Sonipack is used to create the pre-scheduled advert slots or packages of adverts ( hence Sonipack ). Up to 10 adverts can be pre-scheduled in advance for any one package. The maximum frequency of packages is every quarter hour. The packages can be scheduled minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or ( even years ! ) in advance.

Follow the step by step guide below to start making packages.

When run for the first time, the default directory will be where Sonicart was installed. Change the drive/directory to where your existing MP3's are . If you only have one directory then click 'Save as Default Directory' as you'll go straight to it the next time you run Sonipack.

The MP3's that are found in that directory will be displayed in the middle pane.

MP3's can previewed by clicking on the filename and then using the controls below the middle pane.

To alter the playback volume etc. click the loudspeaker button. You can also choose the soundcard to be used with Sonipack in this window.

If the MP3 is long, you can skip to a particular time, whilst playing, by placing the cursor over the playback progress bar. The cursor changes to an 'I' bar and displays the current playback position. Click anywhere on the progress bar to skip to that particular time.

If the ID3 tag has been set incorrectly this can be edited, by clicking the 'Edit ID3 channel' button. It's important that the type of jingle is set, as Sonicart logs playback ( and non-playback ) of all MP3's scheduled with Sonipack.

Before adding your files to the package, set the Date and Time you wish to scheduled the package. This is important as Sonipack checks for existing packages when the Date and Time are changed in the lower pane. If the Date needs to be changed, click the down arrow next the displayed Date in the box. A calendar will be displayed. To select the Date simply clicked on the day on the calendar required.
To change the Time simply select the hour and minutes in the drop down menus. If a package exists at the Date and Time that you set, then it will appear in Red in the right hand pane.

When you're happy with the MP3 and wish to add it to the package click the '+' button below the right-hand pane. The ID3 title will then appear in the right-hand pane. Repeat this for however many MP3's are to be included in the package. Multiple selections can added to the package by using the CTRL and SHIFT keys and clicking files ( the same way as in Windows Explorer ) and then clicking the '+' button.
Note : If the number of selected files exceeds 10 then the '+' button is disabled.

The order of the package can be changed by clicking on individual titles by using the up and down buttons below the right-hand pane. The title can still be previewed by clicking on it and using the controls below the middle pane.

To remove an MP3 from the package, click the title and click the '-' button. To clear the entire list, click 'Clear List'

If you are happy with the package, then click 'Save'. If a package has already been saved for that Date and Time then an overwrite option will appear.

If wish to use the package that you just created again then click the 'Copy' button. A window, similar to the Date/Time pane will appear. Set a new Date and Time for the repeat package. Again, if a package already exists at that Date and Time, it will be displayed in Red in the right-hand pane.

To clear old packages off the system, click the 'Purge' button