding it to a playlist and removing it from the ScratchPad. - - -ScratchPad
- - The ScratchPad - provides you with a list of all the files (both sound files and playlists) - you have worked with recently. This serves as both a "history" as - well as a "clipboard" for working with files between windows. You - can listen to a sound file from the ScratchPad by right-clicking 'Listen', - which will send the sound file to you for playback. - - -Playlists and ScratchPad
- - Playlists appear - in the ScratchPad differently than sound files. You can 'release' a playlist - directly from the ScratchPad (see the Playlist section for more on releasing - a playlist). A playlist that has been activated will appear in bold. - A playlist that has been 'released' will appear in normal text. -Playlists
-Playlists are the core of how LiveSupport works. You add sound - files to a playlist, and then schedule that playlist to be played at a date - and time of your choosing. Playlists are edited in the Playlist Editor. You - can include an unlimited number of playlists inside playlists; for example, - if you have a one-hour show and want to have two commercial breaks, each made - up of their own playlists.
- -Adding a file from the ScratchPad to the active playlist
- - You can add a - file (either a sound file or a playlist file) from the ScratchPad to the active - playlist by right-clicking it in the ScratchPad and selecting "Add to - active playlist". This will add it to the end of the active playlist. - - -Changing file order in the playlist
- - You can change - a file's order in the playlist by clicking on the up or down arrows on the - right. - - -Change transition
- - Transitions between - sound files are set to 0 ms by default. You can change this by moving your - mouse over the "Fade" line in the Playlist window and selecting - "Change Transition." In this menu, you can set the length of the - transition, as well as the type of transition. - - -Activating and releasing a playlist
- - Playlists are - either 'active' or 'released'. An released playlist is one that has been 'released' - for broadcast, and can be added to the scheduler. An 'active' playlist can - continue to be edited. Playlists can be activated for editing by right-clicking - "Activate" in the ScratchPad menu. This will take you to the playlist - editor. If a playlist has been released, it will appear in a list of playlists - available for scheduling. -Schedule
-Once you've created a playlist, schedule it for playback using the - Schedule window. (Please remember that only released playlists can be added - to the schedule.)
- -Adding a playlist to the schedule
- - You can add it - to the schedule by opening the Schedule window, then choosing a schedule view - that suits you. Then you can add your playlist to the schedule by right-clicking - and choosing "Insert playlist here". A popup window will then appear - allowing you to select the exact start time for your playlist, as well as - a pull-down list of available released playlists. - - -Removing a playlist from the schedule
- - You can remove - a playlist from the schedule by right clicking on its time [soon to be its - title] and choosing "Remove Playlist". This does not delete the - playlist, however. It will remain in the database. -Files
-Sound files are added to the LiveSupport system in two steps.
- -Uploading and analyzing
- - The first step is to select the sound file you want to upload into - the LiveSupport system. This is handled in the Upload -> New file menu. - You select the file to upload by clicking on the "Browse" button, - choosing your sound file, then clicking "Submit". LiveSupport automatically - analyses the sound file for any information that may be stored in ID3 tags. - - -Describing your file using metadata
- - The second step allows you to edit this information (called "metadata") - and add your own. If your sound file is a music file, you have a number of - options for entering metadata under the "Music" tab. If your sound - file is a news report or other talk, choose the "Talk" tab. The - Talk tab allows reporters to include the time and date their report is about, - the organizations covered in the report, and the location the report takes - place in. Good metadata will help you and other colleagues to later find and - use the material you upload. It's in your best interest to be as thorough - as possible in inputting this metadata. -Browse and Search
-The browse and search functions are - designed to be both easy to use and powerful, helping you to search not only - file titles but also other metadata. Both browse and search let you search - for both sound files as well as playlists.
- -Search works more or less like a regular search - engine. You can type in a word to be searched, and the results will appear below - the search input window. The difference is that you are searching the metadata - that you and your colleagues input to describe the sound files you put in. Good - metadata will mean better search results.
-Using the browse function
- - The browse function is a powerful feature that lets you - browse all files according to general criteria you specify. The first column - lets you choose a category to browse from, such as “Genre”. Under that category, - you can choose one of the options that appears in that category, which refines - the number of files displayed. The second and third columns work in the same - ways, and let you continue to refine your browsing. -Using multiple search terms
- Let's say you want to finding all files created by “John - Doe” in the year 2005. Do the following: --
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- - Select first the field to search and - input its value. In this case it would be to pull down the “Creator” field - and type in “John Doe” in the window. - -
- - Then press the “Add One Row” button - and an additional search row appears. Select the “Year” field and type - in 2005 in the window. - -
- - Press “Submit” and your results – - if any – will appear below. - -
Working with the files you find
- - You can add the files you find – in both - browse and search – either to your ScratchPad or directly to a new playlist. - Right-clicking on a file in the results window gives you a number of options, - such as: --
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- - Add to ScratchPad - -
- - Listen - -
- - New playlist using file - -
- - Edit - -
- - Delete - -
System Preferences
-Your station's system administrator can change a number of system-wide - settings in the System Preferences menu. In the System Preferences you can:
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- - Add your station's logo and frequency - -
- - Set the length of the ScratchPad - -
- - Set the maximum file size that can be uploaded to the system - -
- - Administer users and groups for the system, including assigning their - access priveleges - -
Where to go for help
-LiveSupport has a mailing list for support-related - questions at ls-support@campware.org, - or you can visit the LiveSupport forums at http://www.campware.org
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