MagicINFO Explained: How to Create and Manage Playlists

Playlists are the secret to keeping your digital signage fresh, dynamic, and perfectly tailored to your audience. Whether it’s eye-catching promotions, important updates or engaging entertainment, playlists in MagicINFO make it easy to organise and schedule your content like a pro.

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about creating and managing playlists in MagicINFO. From setting up your first playlist to using advanced features like nested playlists, you will learn how to make the most of this essential feature. Plus, we will share some practical tips to help you stay organised and maximise the impact of your digital signage.

Let’s dive in and elevate your MagicINFO playlists!

• What is a Playlist in MagicINFO?
• How to Create a New Playlist 
• When to Use a Nested Playlist
• Why Work with Playlists in MagicINFO
• Tips for Managing Content Items using MagicINFO
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Playlist in MagicINFO?

In MagicINFO, a playlist is a curated sequence of digital content—such as images, videos, and text—that is scheduled to play in a specific order on your digital signage displays. 

A playlist allows you to combine different media items into a cohesive presentation, giving you control over what content plays, for how long, and in which sequence. Whether you are promoting products, sharing company updates, or providing informational content, playlists let you create dynamic content without needing complex programming skills.

MagicINFO’s playlist feature is designed with ease in mind, making it simple for any user to organise and schedule content. You can update or rearrange items at any time, giving you the flexibility to respond quickly to new campaigns or messaging needs.

Why Work with Playlists in MagicINFO?

Playlists might seem like a basic feature, but in MagicINFO, they are your secret weapon for keeping your digital signage organised and impactful. If you’re wondering why playlists are so important, let us break it down for you.

1. Stay Organised Without the Hassle

Imagine trying to manage a bunch of separate files every time you want to update your displays—it would be a nightmare, right? Playlists solve this by letting you group your content into neat little packages. Whether it’s by theme, campaign, or time of day, playlists keep everything in one place, so you’re not scrambling to piece it all together.

2. Schedule Content Like a Pro

Timing is everything, especially when trying to grab your audience’s attention. With playlists, you can schedule exactly when your content plays—breakfast menus in the morning, lunch specials at noon, and happy hour promotions later. It’s like having a personal assistant for your displays.

3. Keep People Watching

Let’s face it—static screens are boring. A well-curated playlist keeps your content dynamic, fresh, and interesting. By rotating through engaging visuals and messages, you can capture and hold your audience’s attention longer, whether they are customers, employees, or passersby.

4. Maintain Consistency Across Locations

If you are managing displays at multiple locations, playlists are a lifesaver. You can create one playlist and deploy it everywhere, ensuring your branding and messaging are spot on. Plus, any updates you make can roll out instantly, so your content stays consistent no matter where it’s shown.

5. Make Changes Without the Stress

Need to tweak a promotion or add a last-minute announcement? No problem. Playlists make it easy to update your displays in just a few clicks—no complicated processes or re-uploading everything from scratch.

How to Create a New Playlist

Creating a playlist in MagicINFO is straightforward, even if you are brand new to digital signage. Let’s walk through the steps to get your first one up and running.

1. Log into MagicINFO

Start by logging into your MagicINFO account. Once you are in, you will land on the dashboard, where all your content management tools live.

2.  Go to the "Content" Tab

At the top of the screen, click on the Content tab. This is your hub for managing media files, templates and, of course, playlists.

3. Create a New Playlist

In the left-hand menu, select Playlists. Then click the Create Playlist button to get started. Don’t worry if this feels unfamiliar—it’s super intuitive once you see it.

4. Add Your Content

Now it’s time to fill your playlist! Drag and drop files from your media library or select them manually to add them to the playlist. You can mix and match videos, images, and other media types to create exactly what you need.

5. Set Timings and Transitions

Once your files are in, you can customise how long each piece of content plays and add transitions between them for a smooth flow. These little details can make your display look polished and professional.

6. Save and Preview 

After everything is set, hit Save. Use the preview feature to double-check how your playlist will look when it’s live. This step is key to ensuring everything runs exactly how you want.

That’s it! Your playlist is ready to use. Whether using it for promotion, announcements or entertainment, MagicINFO makes it easy to organise your content and keep things fresh. Plus, once you create a playlist, you can edit it anytime, so don’t worry about getting everything perfect the first time.

If you’d like a visual guide to walk you through the process, check out this helpful video:

Want more tips and tricks? Check out our YouTube channel, where we regularly share videos to help you get the most out of MagicINFO. 

When to Use a Nested Playlist

Nested playlists— a playlist inside another playlist—are one of those features you might not realise you need until you start using them. 

They are a simple but powerful way to save time and stay organised in MagicINFO. So, when does it make sense to use a nested playlist? 

Let’s talk about a few scenarios.

For Content You Use Again and Again

Think about the content you show all the time—things like your company logo, safety reminders, or a welcome message. Instead of copying and pasting those items into every playlist, you can bundle them into a single playlist and nest it wherever it is needed. The best part? When you update that nested playlist, the changes automatically apply everywhere it is used. No extra effort is required.

When Running Themed Campaigns

Have a holiday promotion or a product launch coming up? Group all the related content into one playlist, and then nest it inside your main one. When the campaign is over, all you need to do is swap out the nested playlist for the next theme. Easy!

For Breaking Down Busy Schedules

Sometimes a single playlist can get a little overwhelming, especially if you have different content running at different times of the day. Instead, create smaller playlists for each time block—like one for the morning, one for lunch, and one for the afternoon—and nest them all into a master playlist. That way, you can tweak each section without messing up your entire schedule.

To Keep Things Simple and Save Time 

Let’s face it, no one likes doing the same task twice. With nested playlists, you don’t have to. Whether you are updating recurring content or organising complex schedules, you can make changes in one place and let MagicINFO do the rest. It’s a huge time-saver and helps you avoid mistakes.

Nested playlists aren’t just a handy feature—they’re a lifesaver when it comes to managing your content efficiently. Once you start using them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Tips for Managing Content Items Using MagicINFO

Setting up playlists is one thing, but managing your content is where the magic happens. To keep your digital signage fresh and impactful, here are a few tips to help you make the most of MagicINFO.

1. Group Content by Theme 

Think of your playlists like categories: promotions, events, employee messages, and so on. Keeping things organised by theme makes it way easier to find what you need later. 

For example, you could have one playlist for seasonal campaigns and another for general announcements. When in a rush, this kind of organisation will save you tons of time.

2. Keep Things Fresh

Nobody likes seeing the same thing on repeat forever. Switch out old content regularly and upload new items to keep your displays interesting. MagicINFO makes it simple to add or replace files, so take advantage of that! Fresh content grabs attention and keeps your audience engaged.

3. Preview Everything First

Before you hit "Publish," always take a moment to preview your playlist. It Is a quick and easy way to spot anything off—like a video running too long or a transition that feels clunky. This small step can save you from headaches later.

4. Declutter Your Media Library

Don’t let your content library turn into chaos. If you are not using something right now, archive it. You will keep things tidy and make it easier to find the files you need. And don’t worry—you can always bring archived files back when you need them.

By staying organised, refreshing your content often, and using MagicINFO’s tools to their full potential, your digital signage will stay fresh, relevant, and engaging.

Conclusion

Playlists are the backbone of your digital signage, helping you organise, schedule, and display content that truly resonates with your audience. From setting up your first playlist to mastering advanced features like nested playlists, this guide has covered everything you need to get started—and then some.

By grouping your content thoughtfully, keeping it fresh, and using MagicINFO’s powerful tools like scheduling and previews, you can take your displays to the next level. Whether it’s a single screen or a network of displays across multiple locations, playlists make managing your content easier and more impactful.

And don’t forget: digital signage is all about engaging your audience. The more you experiment with playlists, try new themes, and refresh your content, the more value you’ll get out of your MagicINFO setup. Ready to give it a go? Dive in and start creating!