ProppFrexx ONAIR User-Forum

Hello,

I have a question regarding non-stop mode on a dedicated PC and how I can take over the stream from my own PC without causing interruptions.

My setup involves a dedicated machine running a 24/7 non-stop playlist. When I go live, I want to take over the current non-stop playlist that is playing, but I would like to stream from my own PC. I want the transition to be seamless, without any gaps or pauses in the broadcast. Once my live show is finished, the system should automatically return to the non-stop playlist.

Is it possible to achieve this with PropFrexx On Air, where I can control the live broadcast from my own PC but still ensure the non-stop playlist runs smoothly?

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Best regards,

There are several ways to achieve this - each has different drawbacks or advantages.

The easiest way is to simply 'kick' the source of your streaming server (e.g. from your streaming server admin web interface). You can for example configure the streaming of your main instance to try to reconnect every few seconds. When you now kick the source of that main source, you can quickly connect from your 2nd PC and now stream from there. The main server will try to reconnect until your stop streaming from your local PC.
I.e. the main PC simply continues to play the original automated program and reconnects when your stop your local streaming.
However, there will be small noticeable break/pause when switching.

You can optimize this with the RCM (Remote Control Monitor):
When operation with multiple ProppFrexx instances, e.g. in a multi studio environment, you might use the Remote Client feature of ProppFrexx.
You can enable this feature you must have the 'TCP Remote Control' enabled on each client! (see general settings, section 'GPIO/Remoting'.
If the TCP Server is enabled, you can assign new client within the 'Remote Control Monitor' (RCM).
The 'Remote Control Monitor' (RCM) is available by clicking on the 'RCM' button within the Mixer window (main).
This opens a popup window with a 'Manage Remote Clients...' buttons - click on that one!
In the 'Remote Client Manager' you can now assign your other ProppFrexx instances (client).

ProppFrexx also already contains a Master/Slave mode incl. heartbeat monitoring!
You need to have 2 machines with ProppFrexx ONAIR installed.
One will act as the 'MASTER' and one as a 'SLAVE'.
The 'SLAVE' will monitor the heartbeat of the 'MASTER'.
On both machines you need to configure the Remote-TCP option (see the general settings in the section 'GPIO/Remoting').
Make sure the 'TCP Control Enabled' option is checked!
And configure your 'RemoteControl Server Port' and 'Authorization Password' as needed.
Once a port and password is configured the two machines might communicate to each other.

You can find this feature in the 'RCM' popup (Remote Control Monitor) - which is located in the 'Main' mixer channel strip.
In this popup the 'TCP Server' should indicate 'Online' (according to the above settings).

Now click on the "Manage Remote Clients" button.
This will open a new dialog called "Remote Client Manager".
Here you can actually 'Add Client' you want to see...but that is another feature...
In this dialog you'll also now find a "Remote Monitoring Master/Slave..." button - this one is used to configure the 'heartbeat monitoring'.

You should only setup this 'Remote Monitoring Master/Slave' on your SLAVE machine!
Enter 'Master IP or DNS', 'Master Remoting Port' and 'Remoting Password' of your other (Master) machine (according to the above mentioned Remote TCP-Server settings).
Now enable the 'Monitor Master Heartbeat' checkbox and finally click on the 'Stopped' button in the 'Monitoring Status' group.
Make sure that your Master machine is running at that time.
Now you can click on OK.
You have now enabled the heartbeat monitoring on your SLAVE machine!

It will now automatically be turned on every time you start ProppFrexx on this machine again!
To deactivate it just uncheck the 'Monitor Master Heartbeat' checkbox again.

The SLAVE machine will now run in 'Slave-Mode'!
Whenever the heartbeat detection fails (e.g. because the monitored MASTER goes down)...this SLAVE machine will switch into Master-Mode.
Once the MASTER comes back....it will switch back to Slave-Mode.

So what is Slave- or Master-Mode?
Actually nothing - except, that two system events are triggered to which you might assign any control-commands.
See the general settings section 'Events/Commands' in the Application node you'll find two respective entries:
- OnSetMaster
- OnSetSlave
Here you can assign any control-command(s) to be executed with these events.

This means you decide what to do with the heartbeat detection.
E.g. when the SLAVE machine goes into Master-Mode - the OnSetMaster event is triggered.
And when the MASTER comes back, the SLAVE is set back to Slave-Mode - the OnSetSlave event is triggered.

This allows you to e.g. start or stop streaming, or mute/unmute a mixer channel or start or stop the scheduler, playlists etc.
With the remote client you can even remotely control the remote mixer channels and even operate the faders remotely.


Another option is to use a Virtual Audio Cable (i.e. AoIP solution). I.e. you use a VAC to directly connect the output of your remote PC with an input of your main studio. This way, you don't have to change the streaming source. It will always be your main studio PC. Instead you mute/fadeout your main playback channel and instead unmute/fadein the input signal (coming from your remote VAC).
You can again use the RCM (as explained above) to do so.
This way you virtually link your audio of your remote PC with your main station PC and just take over that signal for streaming, A sight configuration of your mixer channels might be needed. The VAC device driver needs to be installed on both PCs.
This mode offers a real seamless take over without any interruption.

Note, that the RCM feature requires the Enterprise Edition.

Is this also when connecting to the remote pc that it loads in the live Playlist that is playing on the remote pc to my pc

and what is the best Function for this then the RMC or Heartbeat on slave and master

No. The RCM doesn’t load any remote playlist. It can control the remote mixer channel faders and streaming function. But it can of course not load an external playlist, as the audio files are not available there/locally on your remote PC
Each ProppFrexx instance plays independently its own content.