OnTheAir Video is a powerful automated playout software using an advanced scheduler. But not only that, it is a clip store for live news operations, local broadcasts or live shows. More information on their website.

In the top right corner of the Automator, we see 'Devices' - this can be either in red or green depending on the status of the configured devices. Click it and select 'Add device'.

Next, select 'Softron OnTheAir Video' from the 'Device type' dropdown list, then give it a name.

Once the device is selected and given a name, we will see all fields needed to configure it so it can be used with the Automator.

You can enable or disable the Softron OnTheAir Video, you can enter the host, as well as the port and playlist name. Once these settings have been entered, the device should show as 'online' (green) in the top right corner.

The settings that are entered by default by the Cuez Automator represent the default settings needed for Softron OnTheAir Video if the Automator is installed on the same computer as the Softron OnTheAir Video itself. You can change these settings (host and port) as needed, depending on your exact configuration.

Under the 'Downloader' section, check the box to indicate that this Softron OnTheAir Video will be handling media. More settings will appear, allowing you to configure where media needs to be downloaded and which media we want our Softron OnTheAir Video to download.

The 'Download folder' is the folder where Automator will download all media to for Softron OnTheAir Video, with its location seen as from the Automator. If Softron OnTheAir Video and the Automator are installed on the same computer, then this will be a local folder. If they are on separate devices, this will be with an IP address on the local network for example.

Automator offers the option to keep the original filenames of the media that will be downloaded from the Episode into the download folder. By default, Automator saves the files with a unique ID. In case you want to manually check the files in the download folder, it can be helpful to check the box to keep the original filenames to have the files be more recognizable.

We can also set files to be automatically deleted after 24 hours or a week. This way you don’t keep all downloaded media in case it is not needed anymore.

Finally we can configure which Blocks will need their media downloaded for our Softron OnTheAir Video. For this, click 'Add media field' at the bottom, select your Block configuration (for example 'Clip') and then the field name of the media (usually 'Media'). Repeat this step for all Block configurations that need their media downloaded for the Softron OnTheAir Video you are configuring.

As soon as these final settings have been configured, the media from the Episode will start downloading to the folders that were defined. A green checkmark next to a thumbnail (in the Script) indicates the media was successfully downloaded.

The next step is then to configure each Item and Block configuration with the (set of) functions you want to perform on the Softron OnTheAir Video when triggering the Item or Block - more general information on that in this article.

The 'Play' function allows to start playing the clip in the playlist.

The 'Pause' function allows to pause the clip in the playlist.

'Pause' can also be used to cue a clip (put the clip ready, but not play yet). A clip that is cued via the 'Pause' function can then be played using the 'Resume' function.

The 'Resume' function allows to resume a paused clip in the playlist.

A clip that was paused using the 'Pause' function can only be resumed via the 'Resume' function, not via 'Play'.

The 'Stop' function allows to stop playing the clip in the playlist (and unload it).

The Automator integration with Softron OnTheAir Video supports timecodes, so automations can be executed based on timecode information from a playing clip.

To prepare Softron OnTheAir Video for use with Automator, a couple steps and settings need to be followed.