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Background audio

Slideshow can play background audio independently of what is shown on the screen. You can use it in two ways:

  • In addition to regular screen playback – for example, background music in a shop while promotional images and videos are displayed on the screen.
  • As a headless music player – without any screen connected, with the sound going directly to speakers via HDMI, 3.5 mm audio jack or S/PDIF optical output (depending on the device).

Background audio is played from a special audio playlist, which is not assigned to any screen layout zone. Instead, it has its own audio playlists schedule, so the music can change throughout the day regardless of the screen content.

Supported audio sources

Slideshow supports background audio in the form of:

  • Audio files stored in the device's internal memory (e.g., MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, MIDI) – see supported media types for the full list.
  • Network audio streams – e.g., internet radio stations streamed via HTTP / HTTPS.

Setting up background audio

All steps can be done via Slideshow's web interface:

  1. Upload audio files to the device via menu File Manager (skip this step if you are using an audio stream).
  2. Create content via menu Content that describes what should be played, for example:
    • Single file – play one specific audio file,
    • Files alphabetically or Files randomly – play multiple audio files, e.g., all files in a particular folder,
    • Audio/video stream – play an internet radio or other audio stream.
  3. Edit the playlist (the playlist is created automatically together with the content, or you can create your own via menu Playlists) and set Sound to Audio playlist.
  4. Schedule the audio playlist via menu Playlists → button Audio playlists schedule. Only playlists with type Audio playlist can be selected here.

Audio playlists and screen layout zones

A playlist with the Audio playlist type contains only audio files or streams and cannot be assigned to a screen layout zone. Conversely, regular playlists cannot be scheduled as background audio. See Content and playlists for more details about playlist types.

Audio files are always played for their full length, regardless of the duration set in the content. When the playlist reaches its end, it starts again from the beginning in an endless cycle, until a different audio playlist is scheduled.

Combining background audio with videos

When background audio is playing while a video with sound is displayed on the screen, both audio sources would be heard at the same time. To prevent this, you can:

  • enable the setting Mute video for audio playlist (web interface → menu Settings → section On-screen formatting), which mutes audio from all videos on the screen while any audio playlist is active, or
  • set Sound of the screen playlists to Mute, so only the background audio is heard.

If a network stream containing video is used in an audio playlist, only its audio part is played and the video part is ignored.

Controlling volume and playback

Background audio can also be controlled using the web interface's home page, for example volume control, pausing & resuming and switching to the next track.

Audio playback can also be controlled via the REST API or by automation via triggers.

Video tutorial