LunarCaster DJ

[johny c]

TOTH means top of the hour. Its an event or events that is played at the start of a new hour automatically. This could be the station name and address. All so it could be ads and trailers for up and coming shows. These are timed to play hourly at the top of the hour and repeat every hour. But you need to be able to time different files to play at the top of the hour. This can be done by just adding them into the mu3 playlist, but is messy because the timing could go out very quickly. it needs to be a timed event.

[PapaBearPW]

TOTH means top of the hour. Its an event or events that is played at the start of a new hour automatically. This could be the station name and address. All so it could be ads and trailers for up and coming shows. These are timed to play hourly at the top of the hour and repeat every hour. But you need to be able to time different files to play at the top of the hour. This can be done by just adding them into the mu3 playlist, but is messy because the timing could go out very quickly. it needs to be a timed event.

 

Ah...I see. Makes sense. We have something similar set up via sc_trans on the radio I work for. I assume this should be possible by allowing events to be scheduled in a similar fashion as with sc_trans. So, for example, if I have a station identification mp3 that I want played TOTH, I would schedule it to play at a specific time and have a repeat option for it as well where I would then set it to repeat every 60 minutes. In this way, I could also setup another mp3 (an advertisement for example) to start at 30 minutes past the hour and repeat every 60 minutes as well. So, in the end, I would have my station id played at TOTH and an ad played at half past every hour.

 

Obviously I could continue from there and include options for setting what days of the week they should be played on, maybe an expiriation date (for ads) etc.

 

I think that would allow for a fairly flexable scheduling option. Does that sound about right?

[johny c]

Yes that is what we mean. If you download and have a look a Zararadio the automation software I use, you will see how to set up the advents and maybe able to adapt them for your software. Zararadio is freeware.

[djgary72]

Hi papabear

 

in the version 1.0.5 does the program still copy an entire folder of music or have you fixed that? i tried the Beta version a while ago and found it wasn't useful because of that problem.

 

Would like to know before i try and install again.

[PapaBearPW]

Hello RDJUser,

 

I'm not sure what you mean. I honestly don't remember LCDJ ever copying music folders. Could you please explain exactly what was happening so that I may look into that further?

 

Paul

[Brutish Sailor]

I havent tried this program yet, Im actually pretty xcited!

[Brutish Sailor]

Im hooked. I found my new donor dumping grounds. This is..... HA...... You NAILED IT ON THE FRIGGEN HEAD! Meta sockets for XML is right..... Your a badass. I got to spread the word about this...

[djgary72]

I'm not sure what you mean. I honestly don't remember LCDJ ever copying music folders. Could you please explain exactly what was happening so that I may look into that further?

 

Appologies that was another automation package that i was also trialing....

 

Now having Having major headaches with trying to get the Encoder working after placing the required dll files in the encoders folder.

 

Also when trying to enter encoder details why are there 2 boxes asking for stream address? which one is which?? much confused by that one.

 

Looks a bit more improved but i dont quite think it is where it needs to be for a studio instalation.

Edited August 2, 2012 by djgary72

[Brutish Sailor]

Just noticed that. Was going to list an issue. That and Im still trying to figure out how to attatch files in the jingle board. I still think its fantastic. For something that would be for the common broadcaster, its got room to grow, and is growing judging by the tech implimented. I still am becoming your #1 donar.

[PapaBearPW]

The section requesting server and port info in the lower part of the window is for displaying listener count (Think of it like SAMs Statistic Relay). Since some radios (like mine) use sc_trans for DJ connections, it would be necessary for DJs to enter a different server/port in the lower section in order to poll the listener count directly from the Shoutcast server while the upper section would contain the server/port for the actual DJ connection to sc_trans.

 

I hope that explains it.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, there is still much room for improvement.

 

I continue to work on a scheduling system and a database switch to allow for cross-platform (windows/linux via Mono) implementation. For the scheduling system I am studying clock-wheels right now.

 

Jingles can currently only be added by copying them into the Lunarcaster DJ/sfx/ folder. you can create as many folders as you like inside the sfx folder and copy up to 10 sound effects/jingles into each of them. After that, you will need to restart LCDJ before you will be able to see them listed. The pull-down menu in the Sound FX tab will display all sub-folders you created in sfx and switching between them will reload the buttons with the audio files it finds there.

 

Thanks for the kind words Brutish Sailor.

Edited August 2, 2012 by PapaBearPW

[PapaBearPW]

Appologies that was another automation package that i was also trialing....

No problem.

Now having Having major headaches with trying to get the Encoder working after placing the required dll files in the encoders folder.

For MP3 encoding, the lame.exe file is needed. The appropriate file can be found at http://rarewares.org/ or http://www.free-codecs.com/lame_encoder_download.htm . For aac encoding, both enc_aacPlus.exe AND enc_aacPlus.dll are needed and can be found here: http://www.un4seen.com/filez/4/enc_aacPlus.zip (for the exe file) and the enc_aacPlus.dll is most easily obtained by installing winamp (if you don't already have it) and copying it from the Programs\winamp\Plugins directory to your encoders directory.

Also when trying to enter encoder details why are there 2 boxes asking for stream address? which one is which?? much confused by that one.

See my previous post (#35).

Looks a bit more improved but i dont quite think it is where it needs to be for a studio instalation.

Oh, there is certainly much work to do yet. ;)

Edited August 2, 2012 by PapaBearPW

[Brutish Sailor]

I like it. Also a heads up. There is a codec for AAC+ that is non propriatary thats better than AAC+

 

I use it in the transcoding down for files. Its called HE AAC (the frauns~ version) you might want to check it out. Winamp just started backing it since orban has been enforcing more AAC control since its buy out from .... Dolby was it?

 

might be worth a look.

Edited August 2, 2012 by Brutish Sailor
typo

[Brutish Sailor]

Second request. Im sure this is a simple fix on my part. I wish I could set up files to wildcard.

 

Basiclly, I could put in the gui playlist "folder/%" instead of "folder/song". This solves all complicated logic issues with an auto DJ, as you could basiclly make a playlist with only six strings, one for "toth" one for "New song" one for "both" ect. Then just put them in rotation at random. That would be awesome...........

 

Similar to SC_Trans with its wildcarding ability.

 

Im sure I could wildcard a playlist, and then throw up playlist in the build, just to will it to my automated bidding, Basically make a Playlist of various schedules, of various times, and then just put them in the rotation so it chains one after another.

 

In a nutshell, you would drop a folder in the playlist. an mp3 gets pulled using % at random in the same manner as SC_Trans. This file could be a song or a voice recording/sweeper.

 

Then you could have it so I could save that playlist with the %'s in it. Then I could simply add 5 different playlist. One for daytime, one for night. OR I could have one for DJA with his voicedrops %'ed and his files, then DJ B's playlist comes into rotation, 6 strings of wildcards with his voice samples, his song selections, ect. All designated by %'s.

Edited August 2, 2012 by Brutish Sailor
nutshell it.

[Brutish Sailor]

OH! Big one. Is their a way to isolate the stream from the audio source.

 

Its a lot easier to show how I have my mixer set up than explain it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB56F3629303E49C3&feature=plcp

 

So my audio usually gets routed through the mixer. If I select mixers as mic, I have to bring the audio volume down, or I get echo from the 100 ms delay the TS cause, as its same sound, two off timed sources.

 

I can work around, by simply Isolating music from going to my mixer, and then just using my mixer as a mic (which would be a cleaner source) but I lose external volume control capability's.

[PapaBearPW]

I like it. Also a heads up. There is a codec for AAC+ that is non propriatary thats better than AAC+

 

I use it in the transcoding down for files. Its called HE AAC (the frauns~ version) you might want to check it out. Winamp just started backing it since orban has been enforcing more AAC control since its buy out from .... Dolby was it?

 

might be worth a look.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on that. I'll look into it as soon as I can.

[PapaBearPW]

Second request. Im sure this is a simple fix on my part. I wish I could set up files to wildcard.

 

Basiclly, I could put in the gui playlist "folder/%" instead of "folder/song". This solves all complicated logic issues with an auto DJ, as you could basiclly make a playlist with only six strings, one for "toth" one for "New song" one for "both" ect. Then just put them in rotation at random. That would be awesome...........

 

Similar to SC_Trans with its wildcarding ability.

 

Im sure I could wildcard a playlist, and then throw up playlist in the build, just to will it to my automated bidding, Basically make a Playlist of various schedules, of various times, and then just put them in the rotation so it chains one after another.

 

In a nutshell, you would drop a folder in the playlist. an mp3 gets pulled using % at random in the same manner as SC_Trans. This file could be a song or a voice recording/sweeper.

 

Then you could have it so I could save that playlist with the %'s in it. Then I could simply add 5 different playlist. One for daytime, one for night. OR I could have one for DJA with his voicedrops %'ed and his files, then DJ B's playlist comes into rotation, 6 strings of wildcards with his voice samples, his song selections, ect. All designated by %'s.

 

Now this...I think I'll have to read it over a few more times before I can be sure I understand exactly what you mean. But, it does sound similar to the clock-wheel format I have been trying to work out. Unless I am completely off here. In that scenario, you can create multiple playlists (i.e. pop, rock, jingles, commercials, toth, etc) then setup a schedule to play random titles from each playlist at specific times for specific durations over however many hours. For example: toth (12:00), rock (12:01), jingle (12:06), pop (12:07), pop (12:10), commercial (12:15) ... and so on.

[PapaBearPW]

OH! Big one. Is their a way to isolate the stream from the audio source.

 

Its a lot easier to show how I have my mixer set up than explain it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB56F3629303E49C3&feature=plcp

 

So my audio usually gets routed through the mixer. If I select mixers as mic, I have to bring the audio volume down, or I get echo from the 100 ms delay the TS cause, as its same sound, two off timed sources.

 

I can work around, by simply Isolating music from going to my mixer, and then just using my mixer as a mic (which would be a cleaner source) but I lose external volume control capability's.

 

So, you use a USB connection for your mixer to your PC? In that case, have you tried using one of the AUX inputs for the mixer?

 

Oh! and thanks for the donation! Donations will go toward improvements to LCDJ first and foremost.

[Brutish Sailor]

Yes, but the way Im streaming, You have the Aux connection to tie into the stream. But no way to cut out the "Strait from digital to the stream"

 

(EDIT- TEXT DIAGRAM DIDNT WORK. TO THE MS PAINT)

 

(unless I completely kill music channel audio to mixer)

(AKA, I kill the line in from Computer primary speaker out to mixer)

 

Also, I noticed the VU would work if my Mixer was the aux device, but if the mic was set to USB audio codec (mixer), no dice. I will check all the hardware channels to make sure everything is right. Could be me.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Brutish Sailor

[Brutish Sailor]

Now this...I think I'll have to read it over a few more times before I can be sure I understand exactly what you mean. But, it does sound similar to the clock-wheel format I have been trying to work out. Unless I am completely off here. In that scenario, you can create multiple playlists (i.e. pop, rock, jingles, commercials, toth, etc) then setup a schedule to play random titles from each playlist at specific times for specific durations over however many hours. For example: toth (12:00), rock (12:01), jingle (12:06), pop (12:07), pop (12:10), commercial (12:15) ... and so on.

 

 

Correct. I saw that the playlist are in M3U format, so that should mean I should be able to Wildcard a playlist using:

 

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/DUBSTEP/%

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/TOTH/%

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/JINGLE/%

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/DUBSTEP/%

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/DUBSTEP/%

C:/DIRECTORY/USER/MUSIC/REPORT/%

 

Thats playlist 1 in text line format. That will pull a random song with wildcard "%" for your typical M3U player for a designated folder. Same way that you build a playlist is SC_trans to do wildcard (random play) You can actually feed SC_trans a playlist of:

 

C/Directory/USER/MUSIC/FILE/%

 

Thats it. Have it reload that playlist upon completion, and it will be ready for random play.

 

I mean, I could always build them from Notepad, but its tedious. Well not to bad. Minimum lines in the playlist to cause random plays. I could live without a gui version of Wildcard, but its nice.

[PapaBearPW]

Funny thing is...I've been using sc_trans for a number of years now, and I never knew that recognized a wildcard for random titles in that manner. lol

 

Should be possible. Pulling a random song from a folder is easy enough to implement. Not all that different than having my players pull random titles from the m3us.

 

What I had planned was to make a clock wheel generator that would pull random titles from pre-made m3u playlists. Very similar to what you have suggested. To show you in a similar style:

 

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/dubstep.m3u%

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/toth.m3u%

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/jingle.m3u%

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/dubstep.m3u%

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/dubstep.m3u%

Lunarcaster DJ/playlists/report.m3u%

 

However, this method would require the playlists to be re-created every time a new file was added. The method you suggest would not have this limitation. I like it.

 

As to the other issue...I'm still trying to work out what the problem is. Could you maybe show me how you are trying to setup your system using LCDJ? PC [uSB] -> [uSB] mixer [line out] -> [line in] PC (or whatever the case is)???

 

What do you have set in LCDJ for Speakers? That is what it uses for local audio output. The radio stream is split off of that output prior to reaching the sound card. Which is why you can mute the local playback without effecting the stream.

[Brutish Sailor]

OK- So my primary for speakers is my soundcard (X-fi Soundblaster)

 

I route that to my mixer via a 3.5 MM to 2 (split channel) TS connectors.

 

So then the sound goes on an external channel on the mixer, I can turn up or down from there.

 

The mixer also holds all the other external sources, which get routed from there to the USB out.

 

The USB out gets pushed from there to the encoder.

 

 

So heres what happens:

 

The way th program is designed, it will take from stream, and push directly out, to the encoder.

Now, mic source, or aux, it will still have the audio routed through the mixer.

 

Audio directly out to encoder+ the mixer with audio channel running through main mix to control volume= two of the same audio source. just 1 has a 100 ms delay thanks to the 3.5 mm connection to Split channel TS. So it creates a Non intentional audio loop. Im trying to figure out a routing solution now.

[PapaBearPW]

Ahhhh...I think I understand now. I thought you meant you were hearing an echo locally but, you mean over the stream?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong. You're re-routing the audio from LCDJ through your mixer and back to LCDJ again via either one of the AUX inputs or the Microphone input. Sound about right? If so, I could see what I can do about adding a selector switch to the players etc. for including/omitting them from the radio stream. That should allow the local playback to go out to your mixer but not be streamed to the radio. Then you could use one of the AUX inputs for the input from your mixer and send that to the stream.

Edited August 3, 2012 by PapaBearPW

[SykesBrett]

Really nice programm.! Might use this to do my show with tonight

[PapaBearPW]

Thank you SykesBrett. When is your show?

[PapaBearPW]

Here's a preview of how LCDJ looks with some of the changes in place. I still need to figure out where to add the selector to include/omit player audio from the stream... But, I'll figure something out.

 

 

http://lunarcaster.com/images/v1.2_preview.jpg