Re: The Phantom
Actually, we did finally get the system doing what we wanted it to do, more or less...given the budget we had to work with at the time, and the amount of "original programming" we were forced to do, I'd say it worked pretty well.
I later learned (after I left the company) that they went with a RCS system because they couldn't make the damn thing work. I wonder why!! LOL...there was a file that was written specifically for me...called the Zach Setting. I felt so honored.
But, again, the Phantom wasn't really designed for originating programming, but for running satellite based stuff. Things have changed over the years, and now we have almost every flavor of automation system known. I'm using Vault2 right now, and I haven't had a problem out of it since I took over as chief engineer. Yet...
By the way...thanks for rememebering me!
> > The RDS Phantom...hands down best for talk/news
> programming.
>
> > Live-assist was a cludge.
>
> I've worked, pretty much exclusively, with the Phantom since
> 1993. I was even a dealer/consultant for a a few years. I'd
> have to say that Zach (Hey there, Zach) is more or less
> correct.
>
> The Phantom is "all DOS, all the time" and was originally
> and intentionally designed for satellite operations, from
> the floppy drive to the fan.
>
> If your needs are switching between satellite (audio &
> relay) sources, relay driven triggering of "on the log"
> audio breaks, as well as audio from rotations
> (sub-routines), relay or time based recording of audio (but
> not relay functions...unless they're 25/35 hz tones), then
> the Phantom is probably a good choice.
>
> You can get a new one (hardware is mostly proprietary) for
> about $6k...used for much less. Before you do, consider that
> there've been no updates in years, and RDS is a much less
> profitable division of the family owned company than it once
> was.
>
> For some time now, there's been talk of the parent company
> selling it's broadcast holdings (radio & TV), and I doubt
> anybody will be interested in RDS, if the rest does sell.
> Still, there are a few who know the system intimately, and
> many others who know a great deal, so I doubt you'd find
> yourself without some sort of tech support.
>
> I live with three Phantoms everyday (6 to 8 years of
> operation), and they basically get the job done, as far as
> our small market operations are concerned. Still, I'm
> looking to make a change. I've pretty much decided on
> MediaTouch. The price is good, and my engineer knows the
> stuff intimately.
>
> Zach's "live assist was a cludge" remark, comes from a
> mutually shared experience. In the late 90's, ABC in Dallas
> was contracted by Armed Forces Radio to "do" an alternative
> format for them, to be delivered via satellite.
>
> For some inexplicable reason, ABC decided to purchase a
> Phantom to handle this format (Brad Harrison was a damn good
> salesman). Zach was ABC's guy in charge, and I was engaged
> to go to Dallas for the "final install" and training.
>
> Mind you, the Phantom's strength was on the receiving end of
> the satellite receiver...NOT on the originating end. By the
> time I arrived, the music had been "hard dubbed" (no ripping
> allowed) into the system, and some basic clocks had been
> partially setup. As I remember, I don't think we got the
> damned thing to work like Zach wanted...at least, not right
> then. Later on, I think most of the kinks were worked out.
>
> I did use a Phantom to automate (no satellite) an AM in
> Georgia. We didn't voice track (although we could have), but
> it sounded pretty damned good...if I do say so myself.
>
> Bottom Line...most of us that know and have worked with the
> Phantom for a while, mostly like it. I suspect that's
> because we know the quirks and shortcuts, AND because many
> of us haven't used anything else. That old comfort zone
> thing, you know.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Zach Morton
Chief Engineer
Legend Communications
Gillette, Wyoming</P>
