Quick Start - LiveSupport V.0.9 Preview

LiveSupport 0.9 "Fritz" ©2005 MDLF - maintained and distributed under GNU/GPL by CAMPWARE

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Right-click

The LiveSupport web client uses right-clicks extensively throughout the program. By right-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 0.9 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:
  • 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:
  • 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:

  • 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