Radio Automation Options Aaron Read / WEOS

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Radio Automation OptionsAaron Read / WEOS
WHWSTim Teeling / WLOY
STAYING ON THE AIR WHEN NO-ONES THERE!

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

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Housecleaning

• CBI listserv www.askcbi.org
• Opening for Student position on CBI executive
  board. E-mail app to exdir_at_askcbi.org (must
  still be a student thru Dec.2011)
• Fill out a feedback form, dammit!!

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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)

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Why is automation HATED?

• Often done BADLY
• Reduces diversity
• Sounds like crap if done wrong
• To do right 1 hr work for every 3-8 hrs air
• If done right it sounds nearly as good as live
  DJs. Sometimes better.

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How much dya need?

• Format more varied more work
• Size of music library
• Available labor (now and future)
• Hardware budget (now and future)
• the piper is always paid!

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Paying the piper

• Go cheap bad idea
• Mission-critical! 24/7 for years!
• Redundancy, redundancy, redundancy!
• Multiple, mirrored hard drives (RAID)
• Regular, off-site backups
• Backup UPS/generator
• Redundant hardware

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OTOH cost of failure?

• What does each minute of dead air cost your
  station?
• Commercial station can be 1000s per minute.
  Could be less for you whats the ROI?

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Holy !!! Why is BRAND X SYSTEM so
EXPENSIVE!!!

• Testing / Compatibility
• Capabilities
• Less relevant in todays world
• Support / Help
• NOT a magic wand!
• Service (upgrades, new OS, etc)
• does NOT always mean better!

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Examples! Im Totally Broke0 aka FREE!

• Winamp Radio Scheduler
• http//www.winamp.com/plugins/
• details/138768
• http//www.wbrs.org/stuff/wrs
• Freeware, old but serviceable.

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Im Merely a Cheap S.O.B.100 - 1000 range

• Jockey Pro LT
• RadioLogik WLOY case study
• Raduga
• MegaSeg
• Arrakis Digilink XTREME
• Many othersOTSjuke, Spacial Audio, SAM, etc etc
  etc

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I have some moneynot much1000 - 10000 range

• This is an awkward place
• BSI Simian
• Wireready
• Cheap versions of AV, Enco
• Exception Enco for PRSS

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We got phat bills10,000 and up

• Where the big boys play
• AudioVault, Enco, Prophet, Dalet, WideOrbit,
  iMediaTouch, DAVID
• Excellent systems, but overkill?
• WEOS/WHWS has Enco
• Advantages / Disadvantages

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Final Thoughts / Ask Questions

• Dont look at your budget and say We cant
  afford to do this. Look at your needs and
  decide if you have to get more revenue/budget
  because you cant afford not to do this!
• Slides will be available at
• www.friedbagels.com/cbi

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Final Thoughts

• Questions tell us your situation, well try and
  recommend a good place to start.
• One last thing dont look at your budget and say
  We cant afford to do this. Look at your
  broadcast needs and decide if you cant afford
  not to do thisand 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
• Aarons blog www.friedbagels.com/blog
• These slides available at www.friedbagels.com/cb
  i/