Sorted by what you see, not by what causes it — because at the moment you need this page, the cause is exactly what you do not know.
| It looks like | Page |
|---|---|
| Black where there should be picture | No picture on the output |
| A cue does not play, with a warning mark | A file is missing |
| Audio stutters, or comes twice | Doubled audio or howling |
| The stream will not start | The stream will not connect |
| The control panel sees nothing | Companion sees nothing |
| The program will not start at all | The program will not start |
| Somebody asks you to send the log | Sending logs |
During a broadcast, two things
Esc gives you black on the playout you are driving. When something is on screen that must not be, that is the fastest key on the keyboard.
Red is what the audience sees. When you have lost track, look for the red line — not the green one, which is only a plan.
Diagnosing comes afterwards. Nothing on these pages is worth doing while a service is running.
Where to look first, always
The status bar, bottom right. One block per playout, with its output and its missed frames. It is the only place in the window that tells you what left the building rather than what the program intended.