Audio Library Manager

Audio Library

The Audio Library screen is used to search, audition, organize, edit, and remove audio records for the currently selected station. It also provides tools for setting playback markers, maintaining music-scheduling information, making controlled changes to multiple carts, and synchronizing the library with APEX Cloud.

All changes apply only to the station identified at the top of the screen. Always confirm the station name and serial number before editing or deleting audio.

Finding an Audio File

The center grid displays the station’s audio library. Each row represents one cart and includes its cart number, title, artist or text, audio type, runtime, kill date, and date added.

Sorting the library

Select a column heading such as:

Cart Number
Title
Artist / Text
Time
Kill Date
Date Added

The first click sorts by that field. Clicking the same heading again reverses the sort direction. The arrow beside the heading indicates the current direction.

Filter Type

Use Filter Type to show only carts assigned to a particular audio type. Select - to show all types.

Common types include:

M — Music
S — Spot or commercial

Other letter codes may be used for jingles, news, effects, liners, or other station-specific purposes. Use the type assignments established for your station.

Search

Select the field you want to search by using the appropriate column heading, enter the search value, and select Search. Pressing Enter in the search box also starts the search.

When searching a time or date column, the search box changes to the format required for that field.

Total Library Size

Total Library Size shows the number of audio records in the currently selected station’s library.

Previous, Next, and Load More

Use Previous and Next to move between pages of library results when connected locally. During remote operation, Load More may be displayed to retrieve another group of records from APEX Cloud.

Selecting a Cart

Select a row in the grid to load that cart into the editor on the right side of the screen. The cart’s information, timing markers, music data, categories, and notes will be displayed.

The checkbox at the beginning of each row is for Mass Edit operations. Clicking a row to edit it is different from checking it for a mass update.

The checkbox in the grid heading selects or clears all carts currently displayed on that page.

Basic Cart Information

Cart Number

The unique number used to identify the audio file throughout APEX. Cart numbers should not be duplicated.

Changing a cart number can affect schedules or other places where the original number is referenced. Use Where Scheduled before renumbering an active cart.

Title

The name displayed in the library, playlist, schedule, and other areas of APEX.

Artist / Text

For music, this normally contains the artist. For spots, jingles, announcements, and other audio, it may contain descriptive text or a sponsor name.

Type

Assigns the cart’s audio type. The type affects how APEX identifies and uses the audio in scheduling, reporting, and automation.

Date Added

Records when the cart was added to the library. This field is normally informational, but it can be edited when correcting imported information.

Date Restrictions

Start Date / Time

The date and hour when the cart becomes eligible for use. Before this time, APEX should treat the cart as unavailable.

Kill Date / Time

The date and hour when the cart expires. This is commonly used for commercials, promotions, seasonal material, and other time-sensitive audio.

Dates must be entered in MM/DD/YYYY format. If a start or kill date is changed, APEX checks the next 14 days of schedules and warns if the cart is scheduled outside its new valid date range.

These availability dates are different from the audio’s Start Time and End Time markers.

Playback Timing

Start Time

The point within the audio file where playback begins. Audio before this marker is skipped.

The expected format is approximately HH:MM:SS.T, where the final digit represents tenths of a second.

Voice

The voice or vocal-introduction marker, generally used to identify the point where the vocal begins. This is useful for announcer talk-up timing.

The value is entered in seconds and tenths, such as 08.7.

EOM Overlap

EOM means End of Message. This value specifies how many seconds before the cart’s end APEX may start the next event.

For example, an EOM value of 03.4 allows the next event to begin approximately 3.4 seconds before the current cart finishes.

End Time

The point where APEX stops playing the file. Audio after this marker is not included in normal playback.

Current Runtime

Shows the effective playable length after the Start Time and End Time settings have been applied.

Total Length

Shows the original duration of the complete audio file.

Playback Adjustments

Volume

Sets the cart’s playback level. A value of 100 represents the normal level.

Fade In

Specifies how long APEX takes to bring the audio from silence to its assigned volume when playback begins.

Fade Out

Specifies how long APEX takes to lower the audio to silence near the end of playback.

Fade values are entered in seconds.

Apply Changes

Select Apply Changes after editing the selected cart. This saves the cart’s information and timing settings.

Before saving, APEX verifies required date and time formats. In Local/LAN mode, the changes are saved to the station server’s library and prepared for APEX Cloud synchronization. In remote mode, the changes are submitted through APEX Cloud for the assigned station.

Do not leave the screen until the save confirmation or status message appears.

Audition Audio

Select Audition Audio to open the selected cart in the Preview Player. The Preview Player provides standard play, pause, seek, and volume controls.

When connected locally, the audio is streamed from the APEX Server. During remote operation, APEX may need to request an audition copy from the station server, so the first preview can take longer.

Browser audition commonly supports MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, FLAC, and WebM audio. Older formats such as WMA, MP2, AIFF, AU, RealAudio, AC3, APE, or AMR may not play in the browser even if the server can otherwise process them.

During an audition, marker buttons may become available for:

Mark Start Time
Mark Voice
Mark EOM
Mark End Time

Move the player to the desired position and select the corresponding marker button. Review the value placed in the editor, then select Apply Changes to save it.

Auto-Edit

Auto-Edit automatically processes the selected audio file. It:

Detects leading and trailing audio using the selected sensitivity
Removes audio outside those detected points
Normalizes the audio level
Creates a new 256 kbps MP3
Updates the cart’s runtime and timing information

Sensitivity choices range from Very Conservative to Very Aggressive. Conservative settings retain more low-level audio. Aggressive settings are more likely to remove quiet material.

Auto-Edit replaces the active audio with the processed MP3. The previous file is moved into the station library’s Deleted Files folder when possible. Audition the cart after processing to confirm that quiet openings, fades, or spoken material were not trimmed incorrectly.

Auto-EOM

Auto-EOM analyzes the selected audio and automatically calculates its EOM Overlap. The adjacent dB setting determines the audio level considered to be the end of useful program material.

Available settings range from -60 dB to -24 dB. Lower values detect quieter audio farther into a fade. Higher values place the EOM earlier.

The default -42 dB setting is a good general starting point. Always audition audio with long fades, quiet endings, or intentional silence after running Auto-EOM.

Auto-EOM updates the EOM value but does not rewrite the audio file.

Where Scheduled

Select Where Scheduled to find future uses of the selected cart. APEX searches the next 14 days and displays the dates and times where the cart appears.

Use this feature before:

Changing a cart number
Changing start or kill dates
Replacing time-sensitive material
Deleting a cart

This check does not remove or change any schedule events.

Music Data

The Music Data section is primarily used for Type M carts.

Album and ISRC Code

Album identifies the album or collection containing the song.
ISRC Code stores the recording’s International Standard Recording Code when available.

Gender, Tempo, Fade, Texture, Mood, and Sound

These are coded music-scheduling attributes. They allow music rules and clocks to select or separate songs according to the station’s format.

The meaning assigned to individual letters or numbers should be documented as part of the station’s music-format policy.

Year

The release year associated with the song.

Rank

A station-defined numeric scheduling attribute. Its effect depends on how the station’s music-scheduling rules use it.

Categories 1–21

Music categories place a song into one or more scheduling groups. More than one category may be selected for the same song.

For example, a song could belong to both a broad era category and a more specific rotation category. Category names and purposes are established by the station’s music format.

After changing music data or categories, select Apply Changes.

File Info

File Info is a free-form notes area for information that does not belong in the standard fields. It can contain production notes, source information, restrictions, replacement instructions, or other comments.

Select Apply Changes to save changes to File Info. Clearing the box and applying the change removes the existing notes.

Deleting One Cart

Select the cart and then select Delete File. APEX asks for confirmation before continuing.

When the deletion is handled by the local station server:

The cart is removed from the station database.
Its Firestore library record is removed.
The physical audio file is moved to the library’s Deleted Files folder when possible.
Other connected screens are notified that the cart was deleted.

If the physical file is already missing or cannot be moved, the database deletion may still continue. A remote deletion may not finish its server-side file handling until the station server receives and processes the request.

Deleting a cart does not necessarily remove existing schedule references. Use Where Scheduled first.

Mass Edit

Check one or more rows to open the Mass Edit panel. Mass Edit changes only the checked carts. This feature is not available for New Wave stations.

Leave a Mass Edit field blank if that field should remain unchanged.

Available fields include:

Type — assigns the same audio type to every checked cart.
Text – Artist — assigns the same Artist/Text value.
Start Date — assigns the same eligibility date.
Stop Date — assigns the same Kill Date.
Voice — assigns the same voice marker.
EOM — assigns the same EOM Overlap.
Music Category — adds the selected category to every checked cart. It does not clear their other categories.
Cart Number — renumbers the selected carts sequentially beginning with the selected starting number. Existing cart numbers are skipped to prevent duplicates.

Save All

Select Save All to apply the populated Mass Edit fields to every checked cart. Review the selection and fields carefully before proceeding.

If a starting Cart Number is selected, the checked carts are assigned consecutive available cart numbers. Renumbering can affect existing schedule references, so it should be used with particular care.

Delete All

Select Delete All to delete every checked cart. A confirmation message displays the number of selected carts before the operation begins.

This is a destructive batch operation. Use Where Scheduled on important carts and verify the selected rows before confirming.

Mass Edit - Selecting tips

There are two methods for quickly selecting multiple files.

Method 1 – Use the Search function to filter the desired carts for mass updating. Then, click the checkbox at the top of the Audio Library grid. This will select all files currently displayed on the screen for mass updating.

Method 2 – Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and select the first cart in the desired range. While continuing to hold the Alt key, select the last cart in the range. All files between the two selected carts will also be selected.

Recommended Editing Procedure

Confirm the correct station and serial number.
Search for and select the desired cart.
Select Audition Audio to verify the recording.
Review the title, type, dates, markers, and music data.
Use Where Scheduled before renumbering, expiring, or deleting the cart.
Make the necessary changes.
Select Apply Changes.
Wait for the success or status message.
Audition the cart again if timing, fades, Auto-Edit, or Auto-EOM was changed.

Mass Distribution of Audio Files

Mass Distribution copies selected audio files and their library information to eligible stations on connected AAEs.

Before starting, connect the destination AAEs through Settings → Connected AAEs. Use the APEX Client in Local Mode. New Wave stations are not eligible for mass distribution.

Further instructions may be found in the link below:

Linking AAE Systems

1. Select the source station.
Choose the station containing the audio files, then open its Audio Library.

2. Check the files to distribute.
Use the checkboxes in the first column of the library grid. Highlighting a row alone does not select it for distribution.

3. Click Distribute Audio.
The destination-selection panel opens.

4. Check the destination stations.
Select one or more stations. Each entry identifies the station’s friendly name, AAE computer name, and station serial number.

5. Click Send Files.
The progress bar and status message show the transfer’s progress. Wait for the completion message before starting another distribution.

6. Review the results.
When processing finishes, the selection panel closes and a message displays:

Imported: Files successfully added or updated at destination stations.

Queued until idle: Files received but waiting for playback or another blocking operation to finish.

Failed: Files that could not be completed, with available error details.

Audio uploaded over LAN: The amount of audio sent over the network.

Elapsed time: The duration of the operation.

NOTE 1 - Each destination maintains its own audio files and library information. Files are placed in the destination library’s Type folder, such as M for Type M or S for Type S.

NOTE 2 - If a cart number already exists at the destination, the incoming file replaces that cart’s audio and library information. The previous audio file moves to the destination’s Deleted Files folder. A cart that is playing or paused is deferred until it can be replaced safely.

NOTE 3 - Music categories are matched by category name. Categories without a matching name at the destination are left unassigned.

Results count each station’s import separately. For example, sending 10 files to two stations produces 20 imports. When both stations share an AAE, each audio file uploads only once and is copied locally for each station.

NOTE 4 - Do not resend files reported as queued; the destination AAE retries them automatically. For failures, review the completion message and AAE log before retrying.

Mass Normalize and EOM

Mass Normalize and EOM applies automatic audio editing and End-of-Message detection to multiple Audio Library files in one operation. This feature is available for eligible APEX stations and is not available for New Wave stations.

1. Open the Audio Library.
Select the station containing the files you want to process.

2. Check the files to process.
Use the checkboxes in the first column of the library grid. Highlighting a row alone does not select it for mass processing.

3. Choose the Auto-Edit sensitivity.
Select the desired setting beside Auto-Edit, such as Normal. This controls how aggressively automatic editing detects and trims low-level audio at the beginning and end of each file.

4. Choose the Auto-EOM sensitivity.
Select the desired threshold beside Auto-EOM, such as −42 dB. This controls the level used to detect the audio’s ending. A more negative threshold recognizes quieter audio and generally places the detected ending later.

5. Click Mass Normalize and EOM.
The selected Auto-Edit and Auto-EOM settings apply to every checked file. The operation performs automatic trimming and volume normalization, followed by EOM detection.

6. Monitor processing.
Watch the progress bar and status message. Wait for processing to finish before starting another mass operation.

7. Review the results.
Check the updated runtime and EOM values, then audition representative files—especially recordings with quiet introductions, long fades, or intentional silence.

The calculated EOM Overlap has a minimum value of 0.1 seconds.

Start with a small selection to confirm that the chosen sensitivity settings suit your audio before processing a large group. Automatic processing can change the audio and timing information; auditioning the results helps confirm that transitions sound as intended.

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