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DAVE'S BACK SCOTT/ENCO

O

oldiesstation

The last Google AdSense ads have all run, ending yesterday (Sunday). However, a new partnership gives choices to Google Automation’s legacy SS32 radio automation users. Remember, Dave Scott, former CEO of Scott Studios, had designed the SS32 system, which was bought by DMarc, which was bought by Google. Now Scott and ENCO Systems, another leading provider of Digital Audio Delivery Systems, are teaming to service and support SS32 stations. The venture is Scott-ENCO. The new ENCO “Presenter” is also similar to the SS32.

"If I hadn't sold Scott Studios, what I would be doing now is very similar to Presenter,"

"I’ve rehired a number of my best techs after Google laid them off," says Scott. "We'll support and tune-up software and hardware for SS32 systems. Scott-ENCO will provide new options for this great gear. Tons of SS32 owners have asked me to do this. In partnership with ENCO, we’ll maintain SS32 systems affordably. If upgrades are appropriate, Scott-ENCO has great hardware and the experience to deliver the best bang for the buck.”

“It’s exciting to team with Dave Scott to deliver the support these stations want,” says Gene Novacek, President of ENCO Systems. Novacek adds, “For stations that have outgrown their software, our new Presenter, developed with valuable input from Dave Scott, is the most user-friendly available. Yet it’s an affordable upgrade that adds considerable new power and features.”

"I’m sure that good support will be available for SS32 from the 'factory’”, says Novacek. "However, we hear questions from SS32 users. We'll provide a choice for support and another upgrade path,” Novacek continues. Scott adds, "With the inventor of SS32 now teaming with a dependable radio support organization, our combined track record speaks for itself."

Support and service are available beginning 6/1 by calling 1-248-603-2400. The website is ScottEnco.com .
 
Well, ENCO certainly needed help, and Scott certainly knows radio automation. I hope that this amalgam works out well for all involved. SS32 works well, but any automation product that stagnates will die. This looks on the surface like a revitalization for all involved.

Of course, only time will tell. Let's hope that they've got enough staff to truly support the existing product, that prices are reasonable, and that they continue to develop even better solutions.
 
Are you inferring that Scott Studios/Google Radio Automation is a stagnant product?

If so, I beg to differ. I'll wait until the deal to spin off dMarc is done, but after demo-ing Google Radio Automation...it really looks like one heckuva product. If most of their support staff stays intact...i'm sold.
 
I didn't mean to infer anything. ENCO is a far more stagnant product than Scott Studios/Google Radio Automation, but any company that doesn't innovate is in for a rough ride from the competition. Let's hope that the new partnership has the resources to support existing product well, and develop new product. That's not an easy tango, especially in the current economic environment.
 
I also demo'd the google automation. It is pretty amazing what it can do. Unfortunately the type of station I am at, cannot afford something like that. If they were just selling the software without the hardware, I would be game.
 
Funny you should mention, I believe their plan is to back off selling hardware and just focus more on software and, erm, support.

Their support was on a roll, as far as I'm concerned--- up until about 3-4 months ago. Before that, I felt their support was good to excellent for a couple years.

There's still two people I could name with Google that have, personally, been a huge help. Knowing them by name has helped me on a couple of occasions.

I also have reason to believe that future versions will be independent of any operating system...mac, linux, xp (what's left of it)...won't matter. Also, future versions will work on other cards besides ASI.

Dave Scott's announcement of the alignment with Enco also strikes me as a possible negotiating ploy, FWIW. I could be WAAAAY off base, probably am, matter of fact.
 
On face, I have to say that I am completely nonplussed by this announcement. The same fears that many of us have about the Google Audio buyout - that whoever is picked in the final deal will buy it, shut it down and force stations to buy an updated/new product - are directly applicable to this Scott/Enco deal.

The goal is clearly to sign up stations running legacy SS32 systems and slowly force them to upgrade to the (substandard) Enco product. Given the economic situation for most stations, this is hardly worth it. It's definitely true that Google's support is dwindling, but there are other alternatives.

For instance: SS32 Support is a business founded by the best of the radio technicians layed off by Google. I also thought the rates were way, way better even than what Google was offering, and they've been around since May. See for yourself at www.ss32support.com.
 
Somehow, I have a hard time believing that ENCO brought Dave Scott on board as a ploy to get SS32 users to "force them to upgrade to the (substandard) Enco product". More likely, Dave's role is to create a new Scott/Enco product that's an UPGRADE to SS32, which is now several years old. Operating systems and hardware have both changed significantly since then. ENCO seems to have realized that their product offerings just weren't cutting it, while Dave Scott needed an infrastructure. It COULD be a great move by both parties.

Thanks for the link to www.ss32support.com. I'm sure that MANY people are looking for reasonably-priced support for SS32, Google obviously ain't gettin' the job done, and the Scott/ENCO entity is still too new to have a track record.
 
Somehow, I have a hard time believing that ENCO brought Dave Scott on board as a ploy to get SS32 users to "force them to upgrade to the (substandard) Enco product".
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so sure about that: the press release seems pretty intent on pushing their Presenter software.

"If I hadn't sold Scott Studios, what I would be doing now is very similar to Presenter," Scott tells RBR.
Click to expand...

AND
“It’s exciting to team with Dave Scott to deliver the support these stations want,” says Gene Novacek, President of ENCO Systems. Novacek adds, “For stations that have outgrown their software, our new Presenter, developed with valuable input from Dave Scott, is the most user-friendly available. Yet it’s an affordable upgrade that adds considerable new power and features.”
Click to expand...

Regardless of whether or not it is a 'new product', at this point in time I doubt it will be worth the price of upgrade, especially if you already have a functional system. And, though this is speculative: I am betting we'll see a change in user interface, but no significant new technology out of the team. I anticipate they'll dress up ENCO's software to look more like what SS32 users are used to, and that'll be the meat of it.
 
It would be a foolish business decision, wasting a ton of money, for anyone to purchase dMarc/Google just to "shut it down." If I'm not mistaken, it's easily in the top 3 of automation systems in use around the country...thousands of systems in place and a new product that's state of the art. .

And it wouldn't shock me if Dave Scott AND/OR Enco have been previously in the hunt to buy up what's left of dMarc.

Enco could certainly use Dave Scott's help. Their product has sucked for ages.
 
The "Presenter" product is, I beleive, Captian Digital... It's something Dave and his boys have been brewing up for several years...
 
Captain Digital? I think not. I saw Presenter at NAB and it's ENCO software. I do hear that Google is pretty pissed off about the Scott ENCO thing. Guess the Google brain trust has a lot of time on their hands after firing all the support people. Well, nearly all...

Rox
 
LOL! i think it's funny that the Google people have their panties in a wad over another option for support. Since they pretty much feed us to the wolves, it serves them right that someone else might get some support money they apperently feel they (Google)deserve. The Enco/Dave Scott bunch found a need and hopefully will be filling it. If there were no need Google wouldn't have to worry about someone else edging in on their business. There again, they feed us to the wolves. I sincerly hope they serve as an example of what NOT to do when it comes to support. Shame on them.
 
OKCRadioGuy said:
LOL! i think it's funny that the Google people have their panties in a wad over another option for support. Since they pretty much feed us to the wolves, it serves them right that someone else might get some support money they apperently feel they (Google)deserve. The Enco/Dave Scott bunch found a need and hopefully will be filling it. If there were no need Google wouldn't have to worry about someone else edging in on their business. There again, they feed us to the wolves. I sincerly hope they serve as an example of what NOT to do when it comes to support. Shame on them.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Thanks to the individual who posted the new support site link.
 
I have their email tacked up on the wall for a good laugh... They might as well go ahead and sell the remainder of their crappy product rights to Dave. Something tells me there won't too many takers of new product from them anytime soon. Word travels fast ya know...
 
Yup. A sucker born every minute. Bet they didn't pay much for it. Bet their support still sucks. Bet they aren't in it for the long haul either.
 
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