Programs As Cart Machine

[pellmell]

There is a thread somewhere on the board that offers suggestions for software replacements for cart machines that make it easy to drop in jingles, spots, and such. If you recall where that thread is, please point it out. I saved it somewhere, but I can't find it.

 

[ChiefOperator]

If you want software that looks like an old cart machine and is just as easy to use, have a look at this:

http://www.charliedavy.co.uk/software.php#CartPlayer

 

[RadioMan203]

If you go to the software resources on my site there are three programs listed at the bottom under "Specialty" which are cart-machine replacement programs.

 

[ptfigg]

For the Mac, Soundboard:

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/soundboard/

-paul.

 

[darklife]

I have had good luck with Sonicart which is now freeware. The interface is really nice and simple
to use unlike some of the more expensive software I have seen. Also does its own auto/cross fades and
inserts jingles/adverts at specific times if you want to run it all auto by itself.
Allows as many virtual carts as you want. Also comes with a bundled MP3 encoder and a few other
useful tools to setup shows. Not really professional software but great for small stations.
Here's a link...
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/Sonicart/

 

[RadioMan203]

The only thing about Sonicart is that BabyFishmouth looks like it gave up the ghost, so no more program updates. I friend uses it and swears by it, but he is also using legacy hardware and software too.

I keep forgetting about Soundboard for the Mac. Thanks for mentioning it, Paul. I'll have to add that to my site's resouce pages.

 

[SRP]

I keep forgetting about Soundboard for the Mac. Thanks for mentioning it, Paul. I'll have to add that to my site's resouce pages.

Ditto on that thanks. I have SoundByte so I just might have to take advantage of their $10 off upgrade offer.

One thing that's cool about SoundByte is it can be controlled by a iPhone/iPad app, essentially giving you touchscreen control for no extra charge.

 

[Charlie]

Chief, thanks for the plug

Bill - I am getting a 403 Error on all of your site links, nothing seems to work in Firefox (or IE).

 

[snarfdude]

one of the problems I have with charlie's cart player is that you cannot reduce it based to fit screen resolution. I tried to use it on my net book, and plays well, but I cannot change from the sonifex players to the ITC's because the button is on the bottom and I can't scroll on my netbook (which already is on it's highest screen resolution) to access it.

The other problem I find is when I actually can change to the ITC decks, the X goes away in the upper right hand corner, forcing me to do ctrl alt del, to close down the player. It is there in the sonifex players.

is there an "eject" option for the players on the ITC's? maybe i'm missing it.

other then that, they're good players that are nostalglic of the actual players of the day.

hot key capability for the players would be a great addition instead of having to use the mouse to hit start. especially if you can pick the key on the keyboard that I know some software does.

 

[SRP]

one of the problems I have with charlie's cart player is that you cannot reduce it based to fit screen resolution. I tried to use it on my net book, and plays well, but I cannot change from the sonifex players to the ITC's because the button is on the bottom and I can't scroll on my netbook (which already is on it's highest screen resolution) to access it.

Had the same issue here - unfortunately, Charlie's program (which is COOL IMO) only works on 1024x768 & higher.

If you want a simple freeware cart machine app, get the "Triple Deck" from this page:
http://members.tripod.com/s_snailham/afutilities.html

It says it's for Win95, but I've had no problem getting it to work on any version of Windows.

 

[Charlie]

After some private correspondence with Bill - I'm now able to view his site, it's worth a look!

Thanks for the comments regarding my little cart player - Screen resolution can be a real pain for programmers. The actual cart player "designs" are simple shapes so I could re-size everything so it fits onto a smaller res, but 1024x768 is really about as small as I would want to support. The X on the window is always present on the "main" portion of the program, the file list - this is where you'll find the "Exit" button, the ITC windows are just "slave windows" to the main bit. Ejecting any of the carts is done via a double-click

Hot-keys, you say? F1, F2, F3 to start is supported.

I'm glad that it's of use, it was really made for a bit of fun after some jingle, ahem, "collectors", opined about a "real cart player" program... I got a bit carried-away with the sound effects though!

 

[pellmell]

Thanks for all the info. I'll check out the suggestions. In the mean time, I've played with Jingle Palette. It's great, but it's not being developed any further. The developer said he would never release the source code, and it was written in an older language. There are very few changes I would make to it, but with it not being supported, it could be a Windows Update away from obsolescence.

 

[snarfdude]

one of the problems I have with charlie's cart player is that you cannot reduce it based to fit screen resolution. I tried to use it on my net book, and plays well, but I cannot change from the sonifex players to the ITC's because the button is on the bottom and I can't scroll on my netbook (which already is on it's highest screen resolution) to access it.

Had the same issue here - unfortunately, Charlie's program (which is COOL IMO) only works on 1024x768 & higher.

If you want a simple freeware cart machine app, get the "Triple Deck" from this page:
http://members.tripod.com/s_snailham/afutilities.html

It says it's for Win95, but I've had no problem getting it to work on any version of Windows.

It will...usually anything that works with win 95 will run on everything up to at least XP. As much as people think new is good in the computer world, that's not always the case. As long as it works, that's all that matters.

It's funny you post this.....it's from my home page web site.

The cart machine posted is probably the only place you can still get it. the developer has long since discontinued it as freeware on their website, but still a very useful piece of software. the drawback is that it is only setup to play wav files.

 

[snarfdude]

After some private correspondence with Bill - I'm now able to view his site, it's worth a look!

Thanks for the comments regarding my little cart player - Screen resolution can be a real pain for programmers. The actual cart player "designs" are simple shapes so I could re-size everything so it fits onto a smaller res, but 1024x768 is really about as small as I would want to support. The X on the window is always present on the "main" portion of the program, the file list - this is where you'll find the "Exit" button, the ITC windows are just "slave windows" to the main bit. Ejecting any of the carts is done via a double-click

Hot-keys, you say? F1, F2, F3 to start is supported.

I'm glad that it's of use, it was really made for a bit of fun after some jingle, ahem, "collectors", opined about a "real cart player" program... I got a bit carried-away with the sound effects though!

Fair enough.....now I know I can use the hot keys and double click to eject, it makes things a bit easier.

ultimately, the sonifex interface is the most practical with the countdown. I'm consulting with a old school jock who is bringing his home studio kicking and screaming into the digital age. he was doing shows on cassette to air at a local LPFM, and the station management said no more. can ya blame them? anyway, If anything, this will help to see something he's used to. he's still getting used to adobe audition, but eventually to play stuff back on the PC and record it to, this is a great starting point.

I have real cart decks saved from the dumpster....ITC 3Ds and gates criterions and a audicord....fun to have, but this program is also.....

 

[bitman]

I have a program called EBR Cart it was under $100

 

[ironbear]

Word up about Soundbyte, which I've used on and off for some years. A recent installation of the freeware/shareware 'blew up' on an XP machine with continuous looped demands for $$ (making the program completely unusable) just before a live show, which tended to put a damper on things.

OTOH, I really like the 'cart' function within the Station Playlist automation software, which puts hot cuts on dedicated keyboard keys, in the manor of an Instant Replay. Works very well. I send to talent a list of cuts and corresponding keys so they can call out drops and actualities, if they want.

 

[Kent T]

I run BSI WaveCart for this job. Works well.