---
title: "Spots"
canonical: "https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637219/Spots"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)
## Overview
### **[View the AIM webinar from October 2021](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pbs.panda-prod.cdn/media/help/AIM-webinar.mp4)**
Spots are individual video elements that can be of varying lengths and are used to create your 65-second [Pod](https://docs.pbs.org/display/AVAIL/Pods). Using Spots removes the need to stitch content together with an external tool then add the content back into AIM via an external URL or file. Spots are especially useful for reusing the same content in different pods.
Add a single Spot or a combination of Spots with a total length that does not exceed 65 seconds. All duration calculations are determined and displayed in the console.
This section shows you how to create Spots and then add the Spots to Pods.
## Specifications
The following are the specifications for your video and audio files.
> ❌ **Please pay careful attention to what is listed here. If you deviate from the following specs your file may not successfully ingest.**
### Video
| **Element** | **Specification** |
| --- | --- |
| File formats | MPEG-4 (.mp4), QuickTime/MOV (.mov), MXF (.mxf) |
| File size
Larger files need to be uploaded through Dropbox or a URL hosted on station's local server | Minimum: 1MB / Maximum: 2048MB |
| File length | Minimum: 5 seconds / Maximum: 60 seconds |
| Video Stream Bitrate | Minimum: 10 Mbps |
| Codec | AVC (H.264), MPEG-4 Visual, ProRes, MPEG Video |
| Frame Size 16:9 | 1280x720, 1920x1080 |
| Frame rate | 29.97 fps, 59.94 fps |
| Pixel Aspect Ratio | 1:1 (square pixels) |
| Scan Type | Progressive |
| Video Stream Bitrate Mode | VBR |
### Audio
| **Element** | **Specification** |
| --- | --- |
| Codec | AAC, PCM |
| Audio Stream Bitrate | 192 Kbps |
| Audio Stream Bitrate Mode | CBR |
| Number of Audio Channels | 2 (Stereo) |
| Audio Channel's Positions | L, R |
| Sampling Rate | 48 KHz |
| Bit Depth | 16 bits |
## How to create a spot
- From the main navigation menu at the top of the AIM dashboard, click **Spots **(Figure 1.1).
- You can also go directly to the Spot creation page by clicking **Create New** on the far right side of the dashboard (Figure 1.2) and clicking **Spot **from the dropdown menu (Figure 1.3).
Figure 1
- On the right side of the page, click **Create New Spot** (Figure 2).
Figure 2
- In the Spot Name textbox, type a **unique name for your Spot **(Figure 3.1). Each spot must have a unique name. Duplicate names will result in an error.
- The Source field determines what type of file you are adding. Choose from the following:
- Add full URL: Click the **radio button next to URL** and type the full URL to the file you are adding
- Add file from your computer: Click the **radio button next to File** to add a file from your computer (Figure 3.2). In this example we are adding the full URL of a video file.
- In the URL textbox, type or paste the **full URL of the video file** (Figure 3.3).
- The Element ID is a unique identifier that keeps track of underwriters and funders. Type **your own unique identifier in the textbox provided** or leave it blank and AIM will auto-populate the field after the Spot has been saved (Figure 3.4). The Element ID can be edited at any time. *This field is optional. *
- In the Protrack ID field, type the** Protrack ID** if you have one (Figure 3.5).* This field is optional. *
- In the Client Name textbox, type the** name of the client or sponsor** associated with the Spot (Figure 3.6).* This field is optional. *
- In the Tape textbox, type the **number **associated with the Spot (Figure 3.7). *This field is optional. *
- The Duration field records the length of the file and auto-populates when the Spot has completed ingestion (Figure 3.8).
- In the Description textbox, type** additional information about the Spot** for your own recordkeeping (Figure 3.9). *This field is optional.*
- When finished, click **Save Spot** located in the lower right or upper right side of the page (Figure 3.10).
> ⚠️ **No fields in your Spot can be publicly viewed. The information created in your spot are for internal viewing through the AIM console or API only.**
Figure 3
- The file begins processing. View the progress in the *Status *section (Figure 4).
Figure 4
- When the file has successfully uploaded, the *Status *section displays ***Ready ***(Figure 5.1). This indicates that your spot is ready to use in a pod.
- A preview of your video file is available on the right side of the page (Figure 5.2). Click the **play button** to view.
- To [create a new pod](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637193/Pods#How-to-create-a-pod) and add this spot to it, click** Add to New Pod** (Figure 5.3).
- To add this spot to an existing pod, click **Pods** in the top navigation menu (Figure 5.4).
Figure 5
## How to edit a spot
Editing a spot is much like [editing a pod](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637193/Pods#How-to-edit-a-pod). All fields except *Duration *can be edited.
- In the upper right corner of the page, click** Edit Spot **(Figure 1).
Figure 1
All fields can be edited except the Element ID and Duration.
- To replace the associated file, click **Replace file** located in the File section (Figure 2.1).
- When adding a new file, click the **radio button** next to the type of file you are adding (Figure 2.2).
- When finished editing the spot, click** Save Spot** located in the upper and lower right side of the page (Figure 2.3).
Figure 2
## How to add a spot to a new pod
- From the lower right corner of your spot, click **Add to New Pod** (Figure 1).
Figure 1
- In the Source section, click the** radio button** next to Spots (Figure 2.1).
- In the Add Spots textbox, begin typing the** name of the spot **you want to add to the pod (Figure 2.2).
- As you type, spots that match your search criteria display. Click the **name of the spot **you want to add (Figure 2.3).
Figure 2
- The name of the spot displays (Figure 3.1).
- At the end of the spot name, the duration of the spot displays (Figure 3.2). Pay close attention to this as you add additional spots because the maximum length is 65 seconds.
- To add another spot to this pod, click** Add Another Spot** and follow the steps in Figure 2 (Figure 3.3).
- When finished, click **Save Pod** (Figure 3.4).
Figure 3
Be aware of the length of each spot that you add to your pod. A pod can only hold media that runs between 64.1 and 65.5 seconds. If your spots add up to more than 65 seconds, the pod will throw an error.
- The duration of each spot displays after the name of each spot that's been added to the current pod (Figure 4.1).
- The AIM console calculates the collective duration and displays it at the top of the Source section, if your pod has not reached or exceeded the allowed limit (Figure 4.2).
- The pod duration guidelines display at the bottom of the Source section (Figure 4.3).
- To remove a spot, click the** grey x** to the right of the name of the spot** **you want to remove (Figure 4.4).
- To replace an existing spot, click the **downward-facing arrow** to the right of the name of the spot you want to replace (Figure 4.5).
Figure 4
- Add or remove spots to target the allowed pod duration and save the pod. In this example, we clicked the x next to one of the spots to bring the time within the allowed limits (Figure 5.1).
- When a spot is deleted, the space still displays but is removed and not included when the spot is saved.
- When finished, click **Save Pod** (Figure 5.2).
Figure 5
## How to add a spot to an existing pod
- From the top navigation menu, click **Pods **(Figure 1.1).
- In the Search textbox, type the** name of the pod** to which you want to add your spot (Figure 1.2).
- When pods matching your search criteria surface, click the** name of the pod **(Figure 1.3).
Figure 1
- Click **Edit Pod** (Figure 2).
Figure 2
- In the Source section, click the **radio button next to Spots** (Figure 3).
Figure 3
- In the textbox in the Add Spots section, begin typing the **name of the spot **you want to add (Figure 4.1).
- When spots that match your search criteria display, click the **name of the spot **you want to add (Figure 4.2).
Figure 4
- When finished, click **Save Pod** (Figure 5).
Figure 5
## How to delete a spot
A Spot can be deleted at any time but cannot be recovered. If you have deleted a Spot in error, you must go in and recreate the Spot and add all associated information.
This section demonstrates how to delete a Spot.
- From your dashboard, in the top navigation menu, click **Spots **(Figure 1.1).
- Click the **name of the Spot **you want to delete (Figure 1.2).
Figure 1
- In the upper right corner of the Spot screen, click **Delete Spot **(Figure 2).
Figure 2
- When the modal displays, click **Delete Spot **to delete the Spot (Figure 3.1) or click **Close **to go back to the Spot without deleting (Figure 3.2).
Figure 3
- The Spot has been removed and cannot be recovered (Figure 4). [You must create it again](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637219/Spots#How-to-create-a-spot)
Figure 4
