VRS1 is a cloud-based radio studio solution allowing radio stations to easily schedule, automate, and playout directly to an AM or FM transmitter site for over-the-air broadcast via a virtual machine. A virtual machine, commonly shortened to just VM, is a replacement for a physical computer in your studio.
In this tutorial we will cover:
Connecting to your Virtual Machine using the Remote Desktop app
The easiest way to connect to your VM is through Remote Desktop or RDP. To begin, navigate to your windows search bar and begin typing Remote Desktop (1) until you see Remote Desktop Connection (2).
Once you open this program, you will see the following screen indicating you need to point the service to a computer.
To do so, you will enter the IP we provided you for your VM followed by the port :24542 Keep in mind there is no space in between the two and it should look similar to the example in the image below.
Now that the IP is entered in this field, click on Connect in the bottom right corner of the window. (If you receive an error during this step, double-check that your IP is correct)
The next page that will appear will be the login for your VM. You will need to click on More choices and then Use a different account. This will allow you to type in the login information we provided. This will usually be your first initial followed by your last name. Then enter your password into the field and click OK in the bottom left corner (5)
Finally, you will see a certificate confirmation screen. This just asks if you are sure you want to connect to that device. Click Yes to proceed (2), and if you do not want to see this screen again be sure to check the Don't ask me again box (1).
Connecting through FTP
FTP allows you a simple way to manage the media on your server without taking up as many resources as RDP. To get started with this method you will need to launch the FTP program of your choice. (The following examples will be using FileZilla, but it will be similar across most programs)
- You will first need to enter the server's IP address into the Host field (1).
- Then, for (2) and (3), you will use the FTP username and password we provided to you. This username will also most likely be your first initial followed by your last name.
- Then for the Port field (4), you will need to enter the number 21. Your FTP Client may not have this field so you will add :21 to the end of the IP address.
- Finally, click the Quickconnect button, and if you are shown a prompt select Allow or Yes depending on the specific message.
The left side (red border) will be your local computer's storage. This will allow you to navigate through your files and find the media you wish to upload to the server. The right side (blue border) will be the server's storage.
You can navigate through the server's directory to where you want media uploaded to. To get the media from your local device to the server, it is as simple as clicking on the desired file/s and dragging them from the left to where you would like them on the right.
A quick tip:
You can select multiple files by holding the left control key and selecting each file. Additionally, you can select a group of items by clicking on the first item, scrolling to the last item, hold the left shift, and then click on the last item.
Managing your media and automation
Media management
Now that you have successfully connected to your virtual machine and uploaded some of your media, you can organize and manage your uploaded files just as you would on your local machine. Start by selecting the folder icon on the taskbar which is located at the very bottom of the screen.
The icons found on your taskbar may vary depending on your exact setup, so if you are unable to find the file explorer icon click on the magnifying glass and search for File Explorer.
Now that you have the File Explorer opened, you can view, delete, or move different media you have uploaded. Many times, the uploaded files can be accessed somewhere through quick access which should open by default.
If the file you are looking for is not here, click on This PC, and then the C: drive.
Once here, you will be able to search through the entire directory on your VM. Most uploaded items will be contained under Users, then your login username.
Automation
With your Virtual Machine, you can add a StationPlaylist instance the license of which is rented through us at a discounted price. However, you are not limited to StationPlaylist. You can utilize any automation software you choose. The automation on your VM can be used just as it would on your local computer. You can also view our article that details StationPlaylist if would like to know more about this specific automation.
If you have any further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact our Support Team through the ticket submission form or by emailing us at [email protected].