Cloud Playout Vs Anywhere Standard/Pro (Cloud Hosted) - Which do you need?

Cloud Playout and Anywhere Standard or Pro (Cloud Hosted) are very different products that are used for specific solutions within your radio station. But as both are cloud based and are related to playout, it is worth defining what the function of each product is and how it could fit into your station.

What is Cloud Playout?

Cloud Playout is our hosted playout solution for stations that want to provide a professional radio service without needing to invest in equipment, software or infrastructure. Cloud Playout combines multiple technologies to achieve a solution that offers all the creative tools of a traditional radio, but the playout system is hosted on Broadcast Radio infrastructure and accessed via a combination of direct remote control and creative contributions via Myriad Anywhere.

The key components of Cloud Playout are:

• Myriad 5 Playout - Hosted in the cloud on Broadcast Radio infrastructure.
• Myriad Anywhere Standard or Pro - Hosted in the cloud.
• MyStation - Streaming and web player (with option for apps and Alexa skills), also cloud hosted.

Presenters and other creative contributors to your station use Myriad Anywhere to edit the Log and add remote voice tracks. If you opt for Cloud Playout Pro then presenters also gain the ability to add content, edit metadata (inc. category etc) and take full live control of the station (subject to User permissions). Audio is also remotely connected via the built in BR Live integration.

Other administration functions such as scheduling, mass adding / editing content and User management are performed by authorised station personnel via direct remote access to the Myriad Playout system.

The key advantage to Cloud Playout is that you can achieve a fully functioning, professional radio service without the need for any local equipment, software or infrastructure aside from standard PC's or Macs with web access and some basic audio equipment (headphones and microphone - no mixer needed) for contributing presenters.

For more details on Cloud Playout visit - Cloud Playout (broadcastradio.com)

What is Anywhere Standard/Pro - Cloud Hosted?

Anywhere Standard/Pro Cloud Hosted is our cloud based solution for adding contribution and taking live remote control of your studio based Myriad Playout system. Myriad Anywhere can be considered an extension of your existing Myriad Playout system which allows presenters and other creative contributors to remotely access and local Myriad system, add voice tracks and other content and (in the case of Anywhere Pro), take full live control of your studio system for remote 'live' shows and outside broadcasts.

At all times, the content is physically played by the Myriad Playout system at your station (either a studio or an automation workstation). 

The key components for Myriad Anywhere are:

• Myriad 5 Playout - Hosted in physically at your station.
• Myriad Anywhere Standard or Pro - Hosted in the cloud.

Myriad Anywhere allows you to expand the access to your existing Myriad Playout system via a web browser running on a standard PC or Mac. Anywhere Standard allows presenters to view and edit the Log as well as record Remote Voice Tracks. Anywhere Pro expands this to include adding content, editing meta-data (inc. category etc) and taking full 'real-time' control for remote live shows or outside broadcasts. Audio connectivity between the studio and the remote contributor is also built in via BR Live.

For more information on Myriad Anywhere visit - Myriad 5 Anywhere (broadcastradio.com)

So which do you need?

The answer to that depends on what you are trying to achieve and what equipment and infrastructure you currently have.

If you:

• A new station without an existing studio or playout system.
• Do not want to build studios or run a 24/7 playout system.
• Want high quality, professional radio tools without a large capital outlay.
• Want to include creative content from presenters and guests from around the world.
• Want to allow presenters to take 'live' control of your station for remote shows. - Requires Cloud Playout Pro

The Cloud Playout or Cloud Playout Pro is probably the solution you will be interested in.

If you:

• An existing station with your own studios and / or Myriad 5 Playout system.
• Want to expand access to your existing system to add remote contribution capabilities.
• Want to include creative content from presenters and guests from around the world.
• Want to allow presenters to take 'live' control of your station for remote shows. - Requires Anywhere Pro

The Anywhere Standard or Anywhere Pro is probably the solution you will be interested in.

What is Self-Hosted Myriad Anywhere?

We also offer 'self-hosted' options for both Myriad Anywhere Standard and Pro which offer similar levels of functionality to our 'cloud hosted' options but the whole system is hosted within your own station infrastructure. This can reduce costs but it also requires your station to operate their own web infrastructure and be familiar with the security and network configurations required to allow public access to your self-hosted Myriad Anywhere system. Please note that BR Live integration is not possible with self-hosted system.

Any other scenarios where you may consider Cloud Playout?

In most cases, Cloud Playout is used by stations that can't or don't want to install and maintain local studio equipment, software and infrastructure but for some stations, the prospect of adding a Cloud Playout solution to their existing 'local' setup could be appealing. 

Potential benefits include:

• Sustaining Service - Off premises 'sustaining' service allowing you to 'power down' studios and equipment when not in use. 
• Disaster Recovery - Cloud Playout can provide an instant 'backup' playout solution should the worse happen to your studios.

The diagram below shows one potential configuration for combining traditional 'on premises' playout with Cloud Playout to allow you to combine the benefits of both solutions.

There are multiple ways in which this type of solution could be configured. We would suggest contacting the team on hello@broadcastradio.com to discuss your requirements and develop the right solution for you.