Hot Keys

Using Hot Keys

Hot Keys provide immediate access to commonly used audio carts such as liners, IDs, sound effects, promos, and music. Each button shows the cart number, title, artist, and runtime. Hot-key profiles are saved separately for each station, so verify that the correct station is selected before editing or playing them.

Playing a Hot Key

Select a saved profile from the profile list, then click an assigned Hot Key to play it immediately. The button becomes darker while it is playing, and its runtime changes to a countdown.

Click the same Hot Key again while it is active to stop it. Multiple Hot Keys can play simultaneously, so use care when operating them on air.

Adding or Updating a Hot Key

Select the profile you want to modify. Library All cannot be edited.
Click Edit Hot Keys.
Click Add Hot Keys. The control becomes highlighted.
Click the Hot Key slot you want to assign or replace.
Find and click the desired cart in the Audio Library.
Repeat the process for any additional assignments.
Click Save Changes.

Assigning audio to an occupied slot replaces that slot’s previous assignment after the profile is saved. You can also change the profile’s number of rows and columns while in Edit mode.

Creating a New Profile

New profiles are created from an existing profile:

Select the profile you want to use as a starting point.
Click Edit Hot Keys.
Replace the displayed profile name with a new, unique name.
Change the grid size and Hot Key assignments as desired.
Click Save Changes.

The AAE saves the edited layout as a new profile and leaves the original profile unchanged. Profile names cannot be blank, duplicate another profile name, or use the reserved name Library All.

Clearing a Hot Key

Select the appropriate profile.
Click Edit Hot Keys.
Click Clear Hot Key. The control becomes highlighted.
Click each Hot Key that should be emptied.
Click Save Changes.

Clearing a Hot Key only removes the cart from that profile. It does not delete the audio cart or physical audio file from the Audio Library.

Deleting a Profile

Select the profile you want to delete.
Click Edit Hot Keys.
Click Delete Profile.

Profile deletion does not delete any audio files. Library All cannot be deleted, and the AAE requires at least one saved Hot Key profile to remain. Use this command carefully because deletion begins when the button is pressed.

Hot Key Playback Controls

Fade — Fades all currently playing Hot Keys over approximately four seconds and stops them.
Pause — Pauses all active Hot Keys. The button changes to Play; press it again to resume them.
Loop — Repeats all active Hot Keys until Loop is turned off or the individual Hot Key is stopped.
Add to Playlist — Inserts the selected Hot Key cart into the On Air Playlist.

The transport controls apply to all Hot Keys currently playing, including audio started from either Hot Key panel.

Adding a Hot Key to the On Air Playlist

Select the playlist row where the cart should be inserted.
Click Add to Playlist in the Hot Keys panel.
Click the Hot Key you want to add.
Wait for the server to confirm and refresh the playlist.

The cart is inserted immediately above the selected playlist row. This schedules the cart in the runtime playlist; it does not play the cart immediately.

Profiles and Library All

Use the profile selector to switch between saved Hot Key layouts. If two Hot Key panels are displayed, each panel can show a different profile at the same time, although their playback controls affect all active Hot Keys.

Library All displays the station’s complete Audio Library as Hot Key-style buttons. It is intended for locating and playing carts that have not been assigned to a profile. Use the Type filter and sorting options to narrow the list. Enter a cart number, title, or artist in the search box and press Enter to search. Additional library entries load as the user scrolls.

Library All is generated from the current Audio Library and cannot be edited, renamed, or deleted.

Troubleshooting

If a Hot Key does not play, confirm that the correct station and profile are selected, the cart still exists in the station’s Audio Library, and its physical audio file is present. Also verify that the AAE is connected to the station server and that the on-air output is not muted. Watch the status message for confirmation or an error; detailed playback and file errors are recorded in the AAE log.

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