ClockWheels as AutoDJ

You can use your ClockWheel templates to run in AutoDJ mode. This tells AutoDJ how to pull tracks to play, as compared to the default, pure random selection. Instead of making a scheduled event for 24 hours, you can leave your station running in AutoDJ mode and have it follow a ClockWheel template.

The AutoDJ module is purely random. It randomly pulls tracks from your library while following DMCA regulations and your configured AutoDJ Separation Rules. Many of our broadcasters prefer the fine-tuned selection of tracks that the ClockWheels module provides. A ClockWheel template lets you select a different mix of tracks every time that the ClockWheel loops or is called for while following the rules inside of it.

What problem does this feature aim to solve?

It's quite common for a station to want to have a programmatic approach for their daily track rotation. For example, you may always desire a Station ID to be played before a certain genre of music. You could accomplish this with ClockWheels, but ClockWheels need to be scheduled as events. This resulted in some of our broadcasters scheduling very long, all-day ClockWheels which can cause unwanted side effects.

ClockWheels as AutoDJ solves this problem. You no longer need to try and schedule daylong 24 hour events made from ClockWheels, as you can just tell AutoDJ to follow a ClockWheel template. AutoDJ will play tracks according to the ClockWheel.

Important things to keep in mind

• There are several logic checks that a ClockWheel must go through every time it attempts to pull tracks to be played. Because of the many variables involved, it's quite easy to make a ClockWheel template that fails and therefore won't schedule. For every single line in a ClockWheel, the following things are queried before a track is pulled for playback:
  1. Proper metadata (tracks from "Untitled Album" are all considered to be the same album)
  2. The depth (size) and uniqueness of your uploaded MP3 library
  3. DMCA rule violations inside the ClockWheel template
  4. AutoDJ Separation Rules
  5. ClockWheel Selection Algorithm (Random, Least Recently Played Album)
  6. DMCA violations caused by events 3 hours before and 3 hours after the attempted time of playback
• At each of these steps, it is possible for the ClockWheel to be unable to pull a track list.
  • The most common cause of this is not having enough tracks of a specific Category or Type. It might be able to pull a track from "1980's" or "High Rotation" the first 3 times that the ClockWheel loops, but on the 4th time, there are not enough "1980's" tracks for it to pull from.
  • The ClockWheel might be just fine by itself, but the module also needs to follow your AutoDJ Separation rules when picking tracks. 
• ClockWheels work like a loop. A ClockWheel only needs to have 3 or 5 line items in it in order to be used. You can create many hours of unique programming from a 5 line ClockWheel. 
• ClockWheels will not show up for use in this mode if they do not pass DMCA rules.
• If AutoDJ runs into an issue while running in ClockWheel Track Mix mode, then it will revert to regular AutoDJ mode. The ClockWheel will then be marked as invalid for use as AutoDJ.

Setting up ClockWheels as AutoDJ

First, go to your station settings in the navigation side bar on the left of your station dashboard. Next, go into the AutoDJ settings. You'll see a section labeled Track Mix.

The first drop-down menu in the Track Mix section is called Selection Method. This is where you can switch between regular AutoDJ mode and ClockWheel driven mode.

Once you've selected ClockWheel, a list of your ClockWheel templates will show up. If the ClockWheel you are looking for is not listed, then it is not available for use in this mode. You can probably still use the ClockWheel to schedule an event, but not for driving AutoDJ.

Make sure you review your Separation Rules directly below the ClockWheel selection to ensure it lines up with your desired time spans between the different options that you can choose from. Recall that if your Separation Rules are too restrictive (you do not have enough unique tracks for it to follow your rules) then the ClockWheel could fail.

Always remember to locate the Save All Changes button to make sure the system registers your adjustments.

Within a few songs, you will see that the station begins to run in ClockWheel as AutoDJ mode. The Upcoming Tracks queue on your dashboard will indicate that the pattern of your ClockWheel template is now being followed.