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Low Cost/Free Automation Software

C

cc333

I've been using PlayIt! Live, which is OK, but I'm wondering if there's anything out there that's better and also low cost or free. Preferably something that offers features such as dayparting (PlayIt offers it as a fairly expensive addon to the base software, which is free).

I've already looked into Rivendell, but I set it aside as too complex for my needs.

A brief overview on what the industry standard packages are would be helpful too, from an educational standpoint, so I know what's out there.

c
 
cc333 said:
I've been using PlayIt! Live, which is OK, but I'm wondering if there's anything out there that's better and also low cost or free. Preferably something that offers features such as dayparting (PlayIt offers it as a fairly expensive addon to the base software, which is free).

I've already looked into Rivendell, but I set it aside as too complex for my needs.

A brief overview on what the industry standard packages are would be helpful too, from an educational standpoint, so I know what's out there.

c
Click to expand...

It's not free, and not on the bottom tier of cost, but the product I sell is an industry standard in Europe and it's gaining steam here in the US.

(And there's a trial version you can play with for free for a limited time...)

It's called Myriad, and some of the key state-of-the-art features it includes are the ability to use it in any combination of locally hosted, cloud-based or hybrid; tight integration between playout and music scheduling components; the ability to swap out programming elements and have each hour automatically retime itself on the fly; the ability to bring in remote hosts seamlessly live without any external hardware; the ability to seamlessly integrate syndicated and streaming programming; a "split" function to serve up separate breaks (between stream and broadcast, or to several different broadcast feeds); and the list goes on.

There's lots of info and videos at www.myriad.radio if you want to see more.

As for other "industry standard" options, RCS Zetta and WideOrbit offer many similar features, ENCO is a little long in the tooth but still popular, especially in public radio, and Playout One is very similar to Myriad (and should be, because it shares a lot of DNA from UK developers).
 
Nexgen, owned by iheart
 
Full Disclosure I am the Founder and Director.

Have a look at nextKast onAir. All in one Automation includes , Radio Automation, Music Scheduling, Traffic Scheduling, Ai Hosting, Ftp, Remote tracking and live hosting and more:

Nextkast Radio Automation and Music Scheduling – NextKast OnAir Version Radio Automation and Music Scheduling Software Solution

Some recent press:
News Bites: WNYC/WQXR, nextKast, Charlie Kirk, KQID.

Radio World: ( site was down at time of post but should be back later)
https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/nextkast-introduces-studiolink
 
Thank you all for the responses!

I've tinkered with RadioDJ off and on, but it mystifies me every time. If someone could help me figure it out (or point me to some resources that can help), I'd consider giving it another try.

I've also tried Zara Radio (after spending more time that necessary to dig through the Wayback Machine to find it), and it's probably simple enough to figure out, but as you pointed out, it's outdated, and probably really only works best on XP.

In the meantime, I'll sample some of the other offerings here and see what I like.

c
 
cc333 said:
Thank you all for the responses!

I've tinkered with RadioDJ off and on, but it mystifies me every time. If someone could help me figure it out (or point me to some resources that can help), I'd consider giving it another try.

I've also tried Zara Radio (after spending more time that necessary to dig through the Wayback Machine to find it), and it's probably simple enough to figure out, but as you pointed out, it's outdated, and probably really only works best on XP.

In the meantime, I'll sample some of the other offerings here and see what I like.

c
Click to expand...

if you liked Zara Radio, Salamandra Radio looks like a good updated alternative.
GitHub - ocarolino/SalamandraRadio: Salamandra is a radio automation software designed for radio stations that need a simple, easy and stable software for automated broadcasting.

about RadioDJ, I can't really help you with that, I have zero experience with it. I'm just learning and seeing if it is the right tool for me right now. but if you have some really specific questions, they seem to have a cool community
RadioDJ - Free Radio Automation Software Forum - Index

good luck!!
 
cc333 said:
I've also tried Zara Radio (after spending more time that necessary to dig through the Wayback Machine to find it), and it's probably simple enough to figure out, but as you pointed out, it's outdated, and probably really only works best on XP.
Click to expand...

You could just have a separate machine running XP for the automation. Doesn't have to be much for that purpose.
 
cc333 said:
Thank you all for the responses!

I've tinkered with RadioDJ off and on, but it mystifies me every time. If someone could help me figure it out (or point me to some resources that can help), I'd consider giving it another try.

I've also tried Zara Radio (after spending more time that necessary to dig through the Wayback Machine to find it), and it's probably simple enough to figure out, but as you pointed out, it's outdated, and probably really only works best on XP.

In the meantime, I'll sample some of the other offerings here and see what I like.

c
Click to expand...
For personal use, I run Zara Radio on both Windows XP and Windows 11 PCs and it seems to work okay on both. That said, I'm using it primarily to provide automated background music for my own listening and occasionally for automated playlists for events or parties. I don't think it would have the flexibility for anything other than the most minimal radio station.
 
I appreciate the recent replies re: Zara Radio and what appears to be a new, open source clone of it (Salamandra Radio).

As I mentioned, I tried Zara Radio, but I want to give Salamandra a try, out of curiosity, if nothing else.

My station is so minimal, it would probably be enough.

c
 
I have heard good things about Zara for personal use and also for LPFMs without the need for a lot of bells and whistles. There is a definite need for something more simple, even though people like me need the robustness of something like MusicMaster.

I hope your Part 15 station turns out the way you want it to, cc.
 
K.M. Richards said:
I have heard good things about Zara for personal use and also for LPFMs without the need for a lot of bells and whistles.
Click to expand...
So have I, but it's kind of antiquated, and I found that the scripting language it uses isn't terribly well documented (or, if it is, I couldn't find it)

K.M. Richards said:
There is a definite need for something more simple
Click to expand...
I agree. Most of the free options I've explored have some of what I want, but most of them are difficult to install, tedious and over-complicated to configure, and include all sorts of features I neither want nor need.

It seems to me that there should be a good, basic package with every needed feature (scheduling, logging, music playout and playlist creation, among others) and none of the excess junk. It should also be easy to install and configure, and it should run reliably with good performance on almost anything, from a lowly Core2 Duo from 2006 all the way to the latest Core i-whatever).

I'd build it myself, but I'm more of an idea person, and lack the skills and the desire to do it myself.

K.M. Richards said:
...people like me need the robustness of something like MusicMaster.
Click to expand...
Yes. And I'd like to learn it myself, if only because I'm curious. But, I'm not a professional, and I don't have the money. Cost is definitely a barrier to entry, and it's too bad there isn't some sort of "free" or "low cost for hobbyists" version out there (unless I'm mistaken; I looked and found nothing).

K.M. Richards said:
I hope your Part 15 station turns out the way you want it to, cc.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I hope it turns out well too. I'd love for it to have a nice, highly produced professional sound, something like your Eighties Channel, but more varied with deeper cuts from the 70s and maybe even late 60s in addition to the 80s (remember, I'm only a hobby station, so I don't have to care about ratings and stuff!)

With that in mind, I think I'm getting a pretty decent yacht rock/classic hits hybrid sound going (which I'm thinking maybe could be called something like "The Easy Channel," if I may emulate your naming conventions a bit :) ).

However, while it would be nice if I outsourced at least some of this stuff to people who know what they're doing, the challenge of learning to do it all myself is, honestly, what makes it such a fun project!

c
 
I use StationPlaylist Studio and Creator. The bundle of the pro version together cost in the ballpark of $500.

Never failed me. Although, like any automation software free or paid, it's as only good as the effort you're willing to put in.

I've spent countless hours getting the intro and segue points right - the software has a quick and easy way, but not as tight as when set by a human.

Even time calls I've had to re-think to make them sound more natural.

And they end of the day you have to ask yourself, do you want a system that is essentially Winamp (music on shuffle) or something that makes it sound like a fully staffed station?
 
The New Chico said:
I have been fiddling with this one PlayoutONE lately and it may make sense for your needs.
Click to expand...

For everything we use it for at our 4 stations, i wouldnt say Playout one is low cost when it comes to the monthly fees for pro
 
Given what the OP is trying to do, it feels like the free version should be enough for what he wishes to accomplish. I could be wrong, but I have been playing with it for some weeks and as a simple solution it works. I realize the bells and whistles you need to run 4 stations will require the paid version.
 
Ha! I actually forgot this was my thread LOL!

MrCrumpets said:
I use StationPlaylist Studio and Creator. The bundle of the pro version together cost in the ballpark of $500.

Never failed me. Although, like any automation software free or paid, it's as only good as the effort you're willing to put in.
Click to expand...
Exactly.

The New Chico said:
I have been fiddling with this one PlayoutONE lately and it may make sense for your needs.
Click to expand...
Ooo, and it's free! I'm gonna check it out!

SomeRadioGuy said:
For everything we use it for at our 4 stations, i wouldnt say Playout one is low cost when it comes to the monthly fees for pro
Click to expand...
The New Chico said:
Given what the OP is trying to do, it feels like the free version should be enough for what he wishes to accomplish. I could be wrong, but I have been playing with it for some weeks and as a simple solution it works. I realize the bells and whistles you need to run 4 stations will require the paid version.
Click to expand...
The free version ought to be plenty for me. I'm not trying to sound big market.

c
 


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