Broadcast Live, Interactive Shows With Multiple Presenters On Myriad Cloud (Windows PC, Mac, Linux)

Modified on Tue, 24 Sep at 12:56 PM

Note: This feature is available as standard for Myriad Cloud Pro and Ultimate customers only.

Overview

Whilst all levels of Myriad Cloud offer the option to include live streamed content from remote contributors around the world, Myriad Cloud Pro and Ultimate also include the ability for your presenters to deliver live, interactive radio shows based on scheduled content from the Myriad Playout log, just as if they were presenting from a traditional radio studio.

The key points of this feature include:

Everything is browser based so works for PC, Mac and Linux.
Live, interactive shows that work the same way as traditional radio studio based shows.
Two presenters can co-host a show from different locations (using BR Live).
Option to increase to five presenters or guests (included with Ultimate).
Option to invite guests to participate in shows via email or web link (included with Ultimate)
Each presenter or guest hears a real-time feed of the live broadcast (minus their voice).
Presenter and guests microphones (or local mixing desk output) is fed to the live broadcast in real-time.
Presenters and guests can talk to each other 'off air' using the Talk channel.
Presenters can control guests microphones status and level.
Presenters control the Myriad Log allowing them to present the content from scheduled shows.
Presenters can insert 'stops' in the Log to allow them and guests to speak, or presenters can fade down audio and speak over content.
Presenters can make changes to the Log, insert new content or trigger 'Favorites' for jingles, sound effects or beds.
Presenters can control the volume level of Media Players via on screen faders or using supported MIDI devices.
Traditional 'live assist' workflow used by radio stations around the world for a truly professional radio solution.

Presenters can use a supported web browser to login to their Broadcast.Radio account and then select the Broadcast Live option on the Dashboard.

The presenters will be connected to the live Myriad Studio interface which can be used to control Myriad Cloud playout directly. They can then click on the Connect Audio button to hear the station's real-time output on their device, and send audio from their device to be included in the broadcast in real-time.

When multiple presenters are connected, each can control their own mic as well as the Myriad Cloud interface and Media Player volumes. Presenters can also control other presenters microphones (if required) as well as guest microphones.

Radio shows are presented in the same way as a traditional radio studio / playout system, without the need to invest in expensive equipment and infrastructure.

Myriad Cloud Live Diagram.png

Presenting Live Interactive Shows

To login and present live, interactive shows, follow these steps:

Login to https://my.broadcast.radio/
On the Dashboard click on the Broadcast Live button.
If you have not previously logged into the Myriad Anywhere portal (or you logged out last time), enter your Myriad Anywhere Login details.
Once you have logged in, you will see the Myriad Studio interface which is a real-time, interactive view of what your Myriad Cloud system is broadcasting.

Click to view full size PDF.
This interface allows you to control your Myriad Cloud system in real-time as well as connect audio to the system to allow you to monitor the output ans send voice in real-time.

This interface is well documented elsewhere (see Myriad Anywhere) so we will stick to the basics in this article. The image above shows calls out the main features of the interface. Click on the image to view the full image as a PDF.
To present a live show, the first thing you want to do is switch from AutoFade mode to Live mode.

The key differences between these two modes are:
- AutoFade Mode - Myriad Cloud will automatically segue from one item to the next. Myriad Cloud will also manage all 'back timing', stretching/shrinking audio, adding content or cutting content to make sure it is always running to time. This mode should be used for all automated shows.
- Live Mode - In Live mode, items in the Log can be set to automatically segue onto the next item (green circle) or stop and wait for a presenter to press the Go button (red square).
  
  In the example above, the currently playing item (Boldon Bathrooms Famous Sundays advert) has a red square at the end so when the advert finishes playing, Myriad Cloud will pause and wait for the presenter to press the GO button. The next item (Back and Forth by MK etc) has a green circle so when that item finishes, Myriad Cloud will automatically start the item after that in the Log. You will also see yellow '+' icons which means the item will be embedded into the Intro of the next item if it is possible to do so.
  
  By placing red 'Stop' markers in the Log where you want to do live links, you can pause the playback and perform your link.
  
  Live should be used for all live, interactive shows.
Next, click on the Connect To Audio button on the Media Wall Ribbon.
This will open a floating window inviting you to select the audio devices you want to use. Select the appropriate audio device for Input and Output.
Click on the Connect button.
Click on the Start button to initiate the connection.
Once connected, you will see a fader for the microphone of each connected presenter in the Virtual Studio window. You can use this to adjust:
- - Main Volume - station output monitoring.
  - Talk Volume - the level of the separate 'talk' channel.
  - Mute All - Instantly mute all monitoring audio.
  - Connected / Away - Toggle between connected and 'away' which will temporarily remove you from the audio connection.
  - Mic Level - Adjust microphone levels using the faders.
  - Talk / Live - Switch the 'channel' the microphone is connected to between Talk (presenters / guests only) and Live (broadcast live 'on air').
  - On / Off - Toggles microphone on and off.
  - End Session - Close this floating window to end the audio session.
    
    You can use this window for initial setup of mic levels etc but once you are happy, we recommend minimising this window and and using the controls on the main interface as it will be easier to control both microphone and playout from a single interface.
You can minimise the Virtual Studio window and just use the Mic On/Off, Live/Talk & Duck buttons in the main interface to control your microphone as well as Myriad Cloud.
First select either the Live or Talk channels to connect to. The Talk channel can only be heard by other presenters or guests and is not broadcast 'on air'. The Live channel is broadcast 'on air'. In the example below, the Live channel has been selected.
To switch your microphone on, click on the Mic Off/On toggle button.

Your microphone is now 'live' on your station.
If you need to lower the volume of the audio that is playing, you can click on the Duck button to duck all Media Players.
If you switch to the Talk channel then your mic is still active but only the other presenters will be able to hear it.
When you want to turn off your microphone, click on the Mic On/Off button.
So let's put it all together into a typical live voice link sequence.
1. Make sure Myriad Cloud is in Live mode.
2. Put a red 'stop' at the end of the item in the Log you want to speak after.
3. Click on the Connect to Audio button and follow then instructions to select your audio devices and connect. You can minimise this window once it has loaded.
4. Once the song that is playing has finished, click on the Mic Off/On toggle button ensuring the Live channel is also selected.
5. Do your live voice link just like if you were in a traditional studio.
6. When you are finished, click on the Go button. This will start the next item in the Log.
7. Remember to turn off your microphone using the Mic On/Off toggle.
8. Of course, you can alter this sequence to start the next item playing before you stop speaking to allow you to talk over the intro of a song (tip - use the Duck button) or you could play jingle, bed or sound effect using the Favourites tab. Once you are familiar with the process, you can get as creative with your links as you like!
When you are done with your live show, remember to switch back to AutoFade mode (this will happen automatically if the next hour is scheduled as an AutoFade hour), and disconnect your audio session by closing the Virtual Studio window.