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On Air Automation

B

bossbill

I'm looking for input on iMediaTouch, NexGen, BSI, EZ Automation... anyone... anyone?
 
I Touch isn't bad. SS32 isn't bad either. BSI isn't great, it's barely good...don't know what EZ Automation is.

Use NexGen, between their support, it's flexibility, and reliability...it's hands-down one of the best automation systems on the
planet.

Avoid AudioVault like the plague, unless you like editing complicated *.ini files in 2007!
 
Been using Scott Studios' SS32 for years at my station. It is one of the more 'user-friendly' automation systems out there. Tech support declined after Google (yep, Google) bought Scott Studios. Still, a good choice.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
I'm looking for input on iMediaTouch, NexGen, BSI, EZ Automation... anyone... anyone?
Click to expand...

Hey Bill,

Go with NexGen. It's the best choice either for the ABC music formats you're running at Sunny and The Jet, or for full-blown automation.

If budget's an issue, look at Player101 - it's essentially NexGen lite.

BTW - I don't agree with the comments above about BSI. If you set it up right, and follow their guidelines for file storage/playback, Simian's VERY reliable. Derek Shannon knows that for sure.
 
Clarification...
I need to run 4 stations, three are music FMs, one talk AM with multiple satellite sources, and a fifth station in near future. We have four studios, all used for on-air live drive time shows, and a mix of voice-tracking and satellite during other hours. Every studio also is used as a production studio when not on air. I'm thinking 2 computers in each studio (one on-air and one for production and voice-tracking). Need to voice-track from any studio for any station.
 
I gotta tell you, I've never had a problem getting Audiovault to do exactly what I wanted it to do, including some things that even have BE scratching their heads about how I did it. Those little INI files are quite powerful and if you know how to program them, they can be your best friend. Like I said, I love the Vault...but agree that BSI is junk.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
Clarification...
I need to run 4 stations, three are music FMs, one talk AM with multiple satellite sources, and a fifth station in near future. We have four studios, all used for on-air live drive time shows, and a mix of voice-tracking and satellite during other hours. Every studio also is used as a production studio when not on air. I'm thinking 2 computers in each studio (one on-air and one for production and voice-tracking). Need to voice-track from any studio for any station.
Click to expand...

Nexgen does all of those things really well. You can voice track on any station in any studio, even from home. Also its wizzard editor is fantastic for basic multitrack editing (voice over music). Satellite operation is excellent with stretch and squeeze spot blocks. And voice traking is as good as anything else. It's the best I've used
 
I disagree about Scott Studio's support getting worse since Google bought 'em. their support has vastly improved in the past year.

Their overall system is decent. I'm just not a fan of having separate software for VT, Merging, and entering audio. SS32 would be my second choice to NexGen.
 
OtsDJ? Anyone...? Anyone...? Well hey I like it!

R
 
One thing I will give iMT kudos for doing well is the handling of multiple stations. If the network is set up properly, you can do production, voice tracking, or use log tools on any station that is within the same building (and theoretically, over a WAN, any station you want).

If you go with iMT, make sure your traffic department gets adequate training in Natural Log. I had them going for a couple hours after a weather sponsorship (supposedly timed from 6a-6p) started airing during football broadcasts instead of the sponsor's regular 30 second spot ... from 7p-10p. Just building the initial log before we could start using iMT was a real pain for them.
 
I get the sense that SS32 has the largest user base, NexGen a close #2.

While NexGen is, for sure, used at 1200 current and former CC stations, there are several hundred more using NexGen, as well.
 
Sgeirk said:
I Touch isn't bad. SS32 isn't bad either. BSI isn't great, it's barely good...don't know what EZ Automation is.

Use NexGen, between their support, it's flexibility, and reliability...it's hands-down one of the best automation systems on the
planet.

Avoid AudioVault like the plague, unless you like editing complicated *.ini files in 2007!
Click to expand...

I totally disagree with the Audiovault statements. The ini file is not complicated. Many would look at it as an additional means of security. Jocks can't point and click there way to messing up system settings. If you take the time to learn the ini, you can make AV do almost anything. And on the reliability note, I kept mine active for 366 days of uptime. 2 servers running 7 stations. That's sounds pretty reliable to me.

Chris
 
If you're "Linux literate" look at the Rivendell system. It is in use at many stations and the reports are good. Of course, the price is excellent (free).
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
One thing I will give iMT kudos for doing well is the handling of multiple stations. If the network is set up properly, you can do production, voice tracking, or use log tools on any station that is within the same building (and theoretically, over a WAN, any station you want).

Yep...we do the WAN thing with OMT's stuff...got 8 buildings and 23 stations VPNed together...works pretty well.

If you go with iMT, make sure your traffic department gets adequate training in Natural Log. I had them going for a couple hours after a weather sponsorship (supposedly timed from 6a-6p) started airing during football broadcasts instead of the sponsor's regular 30 second spot ... from 7p-10p. Just building the initial log before we could start using iMT was a real pain for them.
Click to expand...

We have CBSI for traffic, no probs...dunno about Natural Log
 
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