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Automation

E

elevator_opratr

Guest
I apologize if this has ever been discussed here before, but I address this question to internet broadcasters and low-power broadcasters.

What's everyone's favorite automation programs? Of course, internet and low power stations can't afford things like Prophet. So what's everyone using? What's the best and cheapest?
 
Well, at Radio Bop (radiobop.com), we use DRS 2006 Standard which actually does a pretty decent job for 70 bucks (plus another $100 for the internet broadcaster and audio processor)...the absolute only function I need but can't get unless I upgrade to the PRO version for another $500 is the ability to trigger an automatic time tone at the top of the hour within the system. The in and out cues work fine and the flow between jingles and music performs exactly as I envisioned. The only downside is an occasional freeze where the sequencing inexplicably stops. The problem appears to result from a song fading out on one player, a short jingle playing on the second player followed by a year jingle on the third player--if the first selection is still finishing on player one, there is no place for the next sequenced song to go so everything stops. I've had to stop using a couple of :02 and :03 jingles as a result.

The other issue with the current version of DRS 2006 is the lack of a music scheduling program...I intend to go to Prophet once we get our audience built up and we start generating some revenue...SAM 3 has a respectable following but it has issues too...

GIVE US A LISTEN...radiobop.com...playing 50s and 60s rock 'n roll from early rockabilly through early beatles...
 
At MZONEradio (mzoneradio.com), we use the free DirEttore 1.4.0 automation software, available at www.mixtime.com.

Lemme give you the Pros and Cons:

PROS
====

- Free. Free. Free.
- Program is still in beta, so you can throw the software creator ideas to implement.
- Very reliable on a 1ghz PC with 256MB Ram, XP Home. I bought a PC from a friend for $200 with just that...and it has been running, with 3 harddrives in it, since February without an issue.
- Sequences, Rotations, Playlists, Button Bar, Events, Sweepers Over Songs...very reliable.
- Second program, CuEditor, allows for you to edit cuepoints outside of the automation program. This program was made after beta testers requested it.


CONS
====

- No voicetracking capabilities...yet.
- Sweepers automatically attach to the post. So if the dry sweeper is :03 and the song's post is :17, the sweeper doesnt start playing until :14 seconds in. This is to be fixed in later versions. You can also put short sweepers as "wet" and edit the cuepoints so...long story. HAHA email me at [email protected] if you ever need help.
- No built-in processing. Yet.
- No in-program ShoutCast streaming. WinAmp with Shoutcast DNAS in background is needed...this will be added in future versions.
- No built-in scheduler. But, you can import playlists from an external scheduling program...OR do what I do, and create a rotation where it chooses the songs for you, and separate the like-artists and songs. Listen to MZONEradio from 7am-12am EDT to hear it...doesnt sound bad at all i think!!


WRAP-UP
=======

Are you anal about hand-scheduling your music? This isnt your program. But if you are good at figuring out a rotation where you know what should be aired when, and just let the program work its magic, DirEttore is your baby. Its free. You have a word in development. DRS is good, but a little bit more demanding, hardware wise. I take my signal from a PC, out to a mixer, out to a compressor, and back into the system...which I would rather do because if i ever DO go onair...i'd like to compress my voice along with the music.

HAHA I've been talking far too long. DirEttore baby.

> Well, at Radio Bop (radiobop.com), we use DRS 2006 Standard
> which actually does a pretty decent job for 70 bucks (plus
> another $100 for the internet broadcaster and audio
> processor)...the absolute only function I need but can't get
> unless I upgrade to the PRO version for another $500 is the
> ability to trigger an automatic time tone at the top of the
> hour within the system. The in and out cues work fine and
> the flow between jingles and music performs exactly as I
> envisioned. The only downside is an occasional freeze where
> the sequencing inexplicably stops. The problem appears to
> result from a song fading out on one player, a short jingle
> playing on the second player followed by a year jingle on
> the third player--if the first selection is still finishing
> on player one, there is no place for the next sequenced song
> to go so everything stops. I've had to stop using a couple
> of :02 and :03 jingles as a result.
>
> The other issue with the current version of DRS 2006 is the
> lack of a music scheduling program...I intend to go to
> Prophet once we get our audience built up and we start
> generating some revenue...SAM 3 has a respectable following
> but it has issues too...
>
> GIVE US A LISTEN...radiobop.com...playing 50s and 60s rock
> 'n roll from early rockabilly through early beatles...
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
Sounds good. I guess I should have asked this originally, but do any of these programs you guys have mentioned have the ability to create separate playlists worth of PSA's, liners, etc. for inserting throughout the hour?
 
You can set up the rotation so the 10th element in (about 20 minutes in), you'll add a self-made "COMM" element, which searches in the folder you tell it to to get a playlist...and in that playlist is your PSA's, liners, etc.

You can create them in the program...but not automatically. You need to do all the adding yourself...UNLESS you let the program do its thing and do the "rotation" (randomly picks stuff from the folder you specify in that category and plays it, keeping in mind if it's played recently, it wont play it until some time has past (you set the time)).


> Sounds good. I guess I should have asked this originally,
> but do any of these programs you guys have mentioned have
> the ability to create separate playlists worth of PSA's,
> liners, etc. for inserting throughout the hour?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
> Well, at Radio Bop (radiobop.com), we use DRS 2006 Standard
> which actually does a pretty decent job for 70 bucks (plus
> another $100 for the internet broadcaster and audio
> processor)...the absolute only function I need but can't get
> unless I upgrade to the PRO version for another $500 is the
> ability to trigger an automatic time tone at the top of the
> hour within the system. The in and out cues work fine and
> the flow between jingles and music performs exactly as I
> envisioned. The only downside is an occasional freeze where
> the sequencing inexplicably stops. The problem appears to
> result from a song fading out on one player, a short jingle
> playing on the second player followed by a year jingle on
> the third player--if the first selection is still finishing
> on player one, there is no place for the next sequenced song
> to go so everything stops. I've had to stop using a couple
> of :02 and :03 jingles as a result.
>
> The other issue with the current version of DRS 2006 is the
> lack of a music scheduling program...I intend to go to
> Prophet once we get our audience built up and we start
> generating some revenue...SAM 3 has a respectable following
> but it has issues too...
>
> GIVE US A LISTEN...radiobop.com...playing 50s and 60s rock
> 'n roll from early rockabilly through early beatles...
>


When you mention the audio processor, where or what are you using. Where do I find a software that makes my sound more dynamic or enhancing.
And what or how do you install it in your automation system.
 
> You can set up the rotation so the 10th element in (about 20
> minutes in), you'll add a self-made "COMM" element, which
> searches in the folder you tell it to to get a
> playlist...and in that playlist is your PSA's, liners, etc.
>
> You can create them in the program...but not automatically.
> You need to do all the adding yourself...UNLESS you let the
> program do its thing and do the "rotation" (randomly picks
> stuff from the folder you specify in that category and plays
> it, keeping in mind if it's played recently, it wont play it
> until some time has past (you set the time)).
>
>
> > Sounds good. I guess I should have asked this originally,
> > but do any of these programs you guys have mentioned have
> > the ability to create separate playlists worth of PSA's,
> > liners, etc. for inserting throughout the hour?
> >
>
Im Using SAM 2 Broadcaster And It Works Great-But the only thing i cant figure out-how to make a decent playlist with no repeating!and is DRS 2006 Any Better Than Sam 2 Cause im considering upgrading to DRS 2006-The reason for this-A Growing Internet Radio Station of mine-You can take a listen too..WDOS-FM http://www.wdosfm.com and to hear us - http://shoutcast1.wdosfm.com:8008/listen.pls Or http://wdos.cjb.net:8000/listen.pls or mms://wdos.cjb.net:8008 to check it out-<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by djice on 06/11/05 09:47 PM.</FONT></P>
 
At that point, I would say use a "real" scheduler like Prophet's MusicGen or Station Playlist.


> > You can set up the rotation so the 10th element in (about
> 20
> > minutes in), you'll add a self-made "COMM" element, which
> > searches in the folder you tell it to to get a
> > playlist...and in that playlist is your PSA's, liners,
> etc.
> >
> > You can create them in the program...but not
> automatically.
> > You need to do all the adding yourself...UNLESS you let
> the
> > program do its thing and do the "rotation" (randomly picks
>
> > stuff from the folder you specify in that category and
> plays
> > it, keeping in mind if it's played recently, it wont play
> it
> > until some time has past (you set the time)).
> >
> >
> > > Sounds good. I guess I should have asked this
> originally,
> > > but do any of these programs you guys have mentioned
> have
> > > the ability to create separate playlists worth of PSA's,
>
> > > liners, etc. for inserting throughout the hour?
> > >
> >
> Im Using SAM 2 Broadcaster And It Works Great-But the only
> thing i cant figure out-how to make a decent playlist with
> no repeating!and is DRS 2006 Any Better Than Sam 2 Cause im
> considering upgrading to DRS 2006-The reason for this-A
> Growing Internet Radio Station of mine-You can take a listen
> too..WDOS-FM http://www.wdosfm.com and to hear us -
> http://shoutcast1.wdosfm.com:8008/listen.pls Or
> http://wdos.cjb.net:8000/listen.pls or
> mms://wdos.cjb.net:8008 to check it out-
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
> At MZONEradio (mzoneradio.com), we use the free DirEttore
> 1.4.0 automation software, available at www.mixtime.com.
>
> Lemme give you the Pros and Cons:
>
> PROS
> ====
>
> - Free. Free. Free.
> - Program is still in beta, so you can throw the software
> creator ideas to implement.
> - Very reliable on a 1ghz PC with 256MB Ram, XP Home. I
> bought a PC from a friend for $200 with just that...and it
> has been running, with 3 harddrives in it, since February
> without an issue.
> - Sequences, Rotations, Playlists, Button Bar, Events,
> Sweepers Over Songs...very reliable.
> - Second program, CuEditor, allows for you to edit cuepoints
> outside of the automation program. This program was made
> after beta testers requested it.
>
>
> CONS
> ====
>
> - No voicetracking capabilities...yet.
> - Sweepers automatically attach to the post. So if the dry
> sweeper is :03 and the song's post is :17, the sweeper
> doesnt start playing until :14 seconds in. This is to be
> fixed in later versions. You can also put short sweepers as
> "wet" and edit the cuepoints so...long story. HAHA email me
> at [email protected] if you ever need help.
> - No built-in processing. Yet.
> - No in-program ShoutCast streaming. WinAmp with Shoutcast
> DNAS in background is needed...this will be added in future
> versions.
> - No built-in scheduler. But, you can import playlists from
> an external scheduling program...OR do what I do, and create
> a rotation where it chooses the songs for you, and separate
> the like-artists and songs. Listen to MZONEradio from
> 7am-12am EDT to hear it...doesnt sound bad at all i think!!
>
>
> WRAP-UP
> =======
>
> Are you anal about hand-scheduling your music? This isnt
> your program. But if you are good at figuring out a rotation
> where you know what should be aired when, and just let the
> program work its magic, DirEttore is your baby. Its free.
> You have a word in development. DRS is good, but a little
> bit more demanding, hardware wise.





I take my signal from a
> PC, out to a mixer, out to a compressor, and back into the
> system...which I would rather do because if i ever DO go
> onair...i'd like to compress my voice along with the music.


I followed your instructions because I want to add a compressed sound to my internet station that debuts in 1-2 weeks. My server has an audio card Real -Tek that has quite a few modes for the type of music your playing. But I want a sound like yours. I output the PC signal into the mixer where I do read a signal. Then I input it to my DBX box that doesn't seem to respond with any detection of the signal as I input it into the input jack of my computer. I see you mentioned system. Are you referring to your PC as the system? Or do I need a tuner with a output AUX or something that goes into the next component.
What would I be doing wrong from there?
I run an OTS system. Can that be done with the OTS.










>
> HAHA I've been talking far too long. DirEttore baby.
>
> > Well, at Radio Bop (radiobop.com), we use DRS 2006
> Standard
> > which actually does a pretty decent job for 70 bucks (plus
>
> > another $100 for the internet broadcaster and audio
> > processor)...the absolute only function I need but can't
> get
> > unless I upgrade to the PRO version for another $500 is
> the
> > ability to trigger an automatic time tone at the top of
> the
> > hour within the system. The in and out cues work fine and
>
> > the flow between jingles and music performs exactly as I
> > envisioned. The only downside is an occasional freeze
> where
> > the sequencing inexplicably stops. The problem appears to
>
> > result from a song fading out on one player, a short
> jingle
> > playing on the second player followed by a year jingle on
> > the third player--if the first selection is still
> finishing
> > on player one, there is no place for the next sequenced
> song
> > to go so everything stops. I've had to stop using a
> couple
> > of :02 and :03 jingles as a result.
> >
> > The other issue with the current version of DRS 2006 is
> the
> > lack of a music scheduling program...I intend to go to
> > Prophet once we get our audience built up and we start
> > generating some revenue...SAM 3 has a respectable
> following
> > but it has issues too...
> >
> > GIVE US A LISTEN...radiobop.com...playing 50s and 60s rock
>
> > 'n roll from early rockabilly through early beatles...
> >
>
 
System = PC...

I take a stereo mini to 2-1/4 inch wire (one or two adapters to make that happen) from the computer's headphone jack, into the mixer. I make sure that it is in the second bus on the mixer (two buses are helpful...that way you can use the board for something else other than the station if need be). I then take the signal out of the auxilary bus (that I run MZONE off of) into the stereo inputs on the compressor.

I am very lucky to have a pal from Kiss 108 in Boston who knows his compression, so let me give you what I have:

Expander/Gate: 0
Threshold: -20
Ratio: 3
Attack: 0.1
Release: 0.15
Output: 0
Expander: 2
Buttons Pressed In: Interactive, SC Filter, In/Out

Those are the exact readings from my compressor. Make sure yours are similar to that. Tweak them if ya wanna.

Then I take the signal out of the compressor with a 2-1/4 to stereo mini wire, into the "line in" on the computer's soundcard. Winamp offers a plugin that allows you to take the line-in, and broadcast only that. You can search for and download that at www.winamp.com. And thats the end of it.

Hopefully that was a help for ya.

> > At MZONEradio (mzoneradio.com), we use the free DirEttore
> > 1.4.0 automation software, available at www.mixtime.com.
> >
> > Lemme give you the Pros and Cons:
> >
> > PROS
> > ====
> >
> > - Free. Free. Free.
> > - Program is still in beta, so you can throw the software
> > creator ideas to implement.
> > - Very reliable on a 1ghz PC with 256MB Ram, XP Home. I
> > bought a PC from a friend for $200 with just that...and it
>
> > has been running, with 3 harddrives in it, since February
> > without an issue.
> > - Sequences, Rotations, Playlists, Button Bar, Events,
> > Sweepers Over Songs...very reliable.
> > - Second program, CuEditor, allows for you to edit
> cuepoints
> > outside of the automation program. This program was made
> > after beta testers requested it.
> >
> >
> > CONS
> > ====
> >
> > - No voicetracking capabilities...yet.
> > - Sweepers automatically attach to the post. So if the dry
>
> > sweeper is :03 and the song's post is :17, the sweeper
> > doesnt start playing until :14 seconds in. This is to be
> > fixed in later versions. You can also put short sweepers
> as
> > "wet" and edit the cuepoints so...long story. HAHA email
> me
> > at [email protected] if you ever need help.
> > - No built-in processing. Yet.
> > - No in-program ShoutCast streaming. WinAmp with Shoutcast
>
> > DNAS in background is needed...this will be added in
> future
> > versions.
> > - No built-in scheduler. But, you can import playlists
> from
> > an external scheduling program...OR do what I do, and
> create
> > a rotation where it chooses the songs for you, and
> separate
> > the like-artists and songs. Listen to MZONEradio from
> > 7am-12am EDT to hear it...doesnt sound bad at all i
> think!!
> >
> >
> > WRAP-UP
> > =======
> >
> > Are you anal about hand-scheduling your music? This isnt
> > your program. But if you are good at figuring out a
> rotation
> > where you know what should be aired when, and just let the
>
> > program work its magic, DirEttore is your baby. Its free.
> > You have a word in development. DRS is good, but a little
> > bit more demanding, hardware wise.
>
>
>
>
>
> I take my signal from a
> > PC, out to a mixer, out to a compressor, and back into the
>
> > system...which I would rather do because if i ever DO go
> > onair...i'd like to compress my voice along with the
> music.
>
>
> I followed your instructions because I want to add a
> compressed sound to my internet station that debuts in 1-2
> weeks. My server has an audio card Real -Tek that has quite
> a few modes for the type of music your playing. But I want a
> sound like yours. I output the PC signal into the mixer
> where I do read a signal. Then I input it to my DBX box that
> doesn't seem to respond with any detection of the signal as
> I input it into the input jack of my computer. I see you
> mentioned system. Are you referring to your PC as the
> system? Or do I need a tuner with a output AUX or something
> that goes into the next component.
> What would I be doing wrong from there?
> I run an OTS system. Can that be done with the OTS.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > HAHA I've been talking far too long. DirEttore baby.
> >
> > > Well, at Radio Bop (radiobop.com), we use DRS 2006
> > Standard
> > > which actually does a pretty decent job for 70 bucks
> (plus
> >
> > > another $100 for the internet broadcaster and audio
> > > processor)...the absolute only function I need but can't
>
> > get
> > > unless I upgrade to the PRO version for another $500 is
> > the
> > > ability to trigger an automatic time tone at the top of
> > the
> > > hour within the system. The in and out cues work fine
> and
> >
> > > the flow between jingles and music performs exactly as I
>
> > > envisioned. The only downside is an occasional freeze
> > where
> > > the sequencing inexplicably stops. The problem appears
> to
> >
> > > result from a song fading out on one player, a short
> > jingle
> > > playing on the second player followed by a year jingle
> on
> > > the third player--if the first selection is still
> > finishing
> > > on player one, there is no place for the next sequenced
> > song
> > > to go so everything stops. I've had to stop using a
> > couple
> > > of :02 and :03 jingles as a result.
> > >
> > > The other issue with the current version of DRS 2006 is
> > the
> > > lack of a music scheduling program...I intend to go to
> > > Prophet once we get our audience built up and we start
> > > generating some revenue...SAM 3 has a respectable
> > following
> > > but it has issues too...
> > >
> > > GIVE US A LISTEN...radiobop.com...playing 50s and 60s
> rock
> >
> > > 'n roll from early rockabilly through early beatles...
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
Go to db-audioware.com - we use the STD audio processor which runs $40 but the PRO which allows greater control by frequency range is $100 - the unit includes both compression and automatic gain control (AGC)...I am very happy with the sound levels...
 
eh i dunno. i would rather pay $50 for a physical compressor that wont take system resources.


> Go to db-audioware.com - we use the STD audio processor
> which runs $40 but the PRO which allows greater control by
> frequency range is $100 - the unit includes both compression
> and automatic gain control (AGC)...I am very happy with the
> sound levels...
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
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