Media Source Type in Media Hub

Media can now be categorized with Media Source Types across the entire platform, including Outputs, Visuals, Broadcaster Associations, Visual Variables, and Scheduling. This new feature helps users organize uploaded media more efficiently.

• Source Type Labels: Uploaded media now displays its source type in the Media Hub.

• Filtering: Users can filter media based on its source type, making it easier to manage assets.

• Default Option: When a dedicated source is set, the default selected option will be that source, making it easier to find the right media.

New Features & Enhancements

Media Hub & Uploads

• New Media Selector: Added the new media selector for Broadcaster Association images.

• Default Source Type for Queries: Media Selector Dialog now defaults to the related source type.

• Fix Upload Sessions Bugs: Improved handling of media uploads to prevent errors.

Playout & Visuals

• Fix Duration Timer in Playout Episode: Since a few version there was an issue with it. Those are resolved now.

Custom Dashboards

• Internal Route Button: Added an Internal Route button for easier navigation within custom dashboards.

• Design Improvements: Various UI refinements in custom dashboards.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Consistent "Remove" & "Delete" Usage: Standardized terminology across the platform.

• Fixed an issue where upload sessions could get stuck. Also improved handling of the cancel uploading flows for large videos.

• Adjusted duration timers in Playout for more accurate timekeeping.

• Standardized UI elements in custom dashboards.

• Scheduling Program planning could crash if milliseconds were added to the duration of a program. This is now fixed and can not happen again in the future.

• More efficient handling of image loading in Visuals and Playout

AutomationLink

• Files connected to the AutomationLink do not trigger incorrect “empty” current nowplaying states after multiple writes.

• New {mediaId} field parsing for Caliope

Revamped manual Layer Transitions

We’ve revamped the possibilities of manually controlling your layer in- and out transitions. If you want to profit from the powers of GSAP you can now connect events to individual layers to have more control over the complete automated transitioning state of the Visual. The documentation of all the transition capabilities of the Visual Designer layers is in progress and will be shared soon on our blog.

New CSV Data Source

You can now share large data sets with your Visual Graphics by integrating your CSV data via an API Data Source.

Limit data items

When you’re using a large CSV file or RSS feeds with multiple items you may want to limit the visible items in VRA Graphics. With the new Items Count configuration you can slice it up!

New Features & Enhancements

Visual variables in Playout

• Predefined Media Storage: Image and video uploads can now be stored in a predefined folder at creation in the Visual Designer (link to other changleog)

• Dynamic Variables in Rundown: The value of dynamic data, such as on-air program titles and host names, are now visible in rundown items.

• Episode Composer Locking: Dynamic variable titles can be locked in the episode composer, allowing them to be used in earlier programs.

Media Hub

• You can now create new folders in folder selection dialog. Usable in Predefined Media Storage.

Multiple Current Onair Items in the AutomationLink

It is now possible to have multiple items from your radio automation software in the current nowplaying onair list in Visual Radio Assist. This makes several transitions between jingles and music in mixes a lot smoother and opens new possibilities for layered audio with layered video.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed an issue where a failed image upload could cause subsequent uploads to be stuck in error mode.

• More performant loading of large-image count setups

• Improved video uploading behavior in playout for more stable performance.

• Fixed an issue that occurred when renaming a folder in the Media Hub

• Add layer directly to selected container (Stack, Playlist, etc) sublayers

• Mobile ready image previews in the MediaHub

New Features & Enhancements

This week we’ve worked on several qualitty of life improvements of the Visual Designer and other media workflows in Visual Radio assist.

Media Selector

• Added the ability to upload files directly in the Media Selector.

• Assigned a default folder for media uploads when using variables.

Visual Designer

• When adding a new layer, it is now placed inside the currently selected layer if it supports sublayers (e.g., Stack, Container, Iterator, Playlist).

• The guide toggle now also removes the red-line border for Stacks, improving visibility.

General

• More colourful notifications

Scheduling

• Keystrokes for navigating the calendar

• More scheduling programs in condition editors

• New usage of media hub in program form

Playout

• Activate Rundown button communicates latest status with Composition playout

• Clear all archive

• Archive all

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed an issue where border radius settings were not saving correctly.

• Fixed stable display of Visual layer ids

• Fixed a bug that could occur while removing the transition settings of a layer

The new Playout Composer: prepare your graphics before going live

With the Episode version of the Visual Radio Playout you can preview all upcoming shows live to make sure they look good. And if you want to prepare rundowns with graphics outside of the 5 upcoming shows it is now possible to do safely, without interrupting the live production with the Episode Composer!

First you select a date and scheduling program in the new Composer interface. After which you are able to edit all rundown items and add new items to prepare fully for when the episode gets onair. The Live Preview enables you to see exactly how the Visual is going to look in the live production 👀

New Features & Enhancements

• Edit Variable: Playout Access is on default true

• Playmode for items in a Output Rundown: same option as you had on the Live Items in a Output to control how an item is started after it is added to the Queue of a Player.

Episode Playout

• The order of the buttons below the Upload Cropper are switched now.

• Documentation for the Manual Playout, Episode Playout and Composition Editor.

• The background of the rundown list items on smaller screens has been adjusted, making the Episode Playout look calmer.

• Playout retains the column widths, so they remain consistent even when you return, eliminating layout shifts.

• Improvements in clearing an image in the Playout Episode.

• Add layout customization to the Playout Episode. User can switch between the Default and Three Column view.

• User can hide the PGM View in the Playout

• Revisit Roles and Permissions for Playout

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed bug where Music Track Meta could not be found when ft. or feat. was located in the title

• Media Selector consistencies are fixed

• Playout Rundown were sometimes too long, and will be automatically truncated now.

• Inconsistencies in resizable columns in the playout are fixed.

Infrastructure updates

In the last two weeks we’ve also made major updates to our infrastructure to increase performance and throughput. We hope you’re enjoying the speed improvements this has brought to the Visual Radio Cloud!

The latest updates of VRA change the way you experience media workflows, with the introduction of the new Media Hub. Below is a breakdown of the key adjustments:

Changes to the Media Workflow in VRA

Visuals

New integration of the Media Hub for:

• Media Layers: Easier access to image and video files directly from folder structures.

• Video Layers: Unified video management across visuals, with improved sorting options.

• Image Slideshows: Dynamically select and sequence images using folder-based organization.

Outputs

Updates in both Assistant and Advanced Output Editors:

• Image Select: Media Hub folder navigation added for faster asset selection.

• Video Select: Consistent workflows for video retrieval across outputs.

Scheduling

• Program Media Scheduling: Scheduled media playback can now pull directly from Media Hub folders.

Media Server Synchronization

The Media Hub replaces the older Media Server page, consolidating all video and image assets into one interface.

The all-new Media Hub

The VRA Media Hub introduces a centralized, folder-based system for managing media assets like images and videos. This replaces the older, separate management methods to create a unified interface for all media-related tasks. This will also allow, in the future, the addition of other files beyond just videos and images. When this will be possible needs to be determined.

Key Benefits:

• Simplified Navigation: The folder structure mirrors traditional file explorers, making it intuitive to find and organize assets.

• Improved Sorting & Categorization: Folders provide a visual and structured way to manage large asset libraries.

• Future Image Slideshow Integration: In the future, it will be possible to select a folder in the image slideshow, allowing all images in a specific folder to be displayed instead of selecting them separately.

Ongoing Improvements:

We will continue enhancing the Media Hub in upcoming releases, adding new features and usability improvements based on your feedback. If you’re missing a specific feature, let us know through the Support Tool in the Cloud platform or via support@visualradioassist.live.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Audio Manager: Now correctly retrieves the latest Live Condition status on startup.

• Download Center Fix: Resolved an issue where the Audio Manager version in the Download Center didn’t match the available version.

• UI Enhancements: Minor interface improvements for better navigation and clarity in the Media Hub.

New Features & Enhancements

Upcoming Media Hub Feature preparation

• Enable advanced sorting on name and dates

• Full Media Server sync flow status updates

• Performance fixes for folder browsing

• New media selector for selecting videos and images from the new media hub

New Program Host Condition

It is now possible to use the Program Host of the current onair program as a condition in all places where conditions are applied; Output Rundowns, Items, Visuals, Automations and Audio Triggers.

Connecting the Program Host to a specific DJ

Some camera angles are specified for a specific DJ position, height or other settings you want to specifically apply to a Host of one show. With the Audio Trigger conditions it is now possible to realize the automation scenario where “the DJ microphone triggers a host-specific Camera Angle”.

We’ll soon create a guide on this new set-up feature.

Blackmagic Videohub support

It is now possible to route IO on the popular Blackmagic Videohubs.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• New feature flagging system

• Designer: Fix right pane height when visual css is pinned

• Designer: Fix color picker visibility issues in darkmode

• Rundown TimeCondtion fixes:

• Update system improvements: refresh of subscriptions on resource updates (like Outputs or Visuals) is fixed.

• Fixes for adding screenshots to support tickets

• Undo in designer doesn’t trigger breaking error

• Visual remove default “p” class on all layers

• Audio Manager fix for a “deactivated” trigger which is updated without a condition, which now correctly activates this trigger again.

New Features & Enhancements

Media Hub

The Media Hub is now equipped with several new functionalities to streamline media management:

• Upload Functionality: Users can now easily upload media files directly within the Media Hub.

• Cancel Upload Functionality: Added the ability to cancel uploads in progress for better control over your media.

• Grid View Option: A new Grid view is available, alongside a List/Grid Toggle Button to switch between views according to preference.

• Sorting Enhancements: Added sorting options by name and creation date in the list view for improved organization.

• Fixed Column Width in List View: Columns in the list view now have a consistent width to maintain a clean and organized appearance.

The Media Hub will be launch by the end of the year.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Rundown Creation Logic: Restricts multiple rundowns in Advanced Editor when using Standard Editor mode, ensuring smoother workflows.

• Advanced Switch Component: Now supports icons, making advanced controls clearer and more intuitive.

• Tag Editor Improvements: Added suggested tags to the editor, making it easier to categorize your content efficiently.

Audio Manager

• Rolling back some external dependency updates to restore stability

New Features & Enhancements

• Composition Layers: Auto archiving can now be pre-configured for improved media organization and management.

Playout Enhancements

• Clicking TAKE in the Playout sets the current PVW item(s) to PGM, similar to traditional video switchers. Multiple items can now be taken simultaneously for greater flexibility.

• User Presence Indicator: Other users controlling the Playout are now displayed in the top right corner, supporting team collaboration.

• The editor now automatically selects new items immediately after they are added, streamlining content editing.

• Shortcut: Use ctrl+n to quickly open the "Add New Item" list for faster item insertion.

• A new Save button for variables has been introduced, allowing quick and reliable updates.

Output Control Enhancements

• Tag filtering is now available for Output Players, enabling quicker identification and management of outputs.

Visual Designer Updates:

• Visual variables have been moved to the left panel for easier access and better workspace organization.

• Users can now remove redundant images directly within the Slideshow Layer. A button will appear when an image is removed in media management, but is still in a Slideshow.

• Media Hub (Beta):

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Resolved tooltip inconsistencies across various areas of the platform, improving user guidance.

• Optimized the loading flow in Playout to enhance performance and reduce lag.

• Implemented auto-scroll functionality to keep the actively selected rundown item visible, improving usability during live broadcasts.

• Fix for upcoming programs getting empty after 5 Onair Programs

• Fix for Output Player not handling double Dynamic play events correctly

• Fix for Audio Manager instabilities with audio interfaces

Release 4.2. is packed with all the changes over the last couple of months, read more in our full blogpost.

Leading up to release 4.2.0 we’re making the last improvements and fixes in version 4.1.46, checkout the full 4.2.0 release on https://visualradioassist.live/blog/releasing-4-2-show-based-graphics-rundowns .

Cloud

• Navigation is collapsed on smaller screens

• Navigation state is remembered by your browser

• Tag Filtering on Image, Video, Output and Visual overview pages

• Improved Broadcaster management for multi- and single-station setups

• New tooltips which show extra information on text hover

• Live Items in Rundowns can be ordered to determine priority in activation

Fixes and improvements

• Duplicate Visuals is working again as expected

• Output conditions are directly functional on first setup

• Output Assistant improvements on navigation and content selection

• Loading State for Episodes in Playout

• Time condition “day-offset” bugfix

Server Apps

• Installer and updater fixes

• New shutdown progress windows

• Support for prioritzed Live Items

• Duration fixes in full Manual mode

Version 4.1.45 introduces a range of updates across the frontend, server, and backend components of Visual Radio Assist. This release focuses on enhanced media tagging, improved user experience, stability, and error handling. Below are the detailed updates.Frontend Updates

Cloud Updates

New Features & Enhancements

• Image Slideshow Layer: Added an slideshow layer in the Visual Designer, where multiple selected images will loop based on the defined order and their duration.

• Tagging Resources: Added tagging functionality for images, visuals and outputs, allowing users to categorise and filter resources by their tags.

• Improved PVW (Preview) Player Handling: Enhanced PVW episode prefetching, enabling smoother episode switching and handling of scheduling conflicts.

• Configuration Store for Async Management: Implemented a configuration store for improved async handling, optimizing application stability and resource allocation.

UI/UX Enhancements

• Responsive Design Updates: Added refinements to support granular height calculation in split views, improving the display of player panels and content on varying screen sizes.

• Enhanced Navigation and Tabbing: Fixed navigation tabbing and focus states, providing a more intuitive interface with keyboard-friendly controls.

• Improved Output Editor: Updated layout consistency, padding adjustments, and model state handling to provide a smoother editing experience.

• Visual Consistency Fixes: Aligned layouts and colors across visual and station variable panels to create a more cohesive user interface.

• Dialog and Scrollbar Improvements: Resolved issues with dialog padding, scrollbar behavior, and overflow handling in media management.

Bug Fixes

• Timezone and Scheduling Corrections: Addressed timezone inconsistencies affecting episode start and end times, ensuring accurate scheduling.

• Error Handling for Null ID States: Fixed ID null errors in the playout state to prevent unexpected crashes and improve error resilience.

• Auth Token Loading: Sentry auth tokens are now loaded from the environment, improving security and token handling on the frontend.

• Output State and Player Sync Fixes: Improved synchronization between episode items and player states, reducing mismatch issues in PVW and playout views.

• General Stability Improvements: Addressed several minor bugs, including dynamic value handling in conditions, removing negative margins in dialogs, and optimizing visual loading states.

Server Updates

New Features & Enhancements

• Enhanced Error Handling for GraphQL Requests: Improved error tracking and graceful exit procedures for GraphQL queries, especially in cases of token errors or invalid client requests.

• Apollo Cleanup and Optimization: Streamlined Apollo client setup for better performance and reduced memory usage during request handling.

• New Queries for Episode Output Management: Added custom queries for filtering episodes by tags and resources, improving data accessibility for content managers.

• Resource and Episode Counters: Introduced station-specific counters for resources and episode tracking, giving users a clearer overview of available content.

Bug Fixes

• Fixes for Dead Player Removal: Ensured smoother handling and cleanup of disconnected or inactive player states, optimizing server resource usage.

• Improved Error Logging: Enhanced error logs to include specific refresh process errors, aiding in troubleshooting and debugging server-side issues.

• SSO Redirect Fixes: Corrected SSO redirection for more reliable user login, especially in multi-studio or cross-platform environments.

• JWT Authentication and Token Expiry: Refined JWT authentication and token expiry handling, reducing risks of broken tokens and unauthorized access.

Version 4.1.44 introduces a range of updates across the frontend, server, and backend components of Visual Radio Assist. This release focuses on enhanced media tagging, improved user experience, stability, and error handling. Below are the detailed updates.

Cloud Updates

New Features & Enhancements

• Image Slideshow Layer: Added an interactive slideshow layer, including drag-and-drop support for image ordering and responsive design.

• Improved PVW (Preview) Player Handling: Enhanced PVW episode prefetching, enabling smoother episode switching and handling of scheduling conflicts.

Enhancements

• Responsive Design Updates: Added refinements to support granular height calculation in split views, improving the display of player panels and content on varying screen sizes.

• Enhanced Navigation and Tabbing: Fixed navigation tabbing and focus states, providing a more intuitive interface with keyboard-friendly controls.

• Improved Output Editor: Updated layout consistency, padding adjustments, and model state handling to provide a smoother editing experience.

• Visual Consistency Fixes: Aligned layouts and colors across visual and station variable panels to create a more cohesive user interface.

• Dialog and Scrollbar Improvements: Resolved issues with dialog padding, scrollbar behavior, and overflow handling in media management, especially in complex configurations.

• Enhanced Query System for Outputs: New backend queries optimize output management, with added support for tag-based searches and filtered resource access.

Bug Fixes

• Timezone and Scheduling Corrections: Addressed timezone inconsistencies affecting episode start and end times, ensuring accurate scheduling.

• Error Handling for Null ID States: Fixed ID null errors in the playout state to prevent unexpected crashes and improve error resilience.

• Output State and Player Sync Fixes: Improved synchronization between episode items and player states, reducing mismatch issues in PVW and playout views.

• General Stability Improvements: Addressed several minor bugs, including dynamic value handling in conditions, removing negative margins in dialogs, and optimizing visual loading states.

• SSO Redirect Fixes: Corrected SSO redirection for more reliable user login, especially in multi-studio or cross-platform environments.

Server Updates

Bug Fixes

• Fixes for Dead Player Removal: Ensured smoother handling and cleanup of disconnected or inactive player states, optimizing server resource usage.

• Improved Error Logging: Enhanced error logs to include specific refresh process errors, aiding in troubleshooting and debugging server-side issues.

• New Thumbnails format: Thumbnails of Output Players are fixed with a new fileformat which is supported in all browsers.

• MXF File load fix: certain file params in MXF files were preventing the files from loading in the Output Player.

This update solidifies Visual Radio Assist’s media management and tagging capabilities, improves frontend responsiveness, and enhances stability across server and backend functionalities. For more detailed information, visit the Visual Radio Assist Documentation.

This release of Visual Radio Assist enhances both frontend and server components, focusing on improved video management, configuration options, and backend support for complex broadcast setups. Here is a comprehensive overview of what’s new in version 4.1.36.

Cloud Updates

New Features & Improvements

• Expanded Variable Configuration Options: New options for configuring variables, including settings for images, videos, text areas, aspect ratios, playback controls, and more, providing more flexibility in content customization.

• Character Limits and Confirmation Prompts: Added character limits to text areas and confirmation prompts when replacing images or deleting items in rundowns, enhancing control and preventing accidental changes.

• Long Video Upload Enhancements: Streamlined support for long video uploads, including recovery options and stable subscriptions, to improve playout performance.

• Improved Media Upload and Preview: Added CDN support for image previews and optimized the upload experience, especially for hybrid image variables.

• Tab Navigation and Search Enhancements: Tabbing through search results in the playout and variable search improvements help streamline navigation and user interaction.

• Advanced Variable Management: Introduced more refined options for variable handling, including bulk actions and improved indexing for quicker database access.

• Email Verification and User Management: Added email verification and deleted user management options, supporting safer user account handling and enhanced administrative controls.

UI/UX Enhancements

• Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Updates: Improved layout and responsiveness across various components, including the Output Setup Assistant, playout items, and the dashboard designer.

• Scheduling and Rundown Management: Simplified scheduling queries and refined rundown state management for more consistent scheduling workflows.

• Drag-and-Drop and Focus Improvements: Enhanced drag-and-drop support within the composition editor and improved focus states on variable searches.

• Updated Visual Designer: Refined DOM selector and layer handling in the Visual Designer, enhancing design capabilities and user experience.

• Password Validation on Reset: Added validation and user feedback to the password reset process for a smoother onboarding experience.

Bug Fixes

• Rundown and Episode State Fixes: Addressed issues with rundown and episode states, including proper deletion and restoration of archived items.

• Playout Item Dragging and UI Updates: Resolved issues with draggable playout items and various layout bugs, ensuring a cleaner interface and better usability.

• Critical Fixes in Forms and Input Elements: Fixed issues with forms, text inputs, and select elements to ensure accurate tracking and consistent behavior.

• Hybrid Video and Image Variables: Addressed bugs with hybrid video and image variables, including autofill for dynamic layers.

Server Updates

New Features & Enhancements

• Resolution Configuration: New options to define output resolution in the configuration store, including support for scaling adjustments based on specific aspect ratios.

• Enhanced OpenGL and YUV Conversion: Added BGRA to YUV conversion using OpenGL shaders, optimizing video scaling for unique SAR/DAR ratios and improving file handling on Windows.

• Multiple Master Studios per Station: Expanded support for managing multiple master studios within a single station, increasing flexibility for complex broadcast setups.

• Variable Config Options: Introduced configuration options for output variables, supporting more granular control over variable behavior and compatibility with frontend updates.

Bug Fixes

• File and Video Handler Fixes: Resolved issues in the file and video handlers to improve stability, especially for SDI and NDI output.

• Backend Cache Removal: Removed outdated caching mechanisms for improved performance and data integrity.

• Fixed Camera Settings DB Indexing: Resolved database indexing issues with camera settings, enabling more efficient retrieval and storage.

• Refined JWT System for User Tokens: Rebuilt the JWT system to better handle typed user tokens and refresh token processes, improving security and reliability.

Miscellaneous

• Aeron Enhancements: Improved Aeron support with stability fixes and optimized multicam support for enhanced live functionality.

• API and Artisan Commands: Added new commands to the artisan GUI for more efficient management and bulk actions within the database.

This release focuses on improving reliability, enhancing video management, and providing more granular control over configuration options, supporting broadcasters with a versatile and robust visual radio solution. For more information, see the Visual Radio Assist Documentation.

Cloud Updates

New Features

• New Output Setup Assistant to create a simple Standard Output

• Outputs can be configured to only play a single item, with the option to fallback to a secondary item. This is the new Standard Mode. All existing Outputs are Advanced.

Cloud Updates

New Features

• New Playlist layer to automatically configure animations over RSS Feed data or sublayers

Bugfixes

• Layer control improvements