A video from a link plays a video directly from an address on a server. It is a normal media cue, with a timeline and in and out points; the only difference is that the file is on a server instead of on your disk.
Adding a video from a link
Click the arrow beside Media in the toolbar, choose Video from a link… and paste the address.
You can also drag a link onto the list. If the address plays directly, it becomes this type of cue by itself.
Use a direct link
Use the address of the video file itself. Such an address ends in .mp4, .mov or .m3u8, for example. Do not use the address of the page that contains the video.
The difference matters, because a link to a video file gives a media cue with a timeline, in and out points, a countdown and a follow action. A link to a page is a website, and that gives a web page cue, which does not behave like a clip.
If you paste text that is not a link, the program tells you.
When to use it
| Situation | Why a link is suitable |
|---|---|
| The clip is on your own server or NAS, available over http | You do not need to keep a copy up to date |
| A stream URL that never changes | You do not need to update the list every week |
| A file that is too large to copy to every computer | Every computer uses the same source |
Points to note
The connection becomes part of the show. A file on disk plays at the speed of the disk, but a file from a link plays at the speed of the network at that moment. For a video that must not stutter, copy the file to the computer and use a normal media cue.
Arm the cue early. The program prepares an armed cue in advance, so for a link the connection is already open when you press GO. While the previous cue plays, the list does this by itself.
A link that no longer works gives a black screen. The program cannot detect a broken address when you open the list, so if a show depends on a link, play the cue once when you check the list.