Quickstart

This guide covers the first steps to get a stream running with xtra audio.

The in-app onboarding guide walks through these steps interactively. See Onboarding for details.

Recommended order

The steps below build on each other. Following them in order ensures everything connects correctly - for example, a sequence needs a playlist, and a playlist needs uploaded media.

xtra audio runs in any modern browser. A desktop app is also available. Check the system requirements before setup.

For questions during setup, use the live chat in the bottom-right corner of the application. See Support.

Step 1: Create a Project

1. Open the dashboard
2. Click Create Project
3. Enter a project name and optionally upload an avatar
4. Complete the billing setup: enter a billing address and payment method

Projects are containers for stations, media, and team members. One project can contain multiple stations.

Step 2: Create a Station

1. Open Stations in the project sidebar
2. Click Create Station
3. Enter a station name, select a color, and optionally upload a logo
4. Select a plan and billing interval (monthly or yearly)
5. Review the cost summary, accept terms, and confirm the purchase

Plans range from Basic (automated playout) to Ultimate (full feature set). Higher plans unlock additional capabilities like voice tracking, live broadcasting, and advanced audio processing. If you're unsure, start with a lower plan - you can upgrade at any time.

A station represents one broadcast channel with its own stream output, schedule, and studio.

Step 3: Create a Playlist

1. Open Playlists in the media library sidebar
2. Click Create Playlist
3. Enter a name (e.g., "My Music")

Playlists organize your media into collections that sequences can reference. Creating the playlist first makes it easy to add files directly when uploading.

Step 4: Upload Media

1. Open Media Library in the project sidebar
2. Click Upload to open the upload page
3. Drag audio files into the drop zone or click to browse
4. Review metadata (title is required) and click Upload
5. Upload at least 10 files - this is the minimum needed to fill a rotation properly
6. Add the uploaded files to your playlist

Supported formats: MP3, MP2, WAV, FLAC, OGG, WebM, M4A, AAC. Maximum file size is 1 GB. Files are automatically analyzed for loudness normalization.

See Media Library for file organization, playlists, and metadata.

Step 5: Create a Sequence

1. Open Sequences in the station sidebar
2. Click Create Sequence
3. Enter a name (e.g., "Music Rotation")
4. Add a media action and assign your playlist as source
5. Save the sequence

Sequences define what content plays automatically. A sequence can combine music, jingles, and other elements. Each action in a sequence pulls from a playlist and can be configured with a timing type (normal, hard fixed, soft fixed, or backtimed).

See Planner for details on sequence configuration.

Step 6: Schedule the Sequence

1. Open Planner in the station sidebar
2. Switch to the Week Planner tab
3. Select a sequence in the sidebar to arm it
4. Click and drag on the calendar grid to place the sequence in a time slot
5. Drag the edges to adjust duration, or repeat for additional hours

The week planner defines which sequence runs during each hour of the week. This schedule repeats automatically, so a fully populated week means fully automated playout.

Step 7: Generate the Rotation

1. Open Rotations in the station sidebar
2. Click Generate for the current hour

The rotation creates the actual playlist items from your sequence rules. Without generating, the studio playlist remains empty. Rotations are generated per hour - the system picks tracks from your playlists according to the sequence rules and creates a concrete playlist for that time slot.

Step 8: Start the Station

1. Open Studio in the station sidebar
2. Toggle the power button in the station header to start the station

The station begins automated playback. You can listen to the output directly in the studio.

Step 9: Explore the Studio

The studio operates in three playback modes:

Mode	Behavior
AUTO	Fully automated playout from the planner schedule
ASSIST	Semi-manual - the presenter triggers each next item
MANUAL	Full manual control over every player

For a first test, keep the default AUTO mode. The studio will play through the rotation automatically.

See Live Studio for mixer, cartwall, and advanced features.

Next Steps

Topic	Description
Onboarding	Interactive in-app walkthrough of these steps
Concepts	Project hierarchy, core features
System Requirements	Supported browsers and hardware
Desktop App	Run xtra audio outside the browser
Media Library	File organization, playlists, metadata
Live Studio	Mixer, cartwall, playback modes
Planner	Automated scheduling, sequences
Station Settings	Encoders, audio processing, webhooks
Support	Live chat and help during setup