As we continue to expand our RCS Live Archive, we decided to start exploring unique user examples for specific Zetta modules. This week, we showcased the Zetta Stacks module, a user driven module that has multiple chameleon-like workflows. Focusing on real life user examples, we discussed how to create a “Coming Up Next Hour” talent promo, how morning shows like to interpret Stacks, contesting, News/Talk formats, sports and daily features, like a “Top 8 @ 8.”
The Stacks module allows users to drag and drop a collection of elements and either play them in order or individually. Similar to Hot Keys, programmers can cycle through unlimited Stacks banks and these banks are part of the user rights and restrictions. To add audio, simple drag and drop an asset from anywhere within Zetta.
Now that we understand Stacks basics, let’s breakdown user examples. For the “Coming Up Next Hour” promo, when your talent is having a slow news day, a fantastic easy relatable content break is to tease the next hour’s music. But to sound like a true pro, why not create a promo on the fly? Talent can see what’s upcoming in the following hour and for their longer “Jock Talk” break before the last spot block of the hour, drag power or new music into the Stacks module, right click to enable “Hook Enabled” and then layer sound effects in between the hooks for a final product: “WRCS-FM, it’s Nate. We have another hour of great music on the way –“ trigger the Stacks module to play a SFX, music hook, SFX, hook, SFX, hook and use the stop chain for the final element, like a quickie or outro sweeper, to stop the Stacks, finally manually firing the Log / On-Air sequencer.
What if you have a feature rich morning show? Some morning show talent like to include multiple production elements, like news, traffic, and weather beds, in their Stacks bank and either fire them from the Stacks module or drag and drop them into the Log or On-Air module for playback. Or if they’re running a daily contest, Program Directors can queue up that day’s “Contest Intro,” “Contest Solicit” and “Contest Outro,” right from the Stacks module.
News / Talk formats can create multiple Stacks banks, either for every hour, like 6am or 7am, or content block, 6:00am, 6:20am, 6:40am, etc…. Producers can continue to work from the production studio, add news clips to the Stacks: 7am bank and then talent can trigger them from the Stacks module in the air studio. Some clients even use a Hot Key or GPO physical board trigger to fire the “Stacks: Play Next” command so that the talent has a simple workflow to play news clips from their studio. Sports programmers can populate Stacks banks for board-ops who need filler content during pitching changes, overtime or perhaps additional sponsored ads for quick reference.
If you have a daily feature, like a “Top 8 @ 8,” then Program Directors can drag and drop that day’s countdown into a Stacks bank. If you have listener driven countdowns, then the talent can accept calls and adjust the order of the Stacks. When the feature is ready to play, either fire all the elements within the Stacks module or highlight all the elements and drag them into the log. If you want to reconcile the appropriate elements, don’t forget to switch to the Stacks’ On-Air mode.
Did you know that RCS is hiring? Media Monitors is looking for an Install Engineer and you can apply on our website here . Zetta 5.21.2 is just about ready for Beta users and if you want to play with the latest and greatest RCS features, reach out to your local RCS contact to become a Beta user. And we’ll see you again next Thursday at 11am ET for another installment of RCS Live!