Step 1 — Create a DTMF mark
Marks are stored in the Audio Detector (open with [ F4 ] or from the Utilities menu). You can enable auto-open of the detector window on program startup in Settings [ F9 ], but this is not required for marks to work.
If you have the mark code: click Add sample and enter the DTMF code using the buttons below the Command field.
If you don't have the code or aren't sure it is correct: refer to the RADIO Player Pro v.2 manual, section Windows > Audio Detector (DTMF) > Creating Samples.
For reliable detection, aim for a signal level in the yellow-orange zone in the detector display. Increasing sample sensitivity is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
Step 2 — Configure the playlist to start by DTMF mark
In the playlist list, right-click the playlist and choose Start. A waiting window will appear — the detector will automatically enable DTMF recognition. Make sure relay is enabled and the correct relay device is selected.
See the relay setup topic for details.
Tips for improving DTMF detection
On the receiving side (Player):
- Target signal level in the detector: orange zone.
- For antiphase marks, enable Channel subtraction in sample settings.
- If detection is unreliable, reduce the number of characters and/or create duplicate marks (e.g. for mark 1234, create marks 123 and 234; 124 and 134 also work — keep character order the same).
- Increasing sensitivity is a last resort — it can cause false triggers with high signal levels.
- The higher the mark signal level in the stream, the better — you don't need to increase the pause.
- Do not apply signal processing — it distorts the frequency response of the DTMF signal.
- Record the head station signal using the same sound card you use for reception, at the same volume level — save as uncompressed WAV.
- Loop the recording in any player or editor.
- Open Player, set up relay from the sound card output, and enable relay (use a physical or virtual cable / mixer if the card doesn't support output recording).
- Open the detector [ F4 ], create and enable a mark. Adjust mark properties or volume until detection fires.
In relay mode, the DTMF buffer fills completely with the incoming audio signal before playback to air begins (from the end of the filled buffer). DTMF commands are detected immediately as the signal arrives in the buffer — not when the sound reaches air.
Start mark: set the delay to be less than or equal to the buffer size — this allows the signal to reach air before the DTMF mark appears in the head station broadcast.
Stop mark: set the delay to be greater than the buffer size — this ensures the stop occurs only after the head station's DTMF command has completely finished, preventing head station DTMF from leaking into your own broadcast.