Makalu Traffic is the planning/scheduling component included in Makalu. It is used for creating and managing playlists for Makalu playout channels.
Info
The file-based import of playlists is available via the detailed channel view of the Makalu Automation UI. For more information, see section Importing a playlist.
The planning concept of Makalu is based on playlists, shows and clips. Makalu Traffic enables the navigation descending from playlist to clip level and back again.
The following table summarizes the characteristics of these and other elements that are used in the planning concept:
Element
Characteristics
Asset ("Media item/element")
each uploaded physical media file for which file processing and ingest have been fully completed
virtual placeholders for video files
Primary event ("Primaries")
main component of a show
types:
a video file (asset) added to a show (turning it into a “clip”)
a live source (asset) added to a show (turning it into a “clip”)
a placeholder (asset) added to a show (turning it into a “clip”)
Secondary event ("Secondaries")
additional component of a playlist, show or clip
examples:
graphics (for example, corner bug, crawl)
subtitles/closed captions
recording (for example, for scheduled recording of a live source)
routing (generic routing that sends switching pulses to downstream video routers)
Clip
an asset (video file or virtual placeholder) is considered a clip if it is assigned to a show
a clip is considered a primary event
can have secondary events (optional)
the duration can vary from the actual file duration if a subclip is defined, by setting mark in and mark out markers
initially has no specific time reference, but acquires it when it is added to a show and the show is added to a playlist
Show
container for one or more media elements (primary events and optional secondary events)
example: a show created for a television news program, which usually consists of primary events like, for example:
opener
multiple stories (each consisting of an introduction and a report)
closer
is channel-specific
show content can be categorized
has a duration that corresponds to the combined duration of all included primary events
flags define the show behavior, for example, play clips randomly, play show without any assigned secondary events (useful if the show includes ads, which should usually be played without any additional graphics), etc.
flags define the clip behavior and can be set for each clip
can have secondary events (optional)
in order to be played, a show must be added to a playlist (cannot be played directly)
initially has no specific time reference, but acquires it when it is added to a playlist
Playlist
consists of one or more shows
is channel-specific
has a time reference, as it has a specific start date and time
consists only of shows and optional secondary events
has a duration that corresponds to the total duration of all included shows
Rundown
channel-specific list of media elements ("events") to be played
consists at the top level of playlists, which consist of shows, which in turn consist of clips
