Air Schedule

Setting Up the Air Schedule

The Air Schedule tells APEX which operating mode each station should use throughout the week. It works alongside the assigned clock:

The clock defines what should be scheduled.
The Air Schedule mode defines how the server should operate during that hour.

The weekly assignments are defaults that repeat each week. Individual date-specific Air Schedule events can also be created from the main timeline.

Recommended Setup Procedure

Create and save all required clock templates.
Open Assign Clocks.
Assign a clock and Air Schedule mode to every operating hour.
Configure Source Channel and Jock Folder values for all Satellite hours.
Select Save and Close.
Review representative hours for each mode.
Create any date-specific Air Schedule exceptions.
Apply clocks or import traffic and music as required.
Run Schedule Check.
Verify the current and next on-air hours before placing the station into operation.

Air Schedule Modes

Automation Mode

APEX automatically plays the events in the Play Schedule.

When an Automation hour is generated from a clock, APEX can populate unresolved Song Category positions and add eligible Type M music when necessary to complete the hour.

Automation hours are shown in green.

Satellite Mode

APEX uses the selected satellite audio source and the associated logic-control configuration. Satellite Mode requires:

A source channel
A Jock Folder number

The source channel identifies the satellite audio input. The Jock Folder identifies the folder or configuration used for the satellite program’s logic and break operation.

Satellite hours are shown in yellow.

Manual Play Mode

APEX loads the scheduled information but expects the operator to control playback manually.

Manual hours are shown in blue.

Live Assist Mode

APEX operates as an assisted on-air system, allowing the operator to control the scheduled events while retaining the playlist and related automation tools.

Live Assist hours are shown in red.

Opening the Weekly Air Schedule

Open the Schedule Manager.
Confirm the correct station and serial number.
Select Assign Clocks.
Wait for the Default Clock and Air Schedule grid and clock list to load.

The grid contains:

One column for each day of the week
One row for each hour from 00:00 through 23:00
The assigned clock name inside each cell
A background color showing the assigned Air Schedule mode

Each cell controls one recurring day-and-hour combination. For example, the Monday 08:00 cell controls the default operation every Monday from 8:00 AM through 8:59 AM.

Assigning a Clock and Air Mode

The normal assignment procedure is:

Select a saved clock from the clock list on the right.
Select the desired mode from the Event Type list.
If Satellite Mode is selected, choose its Source Channel and Jock Folder.
Click the desired day-and-hour cell in the weekly grid.
Confirm that the cell displays the selected clock name and the correct mode color.
Repeat for every hour that should use the same clock and mode.
Select another clock or mode when the programming changes.
Select Save and Close when the entire week is complete.

The clock and mode selections remain active while assigning cells, allowing the same settings to be placed into several hours.

Important selection order

Select the clock from the list before clicking a grid cell. The grid will not assign an hour unless a clock template is selected.

The button inside the clock-list panel may read Save Clock. It is used for saving a clock template and is not required when assigning an existing clock. To make an assignment, select the clock’s name in the list and then click the appropriate grid cell.

Assigning Only a Clock

If no Event Type is selected, clicking a grid cell assigns only the selected clock. The cell is displayed without an Air Schedule color.

For normal station setup, it is preferable to select both a clock and an operating mode so APEX has an explicit instruction for the hour.

Setting Up Satellite Hours

For a satellite hour:

Select the appropriate satellite clock from the clock list.
Select Satellite Mode under Event Type.
Select the satellite Source Channel.
Select the appropriate Jock Folder.
Click each hour that should use those settings.
Verify that the cells show the clock name with a yellow background.
Select Save and Close.

The satellite clock should contain the events needed by the program, such as satellite source periods, breaks, IDs, commands, or other station-specific events.

Different satellite programs can use different clocks, source channels, and Jock Folder assignments.

Example Weekly Setup

A station might use:

Morning Drive with Automation Mode from 6:00 AM through 10:00 AM
Default with Automation Mode during general music hours
Sat 1 with Satellite Mode during a syndicated program
Live Show with Live Assist Mode during a locally hosted program
Manual with Manual Play Mode during special programming

To configure this, select each clock and mode, then click the applicable cells in the weekly grid.

Changing an Existing Assignment

To replace an existing assignment:

Open Assign Clocks.
Select the replacement clock.
Select the replacement Air Schedule mode.
Configure the Source Channel and Jock Folder if using Satellite Mode.
Click the cell that needs to be changed.
Confirm that its text and color have changed.
Select Save and Close.

Saving a new value for a cell replaces its previous weekly assignment.

Saving the Weekly Air Schedule

Select Save and Close after completing the assignments. APEX saves the weekly clock and Air Schedule configuration for the selected station and refreshes the currently displayed hour.

Wait for the save operation to finish before leaving the Schedule Manager or changing stations.

These assignments are weekly defaults. They do not immediately rewrite every previously created Play Schedule. They are used when clocks are applied, schedules are imported, or an empty hour is prepared for the On-Air Playlist.

Creating a Date-Specific Air Schedule Event

The Air Schedule column on the main Schedule Manager can be used when a particular date or portion of an hour must differ from the weekly default.

Examples include:

A special live broadcast
A one-time satellite program
A temporary Manual Play period
Switching from Automation to Live Assist during part of an hour
Scheduling a webstream

To create a date-specific Air Schedule event:

Select the desired date and hour.
Click the desired starting position in the Air Schedule column.
Select the Event Type.
Enter the Start Time within the hour.
Enter the event Length, or select Whole Hour when appropriate.
Enter any additional information required by the selected mode.
Select Apply.
Review the event block in the Air Schedule column.
Select Save Changes.

Double-click an existing Air Schedule event to edit it.

Date-Specific Air Schedule Event Types

The main Air Schedule editor provides:

Manual Play Mode
Live Assist Mode
Automation Mode
Satellite (Audio Feed and Logic Control)
Webstream Feed (Audio Only)

For Satellite operation, select the Source Channel and Jock Folder. For a webstream, enter a complete stream URL beginning with http:// or https://.

Partial-Hour Mode Changes

More than one Air Schedule event can be placed within an hour. For example:

Automation Mode from 00:00 through 20:00
Satellite Mode from 20:00 through 50:00
Automation Mode from 50:00 through the end of the hour

When creating partial-hour events, verify that:

The entire hour is covered as intended.
Events do not overlap unintentionally.
There are no unplanned gaps between modes.
Satellite events have the correct source and Jock Folder.

Relationship to Empty Play Schedules

If a Play Schedule is empty when the hour is pulled into the On-Air Playlist, APEX can automatically apply the assigned clock. The Air Schedule mode then determines how that resulting hour is operated.

For Automation hours, unresolved Song Category positions are automatically populated before the hour goes to air. Manual, Live Assist, and Satellite hours retain the structure appropriate to their assigned mode.

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