Ideas for new automation software?

[fluvius]

Do you think radio automation could be better? Since our new software, Radio Pro, recently includes automation functionality, I thought I'd check to see what people at this forum think about that.

 

I would like to make automation much easier than it is now. To do that, I'd like to know how you're currently experiencing it.

 

What was hard about setting up automation when you last did it?

 

By discussing this here, I think we can all contribute to better software, and a better world for broadcasters If you're interested in how we're progressing and wish to beta-test, be sure to check out our website.

[LifeRadio14]

Scheduling is usually really tedious :/

[fluvius]

Scheduling is usually really tedious :/

 

Can you tell us what makes scheduling so tedious for you in practice? Do you have any thoughts on how it may be improved?

[LifeRadio14]

Designing program clocks, having to put in exact times and constantly maintaining the clocks to make sure on air output doesn't become repetitive. It would be much easier if the software had some sort of "Smart Filter"

[andhow]

SAM Broadcaster has rotation logic built-in and there are many different options to tweak which algorithm works best for you. Depending on what stream host or server you use, there are options for traffic monitoring in a tool like CentovaCast that are quite useful.

 

It is usually easier and more useful if you have regular and steady traffic to your station. You can use a series of different monitoring tools to watch your programming and the listener engagement. If you only have a couple of listeners it is hard to gauge patterns in the listener engagement. The more data you give it, the better results that you get. There is no one tool that does everything, it usually takes a bit of time to curate and configure 'the sound' you are attempting to achieve to your listening audience.

 

The SAM database has the ability to track your listeners engagement, but again no one tool can give you a proper picture of your traffic. Programming is a dark-art really. It takes effort and determination, understanding your listener base and sometimes realizing that the listeners can give you valuable feedback based on their engagement behavior.

 

Programming is a passion of mine and has been for over 30 years and simply sometimes being a complete maniac helps too.

 

Good luck.

[GKIye]

Hi Fluvius,

 

I'm gonna write as broadcaster since 1978 some details who can be interesting to your services

Maybe some of the features gonna be already into your software, maybe others don't ...

Please discover my point of view ...

 

a ) There is a huge difference between a FM station and an internet only station

- so the way it gonna be used is way different

- FM stations gonna use it as realtime sheduler to air their music, IDs, promos etc

- Internet only projects gonna use it more likely as a kind of AUTOdj software. It means that rotation, sheduler and every feature who makes streaming possible has to have an easy access and has to be stable at all time

- The clockwheel who creates the format has to give the possibility to adjust the behaviour of both songs and IDs etc ... in such a way that a project can offer something different than what others do

 

b ) There are TONs of streaming software, and all have somewhere somehow a tool who is exclusive ... but most of all these softwares don't give the "perfect" final result

- Some are not stable, others create a terrible sound, or have an AGC section who don't makes the audio better ... The AGC of many of them even create a worser sound quality

- Most of them offer a sheduler and they call it all "the / their unique" way of making things better ... Most of the results are sometimes terrible

- Adding "overlays" at the intro of a song are great ... Yes they are if used during a live radio set ...

If used as AUTOdj an overlay can destroy the complete intro for reason that the artist already starts singing

- One of the solutions of many audio issues is a reliable compressor / limiter and EQ and they have presets

But what kind of presets ? Presets that the builder of the software likes ?

As member to BW its my experience that owner A compared to owner B don't have the same taste ... Some sounds damn good but do miss that special "sparkle" at the treble section ... or the mids are way to high etc etc

Several Dance stations have a pumpin bass sound who sounds way too heavy

I mean with all this, that every user makes his / her adjustements in a way that they think that it gonna sound great

 

c ) What do I like ?

- Well ... I'm a SAM broadcaster and I'm using it since 2002 / 2003

Believe it or not ... I'm still using a SAM3 edition ... Am I stupid ? No ... its to Me one of the most basic softwares who does what "I wanna achieve"

OK ... The AGC is f****g badly ... So all settings are disabled

So I need some DSP plugins to create my taste of sound ... and honestly I suppose that my project sounds solid and stable

Many have asked Me already : What kind of plugins are used ? ... but that stays my little secret

I managed with some simple things a sound who "sounds" ... Heard through a stereo amplifier, or even a home entertainment system no one has to adjust any settings ... Set all of these at neutral and every EQ range gives a good listener experience ...

- I know one superb, stable etc etc software who has a WOW feeling sound ... without making any important adjustemets, it just sounds great ... warm bass, enjoyable mids and trebles with that sparkle

I'm talking about JAZLER ... http://www.jazler.com/

But so far ... thats JAZLER ... I ever installed a full genuine version (a gift at a contest) ... but OOoooh lord, the more I was willing to make "my own" ways and ideas about format, the more I created conflicts

That software is presented as "non stop music everywhere" ... Yes if You're only in need for music ... it doesn't creates a "radio spirit" feeling

- Finaly ... Add to the mixer audio out both an audio out by using a soundcard "and" one who is using a pipeline (SAM has an awesome pipeline quality)

That way a broadcaster has the choice between the best solution to their project !!

(silence output or using the soundcard)

 

I suppose You understand what I'm willing to say ...

Give me a software with the sound of JAZLER, the ease of use as SAM3 does and some easy to access features to setup encoders, a sheduler and add some buttons to add some special items (FX element, acapella ID etc) for those broadcasters who are using Your software during live radio sets

The more "special" features, buttons etc who are added the less they gonna be used by daily "die hard" broadcasters

- To an internet broadcaster the most important thing is to deliver music to listeners

- To a FM broadcaster they gonna be in need for some direct access buttons to launch effects, live air microphone etc etc (this can be done by giving each button a command by using the F-keys at the pc keyboard)

- Very important can be to add a "recorder" to the output mixer

Why ? That way Your software can also being used at studios were they only produce radioshows

Those people don't need the encoder at that time, but are in need for a perfect recording of their work ... what means : music at the same volume level, good voice quality etc

That way they gonna create perfect one hour sets who gonna sound as they're mastered

Give these people the choice between "convert to wav or mp3 at 256 or 320kbps"

 

To Me thats the all in one perfect software !

 

Remember at all time KISS ... Keep It Stupid Simple ! ... Thats the way it works out at every moment in time

 

*** By the way ... I see at your website ...

... You can apply similar processing to the microphones, too, and get that radio voice you always wanted to have ...

People aka radio jocks who have "a" radiovoice don't need any special features. They are using a good reliable mic with some own specific EQ settings

I'm using a NT1A of RODE ... a standard to many people in the business

People who don't have that radiovoice never gonna be able to produce "a sound" that works out at a radio studio ... They talk too loud, or too soft, are using their headphone in a wrong way and are using EQ settings who even destroys any voice ability

 

So far my input

[klnkfm]

SAM Broadcaster has rotation logic built-in and there are many different options to tweak which algorithm works best for you.

 

 

just one issue SAM SUCKS!

 

lol

 

seriously its like the ugo of broadcasting it looks like crap and is buggy as hell, lol , it has no concept of "scheduling" or even fair rotation

[GKIye]

Without any LOL or "suck", bugs or other ...

May I suggest You to listen and check my stream ?

If You like it ... spread the word ...

Because everything you hear : rotation, sheduling, scripts etc etc is SAM and SAM only

 

If You know how and where to adjust things / scripts etc ... You can achieve great things by using SAM

 

I don't tell you that SAM is perfect ... NO software is 100 % perfect !

but SAM does what I wanna achieve with my stream

The audio quality is managed with some plugins ... and they work superb

just one issue SAM SUCKS!

lol

seriously its like the ugo of broadcasting it looks like crap and is buggy as hell, lol , it has no concept of "scheduling" or even fair rotation

[klnkfm]

As i said SAM is for "streamies" that dont care to take the time to learn a powerful software, does it work yes it does, does it work well NO WAY, doesi t belong on the audio chain of an FM broadcast, absolutely not!

 

if you dont believe me look at this quote

 

" SAM has its place in the Internet radio industry. It's okay for people who don't really know anything about radio and are just playing around, but it has no place in a professional broadcasting facility of any sort. If we'd have known about Rivendell back in '08, we'd have never given SAM Broadcaster the time of day, let alone the 3 years that we tried to make something of it. It's an amateur toy, at best."

[GKIye]

Accept my respect to You ...

but also have the attitude to others to give respect

 

I'm into broadcasting since 1978 ... I'm 53 Years of age and I have TONs of experience and knowledge about radio and media

During my career untill Today I have been asked to give advice to many projects, both FM, AM and internet stations

If You read my contribution of May, 5th You gonna understand and have to agree that SAM isn't the best ever made, but to Me and many others it does the job

As studio and on air software I'm sure that ProppFrexx and others are more reliable

 

... but the reason of this topic started by BW member fluvius was to ask input to the question what a broadcasting software should look like ! His question was not meant to start a yes / no discusion about one kind of software !

if you dont believe me look at this quote

" SAM has its place in the Internet radio industry. It's okay for people who don't really know anything about radio and are just playing around, but it has no place in a professional broadcasting facility of any sort. If we'd have known about Rivendell back in '08, we'd have never given SAM Broadcaster the time of day, let alone the 3 years that we tried to make something of it. It's an amateur toy, at best."

[klnkfm]

those were not my words, that was a quote from another outfit, i agree sam works for some, thats all im going to say about it

[klnkfm]

there is already a newer software being designed right now for internet radio stations, its called nexkast, my guess is it will be the next big thing once it is refined, you can check it out at http://www.nexkast.com. Oh btw i dont work for them, i just know good programming when i see it! Expect good things from this software over the next few months.