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Automation Question

B

brian5

Guest
I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their stations for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called Dalet.
The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least favorite as it had no bells and whistles in its first version used back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough voice tracks, but it worked.
Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version 2. Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc CD changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials, and rotated liners automatically appeared.
I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never used it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone has used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what you use currently.<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
> I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their stations
> for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called Dalet.
>
> The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least favorite
> as it had no bells and whistles in its first version used
> back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough voice
> tracks, but it worked.
> Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version 2.
> Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc CD
> changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials, and
> rotated liners automatically appeared.
> I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never used
> it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone has
> used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what you
> use currently.
>

Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your address and I'll drop you one down your chimney...
 
Do you guys still use the Digilink 2 system over there at Bluewater? I was in the WACV studios back in 2001 I believe and thats what was there...I thought for sure you guys would have updated. Any plans or are you guys truly happy with it?

> > I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their stations
> > for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> > Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called
> Dalet.
> >
> > The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least
> favorite
> > as it had no bells and whistles in its first version used
> > back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough
> voice
> > tracks, but it worked.
> > Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version
> 2.
> > Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc CD
> > changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> > BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> > computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials,
> and
> > rotated liners automatically appeared.
> > I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never
> used
> > it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone has
>
> > used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what you
> > use currently.
> >
>
> Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your address and
> I'll drop you one down your chimney...
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
You must have been a bad boy if Tungnut's going to give you Digilink for Christmas. By the way, Bluewater now uses Scott Systems. When they bought the stations, Digilink was the first thing to go.


Do you guys still use the Digilink 2 system over there at
> Bluewater? I was in the WACV studios back in 2001 I believe
> and thats what was there...I thought for sure you guys would
> have updated. Any plans or are you guys truly happy with
> it?
>
> > > I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their
> stations
> > > for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> > > Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called
> > Dalet.
> > >
> > > The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least
> > favorite
> > > as it had no bells and whistles in its first version
> used
> > > back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough
> > voice
> > > tracks, but it worked.
> > > Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version
>
> > 2.
> > > Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc
> CD
> > > changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> > > BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> > > computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials,
>
> > and
> > > rotated liners automatically appeared.
> > > I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never
> > used
> > > it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone
> has
> >
> > > used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what
> you
> > > use currently.
> > >
> >
> > Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your address and
>
> > I'll drop you one down your chimney...
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Ty</P>
 
Makes sense...I've never used Scott Systems before but I have heard they are pretty user friendly. I think that leaves only one station in Montgomery that still uses the Digilink.
Thought from the past...I remember watching Matt Murphy when he was at ACV recording Bortz on videotapes for "tape delay"...maybe I have this remembered wrong, but I am pretty sure that is what he was doing back then. Scott Systems had to have been a drastic improvement over Digilink and VCR's!

> You must have been a bad boy if Tungnut's going to give you
> Digilink for Christmas. By the way, Bluewater now uses Scott
> Systems. When they bought the stations, Digilink was the
> first thing to go.
>
>
> Do you guys still use the Digilink 2 system over there at
> > Bluewater? I was in the WACV studios back in 2001 I
> believe
> > and thats what was there...I thought for sure you guys
> would
> > have updated. Any plans or are you guys truly happy with
> > it?
> >
> > > > I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their
> > stations
> > > > for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> > > > Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called
> > > Dalet.
> > > >
> > > > The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least
> > > favorite
> > > > as it had no bells and whistles in its first version
> > used
> > > > back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough
>
> > > voice
> > > > tracks, but it worked.
> > > > Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the
> version
> >
> > > 2.
> > > > Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc
>
> > CD
> > > > changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> > > > BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> > > > computer and the cart look where the songs,
> commercials,
> >
> > > and
> > > > rotated liners automatically appeared.
> > > > I know Scott is a big one out there though I have
> never
> > > used
> > > > it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone
>
> > has
> > >
> > > > used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what
> > you
> > > > use currently.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your address
> and
> >
> > > I'll drop you one down your chimney...
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
> Makes sense...I've never used Scott Systems before but I
> have heard they are pretty user friendly. I think that
> leaves only one station in Montgomery that still uses the
> Digilink.
> Thought from the past...I remember watching Matt Murphy when
> he was at ACV recording Bortz on videotapes for "tape
> delay"...maybe I have this remembered wrong, but I am pretty
> sure that is what he was doing back then. Scott Systems had
> to have been a drastic improvement over Digilink and VCR's!
>
> > You must have been a bad boy if Tungnut's going to give
> you
> > Digilink for Christmas. By the way, Bluewater now uses
> Scott
> > Systems. When they bought the stations, Digilink was the
> > first thing to go.
> >
> >
> > Do you guys still use the Digilink 2 system over there at
>
> > > Bluewater? I was in the WACV studios back in 2001 I
> > believe
> > > and thats what was there...I thought for sure you guys
> > would
> > > have updated. Any plans or are you guys truly happy
> with
> > > it?
> > >
> > > > > I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their
> > > stations
> > > > > for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air
> and
> > > > > Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called
>
> > > > Dalet.
> > > > >
> > > > > The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least
> > > > favorite
> > > > > as it had no bells and whistles in its first version
>
> > > used
> > > > > back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do
> rough
> >
> > > > voice
> > > > > tracks, but it worked.
> > > > > Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the
> > version
> > >
> > > > 2.
> > > > > Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6
> disc
> >
> > > CD
> > > > > changers attached to it that the computer
> controlled.
> > > > > BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch
> screen
> > > > > computer and the cart look where the songs,
> > commercials,
> > >
> > > > and
> > > > > rotated liners automatically appeared.
> > > > > I know Scott is a big one out there though I have
> > never
> > > > used
> > > > > it. I would be interested to hear which ones
> everyone
> >
> > > has
> > > >
> > > > > used, what you liked or disliked about them, and
> what
> > > you
> > > > > use currently.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your address
>
> > and
> > >
> > > > I'll drop you one down your chimney...
> > > >best bang for the buck.Nexgen 2, very reliable.now if you want to spend more there is nothing wrong with Scott studios...best 2 systems on the market.PERIOD.....
> > >
> >
>
 
I haven't had a chance to see the Nexgen2 system you mentioned. I remember the original Prophet system which I think is the makers of the Nexgen2. Can't recall what station was using it though when I saw it.

I thought of another system today that I saw once (never used myself), I think it was called the ?Shadow?. Reality 101 had the system when it came on the air up in Birmingham. It was good on live assist, or when left alone to be a jukebox, but it took forever to get to work with voice tracking like they wanted it to. I think they ended up switching systems when Blackbird, crow, whatever it was from Huntsville bought the station and flipped it to the 101.1 The Spot. It might not have been till they moved the studios to the Pepper building though. Crawford bought the station and changed the automation system again...can't remember what to though.

> > Makes sense...I've never used Scott Systems before but I
> > have heard they are pretty user friendly. I think that
> > leaves only one station in Montgomery that still uses the
> > Digilink.
> > Thought from the past...I remember watching Matt Murphy
> when
> > he was at ACV recording Bortz on videotapes for "tape
> > delay"...maybe I have this remembered wrong, but I am
> pretty
> > sure that is what he was doing back then. Scott Systems
> had
> > to have been a drastic improvement over Digilink and
> VCR's!
> >
> > > You must have been a bad boy if Tungnut's going to give
> > you
> > > Digilink for Christmas. By the way, Bluewater now uses
> > Scott
> > > Systems. When they bought the stations, Digilink was the
>
> > > first thing to go.
> > >
> > >
> > > Do you guys still use the Digilink 2 system over there
> at
> >
> > > > Bluewater? I was in the WACV studios back in 2001 I
> > > believe
> > > > and thats what was there...I thought for sure you guys
>
> > > would
> > > > have updated. Any plans or are you guys truly happy
> > with
> > > > it?
> > > >
> > > > > > I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their
> > > > stations
> > > > > > for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air
> > and
> > > > > > Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one
> called
> >
> > > > > Dalet.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my
> least
> > > > > favorite
> > > > > > as it had no bells and whistles in its first
> version
> >
> > > > used
> > > > > > back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do
> > rough
> > >
> > > > > voice
> > > > > > tracks, but it worked.
> > > > > > Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the
> > > version
> > > >
> > > > > 2.
> > > > > > Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6
> > disc
> > >
> > > > CD
> > > > > > changers attached to it that the computer
> > controlled.
> > > > > > BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch
> > screen
> > > > > > computer and the cart look where the songs,
> > > commercials,
> > > >
> > > > > and
> > > > > > rotated liners automatically appeared.
> > > > > > I know Scott is a big one out there though I have
> > > never
> > > > > used
> > > > > > it. I would be interested to hear which ones
> > everyone
> > >
> > > > has
> > > > >
> > > > > > used, what you liked or disliked about them, and
> > what
> > > > you
> > > > > > use currently.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Digi-Link is AWE-SOME.... give ole' Santa your
> address
> >
> > > and
> > > >
> > > > > I'll drop you one down your chimney...
> > > > >best bang for the buck.Nexgen 2, very reliable.now if
> you want to spend more there is nothing wrong with Scott
> studios...best 2 systems on the market.PERIOD.....
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
> I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their stations
> for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called Dalet.
>
> The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least favorite
> as it had no bells and whistles in its first version used
> back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough voice
> tracks, but it worked.
> Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version 2.
> Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc CD
> changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials, and
> rotated liners automatically appeared.
> I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never used
> it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone has
> used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what you
> use currently.
>

well, when i was working for clear channel, i enjoyed the ease of use that Prophet systems Wizard had.<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.jaydavenport.net>Jay Davenport</a>


</P>
 
> I am curious to hear what everyone uses in their stations
> for automation these days. I have used BE AV Air and
> Audiovault, Arrakis Digilink, and another one called Dalet.
>
> The spelling could be wrong, but Dalet was my least favorite
> as it had no bells and whistles in its first version used
> back in 1998. The later update allowed us to do rough voice
> tracks, but it worked.
> Arrakis Digilink is a crazy system...our was the version 2.
> Very much a Dos look to it. It had a rack of 8 6 disc CD
> changers attached to it that the computer controlled.
> BE's AV Air was my favorite. We had the touch screen
> computer and the cart look where the songs, commercials, and
> rotated liners automatically appeared.
> I know Scott is a big one out there though I have never used
> it. I would be interested to hear which ones everyone has
> used, what you liked or disliked about them, and what you
> use currently.
>
I run my Part 15 / Online station with SAM2, it's nothing fancy really, but it gets the job done<P ID="signature">______________

<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
wolf_sig.png
</P></span></P></span>
http://wolf103.tk
http://www.myspace.com/1039thewolf</P>
 
>>>I think it was called the ?Shadow?<<<

Maybe an "RDS PHANTOM" ??? Works well as satellite automation.

Even with its clunky setup(ini files)I find the AV2 system
very reliable and stable.

NexGen is nice and Scott not bad.

Never liked Maestro. Although the old DCS would run and run.

The last Digilink I touched was pried from my hands by the
gravity emanating from a dumpster!!!


> I haven't had a chance to see the Nexgen2 system you
> mentioned. I remember the original Prophet system which I
> think is the makers of the Nexgen2. Can't recall what
> station was using it though when I saw it.
>
> I thought of another system today that I saw once (never
> used myself), I think it was called the ?Shadow?. Reality
> 101 had the system when it came on the air up in Birmingham.
> It was good on live assist, or when left alone to be a
> jukebox, but it took forever to get to work with voice
> tracking like they wanted it to. I think they ended up
> switching systems when Blackbird, crow, whatever it was from
> Huntsville bought the station and flipped it to the 101.1
> The Spot. It might not have been till they moved the
> studios to the Pepper building though. Crawford bought the
> station and changed the automation system again...can't
> remember what to though.
>
 
That was it...The Phantom.

> >>>I think it was called the ?Shadow? mentioned. I remember
> the original Prophet system which I
> > think is the makers of the Nexgen2. Can't recall what
> > station was using it though when I saw it.
> >
> > I thought of another system today that I saw once (never
> > used myself), I think it was called the ?Shadow?. Reality
>
> > 101 had the system when it came on the air up in
> Birmingham.
> > It was good on live assist, or when left alone to be a
> > jukebox, but it took forever to get to work with voice
> > tracking like they wanted it to. I think they ended up
> > switching systems when Blackbird, crow, whatever it was
> from
> > Huntsville bought the station and flipped it to the 101.1
> > The Spot. It might not have been till they moved the
> > studios to the Pepper building though. Crawford bought
> the
> > station and changed the automation system again...can't
> > remember what to though.
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
Phantom is great for a satellite fed "radio station in a box." I really can't stand it for live assist stuff.

> That was it...The Phantom.
>
> > >>>I think it was called the ?Shadow? mentioned. I
> remember
> > the original Prophet system which I
> > > think is the makers of the Nexgen2. Can't recall what
> > > station was using it though when I saw it.
> > >
> > > I thought of another system today that I saw once (never
>
> > > used myself), I think it was called the ?Shadow?.
> Reality
> >
> > > 101 had the system when it came on the air up in
> > Birmingham.
> > > It was good on live assist, or when left alone to be a
> > > jukebox, but it took forever to get to work with voice
> > > tracking like they wanted it to. I think they ended up
> > > switching systems when Blackbird, crow, whatever it was
> > from
> > > Huntsville bought the station and flipped it to the
> 101.1
> > > The Spot. It might not have been till they moved the
> > > studios to the Pepper building though. Crawford bought
> > the
> > > station and changed the automation system again...can't
> > > remember what to though.
> > >
> >
>
 
Heres one for ya,

We were using a two studio setup up till 2003, the newer studio was using Cartworks running a music log part of the day with commercials, during this daypart the Cartworks would trigger a tone that would kick off a Schaffer 903 some 30 miles away at the main studio, this would play the main studio spots. It would also work in reverse when the programming was originating from the main studio. Since late 2003 we have just used the Cartworks for everything. How many of you know of the Schaffer 903? FYI: it was all the rage in the mid 60's, utilizing instacarts and carousel systems for spots and reel to reels for music, this system was really ahead of it's time back then. If I am not mistaken I believe the original asking price for these was well over $40,000 dollars. Today if you can find a 903 most stations will let you have them for free.
 
How many of you know of the Schaffer 903? FYI: it was all the
rage in the mid 60's, utilizing instacarts and carousel
systems for spots and reel to reels for music, this system
was really ahead of it's time back then.

We ran 92Q Nashville off a 903 in the mid 70's...6 reel to reels...
2 "audiofile" cart machines for spots/jingles (stepchild of the instacart...
45 carts...three heads/capstans...one for carts 1-15, 1 for 16-31,
1 for 32-45. not even close to random-access. It also had three "carousels"
that each held 36 carts...playing them in sequential order (skip a cart?
pull it halfway out to daypart). And of course, two huge cart machines for
time announce...one with odd...one with even times...locally recorded.)
The 903 gave you 19 possible audio sources...we used all but 17 and 18.
When 92Q went live in 1978, I kept ALL the manuals/schematics, and took
LOTS of photos. Anyone remember the huge PAPER TAPE printer/encoder they
used? Noisy!

<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
 
This wasn't at Thunder 92.7 was it? I knew they had two studios at one time, if not still today.

> Heres one for ya,
>
> We were using a two studio setup up till 2003, the newer
> studio was using Cartworks running a music log part of the
> day with commercials, during this daypart the Cartworks
> would trigger a tone that would kick off a Schaffer 903 some
> 30 miles away at the main studio, this would play the main
> studio spots. It would also work in reverse when the
> programming was originating from the main studio. Since late
> 2003 we have just used the Cartworks for everything. How
> many of you know of the Schaffer 903? FYI: it was all the
> rage in the mid 60's, utilizing instacarts and carousel
> systems for spots and reel to reels for music, this system
> was really ahead of it's time back then. If I am not
> mistaken I believe the original asking price for these was
> well over $40,000 dollars. Today if you can find a 903 most
> stations will let you have them for free.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Brian</P>
 
Gotta agree with you on Maestro. Don't like it at all. DCS for Windows built on a Scott Studios platform. The worst of all worlds! I love Scott Studios and currently use DCS and like it, but Maestro irritates me. AV Air is easy to run, but it's not very complex, and I wouldn't walk away from it for long because of its tendency to crash. One of the station's I'm at now uses Cartready. I wish it had DCS like our oldies station!
 
> Phantom is great for a satellite fed "radio station in a
> box." I really can't stand it for live assist stuff.
>
> > That was it...The Phantom.
> >
> > > >>>I think it was called the ?Shadow? mentioned. I
> > remember
> > > the original Prophet system which I
> > > > think is the makers of the Nexgen2. Can't recall what
>
> > > > station was using it though when I saw it.
> > > >
> > > > I thought of another system today that I saw once
> (never
> >
> > > > used myself), I think it was called the ?Shadow?.
> > Reality
> > >
> > > > 101 had the system when it came on the air up in
> > > Birmingham.
> > > > It was good on live assist, or when left alone to be
> a
> > > > jukebox, but it took forever to get to work with voice
>
> > > > tracking like they wanted it to. I think they ended
> up
> > > > switching systems when Blackbird, crow, whatever it
> was
> > > from
> > > > Huntsville bought the station and flipped it to the
> > 101.1
> > > > The Spot. It might not have been till they moved the
> > > > studios to the Pepper building though. Crawford
> bought
> > > the
> > > > station and changed the automation system
> again...can't
> > > > remember what to though.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

I would rather play from cassette tapes than deal with the Phantom like I have to everyday. Somebody shoot me!
 
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