A media playlist is a block of files that behaves as one item in the running order. One GO starts it, and the files then play one after another by themselves, so twenty clips take one line in the list instead of twenty.
Adding a media playlist
Click the arrow beside Media in the toolbar, choose Media playlist… and select the files. They become one playlist group, in the order in which you selected them.
The two settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Repeat the whole playlist | After the last file, the playlist starts again with the first. |
| Shuffle the order | Each time the playlist runs, the files play in a random order. |
Both settings belong to the playlist, and not to the individual files.
How it plays
GO starts the first file, and each file is followed by the next by itself. While the playlist runs, the green line points at the line after the block. The next GO therefore takes you out of the playlist, and the playlist needs nothing from you while it runs.
What happens after the last file depends on repeat. With repeat off, the line after the block starts by itself. With repeat on, the playlist repeats until you press GO.
The files in the playlist keep their own trim and volume, so you can give one clip an out point and leave the others unchanged.
When to use a playlist
| Situation | Why a playlist is suitable |
|---|---|
| A series of adverts or announcements | One line in the list instead of twelve |
| Filler that must continue before the start | With repeat and shuffle on, it needs no attention |
| A set of clips in any order | Shuffle |
When not to use a playlist
Do not use a playlist when each item needs its own settings. A playlist is one line, so a follow action, a link to another playout or a transition applies to the whole block and not to one clip inside it. If these settings differ for each item, use separate cues in a group. The list is then just as tidy, and you can set everything for each line.
Do not use a playlist when you need to jump to a specific item. A playlist plays in its own order, so if you want to start item seven directly, make it a separate cue.