Technical Guidelines

Soundcloud Audio + Companion/Leave Behind

Available in web, mobile, and embedded players, audio ads enable you to expand your messaging across multiple platforms

 Audio AdAudio CompanionMobile Leave Behind 
DurationMin: 6 seconds
Max: 30 seconds
n/an/a
File FormatMP3 or WAV – at least 192kbps
Sample Rate 44.1 kHz
JPG or PNG onlyJPG or PNG only
VolumeNormalized to -16 dB LKFS.
No louder than -14.50 LUFS
  
Dimensionsn/aDesktop: 300×250 
Mobile: 300×250 (Recommended) OR 1024×1024  – Download 1024×1024 PSD template
Mobile: 300×250  (Recommended)  OR 960×800 –  Download 960×800 PSD tempate
Max File Size5MB400KB400KB
Bordern/aBorder Required Border Required
Expandablen/aNo Expansion No Expansion
 Ad ServingVAST 2.0, 3.0 & 4.0 Accepted
(No VPAID / No Javascript)
300×250: via VAST Tag OR Site Served
1024×1024: Site Served Only
 300×250:Via VAST Tag OR Site Served.
960×800:  Site Served Only 
TrackingImpression Tracking AcceptedClick Tracking AcceptedClick Tracking Accepted. 
Impression Tracking requires 5 day lead time
Additional Details For Mobile 1024×1024 Companion:
1. Keep important elements (i.e. text) centred in the frame, and within the 576×742 safe zone, please refer to 1024×1024 PSD template
2. Try to keep top and bottom thirds of the image relatively minimal; loud patterns or lots of detail in these areas could create visual chaos
3. Try to avoid using full black or white in the top and bottom thirds of the image
 
960×800 Leave Behind size scales down to phone width; please consider when including important elements such as text/logos. Refer to 960×800 PSD tempate 

LiSTNR Streaming Audio + Mobile App Companion

Available in web, mobile, and embedded players, audio ads enable you to expand your messaging across multiple platforms

 Audio AdMobile App Companion
DurationMin: 15 seconds
Max: 30 seconds
n/a
File FormatMP3 or WAV – at least 192kbps
Sample Rate 44.1 kHz
.GIF, .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG 
VolumeNormalized to -16 dB LUFS
No louder than -14.50 LUFS
 
Dimensionsn/aMobile App: 300×250 (Recommended) OR 640×640
Max File Size10MB100KB
Border n/aNo Border Required
Expandablen/aNo Expansion
 Ad ServingVAST 2.0, 3.0 & 4.0 Accepted
(No VPAID / No Javascript)
3rd Party Served via VAST Tag Only OR Site Served.
TrackingImpression Tracking AcceptedImpression & Click Tracking Accepted for companion 
Additional DetailsPlease ensure audio creative is mastered and trimmed properly (no silence/breaks before or after ad)


 

LiSTNR Streaming Shake Me

Available on Mobile Apps, the Shake Me format enables listeners to shake their phones and trigger an action – download a coupon, open a link, or place a call. 

 Audio AdShake to Open a URLShake to Place a callShake to Download coupon
DurationMin: 15 seconds
Max: 30 seconds
n/an/an/a
File FormatMP3 or WAV – at least 192kbps
WAV – 16-bit 44.1 kHz
 Phone Number.pkpass for coupon 

.GIF, .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG for back up coupon image
VolumeNormalized to -16 dB LKFS
No louder than -14.50 LUFS
   
Dimensionsn/a n/a640×960
Max File Size10MBn/an/a100KB
Border n/an/an/aNo Border Required
3rd Party Ad ServingNot available, site served only n/an/aNot available, site-served only
3rd party TrackingImpression Tracking AcceptedClick Tracking Accepted (must not include any macros)n/an/a
Additional DetailsPlease ensure audio creative is mastered and trimmed properly (no silence/breaks before or after ad).  Must contain call to action (shake your phone) and when they need to do it (eg now).  Listeners can shake their phones or watches during the ad, and they also have 10 seconds at their disposal after the commercial ended. When the trigger action is to direct the listener to a specific web address, you need to provide the landing page URL.

 
Guiding the listener to place a call requires you to provide a phone number.To trigger this action, you need to provide a Coupon URL in pkpass format (created in apps such as PassKit or PassSlot) and a fallback image URL. This way, the listeners who don’t have a coupon reading app will still benefit from the offer. On iOS devices (iPhones, iPads), the .pkpass file will be added to the preinstalled Apple Wallet. On Android, the file format can also be added to a wallet app. To access the coupon, the listener needs to have a wallet app already installed or to download one from Google Play (e.g., PassWallet). Alternatively, in the absence of a wallet app, the fallback image will be automatically saved in their Image Gallery. 

Sonos Radio 

Sonos Radio is an internet radio service available exclusively on Sonos speakers. 

 Audio Ad
DurationMin: 10 seconds
Max: 60 seconds
File FormatMP3 or WAV – at least 192kbps
Sample Rate 44.1 kHz
Dimensionsn/a
Max File Size10MB
 Ad ServingVAST 2.0 & 4.0 Accepted
(No VPAID / No Javascript)
TrackingImpression Tracking Accepted
Additional Details Please ensure audio creative is mastered and trimmed properly (no silence/breaks before or after ad)

Standard Banners (Hit & Triple M only)

Creative constructed in standard web-image formats such as GIF, JPEG, PNG and HTML5 executions of any of the dimensions listed below are considered standard banner ads. Such creative may be hosted by SCA’s internal ad-serving system  or delivered via redirect tags hosted by a third party ad-serving vendor.  Executions involving audio, video, and file sizes over 100KB etc. are considered as rich media banners and are required to be hosted by a third party ad serving vendor or SCA’s rich media partner at an additional CPM charge.

Desktop Standard Banners (Hit & Triple M only)

 LeaderboardMedium RectangleHalf PageNewsletter Medium RectangleBillboard
DeviceDesktopDesktopDesktopDesktop/MobileDesktop
Dimensions728×90300×250300×600300×250970×250
Max. File Size150kb150kb150kb80kb150kb
File FormatHTML5, JPG, GIF or PNGHTML5, JPG,GIF or PNGHTML5, JPG,GIF or PNGJPG or PNGHTML5, JPG,GIF or PNG
AnimationsYesYesYesNoYes
LoopingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedNoUnlimited
AudioUser InitiatedUser InitiatedUser InitiatedNoUser Initiated
BorderCreative with a partially black or white background must have a visible border of contrasting colour
3rd Party Tags AcceptedAd tags or impression & click tracking tagsAd tags or impression & click tracking tagsAd tags or impression & click tracking tagsImpression & click tracking onlyImpression & click tracking only
clickTag (HTML5) requirementsIf HTML5 creative is hosted by SCA (site-served) , please follow Google Ad Manager HTML5 Guidelines
Please do not hard-code click-through URLs in assets.
For 3rd party served ads, please consult with your provider

Mobile Standard Banners

 Mobile LeaderboardMobile Medium RectangleMobile Billboard
DeviceMobileMobileMobile
Dimensions320×50300×250320×100
Retina Size (High Res)640×100600×500640×200
Max. File Size80kb100kb80kb
File FormatHTML5, JPG, GIF or PNGHTML5, JPG,GIF or PNGHTML5, JPG,GIF or PNG
Animation3 Scene Max3 Scene Max3 Scene Max
BorderCreative with a partially black or white background must have a visible border of contrasting colour  
LoopingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
AudioNoNoNo
3rd Party Tags AcceptedAd tags or impression & click tracking tagsAd tags or impression & click tracking tagsAd tags or impression & click tracking tags
clickTag (HTML5) requirementsIf HTML5 creative is hosted by SCA (site-served) , please follow Google Ad Manager HTML5 Guidelines
Please do not hard-code click-through URLs in assets.
For 3rd party served ads, please consult with your provider

Mobile Supported Actions

  • Press/Tap to Call (direct connection from the phone to the advertisers call centre)
  • Press/Tap to download iOS application (link to page in App store)
  • Press/Tap to download pod cast or song from iTunes
  • Press/Tap to launch video (video will open and play in the device’s native player)
  • Press/Tap to link to your mobile site 

Soundcloud Video

A user initiated highly engaging video ad in vertical or letterbox format reaching users only on an active screen across iOS and Android devices

 VAST ProvidedMedia Assets Provided
DurationMin: 6 seconds
Max: 30 seconds
Tag SupportVAST 2.0, 3.0 and VAST 4.0; not supporting JS within the VAST, 1×1 tracking pixelsImpression and Click Tracking Accepted
Viewability Viewable: video only served when app in view (serving criteria)
Video CodecH.264/MPEG-4 AVC
(High Profile – level 4 max.)
N/A
Audio Codec AAC-LC
Video VolumeNo Hard requirement
File FormatMP4MP4, .MOV, .AVI (We will transcode this to the supported formats)
File SizeMax recommended file size 7.5MB
(2 Mbit/s for a 30 sec file)Min recommended file size
1.8 MB
(~500 kbit/s for a 30 sec file)
50 MB Max
Bitrate1080p
2000 kbit/s (video)
+ 64 kbit/s (audio) max.720p
1000 kbit/s (video)
+ 64 kbit/s (audio) max.360p
500 kbit/s (video)
+ 64 kbit/s (audio) max
 Please keep in mind the 50 MB file size limit
Aspect Ratio16×9 or 9×16
ResolutionAt least one 360p or 480p source required;720p and 1080p sources optional 16:9 (Horizontal) – 1920 x 1080 max.
(We will transcode this to the supported resolutions)9:16 (Vertical Video) – 480 x 854


 Microsites

 Win Tile/Win Promo Image
Dimensions1080x608px
File FormatJPG (preferred) and .PSD
Max File Size500kb
AnimationStatic
BorderCreative with a white background must include a border to distinguish between the website and the creative
Ad Servingn/a
3rd party TrackingUTM tags on click through URL
ExpandableNo
Additional DetailsKeep copy to a minimumButtons are not to be in the creativeClient logos can supplement the design and must not to be the primary focus of the creativePlease provide layered PSD with flattened JPGPlease read through and address all points on the Creative Guidelines before you send your material to SCA