Radio Automation OptionsAaron Read / WEOS & WHWSTim Teeling / WLOY

More than just a computer and sound card…and why a Winamp playlist doesn't (usually) cut it !

STAYING ON THE AIR

WHEN NO-ONE’S THERE!

Housecleaning

CBI listserv: www.askcbi.orgOpening for Student position on

CBI executive board. E-mail app to exdir@askcbi.org (must still be a student thru Dec.2011)

Fill out a feedback form, dammit!!

Why do you NEED automation? Listeners demand 24/7/365

operation Freedom to discipline airstaff Protect against 47 CFR 73.561

timeshare Enhance DJ operation (“live assist”) Reduce CD theft (to some degree)

Why is automation HATED?

Often done BADLYReduces diversitySounds like crap if done wrongTo do right = 1 hr work for every 3-8 hrs air

If done right it sounds nearly as good as live DJ’s. Sometimes better.

How much d’ya need?

Format: more varied = more workSize of music libraryAvailable labor (now and future)Hardware budget (now and

future)…the piper is always paid!

Paying the piper

Go cheap = bad idea Mission-critical! 24/7 for years! Redundancy, redundancy, redundancy!

Multiple, mirrored hard drives (RAID)Regular, off-site backupsBackup UPS/generatorRedundant hardware

OTOH – cost of failure?

What does each minute of dead air cost your station?

Commercial station can be $1000’s per minute. Could be less for you; what’s the ROI?

Holy #$%&!!! Why is BRAND X SYSTEM so EXPENSIVE!!! Testing / Compatibility Capabilities

Less relevant in today’s world Support / Help

NOT a magic wand! Service (upgrades, new OS, etc) $$$ does NOT always mean better!

Examples! I’m Totally Broke$0 aka FREE!Winamp Radio Scheduler

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/

details/138768http://www.wbrs.org/stuff/wrs

Freeware, old but serviceable.

I’m Merely a Cheap S.O.B.$100 - $1000 range Jockey Pro LT RadioLogik – WLOY case study Raduga MegaSeg Arrakis Digilink XTREME Many others…OTSjuke, Spacial

Audio, SAM, etc etc etc

I have some money…not much$1000 - $10000 rangeThis is an awkward placeBSI SimianWireready “Cheap” versions of AV, Enco

Exception: Enco for PRSS

We got phat bills$10,000 and upWhere the big boys playAudioVault, Enco, Prophet, Dalet,

WideOrbit, iMediaTouch, DAVIDExcellent systems, but overkill?WEOS/WHWS has Enco

Advantages / Disadvantages

Final Thoughts / Ask Questions Don’t look at your budget and say

“We can’t afford to do this.” Look at your needs and decide if you have to get more revenue/budget because you can’t afford not to do this!

Slides will be available atwww.friedbagels.com/cbi

Final Thoughts

Questions – tell us your situation, we’ll try and recommend a good place to start.

One last thing: don’t look at your budget and say “We can’t afford to do this.” Look at your broadcast needs and decide if you can’t afford not to do this…and then figure out how to raise funds or cut costs accordingly.

Aaron Read can be reached via the CBI listserv. Sign up at www.askcbi.org

Aaron’s blog : www.friedbagels.com/blog These slides available at : www.friedbagels.com/cbi/