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TOP OF THE HOUR TIME TONE GENERATOR

A

abcdj

Guest
I'm curious if anyone knows of any software (homebrew or otherwise) that will put a top of the hour time tone on the air. What I'm looking for is something that will play a one second audio clip of tone at exactly the top of the hour as determined by the internal clock on the computer (which is already synched). This would play on the automation computer and basically go right over the top of whatever is on the air. Surely this is an easy thing, huh?
Anyone have any ideas?
 
Most of the places where I've seen this done have home-brewed a separate audio generator that fires off a master clock.

Automation PCs generally have a lot of stuff going on at TOH, especially at midnight when new logs are being loaded. I'd think you would really rather not put something like that on the on-air PC, where it's just another piece of overhead for the CPU to deal with.
 
> Most of the places where I've seen this done have
> home-brewed a separate audio generator that fires off a
> master clock.
>
> Automation PCs generally have a lot of stuff going on at
> TOH, especially at midnight when new logs are being loaded.
> I'd think you would really rather not put something like
> that on the on-air PC, where it's just another piece of
> overhead for the CPU to deal with.
>
I would think a simple Visual Basic program could accomplish this. Have it loop checking the system clock (minutes) and when minutes = :00, have it fire a wave file of the tone in Media Player. Depending on how robust your PC is, it could run on that, or you could run it on a separate dedicated PC, with its sound output run through a combining pad with your regular audio.
 
> > Most of the places where I've seen this done have
> > home-brewed a separate audio generator that fires off a
> > master clock.
> >
> > Automation PCs generally have a lot of stuff going on at
> > TOH, especially at midnight when new logs are being
> loaded.
> > I'd think you would really rather not put something like
> > that on the on-air PC, where it's just another piece of
> > overhead for the CPU to deal with.
> >
> I would think a simple Visual Basic program could accomplish
> this. Have it loop checking the system clock (minutes) and
> when minutes = :00, have it fire a wave file of the tone in
> Media Player. Depending on how robust your PC is, it could
> run on that, or you could run it on a separate dedicated PC,
> with its sound output run through a combining pad with your
> regular audio.
>

Someone already has! (chuckle) There's a really nifty Visual Basic plugin/program for Winamp 2.9x called "Winamp Radio Scheduler". It's remarkably good for a free program. That doesn't mean it's the best there is by far, but like I said - it's free. :)

The home page for it is http://andrei22.go.ro but if that doesn't work try a Google search - I've seen the main page just "disappear" for no reason now and then. Oh, last I checked the author did provide a download of Winamp 2.95 so if you've only got Winamp 5 you're not out of luck.
 
That may be true about overhead - if you are still running an old Digital DJ system on a Pentium 75 but if you happen to have something that was made in the '00s the thing is most likely a Pentium 3/4 and should be able to handle a quick audio drop. (I do agree that midnight is a bit hectic though and if the "tone" is off by a second or two I don't believe it would be life threatening, unless you are using the tone to restart someone's pacemaker every hour...) Most automation systems I've seen have some sort of way of doing this either with a command in the schedule or a pre-programmed macro that would fire an audio cut at a certain time. You may want to check with the automation software vendor to see if they have that option available.

Just wondering - what automation software are you using? Maybe someone here who is versed in that software could recommend a solution.

Noodle

{snip}
> I'd think you would really rather not put something like
> that on the on-air PC, where it's just another piece of
> overhead for the CPU to deal with.
{snip}
 
I always enjoy how there are designs for these complicated systems just to play a top of hour tone :)

Which automation software do you use? It probably has the ability to do it.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
Do it like the good old days - your board op plays a tape cart with a tone on it, and he has to cue it and make sure he hits the button right at 00.00

Another issue nobody mentioned and I've found on many big O&O stations - they are off by a big 7 seconds because the IBOC BS puts in the time delay, so you need it to fire at 59.53 instead - assuming your IBOC delay is exactly 7 seconds late!

I suggest you put a separate timetone computer AT THE TRANSMITTER - that way an audio outage could be tracked down between the studio and transmitter.



>> The home page for it is http://andrei22.go.ro but if that
> doesn't work try a Google search - I've seen the main page
> just "disappear" for no reason now and then. Oh, last I
> checked the author did provide a download of Winamp 2.95 so
> if you've only got Winamp 5 you're not out of luck.
>
 
> I'm curious if anyone knows of any software (homebrew or
> otherwise) that will put a top of the hour time tone on the
> air. What I'm looking for is something that will play a one
> second audio clip of tone at exactly the top of the hour as
> determined by the internal clock on the computer (which is
> already synched). This would play on the automation
> computer and basically go right over the top of whatever is
> on the air. Surely this is an easy thing, huh?
> Anyone have any ideas?
>
My question is...why exactly would you want to do this? I get confused sometimes as to why so many are still obsessed with playing the id RIGHT at the top of the hour, not a second off, when the rule is something to the order of "at the closest natural break in programming."
 
> I'm curious if anyone knows of any software (homebrew or
> otherwise) that will put a top of the hour time tone on the
> air. What I'm looking for is something that will play a one
> second audio clip of tone at exactly the top of the hour as
> determined by the internal clock on the computer (which is
> already synched). This would play on the automation
> computer and basically go right over the top of whatever is
> on the air. Surely this is an easy thing, huh?
> Anyone have any ideas?

ESE used to make a rack mount digital 60 minute timer/clock with BCD thumbswitch programmable 1 second relay closures...the 758L, I believe...which I've used in a sort of similar application. Not exactly cheap, though. They have a new model due out shortly which replicates this sort of function.
 
> My question is...why exactly would you want to do this? I
> get confused sometimes as to why so many are still obsessed
> with playing the id RIGHT at the top of the hour, not a
> second off, when the rule is something to the order of "at
> the closest natural break in programming."
>

That's the rule for the LEGAL ID. But back in the day many stations played a tone at the top of the hour so listeners could set their clocks (sorta like an early-day WWV).

IIRC - the CBS Radio Network STILL does the "bong" sound at the TOH.
 
Re: But....

> IIRC - the CBS Radio Network STILL does the "bong" sound at
> the TOH.
>
The local CBS station in LA (NKX) has a 10 second delay. So the CBS "Bong" is 10 seconds late with respect to WWV. I suspect there are other stations with the same setup.

John
 
> > I'm curious if anyone knows of any software (homebrew or
> > otherwise) that will put a top of the hour time tone on
> the
> > air. What I'm looking for is something that will play a
> one
> > second audio clip of tone at exactly the top of the hour
> as
> > determined by the internal clock on the computer (which is
>
> > already synched). This would play on the automation
> > computer and basically go right over the top of whatever
> is
> > on the air. Surely this is an easy thing, huh?
> > Anyone have any ideas?
> >
> My question is...why exactly would you want to do this? I
> get confused sometimes as to why so many are still obsessed
> with playing the id RIGHT at the top of the hour, not a
> second off, when the rule is something to the order of "at
> the closest natural break in programming."
>
WSB in Atlanta,Georgia broadcasts a tone at the top of each hour.
Why do they do it? So listeners can set their clocks! I check time on all my electronic devices via WSB.(Along with the NIST website.) That's what "full sevice" is all about!
 
Re: But....

> > IIRC - the CBS Radio Network STILL does the "bong" sound
> at
> > the TOH.
> >
> The local CBS station in LA (NKX) has a 10 second delay. So
> the CBS "Bong" is 10 seconds late with respect to WWV. I
> suspect there are other stations with the same setup.
>
> John
>

Maybe the delay is IBOC-related. Once that's rolled out - there goes the time-sync aspect of the tone...
 
> > My question is...why exactly would you want to do this? I
>
> > get confused sometimes as to why so many are still
> obsessed
> > with playing the id RIGHT at the top of the hour, not a
> > second off, when the rule is something to the order of "at
>
> > the closest natural break in programming."
> >
>
> That's the rule for the LEGAL ID. But back in the day many
> stations played a tone at the top of the hour so listeners
> could set their clocks (sorta like an early-day WWV).
>
> IIRC - the CBS Radio Network STILL does the "bong" sound at
> the TOH.
>

in other words it's just a thowback to the old days. Annoying to the listener if you ask me. If they want to set their clocks they'll get on line or pick up the phone.
 
> That may be true about overhead - if you are still running
> an old Digital DJ system on a Pentium 75 but if you happen
> to have something that was made in the '00s the thing is
> most likely a Pentium 3/4 and should be able to handle a
> quick audio drop. (I do agree that midnight is a bit hectic
> though and if the "tone" is off by a second or two I don't
> believe it would be life threatening, unless you are using
> the tone to restart someone's pacemaker every hour...) Most
> automation systems I've seen have some sort of way of doing
> this either with a command in the schedule or a
> pre-programmed macro that would fire an audio cut at a
> certain time. You may want to check with the automation
> software vendor to see if they have that option available.

AMEN! I love how this person makes this post, then never comes back to follow up on the many questions that have been asked. It is also entertaining to see all these engineers chime in with a solution. I'm with ElectricNoodle on this one; most automation systems will allow you to set a hard timed event. Put a 1 second tone on a cart number and have it fire at the desired time... VERY simple.<P ID="signature">______________
If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything...</P>
 
Re: But....

> > > IIRC - the CBS Radio Network STILL does the "bong" sound
>
> > at
> > > the TOH.
> > >
> > The local CBS station in LA (NKX) has a 10 second delay.
> So
> > the CBS "Bong" is 10 seconds late with respect to WWV. I
> > suspect there are other stations with the same setup.
> >
> > John
> >
>
> Maybe the delay is IBOC-related. Once that's rolled out -
> there goes the time-sync aspect of the tone...
>
Don't know whether the dalay is IBOC related or to keep in line with an FCC "indecency" requirement.

John
 
The rhetorical question:

But WHY?

Fond memories of the original WTIC, Harford, beeping out the
first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at the top of the
hour.

"The Singing Clock", a quaint device involving a clock, a pair
of cartridge machines and a couple of very big cartridges. Last
heard by me on WICE-1290 in Providence about 45 years ago!

Anybody else remember either of those?
<P ID="signature">______________
Misanthropy:

The only religion that truly comes from within!</P>
 
It is interesting to see some posts refer to CART machines. I should record a 1 second 700Hz tone on a 40 second cart, package it with one of the 15 or so cart players I got stuck with and sell them on eBay as "Top of the Hour Tone Systems for Radio". Then I could sell the darn things for $100 plus shipping instead of paying the trash man $25 each to haul them away....

Noodle

{snip}
> It is also entertaining to see all these engineers chime in with a solution.
{snip}
 
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