Sam has pissed me off!

[hblack100]

We started broadcasting with Sam on February 7th, and everything has run fairly well. We stream on Live365 and are 5th in our genre and about 350 overall. I can't afford to be down and having problems.

 

But, as we've added more to the broadcasts, ie weather, commericals, sweeps, etc it has become increasingly difficult to work with and rely upon. Now we have random freezes, certain songs playing to many times and commercials and other items not properly rotating.

 

Trying to get help out of Spacial Audio is impossible. To put it mildly, Sam has pissed me off. Sam is not worth the money we paid for it. It is to difficult to program and fails the reliability test.

 

There has got to be something better out there. Any suggestions?

[andhow]

Are you using the Firebird database or the MySQL?

 

My SAM has been online for over a month non-stop with no problems.

 

I think it is worth every penny.

[countrywesterndj]

Pretty hard to respond to that without knowing about your set-up.

 

Andhow is correct, the FireBird data base isn't as good as mySQL if your have a large number of songs.

• What error message are you getting when it freezes?
  
• What version of SAM are you using?
  
• What is your PC like (CPU, memory, disk, OS, etc.)
  
• Are any other applications running, or is the PC dedicated to SAM

My SAM runs for months and months with no issues.

[andhow]

*nods at countrywestern's post*

 

I think that all the support issues that I ever had with SAM, I was able to resolve myself in the forums. SAM even recommends that you try there first before even contacting support. The Wiki is pretty cool for getting your head around how to program, etc.

 

It is cheaper but it is designed for a more geek crowd. In my experience, if you want "radio station in a box" with full time support you have to pay for it.

 

I did a 12-month trial of station automation software packages before settling on SAM. I can completely understand why it is so popular. Reasonably priced, stable, fully-customisable and the forums are some of the best I have found actually.

 

Hope that gets you pointed in the right direction!:biggrinthumb:

[thespaceman]

I dont know about all of it, one thing is for sure you should switch to Makeavoice (makeavoice.com) using Shoutcast I dont recommend Icecast yet, still new and probs...I have 2000 songs in my database, with commercial schedule, full rotation of songs, 6 djs and all working fine...problems are rare and far in between and this is the thing that gives most a kick...I am using SAM 3 4.11 Beta...Probably oldest version, i bought several years ago, and only used this year. I recieved a call from a friend for help with his new version of SAM 4 what a mess, what you are describing is just what is happening to him...i do recommend Firebird and Makevoice Server using Shoutcast...great price 10.00 50 listeners at 128k with Autodj and Unlimited Bandwith. Im with you Reverand!!

[djgary72]

 

Trying to get help out of Spacial Audio is impossible. To put it mildly, Sam has pissed me off. Sam is not worth the money we paid for it. It is to difficult to program and fails the reliability test.

 

There has got to be something better out there. Any suggestions?

 

I couldnt agree more the Spacial forums on the whole are generally Appauling for support.

 

I would suggest Trying a Program like Zara but i havent a clue how to set that up.

 

Then there is also RadioDJ http://radiodj.ro which is free! and has capability to stream with Edcast without freezing, I was lucky if i got 2 - 3 days out of SAM where as just clocked up 14 days with radioDJ.

[thespaceman]

I apologize for being upset and i was only trying to help, i didnt realize that mentioning the good service i recieved was considered spam. When i was said these things to me, i was angered as i had no intention of ever upsetting anyone....but i do agree i shouldnt have posted on open forum. Thanks for taking care of for me. To anyone i may offended on this page specifically last night, i sincerely apologize. Leonard K. Collins

[andhow]

Being an IT professional for the past 16 years, as well as a internet broadcaster for 13. I use support forums everyday in my line of work as well as with my radio station.

 

In my experience, I think that the Spacial Forums are very well done and extremely helpful. I have yet to find an issue with my SAM Broadcaster that they have not been able to answer.

 

My trialling of RadioDJ was that it is EXTREMELY unstable and buggy. You get what you pay for really.

[thespaceman]

Very true Reverend

Leonard K. Collins

[djgary72]

 

My trialling of RadioDJ was that it is EXTREMELY unstable and buggy. You get what you pay for really.

 

Ok so u had a buggy version of radioDJ that happens in all software. Im Guessing you didnt try the New 1.6.0 version a lot more stable if you have.NET updated!

 

I had Several BUGGY versions of SAM b4 finally ditching it this year.

 

RadioDJ is still very much under development and hopefully will have the same if not different features that SAM does like requests etc ....

 

SAM = $279 overpriced and far to Complicated for what it is. And doesnt play Flac or AAC.

 

RadioDJ = FREE! Plays AAC and FLAC and works better than SAM ..... I know which id rather have.

 

Besides i Doubt anyone will ever see the Light of day of SAM V5!

 

Seriously give RadioDJ time it will out perform SAM!

[andhow]

[andhow]

Ok so u had a buggy version of radioDJ that happens in all software.!

 

Doesn't this statement sound rather hypocritical when you SAM is buggy too?

 

The only buggy issues I had with SAM was the Firebird database. MySQL is a much better option, but then Spacial Audio even says that in their forums.

[djgary72]

Ok stick with SAM then if you must i was only weighing up the Pros and cons!

 

Ill just forget i breathe at times ....

[GKIye]

Sometimes I get the idea that the word SAM is a kind of a red carpet on a Spanish bull to the non-users of this software ...

Concerning myself I'm a SAM user using the MySQL database

 

but people with other interests can be pointed to an almost similar and FREE software, witch can be found at this link :

http://www.radiodj.ro/radiodj-features

some searches on the www learned Me that this software is stable if the 0.1.3740 version is used ...

That version is also able to work with the (Winamp) DSP plugins

and last but not least, for reason it accepts DSP plugins it can run a "DSP encoder"

So .. to a FREE software .. it offers a lot for no money

[andhow]

I don't think that Radio DJ has the Custom PHP website package for taking/making requests and it doesn't sync you with Audiostream.

 

Before I used SAM Broadcaster with my current project, I managed a couple of other commercially-funded station collaborations that we used RCS Prophet PS Player101 at $1300.00 and TuneTracker at another project at $700. Those were both incredible packages as well and worth every penny. Player 101 made playing live a breeze as did TuneTracker.

 

I personally think that SAM works just as well as either one of those products once you get the hang of running the clockwheels and/or PAL script and a fraction of the price. Plus someone else built all of the functionality of the integrated requests for me! I think it is $299 well spent.

[GKIye]

I made a search to this product

we used RCS Prophet PS Player101 at $1300.00

following their website :

http://www.rcsworks.com/en/products/

and :

http://www.rcsworks.com/en/products/player101/default.aspx

an important FAQ note at their website :

Player101 supports the playback and editing of MPEG1 Layer2 (MP2) and 16 bit PCM (WAV) files.

Player101 also supports the playback of MP3 files but does NOT support the editing of these files.

The recommended audio format is MPEG1 Layer 2 (MP2) but this is not a requirement.

sad ... but at no place they publish any price (unless I didn't found it )

[andhow]

Would you like for me to send you the quotation and invoice from RCS in Christchurch, New Zealand? That is where I purchased it.

 

This is a professional FM radio station product and due to the nature of the way you could edit each of the songs on the fly, it was a requirement to have them be lossless WAV files. FM is not limited to a particular bandwidth and the sound quality of the files is much more important on that level.

 

You could edit a song as it was cued and add/remove cue tags, etc. See an actual waveform of the song and set the fade-in/fade-out. Very sexy software actually.

 

The sound quality was pretty amazing.

[thespaceman]

I have version of SAM 4 as well, buggy, thats just a nice word for it, took it out and went back to my ole faithful...SAM 3 4.1.1 Beta and not once has He ever caused a problem...and i feel same about 4, i wish i hadnt bought it, but its there, and 3 is in:) and still working like a charm:)

Leonard K. Collins

Gary i tried RadioDj....but not new one...no real reason to check out, but i am hearing more and more about it...so maybe i will for a few weeks to see if outperforms....

[thespaceman]

Sometimes I get the idea that the word SAM is a kind of a red carpet on a Spanish bull to the non-users of this software ...

Concerning myself I'm a SAM user using the MySQL database

 

but people with other interests can be pointed to an almost similar and FREE software, witch can be found at this link :

http://www.radiodj.ro/radiodj-features

some searches on the www learned Me that this software is stable if the 0.1.3740 version is used ...

That version is also able to work with the (Winamp) DSP plugins

and last but not least, for reason it accepts DSP plugins it can run a "DSP encoder"

So .. to a FREE software .. it offers a lot for no money

GK...Just wondering, as this is one ive heard but...MySQL...Ive used Firebird all along...what would be the difference if i chose this for my SAMs as opposed to?

 

thanks

Leonard K

[GKIye]

Hello Leonard,

 

Thats a "good" question

I'm not that technical at all ...

I share only my experience, knowing that MySQL works for Me

so sorry I can't answer your question :(

GK...Just wondering, as this is one ive heard but...MySQL...Ive used Firebird all along...what would be the difference if i chose this for my SAMs as opposed to?

thanks

Leonard K

[cr08]

Jumping in here as my first post: I will say that from personal longterm experience, MySQL is the way to go. Firebird is fairly buggy and even SA themselves recommend MySQL over Firebird. Not to mention MySQL has widespread support everywhere else.

[andhow]

GK...Just wondering, as this is one ive heard but...MySQL...Ive used Firebird all along...what would be the difference if i chose this for my SAMs as opposed to?

thanks

Leonard K

 

Leonard,

 

To answer your question. SAM can use Firebird, MySQL as well as Microsoft SQL for its database. Firebird and MySQL are both open-source software and free to use non-commercially. Microsoft SQL is usually priced per seat or per server, so I will keep this post concentrated on the benefits of MySQL vs. Firebird (Borland) databases as to answer your question.

 

MySQL has a much larger community and support than Firebird has and in the case of SAM, is a much more stable platform. MySQL has lots of online documentation for PHP, ASP, etc. for support and customisation of your database. You'll find more people that know MySQL than Firebird specialists. If you're doing lots of deleting and adding a large number of tracks, promos, sweepers, IDs, etc., performance on Firebird will degrade a lot faster than MySQL.

 

I hope that this answers some of your questions.

 

Cheers,

[andhow]

I was not aware of this before, but you can also use a PostgreSQL database.

 

PostgreSQL is a good, solid database to use and works good with PHP powered websites. Only recommended if you are confortable with PostgreSQL databases.

 

I don't know of anyone who uses them personally.

[djgary72]

I don't think that Radio DJ has the Custom PHP website package for taking/making requests and it doesn't sync you with Audiostream.

 

Before I used SAM Broadcaster with my current project, I managed a couple of other commercially-funded station collaborations that we used RCS Prophet PS Player101 at $1300.00 and TuneTracker at another project at $700. Those were both incredible packages as well and worth every penny. Player 101 made playing live a breeze as did TuneTracker.

 

I personally think that SAM works just as well as either one of those products once you get the hang of running the clockwheels and/or PAL script and a fraction of the price. Plus someone else built all of the functionality of the integrated requests for me! I think it is $299 well spent.

 

RadioDJ has the same functionality with SQL as SAM does. We Pull our now playing and coming up from SQL our song vote script works a dream too.

 

As for requests that will be coming with a Future release of radioDJ

 

Ive posted scripts on here to enable users of radiodj get their Now playing showing up

 

Its same as SAM too port 3306 needs to be able to accept connections.

[techmonkey]

The tables in RadioDJ are far better designed, and the comparison between scripting between Sam and RadioDJ is amazing. I looked at some of our old SAM PHP code the other day and shuddered when I saw the horrendous code required for SAM

 

RadioDJ is also capable of posting the now playing to Twitter and Tumblr etc... without messy unreliable PAL scripts that SAM requires

 

It is usually true that you get what you pay for, but in this case it isn't true. RadioDJ is faster, more stable, easier to code for, still under ACTIVE development (which SAM appears to be just bug fixing and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets mothballed) and so RadioDJ wins hands down!