Xpert Playout (V107.0.0.1320) Professional Advanced Broadcast Playout Software
Summary
Xpert Playout V107.0.0.1320 is a professional broadcast playout software designed for television and radio stations to automate their content playback. This software allows broadcasters to schedule programs, commercials, promos, and station IDs to play automatically without manual operator intervention. Unlike consumer media players like VLC or Windows Media Player, Xpert Playout is built for 24/7 broadcast environments with features like failover protection, logo insertion, and real-time schedule changes.
Broadcast engineers, TV channel operators, and radio station managers use this software because it eliminates the need for expensive hardware playout servers. A single computer running Xpert Playout can replace a rack of video servers costing tens of thousands of dollars. The software is famous in the broadcast industry for its stability, low hardware requirements, and support for multiple video formats including MPEG-2, H.264, and ProRes.
What This Software Actually Does
Xpert Playout V107.0.0.1320 automates the entire broadcast playback chain. You create a playlist with all your content movies, shows, commercials, news segments, and station IDs and the software plays them in sequence at the scheduled times. The software supports multiple video and audio tracks, so you can have main program audio on track one and secondary language or voiceover on track two. The built-in scheduler handles daily, weekly, and monthly recurring events, so you set it once and it runs automatically.
The software also handles live switching. When a live event like breaking news or a sports match is scheduled, it stops playing the recorded content and switches to a live camera input. After the live event ends, the software resumes the playlist from where it left off. This is critical for news channels that need to interrupt regular programming without manual operator intervention. The software also supports logo insertion (station watermark), lower thirds (text overlays), and real-time schedule changes while on-air.
Industries That Use Xpert Playout V107.0.0.1320
Television broadcasters: They are the primary users of Xpert Playout. Small to medium TV stations use it as their primary playout server because it costs a fraction of traditional hardware solutions. A local TV station airing from 6 AM to midnight with 18 hours of daily programming can load all content into Xpert Playout, set the schedule once, and the software runs unattended for the entire day. The station manager only intervenes for live events or schedule changes.
Cable TV headends: use Xpert Playout to insert local commercials into national feeds. A cable operator receives a satellite feed from a national network, uses this software to switch to local commercials at specific times, then switches back to the national feed. This allows local cable companies to sell advertising space in their local market without investing in expensive ad insertion hardware.
Educational institutions and corporate TV: These channels use Xpert Playout for internal broadcasting. Universities with campus TV stations use the software to air student-produced content, lecture recordings, and campus announcements. Corporate communication departments use it to broadcast training videos, internal news, and CEO messages to office displays or employee TVs. The software’s low cost makes it accessible for non-broadcast organizations.
Internet TV and streaming channels: They use Xpert Playout to generate live streams for platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, and Twitch. The software outputs video to streaming encoders, which then send the feed to online platforms. A radio station that wants to add a visual radio channel can use Xpert Playout to display song titles, album art, and social media comments while the audio plays.
Workflow Experience
The typical workflow in Xpert Playout starts with content preparation. You import your video files (MP4, AVI, MOV, MXF, MPG) into the media library. The software scans each file and displays its duration, resolution, codec, and audio tracks. You can trim clips, add in and out points, and set transition effects between clips. For commercial breaks, you can create blocks that rotate ads in a specific order or randomly.
The next step is scheduling. Open the playlist editor and drag media files from the library into the playlist. You can set exact start times for each item or simply arrange them in order and let the software play them sequentially. For recurring content like daily news at 6 PM, you set a daily event once and the software repeats it automatically. For weekly shows, you set a weekly event. For special events like holiday programming, you create a one-time schedule override.
During broadcast, the operator monitors the playout screen which shows the current playing item, the next three items in the queue, and a real-time clock. The operator can jump to any item in the playlist, pause the current item, or insert a new item immediately. All changes happen without glitches or black frames because the software buffers the next video in memory. When a live event starts, the operator clicks “Live” and the software switches to camera input. When the live event ends, clicking “Playlist” resumes the recorded content.
Interface Design
It uses a professional, multi-window interface designed for broadcast operators who need to monitor multiple things simultaneously. The main window is divided into four areas. The top left shows the current program video with real-time audio levels. The top right shows the playlist with scheduled items, start times, and durations. The bottom left shows the media library where all your video files are stored. The bottom right shows the event log that records every action taken by the operator or the automation system.
Learning Curve
The learning curve for Xpert Playout is moderate. A broadcast operator with experience using any automation software can become productive in one to two days. A complete beginner with no broadcast experience typically needs one week of training to operate the software confidently. The most time-consuming part is learning the scheduler understanding how to set daily repeats, weekly repeats, one-time overrides, and priority rules.
The software includes a built-in help system with searchable topics. The manufacturer provides PDF user manual and video tutorials on their website. Many users also learn from YouTube tutorials created by other broadcasters. The most challenging concepts for new users are failover configuration and live switching setup. Failover requires configuring a backup computer that takes over if the main computer fails, which involves network setup and file synchronization. Live switching requires configuring video capture cards and input sources.
Output Quality
- It produces broadcast-quality output that matches the original source files. The software does not re-encode video during playback, so there is no quality loss.
- If you input an MPEG-2 file at 50 Mbps, the software outputs the same 50 Mbps stream. This is different from consumer video players that may downscale or recompress video.
- The software supports resolutions up to 1080p (Full HD) and frame rates up to 60 fps.
- The output can be sent to multiple destinations simultaneously. The primary output goes to a video capture card connected to your broadcast transmitter or streaming encoder.
- The preview output shows on the computer monitor. A secondary output can send the same video to a confidence monitor in the control room.
- For radio stations, the audio output can be sent to a separate sound card while video outputs are disabled.
- The software includes professional transitions between clips. You can choose from cuts, fades, wipes, and slides. Each transition has adjustable duration from 0.1 to 5 seconds.
- The software also includes audio crossfades so the sound does not abruptly stop between clips. For commercial blocks, you can enable random transitions so each commercial has a different effect.
- The logo insertion feature places your station watermark on the video without reducing video quality. The logo can fade in and out at program boundaries.
Useful Tools
The logo and lower third tool allows on-screen graphics without external equipment. You upload a PNG file with transparency for your station logo. Position it in any corner with adjustable size and opacity. For lower thirds, type the text in the editor, choose font, color, background, and animation style (fly in from left, fade, or scroll). The text stays on screen for the duration you set. For news channels, lower thirds are essential for identifying speakers, locations, and breaking news alerts.
The live switching tool accepts input from capture cards. Connect a camera via HDMI or SDI, configure the input in settings, and the software shows the camera feed in the preview window. When you click “Live,” the software switches from playlist playback to camera input. The switch is seamless — no black frames, no audio pops. Click “Playlist” to return to recorded content. The software remembers the playback position so the show continues from where it was interrupted.
Alternative Solutions
Several alternatives to Xpert Playout exist in the broadcast automation market. OBS Studio is free and open-source software that can play video files in sequence. It works for simple streaming but lacks professional features like failover protection, logo insertion with transparency, and advanced scheduling. OBS is suitable for small internet radio stations or hobbyists, but not for 24/7 TV broadcast.
vMix is a paid software that combines live production and playout. It costs more than Xpert Playout and is designed more for live switching than automated playlist playback. vMix is excellent for sports broadcasts or events with multiple cameras, but its scheduling features are less advanced than Xpert Playout. PlayBox Neo is a professional broadcast playout system used by major TV networks. It offers similar features to Xpert Playout but costs significantly more typically ten to twenty times the price of Xpert Playout.
CasparCG is free broadcast graphics and playout software used by some TV stations. It is extremely powerful but requires programming knowledge to configure. Most small stations lack the technical staff to set up and maintain CasparCG. Mitto is a playout software focused on digital signage and retail displays, not broadcast television. It lacks broadcast-specific features like failover protection and live switching.
| Software | Price | Failover | Advanced Scheduling | Live Switching | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xpert Playout | Mid-range | Yes | Yes | Yes | TV & radio stations |
| OBS Studio | Free | No | Basic | Yes | Hobbyists, streaming |
| vMix | Mid-high | No | Basic | Excellent | Live events, sports |
| PlayBox Neo | High (10-20x) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Major TV networks |
| CasparCG | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stations with programming staff |
Final Thoughts
It is an excellent broadcast playout solution for small to medium television and radio stations. The software delivers professional features advanced scheduling, failover protection, logo insertion, lower thirds, and live switching at a fraction of the cost of traditional hardware playout servers. For a local TV station broadcasting 18 hours daily, the software pays for itself within months compared to renting hardware playout services.
For most small to medium broadcasters, it offers the best balance of price, features, and reliability. It is trusted by hundreds of TV and radio stations worldwide for daily broadcast. The software is available for a free trial, so you can test it with your content before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Xpert Playout V107.0.0.1320 free or paid?
It is paid software. The manufacturer offers a free trial with full features for evaluation. After the trial period, you must purchase a license to continue using the software. Pricing varies by region — contact an authorized reseller or the manufacturer for current pricing.
2. Can Xpert Playout output to streaming platforms like YouTube or Facebook?
Yes. The software outputs video through capture cards. Connect a streaming encoder (like OBS Studio or vMix) to the capture card output, and the encoder sends the feed to streaming platforms. Some users run it and OBS on the same computer using virtual capture cards.
3. How does failover protection work?
You install this software on two computers connected to the same network. The main computer sends a heartbeat signal every few seconds. The backup computer monitors this signal. If the heartbeat stops, the backup computer takes over within three seconds. Both computers must have identical media files and playlists.
4. Can I use Xpert Playout for radio broadcasting?
Yes. The software supports audio-only playout. Disable the video preview window and use the audio output through your sound card. The scheduler works the same for audio files. Many radio stations use Xpert Playout for automated music and commercial playback.
5. Does Xpert Playout include closed captioning support?
The software passes through closed captioning data embedded in video files. It does not generate captions or support live captioning. For live captioning, you need external caption encoder hardware or software that integrates with your broadcast chain.
