Producing Spots

File Layouts (NLE Sequences)

Master control facilities are constantly moving more and more toward complete file-based workflows (workflows in which media is not dubbed to tape in any part of the process). As this happens, we see an increase in the importance of what is known as metadata—unique identifiers, durations, start of message points, etc.

At the non-linear editing stage, certain guidelines can help us ensure the validity of the metadata provided along with your mediafiles. This in turn, can add smoothness and accuracy to the entire workflow as your original files are cataloged and prepared for air. Below, are diagrams that represent proper layout within non-linear editing software, depending on whether you are producing spots with slates or without them.

The single most important element to notice in these diagrams is that commercials should end with a single frame of black. Knowing this information allows our system to determine the duration of your commercial and to protect it from being clipped at the wrong position during ingest.

We recommend not including tone or any audio prior to the start of the commercial because certain transcoding appliances may be thrown off during the process of analyzing the audio of the commercial.

Option 1. Commercial without slate or black

When you add new files to our system we collect all important metadata about these files—this information is forever linked to associated files. Therefore, slates are not really necessary and are deemed optional.

Option 2. Commercial with leading slate and black

If you are producing spots preceded by slate and black, it is important note the position in the layout where the actual commercial starts (relative to the beginning of the slate). This position is commonly known as start point, start of message, or simply SOM.

HD and Center-Cut Safety

Some stations only accept 16×9 HD material with a 4×3 safe title area.

Some viewers still watch our stations and your advertisements on Standard Definition 4×3 aspect ratio television sets. Our cable and satellite distribution partners as well as all “Set Top Boxes”, by default, center cut 16×9 HD material during the down conversion process. Therefore, any important information outside this area will not be seen on 4×3 televisions.

Audio Layouts

When uploading files into Spotloader, you are required to specify an “Audio Layout” option. An audio layout refers to the arrangement of audio channels in the file and the type of audio (stereo, surround sound, etc).

All channels must be contained in one single multi-channel track.
Multiple mono tracks are also accepted.
Multiple tracks containing more than one channel per track are not accepted.

Audio Layout Options:

SAP means Second Audio Programming.
DVS means Descriptive Video Service and is also called Audio Description.

Not all stations accept files containing surround sound, SAP, and/or DVS.
** You much check with each station before submitting your file. **