Editing the rundown¶

Editing the start time of a show or clip¶

To edit the start time of a show or clip, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown click the clock icon of the show or clip to be edited.

   Tip

   If the show display is expanded, the clock icon is not displayed for the show, but for the first clip of the show. In this case click the clock icon of the first clip.

   

2. A dialog is displayed that asks you to select a start date and time (format hh:mm:ss:ff).

   Notice

   You can only enter a start time that lies in the future.

3. To confirm the new value, click Apply.

The edited scheduled start time is applied, and the start times of all clips used in the show are updated accordingly.

Editing a clip¶

Via the Edit clip menu you can view additional clip/event metadata and edit the following properties:

• title
• start time
• offset
• end time
• duration
• flags

You can decide if you want to apply the edited properties only to the selected occurrence of the clip in the rundown or also to all following occurrences.

To edit a clip, proceed as follows:

1. Expand the show that contains the clip to be edited, by clicking the corresponding Expand icon in the link column.

   The show is expanded, and all included clips are listed.

2. Open the Edit clip menu, by clicking the Duration field of the clip to be edited.

   

   The Edit clip menu opens.

   

3. Edit the clip properties:

   1. To edit the title, select the Event Title field and edit it as desired.

      Notice

      If you not only want to apply your changes to the clip currently selected but to all occurrences of the clip in the rundown, enable the checkbox Change event title of the corresponding clips in the rundown.

   2. To edit the start time, enable the checkbox Set fix Start Time and set the desired date and time.

   3. To use an offset, enable the checkbox Offset and set the time as desired.

   4. To edit the duration, enable the checkbox Duration and set the time as desired.

      Notice

      If you enter a scheduled duration that is longer than the original duration, the clip playback is looped. When the original duration ends, the clip playback starts from the beginning and plays until the entered scheduled duration is reached.

      If you enter a scheduled duration that is shorter than the original duration, the clip playback stops when the entered scheduled duration is reached.

   5. To edit the end time, enable the checkbox End Time and set the desired date and time.

   6. To edit the clip flags, enable or disable the corresponding Flags (for more information, see section Clip flags).

4. To confirm your changes, click Apply.

The edited properties are saved.

Editing a secondary event¶

To change the properties of a secondary event assigned to a show or a clip, proceed as follows:

1. Expand the list of secondary events of the corresponding element (show or clip):

2. If you want to edit a secondary event of a show in the rundown, click the Secondary Events icon in the Secondaries column of the corresponding show.

3. If you want to edit a secondary event of a clip in the rundown, click the icon of the corresponding secondary event type in the Secondaries column of the corresponding clip.

4. Open the Edit secondary event menu, by clicking the Options icon on the right side of the corresponding secondary event and selecting Edit secondary.

   The Edit secondary event menu opens. Depending on the type of selected secondary event different properties are available to be edited.

5. Edit the properties of the selected secondary event.

6. To confirm your changes, click Apply.

The edited properties are saved.

Using groups¶

The group feature allows you to assign multiple clips within a show to a group and play them back in a loop. Each group is highlighted in a distinct color to facilitate the differentiation of groups.

To add clips to a group, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown expand the show that contains the clips to be grouped, by clicking the corresponding Expand icon in the link column.

   The show is expanded, and all included clips are listed.

2. In the selected show, select multiple clips to be grouped.

3. In the top right corner of the rundown, click the Create group icon .

   

The selected clips are assigned to a new group and are highlighted in the group color (orange in the example below).

To remove clips from a group, proceed as follows:

1. Expand a show and select the clips to be removed from the group.

2. In the top right corner of the rundown, click the Delete group icon .

   

The selected clips are removed from the group. If all clips are removed from a group, the group is removed.

Moving clips¶

To change the clip order of a show, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown expand the show that contains the clip(s) to be moved, by clicking the corresponding Expand icon in the link column.

   The show is expanded, and all included clips are listed.

2. Select one or more clips to be moved.

3. Depending on where you want to move the clips, select the corresponding function:

   1. To move the clips one position up in the list, click the File up icon .

   2. To move the clips one position down in the list, click the File down icon .

   3. To move the clips to the beginning of the selected show’s clip list, click the First file icon .

   4. To move the clips to the end of the selected show’s clip list, click the Last file icon .

The clips are moved to the selected position.

Replacing a clip with another media item¶

To replace a clip in a rundown with another media item via the Media tab, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown expand the show that contains the clip to be replaced, by clicking the corresponding Expand icon in the link column.

   The show is expanded, and all included clips are listed.

2. On the right side select the Media tab.

3. In the media list select the type of the media asset (video file, live source, or placeholder).

4. Select one or more media assets.

5. Hold [Ctrl] and drag the selected item(s) from the media list on the right side and drop it on the clip to be replaced in the rundown on the left side.

   

   Notice

   If the new item you want to use as a replacement is a live source, you must select the duration of the live clip and confirm it, by clicking Apply.

   If you selected and dragged only a single item, the Replace Assets menu opens and all future occurrences of the clip to be replaced in the rundown are listed.

   

   If you selected and dragged multiple items instead, they immediately replace the original item and the Replace Assets menu is not displayed.

6. Select all the occurrences of the clip that you want to replace, by enabling the corresponding checkbox(es).

7. To confirm the replacement, click Replace.

All selected occurrences of the original rundown item are replaced by the new item.

Replacing a clip with another playlist item¶

In addition to replacing a clip with another media item via the Media tab, you can also replace a clip in the rundown with one or more items from another playlist via the Playlist tab. If the playlist items you use as replacement have assigned secondary events and/or enabled clip flags, they will remain assigned after the replacement in the rundown. If default secondary events are configured for the corresponding Makalu channel, they are also added automatically when the playlist items are added to the rundown.

Replacing clips in this way may be especially useful for users who focus on playlists and prefer to search clips/assets using playlists rather than searching for files in the corresponding folder structures in the Media tab.

To replace a clip with one or more items from another playlist (via the Playlist tab), proceed as follows:

1. On the right side select the Playlist tab.

   All available playlists are listed.

   

2. Expand a playlist, by clicking the corresponding Plus icon.

   All shows included in the playlist are listed.

3. Expand a show, by clicking the corresponding Plus icon.

   All clips included in the show are listed.

   

4. Select one or more clips to be used as a replacement.

   Tip

   You can select multiple individual clips from one or more playlists, by holding [Ctrl]. To select multiple consecutive clips from a playlist, hold [Shift].

5. Hold [Ctrl] and drag the selected clip(s) onto the clip to be replaced in the rundown.

   

   Tip

   To find and select a specific playlist as target for the replacement, you can jump between the playlists in the rundown, by using the Next playlist icon and Previous playlist icon on the left side above the rundown.

If you selected multiple clips as replacement, they directly replace the target clip in the rundown, without any additional actions required. If you selected a single clip as replacement, the Replace Assets menu opens as described in section Replacing a clip with another media item. It enables you to decide if you only want to replace the single occurrence of the clip in the rundown or also other or all future occurrences of it in the rundown.

Searching for and replacing clips¶

In addition to replacing a clip via drag and drop as described in section Replacing a clip with another media item or with another playlist item, you can alternatively use the search/replace view for this purpose. This also enables you to search for rundown items, based on their event title, media ID, and/or duration, and replace them with a different media item.

Notice

When replacing rundown items via the search/replace view, all properties and metadata of the original item are usually replaced by those of the new item. This includes for example, title, file path, and any existing secondary events.

There is a special optional feature when replacing placeholders with a file-based media item, that enables you to keep all the metadata of the original placeholder item instead, so that only the file path is replaced.

To use this feature, enable the checkbox between the Delete icon and the Replace button below the Dropzone of the search/replace view.

A use case where this feature can be useful, is a rerun of a live show in "fast turnaround mode". This applies when there is a live element scheduled in the rundown and a rerun should be played a short time afterwards (scheduled with a corresponding placeholder asset). The live element is recorded and the placeholder has a specific title and media ID. Only the actual file name of the recording is unknown prior to the recording. When the recording of the live element is completed, and you replace the corresponding rerun placeholder with the mentioned checkbox enabled, the original metadata of the placeholder is retained, but the actual file name of the recorded live element is used.

To use the search/replace view, proceed as follows:

1. In the preview area navigation at the top left click the Search icon .

   The search/replace view is displayed.

2. Enter your search term in the Search field.

3. (Optional) If you only want to search based on the Event title or Media ID, select/deselect the corresponding checkbox.

4. (Optional) If you also want to search based on the duration, enable the Duration checkbox, and enter the duration.

5. Click Search at the top right of the search/replace view area.

   The search results are listed below.

6. In the search result list select the item(s) to be replaced, by enabling the checkbox to the left of the item(s).

7. Drag the item to be used as a replacement from the Media area on the right and drop it on the Dropzone on the right side of the search/replace view.

8. To confirm the replacement, click Replace.

The selected rundown items are replaced by the new item.

Switching a running live source¶

When a live source is on air, it may be necessary to switch to another live source at short notice, for example, if the current live source becomes unavailable due to a signal outage. For this purpose, Makalu enables you to edit the rundown and quickly switch to a another live source.

To switch a running live source, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown, click the Select source icon of the live clip to be changed.

   A dropdown menu with all available live sources opens.

   

   

2. Select the new live source from the dropdown menu.

   Tip

   In this menu, the current connection status of each live source is indicated by a corresponding icon:

   • - live source is connected
   • - live source is not connected

   When you switch a running live source, you should usually select a source that is listed as "connected". This enables uninterrupted switching between the two live sources. It is still possible to select a live source that is listed as "not connected" (regardless if the initial live source is currently on air or scheduled for a later time). This is necessary, for example, if you want to switch a live source that is not currently on air but is scheduled for a later time in the rundown. However, you should avoid selecting a live source that is listed as "not connected" when switching the on air live source, as this usually results in black frame channel output.

3. Confirm the dialog, by clicking Yes.

   The switchover to the new live clip is prepared. A new clip that uses the selected live source is added to the rundown directly after the current clip and is cued. The end time of the original clip is applied to the new clip, which ensures that this change has no impact on the scheduled start times of subsequent clips in the rundown. A countdown for switching to the new live source is displayed.

   

   Notice

   The duration of the switchover interval countdown is configurable. It is set to 10 seconds by default.

When the countdown expires, playback switches to the new live source.

Updating a playlist¶

Makalu enables you to efficiently update and replace individual items of a playlist or entire playlists in the rundown via the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog. It is designed to compare and update two almost identical playlists. A typical use case for this feature is when a new revision of a playlist is created with minor changes, but an older revision of the same playlist is already scheduled in the rundown (or even currently on air) and you want to replace the parts of it that have changed.

Example: The playlist currently on air contains a live element with unknown duration (the Open end flag is enabled, see section Clip flags). The actual duration of the live element is only known when it actually ends and may be shorter or longer than originally planned. This may have an impact on the durations of subsequent clips. For example, it may be necessary to remove, add, shorten, or extend clips to compensate for the changed duration of the live element. To do this, you can create a new revision of the playlist via Makalu Traffic and use the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog in Makalu Automation to update the old revision of the playlist in the rundown with the new one.

You can open the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog, by holding [Ctrl] and dragging a playlist from the Playlist tab onto a playlist in the rundown.

The menu is divided into two sections. The section Current Playlist on the left side shows information about the current playlist to be updated in the rundown. Section New Playlist on the right side displays information about the playlist to be used for the update. Section Difference In the upper middle area displays information about the time differences between both playlists. Below this information there is a Mode toggle that enables you to switch between the two update/replacement modes bulk and sequential.

Bulk mode enables you to select a clip in the current playlist and the new playlist. All clips starting with the first selected clip and all subsequent clips until the last clip of the playlist are automatically selected. When you click the Take button at the bottom right, all clips are replaced based on your selection.

The Keep starttime option is only available in bulk mode and enables you to decide how to handle the start times of the items of the new playlist. If enabled, the exact planned start times of the items of the new playlist are applied, which may create gaps. If disabled, the start times are ignored and the selected items of the new playlist are added directly after the last clip in the current playlist, that is not selected to be updated.

Sequential mode is intended for making smaller changes to the playlist one after the other. It recognizes and displays differences between the two playlists automatically and enables you to switch between them individually via the corresponding icons in the DIFF area at the bottom right, which also displays the total number of detected differences. You can apply each change, by enabling the corresponding checkbox in the clip list of the new playlist and clicking the Take button at the bottom right.

Update via bulk mode¶

To replace one or more items of a playlist in the rundown with one or more items from another playlist via the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog in bulk mode, proceed as follows:

1. On the right side select the Playlist tab.

   All available playlists are listed.

   

2. Hold [Ctrl] and drag the new playlist from the Playlist tab onto the playlist to be updated in the rundown.

   

   Tip

   To find and select a specific playlist as target for the replacement, you can conveniently jump between the playlists in the rundown, by using the Next playlist icon and Previous playlist icon on the left side above the rundown.

   The Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog opens.

   Notice

   If you want to update the playlist that is currently on air, some clips cannot be updated/replaced. This includes the following types of clips, which are highlighted as follows in the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog:

   • the clip currently on air (highlighted in green)
   • the clip currently cued (highlighted in blue)
   • one or more protected clips after the cued clip (the actual number depends on the duration of the clips and if it lies within a configurable protected time period, highlighted with stripes)

   

   The clip list (including the highlighted clips) in the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog is automatically updated when the playback of the next clip starts.

3. Leave the Mode toggle set to Bulk.

4. Select the first clip to be replaced in the current playlist, by enabling the corresponding checkbox on the left side.

   The clip and all subsequent clips until the end of the playlist are selected. The total duration of all selected clips is displayed below under DUR.

5. Select the first clip to be used as replacement in the new playlist, by enabling the corresponding checkbox on the right side.

   The clip and all subsequent clips until the end of the playlist are selected. The total duration of all selected clips is displayed below under DUR. If the total duration of the selected clips differs between the two playlists, the time difference is displayed at the bottom in the middle under DIFF.

6. (Optional) If you want to apply the exact start times of the items of the new playlist, enable the Keep starttime option.

   Warning

   If the start time of the first selected clip of the new playlist does not begin directly after the end of the last unselected clip of the current playlist, the playlist update may result in gaps.

7. To apply your settings and execute the replacement, click Take.

   

   The selected clips in the current playlist are replaced by the selected clips from the new playlist. When this is completed, the view is updated accordingly.

8. Close the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog, by clicking Close.

The update/replacement is complete.

Update via sequential mode¶

To replace one or more items of a playlist in the rundown with one or more items from another playlist via the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog in sequential mode, proceed as follows:

1. Execute steps one and two as described in section Update via bulk mode.

2. (Optional) If the start times of both playlists differ (recognizable by a positive or negative value in the upper middle area in the field Difference > Start Time Diff), adjust them by clicking the Adjust playlist starttime icon right to the field Difference > Start Time Diff.

   The start time of the new playlist is synchronized with the start time of the current playlist. Afterwards both playlists have the same start time, which is recognizable by the value 00:00:00:00 displayed in the field Difference > Start Time Diff and highlighted in green. As a result, the Mode toggle is unlocked.

   Tip

   Instead of adjusting the start times of both playlists (based on the start time of the first included clip), you can also select a specific clip in the current and new playlist where the synchronization should start.

3. Set the Mode toggle to Sequential.

4. On the right side in the clip list of the new playlist select one of the detected changes (groups of clips highlighted in orange) you want to apply.

   

5. To apply the replacement, click Take.

   

   The selected clips in the current playlist are replaced by the selected clips from the new playlist. When this is completed, the view is updated accordingly.

   

6. To apply other detected changes, repeat steps four and five.

   Tip

   You can switch between the detected changes via the Previous icon and Next icon in the DIFF area at the bottom right.

7. Close the Update rundownplaylist menu/dialog, by clicking Close.

The update/replacement is complete.

Assigning or removing the default graphic¶

To assign the default graphic to a playlist, show, or clip, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown select a playlist, show, or clip.

2. Click the Add default graphic icon in the toolbar above the rundown list.

   

The default graphic is assigned to the selected element(s), which is recognizable by the corresponding icon in the Secondaries column.

To remove the default graphic from a playlist, show, or clip, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown select a playlist, show, or clip to which the default graphic is assigned.

2. Click the Delete default graphic icon .

   

3. Confirm the following dialog, by clicking Yes.

The default graphic is removed from the selected element(s).

Adding or removing a splicing event¶

For information about how to use splicing events, see section Ad triggering.

Deleting a clip or a playlist¶

To delete a clip from the rundown, proceed as follows:

1. Select the clip to be deleted, by clicking the Options icon and select Delete clip.

   

2. Confirm the following dialog, by clicking Yes.

The clip is deleted.

To remove a playlist from the rundown, proceed as follows:

1. Select the playlist to be removed, by clicking the Options icon and select Delete playlist.

   

2. Confirm the following dialog, by clicking Yes.

The playlist is removed.

To delete a show from the rundown, proceed as follows:

1. Select the show to be deleted, by clicking the Options icon and select Delete show.

   

2. Confirm the following dialog, by clicking Yes.

The show is deleted.

Deleting a fixed start time¶

To delete a fixed start time of a show in a rundown, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown expand the show with the fixed start time to be removed, by clicking the corresponding Expand icon in the link column.

   The show is expanded, and all included clips are listed.

2. Select the first clip of the show.

3. Click the Delete fix start time icon in the toolbar above the rundown list.

   

The fixed start time is removed from the selected element. The clock icon in the first column changes from white to gray .

Reloading the rundown¶

To manually reload the rundown, click the Reload rundown icon in the toolbar on the left above the rundown list.