Manual PC-Radio 5 - Broadcast Partners

Transcription

PC-Radio 5 Manual
[the complete radio automation solution]
October 2008
Copyright (C) 1989 -- 2008, Broadcast Partners
Axelsestraat 58 · 4537 AL Terneuzen · The Netherlands
tel. (+31) 115 683555 · fax. (+31) 115 631285
Manual PC-Radio 5
Contents
Contents
1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 WELCOME TO PC-RADIO 5
ON-AIR AND PRODUCTION STATION
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM
AUDIO SYSTEM
HARDWARE SUPPORT
EXTRA OPTIONS
SUPPORT AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT
SUMMARY OF SHORTCUT KEYS
2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 CONFIGURING AND INSTALLING PC-RADIO
EXISTING PC-RADIO USERS (1)
NETWORK CONFIGURATION
INSTALLING PC-RADIO
DATABASE SERVER CONFIGURATION
EXISTING PC-RADIO, CARMEN AND MOUSE MUSIC USERS (2)
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
GETTING STARTED WITH PC-RADIO
10 10 11 13 20 25 27 28 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 DATABASE EDITOR
TRACK
ARTIST
CRITERION 1
CRITERION 2
SONG TEXT
STATISTICS
EDITOR
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
34 36 39 40 42 44 45 46 49 4 DATABASE BROWSER
52 5 5.1 PLAYLIST
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
56 60 6 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 FORMAT PLANNING
BACKGROUND TO FORMAT PLANNING
LEVEL STRUCTURE
(UN)BREAKABLE RULES
FORMAT PLANNING OVERVIEW
PREFERENCES
HOUR FORMAT
DAY FORMAT
INFO
PLANNING
SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
63 63 65 69 70 70 72 76 77 78 79 7 7.1 7.2 COMMERCIAL PLANNER
PREFERENCES
CUSTOMER
82 82 89 we make radio happen
1 1 1 2 4 4 5 6 8 I
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Manual PC-Radio 5
7.3 7.4 7.5 CAMPAIGN
PLANNING
DAY OVERVIEW
91 99 102 8 8.1 8.2 8.3 NEWS
EXTERNAL NEWS PROVISIONING
NEWS DETECTOR
SATELLITE NEWS
104 104 105 107 9 AUTOMATION
108 10 LIVE ASSIST
110 11 JINGLES
112 12 12.1 MIX EDITOR
CONTROL PANELS
114 115 13 AUDIO LOGGER
118 14 14.1 TIME SHIFTER
RECORD WITHOUT COMMERCIALS
120 122 15 USERS
124 16 DATABASE IMPORT
127 17 DATABASE EXPORT
131 18 18.1 18.2 DATABASE BACKUP
CREATE BACKUP
RESTORE BACKUP
132 132 132 19 SCAN FOR PRECENCE
134 20 HISTORY
135 21 BUMA
138 22 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 HTML EXPORT
PLAYLIST
ON-AIR PLAYLIST
INTERNET PUBLISHING
PUBLISHING THE TITLE AND ARTIST
139 139 140 141 142 23 FILE MANAGEMENT
144 24 24.1 24.2 24.3 PREFERENCES
GLOBAL
AUTOMATION
LOCAL
147 147 153 162 25 PRINTING TEMPLATES
166 26 26.1 26.2 WINDOW
FONT SIZE
PRESETS
168 168 168 27 27.1 27.2 DIGIGRAM
INSTALLING THE PCX SOFTWARE
SOUND CARDS
169 169 173 Broadcast Partners
Manual PC-Radio 5
Contents
28 28.1 WAVE
CONFIGURATION
176 180 29 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 AUDIO CONTROL MATRIX
MASTER MODULE
INPUT MODULE
OUTPUT MODULE
IO-MODULE
TECHNICAL DETAILS
EXAMPLE CONFIGURATION
182 183 184 186 188 191 192 30 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 AUDIO CONTROL MATRIX CONFIGURATION
MODULES
AUDIO BUSES
GPS CLOCK
GENERAL INPUTS
STUDIO 1 / 2 INPUTS
OUTPUTS
INTERFACE MODULES
194 194 195 196 197 198 199 199 31 31.2 31.3 COMPACT INTERFACE MODULE
TECHNICAL DETAILS
INSTALLING HARDWARE
201 202 203 32 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 COMPACT INTERFACE MODULE CONFIGURATION
MODULES
GPS CLOCK
GENERAL INPUTS
OUTPUTS
INTERFACE MODULES
206 206 206 208 209 210 33 33.1 33.2 BEHRINGER MX882 FOR STUDIO SWITCHING
ROUTING THE RME HAMMERFALL DSP MULTIFACE II
ROUTING THE M-AUDIO DELTA 1010
211 211 213 34 34.1 34.2 34.3 HISTORICAL HARDWARE
INSTALLING PC-RADIO I/O
TIMEBASIS
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
215 215 216 217 35 NORMALIZER
219 36 TXT2PLL
221 37 ODBC CONNECTOR
223 38 38.1 38.2 PC-RADIO DONGLE
LICENSES
SOFTWARE SUPPORT
226 226 229 39 39.1 39.2 TROUBLESHOOTING
BACKUP
WINTERTIME AND SUMMERTIME
232 232 233 40 40.1 40.2 40.3 PC-RADIO AT HOME
DATABASE CONNECTION
AUDIO FILES
SYNCHRONIZING AUDIO FILES
235 235 237 238 we make radio happen
III
Contents
IV
Manual PC-Radio 5
40.4 RECORDING VOICETRACKS
238 41 TRANSLATING PC-RADIO
240 Broadcast Partners
Manual PC-Radio 5
1
Welcome to PC-Radio 5
WELCOME TO PC-RADIO 5
PC-Radio 5 is the most complete radio automation system currently available on the
market. The system is suitable for both small radio stations and for major broadcasters
who place serious demands on their software.
This manual contains everything you need to know about PC-Radio, in order to
familiarize yourself with the details of the system. Therefore, we advise you to read the
manual all the way through at least once. Although the windows in the program are very
clear and the buttons have help texts you will always find the precise backgrounds in
the manual.
1.1
On-Air and production station
PC-Radio is supplied in various configurations: it can be one PC on which all the work
is done, or it can be two or more PCs, depending on the customer’s requirements.
If your configuration consists of several PCs, it is a good idea to use a clear naming
system. We call the station that feeds the non-stop and live transmissions the On-Air
station. The other PCs on which you place your music libraries, perform the format or
commercial planning, record voice tracks or new audio tracks is called a production
station. If the configuration is larger, a separate PC can be installed on which all the
music libraries and audio files are located. This PC is the server. Production and/or OnAir stations act as clients in this kind of a configuration.
Whether a PC acts as an On-Air or production station is actually determined by the
dongle in the printer port and any other hardware that is connected to the PC.
You can also use PC-Radio at home without a dongle, but the facilities will be
restricted. However, you can still view and edit the music libraries.
1.2
System requirements
To use PC-Radio, your PC must meet the following minimum requirements:
• Pentium 4, 2 GHz or comparable processor;
• Windows Vista service pack 1, with 2 GB internal memory, or
Windows XP Professional service pack 3, with 1 GB internal memory, or
Windows 2000 service pack 4, with 512 MB internal memory;
• 120 GB hard disk (or more if used for storing digital audio);
• Monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and 16-bit color;
• 1 empty PCI expansion slot (if ACM or CIM is used).
It is advisable to regard the above system requirements as an absolute minimum. The
Format Planner and Commercial Planner perform much better with a faster PC
we make radio happen
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Manual PC-Radio 5
processor. Also, in small working areas a 17” TFT monitor is not an abundant luxury.
We advise a minimum of 2 GB internal memory.
Broadcast Partners only selects high-quality PCs for its automation solutions. If you
supply the PCs for PC-Radio yourself, contact your supplier first to check that your
configuration is sufficient. In the past, computers of questionable quality, recommended
by a local dealer have turned out to be a source of trouble.
1.3
Structure of the system
PC-Radio has a modular structure. This means you only have to buy the parts you need
and nothing more. If your requirements increase over time, you can upgrade the system
step by step. We will give a brief description of what each of the various modules does.
Remember we can always supply a customized solution for specific requirements. If
you wish to do this, contact a sales representative.
The main module in PC-Radio is Automation. This part ensures the play list with
records and commercials is broadcast. At most radio stations there is one broadcastingor On-Air station and possibly one or more production stations.
If you are planning to use external sound sources (such as CD changers, MD recorders,
DAT recorders, cassette decks etc.) to your system, you can do this by using an Audio
Control Device (ACD module). The ACD is often used in conjunction with a Fader
module. Most CD changers and MD recorders do not have a built-in fader to make a
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smooth transition to the next item possible. You can solve this problem by installing a
fader module between the ACD and the audio source. The fader module is necessary if,
for example, you want to connect a tuner to the system. If you only have one external
source, this can be connected directly without an ACD, with or without a fader module.
PC-Radio is primarily an automation system that can broadcast audio 24 hours a day by
itself. However, many users need to do the broadcasting themselves on set times. In
these circumstances you can use a Studio Module to interrupt or resume the automated
broadcasting. The Studio Module also has a built-in audio detector which provides PCRadio with emergency sound detection. If it should unexpectedly become silent in the
studio, the automation kicks in.
A Jingle Machine is available for DJs who broadcast with Live Assist or the Studio
Module. It is also possible to operate this from the mixing console.
The Voice Tracks level I module is used to record sign-offs and announcements
between the tracks. It is very easy to use. You simply press record, make your
announcement and then stop recording. PC-Radio calculates the optimal place between
the out- and intro for the recorded voice tracks.
With Voice Tracks level II you can manipulate the mix between outro, voice track and
intro yourself. Play the outro before recording your voice track at any given moment,
before starting the intro of the next record yourself. This way you can hear exactly what
you are doing. You can use an operating console so that you don’t even have to reach
for the mouse, so you can use the most essential functions while you are recording.
The Mix Editor is closely related to the Voice Tracks, this is why it is displayed in the
same window. Use the Mix Editor to listen to the mixes between (voice) tracks and to
adjust them if necessary.
The Time Shifter is used to broadcast programs again. You program this so that every
required program is recorded on the hard disk, allowing them to broadcast them again at
a later time.
The Format Planner is used to generate a play list using an hour- and day format.
A counterpart to the Format Planner is the Commercial Planner which schedules all the
commercials in a campaign and takes account of matters such as the advertiser’s sector
and the recorded speaker’s voice. These two modules relieve you of a lot of work and
really are indispensable.
Radio stations that are obliged to provide a complete log of the programs that are
broadcast use the Audio Logger. This makes a low quality recording of all the programs,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
PC-Radio has full network support so you can connect various PCs together and have
them using the same music libraries, settings etc. The network configuration you select
depends on your requirements. Licenses are available for additional On-Air stations
and/or production stations.
You can see at a glance which modules are active in the system info window.
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1.4
Manual PC-Radio 5
Audio system
PC-Radio has always supported the professional Digigram sound cards. Today’s broad
range of alternative manufacturers like M-Audio en Terratec demands a wider
compatibility, which PC-Radio now provides.
To be able to use the Digigram system, your pc needs to be equipped with a PCX or
LCM soundcard.
Most professional broadcasting companies use Digigram soundcards, solely for their
excellent sound quality. Most types have analog, as well as AES/EBU in- and outputs.
Onboard MPEG audio processing provides a minimal CPU load.
Most customers use MPEG-1 layer 2 audio with a 48 kHz sampling frequency and a
256 kbit bit rate.
Most soundcards are able to process wave format audio files.
The wave system allows Digigram recorded files (.mp2, (including Dalet) .snd)
playback. Other supported formats are: PCM Wave (.wav), MPEG-1 layer 3 (.mp3),
OggVorbis (.ogg), Advanced Audio Coding (.aac, .m4a, .mp4), Windows Media Audio
(.wma), Monkey’s Audio (.ape) and MusePack (.mpc, .mp+, .mpp).
The systems feature different options. In case of a relevant difference between the two
systems, the logos are shown throughout this manual.
The table below shows the relation between the amount of audio files you can store on
your hard drive and the compression format. We’ve used an average of 3:30 minutes per
track.
Hard disk
1 GB
500 GB
1 TB / 1000 GB
1.5
Uncompressed
PCM Wave
29
14.493
28.986
128 kbps
320
159.783
319.566
Compressed
256 kbps
384 kbps
160
107
79.892
53.261
159.783
106.522
Hardware support
PC-Radio can control many types of external equipment.
The Audio Control Matrix is a modern control unit used for studio switching and
routing external audio, combined with an advanced audio detection system.
A complete description of the ACM can be found in the back of this manual.
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The Compact Interface Module is a low-cost solution for connecting a mixing console’s
fader starts to Live assist. You could use the CIM for news detection as well.
A complete description of the CIM can be found in the back of this manual.
Some PC-Radio users still use Windows NT and an ISA I/O card to, for instance,
control CD-modules.
All these logos are used throughout this manual, whenever applicable to the installed
hardware.
1.6
Extra options
PC-Radio is an open system, in other words you can use certain other software
packages in conjunction with PC-Radio. Here we will look at an application that allows
you to operate PC-Radio from home and two solutions for backing up your data.
1.6.1
pcAnywhere
pcAnywhere is a communications package that allows you to control all sorts of things
remotely. For example, you can operate the Format Planner or copy an audio track from
your PC at home.
Both PCs need to be equipped with a permanent internet connection (cable or ADSL)
and pcAnywhere software. The On-Air or production PC in the studio then acts as the
host and the PC at home as the remote.
The functions of pcAnywhere are too extensive to cover in detail here. However, the
most interesting functions are:
• Remote Control = operate the PC remotely. You see the
full screen of the host PC and can operate it with your
keyboard and mouse.
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File
Transfer
=
send
or
receive
files.
It is even possible to return to the remote control option during file transfer,
although it is a little bit slower.
If you have specific queries, contact your software supplier.
1.6.2
Backup
In an era when most PC radio systems are hard disk-based, making a backup is not an
abundant luxury. The large volumes of data (100 GB or more) require reliable backup
media.
Most manufacturers advertise the storage of compressed data. However, as MPEG
audio can hardly be compressed, it is better to look at the specified storage capacity of
uncompressed data.
A cost effective alternative is a DVD-writer. The single-layer discs have a capacity of
4,7 GB, while dual-layer discs have a capacity of over 8 GB.
System administrators prefer making a backup copy with the automation program still
running. Most backup software however doesn’t support on-stream backup, while the
files are being used. This particularly applies to the extremely important Database. In
this case, we advise system administrators to make a local copy of the DATA directory
using the Windows Explorer before making the backup.
1.6.3
RAID 1
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks and is a collective name for the
implementation of hard disks in systems to increase availability or performance. RAID
exists in different levels, each with their own application. One is geared to performance,
the other to availability. The latter is important in the context of PC-Radio.
RAID 1 uses mirroring of hard disks. An identical number of disks are used in tandem.
If a disk should crash, the mirror drive will still contain the data.
The extra costs associated with such a system consist of the purchase of an extra hard
disk with the same capacity and a RAID controller. Both the hard disks are connected to
the RAID controller which that ensures the data on the two disks is synchronized.
Most PC-Radio users choose this option. The setup is as following:
Broadcast Partners installs 2 hot-swappable racks and three identical hard discs in
separate trays. Hard disc 1 will always remain in the system. Hard discs 2 and 3 are
swapped regularly. One is an exact copy; the other contains the data present on the
system, the last time it was connected. By doing this, you’ll always have at least one
exact copy of you data. If you keep the extra copy at home, you’ll always have an extra
copy, for instance in case of fire.
1.7
Support and software support
Broadcast Partners offers you the most extensive Service and Support on its software
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If you have purchased the PC-Radio 5 software, you receive full support for a certain
amount of time, specified in the contract. During this period you can use the following
types of service & support for free:
E-mail Support
• You can e-mail your question 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to
support@broadcastpartners.nl. A support representative will contact you within
36 hours (except for weekends and holidays)
Remote Support
• After sending your email to support@broadcastpartners.nl, you can call your
software supplier during office hours (Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 17.00,
Saturday from 10.00 to 16.00) for answers to all your questions on our software.
• After sending your email to support@broadcastpartners.nl, a support
representative will remotely connect to your computer, provided you have made this
possible. A full remote diagnosis and recovery of your system can’t be guaranteed.
Factory Support
• If E-mail Support and Remote Support won’t meet your requirements, you can bring
your PC-Radio 5 system to your supplier for a check-up.
Of course, the support is limited to the hardware and software that you have
purchased from Broadcast Partners. If you subsequently purchase hard- or software
from a local computer dealer, you must contact the dealer in question. Furthermore,
it is not always possible for Broadcast Partners to continue to provide adequate
support if you make fundamental changes to the system. The support conditions
also do not cover any viruses that may have infected your system.
On-Site Support
• In exceptional cases, your on-site supplier will provide on-site Support. We only
charge the driving fee. Keep in mind we do charge by the hour if the complaint is
due to a change in configuration (other then PC-Radio update/upgrades), soft- or
hardware purchased at another supplier or a computer virus.
Updates
• You have the right to receive relevant (minor) software updates, within your current
configuration of PC-Radio.
On expiry of this period, you can use one of the following types of Service & Support,
so that you can continue to take advantage of the above facilities.
The most recent PC-Radio updates are available through our website:
www.broadcastpartners.nl or our ftp server ftp.broadcastpartners.nl. You can log in
using the next account information:
Username: pcrupdate
Password: upd4t3rpc
Service & Support contract
By signing a Service & Support contract, you can continue to use the above services.
The fee depends on the size of your PC-Radio system, and subcategorized in a starting
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Manual PC-Radio 5
fee (for a stand-alone system) and an extra fee for each working station. By receiving all
of the latest software updates, you’ll make sure your system is always up-to-date.
Support Coupons
You can also purchase individual PC-Radio 5 coupons, which will provide you the right
to E-mail, Remote, Factory & On-Site Support, but exclude the software updates. A
benefit to these coupons is the eligibility for preferential upgrade prices. This discount
can top 20%, at a 12 hour coupon. Coupons are available in the range of 4 to12 hours of
support. The coupons are valid for a year (after the purchasing date). If, for instance,
you own a 4 hour coupon, and you require half an hour of support, the remaining 3 ½
hour on your coupon remain for further support. If the remaining 3 ½ hour are used
(before the expiration date), you’ll have to buy a new coupon, for further support.
Fees for a Service & Support contract or Support Coupons are available at your reseller
of PC-Radio 5.
1.8
Summary of shortcut keys
The main shortcut keys are summarized below.
General
Close window
Save
Exit PC-Radio
Undo
Cut
Copy
Paste
Add
Delete
Find
Preview
Ctrl+F4
Ctrl+S
Alt+F4
Ctrl+Z
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+A
Ctrl+Del
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+P
Stop
Play
Record
Zoom in
Zoom out
F5
S
P
R
+
-
Mix Editor
8
Auto Arrange windows
F6
Jingle machine
F8
Status (playlist today)
Playlist tomorrow
Playlist day after tomorrow
Group
Fill-out
Float
F9
Shift+F9
Ctrl+F9
Ctrl+G
Ctrl+U
Ctrl+L
Menu
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Database Browser
F11
Live Assist
F12
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Configuring and installing PC-Radio
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Manual PC-Radio 5
CONFIGURING AND INSTALLING PC-RADIO
Configuring a PC-Radio system requires some planning. This chapter describes how to
successfully set up your PC-Radio system.
2.1
Existing PC-Radio users (1)
PC-Radio 4.0 through 4.30 users need to perform some extra steps, before getting
started with PC-Radio 5. This chapter describes these operations. If you have any
questions, please contact Broadcast Partners.
When you’ve installed PC-Radio 5 you need to convert your database, before getting
started with PC-Radio 5. This is described later in this chapter.
2.1.1
PC-Radio 4.0 users
If you want to convert your PC-Radio 4.0 database to PC-Radio 5, first upgrade your
software to PC-Radio 4.35. PC-Radio needs to be installed in a separate directory, as
described in chapter 2 of the PC-Radio 4.35 manual.
When PC-Radio is upgraded to version 4.35, perform these next steps
- Open the Commercial scheduler through Tools Æ Commercial Scheduler.
The databases are now converted.
- Open the History conversion by clicking Database Æ Convert history. Press
Start to convert the history files.
Depending on your database’s size, this might take ten minutes to half an hour.
2.1.2
PC-Radio 4.10 users
These users need to upgrade to PC-Radio 4.35. PC-Radio 4.35 can be installed in the
same directory as PC-Radio 4.10.
When PC-Radio 4.35 is installed, start the program and perform these next steps
- Open the Commercial scheduler through Tools Æ Commercial Scheduler.
The databases are now converted.
- Open the History conversion by clicking Database Æ Convert history. Press
Start to convert the history files.
Depending on the size of your database, this might take ten minutes to half an hour.
2.1.3
PC-Radio 4.20 and 4.30 users
These users need to upgrade to PC-Radio 4.35. PC-Radio 4.35 can be installed in the
same directory as PC-Radio 4.10.
When PC-Radio 4.35 is installed, start the program and Open the History conversion by
clicking Database Æ Convert history. Press Start to convert the history files.
Depending on your database’s size, this might take ten minutes to half an hour.
2.1.4
PC-Radio 4.35 users
These users don’t need any prior steps before configuring and installing PC-Radio 5.
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2.2
Network configuration
To further explain the configuration of PC-Radio in a network environment we need to
separate three distinctive network configurations, each described by a series of
drawings. If you have an existing PC-Radio configuration, you’ll soon recognize your
own type of network configuration.
If you are a new PC-Radio user, you’ll be able to decide what configuration to use by
these next descriptions.
Even though changing from one configuration to another is quite simple, we advise you
to carefully select yours. This might save you some redundant adaptations later on.
PC-Radio uses a so called Client/Server database-architecture. This means that a single
PC runs a server application to hold all the databases to all the PC-Radio On Air- and
Production computers. These can connect to this central server as a client.
This database server’s configuration requires minimal PC- and network know-how and
is described later in this chapter.
2.2.1
Configuration 1, stand-alone
This configuration means you only have one PC (or laptop) for all your PC-Radio
applications. This PC is used for broadcasting, scheduling the Playlist, commercials,
etc. The server and the client are both integrated in PC-Radio.
This configuration is mainly used for remote production applications.
When installing PC-Radio, described later in this chapter, press A) PC-Radio software
and NexusDB database server.
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Configuration 2, network without a stand-alone server
This configuration is based on two or more PC’s connected by a network. The central
PC (On Air) is equipped with a large hard drive, containing the audio files. The
database server is also running on this machine.
All of the above PC’s are connected to this central database server.
Most radio stations use this configuration.
You can also use this configuration if you only have a single PC, but are planning on
expanding your system to multiple production stations.
We’d like to advise you to use two separate partitions when configuring the On Air PC.
The first partition should be approximately 15 GB, for the operating system and
database server. The second partition, shared in the network (for example the P: drive)
can hold the PC-Radio software and the audio files.
When installing PC-Radio choose for:
On Air:
A) PC-Radio software and NexusDB database server
Production: C) PC-Radio shortcuts
At home:
2.2.3
Configuration 3, network using a stand-alone server
D) NexusDB database server
B) PC-Radio OnAir
C) PC-Radio Productie
This configuration is quite similar to the prior one. The only difference is an extra PC
functioning solely as a server. Usually Windows 2003 Server is installed on this server.
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It is recommended to use the same configurations for the On Air PC as described in
configuration 2. Install the database server on the first partition, the audio files on the
second one.
When installing PC-Radio, please select
Server:
On Air:
B) PC-Radio software
Production: C) PC-Radio shortcuts
At home:
2.3
Installing PC-Radio
The PC-Radio software is supplied on a CD. This contains the setup.exe installation
program that contains the software and all the necessary extra components (apart from
the drivers for the sound card(s)). You can check which version of PC-Radio you have
by looking at the version information of the installation file (right click on setup.exe in
Windows Explorer, then Properties, Version tab).
Close all running PC-Radio applications (including MPEG Edit Pro and NexusDB
server) before starting the setup program. The setup program checks if PC-Radio is still
active in the computer’s memory. The screen resolution needs to be at least 1024 x 768
and you need to be logged in as an administrator to install or use the PC-Radio
software.
If you are performing a fresh installation of PC-Radio, please do not insert the security
dongle into your USB port. The setup program first needs to install the dongle drivers.
Here you can choose the installation language. This choice also determines the language
of the software to be installed, in other words, if you choose US English here, the
English version of PC-Radio will be installed.
However, if you decide to change the language later, you can do this via the menu Tools
Æ Change language.
You are then guided through the installation through a number of windows.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
Clicking the Next button always takes you to the next screen. Sometimes you can go
back to a previous screen with the Back button.
In this next screen you’ll see the license agreement. Read this agreement carefully,
choose accept and press next to continue the installation.
You can print the agreement by pressing print. The agreement will be printed on your
default printer.
After the license agreement, an important screen can pop up.
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After reading and accepting the agreement, you can choose your configuration in this
next screen.
Earlier in this chapter, we’ve described several configurations. If you don’t know which
one you need, please read the examples, previously described.
The installation program copies and installs all programs and files required for
PC-Radio, as well as the database server. The database server’s configuration is
described later in this chapter and has to be set up later.
B) PC-Radio software
The installation program copies and installs all the necessary programs and files for PCRadio, required for single PC use. In a network environment using a separate database
server, select the On Air station.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
C) PC-Radio shortcuts
The installation program copies and installs the driver for the security key and creates a
shortcut to the previously installed PC-Radio software.
The installation program copies and installs the database server, you’ll configure later.
The next screen doesn’t show if you’ve selected D) NexusDB database server.
By default, PC-Radio is installed in the C:\Program Files\Broadcast Partners\PC-Radio
5 folder. For home applications this will be acceptable. In your studio, PC-Radio is
usually installed on a shared network disc. The most obvious folder is P:\PC-Radio 5.
Use the browse button to select the appropriate folder. Before pressing Next please
check the destination folder, the installation program prefers a folder named PC-Radio
5.
When installing to a production station (option C), use the same directory you have
used on the On-Air PC. For instance, if the shared network on the On-Air PC is named
P: it has to be referred to as P: on the production PC as well.
PC-Radio 4.35 users should install the new program in the same directory PC-Radio
4.35 uses. All settings and play lists are automatically transferred to PC-Radio 5. Please
check if destination folder’s location is correctly set to your requirements.
Windows Vista has several restrictions on reading/ writing to certain folders. If PCRadio is installed in Program Files, a part will automatically be transferred to Public
documents (C:\Users\Public).
If you’ve chosen configuration A or D, the next screen allows you to specify a target
folder for your Nexus database server.
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The Nexus database server can be installed on a local hard drive partition.
This screen lets you choose which audio system and soundcard is installed on the
computer. Please note that a wrong selection can result in a malfunctioning system!
The Wave and Digigram audio systems are discussed in the last chapter. Digigram users
need to make sure NPruntime is installed as well. More information can be found later
in this manual.
•
•
Wave system
Select this option if you want to use the Wave audio system. PC’s without a
soundcard also require this selection. Digigram users should not choose this option!
Digigram system (recent models)
The more recent Digigram audio cards (PCX924, PCX22, PCX820, LCM220b and
all HR cards) need the second option. Production stations with a SoundBlaster
audio card (or compatible) instead of a Digigram card should also choose this
option. Install the Virtual PCX of the Digigram NPruntime drivers to be able to
pre-listen to your audio tracks on your hard drive, in PC-Radio.
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Digigram system (PCX20 of PCX800)
Systems equipped with one or more PCX20 or PCX800 Digigram audio cards
require this third option. These older cards are no longer supported by Digigram’s
drivers. Use the NPruntime 5.20 driver to use these cards. Please note that this
driver is not supported by Windows 2000, XP or Vista, so you’ll have to use
Windows NT.
If you are performing and update of your PC-Radio system and are not sure which audio
cards are installed, please check them prior to the installation in the system’s
information screen. In case of doubt please contact your distributor.
PC-Radio 5 offers a number of filters for Adobe Audition 1.5 (and later versions)
allowing you to open and save MPEG-1 layer 2, mp3 and PCM Wave files (and add a
title and artist to the database. This requires Adobe Audition to be installed on the
system. If the installer can’t find Audition, this option will be grayed out.
If you install Adobe Audition at a later time, simply rerun the PC-Radio installation
program to activate the filters.
The installation program now has all required information. Click Next to go to the last
window before starting the installation. You can still go back to check the data you have
entered.
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If everything has been entered correctly, click on Next.
The installation takes some time. The installation program displays the aproximate time
required to finish the installation.
Wait until the following window appears.
Click Finish to close the program.
If you are using a stand-alone PC for your PC-Radio, you can skip the next chapter.
Other systems require their database server configured. This is described in the next
chapter.
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Database server configuration
Configurations A and D, previously discussed in this chapter need to have the database
server configured. This database server usually runs on the ‘Windows server’ or the On
Air PC if the Windows server is not available.
Start the database server through Start Æ Programs Æ NexusDB 2.0 Æ NexusDB
Database Server.
The server normally starts minimized in the ‘system tray’. By double clicking the icon,
the server’s configuration screen opens.
These next examples will help you to configure the database server, step by step. Some
options are already set, but we’d still like to advise you to check them nonetheless.
Aliases
Specify the database’s name as well as the target directory for the files. The database’s
name (Alias Name) will be used later, by PC-Radio.
Alias Name
You can use the name PC-Radio. Users who have multiple broadcasting stations within
a network could use the location names as an alternative (for example Terneuzen or
Amsterdam).
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Path
The desination folder for the files. Depending on your system administrator’s
prefferance, you can choose a local path or a directory shared in the network. We advise
you to use the second option.
In a network share P:\PC-Radio 5\data is the most obvious folder. If you place all data
(PC-Radio source files, databases and audio files) in the same folder, it is easier to
create a backup.
Transports
The database server can also be used to communicate with the clients, by a number of
data transmitting protocols. We’d like to advise you to set Named Pipe Transport and
TCP/IPv4 Transport to active.
Named Pipe Transport is only available within the local network and delivers the
highest performance. Experience taught us that some situations cause Named Pipe
Transport, combined with certain hardware, causes a significant latency. In this case it
would be best to use TCP/IPv4 Transport (Winsock). Using an internet based database
always means the client has to be set to TCP/IPv4 Transport (Winsock). Shared
Memory Transport is only available on the OnAir station, if it has a Nexus database
server running as well. If the Nexus database is running on the database server, Shared
Memory Transport is automatically loaded. Shared Memory Transport has a slightly
better performance regardless of the network connection’s quality. Poor network
connections or other interferences do not affect Shared Memory Transport, increasing
the stability of the server.
If you receive a warning, when activating these transports, the database server is
probably already opened. The database server might have been installed as a ‘service’.
This means the service has to be stopped, to be able to make any configuration changes.
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The easiest way to check for an active database server is starting the Enterprise
Manager (Start Æ Programs Æ NexusDB 2.0 Æ NexusDB Enterprise Manager). The
Enterprise Manager displays all the database servers within the network’s range.
Server Addresses
Displays the address (in case of TCP/IPv4) or the server’s name (in case of Named
Pipe) you’ll need later when setting the database connections in PC-Radio.
GUI Settings
These settings determine the database server’s appearance. We’d like to advise you to
mark the next options.
Minimize Server on application start
Start the server minimized in the system tray, instead of screen filling.
Bring up Server on application start
Automatically activates the Server when started.
Autosave Configuration on exit
The changes are automatically stored when the application is closed.
Close Server from Tray only
The application can only be shut down when it is minimized, not by the red cross on the
top left corner of the window.
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Plugins
Plugins are expansions to the database server. If the Messaging Plugin isn’t shown, you
are useing an incorrect database server version. The Messaging Plugin is required for
several PC-Radio functions.
Server Engine
Specify the amount of memory available for NexusBD. The -1 value means ‘half of the
available’.
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By selecting the Active option, the server is activated.
SQL Engine
The Active option needs to be marked.
2.4.1
nxServer as service
After you’ve familiarized yourself with PC-Radio and the system is functioning
properly for some time, you can install the database server as a ‘service’. When
activated, the database starts automatically when Windows boots, before PC-Radio is
started. It also prevents the server from shutting down unauthorized.
Configuring the server is best left to a Microsoft Windows specialist.
Create a unique administrator user account (for instance named NexusDB) on the PC
running the Nexus database server. A password is manditory for this account. By
default this user is unauthorized to start Windows services.
The next command line installs the database server as a service:
nxServer /install /username:.\user /password:pwd /start /silent
On the initial run, the user doesn’t have sufficient rights to start services. Below is a
description on how to open the service window and enable these rights. When you are
done, please reenter the usersname and password. It will provide you with a nice and
clear overview of the service as well.
This next command line removes the service:
nxServer /uninstall /silent
Use a command prompt from the NexusDB directory for installing and removing
services. After the installation, the service is automatically started.
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To view all running services press á+R followed by the command: services.msc
As shown in the image, a user named NexusDB who has administrator rights is created
on this next computer.
If you want to apply any changes to the database’s configuration, after it has been
installed as a service, you’ll first have to stop the service. Now you can start the server
through the start menu, and apply the changes to the configuration. When you’ve
finished, stop the server and start it again as a service. Make sure the NexusDB server is
completely shut down, because if you close the server while it’s still active in the
system tray, the transport protocol is disabled. This means it has to be reactivated.
Adding or removing aliases is best left to the Enterprise Manager.
2.4.2
NxEnterpriseManager
The Enterprise Manager is included in the NexusDB software. This program enables
you to manage the database server, databases and charts. Use Start Æ Programs Æ
NexusDB 2.0 Æ NexusDB Enterprise Manager to start the application.
Now you can, for instance, create a new alias, but you could also erase PC-Radio charts
(possibly containing valuable data). This means: consider a fair amount of precaution
when using this program.
2.5
Existing PC-Radio, Carmen and Mouse Music users (2)
This sub-chapter is only relevant when you are updating from PC-Radio 4.35 or Carmen
to PC-Radio 5. These users need to update their databases from the ‘older’ Borland
Database Engine to Nexus DB. This conversion needs to be preformed just once.
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In the short keys on the On Air PC-Radio PC you’ll find the PC-Radio database
conversion. Start the program.
NexusDB2
The target server and database for the database conversions. Use the Change button to
add a server and database. This window is described in the section on Database
connection.
PC-Radio 4
Select the PC-Radio 4.35 installation directory in the source location field. Either enter
the directory’s full location, or browse to the folder using the dotted button.
Before starting the conversion, make sure PC-Radio 5 is shut down. If the program is
still running, an empty database is created for PC-Radio 5. Now the conversion program
can’t create a new database, since it already exists. To create a new database, remove all
.nx1 files, and execute the conversion again.
The source location can’t contain any paradox lock files. If there be any, the conversion
program can’t gain access to the source database and displays an error message. Should
this occur, remove all the paradox lock files pdoxusers.lck, pdoxusers.net, paradox.lck
and pcr.lck. Remove any contingently created .nx1 files, and restart the conversion.
Start the conversion by pressing Start. The play lists are converted and placed in a
database as well. The conversion might take a few minutes, depending on the size of
your history database, PC’s and network speed.
PC-Radio 5
PC-Radio 5.0 and 5.10 users need a database conversion as well to be able to use the
new Jingle machine.
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The server and database should already be correctly set, so all you need is to press the
Start button.
Carmen
The Carmen databases digital.mdb and jingles.mdb should be filled out under Source
location as well. The conversion program actively searches for these files, trying to fill
them automatically.
Before converting Carmen to PC-Radio, you might want to start PC-Radio before
starting the conversion process. You could set the genres and hour opener. Now the
conversion program converts the criteria to PC-Radio compatibility.
Mouse Music
Specify the Mouse Music database Mmusic.mdb under Source location.
The conversion program uses the Language setting, Target Audience transferred to
Extra3 and Geographical origin to Extra5.
2.6
Hardware installation
Of course the installation of hardware is only applicable to broadcast stations and
workstations that are used to record hard disk audio.
Place the dongle in an empty USB port, if you are using PC-Radio or any of its options.
The first time you connect the dongle to your PC, Windows will display a message
about installing the required driver. The dongle’s LED will start to blink. Do not abort
the dongle installation program, for PC-Radio will not be able to recognize it.
The LED will be lit constantly when the installation has successfully completed.
If for any reason the dongle was left in the USB port, and a key error 6043-0000-0000 is
shown in the System information window, here is how to solve this problem:
1
Remove the dongle from your USB port.
2
Open the Device manager (á+R and the devmgmt.msc command).
3
Open USB-controllers and select Feitian ROCKEY4. Press the right mouse
button and choose Uninstall.
4
Place the dongle in the USB-port.
Windows shows a Found new hardware message, and the dongle’s LED will be lit
constantly.
If the above method is not effective, you have to remove and reinstall the driver. This
process is described below:
1
Remove the dongle from your USB-port.
2
Select the Rockey folder in PC-Radio’s installation directory. Start the
InstDrv32.exe program and choose Remove.
3
Restart the PC.
4
Start InstDrv32.exe and follow the driver installation instructions.
5
Place the dongle in the USB-port.
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A hardware installation guide for several devices (like the Digigram, Wave, ACM and
CIM) can be found in the back of this manual.
2.7
Getting started with PC-Radio
2.7.1
Database connection
When PC-Radio is started for the first time, you need to specify what database you want
to connect to. The next screen pops up.
Choose an internal database server (integrated in PC-Radio) or an external database
server.
When using an internal database server, choose the directory where the database files
are stored, named Data, in the PC-Radio installation directory. The database cannot be
shared by an internal server. If you want to share the database to, for instance, be able to
create voice tracks from remote locations, choose an external server.
If you select ‘external database server’, PC-Radio searches the network for available
servers. When you’ve selected the required database server, the available databases on
this server are shown. Select the database you want to use from this list.
If you have set the database server’s transport to Named Pipe in its configuration, the
obtained list might look like the following example:
NexusDB@192.168.0.100 (Winsock)
NexusDB@PCR_ONAIR (NamedPipe)
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The disadvantage of using the first connection with the IP-address is that it is
unavailable when the PC is not connected to the network. Also the IP-address can, for
any reason change. This would mean that the database server’s connection would also
have to adjust.
Pressing Add, lets you manually add a database server. In this example you need to add
a Winsock server:
NexusDB@PCR_ONAIR (Winsock)
Now you have a connection set to a name, that won’t change when you alter the
computer’s IP address. The NetBOIS through TCP/IP has to be enabled (under the
advanced TCP/IP settings) to be able to connect by PC name.
We advise you initially not to use a username and password for security. This should
only be set, if the server is accessible by the internet. If the server is secured by name
and password, you need to specify these in this window too.
When the server is selected (and the username and password are entered) the databases
are visible. Usually the only database listed is PC-Radio.
The other options have these next functions
Compression
Only accessible when you work ‘remote’. This setting specifies the
compression rate for your data transport through the internet. The
values can rate from 0 (no compression) to 9 (maximal
compression).
If the computer is connected to the radio station’s local network,
enter a 0 = none.
Compression should only be enabled when using a slower
connection, like the internet.
The required value depends on your PC’s and internet connection’s
speed. Some users can use the value 5, while some other users
prefer 7. The best setting can be measured by opening the database
browser, and waiting how long it takes.
The Test button allows you test the database connection. If you get a warning, the most
common error is that PC-Radio is started by the internal server. The problem is that you
have created an Alias in the server, but the server can’t access the database because it is
used by PC-Radio.
This is easy to check in PC-Radio. In the bottom left corner an icon is shown,
displaying the database connection. An external server connection is recognizable by
the database symbol with blue edges. If these edges aren’t blue, the internal PC-Radio
server is still active.
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Wizard
When you’ve selected the database connection, the Wizard (shown below) pop’s up.
This wizard checks for audio files present in the system.
Note: this wizard only appears when you are performing a new PC-Radio installation.
The local hard drives are marked. You can manually select the network stations that
contain audio files. The more network stations you select, the longer it takes the wizard
to search.
Replaceable media are unavailable. This is because audio files on these stations are not
always available.
Press the Next button to start the search action.
The searching can take several minutes. If you need to stop the searching process, press
Stop.
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This window shows all the directories containing audio files found by the wizard,
together with their numbers. PC-Radio allows you to select a maximum of 99
directories. If there are over 99 directories found, the wizard automatically deselects the
ones with the least audio files. These will not be included in PC-Radio’s search paths.
Of course you can make your own selection from this list.
Pressing Next adds the audio files to the database. The title and artist name are added to
the database of any audio files containing tags (for example mp3 ID3v2).
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When the wizard has filled the database, 7 random play lists are generated (one for each
day) and the automation is started.
PC-Radio can to you on air, several minutes after installation!
2.7.3
Check configuration
When the automation is started, you can check the systems configuration.
Select Help and System status via the menus for a complete summary of the
configuration. The information in this window is divided logically into a number of
blocks. There is a traffic light next to most items and the colors are self-evident.
• Green means OK
• Yellow mean attention
• Red means not present or old driver.
License information
The information shown here depends on the connected dongle. Every dongle has a
unique number. Under dongle error you will see 0000-0000-0000 if everything is OK or
an error code. There is a description of the most common error codes. If you have any
questions about the error code, have the complete error code written down when you
call your supplier.
The button in the ‘Valid’ box starts the program for extending the license.
The button in the ‘Maintenance’ box starts and input screen for extending the software
maintenance. More information on the extending licenses and software maintenance is
discussed later in this manual.
ISA interfacing status
The status of the various inputs is displayed here. This entire box is grayed out if there
is no interface card in the PC, for example in a production station.
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Active software modules
Here you can find out which PC-Radio software components are active.
Hard disk audio support
The available hard disc audio support is listed here. Amongst others the installed driver
version as well as the available playback and recording devices are shown.
Nexus
The database server’s version. If the Messaging Plugin is disabled, several PC-Radio
functions are unavailable.
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Database Editor
3
Manual PC-Radio 5
DATABASE EDITOR
The Database is interwoven with most of the other components of PC-Radio. It contains
all the records with title, artist (visible in the play list) as well as other data such as
selection criteria (format planning), intro time, fadeout time (automation), author,
editor, publisher (Buma reporting – reporting to the authority that organizes royalties
etc., equivalent to the PRS/MCPS in the UK).
You can open the Database Editor either via the menu: Music Database Æ Editor or the
button bar: (Track tab) or (Editor tab).
What the buttons do depends on the situation. If you click on a button when the browser
or a play list is active, the editor goes to the track that is currently selected. If no
windows are open, the Editor button takes you to the dialogue box below to open an
audio item.
When scrolling through the files, the file format, the title and artist are visible provided
this track is already present in the Database.
Play allows you to listen to the item directly without opening it in the Database Editor.
The Play end option plays the last few seconds of the item and Auto play plays the
items automatically when scrolling so that you do not have to keep clicking Play.
The editor window appears as soon as you select an item and click on Open.
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Database Editor
Another way to open your audio files is to drag them from the Windows Explorer
directly to the database.
The names may consist of maximal 80 characters (not counting the extension).
Mp3 files’ ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags are recognized by PC-Radio. This means the title and
artist are automatically updated in the playlist, when mp3s are opened in the editor.
The title bar of the Editor displays the mode together with the title and artist of the
current track. In Browse mode you browse through the Database and no information is
changed. Users with sufficient access rights can change to Edit mode in which you can
make changes. This happens automatically as soon as you begin to type or modify a
selection, the sub-title bars then change color.
At the bottom of the screen there is a button which you can use to modify the scroll
order (Carrier ID, Title, Artist, Playlist, Browser and Export).
To link the database editor to the database browser, to the playlist, or to export, set the
order to Browser, Playlist or Export.
As soon as you select a different record, the other screen changes too.
There are also buttons that are used to browse through the Database.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
Track
Music, jingles and commercials that you have recorded on hard disk and any audio you
have available on CD, MD, DAT and similar sound sources must be given a unique
identification before you can use them in PC-Radio.
For hard disk audio in the form of WAVE, MPEG layer 2 or MPEG layer 3 (mp3) this
has already been done; the file name, without extension, is used as Carrier ID by PCRadio.
Most radio stations already have an identification system for other media that can
continue to be used.
The only condition is that the Carrier ID must not exceed 80 characters in length. You
can give longer file names to hard disk audio. New users sometimes think that including
the title and artist in the file name is a useful system. However, bear in mind that this is
not the only information for a record or commercial. Typing errors in the title and artist
are therefore more difficult to correct because it changes the ID. An ID is assigned once
when an item is recorded; most users will never work with this within PC-Radio.
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Database Editor
Using the link from the play lists and the browser (right mouse button menu) is a quick
way to open a track in the editor.
Carrier ID
Unique identification of the audio carrier. The maximum length is
80 characters.
With hard disk audio, the Carrier ID matches the name (without
extension) of the file on the hard disk. Files with a longer name can
be opened in PC-Radio but cannot be accessed by the Database.
Not all characters are permitted for hard disk audio (Windows does
not allow you to use characters such as *, ?, / and \ in file names).
Therefore, by preference, only use alphanumeric and legible
characters (A to Z, 0 to , -, _, &). If the name contains invalid
symbols, it can’t be linked to the audio.
When assigning IDs, try to make a logical division. Many radio
stations start jingles with ‘J-’ and commercials with ‘C-’.
Origin
The options here are hard disk
Number
For hard disk items this is usually 0, for other audio carriers this is
the serial number on the carrier.
Title
Title of the record, jingle or commercial.
Artist
Performing artist. When entering the artist, PC-Radio completes the
text. This makes it quicker to enter several records by the same
artist.
Author
Author(s) of this item. If there is more than one author, the names
must be separated by a / (slash).
Enter the surname first, then the first name or initials.
and other
(usually CD).
It is important to fill these fields out consistently. The Format Planner can use the Artist
to ensure that records by the same artist aren’t played (shortly) after another. By
checking Title it is possible to prevent a cover being played too soon after the original
or vice versa.
We would like to give the following advice for completing these fields:
• Omit articles e.g. ‘The Rolling Stones’ becomes ‘Rolling Stones’, ‘The Supremes’
becomes ‘Supremes’.
• Always use the same format for entering the first name and surname, i.e. do not
mix up ‘Phil Collins, ‘P. Collins’ and ‘Collins, Phil’.
• Do not mix up alternative spellings e.g. ‘&’ and ‘and’ in ‘Hall and Oates’ and ‘Hall
& Oates’.
• As far as possible omit full stops e.g. ‘C.J. Lewis’ becomes ‘CJ Lewis’ and
‘R.E.M.’ becomes ‘REM’.
• Omit (French) accents.
• Do not complete fields in capital letters. Text in capital letters is more difficult to
read and capitals take up more space on the screen. For example, compare the
following:
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Everybody gets a second chance
EVERYBODY GETS A SECOND CH
The Copyright society (a function called Buma, named after the Dutch organization)
has very specific requirements for reporting music that is played. Therefore the fields
under the heading Buma information must be completed carefully.
ID
For music this is the bar code on the audio carrier. In the case of
commercials, this is the commercial number assigned by your
copyright society.
Version
Which version is being played? Complete this field if there are
several versions e.g. Remix, Unplugged, Live.
Section
Applies in particular to classical works e.g. Adagio, Allegro, and
Overture.
ISRC code
The International Standard Recording Code assigned to the
recording. The ISRC code should be shown as a code of 12
numbers/characters without underscores between the various parts.
Please note: this is not the same number as the bar code.
Editor
Name of the arranger or editor. This can be identified on the label
information by one of the following:
Arranged by … / J. Jansen (arr.) / Trad-arr. J. Jansen
Conductor
Name of the conductor as shown on the audio carrier.
Surname, first name
Orchestra
Name of the orchestra as shown on the audio carrier.
Initial articles (the, etc.) should be omitted.
Category
Possible values:
Music
Tune (jingle / pingel / station call /bridge)
Database (stock music)
Conference (literary work)
Cadenza (improvisation in classical work, usually by the soloist)
Advertisement (commercial)
None (no Buma code, to be used for items that do not fall into one
of the above categories and hence does not need to be included in a
Buma report)
Play lists can be exported to HTML, for example for publication on the Internet.
Publish allows you to specify how this should be done (by title, artist or both). If you
select None under What, this item will not be published. In addition to the pre-defined
forms, you can also choose a modified text which you enter under Modified. Instead of
the artist and title tags, the tag publication should be entered in the HTML template.
Under the heading Track information you have space to enter any information about a
track. This can be used, for example, in live broadcasts to give information about a
record. Information about the performing artist or the carrier (LP, CD) can be entered
on the next tab.
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3.2
Database Editor
Artist
The fields on this tab are split into a section for the Artist ad a section for the Carrier.
Use the Search button to find images from the internet of the artist and the audio carrier.
By using the clipboard you can copy and past the image from the internet explorer.
The right mouse button opens a popup menu you can use to remove, open and save the
image, as well as edit the clipboard’s contents.
Repeat value
The hour number states the maximum amount of times the artist can
be played within an hour. When set to 0, the artist can be repeated
any time. The artist’s hournumber can be overruled by the track’s
hournumber from the Criteria1 tab. This occurs when the record’s
hournumber is smaller then the artist’s.
Website
Use this to fill out the artist’s website’s URL. The little button next
to it opens the explorer using the specified URL in the address bar.
Information
Used to store general artist information, for instance band
composition, birth dates and upcoming tour dates. You can use this
in combination with Track information and Carrier information
during live broadcasts.
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Exclude following The Format Planner looks at the name of the Artist to prevent
artists
records by the same artist being played in (short) succession. There
are many records that require even more exclusions; you can use
these fields to exclude band members with a solo career or artists
who recorded a duet.
Title
Carrier’s title (original CD), the origin of the track.
Artist
Artist of the original track carrier. This artist may be the same as the
artist under the track information on the first tab, but is different for
compilation CD etc., for example ‘Various Artists’.
Label
The name of the label under which the audio carrier was released.
This field is very important for Sena. This field is used to discover
the legal owner under the WNR (Dutch law on neighboring rights).
The label can be identified by the logo or text on the carrier. It is not
unusual for a record company to have several labels e.g. EPIC,
CBS, Artone from Sony, EMI.
Catalogue
This unique item code is assigned to an audio carrier by the record
company and is used to identify the carrier. Retailers can place their
orders based on this number. The catalogue number is shown on the
label, the sleeve or the inlay card.
The catalogue number is neither the bar code number nor the LC
number.
Information
3.3
Information about the original carrier the track (LP, CD).
Criterion 1
The fields on the Criterion 1 and Criterion 2 tabs are filled in if you use the Format
Planner. For example, if the language of the records is filled in, the planner can ensure
that no Dutch-language records are played immediately after one another.
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Database Editor
Texture
The texture indicates how the record is produced. This can range
from Slender (Leonard Cohen) to Bombastic (Two Tribes – Frankie
Goes to Hollywood).
Mood
The mood indicates the mood of the record and ranges from
Depressing (Please don’t make me cry – UB40) to Euphoric (The
Final Countdown – Europe).
Intro
Tempo of the intro to the record.
Tempo
Tempo of the record as a whole.
Outro
Tempo of the outro to the record.
The Format Planner uses the tempo of the intro and outro to prevent
a ‘slow’ record following a record that ends ‘fast’. This would seem
like a sudden silence on the radio to the listener.
Available
Normally all records are active. Records that should not be
scheduled temporarily can be set to inactive. If a user is checked,
the record is still available in the database browser for that user.
Language
There are six languages in PC-Radio as standard. It is not advisable
to expand this category with records in a language that you do not
normally play. For example, you should never have the Format
Planner specifically schedule a Japanese record.
Languages that sound similar to the average Dutch listener, such as
Spanish and Italian, are combined under Roman.
Composition
You specify the composition of the artist to prevent the planner
from scheduling, for example, 3 girl bands in a row.
Hour-number
The hour-number indicates after how many hours a record may be
scheduled again. A record with an hour-number of 0 can return at
any time.
Avoid a multiple of 24 as the hour-number. If there is a limited
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quantity of records in a specific category, there is a good chance of
the record returning after the set hour-number. If a record has an
hour-number of 24, this means it will be scheduled a day later at the
same time.
If you don’t want a record (or commercial) to be scheduled by the
format planner, set it to unavailable.
Week definition
You specify at what time of each weekday a record may be
scheduled in a table of weekdays and times. The black button
selects the entire matrix. Click on a day to select anything for that
day. Using the spacebar, you can turn selected hours to on or off.
The blue squares indicate that a record can be scheduled
(Formatplanner level 4). Formatplanner 3 only takes the times set
for Monday into account, while scheduling the week. The
Commercialplanner combined with Formatplanner level 4 looks at
the week definition as well.
Year definition
The year definition determines the start and end date for a record.
You set this for typical summer or winter records. You can set a
very precise start date for Christmas records.
With Texture, Mood and the three Definition fields, you spread the entire range of
music that you play over all the available options. This way you are able to make
optimum use of the Format Planner. In concrete terms this means that the most
melancholy record in the collection is given the criterion ‘depressing’ and the most
cheerful is ‘euphoric’. Some radio stations attempt to steer a middle course by only
varying the tempo from ‘slow’ to ‘up tempo’. If you later choose a ‘slow’ record in a
format, many records will meet the criterion, namely (on average) 33% instead of 20%
if you had used all 5 options.
The subsequent correction of a Database that has been wrongly defined is a very timeconsuming operation so prepare it well and use all the input options.
3.4
Criterion 2
Five user-defined groups of criteria are available for each record. The criteria Song type,
Extra and Target group are set up by default. You can change these settings if necessary
in Tools Æ Preferences Æ Criteria. However, we advise you not to do this, to ensure
the interchange ability of the databases. The criteria Extra 4 and Extra 5 can also be
used according to your own requirements.
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Database Editor
You can check more than one option under each of these five criteria. It does not make
sense to specify a record as a ‘Hit’ and an ‘Oldie’, but many records will be suitable for
more than one target group or meet several criteria.
The target group criterion can be expanded to 25 options. However, if you do this, you
will create a level of detail that is probably unrealistic. In general, we advise you only to
add options that you will actually use in practice.
Changing the criteria of multiple tracks
The database editor lets you alter multiple tracks’ criteria at once, for example to
change a number of hits to currents.
Open the database browser and activate the “database editor and database browser link”
by marking ‘editor link’ in the database browser. When multiple tracks are selected, the
only visible tabs are Criteria 1 and Criteria 2.
Some of the criteria might have a yellow square, meaning some of the selected tracks
have this criteria set to off.
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Song text
The only field on this tab is the song text of this track. Many lyrics are available on the
Internet. You can use the clipboard to copy these to the Database. The Search button
starts an internet search for the song text.
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3.6
Database Editor
Statistics
The data relating to a chart is entered under Statistics.
Highest chart
position reached
The position in the chart can range from 1 to 100. If the position is
unknown or the song was not in the charts, set this field to
Unknown. (Formatplanner level 4)
Number of weeks
This is the number of weeks that the record was in the charts.
Date of highest
chart position
Here you enter the date on which the highest chart position was
reached. (Formatplanner level 4)
The Online status indicates where the item in question is stored, provided it is a hard
disk item. The dotted button next to it opens an explorer window of the audio file’s
directory. This enables you to easily recover your audio file.
The Recently Changed file displays the last time an audio file was changed. This could
come in handy for automatically updating files like Novum (NL) or Belga (B) news
bulletins. The database editor automatically checks for new audio files and moves them
if necessary. This provides the user with a clear overview of all the recent audio file
deliveries.
The Last schedule and play dates heading contains information on the times at which
the item was scheduled by the Format Planner and the times at which it was played by
the automation. Two buttons are added as well to quickly jump to the track- or artist
history.
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Editor
The last tab contains the integral audio editor. This integration allows you to record new
items and to enter data into the Database at the same time.
Overall in the editor you see the volume level meters at the top of the screen, below that
a graphical depiction of the item, a bar with the status information and finally a series of
buttons and times for setting cue points etc.
You can set the range of the volume deflection meters by right clicking on them. You
can set the range in 5 steps from –24 to –90 to 0 dB. The indicator to the right of the
volume deflection meter displays the peak value. CLIP flashes if the recording level is
too high; to prevent distortion you must record at a lower level so that these indicators
are not illuminated. The indicator is reset to –inf by double clicking it.
Zoom all (displays the entire item)
Zoom in
Zoom out
Zoom start, shows the first 2 or 45 seconds of the track
Zoom end
Auto cue, puts Fade-in start at a level of -50dB at the beginning of
the track If the Shift key is pressed, set Next on the -20 dB level at
the end of the track.
Cursor lock: When activated the cursor (showing the current
position) will also show during playback.
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Database Editor
The track and the various times are displayed in yellow. You can modify the time at
seven points. The cursor then changes shape ( at the points and
at the lines).
c Fade-in start
This is the point at which the track is started. The starting point may
be after a silent intro. Changing this point also changes the fade-in
duration.
d Fade-in
This line moves the fade-in forward or backwards without changing
the fade-in duration or the fade-out.
e Fade-in end
This is the point at which the fader is completely open. Changing
this point also changes the fade-in duration. This point must be
placed on the far left for tracks that must not be faded in so that it
coincides with the fade-in start (the fade-in line is then completely
vertical).
f Entire track
You move all the lines and hence all the fader positions forwards or
backwards.
g Fade-out start
This is the point at which the track begins to fade out. Changing this
point also changes the fade-out duration. Place this point at the far
right for tracks with a definite end so that it coincides with the fadeout end (the fade-out line is then completely vertical).
h Fade-out
This line moves the fade-out forward or backwards without
changing the fade-out duration or the fade-in.
i Fade-out end
This is the point at which the track stops playing. This point may be
before the actual end of the track. For live broadcasts, this skips a
silent outro which can play with Live Assist.
Items you have recorded yourself generally have some silence at the beginning and end
that you later cut. The white bar at the bottom gives a graphical representation of the
quantity you cut at both ends.
Play, plays the item from the position of the narrow marker in the
graphical editor field. You can also enter this position very
precisely.
If you double click on a specific point, the editor will play from that
point.
Stop, this button is used to stop playback or recording.
Record, it is advisable to check the settings before starting to record.
This is described later.
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Listen to end. You hear the last few seconds of the track. You can
specify the length of this in the settings.
Start position for playback.
Loop. This allows you to determine cue points, intro and outro
exactly (keyboard shortcut L)
Ignore fade curve The fade-out time is normally taken into account during playback.
Check-marking this function allows you to listen to the track
without the fade-out.
The lower part of the Editor shows a number of adjustable set points. The buttons and
fields always have the same function.
Playback from the set position. This lights up when a set point is
passed.
Use this button to set a point during playback. In this example, you
click on this button during playback at the moment that the
automation must start the next track.
The color matches the marker in the editor window. This button is
used to hide a marker.
You can set the set point precisely if necessary.
Playback level
Files that have been recorded at too high or too low a level can be
given an adjusted playback level so that they match the other audio
better. This does not modify the file.
Files that have been recorded at too high a level (CLIP indicator
flashes during playback) remain distorted. This can only be resolved
by recording them again (at a lower level).
Fade-in duration
This is the length of the fade-in. Make sure you are happy with the
result if you make the fade-in long.
Fade-out duration This is the length of the fade-out. Make sure you are happy with the
result if you make the fade-out long by listening to it before saving
the changes.
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Cut begin
When the audio file is saved, the part before this point is deleted.
Cut end
When the audio file is saved, the part after this point is deleted.
Once you have saved the file you cannot undo this action. If you
have cut too much you will have to record the item again.
Intro
This is the time at which the intro to the record ends, normally when
the voice begins. (white)
Outro
This is the time at which the outro to the record begins. (white)
Cue 1 to Cue 3
During Live Assist, you can use up to 3 cue points for rapid
playback. You can set the cue points wherever you want. (light
blue, grey-blue, green)
Next
This is the time at which the next record must start playing. (red)
Length
This is the length of the item.
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Database Editor
Next to the indicators for bit rate, frequency and compression there
is a button for going to the recording preferences.
3.8
Bit rate
The bit rate is only applicable with MPEG-1 layers 1 and 2.
In general, the higher the bit rate the better the quality.
It is possible to record in stereo with the following bit rates: 64, 96,
128, 160, 192, 256, 320 and 384 kbps. Bit rates of 64 to 160 kbps
are permitted for mono.
Frequency
The sampling frequency is 48 or 44.1 kHz.
A sampling frequency of 48 kHz is the standard in the world of
professional broadcasting. CD players and the popular mp3
(usually) use 44.1 kHz.
Digigram sound cards are generally not able to mix audio files with
different sampling frequencies. This means that you must choose
one of the two options and you cannot change it later.
Channels
Stereo.
File format
The options are:
WAVE, this is uncompressed audio; the required storage capacity is
over 10 MB per minute stereo.
MPEG-1 layer 2, most common file format that has a better quality
than layer 1 at the same bit rate.
Special functions
Save as
When you change, and save the carrier ID or Number, the following window pops-up.
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By this you can change the file numbers and Database information easily, and also
make copies (for example, you are using a commercial planner, with several spots, only
needing to re-record the audio).
You can also copy the file to a different folder (alias). Select a different alias from the
list and press save. PC-Radio now opens the following window.
Delete
If you want to remove an item from your music Database, you’ll first have to confirm,
using the next window.
If you decide to keep the audio file, you can always remove it later, using the function
file management.
Search
The search function allows you to search a number of fields (Carrier ID, Title and
Artist) for a random text.
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Full word
Database Editor
If this option is checked, the search string must match the full word.
In the example above the text string ‘heartbeat’ will not match.
Identical capitals The result must match the capitalization used in the search string
…
exactly.
Direction
Searches are always done on the active sort order of a chosen
column. This function determines the direction in which the active
search is made. Options are Up or Down.
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Database Browser
4
Manual PC-Radio 5
DATABASE BROWSER
The Database Browser provides an overview of all the tracks that are available in the
system. In contrast to the Database Editor in which you can view and modify the entire
Database, the browser is intended for browsing the Database, possibly using various
criteria that you select.
You can open the Database Browser either via the menu: Database Æ Browser or with
the F11 key.
In the window above you can see the Editor link option. If this is checked, the Database
Editor will follow the Database Browser if you select a different record in the Browser.
You can use this option, for example, if you want to modify the hour-number for all
hits. Now you can set a filter in the browser for the Hit song type. You have the editor
running with the browser by checking Editor link and then modify the hour-number of
the hits step by step.
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Database Browser
The summary bar at the top shows you the number of records that are available and the
set filter.
The reset button resets a selected filter.
You can see the available tracks on the Track tab. You can change the order in which
they are displayed by clicking on the title of the required column. The title of the
column by witch the tracks are sorted is displayed in red letters.
The browser has a search function which you activate by typing in the title, artist etc.
that you are searching for (depending on the selected sort order). As soon as you type a
letter, the browser leaps to the first item that starts with that letter.
TIP: PC-Radio allows you to export the tracks to an external program such as Word or
Excel. If you select Edit Æ Copy, the browser places the items on the Windows
clipboard. You can then paste them, for example into an Excel spreadsheet.
Another way of searching quickly is to use the right mouse button. If you right click in
the Database Browser, the following menu appears:
Editor
The selected item in the browser is opened in the Database Editor.
History
The selected item in the browser is opened in the history.
Refresh
The displayed tracks are read into the memory again from the hard
disk. Use this option if changes have been made to the Database.
Composition…
Tempo
You can use this to filter the tracks so that you only see the tracks
you want.
The tabs Selection and Search provide extensive selection and search functionality. As
soon as you make a selection or enter a search string, and revert back to the tab Track,
you will see the search results.
The Selection tab allows you to filter available tracks to narrow down choices (e.g. if
you tick mark hits in Selection, you will only see the hits displayed on the Track tab).
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Fields
Here you specify which fields in the Database you want to display
on the Track tab.
Available
The default selection is User and Available, and can only be
accessed by users who have database editor editing rights.
The main part of the screen displays the filter for the criteria. You can check the
required criteria: Above each criterion there are three buttons for quick selection:
Deselect all items in the column. If you don’t select any item, it
would mean that you don’t wish to view any tracks. That’s why the
browser ignores this, and selects all items.
In addition to the criteria, you can make a number of other selections for the records on
the More tab.
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Database Browser
Hour-number
Here you specify that the records must have a specific hour-number.
Period
This option allows you to indicate that you want to see tracks that
have been scheduled or played in a period to be specified.
Title containing
text
If you enter anything here, the title of the track must contain this
text. The title does not need to begin with the text and it can also be
part of a word.
Artist containing
text
If you enter anything here, the artist of the track must contain this
text. The name of the artist does not need to begin with the text and
it can also be part of a word.
Song text
containing text
If you enter anything here, the song text must contain the specified
word.
Texture
You can specify the texture of the required records here by checking
this option and then setting the green bar.
Mood
You can specify the mood of the required records here by checking
this option and then setting the green bar.
Display hournumber
Here you specify the display of hour-numbers. These are displayed
in weeks, days and hours or rounded where you only see the number
of weeks, days or hours.
Duplicate title
and artiest
This option filters out tracks, listed more then once in the database
containing the specified artist and title.
Only display year Allowing the year to be displayed in the highs ranking column.
in highest ranking
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Playlist
5
Manual PC-Radio 5
PLAYLIST
A playlist is a script for your radio station for playing tracks, commercials, jingles,
promos, and news, info and framework programs.
In most cases you use the Format Planner to create a playlist and the Commercial
Planner for the commercials to be added to it. These to program modules are described
in separate chapters.
In this chapter we will describe the playlist and explain how you can modify it yourself.
Below is an example of a playlist. A clear overview of today’s playlist is shown
instantly. The name Playlist will change to Active Playlist when you start the
automation on an On-Air PC.
The first column in the playlist indicates what type it is. In the example you see hard
disk audio and a news item. PC-Radio indicates items originating from a CD, MD or
similar devices with a CD logo.
The Start column indicates the time at which the item will play. This start time can vary
if you interrupt the program for live broadcasts.
You can sort the columns by Duration, Title and Artist.
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Playlist
This allows you to check, for example, the times an artist is listed, in your play list. You
can also check the longest record, played today.
You can undo changes in sorting by pressing Start, or by pressing the F9 key in the
active playlist. You cannot make any changes in a sorted play list.
PC-Radio has four modes for the play list items: floating, fill-out and fixed.
Floating
In most cases the items (music, commercials) simply follow one another. When one
track finishes, the next one starts and so on. These items are ‘floating’ and are indicated
in white letters in the Start and Duration columns of the play list.
A shadow format for a studio always consists of floating items. PC-Radio indicates
these items in the play list in light blue.
Fixed
You may want to give a number of items a fixed start time. The most familiar example
is the news on the hour. You give these items the characteristic ‘fixed’ and they are
indicated with red letters in the play list. PC-Radio guarantees that fixed items start at
the specified time which means that a previous item is interrupted. You can specify in
the general preferences that floating items that have to give way to a fixed item are
faded out.
Semi-fixed
Several years ago the news was still broadcast by a national radio station and so it had
to be scheduled right on time. Today, most radio stations use internet based news
provisioning. When the news is set to semi-fixed, the current track will play out
entirely, before playing the news item.
PC-Radio also takes fill-out blocks into account, by not aborting running tracks before a
fill-out block.
Fill-out
The fourth mode is ‘fill-out’ and you always see this before an item with a fixed start
time. Many radio stations broadcast a commercials block before the news. The length of
this block can vary so that it is not known in advance at what time this must start. PCRadio uses the length of each item and the start time of the next fixed item to calculate
the start time of the fill-out block. This block is then broadcast in full and is not
interrupted. The start time and duration of these items is shown in yellow letters in the
play list.
TIP: You can specify the color in which the title and artist are displayed in the play list
on the ‘Criteria’ tab in the Tools Æ Preferences menu.
If you double click on an item in the playlist, a window appears in which you can
modify the item.
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The characteristics of a playlist item are divided into several areas.
Item area:
Track
This is the most common type for an item; examples are the music
tracks, jingles and commercials. If you choose this type, select the
track in the browser.
News
The news always comes from a news detector. If you supply the
news from the hard disk of, for example, a minidisk, it is a track for
PC-Radio and not news. The news always has a fixed start time and
always starts on the hour, half hour or quarter hour.
By checking Tune, you can specify a track that plays ‘under’ the
news during broadcast.
Studio
Users that broadcast live programs but do not use the Live Assist
module can program a studio if a studio module is connected to the
system. This is programmed for a specific time and the automation
itself does nothing.
External audio
device
Displays an overview of the installed external devices. These can be
connected to the Audio Control Matrix, a sound card, an internet
stream or a supported ASIO board. They can be used to broadcast a
window-program. It is also possible to broadcast programs that have
been put on CD-R or MD by a DJ.
Depending on the item type, you can fill out the other fields.
You cannot specify the start time for a floating item as it depends on the previous item.
You can only specify the length for a studio or external audio device.
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Playlist
Shadow format
A shadow format is normally created by the Format Planner if you have specified that
you want a studio with shadow format, in a day format. The Format Planner then places
a studio in the play list and schedules records for the duration of the studio which are
marked as shadow format.
These records (the shadow format) are not generally played. If the studio broadcast does
not take place (because the DJ is absent) or is interrupted early, PC-Radio takes over the
broadcast and plays the shadow format tracks.
A handy feature of the playback of a shadow format is that PC-Radio follows the format
for the duration of the studio. You will see that the first item in the shadow format has
the same start time as the studio. If the studio is interrupted after a certain time, PCRadio starts with the track that is scheduled for that time (and therefore not the first
item after the studio in the play list).
Source
The items that the Format Planner, or you, place in the play list all have ‘PC-Radio’ as
the origin. The Commercial Planner marks the added items. If the scheduling of the
commercials changes and the play list has to be amended, this origin can be used to
detect which items have to be removed from the play list first, before the new
commercials can replace them.
If you click on the play list’s taskbar, the following menu will appear:
Plan analysis
This option only appears with user level 4. When you activate this
option, 3 extra columns are displayed for plan analysis. For further
explanation we refer to the chapter Format planner
Origin
This option displays the Origin column
Intro
Brings up the Intro column, which can be useful when recording
your voice tracks.
If you right click in the playlist, the following menu appears.
Most of the options in the menu are self-evident, but some need further explanation:
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Hour format
This option only appears when you make the plan analysis visible.
Using this option, you can jump directly to the item, planned by the
hour format.
Alternatives
This option only appears when you make the plan analysis visible.
A filter will be set in the Database browser, which matches the
criteria in the hour format item of this track. This means you can see
the alternatives of this track.
Update times …
If the transitions between two records are changed, with or without
a voice track in between (with the Mix Editor), the times are
amended for those records. PC-Radio saves these mix times in the
play list.
… from the
Database
This is used to restore the mix times to the default values as
applicable in the Database. Your action with the Mix Editor is
undone.
… to the
Database
This is used to execute the change in the mix in the corresponding
records in the Database. You should bear in mind that a mix that
sounds great between two specific records could be less successful
with other records. Therefore use this function with care.
Levels
If the times that you enter in the Database Editor are not completely
correct, you can use this function to do something about it. A play
list that you (or the Format Planner) create with an incomplete
Database does not give smooth transitions when you start
broadcasting.
With this function PC-Radio searches for the –20 dB point in the
hard disk audio files of the selected tracks and uses this time to start
the next track each time.
You can then use the previous function to modify the times in the
Database.
File duration
The length of an audio file normally matches the values in the
Database. However, this is usually no longer the case if you record
an item again outside PC-Radio (for example with MPEG Edit Pro)
or if it is a news item which is recorded automatically.
This function checks the actual length of the item and modifies the
Database if necessary.
Check
PC-Radio checks the play list. The check includes looking to see
whether the tracks in the play list are actually present.
This function allows you to add the selected items as a recording
task for the Time Shifter.
Time shifter, Add
5.1
Special functions
HTML export
If your system has the HTML export module, you can export a play list to this format.
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Playlist
You can export a HTML formatted play list by pressing File Æ HTML export. This
procedure is described in this chapter.
Print
Exporting to HTML requires extra operations such as defining a layout. You can use the
print option to print a play list on a printer according to the layout you see on the screen.
If you click on File, Print, you see a window with a print preview.
If necessary, you can use Setup to select a different printer from the one that is set as the
default printer.
You can select several items in the play list and only print the selection.
Copy via clipboard
The third option for exporting a play list is with the Windows clipboard. If you select
several items in the play list, the selection is copied. Otherwise the entire play list is
copied.
Select Edit, Copy to copy the play list items to the Windows clipboard. Now you can
paste the items into applications such as Word or Excel.
Dragging Items
You can move or add one or more grouped items by dragging them. If the items are
dragged within the playlist, they’ll be moved. Dragging them to a different playlist adds
them. Past items from an active playlist can only be copied. An active playlist only
allows dragging to a later time.
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Items can be added to the playlist from a number of PC-Radio windows. You can, for
example, drag an item from the database browser to the playlist.
You can also drag audio files from the Windows explorer to the playlist.
When the audio file isn’t listed in the music database, a copy is added here. The audio
file does however need to be located in one of the audio folders; otherwise it would be
better just to drag the file to the PC-Radio desktop, automatically opening the import
window. This allows you to easily copy the file to any of your audio folders.
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6
Format planning
FORMAT PLANNING
In this chapter we will first look at the background to format planning and then give a
summary of the options in the various planner levels. Then we will tell you how the
hour and day formats are put together and what role (un)breakable rules and the
planning analysis play. Finally in this chapter we shall look at the actual planning of a
play list.
6.1
Background to format planning
It is clear that the success of a radio station is largely determined by the program
format. It represents the face of the broadcaster. Only factors such as transmission range
and sound are of comparable importance.
By a format we mean the overall programming, including promos, jingles,
advertisements and programs.
The first task when determining a format is to set boundaries. These boundaries are
absolute. By this we mean how far we go in broadcasting extremes. If several people
work on a format, this is certainly worth a meeting. Then set the specific boundaries
with examples. This covers the following elements:
• Who are our listeners? What age group (not yet divided into times). Determine this
for the average person: the one 70-year old who loves House music, unfortunately
for him, does not count.
• Which records will we definitely never play? house, hard rock, whether we will
play tear-jerkers or not
• Which expletives will or will not be permitted?
• How long may an info calendar be? Maximum 3 minutes or 15 minutes, for
example?
• Will we break up an interview into several sections and how long may the sections
be?
Such concerns determine the face of the radio.
We then divide the week into units. We assume that there are no programs yet so that
we are not yet hindered at this stage by matters such as presenters who have to change
times, or transitions between different parts of the programming.
In order keep a clear view, we do not break down into units of less than an hour.
We start at midnight on Monday and ask ourselves who our listeners might be at that
time. Arguments such as ‘the working man/woman on shift work’ will play a role here.
The bored TV viewer also counts.
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As an example we will take a commercial broadcaster with a small transmission range
and hence striving for the maximum number of listeners. We can say that the majority
of young people and students will not be listening at this time. There will therefore be
very few listeners in the 15-20 age group. There will also be very few listeners in the
over 65 age group, who are no longer working. Therefore we consider the 21 to 65 age
group to be the main group. The question now is in what ratio we spread the attention
over this group. If we break the group down further, the following may be an
approximate ratio. In the table we take account of the fact that people listen to the radio
less as they get older.
Monday 00.00 –06.00
age 15 - 20
1% of the potential listening audience
age 21 -30
40 % of the potential listening audience
age 31 -40
age 41 -55
age 55 -65
If we assume that we want to reach the largest possible audience, a format as above
seems to be the solution, but if we target 5% of the music to the 55-65 age group, many
25-year olds will turn the dial. On the other hand, if we allow the Top 50, which is
suitable for 21-30 year olds, make up 40% of the format, the 60-year olds will probably
switch off. There are two solutions. The simplest is to ignore one of the target groups
(the oldest) and the second is to look for music that appeals to the broadest possible
target group.
This mainly means the well-known golden oldies that also still appeal to the younger
target group. They are considerably more critical than the older target groups. Music by
the Supremes, the Beatles, in short the “Tour of Duty oldies”, is probably suitable, but
the average 25-year old has absolutely no affinity with Vera Lynn! Furthermore, there is
also modern music that has a broad appeal such as “Love is All Around” by Wet Wet
Wet.
We can assume that our target group during the night will not change substantially. Our
listening audience changes around 6.00 am.
If we again analyze the potential group of listeners for the next hour, we get the
following result. The composition of the audience could look like this. However, do not
forget to use your own experience to make a success of your format.
Monday 06.00 –07.00
age 15 - 20
age 21 -30
age 31 -40
age 41 -55
age 55 -65
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Monday 07.00 –08.00
age 15 - 20
age 21 -30
age 31 -40
age 41 -55
age 55 -65
Monday 08.00 –09.00
age 15 - 20
age 21 -30
age 31 -40
age 41 -55
age 55 -65
It is very important to restrict the extremes at the above times. The irritation threshold is
considerably lower than at 4.00 am. If an unknown oldie is played three times an hour
during the night which is within the required target group, people do not turn to a
different station straight away. The risk is greater during the morning hours. After all,
the competition is also greater now!
The conclusions we can draw so far for our music file is that a distinction must be made
between well-known, less well-known and unknown records that we want to play on the
radio. The extremes must be removed from the file or coded such that they can be
identified as unplayable.
The music must be divided into target groups and some of the tracks can be marked as
suitable for several target groups.
Of course, the tempo of a track is also very important. A slow record will not bother
many people. An excessively slow format quickly becomes dreary at work. Many
advertisers target the working population (including housewives) and the associated up
tempo music.
The tempo criterion has a second function. An excessively extreme change of tempo is
undesirable. In particular, a shift from up tempo to a (very) slow intro has a paralyzing
effect. You get in the mood with a number of smooth tracks and then the atmosphere
changes. People switch off quickly from such stations. In the late morning, from 9.00
am to 11.00 am this is not so important because people generally tend to listen less
intensively at these times.
6.2
Level structure
This chapter describes all the facilities of the Format Planner. First check which level of
the Format Planner you have so that you know whether you can use the facilities
described.
The Format Planner is available in 2 different levels. The higher the level, the more
functions you have.
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Level 3
Level 4
Hour-number
9
9
Repetition of artist and title
9
9
Tempo transition
9
9
Part of day and year
9
9
Exclude artist
9
9
Definable scheduling rules
9
9
Texture and mood
9
Part of the week
9
Multiple selection of criteria
9
Chart position
9
Language separation
9
Group separation
9
Graphical presentation of criteria
9
Schedule analysis
9
The beginning for a decent format planning starts with the hour formats. Here you
specify the selection criteria that the chosen track must meet for each item. The hour
format is described later in this chapter.
The above scheduling rules allow the selection to be refined. The relevant criteria are
set in the Database Editor and the scheduling rules are selected in the Preferences menu
(Format Planner tab).
Hour-number
The hour-number is used to make a distinction between tracks that you want to hear
more or less frequently. The hour-number specifies the number of hours after which a
track may appear again in a play list that is planned with the Format Planner. Note that
we say here ‘may appear again’. Depending on the number of tracks with the same
criteria, it may ultimately take much longer for the track to recur in a play list.
Records that can be played more frequently are given a lower hour-number, tracks that
must be played less frequently are given a higher hour-number.
If you have few tracks available and give them a high hour-number, a conflict occurs.
After a while, the Format Planner will have no more records to plan. Suppose you have
2,250 tracks with an average length of 4 minutes. The total duration is 2,250 x 4 = 9,000
minutes. 9,000 / 60 = 150 hours. The average hour-number must therefore be lower than
150.
Repetition of artist and title
In general, you do not want one artist to be planned in short succession in a play list –
or worse, on two consecutive tracks! In the preferences you specify the length of time
after which the Format Planner may plan a record with the same title or artist again.
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It seems as if there could be a conflict with the hour-number here, for example for hits
and tips. These records usually have a lower hour-number than the repetition time for
title and artist. The Format Planner takes this into account, however, if the hour-number
is lower then the repetition time it will take the title and artist as the yardstick.
Tempo transition
In the hour format you can specify the tempo of the record to be chosen. However, this
does not guarantee a fluent transition between the records. The intro and outro tempo
can be very different from the general tempo of the record as a whole. You can specify
which transitions from outro tempo to intro tempo are permitted in the preferences.
The average listener experiences a transition from fast to very slow as silence on the
radio; you should therefore specify that this transition must not occur.
Part of day and year
Not every record is suitable for playing on the radio at any time of the day or
throughout the year.
Typical summer- and Christmas records may only be schedule in a period you specify.
You can set this period precisely from date to date.
Certain records are unsuitable for playing on the radio during the day or during the
night. You can specify for each hour of the day whether the Format Planner can choose
that record in that hour.
Format Planner level 3 uses the planning for Monday for the hours. See also Part of the
week.
Exclude artist
Earlier you’ve read how to prevent an artist recurring too quickly in a play list. In many
bands, one or more of the artists turn to solo careers in the course of time. In these cases
it is also undesirable for a record by an artist to be played soon after a record by the
band that he or she was a member of. You can specify up to four artists in the Database
that you want to exclude from the scheduling.
Definable scheduling rules
The scheduling rules described here (hour-number, repetition of title etc.) are not very
important for all broadcasters. You can specify whether the Format Planner should take
account of them and to what extent. There are three categories:
Unbreakable rule The scheduling rule must always be respected.
Breakable rule
The scheduling rule must be respected if possible.
Unused rule
The scheduling rule is not used by the Format Planner.
You can specify the importance of each scheduling rule in the preferences. The most
important ones should be made unbreakable. You can make mood an unused rule if the
criteria for moos and texture (level 4) have not been entered yet throughout the
Database. At level 2, the hour format is a breakable rule and the others are unbreakable.
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Texture and mood (level 4)
Texture indicates how the record is produced while Mood indicates the atmosphere.
These two criteria are more difficult to determine than, for instance, the language or the
tempo but make a subtle refinement of the format possible.
For example, the Format Planner ensures that over-produced records are not played one
after another and that melancholy does not arise because a series of depressing tracks
are scheduled.
Part of the week (level 4)
Earlier you’ve read about creating a part of a day and year. After a while, the division
into parts of the day for some records turns out to be insufficient, especially if your
target group of listeners changes during the week. By combining parts of the day and
week, for example, it is possible to specify that records can only be planned in the
evenings or at any time during the weekend.
Multiple selections of criteria (level 4)
In the hour formats you can specify several criteria that the track to be scheduled must
meet. For example, you can opt for a record that meets the criterion ‘golden oldie’ or
‘oldie’ but is also a ‘hit’ or if that is not available a ‘tip’.
The alternatives ensure that the scheduling matches your wishes as closely as possible.
At level 2, the hour format is a breakable rule. If there are insufficient tracks available,
it may happen that an ‘oldie’ is scheduled instead of a ‘hit’ when a criterion is waived.
This is not a problem if you use alternatives.
Chart position (level 4)
This is used to specify that the track to be selected should have had a certain chart
position in a given period. This period may be set, with a start and end date, or relative
in relation to the scheduling time.
Language separation (level 4)
Many radio stations do not want to schedule several tracks in the same language after
each other (e.g. French or Italian songs). In the settings tab you may specify per
language how much time must be between consecutively planned tracks.
Group separation (level 4)
Much like having multiple files of the same language played in order, it may not be
desired to play duets or solo singers after another. In the settings tab you may specify
the time between which the Format Planner must take into account when planning
tracks.
Graphical presentation of criteria (level 4)
A graphical presentation of the number of available tracks might become increasingly
more useful, the more complex the formats become, and the more criteria like texture
and mood are used.
Schedule analysis (level 4)
In addition to the play list, the Format Planner creates a full analysis of the schedule.
For each scheduled play list item you see the criteria the item must fulfill, the number of
available tracks and the number of alternative available tracks. This schedule analysis
allows you to resolve bottlenecks in the hour formats. As the schedule analysis is
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created as a text file and opened in a spreadsheet program such as Excel, it is also very
easy to process it for other purposes.
6.3
(Un)breakable rules
The more available records, the easier it is for the Format Planner to put together a good
schedule. However, you will gradually improve the hour formats in particular and refine
the criteria specified in them. At some point it may happen that, for whatever reason, a
certain criterion cannot be met. If you were to schedule manually, you would then
waive one of the requirements and still select a suitable record.
In Format Planner level 2, the breakable and unbreakable rules are fixed. All the
scheduling rules that were listed earlier in this chapter (and active at level 2) are
unbreakable apart from the hour format.
This means, for example, that the hour-number is always maintained irrespective of the
number of tracks. In a starting radio station with a limited number of tracks, more value
will be attached to the hour format than the hour-number. Because few tracks are
available, they recur earlier; nothing can be done about it.
From Format Planner level 3 you are able to determine which scheduling rules are
breakable yourself. Instead of setting the hour-numbers to a lower value (and then
increasing them again later), you can make the hour-number a breakable rule. If the
Format Planner does not find any suitable tracks, the hour-number scheduling rule is
waived and a suitable track is sought again that matches the hour format.
If the Format Planner has been unable to find five successive items (because you have
set impossible requirements, for example a Japanese Mardi Gras record with a target
group of 56-99 and a very slow tempo), the schedule analysis is stopped and the user is
given the opportunity to view the schedule analysis (level 4). If present, this file is
opened in Excel (see later in this chapter).
An unbreakable rule is a scheduling rule that must always be followed. Every record
chosen must comply with the set unbreakable rules.
A breakable rule is a scheduling rule that should be considered as a preferred rule. As
soon as there are no more records available for the Format Planner, it waives the last
breakable rule and then searches again.
Finally you can make a scheduling rule an unused rule if you consider the rule in
question to be completely insignificant or, for example, you have not filled in the field
in question in the Database.
Only set scheduling rules that absolutely must not be ignored as unbreakable rules.
Under breakable rules set the scheduling rules that you consider important but that can
be ignored if necessary. You can specify the priority yourself here, the most important
rule is put at the top and the least important at the bottom.
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It is obvious what happens with the scheduling rules if you make them unbreakable or
not. There is a separate situation for the hour format because it can never be an unused
rule – what tracks would the Format Planner then select?
If you make the hour format a breakable rule, the Format Planner will use the
alternatives you have specified in the hour format if there is a lack of suitable tracks. If
it is ultimately not possible to find a suitable track (even by waiving scheduling rules
that have been set as unbreakable), the Format Planner skips the hour format item and
continues with the next one.
6.4
Format planning overview
Start the Format planner (Tools Æ Format planner).
A browser will appear to the left of your screen, in which you can scroll through
different items.
Here is a brief description.
Hour format: You can create an hour format each hour or day,
where you can specify which type of music and jingles need to be
played.
Day format: You can create a day format for each day (of the
week) where you can set the hour formats to be used from hour to
hour (or different timeframes).
Info: Here you will find the charts of all available tracks, sorted by
specified criteria (level 4).
Planning: After setting the hour- and day formats, you can
generate the play lists for the next days.
Settings: Besides hour- and day formats there are several settings
that will change the behavior of the planner.
The settings option is positioned last in the browser, because it’s
the least used option. The first time you use the format planner,
however, you do need this.
6.5
Preferences
At your every day’s use of the Format planner, you don’t need to use the Settings. This
is why they are positioned at the bottom of the screen. Starting to use PC-Radio the first
time, however, you will need to use this. The settings are divided in different levels. At
level 3 you can use the common settings and the ones available to level 3. At level 4
you can also use the settings shown below.
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Repeat title
This setting determines the length of time after which a record with
the same title may be chosen (hours, minutes).
Repeat artist
The database editor allows you to set the amount of time until an
artist is allowed to be used again. The standard value, defined when
a new artist is added is used here.
Extra time
The Format Planner schedules at least 60 minutes of music per
hour. With this setting you can have a number of minutes of extra
music scheduled in. This prevents older systems, using CD players
that frequently skip, or totally blank out, from having a period of
silence in the broadcast. PC-Radio users, who actively use Live
assist, generally shorten the records quite substantially. This option
would prevent a gap to appear by the end of the hour (minutes,
seconds).
We do advise our customers not to plan extra time. It’s better for
DJ’s who cut records off to add items to the play list themselves.
Plan
Automatically at
23:45
Some radio stations delay their planning until the last moment,
because for example, new tracks are added the same night. It could
also occur that people have forgotten to make a planning.
This function allows the Format planner to generate a play list for
the next day, if there isn’t one before 23:45. You can only set this
function on one pc in the network.
The Formatplanner is used for the dayformat, and is (at least
partially) named after the day of the week.
Allow tempo
transitions
When scheduling the records, the Format Planner takes account of
the transition between the outro tempo of the old record and the
intro tempo of the new record. Check the permitted transitions here.
The example shows a setting where you avoid a transition from
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slow to fast and vice versa.
Fill this in row to column.
You usually set Repeat title and Repeat artist to several hours to, amongst others;
prevent several tracks of one artist being played within one hour. Hits usually have a
low Repeat value. These can be played every hour. This can be a conflict, using the
above settings. The Format planner resolves this by ignoring records that have a Repeat
value of the last 2 settings.
Plan rules
Level 4
Repeat value
language
Repeat value
group type
Drag and drop the different lines to one of the three rules. The
options for setting the plan rules depend on the level specified in the
Format planner.
You can set the time for each language to be allowed to be played
for a specified amount of time
Most radio stations prefer not to allow records, in languages other
then English, to be played subsequently.
Likewise you may specify the repeat value of the group type.
This function allows you to effectively prevent 3 duets being played
subsequently.
Allow alternatives This option works on Format planner level 4. If there is a shortage
of records that match the criteria, the Format planner will use the
alternatives you have selected in the Hour format.
Dalet Export
Allows schedules to be exported to a Dalet supported format.
6.6
Hour format
Over the last few pages we have described the various facilities in the Format Planner
levels 3 and 4. Here we will look at the operation of the various functions and
scheduling rules in more detail. First we will look at the hour format.
The station manager or a broadcaster specifies how the music is selected during the day.
To do this, he determines a format. The choice of music can vary from hour to hour (or
even shorter) but can also remain the same for longer periods, during the night for
example.
The day is therefore broken down into a number of units. We create an hour format for
each unit (usually an hour) and specify the criteria for the first record, the second
record, the third etc.
We have a number of criteria available for each record (and also jingle or info item)
with which we can select from a specific category.
You can divide 5 criteria according to your own requirements in the preferences.
Broadcast Partners has created a structure in consultation with existing users, which we
advise you to use.
Song type
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Extra
Extra criteria pop, dance, rock, etc.
Target group
5 age categories
Extra 4
Unused criteria (freely definable)
Extra 5
Unused criteria (freely definable)
You can use these five criteria together with language, tempo and chart position to
select the required track.
The check boxes have three options:
The track must fulfill this criterion
Alternative
The track must not fulfill this criterion
The green marks show the criteria that the record to be select must fulfill. You can put
them in various places in the next example window but also in one column. The Format
Planner then selects only the tracks in the Database that meet the checked criteria. More
checks in one column specify an OR-function; checks in multiple columns specify an
AND-function. In this next example we’ll show you precisely how this is done.
Sometimes you know in advance that the number of usable tracks is limited. Use the
yellow dot to indicate that alternatives are possible.
Finally you can use the red cross to indicate that tracks in the Database that meet this
criterion should be excluded.
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Example:
You select both Current and Recurrent from the Songtype column. You mark the
Medium option from the Tempo column with a red cross.
This means the Format Planner has to choose a Current or Recurrent track, but not a
medium Tempo. Columns left unmarked are ignored by the program.
In the screen you can see that it is also possible to select a chart position that you
specify precisely with a start and end date or with a date that is related to the date the
Format Planner generates the play list.
In the first five columns you may choose multiple criteria. Tick marking one or more of
these criteria narrows the selection. For example, at song type you could specify that the
track should meet the criteria ‘Pop’ (green) but not ‘Love Song’ (Cross).
From the last two columns, you can only select one criterion per column. A track is
either sung in an Italian language or French, but never both. In the Hour format it is
therefore not useful (but nevertheless allowed) to specify these criteria using the three
options in the columns Language and Tempo.
You could choose a fixed item instead of entering selection criteria. This can be useful
when scheduling news or traffic information at the beginning of an hour. Drag the
required item to the Fixed Item frame. When this is set, all criteria are ignored. The
Format Planner will use the item’s actual length, if you don’t specify the Duration. If
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you are scheduling a news item, consider entering a minimum duration to prevent a gap
of silence due to a lack of scheduled tracks.
The External audio option can be used to enter an external source (Window program).
The time entered at the Duration is the time the external source will be playing.
Format Planner level 3 only allow you to check one criterion in each column. Selection
by chart position is active from Format Planner level 4.
Using the browser to the left of the screen, you can scroll easily through the Hour
format.
The column Item displays the number of the item in Hour format. If
you select a random item, its settings will display on the right side
of the screen.
The column Amount displays how many tracks are available,
according to your criteria. A couple of shades of red show if few or
even very little tracks are available. The total amount will be
calculated by clicking on the word Amount.
As soon as you change the criteria, the number will change into a
question mark. By clicking this mark, the new amount will be
calculated.
The hour format created here consists of 12 items which is normally sufficient for one
hour of music and jingles.
You determine the length of the hour format yourself. An hour format with five items or
just one is permissible.
The Format Planner will restart planning with the first item from the hour format if the
number of items is too few to fill the hour. For example, you have an hour format
containing 5 items. You use this format to schedule one hour of music. Once the fifth
item in the format has been used, the Format Planner has only scheduled approximately
20 minutes - not enough to fill an hour. The Format Planner then selects the sixth track
for the hour according to the criteria of the first item in the hour format and so on.
You can make the hour format longer than the number of records you expect in an hour.
This has no consequences. If only 18 tracks are necessary to fill an hour in the format
above, the Format Planner stops there. The 19th item therefore is not used (no
redundant tracks are scheduled).
Earlier in this chapter we have described the scheduling rules that the Format Planner
should keep to. It goes without saying that a ‘hit’ criterion only applies to a single track
that must play at a specific moment. With Format Planner level 4 you can use the
Texture and Mood criteria. It is not sensible to specify these for every track in the hour
format. This concerns setting a particular atmosphere during the hour for which you use
this format.
The slider bars at the top of the screen are used to specify the range in which the
average texture and mood of 3 successive tracks should lie.
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You can print an overview of the Hour format by clicking File Æ Print. Here’s an
example of an Hour format:
6.7
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In a day format you can specify what the day as a whole looks like with reference to the
hour formats and studios. The hour formats determine the choice of music by the
Format Planner during the course of the day, the studios (only if a studio module is
present) are used to indicate that a DJ will provide live broadcasts at certain times. In
principle, no music is scheduled during studio hours unless you explicitly indicate that a
shadow format is required.
If the programming is the same every day, one day format is sufficient. However, you
can also create a day format for every day of the week. Clearly a good naming structure
simplifies the use of the day formats if you create several.
Time
This is the time at which the selected format, studio or external
audio device, becomes active. The end time of the item matches the
start time of the next item or it is midnight, if this is the last item in
the day format.
Mode
With this option you specify whether the first item to be scheduled
here must be given a fixed or semi-fixed start time. The first item
after midnight always has a fixed start time.
Type
You can select from the types listed above.
• Under Format select the hour format that will become active
from the selected time.
• Under Studio a studio item is included in the play list. Use
this if a DJ will be presenting live during the hour.
• Under External audio device PC-Radio plays the audio from
the selected source on the ACD during the programmed
time.
Shadow format
If you have selected studio or external audio device, you are able to
have the Format Planner schedule a shadow format. This shadow
format plays if there is (unexpectedly) no live broadcast from the
studio or if the external source does not transmit any audio (failed
ISDN connection etc.).
Hour format
Here you specify which hour format the Format Planner must use
for choice of music.
Device
This option is accessible if you have selected an external audio
device. Here you can select the source on the ACD.
Using the buttons in the lower left side, you can add or delete items from the Day
format.
6.8
Info
Format planner level 4 provides you more information on the criteria given to the tracks
in the Database.
Calculating the different graphical analyses may take a few seconds. You’ll only see an
overview of the active tracks, because the planner can generate a playlist from these
tracks.
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Besides the column Amount in the Hour format, you can also check the Info window, to
see if you can generate a decent play list with your set criteria and Hour formats.
These graphs can be printed (File Æ Print).
6.9
Planning
Most radio stations will use this window very frequently. On the left, you’ll see a
calendar, displaying the next two months. Selecting a first and a last day will place
these days on the right side.
The Format planner will check all available Day formats for a Day format containing
the name of the weekday. In this case the Day format will be introduced to the plan list.
You can also select a different Day format in the plan list, if necessary
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When you press Start, the Format Planner begins to analyze the Database. Then the
specified dates are scheduled in order. You can see the progress in the status bar.
If a playlist does not meet your expectations, you can have it scheduled again. In this
case, the Format Planner displays a message, saying the play list already exists. If you
continue, the Format Planner will ask if the scheduling data should be changed.
During the scheduling process, each track in the Database is updated with the last date
and time at which the item was scheduled. You need to reset this information to the
past, so the selected day can be planned. If you fail to do this, the choice of records is
limited and you run the risk that an unusable play list will be created.
If you reset the plan data (e.g., to reschedule a specific day), it is advised to plan the
following days as well to ensure that rules such as hour number, repeat title or artist are
respected throughout the planning cycle.
When the scheduling process is complete, you can select a date in the scheduling box.
The selected day in the play list will be opened by clicking the icon ‘play list’ in the
taskbar.
6.10
Schedule analysis
The composition of hour formats, inputting of criteria in the Database and determining
(un)breakable rules is a process that requires a lot of time and attention. Once a play list
has been scheduled, you sometimes wonder how the Format Planner came up with a
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specific choice of records. Were there too few tracks with the ‘recurrent’ criterion, or
are there no up tempo French tracks?
Format Planner 4 generates an analysis for each scheduled play list which answers these
questions for you. The schedule analysis is saved in the play lists folder. You can open
them by right clicking on the required date on the calendar in the planning window.
Amount
Number of tracks matching the criteria in the Day format
Alter
Number of tracks matching the criteria in the Day format, also
including the alternatives.
Index
Item number in the Hour format.
Right clicking an item in the play list will show the option to jump directly to the right
item in the Hour format, so it can be altered, if required.
Comparing the amounts in the play list to the Hour format will usually show a lower
amount in the play list. This is because with planning, artist repeating, week- and year
certification and so on are also considered. Calculating the track amount in the Day
format only takes account of the set criteria.
Another schedule analysis can be opened by selecting Tools Æ Formatplanner analysis.
This tool can for instance, trace a selected item in the database browser or playlist.
An overview of the days and hours the track was scheduled is provided. The default
setting for the filter is two weeks, but can be easily be adjusted or turned off.
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Format planning
Double clicking a number, opens that day’s playlist for further inspection.
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7
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COMMERCIAL PLANNER
Start the Commercial planner (via Tools Æ Commercial planner).
A browser is shown on the left side of the screen in which you can use to jump to
different options.
Here’s a brief description
Customer: as soon as you receive an order for an
advertisement, you can set the customer’s data here.
Campaign: You can set the campaign’s data (Don’t enter this
at customer because you can have multiple campaigns per
customer).
Planning: After setting the hour- and Day formats, you can
generate the campaign for the next days.
Day overview: Planned campaigns will show in the Day
format.
Settings: Besides Hour- and Day formats there are several
settings that will change the behavior of the Planner.
The settings option is positioned last in the browser, because
it’s the least used option. The first time you use the format
planner, however, you do need this.
7.1
Preferences
The preferences option is positioned last in the browser, because it’s the least used
option. The first time you use the format planner, however, you do need this. The
settings are sub-categorized into different groups.
7.1.1
Common
In the group common, you’ll find the next settings:
Maximum number This number states the maximum number of items that can be
of items per hour planned in one hour For example: if there are 3 commercial-blocks
in one hour, the total number of commercials broadcasted in these 3
blocks cannot be more than this maximum
Allow vocal
conflict in one
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Usually the planner will not place more than one commercial,
spoken by the same person in a single block.
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Commercial planner
block
If this option is selected, the planner will allow a maximum of 2
commercials spoken by the same person in a block.
Allow Sector
conflict.
The planner will not place more than one commercial, of a single
specialty in one block, unless this option is selected. If so, a
maximum of 2 commercials of the same specialty is allowed in one
block.
Dalet export
Using this option, you can export your planning in Dalet format.
RCS Traffic
export
Using this option, you can export your planning in RCS Traffic
format. You can use this option if you have a Master Control
automation system.
Traffic 2000
export
Using this option, you can export your planning in a format that is
compatible with Traffic 2000.
Extend external
item’s duration
Editing systems use slave stations that use external audio. These in
turn take over the main station. This option allows externally
provided audio items to be stretched, to be able to broadcast the
commercials on the main station slightly later then scheduled.
Changes in the settings will only apply the next time you plan a (or more) campaigns.
In other words: If the maximum number of commercials per block was set to 15 and you
change this to 12, there is a possibility of commercial blocks having 13, 14 or 15
commercials.
This restriction will only apply, the next time you schedule a new campaign.
Only if all the available campaigns are rescheduled, the new restrictions will be applied
in the day overview.
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You can be very creative, using these settings.
For example: You’d like to fill out your blocks, as evenly as possible. To do so, you
lower the maximum items per block. (3 blocks per hour, a maximum of 3 per block).
The more campaigns are added, the harder it will get to make a thoroughgoing schedule.
You increase the maximum items per block, and set the maximum amount per hour
sharper (4 per block, 10 per hour). After this rise, the amount of commercials per hour
will remain reasonably constant.
For example: In a busy period you can’t schedule all campaigns, due to sector conflicts.
First you plan the campaigns that cannot be broadcasted in the same block. Then you set
the branch conflict option to allow, and plan the campaign. Next you turn the option
back off.
Dalet export
De Dalet export places the export files to the directory Export in the installation
directory of PC-Radio.
The export format is ASCII, every commercial or jingle is on one single line. The file is
named: DDMMYY.asc (for example 140405.asc).
The layout is:
Position
Meaning
1 .. 8
Time: HH:MM:SS
9
Space
10 .. 39
Title of the commercial (from the Database)
40 .. 69
Artist of the commercial (from the Database)
70
Space
71 .. 78
Filename of the commercial without the extension
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Space
80 + 81
Length of the item in seconds (rounded off)
RCS Traffic export
De RCS Traffic export places the export files to the directory Export in the installation
directory of PC-Radio.
The export format is ASCII, every commercial or jingle is on one single line. The file is
named: DDMMYYS2.log (for example 140405S2.log).
The layout is
Position
Meaning
1
C = commercial indicator
2.. 8
Time: HHMM:SS
9 .. 12
13 .. 36
Artist and title of the commercial (from the Database)
37.. 39
0000 = not used
40 .. 43
Length of the item in seconds (rounded off)
44 + 45
CM = commercial
46 .. 67
Space = not used
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Traffic 2000 export
The Traffic 2000 export saves the export files to the folder you’ve specified at Traffic
2000 export.
The file is exported in ASCII format, placing each commercial or jingle on a single line
and named: DDMM.asc (for example 1402.asc).
The layout is
Meaning
Position
1 .. 25
Title of the commercial (from the database)
27 ..58
Artist of the commercial
60 .. 108
120 + 121
Year
123 + 124
Month
126 + 127
Day
129 .. 136
Time: UU:MM:SS
7.1.2
Sector / Voice
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You can relate a customer in the Database to two sectors. Here is an overview of all
listed sectors. After all, it’s not desirable to place competitors in one commercial block.
Two speakers can be selected per campaign. These speakers can be added here.
7.1.3
Jingle
A commercial block can start off with a start jingle, between commercials you could
contingently use a ‘between jingle’ and at the end an ending jingle. The jingles you’d
like to use can be added here.
These jingles can only be planned if there are commercials in a block.
You could also use pre- and post jingles. These will enclose the commercial blocks, and
can be added to the play list, even if no commercials are planned.
Jingles can be added by dragging them from the database browser to this screen. The
Jingletype column shows what kind of jingle it is.
7.1.4
Block
De Commercial planner offers the possibility to define a maximum of 6 commercial
blocks per hour. You can define how you want to use these from hour to hour, and also
for every day of the week.
This brings you to the maximum of (6 x 24 x 7 =) 1008 blocks.
The standard week layout is a matrix, where you can set your blocks from day to day
(by clicking on the title of the day), but also for every hour (by clicking on the clock on
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the top side of the screen). You can also select multiple days or hours by pressing the
Shift-key.
These colors indicate if the block can be used.
Red
Block with a set starting point
Green
Gliding block
Blue
Filling block
After making a selection in the Week schedule you can see the specifications in the
block, positioned in the lower part of the screen.
The columns have the following meaning:
Mode
The options are:
Off:
this block will not be used. You can’t set the other
columns
Set:
This block has a set starting time
Green: This is a gliding block
Yellow: This block will spread
Time
Minutes, in the hour where the block will be planned. For example
12 means this block will be added every 12 minutes to the play list
If the Format planner starts with the news, set the first block’s time
to 1. The commercials will start right after the news, before the first
record of the hour.
The last block can be filling, by setting the mode to ‘fill-out’ and
the time to 60.
Min
Minimum length of the block in seconds. This only works in
Commercial planner Pro.
Max
Maximum length of the block in seconds. This only works in
Commercial planner Pro.
Max items
The maximum amount of commercials allowed within this block.
Pre jingle
This jingle is placed at the start of the block. The pre jingle will also
be scheduled if there aren’t any commercials in this block.
You can choose a set jingle from the list, but also you could use:
<None> No pre jingle will be scheduled
<Random> A jingle will be scheduled from the list, at random. The
options for the other jingle types are the identical.
Start jingle
This jingle will be played before the first commercial (and if
planned, after the pre jingle). The Start jingle will not be planned if
no commercials are planned.
Mid jingle
This jingle will play between commercials, provided there are 2 or
more commercials in the block.
End jingle
This jingle will play after the last commercial. The end jingle will
not play if there aren’t any commercials in the block.
Post jingle
The post jingle is always the last item on a block, and plays after a
contingent end jingle. The post jingle will always be added to the
play list, even if there aren’t any commercials in the block.
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A graphic example of the sequence of commercials and jingles is:
Pre
Start
Comm. Mid
Com
Mid
Com
jingle jingle
jingle
m
jingle
m
Manual PC-Radio 5
End
jingle
Post
jingle
Selecting multiple hours in a Week schedule, it is possible that one or more entries are
‘empty’. This displays that the settings for a couple of hours differentiate.
You have the liberty to set the start- and ending times for different blocks, though they
have to be accruing. If you only have a block at a quarter to, use block 5. Radio stations
playing the commercials only at the ending of the hours use block 6. This way you can
add extra blocks later, without making drastic changes to your settings.
Tip: if you want to broadcast the commercials every half hour, set the time to 29
(minutes). The block might be broadcasted slightly early, but not much later. The exact
time the commercial block starts, depends on the length of the tracks playing.
Eventually you can set a commercial block at a fixed time.
If you turn off the commercial blocks in these settings, after the previous scheduling,
you’ll most likely have to reschedule most of the campaigns. If you’ve selected
different jingles, you’ll also have to reschedule these. This will be discussed later in this
chapter.
The consequences of changes, made in the commercial blocks are as shown below.
Mode
Turning blocks off: usually all commercials have to be rescheduled.
There is a possibility of blocks not being active, but still present in
the commercials.
Turning blocks on: no user interference required. The next time you
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schedule your commercials, more blocks will be available.
Time
You have to make a new export file in the day overview, so that the
blocks can be placed in the play list using their new times.
Min. & Max.
If both values are equal, the commercials have to be rescheduled. If
the values are different, you only have to reschedule if the margin is
smaller (increased minimum, decreased maximum)
Jingles
You have to reschedule the jingles.
7.2
Customer
7.2.1
Generic information
You can set the customers information here. Most fields are self explanatory and don’t
need further explanation.
ID
Every customer receives his own ID. Adding a new customer to the planner will set the
ID number to the next available number. You can contingently set a different number.
After the customer is stored, the ID cannot be changed. This is because the campaigns
always refer to the client (the clients ID).
If you use any other accounting software, it might be a good idea to synchronize the
customers number with the ID used in PC-Radio.
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Sector
By setting the advertisers sector you can prevent competitors (or different adds from the
same advertiser) being scheduled in the same block.
Using ‘Search’ you can look for any data in all recorded client files.
7.2.2
Browser
The browser window gives a brief overview of all recorded customers.
The sorting can be adjusted by clicking the title bar of the desired column. By double
clicking a customer, you can see the client’s details.
A brief overview of all listed clients can be printed (File Æ Print).
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7.2.3
Commercial planner
Import
Radio chains (partially) working the same campaign can import each others client data.
The process of importing client data is described later in this chapter. Here you’ll find a
more in depth description on how to get started.
7.3
Campaign
7.3.1
Generic information
This window displays an example of a campaign. Pressing (…) at a client or an
advertising agency will show the corresponding data.
ID
Every campaign receives its own code. Adding a new campaign the planner adds the
next usable number. (1 more than the highest number available). You could also use
your own number. It’s impossible to change the ID after saving the campaign, because
manually or automatically scheduling a campaign; the ID is saved in the day overviews.
If you use any other accounting software, it might be a good idea to synchronize the
customers number with the ID used in PC-Radio.
Voice
You can enter a maximum of two names of persons speaking in a commercial.
Preferred position
Using preferred position you can set the preferred placement of the commercial in the
block. There is a certain amount of random ability involved.
None
The commercial can be placed anywhere in the block. The chance
of being placed as first or last is smaller.
First
The commercial will always be the first one played. A block can
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only contain one commercial preferring first.
Beginning
The commercial will always be placed at the beginning of the block.
It can be placed after the commercials preferring middle but never
after last.
Middle
The commercial will be placed in the middle of the block. It could
be the first or last one (but never before the first or the last).
End
The commercial will be placed on the end of the block. It could be
placed before the middle but never before the first.
Last
The commercial will always be placed as the last one in the block.
A block can only contain one commercial preferring last.
We advise you to use the position none for most campaigns, unless a customer
specifically asks for a preferred placement
Note that it is useful not to give preferred positions to most of the campaigns. The best
results are obtained by evenly dividing the preferences across the campaigns.
Campaigns requiring reminders should never be set to last, it’s better to use begin, or
middle. The planner will actively try to place a campaign containing a reminder at the
beginning of a block.
Placement
Here you can set the desired commercials during the period the campaign is running.
Random
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The spots will be (more or less) divided at random, during the whole
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period.
Note: This campaign will play 3 times January 1st between 9:00 and
10:00. The campaign will play 7 times for the first 2 days, 12 times on
January 4th.
Divided over
the period
The auto planner checks all the blocks that allow the campaign and
spreads the commercials evenly across these blocks.
For example, if there are 1000 possible blocks and 330 commercials
have to be planned; every third block must contain the campaign.
Due to sector, or voice conflicts, it may occur that blocks will be
skipped.
Note: The spots are evenly divided across the allowed blocks. The
amount of allowed blocks per day does differentiate
Divided per day The amount of commercials that you’ve specified is divided by the
number of available days. This number will be scheduled daily.
For example: If you want 120 spots in 10 days, the Commercial
planner schedules 12 spots every day.
For example: If you want to broadcast 100 spots in 12 days, the
commercial planner will schedule 8 or 9 spots per day. The auto
planner divides the spots on the available blocks in a day.
Note: The spot is broadcast the same amount every day the rest is
evenly divided on the rest of the day.
Fill empty
blocks
The planner looks for blocks containing the least commercials and
places the campaign there.
This method is used for budget or promotion campaigns (For instance
to promote the new summer schedule, the World Wildlife Foundation
or Amnesty International). Using this option you can create more
evenly sized blocks.
Start and End
You can set the start- and end dates of the campaign here. Here you can also set the first
and the last hour to plan the campaign.
If a campaign plays for a maximum of 7 days, you can also set the hours to plan the
commercials, in the week calendar. If the campaign runs longer than 7 days, you’ll have
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to adjust the start- and/or the end dates, provided the campaign doesn’t run from
midnight to midnight.
For instance, you are promoting a fair starting in the weekend and ending on Sunday
17:00. The last day you could specify that no commercials can be scheduled after 15:00
As soon as the commercials are scheduled, you can’t change the starting date.
Commercials
The first number specifies the amount of commercials you want to plan, during this
campaign. The (rounded off) number of commercials per day are displayed with the
second number. Both numbers can be changed. The other number will automatically
adjust, according to the amount of available days. Changing the beginning- or ending
date will automatically affect the number of commercials per day.
Note: If you plan a campaign in a certain amount of time and want 10 commercials per
day, after which you exclude a couple of days in your planner. Given the total amount
of spots and the available days, the mean amount of commercials per day is calculated.
It is quite possible to keep this at 10. The total amount is unchanged meaning the
average is slightly over 10 per day. If you do want exactly 10 commercials per day,
reset this at the planner so the new total can be calculated.
Scheduled
The amount of commercials of the campaign that are scheduled today included. The
software will calculate the first number according to the day overview. This might take
some time, if you don’t use the planner on a regular basis.
Available
The number of available blocks is calculated by the information in the period calendar
and the week planner. The available amount of days is calculated by the information on
the period calendar. If, for instance, you don’t want a campaign to run in the weekends,
de-select Saturday and Sunday in the period calendar.
Of course the amount of available blocks needs to be at least the size of the desired
amount of commercials.
Week scheduler
In the background, the allowed (as set in the preferences) blocks are visible. You can
specify if the campaign is allowed here. This can be set differently for each office day.
You can select this using the numbers 1 through 6 or using the right mouse button.
Short keys:
1 .. 6
Activate or deactivate block.
Period calendar
The period in which the campaign is running is visible. Using the button period you can
select all even or odd days and weeks or months.
Before the broadcast you can also select the name of the day and switching it on and off
using the space bar. You can manually select the week by clicking the week. Now you
can turn it on or off using the space bar.
Contingently you could specify if a campaign can or can’t be planned per day.
Browsing the Database, the number of commercials being planned until today is
calculated by verifying with the day overviews. If you haven’t used the Commercial
planner for over a week this might take a few seconds.
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After the campaign is scheduled, you can print an overview (File Æ Print) of this
campaign. This way you can check what day and hour the spots of this campaign will be
broadcast.
7.3.2
Spots
The second tab of the campaign displays the main spots and reminders. You can dragand-drop these from your Database browser. Press Del to delete an entry.
You can add a maximum of 10 main spots and reminders per campaign. These have to
be added from the top line down. Spots following an empty line will not be recognized
by the auto planner. The planner will rotate all these spots in the schedule.
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You have one main spot, and four different reminders? Then you have to repeat the
main spot 4 times, and add 4 different reminders.
Tom’s Groceries
Tom’s Groceries
Tom’s Groceries
Tom’s Groceries
Tournedos on Monday
Wednesday special on tea
Saturday 10% discount
Steak half price
You have 3 spots, and one has to be broadcasted more often? Fill that one in twice or
more.
The new Auris
Toyota Avensis
The new Auris
Toyota Rav4
The last scheduling report is visible in the lower part of the screen. In this example there
were 118 blocks containing campaigns of the same sectors.
If the sum of all conflicts is larger than the amount of available blocks, there will be a
couple of blocks with conflicts.
Note: Usually you don’t have to remove a campaign, even after it’s expired, because it
disables you to print an overview if this campaign. If you do need do erase a campaign,
with commercials already planned, this is the procedure:
Reset the number of commercials to 0. Reschedule the campaign. This will delete the
scheduled commercials from the day format. Now the planner knows that no more
commercials need to be scheduled. This way the commercials planned in the past will
remain in the day overview, even if the campaign is already running.
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7.3.3
Commercial planner
Browser
The third part of the campaigns is a browser, like the one provided to the customers.
This browser contains a number of options for filtering the data, comparable to the
operation of Excel.
You can print an overview of all campaigns.
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7.3.4
Manual PC-Radio 5
Import
Collecting the customer’s data can be obtained by using the import functions in the
Commercial planner.
Before getting started you should consider the next points.
The last pages suggest setting the customer’s ID corresponding to the client’s number in
your own administration. Order numbers are preferred as a campaign ID.
If you haven’t set up your administration yet, be advised to select a unique ID for each
customer (regardless of what radio stations he advertises). Importing a campaign, the
client’s ID will be automatically imported. Without unique IDs, the campaigns refer to
the wrong customer.
Here’s an example of what might happen:
ID
2
4
Station 1
Customer
Butcher
VW garage
ID
20
21
Campaign
Steak – Butcher
Touran - VW garage
ID
4
5
Station 2
Customer
Baker
VW garage
ID
21
Campaign
Pie- Baker
The ‘Touran’ campaign is only supposed to play on the first station, but now it also
plays on the second. The campaign ID at station 1 is 4, VW garage. You import the
‘Touran’ campaign into station 2.
After this import, station 2 refers to the customer ‘Baker’ because this customer also has
an ID 4. Campaign 21 is already in use on station 2, so ‘Touran’ receives the next open
number.
Station 1 starts its ‘Baker’ campaign. ID 4 is already in use. This client’s data can be
imported from station 2, but with ID 4 already in use; ‘Baker’ will receive a new ID.
The situation in our last example is quite confusing, and will be even more if you have
more customers and campaigns. An example of a good layout:
ID
2
5
Station 1
Customer
Butcher
VW garage
ID
20
21
Campaign
Steak – Butcher
Touran - VW garage
ID
4
5
Station 2
Customer
Baker
VW garage
ID
22
Campaign
Pie - Baker
After importing these customers or campaigns, the IDs will be identical at both stations.
7.3.5
IP campaign
Customers who (partially) get their campaigns by IP can easily link this to PC-Radio.
Drag a .plf file to PC-Radio or open it via the File Æ Open Æ IP campaign menu.
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IP defines the days and hours a campaign has to play on the radio. This means a number
of options are unavailable. Instead, a list showing the dates and times is provided.
The campaign is still scheduled in the regular way. This means the day overview
doesn’t instantly show the IP campaign.
7.4
Planning
Scheduling a campaign
All running campaigns are shown here. The order is set by their expiration date. The
first campaign to end is on top of the list. You can alter this order, using the buttons in
the lower left corner. Filling campaigns are listed on the bottom and are marked blue.
Their priority can be changed, but can never be higher then the regular campaigns. The
Amount column shows the number of commercials that still need to be scheduled. The
Schedule column is marked as long as this number exceeds 0. A red square means there
isn’t a spot so the campaign can’t be scheduled
The next column can be of great importance. The campaign listed on the top is
scheduled first, the bottom one last. Keep in mind that the scheduler plans the IP
campaigns first, then the regular, and finally the filling campaigns.
We advise you to schedule the restricted campaigns (the limited bock count, business or
voice conflict) first. Filling campaigns should be scheduled at a regular basis as well.
Sometimes the blocks don’t even need filling campaigns, after all the regular campaigns
are scheduled.
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As soon as you press Start or Plan campaigns, the planning will start. There are 3
stages in this planning process:
Preparation
Future spots (spots already planned) will be removed from the day
overview.
Scheduling
This stage actually consists of two stages. At first the regular
campaigns are planned, corresponding to the order in the
Commercial planner (the top one first, the bottom one last).
Secondly the filling campaigns are scheduled.
While planning different campaigns, it might be obligatory to count
how many spots are planned until today. This only applies if you are
rescheduling a campaign that is already running.
Finish
In this last stage, all of the blocks are checked and correctly ordered
by the planner
Planning the campaigns, the Commercial planner also checks which jingles are played
in the blocks. This is because the Format planner checks the amount of commercials and
jingles in an hour, before filling the rest of the time. Planning commercials, the blocks
containing only pre- and post jingles are left untouched. You can separately schedule
the jingles for these blocks.
When the scheduling is complete, you can see which campaigns are fully scheduled
(blue) and which campaigns need some adjustments. You can do this by selecting the
campaign, right click, and selecting properties.
Planning on a set time will add extra items to some blocks, to obtain the desired length.
Please keep the following points in mind:
1. Set a maximum length of a block as low as possible, having to fill one minute is
easier then two minutes. The size can be increased when more campaigns are
starting.
2. The more filling campaigns are available, the easier it gets to fill the blocks to
the desired lengths.
3. You can use pre- and post jingles to fill the gaps campaigns are unable to fill.
You should have enough jingles available, with different lengths.
As discussed in earlier chapters, the commercial planner wages the sector- and voice
conflicts of all campaigns within a block
Planning a block with a set length, the planner also checks the total length of the
available items. The block is only available if the remaining time is larger than the
longest item (campaigns using different spots should have a variety of lengths).
Filling campaigns are usually planned in empty blocks. When a minimum length is set,
these blocks are planned first. The planner will try to fill up the restricted blocks with
filling campaigns. You can prevent a block from starting or ending with a long jingle,
by filling it up as much as possible
After the planning is done, the blocks will be checked. Start- and end jingles will be
placed in the blocks that still have enough space.
There might still be blocks that need filling. The planner calculates the remaining time
that needs to be filled. If the length is between minimum and maximum values, it will
be filled by a pre jingle, a post jingle, or both.
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If you want to be able to fill gaps with a maximum of 1 minute, you could record 60
jingles, each 1 second longer. Using the combination before- and post jingle you could
also use pre jingles of 1, 2 … 9 seconds and post jingles of 10, 20 … 60 seconds.
PC-Radio and the commercial planner calculate in milliseconds. This makes it almost
impossible to create jingles of exactly 1000 milliseconds. When scheduling the beforeand post jingles, the commercial planner chooses the smallest aberration. If you record
the jingles suggested above, the maximal aberration will be half a second.
Planning jingles
Many radio stations use before- and after jingles at the start, or end of the hour. Blocks
containing commercials will be scheduled right away, by the commercial planner. To
schedule the other blocks, use this option.
This option is separated from the commercial planner, to prevent short campaigns
(usually taking only a couple of seconds) requiring all scheduled jingles to be
rescheduled.
If the jingles’ preferences are changed, select Plan jingles. The planner will check all
future blocks removing all the old jingles and replacing them with the new ones.
Campaigns already scheduled, will remain the same. This might be the best option,
especially when you have already given a plan list to your advertiser.
Radio stations requiring before- and post jingles during the holidays should use the
following procedure:
Use Christmas jingles as a preference at Christmas. Select Plan jingles. If you want
your old jingles back after Christmas, just select them and press Plan jingles.
If you use the dropdown menu Plan jingles, there are two stages:
Prepare
The planner calculates the length of all future blocks (commercials,
without the jingles).
Finish
The jingles, as specified in their preferences, will be added to the
blocks (until the last day of the campaign)
Export automatically
The Format planner will add the commercials and jingles automatically to the play list.
You don’t even have to export the commercials.
This option will replace all play list data, after rescheduling the campaigns or jingles.
Only the days needing a play list will be exported. If so, the Format planner checks the
name of the weekday and uses this. The play list including commercials will always be
saved using its normal name (for instance: Commercials are added to thusday.pll, and
will be renamed 20050426.pll).
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Day overview
The day overview provides a list of all the commercials that are scheduled for a specific
day. You can view a specific hour by selecting the scrollbar or the filling. This will
provide an overview of the filling of the entire day, by the hour.
Blocks marked dark-grey are set to off. This is to check for scheduled commercials that
subsequently have been removed.
You can add commercials to the day overview by dragging them from the list
containing all the available campaigns. If there is a conflict, it will show in the bottom
of the screen. The list will only show campaigns currently running.
A couple of campaigns are given a number (..). This number indicates the spot, where
the campaign is being used. For example (2) indicates that the second spot (entered in
the campaign data) will be played in this block.
We advise you not to remove the data from the campaign Database. If you do, the day
overview will no longer be able to find the name of the campaign. Only the ID of the
removed campaigns is shown in the day overview. For instance [34] indicates campaign
34 has been removed from the Database, but is still present in the day overview.
You can export the commercials to the play list by using the Export button. The play list
has to be closed (also at all other workstations). Exporting past commercials, or days
not correctly planned (by the Format planner), is not possible.
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Commercial planner
Exporting all days, from this day on, to the play list can be obtained by pressing the
arrow next to the export button, and selecting from this day on. Days that don’t have a
play list (with music) can’t be exported.
Short keys:
Ctrl+PgUp
Last day
Ctrl+PgDn
Next day
PgUp
Last hour
PgDn
Next hour
It might come in handy to have a printed overview. This overview looks like:
In this windows you can, besides printing an overview, save a copy as a PDF (Adobe
Acrobat format) or as a HTML file.
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News
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NEWS
PC-Radio has various methods of broadcasting news. For example, you can broadcast
the Radio 2 or ARD news. Modern news provision uses audio tracks that are
continuously refreshed via the Internet. This chapter describes precisely how the news
provision works.
8.1
External news provisioning
With the advent of new media and technologies, radio stations often need up-to-date
news provision, possibly customized. The Internet enable PCs to be access even if they
are a long distance away and there is nobody in the studio.
The example below shows how to set up a news report.
The news agency provides a new item on an hourly basis that can be downloaded using
a special program. This occurs every hour, to receive the most up to date items.
The destination folder can be set using Global Æ Audio in PC-Radio’s settings (Tools
Æ Settings). The IN folder is used for the incoming files. PC-Radio moves these to the
HD folder. Only the incoming folder can be changed in these settings.
PC-Radio always uses the news from the HD folder. If a new file is just arriving when
the news is broadcast, PC-Radio will try to move the file to the HD directory. If the new
item is still incomplete, it can’t be moved. This means the old item is broadcast,
preventing half a bulletin from being broadcast.
Now install and configure the required software for downloading news items. Please
advise your retailer’s manual on how set this up. Before the next hour, you’ll see an
audio file in the PC-Radio IN folder.
To add the news item to PC-Radio’s database, first copy the file from the IN directory
to the HD directory. Now you can browse to the HD folder in PC-Radio by clicking
File Æ Open Æ HD audio and open the news item.
The artist and title are listed in the database editor’s first tab. Enter “news item” in the
criterion tab, to make it distinctive from other entries in the database browser. Other
criteria are irrelevant and don’t need to be filled out.
The editor tab can be used to enter the mixing times. The length will vary from one hour
to the next. PC-Radio only looks at the ratio between the next time and the ending time.
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News
This means that when a time is entered, starting one second after the ending time; PCRadio plans the next item a second before the ending time of the actual news item.
The hour formats have to be readjusted by entering a fixed news item, in order to have a
news item automatically scheduled. The news item can be dragged directly from the
database browser to the hour format.
When you’ve finished scheduling the playlist with the alternated format, you can start
the automation and have the news broadcast every hour.
If at some point the news isn’t updated every hour, you’ll have to find the cause. The
Database Editor could be a great help, because its Statistics Tab shows the date and
time of the last update. The button on the right opens the Windows Explorer.
News tune
Some stations want to personalize their news, by adding a tune to the background.
If you want to do this, just record an item of, for instance, a minute and a half
(providing this is the minimal length of the news broadcast). This item should start with
an announcement of the news, followed by the tune. In the Database, set the next time
too shortly after the announcement’s ending time.
Using criteria, Hour formats, and the Format planner, you make sure this item is always
played before the external news.
What will happen during the broadcast? First the announcement (news tune) starts to
play. After a couple of seconds the news starts. The tune will be heard, throughout the
news to personalize the news.
PC-Radio uses the IN-box more or less like a mailbox in which the items can be placed
temporarily. You can’t use this directory in PC-Radio for instance, playing the items.
8.2
News detector
If you wish to broadcast news you may use a news detector (VTR1018) combined with
a good tuner. You program the news in the play list as an item with a fixed start time
that can occur up to 4 times per hour (on the hours, the half hour, quarter past and
quarter to the hour). In PC-Radio, picking up news in this manner, is referred to as NOS
News, named after the Dutch public broadcaster’s news provisioning system.
You set up the news detector and a good news broadcast with three options on the
General tab under Preferences and with three buttons on the front of the detector.
Detection (detector)
As the news detector works on the basis of detecting mono/stereo, you must first set the
sensitivity of the detector with this button. You can see when the signal is stereo from
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the indicator light. Setting the sensitivity takes some time. Mono must always be
detected during the news (i.e. the LED must not light up), the pingel that signs off the
news must be detected as stereo as quickly as possible. Therefore you need a number of
news broadcasts before the correct setting is determined. Bear in mind that the LED on
the detector may flash every now and then, during normal broadcasts.
Minimum news length and Maximum news length (PC-Radio)
However carefully you adjust the button for stereo detection, it is always possible for
stereo to be detected briefly as a result of an external interference pulse. Of course, it is
not the intention that the news broadcast is broken off early. It is also possible for the
end of news signal not to be detected if the detector setting is incorrect and hence the
subsequent commercials are broadcast.
Depending on the radio station whose news you are broadcasting, the broadcast bulletin
has a specific minimum and maximum length. You can enter this minimum and
maximum in the preferences so that you prevent the news being cut off too early or
continuing to be played too long.
To prevent a shorter-than-usual bulletin being cut off, do not set the minimum time too
short.
Audio delay (detector)
Detection of the stereo signal takes some time. At the moment that the detector detects
the pingel after the news as a stereo signal, that pingel can already be heard on the
radio. Most news detector users actually do not want to broadcast the pingel. That is
why the news detector has a built-in adjustable audio delay that broadcasts the signal
received from the tuner with a delay. The delay enables PC-Radio to switch off the
news before the pingel is heard.
Start delay (detector)
Due to the audio delay in the news detector, there may be an undesirable silence at the
start of the news broadcast depending on how long the delay is. Imagine that the audio
delay is set to 1 second. When PC-Radio activates the news detector you hear the sound
from 1 second earlier. There is a good chance that the news broadcast will start with a
time signal (beeps). Using the start delay, you can delay the start of broadcasting the
audio from the news detector.
Mix with news end (PC-Radio)
The next item in the list can only be started, when PC-Radio receives a signal from the
news detector that the news is finished. If the audio from the news detector is
deactivated at the same time, there may be a brief silence on the radio. This setting
allows you to specify how long the audio from the news detector continues to be
broadcast after the stereo signal is detected which makes a good mix with the next item
possible.
Take some time to find a good setting. A tip here is only to adjust one setting at a time
to prevent a change in one setting nullifying the effect of another setting.
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8.3
News
Satellite news
News may also be broadcast via satellite. In this case you need a satellite dish and an
appropriate tuner to receive it. The tuner’s RS232 output is connected to one of the com
ports of the PC-Radio PC. In PC-Radio satellite delivery of news is referred to as ARD
News, named after the Belgian public broadcaster.
To prevent the audio from the satellite being continuously broadcast you need a micro
fader to switch it. This fader is connected to an unused input (usually port 16) of the
ACD module. Specify which input this is in PC-Radio. Go to Tools, Preferences and
the News tab. At the correct input you set the type of player to News and then specify
ARD under News source and then you set the Serial port ARD according to the com port
to which the tuner is connected.
This is the time at which the ARD news is broadcast is variable. For some radio stations
this is a problem and they will want to restrict the start time. You can specify in which
minutes the ARD news must be transferred by specifying a start and end minute. Here
are a few possibilities:
ARD between...
27 and 30
PC Radio transfers the news every hour if it starts between 27:00
(minutes: seconds) and 30:59.
58 and 01
PC Radio transfers the news every hour if it starts between 58:00
and 01:00.
00 and 00
PC-Radio always transfers the news.
As the start time of the ARD news is variable and the time cannot be specified precisely
in advance, you can’t avoid the news starting just after a record has started. Therefore
you have two options for using ARD news:
Transfer live
As soon as news is provided, PC-Radio will fade out the record playing at that time and
broadcast the ARD news. Of course the news is ignored if PC-Radio is playing a fill-out
block at that time.
You do not need to make any other arrangements in the play list for transferring news.
Record
PC-Radio records the news item on the hard disk so that you can play it later in the play
list. You specify the file name of the news item. PC-Radio will overwrite the old news
item each hour.
You must include this item in the play list. You can have the news planned by the
Format Planner by giving a unique identification in the selection criterion in the
Database and selecting by these criteria in the hour formats.
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Automation
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AUTOMATION
In simple terms, the automation does no more or less than play the items in a play list.
For some radio stations this is precisely the intention, but there is more. The automation
provides extensive support for Live Assist and is the perfect aid for the disc jockey.
There are two ways of activating the automation:
•
Via Start on the Automation menu;
•
Automatically when PC-Radio starts, but the Activate automation after start-up of
PC-Radio option in Tools Æ Preferences Æ Automation must be checked.
In both cases, the automation loads the play list for the current day, searches in it for the
item that is programmed for activation at that time and then plays it. There are two ways
of loading the correct playlist:
•
A playlist for the right date exists;
•
A playlist exists, containing the name of the day (if there isn’t a playlist for the
date in question.
The format planner names the playlist according to the method described above. By
doing this, a unique play list will be created for each day of the year. Playlists named
after the day of the week are useful as a backup. This way the playlist you have created
will play, even if you’ve forgotten to schedule.
The clock indicates the current time in blue digits; the automation enlarges this window
and also shows the remaining time for the current item in green digits. If there are items
with a fixed start time in the play list, you see a red clock with the time to the next fillout or fixed item on the far left.
You can query the status of the automation (“which item is playing now?”) by pressing
F9 once or twice. The active play list displays the playing item with a purple bar. You
can see which play list is being used by the automation in the title bar from the text
Active play list.
The automation records the length and starting time of all items. The users signing in
and out are also recorded in PC-Radio. You can check this information using File Æ
Open Æ History.
Applying
If PC-Radio is configured within a network, a workstation is often used for recording
voice tracks. These voice tracks can be included in the play list for one of the next days
as well as in the current play list.
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Automation
The play list can be updated (transfer the changes made on another workstation) as
follows: Record the voice tracks and save the changes in the play list. Close the play list
on the workstation. Select the broadcast system on PC-Radio via the Automation and
Update menus. The changes in the play list from the current time are now transferred.
Stop external audio
This option can be used to manually stop an external audio source.
Monitor
The monitor provides a clear overview of the current and future items.
You can open the monitor on a production station if the NexusDB database server has
the Messaging Plug-in enabled
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Live Assist
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LIVE ASSIST
To use the Live Assist module you need the following:
•
Live Assist support in the software;
•
Operating buttons on the mixing console (optional) for fader start and (de)
activation of Live Assist.
As long as you do not use the Live Assist function, the automation spins the records
itself and provides the mixing between them, the records are on one fader. Press F12
(or go to Tools, Live Assist) to display the Live Assist window. Depending on the
available channels for MPEG and CD players, you see a window that represents the
various faders.
The Live Assist window shows which fader the current record is playing on. For hard
disk audio this is normally the first fader and for CD audio the first CD fader that is
available. If you don’t do anything, you will see that whenever a track changes, the
information on the screen changes, the automation simply carries on.
In the example shown here, you see a configuration consisting of two channels. A total
of two faders on the mixing console are reserved for the automation.
The Live Assist function can be operated in two different ways:
•
By the mixing console;
•
By mouse;
•
By function keys F1 .. F4 (see preferences).
You can now activate live mode; click the following button on the toolbar:
From this moment on, the automation will not start any more records itself. However, it
does ensure that the next record is always available on the free fader. If the next record
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Live Assist
is a hard disk audio item, it will be available immediately on the fader. CD’s or external
items are not supported in Live assist.
You can preview the record and move the starting point if necessary. The MPEG carts
have a slider with a pitch function; this is active if you have two or more playback
channels but is not supported by the PCX20 or LCM220 card. You can use the slider on
the CD cart to set the fading speed if the player in question has a micro fader.
Operation by mixing console
The start pulse on the fader is linked to the PC. As soon as you open the fader, the
record on the cart in question starts; likewise the record stops when the fader is closed.
Operation by mouse
There are more options in Live Assist for operation by mouse. The fader on the right
hand side of the cart has the following adjustable functions:
MPEG cart on PCX924, PCX11+ or PCX20v2: Pitch
Of course you are not committed to operation with either the mixing console or the
mouse. It is possible to cue a record by mouse and then start it with the fader at the
moment of broadcast.
Many users have a fill-out block of commercials every hour. As soon as the start time
for this block is reached, PC-Radio automatically plays this entire block. The Live
Assist mode in PC-Radio continues to be used while this block is playing. If the item
with a fixed start time is news or studio, PC-Radio will also automatically start the item
with the fixed start time. You can determine yourself whether a hard disk item with a
fixed start time should or should not be started immediately by opening or closing the
fader.
You can group several items together in the playlist. By default this happens for items
that are put together in the play list by the Commercial Planner. These items are
identified by the yellow bracket before the titles that keep the items together as it were.
During Live Assist, PC-Radio will play the block as a whole on one of the faders.
The advantage of this is that you can leave the Live Assist function on during
commercial breaks and that you have no extra work (for instance, consider the short
interim jingles).
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Jingles
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JINGLES
You can use the jingle machine separately or in combination with the automation; it is
simply a question of what you choose.
You can create a custom jingle pack for every DJ or program. The Jingle machine can
simultaneously load 2 individual packs and lets you choose from 14 of your favorite
jingles. The jingle machine allows multiple jingles to play simultaneously as well.
The channel used for the jingles depends on your settings in the PC-Radio’s general
settings. Using one or more multi channel audio cards, allows you to route each player
to an individual channel on your mixing console.
Clicking a jingle activates it in the player as shown in the example above.
The right mouse button brings up the menu below:
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Group
Group two jingles to play them as a whole.
Re-Cue after
playback
Default for every jingle.
Cue next item
after playback
When the jingle is finished, the next jingle is cued in the player.
Start next item
after playback
When the jingle is finished, the next jingle is automatically played.
Repeat
The jingle is repeated until the user manually stops the jingle.
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Jingles
Use the button in the top right corner for choosing, creating or removing jingle packs.
You can also make cards C & D (in) visible here. Disabling the Use Faderstart option
prevents a jingle from being started accidentally when a fader is opened on the mixing
console.
If an ACM or CIM module is connected to PC-Radio, you can use your mixing console
to start and stop the jingles.
The keypad below provides a separate button for 28 jingles. A driver is required for this
keypad. The CD contains the Tipro jingle keyboard driver folder, holding the
installation program SetupTipro.exe. When the driver is installed, you can connect the
keypad to any USB port on your PC.
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Mix Editor
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MIX EDITOR
Using the Mix editor you can adjust the transition between two tracks, record voice
tracks and define fades.
Both functions are combined in a clear window.
Play the track
Open track in Database editor
White line
Intro- or outro time
Red line
Next time
Yellow line
Fading curve. You can move the yellow blocks to change the
fading.
When you start recording, the third voice track channel appears.
Opens the record-settings window.
While the voice track is being recorded, the blue boxes indicate the remaining time,
before the outro and intro. The red box represents the length or running time of the
voice track you are recording.
After recording the voice track PC-Radio calculates the audio levels and adjusts the
level of intro and outro, below the level of the presentation. You’ll notice the extra
points and lines appearing in the fader curve. Of course you can still adjust these after
recording the voice track.
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Mix Editor
Record; check the record settings before recording your voice track.
(Short key R).
Plays the entire mix. Double-clicking any point in the mix (wave)
makes the mix editor play from that point. (Short key P).
Stop playing (short key S).
Zoom everything. The zoom factor is set to view the last, and the
next tracks.
Zoom in.
Zoom out.
Remove voice track.
Apply automatically. Changes are saves automatically when you
browse through the play list.
Show voice track
Start automatically. Normally you decide the way the tracks are
mixed yourself. Using this option, the original track will remain,
only the voice track is recorded over it.
12.1
Control panels
Working with voice tracks is made easier by using a special control panel. This is
connected directly to the serial port of the PC.
PC-Radio supports the following three models:
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Shuttle Pro
CS-1
MCS3
Shuttle Pro
You don’t need to install any drivers, if you are using Shuttle Pro under Windows 2000
or XP. It will be automatically detected and ready in a couple of seconds. Older
systems, however, do need the drivers included with the Shuttle Pro.
1
2
3
4
Play
Stop
Record
Change mode (Edit, Rec stand-by)
5
6
7
9
Cancel (undo changes)
Play Jingle 1
Play Jingle 2
Accept (apply changes)
10 Previous item in playlist
11 Next item in playlist
Shuttle Fast-Rewind and Fast-Forward
Jog
Rewind and Forward
CS-1 and MCS3
Connecting the CS-1 and MCS3 does take a bit more care: First connect the adapter
(supplied with the CS-1 and MCS3). Then connect the console to the Comport of the
PC using the Sub-D9 cable.
The Shift-key on the CS-1 is defined on the MCS3 as F5. A couple of short keys, using
Shift on the CS-1, will apply on the MCS3 using F5.
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Mix Editor
F2
F3
F5+F4
Change mode (Edit, Rec. stand-by)
Accept (Apply changes)
Cancel (Undo changes)
W1
W2
Next item in play list
Last item in play list
Rewind
Forward
Stop
Play
Rec.
Fast-Rewind
Fast-Forward
Stop
Play
Record
Jog
Rewind and Forward
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Audio logger
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AUDIO LOGGER
The audio logger is used to record your radio broadcasts. In most countries, the
authorities now require all broadcasts during a specific period to be recorded and stored.
This period differs from country to country. Thus the Dutch Media Commission has
specified that a radio station should keep its programs for 14 days (24 hours a day)
whilst the period in Flanders (Belgium), for example, if 2 months (24 hours a day). This
applies both to the station’s own programs and to framework programs (programs by
third parties that are re-broadcast). Of course, there is no need to log hours that your
radio station does not broadcast (silence, i.e. no framework program either).
You have specified when your radio station’s audio must be logged in the general
program settings (Tools, Preferences, Audio logger Tab). A low bit rate with an
acceptable sound quality for logging applications is set here by default. If you have
bought the Audio Logger in conjunction with the Time Shifter, you can also set higher
quality levels here.
After entering the storage period and the timeslots (hours per day that the system must
log), PC-Radio indicates how much hard disk capacity is required for this period and
whether this is available.
When configuring your PC-Radio system, you should bear in mind that one recording
input on your Digigram sound card will be in continuous use for 24-hour logging. This
should not a problem, but you should install at least a second Digigram sound card with
recording capabilities in your system to record ordinary items such as new tracks,
commercials, voice tracks. Under the Audio Logger in the program settings, you specify
the input by which the program to be logged is fed.
To listen to the recorded broadcasts, go to Tools, Audio logger. The following window
appears.
The red numbers in the calendar indicate the days on which recordings have been made.
When you click on a date, the time bar underneath the calendar gives more detailed
information in three different colors:
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Audio logger
Green
The whole hour has been recorded.
Yellow
Part of the hour has been recorded.
Red
No audio has been logged during the hour.
Clicking on the time bar will show the start position for playback. It is also possible to
enter this precisely.
During playback you can use the six buttons to move quickly (10 minutes, 1 minute, 30
seconds) through the recordings.
After the set time, the Audio Logger will delete old recordings to prevent your hard disk
getting too full. Any recordings you want to store for longer must be backed up
yourself.
The recording that was made on 15 July 2002 at 15.00 has the file name
20020715_15h00.wav. This file can be found in the folder that you specified on the
Audio logger tab in the preferences.
If the Media Commissioner asks you for a copy of a particular period or program, in
principle there are several ways of providing this material, depending on the
requirements in each country. For example, you can burn the requested files onto a
DVD ROM using a DVD writer (six entire day fits on a DVD+R), but you can also
reproduce them via one of the outputs of the sound card that is not being used for the
non-stop program and then record them on a connected recording device.
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Time shifter
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TIME SHIFTER
The time shifter is used to record particular programs at high quality that are intended to
be broadcast again at a later time.
The window below is displayed as soon as you open the time shifter via the menus
(Tools, Time shifter).
The example shown here has three tasks. The icons in front of them have the following
meaning:
The task has not been executed. This may be the case, for example,
if PC-Radio was not active at the time the recording was supposed
to have been made.
The task is currently being executed.
This task is in the list of tasks to be executed.
The task has been executed successfully.
The tasks shown in the Time shifter window will be executed on the selected PC. This
way you can execute different tasks on each working station or On-Air-station. PCRadio uses the key code to determine which task needs to be executed. If you change
the key code, you’ll have to revise all of the tasks in the Time shifter.
Specify the folder used for saving the tasks in the global settings menu, at the local
audio folders tab.
The following window is displayed when you add or modify a task:
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Time shifter
Date
Here you enter the date that the recording should take place (for the
first time).
Time
Time when the recording starts.
Until / Duration
You can either enter the duration, or the end time of the recording.
The correct value for the other field is automatically calculated.
Repetition
Here you specify whether the recording must be repeated. This can
be daily or weekly.
File name
Enter the file name of the program to be recorded.
Format
There are a number of options for the recording quality. If the
recording is to be re-broadcast, the highest quality is usually
desirable.
Audio input
If your system has several recording channels, specify the required
source here.
Skip grouped
items
Items that are grouped in the play list (mostly commercials) will not
be added.
End
You can use this button to end active recording. If a task is not
active, this button is grayed out.
Say you have 4 recording inputs. Channel four has an audio logger configured to record
24 hours per day. The Time Shifter can be configured on channel one, two and three,
but not the input that’s being recorded by the audio logger. The same goes for recording
voice tracks. If a Time Shifter is routed to channel two, you can’t record voice tracks on
that channel for as long as the Time Shifter is running.
External sources and the Time Shifter operate autonomously. This means you can
always route an external source to the Time Shifter or Audio logger.
Select the required items using the RMB and the Time Shifter option to add a task.
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Record without commercials
Programs you record for a rerun usually start and end with a commercial block, that
doesn’t need to be repeated. You can fix this by using the Time shifter to record without
the grouped items. To be able to do this, the commercials need to be grouped.
If you select the above option, the Time shifter doesn’t record the grouped options. As
soon as a grouped block starts, the recording stops. When the block ends, the recording
starts again. The recording can contain more then one group.
This example indicates that a recoding can consist of many files that will be
automatically numbered. The Time shifter adds #01, #02 and so on to the file. The
examples on the next page are named IntrView#01.wav and IntrView#02.wav
Grouping items such as news bulletins, hour closures, and hour openers will exclude
them from the Time Shifter’s recording. Skip grouped items needs to be selected.
Commercial blocks are grouped in the playlist by default. Grouping extra items can be
achieved by selecting them in the playlist using SHIFT + ARROW downward. Now
press CTRL+G to group them.
Example 1
Task 1 is planned from 17:00 until 17:59:59. Task 2 is planned from 18:00 until
18:59:59. The Time shifter started recording (task 1) at 17:00 and will stop at the hour
closer (17:59:51). The hour closer and the news won’t be recorded because they are
grouped. The next recording starts right after the commercial block (task 2 at 18:02:39)
and will record until the next grouped block. The file will be named IntrView#01.wav
Make sure the nexttime of the last item of the first group, in this example the news,
represents the lenghttime. If the nexttime is equal to the lenghttime, or not far enough
before the lenghttime, a small gap may appear between the two grouped blocks. This
could result in an undesired mini-recording, saving the program as IntrView#02.wav
instead of IntrView#01.wav.
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Time shifter
Example 2
If the news is not grouped, the recording will start at 18:00. The recording will run until
the next commercial block and include the news. It will be saved as IntrView#01.wav.
After the commercial block, the recording will start again and be saved as
IntrView#02.wav.
Example 3
The hour closer in this next example is not grouped with the commercial. This means
the hour closer will be recorded too. The recording will stop at 17:58:24. The news is
grouped with the second commercial block, so it won’t be recorded. After the second
commercial block the Time shifter will start the recording again. The recording will
restart at 18:02:36 and save the program as IntrView#01.wav.
It is advisable to create separate hour formats to schedule the TimeShifter recordings.
Drag the TimeShifter items as a fixed track to the hourformat. Make sure to use apparent
names for the hour- and dayformats, thus creating an easy schedule.
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Users
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USERS
As soon as you are familiar with everything PC-Radio can do, you may want to secure
the system against unauthorized use. This is not necessary on a stand-alone PC, but in a
large station with a lot of employees it probably is.
On a system without users you can only see the option Users under Access on the menu
bar. Here you can specify who may use the software and precisely what they are and are
not allowed to do.
In the example below, three users have been created. The options in PC-Radio that are
available to the selected user are displayed on the Rights tab.
As soon as you create a new user, you should enter the name and the user type. User
types are separated into three different categories.
Regular user
Most users of PC-Radio will be categorized as ‘regular’ users. You
can provide them the options they are allowed to use in PC-Radio
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Users
Administrator
An administrator is allowed to create new users, change user
preferences or delete users. Of course, only one administrator can
be defined.
Auto logon
The ‘auto logon’ user will automatically logon as soon as you start
PC-Radio. This user doesn’t need a password or a time restriction.
Under Additional you will see the Time limitation setting. If this is checked, the user in
question is limited in the times he can access the system. You can set this if, for
example, a DJ creates a live program only one night a week and is only present at
weekends. You can set the time limitation on the Times tab.
You can select times by selecting a rectangular block in the grid by mouse or by
clicking on a day of the week or hour. You can use the two buttons to determine
whether or not the user can work on the system.
If one or more users have been created, the user system in PC-Radio becomes active.
Remember that there must be at least one person with the status of administrator;
otherwise you would activate the security without ever being able to make any changes.
It is simple to see whether there is anyone with administrator rights in the list of users.
Some radio stations don’t need to define users. The risk is that anyone could make
random users and preferences. To avoid this, you can create an Auto logon account,
with all of the rights.
When you close this window, the Access menu is expanded:
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•
•
•
Login
Login to PC-Radio with the options that have been activated for you. The name
and time of login (and also the name of the workstation in a network
configuration) are recorded in the history file.
The windows you’ve opened in the last session appear again at the same position
on the screen.
Logout
Always use this to log out, the windows are closed and the settings are saved. The
logout time is recorded in the history file.
Change password
It is advisable not to use an obvious password. By obvious passwords we mean the
name of your partner, your favorite car brand, zip code etc. Before you can change your
password you first have to type your current password. You have to enter the new
password twice to avoid typing errors. The minimum length for a password is four
characters. While you are typing you see asterisks for the characters so that somebody
who may be looking over your shoulder cannot see your password.
Even though a password is not mandatory, we do advise Administrators to set up a
password nonetheless.
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16
Database import
DATABASE IMPORT
Users of PC-Radio 5 can simply exchange audio files and music libraries between each
another, using the import and export functions.
The (part of the) Database you are going to import has to be created in PC-Radio 5. The
import module detects this automatically.
Usually the database import screen appears. You can cancel this if you are only
planning on importing audio tracks from a USB stick. If you still need to open a
database, you can use the Change button form the top left corner of the screen.
The import function allows you to select the tracks you are going to import, and how.
Adopt criteria
information
Here you can specify if you want to adopt the information relating
to the criteria for the Format Planner from the tracks in the import
Database.
HD track must be With this option you can specify that only data should be imported
present
from tracks that have the associated hard disk audio file present on
your system (in the folders that you specified in the preferences).
Corresponding
audio files
If the import source contains the audio files (for example if you’ve
used the Database’s export function) the import module will copy
these to your system. Using Copy audio files you can define an alias
where the audio files can be exported to.
Only update
information of
existing records
Selecting this option renders all the options above irrelevant. PCRadio only imports the information if it isn’t available in your
database. Existing records are never overwritten. The following
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fields are updated:
Track image
Track information
Track lyrics
Artist website
Artist image
Artist information
Disc image
Disc information
No extra tracks are added to your database, making this an ideal
option for exchanging data with another radio station that uses
PC-Radio as well.
The Database from which you want to import tracks can contain records that are already
included in your own Database. In the Overwrite box, specify how you want to transfer
the information from the import file.
Never
Tracks that are present in your own Database are never overwritten
by tracks in the import Database with the same Carrier ID. This is
the safest choice.
Warn
PC-Radio warns for every track that exists in both music libraries
and asks if the existing information can be overwritten.
It is advisable only to use this option if a limited number of tracks
have been selected.
Always
The track data in your own Database is overwritten by the data from
the imported Database.
Make sure that the import Database is correct before you select this.
You can specify additional information about the artist and carrier in the Database (see
Artist tab in the Database Editor). The artist information of an artist will always be the
same in any track by that artist. The same applies to the general data for a CD. This data
will be the same at all tracks with the same Carrier ID.
PC-Radio takes this data into account during import and will not overwrite it. Fields
that are completed in the import file but not in your own Database are transferred,
however. For example, if you have not included any artist information on an artist but it
exists in the import file, the artist information is added to your Database.
Select the tracks from the Import column. By default all records are selected. You can
mark the tracks using the CTRL+M keys. The right mouse button holds several other
functions for selecting tracks or reversing your selection.
The second tab shows the source directory’s contents.
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Database import
If you use the import option on this tab, you can import your audio files (for example
from a MPEG recorder) to your system, without having to import the Database. Audio
files that have a long name will be renamed according to the defined Auto carrier ID.
Example
You have just started a new radio station and can take over the Database and hard disk
tracks from a neighboring station. However, you are only interested in the music tracks
(not the jingles or commercials).
At the colleague’s station you burn the music tracks (MPEG or WAVE files) onto a
DVD together with the Database in the DATA directory of PC-Radio. You can use the
Database export function to do this.
At home you insert the DVD in the DVD player, so a Database import windows is
opened (provided ‘Tools Æ Settings Æ Import automatic open at the general settings
tab’ is selected). Select All hard disc tracks at the import tab, and select Corresponding
audio files. Now PC-Radio is set to only collect the audio data from the tracks.
The options for adopting specific information from an import file are used in the
following situation. For example, you record a number of tracks and in addition to the
Carrier ID you only enter the title and artist in the Database. You give a copy of the
Database to a colleague who enters the correct criteria for the Format Planner into the
Database at home. At the same time you make sure that the times (intro time, next time
etc.) in the Audio Editor are correct. As soon as your colleague has finished typing data
in the Database you import it. You specify that you want to overwrite the existing
records but only adopt the criteria information.
Moving audio files
You can move multiple files from the Windows Explorer to PC-Radio’s desktop or to
the database browser. Move them to an existing audio folder, or create a new folder in
PC-Radio. Now move the audio files from the Explorer to PC-Radio’s database editor.
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When all tracks are imported, a windows listing all new tracks pops up. This window
allows you to pre-listen the tracks and open them in the editor. The ID3 tag data such as
the artist, title and album are automatically imported in the database.
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17
Database export
DATABASE EXPORT
To exchange audio files and their Database data between the studio and PC-Radio at
home, or between radio stations you can use the Database export module.
Open the export window (Database Æ Export).
Drag the required files from the play list, to the export window.
There are 3 options for exporting:
• Location
The data will be copied to a specified directory. You could use this option to export
your data to a USB-drive.
• CD/DVD
The data will be burned on a CD or DVD using Nero. Nero 6.3.1.4 (or higher)
needs to be installed on the system.
• FTP
The data will be transported via FTP. Keep in mind that most internet providers
have a lower up- then download speed.
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DATABASE BACKUP
18.1
Create backup
Manual PC-Radio 5
PC-Radio allows you to backup your database, without having to close the program.
Select the destination server and database for the backup. You can choose a local
directory as well. You can change the target directory by clicking the Change button.
Start the process by pressing Backup. Depending on your database’s size, it could take
several minutes.
18.2
Restore backup
There are two means for restoring a backup.
Method 1
1. Close PC-Radio and all other applications that use the NexusDB database
server.
2. Start the NexusDB Enterprise Manager. The Enterprise Manager displays all the
available servers. Create an alias for the backup folder using the Internal Server.
3. Use the Right mouse button on Internal Server. Create an alias, referring to the
backup you need resorted. When the alias is created, the internal server can be
unfolded. Click on the right of the yellow alias icon you’ve just created. Choose
Live Backup from the pop-up menu. Fill out the Target Server in the Live
Backup window. Specify the Target Database and mark both the Overwrite
tables and Keep indexes in backup tables options.
4. Click Start to restore all tables.
5. Close the Enterprise Manager.
6. Start PC-Radio.
Method 2
1. Close PC-Radio and all other applications that use the NexusDB database
server.
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Database backup
2. Stop the NexusDB database server as described in the chapter about the
NexusDB server.
3. Copy all nx1 files from the backup to the folder PC-Radio uses for its database
and overwrite all files.
4. Start the NexusDB database server.
5. Start PC-Radio.
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SCAN FOR PRESENCE
It is crucial for PC-Radio to know which audio files are available, especially for the
format planner and database browser. The format planner can only select tracks that can
play; so of course they have to be present. A radio host or DJ only wants available
tracks listed in their database browser.
Remote access and database editing can cause a track to be unavailable, because the file
is not (yet) copied to the local server. Because most home computers don’t have scan
rights (see the chapter on global settings), a full database scan for audio files is required.
Databank Æ scan for presence checks all the database records and updates the invisible
availability field whenever needed.
The format planner automatically performs this scan before commencing the scheduling
task.
Normally you only permit computers within the PC-Radio network to scan. Home users
usually shouldn’t have scan rights, because most likely they don’t have all the audio
files.
Scan for presence can only be executed by a computer that has scan rights.
Permit these rights by clicking Tools Æ Settings Æ Scan Rights.
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20
History
HISTORY
PC-Radio keeps a record of all the tracks that have been played, in its history, whether
it’s non-stop, or live broadcast. Users, signing in or out and stopping (or starting) the
automation are saved too, logging the exact time of these operations.
History provides an answer to questions like: “Who did last Wednesday’s live
broadcast?”, “How many times did this customer’s commercial play, last march?”.
If you want to check the history, press File Æ Open Æ History.
This window displays today’s history. You can view any day from the past, using the
calendar in the lower left corner.
Instead of just one day, you can also check a week, month, quarter, year or complete
history. Using the green arrow keys, you can scroll through the history.
In the lower right corner, the number of events is shown. As long as this number is
below 10.000, you can sort them by column. Larger amounts would require too much
calculation time to sort.
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The right mouse button will pop-up the filter menu:
Title
Filter all items having the same title.
Artist
Filter all items preformed by the same artist.
Title and artist
Filter all items having the same artist and title.
Commercials
Filter all commercials. Commercials are specified in the Database
editor, in the Track tab, categorized as Commercial.
Reset
Turns off all filters and shows all the data of the selected period.
After you’ve activated a filter, you can use the tab Graph to view a graph of the filtered
data.
This example shows the number 27 / 43 in the lower right corner. This number indicates
43 tracks being filtered, 27 of these are in the selected period.
You could make certain tracks invisible, for instance if there is a large amount of
records.
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History
Print
If you have selected a filter, the data will be printed the way you’ve set the filter. The
last page will display the graph.
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Buma
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BUMA
The Buma Association (originally established in 1913 as the
Bureau voor Muziek Auteursrecht [Office for Music
Copyright]) is the copyright organization for composers,
lyricists and music publishers. Buma charges royalties to
anyone who plays music in public and distributes the profits among the copyright
holders.
Radio stations in the Netherlands are obliged to report to Buma. PC-Radio is able to
create a list of music that has been played that can be processed directly by Buma. It is
not necessary to keep a paper record of which records have been played and then search
for the correct data. PC-Radio creates a diskette that can be dispatched directly by mail.
The Buma web site (www.bumastemra.nl) contains extensive information about the
declaration of music use.
There are two places where you can enter information that enables PC-Radio to create a
Buma report.
First enter a number of details on the General tab in the general preferences (Tools,
Preferences menu). Buma tells you what you have to enter in most of the fields.
For every record in the Database (Database, Editor menu) you must enter the required
information of each track on the Track tab.
The PC-Radio automation always keeps track which record is played, precisely when it
is played and for how long. This is saved by day in the history files, together with the
information necessary for a Buma report.
You can generate a Buma report as soon as the period to which it must relate has
passed. You can go to Buma reporting via the menus (Database Æ Buma report).
PC-Radio derives the start date from the period you have specified in the preferences.
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22
HTML export
HTML EXPORT
PC-Radio enables you to export various documents as HTML (Hypertext Markup
Language). HTML is a file format that is used by Internet browsers and word
processors, e-mail programs and a lot of other software. The broad support and many
options therefore enable you to export HTML precisely as your wish and to use it
according to your own requirements.
You can determine how to display play lists by modifying templates. We will assume
that you have sufficient knowledge of HTML or are able to adapt the supplied examples
to your own requirements.
There are various types of documents that you can export to HTML. For each of these
you can create one or more templates with their own structure to use them in different
situations.
Specify the templates to be used for each type of document in the preferences. In this
chapter we will explain the options you can use for your own templates.
Broadcast Partners supplies a number of sample templates as standard (in the HTML
folder). These have a clear structure so you can get started with them easily.
Our standard for the various types of document is always the same. Normally you will
give the HTML export a header text followed by a series of items and then a footer at
the bottom. Definition of the template is sub-categorized into two parts, namely an
export template and an item template. The export template (the one you can specify in
the preferences) always contains a reference to the correct item template.
You can use a number of ‘tags’ in the templates to display data from PC-Radio. The
tags can be identified as <#tag>. You can replace tag with the required text.
Furthermore, you are free to use all the options of HTML.
22.1
Playlist
The template for the play list is divided into two parts, the definition of the header text
that comes once at the top of the web page and the definition of a play list item that is
always repeated. Specify the template with the header text in the HTML export settings
as this contains a reference to the item definition.
You can use the following tags in the template for the header text:
Date_Now
Today’s date.
Playlist_Name
File name of the exported play list.
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Items_FILE
This is the reference to the template that describes a single item in
the play list. FILE indicates the file name of the template without
the extension.
You can use the following tags in the template for the items:
Disc_ID
Carrier ID of the track.
Track_ID
Serial number on the carrier ID.
Title
Title of the track.
Artist
Artist of the track.
Title_Artist
Displays the title and artist of the track in the same way as in the
playlist (with an underscore).
Track_Start
Start time of the item in the play list. HH:MM:SS
Track_Length
Length of the track. MM:SS
Start_Next
Start time of the next item in the play list. HH:MM:SS
Year
Year of the highest ranking
Publication
The Publication field of the track in the Database.
If the item is specified as news or external audio, only Artist, Title_Artist and
Publication are used. Using one of these three tags will automatically synchronize the
text. If other tags in the template are used, no text will be generated.
If you are using an ACM-module, the name of the concerning audio board will be used.
If no ACM-module is used, the text ‘News’ is used. External audio devices are named
after the first carrier of the selected audio device. (Tools Æ Settings Æ Audio devices
Æ Audio Devices – Device contents).
Once you have designed one or more templates, you can use the HTML export as
follows. Open a play list and go to File Æ Playlist HTML export. PC-Radio displays the
available templates. Once you have clicked on the template you want, the HTML export
is executed.
22.2
On-Air playlist
The On-Air playlist is an extension to the standard play list and displays the play list
that is currently playing (On-Air). You can use the same tags in the template for the
header text: There are now three references to templates with the items.
The first template is for displaying the items that have been played. The second
template is for displaying the active item. The third template defines the structure of the
upcoming items.
ItemsOnAir_LastXX_FILE
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This is the reference to the template with the description of
the items that have already been played. Instead of XX enter
the number of items already played, you want to see. FILE
indicates the file name of the template without the
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HTML export
extension.
ItemsOn-Air_FILE
the active item.
ItemsOnAir_NextXX_FILE
the items that have yet to be played. Some radio stations
prefer not to display what is still to come; if so, enter 0 for
XX.
These next tags can be used in the On-Air template:
Track
Picture of the track.
Disc
Picture of the disc (CD containing the track).
Artist
Picture of the artist.
Available
Picture of the track, disc or artist. Preferably a picture of the track.
If this is unavailable, a picture of the disc is shown and eventually a
picture of the artist.
An example:
Export template
ItemsOnAir_Last3 …
ItemsOnAir …
ItemsOnAir_Next19 …
You can also perform an HTML export manually via the menus. To view the available
templates use File Æ Playlist HTMLL export). The ‘normal’ playlist templates are
displayed above the line, below are the ‘on air’ templates.
22.3
Internet Publishing
Many PC-Radio users are interested in publishing their active playlist on the internet.
Due to the internet provider’s different approach to uploading, we can’t offer a clear
solution to each customer.
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Here is an example of a common approach.
Every time the automation starts a new track, you want to update your internet site. This
requires a so called ‘ftp-command’.
This command can be set in the preferences (Tools Æ Preferences) on the HTML tab
using Execute if template is active.
Use the next command line:
“C:\Program Files\Broadcast Partners\PC-Radio 5\Html\Upload.bat”.
The Upload.bat file contains the command lines required to publish the file on the
internet. We use a standard Windows XP FTP program.
For example:
ftp –s:”C:Program Files\Broadcast Partners\PC-Radio 5\Html\ ftpcmd.txt”.
Contingently you can add the next command at the end of the above command line:
> results.txt
This saves the results of the FTP-command in the text file result.txt. You can use this
file to check if the FTP-command was properly executed. If the internet provider’s
server was temporarily unavailable, it will also show in this file.
The ftpcmd.txt file contains a script for the ftp-program. The text between the brackets
should be replaced by the required data.
Open <<internet provider’s URL>>
<<username>>
<<password>>
cd pc-radio
put “C:\Program Files\Broadcast Partners\PC-Radio 5\Html\index.htm”
quit
The ‘cd pc-radio’ line operates the same way as the DOS operation CD, only on the
web server. This might be necessary if the file you need to upload isn’t in the root of the
internet server, but in a subdirectory.
22.4
Publishing the title and artist
Some PC-Radio users don’t want to publish the active track directly to their website but
edit it with an external application. Say this application needs the artist listed on the first
line, and the record on the second, or vice versa.
This can easily be solved:
TitleArtist.txt
<#ItemsOnAir_TitleArtistOnAir>
TitleArtist OnAir.txt
<#Title>
<#Artist>
If you want to publish the previous, current and next track to your radio station’s
website, you can use the next template:
Compact.txt
<#ItemsOnAir_Last1_CompactOnAir>
<#ItemsOnAir_CompactOnAir>
<#ItemsOnAir_Next1_CompactOnAir>
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HTML export
CompactOnAir.txt
<#Artist> - <#Title>
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File management
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FILE MANAGEMENT
You can control your (obsolete) files or database records with the file manager. Each
Tab provides a clear data overview.
Pressing the Apply button removes the files or records permanently. This action cannot
be reversed.
When you skip to another tab, PC-Radio first determines which files can be deleted.
This only happens once, but might take a while.
The screenshot above shows the number of items in the lower left corner. The Remove
column has a couple of files selected to be removed and their total on the bottom. Items
can be marked individually, or you can group select them, using your mouse and
pressing the Ctrl+M short keys. Use Ctrl+A, to select all files.
History
All the history files on your PC-Radio system are listed here. PC-Radio uses the history
files to create Buma reports. Only delete the history files once you have drawn up the
report.
Playlist
Unlike the history files, old playlists don’t serve any good purpose. PC-Radio shows the
available playlists in a similar way and lets you choose a date.
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File management
PC-Radio allows you to save playlists under an alternative name as well. These playlists
are separated from the rest. You can mark the playlists you wish to remove on the
Remove column. You can use the mouse (or keyboard) and the Ctrl+D for a swift
selection.
Voice track
PC-Radio automatically determines which voice tracks can be deleted. To do this, it
first checks all the play lists, because they could contain a reference to the voice track.
The File manager automatically marks the voice tracks that are not used in any playlist.
Audio
The delete function in the Database deletes a record from the Database but not from the
hard disk. You can search for audio files, that aren’t used in the Database, using the
Audio Tab.
Using the preview function you can make a final check before you delete the audio
files.
Copies
On systems with several audio directories and work stations with different settings, it
may occur that certain (frequently used) items, such as news flashes, reappear in a
different directory.
The extend to which this happens may not be clear. For playback of a specific file, PCRadio searches all directories specified in Settings. The directories are searched
specified order. As soon as PC-Radio has found a match, PC-Radio will play the file.
It is possible that you have re-recorded an old item with a .s48 extension and saved it as
a .wav file. The result is that your system has two files with the same ID, but different
extensions.
The tab Copies allows PC-Radio to search for such duplicate files (in both separate
folders or with different extensions). The File Manager automatically marks all unused
files for removing.
You may use the pre-listening function to ensure that you remove the desired files.
Database
This function is more or less similar the Audio tab. In this case, PC-Radio searches the
Database and checks if the hard disk audio files are present on the system. PC-Radio
indicates which items are missing, by specifying carrier ID, title and artist.
This function provides an efficient way of Database file management.
Please make sure that the audio directories have been specified correctly in Settings. If
not, you may see a great number of tracks on this tab that are saved in a different
directory.
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Artist
In time, some tracks are removed, or even some misspellings corrected. The artist
whose name is misspelled still remains in the database (for instance in the database
editor on the Track tab).
This function checks if the artists are still in the playlist, but don’t have an available
track.
Note that the artist information is also deleted, if you remove an artist from the
database.
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24
Preferences
PREFERENCES
PC-Radio has several settings, like hard drive search folders or criteria you can use in
the database editor. You can find these in the Tools Æ Preferences menu.
This chapter describes the settings sorted by category. Keep in mind that some changes
can have a large impact. This is why we strongly advise you to grant just a single person
access to these options.
The preferences are divided in the categories Global (network settings of all the PCs),
Automation (only affect the automation) and Local (PC individual settings).
A button named Check Settings is shown on the bottom of the screen. Use this button to
check your settings. The program mainly checks for the existence of the hard disk
audio folders and HTML templates.
24.1
Global
24.1.1
General
The general preferences are divided into Naming and Buma reporting.
Radio name
Enter the name of the radio station.
Location
Enter the name of the town where the radio station is located.
The above fields are used in reports.
Database connection
The image shows a database connection that is currently used. You can choose a
different connection by selecting it from the list. Pressing the (…) button selects the
new connection.
PC-Radio must be closed when you have changed the connection. The new connection
is activated when PC-Radio is restarted.
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In the Netherlands, radio stations are obliged to report the music, jingles etc. they play
to the organization Buma (equivalent to the PRS/MCPS in the UK). The fields under
Buma reporting relate to this. The contents to be completed in the first four fields are
determined by Buma.
Organization
Buma/Stemra/Sena assigns a code to each broadcasting organization
so that it is clear to Buma/Stemra and Sena who is providing this
information. This code is unique to each broadcaster and comprises
3 or 4 letters and/or numbers.
Heading type
A code is assigned to all payments received by Buma/Stemra. The
default assignment by Buma/Stemra is R (radio) or T (television).
Buma heading
Buma/Stemra sub-divides the heading type into sub-headings
consisting of 2 letters, for example EN (Ether National), LT (Local
Television) or NC (Not national Commercial radio). Buma/Stemra
can use this code to inform the owner of the rights to which subgroup the music data originates. Combined with the broadcaster’s
code, this makes the data you provide unique.
Broadcaster code Because there may be several channels (broadcasters) within a
broadcasting organization, this enables a unique identification to be
assigned to each broadcaster, for example NOS broadcaster code:
NL1, NL2, and NL3.
Compression
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The Buma reporting could create large files that don’t fit onto a
diskette. If you check this option, the file will be compressed into a
ZIP format, using the same file name.
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Preferences
Period
The period to which the report relates can range from a week to a
year. This period is specified by Buma. Most local radio stations are
obliged to report one week a year.
Export folder
Here you can specify the folder in which the report must be placed.
Extra
Voice track auto
duck level
Shows the difference in audio level between the voice track and the
track used for the mix.
Calculate large
waveforms
By default the program doesn’t calculate the wave shape for tracks
over 15 minutes. Checking this option has the program calculate all
tracks’ wave shapes.
Listen to end of
track
You can listen to the transition between records and voice tracks in
the mix editor. Here you specify how many seconds of the end of
the track you want to hear. The context-sensitive menu (right mouse
button) in the Audio editor allows you to listen to the end of the
item.
PC-Radio 5 Installation folder
Explorer
Opens the Explorer in PC-Radio 5’s installation folder.
Adobe Audition
link
You can save PC-Radio files directly from Adobe Audition. The
artist and title can be added or updated to PC-Radio’s database. If
this option is set, Adobe Audition saves the title and artist
information in the database of this connection. When left blank,
Adobe Audition saves the title and artist information to a different
database.
This option is implemented for users who have several PC-Radio
systems in a single computer network. These users commonly have
this option marked.
24.1.2
Criteria
You can enter the criteria for the Format Planner on this tab yourself. The default
preferences are set by Broadcast Partners according to a system that is used by most
professional radio stations. This means that every radio station can use the Broadcast
Partners Database that is constantly being expanded by various PC-Radio users, straight
away.
Although you have complete freedom on how to use criteria, we strongly advise you to
use the default settings and expand them if necessary.
Under Language you will find only 6 options. Hence you can easily add a language that
is not listed. However, you must bear in mind that most radio stations will never make a
selection in the Format Planner on, for example, Danish as the language! Records that
are given unusual criteria have less chance of being selected by the Format Planner.
You can enter the names of the criteria yourself. Under the first criterion (song type)
you can also set a color for each of the 25 options for that criterion. PC-Radio uses this
color in the play list for the title and artist so you can see the song type of a track at a
glance.
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Type
Tip
Hit
Current
Recurrent
Golden Oldie
Oldie
Antique
Commercial
Promo
Jingle
Pingel / Leader
FX / tune
News tune
Time signal
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Extra
Pop
Dance
Rock
Hard Rock
House
Classical
Dance Classic
Rhythm & Blues
Reggae
Love Song
Soft Classic
Schlager
Country
Christmas
Fair
Soft / Easy
Rock ’n Roll
Target group
age 15 -25
age 25 -30
age 31 -40
age 41 -55
age 56 -99
Language
Dutch
English
German
French
Roman
Instrumental
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24.1.3
Preferences
Local Audio
Local audio
folders
Enter the directories you want PC-Radio to search for hard disk
audio files for the automation. The maximum number of local
folders is 99. Keep in mind that the more directories you select, the
longer it takes the program to search.
The folders need to be set similar on all PCs in the network (Unlike
PC-Radio 4, that needed all the workstations to have their folders
set separately).
Hint: dragging audio folders from the Windows explorer can be a
fast way to set the local audio folders. If the dragged folder contains
any subfolders, the program will prompt if you want to use the
subfolders as audio folders as well.
Folder
Voicetracks
Inbox audio
folder
The folder PC-Radio uses for storing the recorded voice tracks.
The folder containing the contingently changing incoming external
audio files. For example the news files from news agencies like
Novum (NL) and Belga (B).
Set the software that downloads the audio files to match the
directory set in the Inbox audio folder. Important: do not use any
folder that is used for local audio folders!
Before dragging an audio file to the automation or browsing the
database, the database editor checks for availability. If it is, PCRadio moves the audio file to the Target folder for incoming audio
files. This folder is required in the local audio files, preferable on
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top of the list.
Example:
A file is downloaded to the “C:\Program Files\Broadcast
Partners\PC-Radio 5\In” folder. Just before playing the file, the
automation moves the audio file to the “C:\Program Files\Broadcast
Partners\PC-Radio 5\Hd” directory, overwriting the existing record.
24.1.4
Scan rights
Some computers are connected to the radio station’s local network. This means these
computers have direct access to the local network’s audio folders. Other computers
might not be able to do this, because they are, for instance, connected by a VPN
connection through the internet. Laptop computers can be disconnected from the radio
station’s local network as well, obviously lacking a permanent connection to these
audio folders.
PC-Radio strongly relies on the presence of audio files. This is (invisibly and)
automatically updated in the music database. For example the Format planner can only
schedule tracks that are available on the On-Air computer.
Because not all computers are constantly connected to the audio files, PC-Radio needs
to know what computers are allowed to rescan, or update the invisible Present field.
This can be set for each computer in the Scan rights tab.
Computer name
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The name of the computer that can administer the rescan rights.
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Description
A random description. This might be useful when determining what
computer is being addressed.
Rescan right
Whether or not the computer has rescan rights.
Every computer that connects to the database is automatically added to the rescan rights
list. The PC-Radio system administrator can manually add a computer as well.
Generally all computers in the local network have rescan rights, all others don’t.
See: the chapter on Scan for presence.
24.2
Automation
The settings on this tab relate to how the Automation operates.
24.2.1
General
Non-stop
emergency sound
after
Unforeseen circumstances, such as a defective player or a player
that is off, could cause a silence during a non-stop hour. PC-Radio
detects this and starts the next item after the time set here.
PC-Radio also uses this time for the news. Not regarding the
minimum news length settings, the software always checks for
audio, because the tuner may be off.
In practice, the audio detected by a Studio module type 1 or type 3.
If you aren’t using a studio module, there is no point in setting these
parameters.
Studio emergency If the audio fails during a studio hour, for example because the DJ is
sound after
not back in the studio in time, PC-Radio will take over the broadcast
by starting non-stop music (provided there is a shadow format).
Here you can specify the number of seconds after which this should
happen, for each studio. A higher value is usually desirable for a
studio that is mainly used to broadcast classical music.
Emergency phone This setting is only relevant for Studio module type 3. You can
sound after
connect a telephone module to this module, allowing you to have a
studio module ‘on site’. When a silence of the set length occurs, PCRadio automatically deactivates the telephone module and continues
to play from the play list.
Autofollow
This value displays the amount of time (in minutes and seconds)
after which the play list follows the active item from the play list.
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The next three options are for VTR1018 news detector users.
Minimum news
The minimum length of the news in minutes (ranging from 1 to 5).
length
This is the time after which PC-Radio will detect whether the news
has finished. If the reception has a poor audio quality or the
equipment is set up incorrectly, this setting guarantees a minimum
time. The audio is continuously checked. If the equipment is off, the
news is not cut off early.
Maximum news
length
The maximum length of the news in minutes (ranging from 3 to 15).
If end-of-news is not detected within this time, PC-Radio cuts off
the news and starts the next item on the play list. If the equipment is
set up incorrectly, this prevents the news broadcaster being heard on
your station for the rest of the hour. The maximum length value
must be higher than the minimum length value.
Mix with news
end
When PC-Radio detects the end of the news, the next item on the
play list will start. The mix for the end of the news indicates after
how many tenths of seconds the audio of the news provider must
stop. This time can be set anywhere between 0 (news immediately
off) and 2 seconds.
Fade point for
floating HD items
before fixed start
or fill-out block
With this setting you can regulate the point at which PC-Radio
allows the active hard disk item to fade out before the start of a fillout block or an item with a fixed start time. Use this setting in
conjunction with the next setting.
Fade-out duration With this setting you specify the duration of the fade-out of the
for floating HD active hard disk item before the start of a fill-out block or an item
items before start with a fixed start time. Use this setting in conjunction with the
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Preferences
of fixed start or previous setting.
fill-out block
24.2.2
Activate
automation after
start-up of
PC-Radio
You can activate the automation automatically as soon as you startup PC-Radio by checking this option. By doing this, you ensure that
the automation starts running again as soon as possible after an
unexpected power failure without any human intervention.
Deactivate Live
Assist when
starting fill-out
block
Sometimes the DJ forgets to deactivate Live Assist when starting
the fill-out block - if there is no live broadcast after the hour and the
DJ is no longer present, there will be an unexpected silence in the
ether. This option prevents that. The DJ then has to reactivate the
Live Assist function him or herself in the commercials block after
the hour.
Always play a
filling block in
Cart A
Function keys F1
through F4 …
If enabled, the automation will always start the filling block in Cart
A, even when it’s cued in Cart B.
This enables you to use the F1 through F4 function keys to control
Live assist. This option is very useful for laptop users.
News
This tab must be set for systems with a VTR1018 or ARD news module.
The VTR1018 news detector is used for providing the news, from a public broadcaster.
The news always starts on the hour; the end is determined by the detection of a stereo
signal.
ARD news provision also works as a transmitter for news from an external source. The
difference is that the news does not start at a set time. Therefore there is a risk of a
record, or even worse: a commercial, being cut off before transmission.
In PC-Radio it is possible to avoid the problem of an interrupted broadcast by recording
the ARD news onto hard disk and then broadcasting it later at a more suitable time.
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VTR1018
News source
Set the news source to VTR1018 (for use in the Netherlands)
Tune
If you enter the name here, this item is scheduled by the Format
Planner as a tune (hard disk audio) that plays during the news.
Timeslots
You must verify yourself that the news provider is indeed
broadcasting news blocks at the time that you set timeslots for
recording the news.
The Format Planner uses these timeslots to add the correct news
items to the play list.
The other settings are of no importance for news provision with the VTR1018 news
detector.
ARD
News source
ARD between …
Set the news source to ARD (for use in Flanders)
It is well-known that the ARD news provider broadcasts the news
around a certain time. You can enter a time range in which you
record the news. If the news isn’t broadcast between these times,
PC-Radio does not transfer it.
Transfer ARD live If you check this option, PC-Radio will transmit the ARD news
immediately. Your broadcast will be interrupted for it.
Record ARD
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PC-Radio records the broadcast ARD news onto hard disk so that
you can transmit it some time later. You must specify the name
under which the news should be saved. This file is overwritten by
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Preferences
each new ARD news broadcast.
24.2.3
Record ARD
codes
The ARD news provision is connected to a serial port on the PC.
ARD signals the beginning and end of the news with special codes.
These codes have been changed in the past. If you check this option,
PC-Radio saves the received codes in a file so you can check later
whether the correct codes have been received in the event of
problems with the news provision.
ARD start
command
This is the code that signals the start of the news.
ARD stop
command
This is the code that signals the end of the news.
Timeslots
PC-Radio transmits the ARD news during the set times.
HTML
The HTML tab is used to setup HTML export. PC-Radio offers you the facility of
exporting playlists as an HTML file.
Source template
This is the basic template that is used for exporting to HTML. The
sample templates and associated files are in the HTML folder.
Target file
The name, including the extension of the generated HTML file.
Active
PC-Radio automatically refreshes the HTML page whenever a new
track starts, if this option is activated. The HTML is synchronized to
the automation.
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Active template
automation
You can check this option if the document type is On-Air play list.
If this option is active, PC-Radio automatically refreshes the HTML
page when a new track starts. The HTML page then runs with the
automation, as it were.
Execute with
active template
Here you specify a command that PC-Radio will always execute
after the HTML export has been updated. This only works if the
template is marked as an active template (see option above).
The buttons at the bottom can be used for the following actions:
View
Opens the template in Internet Explorer so that the result can be
viewed.
Edit
Opens the template in Notepad so the source code can be edited.
You can read how to perform the HTML export in a separate chapter.
24.2.4
RDS
On this tab, you can set the communication with the Radix RDS software.
Fill in the Host and the Port and change the connection to active. When you press apply
the connection will be established. The lower part of the tab shows all the relevant data.
The PC-Radio status box also displays the Program Service.
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24.2.5
Preferences
External audio
The external sources you’ve configured here can be manually added to the playlist, or to
the Format planner. You can choose them from a list of all available names.
External audio through sound card (Windows 2000, XP)
For instance, If you want to broadcast window programs, you can use an audio card that
uses so called Windows faders. The Creative SoundBlaster Live is equipped with
several inputs that can be used for this purpose. The exterior shows a Line in, the CD in
and Aux in inputs are inside the PC and need an adapter cable.
The external audio output is on the same audio card as the inputs. The audio input
signal is routed to the same card’s output. This output should be connected to a mixer or
a mixing console.
External audio through stream
You can route (internet) streams as well. PC-Radio supports (amongst others AAC, mp3
and OggVorbis. Some streams are uploaded by a listen.pls or a .asx file. It depends on
the provider whether you can use these or not.
The local network and the internet quality are crucial for an uninterrupted broadcast.
The Thesyscon website (http://www.thesycon.de/eng/free_download.shtml) has a clear
description about network delays and a program that can trace them.
Extern audio via Asio
Some sound cards that support ASIO, support fading and routing audio to one or several
outputs as well.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
Audio devices
In addition to using hard disk audio, you can also connect CD changers, MD players
etc. to the automation. PC-Radio enables you to connect up to 63 of these devices and
hence to have thousands of CDs online.
In the left column you can see the devices that are connected to the inputs. You can
modify this by selecting the required input and modifying the type at the bottom left.
The Pioneer CD players for 6, 12 or 18 disc and some Sony DAT recorders and MD
players have an internal fader. Most other types don’t have this option, so in order to
fade these devices, we’ve designed BP VTR1220/C. In the Fader device box you can
specify whether PC-Radio should use the BP micro fader or the internal fader.
In some players the internal faders have limited capabilities. For instance, the micro
fader has the additional capacity to work with variable fading times up to over 12
seconds. The micro fader has been specially designed for PC-Radio and can easily be
updated in the future by changing the micro-controller. If you do not use a micro fader,
the fade times, specified in the play list or Live Assist, will not be obliged.
Some radio stations broadcast PC-Radio programs that have been created in one of the
studios. These studios, in term are connected to a BP fader module. The player type
specified in the configuration is now a Fader.
At present the following players are supported.
Type
• None
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Description
No player connected to this input
Version
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Preferences
Fader
Onkyo CC
Pioneer CC 6
Pioneer CD 6
Pioneer CD 12/18
Pioneer CD 100
Sony CD 100
Sony DAT
Sony MD
JVC DAT
JVC CD 100
Tascam DAT
Akai CC
Kenwood CD 100
Technics CD 110
News
BP micro fader
Onkyo cassette deck
Pioneer cassette changer for 6 cassettes
Pioneer CD player for 6 CDs
Pioneer CD player for 12 or 18 CD's
Pioneer CD player for 100 CD's
Sony CD player for 100 CD's
Sony DAT recorder
Sony Mini Disc player
JVC DAT recorder
JVC CD player for 100 CD’s
Tascam DAT recorder
Akai cassette deck
Kenwood CD player for 100 CD’s
Technics CD player for 110 CD’s
NOS or ARD news provision
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
You can query the version of the CD control software under Help, System status. The
table above shows the minimum version required for the selected player.
The content of the player you select on the left appears in the Contents device column,
located on the right. Enter a Carrier ID or search for a carrier ID in the Database by
double clicking on the device or by pressing CTRL+ENTER. Now you can see the tracks
on that carrier.
Users of NOS or ARD news provision connect the hardware to this module. To do this,
specify one input as ‘News’. The other settings for this news provision can be found on
the News tab.
The following settings are very similar to two of the settings on the Automation tab.
However, here they relate to the selected device.
Fade point
floating items
This time specifies when the audio from the selected device is faded
out as soon as a fill-out block or an item with a floating start time
starts.
Fade-out duration This time specifies the fade-out time when the device fades out in
floating items
the above situation.
Once the devices are connected and the types have been entered, you can check that the
device is working by selecting Test. The window below now appears. Here you can
operate all the relevant functions of the device.
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If you add devices to your configuration (or remove them) you need to close down PCRadio first, and then restart it before you can use the new device in the automation.
24.2.7
Communication
Because not every radio station has the same configuration of studio and mixing
console, it is possible to define the function of the 8 available inputs yourself.
This tab is only visible on systems containing a BP I/O-card.
The Play, Stop and Pause functions were introduced in PC-Radio 3.0 and are used to
interrupt a non-stop broadcast by PC-Radio so that the DJ in the studio can create a
program him or herself. In PC-Radio 5 you will probably no longer use these functions,
but ‘Live Assist’ instead. That is why the settings shown are recommended:
For each function you can specify whether it should be active high or low.
24.3
Local
Here you can maintenance the PC settings that are individually set for each PC in the
network.
24.3.1
162
General
Import
The Open automatically option makes the import screen pop-up
when a CD is inserted or a USB drive is connected.
Buma report
The directory that holds the report files.
JL Cooper
The JL Cooper CS-1 and MCS3 control devices are connected to
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Preferences
the serial port. You can enter which of these two devices you are
using, and which COM port it is connected to. They can be used to
record voice tracks in the Mix editor. Make sure to connect them to
their power source, before connecting them to your computer’s
serial port.
24.3.2
ShuttlePro
The Shuttle Pro control device can be connected to any available
USB port. You don’t have to install any drivers if you are using
Windows XP or 2000.
Tipro keyboard
jingle machine
This keyboard provides a direct access to your jingles. Install the
drivers first, before connecting the keyboard to your computer.
HD audio
On this tab you specify the settings for hard disk audio.
The Output routing setting depends on the number of channels you have available.
PC-Radio supports up to 32 stereo channels. For each function you can specify the
channel to which the audio should be routed.
Live A / Auto
The channel you assign here is used for Live 1 during live
broadcasts. PC-Radio also uses this output during the non-stop
broadcasts.
Live B
The channel you assign here is used for the channel on the right
during live broadcasts.
Jingle A .. D
The jingles you play in the left jingle machine window are directed
to this channel.
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As an alternative, you can select Live; jingles can be mixed by the
active live channel (Live A or Live B) or Free whereby the jingles
are simply played on any free channel. These two options are only
interesting if the number of playback channels is limited.
Edit / VT 1 .. 3
The audio from the Database Editor, Mix Editor and Preview are
placed in the channel you select here. It is possible to specify
several channels as PC-Radio never mixes this signal with Live or
Jingle. The preferred channel is given number 1.
A number of Digigram sound cards have the ability to define the settings of the
analogue output level. This can be done by setting the Master volume for each available
channel. The fixed value is indicated for cards whose outputs are not adjustable.
Input alias allows you to name the recording channels that you have available in
PC-Radio.
For sound cards with an adjustable analogue input, you can set the input level using
Input gain.
External audio editor
You can select an external audio editor by pressing external editor in the edit menu.
Specify what application you want to run, or to use the program that is linked to the
extension type in Windows.
A command is usually required, depending on the selected editor. The two characters
%1 can be replaced by the name of the concerning audio file when opening the external
audio editor. A “%1”, including the double quotation marks generally suffices.
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24.3.3
Preferences
Audio logger
The audio logger allows you to record your radio programs automatically. You enter the
right settings and PC-Radio does the rest.
Save path
Here you can specify the folders where PC-Radio must save the
audio files. It is possible to specify several folders which must be
separated by semi-colons.
Format
This setting is used to specify the quality of the recordings. You can
usually leave this as ‘Stereo 48 kHz MPEG 64 kbps’ as this quality
is sufficient for playing back a broadcast.
The higher the recording quality, the more disk space you need.
Audio input
On systems with more than one recording channel, you can specify
which channel the audio will be fed to.
Save period
Here you can specify how long the audio files must remain on the
hard disc before PC-Radio can delete them. The period can range
from 1 week to 1 year.
As with the recording quality, the longer the save period, the more
storage capacity you need.
Timeslots
Here you can specify whether or not audio logging should take
place, for each day and for each hour.
History info
PC-Radio can’t make any recordings if there is not enough storage
capacity or if an invalid save path is entered. This button gives you
a status report.
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PRINTING TEMPLATES
There are several places in PC-Radio from where you can print. The appearance of
these prints (layout, font, header and foot note) is determined in a print template. Each
print has a separate template in PC-Radio.
You can customize the templates in PC-Radio to your own requirements. You can, for
example, add your own company logo and address or perhaps a different font.
Please note that changing template data fields could potentially make them useless.
Always make a backup of the original files.
To open a template in the Designer, press Tools Æ Print templates and choose any of
the templates below:
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Printing templates
Playlist.fr3
Playlist
FormHour.fr3
Formatplanner: hour format
FormDay.fr3
Formatplanner: day format
FormInfo.fr3
Formatplanner: info screen
Customer.fr3
Commercial planner: a list of all clients
Campaign.fr3
Commercial planner: a list of all campaigns
CampaignOverview.fr3 Commercial planner: a list of all the scheduled campaigns
Dayview.fr3
Commercial planner: day overview
History.fr3
History
The reports are created by means of blocks. These are the grey rectangles in the
example. The components can be placed inside these rectangles, before they are printed.
The report templates can use the blocks listed below, with their description next to it.
ReportTitle
This is printed on the first page of the report
PageHeader
This is printed atop every page
MasterData
Contains the data that will be printed
Footer
This is printed last, and could for instance contain totals
PageFooter
This is printed on the bottom of every page.
The blocks have several tag elements (like [REPORTTITLE]) that is filled out when the
document is printed. These tags can be recognized by their square brackets, and should
not be changed, font and size, however can be changed.
The Objects toolbar is located on the left side of the screen.
Select an object. You can adjust several object settings using the
Object inspector (F11).
Insert a text field. These can be placed in any of the blocks
mentioned above. For example, you can enter your radio station’s
name, address and phone number.
Insert a block.
Insert an image. You can add your company’s logo to the Rapport
title, for instance.
The Designer offers a lot of options for template design. The ones listed above are the
most frequently used. Please contact Broadcast Partners for any specific questions about
template designing.
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26
WINDOW
26.1
Font size
The size of font you are using in the selected window can be adjusted in the Window
and Font size menus. These settings are stored for each individual user. This allows
every user to create a balance between font size and screen contents.
26.2
Presets
You can perform many different actions in PC-Radio like: create a live show, maintain
database information, voice track … Every one of these actions needs its own windows
and their locations on the PC-Radio desktop.
If all windows are properly aligned for a specific action, you can save these positions
and windows opened, by using presets, save and assigning a custom name, for example
Live, voice track …
You can retrieve these presets later from the window, Presets menu, without having to
open every window to its saved position. The size of the windows is saved as well.
Every user has his own preferences when it comes to font size and window positions.
This is why these presets are individually saved for each user.
PC-Radio can be opened by different computers in the network. A computer can have a
deviating screen resolution, for instance computers that have 1 or 2 monitors connected.
This makes voice tracking look a lot different on another computer. This is why these
settings are stored independently for each computer.
Conclusion: the presets window is saved for each individual user and for each
computer. What windows are opened, their positions and the font size are stored here.
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27
Digigram
DIGIGRAM
Digigram sound cards are frequently used for professional broadcasting purposes. Their
only disadvantage is their incapability of changing track sample rates of 44.1 to 48 kHz.
This is why Broadcast Partners advises you to use audio files of the settings below:
27.1
Bit rate
256 kbit
Frequency
48 kHz
File format
MPEG-1 layer 2 (.mp2)
Installing the PCX software
The installation of the PCX drivers is only applicable if:
• You have a system with MPEG layer 2 sounds cards (such as the PCX924v2,
PCX22, or LCM220);
• You have a system with a different audio card and work with a dongle from the VX
series (such as VX Convert, VX Session);
• You have a system with a different audio card and work with a ‘VX Play support‘
PC-Radio dongle (for pre-listening in the Database Editor and Browser).
The manufacturer Digigram has developed drivers for the sound cards that you install
using the NPruntime program. The installation of this is described here. In most cases, a
PC-Radio system is configured and installed by Broadcast Partners. In this case you
may skip the installation described here.
To insert the sound cards it is important to distinguish between the various types. The
latest PCI cards can simply be slotted into the PC. They are automatically detected by
the configuration program. ISA sound cards have jumpers to set the I/O address and the
interrupt (IRQ).
Every ISA sound card must have a unique I/O address set (use one of the following
addresses for the PCX20: 220, 280 or 300 but not the Software Select setting).
The interrupt for the PCX20 cannot be set on the card; this is done by software. With
the other sound cards, you set a jumper to ‘IRQ Load’ and to the selected IRQ. If you
have more than one card, the second PCX11+ can use the same IRQ (you do not have to
set a jumper to ‘IRQ Load’ on the second card).
Digigram has continued developing new sound cards over the years. The capabilities of
the complete product range are now very much differentiated. NPruntime 5.24 or older
(with a lower version number) must be used for the ‘older’ PCX20 and PCX800 cards.
Newer versions of the driver do not work with these two cards. Recent models can only
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be used with NPruntime 5.70a or later (higher version number). A disadvantage to
NPruntime 5.24 is the incompatibility with Windows 2000 and XP.
Later models of PCX924 and PCX22 can only be used in combination with NPruntime
5.70a (or higher). Newer cards may require even higher version numbers.
These examples conclude the fact that you can’t combine a PCX20 and a PCX924 in
one PC. There simply aren’t any Digigram drivers supporting both cards
simultaneously.
At the end of this manual you will find a brief overview of the capabilities of the
Digigram sound card product range. Included is a table with an advised driver version.
For most cards, this is minimum value. If you are not sure which driver to install, please
contact Broadcast Partners for advice.
In most cases, it is recommendable not to change the current driver version. A system
operating properly will not get any better by changing, or updating the drivers. In the
past, problems have occurred by installing a later driver version. The system might have
to be reset to its older driver.
If you have to install a new driver version, for whatever reason (for instance a change of
soundcard), the old driver has to be uninstalled first. ISA card users should write down
their current configuration (I/O address and interrupt). You’ll need these settings,
installing your new driver.
Broadcast Partners always puts the drivers on the CD-ROM that are currently the latest.
Newer versions can be found on the Digigram website. However, we advise you to
contact our support department before installing a newer version.
27.1.1
NPruntime 6.20o (np1 boards)
NPruntime 6.20o only supports np1 boards. This driver can be installed next to
NPruntime 6.30a (np2 boards).
This driver supports the following audio cards:
PCX9
PCX11
PCX11+
PCX80
PCX20v2
LCM220
PCXPocket
PCXPocket v2 PCXPocket AD PCX820np
PCX821np
PCX820np v2
PCX440np
If you perform a driver update, you should first delete the existing Wave (on Windows
NT via Control Panel, Multimedia) and NPruntime drivers (via Control Panel,
Software).
Start the installation and configuration program NPruntime 6.20. A welcome screen
appears after a few seconds (note the version number of the driver you are installing).
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Digigram
Now accept the ‘license agreement’, and specify target directory (preferably
unchanged), after which all of the supported soundcards are listed.
Usually it isn’t necessary to change any of the driver settings. In the following windows
you’ll see a list of detected hardware and settings. After copying the files to the hard
drive the following windows will appear.
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Choose continue anyway.
After the installation, the NPDriver Configuration window will pop up, as shown in the
example below. The values in the NPDriver Configuration window are corresponding to
the selected installation settings
4 channel sound card users (for example PCX822np) should set the value for Allocate
(from 0 to 376) to 100 or higher. If you fail to do so, it might be impossible to use a
recording track in PC-Radio.
Systems using one or more ISA cards have to set the ISA Boards Setting. Use Add to
add an ISA soundcard (for instance PCX11). A window will appear where you can
specify the type of audio card, together with the interrupt (IRQ) and address (@I/O). Of
course these have to correspond to the jumper settings on the audio cards.
You can change the ISA settings by selecting the card preferred and choosing Modify.
The other tabs are not relevant to the proper operation of PC-Radio. If you need
technical support by Broadcast Partners, you might be asked to check these settings.
(Using Start, Settings, Control Panel, Digigram)
Press OK to confirm these settings.
The installation of the driver is complete. Before you can use your audio cards and PCRadio, you must restart your system.
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27.1.2
Digigram
NPruntime 6.50a (np2 boards)
NPruntime 6.50a only supports np2 boards. This driver can be
NPruntime 6.20o (np1 boards).
This driver supports the following audio cards:
PCX22
PCX924
PCX440np v2 LCM440
PCX821np v2 PCX822np
PCXPocket v3 PCXPocket 240
PCX924v2
PCX924-Mic PCX22v2
PCX822v2
LCM440v2
VX822
LCM220v2
installed next to
LAM420
PCXPocket 440
PCX442
If you are performing a driver update, make sure to remove the old NPruntime driver
first (using Start, Settings, Control Panel, Software).
The remaining part of the installation is described in the chapter on NPruntime 6.20o.
27.1.3
HR runtime 1.70a
Digigram produces a new line of soundcards since 2006. These cards are listed with
‘HR’ in their name and are supported by a new driver.
The HR Runtime driver supports the following audio cards:
PCX882HR
PCX881HR
PCX1222HR
PCX1221HR
PCX924HRPCX22HR
VX882HR
VX881HR
Mic
VX1221HR
PCX924e
PCX22e
PCX924e-Mic VX222e
27.2
PCX924HR
VX1222HR
VX222e-Mic
Sound cards
The most common sound cards are summarized below. They range from simple to very
comprehensive. More detailed specifications are available on request.
PCX22v2
Play
Mix 8 tracks
Stretch / Pitch
PCI card
Adjustable analogue output
LCM220
Play / Record
Mix 3 tracks
PCI card
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LCM440
Play / Record
Mix 8 tracks
or
2 x Play
mix 6 tracks on 2 channels
Stretch / Pitch
PCI card
PCX924v2
Play / Record
Mix 8 tracks
Stretch / Pitch
PCI card
Adjustable analogue input and output
PCX822np
4 x Play / Record
Mix 10 tracks on 4 channels
Stretch / Pitch
PCI card
miXart 8
4 x Play / 4 x Record
Mix 10 tracks on 4 channels
Stretch
PCI card
The table below sums a number of current and older Digigram sound cards. It also
shows the recommended driver for each sound card.
174
Audio card
Type Driver
Tools
LCM220
LCM440
LCM440v2
miXart8
PCX11+
PCX20
PCX20v2
PCX22
PCX22v2
PCX440
1
2
2
5.60
5.60
5.86
5.60
5.60
5.20
5.60
5.60
5.60
5.60
1
1
2
2
1
6.20o
6.50a
6.50a
2.10f
6.20o
5.20/5.24
6.20o
6.50a
6.50a
6.20o
Mix
tracks
3
3
3
2 .. 4
8
3
8
8
8
8
PCM
Wave
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
MPEG1 MP3
layer 2
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
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PCX442
PCX800
PCX820
PCX821
PCX822
PCX822v2
PCX882HR
PCX924
PCX924v2
VX Play
Digigram
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
6.50a
5.20/5.24
6.20o
6.20o
6.50a
6.50a
1.40b
6.50a
6.50a
6.50a
5.60
5.20
5.60
5.60
5.60
5.86
5.86
5.60
5.60
5.60
8
6
6
6
6
6
6
8
6
1
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
The ‘multi channel’ sound cards divide the processor power amongst several outputs
(and inputs). The number of tracks that can simultaneously play on a single channel
depends on the number tracks that are currently playing on the other channels.
The diversity of drivers, soundcards and operating systems are listed below.
Driver
5.20 / 5.24
5.40.. 6.20m
6.20o
6.50a..
2.10f
1.70a
Audio card
PCX20 / PCX800
other (type 1 & 2)
type 1
type 2
miXart8
PCX882HR
Operating system
Windows NT4
Windows NT4, 2000, XP
Windows 2000, XP
Windows 2000, XP
Windows 2000, XP
Windows 2000, XP
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WAVE
Wave system users have an unlimited choice of sound cards. The PC or laptop’s
onboard soundcard usually suffices when getting started. However, usually the sound
quality proofs to be too poor for radio broadcast, and the search for an affordable
solution begins.
This chapter sums up a list of sound cards recommended by Broadcast Partners.
Model
Type
M-Audio Delta 1010
M-Audio Delta 1010LT
PCI & 19”
PCI &
Cable
FireWire
M-Audio FireWire 410
Lynx Studio Technology
AES16
RME Hammerfall DSP
Multiface II
Terratec Phase 88 Rack
Terratec Phase 88
MOTU 828mkII
Creative SoundBlaster
Live
PCI &
Cable
PCI & box
PCI /
FireWire &
19”
PCI &
5.25” box
FireWire &
19”
PCI
Analog
in
4 Jack
4 RCA
Analog
out
4 Jack
4 RCA
Digital
Digital
in
out
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
1 XLR /
Jack
-
4 Jack
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
-
4 Jack
4 Jack
8 AES /
8 AES /
EBU
EBU
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
4 Jack
4 Jack
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
4 RCA
4 RCA
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
4 Jack
4 Jack
1 S/PDIF 1 S/PDIF
1 Mini
jack
1 Mini
jack
-
-
The number of in- and outputs are listed in stereo.
M-Audio Delta 1010
M-Audio Delta 1010LT
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Wave
M-Audio FireWire 410
Lynx StudioTechnology AES16
RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface II
Terratec Phase 88 Rack
Terratec Phase 88
MOTU 828mkII
Creative SoundBlaster Live
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At this time the following card is incompatible with PC-Radio:
Terratec Phase 28
RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface II
RME Multiface users are advised to use driver version 3.0.5.9 or higher.
M-Audio driver setting
M-Audio Delta sound card users are advised to use driver version 5.10.0.5069v3, being
compatible to both Windows XP SP3 and Vista SP1. FireWire 410 users are advised to
use driver version 5.10.0.5054v2.
Older driver versions require the MultiTrack Driver Devices on the Hardware Settings
page of the Control Panel to be set to Independent for PC-Radio, as shown in the screen
below.
Motu 828mkII setting
The MOTU FW Audio Console needs to have the Enable full Wave support option
enabled, and the Enable Multi Channel Wave Synchronization disabled, as shown in the
screen capture below.
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Wave
Lynx StudioTechnology AES16
In order to use this soundcard to its full potential, the 2.0.13L driver or later should be
installed.
Disable the Settings Æ Advanced Æ SyncStart setting.
RME Fireface 400
For the Fireface Settings, disable the next 4 options in the top of the screen:
Check Input,
SyncAlign,
TMS,
Interleaved.
Echo AudioFire 12
Enable the Locked option in the AudioFire Console and choose a sampling frequency.
Now switch the AudioFire off and back on.
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Configuration
The channel that you use for pre listening should be set as the standard audio playback
device. This prevents audio, played in for instance the Windows Media Player or
Winamp to be accidentally broadcast. Input Channel 1 should be set as the default
recording device.
The order Card 1 through 6 in receive in PC-Radio is determined by the order the audio
devices are initialized by Windows. See: PC-Radio’s system information screen.
This example shows the RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface II outputs divided amongst
Card 1 through 4. See: Help Æ System info menu.
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Wave
The audio should be routed in such a way that all the specific functions are appointed to
the right outputs. Check: Settings Æ Local Æ HD audio.
Live 1/ Auto = Live-assist Card-A / Nonstop Æ Card 2 (= Multiface Analog (1+2)
Live 2 = Live-assist Card-B Æ Card 3 (= Multiface Analog (3+4)
Jingle 1 = Jingle-A Æ Card 4 (= Multiface Analog (5+6)
Jingle 2 = Jingle-B Æ Card 1 (= Multiface Analog (7+8)
Edit/VT = Pre listening Æ first Card 1; if Card1 is busy use Card 4
Broadcast Partners recommends the RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface II for routing
external devices.
Input 1 is reserved for recording (voice tracks/ editor) in PC-Radio. The other inputs
can be used for routing external audio by ASIO.
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AUDIO CONTROL MATRIX
The Audio Control Matrix does what it says: fully integrated and controlled by PCRadio software, this module routes the audio in orderly yet flexible manner from
selected inputs to desired outputs. Depending on the configuration the ACM is capable
of routing up to 12 stereo audio signals independently, creating almost infinite options.
In PC-Radio an ACM configuration with several input modules and a single output
module is most commonly used. Because all input modules also possess direct out
signals, the input signals can be routed directly to, for example the mixing console. By
connecting the output of the mixing console to a separate input of the ACM, it becomes
possible to fully route the audio either through the mixing console (Live Assist) or
through the internal stereo buses of the ACM (non-stop). The latter frees up the mixing
console for production purposes, while the non-stop live broadcast continues! A second
studio or external source may also be routed directly. A simple push on a button reroutes the PC-Radio signal back through the mixing console, where the DJ is able to
work with PC-Radio Live Assist, using the virtual cart and jingle players with fader or
button start.
The ACM is fully prepared for digital interfacing of mixing consoles and other
hardware. One can think of fader starts, external MD or DAT recorders, ISDN codecs,
but also external buttons which can be defined within PC-Radio. The ACM may
optionally also be equipped with GPS, providing your automation with the most
accurate time basis available.
Due to its modular construction the ACM is easily expanded with additional input- or
output modules. Each input module has a direct output, silence detection and fader
control. Furthermore, all in and outputs are electronically balanced. The built-in faders
make it unnecessary to have separate fader modules, while the built-in silence detection
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makes it possible to have a smooth transition to a shadow format from PC-Radio when
the scheduled external source does not provide a signal.
For radio stations that broadcast (live) from two alternate studios, the ACM offers the
possibility of realizing this with a single PC-Radio on-air station.
Altogether, the ACM is an indispensable tool for automated broadcasting.
29.1
Master module
The Master module is the most important module in the ACM. This module enables
smooth communication with PC-Radio and ensures that tasks are performed accurately
and efficiently. Furthermore, it provides the automation with an accurate time basis, if
the ACM is equipped with an optional GPS module. Also, the Master module may be
equipped with Remote control, generating RC codes for MD and CD players (connected
to an input module) of almost any hardware device.
Functions
• ACM control
• GPS time reference (optional)
• Remote control (optional)
29.1.1
ACM control
A separate configuration window is available in PC-Radio for the ACM (Tools Æ
Audio Control Matrix). This window allows for configuration of the ACM and
designation of functions of the remote in and outputs.
29.1.2
GPS time reference
The time basis for the automation is determined through the Global Positioning System
(GPS). This system uses 24 satellites in orbit, which can be ‘seen’ from anywhere on
the planet. Although its primary use is for navigational purposes, GPS also provides a
very accurate UTC-time base. The effective level of precision for the automation is 50
ms.
Since satellites are used, it is very important that the antenna is placed in a manner that
allows for a clear view. Usually a position near a window is sufficient for uninterrupted
GPS reception (3 satellites or more).
Broadcast Partners supplies GPS clocks with an active antenna. Using passive antennas
may result in damage to the GPS clock in the Audio Control Matrix.
29.1.3
Remote control
Generation of remote control pulses is managed by the master module. The actual
transfer of signals to connected appliances is done through Remote Control Outputs on
the input modules.
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Pin-out D25 connector
Master SUB-D25
1
2
3
5
6
14
16
24
25
Function
RXD
TXD
CTS
GPS RXD
GPS TXD
GND
GND
GND
GND
Com SUB-D9
2
3
5
8
Function
RXD
TXD
GND
CTS
A Master to Comport cable:
29.2
Input module
The input module allows for audio routing to one or more internal buses. Several inputs
may be routed to the same bus, creating a mix of the audio. An input module may
connect audio to several buses. The input module is prepared for four internal buses.
This can be expanded to 8 or 12 buses by means of a piggyback-circuit board.
The audio source connected to an input module can be routed directly through Direct
Output. MD and CD players can be controlled by means of Remote Control. If digital
interfacing is required, the digital input may be used.
The input module is equipped with a fader that allows for fading in or fading out of the
incoming signal. The audio detection makes it possible to check if the connected source
provides audio.
Functions
• Audio input (stereo balanced)
• Audio direct output (stereo balanced)
• Input gain control
• Digital input (TTL)
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•
•
•
29.2.1
Remote control output
Audio detection
Fader
Audio input
The audio source is connected to the stereo inputs of the input module (if a mono source
is connected, change the jumpers J7 and J8 on the board). If 600 ohms impedance is
required, change jumpers J6 and J9.
29.2.2
Audio direct output
The audio direct output is used to route the audio from the source to, for example, the
mixing console.
Please note: The input gain setting influences the level of the Audio Direct Output.
29.2.3
Input gain control
The input gain may be adjusted with the variable resistor behind the connector plate on
the module. The top resistor is used for adjusting the left channel and the one below for
the right.
Please note: Changing the settings influences the level of the Audio Direct Output as
well.
29.2.4
Digital input
This input is used when digital interfacing with a connected source is required.
29.2.5
Remote control output
The MD or DAT player can be controlled via this output. The MD or DAT player needs
to be adjusted by Broadcast Partners. If this is not the case, please contact us.
29.2.6
Audio detection
The level between audio and silence is pre-determined at -40 dBµ. If a different setting
is required, please contact us.
29.2.7
Input SUB-D25
1
2
Function
L audio in hot
L audio in cold
Type
In
In
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14
L audio GND
AGND
3
4
16
R audio in hot
R audio in cold
R audio GND
In
In
AGND
5
6
18
L direct out hot
L direct out cold
L direct out GND
Out
Out
AGND
7
8
20
R direct out hot
R direct out cold
R direct out GND
Out
Out
AGND
11
24
13
25
12
Remote control out
Remote control GND
Digital input
Digital input GND
+5V
Out
GND
In
GND
Power
Example cabling
29.3
Output module
The output module allows selecting an internal bus on which the audio must be routed.
Depending on your requirements, this may be a mix of inputs, or the audio of a single
input. When straightforward digital interfacing with a connected device (e.g. a
transmitter or ISDN codec) is required, the digital output may be used. In the standard
version, the output module has four internal buses (a bus contains the mixed audio of
one or more inputs). This may be extended to 8 or 12 buses.
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Output module plus
This module contains all features of the standard output module, supplemented with
fading, allowing fade in and fade outs.
Functions
• Audio output (stereo and mono balanced)
• Digital output (TTL)
• Fader (optional)
29.3.1
Audio output
An output module has electronically balanced outputs. Besides a stereo output there is
also a mono output.
29.3.2
Digital output
This output switches between 0 and 5 V. It may be used for digital interface with the
connected device.
29.3.3
Output SUB-D25
1
2
14
3
4
16
5
6
18
11
24
12
25
Function
L audio out cold
L audio out hot
L audio GND
R audio out cold
R audio out hot
R audio out GND
Mono out hot
Mono out cold
Mono out GND
Digital output 1
Digital output 1 GND
Digital output 2
Digital output 2 GND
Type
Out
Out
AGND
Out
Out
AGND
Out
Out
AGND
Out
GND
Out
GND
Example of cabling:
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Manual PC-Radio 5
IO-module
Switching devices on or off, connecting fader starts, switching Live Assist on or off,
and switching on an on-air lamp. This is all possible with the IO module. By default,
this module has a number of digital in and outputs and relay contacts.
Functions
• 8 digital inputs (opto-coupled)
• 8 analogue inputs (0-5V)
• 4 digital outputs (TTL)
• 4 relay contacts (latching)
The interfacing of the IO-module is divided over two connectors. Half of all functions
are controlled from the board, the other half with an extra connector print.
29.4.1
Digital inputs
Inputs 1 to 8 have an opto-coupler circuit. This may be bypassed as well. In that case
the input is used as regular digital input. All inputs possess a selectable high or low
impedance pull up or pull down circuit. This is selected with the jumpers on the circuit
board. The top row jumpers allow for activation of the pull up or pull down circuit. The
bottom row of jumpers is used to determine the impedance (47k of 4k7).
29.4.2
Digital outputs
The IO-module has digital outputs that switch between 0 and 5 V.
29.4.3
Relay contacts
The relay contacts can be used to switch external devices, such as a studio on-air lamp.
29.4.4
Master SUB-D25
1
188
Function
Digital Input 1 + (opto coupler)
Type
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14
18
24
2
15
19
24
3
16
20
24
4
17
21
24
5
25
6
25
7
25
8
25
12
25
13
25
10
22
11
23
9
Digital Input 1 – (opto coupler)
Digital Input 1 (opto coupler bypass)
Digital Input 1 GND (opto coupler bypass)
Analogue Input 1
Analogue Input 1 GND
Analogue Input 2
Analogue Input 3
Analogue Input 4
Digital Output 1
Digital Output 1 GND
Digital Output 2
Digital Output 2 GND
Relay contact Output 1 CO
Relay contact Output 1 NC
Relay contact Output 2 CO
Relay contact Output 2 NC
+5V
In
In
GND
In
In
In
GND
In
In
In
GND
In
In
In
GND
In
GND
In
GND
In
GND
In
GND
Out
GND
Out
GND
Out
Out
Out
Out
Power
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Example cabling
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29.5
Technical details
General
Vmains:
Dimensions:
Pmax:
85 – 264 VAC
3 HE, 19 inch
40 W max
Audio inputs
Input level:
Rin:
Rout:
+18 dBµ max
600 Ω of 22 kΩ, jumper selectable
100 Ω
Audio outputs
Output Level:
Rload:
0 dB (+18 dBµ max.)
> 2kΩ
Digital inputs
Vmax:
Vmin:
Vhigh:
Vlow:
Rpull:
5V
0V
>4.2 V
<1.0 V
pull up or pull down, 47k or 4k7, jumper selectable
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Digital outputs
Vhigh:
Vlow:
Imax,out:
Power output Imax:
5V
0V
25 mA
5 mA (IO module pin 9)
Relay outputs
Vmax:
Imax:
Pmax:
Rcontact:
125 V
0,5 A
11 W
50 mΩ
Example configuration
The Audio Control Matrix can be used in various ways by radio stations.
In this example a configuration is shown where a radio station uses two studios for live
broadcasting.
The On Air PC is equipped with two audio cards, on which the audio signal is
connected to two input modules on the Audio Control Matrix.
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In PC-Radio these two input modules may be configured as Automation HD A and
Automation HD B. Configuration details are discussed in the next chapter.
The direct out connections on the input modules are routed to both studios, where they
are connected to two channels of the mixing console.
The output of the mixing console is connected to another input module on the ACM.
Afterwards you configure this input as Studio 1. Repeat this procedure for the output of
the second studio.
Other external sources (e.g. window programming) may be connected to the extra input
modules (EX 1 and EX 2).
The Audio Control Matrix has an output module, which routes the audio to a sound
processor or transmitter.
How does the Audio Control Matrix operate in this configuration?
In non-stop mode, the automation plays via HD A. This is routed through the Audio
Control Matrix and directly connected to the output module.
As soon as a DJ starts live broadcasting from either one of the two studios, the fader of
HD A is opened.
Now Live Assist is activated in PC-Radio (settings in PC-Radio: tab Studio x inputs,
function Activate Live Assist).
PC-Radio switches the audio of input HD A off, in the Audio Control Matrix and
switches the correct studio input on. The audio is now routed through the mixing
console, giving the DJ full control.
The Audio Control Matrix also offers the possibility to switch an on-air lamp in the
studio on and off (settings: tab Outputs, function Studio x On Air).
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AUDIO CONTROL MATRIX CONFIGURATION
After correctly connecting the Audio Control Matrix to the hardware (usually the
mixing console in the studio) PC-Radio can be configured.
Using Tools Æ Audio Control Matrix you reach the window displayed below. On the
left side you may navigate between a numbers of panes. This chapter describes the
functions in these windows.
30.1
Modules
The Modules window is used to determine to which com port the ACM is connected. It
also provides an overview of the available modules in the ACM.
Serial port
Select the serial port of the PC to which the Audio Control Matrix
is connected.
Active
Used to determine that the ACM is active. Normally this option is
checked.
Please note: Changes in this window need be confirmed using the Apply button.
If the ACM is connected properly and activated, the installed modules (as described in
the previous chapter) are shown.
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S/N
Serial number of the module. The remote control and GPS clock
are add-ons for the master module and have no separate serial
number.
Type
This is the type of the module (Master, Audio input, Audio output
or IO).
Audio function
Used to determine the functions of the Audio input and Audio
output modules.
The audio inputs have the following connectivity options:
Automation HD: outputs of the first two audio cards in the PC;
Studio: output of the mixing console in the studio;
News detector: audio of the news detector;
External audio: audio of external audio sources.
Name
The Audio input, Audio output and IO modules may be given
specific names. The serial number of the module is used as
default.
Version
The version number of the software on the module. In the future,
new versions will be developed with additional or different
functionality. The version numbers allow for control of settings.
IO in
Number of digital inputs on the module.
IO out
Number of digital outputs on the module.
Bus
Number of buses on the module.
Fader
Indicates if the module has a fader. Not relevant for the IO
module.
Some extra options for audio input routing are listed on the bottom of the screen.
30.2
Stop automation
The input that is routed to the On-Air output when the automation
stops.
Alarm sound
The ACM has an alarm sound that monitors the audio detection in
the active output. If there is no audio for a set amount of time, the
ACM will switch the input to the On Air output.
Audio buses
This window provides an overview of the routing of inputs to the outputs via the buses
in the Audio Control Matrix.
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The example shows that the first input module ‘Live assist cart A’ is connected to the
output ‘To transmitter’.
30.3
GPS clock
The GPS clock is an optional extension for the master module in the ACM.
For adequate reception is it necessary to place the antenna close to a window with clear
view of the sky.
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The number of visible satellites must be at least 3 for a reliable reception of the time
base. These satellites circulate the earth in a geo stationary orbit, meaning that they set
and rise like the sun and moon. The number of visible satellites may therefore slightly
vary during the day.
When insufficient satellites are visible, the LED is red. A blinking green LED means 3
satellites are visible, if there are more the LED will be continuously green.
When enough satellites are visible, the GPS decoder is able to determine the exact time.
The time-synchronization LED will light up green. The time this will take is dependent
on numerous circumstances, but usually takes less then 10 seconds, after enough
satellites are visible.
As soon as reliable reception of the time is established, the time of the PC is
synchronized. This is repeated whenever the PC time deviates too much from the GPS
time. If PC-Radio can’t synchronize it’s time for over 15 minutes, it will show in this
screen.
30.4
General inputs
The majority of the connection options are found in this window. For many functions in
PC-Radio you specify the module to which they are connected.
To prevent interruptions of the automation during play out, you may choose Test mode.
If selected, any changes made will not interrupt playback.
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Another useful tool is the Program button. When pressed, you may choose a function,
such as Jingle A Play. Afterwards you press the desired button on the mixing console
for starting jingle A. PC-Radio recognizes at which board and input the button is
connected and fills in the variables. This makes it easy to define the buttons to a great
extent. In the first column a led will flash if the function is assigned to an input. This led
will show up if the function is active.
In the first column, a LED will appear, if a function is set to an input. This LED will
light up when the function is active.
30.5
Studio 1 / 2 inputs
The window for Studio 1 and 2 have the same appearance and functionality as the
window for general inputs.
The inputs that only apply when the corresponding studio is activated can be defined
here. This will prevent you from starting a record with a button- or fader start, in studio
2, while studio 1 is broadcasting.
A studio can be selected by using the “Activate live assist”-function of the required
studio.
The definition method used is identical to the general input procedure.
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30.6
Outputs
In this window you can configure the digital outputs.
The example above shows an on air lamp that will be switched on if you change to live
broadcasting in a studio. Likewise, you may also switch on a different lamp for RDS
Traffic Announcement. This function is not controlled through PC-Radio but Radix
(RDS software).
30.7
Interface modules
The last window provides an overview of all inputs per module.
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The test mode option allows you to test the options without effecting the automation
directly.
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31
Compact Interface Module
COMPACT INTERFACE MODULE
Radio stations, who want to hook fader starts up to their radio automation, can use the
Broadcast Partners’ Compact Interface Module (CIM). The module is compatible to all
types of mixing consoles, in contrast to other amateur electronic sets available on the
market. Every input has numerous adjusting possibilities. This means options for: a pull
up/down resistor and high/low impedance. This will prevent many headaches
connecting the mixing console to the PC, and the fader starts will be up and running in
no time.
Another possibility is connecting the VTR1018 news detector to the CIM. The CIM is a
ready made interface, easily installed inside the PC, so you don’t even need a casing.
This results in a professional looking, and operating system, combining your hardware
with PC-Radio.
Functions
• 6 digital inputs for faderstart or news detector
• 2 digital output for a news detector or external source
• GPS time reference (optional)
31.1.1
Remote inputs
All inputs are equipped with a selectable high- or low impedance pull up or pull down
circuit. This is selected by using the jumpers on the circuit board. The left row of
jumpers allows for activation of the pull-up or pull-down circuit. The right row of
jumpers is used to set the impedance (47k of 4k7).
31.1.2
Remote outputs
The Remote outputs switch between 0 and 5 V.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
GPS time reference
The time basis for the automation is determined by the Global Positioning System
(GPS). This system uses 24 satellites orbiting the earth. The main function of this
system is place reference, but also contains a very accurate (within 50 ms.) UTC time.
Because satellites are used, there should be a reasonable amount of sky visible. In most
cases, positioning the antenna in front of a window is sufficient for a clear GPS signal.
Broadcast Partners supplies an active GPS antenna with the GPS clock. Using passive
antennas can result in damaging the GPS clock, or the Compact Interface Module.
31.1.4
CIM SUB-D25
18
19
20
21
24
5
6
12
13
25
9
31.2
202
Function
Digital input D1
Digital input D2
Digital input D3
Digital input D4
Digital GND
Digital input D5
Digital input D6
Digital output D1 (New On/Off)
Digital output D2 (Play/Pause)
Digital GND
+5V
Type
In
In
In
In
GND
In
In
Out
Out
GND
Power
Technical details
General
Vmains:
Dimensions:
Pmax:
12V
PCI format card
40 W max
Remote inputs
Vmax:
Vmin:
Vhigh:
Vlow:
Rpull:
5V
0V
>4.2 V
<1.0 V
pull up or pull down, 47k or 4k7, jumper selectable
Remote outputs
Vhigh:
Vlow:
Imax,out:
Power output Imax:
5V
0V
25 mA
5 mA
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31.3
Installing hardware
You can connect your mixing console’s fader start to PC-Radio, by means of the
Compact Interface Module, or CIM for shot. The CIM can easily be installed in any
available PCI slot. The small connector on the back of the CIM should be connected to
the COM port. The large connector (IO interface) is used to connect fader starts,
external audio sources and a contingent VTR1018 news detector. The pin-out is listed
in the table below. The internal connector is used for the CIM’s power connection. The
CIM doesn’t route the audio.
The CIM is equipped with six remote inputs (D1-D6) and two remote outputs (D1 and
D2). Each remote input can be used for one fader start. One of the fader start contacts is
linked to a remote input. The other is usually connected to GND. You can define the
remote inputs to your own specifications in PC-Radio. Each remote output can be used
for 1 external source at most.
If a VTR1018 news detector is configured, remote input D1 and remote output D1 are
reserved for news. This means only one external source can be controlled by remote
output D2. You could use a fader start compatible CD or MD player player as an
external source. The play/pause or pause button has to be connected to the CD or MD
player’s remote interface. The audio is normally connected directly to the mixing
console.
The CIM has a row of jumpers and a dipswitch. The jumpers control the behavior of the
remote inputs. They can be set to up (pull up) and down (pull down). Most mixing
consoles require an up setting.
The dipswitch controls the impedance. It can be set to high (47KΩ) and low (4K7Ω). A
high impedance of 47KΩ is most commonly used. Cablings exceeding a length of 15
meters may require 4K7Ω impedance. Always use properly shielded cable to prevent
interference.
CIM SUB-D25
18
19
20
21
24
5
6
12
13
25
9
Function
Digital input D1 (News detection)
Digital input D2
Digital input D3
Digital input D4
GND
Digital input D5
Digital input D6
Digital output D1 (News On/Off)
Digital output D2 (Play/Pause)
GND
+5V
Type
Remote input
Remote input
Remote input
Remote input
GND
Remote input
Remote input
Remote output
Remote output
GND
Power
VTR1018 SUB-D25
24
25
Shield
Function
News detection
News On/Off
GND
Type
Output
Input
GND
MD/CD player
Function
Type
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Play/Pause
GND
Remote input
GND
Most mixing consoles can have their fader starts set to produce a pulse or a continuous
contact. PC-Radio needs a continuous contact.
Several popular mixing consoles are listed with their fader start connections.
Mixing console
D&R Airmate
Connector on Connection
mixing
on mixing
console
console
TRS
tip
ring
Jumper on
CIM
Remote input
GND
UP
TRS
D&R Airmix
continuous / cue
on
tip
ring
Remote input
GND
UP
D&R Airlab
TRS
tip
ring
Remote input
GND
UP
D&R Aircom
continuous
TRS
tip
ring
Remote input
GND
UP
D&R Sirius
sub-D 9 male
1
6
Remote input
GND
UP
D&R Scorpius
TRS
tip
ring
Remote input
GND
UP
tip
Remote input
UP
shield
GND
Dateq BCS-50 / TRS
100 / 200
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Connection on
CIM
Dateq BCS-25
sub-D 25 male
3 (through circuit)
7 (through circuit)
Remote input
GND
UP
Dateq BCS-70
sub-D 25 male
17
5
Remote input
GND
UP
Eela SBM-90
sub-D 25 male
22 (button start)
23 (button start)
Remote input
GND
UP
Eela SBM-90
sub-D 25 male
24 (fader start)
25 (fader start)
Remote input
GND
UP
Eela SRM
cinch
Center
Ground
Remote input
GND
UP
Soundcraft
Sub-D
9 1
GND
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SCA200
Alice
female
sub-D 25 male
2 cue channel Remote input
B
4 cue channel Remote input
A
UP
22
10
UP
Remote input
GND
UP
The Dateq BCS-25 uses 15 Volts for switching, so some extra circuitry is required for
direct connection.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
COMPACT INTERFACE MODULE CONFIGURATION
After correctly connecting the Compact Interface Module to the hardware (usually the
mixing console in the studio) PC-Radio can be configured.
Using Tools Æ Audio Control Matrix you reach the window displayed below. As the
CIM is closely related to the ACM, PC-Radio is initially not able to determine whether
the CIM or ACM is connected. After PC-Radio has detected the hardware, the correct
text will be displayed, as shown below.
32.1
Modules
The browser on the left side shows a number of options.
The Modules option is used to determine to which com port of the PC the CIM is
connected. Check the Active option to indicate that a CIM module is connected and
choose Apply to establish the connection. After the CIM is detected, a number of
variables are shown on screen. The CIM in this example shows that a GPS clock is
connected.
32.2
GPS clock
If the CIM is equipped with a GPS clock, the status of the GPS receiver can be checked
in this window.
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To establish a good reception, the antenna should be places in front of a window facing
the clear sky.
The number of visible satellites must be at least 3 for a reliable reception of the time
base. These satellites circulate the earth in a geo stationary orbit, meaning that they rise
and set like the sun and moon. The number of visible satellites may therefore vary
slightly during the day.
When insufficient satellites are visible, the LED is red. A blinking green LED means 3
satellites are visible, if there are more the LED will be continuously green.
When enough satellites are visible, the GPS decoder is able to determine the exact time.
The time-synchronization LED will light up green. The time this will take is dependent
on numerous circumstances, but usually takes less then 10 seconds, after enough
satellites are visible.
As soon as reliable reception of the time is established, the time of the PC is
synchronized. This is repeated whenever the PC time deviates too much from the GPS
time. If PC-Radio can’t synchronize it’s time for over 15 minutes, it will shown up in
this window.
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32.3
Manual PC-Radio 5
General inputs
This window allows you to configure which function in PC-Radio you want to operate
by which inputs of the CIM.
Test mode
When checked, changes will not influence the performance of the
automation in PC-Radio. Use this option to test the settings.
Program
This button is used to switch the CIM to a learning position. First
you select the function; then you push the button that has to
activate the function. PC-Radio registers the input at which the
button is connected and fills in the variables for activation.
Previous configuration is suitable for mixing consoles with continuous fader- or button
starts. When connecting a mixing console that uses pulsed fader- or button starts, you
can use the next settings.
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32.4
Outputs
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32.5
Manual PC-Radio 5
Interface modules
This last window provides an overview of all inputs per module.
The test mode option allows you to test the proper connection of the hardware. You can
use the test mode by checking the Test mode option, and opening and closing the faders
of your mixing console. If connected properly, the LEDs will flash, without affecting
the automation.
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33
Behringer MX882 for studio switching
BEHRINGER MX882 FOR STUDIO SWITCHING
The Behringer MX882 is an affordable solution for radio stations that use PC-Radio in
non stop mode around the mixing console as well.
Behringer MX882 Circuitry
33.1
Routing the RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface II
Input Main Left = RME Multiface channel 1, or another channel number that is used for
PC-Radio’s left non-stop signal (PC-Radio setting).
Input Main Right = RME Multiface channel 2, or another channel number that is used
for PC-Radio’s right non-stop signal (PC-Radio setting).
Left main output = to the left input of a stereo transmitter’s audio input, an STL or
cable modulator.
Right main output = to the right input of a stereo transmitter’s audio input, an STL or
cable modulator.
Input 1 = from the mixing console’s left master output.
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Output 1 = not connected.
Input 2 =
the mixing console’s right master output.
Output 2 = not connected
Input 3 =
not connected.
Output 3 = split from left main input = RME Multiface > left PC-Radio’s first
mixing console channel.
Input 4 =
not connected.
Output 4 = split from input main right = RME Multiface > right PC-Radio’s first
Button settings
Main Link = on during nonstop, off while live.
Input 1 & 2= “split” during nonstop, “mix” while live.
Input 3 & 4= always in “split” setting.
Input 5 & 6= irrelevant, because they are not connected.
This means only the buttons that have orange text, need to be switched, when switching
between non-stop and live (three buttons total).
Input 1 & 3 have their balance set to the left.
Input 2 & 4 have their balance set to the right.
Audio routing circuit
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33.2
Routing the M-Audio Delta 1010
Input Main Left = M-Audio Delta 1010 channel 1, or another channel number that is
used for PC-Radio’s left non-stop signal (PC-Radio setting).
Input Main Right = M-Audio Delta 1010 channel 2, or another channel number that is
used for PC-Radio’s right non-stop signal (PC-Radio setting).
Left main output = to the left input of a stereo transmitter’s audio input, an STL or
cable modulator.
Right main output = to the right input of a stereo transmitter’s audio input, an STL or
cable modulator.
Input 1 = from the mixing console’s left master output.
Output 1 = not connected.
Input 2 =
the mixing console’s right master output.
Output 2 = not connected
Input 3 =
not connected.
Output 3 = split from left main input = M-Audio Delta 1010 > left PC-Radio’s first
Input 4 =
not connected.
Output 4 = split from input main right = M-Audio Delta 1010 > right PC-Radio’s
first mixing console channel.
Input 5 =
Left SoundBlaster output. (An external
through an extra sound card).
Output 5 = To the mixing console, to be able to listen
faded by PC-Radio, when the fader is opened.
Input 6 =
Right SoundBlaster output. (An external
through an extra sound card)
Output 6 = To the mixing console, to be able to listen
faded by PC-Radio, when the fader is opened.
source faded by PC-Radio
to the external source that is
source faded by PC-Radio
to the external source that is
Button settings
Main Link = on during nonstop, off while live.
Input 1 & 2= “split” during nonstop, “mix” while live.
Input 3 & 4= always in “split” setting.
Input 5 & 6= always in “mix” setting.
This means only the buttons that have orange text, need to be switched, when switching
between non-stop and live (three buttons total).
Input 1 & 3 have their balance set to the left.
Input 2 & 4 have their balance set to the right.
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Audio routing circuit
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34
HISTORICAL HARDWARE
34.1
Installing PC-Radio I/O
Historical hardware
A device driver should be installed to control the PC-Radio hardware such as the CD
control, mixing console interface and DCF clock. Installation is different for the various
operating systems Windows NT, 2000, 98 and ME (Millennium Edition).
34.1.1
Windows NT
Start the DCF program: Start Æ Applications Æ Broadcast Partners Æ DCF.
In the screenshot above you can see that no driver is installed. Select the hardware
interrupt that is selected on the hardware in the PC via Driver and Hardware interrupt.
You can choose from interrupts 10, 11, 12 and 15. If there is no DCF card, select No
IRQ.
Select Driver and Install to start the device driver.
Here you can see the device driver and the version number. The DCF clock is also
running. You also use this program to stop the device driver (if necessary).
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34.1.2
Manual PC-Radio 5
Windows 2000
The installation of the device driver under Windows 2000 is similar to under Windows
NT. Again you must be logged in with administrator rights. However, the difference is
that you will only find the option Install under the Driver menu. Once you have selected
this, the driver is installed automatically. This can take some time.
The device driver is installed with the default settings, which means that the IRQ for the
DCF control is set to interrupt 11.
If you want to change this, go to the Control Panel using Start Æ Settings Æ Control
panel. Select the System option. Select the Hardware tab and start the Device manager
there.
Device manager shows you a summary of all the installed hardware. Expand
multifunctional adapters, select PC-Radio 4 I/O and then Properties.
You can change the settings on the Sources tab but you must first deactivate the Use
automatic settings option.
For systems without a DCF, the basic configuration is modified in Default
configuration 0001.
On systems where the interrupt for the DCF clock is set to 10, 12 or 15, you must
double click Interrupt request under Source type. Now you can set a different interrupt.
34.2
Timebasis
The clock PC-Radio uses is not really reliable. It works fine for regular applications, but
radio broadcasts need a more accurate time basis.
Broadcast Partners has developed various solutions for reliable time basis.
You can check what time basis PC-Radio uses in the system information window:
PC-Radio
This time basis uses a reliable timer of an I/O card (ISA) in the PC.
After startup, PC-Radio synchronizes it’s time to the PC’s internal
clock. You can manually set the time using the buttons that appear
after you double-clicking the PC-Radio clock
DCF
The DCF clock is an add-on to the PC-Radio ISA card, usable in
most European countries.
GPS
Audio Control Matrix- or Compact Interface Module users can
purchase a GPS clock add-on. Like the DCF clock, GPS has a very
reliable time basis. The GPS clock can be used anywhere in the
world. The GPS clock is described in the chapters on the ACM and
CIM modules
PC
This means the PC clock is used. This is sufficient for workstations.
The above time bases are automatically detected by PC-Radio. Nowadays most PCRadio systems are connected to the internet that provides various ‘time servers’. These
ensure the accuracy of the PC (and PC-Radio).
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Historical hardware
The following change in PC-Radio.ini prohibits the PC-Radio clock from automatically
detecting an external clock, in other words the PC system time is used for time basis:
[Common]
Time=0
34.3
Hardware installation
To connect the mixing console to PC-Radio, there is a splitter cable (Y cable) with two
connectors labeled remote and cue behind the PC-Radio PC. Later I/O cards have two
connectors on board.
The assignment of functions to the seven available inputs as described here is the
default setting. If desired, different functions may be assigned to the inputs in PC-Radio
(Tools Æ Settings Æ Communication tab).
The table below shows how to connect the functions in question to the two connectors.
Remote SUB-D 9 female
1
2
3
4
Function
Input 1
Input 2
Input 3
GND
Default function in PC-Radio
Play
Stop
Pause
Cue SUB-D 15 female
2
3
6
7
10
13
14
15
Function
Input 4
Input 8
Input 5
5V
Input 6
GND
Input 7
GND
Default function in PC-Radio
Fader start Live Assist HD-A
None
Fader start Live Assist HD-B
Fader start Jingle Machine CRT-A
Fader start Jingle Machine CRT-B
The functions on the remote connector are active low and on the cue connector they
are active high.
The connections of a number of popular mixing consoles are shown below.
D&R Airmate
Stereo jack
tip
ring
+5V
input
D&R Airmix
continue / cue on
Stereo jack
tip
ring
+5V
input
D&R Airlab
Stereo jack
tip
ring
+5 V
input
D&R Aircom
Stereo jack
tip
+5V
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continue
218
ring
input
D&R Sirus
SUB-D 9 male
1
6
+5V
input
Dateq BCS-25
SUB-D 25 male
7
3
GND
input
Dateq BCS-50/100/200
Stereo jack
tip
house
+5V
input
Dateq BCS-70
Control pattern 0
(4 switches off)
SUB-D 25 male
17
5
+5V
input
Eela SBM-90
SUB-D 25 male
24
25
+5V
input
Eela SRM
Cinch
Centre
Mass
+5V
input
Soundcraft SAC200
SUB-D 9 female
1
2
4
GND
cue channel B
cue channel A
Alice
SUB-D 25 male
22
10
+5V
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35
Normaliser
NORMALISER
The Normaliser allows you to encode or decode different audio formats, including PCM
audio (.wav) and MPEG1-layer 3 (.mp3) to MPEG1-layer 2 or mp3. You can also
specify if the audio files need to be normalised.
An interesting feature is that it allows you normalize the files to an average RMS level,
or peak level, during conversion. Whatever kind of normalization is require, depends on
the application. If you want to compile a couple of audio files to a CD, for your own
use, you can use peak level normalizing. Radio stations usually want all their audio files
to be the same volume. Then the audio is submitted to a sound processor or a limiter at
the most ideal level.
PC-Radio doesn’t require normalized sound files. Determining the wave shape of the
audio file, the RMS level is also calculated. In the Database editor you can
automatically adjust any file up to (or down to) -18 dB.
Users of PC-Radio 5 will normally convert to broadcast wave format (.wav). This is the
default choice.
When Normalize to peak level and Normalize to RMS power are both unchecked, the
audio files are encoded to MPEG1-layer 2 without adjustment of the audio levels.
In order to be able to convert to mp2, a Digigram audio card must be present in the
system or a Digigram VXConvert dongle must be connected to the system.
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Selection
Files in the left section named Selected files may be inserted directly from the Windows
file manager using drag & drop. The button Add files may also be used to add files to
the list of files.
The section Output directory allows the user to specify the drive and directory location
where the converted files are to be saved.
The following options are available:
Delete original … The original file will be deleted. This function does not work if the
source and target directory are equal.
Normalize to peak Choosing this option results in peak levels being normalized at 0dB.
level
It is not possible to choose this option if the next option is selected
(RMS power).
220
Normalize to
RMS power
Choosing this option results in normalization of the total audio level
at a pre-defined variable (default = -18dB). This function results in
equal volumes for each track. Tracks that are too loud or too soft are
normalized to mean level.
Invert right
channel
This function should only be used for tracks that have been recorded
inverted. Selecting this option will invert the right channel.
Broadcast Partners
Manual PC-Radio 5
36
TXT2PLL
TXT2PLL
The conversion program TXT2PLL can convert programs from other formats, to PCRadio compatible play lists. This program was particularly used for adding commercials
to a play lists that contained music and jingles for a complete program.
TXT2PLL.EXE uses the PC-Radio Database (i.e. correcting the items lengths) so it
must be installed in the same directory as PC-Radio
If you simply type in TXT2PLL, you see help for it:
PC-Radio 5, Text to PLL conversion, version 5.30.0.3
Copyright (C) 1997 -- 2007, Broadcast Partners
TXT2PLL [/A] [/V] [/N] [/D] [/E] filename [filename ...]
/A
/V
/N
/D
/E
Add
Verbose
Nodelete
Delete
External
=
=
=
=
=
adds items that did not exist to the database
logs items that are not in the database
do not delete items previously added by TXT2PLL
delete playlist before conversion
mark items as external
For example, a text file can be converted by the following command (if the text file is in
the same directory):
TXT2PLL 060719.TXT
Or
TXT2PLL C:\PLANNER\060719.TXT
The screen export looks as follows:
060719.txt
F:\PC-RADIO\PLL\20060719.PLL
Here the program indicates which text file and play list are being combined.
If you use the option /V, TXT2PLL, a play list of all items in the text file that are not in
the Database, is created and saves them with the name TXT2PLL.LOG.
You can use TXT2PLL several times in a row for the same files (in case commercials
are being added). The old items are first deleted and then the new ones are added.
However, you can use the option /N to prevent the old items from being deleted. Use
this option with care.
Of course, you can combine the options /V and /N in one command.
If the text file does not exist (for example because you made a typing error) or the play
list is in use, TXT2PLL informs you of this with the text (ERROR).
060511.txt (ERROR)
F:\PC-RADIO\PLL\20060511.PLL
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Here the text file does not exist, or
060512.txt
F:\PC-RADIO\PLL\20060512.PLL (Wrong)
If the play list has been opened in PC-Radio and hence cannot be updated.
TXT2PLL converts the specified file but also combines it with a play list with the same
name. Because the program is installed in the PC-Radio directory, the location of the
correct play list is known. The items are added in the correct places. Items that were
placed in the play list during an earlier conversion are first deleted by TXT2PLL. This
way it is possible to perform a conversion repeatedly without the play list containing
more and more commercials.
You can specify a block of up to 12 digital audio tracks (hard disk MPEG files) at a
time for any time you want. The text file always contains lines (up to 200 lines or
blocks) that start with DIGITAAL and a time indication in hours and minutes. There
may be an indication of whether the block has a fixed start time (VAST) or is a fill-out
block (UITVULLEN). The names of the commercials are located after an equal sign,
separated by commas, and the line is finished with a semi-colon. Comments can be
added by putting them in brackets. TXT2PLL makes no distinction between upper and
lower case for the text and spaces may be included to increase legibility. The meaning
and function of floating, fixed or fill-out items is described in an earlier chapter.
TXT2PLL sorts all the blocks by time. Therefore they may be in any order in the text
file. While combining, TXT2PLL compares the times of the first items in the text file
and the play list. The item with the lowest time is the first in the new play list. Then the
next item’s time is compared and so on. If items have the exact same time, the block
from the text file takes precedence.
For example:
DIGITAL
0:00 = SPOT1, SPOT2, SPOT3;
DIGITAL
10:00 UITVULLEN = SPOT1, SPOT2, SPOT3;
Digital
20:30 VAST = SPOT1, SPOT2, SPOT3;
digital
digital
digital
digital
digital
digital
0:00
0:01
0:02
0:03
0:04
0:05
=
=
=
=
=
=
MAD12;
COLL4;
J-COOL;
Beat5;
SPOT67, SPOT8, SPOT7;
KANE01
In the second example, a play list is generated, all the items nicely organized. The time
basis is merely an indication. It does need to be ascending, so the order in your play list
can be maintained.
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37
ODBC connector
ODBC CONNECTOR
An ODBC connection to the NexusDB database server is implemented for users who
want to view their data in, for instance Excel.
Copy the file nxOdbcDriverV2.dll to the System32 Windows folder, which can usually
be found in the location C:\Windows\System32.
Use the Install.bat batch file to install the driver and Uninstall.bat to remove it.
The ODBC connection needs some further configuring, when the driver is installed,
Start the ODBC-data source management through Start Æ Control panel Æ System
management Æ Data sources (ODBC). If the driver is properly installed, the Drivers
page will show the NexusDB driver.
Return to the System-DSN tab, and select Add. Now the Create new data source
window shows the available drivers. Of course the NexusDB driver has to be selected.
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Now the screen below appears, to further configure the data source. Choose a
distinctive connection name for DSN Name and the NexusDB database’s IP address.
You can use the Test connection button to check the server’s configuration settings.
This test has to pass in order to make the connection work.
Now press Next to continue.
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ODBC connector
Use this screen to view the database’s tables by pressing the List tables button. Press
Finish to create the new database source.
If the configuration is completed the data source will be shown in this next list.
Several Microsoft products (like Excel) support ODBC data.
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PC-Radio dongle
38
Manual PC-Radio 5
PC-RADIO DONGLE
Broadcast Partners supplies a dongle and software on CD-Rom with every PC-Radio
system. PC-Radio software only works if the key (dongle or lock) is present. The
presence of the dongle is also checked every now and again while the software is in use.
If you remove the dongle after you have started the software, the program waits until it
is connected again.
You’ll receive a dongle once when you purchase a PC-Radio
system or an expansion to one (for example if you have a network).
New versions of the software appear regularly with more facilities
or support for new equipment. If you receive a CD with a software
update from your supplier, it is advisable to install this on your
system as soon as possible. Broadcast Partners assumes that you will be using the latest
software version that has been sent to you. To avoid a whole collection of PC-Radio
software CD-ROMs, the entire software is always put on the CD-ROM. Therefore you
only need the latest set with the highest version number. You can throw away CDROMs with old versions.
38.1
Licenses
The use of PC-Radio On-Air and
production stations is subject to
licenses which are stored on the
dongle. A license can be renewed or
expanded
using
the
program
Renew32 that can be found in the
PC-Radio system directory.
Broadcast Partners will swiftly send
you a fax or e-mail with codes for
renewing or modifying licenses or
software maintenance. An example of
such a fax is shown to the right.
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PC-Radio dongle
Here is an example of the codes supplied for a PC-Radio system.
=======================================================================
Key
RUC Code
PC-Radio 5
Datum limit (through 06-11-2009)
720010
2
33999-11120-72102
=======================================================================
In this example you see that it is a PC-Radio 5 system. Date limit under function
indicates that this code is for extending the license date. The Dongle column shows the
dongle number and the ‘use count’ (RUC). You will need this later in the Renew32
program. Each dongle also has another code which you will see in the appropriate
column.
If the text under Function reads Change program options, this code is intended for
modifying the license, for example to have more facilities available.
There are two options for renewing or modifying a license:
• Select Help, System info in PC-Radio and then click on the button for renewing the
license.
• In the Windows Start menu go to Programs, Broadcast Partners and Renew
license.
When you activate this program you see the following window (with your license
number of course).
The serial number displayed here (Serial #) and ‘use count’ (RUC) must match the data
in the Dongle column on your fax. If the data does not match, the code will not work. In
that case, forward the data (Serial # and RUC) on this window to Broadcast Partners.
In the window illustrated, PC-Radio is the product that has been selected for license
renewal. Click on Next to go to the next window. If you do not want to enter a license
code now, you can exit Renew32 by clicking on Cancel.
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This window shows an additional summary of the relevant information:
• Product name
• Serial number
• Number of codes entered (RUC)
• Current date
Click on Next to go to the next window.
When you renew or modify a license, you are given a 15-digit code. You must enter this
code in the Renew Code field. Only the specified code works, only once. Indeed, if you
enter the wrong code 10 times, the dongle becomes unusable. If this happens, only
Broadcast Partners can reactivate the dongle. Click on Finish to process the code you
have entered. If you enter a code with inadmissible characters such as spaces or letters,
you can still enter the correct code again.
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PC-Radio dongle
The last window displays a summary. In this example you can seen under Results that
the license has been successfully renewed. If you have entered an incorrect code, you
see an error message under Results consisting of a code and explanation.
Some error situations may occur when using the dongle:
1. Error code 6043: no dongle is connected. PC-Radio does not work at all. If it is a
production system, only the basic functionality is available, for example you can use
the Database and create play lists. This message is also displayed sometimes if you
have a printer connected. If that happens, check if the printer is on and online.
2. Error code 6075: invalid renew code. You may also see this message if you have not
entered the code in time, the code has expired, or if you have entered the wrong
code.
3. Error code 6143: license has expired. The end date on which the software can be
used has passed. You need a code from Broadcast Partners to activate the software.
4. Error code 6144: the date and/or time are set incorrectly. If you reset the date or
time, the software will no longer work. PC-Radio remembers the last time the
program was used. It is therefore not possible to go back in time, if your license has
expired.
Contact Broadcast Partners if you see an error code other than one of the ones listed
above.
38.2
Software support
When you buy a PC-Radio system you will normally get free software updates for the
first three months or the first year. If you want to keep up to date with the latest
technology after this period, you should take out a software support contract.
Broadcast Partners gives a date for software support whenever a new software release
becomes available. Note this before installing a new release. If the release date is after
the end date of the software support, you cannot use the software.
If you have received a letter inviting you to renew your software support, you will see a
section that looks like this.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
=======================================================================
Key
RUC Code
PC-Radio 5
Einde software onderhoud: 31-12-2009
1412116992
=======================================================================
Enter this code on all the PCs that are part of your PC-Radio system (i.e. the On-Air and
all the production station).
You can renew the contract in two ways:
• Select Help, System info in PC-Radio and then click on the button for renewing the
software support.
• In the Windows Start menu go to Programs, Broadcast Partners and Renew
software support.
If you renew the software support in PC-Radio, you see the following window:
Enter the ten-digit code and click OK. This code can be used for all PCs that fall under
the same license.
If you activate the program PC-Key via the menus, you see the following window (with
your license number of course).
After entering the correct code (Make sure PC-Radio remains selected, as the Product),
the program indicates the date up to which the renewed contract runs. You can use
software that is released up to that date, on your system.
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PC-Radio dongle
If you receive a code for renewing both license and software support, first enter the
code for renewing the license and only then the code for renewing the software support.
1. Error code 6043: no dongle is connected. This message is sometimes displayed if
you have a printer connected. Check if the printer is on and online.
2. Error code 6143: license has expired. First renew the license and then the software
support.
3. Error code 6144: the date and/or time are set incorrectly. Check these and enter the
code again.
4. ‘You have entered an invalid renewal code.’ The code you entered is incorrect.
5. ‘You have entered an invalid code 10 times.’ This message appears if you have
entered an incorrect code for renewing the software support ten times in a row. The
dongle is locked and will not accept any more codes. You must send the dongle to
Broadcast Partners for the lock to be released.
6. ‘You have entered an old code.’ The code you entered has expired. It is not possible
to reset the date for the end of software support to a time in the past.
231
Troubleshooting
39
Manual PC-Radio 5
TROUBLESHOOTING
Although the greatest attention is paid to the maximum performance of PC-Radio,
problems may still arise. In this chapter we’ll try to indicate the best way of handling
them. How do you solve a problem, how do you prevent them and how can you
minimize the consequences?
Many of the problems you will encounter will fall under ‘user problems’. You may not
be familiar with all the functions of PC-Radio, especially if you are a new user. We
advise you to read the manual through once you have initially familiarized yourself with
the system. You can solve most problems yourself by keeping the manual near your
system for reference.
This manual has been written by engineers who know the system inside out. Therefore
some items may be regarded as familiar whilst new users would like to see a more
comprehensive explanation. If you find anything in the manual unclear, please send us
your comments. If valid, we will change the text in a subsequent edition of the manual.
An unexpected error message may appear on the screen with certain operations. When
you click OK, the message disappears and nothing happens. This category of messages
has no consequences for the further operation of the system. Of course, we would like
to solve this in a later software release. Do you get the same message if you repeat the
operation? If so, please inform us in writing.
The result of the next category is that PC-Radio or part of it no longer works properly
once the problem has occurred. In this case, close PC-Radio. You can then restart
PC-Radio, after which everything should work as expected.
In the final category, closing and restarting PC-Radio does not have the desired effect or
you may even be unable to close PC-Radio. In this case restart your system.
If you follow this method, you will solve the problems in the quickest possible way.
There is no point calling Broadcast Partners support before you have performed these
steps. If you have not done so, you will be asked to run through them anyway.
In any case the main question is whether the problem can be repeated. If so, please
inform us with the exact version number of the software used, how the error occurs as
well as the message that appears on the screen. The more accurate you are, the sooner
we can find and solve the problem.
39.1
Backup
You have probably heard this before: make sure you backup Databases and audio files.
A backup system is another item of expenditure, ‘making a backup is complicated, the
equipment is brand new and nothing will go wrong’. These are familiar arguments.
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Troubleshooting
Unfortunately it is only possible to make an estimate of the service life of a hard disk. If
we assume an average service life of three years, then many hard disks will still be
running years later, but unfortunately three-month old hard disks do occasionally give
up the ghost.
Don’t forget: a PC in an average office is switched on every morning and off every
afternoon, the hard disk runs for no more than 43 hours a week. The hard disk in the
automation system is constantly in operation and runs for 168 hours every week. That is
four times as much!
Avoid problems: make regular backups!
39.2
Wintertime and summertime
At the transition from winter- to summertime, you only have 23 hour in one day, the
other way around 25. This affects the automation in PC-Radio.
Transition from winter to daylight saving time.
The automation continues playing the playlist automatically during the time shift. The
items between two and three are skipped. No user action is required.
Transition from daylight saving time to winter time.
Follow the instructions below.
DCF clock
DCF clock users don’t have to do anything. A few seconds before the transition the
automation will be stopped. Subsequently the time is corrected (one hour ahead or one
hour back) and the automation is started. In the fall, one hour of music will be played
twice.
GPS clock/ Time server
At the transition from summer- to wintertime there are 25 hours in one day. If you don’t
want to play the same music again, during this extra hour, you can define an extra hour
of music. This could be created in a separate play list. We advise you use a quite hour,
preferably during the day, to reset the time.
This is how you can reset the time:
Before the summer- to wintertime transition:
• Make sure your PC doesn’t synchronize with the timeserver
• Disconnect the GPS antenna from the CIM or ACM module
• Make sure Windows doesn’t automatically adjust to wintertime. Deselect the
‘automatically adjust clock to winter and summertime’ option in Windows
Note! If you fail to follow these procedures, the automation will stop after the transition.
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After the transition from winter- to summertime:
• Correct the Windows system time (the clock on the lower right corner of the
screen)
• Stop the automation
• Copy the extra hour of music to the right destination in the play list
• Start PC-Radio and the automation
• Connect the GPS antenna or activate the Timeserver synchronization.
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40
PC-Radio at home
PC-RADIO AT HOME
PC-Radio works very well for home users. You could, for example access your studio’s
database or record voice tracks from the comfort of your own home. You can set up a
VPN connection to the audio folders and database at your studio. This means you can
add tracks and edit play lists (e.g. recording voice tracks) directly. Use the
synchronization module to transport audio files or voice tracks to the studio. This
module can be accessed directly from the play list. This means you can synchronize a
selection of audio- or voice track files from your playlist.
The software installation is described in chapter 2. The most common setting consists of
a single home PC used to connect to the studio. Choose A) PC-Radio software and
NexusDB database server in the installation program.
40.1
Database connection
You have to meet several conditions to be able to connect to the studio’s database
server. First you have to set up a VPN connection to the studio. However, this is far to
complicated for this manual.
The studio’s server should be listed in the external database server list, from the
database connection window.
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Manual PC-Radio 5
If it isn’t listed here, use the Add button to add it. Type the server’s name in the screen
below.
The radio station’s system manager should be able to tell you the server’s name.
When the server is added, it should be in PC-Radio Databases list as well. If it isn’t,
then most likely you have misspelled the server’s name.
When you are working from your home, the database connection is significally slower
then a local connection at the studio. The database engine is capable of compressing the
data you are transmitting and receiving, and adding a substantial speed increase. 0
means no compression, 9 = maximal. The ideal setting depends on the PC’s (both the
server and your own PC) and network speed. The easiest way to test this is checking
how long it takes to open the database browser. If the PC is connected to the radio
station’s local network, set the compression to 0 (none).
PC-Radio’s database icon in the lower left corner displays the database connection
information.
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40.2
PC-Radio at home
Audio files
If you want to optimize remote access to PC-Radio, you should keep the radio station’s
audio files available locally. The best way to do this is to initially transport the files
using an external hard drive. All the files that are added later can be synchronized to the
studio.
When all files are copied, the first step is to specify what directories are going to be
used for local files, and which ones for remote (studio) files.
Open the settings window (Tools Æ Settings).
Enter the directories that hold the audio files on the local hard disc or the local network
in the Audio local tab.
Enter the directories that hold the audio files in the VPN connection to the radio station
in the Audio remote tab.
You can still work on a remote computer, even without an active VPN-connection. You
can do this by synchronizing the audio files. When the Remote audio folders active is
disabled in the Access menu, PC-Radio will stop trying to find remote audio files. The
synchronize function is now disabled as well.
If the remote audio folders are (temporary) unavailable because the VPN-connection is
deactivated, but the Remote audio folders is accidentally still marked, PC-Radio might
respond a little slower then usual.
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PC-Radio at home
40.3
Manual PC-Radio 5
Synchronizing audio files
The first time you bring your audio files home from the studio, it would be wise to keep
your files up-to-date. PC-Radio can do this by synchronizing the files.
This option is listed under Tools Æ Synchronize.
PC-Radio lists the files that are available in the studio, but not yet at home, and vice
versa. These can easily be synchronized. How much time this process takes, depends on
your internet speed and the number of audio files.
Synchronizing audio files could be repeated on a weakly basis, for example.
The program suggests in which direction the file should be copied by the date the file
was last modified: remote to local or the other way around. Before the actions are
applied, the program prompts the user to make any last changes. You can choose to
remove the remote or local audio file. Deleting files can only be selected by the users
and is never suggested by the program.
40.4
Recording Voicetracks
PC-Radio allows you to record your voice tracks right at home. Open the playlist of the
required day. Make sure you are connected to the studio’s database. If you are
connected to a local database, the voice tracks are saved here, instead of the studio’s
database.
PC-Radio allows you to save the playlist to a file.The resulting playlist file can be
opened in the studio. Now the playlist is imported to the database. If you are directly
connected to the studio’s database while recording, this step can be skipped.
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PC-Radio at home
Select the tracks of the hour you want to record your voice tracks in and open the popup
menu. Select the Audio files from the Synchronize option on the bottom of the menu.
PC-Radio now shows the selected files and if they need to be synchronized. When the
synchronizing process is done, you can record your voice tracks.
When you have finished recording your voice tracks, select the tracks for the hour
again. Now use the Voice tracks option from the menu to synchronize them with the
studio. The tracks you’ve recorded at home are now copied to the studio.
Don’t forget to save the playlist when it is changed.
239
Translating PC-Radio
41
Manual PC-Radio 5
TRANSLATING PC-RADIO
PC-Radio’s default languages are Dutch and English, but can easily be translated to
other languages. To be able to perform this translation, the Language Manager program
needs to be installed. The installation program lmsetup.exe is supplied on the PC-Radio
5 installation CD.
The installation program is self explanatory; you don’t have to change any settings.
Start the program by pressing Start Æ Program’s Æ Language Manager Æ Language
Manager.
The help menu (Help Æ Contents) supplies you with extensive information on the
program. In this chapter we’ll give you a brief description of translating PC-Radio to
the desired language.
The Language Manager is based on translating the software from its ‘native’ language
(Dutch), to any random language. The language files have an .Ing extension and are
located in the PC-Radio 5 directory.
Choose File Æ Open to open PC-Radio’s ‘native language’. This file is named
Pcr5.ntv.Ing.
Language Manager has opened the ‘native language’ and shows all possible
translations. Most users will prefer the English translation, selected by placing a mark.
Now you can change the texts in the English translation, or add a new language via the
File Æ Create New Language menu.
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Translating PC-Radio
Based On
Language
The Language maker copies the texts from a language, that’s
already present in the system. Most users will prefer English.
Language
Identifier
Choose the new language here. Some languages are spoken in
several countries, each with their own dialect. For example, the
Italian language can be separated in Italy and Switzerland.
The other options can remain unchanged. When you’ve pressed OK, a new language
file is created and you can start translating the application.
The texts in the software are divided onto several modules. The most synoptic method
is by translating the modules one at a time. The Language Manager has a large number
of functions that can provide useful when translating. These functions can be activated
by pressing the right mouse button.
When you’ve translated (part of) the texts, save the file and make a resource DLL using
File Æ Create DLL. The Language Manager creates a file containing the translated
texts, compatible with PC-Radio. You need to do this every time you’ve translated a
text.
In the example of the Italian text the file Pcr5.ITA.Ing contains the texts you’ve
translated in the Language Manager. By pressing Create DLL the file Pcr5.ITA is
created, and can be used by PC-Radio.
PC-Radio updates contain new texts for the program. The PC-Radio translation files
(*.Ing) are bound to a specific PC-Radio software (Pcr5.exe) version. This means they
can’t be used for other interchanged amongst versions. Mixing them would create
wrong texts on various modules of the software.
If you’d like your translation file to be included in the update, send the language file
(the file with the .Ing extension) to Broadcast Partners. We’ll integrate your new texts
in PC-Radio. If you want to translate or improve any texts, you can also send your
language file.
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Manual PC-Radio 5 - Broadcast Partners

Transcription

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