Diagnose common TeoCast problems safely and systematically
Use these practical checks for startup, playback, audio devices, libraries, Scheduler, Voice Tracking, licensing, streaming and application performance before contacting support.
Workstation connection checks
Workstation connects to Main’s SQL station and uses Main for media and authorization.
Keep Main available
Main must be running with licensed Main and Scheduler access, or an active Demo session. If Main closes or becomes unreachable, Workstation access and saving pause after the authorization grace period; open edits are retained while reconnecting.
Check SQL Server Settings
Use Main’s displayed network server address and the same database name, database username and password. Use MAIN-PC\SQLEXPRESS or MAIN-PC,PORT with the actual computer name and SQL port. A local lpc:.\SQLEXPRESS address works only on Main. Choose Connect and Save, then restart Main and Workstation after changing the connection.
Check network access and sign-in
Enable SQL Server TCP/IP access and allow its actual SQL TCP port through Windows Firewall. Main’s TCP 16453 media/authorization rule is separate and does not open SQL Server. Sign in with an enabled TeoCast Administrator or Scheduler account; this is separate from the database account.
Start with the safest basic checks
Before changing settings or reinstalling TeoCast, collect the exact symptoms and confirm the basic system state.
Read the exact message
Note the complete status or error message instead of relying only on what the screen appeared to do.
Stop only the affected task
When possible, stop the affected preview, stream or scheduled action without force-closing the whole application.
Confirm the selected audio devices
Check Main Output, Preview / Cue Output and any microphone or talk-over device used by the current workflow.
Test with one known working file
Use a normal local audio file to separate a source-file problem from an application or output problem.
Restart TeoCast once
Close TeoCast normally, reopen it and repeat only the action that caused the problem.
Startup, installation and licensing
Use these checks when TeoCast does not open correctly or remains in Demo Mode unexpectedly.
TeoCast does not start
Restart Windows, then run TeoCast again. Confirm that Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 is installed and that security software has not quarantined an application component.
Installer fails
Confirm that the download completed and close the TeoCast apps being updated. Double-click the official installer as your normal signed-in Windows user. Setup requests administrator approval when needed. Use Update / Repair for an existing installation.
License file is rejected
Use the original .teocastlicense file and confirm that it was not renamed, edited or damaged.
TeoCast still shows Demo Mode
Restart TeoCast after importing the license and verify that the imported license information remains available.
Demo session closes automatically
Demo Mode is limited to an evaluation session of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Data appears missing after update
Check SQL Server Settings for the intended server and database. In Control Panel > Library / Storage, review Station Database and use Open Saved Folder to locate local settings. A fresh installation does not automatically import an older station. Do not use Create Fresh Station to reconnect to existing data.
Playback and audio-device problems
Follow the audio path from the source file to the selected output.
Main player is silent
Confirm that the track is playing, the main meter is moving, Main Output is correct and Windows has not muted the device.
Preview or CUE is silent
Turn Cue Monitor ON in Main’s bottom toolbar. Check Preview / Cue Output separately; it may intentionally use a different sound device from the on-air output.
Wrong device is playing
Reopen Control Panel, select the intended device and test again before going live.
Only one channel is audible
Test another source file and inspect the left/right meters to determine whether the problem begins in the file or output device.
Playback stops when another action starts
Note the exact action, such as preview, hotkey, stream connection or microphone control, and include it when reporting the issue.
Progress position appears to jump
Confirm whether the audio also jumps. A visual update delay and an actual playback seek are different problems.
Audio glitches on a slower or busy computer
Open Control Panel > Audio Setup > Stability Profile. Balanced is the default; try High Stability if audio interrupts during other activity. Click Save Audio and restart TeoCast before comparing playback. These profiles change software buffering, not the ASIO hardware buffer.
Library and playlist problems
Check search filters, file paths and queue behavior before re-importing content.
Imported item is not visible
Clear the search box, check the selected category and confirm that the import operation completed.
Duplicate was skipped
TeoCast may have detected that the same file is already present in the library.
File cannot be played
Confirm that the original file still exists at the imported path and plays normally outside TeoCast.
Saved playlist order changed
Shuffle on load may be enabled so the saved song pool does not repeat in the same order.
Manual queue was replaced
Loading a full playlist in Manual Mode replaces the current manual queue.
Commercial appears unexpectedly
Check Play scheduled commercials and Traffic bookings. Manual Mode can queue a booked break as NEXT without starting it. When a Workstation Program Log owns the queue, local Traffic does not insert into that queue.
A Hotkey tile shows Missing file
New Hotkey assignments store original file paths instead of copying audio. Restore the source file to that path or reselect it for the tile. Keep HotkeyTemplates, including any legacy Audio folders, plus source audio in your backup; Backup Library does not include HotkeyTemplates.
Scheduler problems
Check the intended Program Log, its date and time, and its delivery state before changing clock or Traffic settings.
A Program Log has no playable music
Check the clock’s library assignments and confirm that their audio is available. Review the generated Program Log before delivery. Use Program Logs for scheduled programming and Library Auto Fill for an unowned Auto queue.
A scheduled commercial break is empty
Review the Traffic booking dates, scheduled time and assigned playable commercial. If a delivered Program Log owns the queue, inspect its commercial rows instead of expecting local Traffic to insert the break.
Old commercial remains scheduled
Remove the obsolete commercial and review every break where it was assigned.
Station ID or Sweeper is unavailable
Confirm that the Station ID and Sweeper libraries contain valid, playable files.
Main app does not reflect a change
Confirm the edit was saved and that you are viewing the intended Program Log revision. Review its delivery status. Changes to items already on air or completed cannot be applied as late Voice Track inserts.
Unexpected quarter-hour behavior
Check the Auto Mode assists: Station ID at :00 and Sweeper at :15, :30 and :45. Also check whether a delivered Program Log currently owns the queue.
Voice Tracking problems
Check the imported recording, playlist assignment and song cue markers.
Voice track is silent
Test the recording through Preview / Cue Output and confirm that the original file is valid.
Voice track does not trigger
Confirm the selected row’s VT assignment and verify that playback has not already passed the trigger point. RAMP is hidden when that song occurrence has a Voice Track assignment; the Voice Track counter appears only while it plays and disappears afterward.
Voice overlaps the vocal
Adjust Vocal In, Vocal Out or the voice-track timing in the Cue Editor.
Voice track does not replay after seeking
This is expected after a trigger has played or been skipped during the same song session.
Voice stops after manual seeking
TeoCast stops an active voice track and restores music ducking when the user seeks during playback.
Imported recording is missing
Clear active search text and check the station Voice Track catalog. Keep Main available while Workstation completes an import or save; reconnect before retrying a pending operation.
Streaming connection and audio problems
Separate server connection problems from local audio-output problems.
Connection fails immediately
Recheck server type, host, source port, password, mount, path or SHOUTcast stream ID.
Connected but no audio
Check the profile’s Audio Source. For Software Output, confirm Main playback and its meter. For External Mixer / Line Input, confirm the selected input and incoming audio. Then check the encoder row and listener URL.
Repeated reconnecting
Check server availability, credentials, internet upload stability and whether the selected bitrate can be sustained.
Mount or format is rejected
Use MP3 for SHOUTcast. Opus is supported only with Icecast at 48 kHz. Icecast needs a mount point; SHOUTcast v2 needs a positive numeric Stream ID / SID. Confirm the provider’s source credentials and port.
Listener audio is delayed
Some delay is normal because the encoder, server and listener player may each add buffering.
One stream fails while another is active
Record which row failed, the exact status message and whether the other stream and main player continued normally.
Performance, freezing and diagnostic logs
Logs are most useful when paired with the exact time and action that caused the problem.
Write down the exact time
Note the hour, minute and second when the freeze, audio cut or reconnect occurred.
Record the action being performed
Include whether you were importing, connecting a stream, pressing a hotkey, opening Audio Processor or using Scheduler.
Open the Logs folder
Open Control Panel > System > Open Logs Folder, then find the current log covering the problem time.
Control Panel > System > Open Logs FolderFind the matching important event
Look for connection failure, disconnect, reconnect, encoder write problem, timeout, UI lag, exception or database error.
Preserve the original file
Copy the relevant log before it is removed by normal log retention.
While reproducing the issue, compare TeoCast Automation and TeoCast Workstation in Task Manager and note CPU, memory and disk activity. Record the active Stability Profile and whether the audio actually interrupted; a momentary CPU reading alone does not identify the cause.
Information to include when contacting support
A complete report helps support reproduce and diagnose the issue faster.
- TeoCast version shown in the application
- Windows version
- Licensed or Demo Mode
- Exact time the issue occurred
- Exact steps performed before the issue
- Exact status or error message
- Relevant screenshot or short screen recording
- Relevant log file or log lines
- Whether the problem happens every time or only occasionally
Still need help?
Send a clear problem report with the exact steps, time, screenshot and relevant TeoCast log information.