As part of our back to basic series, we’re reviewing how to add media and live copy to an Aquira contract. This week Dawn Newberry, Aquira Traffic Sales Engineer, joined us to offer her unique insight into everyday Aquira tips and tricks, including how to replicate live copy with Aquira attributes. Plus, we discussed the importance of purging your Media IDs, Automation Codes, and more.
We’re working within Aquira’s Creative | Media and Copy tabs, which will allow the user to attach media to an existing proposal or contract. It’s important to note that as part of the everyday commercial traffic workflow, it’s very common to have a proposal approved before the media is ready. However, Aquira cannot send a traffic log until media, or the audio, has been attached to the spot. Just like other areas in Aquira, Media includes the Browse and Detail subtabs, where users can see an entire list of media from the Browse. If you want to filter your results, don’t forget that you can left click and drag a column header into the grouping area or add/remove desired fields through the Grid Settings.
Working within the Detail subtab, Aquira includes multiple fields that cater to any station’s needs. Aside from the basic fields, like the name of the media or Advertiser, make a note of the voices and duration. Voices can be used in separating same voices within the same Spot Block and duration is important as Aquira will flag any mismatched media based on the proposed runtime, like a 30 second spot that was purchased as a 60 second spot. On the right, we have the Contract Usage area, which displays what contracts contain the piece of media. Remember, there are many ways advertisers can schedule spots. For example, you may have one piece of media that is assigned to multiple contracts or a single contract that includes multiple pieces of media.
At the bottom of the Details tab, we have the Automation Code workspace where users can add a local automation system and corresponding Automation Code, Media ID, External ID, etc… The * will allow users to select the next available ID and if you are a Traffic Center, or one Aquira system that generates logs for all the stations within a company, note how users can define multiple automation systems, each with their own local ID for proper distribution. If you’re using the Aquira Zetta Sync tool, then any metadata created here will replicate over in Zetta – instantly. For example, if you click on the Live icon, that will change the Zetta Playback Method to Live Event. Just make sure to enable the Confirm Live Events option so that the spot is correctly reconciled. If Aquira has access to the audio path, you’ll also be able to preview the audio using the play button.
Other important Media features, moving onto the Audio Required subtab, this is where users can see a live snapshot of contracts that are on the log that are missing media. It’s a quick and easy way for Traffic Managers to see what spots need to be addressed, just like a Zetta Missing Audio Report, only in Aquira. Next to Audio Required, we have the Purge List subtab. Each station has their own requirements or workflows, but we strongly recommend that station’s do not recycle old cart numbers. The idea that after a period of time, like a year, the Traffic Manager should go into their Aquira database and purge any old IDs. Don’t forget to also purge old audio in your automation system as well. The reason behind this? You don’t want to have a rogue spot fall through the cracks. Perhaps the Production Manager never put an end date on the spot in Zetta and then the Traffic Manager scheduled the new spot, using the same cart number, which translated into a match between your automation system and Aquira. Remember, traffic systems are only looking for audio, once they see audio is available, they’re assuming the user attached the correct media. By purging your IDs, you’re preventing accidents like these from hitting the air.
As we continue the RCS Live series, our goal is to empower users to start to think, “I want to do this.” Typically, a user would use the Creative | Copy tab to attach any live copy, however, we’ve seen users who want a more streamlined workflow, so we created a custom attribute within the Media | Detail subtab to include any live read copy. Of course it’s more basic than the Creative | Copy | Copy Script workspace, but if you want a quick and efficient trick to include live copy within Media – custom attributes are the way to go.
Speaking of Creative | Copy, this is where users would go to include any live reads. It’s also required if you are billing any live co-op. From the General subtab, we have the basic Aquira details like Advertiser, Contract, Voice, custom attributes and more. The Copy Script subtab offers an extensive workspace that allows users to write and outline live reads that, if you have the Zetta Sync tool enabled, will automatically import into Zetta’s Script | Notes module.
RCS is back on the road for 2023! If you’re attending one of the radio conferences and want to schedule some one on one time to review any workflows or RCS products, reach out to your local RCS contract to lock in a time. Otherwise, we’re always looking for Beta users for Zetta, GSelector and Aquira and if you’re looking for previous RCS Live videos, check out our RCS Live Archive here.