The Audio Loop allows you to play audio files (MP3) or audio apps. 

The Audio Loop will play independently from the Primary Visual Loop and is solely dedicated to audio content. Both Loops play simultaneously, but independently from each other. A content change in the Visual Loop does not affect the Audio Loop. This differentiates the Audio Loop from the Audio Track in a Campaign.

You can publish an audio asset directly to the Audio Loop or as an Audio Playlist.

The Audio Loop supports three content types:

• Audio files: MP3,
• Audio Playlists,
• Audio apps: e.g. Audio Announcement App or Audio Streaming Link (only with select accounts).

Due to licensing restrictions, audio streaming from Spotify or similar is not supported.

1) Create an Audio Playlist

1. Create a new Audio Playlist. The Audio Playlist is created like any other content. In your Content area, go to New and select Audio Playlist.
   

   

2. Set up the Audio Playlist. The configuration page for an Audio Playlist resembles the configuration of a regular Playlist.
3. Add Audio Content. Add your audio content from the left to the Playlist. If you haven't uploaded your audio files previously, you can drag and drop them now into the Folder Content area at the bottom left. Only audio files can be added to the Audio Playlist.

   

4. Settings and restrictions. Configure the audio files and Playlist as needed. Audio items work with the same restrictions as other media items:
   • Playback based on criteria like Player Tags
   • Playback with restrictions

     

2) Publish Audio Playlist

Audio content is published in the same way other content is published. The server will automatically create an Audio Loop on the Player if there hasn’t been one before.

1. Define Playback Restrictions. Create detailed playback schedules or play audio content based on Player Tags or other criteria.

   

2. Set playback. Now, it’s time to publish. Again, as with every other content, you can publish the separate Audio Playlist on the Primary or Fallback Loop of the Audio Loop. Other publishing options are to schedule for a specific time, to get triggered by GPS location, or to get triggered on-demand.
   
   On-demand audio (with Pro plan)
   
   When publishing on-demand audio content, you can select whether this content stops the main Audio Loop or plays on top of it:

3) Content in Player

To view the Content in a Player, click on “Content in Player”. You will find the Audio Loop right below the Primary Loop for the primary visual content.

4) Audio properties

Audio content has two types of volumes, the content volume itself and the volume of "Others".

Lower the volume of other media when this audio plays so that it can be heard properly, for example during an announcement. After the announcement stops, the other media will revert to the original volume.

This technique is called Audio Ducking and shown in detail in a dedicated tutorial.

5) Audio Apps

At present, two audio-centric Apps are at your disposal:

• The Streaming Audio Link App functions like our other Link Apps by inserting a URL (only with select accounts).
• The Audio Announcement app is a TextToSpeech App that allows you to create simple text content which is spoken as audio on the Player in a variety of voices and languages. Check out the Audio Announcement app tutorial for details.

Expert Tips - Audio Loop