Opening & Closing External Streams In Myriad 5 Playout

This article replaces an original article published in 2019 that describes a method using the WMP Manager application. The WMP Manager has been replaced with the Stream Player applications which is part of the Audio Tools Pack  (which also include the Loop Thru application). Whilst the WMP Manager method will continue to work, no further updates to the WMP Manager will be published so you should consider switching to the method described below.

Basic principle

The Stream Player is a basic audio player tool that can connect to a stream URL and play the stream through a selected audio output channel (sound device). The Stream Player can be controlled by Command Media Items in Myriad 5 Playout that can be manually 'triggered' placed in the Log (either manually or as part of the schedule.

Once the .zip file has finished downloading, navigate to the folder you downloaded to, open the .zip file and double click on BRToolsINstaller.msi .

This will launch the BR Tools Pack installer. There are no options so just click on the Next button when prompted to walk through the installation process.

Once the installation is complete, run the Stream Player application from the Start menu.

This will open the Stream Player.

Whilst there are other potential uses for the Stream Player, in this scenario we will use Command Media Items in Myriad 5 Playout to set the stream URL so the only thing we need to do is select the output sound device you want to use.

Click on the Settings cog to access the settings.

Select the Sound Device you want to using the Output Device drop down.

You do not need to set the Stream URL as that will be done via the Command Media Item.

You may also wish to adjust the Buffer Size option depending on the speed of your PC and your internet connection but we recommend sticking with Medium unless you have issues.

Click on OK to close the Settings window.

You can actually close the Stream Player for now as the next step is to import the example Command Media Items into Myriad 5 Playout.

Import example Command Media Items into Myriad 5 Playout

With the Stream Player installed and configured, it is time to import the example Command Media Items into Myriad 5 Playout and look at how they can be used to control the Stream Player.

In Myriad 5 Playout, click on File Menu > Install Media Pack > Import Media Pack.

Navigate to the following location: C:\BroadcastRadioTools and select BRStreamPlayer5Command.zip

This will install 14 new Command Media Items in the next empty Media ID's in your Basic Items range.

There are a lot of examples including:

• Launch Application - Opens the Stream Player (includes the stream URL to connect to).
• Launch Application (Started) - Opens Stream Player and connects to the specified stream URL.
• Launch Application (Started + Muted) - Opens Stream Player and connects to the specified stream URL but with the audio volume muted.
• Launch Application (Started + Volume set to 0) - Opens Stream Player and connects to the specified stream URL but with the audio volume set to zero. Use this if you want to fade in the stream.
• Start - This command will Start the Stream Player if it is not currently started (ie of you have launched but not started - Launch Application).
• Stop - This command will Stop the Stream Player but not close it.
• Set Volume To 50% - This will set the output volume of the Stream Player to 50% (jump not fade).
• Fade Out Over 1 Second - This will fade the output volume of the Stream Player from whatever it currently is to zero over a 1 second period.
• Fade In Over 1 Second - This will fade the output volume of the Stream Player from whatever it currently is to 100% over a 1 second period.
• Fade To 75% Over 0.5 Seconds - Fades the output volume of the Stream Player to 75% over a 0.5 second period.
• Fade To 100% Over 0.5 Seconds - Fades the output volume of the Stream Player to 100% over a 0.5 second period.
• Mute - Immediately mutes the audio output of the Stream Player (but leaves it connected).
• Un-mute - Immediately un-mutes the audio output of the Stream Player.
• Close - Immediately closes the Stream Player application.

By modifying these Commands and combining them, you can achieve sequences such as:

1. Start the Stream Player Muted - It will connected to the set URL but the output volume will be set to zero.
2. Play a jingle - this gives time for the stream to connect and buffer if needed.
3. Fade In Over 1 Second - fade up the audio volume on the stream.
4. Wait for 30 minutes - using an Absolute Time.
5. Fade Out Over 1 Second - fade at the stream.
6. Start the next item in the Log.
7. Close the Stream Player application.

A sequence like this would allow you to connect to an external stream, wait a period of time then disconnect from the stream with a smooth transition back to Log playout.

Modifying Commands

Let's take a closer look at a couple of those Commands.

The most useful example Command is the Launch Application (Started + Muted) as this Command will start the Stream Player, tell it to connect to a stream URL but with the output volume muted.

If you Edit the appropriate example Command you will see the following code in the details section on the Editor tab.

External.Open("C:\BroadcastRadioTools\BRStreamPlayer5\BRStreamPlayer5.exe","/Start /Mute /URL="http://streaming.broadcastradio.com:9110/PG48AAC")

So in this example, the Command will open a one of our test streams. 

You will need to make a copy of this Command Item and change the Stream URL to the stream you want to connected to.

You will also need to make a new Command Item for each additional Stream you want to connect to.

The Command above will open the Stream Player and connect it to your Stream URL but the volume will be muted. 

So you would also want to follow this with a second Command to either Un-Mute or Fade In the audio. Let's take a look at the Fade In Over 1 Second Command.

Remote.HttpGet("http://localhost:9180/BrStreamPlayer/v5/api/Audio/FadeIn?numberOfSeconds=1")

This Command sends an HTTPGet to the Stream Player telling it to fade up the volume over a 1 second period. There is no need to modify this Command or create multiple versions as the Command is not for a specific URL.

This Command uses the RESTAPI that is built into the Stream Player to control the Stream Player via an HTTPGET Command. You could also use this feature to control Stream Player from other applications.

For more details on the available RESTAPI options see - http://localhost:9180/BrStreamPlayer/v5/swagger/ui/index#/Audio

Give it a try

Before we see how to use these Commands in a scheduled Log to connect to a stream, it is a good idea to test it manually.

1. Copy the Launch Application (Started + Muted) Command to an empty Media ID.
2. Edit this item and change the Stream URL to the stream you want to connect to. 
   
   
   
   
3. Close the Media Item (save when prompted).
4. Double click on the Media Item.
5. The Stream Player will launch and connect to your stream with the audio volume muted.
   
   
   
   
6. Next, double click on the Unmute example Command.
   
   
   
   This will un-mute the audio output on the Stream Player.
   
   
   
   You should be able to hear the audio from your stream now!
   
   
   
7. Try some of the other Example Commands to see what they do.

Putting it all together

By combining Command in Myriad with the Broadcast Radio Stream Player, you can include external streams in you live or automated output for your station.

The Broadcast Radio Player is provided, free of charge, to all Myriad v5 customers. The Stream Player cannot be controlled by Myriad 4 so they will have to continue to use the WMP Manager.

Anything else?

You may also be interested in the Audio Loop Through application which is also included in the BR Tools Pack.

See - Broadcast Radio Tools Pack