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The SoCast mobile app can call supports video pre-roll ads before the stream starts playing. Here is how you can create one that works with the app using your computer's built-in movie editing software (Windows Movie Maker, or iMovie)You'll need to create and manage these within your Ad Manager (e.g. Google Ad Manager)

For support and assistance on how to create these ads and line items visit: https://support.google.com/admanager/answer/1406467?hl=en and/or your ad manager support team.

What you'll need:

Either:Choose 1 of the following options.

A video - You'll need the video pre-roll you're looking to use. If it's not in MP4, you can simply import it into your movie editing software and convert it to m4v, or use a tool like Handbrake, which is a lightweight tool that converts videos for you. Once you have a video in m4v format, you can skip to Step 4 and add it straight to Google DFP. 

MP3 audio of the ad and a static image to use - If you have audio pre-roll, you can still use this if you create a movie with an accompanying image. If you have the mp3 file and the image you wish to show alongside the ad, you can create an audio pre-roll ad in your movie-editing software.

Step 1: Create the audio ad with accompanying image

If you're looking to use MP3 audio with a companion ad, you can create it in the following way:

Windows Users:

• Download and install Windows Live Movie Maker: http://windows.microsoft.com/is-is/windows/movie-maker
• Open it and create a new project.
• Click on “Add Videos and Photos” and select the photos you want to use.
• Click on “Add Music” and select the WMA or MP3 audio file.
• Then, click on the “Project” tab and click on “Fit to music”
• Go to File> Save Movie> Recommended for this project and Save.
• You now have a .wmv file that you need to convert to an MP4 format.
• Download Handbrake, which is a lightweight video conversion tool, and save the video as an m4v.

Mac Users:

• In iMovie, create a new project.
• Drag an image file to the project area.
• Drag an audio file to the project area.
• Adjust the image duration to that of the audio file by clicking on the “gear” icon in the left corner of the image thumbnail and click adjustments. Enter a length equal to your audio track.
• Click File > Export > File
• Choose the 540p option and export your file.
• Download Handbrake, which is a lightweight video conversion tool, and save the video as an m4v.

Now you have a video that can be uploaded to Google DFP in MP4 format, you're ready to move onto Step 4.

Step 2: Create a video pre-roll ad unit and generate the tags

Create the ad unit:

• Log into Google DFP
• Click on the Inventory tab
• Click New Ad Unit
• Give the ad unit a code, name and description if necessary
• Expand the Video (VAST) sizes menu item and select the size 640x480
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• Click Save

Generate the tags:

• Click on Inventory, then select Generate tags in the left column
• Select the video pre-roll ad you just created, hit the Include button and then click Generate Tags.
• Hit Continue twice
• You now have a video pre-roll URL - copy this to your clipboard
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Step 3 add the pre-roll ad unit to the SoCast platform

If you're adding the pre-roll ad code to the SoCast Mobile App:

• Log into the SoCast admin panel
• Click Settings
• Click on Advertising Settings and enter the generated ad tags into the Mobile Preroll Ad URL field, and select VAST 2 Compatible XML from the dropdown below it.
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• Click Save.

If you're adding the pre-roll ad code to the SoCast Player:

• Log into the SoCast admin panel
• Click Settings
• If you're adding the pre-roll to the mobile app, click on Player Advertising Settings and enter the generated ad tags into the Mobile Preroll Ad URL field, and select VAST 2 Compatible XML from the dropdown below it.
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• Click Save.

Step 4: Upload the video to DFP

• Log into Google DFP
• Click Delivery
• Click New Order
• Select a name and advertiser for the order
• Enter a name for the line item
• For the Inventory Sizes option, select Video VAST radio button, and select the size 640x480v below it:
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• Select what ad settings you wish to use (standard ad, sponsorship, start time, end time, quantities) PLEASE NOTE:
  • Sponsorship ads will serve every single time and will take over any standard ad units
  • Standard ads set as High will also be served every time. 
  • Standard ads set as Normal will be served every 5-6 attempts
  • Standard ads set as Low will be served even less frequently.
• In the Add Targeting section, select your video pre-roll ad unit you previously created.
• Click Save and... > Upload 640x480v creative set
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• Give the creative set a name, and select the first option, Linear:Image Removed
• Select the Video option
• Give the video a name
• Choose a clickthrough URL for the ad
• Leave the hosting as DFP hosted
• Enter the duration in seconds - if this is a 30-second ad, enter 30
• Skippable - leave disabled, as our platform supports unskippable ads
• Drag and drop the m4v file at the bottom of the page
• If done successfully, you should see the following at the bottom of the page - this shows that the file has been transcoded correctly and is ready to be served:
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• Click Save
• The final step is to click Approve. Once this is done, your ad should start serving within the next hour:
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Once your ad has been created within your ad manager, you can then go to:

1. Mobile App > Mobile App Settings (Legacy) > Advertising
2.  Fill in the Video Pre-Roll URL (VAST2)
3. Click 'Save'.

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