First Launch & Setup
The first time you open AutoCast, it installs a ready-to-use Sample Station at ~/TuneTracker/Station — that's a folder called "TuneTracker" in your home directory, with a "Station" folder inside it. This sample station contains demo content so you have something real to work with and learn on right away. No blank screen, no waiting — just launch and explore.
In most cases, that's all the setup you need. AutoCast finds the Station Folder automatically and goes straight to the main interface.
If You Want to Use a Different Location
The default location at ~/TuneTracker/Station works great for most stations. But if you need your Station Folder somewhere else — on an external drive, a network share, or a different disk — you can point AutoCast there from Settings → System → Station Folder Path. Click Change…, navigate to your preferred location, and AutoCast will use that path from then on.
If you're adding AutoCast to a station that already runs other TuneTracker apps — Librarian, ClockWork — they've already configured a Station Folder path, and AutoCast will find it automatically without any setup at all.
The Station Folder path is shared across all TuneTracker apps through a shared system preference. Configure it once in any app, and all the others know where to look.
What's Inside the Station Folder
The Station Folder is the single root directory that holds everything AutoCast works with — audio files, program logs, commercial schedules, settings, button definitions, and logs of what aired. Everything under one roof, which makes it simple to back up your entire station or move it to a new machine.
Here's what you'll find inside:
| Folder | What Goes Here |
|---|---|
| Music/ | Your music library files — the songs AutoCast plays on air. |
| Commercials/ | Spot audio files for commercials and paid announcements. |
| Programs/ | Syndicated shows, pre-recorded programs, and long-form content. |
| Promos/ | Station promos and tune-in announcements. |
| Liners/ | Short station IDs and imaging pieces. |
| Sweepers/ | Music beds, stingers, and audio transitions. |
| Jingles/ | Jingle packages and musical station IDs. |
| Logs/Program Logs/ | The daily program logs generated by ClockWork. AutoCast reads these to know what to play. |
| Logs/Traffic Logs/ | Commercial schedules imported from your traffic system. |
| Logs/Output Logs/ | A record of everything that actually aired, with timestamps. Great for affidavits and peace of mind. |
| Logs/Report Logs/ | AutoCast's own diagnostic log — useful if something goes sideways. |
| Logs/Database/ | Your music library database and voice track rotation state. |
| Misc/System/Settings/ | AutoCast's settings file. You don't need to edit this directly — the Settings window handles it. |
| Misc/System/ButtonPad/ | Your Button Pad definitions. |
| Misc/System/Wallpaper/ | Background images for the time-of-day wallpaper feature. |
The color-coding of items in AutoCast's program log is based on which subfolder each audio file lives in. Keeping your files organized in the right subfolders isn't just good housekeeping — it makes the on-screen display much easier to read at a glance.
The Music Library Database
AutoCast maintains a database of your music — not just the files themselves, but information about each one: artist, title, album, genre, the point in the song where the vocals start (the Ramp), the point where the next song should begin crossfading (the EOM, for End-of-Message), the cue point where playback begins, and more.
This database is managed by Librarian. If you're using Librarian to maintain your music library, AutoCast always has current, accurate information about every song. AutoCast loads the full library into memory at startup, so searches are instant.
Recommended System Setup
Dedicate a Mac to AutoCast. Your automation computer shouldn't be running video editing, gaming, or heavy background tasks while it's responsible for keeping the station on the air. It doesn't need to be a powerhouse — AutoCast is efficient — but it should be focused on that job.
Enable automatic login. For AutoCast to restart itself after a power failure or reboot without anyone in the building, macOS needs to log in automatically. AutoCast will warn you if this isn't set up. You'll find the option in System Settings → Users & Groups.
Configure your audio outputs. You'll need at least a primary audio output — whatever your station's audio chain connects to. If you want to audition music privately before it goes on air, a separate preview output is handy too. Both are configured in AutoCast's Settings window, covered in detail in the Settings Reference.
Turn on Reboot Recovery in Settings → System. When it's enabled, AutoCast automatically resumes playback from where it left off after an unexpected shutdown. The first time your power flickers at midnight and AutoCast quietly picks back up, you'll be very glad you did.
Licensing
AutoCast uses a license tied to your Mac. When you purchase, TuneTracker Systems provides a license key that you enter in About AutoCast → License Manager. The license is verified online and associated with your machine. If you ever move to a new Mac, contact TuneTracker Systems to transfer your license.
Next up: A Tour of the Interface →